August 17, 2026 at 7:00 PM - Combined Work/Business Meeting

Public Content:   Notice is hereby given that the Board of School Directors of the School District of Jenkintown (the "Board") shall convene its Combined Work Session/Business Meeting on Monday, August 17, 2026 at 7:00 PM in the Community Room. The Pennsylvania Open Public Meetings Law was enacted to ensure the right of the public to have advance notice of and to attend the meetings of public bodies at which any business affecting their interests is discussed or acted upon. In accordance with the provisions of this Act, The School District of Jenkintown School Directors has caused notice of this meeting to be given by having the date, time and place advertised in The Intelligencer newspaper on December 21, 2025, as well as posted on the School District's website and in the Administration Office. 
 

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Board Member	Present	Absent
Carolyn Riley
Nina Russakoff
Nancy Campbell
Katie Costandino
Dr. Laura Igoe
Jonathan Litwinowicz
Lisa Smith
Jason Tucker
Patrick Wicks

Public Content:  This meeting will now be open to the public for comments on specific Agenda Items only. District residents present at a Board meeting may address the Board in accordance with law and Board procedures and policy. If your comment pertains to students, personnel, litigation or negotiations, we ask that you see the Superintendent after the meeting since the Board does not generally discuss such items in public. Community input at all regular, special and committee meetings is limited to three (3) minutes per speaker unless extended by the Board President or by the majority of the Board upon motion by a Board member.
After the initial three-minute comment period ends, the Board will respond to questions or comments raised during that time when a response is appropriate and feasible. If the Board provides a response and you wish to ask a follow-up question or clarify your point, you may use an additional two minutes. This follow-up opportunity is optional, and the Board will manage the process to ensure that all speakers have a fair chance to participate. We recognize that this may extend the length of our public comment periods. We will review the effectiveness of this pilot after we have used it for a period of time. Our intent is to improve public dialogue in a manner that allows for more back-and-forth while maintaining an equitable and orderly process for everyone. 
Before you begin, please state your name and address.

Public Content:  The owner will agree to settle this appeal at the District’s offer of $950,000 for 2026 as authorized by the Board, which will result in a tax loss of about $2,831. 

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The Board reduced the interim assessment, effective 7-1-25, from $3,225,320 (2025 fmv: $9,803,400; 2026 fmv: $10,485,400) to $3,015,530 (2025 fmv: $9,165,700; 2026 fmv: $9,803,400), and the owner appealed. The owner’s appraisal, submitted after the hearing, valued the property at $8,450,000 as of 7-1-25.
 
The District and owner agreed to settle at the following, which represents values slightly higher than the split between the current market values and the owner’s appraisal value:
 

Year	Assessment	Market Value	Settlement Offer (MV)	Settlement Offer (AV)	Tax Loss
2025	3,015,530	9,165,745	8,810,000	2,898,490	-6,156
2026	3,015,530	9,803,414	9,137,484	2,810,690	-10,774
					-16,930

 
 

Public Content:  Glenn Morris recurring monthly donation through PayPal $10.00, minus PayPal fee

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Grant funds are requested for the following:

• replacement HVAC system in the high school library
• replacement HVAC system in the guidance suite
• replacement two sections of the building's roof.

The grant requires a 25% local match. Grant awards are expected to be announced in late fall 2026 or early 2027.

Public Content:  Facility Use Requests:

1. Jenkintown Youth Activities - Soccer Fall 2026
2. Jesse Hill Memorial 

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Contact Person:       Michael Nickerson, Facilities Manager

Public Content:  Tuition Agreement between the Overbrook School for the Blind and The Jenkintown School District for the 2026 Summer Extended School Year.

Total Cost - $6,720.00 

Public Content:  The district is contracting with FirstAlt to provide transportation services for students with special needs. Student safety and family communication remain top priorities. FirstAlt vehicles are equipped with cameras, providing an additional layer of safety. Parents and the district also have access to real-time route tracking, allowing us to monitor student's transportation and stay informed about pick-up and drop-off.

Public Content:  The August Personnel Report reflects staffing updates in preparation for the 2026-2027 school year, including new professional and support staff appointments, co-curricular and athletic positions, and other personnel changes to support District programs and operations.

Public Content:  The attached Tenure Report identifies temporary professional employees who have satisfied the statutory requirements for attainment of professional employee (tenured) status under the Pennsylvania Public School Code.

Public Content:  Administration recommends Board approval of the revised Secretary to the Elementary School Principal Position Description, as presented. The revised position description more clearly defines the qualifications, responsibilities, and expectations of the position and reflects the administrative and operational needs of the Elementary School.

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Committee	Board Liaison
Jenkintown Borough Council	Katie Costandino
Montgomery County School District Legislative Committee (MCSDLC)	Lisa Smith
Eastern Center for Arts & Technology	Carolyn Riley
Jenkintown Home & School Association	Nina Russakoff
Jenkintown Education Foundation	Nancy Campbell
Safety & Wellness Committee	Dr. Laura Igoe
Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA)	Patrick Wicks

Charters	Board Representative
DEI Committee Charter	Lisa Smith
Legacy Park at JES Project Charter	Nina Russakoff
Campus Planning Committee Charter	Jason Tucker

Public Content: 
This meeting will now be open to the public for comments on Non-Agenda Items only. District residents present at a Board meeting may address the Board in accordance with law and Board procedures and policy. If your comment pertains to students, personnel, litigation or negotiations, we ask that you see the Superintendent after the meeting since the Board does not generally discuss such items in public. Community input at all regular, special and committee meetings is limited to three (3) minutes per speaker unless extended by the Board President or by the majority of the Board upon motion by a Board member.
Please state your name and address.