“I want to be transparent with our staff and our families — the necessary cuts will be felt,” Superintendent Chris Schiffert said during the Whitehall-Coplay School Board meeting April 27.

Those “cuts” refer to expected staffing reductions, including layoffs, the district says are needed as it works through a reported major financial crisis and moves toward a reorganization of staff.

Schiffert also sent an email directly to district staff ahead of the meeting, sharing many of the same concerns about the district’s financial situation and what’s ahead.

“Tonight, I do need to provide a sobering update regarding our budget development process for the 2026-27 school year,” Schiffert said.

He explained the budget gap is being driven by rising mandated costs, including salaries, healthcare, retirement contributions through PSERS, special education services and charter school expenses. After reviewing other options, district leaders said a staffing reorganization is now necessary to help address the shortfall.

Schiffert stressed transparency in both his email to staff and his remarks at the meeting, repeating, “I want to be transparent with our staff and our families — the necessary cuts will be felt.”

He added any staffing reductions or realignments will follow Pennsylvania School Code and existing collective bargaining agreements, with decisions based mainly on seniority and certification. The district expects to notify any employees who may be affected by the end of May, ahead of the final budget vote in June.

Schiffert also acknowledged the stress and uncertainty this creates for staff and reminded employees support is available through the district’s Employee Assistance Program for them and their families.

Along with the discussion, the board also approved several financial items, including the March treasurer’s report. The district reported a beginning balance of $8,365,001.55 as of March 1, with $4,126,768.45 in receipts and $3,495,600 in matured investments, bringing total cash available to $15,987,370.

After $9,834,714.28 in expenses and $250,000 in funds invested, the district ended the month with a cash balance of $5,902,655.72.

The board also approved bills and salaries across the general fund, cafeteria fund, capital projects fund and capital reserve fund.

Board members moved forward with the proposed final 2026-27 budget, totaling $110,775,375, a 9.19% increase from the current year. The plan includes a property tax increase of 4.7%, bringing the rate to 23.7538 mills.

The budget will now be advertised and made available for public review before final adoption by June 30, in accordance with state law.

The district will hold committee meetings starting 4 p.m. May 11 and a regular school board meeting 7 p.m. May 18. District officials said more updates on the budget and potential staffing changes are expected in the coming weeks.