| NPSD Board Members |
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President
Tina Stoll
Vice President
Christian D. Fusco
Members
Edward Diasio
Elisha K. Gee
Jonathan M. Kassa
Timothy MacBain
Jenna A. Ott
Theresa Prykowski
Juliane Ramić
The NPSD Board of School Directors welcomes questions and comments from the community. To that end, community members may email the entire school board at
_npschoolboard@npenn.org.
If you would like to contact a specific board member via email or phone, please
click here for a list of contact information.
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NPSD Board of School Directors Approve Preliminary Budget for 2019-2020 School Year
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At the action meeting on February 19, the North Penn School District (NPSD) Board of School Directors approved the adoption of the Preliminary General Fund Budget for the 2019-2020 school year totaling $275,999,328.
The preliminary general fund budget for 2019-2020 is currently a 6.05 percent increase from the current year's budget due to many factors including full-day kindergarten, the capital plan, retirement increase, tax base, salary increase, charter school tuition and new debt. Much works still needs to be completed in preparing a budget that meets the needs of NPSD.
NPSD Administration and board members will continue the review of budget components, and the Preliminary Budget may be revised prior to adoption of a Final Budget for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. NPSD plans to vote on the adoption of the 2019-2020 Proposed Final Budget at the action meeting on May 16 and the adoption of the 2019-2020 Final Budget at the action meeting on June 20.
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Upcoming Meetings
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March 4, 6:00 pm, ESC
Special Finance Committee Meeting
March 12, 6:00 pm, ESC
Finance Committee Meeting
March 12, 7:30 pm, ESC
Worksession Meeting
March 21, 7:30 pm, ESC
Action Meeting
March 25, 6:00 pm, ESC
Facilities and Operations Committee Meeting
(Formerly Support Services Committee)
March 26, 6:00 pm, ESC
Safe Schools Committee Meeting
March 26, 6:30 pm, ESC
ECP Committee Meeting
To access the list of
meeting dates scheduled for 2019, please click here.
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| Attending Action and Work Session Meetings |
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The NPSD Board of School Directors Action Meetings are held on the third Thursday of every month. These meetings give students, parents and community members an opportunity to address the board and speak on any topic for five minutes. The Work Session, another monthly meeting is held one week preceding the Action Meeting on Tuesday. Here, attendees are also given five minutes to express their views, but are limited to speak on the topics of the evening's agenda.
Both the Action Meeting and the Work Session meeting begin at 7:30 pm and are held in the NPSD Educational Services Center (ESC) located at 401 E. Hancock St., Lansdale, PA 19446. However, if you are unable to attend in person, intimidated by the televised setting or by the requirements, community members should feel free to call or email the members of the board, either individually or as a whole. For a list of contact information, click here. The televised board meetings are available for private viewing on local Comcast Cable Channel 28
and Verizon Cable Channel 29 as well as www.youtube.com/nptv within several days of the original meeting.
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| Meetings in Review |
NPSD Board of School Directors Meeting
To view agenda attachments and minutes from past meetings, please click here.
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| Full-Day Kindergarten Registration for 2019-2020 School Year |
Students must be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2019 to enter Kindergarten for the 2019-2020 school year. Our school policy does not allow exceptions to this date.
Beginning the 2019-2020 school year, NPSD will be implementing FDK in all of its 13 elementary schools. For more information about FDK at North Penn,
click here.
Centralized kindergarten registration for the 2019-2020 school year will begin the week of February 25, 2019. Appointments fill up fast, so please do not wait. Click the link below to learn more and schedule your appointment today!
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Dear Community,
As a member of the North Penn Board of School Directors, I get to work with our school community in many meaningful ways. One such way is to serve as a representative of the North Penn School District (NPSD) on the Joint Operating Committee of the North Montco Technical Career Center. For anyone unfamiliar with North Montco, it provides students from five sending districts the chance to pursue areas of study that are not standard offerings at their respective district's high school.
In December, I was honored to be nominated, and unanimously elected by my fellow Joint Operating Committee members, to serve in an executive capacity as the Secretary of the Joint Operating Committee. Serving on this particular board has been both an honor and a pleasure because it allows me to act as a voice for a very special and important place in the North Penn educational community.
North Montco Technical Career Center offers students the opportunity to pursue interests such as culinary arts, cosmetology, horticulture, engineering and manufacturing, health and human services such as biotechnology, power and transportation, construction trades, and visual communications such as graphic arts and internet technologies. These offerings lead to rewarding post graduation careers and can provide a head start for college to many of our students. Through internships, apprenticeships and dual enrollment that provides college credit for qualifying coursework, North Montco students gain real world experience and an educational advantage.
The benefits to the students that attend North Montco are extensive, but there is a unique, symbiotic relationship between the school and the community. What many people may not be aware of is that the school opens its doors to the community on an almost daily basis. While the school caters to our high school students, it also offers continuing education and job training to the entire community. Through the on-site restaurant run by talented students serving breakfast and lunch and bakery offering exceptional baked goods prepared by students of the culinary arts, and the salon offering the latest hairstyles and nail treatments, the community is welcomed by the students and staff to enjoy the products of their hard work. We as a community get a great service with the added benefit of helping our students master their craft. These students go on to serve our community for years to come.
So, I'd like to use this month's board brief to encourage all North Penn community members to explore the North Montco Technical Career Center. Whether you are a student or parent of a student with an interest in a field that is outside the standard coursework offered and NPHS, or a member of the community willing to sit down to a great meal or salon treatment and help a student further their experience, I expect you will be as impressed and enamored with North Montco, its dedicated teachers and staff, and talented students, as I am.
Sincerely,
Jenna A. Ott
Member, NPSD Board of School Directors
Term Expiration: 2019
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The NPSD Educational Foundation last met on February 6 at the Educational Services Center (ESC).
The Foundation's treasurer reviewed the current financial statement, and they are pleased to report that the Foundation raised more money this past year than ever before at more than $163,000. The Foundation has come along way in 20 years when just over $10,000 was typically raised each year.
Trustees considered two proposals from district staff who presented their ideas. The Foundation approved supporting another event in the North Penn Talk Series. Ron James, a 1981 graduate of NPHS, will speak to NPHS students about making
right
choices and the consequences of poor decisions. He will also have an evening presentation for students in other grades and parents. A date has not yet been set.
The Foundation also agreed to support the Integrated Science Program at the middle school level in terms of helping students who can't afford the supplies needed for independent research projects. Specifics on this are still to be worked out.
In addition to this, the Foundation approved 33 mid-year grants this past December
totaling
$22,441. Grant applications for the 2019-2020 school year will be accepted beginning in March.
Coming soon is the Foundation's annual online auction which will be held in May. Between now and then, the Foundation is looking for community members and businesses to donate items to this popular fundraising effort.
The NPSD Educational Foundation's next meeting will be held on March 6. For more information about the Foundation, please contact Executive Director, Christine Liberaski at liberacd@npenn.org.
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The Safe Schools Committee met on January 22 at 6:00 pm at the ESC.
Scott Kennedy, NPSD Director of Facilities and Operations and ChrisDoerr, NPSD Coordinator of Emergency Management and Safe Schools, reviewed the process to select a mass notification provider. Alertus was recommended based on overall cost, functionality, and compatibility with existing systems.
Doerr reviewed the prior year's safe school activities along with the proposed initiatives for the next year.
Doerr gave an update on the Safe Schools grants. NPSD was awarded $45,000 which will be used for a behavioral threat assessment, a climate survey and bleeding control kits. The Act 44 Part B grant application is being revised based on new state guidance.
The Safe to Say program went live on January 14, 2019. One tip has been received and was handled by the school team. The training for students in 7th through 12th grade is planned for late February.
The next Safe Schools Committee meeting will be held on March 26 at 6:00 pm at the ESC. Updates from the February 26 meeting will be reported in next month's newsletter.
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The Finance Committee met on February 4 at 6:00 pm at the ESC. The monthly financial reports were reviewed with additional discussion on the following items.
2019-2020 Montgomery County Intermediate Unit (MCIU) Budget
The MCIU proposed budget was reviewed. The MCIU board has already approved the budget so each district now needs to approve. NPSD's share is $211,747 which is a 0.91 percent increase over the current year.
2019-2020 North Montco Technical Career Center Budget
The proposed budget was reviewed along with the calculation formula for the tuition. NPSD's share of tuition for next year is projected to be $3,801,019 which is a 3.08 percent increase. NPSD also pays a share of debt service in the amount of $316,370. The Joint Operating Committee will be reviewing the budget in February and the North Penn Board will consider in March.
Department Level Budget Presentation
Presentations were made from Human Resources, Curriculum and Special Education for the 2019-2020 budget.
Debt Service Presentation
Steve Skrocki, NPSD Chief Financial Officer, reviewed the results from the 2019 bond issue as well as the current outstanding bond issues and lease payments.
2019-2020 Preliminary Budget
Skrocki provided an overview of the preliminary budget. Highlights of the budget were discussed as well as the application process for Act 1 exceptions for special education and retirement. Skrocki emphasized it is early in the budget process and many things will change prior to May when the proposed final budget is considered.
The Finance Committee will hold a special meeting on Monday, March 4 at 6:00 pm at the ESC. The next regularly scheduled Finance Committee meeting w
ill be held on Tuesday, March 12 at 6:00 pm at the ESC.
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The ECP Committee met on January 22 at 6:30 pm at the ESC.
Marjie Scott, NPSD Extended School Care Coordinator, presented recommendations for changes to Extended Care enrollment options for the 2019-2020 school year. This was moved forward for discussion by the full board.
Student travel information for overnight trips was presented and reviewed by the committee members.
Dr. Betty Santoro, NPSD Director of Elementary Education;Tonya Swavely, Principal of Inglewood Elementary School; Tori Rubbo,Knapp Elementary School Guidance Counselor; Kristy Johnson, NPSD Behavioral Analyst/Specialist; and Stefan Muller, Principal of Knapp Elementary School provided an update on the implementation of the Schoolwide Positive Behavior and Supports program. This year three elementary schools are engaged in the "readiness year" that occurs prior to implementation. Knapp implemented the program this year and has seen a significant decline in behavioral referrals as a result.
Kyle Hassler, NPHS Associate Principal and Pat Brett, NPHS College and Career Counselor presented information regarding the opportunities available to students through the College and Career Center as they prepare for life following graduation from NPHS.
Dr.Jenna Rufo, NPSD Assistant Superintendent presented updates regarding the Cultural Proficiency work taking place in the district.
The next ECP Committee meeting will be held on March 26 at 6:30 pm at the ESC.
Updates from the February 26 meeting will be reported in next month's newsletter.
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The
Facilities and Operations Committee met on January 28 at 6:00 pm at the ESC.
Scott Kennedy, NPSD Director of Facilities and Operations, reviewed two CREDIT change orders for the Oak Park HVAC project along with a change order to Bonnett Associates for additional design work for structural steel modifications.
Kennedy presented a design proposal from the Schrader Group to replace the roof on the General Nash Elementary School.
The committee reviewed a design proposal from Snyder Hoffmann to replace the rooftop HVAC unit for the Pennbrook Library.
David Schrader shared some options for building a 9th Grade Center at NPHS.
The committee discussed the modular classrooms located at several schools. Several meetings were held with various stakeholders. The grade reconfiguration decision will determine where modulars may be removed or replaced.
The committee reviewed a proposal for an engineering study to determine the cost to air condition the middle schools.
The committee discussed a proposal to determine the costs to install synthetic turf on the NPHS Baseball and Softball fields.
The committee discussed a name change for this committee. The new name will be the Facilities and Operations Committee.
Kennedy shared the results for drinking water testing. NPSD received results for eight buildings which included 146 samples. Three samples exceeded the EPA threshold. Those three locations have been turned off and will be retested. If the second test is above the limit, that fixture will be replaced.
The next
Facilities and Operations Committee meeting will be held on March 25 at 6:00 pm at the ESC. Updates from the February 25 meeting will be reported in next month's newsletter.
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