Quarterly Newsletter
December 2021, Vol 2
2020-21 Audit Results
Representatives from Maillie LLP, our local auditors, attended our November Facilities-Finance Committee meeting to review the 2020-21 Audit Report. Highlights include:
- Unmodified Audit Opinion
- No findings; in either our financial statements or in the additional review of our federal programs that is required by the Single Audit Act of 1984.
- Unassigned Fund Balance up from $ 6 million to $ 9.6 million
- Total Fund Balance up from $ 11.8 million to $ 27.5 million
Kudos to our entire team for this clean audit opinion and for their commitment to the knowledge, implementation and use of strong accounting practices
Fund Balance Overview
Fund Balance is calculated at year end (June 30) and is commonly expressed as a percent of budgeted expense. When NASD discusses Fund Balance, we are referring to our General Fund Operating Fund Balance. Fund Balance is the measure of financial health of our District and represents the funds that are left over at the end of the year after all revenues have been accounted for and all expenditures have been recorded.
The Fund Balance is made up of categories. Those categories are non-spendable (such as Inventory and Prepaid), assigned (for future capital projects, tax assessment appeals, transportation stabilization) and unassigned. Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) states that a district the size of Norristown can not have an unassigned balance greater than 8%
Our total Fund Balance at 6/30/2021 was $27.5 million which included $2.8 million in non-spendable, $15 million in assigned, $9.6 million in the unassigned category. Our unassigned fund balance as a percentage is 5.87%. Therefore, we are in compliance with the requirements put in place by PDE.
ESSER FUNDING
Stakeholder engagement continued in November at the Educational Technology and Facilities and Finance committee meetings. The updated spending plans are available on the ESSER section of the Business Services website. Please use the public comment section at any Committee or Board meeting to share your thoughts or comments on our ARP ESSER funds.
This is a brief recap of our available ARP ESSER grants:
ARP ESSER III - $19,327,410
- $3,865,482 must be spent on learning loss (including after school, summer school, transpiration, and supplies)
- $234,518 for curriculum & instruction outside of learning loss
- $2,610,000 for technology (infrastructure, hardware, public announcement system, hot spots, vehicle, electronic document management)
- $3,300,000 for operations (HVAC upgrades, touchless fixtures, cleaning supplies/PPE, Vehicles)
- $975,000 for transportation (additional costs, more vans, and site coordinators)
- $1,960,000 for Norristown Online Academy
- $20,000 for special education & pupil services for digital signature and digital communication tools
- $6,362,410 to maintaining continuity of existing services
ARP ACT 24 7% Set-Aside - $1,502,173
- $214,596 must be spent on After School
- $214,596 must be spent on Summer School,
- $85,838 must be spent on Reading Improvement
- $107,298 must be spent on Social and Emotional Learning Professional Development
- $321,894 must be spent on Social and Emotional Learning
- $557,951 for additional needs in Social and Emotional Learning
ARP ACT 24 Homeless Children and Youth - $126,257
- HCY will focus spending on Social and Emotional Learning, English Language Learners, Attendance/Absenteeism and instructional supplies such as uniforms
ARP ACT 24 Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (A-TSI) - $185,938
- $16,463 must be spent on Roosevelt and can focus spending on English Language Learners
- $169,475 must be spent on NAHS and can focus spending on children with disabilities
- Additionally, spending will focus on attendance/absenteeism, math curriculum, and technology purchases
2022-23 Budget Update
Good news for property tax payers. At our November Board Meeting, it was recommended that NASD not increase taxes above the 4.4% increase that is allowed per the Act 1 index.
Staff Changes in the Business Office
Cheryl Crouse is leaving NASD after providing 22 years of service to our district. Cheryl is our Federal Programs Accountant and will officially be retired December 31, 2021.
We asked Cheryl to provide us with some parting words:
"I have mixed feelings about retiring. I have truly enjoyed my years in the business office and it will be difficult to say goodbye to my NASD friends. But I'm excited to turn the page and begin my next journey. Can't wait to enjoy the daylight hours, travel, catch up with old friends and explore new hobbies. Basically, making time for fun and interesting activities that I couldn't fit into my calendar while working. I wish my NASD family the very best as they prepare our students for future success."
We would also like to welcome Whitney Winters to our NASD family. Whitney started in the Business Office at the end of September in order to allow ample time to train with Cheryl before her retirement.
Whitney Winters is a native of Norristown, and proudly attended Whitehall Elementary and Stewart Middle School before relocating outside of NASD. Whitney is currently a graduate student at West Chester University, studying Nonprofit Administration. In her free time, she can be found attending concerts, introducing her middle school aged son to new experiences, or traveling abroad. Whitney has future plans to start her own nonprofit organization with the mission being to collect, restore and donate recycled pianos from America to Africa.
Property Tax Rebate
NASD has a new way in which some of our taxpayers can benefit from tax relief. At the May 2021 board meeting, the NASD Board of School Directors approved a property tax rebate program that will see a discount of up to $195 for certain homeowners. To qualify for this discount, applicants must:
- have a household income of no more than $35,000 annually, and:
- be 65 years of age or older; or
- be a widow and widower aged 50 years of age or older; or
- be permanently disabled and 18 years of age or older.
For those who qualify for the Tax Rebate Program, follow the links below or visit or call your local legislator.
- Link to Property Tax Rebate website
- NASD 2021-22 Rembolso de impuestos a la propiedad PDF (print and send in)
- NASD 2021-22 Property Tax Form PDF (print and send in)
- NASD 2021-22 Rembolso de impuestos a la propiedad electronica submission
- NASD 2021-22 Property Tax Form electronic submission
Whitehall Road Bridge Update
PennDot has shared the following update on the timeline for bridge repairs:
Design funding for Whitehall Road Bridge, which was damaged during Tropical Storm Ida, was approved the week of November 12, 2021 . Environmental clearance is expected in December. The project is expected to be put out for bid in February 2022, with construction expected to begin in May 2022. The road and bridge are expected to open in July 2022.