School Board Meeting Highlights
6-25-19
Agenda:
For a complete agenda, please visit us at:http://www.boarddocs.com/pa/parkland/Board.nsf/Public
All motions were approved.
Regular Meeting
Student Recognition
From PHS:
NATIONAL HISTORY DAY:
1st Place at States: Ankhitha Manjunatha and Akshatha Manjunatha, Group Website: Save Yourself, or Save Thousands?: How the Tragedy of One led to the Triumph over Persecution
Senior paper about Pennsylvania history named the Irwin M. Marcus Award from The Pennsylvania Historical Association: Jacob Roth
Teacher Advisor: Calliope Volikas
SCHOLASTIC SCRIMMAGE 1st Place National Academic Tournament:
Sahil Inaganti
Jack Blizard
Arjun Vedanthan
Nikhil Sunder
Hasun Noh
Valmiki Kothare
Teacher Advisor: Alice Stinebaugh
From OMS:
NATIONAL HISTORY DAY:
1st Place at States: Seventh grader Thomas Gilchrist, Individual Documentary category: Oppression and Genocide: Indonesia's Price of Democracy
Teacher Advisor: Michael Messerschmidt
From SMS:
NATIONAL HISTORY DAY
2nd Place at States: Reva Gandhi, Individual Documentary category: India’s Independence and Partition
2nd Place at States: Mae Cook, Naeema Salau, and Mysha Turk, Group Website: The Women’s Rights Movement: A Decades-Long Struggle
Teacher Advisor: Joshua Abrams
2019-20 Budget Approval
John Vignone, Director of Business Administration, reviewed the budget summary noting that nothing has changed since the proposed final budget brought forth in May. The budget was unanimously approved by the School Board. Mr. Sniscak reviewed the timeline for the past year and noted the Administration and School Board is sensitive to raising taxes. The 2019-20 Budget was prepared with a total of 15.71 mills representing a 1.88% millage increase or 0.29 mills. At 15.71 mills, Parkland will maintain the lowest real estate tax rate in Lehigh County based upon millage. For comparison purposes, last year’s final millage increase was 1.92%. Parkland will appropriate $6.4 M of Fund Balance to balance the 2019-20 General Fund Budget. By this action, the Board will offset the need to levy taxes by approximately .80 mills. Rich Sniscak commented that Parkland is committed to bringing forth a responsible budget that represents the most essential educational needs of our students while considering the economic climate and the ability and willingness of our community to support a quality comprehensive educational program. Read the press release and John's budget summary.
Reports
The Parkland Education Foundation held their Gala at Muhlenberg College on May 22nd. It was a great success. The profit was more than $89k that will go directly back to our own Parkland Schools. Our Celebrate Innovation Grants have been awarded. 59 grants totaling $124,477.23 have been awarded for the 2019-20 school year. The Parkland Education is thrilled to announce that we have now given back ONE MILLION DOLLARS to Parkland Schools since our inception in 2011.
We have flyers available to purchase tickets for the MG that Mr. Dobil donated. Please contact Lisa Ervin if you would like to help sell tickets at any of our upcoming events: Das Awkscht Fescht (August 2nd, 3rd, and 4th), or National Night Out (August 6th).
Mark your calendars…. we are having a Foundation tailgate on September 27th!
Roundtable
Everyone congratulated the student winners who were recognized during the meetings.