Chris Berdnik

The Board meeting included recognitions for Board Member Recognition Month and committee reports. Student representatives provided updates on PHS and PALMS activities, noting ongoing musical rehearsals and academic testing. Committee reports covered Extracurricular, Education Program and Services (including minutes from 1/14/2025), Building and Grounds, Fiscal Oversight (including minutes from 1/20/2026), Policy Review, UBCTS Joint Operating Committee (including minutes from 12/18/2025 and 1/15/2025), and Bucks County Intermediate Unit Board of School Directors (minutes from 1/20/2026). The action agenda involved approving the meeting minutes and personnel recommendations (with one abstention noted), the 2026-2027 District Calendar, Substitute Staff Compensation Rates for 2026-2027, Resolution #2 pursuant to Act 1 of 2006 regarding tax increase limits, the 2024-2025 Audit Report, a Change Order with Cowan Associates, the contract with Edlio for website hosting, and the second read of Policy 105.1. Discussions included clarifying the snow day make-up policy and the community's response to cold weather conditions, as well as recognizing staff for effective emergency preparedness during a recent fire and power outage.

Key discussions included the presentation of the new Arbiter fee structure, where the committee recommended adopting the 1-year flat fee plan of $870.00, which includes prorated fees paid this year. Regarding the Locker Room Project, the committee is asking a representative to obtain further cost details for the design phase from KCBA. Information regarding fall sports team performance was shared, noting multiple teams made the District XI playoffs, with the Boys Soccer team reaching the District Finals and a track athlete competing for a state title. Preparations for the upcoming winter season, starting November 18th, were noted, along with a brief mention of the JH baseball schedule.

The meeting commenced the presentation series for the 2021-2022 General Fund Budget. Key discussions included the timeline for budget approvals, noting that an Opt out resolution, if passed on December 16th, would cap the tax increase at the 3.0% Act 1 Index. Specific budget presentations covered Debt Service (showing a decrease), Warehouse and Transportation (showing an increase due to fuel costs inquiry), Athletics (staying the same), Cyber/Charter School (noting a significant increase due to enrollment/tuition), and presentations for the Durham Nockamixon, Springfield Elementary, Tinicum building, District-Wide Elementary (noting shifts from grant funding, including Lexia software), Middle School, and High School budgets. Informational items included updates on the Charter School projected deficit, FEMA Reimbursement, P-Card Rebate, and Economic Update. The committee reviewed and recommended approval for all financial reports and bills, noting that expenditures to date were higher than the 5-year average, partially due to PPE, Covid-19 costs, and Charter School tuition.

The Fiscal Oversight Committee discussed several action items. Key topics included recommending the refinancing of General Obligation Bonds 2015 with Jim Thorpe Neighborhood Bank, projecting significant savings of $67,633. The committee also recommended a $30 per year increase in the bonus paid to elected tax collectors starting in 2022, noting current budgetary deficits. Furthermore, they approved recommending the Board approve a contract with Conrad Siegel for Other Post Employment Benefit actuarial valuation services. For inventory management, approval was recommended for Dude Solutions as the new cloud-based inventory software vendor. Finally, concerning the Food Service Fund, the committee approved recommending a cash transfer of $155,000 from the General Fund to cover operational losses and recommending the write-off of a $299,046.42 liability owed to the General Fund from the previous fiscal year. A brief discussion addressed the cancellation of the NxStop bus transportation app service.

The Regular Board Meeting included several recognitions, such as Skills USA Awards and achievements from the FBLA State Leadership Conference. Key discussion points involved the 2023-2026 Comprehensive Plan summary, which will be posted for community review before seeking approval in June, and the Proposed Budget for 2023-2024, which, if approved, allows for expense and revenue changes without tax increases. Committee reports covered topics like facility project quotes, facility meeting dates, and security personnel recommendations, including the recommendation to hire an armed school police officer or security guard. Major actions included approving the Consent Agenda, motions related to the 2023-2024 Proposed Budget (despite fiscal responsibility concerns raised), approval for the Business Administrator Job Description, securing search and consultation services from BCIU, approving an Act 153 resolution regarding real estate millage increases, approving a 5-year agreement for district-wide copiers, awarding the fencing replacement contract, and approving the 2023-2024 Upper Bucks County Technical School Budget. The board also approved motions to employ an armed school police officer or security guard and approved overnight trips for the Middle School Eco-Teach Trip to Costa Rica and the Madrigal Singers trip to Disney World. Agreements for per diem nursing services and an addendum for therapeutic services were also approved.