The Weatherly Area School Board voted 6 to 3 to approve the 2026-2027 final budget, that includes a 2.5% or 1.28 mill tax increase. That brings the total mills to 52.6235. According to the budget, the total budgeted expenditures will be $19,702,500.

The school board also voted 6 to 3 to approve the 2026-2027 Taxing Resolution.

School Board members Gerard Grega, Tryee Harris, and Bonita Barbush voted against both measures; April Walters, William Knepper, Barbara Sipler, Ryan Binder, Laura Marasco, and James Provizzi voted in favor of the budget and the resolution.

The School Board also voted 7 to 2 to pass the Homestead Resolution.

A heated argument took place when it came time to approve the agreement with TGS (Total Grant Solutions) for the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 school years at $2,000 per month.

“I’m against this grant writing cost completely,” School Board Member Gerard Grega said.

“Why?” member Laura Marasco asked.

“It’s another knee-jerk reaction, that our board’s not thinking correctly,” Grega responded.

“A knee-jerk reaction to have a grant-writing service to provide extra funds for school district when we don’t have it?” Marasco asked.

“Yes, it’s a knee-jerk reaction, which is the wrong direction,” Grega replied.

Marasco said that the grant-writing service has the potential to raise money in the millions, a way to get money, not from the tax payers; but, from an entire pool of statewide funds that are meant to be given to school districts.

“You’re not going to see the money,” Grega answered, “that’s the problem.”

The board voted 8 to 1 to approve the agreement.