Wissahickon School Board Agrees to Nearly $1M in Budget Cuts

The Wissahickon School Board met on Thursday night to discuss expenditures, revenue, and cuts in the 2012-13 school year budget.

Superintendent Judith Clark began the evening telling Board members that over the past three years, the administration cut over $3.5 million from the budget without making significant cuts that affect students.

This year, the administration has looked at making $1 million in cuts from the budget, looking across all district departments on where there could be efficiencies.

AP Testing

Currently, the Wissahickon School District pays for students to take the AP test, with the test being a requirement of taking an AP class. The administration recommended limiting the number of tests paid for by the district to two per year per student.

Dr. Christopher Marchese, Assistant Superintendent for the District, said the administration polled neighboring districts, and only Colonial and Hatboro-Horsham School Districts pay for AP tests. Neighboring district, Upper Dublin, does not pay for their students AP tests.

Marchese told the Board that last year 809 tests were administered at the high school and 304 students took those tests. Students took anywhere between one test and seven AP tests, with approximately 210 students taking between one and three AP tests per year.

The tests cost $87 each and the school district spent approximately $70,000 in 2011. However, limiting students to two AP tests a year would save the district approximately $30,000.

Limiting the number of tests the district will pay for will mean removing the test requirement from the AP curriculum.

“If [students are] going to take the AP course, they should have to take the test,” said Young Park, president of the board.

“I’d hate to see a student…not be able to take [the AP test]. It seems to me a relatively small amount of money,” said resident Vic Meitner.

The board voted to continue fully paying for AP tests for all students.

After School Busing

Wissahickon School District currently runs the activities bus five days a week on one run. The administration recommended reducing after school busing from five days a week to two days a week.

“For $25,000, I’d hate to see children with the least mean [be affected by this],” said Park.

The board voted unanimously to continue running the activities bus five days a week.

Activity Fee

Wade Coleman, Business Manager for the District, told the Board that most districts currently do not have an activity fee. However, many are implementing one, ranging between $75 and $100. Currently Wissahickon’s activity fee is $50 per year.

The administration recommended raising the fee to $90 for the year.

Barbara Moyer, Board member, suggested it would be better if the district kept the $50 for clubs and raised the fee for sports.

Seth Grant said, “This is just a tax increase for residents who have kids in the district.”

Charles McIntyre countered, “I agree, it’s a tax…but this is the trend.”

Park added, “$40 is a minimal increase for a wealthy family, but for less fortunate families, this is a significant increase.”

“I don’t want to hit the families with the lease means,” added Park.

“We’re looking for save paper money, not coins,” said Richard Stanton, “I don’t think this cut is worthwhile.”

McIntyre and Moyer voted in favor of raising the activity fee. Singer, Park, Grant, Prince-Jones, Stanton and Ullery voted in favor of keeping the fee at $50.

Parking Fee

There are 150 parking spots sold to students for $10 for the year. The administration recommended increasing the parking fee to $50.

“This might reduce the number of students that drive,” said McIntyre, implying that students will be safer.

Coleman said students who choose not to drive due to the increase will not have a significant impact on the bus fleet.

Tax Rate

With close to $1 million in cuts from the budget, the board and administration will use approximately $2 million from the fund balance to balance the 2012-13 budget.

The board agreed to continue the budget with a zero percent increase.

“The fund balance is still very healthy so I see no need for a tax increase,” said McIntyre.

“I thin we should be looking at zero with the healthy fund balance right now,” said Janice Singer.

“I’m very comfortable staying at zero percent for the following year,” said Park.