(1/25) The Fairfield Area School District Board of Directors is several months away from discussing its 2025-26 budget, but it has already committed to not raising taxes more than what is allowed by the state.
During their December meeting, the board unanimously adopted the Act 1 Resolution, indicating that the Fairfield Area School District will not raise taxes by more than 4.8% for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. Each year, Pennsylvania school districts must choose between adoption of either a preliminary general fund budget or stating that taxes will not be raised above the school district's Act 1 adjusted index. The Act 1 index represents the maximum tax increase a school district can levy without Pennsylvania Department of Education or voter approval. The motion does not necessarily mean the board will increase taxes.
The board also learned from Elementary School Principal Colleen Rebert that its elementary school’s Future Ready Score is 73.6, placing it in the middle of Adams County school districts. The Future Ready PA Index is a collection of school progress measures related to school and student success. The Index includes a range of assessment, on-track, and readiness indicators. Conewago Valley’s New Oxford Elementary School sits at the highest of Adams County districts with a score of 84.1 and Littlestown’s Alloway Creek Elementary School has the lowest with 64.2.
Rebert reported the district’s third graders scored a 65% proficiency rate in Reading as a result of the the 2023-24 Pennsylvania System of School Assessment. Fourth graders scored an 84% proficiency rate.
In Math, third graders scored a 74% proficiency rate and fourth graders scored 54%. Fourth graders were 93% proficiency in Science.
"We really need to address why our Math scores are an issue," Aaron Taylor,
assistant to the superintendent for curriculum, special education and student services, said.
Rebert said the elementary school is implementing a school-wide framework that uses a team approach to help all students grow and succeed. They are also using a What I Need (W.I.N.) block, which is time set aise for meeting individual needs. Teachers provide students with intervention, enrichment, and/or instruction during W.I.N. blocks, Rebert said.
Taylor reported 40.9% of Fairfield students are economically disadvantaged and 18.1% are in special education programs. The district educates 940 students, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics.
"Everyone of our students makes up a significant percentage because we are very small," Taylor said.
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