Lebanon School District seeks taxpayer feedback on future with LCCTC

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At their Sept. 21 meeting, Lebanon school directors got additional details, but took no action, on city schools’ possible withdrawal as a participating district in the Lebanon County Career and Technology Center.

Lebanon, one of six county school districts that pays to send its students to the LCCTC, announced in August that a proposed change to the cost-sharing formula might not be affordable, and that it was looking at starting its own vocational and technical program.

Lebanon’s possible withdrawal has been met with unhappiness on the part of some officials in other districts.

District superintendent Dr. Nicole Malinoski briefed the board on the anticipated costs and savings of withdrawal. Reading from a prepared statement, she argued that under the proposed “50/50” LCCTC funding model, “Lebanon’s share would increase by approximately $467,036 annually for the next 30 years, in addition to any increases in operating costs,” and that “it would not be equitable to ask Lebanon taxpayers to assume a substantially higher annual obligation under a revised funding formula.”

Malinoski’s full statement said that:

As discussions continue regarding the LCCTC funding scenarios should Lebanon withdraw, it is important to understand the District’s full financial commitment. We would continue making our annual bond payment of $102,325 through 2032. In addition, if we withdraw, we anticipate investing approximately $2,014,643 in the construction and annual operation of our own career and technical education program. That $2 million is by taking our annual operating costs of $1.38 million and our commitment to STEB financing that we placed in our budget.

These conversations began because the participating districts did not support the use of the State Tax Equalization Board, or STEB, formula and instead proposed a 50/50 funding model. Under that proposal, Lebanon’s share of would increase by approximately $467,036 annually for the next 30 years, in addition to any increases in operating costs.

Lebanon would not be the only district to benefit from a STEB-based formula. Cornwall-Lebanon and Palmyra would also realize savings, despite having local tax bases that differ significantly from ours. While other districts would experience increased costs under a STEB model, none of those increases would come close to the additional financial burden Lebanon would assume under the proposed 50/50 model.

We recognize that Lebanon’s withdrawal from LCCTC would have financial implications for the remaining districts. However, it would not be equitable to ask Lebanon taxpayers to assume a substantially higher annual obligation under a revised funding formula when those same funds could be invested directly in a district-operated program that would provide career and technical education opportunities to significantly more Lebanon students.

Meetings scheduled to get resident feedback

District officials had previously announced a December deadline to decide whether to stay or leave. They have scheduled three public meetings in October to hear residents’ and taxpayers’ feedback on the issue. Meetings are scheduled for:

• Wednesday, Oct. 7, 5:30 p.m., at Lebanon Intermediate School, 350 N. 8th St.
• Wednesday, Oct. 14, 6 p.m., Lebanon High School, 1000 S. 8th St.
• Thursday, Oct. 22, 6 p.m., Northwest Elementary, 1315 Old Forge Road

In other business, the board:

• Recognized district employees Kyle Bensing, Michael McGuigan, Carlos Sanchez, and John Zatorski for their quick and professional response to a Sept. 14 incident outside Lebanon Middle School in which a man was charged with brandishing a knife and taser. He was taken into custody without injuring anyone.
• Recognized Skylar Strickler and Zachery Cramer as Rotary students of the month.
• Approved 10 change orders and three credits, totaling $153,178, for the nearly-complete construction project at the Lebanon Intermediate School and adjacent Alumni Stadium. Board members Robert Okonak and Debra Bowman expressed concern over the large number of change orders throughout the project.
• Approved technology equipment purchases for use throughout the district.
• Approved the August treasurer’s report. The general fund had a $48,254,467 balance as of Aug. 31.

The next regular meetings of the Lebanon school board will be on Monday, Oct. 12, (committee of the whole planning meeting) and Monday, Oct. 19, (business meeting). Meetings begin at 7 p.m. in the board conference room at Lebanon High School, 1000 S. 8th St., Lebanon.

Residents and taxpayers wishing to comment on a specific agenda item during the board meeting must complete a “Request to Address the Board” form next to the board sign-in sheet and submit it to the board secretary before the meeting starts.

Residents and taxpayers of Lebanon School District may bring matters of concern to the board’s attention through correspondence sent to Kathryn Minnich, board secretary, c/o Lebanon School District, 1000 S. 8th St., Lebanon, four days prior to the meeting at which they wish to appear. Minnich’s email is kminnich@lebanon.k12.pa.us.

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