Neshaminy board unanimously approves audit, contracts, Head Start MOU and calendar change
May 02, 2024 | Neshaminy SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania
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The Neshaminy Board of School Directors met and, in a series of unanimous votes, approved routine business, personnel actions, vendor contracts, a Head Start memorandum of understanding and a change to the district’s 2023–24 teacher calendar.
Superintendent Mr. Brownman opened with a report noting that Maple Point eighth graders joined the Bucks County Tour of Honor in Washington, D.C., to visit war memorials and thank area veterans. He also described a recent ceremony renaming the rebuilt Trenton Road bridge for Army Staff Sgt. J.S. Moon, a graduate of the district high school, and congratulated Emily Wells, a district health and physical‑education teacher, on receiving the 2024 Emerging Leader Award from the Southeastern District Local Association of the Society of Health and Physical Educators.
The board took a sequence of motions, each approved unanimously (vote tallies listed below):
- Routine matters: a master motion to approve minutes (2.01), procurement‑card purchases (2.02), budget transfers (2.03) and exonerations (2.04) passed 8–0.
- Certificated personnel: a master motion approving retirements, resignations, end of assignments, appointments, leaves and co‑curricular appointments passed 8–0. The superintendent noted four long‑term certificated retirements: Siri Bowman (31 years), Stephen Conowal (24 years), Judith Oswald (31 years) and Katherine Sotilly (31 years).
- Support personnel: a master motion approving retirements/resignations/appointments and leaves for support staff passed 8–0; the board called out Barbara King’s resignation after 30.6 years of service.
- Audit acceptance: the board accepted the fiscal‑year 2022–23 audit prepared by Zelenkovsky, Axelrod LLC, under a reference to section 24‑2‑408 of the school code; the motion passed 8–0.
- Contracts: the board approved an agreement with Brett DeNovi and Associates, PA LLC for the 2023–24 school year to provide functional behavior assessments and behavioral educational consultation; it also approved an amended agreement with Speasel Architectural Group Inc. to provide a prefabricated design solution for the proposed high‑school field house entrance, subject to final solicitor review and execution. Both motions passed 8–0.
- Student travel and programs: the board approved three overnight student trips (PJAS state science competition in State College; Future Problem Solvers international conference in Bloomington, Ind.; and FBLA national competition in Orlando) and a slate of summer‑school opportunities for 2024. Both motions passed 8–0.
- Early childhood partnership: the board approved a memorandum of understanding with the Bucks County Intermediate Unit to share assessment data, health records and IEPs as appropriate and to coordinate transitions, parent engagement and professional development with Head Start and local early‑childhood providers for the 2024–25 school year; motion passed 8–0.
- Calendar revision: the board approved a revision to the 2023–24 calendar that keeps the last student day at June 14, 2024, changes the last day for teachers from June 14 to June 18, 2024, and maintains Neshaminy High School graduation on June 12, 2024. Administration said a previous motion had not changed the teachers’ last day as intended. The calendar revision passed 8–0.
- Policy adoption: the board completed second readings and final adoption of listed policy sections (including special‑education screening/evaluations, class size and admission of students); motion passed 8–0.
Representative quote: "We made a mistake on the last board motion that did not change the last day for teachers, so that is why we have asked that a new motion be passed this evening," the superintendent said while explaining the calendar revision.
The superintendent also welcomed the district’s newly announced business administrator (Deb Clayhold) to her first board meeting. The board shared dates for upcoming May and June meetings and adjourned.
Votes at a glance (each motion noted above): all actions listed in meeting materials were approved by voice or roll call with an 8–0 tally unless otherwise specified in the agenda packet. If a motion's mover or seconder was recorded in the minutes, that information is reflected in the meeting's formal actions.
Superintendent Mr. Brownman opened with a report noting that Maple Point eighth graders joined the Bucks County Tour of Honor in Washington, D.C., to visit war memorials and thank area veterans. He also described a recent ceremony renaming the rebuilt Trenton Road bridge for Army Staff Sgt. J.S. Moon, a graduate of the district high school, and congratulated Emily Wells, a district health and physical‑education teacher, on receiving the 2024 Emerging Leader Award from the Southeastern District Local Association of the Society of Health and Physical Educators.
The board took a sequence of motions, each approved unanimously (vote tallies listed below):
- Routine matters: a master motion to approve minutes (2.01), procurement‑card purchases (2.02), budget transfers (2.03) and exonerations (2.04) passed 8–0.
- Certificated personnel: a master motion approving retirements, resignations, end of assignments, appointments, leaves and co‑curricular appointments passed 8–0. The superintendent noted four long‑term certificated retirements: Siri Bowman (31 years), Stephen Conowal (24 years), Judith Oswald (31 years) and Katherine Sotilly (31 years).
- Support personnel: a master motion approving retirements/resignations/appointments and leaves for support staff passed 8–0; the board called out Barbara King’s resignation after 30.6 years of service.
- Audit acceptance: the board accepted the fiscal‑year 2022–23 audit prepared by Zelenkovsky, Axelrod LLC, under a reference to section 24‑2‑408 of the school code; the motion passed 8–0.
- Contracts: the board approved an agreement with Brett DeNovi and Associates, PA LLC for the 2023–24 school year to provide functional behavior assessments and behavioral educational consultation; it also approved an amended agreement with Speasel Architectural Group Inc. to provide a prefabricated design solution for the proposed high‑school field house entrance, subject to final solicitor review and execution. Both motions passed 8–0.
- Student travel and programs: the board approved three overnight student trips (PJAS state science competition in State College; Future Problem Solvers international conference in Bloomington, Ind.; and FBLA national competition in Orlando) and a slate of summer‑school opportunities for 2024. Both motions passed 8–0.
- Early childhood partnership: the board approved a memorandum of understanding with the Bucks County Intermediate Unit to share assessment data, health records and IEPs as appropriate and to coordinate transitions, parent engagement and professional development with Head Start and local early‑childhood providers for the 2024–25 school year; motion passed 8–0.
- Calendar revision: the board approved a revision to the 2023–24 calendar that keeps the last student day at June 14, 2024, changes the last day for teachers from June 14 to June 18, 2024, and maintains Neshaminy High School graduation on June 12, 2024. Administration said a previous motion had not changed the teachers’ last day as intended. The calendar revision passed 8–0.
- Policy adoption: the board completed second readings and final adoption of listed policy sections (including special‑education screening/evaluations, class size and admission of students); motion passed 8–0.
Representative quote: "We made a mistake on the last board motion that did not change the last day for teachers, so that is why we have asked that a new motion be passed this evening," the superintendent said while explaining the calendar revision.
The superintendent also welcomed the district’s newly announced business administrator (Deb Clayhold) to her first board meeting. The board shared dates for upcoming May and June meetings and adjourned.
Votes at a glance (each motion noted above): all actions listed in meeting materials were approved by voice or roll call with an 8–0 tally unless otherwise specified in the agenda packet. If a motion's mover or seconder was recorded in the minutes, that information is reflected in the meeting's formal actions.
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