Northern Lebanon school board narrowly passes 4.2% budget increase for 2026-27

This article was funded by LebTown donors as part of our Civic Impact Reporting Project.

By a 5-4 vote, the Northern Lebanon School District directors approved a nearly $55 million 2026-27 budget at their June 2 meeting, an increase of 4.2%.

For a homeowner in the district with a median-assessed value property of around $177,000, the increase means roughly $139 in new taxes per year.

Board members voting yes were board president Barry Naum, Robbie England, the Rev. Rob Faller, David Kline, and Staci Murray. Opposing were board vice president Rev. Troy Williams, Martha Blough, Shen Kreiser, and Benjamin Moyer. 

A 4.2% increase – the maximum amount allowed under the adjust Act 1 index – brings the millage rate from 17.8250 mills to 18.5736. 

There was no discussion at the meeting on the proposal, but providing funding for the Lebanon County Career and Technology Center’s planned building project was cited previously as one reason for the tax increase.

No changes were made to the budget that was previously proposed.

Read More:

• N. Lebanon School District to prepare 2026-27 budget with 4.2% increase
• Resident urges N. Lebanon school board to cut spending in 2026-27 budget

Half-day kindergarten 

In other board action, a proposal to eliminate half-day kindergarten in the district was unanimously defeated by directors. 

Although he supports full-day kindergarten for various reasons, superintendent Gary Messinger Jr. advised the board to defer the proposal. 

He cited doing a better job of explaining the benefits to parents of incoming K students, and to allow more time for implementation since there’s only three months until the 2026-27 school year begins.

It was noted there were four full-day and two half-day kindergarten classes during the 2025-26 school year. Of the 139 families with students in that grade level, 23 requested half-day learning, according to Messinger. 

During public comment earlier in the meeting, several parents expressed opposition to the measure. The board expressed a desire to broach this subject again in the coming school year, but much earlier than it did this year.   

Lifesavers honored

Thirteen people were honored at the meeting for their part in helping to save a teacher’s life in mid-March.

Bradly Reist, the district’s safety and security coordinator, said at approximately 9:55 a.m. on March 12, a teacher was found collapsed and unresponsive on a stairwell landing at Northern Lebanon Elementary School.

“When the victim was discovered, communication protocols were followed to alert appropriate responders. CPR was initiated as well as an AED being brought to the victim.  Multiple rounds of CPR were conducted over a 10-minute period,” said Reist. 

He further noted that three people rotated through chest compressions while one person did the breathing portion of the life-saving measure. 

“Upon arrival of EMS, the school team assisted in moving the patient to the ambulance. All care was turned over to the responding EMS team. Multiple additional school staff were involved in supporting the response team and the building at large,” added Reist.

Their actions were crucial in saving her life.

“That teacher is here today because of the quick response and quality medical care that was given to her, and the district extends its heartfelt thanks to every staff member involved in this event as well as the EMS, fire, and police response personnel who responded to the scene,” Reist said. 

Eight individuals received the district’s Viking Pillar Award for their assistance. They are Jordan Zimmerman, Lee Umberger, Josh Wagner, David Lauver, Kim McFeaters, Melinda Hossler, Sharon Boyer, and Lauren Siriannia.

Viking Valor Awards were presented to Danielle Blauch, Wendy Flowers-Kline, Charlie Herling, Justin Bruce, and Kearstin Geist. 

Other board business

In other business, directors unanimously voted to: 

• Remove from the agenda an item concerning a raise for the district superintendent. It was noted that Messinger did not request a raise, and the item will be given consideration at a later date during an executive session of the board.
• Accept from the PA Department of Education a payment of $1,127,073.98 from the Property Tax Relief Fund.
• Approve a dental exam agreement with Jonestown Dental for $2,500.
• Renew an agreement with Saxton & Stump for legal services in 2026-27.
• Adopt the Lebanon County Career and Technology Center’s Articles of Agreement. 
• Sign an educational services agreement with New Story Schools.
• Approve the Bulk Fuels Procurement Program Participation Agreement being offered through the Lancaster-Lebanon IU13, beginning on July 1 and ending June 30, 2027, and the Fuel Purchasing Agreement with World Fuel Services Inc.
• Approve the Sports Medicine Service Proposal with WellSpan Health for 2026-31.
• Sign an agreement with Yellow Breeches Educational Center, Carlisle, through June 30, 2027.
• Conduct personnel transactions. 
• Grant six service agreements, including occupational, job training, speech and language, personal care assistant, speech education shared services curriculum, and Lebanon Special Education Shared Services Consortium.
• Approve class and field trips, including a senior class trip next May, 9th grade field trip in 2026-27, and art class trips to New York City in 2027 and to Japan in 2028. 
• Approve the minutes of their May 12 meeting.

Next meeting

The Northern Lebanon school board will meet next on Aug. 11 at 6:30 p.m. in the Northern Lebanon District Office board room at 346 School Drive, Fredericksburg.