Perkiomen Valley School Board Meeting Covers Savings and Building Needs

For the past eight years, the school board has gotten a report on proposed bus routes for the upcoming school year.

The district’s contract with STA is ongoing through June 30, 2021. Business Manager Jim Weaver reported to the board at its Aug. 8 business meeting that one bus costs $256.64 to run per day. The district currently buses 5,600 PV students and has 1,100 private school runs. 

The PV school board recently challenged administrators to look for ways to cut bus costs. Director of Operations Scott Clemmer took that directive to heart and contacted several surrounding districts to see if there were ways to work together for more efficiency. He worked out a deal with Upper Perkiomen School District to share the bus run to a private school. Since May 2011, that joint venture has saved PV $3,100.

The district anticipates saving $22,000 on this shared bus run during the upcoming school year. Clemmer has similar efforts underway with other districts.

"I want to commend Mr. Clemmer on his huge effort that has resulted in big savings for our district," said Weaver.

In the superintendent’s report, Dr. Cliff Rogers reported that the first round of interviews for a new position, Supervisor of Teaching and Learning, have been conducted. One or two board members will participate in final interviews. This new postition will report to Barbara A. Russell, assistant superintendent.

Rogers also pointed board members to the Board Goals listed on the district website. He commended the board for great progress on the stated goals.

Board President Lynn Bigelow presented board member Bonnie Neiman with a certificate from the PSBA (Pennsylvania School Board Association) honoring her for serving on the board for over eight years. In a PSBA quote read by Bigelow, it was noted that the average school board member in the state of Pennsylvania spends over 16 hours per week on school-related business.

The most recent district enrollment report was presented. It reveals a total of 5,830 students, with 2,635 among the four elementary schools, 1,387 at the two middle schools and 1,808 enrolled at the high school. These numbers are expected to change in the weeks leading up to the start of the school year as more families enroll students.

Several co-curricular positions were approved by the board for elimination. They include coaches for ninth-grade softball, middle school basketball coaches and TV studio staff at two of the elementary schools. Other co-curricular positions were approved to be added, including girls’ golf coaches and water polo coaches. For a complete list of affected positions, see the agenda for the board meeting.

Rogers reported that he met with Kevin Godshall of Godshall Kane Architects to discuss possible renovations for South Elementary. This meeting is the latest in a series of meetings by the district facilities committee, which made a recommendation to the school board that South required repair and renovation.

After discussion durning the business meeting, the school board decided to hold a special topics meeting inviting Godshall to meet with the board and members of the facility committee, preferably at South. The meeting will be coordinated with Godshall and announced.

The board also requested that solicitor Brian Subers make a presentation at the next board meeting pertaining to timelines for a referendum, as renovations to South will likely require a vote by the community.

The next PV board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 6. All meetings are held in the library at the high school. The public is welcome to attend and invited to comment at specified times during the session.