Palmerton gets 1st look at budget

An early look at Palmerton Area School District’s departmental budgets for 2019-20 is showing a $4,000 decrease over last year.

Business Manager Ryan Kish unveiled the early projections during a district workshop Tuesday night.

Starting at the elementary level, S.S. Palmer/Parkside Education Center budget includes a $22,705 increase, but features a remediation and enrichment program that may not come to fruition. Palmerton is also looking at a districtwide learning management system, Schoology, which could eliminate the need for the remediation program.

Starting in 2019-20, Palmerton’s elementary schools will not send home a supply list to parents as the district will begin purchasing those items.

“It includes things like binders, pens, pencils, crayons, glue sticks, hand sanitizers,” said Parkside and S.S. Palmer Principal Mary Brumbach.

Kish said the supply purchases is a new initiative for the district.

Towamensing Elementary’s budget is projected to increase $19,635 due to the supply purchases and the possibility of a new piano. John J. Zeiner and Sons, of Allentown, quoted the district at $13,200 for a new piano.

At the junior high school, expenses are projected to increase $1,019.

“This is a result of the academic awards program no longer being held at Blue Shamrock, the IXL math program, repair of instruments and PSSA/Keystone testing breakfasts,” Kish said.

The biggest change comes at the high school, with a decreased budget of $47,000 over last year largely due to the fact that high school band uniforms were purchased in 2018-19. High school line item increases include an electric acoustic guitar, subscriber fees increasing in the library and graduation security.

The facilities budget is projected to decrease $6,414, but does include the addition of a snowblower for the junior and senior high schools.

Palmerton’s curriculum budget is projected to decrease $7,000, while its technology budget is slated to increase $11,900, mostly in part to the Schoology program.

“The teachers are really excited about it because it allows them to build courses online and share course resources with students,” said Curriculum and Technology Director Dan Heaney.

“It also allows for increased online communication with students and parents. Jim Thorpe and Northampton currently use it and I think it’s a good idea, especially if we move to a one-to-one or other technology initiative.”

Heaney said the district also plans on purchasing iPads for Parkside to get them on par with the other elementary buildings.

The athletic budget has a projected increase of $1,210, which includes the purchase of track uniforms and warm-up gear.

Kish said the department budgets paint just a small picture of the overall district budget. Staffing requests and potential future facility improvements will be discussed at a future budget workshop.