Board approves item at special action meeting, discusses electronic attendance at work session

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Taylor Young

The board met at the administration building for January’s work session meeting.

LANSDALE- The North Penn School District Board of School Directors began their meeting on Tuesday, February 7th with a special action meeting followed by a work session. The special action meeting included the approval of the single item under the Superintendent’s report, which was the compensation plan for tax collectors for 2018-2021.

“One of the items we’ve implemented this past year is actually having the tax collectors personally reach out to those that come November are still unpaid, and I think through those personal contacts this year, that was one of the driving factors in reducing the number of delinquents that we had. The compensation is for the position; it’s not for the individual,” explained Mr. Stephen Skrocki, Director of Business Administration, on the level of success the district has had in the last year with tax collections.

In addition, the Board also approved the revised 2017 committee assignments. After adjourning the special action meeting, the work session meeting began with the focus on electronic attendance at meetings.

The new policy of electronic attendance at meetings initiated by Dr. Curt Dietrich, Superintendent, states that Board members may participate in Board action meetings and work sessions electronically whether that be through the telephone, video conferencing, etc. Reasons such as illness, travel, or other extenuating circumstances may prompt a Board member to participate electronically.

Restrictions and conditions when participating electronically include that Board members may participate electronically in a maximum of two meetings during the duration of twelve months, and no more than two Board members may participate electronically at a meeting. Members must give written notice to the Board President and Superintendent of Schools at least 24 hours and no more than thirty days prior to the meeting where the board member is requesting electronic participation. In order for a member to participate electronically, a majority of Board members must be physically present at the meeting.

After Dietrich summarized the new policy, several concerns and questions were brought to discussion. One concern was over whether this method applies to executive sessions. If the policy does apply, worries were expressed about members fulfilling their legal obligation not to expose the Board to litigation. Another concern was raised about the possible problem of not being able to connect through for a meeting and whether that would count against the Board member’s attendance record. In upcoming meetings, the Board will proceed to clarify exactly what meetings are allowed to be electronically participated in, address worries over electronic participation in executive sessions, and discuss whether or not connectivity is a serious issue.

The next School Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 16th at 7:30pm at the Educational Services Center.