February 13, 2012 Regular Meeting - Westmont Hilltop School District

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Dr. Gella moved, Mr. Smith seconded, to approve the following payments: Payments disbursed - $212,664.47 Payments to be disbursed - $382,982.69 Payments from the Food Service Fund - $68,785.86 A roll call vote was taken and the payments were approved with five yes votes, one abstention by Mrs. Spangler on check number 58149 to The Learning Lamp. It was requested that in the future, a description of each vendor payment be included on the bill list. Mrs. Spangler reviewed the Treasurer’s Report for January. Mrs. Trevorrow moved, Dr. Gella seconded, and the Treasurer’s Report for January was unanimously approved. A copy is appended to these minutes. Mrs. Spangler moved, Mrs. Trevorrow seconded, and the Tax Collection Reports for January were unanimously approved as presented. Mrs. Spangler moved, Mrs. Trevorrow seconded, and the Comparative Budget Report for January was unanimously approved as presented. Dr. Anderson reported that the district was invited by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to participate in the full application phase of the Keystones to Opportunity Grant Initiative. Of 329 pre-applications, Westmont is one of 148 applicants invited to submit a full application. State Representative Bryan Barbin addressed the Board and members of the audience regarding state funding, the funding formula for Westmont Hilltop, the cost of charter schools, and the employer pension increase. A discussion followed. Representative Barbin encouraged members of the Board and audience to contact the Governor and Secretary of Education regarding funding issues.
Dr. James Greco, representative from CEASE (Cost Effective Approaches Supporting Education), addressed the Board and provided a summary of the groups’ meeting on February 8, 2012. A copy of his summary is attached to these minutes. Mrs. Schroeder read the following statement into the minutes: “As president of the Westmont Hilltop School Board, I would like to clarify that the projection of “potential bankruptcy” of the district was based on a hypothetical simulation that was prepared based on some very concrete parameters that demonstrate a worst-case scenario. The purpose of the hypothetical model was a working tool to demonstrate the effects of a variety of hypothetical situations on our fund balance. Those parameters include potentials only if the following situations exist: • There is no change in funding to the school by the state including any annual increases. • There is no change in the pension formula and the projections for pension funding stand as they are now. • There is no change in the tax base/rate at WHSD. • There are no additional revenue sources to WHSD. • There are no other cost reductions, such as employee retirements. Under this type of hypothetical simulation most districts in the state are going to experience the same financial distress, due primarily to the pension formula projections. Without the explanation that this is purely a hypothetical model of worst-case scenario and not reflective of our anticipated funding and much more likely scenarios of change at the state level, this could be misinterpreted. This hypothetical worst-case scenario is not the anticipated funding situation at WHSD, but rather allows us to consider long-term ramifications due to funding policy decisions from the state level.” A discussion was also held on the employer pension increase. Dr. Gella, Chairman of the Legislative Committee, was appointed to propose a strategy for legislative advocacy.
Page 1: REGULAR MEETING February 13, 2012 T
Page 5 and 6: Mrs. Spangler moved, Mr. Trevorrow
Page 7 and 8: 14. Tom Mitchell, Ted Benning Drug
Page 9: Mr. Thomas Schwab addressed the Boa

February 13, 2012 Regular Meeting - Westmont Hilltop School District

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