The
Neshaminy Board of School Directors met in public session on February 12,
2002 in the Board Room of the District Offices, Maple Point Middle School.
The following persons were in attendance:
BOARD MEMBERS:
|
ADMINISTRATORS:
|
Mr.
Steven Schoenstadt, President
|
Dr.
Gary Bowman
|
Mrs.
June Bostwick, Vice President
|
Mr.
Harry Jones
|
Mrs.
Yvonne Butville
Mr. Harry Dengler, Jr. |
Mr.
Joseph Paradise
Mr. P. Howard Wilson |
Ms.
Carol Drioli
|
Mr.
Bruce Wyatt
|
Mr.
Richard Eccles
|
|
George
Mecleary, Jr., Esq.
Dr. William Spitz |
OTHERS: Approximately
eight persons from the public, staff and press
|
BOARD MEMBER NOT PRESENT:
Mrs. Kimberly Jowett |
|
SECRETARY:
Mrs. Carol Calvello
|
|
1. Call to Order
Mr.
Schoenstadt called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. Pledge of
Allegiance
Mr.
Schoenstadt requested those in attendance join in the salute to the flag.
3. Announcements
Mr.
Schoenstadt announced Mrs. Calvello, Board Secretary, has submitted her
resignation. The position has
been advertised. The deadline
for submitting an application for the Board Secretary position is February
20. Mrs. Calvello�s last meeting will be the February 26 Public
Meeting. The goal is to have
the new Board Secretary on board for the March 12 Public Work Session.
Dr. Bowman advised the Board a
letter dated January 15 has been received announcing Mr. Paul Minotti,
Director of Facilities and Engineering, has been granted a renewal of his
status of Pennsylvania Registered School Business Official for a period of
four years. Dr. Bowman noted
to obtain this status Mr. Minotti attended continuing education programs,
obtained a certain number of credits and is in good professional standing
with the Association. Mr.
Schoenstadt presented to Mr. Minotti the Pennsylvania Association of
School Business Officials Certificate signed by the Association�s
President and Executive Director.
Dr.
Bowman announced a thank you letter and gift of Florida oranges was
received from Mr. Joseph Pishl.
Mr. Pishl was one of
the World War II veterans recently awarded a high school diploma. Since Mr. Pishl resides in Florida, his high school diploma
was mailed to him.
4. Public
Comment
No
public comment was presented.
5. Items for
Discussion
Mr.
Schoenstadt recommended since there was not sufficient support for the
Board to take any action on the Berkheimer Tax Study, agenda item 5b,
Update of Berkheimer Tax Study, be tabled.
Mr. Dengler moved agenda item 5b, Update of Berkheimer Tax
Study, be tabled and Mrs. Bostwick seconded the motion.
The Board approved the motion with eight ayes.
Mr. Schoenstadt recommended
any discussion on the bond issue for renovations and construction, agenda
item 5c, be referred to the Building Utilization/Finance Committee.
He noted BASCO�s recommendations and the five plans being
developed have not been received. Until
the costs are known, any bond issue discussions would be premature. A meeting is to be scheduled with the Building
Utilization/Finance Committee members and BASCO�s representatives some
time this month. There was
Board consensus to refer agenda item 5c, Future Bond Issue and Renovations
and Construction, to the Building Utilization/Finance Committee.
Mr. Schoenstadt referred to
the ten renovation questions sheet distributed prior to the meeting, and
noted the ten questions relate to the discussions that will take place at
the Building Utilization/Finance Committee Meeting.
He recommended after obtaining the necessary information, the
committee review the ten questions and present a recommendation to the
Board based on the ten questions. This
will allow the Board to have more positive information to evaluate.
There was Board consensus for Mr. Schoenstadt�s recommendation.
The ten questions will be addressed by the Building
Utilization/Finance Committee.
a.
Future Use of Tawanka
Dr.
Bowman advised the Board at a recent meeting with the Tawanka School Home
and School Association, the uses of the Tawanka facility were discussed. At the meeting, it was indicated the recommendation to the
Board is to open the facility as an educational center/Neshaminy�s
alternative school. The
school will be operated and administered by Neshaminy personnel.
Dr. Bowman stated the residents� questions were addressed
very directly and openly. The
residents were invited to contact the Superintendent if they have any
further questions. As a
result of the meeting, Dr. Bowman felt the residents understand what will
take place. The following
commitments were made:
�
The school property will be maintained.
�
Building will be maintained.
�
Playground will be available to the
community as it is now. The
residents have elected to keep the playground equipment in place at the
Tawanka School.
·
Facility will continue to be available
to the community.
Dr.
Bowman stated all these factors add up to a community feeling comfortable
that the Board will follow through with its commitments.
He noted the primary goal is to have the school open for September
2002 as an alternative school/educational center.
Consideration will be given to other uses for other areas of the
facility. The Bucks County
Peace Center, Bucks County Intermediate Unit and Lower Southampton
Recreation Board have expressed an interest in using a portion of the
facility. Utilization of the
facility as an alternative school will require only minimal changes, i.e.,
installation of accordion gates to close off corridors.
No major expenses are anticipated.
Ms.
Drioli asked the Board to consider the needs of the Lower Southampton
Recreation Board. The Lower
Southampton Recreation Board is interested in using a portion of the
Tawanka facility to provide activities for both children and adults.
She stated two years ago, the Board made a commitment to the
community that the property of any closed facility would be maintained for
use by the community.
Ms.
Drioli inquired if the Neshaminy Federation of Teachers (NFT) will be
supportive of Neshaminy’s alternative school.
Dr. Bowman stated as an organization representing teachers, the NFT
did what they thought they needed to do in reference to taking a position. The NFT was not overly aggressive in that process.
The NFT will make sure the contract is enforced.
He felt the NFT is pleased that the District will have its own
alternative school. Mr.
Wilson noted the alternative school will probably provide opportunities
for some of the staff members leaving the Tawanka School.
Dr. Bowman
explained the final budget will reflect the reductions made as a result of
closing a school and the reallocation of funds from external schools to
the opening of the internal school. When
the Board approves the budget, it will approve all of the resources.
Mr.
Wilson alerted the Board some money will continue to be paid to external
alternative schools for incarcerated youths and the more violent students
who will not be placed in Neshaminy’s alternative school/educational
center. He estimated the alternative school/educational center will
open with an enrollment of 40 to 50 students.
It is estimated by Neshaminy operating its own alternative
school/educational center there will be a savings of $200,000 to $300,000.
Dr.
Bowman reviewed the following cost components:
·
Savings from closing of Tawanka School
·
Expenditure of funds to open the
Tawanka facility as an alternative school
·
Reallocation of funds from external
schools to internal school
·
There will be a net savings
None
of the Board members indicated they were opposed to the administration
proceeding with the process of preparing the alternative
school/educational center for a September 2002 opening.
Dr. Bowman stated the administration will proceed with the process
of preparing the alternative school/educational center for opening in
September 2002.
b.
Update of Berkheimer Tax
Study
Agenda
item tabled earlier in the meeting.
c.
Future Bond Issue for
Renovations and Construction
Issue
referred to Building Utilization/Finance Committee.
d.
Bucks County Technical
School Funding Method Projects/Bond Issue
Information
distributed prior to the meeting. Dr.
Bowman, Mr. Paradise and Mrs. Donovan have been attending meetings at the
Bucks County Technical High School pertaining to the funding methods
issue. Dr. Bowman explained
when the decision was made to build the new Bucks County Technical High
School, a commitment was made to the Morrisville School District that the
Technical High School Board and Superintendents would examine the funding
formula. The Superintendents
have met and the Business Administrators have had several meetings
individually. The
participating smaller school districts would like to pay less.
For the smaller school districts to pay less, the larger school
districts will have to pay more.
Mr.
Dengler explained to make any changes, the bylaws require that one
District propose the change and all of the Districts support the change.
The approval must take place at each Boards’ local Board Meeting.
Dr. Bowman pointed out if one district out of the six school
districts participating in the Bucks County Technical High School does not
approve the change, the funding formula cannot be amended.
Mr. Schoenstadt suggested the Board take a position and Mrs.
Butville and Mr. Dengler advise the Technical High School Board of the
District’s position. Dr.
Bowman advised the Board that at this time no official response is needed.
Mr.
Paradise explained the Bucks County Technical High School funding formula
includes two parts, fixed costs and variable costs.
The fixed costs, a list of certain expenditures, are defined in the
bylaws. When the bylaws were
first adopted, the fixed costs comprised 30 percent of the budget. Over
time, as the budget grew, the fixed costs dollar amount remained similar
but the percentage dropped as the rest of the budget grew.
The variable costs are enrollment based.
As the fixed percentage decreased, the variable percentage
increased. Even though the
Morrisville and Bristol Borough School Districts’ student enrollment in
the school has not increased, the districts are paying more in variable
costs, because the charge per student has increased.
Mr.
Paradise noted the information distributed includes two proposals to
address the issue. Proposal
no. 1 is the current formula. The
two new proposals are as follows:
Proposal
No. 2
·
Eliminate the list of expenditures
outlined in the bylaws as fixed costs.
·
Change the fixed costs percentage to
50 percent of whatever the budget is each year.
·
Change the variable costs percentage
to 50 percent based on enrollment.
Proposal
No. 3
·
Eliminate the list of expenditures
outlined in the bylaws as fixed costs.
·
Return fixed costs percentage to where
it was when the bylaws were adopted, 30 percent.
Mr.
Paradise pointed out it will be difficult to get all six participating
school districts to agree to the proposed changes.
He reviewed the information distributed outlining the projected
district share contributions. By
increasing the fixed costs percentage to 50 percent, Neshaminy’s
2002-2003 contribution would increase from $1,534,405 to $1,758,550.
Dr. Bowman noted the other proposal (proposal no. 3), which would
set the fixed costs percentage at 30 percent, would result in
Neshaminy’s 2002-2003 contribution increasing from $1,534,405 to
$1,632,713. Proposal no. 3
would result in very little change for the Bristol Borough School District
and a $40,000 reduction for the Morrisville School District.
The Bristol Township School District’s cost would decrease
slightly because they have such a large enrollment at the Technical High
School. The Pennsbury School
District’s cost would increase slightly more than Neshaminy’s
increased cost. Under the
current formula, even though Neshaminy’s enrollment in the Technical
High School has decreased, Dr. Bowman has been advised the District’s
share of the cost will probably be the same as this year’s amount.
Mrs.
Butville stated Neshaminy is not currently filling its enrollment
allotment. Mr. Schoenstadt
pointed out all the Neshaminy special education students who apply to the
Technical High School are not accepted.
He felt the Technical High School’s selection process is
discriminatory and needs to be addressed.
Dr. Bowman explained every year a team of people from Neshaminy,
who serve as the students’ advocate, is sent to the Technical High
School to argue the case for Neshaminy’s special education students.
Approximately 80 percent of the special education students who
apply to the Technical High School are accepted.
Mr.
Paradise explained the district share of cost chart includes total cost. The District’s debt service, which is not included in the
funding formula, is included in the chart. The debt service formula for
the smaller school districts was previously adjusted and is not in
question. Only the funding
formula (fixed costs and variable costs) is being challenged by the
smaller school districts.
6. Items for
Approval
a.
Overnight Trips
Trip
information distributed for the following trips was self-explanatory:
·
Neshaminy High School (Class of 2003) Junior Class Trip
to Williamsburg, VA – April 26-28, 2003
·
Neshaminy High School (Class of
2004) Junior Class Trip to Williamsburg, VA – April 25-27, 2003
·
Carl Sandburg Middle School
Leatherback Turtle Project Group Trip to Sea World, Florida – April
24-26
Dr.
Bowman reminded the Board members due to the events of September 11, the
2002 junior class trip was canceled.
The trip has been rescheduled for next year when the students are
seniors. Ordinarily there is
no senior class trip. He noted dates of the seniors’ junior class trip are April 26-28
and the dates of the juniors’ trip are April 25-27.
The students will be following each other through the program, but
they will not be at the same spot on any one day.
Mrs.
Butville questioned whether the students of the class of 2003 will be
interested in the trip to Williamsburg next year.
Mr. Wyatt explained in order for the trip to be held, 25 percent of
the class must participate in the trip or it will be cancelled. Since the administration wanted to obtain approval of the
trip prior to conducting a survey, the class has not been surveyed yet.
The students will be informed of the trip well in advance of the trip.
In
response to questions about overlapping the two trips, Mr. Wyatt explained
for ten years the trip to Williamsburg has been held with tremendous
success. If the trips are held in the same timeframe, there would be
one large attendance disruption to the school rather than two disruptions.
There is no savings regarding the cost of hotels, transportation,
etc. Dr. Bowman
explained having two individual trips will be more manageable than having
one large trip.
Dr.
Bowman explained the group of Sandburg
Middle School students who developed a program on saving the leatherback
turtles were to travel to Costa Rico, but the trip was canceled due to the
events of September 11. The
students entered Sea World’s national contest to submit proposals and
projects related to any part of the Sea World philosophy and mission. The
Sandburg students’ proposal was one of eight accepted across the nation.
As a result of this, all expenses will be paid for three eighth
grade students’ trip to Sea World.
Since the students will receive the $10,000 first prize, the study
will continue and possibly the students will travel to Costa Rico next
year. There will be no
expense to the District for the trip.
Currently, three students are traveling to Sea World.
An effort is being made to have a fourth student included in the
trip.
There
was Board consensus for the three trips.
b.
Settlement and Release
Agreement for Student
Mr.
Wilson advised the Board the parents of one of the District’s special
education students want their child to attend a non-approved special
education school. In such
situations, the parents are asked to sign a waiver so they cannot come
back against the District because the IEP is not being implemented.
The settlement and release agreement will be an agenda item at the
February Public Meeting.
c.
Appointment of Ten
Trustees to the Neshaminy Student Loan Fund
Dr.
Bowman explained a number of years ago a scholarship program was
established. Under the
program, money was raised and scholarships were made available to the
students. When the students graduated college, they were to repay the
money. The repaid funds were
used to grant more scholarships. In accordance with the bylaws, the
program had twelve trustees. Currently,
there only two trustees, Messrs. Deering and Piscitelli. Since there
was a huge sum of money outstanding and the trustees did not know how to
go about collecting the outstanding funds, the program has been inactive
for the past 14 to 15 years. Eventually,
no one was applying for the scholarships and no scholarships were granted.
It would cost more to pursue collecting the outstanding funds than
would be collected. There is
a balance in the fund of $17,000.
Dr.
Bowman explained the two remaining trustees have proposed that the $17,000
be turned over to the Neshaminy Education Foundation with the stipulation
that the only money that can be spent is interest earned.
It will become a perpetual sum of money in the Foundation fund.
To achieve this, ten people need to be appointed to the Board of
Trustees, which would bring the total number of trustees to twelve.
Dr.
Bowman recommended ten people, possibly Neshaminy Foundation members, be
appointed to the Board of Trustees at the February 26 Public Meeting.
The solicitor will be consulted to determine the appropriate
individuals to appoint to the Board of Trustees.
It will be an agenda item at the February 26 Public Meeting.
None of the Board members indicated they were opposed to Dr.
Bowman’s recommendation.
d.
Approval of Bids/Budget
Transfers
Information
distributed prior to the meeting. Mr.
Paradise reviewed the following bids:
Bid
No. 02-19 – Exterior Door Replacements at Neshaminy High School,
Neshaminy Middle School, Schweitzer and Ferderbar Elementary Schools
Bid
Amount: $112,100.00
The
bid is for the replacement of eight doors at Neshaminy High School, six
doors at Schweitzer Elementary, one door at Ferderbar Elementary and three
doors at Neshaminy Middle School. The
cost of the door replacements is included in the current year’s budget.
At Neshaminy High School two of the doors are for the newly
developed video studio and the other doors are due to a security issue
that needed to be addressed. The
$112,100 bid is below the budgeted amount of $130,000.
Bid
No. 03-01 – General School Supplies
Bid
Amount: $156,086.69
The
bid is for various classroom and office supplies for use throughout the
District for the school year 2002-2003.
The bids for these purchases are solicited by the District.
It is not done as part of a cooperative bid. It is more cost effective for the District to obtain its own
bids for the general school supplies.
The supplies are stored in the District’s central supplies
warehouse and supplies are requisitioned internally during the course of
the year as each individual school needs materials.
In
response to a question raised by Mr. Eccles, Mr. Paradise explained every
school is given a per pupil allotment for supplies.
The school principal determines how the allotment will be spent. Whether the allotment is spent on supplies or AV materials is
the principal’s decision. The
budget, which is approved by the Board, includes a supplies budget for
each school. To receive
supplies, the principal requisitions the supplies internally.
The requisition must include a budget code. The cost of the
supplies is charged against the budget code.
If there are insufficient funds in the budget account, the order is
not filled.
In
response to Mrs. Butville’s question, Mr. Paradise explained the general
school supplies are an inventory purchase.
Nothing is being expensed. The
District is agreeing to cooperatively purchase the supplies at the lowest
price and an asset (inventory) is created.
The supply cost listed in the budget will be much higher than the
$156,086 bid amount. The bid
only represents those items that are general school supplies and
instructional materials.
Bid
No. 03-04 – Purchase of Used School Buses
Bid
Amount: $312,300.00
This
bid is for the purchase of six 78-passenger 2001 used school buses and
trade-in of six 1991 buses.
Bid
No. 03-08 – Buy-Back of Twenty-One School Buses
Bid
Amount: $271,000.00
The
bid is for the buy-back of twelve 78-passenger buses, forward control
buses, eight 78-passenger rear engine buses and one 20-passenger bus for
school years 2002-2003 and 2003-2004.
Mr.
Paradise explained the District has 99 school buses.
Twenty-one of the buses are leased (buy-back buses) and the
District owns 78 school buses. The
District follows two plans: replacement of buy-back buses and replacement
of 11 year old owned buses. Bid
no. 03-08 indicates two years, 2002-2003 and 2003-2004.
The two year period is to hold the price for the two-year program.
The buses will be paid for now.
The buy-back bus bid is significantly less expensive than last
year’s bid. The cost is
$6,485.00 per bus, which is approximately $1,300 less per bus over last
year’s cost.
Mr.
Paradise explained at one time the District owned all of its buses.
A number of years ago, the Board kept putting off the purchase of
new buses and in one year 21 buses were needed.
The inexpensive way to deal with the situation was to obtain the
needed buses through the buy-back program.
The only way to discontinue the buy-back program is to find the
money to purchase 21 buses. There
are advantages and disadvantages to the buy-back program.
The bus company prefers it be a two year plan, because they prefer
to have a two year old bus to sell. The
average life cycle of the buses the District owns is 11 years.
Mr. Paradise indicated he would prefer the District replace the
buses after 10 years.
Mr.
Eccles inquired about the cost related to the maintenance of the buy-back
buses. Mr. Blasch, Director
of Transportation, explained if a bus needs brakes, the District purchases
the brakes and the company pays the District for performing the
maintenance on the bus. The
District is required to perform some normal maintenance items such as oil
changes. Mr. Paradise
explained at the end of the lease there is a settlement and depending on
the level of maintenance performed on a bus the District receives a credit
for the maintenance performed. If there is damage to the bus, the District may have to pay
rather receive a credit. Mr.
Eccles inquired what is the average yearly credit per bus. Mr. Blasch indicated he did not have the average yearly
credit information available at the meeting.
In
response to Mr. Mecleary’s question, Mr. Paradise stated the bids are to
replace existing buses. No
additional buses are being purchased.
Mr.
Paradise explained bid no. 03-04 is for the replacement of six eleven year
old buses. For years the
District replaced the old buses with brand new buses.
In an effort to reduce costs, several years ago the District
started replacing the old buses with the District’s own buy-back buses. By doing that the District saves approximately $10,000 per
bus. The budget for bus
replacement for the upcoming year will be less than the current year’s
budget.
Mr.
Mecleary inquired about the style of the new buy-back buses.
Mr. Paradise explained the buses will be transit style (flat nose)
buses. In response to Ms.
Drioli’s question regarding the District’s transportation cost per
year, Mr. Paradise explained it is a $5,500,000 expenditure.
Ms. Drioli noted it is less expensive for the District to
maintain its own fleet than contract out the service.
Mr.
Schoenstadt pointed out the state does not mandate transportation.
Transportation is a voluntary program that the District takes upon
itself. The $5,500,000 spent
on transportation could be used to either contract services out at a cost
of approximately $3,200,000 or have the contracted services be provided to
the parents who do not want to transport their own children.
The Board has chosen to furnish the transportation.
By doing so, the Board has elected to take the burden of managing a
transportation program, which functionally has nothing to do with the
educational program. The
transportation program is an accommodation to the community.
The current program of replacing buses is a compromise that works.
It minimizes the impact of costs and provides the District with
relatively modern equipment. The
expenditure of more funds would be necessary to lower the age of the
District’s equipment.
Ms.
Drioli said the first few years a school district contracts out its
transportation and the company purchases its bus fleet, it saves the
District money. However, after a few years the transportation cost increases.
As an example, Ms. Drioli cited the transportation cost (contracted
service) of the Council Rock School District, which exceeds Neshaminy’s
transportation cost. She said
having its own fleet saves school districts money.
Mr.
Eccles complimented the Transportation Department, management, leadership
and drivers, on the job they have done this year.
Mr. Schoenstadt said the Transportation Department’s response to
complaints and problems has improved greatly this year.
Mr. Paradise said one of the reasons service has improved this year
is because the Board was so receptive to Mr. Blasch’s idea to eliminate
some bus stops. This allowed
the Transportation Department to deal with a lot of issues.
The
three bids and Budget Transfer Report No. 02-4 (working copy) will be
presented for approval at the February 26 Public Meeting.
7.
Superintendent’s Report
a.
Blue Ribbon Committee
Visitation to Maple Point Middle School
Information
distributed prior to the meeting. Dr.
Bowman advised the Board out of 352 schools
across the nation, 175 schools were selected for site visits.
The Maple Point Middle School is one of the schools that will be
visited. The visitation will
take place in March. The
District is one step closer to having another school recognized as a Blue
Ribbon School. There will be
an evening meeting so the site visitor can meet with parents and Board
members.
b.
Bucks County Technical
High School Student Accounting
Information
distributed prior to the meeting. Dr.
Bowman noted 238 Neshaminy students are enrolled in the Technical High
School, which is 18.20 percent of the
enrollment. The District’s
allocation is 25.60 percent. Since
the District is 7 percent lower than its allowed enrollment, the
District’s cost will be lower the following year.
Mrs.
Butville explained one of the reasons Neshaminy’s Technical High School
enrollment is low is because the Technical High School is a grades 9
through 12 school. In
Neshaminy, ninth graders are the upperclassmen in the middle schools.
The students do not want to leave their last year in the middle
school to attend the Technical High School.
If the high school included grade nine, the District would probably
fill its enrollment allotment. There
will be very few spots available for tenth graders.
Dr. Bowman stated 238 Neshaminy students are taking advantage of
the Technical High School’s programs.
It is projected there will be space for 400 ninth graders next
year.
c.
Mr. Paul Minotti –
Pennsylvania Registered School Business Official
Mr.
Minotti’s achievement was recognized under the announcements portion of
the meeting.
d.
The Parenting Center of
Neshaminy School District
Information
distributed prior to the meeting. Dr.
Bowman advised the Board that the Neshaminy School District is part of a
partnership program with the Saint Mary Medical Center.
Neshaminy is recognized as a parenting center. Programs on various issues are offered at the Neshaminy,
Bristol Township and Bensalem School Districts.
The District offers programs at the Tawanka, Lower Southampton and
Schweitzer Elementary Schools to help parents become more effective
parents. After the closure of
the Tawanka Elementary School, the program will be made available in
another Lower Southampton school.
e.
2002-2003 Commonwealth
Budget Proposal
Information
distributed prior to the meeting. Dr.
Bowman reported the budget as presented by the Governor will result in
Neshaminy receiving $178,000 of new money, which is less than one mill.
The three major issues that will be tremendous budget challenges
are the employee insurance program, retirement contribution rate change
and regular contractual obligations.
He explained at one time the retirement rate paid by school
districts was 9 percent and the state paid 9 percent.
The percentage was reduced and it represented a few thousand
dollars savings for the District. At the state level, it represented
hundreds of thousands dollars of savings. The retirement rate reduction helped reduce the budget
significantly at the state level. The
Pennsylvania School Business Officials have annually issued a warning
statement urging the state to stop reducing the retirement contribution
rate because some day the difference will have to be made up.
Due to the change in the stock market and other issues, this year
the rate has to be increased. The
stock market represents 1 to 2 percent of the portfolio. The issue is not having to make up the loss in the stock
market, but having to make up all the retirement rate reductions over the
past years. After the
reductions, the employees were only paying 5 percent and the school
districts were paying 1.09 percent. The
employees are now going to pay 7 percent.
Mr.
Schoenstadt stated the Secretary of Education elected to make up the funds
for the retirement plan all in one lump sum rather than over a four year
period as recommended by the actuarial.
There was no concern for the impact on the 501 school districts.
f.
Administrative Vacancies
Dr.
Bowman advised the Board the administration is in the process of
determining staffing. With
the closing of the Tawanka School, the staffing process needs to be
accelerated. He recommended
all the administrative vacancies that are anticipated between now and the
end of June be posted. Posting
and filling the administrative positions will allow Mr. Jones to
accelerate the staff requests. Staff
members like to know who the building principal will be for next year. A
7:00 p.m. session can be scheduled for the Board members to meet with
the principal appointments. Dr.
Bowman and Mr. Wilson are working as a team on the administrative
positions.
There
was Board consensus for Dr. Bowman’s recommendation to post the
administrative vacancies.
8.
Items for Information
a.
JROTC Survey Letter
Copy
of survey letter distributed prior to the meeting.
Dr. Bowman advised the Board Mr. Wyatt is in the process of
surveying the ninth and tenth graders as to their interest in the United
States Junior Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Program.
b.
Comprehensive Annual
Financial Report
Comprehensive
Annual Financial Report distributed at the meeting.
Mr. Paradise briefly reviewed the report. Mr. Paradise advised the Board the past ten years the
District has won a national award for its Comprehensive Annual Financial
Report. Mr. Paradise pointed
out the following regarding the report:
·
Page F-4 lists the fund balance (unreserved/undesignated) as
of June 30, 2001, which was $7,752,800.
The fund balance is higher than anticipated. Due to the
administration aggressively going after revenues, controlling expenditures
and cost containment efforts, last year’s budget has been under spent
and over received. When the
budget was adopted last June, it was $4,000,000 higher than it had
revenues to support it. The
difference was to be made up with the fund balance.
Since the budget was under spent and over received, it was not
necessary to use the fund balance funds.
·
Statistics section of the report includes ten year
expenditure and revenue data. The
section includes charts reflecting how the tax dollars are spent and
revenue sources.
·
Page S-18 lists the District’s debt service.
The District’s ratio of debt service to general fund expenditures
is 4.35 percent. The Standard
and Poor Report stated Neshaminy’s debt service ratio was quite low.
If the Board chooses to do so, the District could handle more debt.
·
Page S-19 includes a chart showing the relationship of
enrollment to population. The
chart reflects the trend that as the District’s population increases,
the enrollment decreases. The
percentage of residents with school age children is decreasing.
Dr.
Bowman complimented Mr. Paradise, Mrs. Donovan and the business office
staff for compiling such a well done report.
He noted the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report has been an
award winning document for the District and another award is anticipated
for the most recent report.
Dr.
Spitz referred to the chart on page S-22 listing the instructional expense
per pupil and noted the $1,000 increase from 2000 to 2001.
Mr. Paradise explained the 2001 expense number is not a final
number. It was necessary to
produce the report before the average daily membership number was
finalized. Once the number is
finalized, the report will be adjusted.
Mr.
Schoenstadt noted the report points out that there has to be careful
scrutiny to ensure the staffing and instructional costs are adjusted to
reflect the decline in enrollment. Issues such as middle school and high
school curriculum and class size need to be reviewed. Dr. Bowman explained
currently, class size is reviewed. If
too few students enroll for a foreign language course in the middle
schools, the students are scheduled for their second choice.
Mr. Schoenstadt recommended the Educational Development Committee
begin to evaluate the relationship between the enrollment decline and
curriculum offered, guidance counselors and minimum class size.
Dr. Bowman noted this year the Board closed a school, which
will result in a savings of over $800,000 next year.
c.
Channel One Letter to
Parents of Secondary Students
Information
distributed prior to the meeting. Dr.
Bowman noted a copy of the letter distributed to parents regarding Channel
One has been sent home to parents. He
advised the Board he has received two requests from parents that their
children be excused from viewing Channel One.
Accommodations have been made for the students.
They have an alternative homeroom to attend and are not required to
watch Channel One. As these
types of situations occur, they will be addressed.
Mr.
Mecleary inquired what other subjects are alternate accommodations made
for students. Dr. Bowman
explained alternate accommodations are made for the Health Program. Mr. Wyatt stated alternate accommodations are also made
for Biology (reproduction) and Health and Human Development.
There are only a few courses where this occurs.
9. Committee
Reports
a.
Educational Development
Committee
Mrs.
Butville reported the committee reviewed Special Education Reading Program
textbooks. Dr. Spitz
reported a proposal was presented to change the Social Studies curriculum
for seventh grade. Dr.
Boccuti will distribute a copy of the committee meeting minutes to the
Board members.
b.
Educational Foundation
Mr.
Dengler reported the Foundation awarded 38 grants to staff members, which
total $15,500. Every school
in the District received grant funds.
The maximum grant award amount was $500.
The grants are for funding of projects that could not otherwise be
funded in the budget.
c.
Building
Utilization/Finance Committee
Mr.
Eccles reported the committee is scheduled to meet on March 26, 4:00 p.m.,
at Neshaminy High School. Mr.
Schoenstadt stated Mr. Paradise will try to schedule an additional
committee meeting prior to March 26.
d.
Intermediate Unit Board
Ms.
Drioli reported it appears the District’s contribution to the
Intermediate Unit budget will remain the same as this year’s
contribution.
e.
Board Policies Committee
Mrs.
Butville reported after the student attendance policy has been in effect a
full year, it will be reviewed for possible revisions.
The committee has participated in several conference calls with
other school districts regarding activity participation by home schoolers
policies. The committee is
reviewing Neshaminy’s policy in regard to home schoolers participating
in School District activities.
f.
Information Committee
Mrs.
Butville reported the committee is working on the annual report.
She advised the Board of a school calendar, which could include all
of the schools’ activities, that could be printed free of charge for the
District. Students’ artwork
could be included in the calendar. The
calendar will include advertising.
g.
Legislative Committee
Mrs.
Butville reported she attended the Pennsylvania School Boards Legislative
Leadership Conference, January 25 and 26.
A conference workshop was held on school funding/finance reform. The Rhoades proposal has been reintroduced and appears to
have the greatest chance of being approved.
There are many other proposals.
Representative Micozzie’s proposal has been found to include a
$500,000,000 mistake. This
proposal has been reworked and reintroduced.
The PSBA is working on a Alliance for School Aide Partnership
proposal. The PSBA’s
proposal is similar to the ESPE proposal, but the formula includes a
definite unmanipulatable number.
Mrs.
Butville stated education in Pennsylvania is in a near crisis situation in
regard to funding. A new
organization, Good Schools Pennsylvania, is trying to inform and get the
general public involved in education.
The organization is urging residents to write their legislators.
The organization is aligned with Representative Micozzie’s
proposal.
Mrs.
Butville reported other conference workshops pertained to school
construction, employee retirement program and State Board update (Chapter
21-school construction). Three
areas of concern at the conference were world languages, awards/state
seals and new federal mandates. Pennsylvania
is much more in line with the federal mandates than the other states. Another major topic at the conference was cyber schools.
House Bill 1733 and Senate Bill 891 remove cyber schools from the
charter school law. Both
bills have passed committees. PSBA
is proposing that cyber schools only be allowed as state-run schools
(approved and run by the state) or one run by the local Intermediate Unit
for only the Intermediate Unit’s own district students.
The largest problem with the cyber schools is accountability.
Mrs.
Butville reported the Legislative Action Council met and decided the top
three priorities will be funding for public education, special education
funding and cyber schools. On
March 2 the PSBA will hold its lobby day in Harrisburg, which provides an
opportunity for Board members to meet with legislators and express their
concerns.
h.
Technical School Board
Mr.
Dengler reported the Technical School Board reviewed the funding method
issue. The recent dinner
theater, “Little Shop of Horrors,” was well attended.
i.
Technology Committee
Mr.
Schoenstadt reported the committee will meet later this month. A definite
date has not been established yet. He
inquired since the District now has a first class facility, could
Neshaminy’s “Speak Your Piece” forum be held in the District’s
facility. Mrs. Butville said
for that to be done, it would be necessary to have sponsors to pay for the
engineer and host of the program. The
cost would be approximately $300.
Mr.
Eccles explained the District entered into a gentlemen’s agreement with
WBCB regarding the advertising of the show.
WBCB could probably obtain sponsors, but they would want to include
the sponsors in the advertisement that is running in the District.
By doing that the District may be crossing a fine line.
If the program is held at the school, sponsors would be needed.
Mr. Schoenstadt suggested the issue be investigated to
determine if a compromise could be reached.
Mr.
Eccles pointed out the “Speak Your Piece” Program is a breakthrough
for the District. It has
allowed the District to barter some advertising for air time.
He cautioned the Board about shortchanging the District by losing
revenue. When someone else
puts an advertisement in along with Neshaminy’s program advertisement,
WBCB is making money. Neshaminy
is losing revenue at that point. In
the future, possibly the District could find sponsors for the program.
He felt the Board should honor its agreement with WBCB. Mrs. Butville inquired if another sponsor was obtained and
their advertisement ran during the show’s break, does their
advertisement need to be in print also.
Mr. Eccles indicated various advertising options can be reviewed.
He felt the Board should continue the program, because it shows the
Board’s willingness to be open and comment on issues. Mrs. Butville suggested consideration be given to the
District producing its own program at the high school and format it for
viewing on the Neshaminy cable channel.
The program would not go out over the radio waves, but would be
broadcast over Neshaminy’s cable channel to the Neshaminy residents.
Dr. Bowman recommended the Board fulfill its commitment for
this year and then review its options (videotaping for viewing on cable
channel, etc.)
10. Future Topics
The budget will be a future
topic.
11. Agenda Development
Dr. Bowman reviewed the agenda
items for the February 26 Public Meeting.
12. Correspondence
Mrs. Calvello distributed to
the Board members the ballot for election of members to the Bucks County
Schools Intermediate Unit Board of Directors.
Board members were to complete the ballots and return them to Mrs.
Calvello for mailing to the Intermediate Unit.
Dr. Bowman pointed out the
banner on display in the Board Room that was signed by policemen, firemen
and rescue workers at ground zero. A
group of people from the Neshaminy Middle School served meals to the
policemen, firemen and rescue workers for the day at Nino’s Restaurant.
The policemen, firemen and rescue workers signed the banner as they
left the restaurant. The
banner will be on display at the Neshaminy Middle School.
13. Other Board Business
Dr. Spitz noted the Board
members have received letters from the residents and inquired if the
issues outlined in the letters have been addressed.
Dr. Bowman explained he receives every letter that the Board
members receive. The letters
are forwarded to the appropriate director to address (elementary education
issues, Mr. Marotto; secondary education issues, Mr. Wyatt; etc.).
Some of the issues cannot be solved, but they are addressed and
reviewed.
Dr. Spitz referred to two
recent letters regarding the redistricting of eight fifth graders from the
Lower Southampton School to the Heckman School.
The letters requested the students be allowed to remain at the
Lower Southampton School for fifth grade.
Dr. Bowman explained similar requests have been received from
residents of the Tanglewood section.
No exceptions are being made.
Mr. Wilson said a response is sent to the letters.
He explained the day after the Board adopted the new attendance
boundaries, ten requests were received for exceptions.
No exceptions were made. A response was sent to each request.
Dr. Spitz noted the eleventh
grade PSSA writing assessment test was administered over a three day
period. The assessment test
itself was a one-hour examination each day.
Regular classes for all other students in the high school did not
start until 10:45 a.m. The
eleventh graders had to be in school by 6:55 a.m.
Therefore, it took four hours to administer a one-hour test.
For the three days, it equated to 12 hours for three hours of
testing. He expressed concern
about the disruption of four hours of class time and inquired why it took
so long to administer the test. Dr.
Bowman requested Mr. Wyatt review the issue and provide a response at the
March Work Session. Dr.
Bowman explained the testing environment is designed to provide the
students with the best opportunities to score as high as possible on the
tests. The District’s
scores have been increasing.
Mrs. Bostwick expressed
disappointment that the District is still subjecting the students to a
vast wasteland, Channel One.
Mrs. Butville suggested to
save paper when photocopying news articles for distribution to the Board,
several small articles be copied on one piece of paper and articles be
copied on both sides of the paper.
Mr.
Dengler moved the meeting be adjourned and Mrs. Butville seconded the
motion. The Board approved
the motion with eight ayes.Mr. Schoenstadt adjourned the meeting at 9:15
p.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
Carol
A. Calvello
Board Secretary
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