In addition to regular real estate taxes, the School District also receives allocations for “interim” tax billings. Interim taxes are defined as a tax on assessed property that was not included in the original tax mailing of July 1. Interim real estate tax bills are sent out throughout the school year for new construction/remodeling that increased a property’s assessed value but was not included with the original tax mailing. With the two new construction projects going on in the Township, the elected Tax Collector will send out interim tax bills based upon the completion of those new homes as determined by the Montgomery County Board of Assessment Appeals. For example, if a property is completed as of November 1st of any given school year, an interim tax bill will be generated for the period of November 1st through June 30th of that year. From that point on, regular school tax billings will go out based on the final assessment determined by the County. This would be the same logic if a homeowner added an addition to a home, a swimming pool, or maybe a finished basement. Based on the completion of these types of projects, an added assessment would be generated and therefore an interim billing would go out. The District budgets conservatively for interim taxes but that revenue source is definitely a source of income used to balance the annual budget.

This year the PSSA and Keystone assessments will be delivered to students using an online format. Online assessment has been available to the district for many years. Historically, however, there were concerns associated with technology limitations, student comfortability, and experience with testing online. Due to the experiences that students have had in the course of the last year, they are highly adept at navigating in an online environment and have had significant experience taking assessments online. Being 1:1 affords us the ability to access online assessment as a viable tool. Students will participate in an orientation and tutorial prior to testing. The practice sessions will provide students with opportunities to navigate the testing platform, utilize the tools such as a highlighter, crossing out answers, and a notepad. The online testing modules also have built-in features that benefit student test-takers. For example, if students skip a question, the system will alert them to go back to the question, prior to submitting their test. Please help to support your student by reminding him/her to fully charge the Chromebook at home the night before each testing session. This will be critical in addition to typical strategies such as getting a good night's sleep and eating breakfast the day of the assessment. Thank you, in advance, for supporting your student during the upcoming PSSA and Keystone testing windows.

The Technology Department supports information technology systems and instructional technology programs and practices in the district. This month, our instructional coaches share some useful tech tips for students and families. If you have an idea for a future tech tip, please click HERE to share!

Please click this link for additional Chromebook Maintenance Tech Tips.

Health and Wellness

Access Services, an organization that provides support services to individuals with special needs in Eastern Pennsylvania, has teamed up with various organizations to offer an interactive online presentation focused on how stress and mental wellness affect the daily lives of middle and high school students. Here is a flyer for the presentation on May 5th from 3:30PM-5:30PM that is open to students age 14-18.

Sports

The Lower Moreland Township School District Unified Track Team has been hard at work practicing and is ready to compete in their first official track meets! We are proud to announce that on April 19th they will travel to Methacton High School for their first competition. They will return to Lower Moreland High School for another meet on April 26th. Please join the Office of Student Services, and all of the school district, in wishing them luck in these upcoming competitions.