Neshaminy Approves Budget With Tax Hike Amid Music Program Changes

A sign at the Neshaminy School District offices. File photo.

The Neshaminy School Board approved a $221 million budget Tuesday night by a 6-3 vote after hearing passionate public comment from students, parents, and teachers concerned about changes to the district’s music program.

The 2025-2026 school year budget includes a 4.7 percent tax increase. The increase will be an additional $236 in taxes for the average assessed home.

Even with the tax increase, the district must use $2 million from its fund balance to cover expenses.

School Board Vice President Tina Hollenbach, who chairs the Business Operations Committee, noted there were difficult budget decisions that had to be made.

“This by far has been the most challenging budget I’ve ever seen,” said Hollenbach, who has served on the board for more than nine years.

“We had to take an increase of over $2 million, which is health care, which we can’t get rid of, and special education,” Hollenbach explained. “That’s a total increase of over $4 million.”

Numerous speakers addressed the board, with the vast majority opposing music program changes. Students, parents, teachers and community members filled the board meeting room at Maple Point Middle School and spilled into the hallway.

Due to a music teaching retiring, the district reworked staffing and reassigned several music educators to different schools and instruments outside their specialties.

Valerie Graves, a Levittown resident with two children at Carl Sandburg Middle School in Middletown Township, thanked the board for listening but urged reconsideration.

“If this position is removed, we’re not cutting staff. We are closing a door on future musicians, artists and dreamers,” she said.

The proposed changes eliminate the position of retiring music teacher and reassign other music teachers to different schools.

Carly Lewis, a music teacher for Neshaminy, has led orchestra programs at Poquessing Middle School and Joseph Ferderbar Elementary School in Lower Southampton Township for nine years. She told the board how the changes would affect her program.

“Right now I teach two full days of strings to both third and fourth grade students at Ferderbar,” Lewis said. “Under the new plan, I’m not only being removed from that program that I’ve spent nine years building, but it’s being handed to a band teacher, Tim Russell, who will be disservice by only having one day to serve a similar number of students.”

Lewis warned that the time reduction would force enrollment caps and reduce program numbers.

“Students will ultimately be turned away from this program,” she said.

Several current and former students spoke about the music program’s impact on their lives.

Sarah Kramer, a 2024 graduate who is now attending Brown University, credited the district’s music department with helping her achieve her academic goals.

“I firmly do not believe that I would have been able to do this without the skill and advantages I have gained from the music department,” Kramer said. “The Neshaminy music programs allow students to show they are versatile, have strong time management skills and are committed to their goals.”

Student Sarah Harvey criticized the decision by the district.

School board members noted the passion of the public speakers while noting their fiscal responsibilities.

Board Member Carlos Rodriguez, whose daughter participates in the music program, said the administration and music department need to work together on implementation on the changes.

“The budget got passed tonight. I think we really need to look at the recommendations a little closer,” Rodriguez said. “Pick it apart. Each step. Show how it’s going to work.”

Board Member Beth Marshall said that the conversation about music programming will continue beyond the budget vote.

“The future of the music department is and will continue to be an ongoing conversation because everybody truly cares about music and cares about the children and the students and the future of the district,” she said.

Marshall said the public feedback is being taken into consideration as the district plans for the next school year.

Hollenbach stressed that no programs are being eliminated and no teachers are being laid off.

She highlighted that district will move forward with nine positions as the music department loses one of its 10 teachers due to retirement.

“We are not cutting the music program,” Hollenbach said. “We as a district have chosen to not furlough or lay anyone off under extreme economic decisions.”

She noted that the lead music teacher was involved in scheduling discussions and that 13 of the teacher’s recommendations were incorporated into the final plan.

Board Member John Allen said the district is doing their best with the resources they have, pointing the 2025-2026 budget.

Board Member Erin Brosious said “music is life” and she appreciates the hard work of the music teachers in Neshaminy.

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