LANSDALE- The NPSD Board of School Directors met on May 12th, 2015 and began their meeting with student proclamations to recognize the success of 22 students from the NPFBLA Chapter.

Mrs. Linda Westerlund, teacher at NPHS and advisor for NPFBLA’s Chapter, gave some background information about FBLA and briefly explained what each student accomplished in their events at the FBLA State Leadership Conference. Additionally, Westerlund added that NP’s FBLA Chapter received two chapter awards at the competition: fifth largest chapter in the state (out of 299 chapters) and fourth place for the Outstanding Chapter category.

For a more in depth article about the NPFBLA Chapter’s success at the FBLA State Leadership Conference, refer to the link below:

Getting down to business: Zhao, Westerlund headline results at FBLA State Conference

Shortly after recognizing the FBLA members’ success, Dr. Dietrich, superintendent of NPSD, explained that the students were instructed to circle around again so the School Board could recognize Westerlund for her accomplishments as the advisor.

“We want to recognize Mrs. Westerlund, because she was named the Pennsylvania Outstanding Advisor of the Year,” explained Dietrich. “Her name now will be found the Advisor Wall of Fame in Reston, Virginia.”

After Dietrich discussed Westerlund’s involvement with the NPFBLA Chapter, the School Board transitioned to their main focus for the rest of the meeting: the 2015-2016 proposed final budget resolution. Mr. Steve Skrocki provided a detailed presentation to thoroughly explain the topic.

Skrocki noted that at this point, the proposed final budget is in its second of third phase. When the School Board met on February 11th, 2015 and approved the preliminary budget, it was in its first of third stage.

Totaling $234.9 million, the budget has had a $7.86 million (3.46%) increase in expenses over 2014-2015 and a deficit of $2.56 million after the Act I base increase of 1.9%. Compared to the 2015-2016 first phase’s $6.7 million deficit from February, the 2015-2016 second phase’s deficit is significantly lower.

Additionally, Skrocki discussed some expenditure increase factors, which include PSERS (Public School Employees’ Retirement System), salaries, a technology capital lease, new debt for the Hatfield Elementary project, textbook adoptions, and a bus lease. Regarding expenditures by object, salaries and benefits prove to dominate, as they utilize about three-fourths of the funds.

Listing the Act I exceptions, Skrocki explained that although retirement and special education apply to NPSD, the district is only eligible for retirement exemption. He also recommended staying at the Act I Index.

Skrocki also discussed the retirement rate, which has increased from 5.64% during 2010-2011 to 25.84% during 2015-2016, and the audited fund balance. The three major factors of this are the committed to PSERS, assigned for self-funded insurance, and unassigned funds. When discussing revenue allocation, it was noted that 80% are allotted locally, 19% for the state, and 1% federally.

Considering the tax impact for the 2015-2016 proposed final budget, Montgomery County will experience a 1.9% tax increase, while Bucks County will see a 3.7% growth.

Skrocki explained that there are several more steps that will be taken into consideration for the budget: continued review of revenues and expenses, refinement of current year estimates, and refine and update data based on new information. Furthermore, on May 26th, there will be a budget update at the finance committee meeting, and on June 18th, the final budget will be adopted at the board action meeting.

The School Board unanimously approved the 2015-2016 proposed final budget resolution in the amount of $234.9 million.

The next meeting of the NPSD Board of School Directors is scheduled for Thursday, May 21st, 2015 at 7:30pm at the Educational Services Center.