Upper Perkiomen's school board pushed off a vote on the 2026-27 school year until tonight. Last week, the members tabled a vote on a 12.8 percent increase amid constituent complaints.

            The board voted to recess the June 18 meeting after nearly 2 1/2 hours. It agreed to return at 6 p.m. on June 25 to the district's Education Center and complete its legally required task. State law requires all districts to approve a budget by June 30.
            By a 5-4 vote – after hearing multiple residents oppose the size of its proposed tax hike – the members approved Trina Schaarschmidt's motion to table a vote on a measure that would have imposed a $547 increase on the average property owner and required a $2 million transfer from the district's general fund. Leah Cianfrani, who cast the decisive vote, said the board needs to "come up with a plan" to address the taxpayer's needs.

            "This is not a budget any of us like," Cianfrani said after the vote.

            Then, a proposal by Vice President Keith McCarrick to implement a tax hike with a slightly smaller increase failed. Only he and Elizabeth Fluckey voted for a proposal to increase taxes by 9.3 percent, that would have cost the average property owner an additional $397 and would  require a transfer of $3.6 million from the general fund to make up a budget deficit.

            Fluckey, Sarah Bieber and Peg Pennepacker also voted for the measure to delay a vote on an item included on the June 18 meeting agenda granting final approval on an $88.171 million budget for the upcoming school year that includes a 1 percent millage hike. President Melanie Cunningham, Vice Keith McCarrick, Paige Konopelsky and Monica Oswald voted against it.

            "We've got to get real," Pennepacker said. "I am not supporting this because I am going to lose my house."

            McCarrick warned the audience before using blunt language to oppose the tax rate previously recommended by the Finance Committee, on which he serves. He described the entire funding system as flawed, including the formula by which the district taxes property owners and the level at which the Commonwealth contributes funds. However, McCarrick conceded that solving those issues would not solve the board's immediate situation.

            "This just sucks, no matter how you look at it," he said. "It comes down to how much does the board want to take out of our [savings] account to balance the budget."

            Raeann Hofkin, a former school board member, told the current board that most residents are looking for it to cut expenditures. However, Cunningham took the idea of cutting programs and services off the proverbial table.

            "That's not how to run a district," she said.

            Pennepacker claimed she should have done a better job during her seven years on the board. She apologized for not paying "better attention."

            "Maybe I should have said no to more things," Pennepacker said.

            Konopelsky described the funding situation as a crisis for the district. She told the audience that the board is dealing with significant cuts in contributions from Harrisburg and Washington, D.C. The member identified multiple long-term reasons for the funding issues. She pointed out that federal laws that have allowed companies to buy back their stock and increase CEO pay 1,200 times have created an unprecedented concentration of wealth.

            Konopelsky encouraged residents to continue to ask the board members tough questions. She also implored them to apply the same pressure to state and federal legislators, among others.

            "I am asking you to stay frustrated," said Konopelsky, who described the board's goals of mitigating harm to the community and educating children as tremendously difficult. "I want you to keep asking questions. But I ask that this is not the only place you fight."

            The district is dealing with the same cost increases as taxpayers, according to Oswald. She claimed that its budget deficit has grown over the last five years by utilizing its reserve funds, which is currently estimated at $5 million, to limit tax increases.

            The board recognized two individual athletes and six of the Upper Perkiomen baseball team. Grayson Riggins won the Pioneer Athletic Conference 300-meter Hurdle title. Darius Reid, who did not attend the meeting, captured the District One and PIAA Class 3A high jump championship. Six members of the Tribe's District 1 Class 5A title team greeted the board.

            In personnel news, the members approved the resignation of Brianna Braun, a paraprofessional. They also voted to appoint Stefanie Ryan as the district's curriculum supervisor.

            The board also voted to hire Mikayla Deiter as a long-term substitute English teacher at the high school and Megan Potts as a long term first-grade substitute at Marlborough Elementary for the upcoming school year.

            The members appointed two existing staff to new positions. John Frable was approved as a full-time first shift custodian at Hereford Elementary School, while Lea Hanson will work as the staff nurse at 4th & 5th Grade Center.

            The board approved leaves of absences for two employees for the 2026-27 school year. Molly Strecker will continue her leave through Oct. 21. Nancy Haff will be away from the job from Sept. 16 through Oct. 28.

            The board met in executive session immediately prior to tonight's meeting for the purpose of discussing matters of school safety and security and to receive the required annual report from the district's school safety and security coordinator. Solicitor Kyle Somers also announced that it also met privately immediately following the recess to discuss a matter of personnel regarding multiple administrative employees.