ROARING SPRING — Like most districts across the commonwealth, the Spring Cove School District is surrounded by uncertainty while awaiting progress in state and federal funding, both of which were discussed at Monday night’s board meeting.

Now more than 100 days late, Superintendent Betsty Baker said it is “unlikely” that the state will approve the budget before December.

While taking money from their fund balance to cover costs, Baker said “hopefully the state will pass the budget before we run out.”

The district also is waiting for federal funds as the government approaches its 14th day of being shut down. Without funding, the Bureau of Food and Nutrition stopped subsidizing Spring Cove for its school meals at the end of September, according to Baker.

Like their solution for dealing with state budget impasse, the district will also continue to use money from their fund balance to pay for school lunches in October until federal funding is restored, she said.

Because the district isn’t receiving federal funding at this time, they are stopping cyber charter school tuition payments to “extend our funds as long as possible,” she said.

Board Vice President Amy Acker-Knisley said she was “fine with that” because the district would have to shell out almost $1 million for 47 students.

Stating that she is “not against” cyber charter school, she said there is “no cap” on tuition costs.

Baker agreed with Acker-Knisley, saying the board has passed multiple resolutions in the past to find a cap on cyber tuition prices.

According to business manager Steven Foor, a standard education cyber student for the 2025-26 school year costs $12,878.22, while a special education cyber student costs $25,145.38.

Baker said overall cyber charter enrollment is decreasing from 51 students in 2024 to 32 students in 2025.

Like Spring Cove, she said cyber charter schools will “have to wait until our subsidy is restored in order to receive their tuition payment.”

Looking into the future, the adjusted Act 1 Index for a 2026-27 tax increase without a preliminary budget is 4.8%, she said.

That number — determined by the state — is the most their district can increase for next year, Baker said, but the resolution states they cannot raise taxes above that number.

It does not mean that the district will raise taxes next year, however, she added.

Last year, the index was 5.4%, but there was not a tax increase for the 2025-26 school year.

When asked about former music teacher Janelle Parker’s employment status, Baker said she cannot comment on personnel matters.

Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.