001Okay, good evening everyone. I'm going to call this meeting to order. Welcome to um the January 7th work session. Um we will start with the pledge of allegiance. >> I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay, we will start this evening's meeting with the audience of citizens. >> Okay, we've already read it. We've already read it from a prior meeting, so we will skip through that. And I see Mr. Lineer mo making his way to the podium. So, Mr. Lineer, >> uh, good evening. um kind of uh in the same vein as what I was talking about the the previous meeting meaning like I think there's a lot going on here
002in terms of lots of lots of expenditures and a lot of it seems uh pretty useful and and and and uh on par at least in what we should be doing. Uh, I do have questions though sometimes when things don't seem to line up and I I don't know if something's not lining up, but uh, and I'm not meaning to pick on you at all, but the MCIU with what happened there. I've read at one point about and and Miss Summers might be able to correct me on this is is the sunshine law has or there's a requirement for posting expenses on uh for business expenses related to school or public entities or you have to make it relative read relatively available and I think that would go a long way to helping people realize
003that you know when there's an expenditure of 810 $10,000 on a on uh on a work trip. Whether or not that makes sense or whether there's something else going on, um I think we need to do some of this with with even the professional development. I mean, we spent a lot on that and it should be more publicly available, not just meaning uh we need to do a right to know and and go around in the circle with with the right to knows, but it just should be available. And why not? This is public funds. And I think it just the I don't know the the the sort of the the notion of of constant um clarity on what these expenditures are would help to avoid any problems that may ever occur and just let
004it out. You know, all all the information should be public. I I read at one point it needs to be posted or should be allowed to be viewed any expenditures that have to do with with uh uh business travel needs to be uh tra needs to be part of the budget presentation if I remember correctly. But this is going back a couple years. Uh my point again, let's make this all open, make it viewable, and sort of be self-correcting because people don't want to try to uh be tempted by doing something wrong. And I'll leave it there. Any comment would be appreciated. Thank you. >> Great. Thank you, Mr. Laneir. Okay, we Anyone else making? I think that's it in terms of public comment. So, I will turn it over to Dr. hour for our
005non-consent items. >> I do think we will make a change to the agenda just because we have some folks in the audience. Hold on one second. It's actually pulling something up for Mr. Laneir to share with him for after the meeting. Um, okay. So, we are going to move item B uh first and then we'll go to the hearing on the volunteer tax credit. Uh so I recommend approval of the personnel items as per the attached. >> Do I have a motion and a second? >> Motion by Mr. Rash. >> Seconded by Mr. Bell. Any comments or questions? >> Seeing none, all in favor say I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. So with that motion and vote, I am pleased to share that in the audience this evening is Miss Shaina Culp, who is our
006new administrative, excuse me, coordinator of administrative technology. Congratulations, SHAYA. I believe Shaina's parents are with her in the audience, so congratulations to her parents as well. And thank you for staying for the world's longest finance meeting. So congratulations, Shaya. If you want to stick around, feel free to shake hands at the end, but please don't feel the need to. It's been a long night. Um, so we will move on, but congratulations >> and thank you so much for being here and thank you to your family for joining. We really look forward to having you on the team or are moving into a new role on the team. You're already a valued member of the team, so thank you so much. And thank you to your parents for joining as well. Thanks. >> Great. Thank you.
007So, next, um, you have, if you've been following schoolboard meetings for quite frankly almost two years now, um, we are at a point where we need to have a public hearing on the volunteer tax credit opportunity here and I'm going to turn it over to Mr. Summers to facilitate that. So, Mr. Summers, >> thank you. And we will um begin the hearing at this point. So, um, you may notice that we do have um, Miss Edwards, a court reporter here in the audience with us. she will be taking a transcript of the hearing portion of uh tonight's meeting. And so with that, um we'll start the hearing. Uh my name is Kyle Summers and I am the solicitor for the North Penn School District. We are here uh tonight for a hearing on the property
008tax credit for volunteer first responders. Um and so the reason why we are having a hearing is that um the the code says the law states that the board in order to have such a tax credit for first responders needs to adopt a resolution. Um and that resolution is uh there's a draft resolution that is attached to the agenda tonight um for your review and for the community's review and consideration. There's also a requirement that a hearing be held um on any proposed uh volunteer tax credit. That uh hearing has been publicly advertised um in uh the newspaper. Um and uh that hearing needs to be held at least 30 days in advance of any adoption of a resolution. Um the purpose of the the hearing is to essentially create a record of um what
009is the information about this uh potential tax credit program. Certainly the board has been presented with information in the past but there'll be a brief presentation sharing uh additional information with everyone. So um before we hear from Mrs. Hower in terms of the details of the plan or the program, um there are a couple of exhibits that I will enter into the record for this hearing. The first is exhibit A. That is a public notice of this hearing that appeared in the reporter and the Times Herald on March 11th, 2026. And it gave the public notice of the fact that the board is considering the adoption of a tax credit program for first responders. uh and it announced and uh notified the public that there would be a hearing this evening on this proposed uh
010potential program. Exhibit B uh is a draft resolution of the board uh for uh the creation of this program. That draft resolution is attached in board docs uh tonight to tonight's agenda. And then exhibit C will be is three slides uh titled volunteer first responder tax rebate. Uh and these are uh three slides that Mrs. Hower will present and share with the board. Um there will be an opportunity uh this evening for if anyone wants to comment publicly. Uh we'll we'll follow the same public comment guideline of three minutes for if anyone wishes to comment on this specific program. Um I will note that there is no action required by the board tonight. So the the requirement of having a hearing is really affording the opportunity to the public to be made aware of this
011program um for us to have a record of this uh the board being informed of the program and then any vote on a resolution creating the tax credit would be at some future meeting of the board. So there's no vote required, no action of the board. Certainly if any board members have additional questions about the program, you can certainly follow up with the administration. Anyone from the public is free to reach out to the board or the administration with any feedback about the presentation that is shared tonight. Um, and all of that information can be considered before there's an actual uh vote on the resolution at some future meeting of the board. So, with that, I will turn it over to the district's chief financial officer, Mrs. Hower, uh, to share some more information about
012the program. >> Thank you very much. Um, you have seen these slides before. Um, I just want to reiterate what we're talking about when we talk about the volunteer um, tax rebate. So, if this is a variable rate rebate, meaning that depending on how much activity a volunteer contributes to their organization over the course of the year will determine how much they will earn as a tax rebate. The volunteer must be obviously a resident of the North Penn School District in order for us to forgive their tax. They must own property. Um, so they have to be a property owner in the school district. That's number one. They have to be a volunteer for a um a first responder type organization, be it um EMS or a fire department um in that services some portion
013of the school district. Um and then the number of points in the activities that they have will fall into this grid. So if they um if they meet 50 points that's a 25% tax increase. What they can earn those points are delineated in the draft document that is the draft resolution. Um and the onus is on the department and the department chief to notoriize and give to us that form that tells us how many points each individual member of their organization has earned. Um the third slide is just an um a proforma of based on 2024's volunteer activity what we think a $700 maximum rebate would look like across our current volunteer base and that comes in at about $110,000. Um at our last board meeting where we discussed this, it was the um desire
014of the board at that time to keep this rebate at around $100,000 total for the district. um in the first tax year when we did this the first time. So, we estimate that at this maximum $700 range um that that would that we'd come in at about that spot. So, that is all of the information that I have for this evening. >> So, just one uh small bit of information here. There was a question months ago with some previous board members as well about so now that we're having this public hearing um will we revisit this each year much like we do our real estate tax um rebate and the answer to that question is yes. So this is not like a lifetime commitment or anything like that. This is for this year um and
015for this budgetary year coming up 26 27 to be revisited each year. So, and we do not have to have this hearing every once the program's approved, the program's approved, we can set different parameters. And with that, are there any uh questions from the board at this time? Seeing none, uh are there any comments from anyone in the audience regarding this particular program? There are none. And with that, uh this hearing is now concluded. Well, I would like to acknowledge the really sch snazzy device that is used for the court reporter. How cool is that? That was I've never seen anything like that. So, thank >> Do you just repeat everything we say? So, it's not even like where it used to be. It's not even We still have >> That's amazing. Okay. >> We
016appreciate your patience and joining for the entire meeting as well. So, um, and appreciate the service that you provided the district this evening. So, thank you. >> Okay. Next, I recommend approval of the contracts for the district as listed. >> Do I have a motion and a second? >> So, move second. >> Motion by Mr. McBain, seconded by Mr. Kaiser. Any comments or questions? >> Um, the one contract on there, uh, I'll call out the $16,733. um that is for translation services of report cards. Um so that all of our families can actually read and see how their child is performing. Um in particular at the elementary level, if you're familiar with an elementary report card, it's very standardsbased and specific to skills as opposed to saying social studies a right. It actually speaks to
017skills. Um so having that add-on service in infinite campus for all of our languages is really exciting. Sorry. Does that that translate the teachers comments as well on the report? >> It does, right? >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Thank you for this exciting and um certainly a best practice in terms of family engagement. So great. So we um we have a motion and a second on the floor. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. Uh, next I recommend approval of the student agreements as per those listed and copies on file in the office of special education. I will call out that um, new this month is in the executive content for board directors. You can actually see the term or summaries of those agreements. >> Great. Thank
018you. Do I have a motion and a second for student agreements? Motion by Mr. Kaiser. >> Second by Mr. McBain. Any comments or questions? Thank you for the summary in board docs. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. >> And lastly, uh we have to elect a new MCIU board representative because Mrs. Ramich's term has come to an end. So, Mrs. Ramage, if you want to take this item. >> Sure. I um am very grateful. I have um now I I will be completing my second term on the IU board. Actually, it's second and a half because I when I joined the board um I took the place of um board director um Ed Diazio at the time. So, kind of filled out the remainder of his term. I have
019served two terms. Um and it's been an incredible I believe just about eight years, eight or nine years um in serving the IU. So through that um experience on the board with the IU, I have definitely grown an appreciation for the work of a very complex organization, but I think most importantly, it's helped to strengthen my um skills um as an advocate. So the I one of the um primary roles of school board directors um is to advocate and seeing and learning about the 140 different budgets that the IU manages and the programs and services they offer um it's been incredibly enlightening and I think um if I can just reflect back on some of the programs that I've learned about and the services um it's hard to find a favorite. So, but I have
020really grown to appreciate um early intervention um and will always value um the prek classrooms that are the MCIU classrooms that are embedded within the district here um and seeing the the the benefit of having those services delivered in a effective manner and what it means for kids who are entering kindergarten here within um the district. And then in looking at student services and realizing and understanding countywide the need for mental health supports and the links that our our districts and the IU go to support students who are dealing with very complex situations including kids who are partially hospitalized and where education is brought to them. Um and our post12 work. Um, I love visiting um the the center over um on Morris Road and seeing the kids there engaged in um job training programs.
021Um and then the program that helps with job placement for high school graduates who had IEPs as students and who are qualified based on income um receive help in finding jobs within our county has been incredible. Um, but I think one of the most complicated things to learn about are the services that the IU provides for districts and the needs of North Penn and providing supplemental supports varies very much from say Pottstown or Norristown or Lower Marian um and how complicated that can be. Um, so with that said, I've known my term has been up and I've been speaking with um, members of the board and if you all recall back in I think it was December when we voted on committee placements, there was a note on there that Christine Coin would be nominated.
022So I am very proud this evening to nominate Christine Coin to fill this role um, and to be able to move this forward. So do I have a motion and a second to nominate u, Miss Coin? Motion >> Motion by Mr. Chea, seconded by Mr. Bell. All in favor? Oh, comments. Sorry, comments and questions. We >> need a roll call. >> Oh, and we're going to do a roll call. Thank you for that. >> So, Mr. McBain. Yeah, >> thank you. Here, here's as a teacher here in Montgomery County, uh, and having so many of my own students benefit from the programs the MCIU has provided over the years. Uh, I'd be remiss if I didn't thank Mrs. Ramage for her eight years of leadership, uh, and service at the MCIU. So, thank you so
023much and I know that Mrs. Coin is going to do a wonderful job. >> Great >> if she's voted. >> Still in the air. >> So, now let's um we'll turn it over to Miss Todd, Mrs. Todd to um for a roll call vote. >> Uh Dr. Tio, yay or nay? >> Yay. >> Mr. Bell, yay or nay? >> Yay. >> Mr. Cha, yay or nay? >> Yay. >> Mr. Kaiser, yay or nay? >> Yay. I don't know. Does Miss Coin vote? >> Yes. >> Miss Coin, yay or nay? >> Yay. >> Mr. Rash, yay or nay? >> Yay. >> Mr. McBain, yay or nay? >> Yay. >> And Miss Ramage. Yay or nay? >> Yay. >> Well done. >> The vote of eight to none. >> Congratulations. Motion carries. And I will note that
024um Mrs. Coin, your term starts July 1st. Um and you will be joined by um because the the way the IU works is that there is one school board member from each sending district who serve terms and they rotate. So you will be um part of a cohort of new members from Sheltonham, Hero, Horscham, Norristown, North Penn, Pottstown, Springford, and Upper Marian. Thank you. Um, I am honored to be nominated and I'm excited to represent North Penn School District. I think when we talked about me moving to the um, and representing North Penn School District at the MCIU last year, it felt like a very long time and it has very quickly snuck up on us um, on me. Um, so but I'm very excited. I hope to do North Penn proud and uh learn
025even more. So very excited. >> Very good. Thank you. And I believe after we send this off to the IU and then at the next IU meeting um the IU board will vote. So um it just an interesting kind of dynamic and how the process works. So with that said, any um one other item of business that I have that I do just want to share. I do want to mark the occasion that this is autism awareness and acceptance month. I want to um give a shout out and a thanks to our North Penn staff that serve our students with autism. Um I also just want to thank a community member um Ben Hardramp um who I spoke a little bit about how the IU helped me to learn to be an advocate and and
026how important that is to carry forward and Mr. Dr. Hartra, I think, is probably one of our community's greatest advocates. He does call me every April to remind me about this day, and it is a call that I take with joy um and great pride to hear about an alum who's continuing to great do great work. So, Ben, thank you so much for that. Um Ben did ask that I share um a little bit of an update about him. Um Ben has worked in partnership with his brother. He has formed or has formed for a while now a nonprofit, but they are going to be working on a new um adventure. Um they have formed a board. They have their 501c3 um application in and they are going to be working on um securing funding
027and um building or rehabbing housing to provide independent um housing for adults with autism. So to see Ben go from um a student here at North Penn who has metriculated through our program. Ben and I have had great conversations about Ben, how did you learn to become an advocate? He does credit his parents appropriately and and right rightfully so, but also to all the school personnel that supported him and seeing that carry forward now. Um, Ben, I just want to say that we're incredibly proud of you and thank you, but thank you to um our community and to those who to um support our students living with autism. Um, so any other items? >> Uh, Madam President, just by way of Sunshine Act announcements, the board did meet in executive session immediately prior to tonight's
028meeting for the purpose of discussing matters of litigation related to tax assessment appeals and real estate matters. Thank you. And I do also want to note for the record, we did mention this earlier in our meeting, but we do have one member of the board who has joined virtually. Um so yeah, thank you um Dr. Tio for joining. Okay, without further ado, um motion to adjourn. >> Okay, meetings adjourned. Thank you all for a great evening.