Hazleton Area SD approves proposed budget and multiple consent items; community to see final budget in June

The Hazleton Area School District board on May 22 approved a series of routine consent items and took a procedural vote on a proposed budget that the administration said is required to move toward a final adoption on June 27.

Superintendent’s staff presented multiple consent blocks: curriculum and instruction items (1–8), special-education adjustments (items 9–25), technology and athletics contracts, and finance items (50–70). The board approved the grouped motions by voice vote throughout the meeting. A motion to pay the bills passed with Mister Reba recorded as abstaining.

On the budget, an administration spokesperson said the board’s vote that evening was on a proposed budget required by law to enable further public review and final action in June. The administrator said the district is projecting an additional $20,000,000 from the state but cautioned that the final figure will not be known until after June 30. The superintendent’s office also said the district increased the homestead exclusion by $47; in one illustrative example on the district website that was discussed, the net annual change for a homeowner could be roughly a $30 decrease after the credit is applied, depending on assessed value.

Board members asked for clarification about staffing and spending: the district said it allocated about $1,000,000 from food-service fund surplus (from COVID-era ESSER years) to replace antiquated kitchen equipment across schools and explained plans to auction or scrap old equipment. Members also questioned a proposed security position whose total compensation was described in discussion as increasing from roughly $75,000 (previous single‑person role) to a $235,000 figure for the restructured position; administrators said the new role would include broader campus supervision duties.

Votes at a glance: the board approved minutes from April 25, 2024; treasury and finance reports for April 2024; grouped consent items across curriculum, special education, transportation, technology and athletics (items 1–104 across multiple blocks); appointed Samuel Hyder to a campus/capital security role (item 26) after a question about cost; approved payroll and accounts‑payable items; and advanced the proposed budget to further public hearings. The board scheduled additional budget discussions and public meetings in June.

What’s next: the district plans additional budget workshops and public meetings in June, with a final budget vote set for June 27; administration said state aid figures may still change after the fiscal year close.