Norristown Area School District

NASD Board Brief - October 2024

Summary of the latest meeting of the Norristown Area School District's Board of School Directors

Approval Highlights

  • Scope of the District's Facilities Master Plan Approved

  • Lisa Lumpkin Named New Principal at Hancock Elementary School

  • New Contract for Professional Staff Members Ratified

Please note that all meeting materials are accessible on BoardDocs

Meeting Summary

The October 2024 Regular Voting Meeting of the Board of School Directors included some important approval and actions with long-term implications for the district.

The scope of the district's Facilities Master Plan was approved as presented. The plan includes six major phases that would modernize, renovate, and update all 13 district buildings. The phases include:

  1. Completing renovations identified as "Level 1" or "High Priority" by the facilities assessment completed by SchraderGroup, within three years

  2. Adding building space at Cole Manor, Hancock, and the Administration Building through modular and/or prefabricated additions, within 18 months

  3. Constructing an addition onto Norristown Area High School - Main Campus

  4. Construction additions onto Eisenhower and East Norriton to then reconfigure Eisenhower as the district's 5th and 6th grade center and reconfigure East Norriton as the district's 7th and 8th grade center, to be completed after the NAHS construction phase

  5. Replace Blockson with a new K-4 Elementary School, to be completed after the middle school construction phase. Upon completion of the new elementary school, attendance zones would be reconfigured for Blockson, Cole Manor, Davenport, Hancock, Paul Fly, Marshall Street, and Whitehall to operate as K-4 buildings.

  6. Complete renovations at all schools as detailed in the facilities assessment completed by SchraderGroup.

The Board authorized the Administration to begin preliminary work on the "high priority" renovations, the modular additions, and the NAHS addition.

Lisa Lumpkin was approved as the new Principal of Hancock Elementary School. Mrs. Lumpkin will move from her current role within NASD as Instructional Support Teacher at Davenport. The district is pleased to promote "one of our own" and to hire an exceptional educator who lives in our district.

A new collective bargaining agreement was ratified with EANA for its professional staff members. The four-year contract was achieved through earnest effort and collaboration by the negotiating teams for the union and the district. The new contract runs through August 2028.

Collage of NASD school buildings

Presentations and Recognition

At the October Work Session, there were two presentations:

  1. Dr. David Lugo presented highlights from Blockson Middle School.

  2. Mr. Dormer presented recommendations for the Facilities Master Plan.

Report of Student Representatives

Student School Board Representatives for October 2024 were Ife Bamisola, Briana Batista-Lamar, and Sara Chaaraoui.

Ife shared that five NAHS students ran for DECA state officer positions. Three students have received the highest regional votes and now move on the next round. She asked for support of Operation Backpack, where food items are collected and distributed to families in need on a biweekly basis. Donations can be dropped off the Norristown Area High School.

Sara shared positive news of clubs, activities, and student accomplishments at NAHS. Overall, NAHS students are accomplishing great things to start the school year.

Briana was unable to attend, but her report was shared publicly by Ife and Sara. Briana shared about her internship with DLL, how she has been exposed to career paths, network with working professionals, and foster professional relationships with mentors. She asked the district to continue these types of programs and to promote these opportunities to students more frequently.

Collage of Student Board Representatives
Superintendent Dormer

Superintendent's Report

Mr. Dormer's monthly report included:

  • Recognition of the outstanding efforts of teachers and students since the start of school. Teaching and learning has been exemplary.

  • End of the first marking period for grades 5-12 is Wednesday, October 30.

  • Fall parent-teacher conferences will be held on Tuesday, November 26, in the evening, and Wednesday, November 27, in the morning. There is no school for students on November 27.

  • NAHS Hall of Fame/Hall of Champions will hold this year's induction ceremony on Thursday, November 21, at 7:00 pm in the NAHS Auditorium.

  • Thanks and gratitude to all involved in successfully negotiating a new contract for professional staff.

  • Noting the transition to Student Outcome Focused Governance.

  • Reminder to exercise your civic duty and vote on November 5.

Committee Reports and Recommendations of the Superintendent

As recommended by the Superintendent and Administration, the Board approved:

Academic Recommendations:

  • Purchase of instructional supplies for Blockson Middle School to support the implementation of their CSI plan

Pupil Services Recommendations:

  • Tuition payments

  • Student agreements

  • Contracts for services with Pathway School, LearnWell, Fairwold Academy, and the MCIU

Human Resources Recommendations:

  • Hiring of 6 new professional employees

  • Hiring of 11 new support employees

  • Acceptance of 8 resignations and retirements

  • Authorization of 2 changes of status

  • Termination of one employee

  • Extra duty extra pay

  • recognition of 3 employees who earned tenure

Operations and Facilities Recommendations:

  • Scope of the Facilities Master Plan

  • Authorization for administration to being preliminary work on three phases of the Facilities Master Plan

Financial Reports:

  • Treasurer's Report, Investment Analysis Report, and Budget Summary

  • Orders issued

  • Payroll

Policy Recommendations:

  • Second read and adoption of 6 revised policies

NASD Board Room with art from students hanging on the wall and the American Flag standing in the corner
Board of School Directors

Board of Directors

As recommended and presented, the Board approved:

  • Overnight travel for the Assistant Superintendent

  • Overnight travel for the Superintendent

  • Overnight travel for Board Members

  • Ratification of the Collective Bargaining Agreement with EANA

This communication from Norristown Area School District and its Board of School Directors is meant to be a summary of actions taken at the most recent Board meeting, and is not intended to serve as minutes of the meeting. All materials presented at NASD Board meetings are available on BoardDocs. For more information on agendas and meetings, please visit the School Board page on our district website.