President

Vincent Sherpinsky

Vice President

Timothy Kerr

Members

Cory Brown

Josie Charnock

Suzan Leonard

Carolyn Murphy

Frank O'Donnell 

John T. Schilling  

Joseph Sullivan 

The Education/Community/Policy (ECP) Committee met on Monday, November 10. Several topics were on the agenda.

The committee recommended acceptance of three grants that were awarded to the district. North Penn High School was selected as the recipient of the $30,000 Dow Community Advisory Council Grant. The grant will be used to support Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) programs and projects and also promote interest in careers and opportunities linked to STEM. In addition, access to 120 volunteers to assist students with research will be provided. A second grant in the amount of $50,000 was awarded by Merck Sharp & Dohme to support the development of Peer Teacher Workshops for Science, English, Language Arts, and Mathematics teachers in grades K through 12. Through the workshops, professional development will be provided that will promote the unification of the instructional practices in these subject areas by focusing on Science practices that can be integrated across curricula.

The North Penn School District also received a grant from the School Food Authority. This National School Lunch Program -School Food Service Equipment Grant will provide the funds to purchase a combitherm oven that is needed in the School Nutrition Services area of an elementary school in the district. The amount of the grant is for the cost of the oven which will be $29,200.  

New Board Policy 3640 - Payment of Bills was reviewed by the committee. The policy establishes criteria that will permit bills that satisfy those conditions to be paid and then ratified at an upcoming Board meeting. This policy was included on the November 20 agenda for a first reading.

The school calendar for 2015-16 was presented to the committee. Because Labor Day is September 7, the latest date that it can be in 2015, administration proposed that students begin class on Tuesday, September 1. Beginning school the week before Labor Day will provide more days of instruction prior to the administration of state assessments in the Spring. Surveys of families and staff indicated that a majority prefer starting school before Labor Day.  

An update on the Penndale change in scheduling period E3 was provided to the committee including the rationale for implementing this schedule change and how parent concerns were addressed. The schedule will be evaluated to determine what will happen next year.

The committee was apprised of the School Performance Profile Summary. A score of 70 and above is considered by Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) to be proficient. All three middle schools and the high school performed above the county average. Elementary schools' results were at or slightly below the county average.

The Finance Committee met on October 27 and discussed several important items.  

Ed Furman from Maillie, LLC, presented the 2013-14 audit presentation. Mr. Furman discussed the audit process this year and how data is collected and processed by the on-site auditors. Changes to the financial statements for the year ending June 30, 2015 regarding unfunded pension liability were discussed and it is estimated the value will be approximately three times payroll expenses. Maillie is presenting an unqualified audit opinion of the 2013-14 financial statements. The Committee will move forward with approval of the final audit report at the November full board meeting.

During the General Fund financial report, Mr. Skrocki noted current real estate tax revenue had caught up to prior month based on collections after September 1. Mr. Skrocki also noted that delinquent real estate taxes are lagging as compared to the prior year. Total expenditures for 2014-15 are higher through the end of September compared to the prior year because of a $3 million transfer to the self-insurance fund.

Mr. Skrocki noted the district realized strong earned income tax (EIT) collections in September and were $600,000 higher year to date compared to last year. Real estate transfer taxes are about $382,000 less than last year.

Mr. Skrocki discussed a question from the prior month related to sports camp revenue compared to prior year. The difference is because $34,000 of a summer camp occurred in June which was applied to 2013-2014 which occurred in July of last year. Tech services are $15,000 versus $2,000 from last year to this year.

The Extend School Care fund revenues are up $58,000 from last year due to tuition and lunch price increases. School Nutrition Services operating revenues up $13,000 from last year and net income is also up. Mr. O'Donnell requested a report of current staffing to current student enrollment for each building for next month's meeting.

Mr. Skrocki explained the current bill payment process and the district's obligations to paying for expenses for goods and services. A sample of another district's policy was presented to show how checks can be approved for ratification after payment instead of approval for payment before disbursements are made. Mr. Brown had questions related to examples one to eight on page one of the sample of which Mr. Skrocki explained the specific examples. The committee is supportive of the concept which will be moved to the ECP committee to draft a policy.

The 2015-16 budget calendar was presented with key dates noted: February 10, May 12, and June 18. May's work session was recommended to be used for the preliminary final draft approval because of the 30 day public notice requirement which will be setup as an action meeting (similar to the February 10 meeting). Mr. O'Donnell requested the calendar be sent to the full board.

The Safe Schools Committee met on November 10 and discussed the following:

Ray Wilson, Safe Schools Coordinator, presented a draft Emergency Management Plan that has been in development for the past year. This plan was developed in cooperation of Dr. Sean Arney, principal of Montgomery Elementary School, Montgomery Township Police, Montgomery Township Department of Fire Services and North Penn School District. This plan is a comprehensive, site specific plan that guides the staff and administration through many potential incidents. This draft will be finalized in the near future and similar plans developed for each school.

Mr. Wilson and Mrs. Murphy discussed how they are working with North Penn's School and Community Engagement Department to expand North Penn's Safe School's web presence and community outreach in an effort to better inform the community of the district's Safe School's activities and programs.

Mr. Wilson and Mr. Schneider discussed recent meetings with Hatfield Township regarding hazmat shelter in place drills and with Towamencin Police to discuss their potential ability to view the district's surveillance cameras in case of an emergency.

Mrs. Murphy discussed a presentation that she viewed regarding an active shooter drill that Southern York School District recently conducted. This drill included the entire community, students, staff, and local and county law enforcement which taught Southern York School District many lessons. The Safe Schools Committee will have a presentation at their next meeting to discuss if North Penn will entertain conducting this drill.

The final items discussed include; future potential safe school grants which are being investigated for the future and an update of the current and future safe school projects.

The next Meeting of the Safe Schools Committee is scheduled for Monday January 5, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. at the ESC.

The Support Services Committee met on Monday, October 27, and discussed the following:

Kevin Manero, North Penn Baseball coach, presented a plan to construct grandstands on the varsity baseball field. The baseball team would raise the funds necessary to construct the stands and asked for the Support Services Committee support if the funds were raised. The committee recommended that Mr. Manero work with the administration, staff and other coaches to work out the details and suggested that a presentation be presented at a future Board work session.

Mr. Medica of Bonnett Associates presented information regarding the scope of a potential future High School project. The Support Services Committee requested that an alternative scenario be presented at the November Support Services Committee meeting.

Mr. Schneider presented one change order for the Hatfield renovation and addition project and one deduct change order for the Pennfield Modular classroom project. Both change orders are on this evening's agenda for consideration.

The Support Services Committee discussed a facility use request by a group of residents to rent Pennfield's gym to play basketball one evening a week. This request is in accordance with Board Policy 1330 - Use of School Facilities. This request was on the November 20 agenda for consideration.

Mr. Schneider provided an update on the current projects and discussed the administrative process and procedures for future change orders.

At last week's monthly meeting of the NPSD Educational Foundation's trustees had the privilege of visiting Oak Park Elementary School. Teachers Shirley Bergman and Linda Roberts presented to the trustees about the wonderful grants the organization have supported through the years. In particular, the trustees learned first-hand about the science fair they fund annually and had the treat of dissecting an owl pellet just like the science fair goers get to do each spring. Trustees enjoyed the morning and appreciated the effort Mrs. Bergman and Mrs. Roberts put into their presentation.

The Foundation's Annual Appeal to donors was mailed recently and the organization hopes everyone can find a way to support. In addition, on Giving Tuesday, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, the organization will launch their Staff Tribute Campaign in which NPSD employees can be recognized around the holidays with a gift to the Foundation.

Currently, the Foundation is seeking mid-year grant requests. The deadline is November 30 and the organization has set aside $15,000 to fund these innovative projects. This is in addition to the 24 grants already being support this year worth more than $13,000.

Any questions about the Foundation can be directed to Christine Liberaski at the ESC.