BOARD FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES

FEBRUARY 10, 2003

 

Members of the Board Finance Committee Rosie Amato, Charlene Koch and Dr. Haytmanek, together with board members Loretta Leeson, Margaret Williams, Julie Venanzi and Joseph Craig, met with Superintendent Dr. Joseph Lewis, Director of Business Affairs Stanley J. Majewski, Jr., and Assistant Superintendent Michele Kostem in Superintendent's Conference Room A. Also in attendance were Dr. Robert Kopecek, Lisa Marie McCauley, Helene Whitaker from Northampton County Community College; Genevieve Marshall from the Morning Call and Michael Buffer from the Express Times.

 

OPEN FORUM - Mrs. Koch just returned from a Pennsylvania School Board's seminar and questioned how the new “No Child Left Behind” Program would impact the district's budget. Mr.Majewski stated that this mandated program will increase reporting requirements, expenditures and demands on school district personnel in administering public education.

 

Mr. Craig stated that he recently heard of a “Sale/Lease-Back Program which may reduce the cost of new construction within school districts by avoiding prevailing wage requirements. He thought it was a novel idea and asked that it be looked into by the administration.

 

NORTHAMPTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 2003-2004

Dr. Robert Kopecek, President, with assistance from Helene Whitaker, presented the proposed 2003-2004 budget for Northampton Community College. The proposed budget represents an increase of 1.04% for the Bethlehem School District, or $17,974, bringing the districts' contribution to $1,740,889. The increase will help fund increased technology use, development of distance education courses for degree programs and increasing staff to respond to enrollment needs. The college will be increasing tuition fees by $3 per credit bringing the cost per credit to $88. This budget will appear on the March 17 agenda for board approval.

 

As a result of his retirement, Dr. Kopecek announced that Dr. Arthur Scott will assume the position of President for Northampton Community College, effective July 1, 2003.

 

ROSEMONT CHANGE ORDER - Mr. Majewski reported that the need for additional miscellaneous electrical work at the Rosemont Building was discussed at a Special Board Meeting held January 7, 2002. However, the Board never officially approved the actual change order. The work has now been completed and in order for payment to be processed the Board must approve the change order. This item will appear on the February 24 agenda for Board approval.

 

The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.

 

Minutes prepared by _________________________________________________

                        Adele Embardino, Confidential Secretary to the Director of Business Affairs