SB Title

April 2017
NPSD Board Members
 
President
 
Vincent Sherpinsky
 
 
Vice President
 
Josie Charnock 
 
 
Members 

Edward Diasio
 
Timothy Kerr 
 
Suzan Leonard
 
Patrick McGee Jr. 
 
Frank O'Donnell  

Theresa Prykowski 
 
John T. Schilling   
 
 
 
Meetings in Review
NPSD Board of School Directors Meeting
  

April 20 Action Video

To view agenda attachments and minutes from past meetings, please click here.

Upcoming Meetings
 
May 4, 6:30 p.m., ESC
Finance Committee Meeting

May 8, 6:00 p.m., ESC
Safe Schools Committee Meeting

May 8, 6:30 p.m., ESC
ECP Committee Meeting

May 9, 7:30 p.m., ESC
Board Work Session Meeting

May 18, 7:30 p.m., ESC
Board Action Meeting

May 30, 6:00 p.m., ESC
Support Services Committee Meeting
 
 
To access the list of
meeting dates scheduled for 2017, please click here. 
 

 

 

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 President's Letter to the Community                     
SherpinskyNPSB
Dear Community,

At last week's board meeting, we celebrated National Volunteer Month which is recognized each April in the United States. This month is dedicated to honoring all of the volunteers in our communities as well as encouraging volunteerism throughout the month. 

Last week, we honored a few volunteers who have served the North Penn School District in various ways. They are representative of the thousands of volunteers who are committed to helping us each year. I hope that these individuals, too, know how much they are appreciated.



First, we honored Ben Doggoniuck. Ben is a senior at North Penn High School and serves as president of the Key Club. We picked Ben because he represents the tens of thousands of hours that our students, kindergarten through 12th grade, devote to service in our community.

We also honored Judge Andrea Duffy, who has spent the past five years volunteering in our schools through programs including her "Law and Liberty" program, "Vets in the Schools" program, essay contests, guest speaker programs and many other volunteer efforts. Judge Duffy is an example of civic duty and the responsibility of our officials to volunteer in the communities they serve.

The board was pleased to also recognize Ted and Bonnie Knauss. This husband and wife dynamic duo head the International Friendship Committee that brings international exchange students to North Penn High School and sends a handful of our students overseas each year. Ted and Bonnie represent the IFC who for literally decades have given students the opportunity for life-changing experiences.

Speaking of the world, last week we also honored Sandy Linberger, a Gwynedd Square Elementary School teacher who represents global volunteerism. In addition to contributing to the education and well-being of our children here in Lansdale, Sandy is commended for her work in less fortunate parts of the world including trips to Haiti in October of 2016 and in the summers of 2014 and 2015 volunteering her time for students with disabilities.

We also recognized Jeanie Sinz, who has has been volunteering in the district for decades through the Art Goes to School program, currently serving as one of the co-coordinators of the project. This nonprofit organization of over 600 volunteers in the Delaware Valley alone brings art appreciation classes to nearly 155,000 elementary school children each year.

Absent from the meeting was Joan Swantek whom we also would like to recognize. Joan is president of Coordinating Council which represents all of the parent groups within the North Penn School District. Our parents are the majority of our volunteers in our schools. Whether they are coordinating a fundraiser, helping children to read or scooping Ben & Jerry's at an ice cream social, our schools would be desperately incomplete without these moms and dads and other volunteers. And as society has changed and everyone seems to be busier than ever, our volunteers have continued to make our schools one of their top priorities.

The board would like to thank the above individuals and each of the groups and organizations they represent. On behalf of the NPSD Board of School Directors, I thank all of our staff, community members and families who volunteer their time to help build the excellence that is the North Penn School District.
 
Sincerely,
 
Vincent Sherpinsky
President
NPSD Board of School Directors
 
 Proclamations of Excellence               
At the recent action meeting on April 20, the NPSD Board of School Directors recognized students at North Penn High School (NPHS) for their excellent achievements by awarding them proclamations of excellence.


The NPHS Boys' Swimming and Diving Team was recognized for placing 3rd at the 2017 PIAA State Boys' Swimming and Diving Championships and placing 1st at the PIAA District I Swimming and Diving Championships.


The NPHS Girls' Swimming and Diving Team was honored for placing 2nd at the 2017 PIAA State Girls' Swimming and Diving Championships and placing 1st at the PIAA District I Swimming and Diving Championships.


The NPHS Indoors Girls' Track Team was award proclamations for placing 2nd at the 2017 PTFCA State Indoor Championships.


And finally, two members of the NPHS Wrestling team, Colin Shannon and Ryan Cody, were recognized for placing 1st in the District East Wrestling Tournament.

Congratulations to these wonderful student athletes for their impressive accomplishments!
Education/Community/Policy (ECP) Committee Report
The ECP Committee held a meeting on April 3 at the ESC. Several topics were presented at the meeting.

At the meeting the committee reviewed eight programs that will be conducted again this summer. Among these programs are the Summer School Remedial Program for middle school and high school students, SAT Prep program and Keystone Intervention program. This year all three of these programs had an increase in tuition for the first time in five years. Also this summer, the Summer Writing Academy will return. Students entering grades eight, nine and 10 can request to participate in this enrichment program. Funding for the program will be provided by the Keystones to Opportunity Grant. Another program returning this year is the summer literacy educational program for students attending Oak Park Elementary school. Included with this intervention offering is a free meal program funded by a federal grant that provides breakfast and lunch. Other summer programs include reading/ language arts for students completing grades K through two, an ELL program for elementary and secondary students and the Summer Library Program.

The committee also received a request for approval of the Extended School Care Program to apply for a grant through the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Keystone Stars Program. Funds received from this grant would be used to purchase supplies, materials and equipment for the Extended School Care Program at York Avenue Elementary School. Two student travel items were also reviewed at the meeting.

The next ECP Committee meeting will be held on Monday, May 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the ESC.

Finance Committee Report
The Finance Committee held a meeting on March 27 at the ESC. The monthly financial reports were reviewed with additional discussion on the following items:

2017-2018 North Montco Technical Career Center Budget
Steve Skrocki, NPSD Director of Business Administration, reviewed the proposed budget and the impact on the North Penn budget. The North Penn School Board will be asked to approve the budget once the Joint Operating Committee approves the budget.

403(b) Adoption Agreement
Skrocki recommended an amendment to the adoption agreement to allow for direct Roth 403(b) rollovers from other Roth 403(b) plans.

Tax Collector Audits
Skrocki reviewed the audits from the Hatfield Borough and Hatfield Township tax collector audits. The audits had no findings or irregularities.

School Nutrition Services Cooperative Purchasing Agreement
Skrocki reviewed the agreement which would allow NPSD to participate in joint purchasing with other districts in order to comply with Uniform Grant Guidance.

Wegmans Appraisal Contract Addendum
Skrocki explained the appraisal contract addendum would add a fifth year to the report in preparation for a potential trial.

2017-2018 Department Budget Presentations
Between the regular meeting and special meeting, a total of nine department budgets were presented to the committee by the responsible administrator.

Assessment Appeal Update
Skrocki presented the quarterly report from the solicitor illustrating the real estate tax appeal settlements and impact on revenue and escrow.

Debt Service
Skrocki presented the debt service budget for 2017-2018 and the remaining schedule over the life of the outstanding bonds.

Retirement Rate Stabilization Fund
Skrocki reviewed the projections for future pension expenses and a recommended plan for utilization of the district's $14.4 million committed fund balance for pension obligations.

2017-2018 Budget Update
Skrocki reviewed the latest status of the budget and changes that have been made since the last meeting.

The next Finance Committee meeting will be held on May 4 at 6:00 p.m. at the ESC.

Support Services Committee Report
The Support Services Committee held a meeting on March 27 at the ESC. Several topics were presented at the meeting.

The committee reviewed a proposal from Bonnett Associates to design a new dust collection system for Pennbrook Middle School.

The committee discussed the need for improvements to the Pennfield Middle School baseball field.

The bid results for the Oak Park Elementary School HVAC were reviewed. The committee recommended moving forward with this project.

The committee discussed the asbestos abatement at Penndale Middle School scheduled for the summer of 2017.

The committee reviewed the facility use report and the vandalism report.

The next Support Services meeting will be held on May 30 at 6:00 p.m. at the ESC.