The Pennridge School Board Monday, April 27 approved the hiring of Anita Whalen as the new principal of Bedminster Elementary School.
Whelan, who is replacing outgoing Bedminster Principal Howard Vogel, currently serves as a K-12 instructional coach for English Language Arts and Mathematics. She previously served as an eighth-grade mathematics teacher at North Middle School as well as a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBIS) team leader and has contributed to multiple district committees, including curriculum development, comprehensive planning and the district’s AI committee, said a district press release.
“Anita represents the very best of Pennridge. She has demonstrated excellence in the classroom, leadership among her colleagues, and dedication to our students and families,” said Superintendent Angelo Berrios in a statement. “As both an educator and a member of this community, she understands what makes Pennridge special and what our students need to succeed. I believe she will be an outstanding principal for Bedminster Elementary School and will lead with a strong focus on students, building relationships, and continued growth.”
Whalen holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Gwynedd-Mercy College, a Master of Science in Secondary Mathematics from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a principal certificate. She also holds certifications in Middle School Mathematics, English/Language Arts and Social Studies. She began teaching in 2010 and joined the Pennridge School District in 2016, said the release.
Whelan’s contract, effective July 1, includes an annual salary of $149,696.
Budget deficit
The board revealed that the administration is currently working on closing a projected $5.8 million budget deficit for the 2026-2027 school year. Board president Carolyn Sciarrino and board member Thomas Trauger attributed the deficit to a number of challenges facing Pennsylvania school districts, including reduced local and state funding amid rising expenses, namely special education, cyber charter tuition and operational costs.
“We in public education are facing a perfect storm based on some external factors,” said Trauger. “Unfunded mandates, special education costs and state-mandated charter tuition continue to outpace our revenue. Local revenue growth has slowed due to high interest rates and a lack of new development. Essentially, our fixed costs are rising faster than the state and local economy are providing new revenue.”
The administration is currently reviewing all district contracts, services and staffing and seeking to bolster cheaper in-house programs rather than contracting with costly external entities, including the district’s cyber program, said the board. Members promised to balance the budget without sacrificing students’ quality of education.
“We’re continuing to examine every option to reduce this gap while preserving the quality of education and ensuring the safety of our students,” said Sciarrino.
Adoption of the final budget is scheduled for June.
Ski and snowboard trip
The board approved a ski and snowboard trip to either Western United States or Canada from February 11 to 16, 2027. The trip is limited to approximately 12-21 high school juniors and seniors, with a 4:1 student to chaperone ratio. The district has successfully run the trip for the previous 11 years, excluding the winter of 2021 due to COVID.
The board also approved an updated district calendar, with an additional staff-in service day on June 11 to make up for the January 26 snow day. The last day for students remains June 9.
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