Brentwood Borough School District

Brentwood students were expanding their educational experiences nearby and in Pittsburgh during the final weeks of school!

First up, Moore 1st grade students visited Children's Museum of Pittsburgh and Moore 2nd graders walked to the Brentwood Volunteer Fire Station, where the students learned about the firefighters, their equipment and safety.

The 2nd grade students also donated $90 during their visit! (More field trips to come)

Elroy students in Mrs. Oliver's classroom learned all about
Summer safety during the final weeks of school.

Two Whitehall Pool lifeguards (Aliza and Delaney) were invited to visit the classroom to talk with the students about staying safe by the pool and their important job responsibilities. Students explored lifeguard equipment, learned about the importance of wearing sunscreen, asking adults permission to go into the water, and understanding why it is so important to listen carefully to lifeguard whistles and directions while at the pool and the beach.

The lifeguards also demonstrated and practiced CPR with the students. Each student also received their own whistle, pool safety coloring sheets, stickers and colorful sunglasses. Thank you for visiting our classroom to help our students enjoy Summer safely!

BRENTWOOD BOROUGH SCHOOL DISTRICT APPROVES
2026-27 BUDGET WITH NO TAX INCREASE

The Brentwood Borough Board of School Directors have approved the 2026-27 district budget and it does not include a tax increase for Brentwood residents. The Board approved the budget at its June 15 meeting.

Read the story here:
https://www.bb-sd.com/protected/ArticleView.aspx?iid=5U3000&dasi=3UGY

District Business Manager Jennifer Pesanka made the initial budget presentation at the Board’s April meeting, the Board approved a preliminary final budget at its May 11 meeting and the preliminary final budget was available for public viewing through June 12.

The Board approved a budget of $33,291,890 for 2026-27, with anticipated revenues of $33,146,420. The deficit of $145,470 will be covered from the district’s assigned fund balance for increases in salaries and benefits ($127,433) and the committed fund balance for some technology needs ($18,037).

The district’s millage rate will remain 39.1977 mills (same as last year), based on a median home value of $86,400 in Brentwood, for an average tax amount of $3,387 on a median Brentwood home in 2026-27.

“While our district continues to face rising costs, declining real estate values and new operational expenses associated with maintaining our facilities, we are grateful for the significant support provided through the Commonwealth’s Ready to Learn Grant and adjustments to Pennsylvania’s Fair Funding formula,” said Superintendent Dr. Amy Burch.

“These investments are helping us strengthen educational opportunities for our students, expand critical staffing and student services, support the transition to our new Brentwood Elementary School and responsibly manage taxpayer resources,” she added.

Primary Areas Impacting Expenses
Some of the areas with the most significant impacts on the district’s 2026-27 expenses are:

-Real estate values, which increased during COVID-19 but began to decrease last year. The downward trend in real estate values in combination with the lowering of the common level ratio continue to negatively impact the district’s revenues.
-Continuing increases in the cost of necessary school purchases, equipment, services, health insurance and benefits for staff;
-Storm water management fee, which Brentwood Borough passed during the past year and will result in a nearly $20,000 new budget expense;
-Capital improvements, which will include replacing ramps outside the Middle-High School activities building;
-Brentwood Elementary School utilities and custodial equipment purchases for the new school, which is on schedule to open September 8.

Ready to Learn Grant Provides Budget Boost
The district has benefitted from a significant increase in the Commonwealth’s Ready to Learn Grant. For many years, the district annually received $218,768 from this grant. But, due to fair funding lawsuit and fight for equitable funding, Brentwood Borough SD is receiving $2,378,179 from the Ready to Learn Grant in the upcoming year.

The foundation and adequacy portion of the Ready to Learn Grant totals nearly $2 million for Brentwood SD and in 2026-27 will fund these positions:
-Elementary Life Skills teacher;
-Elementary paraprofessional;
-High School counselor;
-Spanish teacher

The Ready to Learn Grant’s foundation and adequacy portion also will fund establishing a School Psychologist (new position). It also funds expanding the salaries and benefits for the district’s Kindergarten teachers, which includes adding a fifth Kindergarten teacher for 2026-27, the first year all Brentwood K-5 students will learn in the new Brentwood Elementary School.

The district also is making the following purchases for 2026-27 due to the increased foundation and adequacy portion of the Ready to Learn Grant:
-New Chromebooks for 6th and 9th grade students;
-Start-up purchases for the re-imagined elementary special classes (art, music, physical education, media literacy) in the new building;
-An iPad cart for the new Music Theory and Jazz classes;
-Books for Chemistry, Physics and revamped Personal Finance classes;
-New curriculum and training for middle and high school ELA teachers;
-Stools for middle school Science classroom;
-AP Summer Institute training

The district is receiving $475,497 in Tax Adequacy as part of the Ready to Learn Grant. This portion of the grant has been designated by the Board to pay for the district’s debt service payments for the GOB 2023 and 2024 series in full and 71% of the principal debt service payment for the 2025 series.

An additional grant received by the district, the School Safety Grant, will fund new software for the security cameras located at each of the district’s facilities.

Tax Collection Rate Strong and Increasing
The district has had a strong and steady collection of real estate taxes above 91 percent in recent years. The 2026-27 collection rate is projected to rise to 94.77%, with a six-year collection rate average of 92.65%.

The district also recently received approximately $1.4 million in delinquent tax revenue and much of this revenue will be used to fund the exterior ramps project at the Middle-High School (projected cost of $1-1.5 million for the work).

Brentwood Borough School District has consistently demonstrated fiscal responsibility for its residents and will continue to do so, while providing a strong educational experience for the Borough’s diverse student population.

When Brentwood Middle-High School students and staff return in September they will find a library/media center that has been completely transformed!

In the days after school ended, the district began a significant renovation of the library/media center. In addition to library books, the space will include these new features for our students and staff for the upcoming school year:

-One touch recording studio
-Podcast station
-Green screen
-Spartan Coffee
-Kitchenette
-Long S-shaped couch
-Device charging station
-Personal study booths
-Large Group Instruction space

Renderings of the exciting and welcoming new library/media center to come soon! Brentwood Borough

Congratulations to Moore Elementary School’s final class of 5th grade students on their promotion!

Kudos to the students who were selected for the Presidential Award for Academic Excellence: Gemma Bilski, Quaelyn Campbell, Hunter Garvin, Tyler Knabenshue, Damien Mittelberg, Evelyn Simcox, Xavier Sommer and Mila Yates (not all students pictured).

Congrats as well as to Amira Malloy on earning the Citizenship Award!

The Class of 2033 is ready to take on the excitement, opportunities and challenges that await at Brentwood Middle School in the Fall. Great job, ! Brentwood Borough

We're celebrating our teachers and staff who've been with Brentwood Borough School District for 20 or more years! The final group to be lauded has been educating our students for 20-24 years.

Thank you for all your dedicated and passionate service to Brentwood students and families! Brentwood Borough (Not all teachers and staff with 20-24 years of service are pictured)

Bottom, from left: Christina Dietz, Rebecca Wilson, Jennifer O’Shea, Marcia Schweitzer, Jennifer Obeldobel

Middle, from left: Rebecca Hagerty, Shawna Very, Stephanie Faust, Jackie Johnson, Jennifer Weaver, Amy Ferkett

Top, from left: Jacelyn Pulleo, Nick Caponi, Ben Miller, Dr. Jason Olexa, Melissa Sauro

Kudos to recent Brentwood High School graduate Skye Jones, who will continue her academic and athletic career at Penn State Greater Allegheny!

Skye will be a member of the women's volleyball team; good luck! Brentwood High School Athletic Boosters

Super heroes from across Brentwood converged on the Elroy Elementary School playground for the final Kindergarten graduation!

Mrs. Dietz and Mrs. Pulleo have loved watching you grow and learn over the past year!

Moore 4th grade students in Mrs. Zietak's classes wrote and illustrated their own picture book!

The students then held an "Author's Tea" celebration where they read their stories to the class, along with a "Sip Sip Hooray!" drink station where they made their own drinks with flavored water packets, fun straws and gummy candy on top.

We're celebrating our teachers and staff who've been with Brentwood Borough School District for 20 or more years! The second group to be lauded has been educating our students for 25-29 years.

Thank you for all your dedicated and passionate service to Brentwood students and families! (not all 25-29 year teachers and staff were present). Brentwood Borough

Bottom, from left: Dan Golvash, David Radcliffe, Amy Smith, Amy Kiryk, Linda Capozzoli, Lynne Golvash

Top, from left: Suzanne Ailes, Dawn Ziegler, Sheri Duing, Kristen Cramer, Sharon Monahan, Jennifer Ditoro