Saucon Valley School District

 

Regular Meeting of the Board of Education

November 25, 2008 – 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 personnel, negotiations, and legal.

 

 

I.          Call to the OrderMr. Ralph Puerta, President, presiding

 

II.         Pledge of Allegiance

 

III.        Recording of Attendance Mr. David Bonenberger, Secretary

 

IV.       Announcement of Executive Sessions

 

                        November 25, 2008 – Personnel, Negotiations, and Legal

 

V.        Approval of Minutes - None

                                                           

VI.       Recognition

 

            A.        Cross Country –

                        Boys 3rd Place District XI AA        

                        Girls Colonial League and District XI AA Champions

                        State Qualifiers: Girls’ Team & Matt Barndt

 

            B.        Soccer – Colonial League Champions

           

VII.      Presentation

 

            A.        PSSA Science – James Deegan

           

VIII.     Superintendent’s ReportDr. Sandra Fellin, Superintendent

 

            A.        Award of Keystone Awards – Elementary School and High School

 

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

             and address.

 

 

 

 

X.        Presentation of BillsDavid Bonenberger

 

            A.        General Expenditures - $487,005.07

            B.        Cafeteria Expenditures - $61,193.19

            C.        Health Benefits - $259,476.89

 

XI.       Treasurer’s ReportEdward Inghrim/David Bonenberger

 

            A.        Cash Investment and Bond Activity

            B.        Expansion Project Finance Report

            C.        Budget Transfers

            D.        Middle School Activity Report October, 2008

            E.        High School Activity Report October, 2008

 

XII.     Motion to Approve Agenda

 

 

A.        Education

 

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

 

Student Assistance Program Policy #236

 

1.         Approve the final reading of the Student Assistance Program Policy

 

 

High School Program of Studies for 2009-2010

 

2.         Approve the first reading of the High School Program of Studies for 2009-2010.

 

 

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

 

B.        Personnel

 

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

Resignation

 

1.         Approve the resignation of Moira O’Connor, Supervisor of Special Education, effective January 11, 2009.

 

 

Elementary School Ski Club

 

2.         Approve the following as volunteer chaperones for the Elementary School Ski Club:

 

            Gerry Demko

            Vivian Demko

            Karen Kemper

            Greg Kemper

            Brett Lemay

            Joanna Lemay

            Bill Leidlich

 

 

Support Staff Substitutes

 

3.         Approve the following support staff substitutes:

 

            Mary Anne Oddo as a Substitute Cafeteria Worker, to be employed on a “call as needed” basis at an hourly rate of $9.52, no benefits, effective November 26, 2008.

 

            Jodie Morgan as a Substitute Assistant, to be

            employed on a “call as needed” basis at an hourly rate of

            $9.70, no benefits, effective immediately.

 

            Judd Good as a Substitute Custodian, to be employed on a             “call as needed” basis at an hourly rate of $10.09, no benefits,

            effective immediately.

 

 

Leave without Pays

 

6.         Approve the following leave without pays:

 

            Ruthann Mann, MS math teacher – June 18, 2009

 

            Dennis Schuyler, transportation – December 9-11, 2009

           

 

Additions to the Substitute List

 

7.         Approve the following 2008-09 substitutes:

 

            Peter Kerr - English

            Joan Phelan – Emergency

           

 

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

 


 

C.        Facilities

 

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

 

A.        Project-by-project development of bid specifications by TAS for each project in priority sequence:

 

I.         Security at Administration Offices

II.       Field House Modifications

III.      High School Additional Classrooms

IV.    High School Office Renovations

V.      High School Locker Replacement

VI.    High School Vestibule at Gym

 

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    _______________    _______________

 

 

 

Land Development Improvement Extension Agreement

 

1.         Approve a one-year extension of the Land Development Improvement Agreement for the Saucon Valley School District Campus to June 4, 2009. Land Development Extension Agreement

 

 

Construction Cost Estimates

 

2.         Approve the construction cost estimates:

 

I.         Security at Administrative Offices - $25,000-$30,000

II.       Field House Modifications - $1,500,000-$2,000,000

III.      High School Additional Classrooms - $2,000,000-$3,000,000

IV.    High School Office Renovations - $2,500,000-$3,100,00

V.      High School Locker Replacement - $50,000-$150,000

VI.    High School Vestibule at Gym - $1,500,000-$2,000,000

 

 

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

 



D.        Finance

 

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

 

 

A.        2009-2010 Budget Timeline for 2008-2009 School Year

 

2009-2010 Budget Timeline for 2008-2009 School Year

January 29, 2009

(110 days prior to primary election)

District Deadline to have 2009-2010 Proposed Preliminary Budget available for public inspection; or adopt a Resolution not to raise the rate of any tax by more than its index.

February 3, 2009

(5 days after Resolution adoption)

District Deadline to submit adopted Resolution and proposed tax rate increases to the Department of Education.

February 8, 2009

(10 days prior to Preliminary Budget adoption deadline)

District Deadline to give public notice of intent to adopt the 2009-2010 Preliminary Budget unless a Resolution was adopted indicating that it will not raise the rate of any tax by more than its index.

February 13, 2009

(10 days after receipt of Resolution)

Department of Education Deadline to notify districts that adopted a Resolution whether the 2009-2010 proposed tax rates are equal to or less than their index.

February 18, 2009

(90 days prior to primary election)

District Deadline to adopt the 2009-2010 Preliminary Budget unless a Resolution was adopted.

February 23, 2009

(85 days prior to primary election)

District Deadline to submit 2009-2010 Preliminary Budget containing proposed tax rate increases to  the Department of Education.

February 26, 2009

(1 week prior to filing of request for referendum exception)

District Deadline to publish notice in newspaper of intent to file petition with the Court of Common Pleas or to request approval from the Department of Education for a referendum exception.

March 5, 2009

(75 days prior to primary election)

District Deadline to seek approval from Court of Common Pleas or the Department of Education for referendum exceptions requiring their approval.

March 20, 2009

(60 days prior to primary election)

District Deadline to submit referendum question seeking voter approval of tax rate increase in excess of index to the County Board of Elections, unless request for referendum exception has been submitted to the Court of Common Pleas or the Department of Education. If the school district’s proposed tax rate increase would exceed their Index even if all of its referendum exception requests were approved, and if it intends to submit a referendum question for that part of the tax rate increase, it must do so by this date.

March 25, 2009

(55 days prior to primary election)

Deadline for Court of Common Pleas or Department of Education to issue ruling on school district’s petition for referendum exception.

March 30, 2009

(50 days prior to primary election)

District Deadline, if the Court of Common Pleas or Department of Education denies all or part of the school district’s request for referendum exception, to submit to the County Board of Elections a referendum question seeking voter approval of tax rate increase in excess of index for the portion of the referendum exception request denied.

 

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.

 

________________    ________________    ________________   _______________

 

 

 

403(b) Plan Document

 

1.         Approve the attached Resolution to Adopt a 403(b) Plan Document. 403(b) Plan Board Resolution -  403(b) Adoption Agreement  -  403(b) Plan Document

 


 

 

Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance Act (LERTA)

 

2.         Approve Resolution No. 1 of 2008 providing local economic revitalization tax assistance within deteriorated areas with the City of Bethlehem pursuant to the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance Act.

           LERTA Resolution No.1 of 2008

 

 

Designation of Fund Balance

 

3.         Approve the designation of $2.8 million by the Board of Directors from the fund balance of the General Fund for anticipated retirement and post-retirement costs including health care benefits in anticipation of the actuarial study required by GASB 45, retroactive to June 30, 2008.

                       

 

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

 

E.        Community Outreach

 

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 December 10, 2008 at 7 pm at Saucon Valley School District.

 

 

Recommendation: No recommendations.

 

F.         Bethlehem Area Vo-Tech School – Lachlan Peeke/Sharon Stack

            (Meetings are first Tuesday of every month)

 

G.        Colonial Intermediate Unit – Susan Baxter

            (Meetings are fourth Wednesday of every month)

 

H.        PSBA – Susan Baxter/Sandra Miller

 

I.          Northampton Community College – Charles Bartolet

            (Meetings are first Thursday of every month)

 

J.         Hellertown/Lower Saucon Chamber of Commerce – Michael Karabin

 

K.        New Business

 

XIII.     Solicitor’s Report

                                                                                                                    

XIV.     Citizen’s Inquiries and CommentsVisitors should state their name and address.

 

 

XV.      Announcements

 

            Future Meetings ~     

 

                          December 2, 2008 – 6 pm – Reorganization Meeting

                          High School Audion

 

                          December 9 or 16,  2008 – 7:30 pm – Business Meeting

                          High School Audion

 

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.