[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6611528,"mediaKeyId","2894000-c8c4c8d47114a872c3d31ba2652684b4","parentId",2894000,"title","Perkiomen Valley parents and board debate proposed grade‑level realignment amid questions on data and transportation","audioSeconds",1894,"startMs",995000,"endMs",2889000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2894000-c8c4c8d47114a872c3d31ba2652684b4&start=995&end=2889","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2894000-c8c4c8d47114a872c3d31ba2652684b4/thumbnail_995000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6611528/Pennsylvania/Perkiomen-Valley-parents-and-board-debate-proposed-gradelevel-realignment-amid-questions-on-data-and-transportation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6611528-faf5d42cd0ed5d2fcc1615f20429c87d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181320&Signature=mtSEknV25uV2bj1bjyZ70tuib94ZPrH8hrmR1UskH8UehsAuP4vM0KJrrzLla~ePv6nPkZ3z6Jyz9SjULvYaaajlxHPSHmntIaQuyxeG4wP9huZOVua~vQnZLXWM2coMiKJGey1yzPl8cxz-7CvbXITW8jyIUnV19jq8UuaEnJFKgwx94g7nRvgIO53mITRwQvnENWREoxzAv-Qv5pPHR564~7NCHiCutp8pedmujwqh9wjDPZkEUxi52OVo9nmDcFHzfeP9eFiM5yjEd-k9fNDgYfgfRnAuzD~YU-UU~u5znrqNWiOEqVSYrnxqc6xMymTLkytfecCpvOu~BIOosA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Perkiomen Valley School District","date","2025-04-08T02:01:13.017Z","article","Perkiomen Valley School District trustees heard more than a dozen public comments April 7 opposing the administration’s proposal to shift to grade-level centers, with critics saying the plan lacks data on educational benefit and will harm student activities and family routines.

Speakers at the public-comment portion urged the board to delay or reject the plan. Kevin Vargo of Collegeville said community meetings focused on mitigating harms rather than demonstrating benefits: “The outcomes from the community meeting were clear that the measurable negatives across all these areas still drastically outweigh any hypothetical positives at the moment.” Several other parents and caregivers echoed worries about long bus rides, loss of local extracurricular teams and the stress of additional school transitions.

In the superintendent’s update later in the meeting, Superintendent Dr. Russell said the proposal grew from “space constraints as well as availability” at West and East and a desire to “unify students sooner than ninth grade.” She said a recommended configuration would combine all fifth- and sixth-grade students in an intermediate school at West and place seventh- and eighth-grade students at East to better target developmental needs and specialized programming.

Dr. Russell acknowledged community concerns about distance to West, splitting siblings and potential impacts on extracurricular participation. She said administration has discussed alternative options raised by the public — including redistricting elementary attendance lines, cohort-based feeder patterns, or placing a 5–6 center adjacent to Evergreen — and will continue analysis.

The superintendent called for a board retreat to review a planning commission report and long-range enrollment projections. She said the district will provide the planning-commission report to board members in advance of a scheduled retreat, with an invitation to an informational, non‑deliberative session on April 28 to “take a deep dive” into enrollment, space and economic indicators.

Board members asked for more data and time. Several directors recommended comparing new survey results to prior climate data and urged outreach to staff and boosters; in response the superintendent said the district will run parent, staff and student surveys and provide comparative analysis to past results. Dr. Russell also said the district would hold student and parent focus groups related to program changes.

The board did not take a formal vote on the realignment at the meeting. The administration described next steps as additional analysis, continued community engagement and a possible informational board retreat before any formal action.

Community members who spoke at the meeting also urged the board to consider less disruptive alternatives, such as targeted adjustments to mitigate crowding and expanded interventions (MTSS) at the elementary level, rather than wholesale realignment.

The board scheduled further informational work, and the district indicated it will post more detailed enrollment and planning materials before the retreat and subsequent public updates in May.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","4/7/2025 PVSD School Board Work Session and Finance Committee Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Perkiomen Valley School District trustees heard more than a dozen public comments April 7 opposing the administration’s proposal to shift to grade-level centers, with critics saying the plan lacks data on educational benefit and will harm student activities and family routines.","taxTitle","Perkiomen Valley SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",78390,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6611509,"Public commenters accuse board member Jason Sailor of legal action and partisan communications; board president disavows district‑level involvement",422,823000,1245000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2894000-c8c4c8d47114a872c3d31ba2652684b4&start=823&end=1245","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2894000-c8c4c8d47114a872c3d31ba2652684b4/thumbnail_823000.jpg","/articles/6611509/Pennsylvania/Public-commenters-accuse-board-member-Jason-Sailor-of-legal-action-and-partisan-communications-board-president-disavows-districtlevel-involvement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6611509-7970d27f728091f47b0e2f7693460248/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181320&Signature=O24PgDN8Vwm2rwEhsDWaRJuE67rOloJpAC~gV5EBHX96YnTGKQTAA9t5U~-TFEvTZklgybwWYCyBgCve-ONm~SyrdrsAdwwW09bSKJ6e9tbthrHJ4ScVUKxNGIWgSVxrRd8~yZnKOBU20YGq~XftRXZGr8efuFTRXhY4YSUUR4VL75MyhDj-9ar2tYT83zyEwuvaTDjqKlxoorhJ4UFO-7349hLq32uyEMoQlzMCeHWvVhENhbI~Qq61sweMsfOuLzDu-4~65xJaipyacH8bT0NNgLlIqJsh4dSmIfaBSDbyT6PcNsupxR0c26uvep7CAwndIa5rLZPqhzRWUidfXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Two residents used the Perkiomen Valley School District public‑comment period April 7 to raise allegations about board member Jason Sailor’s outside political activity and its local effects.

Valerie Drury (Skippack Township) criticized social‑media postings she attributed to Jason Sailor’s campaign page, and she said statements claiming that two named individuals had been “removed from the ballot” were inaccurate. She told the board those claims were “big statements and accusations with 0 backup” and argued the named candidates “didn't follow the law.”

Later in the public‑comment portion, Judy Lofton (Skippack) said Mr. Sailor is listed as a petitioner in a lawsuit filed against the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission and alleged the lawsuit seeks to remove protections for the LGBT community. Lofton read from the Human Relations Act while criticizing those actions and said the lawsuit and related communications have “stoked hate in our community” and led to an out‑of‑district response and a bomb threat that required school building evacuations. She also said Mr. Sailor’s campaign was sending emails under the name “PV Scribe Board” and said the board did not authorize those communications.

Board President Ms. White addressed the matter during her president’s report, saying the board of nine directors “did not approve or direct these communications” and that the board and district were not responsible for the messages that have appeared in some community inboxes.

The board did not take any formal personnel or ethics action at the April 7 meeting. The claims made during public comment were attributed in the meeting to the speakers who raised them. The board did not verify or adjudicate the legal claims during the session; no staff‑led investigation or formal referral was recorded on the April 7 minutes.","Two public speakers at the Perkiomen Valley board meeting accused board member Jason Sailor of joining or promoting a lawsuit they said seeks to remove LGBT protections and of sending political emails claiming to represent the board; the board president said the board did not authorize those communications.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6611514,"Administration recommends switching to PA‑focused educator evaluation software and new digital time/substitute system",189,3640000,3829000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2894000-c8c4c8d47114a872c3d31ba2652684b4&start=3640&end=3829","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2894000-c8c4c8d47114a872c3d31ba2652684b4/thumbnail_3640000.jpg","/articles/6611514/Pennsylvania/Administration-recommends-switching-to-PAfocused-educator-evaluation-software-and-new-digital-timesubstitute-system","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6611514-dbd87f11d3614508e79a0e6313174d7b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181320&Signature=Ov69nxY5dO3SS48BkadbRmF9tDiwz8DqRcC7Q~i0xzw0qOP3uYNc8L83Ee~lQDCuOgXOIRDsAUzI2N9wqwSSO9NIc7aFmc0WiHju3Ay~YOb~YmAXOwGFJw6iHQl0eHx1bXOlJOcPUtCPc3YoBkTaQ~6GIE1VaCDF1yNlN7ET33DZX~ouvz6JIvVUQIe3ExshXfoZL3vGdeJKotmMTEvcv~7lCXpaDGQi-OQpUy4tSUOo~5rSKrjgbaserKk4OrtW-mnR7qXzxQMWSz9PUCUicXaDwaVKFXR5dTqlW1dUO8mLu1jYF86jqmUnfiH8quyJCa0pojILQ1yNhMQDuKLzQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District administrators recommended two personnel‑management software changes April 7: switching to a Pennsylvania‑based supervision/evaluation platform and adopting a digital time‑tracking and integrated absence/substitute management system.

Mr. Moran presented the recommendation to move from the district’s current evaluation tool (Frontline OASIS) to EduLink PA ETEP, a vendor the staff said is aligned with Pennsylvania Department of Education supervision/evaluation requirements. Moran said administrators, teacher leaders and building principals unanimously preferred the PA‑based product because it receives state updates automatically and reduces manual vendor change requests. The annual cost comparison shown to the board was $13,755 for Frontline versus an expected $15,923 for EduLink PA ETEP; Moran noted a portion of year‑one cost ($5,307) would be covered at no charge due to implementation timing, and some contract details were still under review. He asked that the item not be placed on the consent agenda until the final contract is available.

Moran also recommended the district move to Red Rover for time tracking and absence management. He described the district’s current system as a mix of 83 punch‑card users and 216 paper timesheets that require manual review and data entry. Red Rover would allow digital punches (card or geofencing), integrate absence management and push substitute job notifications to users’ smartphones — an approach administrators said has increased substitute fill rates in other districts. The proposed Red Rover package was quoted at $25,000 annually; the presentation noted the district currently spends about $24,957 on the incumbent Frontline absence management module, so Moran described the Red Rover package as delivering both time tracking and upgraded absence/notification features at roughly the same total cost. Implementation includes a one‑time $6,000 fee split between this fiscal year and next.

Moran said the district would coordinate with current substitute-provider STS during any transition to ensure substitutes remain in the pool and are notified of new job postings. The board did not take a formal vote on either software change at the April 7 meeting; Moran asked that the EduLink contract remain off consent while final contract language is reviewed and that Red Rover be scheduled for board action pending final vendor agreements.","District staff recommended replacing current supervision/evaluation software with a Pennsylvania‑based vendor (EduLink PA ETEP) and moving to a digital time‑tracking and absence management system (Red Rover) that integrates substitute notifications; both recommendations require contract finalization and board action.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6611519,"District launches arts study and eyes teacher-on‑special‑assignment to coordinate visual and performing arts",127,2556000,2683000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2894000-c8c4c8d47114a872c3d31ba2652684b4&start=2556&end=2683","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2894000-c8c4c8d47114a872c3d31ba2652684b4/thumbnail_2556000.jpg","/articles/6611519/Pennsylvania/District-launches-arts-study-and-eyes-teacher-onspecialassignment-to-coordinate-visual-and-performing-arts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6611519-edb888e8ad71385823f9de61873050ea/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181320&Signature=JNOGHVMIPjlEr5MRDhJzmZ2aaHTWyfMF2vI6uXr50W~qNH8R1x91L~WeoRvnaBct0pNIBpx2seIRyvvZEZ~bSI5HYFXa2dJxaJigdyso1fK3X4otL62c8-Xt34bXzdFlpH2ta4QT4qqcM-p8VZCxxtmhL1f0Ntwk4emkemUfpkF~VoWbsQWjPYtUDl8JYOGg7KwVQEqjhqnZCM5bTr8tC971apenCJ5h3tAlPhg4ATQ9ygKKihssoAB44cibaAjBDoeLzNSao-HtkXazL5MZPHpShf4BFA8~1tjwSHLrJKka1C3mfj19eYbp1Pn-lgidhiec4a9Rxox4eevgWgM2GA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Perkiomen Valley School District administrators outlined an arts‑program study and said they may recommend creating a half‑time teacher‑on‑special‑assignment (TOSA) to coordinate visual and performing arts across buildings.

Natalie Harenko, humanities supervisor (referenced by staff presenter), is leading a district arts review intended to examine pathways from K–12 arts participation to post‑secondary opportunities and to identify causes of participation declines noted in district data. The study includes student and parent focus groups and meetings with arts professionals; the district expects recommendations to the board in May.

Mr. Mitchell (education staff presenter) said one option under consideration is a halftime TOSA who would coordinate curricula alignment, professional development and community outreach, similar in role to the district’s athletic coordination. The district said the TOSA would be filled by reassigning existing staff rather than adding a new full-time position; administration stated a special-education position would most likely be reallocated to fund the halftime arts coordinator, so staff said they do not expect a net increase in staffing costs from the reallocation.

Board members asked about certification and the candidate pool for a TOSA. One director said she expected any candidate to hold a teaching certificate in a relevant arts area (visual or performing arts) and for the district to run an application process to identify qualified applicants. Board members also asked how the halftime vacancy would be covered within affected departments; administrators said they would review applicants and staffing adjustments as part of the implementation plan.

At the same time, the district presented staffing and enrollment projections for next year. Administrators projected small net enrollment decreases across elementary and middle levels and said proposed staffing changes (including a previously approved athletic trainer and cafeteria monitors) had already been reflected in the staffing plan. The district said it remains ready to adjust staffing based on final enrollment figures and ongoing budget review.

No board action was taken on the arts study or a TOSA at the April 7 meeting; staff said further recommendations will come after completion of focus groups and analysis.","District staff outlined an arts curriculum study and said one likely recommendation will be a half‑time teacher‑on‑special‑assignment (TOSA) for arts coordination; staffing and enrollment projections were also presented.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6611524,"Perkiomen Valley finance presentation projects 4.27% tax increase before potential use of reserves; board debates how much to use",850,2749000,3599000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2894000-c8c4c8d47114a872c3d31ba2652684b4&start=2749&end=3599","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2894000-c8c4c8d47114a872c3d31ba2652684b4/thumbnail_2749000.jpg","/articles/6611524/Pennsylvania/Perkiomen-Valley-finance-presentation-projects-427-tax-increase-before-potential-use-of-reserves-board-debates-how-much-to-use","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6611524-2348b0c020b85748e61d87ba192c38d5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181320&Signature=lPD-XisW-CmIVjonZ7uSG7dNtHxi3vw9~i6ZwFYRV0uvZEyzv6vgfamkeGTSNc5m6wyBXqyB9KiEyIMHc0W68MdPcJ5VeljJbTc7B8bfN6A5loffvkaIABYKsLCFJeClqJSq58KfDV8ZT4Fk0NiIu27uqC1Y9byVnUP5KB2pF8yihLcIU-AmQaDK38Yy4Dqq2R3IObmtUT8AE-xEhXKvl08r0WrhTTHZsjjRjc3~S4zjGci8H2UYDmiJvWNBGWMBALLqzdTSmmOw4TyOVgueMwM1AtDhdSZdyJ9cXKjFwxgBgf6BgOXd33EpM0b0xz1jKPjZD-vtl0Y1nzvkGceo3Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District finance staff presented a preliminary 2025–26 budget update April 7 that showed a roughly $3.4 million shortfall and a preliminary tax-rate increase of 4.27 percent before any use of reserves.

Mister Weaver (district business/staff member) and finance staff said the budget includes revised revenue and expenditure line items and a running budget total of roughly $133.0 million in revenues and $137.3 million in expenditures. Weaver said rental‑income gains related to athletics and facility rentals have improved revenue, but overall pressures remain from salaries and benefits.

Weaver presented scenarios for using unassigned fund balance to reduce the tax increase. Using $500,000 of reserves would reduce the projected 4.27% tax increase to about 3.65%; using $250,000 would lower it to about 3.97%; a $0 use leaves the 4.27% projection in place. Weaver said his office’s projection put the district’s projected unassigned fund balance at roughly $7.78 million (about 5.65% of next year’s estimated expenditures) after current projections.

Board members sharply questioned how much of the fund balance to draw down. Dr. Campley expressed concern about economic uncertainty following recent national developments and urged caution; she said: “I’m really concerned about the budget and being fiscally responsible … we’re in a really unknown territory as far as where is the world going financially right now.” Other directors said the board should weigh impacts on taxpayers who are also facing financial strain.

Weaver and the business office said the district is monitoring a range of variables — energy procurement, insurance trends, earned income tax receipts and state funding — and will update projections as March actuals are finalized and as the state budget process clarifies. He said the district intends to use additional monthly projections before finalizing the budget and reiterated that the board will vote on a preliminary budget in May.

No final budget vote occurred at the April 7 meeting. Board members asked for additional detail on fixed versus variable costs and requested the business office present refined scenarios at the preliminary budget action.","District finance staff previewed the 2025‑26 budget showing a 4.27% tax increase projection; administration proposed using portions of unassigned fund balance to lower the tax rate, prompting board discussion about fiscal caution amid economic uncertainty.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Perkiomen Valley parents and board debate proposed grade‑level realignment amid questions on data and transportation

Public commenters accuse board member Jason Sailor of legal action and partisan communications; board president disavows district‑level involvement

Administration recommends switching to PA‑focused educator evaluation software and new digital time/substitute system

District launches arts study and eyes teacher-on‑special‑assignment to coordinate visual and performing arts

Perkiomen Valley finance presentation projects 4.27% tax increase before potential use of reserves; board debates how much to use