BOARD FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES

                                                            MARCH 7, 2005

 

 

Members of the Board Finance Committee, Chairperson Charlene Koch, Julie Venanzi and Rosario Amato, together with Board Members Loretta Leeson, Margaret Williams, Dr. Craig Haytmanek, and Diane Rowe met with Superintendent Dr. Joseph A. Lewis, Stanley J. Majewski, Jr., and Associate Superintendent Michele Kostem in the Auditorium of East Hills Middle School. Also in attendance were Robin Lutcher, Precious Petty from the Express Times, and Genevieve Marshall from the Morning Call.

 

COURTESY OF THE FLOOR - Mr. Thomas Pelletiers 1320 Gaspar Avenue, Bethlehem, addressed the committee regarding Act 72 and asked that state legislators be invited to the district’s open forums to review Act 72 with district officials.

 

OPEN FORUM - Mrs. Leeson asked if the entire board has received all of the material distributed to the Act 72 Advisory Panel. Dr. Lewis stated that all material was distributed to the board and that he is planning to hold two open forums and will be inviting state legislators to attend these meetings. The administration’s public presentation on Act 72 will occur at the April 11 Board Finance Committee Meeting.

 

Judith Dexter of 1866 Homestead Avenue, Bethlehem, requested that all the information given to the Act 72 Advisory Panel be placed on the Web.

 

Mrs. Koch stated that she wished to respond to a letter to the Editor in Sunday’s Morning Call that stated the Act 72 Advisory Panel meetings were kept secret. The meetings were not kept secret. There was an advertisement in the newspapers for panel members. Ultimately, the panel was comprised of sixty members who included: three board members, administrators, union representatives, teachers, one student, parents, senior citizens, and other community leaders. Members were asked to commit to attending all three meetings, and the public could have attended at any time.

 

COLONIAL INTERMEDIATE UNIT 20’s PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 2005-2006 - Mr. Majewski informed the board that the district’s share of the Colonial Intermediate Unit 20’s Budget will increase by 2.96 percent or $2,720.19, bringing the district’s total share to $94,669.98. The budget will be presented for board approval at the March 30, 2005, Regular Board Meeting.

 

TAX PAYMENT PLAN FOR 2005-2006 - Mr. Majewski presented the 2005-2006 Tax Payment Plan listing discount, base, installment, and penalty dates for payment of real estate and per capita taxes.

  

LERTA - Mr. Majewski advised that the district’s commitment with the City ended on December 31, 2004. The City has made modifications to the LERTA Program and is now asking for our participation once again. One hundred and fifty acres of land situated on the I-78 cloverleaf will be removed. Dr. Lewis and Mr. Majewski met with representatives of the City to discuss removal of this prime property. City Council and the administration agreed to make this change.

 

Discussion followed regarding areas included in the LERTA Program. The former Bethlehem Steel property is included in LERTA with the exception of the Bethlehem Works which is part of the TIF Program. Northampton County, the City of Bethlehem, and the School District must all agree to properties included in both the LERTA and TIF Programs. It was stated that any gambling properties would not qualify for either the LERTA or TIF Programs.

 

BERKHEIMER DELINQUENT TAX COLLECTION COSTS ACT 192 OF 2004 - This Act clarifies existing law regarding costs in conjunction with the collection of delinquent taxes levied under Act 511. Berkheimer has stopped the collection of delinquent taxes until a resolution authorizing and empowering Berkheimer to impose and retain costs of the collection on delinquent taxes is approved by the district. This resolution will be brought before the board for approval at the March 30, 2005, Regular Board Meeting.

 

STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM UPDATE - Mrs. Lutcher distributed a handout reviewing the timeline for implementation of the new Student Information System. Mrs. Lutcher explained that a committee was formed including teachers and administrators to discuss the district’s specific needs. Three vendors were selected and met with the committee on three different occasions to ensure all the district’s needs would be met and that the system be secure. Demonstrations were conducted for schedulers, child accounting staff, and special education staff. The committee’s decision is Sunguard Pentamation eSchool Plus. The cost of this system will be $491,298 with additional maintenance costs. The funds will be expended from the Capital Reserve Account. It is anticipated that full implementation of the system will be completed by fall of 2006.

 

The meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.

 

Minutes prepared by

Adele Embardino, Confidential Secretary to the Director of Business Affairs