The Salisbury Township School District Board of Directors held an operations and finance meeting Jan. 14 to discuss asphalt and concrete bids, the results of a move toward solar power districtwide, a review of the budget process and the completion of the 2024-2025 audit.

Director of Facilities Bill Brackett, began the meeting by outlining several asphalt and concrete projects in need of attention throughout the district.

The following projects slated to be completed include: Salisbury High School student parking lot paved and lined, SHS stadium steps rebuilt for safety in case of emergency evacuation, SHS stadium concession area drainage grates and concrete replaced, SHS repair retaining wall handrails near music wing entrance, SHS repair steps and handrails in the flagpole area, SHS additional walkway and bike rack pad installed, Salisbury Middle School handrails on retaining wall replaced and steps installed to tennis court, Salisbury Elementary School unsafe outdoor stairs near C pod removed, SES outdoor learning space constructed near C Pod, SES small bus parking area and playground area repaved, administration building front steps, steps to the wrestling room and ramp replaced.

Bids for the concrete and asphalt projects totaled $1,308,374 and financing for the project, at the recommendation of Chief Financial Officer Dawn Nickisher, would come from proceeds generated by the sale of the Emmaus Avenue property which will be the future site of The Vistas at South Mountain.

The board gave Brackett the nod to move ahead with the project pending board approval at the regular school board meeting Jan. 21.

The next topic of discussion centered around the district’s recent inquiry into the use of solar energy. At the Oct. 8, 2025, operations and finance committee meeting, the district initiated a feasibility study with the McClure Company to weigh the cost savings benefits of utilizing solar panels districtwide.

Representatives for McClure returned during the Nov. 5, 2025, operations meeting to answer questions and provide details concerning the Power Purchasing Agreement which essentially locks the district into a contract naming McClure the district’s power supplier for a term of 30 years. Complicating the decision was the timeline to take advantage of tax incentives which would be greatly reduced in 2026.

After reviewing the McClure agreement, the district’s legal counsel expressed major concerns with regard to the terminology within the agreement most notably with regard to the early termination fees, future changes in law and tax exposure. Due to the current volatility in the market and the rush to capitalize on tax incentives an acceptable agreement was not able to be made at this time.

Following a brief discussion, several board members commented solar power could benefit the district but at this point in time it would be prudent to table the issue and revisit the discussion in the future.

During the finance portion of the meeting Nickisher reported the 2024-2025 audit has been completed and she provided an overview of the year-end projections as of December 2025.

She noted the district saw a $5,500 reduction in insurance premiums over last year after working with the district’s insurance carrier to get the best rates possible.

Nickischer then reported on the progress being made in the 2026-2027 budget and outlined the tax revenue generated by utilizing the Act I index of 3.5% and the revenue realized if the index were reduced to 3.0%.

Director Sarah Nemitz asked whether there was any real estate and business privilege tax data available due to the opening of the Giant and Burlington stores at the South Mall.

Nickischer said she looked into it and found the last four assessments starting in 2019 granted the South Mall significant reductions in assessed value totaling $6,250,400 due to the vacant BonTon and Steinmart properties. This is approximately a 45% decrease in the original assessed value.

She noted she will personally push for a reverse tax reassessment appeal to be initiated and if that doesn’t work she will come back to the board to request King, Spry, Herman, Freund and Faul, LCC become involved.

The next meeting of the Salisbury Township School board operations and finance committee will be 7 p.m. Feb 11. All meetings are held in the administration building, 1140 Salisbury Road, Allentown.