SFASD Approves MCIU Budget for 2012-13

The Spring-Ford Area School District board of education voted to approve the 2012-13 budget for the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit at Monday night's meeting. Established in 1971, the MCIU is responsible for 22 school districts in Montgomery County, with a goal of helping those districts run more efficiently and effectively and a task of serving as a liaison between those districts and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

The approved budget, which totals about $130 million, covers administrative services (passed as Resolution #2012-07), curriculum instruction and professional development services (passed as Resolution #2012-08), technology and information services (passed as Resolution #2012-09) and legislative services and grant development (passed as Resolution #2012-10). This budget will take effect for fiscal year July 1, 2012 - June 30, 2013.

According to a presentation given by administrators from the organization, Spring-Ford will be responsible for $103,766 of the 2012-13 budget: a  $2,002 increase (or 1.97 percent) from 2011-12. $90,654 of that budget goes toward Technology and Information Services [TIS], while $8,230 goes toward Legislative and $4,882 goes toward Curriculum Instruction and Professional Development [CPID].

Administrators from MCIU on hand were Executive Director Jerry W. Shiveley and Chief Financial Officer Stan H. Wisler. The two focused specifically on the "fee for service" initiative, as opposed to the old "member service fees" system. The difference is a member service fee is a flat fee that all members must pay, while a fee for service is a pay as you choose type of deal. Over the years, Wisler said, MCIU tailored the member service fee budget to reflect what districts used the most often.

While districts still have to pay a member service fee, which makes up 17.6 percent of the total General Operating Budget, fee for service options are available. The General Operating Budget totals $8.1 million. The fee for service allows for schools not to be forced to pay for special services that other districts are receiving, such as interim administrators like the Methacton School District is employing at the current moment.

Shiveley ended the presentation by explaining that a cooperative service task force was formed a few years ago, bringing in six superintendents from around the county to serve as a committee of sorts. He said there are superintendents from large schools, medium-sized schools and small schools, with recently retired Souderton Superintendent Charles Amuso joining the team. Shievely assured the board that he is using his contacts and previous knowledge from work in Oregon, New York and Washington to influence the superintendents to implement innovative ideas for their districts.

Also during the meeting, board member David Shafer gave a report for the extracurricular committee, which met on Feb. 13. Shafter highlighted speeches from two individuals: Middle School Athletics Coordinator Bill Racich and Karen Tagg of the Art Enrichment Club.

Shafer said Racich covers the and Grade Centers and reported that 447 kids tried out for sports at that level, with 308 making their respective teams. The rough cut percentage equaled 30 percent.

"The biggest thing from his perspective is he’s getting kids to participate," Shafer said. "We want to get as many out as we can."

From a coaching perspective, there is a review at the end of the year on an annual basis between Athletic Director Mickey McDaniel and Racich about coaching positions, and coordination between and middle school coaches regarding correct terminology, philosophy of play, etc.

"The hardest part, which is something that I think our leadership team does a really good job with, is in the delivery when coaches have to tell students they've been cut," said Shafer. "They do it one at a time, individually and deliver it with a positive message, instructing the student to keep going and how to improve. I think a tremendous amount of care is put in at that level and it's great to hear that."

As for the Art Enrichment Club, Tagg gave a presentation concerning the club's operations, which runs on a completely self-sustainable level. The club is designed to give students more exposure to art if they want to take it outside of the classroom setting.

The club, Shafer said, gives kids a real-life example of what it's like to be an artist trying to make a living. There are roughly 30-50 members on a yearly basis. This year, the club is selling handmade jewelry.

They also do an Artist in Residence program every two years, where a real artist comes for three to five days to work with the students and interact with them. That is also a self-funded project, and Shafer even noted that to save money, Tagg sometimes houses the artist at her home.

Superintendent David Goodin noted that the Spring-Ford Educational Foundation helps out with the Artist in Residence program.

Student Liaison Elizabeth Brady was to attend the Washington Journalism and Media Conference at George Mason University this summer. Goodin and the board commended her for her efforts.

"I went through an application process and was selected to be a correspondent," Brady explained. "I get to go to Washington for a week in July and go all over Capitol Hill to talk to people - maybe even the founder of CSPAN. I can make an appointment with our local representative and talk about issues that are important to me. It will give me the opportunity to see if this is a field I want to go into someday."

A little more than 200 students across the country were selected for this prestigious conference.

"I can't think of a more qualified and better representative from Spring-Ford than you, Elizabeth," Goodin said. "Congratulations!"

To end the meeting, Board President Tom DiBello noted the girls basketball team will be playing in the of the district tournament on Wednesday night at Norristown High School. If the girls win, they will proceed to the final game at Villanova University on Friday night.

"This is exciting for the Spring-Ford Area School District," DiBello said. "We want to cheer them on. Hopefully they keep the winning streak alive. They've been phenomenal this year."