January 15, 2019 – NASD School Board Meeting
Absent: Jodi Mammana
Student Achievement
Mr. Vasko presented several board members with some lovely Nazareth Blue Eagle plaques made by the students at CIT.
Considerations
No votes were taken at this meeting, items were merely presented to the board for ‘consideration’. Votes will be taken at the January 29th meeting.
The District will put up 9 policies on topics such as authority and powers, functions memberships, organization, etc. for approval at the next meeting. Kathryn Roberts inquired if the District had a policy on LGBTQ issues. Dr. Riker said they’re waiting for PSBA to recommend some.
2019-2020 Budget
Mr. Butz opened the discussion by admonishing the board members to ask their questions in advance and avoid the fuss that erupted over the last budget.
In accordance with the schedule set by ACT 1, the Board must vote to approve the proposed budget to move forward at the January 29th meeting. (The budget can still change before final approval). The School District has put up a $93,340,623 budget for 2019-2020, which is a 5.02% increase over last year. Stuart Whiteleather blamed the rise in expenses on salaries, benefits, pensions and payments to charter schools.
Despite Mr. Butz’s request for people to voice their questions and concerns, none of the Board made a single comment about the budget.
A copy of the proposed budget can be accessed here: https://www.nazarethasd.k12.pa.us/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&ModuleInstanceID=1187&ViewID=C9E0416E-F0E7-4626-AA7B-C14D59F72F85&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=6204&PageID=1086&Comments=true
Inclement Weather
Dr. Riker addressed upcoming winter weather, explaining that decisions to close the schools are made for transportation concerns. The buses need a 3 hour window to get students to school and another 3 hour window to get them home.
The storm predicted for this weekend may affect several school events including the High School Winter Formal and a performance by the Nightingales, a High School singing group, at Carnegie Hall on Sunday.
Becky Bartlett covers these meetings because citizens have the right to know what their government is doing.
Upper Nazareth Township Meetings 