Rose Tree Media School District Update - February 2026
K-1 Center / Budgeting Discussion
The school district is in the final stages of preparing its land development package for submission to Middletown Township Council. They’re going to file it this month in anticipation of the April council meetings.
“A lot of the key components are together and then we’ll be working on construction documents after we get everything approved in design development. We are still in discussions with the church property owners. There is that little sliver - it’s about a quarter acre of land - that has an easement from PennDOT…There has been some back and forth with the two legal teams and we’ll see where that stands at the end of this month. There has been a formal appraisal of the land so it gives a good relative value of what it’s worth. That should help in formulating this purchase acquisition.” - Feb 12 Work Session
The school district is applying for a grant to cover the $2.5 million cost of redirecting Rose Tree Road.
“Will the district pick up the $2.5 million for the the project if we don’t get the the grants for the road work? Yes.” - Feb 12 Work Session
Negotiations continue with the neighboring church for the land required to do this project.
“That is in the appraisal…it’s about $100,000, that’s what you would pay the church for this little piece of land.” - Feb 12 Work Session
The proposed school tax increase will result in an additional $212 cost per year for the median-assessed home in the district. They’re doing this to offset increased costs.
Teachers in the district are staying for longer, which is great for students but increases salaries and pensions.
“This graph depicts some of our major cost driver. They’re actual figures, and you can see the green [Pennsylvania School Employees’ Retirement System] line going to the sky” - March 2 Budget Workshop
The district also pays for anyone attending cyber charter school (largely high schoolers). There’s a strategy to find elementary and middle school students currently in cyber charters to bring them back to the district before they reach high school. Additionally, the most recent Pennsylvania budget should give some relief here next year.
“We have 40 students who attend a cyber charter school and 52% of them are in general education. 48% are in special education and the total cost to the district for this year will be just over $1 million.” - March 2 Budget Workshop
You can watch the meetings in their entirety here:
