Wissahickon School Board Approves Budget With No Tax Increase, Board Member Resigns

The approved an $86.7 million budget for 2011-2012 without raising taxes, in an 8-1 vote.  Barbara Moyer voted no because she said available forecasting models were not used to determine what impact this budget would have on the district’s financial future. 

Moyer said “5 percent of what we expect to spend” is coming from the “fund balance,” which board president Young Park likened to a family’s savings account.

“We are at a point where expenses are exceeding revenues,” said Moyer, who is concerned that the board slated $4 million, nearly one-quarter of the fund balance, for possible use. 

Finance committee chairperson Janice Singer said the fund balance money is not used every year.

Moyer wondered how money can be generated for the district. 

“We should have looked at more cuts,” she said.

Board member Dick Stanton countered Moyer’s comments by saying the administration “worked hard” to significantly reduce spending.  He said the board “rarely ends up using” the fund balance.  Stanton said a smaller fund balance amount was projected last year, and the district ended up with a surplus.

The school district may receive an extra $700,000 that is not currently part of the budget, if the governor signs H.B. 1485, said district business administrator Wade Coleman. The state Senate is considering a slightly different bill, he said.  If this money is received, “it would be a positive,” for the district’s budgetary revenues.

The $86,728,363 budget decreased $1.6 million or 1.8 percent, compared to last year’s budget, said superintendent Judith M. Clark.

“The zero tax increase results in one of the lowest tax millage rates in the area,” she said.

Coleman said owners of homes assessed at $205,000 would pay $3,618 in taxes, before homestead deductions. Coleman explained a home assessment value is approximately half the selling price of a home.

Superintendent Clark said the budget:

• Has significant reductions in expenditures—more than $1.5 million was saved by staff reductions at the administrative, professional and support levels
• Allows for more than $500,000 in new K to 12 science programs and for K to five music materials
• Balances the need to plan for even more difficult times in the future 

Other savings come from energy initiatives, being part of a transportation consortium, realigning occupational and physical therapy services, and eliminating a contracted head mechanic position.

The board unanimously renewed Clark’s contract. She offered to have her salary frozen one year of her three-year contract. Coleman said contract details will be revealed within a week.

Regarding learning, board members heard about a number of K to 12 courses reviewed by steering committees.  The review is part of a three-year plan to help Wissahickon students become “21^st century learners.” 

In the coming school year, committee members will visit neighboring schools where students test as “high-performing” in science, technology, engineering and math.  Director of secondary teaching and learning Susan Incorvia said one goal of the reviews is to “help students gain skills they can use in college or entering the world of work.”

Concerned about student success, mothers of Shady Grove elementary students asked the board to reconsider lowering 30-student classrooms. (Stephanie Crowley of Village Circle in Blue Bell did not address the board, but said some of the school’s fifth grade classes have 30 students.)  

Jill Lafferty, of Knightsbridge Drive in Blue Bell, helped in her daughter’s fifth-grade class room.

“The size of the room is too small for 30 students. Even with two assistants, the class was very unmanageable. Kids were all over the place,” said Lafferty.

Board members did not respond to the comments.

Near the end of the meeting, board member Dawn A. Roberts said she was resigning from the board June 30.  As her voice quivered, she individually thanked board members, mentioning their specific contributions to the board. 

Burunda Prince-Jones thanked Roberts for helping the board better process teacher issues.   Roberts is a seventh- and eighth-grade Hatboro-Horsham gifted teacher. She is resigning for personal reasons.

Park said the board must fill Roberts’ vacancy by July 30. Those interested in becoming a school board member should send a letter of intent and resume to him at Wissahickon School District, 601 Knight Road, Ambler, Pa., 19002.  Letters must be received by July 11 for consideration.

The school board will hold a special July session to select a new board member. For questions, contact Clark at 215-619-8000.