The South Williamsport Area School board scheduled commencement for 7 p.m. on June 5, with a rain date of 10:30 a.m. on June 6. If the forecast calls for rain both days, graduation will be indoors at 7 p.m. on June 5.

Superintendent Dr. Eric Briggs presented the Lauretta Woodson Support Staff Award for Lycoming County to Linda Crawley and the Teacher of the Year Finalist to Melanie Rojas at the board’s Tuesday meeting.

“The purpose of the award is to recognize such staff members who’ve exhibited creativity, initiative, or productivity in the learning process and growth of children,” Briggs said.

“Melanie has led much of the work in the area of literacy in our K-12 systems. She is a Title I teacher at Central Elementary School. She completes all Acadience data, beginning, middle and end of the year, and helps lead programs after school, like family engagement programs,” he said.

“Linda does an excellent job in and outside of the classroom. She also supports Title I programming, and helps in planning and preparation for all tasks within that program, along with supporting some of our Title I evening and family engagement nights,” Briggs said, wishing the two the best of luck as they move on to compete county-wide.

The board then approved the proposed final budget for the 2026-27 school year. The budget continues to include a .50 mil tax increase, though the board will take a deeper dive to find ways to lessen that during its first meeting in June.

In financial matters, the board reappointed McNerney, Page, Vanderlin and Hall as school district solicitor for the 2026-27 school year, at a rate of $195 per hour, with paralegal services at $135 per hour; and approved Nutrition, Inc. to oversee the district’s cafeteria for the 2026-27 school year, with a guaranteed district profit of $16,346.38.

Following discussion and a presentation by Briggs, the budget now includes the addition of an additional teacher for Central Elementary, in an effort to reduce class sizes.

Briggs also continued discussions into parent concerns, including presentations on dual enrollment partnerships, workforce graduation pathways and a trauma-informed approach policy.

The board will discuss possible changes to the final budget at its next meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, June 1.