The Warwick School District Committee of the Whole met at 7 p.m. on a Tuesday in May 2015 in the board room of the district office at 301 W. Orange St., Lititz. Here were five reasons residents had to attend.
1. The budget
The district anticipated a deficit of more than $3 million for the 2014-15 school year, and the gap was expected to grow by about 20 percent the following year.
The final proposed budget for 2015-16 projected revenue of $64,554,388 against expenses of $68,466,471, leaving a deficit of $3,912,083. The district had posted a presentation explaining the numbers.
(An earlier version of this article said the deficit was expected to rise 50 percent. The correct figure is 20 percent.)
2. You have an opinion to share
The public comment period gave residents a chance to speak about the deficit and the budget, and about other issues that had drawn attention that spring.
Among them was the district’s decision to keep the press, including LNP and LititzDailyNews.com, from photographing students arriving at the senior prom, and an arrangement to supply prom photos to the Lititz Record Express while not distributing them to this news site. LititzDailyNews.com had filed a request under Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law seeking the photos.
Residents could also weigh in on the district’s new media guidelines, standardized testing, school lunches, graduation or any other concern or praise about Warwick education.
The board is not required to answer questions during public comment. Speakers were encouraged to be brief, read from a prepared statement if possible, and respect others and their opinions.
3. Solicitor presentations
Attorneys from four law firms were scheduled to make presentations to the board as candidates for district solicitor.
The solicitor drafts and recommends district guidelines and policies and has a powerful voice in decisions that affect students at every school, at every event, every day. Residents concerned about the policies being adopted in the district had good reason to listen.
4. You’re curious
How does a school district operate? How does it decide where tax dollars go? And what was the new Board Policy 819, which was on the agenda that night?
Committee of the Whole meetings, where the full board discusses issues in depth before formal votes, are often the best place to see how decisions take shape.
5. You care
About your student, their education, how your tax dollars are spent and the future of Lititz. The meeting was open to the public.
How school budgets work in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania school districts must adopt a final budget by June 30 each year. Boards typically approve a proposed final budget in May, make it available for public inspection for at least 30 days, and then vote on the final version. Under the state’s Act 1 rules, districts are limited in how much they can raise property taxes without voter approval or approved exceptions, so a deficit is often closed with a combination of tax increases, use of fund balance and spending cuts.
Getting involved
Warwick School Board meetings remain open to the public, and agendas, minutes and budget documents are posted on the district’s website. Residents who cannot attend can contact board members directly.
Tips for attending a board meeting
- Review the agenda, which is posted in advance on the district website.
- Arrive a few minutes early and sign in if you plan to speak.
- Keep public comments brief and focused; many boards set a time limit.
- Follow up afterward by reading the approved minutes.
Residents who cannot attend in person can still share their views by contacting board members directly.
This article was originally published in May 2015.