JERSEY SHORE — In his remarks to the Jersey Shore Area School Board, Ben Enders, the district’s business manager, gave the board some good news and some not so good news.

The good news is that tuition for charter school students is lower for next school year, while the not-so-good news is that the district owes the education department money for projects at the middle and high schools.

Enders reported that tuition for regular education students attending the charter school is $13,580, a decrease of just over $1,100 from the amount for the 2023-24 school year, which was $14,700. For special education students attending brick-and-mortar charter schools, fees will be $29,905, and for cyber charter schools, fees will be just over $27,000. Both show a decrease of about $1,400 for Sugar Valley Charter School and $4,000 for cyber charter schools.

In the not-so-good news, Enders revealed that the district owes the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) more than $500,000 for PlanCon J projects.

“On September 17, PDE approved our PlanCon Js for the middle school and high school project. The middle school and high school projects, we’re talking about projects that were done in early 2000. For the last month, I’ve been working with PDE on those PlanCon J dollars and what their impact is on the district. Last week, it was finalized that the district owes PDE $536,1131.92.” he said.

The district had filed the PlanCon Js in January and at the same time had received reimbursement for the Jersey Shore Elementary project, and at that point the district knew they would likely owe money on the middle and high school projects.

“When we received the refund from the JSE, the board voted to commit a majority of these funds to fund the two PlanCon J,” he said.

“The good news is that you have $380,000 in your fund balance that will pay you for them. You will need to use $155,000 of your uncommitted fund balance to make up the rest.” he explained.

Enders said a resolution will be included on a future agenda to retire the $380,000 in money owed to PDE.

The 2025-26 fiscal year budget timeline was also reported by Enders, showing that the District’s deadline to pass a resolution authorizing a proposal to display the preliminary budget and publicize or pass a resolution indicating that it will not increase the rate of any tax by more than its value. the index is January 27, with a legal deadline of January 30.

On the staff, the board approved David Herman as assistant girls’ varsity wrestling coach at a $4,597 stipend effective for the 2024-25 season.

Other personnel agenda items related to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) are noted by employee numbers, as the law does not allow the release of names.

According to the Department of Labor website, “FMLA is designed to help employees balance their work and family responsibilities by allowing them to take reasonable leave without pay for certain family and medical reasons. It also seeks to accommodate the legitimate interests of employers and promote equal employment opportunities for men and women.”

The board approved $3,290 for royalties, rentals and materials for three performances of Mary Poppins for the high school musical.

In other action, the board approved the following items: the purchase of a 2024 Transit-150 low roof replacement delivery van from New Holland Auto Group Fleet for $60,137; and a field survey of the Avis property by Hollick Land Surveying not to exceed $700.

During the public comment period, several residents in the district spoke in opposition to a possible closure of Salladasburg Elementary School, with one resident presenting the board with a petition signed by more than 400 residents opposing the move.

There were also two people who raised concerns about what they claim are changes in interactions between the council and the public during meetings.

“My main concern is communication in the district,” said Bob Pryor, of Mifflin Township.

“We have nine directors, three districts, and there is no way for taxpayers to communicate with our directors – not at all,” Pryor said.

“You can’t do it here because they’re not required to answer to us. We can’t ask them questions because we have to go through the president … we have no way to hold them accountable until four years later, in an election.” Pryor said.

He said he thinks it’s important that taxpayers can have a “forum to meet and ask our directors questions and get some answers.”

“I think it’s wrong” he said, claiming that emails and phone calls from some of the board members are going unanswered.

All taxpayers, not just those with children in the district’s schools, should have a say in the issues, he said.

“Why do they have input when not all taxpayers? You know, internet quizzes, on the district website. They know about it, so let’s be fair and not biased.” Pryor said.

Another resident, John Shireman, expressed concern that the board attorney was leading the meetings and not the board president or superintendent.

During the public comment period at the Oct. 14 meeting, board attorney Chris Kenyon intervened when a district resident began criticizing Superintendent Brian Ulmer. Kenyon warned the resident to be respectful if they wanted to continue talking.

Shireman disagreed with that interaction.

“Legal counsel is employed by the administration and school board for legal advice or legal decisions.” he said. “They have no right to run the meeting as they wish.”

Board President Michelle Stemler noted that according to board policy, the attorney as well as the board president may address individuals speaking at the podium.

The next board meeting will be at 7 p.m., Nov. 11, at the District Administration Building, 175 A&P Drive.