Abington Heights board approves routine financial and personnel measures, adopts special-education plan

The Abington Heights School District board on April 16 approved a package of routine financial and personnel items, authorized a professional-services contract for school psychologist services, and adopted an updated three-year special-education plan during a meeting at Hampton High School.

The actions were passed largely without debate by unanimous 8-0 roll calls. In public comment preceding action items, Mark Stoller of Waverly Township urged board members to “keep an open mind” regarding the district’s building project as outside uncertainties could affect the process.

Votes at a glance: The board voted 8-0 to (1) issue a notice of charges as described by board counsel, (2) approve the treasurer’s report and pay the bills, (3) approve the tuition-reimbursement report, (4) approve the personnel report, (5) approve the April 2025 volunteer list, (6) authorize a professional service agreement with Acorns to Oaks Consulting LLC for school psychologist services, (7) adopt the district’s special-education plan for the next three years, and (8) revise the job-title for the director of business and student services to "Director of Business Services." Each of those motions passed on unanimous roll calls recorded during the meeting.

Treasurer’s report: District Treasurer Missus Cowell reported a beginning cash balance of $26,325,052.09, monthly revenues of $2,072,525.64, net disbursements of $5,421,230.69 and an available cash balance of $22,976,347.04. The board approved the treasurer’s report and bills on an 8-0 vote.

Special-education plan: Dr. Schaffer, the district superintendent, invited Dr. Bukowski to summarize changes to the special-education plan. Dr. Bukowski said the update primarily reflects three years of data, notes increases in special-education enrollment and shifts in disability representation, and adds professional-development elements required by the state. “So there are updates. It's more or less just updating on the data that we have from the past 3 years, reviewing that information, and then projecting where we wanna see the district and how we're growing and moving forward,” Dr. Bukowski said. The board approved the plan 8-0 after the presentation.

Professional services contract: The board approved a professional-services agreement between Abington Heights School District and Acorns to Oaks Consulting LLC to provide school psychologist services. The motion passed on an 8-0 roll call; the contract vote was listed on the agenda and received no substantive public discussion during the meeting.

Notice of charges and personnel items: Early in the action items, a motion was made to issue a notice of charges on grounds that, if the facts alleged are true, they would warrant dismissal; that motion passed 8-0. The board separately approved routine personnel measures, the tuition‑reimbursement report and the April volunteer list, each by unanimous vote.

Job-title change: The board approved a revision to the job description for the position overseeing business and student services, shortening the title to "Director of Business Services." Board members indicated the change was intended to clarify responsibilities and separate student-services functions from business services; the motion passed 8-0.

Public comment and student report: In public comment, Mark Stoller of Waverly Township, who addressed the building project, told the board, “I would just expect you as leaders on the board would keep that open mind to the process and we'll see how the next number of weeks go.” Student representative Owen McFady delivered an academic and athletics update, noting AP testing begins May 5, Keystone testing begins May 13 and listing upcoming concerts and athletic schedules. McFady also reported on recent athletic records and events, and reminded families about athlete physicals through the district’s partnership with Lehigh Valley Health Network.

What’s next: The board noted its IT committee will meet May 14 in this room; the committee agenda will be released about a week before the meeting.

(Reporting in this item is based on the April 16, 2025 meeting record.)