Spring Cove board members discussed an adjusted Act 1 Index for the 2026-27 school year at Monday night’s board meeting.

According to Superintendent Betsy Baker, next year’s index will be set at 4.8%, which is a 0.6% decrease from this year.

Although the board will vote on an Act 1 resolution in November, Baker brought the topic to the board for further discussion if necessary.

Board Vice President Amy Acker-Knisely asked for Baker to clarify the numbers to the board before moving on with the session.

After the meeting, Baker said it is “too early” to determine if the board will vote to raise taxes for next year after considering the state budget impasse and the federal shutdown.

“We have to put the budget together and then present it to them to see what direction they want to go,” she said, adding that “we will not exceed 4.8%, I can tell you that.”

In other news, Spring Cove cyber charter enrollment has declined, returning to “pre-COVID” numbers, she said.

The total tuition for 2024-25 is $681,872.99, which is $318,000 less than the previous year’s total, according to Baker.

Considering the state budget impasse, she said cyber charter reform is “unlikely” while adding that this year’s proposals would save Pennsylvania schools $175 million.

“If cyber charter reform truly is ‘off the table,’ that is extremely unfortunate for the taxpayers of Pennsylvania,” she said.

The board also approved six policies in final reading, including an interscholastic policy that allows students to use their own name, image and likeness for activities such as commercial endorsements, promotional activities and social media presence.

District employees and anyone affiliated with the PIAA are “prohibited from soliciting, arranging, negotiating or paying for a student’s use of their name, image and likeness and/or the provision of consideration to a student for the use of their name, image and likeness,” according to the policy.

When asked at last week’s meeting, Baker said it’s a new, required policy that was originally for professionals at the collegiate level. In today’s world, however, it is allowed with adopted policies.

Spring Cove hasn’t dealt with student name and image likeness yet, she said, but the district may have to face it in the future.

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