Board approves fund-balance transfers, vendor adjustments and adopts electronic-device policy second reading

The Haddon Township Board of Education voted May 15 to place two financing items on the record to preserve options at year-end: a transfer from fund balance if state extraordinary aid falls short, or a transfer into reserve if the district has excess funds.

Jen, a district staff member who addressed the board during the finance items, said administrators included both options because the district does not yet know its final year-end numbers. “So if we receive more money from our extraordinary aid and our end of year looks good, then we have money left over. We can put money into reserves. If we cannot do that, we—ll have to pull down from our fund balance,” she told the board.

Administration also reported several vendor contract adjustments: the district’s website host agreed to about a 10% decrease; Care Solace agreed to about a 10% decrease; some other vendors provided rate reductions or capped increases; one financial/accounting vendor gave about a 9% increase. The administration said it continues to negotiate with vendors to reduce costs.

On policy, the board approved the second reading of the district’s electronic-devices policy (cell-phone use) and adopted it by roll call. The superintendent said enforcement is difficult and that the administration will return with implementation strategies; the policy sets limits on phone use in certain areas and times in the high school, with cafeteria/lunch exceptions noted.

Ending: The finance actions preserve administrative flexibility pending the final state aid and year-end accounting; the district adopted the electronic-device policy and said further operational details will be developed over the summer.