The Upper Perkiomen school board voted to approve a shorter Zoom license agreement with the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit. The members ratified a one-year new agreement at a cost of $9,000 during the Sept. 11 regular meeting.

            The district utilizes the accounts for video conference sessions between district staff, parents, students, partners and vendors, according to information provided by spokesperson Alexis Jenofsky. She wrote in an email message received Monday that the flexibility of the new agreement will allow the district to adjust the number of user accounts in the coming year if needed.

            Last month, the board voted to approve a two-year contract with the MCIU. According to Jenofsky, the district is exploring potential video conferencing solutions that may provide additional benefits and be more cost-effective. Her email states that the one-year contract allows administrators to evaluate these options and make changes at the end of the current school year.

            The board ratified a memo of understanding allowing LifeSpan Day Care to conduct care for students before and after school at the district's three elementary schools for the current school year. The services at Marlborough and Hereford elementaries and the 4th & 5th Grade Center will be provided at no cost to the district, according to the action item included in the meeting agenda language.

            LifeSpan is in its third consecutive year serving the school community though this arrangement, according to Nicole Fetherman, its executive director. She wrote that the organization is accepting new enrollments at Hereford and Marlborough.

            During the meeting, Member Peg Pennepacker expressed a few specific concerns regarding the Sept. 9 finance committee meeting. Saying she liked the content of the meeting, Pennepacker described the necessity of finding significant financial savings as a multi-year, multi-committee endeavor.

            "We need to focus on better direction," Pennepacker said during the board comment portion of the meeting. "We need to change the way we do things. We have to get organized."

            Pennepacker, who did not attend the committee meeting, objected to Superintendent Allyn Roche's use of the word "unleash" when discussing a plan to announce a new program in October designed to ask the public for ideas to increase the district's efficiency and revenue.

            Roche apologized, saying he would refrain from using that word in similar situations.

            During the committee meeting, the superintendent announced a plan to save approximately $20,000 in this year's budget by limiting administrative travel. He also identified the trimming of approximately $4,000 by not providing meals to school board members prior to public meetings.

            The committee appeared to support a five-year plan to continue an annual $200,000 transfer from the district's fund balance to the capital project account, according to the meeting video posted on the district's website.

            According to Roche, one of the committee's top goals is reducing the amount of money needed to cover future budget deficits. He described the cost saving proposals as the start of the conversation.

            "Our budgeting process has gotten much better over the years," said Keith McCarrick, a committee member and board vice president.

            In personnel news, the board approved one resignation and six appointments for the current school year. It accepted the resignation of Tina Lavanga, a paraprofessional.

            The members voted to hire five paraprofessionals: Shannon Straup, Brianna Braun, Elizabeth Stonewall, Alyshia Swinehart and Jennifer Ulmer. They also appointed Julianna Corangie, a part-time food service worker.

            Additionally, the board granted tenure status to 10 professional employees. They include Kyra Naugle, Danielle Dunn, Olivia Reichley, Rachael Krock, Rebecca Altieri, Eric Boyer, Philip DiWilliams, Krista Hatch, Emily Herron and Kaitlin Mayson.

            According to Solicitor Kyle J. Somers, the board met in executive session immediately  prior to the public meeting that lasted 34 minutes. Somers announced that the members discussed issues related to collective bargaining with the Upper Perkiomen Education Association and a confidential student matter.