New Facility Fees, Website Redesign Presented at UDSD Board Meeting

Plans for a new district-wide website and proposals for new facility rental rates were the main topics of discussion at Monday night’s Upper Dublin School Board meeting.

 Susan Lohoefer, Facility and Community Affairs Manager, presented on facility rental fees first, and gave a power point presentation displaying the proposed prices for the 2011-12 year.

 Lohoefer explained that any currently existing program rates will remain the same, but that rates would have to be set for new facilities.

“There are no changes to the current fees,” said Lohoefer “but we do have some recommendations [for new facilities].”

Renting groups will be separated into four classes; class one will be school organizations, class two will be organizations within the township with a primary purpose of serving school children, class three will be community groups comprised of 75 percent residents, and class four will be any other group, including outside entities.

Lohoefer explained that classes one and two will not be charged to use the new facilities, but recommended groups three and four be charged the following rates.

$500/ $125
lane

$1,500/ $375
lane

 In addition Lohoefer also recommended the following rates for aquatic programs.

2011-12 fees
Resident/Non-resident

The board will vote on these rates at its August meeting.

 Finally, Lohoefer explained that the district would be going digital with its rental forms.

 “We’re moving to a lot more online information for people—it’s much easier for them to get the information than to fill out the forms [in person].

 Next, Stephanie Hultquist, Coordinator of Educational Technology, and Katie Braun, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent, announced that the district will aim to launch a new-look website at the start of the 2012 calendar year.

Hultquist and Braun said priorities will be ease of use, updated information, and clearer delegation of responsibilities amongst district employees.

 “Five years ago we engaged in a financial obligation with Finalsite to provide a website for the district,” said Hultquist “But now, our culture of digital language is changing, and how we meet the needs of our stakeholders is changing.”

 The board voted to re-up its five year contract with Finalsite at its June meeting, and will now work with the Connecticut-based company on the redesign.

 Hultquist and Braun both said the new site would incorporate “web 2.0” tools such as social media, analytics and video, to make the browsing experience more user-friendly.

 “The methods of attaining information has evolved… our stakeholders are used to having information sent to them, instead of having to come to a website,” Hultquist said.

The board also approved a measure to repair the Sandy Run Middle School elevator, , plummeting over 20 feet while two students occupied the car. Due to the approaching school year, the board broke from its standard practice of advertising for bids, and approved a measure to accept the lowest responsible bid after three solicitations, with a do not exceed amount of $49,800.