The Neshaminy Board of School Directors met in public session on June 20, 2000 at the Pearl Buck Elementary School.  The following persons were in attendance:

Call to Order - Mr. Stack called the meeting to order at 8:05 p.m.

Pledge of Allegiance - Mr. Stack requested those in attendance to join in the salute to the flag.

Announcements - Mr. Stack thanked the Pearl Buck School PTO for providing refreshments at the meeting.

Mr. Dengler announced he will abstain from voting on the Personnel Report, because his son’s name is listed on the certified staff day-to-day substitute portion of the report. (See attachment I)

Board Recognition - Dr. Bowman introduced Mr. Kelly, Maple Point Middle School principal.  Mr. Kelly explained the Future Problem Solving Program is an excellent program put together by two Maple Point Middle School teachers, Marian Reed and Terri Porter.  The program is a continuation of the Academic Enrichment Program.  The program has fostered a tradition of excellence in the school.  This year the students won the state championship and went on to compete in the international competition.  The ninth grade team finished in fifth place and the sixth grade team finished with commendations.  Certificates of Recognition were presented by Ms. Drioli to the following students:

                Sixth Grade Team Members                               Ninth Grade Team Members

                Michael Biros                                                       Jared Brown

                Wade Borsavage (not present)                               Jaimie Hopkins

                Minhee Cho                                                         Edward Siegfried

                Katelyn Smith (not present)                                  Tara Tetreault

Mr. Kelly said we are very proud of the students, the teams and staff that fosters this activity.

Public Comment - There was a three minute time limit per speaker.  Mr. Knowles, NFT President and Neshaminy Middle School teacher, commended the Board on its recent decision to not cut the itinerant music teacher positions, lead teacher positions and middle school department head positions.  He stated the Board has made the excellent education decisions.  He recommended in the future the Board stay watchful concerning sister schooling.  He said placing students in sister schools has been done infrequently in the past.  The more this is done, the more the class size maximum limit will become the class size norm.  He noted the class size maximum for kindergarten is 27 students.  Two years ago the Everitt School had three kindergarten classes with 27 students in each class.  He pointed out it can be a difficult situation to deal with when classes reach the maximum enrollment level.  He thanked the Board for its excellent educational decisions.

Ms. Drioli explained while vacationing in Washington, D.C., she noticed an exhibit included a composition (no. 55) by four young ladies from the Lower Southampton Elementary School.  It was the only exhibit from the Lower Bucks County area.  Dr. Bowman stated the exhibit was included in a magazine that is distributed across the nation.

In order to allow everyone an opportunity to enjoy the refreshments provided by the Pearl Buck School PTO, Mr. Stack recessed the meeting at 8:15 p.m.  Mr. Stack reconvened the meeting at 8:25 p.m.

Mr. Stack announced Mrs. Bostwick was absent from the meeting due to illness.

Superintendent’s Report - Dr. Bowman presented the following report:

·         Summer School, which includes a full selection of courses and the Summer Stock Program, begins June 21 at the Maple Point Middle School.  Across the nation, summer school is becoming more and more prevalent.  Parents want to take advantage of the opportunity to have their children in a learning situation in the summer.  Neshaminy has been one of the leaders and continues to provide summer school programs.

·         The 105^th commencement at Neshaminy High School was held on June 7.  It was an outstanding ceremony with all the dignity that you would want to have at a high school commencement.  The ceremony was concluded with a fireworks display.

·         Plans are now being made for the opening of school in September.

·         On June 22 and 23 the District will be participating in a joint inservice with the school districts throughout the county.  The inservice is being sponsored by the Intermediate Unit.

·         June 30 is the last day of the current fiscal year and July 1 begins the new fiscal year.

·         The Tuesday after Labor Day, September 5, is the first day of the new school year for teachers and the following day, September 6, is the first day of school for students.

Dr. Bowman stated it has been a wonderful year.  The year was concluded with the celebration of a Blue Ribbon School District/Blue Ribbon School.  He thanked the Board of School Directors for supporting education in Neshaminy.  He said our community values education throughout all of our schools in the District.  

Approval of Minutes - Mr. Schoenstadt moved the minutes of the May 23, 2000 Public Meeting be approved and Dr. Frank seconded the motion.  The Board approved the minutes with eight ayes.

Treasurer’s Report - Mr. Farmer presented for approval the May 31, 2000 Treasurer’s Report.  Mr. Eccles moved the Treasurer’s Report be approved, subject to audit.  Mr. Dengler seconded the motion.  The Treasurer’s Report was approved with eight ayes, subject to audit.

Approval of Bills for Payment and Exonerations of Personal and Per Capita Tax - Mr. Paradise presented the following for approval:

·         May 2000 bills for payment

·         Exonerations of Personal and Per Capita Taxes for May totaling 161 exonerations

Mr. Mecleary moved the May bills for payment and May exonerations of personal and per capita tax be approved and Dr. Frank seconded the motion.  The Board approved the motion with eight ayes.

Approval of Bids - Mr. Paradise presented the following bids for approval:

Bid No. 00-31 - Gymnasium Modular Climbing Walls (Re-bid)

Award Amount:  $12,750.00

The bid is for the installation of climbing walls at the following schools:  Everitt, Hoover, Lower Southampton, Miller and Schweitzer Elementary Schools and Carl Sandburg Middle School.  A federal grant has been received for this project.

Bid No. 01-11 - Electric Supplies

Award Amount:  $18,699.80

The bid is for various supplies for electrical maintenance for use District-wide.

Bid No. 01-12 - Plumbing Supplies

Award Amount:  $13, 963.07

The bid is for various supplies for plumbing maintenance for use District-wide.

Bucks County Intermediate Unit No. 22 Cooperative Bid - No. 2 Diesel Fuel

Award Amount:  $154,205.60

The bid is for fuel for diesel powered school buses and other vehicles for the school year 2000-01.

Bucks County Intermediate Unit No. 22 Cooperative Bid - No. 2 Fuel Oil

Award Amount:  $551,355.00

The bid is for heating oil for District buildings for the school year 2000-01.

Mr. Paradise noted while the bid prices for diesel fuel and fuel oil are very good, they represent a 50 percent increase over the current year’s prices.

Mr. Dengler moved the five bids be approved and Mrs. Butville seconded the motion.  The Board approved the motion with eight ayes.

Certified and Support Personnel Actions - Dr. Bowman presented the following for approval:

·         Elections - Certified Personnel

·         Leaves of Absence - Certified Personnel

·         Elections and Changes of Classification - Support Personnel

·         Resignations and Leaves of Absence - Support Personnel

·         Sabbatical Leaves of Absence - Certified Personnel (For information only)

·         Elections - Summer School Staff

·         Elections - Summer Support Staff

Personnel information appears on pages H-1 through H-9 and addendum page H-3a. 

Dr. Bowman noted the sabbatical leaves of absence are for professional development and meet all of the conditions and guidelines set forth in the School Code.

Mr. Mecleary moved the certified and support personnel actions be approved and Dr. Frank seconded the motion.  The Board approved the personnel actions with seven ayes and one abstention, Mr. Dengler.

Motion:  Tax and Revenue Anticipation Note

Mr. Dengler presented the following motion:

Under the authority of Act 52 of 1978, The Local Government Unit Debt Act and the Internal Revenue Code, the Neshaminy School District is permitted to borrow an amount of money up to its cumulative cash flow deficit.  The District’s 2000-2001 cumulative cash flow deficit has been projected to be $5,000,000.  The Business Office has requested quotations from banks and other financial institutions.

I, therefore, move the following:

TO CERTIFY the projected cumulative cash flow deficit as $5,000,000 for the 2000-2001 fiscal year; and

TO ACCEPT the proposal from Commerce Capital Markets to borrow the amount of $5,000,000 at a net interest cost of 4.9 percent per annum; and

TO OBTAIN a written legal opinion from the School District Solicitor as to the legality and validity of the Note and other legal matters pertaining to the issuance of the Note pursuant to the proposal from Commerce Capital Markets; and

TO AUTHORIZE the officers of the Neshaminy Board of School Directors and the Business Administrator, subject to written legal opinion from the School District Solicitor, to execute the necessary documents for completion and issuance of the Note.

Mr. Eccles seconded the motion.  The Board approved the motion with eight ayes.

Motion:  Year-End Budget Transfer

Mr. Eccles presented the following motion:

WHEREAS, Section 687 of the Public School Code of 1949 requires that line items “…sums appropriated to specific purposes in the budget…” not be exceeded; and

WHEREAS, under the school accounting system, line items have been determined to be major object levels within specific subfunctions; and

WHEREAS, year-end adjustments by the Business Office and auditors may cause such line items to be exceeded.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Neshaminy Board of School Directors, in accordance with directions from the Auditor General’s office, authorizes the administration to make those necessary budget transfers within and between accounts to prevent any possible over expenditures without exceeding the total budget for 1999-2000.

Mr. Mecleary seconded the motion.  The Board approved the motion with eight ayes.

Motion:  Budgetary Increase for Federal and Other Programs for 1999-2000

Mr. Schoenstadt presented the following motion:

WHEREAS, each year the Neshaminy Board of School Directors, in accordance with instructions from the Auditor General’s office, must increase its receipts and expenditures budget by the total amount of other programs; and

WHEREAS, this amount represents previously approved federal and other special program receipts and expenditures for the 1999-2000 fiscal year.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the total 1999-2000 adjusted budget of all funds with this increase will total $111,186,895.  Corresponding amounts should be added to both the revenue and expenditure side of the budget as indicated on the attached document (see attachment II).

Mrs. Butville seconded the motion.  The Board approved the motion with eight ayes.

Motion:  Middle School Software Lease

Mrs. Butville presented the following motion:

WHEREAS, the Neshaminy School District is presently utilizing instructional software that is over 12 years old in our middle school computer labs; and

WHEREAS, new software is available that is aligned with our curriculum and state and national standards.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the District enter into a five year lease/purchase agreement with CompassLearning, Inc. for Jostens software to upgrade our middle school computer labs.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions acceptable to the Solicitor and the Business Administrator and that the Business Administrator be authorized to execute this agreement on behalf of the Neshaminy School District.

Mr. Dengler seconded the motion.  The Board approved the motion with eight ayes.

Motion:  Suspension (Furlough) and Demotion of Certified Staff

Ms. Drioli presented the following motion:

WHEREAS, the Neshaminy Board of School Directors on May 23, 2000, approved the alteration of the educational program.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that this alteration will result in the suspension (furlough) or demotion of certified staff as per the attached list (see attachment III), effective September 5, 2000.

Mr. Schoenstadt seconded the motion.  The Board approved the motion with eight ayes.

Motion:  Adoption of the 2000-2001 Budget

Mr. Stack presented the following motion:

WHEREAS, the Neshaminy Board of School Directors received a working draft of the 2000‑2001 budget from the administration on April 11, 2000.  The Board reviewed the budget and made the budget available to the public on May 23, 2000; and

WHEREAS, in accordance, with the Pennsylvania School Code, the Board of School Directors must now adopt a final operating budget for the 2000-2001 fiscal year.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Neshaminy Board of School Directors adopt a final operating budget in the amount of $114,152,963 including:

·         Carry-over purchase orders of $656,952

·         Federal Programs Budget in the amount of $649,114; and a

·         Capital Projects Budget in the amount of $225,760.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the capital projects budget will be funded from the proceeds of the general obligation bond issues, and the federal programs budget will be funded by specific federal grants.  In order to fund the general fund budget, the following taxes are to be levied:

      1.  Real Estate Tax                       429.4 mills

      2.  Interim Real Estate Tax            429.4 mills

      3.  Per Capita Tax - School Code            $5.00

      4.  Per Capita Tax - Act 511                  $10.00

      5.  Occupational Privilege Tax               $10.00

      6.  Business Privilege Tax             1 mill wholesale

                                                       1.5 mills retail

                                                                 $5.00 license fee

      7.  Mercantile Tax                         1 mill wholesale

1.5    mill retail

$2.00 license fee

      8.  Real Estate Transfer Tax            1 percent

      9.  Amusement Tax                  10 percent, as amended by current law

Dr. Frank seconded the motion.

Mrs. Butville stated the administration has worked long and hard on the budget and many things were postponed or eliminated from the budget.  She said she was glad to see no educational programs were affected.  She said she wants to make sure the maintenance items, which have been delayed, are addressed within the next year or two.  Mrs. Butville indicated while she is not happy with the tax increase, it has been pared down without touching any of the important programs in the District.

Ms. Drioli said the budget has come a long way from the budget initially reviewed by the Board.  As a District, the administration and teachers have to become more creative as to how educational programs are presented.  She stated she is not happy with a 29.9 mill increase.  She questioned how some of the Lower Southampton Township senior citizens will be able to absorb the tax increase.  She said she was glad the educational integrity of the programs was not touched.  She urged the Board to work with the administration to review various ideas.

Mr. Stack noted the state has made available to homeowners a $100 tax rebate.  He announced the Neshaminy School District will provide rebate filing assistance on July 3 and July 5, between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., at the Maple Point Middle School.  The school’s computers will be available for residents to file online for the tax rebate.  Residents must bring with them the state application, which includes the personal identification number that is necessary to file for the rebate.

Dr. Frank inquired if only Neshaminy School District residents can file for their tax rebate at the Maple Point Middle School.  Mr. Stack stated he did not anticipate much activity from outside the District.  Neshaminy School District residents will be served first, followed by any other area residents.

Mr. Stack said the budget review has been a long process.  He commended the administration for their efforts in bringing the budget to its current level.  He noted all of the Board members recognized there would be an increase this year.  He felt the increase was a reasonable one.  He commended the Board for spending many hours reviewing the issues and assisting the administration in providing some direction in areas where there could be some efficiencies.  He noted Mr. Eccles and the Finance Committee members identified alternate revenue sources, which were very much appreciated.  

Mr. Stack pointed out three of the last six years there were no tax increases.  However, this year the Board cannot afford to do that.  He said it is fiscally responsible on the Board’s part to enact the tax increase this year.  He explained he has a great concern about enacting a fairly significant property tax increase.  It is not something he personally supports.  He had hoped other alternate ways of providing tax revenue would have been found.  He said he recognizes the efforts of the Board to examine this issue diligently as the Board has done this year.  He stated the Commonwealth needs to help provide some more creative ideas on how to fund our schools than what the District is provided today.  Given what must be done, the Board has an obligation to proceed to adopt the budget. 

Mr. Stack requested a roll call vote on the adoption of the 2000-2001 budget motion.  A tally of the roll call vote indicated the Board approved the motion with seven ayes, Mrs. Butville, Mr. Dengler, Mr. Eccles, Dr. Frank, Mr. Mecleary, Mr. Schoenstadt and Mr. Stack and one nay, Ms. Drioli.  (Mrs. Bostwick was absent from the meeting.)

Dr. Bowman stated it was a very difficult spring for everyone.  The Board challenged the administration to do the very best they could do and protect the integrity of the programs.  A lot of reductions were made in the budget.  He thanked the Board for their patience, the tremendous amount of time put into the budget process and asking difficult questions when they needed to be asked.  He thanked the Board for making the right decisions for the students of the Neshaminy community.

Dr. Bowman thanked Mr. Paradise, Mrs. Donovan and Mrs. Glennie for the tremendous effort they put into the budget document.

Federal Programs - Dr. Bowman reported entitlement grants total $802,429 and competitive grants total $588,667, which is a grant total of $1,391,096.

Other Board Business - No other board business was discussed.

Correspondence - Mr. Stack reported a letter addressed to the members of the School Board was received from Leslie Ann Stickley.  The letter pertains to the quality of education and the impact of tax increases, which are difficult issues and issues the School Board must face.  A copy of the letter will be distributed to the Board members.

Public Comment - No public comment was presented.

Board Comment - Ms. Drioli explained while in Arlington, Virginia, she learned the Arlington School Board gave itself a $4,000 raise.  One School Board member had suggested the $4,000 be allocated for dinner expenses rather than an increase in salary.  Neshaminy Board members do not receive any payment for serving on the School Board.

Mr. Dengler congratulated Dr. Bowman on all his work with the United Way.

Mr. Stack thanked the administration and staff for their fine efforts.  He said the District has a quality product.  There are costs associated with that and the Board recognizes this.  He stated it has been great working with the two new Board members, Mrs. Butville and Mr. Schoenstadt.  They have applied themselves to the utmost and he appreciated their help.

Mr. Mecleary moved the meeting be adjourned and Mr. Dengler seconded the motion.  The Board approved the motion with eight ayes.  Mr. Stack adjourned the meeting at 8:55 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Carol A. Calvello
Board Secretary