Debate, Votes at Perkiomen Valley School Board Meeting

Notes from the Perkiomen Valley School Board meeting Sept. 12:

South Elementary School meeting this month
• The board will hold another meeting at Monday, Sept. 26. There will be a tour of the building at 6:30 p.m., followed by a meeting around 7. The discussion will include the building’s current state and possible improvements.

Self-funding health care (PSEA/SEPAST)
• Board Vice President Lori Snyder reported that the Bucks-Mont Health Care Consortium, which is under way by the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA), has a “small steering committee” that met last Thursday and interviewed legal firms that applied to get a basic trust document in place.

The group found viable firms and was unanimous on one, Snyder said. The 18 school districts involved will meet Thursday and vote on whether or not to bring this firm on board. If the firm is approved, everyone will then “get the hard work of [a] trust document started,” Snyder said.

• Business Administrator Jim Weaver reported on Southeastern Pennsylvania Schools Trust (SEPaST), noting that the group met Aug. 25 and Sept. 9, and will press Montgomery County schools for a commitment for self-funding medical (benefits). A trust has been established, according to Weaver, who also said the big question was, “Where are we going? We have two self-funded initiatives.”

He continued, saying, “We’ll get on the first train that goes there. We need savings … .”

At the Oct. 3 meeting, SEPaST member Stan Wisler will give a presentation to the PV school board on the initiative and some proposed changes, Weaver said.

“We need to let IBC (Independence Blue Cross) know what we’re going to do by the end of October because that will delay our first look numbers (which come in November),” Weaver said.

IT intern
• The biggest discussion of the night concerned creating a part-time intern position in the Technology Department.

The college intern would be paid $9 per hour, and the position will last throughout the school year. It will be advertised on the Ursinus College website. Director of Technology Colleen Shearburn said the individual would be paid through December, but would receive college credit in the spring semester.

Superintendent Dr. Clifford Rogers said the position is (set up) to be paid throughout the entire year.

“It’s same rate for other part-time employees and summertime student workers,” Rogers said. “The difference is Ursinus offers credit, and our timing is such that we couldn’t offer pay for second semester.”

“Why would we pay someone?” Gerry Barnefiher asked, noting the bleak economy and that this money could be saved or used for other budget items.

“Computer science majors do have paid internships,” Shearburn said.

She added that she discussed the internship with Rogers, and both thought it would be a good community partnership with Ursinus, as well as a chance to move along back-burner projects.

Rogers said the intern would replace another position in the Technology Department, so the pay is in the budget.

“There will still be savings, just not as much (as if the position went unfilled),” he said.

“We ask local businesses to absorb our students for a month at the end of school, said board member Bonnie Neiman. She noted that PVSD students benefit from the experience, and said creating the internship is “a two-way street,” and “a win-win situation.”

Board President Lynn Bigelow said he was concerned that taking on an intern after the school year has started would spend time getting up to speed, and scheduled school breaks could impede the learning rate.

“How much will we get out of person this semester?” he asked.

Board member Randy Bennett supported the motion.

“We are getting into [the] semester, but I see this as a reason not to delay this any further,” he said.

The board approved the position. Barnefiher and Bigelow voted no. Both said the internship was a good idea, but they were concerned about it coming late in the semester.

In other business
• There are currently 5,851 students enrolled in the district. This is 50 fewer students than last year, which is a surprise, Rogers said.

• Both Bigelow and Rogers credited the students, teachers and administrators with getting off the year to a “great start.” Rogers added that the start came in the midst of an earthquake, hurricane, flooding and power outages.

• The board approved the refunding of the , as well as the request for the extension of the exclusive Wakefield and Cushman agreement.

• Barnefiher credited the IT staff with their work during the summer; it included “touching” all 3,100 devices in the district and pulling out equipment at the end of lease, cleaning it and putting it up for sale. The district has brought in about $47,000 through eBay sales of equipment that’s part of the IT purchase initiative.

• Director of Communications Michelle Brown is resigning her position, effective Sept. 23.

When asked if there were any questions, Bennett said if the board votes no, “does she have to stay?”

Brown was thanked for everything she’s done for the district.

After adjourning, the board went into an executive session after the meeting to discuss a personnel matter.