The Neshaminy Board of School Directors met in public session on September 26, 2000 at the Tawanka Elementary School.  The following persons were in attendance:

Call to Order - Mr. Stack called the meeting to order at 8:10 p.m.

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

Announcements - Dr. Bowman announced the Tawanka School students’ artwork was on display in the school’s hallways.

Dr. Bowman introduced Lois Gretzinger, Intermediate Unit Special Education Supervisor.  Ms. Gretzinger is the Intermediate Unit representative who will be attending Neshaminy’s Board Meetings this year. 

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

·         Neshaminy’s Back to School Night will be held on September 27.

·         Homecoming Day will be held on October 7. 

·         The Homecoming Day dance will be hosted by student Craige Robinson who is known as DJ “Crazy Craige”. 

·         Status of the football and soccer teams reviewed.

·         Since last year, the SAT scores have increased 26 points.

Board Recognition - Ms. Drioli presented a recognition proclamation from the Bucks County Commissioners to Janet King (Neshaminy teacher) who has been recognized as Teacher of the Year by the Pennsylvania Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.  Ms. Drioli also presented Janet King with a Certificate of Recognition from the Board of School Directors in recognition of her achievements.

Ms. King thanked Dr. Bowman, Mr. Marotto and Mr. Wyatt for being supportive of her efforts to bring community members into the schools.  She thanked the Board for the Certificate of Recognition.

Public Comment - There was a three minute time limit per speaker.  Ms. Hauss, Langhorne, explained her two children attend the Tawanka Elementary School.  She expressed concern about the size of the fourth grade classes, and noted there are 34 students in her child’s fourth grade class.  She requested consideration be given to setting a class size limit of 28 or fewer students.

Ms. Cummings, Poquessing Middle School parent, thanked the Board for the recent repairs and renovations at the Poquessing Middle School.  She said she hopes the repairs and renovations will continue at the school.

Superintendent’s Report - Dr. Bowman stated Jan King is a wonderful individual who has spent countless hours putting together programs that bring members of the community together with the schools.  What she has accomplished has been a remarkable resource for the students in the schools and could not be gotten out of a textbook or off a computer.  He recognized Jan King for doing such an outstanding job.

Dr. Bowman reported the following:

·         Neshaminy’s publication of Neshaminy’s Middle School Program has been selected for third place in the Pennsylvania School Public Relations Annual Program.  Congratulations were extended to Susan Weber and the millennium memories staff. 

·         A third place rating was received from the Pennsylvania School Press Association for Neshaminy High School’s Redskin publication (yearbook) under the direction of Mr. Geddes and the students who worked on the yearbook.

·         Neshaminy is one of the Bucks County school districts receiving a safe schools grant.  Neshaminy’s $60,000 grant is the largest financial award in Bucks County to a school district.  Neshaminy’s safe schools programs are designed around prevention and intervention, including the peer mediation/conflict resolution program that starts in kindergarten and goes through twelfth grade. 

·         The Pennsylvania State Assessment scores have been received and are still being analyzed.  All of the schools, including the special education students’ scores, scored above the state average.  A full report of the scores will be presented to the Board. 

·         The SAT scores have increased 26 points.

Dr. Bowman commended the staff, teachers and principals for their leadership in keeping the students academically on track.  He also commended the Board of School Directors for their support by providing the resources to achieve this. 

Mr. Stack thanked the Tawanka School PTO for providing refreshments at the meeting.  In order to allow everyone to enjoy the refreshments provided by the PTO, Mr. Stack recessed the meeting at 8:20 p.m.  Mr. Stack reconvened the meeting at 8:35 p.m.

Approval of Minutes - Mr. Eccles moved the minutes of the August 29, 2000 Public Meeting be approved and Mr. Dengler seconded the motion.  The Board approved the minutes with eight ayes.

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

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

·         August 2000 bills for payment

·         Investments totaling $15,000,000

·         July and August 2000 exonerations of personal and per capita taxes totaling 2,978

Mrs. Butville moved the bills for payment, investments and July and August exonerations of personal and per capita taxes be approved and Mr. Mecleary seconded the motion.  The Board approved the motion with eight ayes.

 Bids and Budget Transfers - No bids or budget transfers were presented for approval.

Certified and Support Personnel Actions - 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

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

Personnel information appears on pages H-1 through H-10 and addendum page H-1a.

Dr. Bowman announced that Bill Cimochowski, Maple Point Assistant Principal, had a heart attack yesterday.  He is doing well and will be absent for six to eight weeks. 

Dr. Bowman advised the Board the District is currently having difficulty obtaining classroom substitutes.  The District is also in need of bus driver substitutes.

Dr. Frank moved the certified and support personnel actions be approved and Mr. Eccles seconded the motion. 

Mrs. Butville questioned two (no. 7 and 15) elections of support personnel items on page H-5 and one (no. 8) change of classification listed on page H-6.  She noted in the replacing column it listed “former IDEA funded”. Ms. Drioli also questioned the funding of the three positions. Dr. Bowman explained the individuals were instructional assistants in special education and the positions were previously funded through IDEA.. The IDEA allocation is included in the District’s budget.  This year the District is receiving almost $200,000 in IDEA money.  When the District is required by special education law to have an aide for students and the funds for the aide are not allocated within the general fund, IDEA funds are used.  When a regular special education position is available, the aide may apply for the vacancy.  Mr. Jones pointed out the District cannot retain a temporary person on the payroll for an extended period of time.  Dr. Bowman explained when the District is required to hire an aide in the middle of the school year, the individual is hired as a temporary aide.  If a position is available under the general budget, the position will be funded with general budget funds.  If this is not the case, IDEA funds will be used.  If the position is required the following year, it becomes a regular special education position as required by the contract.  The temporary position can only be continued for the balance of the year the position is instituted and then it becomes a regular position.  The individuals’ status was temporary last year and this year the status is permanent.  Funds were included in the budget for these three positions.

Mr. Schoenstadt referred to the ongoing problem of obtaining day-to-day substitutes and inquired about examining the daily salary paid to day-to-day substitutes.  Dr. Bowman explained the daily substitute rate can be  adjusted.   It is not a contractual issue.   Neshaminy’s rate is  probably at the lower end of the salary range paid by most of the school districts.  Mr. Schoenstadt felt part of the problem is the lower substitute salary rate paid by the District.  The teachers tend to work where the rate is the highest. 

Dr. Bowman stated people are recognizing there are fewer elementary positions available in the District.  Therefore, they are substituting in school districts where enrollment is growing and new schools are being built because they want to get seen by principals so they have a chance to be hired.  This has compounded the problem along with the salary issue. 

The Board approved the personnel actions with eight ayes.

Motion:  Red Ribbon Week

Dr. Frank presented the following motion:

WHEREAS, alcohol and other drug abuse among children in the nation remains a serious problem; and

WHEREAS, it is imperative that the Neshaminy School District present a visible and unified educational message to students and community members as part of its commitment to fostering a drug-free lifestyle; and

WHEREAS, the Neshaminy Board of School Directors, in cooperation with our local, state and federal governments, is sponsoring the Red Ribbon Campaign offering all members of the Neshaminy community the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to a drug-free lifestyle.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Neshaminy Board of School Directors hereby proclaims October 23-27, 2000, as Red Ribbon Week, and Wednesday, October 25, as our traditional “Wear Red Day,” and encourages its citizens to participate in drug education and prevention activities to show support for our strong commitment to drug-free schools and a drug-free community.

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

Motion:  Act 48 Interim Plan

Mr. Schoenstadt presented the following motion:

WHEREAS, Act 48, Continuing Professional Development, was passed by the General Assembly and signed into law on November 23, 1999; and

WHEREAS, the Act 48 requires school districts to submit a Professional Development Education Plan that outlines the professional development activities approved by the school district; and

WHEREAS, because the Neshaminy School District’s Strategic Plan is due September 2001, an interim Professional Education Plan for Act 48 is to be submitted by September 30, 2000.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Neshaminy Board of School Directors approve the attached Act 48 interim plan and the committee that was formed to satisfy the requirements of the interim Act 48 plan.

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

Federal Programs - Dr. Bowman reported the District has received $652,483 in entitlements and $331,700 in competitive grants, which totals $984,183.  The District’s largest grant continues to be the Title I grant (remedial reading).  The District will continue its grant writing efforts under the leadership of Dr. Costanzo.

Other Board Business - There was no other board business.

Correspondence - There was no correspondence.

Public Comment - There was no public comment presented.

Board Comment - Mr. Dengler congratulated Janet King on her accomplishments and award.  He pointed out that Janet King is a 1977 graduate of Neshaminy Maple Point High School.

Mr. Eccles thanked Dr. Bowman and the Transportation Department for getting involved in some of the transportation issues in the lower end of the District.  He said he appreciated everyone’s efforts.

Mrs. Butville advised the Board she had been contacted by a parent who was experiencing some transportation problems in the beginning of the school year.  This past week the problems have been resolved. The parent extends his/her thanks to the Board for its help in resolving the situation.

Mr. Stack announced tomorrow (September 27) a letter will be distributed to all Neshaminy schools’ Presidents of the PTOs inviting them to a October 16, 7:00 p.m., meeting in the Board Room, Maple Point Middle School.  The meeting will be the inaugural meeting for the facilities and enrollment study committee.  It is a public meeting and everyone’s attendance is welcome.  The Board is looking forward to the community’s input.  

Dr. Bowman advised the Board a Blue Ribbon celebration will be held at the Neshaminy Middle School when the Board holds their Public Meeting at the school.  Last week Dr. Daggett and three teachers traveled to Washington, D.C. and received the Blue Ribbon plaque and flag for the school.  The celebration for the Blue Ribbon Program is a year long celebration.  He noted the Blue Ribbon award is the highest education award that can be received in America. 

Dr. Bowman announced the Tawanka School is submitting a Blue Ribbon Program application this year.

Ms. Drioli announced she is available to attend the Lower Southampton schools’ PTO meetings.  She noted the Pennsbury School District is taking a stand on the Charter School kindergarten funding issue.  Even though the Pennsbury School District only offers a half-day kindergarten program, it is being asked to provide funds for a full-day kindergarten program offered by a Charter School that some of the Pennsbury students attend.  She urged the school districts and legislators to work together to have the state provide more funding for the Charter Schools. 

Dr. Bowman announced a Harvest Fair will be held October 14, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the Tawanka School.  It is a major fund raising event for the Tawanka School’s PTO.  Everyone is welcome to attend the event.

Mr. Eccles 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