SV approves vo-tech, MIU budgets
JACKSON TWP — Seneca Valley’s school board approved its share of funding for the Butler County Area Vocational-Technical School and Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV budgets for the 2026-27 fiscal year at its meeting Monday, March 9.
The board approved the funding unanimously.
The contributions represent a small part of the district’s overall funding that still serves a large number of students.
The total proposed 2026-27 budget for vo-tech is $7.571 million. District contributions vary by number of students attending from individual school systems.
A number for Seneca Valley’s share of 2026-27 funding was not immediately available, but the district has one of the highest enrollments in Butler County. According to numbers provided by the vo-tech last February, Seneca Valley had around 166 students enrolled at that time. Board members said last week Seneca Valley’s vo-tech enrollment has over doubled over the past 10 to 15 years.
In 2025-26, Seneca Valley provided about $892,000 in funds for the county vo-tech.
The school board also approved a contribution of just over $161,000 to the MIU IV’s general operating budget for 2026-27.
The amount is calculated on October 2026 Pennsylvania Information Management System information according to the district. The MIU’s overall operating budget will be $4.55 million.
The MIU IV serves 27 school districts and three vo-tech programs across Butler, Lawrence and Mercer counties. It provides a wide range of specialized education services and various support programs, including special education, early intervention and inclusion support. However, special education is not included in the general operating budget, interim executive director Brenda Marino said.
Maureen Werwie, business manager for MIU IV, said the general operating budget is “a small slice of what we do.” It is largely made up of administrative costs and “basic service areas.”
“At the IU, we don’t have a tax base, so we need to establish how we’re going to pay for what makes all the other programs work. And that’s what the meat of this budget is,” Werwie said.
