SB Title

October 2014 Issue
Comprehensive Plan Posted Online
Education/Community/Policy Committee Report
Finance Committee Report
Safe Schools Committee Report
NPSD Educational Foundation Committee Report
NPSD Board Members

 

President

 

Vincent Sherpinsky

 

 

Vice President

 

Timothy Kerr

 

 

Members

 

Cory Brown

 

Josie Charnock

 

Suzan Leonard

 

Carolyn Murphy

 

Frank O'Donnell 

 

John T. Schilling  

 

Joseph Sullivan 

 

 

Meetings in Review
NPSD Board of School Directors Meeting
  
To view agenda attachments and minutes from past meetings, please click here
 
To access the list of
meeting dates scheduled for 2014, please click here 
Upcoming Meetings
October 27, 6 p.m.
Support Services Committee Meeting
 
October 27, 7 p.m.
Finance Committee Meeting

November 10, 6 p.m.
Safe Schools Committee Meeting

November 10, 6:30 p.m.
Education/Community/Policy Committee Meeting

November 11, 7:30 p.m.
School Board Work Session
 
November 20, 7:30 p.m.
School Board Action Meeting 

 

 

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President's Letter to the Community
Dear Community,

 

SherpinskyNPSBA challenge that faces a district of our size is the upkeep of our buildings. As a school board we implemented a building renovation cycle that is nearly complete. However, just like in our own homes, other needs develop from time to time that must be addressed.

 

At this month's action meeting, the school board approved moving unexpended funds from the 2013-2014 school year into capital reserve fund to support improvements to the safety of our buildings, and to the environment in which our staff works and our students learn. This action allows updates and repairs to be completed without raising taxes.

 

With these funds, during the upcoming months and summer we will renovate the entrances at Bridle Path, Gwynedd Square, Gwyn-Nor, Knapp, Oak Park, and Walton Farm elementary schools to make them more secure. We will also complete much needed roof replacement and repair work at Bridle Path, Knapp, North Wales and York Avenue elementary schools and Pennbrook Midldle School.

 

As always, the NPSD Board of School Directors is committed to ensuring our students are safe and secure. I thank the community for their support in this effort. 

 

Sincerely,

 

Vincent Sherpinsky

President

NPSD Board of School Directors

 

Comprehensive Plan Posted Online

For the past year, a committee of staff, students and community members met and discussed the Comprehensive Plan for the years 2015 to 2018. This plan outlines initiatives and goals the school district wants to focus on in years to come. One reoccurring theme in the plan was that students must always be the focus of the work of the school district.  

 

The Comprehensive Plan is currently posted on the NPSD website and the district encourages community members to review the plan and send feedback to input@npenn.org. The committee will also be making a presentation about the plan to the board of school directors during the November 11 Work Session.

 
Education/Community/Policy (ECP) Committee Report

The Education/Community/Policy (ECP) Committee met on Monday, October 13. There were several topics on the agenda.

 

An overview of the 2015-2018 Comprehensive Plan for the district was presented to the committee. This plan was drafted in compliance with the revised Chapter 4 of the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) regulations. The district established a steering committee to oversee the process of developing the Comprehensive Plan. Subcommittees then developed specific aspects of the plan. All committees were comprised of a variety of district stakeholder groups including but not limited to professional staff, support staff, students, business partners, and community members. The Comprehensive Plan will be posted on the district website for the community to review for 28 days prior to final board approval in November.

 

In addition, the committee reviewed the 2015-2016 Program of Studies for grades 9 through 12. Changes to the program of studies include courses that have been modified, added, and dropped. Also, the program of studies will now list the courses that are offered at Northbridge.

 

Another agenda item that was reviewed by the committee was a proposal to re-establish a Robotics Club that would be open to students in middle school and high school. This district-wide organization would provide students the opportunity to pursue their interest in science and technology through a robotics program as well as acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to design and construct a competitive robot. Teams would participate in the FIRST Organization's Robotics Competition.

 

The committee also approved accepting the Governor's Expanding Excellence Mentoring Grant that was awarded to North Penn High School. This grant is intended to foster a culture of innovation and achievement in Pennsylvania's public schools by recognizing high performance, providing funding to sustain and further improve performance, and to provide an opportunity for high-achieving schools to collaborate, mentor, and share best practices.

 

North Penn High School was selected as a recipient of this award as a result of the success its students achieved on the 2014 Biology Keystone exam and the strategies that were implemented in support of that.

 

At the meeting, a group of parents addressed concerns about the E3 schedule change at Penndale.

 

The next ECP Committee meeting will be Monday, November 10, 2014.

 

Finance Committee Report

The Finance Committee met on September 29 and discussed the following items.

  

Steve Skrocki, director of Business administration, reviewed the balance sheet report. He reported that most local revenues (real estate taxes) are received in the first two months of the fiscal year and August shows revenues are greater than the expenses due to these collections. It is too soon in the fiscal year to generate long-term projections but by January or February, 2015 we will have a better indication of fiscal standing for the 2014-2015 fiscal year.

 

The General Fund Financial Report was reviewed. Comparisons to the previous year were cited: i.e. 63 percent of real estate taxes collected this year vs. 72.44 percent at same time last year - explanations were given regarding due date of real estate taxes during the discount period. Total expenditures to date are 7.3 percent compared to the 6.2 percent at the same time last year, due to the recorded expenditure of the self-insurance fund transfer of $3 million.

 

July and August collections of Earned Income Tax Revenue were very strong.

 

Mr. Skrocki explained the transfer tax collection and distribution process for property sales.

 

Mr. Skrocki reported delinquent taxes are collected by the county tax claim bureau and NPSD is charged a percentage.

 

Short term investment options are being explored since the interest rates with current investments are very low.

 

Mr. Skrocki reported the Short Term Capital Project Forecast report is posted on the NPSD website on a monthly basis. It was recommended that $4 million be transferred to Capital Reserve to fund these projects from the 2013-14 budget.

 

The committee reviewed Hatfield Elementary School construction costs to date.

 

Mr. Skrocki reviewed the process and deadlines for the budget process. There is a deadline of January 29, 2015 to present a proposed preliminary budget or adopt a resolution stating taxes will not increase over the Act 1 index for 2015-2016. He explained options for Act 1 exceptions. This will be discussed in more detail at the October meeting. Draft of the 2015-16 budget calendar will be presented at the October meeting.

 

The Tax Collection Committee (TCC) oversees the Earned Income Tax. Three delegates from NPSD serve on the TCC. Their duties include: attend quarterly meetings, budgetary discussions, vote on EIT matters, EIT collector vote, etc. Recommendation of New Committee Reps include Steve Skrocki, Vince Sherpinsky and Brian Pawling.

 

Preliminary figures state revenues exceeded expenditures by approximately $8,117,000 for the year. The complete audit draft will be presented at the October Board meeting by Edward Furman of Maillie, LLP.

 

Mr. Skrocki shared two estimates for the North Penn High School project financing. The full package is $92 million and systems only package  is $72.5 million. He explained the budgeting process of wrapping debt and the financing schedule. High school project concept will be discussed at the October Support Services Committee.

 

Mr. Skrocki explained the real estate tax assessment appeals escrow process when taxes are paid under protest or filing of appeals. Currently 25 percent is held in escrow and Mr. Skrocki suggested change to 20 percent with the exception of certain properties. The committee consented.

 

An outside grant writer is paid $60 per hour, with $19,000 paid to date. More detailed reporting of time spent is now being received; i.e. research, meetings, writing, follow up, etc.

 

Mr. Skrocki presented investment options for the Investment Program to increase interest earnings. The committee agreed.

 

The committee is moving forward with Request for Proposals to various banks. They will compare and evaluate service, fees, proximity, etc.

 

The Director of Business Administration will continue to review waiver requests for real estate tax penalties but the committee felt waivers should not be granted.

 

The Business Office will be creating a budget presentation booklet for the 2015-2016 fiscal year using standards adopted by Association for School Business Officials (ASBO) for their Meritorious Budget Award. The committee agreed to pay the $1,100 application fee for the International Association of School Business Officials Award.

 

The following items were moved to work session and action Meetings.

- Approval of Tax Collection Committee Representatives  

- Transfer to Capital Reserve  

 

The next Finance Committee meeting will be Monday, October 27th, 2014 at 7 p.m. or following the Support Services meeting.

Support Services Committee Report

The Support Services Committee met on Monday September 29 and the following items were on the agenda.

 

The Upper Gwynedd Township made a presentation regarding the installation of two proposed detention basins in the Pennbrook property. These detention basins would help alleviate flooding in the area. Upper Gwynedd Township requested a consensus of the Support Services Committee so that they could move forward with a more detailed design. Prior to final completion of the design and bidding the work, Upper Gwynedd Township will come back to the Support Services Committee and the School Board to request final approval to move forward.

 

Additional work on Hatfield Renovation project was discussed. The additional erosion and sedimentation work is a $0.00 Change Order which is offset by allowances in the contract. This Change Order is on the Action meeting's agenda for consideration.

 

A contract with Bonnett Associates, Inc. to complete the Secured Entrances to six buildings was discussed and is included on the Action meeting's agenda for consideration.

 

Recent natural gas and electricity locks were presented and are included on the Action meeting's agenda.

 

The Support Services Committee discussed a facility use request by a group of residents to rent Gwynedd Square gym to play basketball one or two evenings a week. This request is in accordance with Board Policy 1330 - Use of School Facilities. This request is on the Action meeting's agenda for consideration.

 

The next meeting of the committee is scheduled for Monday, October 27 at 6 p.m.at the Educational Services Center.

 

NPSD Educational Foundation Committee Report

The Foundation held its annual fall charity luncheon on October 5. Thank you to the community members and district staff who attended this fun event. The Foundation is currently working on securing a location for a spring luncheon.

 

At the October monthly meeting, the trustees had the privilege of visiting with North Penn High School teacher Curt Reichwein who demonstrated the 3D printer purchased by the Foundation for use in technology education classes. It was truly amazing to watch how this equipment turns student ideas into physical reality.Thank you to the entire Technology Education department at NPHS and the middle schools for their work. The Foundation truly enjoys supporting this area of need.

 

The North Penn Alumni Association, a committee of the Foundation, planned a wonderful homecoming weekend. Activities included hosting a luncheon for the Lifetime Achievement Honoree Greg Moyer and a picnic before the game.

 

The Foundation is also very excited about a new partnership with the Women's Center of Montgomery County and the Verizon Foundation. A grant from Verizon to the Women's Center for $10,000 will support the implementation of a middle school dating violence prevention curriculum called Start Strong: Building Healthy Teen Relationships. Thank you to everyone involved in making this exciting opportunity happen including NPSD guidance counselors who will be significantly involved.

 

Finally, North Penn educators should check their email in the upcoming weeks. The Foundation will be opening its grant submission window for innovative projects to be implemented between January and June 2014.