School Board Meeting Highlights
3-25-14
Agenda:
For a complete agenda, please visit us at:http://www.boarddocs.com/pa/parkland/Board.nsf/Public
All motions were approved.
Business Meeting
Pledge of Allegiance
Jaindl Elementary School sisters Sophia and Francesca and younger brother Nicholas De la Vega opened the meeting by leading the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. They are pictured below with Jaindl Principal Di Schantz.
Mission Statement
Board member Barry Long was asked by Board President Roberta Marcus to read the District’s Vision Statement “Educating for Success, Inspiring Excellence.” After it was read, Mr. Long stated that it motivates every department within the organization’s goal setting structure and noted that our students’ lives are too important to not inspire them for anything but excellence.
Bond Parameters Resolution
A resolution was approved by the School Board following a financial presentation by the financial management team to set the floor for net savings of $600,000 (net of all costs) to be achieved upon the refinancing of a bond later this year.
2014-15 Budget Presentation
John Vignone, Director of Business Administration, gave a “2014-15 General Fund Budget Update.” It included an overview of the maximum millage rate/tax increase that can be approved by the School Board in June under Act 1 regulations. Since there are still various unknowns that exist, he reviewed them. The unknowns include reimbursement for the Jaindl Elementary School project that was submitted to the state via the state’s construction process back in May of 2010. Parkland is one of 350 school districts stuck in the process which has been essentially halted as the state claims they don’t have the funds to fulfill their promise of reimbursing districts for approved school construction projects dating back several years. Negotiations are ongoing with the teacher’s union whose contract is expiring at the end of this school year. Local revenue trends, bond refunding savings, and the 2013-14 budget/financial position were all areas that are expected to bring positive savings or revenue into the school district. The Commonwealth Budget is worrisome as so many unknowns still exist with regards to the governor’s plans for public school funding. His overview can be reviewed at this link.
Community Advisory Council
Dr. Troutman reported on the CAC which included a presentation on technology and how it intertwines and complements the curriculum. A handout from the meeting can be viewed here. The next meeting will occur on April 10 at PHS at 6:15 PM and will focus on Community Relations & Development/The PSD Education Foundation. The public is always welcome to attend any CAC meeting.
Round Table
Mr.Sniscak commented on Linda Petri’s (1st grade teacher at Kratzer Elementary School) retirement and congratulated her as well as thanked her for 30 years of service.
The Board approved a policy that will no longer allow students to withdrawal from school once they start kindergarten, such as a decision to give a child another year and then start school again the following year, however, school solicitor Steve Miller noted that the Supreme Court has heard arguments which may change the Commonwealth Court's decision to enact this new law. If that occurs, the policy will be revised.
Gas line connection agreements were approved that will extend natural gas to Kernsville Elementary and Orefield Middle School in the coming year. The estimated payback period is approximately 5 years at OMS and 1 year at Kernsville.
The next School Board meeting workshop is Tuesday, April 15 at 7 PM, Business Meeting at 8 PM.