[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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],{"_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",6604250,"mediaKeyId","2993193-a64825a14bc18232c958c9a8dea0ff28","parentId",2993193,"title","ESS reports 87% overall fill rate for Pennridge substitutes; district to recommend one-year contract renewal","audioSeconds",630,"startMs",85000,"endMs",715000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2993193-a64825a14bc18232c958c9a8dea0ff28&start=85&end=715","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2993193-a64825a14bc18232c958c9a8dea0ff28/thumbnail_85000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6604250/Pennsylvania/ESS-reports-87-overall-fill-rate-for-Pennridge-substitutes-district-to-recommend-one-year-contract-renewal","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6604250-3013d4eb6e77765d8f4625f3da9392af/orig.mp4?Expires=1775227095&Signature=Lh70N9bHyLg7tOFGFYynX0HbrDKX04RAH5Vv5emHJ7iLo8k3PE7iCHsfWgfKeueECWjFledVpX-rHCOEj2-wj29DXvZouJxghxBx9BZKRVxXIMzqKojAEJCvheuvaPQax3YkvzqmhfZX5blpEOofxCBn~tXkJBvnAjKFg-lPmoSOmk0TKWXhwHOLnFu~NGgHAFam8HxJaKqwa78AFjzuVV6XoKzBz~aXAiNBHB-0u8Hwjl~iURButAoINe6oHFLTL8i6DoTGY2PYok5SZ5jKzIw9lub6s5qJONR-Oa0RMH53PgHvpDbUXAauxVYRle6t~apFy-Mjifi9XaKy39yMEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pennridge School District","date","2025-04-15T08:16:23.03Z","article","Representatives of ESS (an education staffing firm) presented a year‑to‑date 2024–25 review of substitute services to the Pennridge personnel committee on April 14 and the administration recommended renewing the ESS contract for one year.

Key metrics from ESS presenters: ESS reported 8,551 total assignment requests so far in the school year. Of those, they said staff-absence requests (requests tied to a specific employee) accounted for more than 5,000 and “supplemental” requests (coverage for events, IEP meetings, field trips, or non‑person-specific duties) were about 3,439. ESS reported it filled 7,410 of those assignments, for a net fill rate of about 87 percent; the teacher fill rate stood at 95 percent while support-role fill (paraprofessionals and non‑certified positions) was about 64 percent.

ESS discussed staffing programs used by the district: building‑based substitute pools (staff who dedicate time to a specific building), an emergency‑permit pathway for candidates with bachelor’s degrees, an app program that allows college students or preservice teachers to serve as a teacher of record under partnership arrangements, and recruitment activities (digital postings, job fairs, college partnerships). ESS said its building‑based substitutes average about 38 assignments (an average workload measure presented), and staff noted ESS had added 82 subs to the district pool this year (including emergency permit staff and instructional assistants).

Cost context and procurement: Committee members asked about total substitute spending; ESS presenters and a district representative said total substitute spending across sources (not limited to the ESS contract) exceeded $2 million for the year. The district recommended a one‑year renewal of the ESS contract; the administration plans to present that recommendation to the finance committee and then the full board as a contract item.

Questions and operational notes: Committee members pressed ESS on why some non‑certified roles (paraprofessionals, playground aides) are harder to fill. ESS said shorter notice of absences and competitive hourly pay at non-education employers contribute; presenters noted their rates are competitive in the region. The district said it will continue to collaborate on scheduling and the assignment app to maximize coverage and accurate payroll/coverage reporting.

Attribution and next steps: “Our teacher fill rate is higher at a 95%,” ESS presenter Megan Amar said during the review. The district’s recommendation to renew the ESS contract for one year will be presented at the finance committee meeting and forwarded to the April board agenda for action.

Ending: Committee members asked for additional historical fill‑rate data; ESS said it can supply about four years of archived data on request. Finance and HR staff will carry the renewal recommendation forward through the district’s procurement channels.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Monday, April 14th, 2025 - PSD School Board Committee Meeting - Personnel/Facilities/Finance","oneSentenceSummary","ESS representatives told the Pennridge personnel committee on April 14 that they filled 7,410 of 8,551 substitute assignment requests so far this year, a net fill rate of 87 percent (95% for teachers, 64% for support roles).","taxTitle","Pennridge SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",51485,"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},6604255,"Pennridge to buy PowerSchool position-control module; district to test implementation before full rollout",703,1097000,1800000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2993193-a64825a14bc18232c958c9a8dea0ff28&start=1097&end=1800","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2993193-a64825a14bc18232c958c9a8dea0ff28/thumbnail_1097000.jpg","/articles/6604255/Pennsylvania/Pennridge-to-buy-PowerSchool-position-control-module-district-to-test-implementation-before-full-rollout","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6604255-2e21be8ab662abbc95b59a8ed617b078/orig.mp4?Expires=1775227095&Signature=F9e4l4qn7tblg-4K~10hCgSwH1s0W01v5WiL656IQbsuzrJbUQcw85z~DfYTwP5SEY9erWf3~ZOsZmplN~XMhesijesDHdIetfE194uZznZdXJBJ4TvtF47zc5Q3LthKG4lGWuansRPuQW4Pb2GFAHW3iCh9J6gNqhe7mKF4JVZ5W-Q-1sLYj4tab7xkHfBgEq0r4601kT-5OF7b3dfWHjCXIp4fuGaA7ocgO2ego3XO2N8f5T24hRuPTSW18b4fPD3pVAmuw-fzUSl38bJHVYZx7fh-dF0P3xqrWYrCQLHm7QL6NIk5qeft7hdCmS46Lft4QnxpC0yz2x8EDM1Ivg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pennridge School District staff told the personnel committee on April 14 they will add a position-control module to the district’s PowerSchool suite to centralize position tracking, tie individual positions to budget codes and provide real‑time vacancy dashboards.

Why it matters: Administration said the module will reduce extensive manual spreadsheet entry, improve HR–finance alignment and provide real‑time vacancy and certification visibility that the district currently compiles manually. Staff presented a timeline that depends on board approval and vendor onboarding.

Contract and costs: Staff said the vendor will prorate an initial May–Aug. subscription and implementation fee of about $8,000: roughly $4,700 for one-time implementation plus about $3,200 for the May–Aug. subscription. The district expects an additional recurring charge of about $5,000 in the 2025–26 fiscal year when PowerSchool bundles modules differently. The administration said the subscription cost for 2025–26 is already included in departmental budgets.

Implementation: Presenters said board approval would be sought in April, implementation would begin the week of May 1 and a typical rollout time is about 90 days, with system configuration, data validation and training scheduled from May through August. Staff said the system will be linked to payroll and benefits and will attach budget codes to positions at posting to reduce manual payroll corrections.

Operations and limits: Staff said the tool does not yet perform advanced AI forecasting but will allow custom reporting and dashboards to show vacancies, position history and certification alignment for posted positions. Current staff data will be uploaded and validated; historical prior-employee records would not be fully backfilled and would rely on paper files where needed.

Quotes and attributions: “Position control will automatically flag that so that I’m aware that [a principal] has not gone in and posted that position,” Tara Mossman, cabinet liaison, said during the presentation. “This will provide us with up to date, real‑time vacancy tracking.” Diane Miller and Donna Schepis (HR staff) joined the presentation and answered questions about workflow and data migration.

Next steps: The administration said the contract will be on the finance committee agenda and then forwarded to the full board. Staff will perform a data audit, complete user-access setup and follow a 90‑day implementation plan pending board approval.

Ending: Administrators said the module should reduce errors caused by spreadsheets and speed vacancy reporting; they cautioned that the district will need to validate data and train HR and business-office staff to ensure positions and pay codes flow correctly.","The district presented a plan to add a PowerSchool position-control module (prorated $8,000 through Aug.; recurring $5,000 in 2025–26) to track authorized positions, link positions to budget codes and reduce spreadsheet-driven manual work. Board approval and a 90-day rollout were planned contingent on the finance committee and board schedules.",{"_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},6604260,"Pennridge projects $3.3 million gap after cuts; special-education and charter costs cited as primary drivers",4320,3600000,7920000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2993193-a64825a14bc18232c958c9a8dea0ff28&start=3600&end=7920","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2993193-a64825a14bc18232c958c9a8dea0ff28/thumbnail_3600000.jpg","/articles/6604260/Pennsylvania/Pennridge-projects-33-million-gap-after-cuts-special-education-and-charter-costs-cited-as-primary-drivers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6604260-73b8c5d27733b0bec4a73c569a2251cc/orig.mp4?Expires=1775227095&Signature=mhR4I9WGGTdzDPvCvcwRpGXTpsI3-9t88dR~Y69FwxY~kmkBaBVqnFSZ848F5gGaQiM-vYK8lie1h~6AFYIMzcV6w4sA~j69kTpy6i9tKACHsBpd8sbDM6ssNlKzL-SGV4GdLPXE~jjj7Rq~LbbNhH2SfGYOg8FDa~bQfufIN27Uy6tkbU9-~kA5LLLoxz5XRivQHfpwi4suNMSW15yW2uG8LvudunH96GNKdnqpcHAhzQBP~Ll~eEouADFNdE6ZWTZzyUj9U0moPFqDcQk3aiJ4P1PyeIBjThprmzYEZbzALihNBbbgoLdnTWKgiraT19K8u-LQiMotI3bNTHodHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pennridge School District finance staff told the district’s personnel and finance committees on April 14 that the district still faces an estimated $3.3 million general-fund shortfall after about $6.3 million in expenditure reductions.

The shortfall follows year-over-year increases in mandated expenses — special-education tuition and related services, pension and benefit obligations — and rising charter and cyber-school tuition, officials said. Business administrators said a $6.1 million annual debt-service “drop off” has allowed transfers into the capital projects fund in recent years but cannot by itself eliminate operating deficits.

Why it matters: Special-education and charter/cyber tuition make up the largest growth in Pennridge’s operating budget, staff said. Finance staff reported the district’s proposed 2025–26 general fund budget would total roughly $163.3 million in expenditures versus about $159.9 million in revenue, leaving the $3.3 million gap before any tax action.

Finance staff identified the largest cost drivers as placements outside the district and charter/cyber tuition; they noted that charter tuition can be roughly $15,000 for cyber placements and roughly $40,000 for some brick-and-mortar special-education placements. Staff reviewed data showing 98 students currently enrolled in cyber programs and about 43 students attending charter schools. Those counts and tuition formulas are closely watched because state rules and court decisions affect how much the district must pay.

Officials said they have cut roughly $6.3 million since an initial March estimate, including salary and benefits reductions (about $713,000), cuts to professional services such as some IU (intermediate unit) contracts, reductions in substitute and bus-replacement requests, and the removal of a set of proposed new positions. Still, the district remains short without either new revenue or further cuts.

Other fiscal details: At June 30, 2024, the district’s capital projects fund balance stood at about $5.7 million. With planned transfers and anticipated project timing, staff estimated a possible capital fund balance in the $13–14 million range after next fiscal year if transfers continue and planned project spending is controlled. Staff warned, however, that those projections assume no sudden swings in interest income (the budget currently assumes roughly $3.2 million in interest revenue) and stable federal/state grants; any erosion in those revenue sources would widen operating gaps.

What officials recommend next: Staff briefed the board on a timeline to present the tentative 2025–26 budget for adoption in May and final adoption in June. They emphasized scenarios for using unassigned fund balance as a last-resort bridge, but said relying on reserves would increase future-year pressure and reduce the district’s ability to cover emergency capital needs or weather revenue shocks.

Quotes and attributions: “We are still in a hole of about $3.3 million,” said a finance staff member presenting the budget. “You have to remember that much of this is driven by mandated costs outside our control: special-education placements, pension and retirement obligations, and rising charter tuition.” Staff also noted the district’s Act 1 index (the state school tax cap mechanism) would permit roughly $3.5 million of additional levy capacity in 2025–26 — an amount insufficient to close the shortfall without other steps.

Next steps and outlook: The administration will return to the finance committee on May 7 with refinements and expects the first formal budget adoption vote at the board’s May meeting, with a final adoption on June 16. Officials said they will continue searching for additional reductions, pursue grant opportunities where possible, and press for longer-term district facility planning with the district’s facilities consultant to focus capital spending where it most reduces future operating risk.

Ending: District leaders told the committees they will continue reviewing hiring, software subscriptions and vendor contracts and will keep the board apprised; they repeatedly urged the community and legislators to note the structural pressures on Pennsylvania districts from charter/cyber tuition and growing mandated costs.","District finance staff told the Pennridge School District personnel and finance committees on April 14 that after several rounds of cuts the general fund still shows a $3.3 million shortfall, driven largely by special-education placements, charter/cyber tuition and rising mandated costs.",{"_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},6604245,"Pennridge completes districtwide lead testing; two fixtures retested and cleared after replacement",88,2852000,2940000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2993193-a64825a14bc18232c958c9a8dea0ff28&start=2852&end=2940","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2993193-a64825a14bc18232c958c9a8dea0ff28/thumbnail_2852000.jpg","/articles/6604245/Pennsylvania/Pennridge-completes-districtwide-lead-testing-two-fixtures-retested-and-cleared-after-replacement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6604245-5c6d115aa6448b00e65f36e2b9ed7085/orig.mp4?Expires=1775227095&Signature=KeC1kadKON8BN5O1EPS5KQYkIV2qk8YLxasXQ3Fa08WWloLuqpInFsA49bTIilzS5FRsJciMDBk26w2fabqxLpkQ1H9M6Bn2YmsoF4G1zZq44Qw4MxE3g6EAVlNi-a6-OhNUspAV8uzphM~CzCeB7ONDC8~SC53bTjQRSW2CD8tByOpDh29PjQco5iD0EF2g-auZczFXcOvvUi4l38qXl0PaukAwJ787yoZH8y9mpvz993IS6db8KWQfUbpLDPmxg3sxUsZTpwLA8Ux7NIauiXahLG2ytWquJgApsXDEsM8cQRLVO7Cfta-hkwysdp2wz5aZMcBNoBltTxoaa3dDjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pennridge School District facilities staff reported to the April 14 meeting that the district completed its cycle of drinking-water lead testing across school sites and that two fixtures previously above the EPA action level were replaced and retested, with the replacements returning below the action level.

What happened: Facilities staff said their multi‑year testing program covered remaining fixtures that had not previously been tested. Of the sites tested during the most recent cycle, two fixtures initially exceeded the 15 parts-per-billion EPA action level. Facilities staff replaced those fixtures and ordered follow-up laboratory testing; the retests were reported as “clear,” officials said.

Why it matters: The district said replacement of older fixtures was the most common corrective action. Staff explained that positive results often stem from fixture components rather than the community water source; replacing the fixture generally returns sample results below the action level. Facilities staff said the district plans to continue testing on a periodic basis and recommended increasing the number of fixtures tested per year to shorten the overall cycle for full coverage.

Testing cadence and costs: Administrators cited EPA guidance — a five‑year testing cadence is common — and said the district had accelerated testing at times to address older fixtures. Facilities staff said the district sends samples to a New Jersey laboratory with an approximate two‑week turnaround and that they will provide itemized pricing on additional testing if the board requests a higher annual testing rate.

Quotes and attributions: “Out of all the sites that we tested this year, only two came back as testing positive,” said a facilities staff member. “We replaced the fixtures and retested them, and they came back clear.” The presentation noted that replacements for bubbler fixtures and other endpoint components were typical corrective steps.

Next steps: Facilities staff said they will continue routine testing, plan to test more fixtures per year to shorten the rotation, and will provide the board with exact pricing for additional annual testing if requested. They also noted that the district keeps records and would return affected fixtures to service only after successful retest results.

Ending: The committee heard that the district has completed the current testing cycle and will continue a program of periodic retesting and replacement as needed; staff said they would share lab pricing and a recommended testing cadence for board consideration.","Facilities staff told the board on April 14 that annual lead testing of drinking-water fixtures across Pennridge is complete, with two fixtures initially testing over the EPA action level; both fixtures were replaced and follow-up tests came back below the action level.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

ESS reports 87% overall fill rate for Pennridge substitutes; district to recommend one-year contract renewal

Pennridge to buy PowerSchool position-control module; district to test implementation before full rollout

Pennridge projects $3.3 million gap after cuts; special-education and charter costs cited as primary drivers

Pennridge completes districtwide lead testing; two fixtures retested and cleared after replacement