The meeting held at the Upper Elementary School on Dec. 15 was the New Hope-Solebury School Board’s last for 2022. President Judeth Finn called the meeting to order and moved on to several new business items, including adoption of a prelinminary budget.

The total expenditure budget is $48,670,506 which is being funded by revenue of $47,077,284, which includes a tax increase of 4.1%.

That would require a usage of fund balance of $1,593,222 to balance the budget.” Adjustments will be made to the budget for the next six months.

In special education, a Memorandum of Understanding will foster a relationship of cooperation between MBIT (Middle Bucks Institute of Technology) and its sending districts. The memorandum establishes procedures to be followed in specific areas related to the education of eligible students with IEPs (Individual Education Programs).

An additional item approved in Special Education was an amendment, made effective Nov 4, to an agreement between the Richard J.

Caron Foundation and the school district. The school’s initial election of counseling services listed will increase from one day a week at $12,860 to two days a week at $25,594.

Several financial actions were approved including a budget transfer of $4,794 from capital equipment to providing funds for safety and security.

Sweet, Stevens, Katz & Williams’ fee agreement for the 2023-2024 school year was also approved. In 1995, this law firm, consisting of nine education lawyers, created the first private law practice in Pennsylvania dedicated entirely to education law The approval of a $25,000 donation to the Stadium Project by Neshaminy Electrical Contractors was unanimous.

Finally, the board adopted a resolution authorizing preliminary budget display and advertising.

CFO David C. Francella wrote in the preliminary budget report for the 23-24 fiscal year, “the goal remains to achieve a structurally balanced budget.” According to the report, “allowing for flexibility is critical due to how many unknowns exist in the budget process at this early stage.

Pertaining to policy, the school board approved personnel items ranging from resignations to extra duties as well as approving a revised calendar for the 2023-2024 school year, which addressed a miscalculation on the calendar that was previously approved at the Nov. 17 board meeting.

The first day of school was moved to Wednesday, Aug. 30 from Tuesday, Aug. 29. Board Member, Michael Picone, requested if, for next year, the board would consider returning to the traditional Presidents Weekend, which included two days in advance of the weekend and the following Monday.

It was changed this year to allow for a professional development day in the fall for teachers to be allocated. Another board member, Montu Patel, requested that school begin after Labor Day.

The next school board meeting will be held on Thursday, Jan. 26.