ELCO board votes 7-2 on new budget, 8-1 on CTC’s updated Articles of Agreement

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At its June 22 meeting, the ELCO school board voted 7-2 on Resolution #06-22-2026 III, which adopts the final 2026-27 budget.

Vice president Ray Ondrusek and board member Bonnie Kantner voted against the measure.

The final budget includes a 4.2% millage increase, with each 1% of millage increase representing $327,612 of new tax revenue for the school district.

“It is also important to note that a portion of our proposed tax increase is going to be used to meet our district’s share of the future CTC renovations. … The CTC cannot levy its own taxes, so participating school districts are responsible for funding their share of these costs,” said board president Rachel Moyer.

The ELCO school board voted 8-1 on the Lebanon County Career & Technology Center’s updated Articles of Agreement, with Ondrusek voting in opposition.

“Career and technical education creates meaningful opportunities for students, gives them access to hands-on learning, industry-recognized skills, growth pathways, and options for graduation. Supporting the CTC is not only about a funding formula. It is about protecting these opportunities for students in every part of our county,” said Moyer, encouraging the board to vote in approval.

“I know firsthand how important it is for students to have access to a strong CTC program,” Moyer said. “My own experience with career and technical education helped lead me to a rewarding career in radiology, and I understand the lasting impact these opportunities can have on a student’s future.

“It is disappointing to see any one school district appear unwilling to come to the table and compromise with the rest of the county’s school districts. These articles are the result of difficult conversations and shared responsibility. No district is getting everything it may want, but compromise is necessary when we are working together for the benefit of students.”

ELCO’s was the final school board in the county to vote on the articles, which uses a 50/50 funding formula composed of the average daily membership (ADM) of students enrolled and State Tax Equalization Board numbers for the district’s property values. The Lebanon board was the only school board in the county to vote against the updated articles.

“Moving forward, we have to just work with Lebanon city in the hopes that they will see that we showed consideration by doing the 50/50 blend. I know Mr. Ondrusek was vocal about the ADM, that being the best financial thing for us here at ELCO. But we see the CTC as a bigger thing and just a county-based thing, on the support of the community and the children and the growth,” said board member Jean Pierre Santos.

“We’re hoping that in the next month or so, coming in August, I will have better things to report. … As of right now, we are in discussions of, really, what the future awaits. But to be honest, there’s a lot of ‘what ifs.'”

The ELCO school board unanimously voted to approve the appointment and employment agreement for Dr. Michael Gerhart to serve as assistant superintendent of the school district. This position, which was open with Dr. Barbara Davis set to retire June 30, is on a five-year term at a salary of $145,000, with a start date of July 1.

Karen Nell is set to serve as district superintendent, with superintendent Julia Vicente set to retire June 30. Nell’s agreement is also on a five-year term with a start date of July 1. Her salary was not included in the motion unanimously passed at the April 20 board meeting.

“Serving this district has shaped me in ways that I really didn’t anticipate. It’s not because of the role, but it’s because of the people and it’s because of the relationships, the conversations, the laughter when you don’t expect it, the problem solving, but just that opportunity to work with people who really believe that students deserve our very best,” said Vicente.

Vicente and Davis each served the school district for nine years, culminating their 30+ years of service in public education.

The ELCO school board unanimously approved Resolution #06-22-2026 I, which sets homestead/farmstead exemptions for the 2026-27 school year, and unanimously approved Resolution #06-22-2026 II, which concerns fund balance designations on June 22.

In other news, board members moved to:

• Approve the amendment of the May 18 meeting minutes, approve the amended May 18 meeting minutes, and approve the treasurer’s report.
• Approve all personnel items listed in the agenda, including the approval of coaches (board member Megan Schaeffer abstained from voting as she was listed as a volunteer coach for golf).
• Approve all curriculum, policy, general services, and finance items listed in the agenda.

The ELCO school board will have its next regular meeting on Monday, Aug. 17, at 6 p.m., at 180 Elco Drive, Myerstown. People can also register to watch meetings over Zoom through the district website.