Upper Perkiomen's business administrator presented a draft budget update and a timeline for approval of the 2023-24 budget during last week's workshop meeting.  Dan Direso said the board will receive a detailed update during the April 27 workshop meeting.

            Approval of the final draft budget must occur before May 31. The members are expected to ratify the final budget as well as the Homestead/Farmstead exclusions on June 15, according to Direso's presentation. The board's finance committee has already reviewed issues of technology, facilities, transportation, human resources, special education and pupil services.

            The recent settlement of a three-year contract with the Upper Perkiomen Education Association will impact the budget, according to Direso. He said salaries and benefits account for 64 percent of the district's costs.

            Before the next workshop meeting, the board finance committee will examine the issues of athletics, curriculum, business, debt and revenue on April 17. The members will review the proposed final budget on May 8.

            Based on the information available on the night of the meeting, Direso projected a $3.529 million budget surplus for the current school year. The initial projection called for a $502,823 surplus, according to the business administrator's proposal.

            The contributions from the commonwealth could impact the district's calculations, according to Direso. Gov. Josh Shapiro's initial budget calls for an additional $567 million in basic education funding, a 7.8 percent increase, and an additional $104 million in special education funding.

            In personnel news, the board accepted the resignation of Tori Matrone, a cafeteria/playground aide. The members also voted to approve leaves of absence for Katherine Perkins, beginning May 2 for six to eight weeks and Laura Hilehoffer, beginning March 31 through April 17 and intermittently thereafter, as needed for a total of 12 weeks, according to the language in the meeting agenda.

            The school board met in executive session immediately prior to the public meeting, according to Solicitor Kyle J. Somers. He said the members discussed issues of collective bargaining with the Upper Perkiomen Education Association.