Saucon Valley School District

 

Regular Meeting of the Board of Education

                                                       April 24, 2007 – 7:30 pm

High School Audion

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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 legal and personnel.        

 

 

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 –

                        April 24, 2007

 

V.        Approval of Minutes

                        Minutes - March 27, 2007

                        Minutes - April 10, 2007

                                   

VI.       Recognition

            A.        Carol Schneider and Mary Neher – Elementary Scholastic Book Fair

            B.        Ed Sinko – After School Chess Club

            C.        Joanne Goglia – After School Workshops

                                   

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

           

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

            and address.

 

IX.       Presentation of Bills – David Bonenberger

           A.         General Expenditures

            B.        Health Benefits

            C.        Cafeteria Expenditures       

           

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

            A.        Cash Investment Bond Activity

            B.        Expansion Project Finance Report

            C.        Condensed Board Summary

            D.        Budget Transfers

            E.        Activity Accounts:  Note:  The money in the activity accounts is from student fundraising endeavors.

                        1.  High School Activity Report

                        2.  Middle School Activity Report

 

 

X.       Motion to Approve Agenda

 

 

A.        Education Committee – Susan Baxter/Ira Hiberman

 

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.

 

Recommendation:  No recommendations.

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

Summer Learning Academy Teachers – Middle School

1.         Approve the 2007 middle school summer learning academy teachers:

 

            Middle School

            Alex Kreutzer – Language Arts

            Scott Roberts – Social Studies

            Kristin Richmond – Science

 

Maternity Leave Requests

2.         Approve the following maternity leave requests:

 

            Olivia Andrews – HS social studies teacher – Mrs. Andrews will be taking 10 sick days prior to enacting the 12 weeks of FMLA with which she will be using her remaining sick days.  After FMLA, Mrs. Andrews will be on an unpaid maternity leave for the first semester of the 2007-08 school year.

 

            Jessica Friday – HS social studies teacher – Mrs. Friday will be taking 10 sick days prior to enacting the 12 weeks of FMLA with which she will be using 30 sick days.  After FMLA, Mrs. Friday will be on an unpaid maternity leave for the first semester of the 2007-08 school year. 

 

            Melissa Janis – District speech/language teacher – Mrs. Janis will be starting FMLA the 1st teacher day (August 23rd) and continue until November 20th.  After FMLA, Mrs. Janis will be on an unpaid maternity leave until December 3, 2007.  Should her FMLA leave extend past December 3rd, she will return at the end of FMLA.

 

            Megan Kern – HS English teacher – Mrs. Kern will be taking 10 sick days prior to enacting the 12 weeks of FMLA with which she will be using two sick days.  After FMLA, Mrs. Kern will be on an unpaid maternity leave for the first semester of the 2007-08 school year.

 

Leave without Pay

3.         Approve the request for a day off without pay for Kirsten Pazzaglia for Friday, June 1, 2007.

 

Memorandum of Understanding - Retirement

4.         Approve the memorandum of understanding for the retirement of Marcia Wasburn effective at the end of the 2006-07 school year. 

 

Transportation Bus Driver

5.         Approve Sherwood Stauffer as a Bus Driver in the Transportation Department at an hourly rate of $17.17 with benefits per the terms and conditions of the support staff contract.  (Mr. Stauffer was a Substitute Bus Driver and is replacing George Velas who transferred to the Custodial Department)

 

Substitute Building Aide 

6.         Approve Karen Schulze as an addition to the Substitute Building Aide listing to be employed on a “call as needed” basis at the rate of $9.15 per hour, no benefits, effective immediately.

 

 

Arbitration Settlement

7.         Approve the settlement of arbitration #C48CV2006-797 for the amount of $5,263.84.

 

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

1.  Bus/Van Purchases – Tabulation 2007

2.  Review of Capital Improvement Projects

3.  Fees for the Use of District Fields -

 

 

Breakdown for how “camp funds” will be distributed. This would be for camps made up of children living in the school district, not outside children.

1.     35% to individual sport’s fundraising account.

            This would allow purchase of supplies for the program that they may not be able to easily get through the school budget. 

2.     35% for Coaches Salaries.

            This total can be divided between the camp staff as they wish.  If coaches prefer, they could choose to lower this percentage and put additional money into their fundraising account.

3.     20% to maintenance and facilities.

            This would be used to cover facilities usage; electricity for inside camps, or paint for outside camps, etc.

4.     10% to SV athletic budget as a source of revenue.   This amount could be added to the estimated revenue line item in the budget to help offset the costs of athletics.  Camps are using the athletic office to set up their camp and the Saucon Valley name to promote the camp so I believe this would be justified.  This would help all sports, including the one holding the camp.

 

 

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 Recommendation.

 

                Recommendation:  No recommendations.

 

 

D.        Finance Committee – George Torrella/David Bonenberger

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

 

 

2007/2008 Budget – Timeline for 2006-2007 School Year

 

Sunday, April 15, 2007

Certification of total amount of revenue in the

Property Tax Relief Fund available for distribution;

 

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

PDE notification deadline to school districts of their property tax reduction allocation

Assessor Report for approved Homestead/Farmstead

 

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Last day proposed final budget printing

and available for inspection

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Last day proposed final budget public notice;

 

Saturday, June 30, 2007

Last day for school board to adopt final budget;

Resolution adopted for Installment Payments for

school property taxes must be adopted June 30, 2007 and each year thereafter;

 

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

General Fund Budget Submittal Date

(On or Before July 31, 2007)

1.   2007-2008 Budget Discussion

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________   _______________

 

 

District Audit

1.         Approve the Independent Auditor’s Report for year ended June 30, 2006 as presented to the Board on April 10, 2007 by Alan C. France of France, Anderson, Basile, and Company P.C., Certified Public Accountants.

                               

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:

 

            Operations

            801 – Public Record

            802 – School Organization

            803 – School Calendar

            804 – School Day

            805 – Emergency Preparedness

            806 – Child/Student Abuse

            807 – Opening Exercises/Flag Displays

            808 – Food Services

 

Second and Final Reading of Policies

2.         Approve the second and final reading of the following policies:

 

            Section – Finance
            616 – Payment of Bills

            617 – Petty Cash

            618 – Student Activity Funds

            619 – District Audit

            621 – Local Taxpayer Bill of Rights

            622 – GASB Statement 34

            624 – Taxable Fringe Benefits

 

 

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 May 9, 2007 beginning at 7 pm at the Lower Saucon Township Hall.

 

2.         A comprehensive plan meeting will be held on April 30, 2007, beginning at 6 pm in the high school audion.  This is a public meeting.

 

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

 

XII.      Solicitor’s Report

                                                                                                                    

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

 

XIV.     Announcements

 

            Future Meetings ~    May 8, 2007 – 7:30 pm – Business Meeting

                          High School Audion

 

                                                  May 22, 2007 – 7:30 pm – Business Meeting

                          High School Audion

 

XV.      Motion to Adjourn Meeting

 

 

 

 

 

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