2023-2024 Budget

The Board of School Directors, in an 8-0 vote, approved the 2023-2024 fiscal year budget of $126,585,115. This reflects a .9970% millage increase that includes the addition of three teaching professionals, one support staff member, and one supervisor. It also includes increases in healthcare, communications, pupil services, and capital, and includes reductions in legal and transportation services.

The top two expenditures totaling $85,850,509.92 include salary and benefits. District revenue primarily comes from real estate taxes (78.67%) with the bulk of the remaining revenue coming from state, Act 511 and federal programs. Methacton School District has maintained the 4th lowest tax rate change among the 21 Montgomery County School districts over the past 5 years. A complete overview of the process can be found in this presentation here.

Electric Car Club

Mr. Steve Savitz, Science Department Chair, presented an update on the Electric Car Club at Methacton High School and the progress of the Triumph Spitfire electric car conversion project. The club was founded in 2001 and has 15 active members. The students maintain, as well as continually develop, two battery electric vehicles, and an alternative energy box truck. The box truck has been converted to run on vegetable oil. The truck also has solar panels on its roof that will be used to power the interior displays and can deliver a charge to their fleet of cars.

At the end of the 2022-2023 school year, students completed a four-year electric conversion of the 1969 Triumph Spitfire.

Some of the completed work includes:

• The reconstruction of the car body.
• The placement of 12 electric batteries in various compartments of the vehicle.
• The positioning and connecting of the controller, transmission, and DC-DC convertor to allow the car to operate efficiently.
• Rewiring of the front and rear lighting systems.
• Repair of brake and acceleration systems.
• Rewiring of the dashboard to suit EV readings.

The Electric Car Club participates in events with the purpose of educating the public on renewable energy. The club enters and displays the cars annually in the “Race for the 21st Century” held at Penn State University, participates in the Earth Days in New York City and at Temple University, and gives presentations at local businesses, in addition to sponsoring video-conferences at schools from all over the country. The club has also been one of the featured exhibits at the Philadelphia Auto Show.

Volunteer Firefighters Collaboration

Battalion Chief Brandon Raquet of the Worcester Volunteer Fire Department and Battalion Chief Alex Davis of the Lower Providence Fire Department presented to the Board an engagement model that was developed through a partnership with Methacton School District. The aim of the partnership is to increase engagement from students, help them gain life skills through teamwork, learn valuable skills and take on new responsibilities, begin to network with other volunteers within the community, and position themselves for future careers. This collaboration has identified the following dates for engagement in the 2023-2024 school year:

• 9th grade Career Day: October 1, 2023
• Fall Recruitment Day: October 25, 2023
• Spring Recruitment Day: May 8, 2024

If your child is interested in learning more, please contact:

Alex Davis, Battalion Chief

Lower Providence Fire Department

alex.davis@lpfire.com

Brandon Raquet, Battalion Chief

Worcester Fire Department

brandon.raquet@worcesterfd.com

Methacton High School Campus Planning Committee

Dr. Zerbe and Mr. Doug Kenwood, Director of Facilities, presented the following recommendations to the Board of School Directors:

1. Accept the facility inventory of assets with conditions as prepared by Bureau Veritas.
2. Authorize the administration to proceed with the development of a Facilities Master plan.
3. Authorize the Superintendent to proceed with organizing a Comprehensive Facilities/Campus Planning process for Methacton High School campus.

Bureau Veritas (BV) conducted an inventory of assets for all Methacton School District properties. This comprehensive process commenced in October 2022 and concluded with a final presentation before the Property Committee of the Board in June. The results indicated that there were no life safety concerns identified. However, it was noted that the high school and the administration building on the high school campus have the highest Facility Condition Index (FCI) over the next 5 years, which warrants a thorough review of the high school facilities and campus. The Board approved each of the measures with a target to present the first draft of the updated Facilities Master Plan (update to the plan from 2016) at the September 2023 Property Committee meeting and to seek volunteers for the Methacton High School Campus Planning Committee (MHSCPC) as early as mid August 2023.

Arrowhead Construction Updates

Fidevia provided the Board with a progress report on the new Arrowhead Elementary School in June. Click here to read the report.

All other items listed in the June 27, 2023 agenda were approved.

Organizational Chart Update

The Board of School Directors approved Dr. Zerbe's recommendation to modify the organizational structure. This modification involves promoting Dr. Jason Sorgini to the position of Assistant Superintendent, with a primary focus on human resources and operations. Simultaneously, the existing Assistant Superintendent, Mr. Che Regina, will assume primary responsibilities for educational services within the district.

With Dr. Zerbe's re-election as Superintendent, he, along with the two assistant superintendents and the Business Director, will form the core leadership team for the Board during regular monthly meetings and committee meetings. This structural change aims to increase efficiency in time management, enhance supervisory oversight of administration in support of teachers and students, provide opportunities for professional growth, improve decision-making, planning, and communication, and ensure leadership continuity within the district.

All other items listed in the July 25, 2023 agenda were approved.

District Retirement

The Board of School Directors approved the resignation for retirement from Pupil Services Director Dr. Susan L. Angstadt, effective January 3, 2024. For the past sixteen years, first as Supervisor of Special Education and then Director of Pupil Services, Dr. Angstadt has worked tirelessly on behalf of the students, families and staff of Methacton School District. Dr. Angstadt’s dedication to the academic, social and emotional growth and overall well-being of our students has made a positive difference in the lives of countless children and families in our communities. For many of our students, Susan has watched them grow from young children just entering our schools in kindergarten, through all levels of a Methacton education and on to being successful young adults. Her profound and genuine depth of care has been felt by all with whom she interacts. To her colleagues, Susan has been a supportive mentor, a trusted professional guide, and an unfailing support.

Dr. Angstadt’s legacy in Methacton School District will be one synonymous with compassion and inclusivity and the indelible imprint of a superior comprehensive Methacton education that she has fostered for all Methacton students. The entire Methacton Family expresses our gratitude and appreciation to Dr. Susan Angstadt as we offer our heartfelt wishes for all the very best in retirement.

The Methacton School District's Board of School Directors meets each month. School board work session meetings are generally held on the third Tuesday of the month, followed by the regular meeting on the fourth Tuesday (except during the month of December). Regular Board and Work Session meetings typically take place in the Arcola Auditorium, and all residents are invited to attend. Committee meetings take place in the MHS LGI. Meeting agendas are posted to Agenda Manager, and start times and locations are posted on the District's website. Please confirm meeting time and location before attending. Download the meeting calendar here. Watch the meeting video online.

Email: information@methacton.org
Website: www.methacton.org
Location: 1001 Kriebel Mill Road, Eagleville, PA, USA
Phone: 610-489-5000