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 Finance Committee met on November 24 and discussed many important items.  

• The monthly financial reports were reviewed. Earned income tax revenue continues to trend upward and NPSD expects to exceed the revenue budget for this line item. The new CD investment program via CDARS was reviewed which is increasing interest earnings for the district.

• The North Montco Technical Career Center bond refunding opportunity was reviewed and discussed. The potential savings for North Penn is approximately $165,000 (net of issuance costs) with the majority of the savings being realized in the current fiscal year. Each member district will be asked to pass a parameters resolution in order to proceed with the refunding. 

• The 2015-1206 building budget allocations based on enrollment projections were discussed. Budget meetings with building principals, cabinet members, and other department administrators are being conducted in December. The preliminary figure released for medical benefits for 2015-2016 represented a 7 percent increase over the current year.

• A new monthly report is being provided regarding procurement cards. The monthly report will include all activity from the cards in order to enhance transparency. A review of the procurement card system will be undertaken along with development of a formal policy.
   
• Budget transfers were moved from Work Session to the Action meeting agenda. Parameters resolution for the North Montco bond refunding will be discussed during the January Action Meeting.  

The next Finance Committee meeting will be on

The Support Services Committee met on November 24, and discussed the following items.  

Mr. Medica of Bonnett Associates presented two scenarios regarding the scope of a potential future North Penn High School project. The two scenarios included a system only approach and the second scenario including a more comprehensive scope of work. The Support Services Committee discussed the scope of work included with each scenario and briefly discussed financing of the project. The committee requested that the architect and administration prepare a complete list of needs to be presented at a future meeting. The next presentation will be presented at a special work session of the Board and will include photos and videos of the building and systems.

Two change orders and a Verizon relocation agreement for the Hatfield Elementary School renovation and addition project were discussed along with two deduct change orders for the natural gas conversion project. The four change orders and relocation agreement were on the December 11 Action Meeting agenda for consideration.

An update on the Pennfield and Pennbrook middle schools security camera projects was provided and both projects are now complete. This completes the installation of security cameras at North Penn High School, Pennbrook, Penndale and Pennfield.

A contract with Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) Online was discussed and recommended to be brought to forward this evening for consideration. MSDA Online provides online MSDS information and updates for all materials in NPSD buildings as required by Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.

The next Meeting of the Committee is scheduled to meet on  January 26 at 6 p.m.at the Educational Services Center.

The Foundation's Grant Review Committee selected nearly $14,000 of innovative projects to fund for the remainder of the school year. These 20 mid-year grants are in addition to the 24 grants already being supported this year worth more than $13,000.

The new projects include TV equipment at the middle school and elementary school level, nanotechnology, building a coral reef ecosystem, field trips and much, much more. Thank you to the educators who took the time to apply for these grants, the Trustees and district staff who helped to review the proposals and the donors who make it all possible.

Thank you to Weiss Market who recently donated $3,000 to the Foundation through the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program. The EITC program is way for businesses to receive tax credit for donations made to the Foundation. This is an important funding source for us and will go toward STEM, telecommunication and technology needs within the school district.

The Foundation is currently accepting donations through its Staff Tribute Program where families can recognize district staff with a monetary gift to the Foundation. The trustees are also working on a spring charity luncheon and May Day Online Auction.

Three Foundation grants are being implemented this month in NPSD schools. The projects include student television production, a visit to the Please Touch Museum for ESL students and the popular Vocab Bowl at NPHS.

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