School Board Meeting Highlights
3-18-14
Agenda:
For a complete agenda, please visit us at:http://www.boarddocs.com/pa/parkland/Board.nsf/Public
All motions were approved.
Workshop Meeting
LCCC Budget Presentation
Dr. Ann Bieber, Interim President of LCCC and Mr. Brian Kahler, Interim Vice President for Finance and Facilities at LCCC gave a detailed presentation about their 2014-15 Proposed budget and the school district’s share of the budget. The district’s overall share of the LCCC Operating and Capital Budget will decrease by $57,635 or 4.7% to a new total of $1,179,110. The summary can be viewed here. A full copy of the LCCC Budget presentation can be viewed here.
2015-14 Budget Update
John Vignone, Director of Business Administration, gave a 2014-15 Budget Update presentation which included an overview of expenditure projections for the 2014-15 General Fund Budget. He also reviewed examples of projected areas that will see increases or decreases in expenditures over the current year’s budget items. The document also reviews upcoming important budget dates and can be viewed here.
Business Meeting
Energy Champion
As part of Act 129, PPL is required to reduce their energy consumption. They are soliciting school districts to participate in an energy improvement program partnership. The energy champion will be paid for by PPL and help the district achieve energy savings – a win-win for both Parkland and PPL.
Summer Library Program
Approval of the summer library program was approved to occur from June 23, 2014 through August 8, 2014 in the following elementary and middle schools. The schedule of library hours is as follows:
Cetronia
Wednesday
9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Fogelsville
Wednesday
9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Ironton
Tuesday
1:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Jaindl
Wednesday
1:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Kernsville
Tuesday
9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Kratzer (at Cetronia)
Tuesday
9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Parkway Manor
Wednesday
1:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Schnecksville
Thursday
9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Middle Schools
Orefield and Springhouse held at Springhouse
Thursday
1:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Videos
Three video presentations were made:
Foundation Video (designed to be played before the spring concerts in all buildings this year): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAy1NH-D-Qs
White House Film Festival - This video was developed, produced, and edited by the students of the Parkland High School TV Studio as an entry for the White House Student Film Festival and highlights technology initiatives within the high school that help students learn and grow:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zR5ayQu5bzE
Dream It Do It Middle School Video Contest Submission – This video won the most creative award during the Lehigh Valley “What’s Cool About Manufacturing” video contest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGOBT7W1tDE
Round Table
The School Board was glad to see Michael Falco’s student rep report which highlighted the Peers Assisting Learning Support (PALS) Club “End the R Word” video. Mr. Reyburn commented on the LCCC budget, thanking Mrs. Marcus for her time and involvement in creating a forum and in helping to establish transparency in the discussion about the budget. Mr. Cohen mentioned that outside their board commitments, all board members also attend a variety of school activities which is a real thrill. He attended Kernsville’s Reading Olympics presentation and he loved seeing the respect for other countries that was taught, along with the reading and collaboration skills that were used in creating the student projects. Mrs. Marcus agreed that Kernsville’s Heritage Olympics was an incredible event. She also highlighted Parkland alumna Caitlin Brown who was honored at LCCC as a 2014 Coca Cola New Century Scholar – a prestigious $2,000 scholarship given to community college students from the United States, Canada and American Samoa. She was one of only 51 selected nationwide and the only person to receive the award in Pennsylvania. Mrs. Marcus announced that she and Mr. Sniscak are sending a letter to Congressman Dent to address concerns about Title 1, 2, and 3 federal funds not getting to the school district in a timely manner. Mr. Sniscak wished all of the schools well as we approach PSSA testing next week and encouraged everyone to do their best to keep state testing in the proper perspective knowing that the standardized tests and the rules and regulations surrounding the exams tend to increase the level of anxiety amongst the students, staff and administration this time of year.
Next meeting: Tuesday, March 25, 2014 at 7 PM.