Saucon Valley School District

 

Regular Meeting of the Board of Education

                                                   January 23, 2007 – 7:30 pm

Elementary Large Group Instruction Room

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Welcome to the meeting of the Saucon Valley School Board.  Our objective is to serve the students, parents, and residents of our community.  You are an important part of this meeting and we look forward to your questions and comments.

 

We are all here for the same reason.  All opinions are welcomed and equally valuable.  Our only request is that we address each other with civility and respect.  Our courtesy toward each other is the best way to show our students how much we respect them as well.

 

Agenda

 

6:30 pm – Executive Session for the purpose of personnel and legal.

 

I.          Call to the Order – Mr. Ralph Puerta, President, presiding

 

II.         Pledge of Allegiance

 

III.        Recording of Attendance – Mr. David Bonenberger, Secretary

 

IV.       Announcement of Executive Sessions –

                        January 23, 2007

 

V.        Approval of Minutes

                         December 12, 2006

                         January 9, 2007

                                               

VI.       Recognition

VII.      Presentations

            A.        PSSA – Adequate Yearly Progress Keystone Awards

            B.        Saucon Valley School District has received a $3,000 grant from PennCord to support Civic Education in the School District.  The grant has the potential for multiple year funding and is from a private endowment facilitated by the Constitution Center and Chaired by Judge Marjory Rendell.  Attachment

                       

VIII.     Superintendent’s Report – Dr. Sandra Fellin, Superintendent

 

IX.       Citizens’ Comments – Agenda Items Only – Visitors should state their name

            and address.

 

X.        Presentation of Bills – David Bonenberger

           A.         General Expenditures

            B.        Cafeteria Expenditures - November, December, 2006 and  January 2007           

           

XI.       Treasurer’s Report – George Torrella/David Bonenberger

            A.        Cash Investment and Bond Activity

            B.        Expansion Project Finance Report

            C.        Budget Transfers

            D.        Activity Accounts:

                        1.  High School Activity Report

                        2.  Middle School Activity Report

 

XII.      Motion to Approve Agenda

 

A.        Education Committee – Susan Baxter/Ira Hiberman

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

1.         Discussion of Triad – Alternative Educational Placement Option.

 

 

Consensus Motion:

The following items are to be deleted from the consensus motion at board member request.  All items in the shaded area are part of the consensus motion.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

Textbook Approval

1.         Approve the second and final review of the following high school textbook: (Budgeted)

 

            Course Title – Applied Government/Economics (12th Grade)

            Textbook Title – Contemporary’s Economics (Copyright Date 2007)

            Text Replaces – Principles of Economics 

 

 

Recommendation:  To approve all motions and recommendations as listed above in Education.

 

 

 

B.        Personnel Committee – Sandra Miller/Sandra Fellin

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

 

 

Consensus Motion:

The following items are to be deleted from the consensus motion at board member request.  All items in the shaded area are part of the consensus motion.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

 

Interim Athletic Director

1.         Approve ______________ as the interim Athletic Director effective ______________ at a salary of $______.

 

Conferences/Travel

2.         Approve the attached conferences/travel.

           

Professional Employee

3.         Approve the following professional employee effective January 24, 2007.  He is entitled to salary and benefits per the current teachers’ contract:

 

            Mario Marcozzi – HS .5 Social Studies - $19,546 (Bachelors, Step 1), which will be prorated. Mr. Marcozzi is replacing Gemma Davis, who is transferring to a business education position.

 

Professional Employee Transfer

4.         Approve the transfer of Gemma Davis effective January 24, 2007 from .5 high school social studies to full-time high school business education.  She is entitled to salary and benefits per the current teachers’ contract.  Ms. Davis is replacing Mrs. Stacey Daniels who recently resigned.

 

Substitutes

5.         Approve the following substitute teacher(s):

                        Nicole Englehart – Emergency Certified

                        Beth Pritch – Emergency Certified

 

Recommendation:  To approve all motions and recommendations as listed above in Personnel.

 

 

C.        Facilities Committee – Herb Payung/Wally Zimpfer

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

 

 

Consensus Motion:

The following items are to be deleted from the consensus motion at board member request.  All items in the shaded area are part of the consensus motion.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    _______________

 

 

Use of District Facilities

1.         Approve the revisions to the “Rules and Regulations for the Use of School Buildings, Facilities and Equipment” for the operation of the sound and lighting systems in the High School Auditorium as noted in the Use of Facilities Rules & Regulations Page 6, the

           Fee Schedule, and the Application Form.  (attached)

 

Sound/Lighting Systems Technician

2.         Approve Tom Rieger as the person designated by the District to operate the sound and lighting systems for all functions held in the High School Auditorium.  The rate of pay is outlined in the Fee Schedule – $11.00/hour for non-profit/service organizations and $20.00/hour for commercial organizations.

 

District Lawn Care Services

3.         Approve an extended contract with Cypres, 148 Church Road, Milford, NJ to provide lawn care services for the District from April 1, 2007 to November 30, 2007.  The extended contract will reflect a 3% increase.

 

Annual Bids

4.         Authorization to bid for Athletic, Custodial, and General Supplies.  Authorization to bid for Fuel Oil, Unleaded Gasoline and Diesel Fuel.

 

 

Recommendation:  To approve all motions and recommendations as listed above in Facilities.

 

 

D.        Finance Committee – George Torrella/David Bonenberger

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

1.         Discussion of 2007-08 Budget.

            Range of the Budget Options.

 

2.         Discussion on Taxpayer Relief Act 1:

 

 

 

January 25, 2007

Deadline to adopt a resolution indicating that the district will not raise the rate of any tax by more than its index.

 

February 19, 2007

Deadline to submit preliminary budget with proposed tax rate increases to Department of Education.

Mid February, 2007 to Early March, 2007

Deadline to publish notice for three weeks of intent to adopt resolution, authorizing referendum question for May, 2007 primary.

 

 

March 13, 2007

Deadline to hold a public hearing and to adopt a resolution authorizing referendum question for the May, 2007 primary, seeking voter approval to levy, assess, and collect an earned income and net profits tax;

 

March 16, 2007

Deadline to submit referendum question seeking voter approval for earned income and net profits tax to the county board of elections, unless request for referendum exception has been submitted to Court of Common Pleas or Department of Education.

3.         Tax Commission Recommendation

4.         Act 1 – SVSD Referendum Ballot

5.         Act 1 – SVSD Real Estate Property Reassessment Proposal

 

Consensus Motion:

The following items are to be deleted from the consensus motion at board member request.  All items in the shaded area are part of the consensus motion.

 

________________    ________________    ________________   _______________

 

 

Colonial Intermediate Unit #20 Budget – 2007-2008

1.         Approve the Colonial Intermediate Unit #20 General Operating Budget for 2007-2008 in the total amount of $2,717,500.  Saucon Valley’s portion is $20,614.03, which is a $502.79 increase from 2006-2007.

 

Berkheimer Associates

2.         Approve the authorization of Berkheimer Associates to receive

            the appropriate earned income tax information from the

            Department of Revenue.

 

                                               

Recommendation:  To approve all motions and recommendations as listed above in Finance.

 

 

E.        Policy Task Force Committee – Lachlan Peeke/Sandra Fellin

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

 

 

Consensus Motion:

The following items are to be deleted from the consensus motion at board member request.  All items in the shaded area are part of the consensus motion.

______________    ______________    ______________    ______________

 

 

First Reading of Policies

1.         Approve the first reading of the following policies:

 

Section – Finances

601 – Fiscal Objectives

602 – Budget Planning

603 – Budget Preparation

604 – Budget Adoption

605 – Tax Levy

606 – Tax Collection

607 – Tuition Income

608 – Bank Accounts

609 – Investment of District Funds

 

Section – Programs

103.2 – Nondiscrimination in School and Classroom Practices –Protected Handicapped Students Under Section 504/Chapter 15/ADA

113.2 – Discipline of Students with Disabilities

 

 

Recommendation:  To approve all motions and recommendations as listed above in Policy.

 

F.         Community Outreach – Susan Baxter/Ed Inghrim/Sandra Fellin

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

 

 

Consensus Motion:

The following items are to be deleted from the consensus motion at board member request.  All items in the shaded area are part of the consensus motion.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

No Report or Recommendations.

 

 

 

Saucon Valley Partnership Meeting

1.         The next meeting of the Saucon Valley Partnership is scheduled for February 14, 2007 beginning at 7 pm at the Lower Saucon Township Hall.

 

 

Recommendation: No recommendations.

 as listed above in Education.

G.        Bethlehem Area Vo-Tech School – Herb Payung/Lachlan Peeke

            (Meetings are first Tuesday of every month)

 

H.        Colonial Intermediate Unit – Susan Baxter

            (Meetings are fourth Wednesday of every month)

 

I.          PSBA – Susan Baxter/Sandra Miller

 

J.         Northampton Community College – Eric Schenkel

            (Meetings are first Thursday of every month)

 

K.        Hellertown/Lower Saucon Chamber of Commerce – George Torrella

 

L.         New Business

 

XIII.     Solicitor’s Report

 

XIV.     Citizen’s Inquiries and Comments – Visitors should state their name and address.

 

XV.      Announcements

 

            Future Meetings ~    February 13, 2007 – 7:30 pm – Business Meeting

                          Elementary Large Group Instruction Room

 

                                                  February 27, 2007 – 7:30 pm – Business Meeting

                          Elementary Large Group Instruction Room

 

XVI.     Motion to Adjourn Meeting

 

 

 

The Saucon Valley School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, or handicap