Daily Stipends Approved For 2 Interim Bensalem School Administrators

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA — While the Bensalem School Board voted to approve the elimination of 31 staffing positions in the 2026-2027 budget, it is also giving more money to two administrators taking on additional responsibilities.

Shawn Mark, the acting human resources director, and Donna Minnigh, the acting assistant to the superintendent of teaching and learning, requested a stipend for their services.

In an April 13 memo to the Bensalem Township School Board of Directors, the two administrators requested a stipend of $100 a day for their "additional workload and responsibilities due to our acting positions."

The school board approved the stipends at Wednesday night's meeting, in which the board also voted to cut dozens of teacher and administrative positions to reduce a "severe financial crisis."

Several school board members said at the meeting that while the timing of the stipend approval wasn't good, it was necessary.

School Board President Deborah King said the interim administrators are doing the work of two people.

"We cannot ask people to take on this level of responsibility in this environment and do it without compensation," School Director Leann Hart said. "Our financial situation was not created by them, but our ability to function right now depends in part on them."

The school board also approved the appointment of Interim Schools Superintendent Victoria Velazquez.

Velazquez has served as the district's assistant to the schools superintendent for K-12 administration.

One school official told Patch that Velazquez is not accepting additional compensation for her interim role.