The Neshaminy Board of School Directors met in public session on October 24, 2000 at the Oliver Heckman Elementary School.  The following persons were in attendance.

Prior to the meeting, the Oliver Heckman Band, under the direction of Mr. O�Neill, and the Oliver Heckman String Ensemble, under the direction of Ms. Hayoshi, performed several selections.

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

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

Announcements - There were no announcements.

Student Report - Ms. Schailey and Mr. Taylor, student representatives, presented the following report:

�         The eighth annual Kaleidoscope of Bands will be held on October 28 at 7:00 p.m.

�         October 23 was Mole Day.

�         October 25 is an Act 80 Day.

�         The Greater Philadelphia Club participated in the Diabetes Walk and raised $700.

�         October 23 - October 27 is Red Ribbon Week.

�         Fall sports are ending and the winter sports season is beginning.  Reviewed the status of the sports teams.

�         The Safe School Committee is sponsoring a safe school poster contest.

�         Thanked the Board for sponsoring the student representatives� attendance at the Pennsylvania School Board Association Conference. It was an exciting and informative conference.

�         The homecoming dance was a great success.  The homecoming king and queen were Alex Beck and Kelly Schailey.

�         The students found presidential candidate Governor George Bush�s visit to Neshaminy High School exciting and a very positive event.

Public Comment - There was a three minute time limit per speaker.  Mr. Marucci, Middletown Township, donated his $100 real estate tax refund, which he recently received from the Commonwealth, to the Neshaminy Education Foundation.  He encouraged all Neshaminy residents to do the same.  On behalf of the Neshaminy Education Foundation, Mrs. Bostwick accepted the check and thanked Mr. Marucci for his contribution.

Mrs. Donahue, Langhorne, inquired about the status of the redistricting issue.  Will sixth grade classes be moved back to the elementary schools?

Superintendent�s Report - Dr. Bowman reported the following:

�         Enrollment/Facilities Study Committee - An Enrollment/Facilities Study Committee has been established to review and evaluate the District�s enrollment data, capacity data and enrollment projections.  The committee held its first meeting on October 16.  The committee�s second meeting will be held on November 1, 7:00 p.m., in the Board Room located at the District Offices, Maple Point Middle School.  The committee consists of the leaders of the PTOs of each of the schools and parents from the high school.  Mr. Marotto is facilitating the meetings.  The meetings are open to the public and there will be an opportunity for public comment at the committee meetings. 

�         Red Ribbon Week - This week is Red Ribbon Week.  All students and staff members will receive red ribbons, which state �The Choice For Me - Drug Free! Neshaminy School District�.  Last month the Board approved a proclamation designating October 23 - October 27 Red Ribbon Week.

�         Your First Response Emergency Handbook - On October 20 a press conference was held.  The Deputy Secretary of Education, Dr. Carey, visited the District and on behalf of Governor Ridge presented a proclamation designating last week as Safe School Week.  In the area of safe schools, the latest thing Neshaminy has done is develop an emergency handbook entitled “Your First Response Emergency Handbook”.  All employees will receive a copy of the handbook and receive training on how to use the handbook.  The handbook provides a step by step procedure to follow in the event of an emergency in a variety of settings.  The handbook has received statewide attention.  Since it was highlighted by Dr. Carey, the District has received over two dozen requests for copies of the handbook from across the Commonwealth.  The District is providing the handbook to the school districts at a cost of $20 per handbook, which is the printing cost.  The District’s safe school efforts include the following:

*         Peer mediation/conflict resolution program (grades K-12)

*         Comprehensive safe school audit conducted by an outside firm.  Firm reviewed, analyzed and evaluated the District’s facilities and determined what should be done to make the facilities safer.

*         Alternative suspension programs

*         Grades K-12 student assistance program

*         Safe school hotline

*         Participation in the countywide Communities That Care Program

*         Ongoing meetings with the Langhorne/Middletown Ministerium

*         Meet regularly with the local police departments

*         DARE Program

*         Integrate safe school activities into the District’s curriculum

*         Intervention and after-care program.  First priority is prevention and most of the funds are spent in this area.

*         Work in collaboration with St. Mary Medical Center - parenting program

*         Anti-bullying program in the schools

*         Very strong collaboration with all social agencies - Intermediate Unit, county government and local governments.

·         PSBA/PASA - Dr. Bowman and Mrs. Butville attended the October 17 to October 20 joint conference of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association and the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators.  The two student representatives, Ms. Schailey and Mr. Taylor, attended the PSBA Student Delegate Program of the conference.  Neshaminy staff members presented an educational excellence program, Caring Kids Program, at the conference.

Mrs. Butville stated the conference program was excellent and the speakers were very good.  Some of the ideas presented at the conference will be discussed with the Board.  Neshaminy’s Caring Kids Program was very well received at the conference.  She noted the Caring Kids Program will be presented at the national conference in March, 2001.  Neshaminy will also present a Blue Ribbon School Application Process as an Opportunity for Staff Development Workshop at the national conference. 

Mrs. Butville stated the two Neshaminy students attending the conference were very energetic and enthusiastic.  The program provided for the student representatives was very good and encouraged the students to become more involved in their schools.  Mrs. Butville presented the two students, Ms. Schailey and Mr. Taylor, with mugs.  She also gave each Board member a PSBA pin.

Board Recognition - Mr. Stack presented Mrs. Butville with a PSBA Certificate of Achievement in recognition of her completing four courses in the PSBA’s voluntary, comprehensive training program, the School Board Academy.  By participating in the School Board Academy, Mrs. Butville has been able to stay current on school issues and develop the skills necessary to strengthen the local policy making team.

Mr. Stack noted Mr. Schoenstadt, new School Board Director, had earned the same recognition 25 years ago and is working on earning a new certificate.

Mr. Stack thanked the Oliver Heckman School PTO for providing refreshments at the meeting. In order to allow everyone an opportunity to enjoy the refreshments provided by the PTO, Mr. Stack recessed the meeting at 8:25 p.m.  Mr. Stack reconvened the meeting at 8:40 p.m.

Approval of Minutes - Dr. Frank moved the minutes of the September 26, 2000 Public Meeting be approved and Mrs. Butville seconded the motion.  The Board unanimously approved the minutes.

Treasurer’s Report - Mr. Paradise presented for approval the September 30 Treasurer’s Report, subject to audit.  Mr. Eccles moved the September Treasurer’s Report be approved, subject to audit.  Mr. Dengler seconded the motion.  The Treasurer’s Report was unanimously approved, subject to audit.

Approval of Bills for Payment, Investments, Budget Transfers and Exonerations of Personal and Per Capita Taxes - Mr. Paradise presented the following for approval:

·         September 2000 bills for payment

·         Two investments

·         Budget Transfer Report No. 01-01 (working copy) with thirteen transactions and subtransactions

·         September personal and per capita tax exonerations totaling 986 exonerations

Dr. Frank moved the bills for payment, investments, Budget Transfer Report No. 01-01 (working copy) and September exonerations of personal and per capita tax be approved and Mrs. Butville seconded the motion.  The Board unanimously approved the motion. 

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

·         Elections - Certified Personnel

·         Resignations and Leaves of Absence - Certified Personnel

·         Elections and Changes of Classification - Support Personnel

·         Resignations and Leaves of Absence - Support Personnel

Personnel information appears on pages H-1 through H-7. 

Mr. Schoenstadt moved the certified and support personnel actions be approved and Mr. Dengler seconded the motion.  The Board unanimously approved the certified and support personnel actions.

Extra-Curricular Staff and Salaries - Dr. Bowman presented for approval the 2000-2001 Extra-Curricular Staff and Salaries Report dated October 24, 2000.  The total expenditures are $14,187.  The report includes positions at the Maple Point Middle School and Neshaminy Middle School.  The positions and salaries are as per the negotiated contract.

Mr. Schoenstadt moved the Extra-Curricular Staff and Salaries Report dated October 24, 2000 be approved and Mr. Eccles seconded the motion.  The Board unanimously approved the motion.

Motion:  American Education Week

Dr. Frank presented the following motion:

WHEREAS, public schools are the backbone of our democracy, providing young people with the tools they need to maintain our nation’s precious values of freedom, civility and equality; and

WHEREAS, by equipping young Americans with both practical skills and broader intellectual abilities, public schools give them hope for, and access to, a productive future; and

WHEREAS, public education employees-be they custodians or teachers, bus drivers or librarians-work tirelessly to serve our children and communities with care and professionalism; and

WHEREAS, public schools are community linchpins, bringing together adults and children, educators and volunteers, business leaders and elected officials in a common enterprise.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Neshaminy Board of School Directors hereby proclaims November 12 - 18, 2000, as the 79^th annual observance of American Education Week.

Ms. Drioli seconded the motion.  The Board unanimously approved the motion.

Federal Programs - Dr. Bowman reported since July 1, the District has received a total of sixteen grants.  The District has received $696,048 in entitlement grants and $331,700 in competitive grants, which totals $1,027,183.  At this time, the District has competitive grant applications being considered.  The most recent grant received was the safe and drug-free school grant of $43,000.  Previously, the District received a competitive safe school initiative grant. 

Other Board Business - Ms. Drioli requested the Educational Development Committee review the elementary level health curriculum.  It has been brought to her attention the curriculum may be too mature for that age group. 

Mr. Stack stated the Technology Committee is recommending the Educational Development Committee review the issue of student proficiency in technology and technology being incorporated into the curriculum. 

Mr. Stack reported the Technology Committee reviewed at their last meeting a number of technology initiatives currently underway in the District.  There are additional technology initiative ideas totaling $7,000,000 to $9,000,000.  The District does not have $7,000,000 to $9,000,000 to allocate for technology.  However, the committee would like to entertain competitive bids for technology recommendations from staff members in the various areas of the curriculum so more technology could be integrated into the curriculum.   He asked the Board members to consider awarding technology funds to staff members and a procedure to do so.  This would have to be balanced with how the Board would like to invest in technology, i.e., additional computers within the classrooms, update elementary school computer labs, etc.

Correspondence - Dr. Bowman advised the Board a letter has been received from the Pennsylvania State Police, Trooper Charles Statford, thanking the District’s mechanics and support team for a job well done and the District participating in the maintenance program throughout the year. Of the 98 Neshaminy buses inspected, only 11 items had to be dealt with and these items have been addressed. Pennsylvania State Police will soon begin monthly, periodic spot checks of school buses throughout each school district in lower Bucks County. 

Public Comment - There was a two minute time limit per speaker.  Mrs. Geddes, Feasterville, explained last year the Ferderbar Elementary School PTO raised over $30,000, which was used to purchase 24 computers for the school.  She suggested in the future, the Board provide a matching fund program, which would match the funds raised by a school’s PTO.  This year the PTO is considering purchasing portable word processors, which cost approximately $150 each.  She inquired which brands would be best to purchase and if matching funds would be available for the portable word processor purchases.

Board Comment - Mr. Dengler thanked Dr. Bowman, Mr. Collins and all others involved in making the arrangements for presidential candidate Governor Bush’s visit to Neshaminy High School.  He thanked them for all they did to make Governor Bush’s visit so successful.  It was a great day for Neshaminy.  He noted Governor Bush’s visit to Neshaminy was included in U.S. News and World Report.

Mrs. Bostwick and Ms. Drioli commended Mrs. Geddes and the Ferderbar Elementary School PTO’s fund raising efforts and support of their school. 

Mrs. Bostwick moved the meeting be adjourned and Mr. Schoenstadt seconded the motion.  The Board unanimously approved the motion.  Mr. Stack adjourned the meeting at 8:55 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Carol A. Calvello
Board Secretary