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America First Policy Institute
Local Policy Brief
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| 📅 Thursday, November 12, 2026 to Calendar |
| 📄 View Official Agenda |
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We reviewed the upcoming agenda for Centennial SD and found 4 items with policy significance ahead of the vote.
| WATCH (LEVEL 5) |
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District to Fund Attendance at PASBO Lobbying Association Conference
The Finance Committee is recommending approval for the Business Administrator to attend the 2027 Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials (PASBO) Annual Conference at a cost of up to $822. PASBO is a professional association that lobbies the state legislature on school finance and operations, influencing policy on topics like state funding and taxation.
Policy Use
TRACK AND DOCUMENT: Item 8.3 approves funding for attendance at the PASBO conference, an association that lobbies on school finance. Add Centennial SD to the state tracker for districts influenced by PASBO’s legislative agenda. Monitor PASBO’s legislative priorities to anticipate the district’s stance on key fiscal bills.
Policy Lever: $822 Local Funds
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| WATCH (LEVEL 4) |
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District Applied for State Mental Health and Safety Grant
The October 15 minutes note the district applied for a $328,456 Mental Health and Safety Grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). The specific programs or positions to be funded by this grant are not detailed in the agenda materials.
Policy Use
WATCH: The October 15 minutes (approved under Item 4.1) mention a $328,456 PCCD Mental Health and Safety Grant application. Request the grant application from the district to identify the specific programs and any attached conditions. Monitor for the grant award announcement.
Policy Lever: $328,456 State Grant
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✅ Models to Replicate
Local actions worth capturing as model policy.
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| Model Policy (LEVEL 8) |
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Committee Implements Stronger Oversight of External Funding
The October 15 minutes detail a discussion about improving oversight of external funding requests. The committee agreed to require that all funding requests explicitly detail both one-time and recurring costs to better understand the total, long-term financial impact on the district’s five-year forecast.
How to Capture It
CAPTURE THE MODEL: The October 15 minutes (approved under Item 4.1) document a committee-level agreement to require full disclosure of one-time and recurring costs for all external funding requests. Capture the language from the ‘External Funding Process’ section as a model policy for fiscal transparency and preventing funding cliffs. This is a strong example for testimony and state model policy development.
✅ Why It Matters: Fiscal Transparency
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| Model Policy (LEVEL 7) |
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District Reports Significant Reduction in Out-of-District Placements
The October 15 minutes report a significant reduction in students sent to out-of-district placements, from 119 last year to 67 this year. The administration framed this as a ‘huge win’ for both supporting students within the district and for staying under budget on these costly placements.
How to Capture It
CAPTURE THE MODEL: The October 15 minutes (approved under Item 4.1) document a successful reduction in costly out-of-district placements from 119 to 67 students. Capture the language from section 6.1.2 of the minutes as a model for testimony on fiscally responsible special education management. The district’s focus on process over default placements is a key replicable element.
✅ Why It Matters: Fiscal Savings (unquantified)
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District Leadership
| Address |
48 Swan Way, Warminster, PA 18974 |
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America First Policy Institute |