|
We reviewed the upcoming agenda for Palisades SD and found 6 items with policy significance ahead of the vote.
| PRIORITY (LEVEL 7) |
|
District to Vote on Math Intervention Pilot Program
The board will vote on a $15,000 contract with Innovamat Education, Inc. for a pilot math intervention program and associated professional development for middle school special education. The proposal states the pilot’s results will inform a potential K-8 district-wide adoption in 2027-28, making this a test case for a new curriculum framework.
Policy Use
TRACK AND DOCUMENT: Item 4 is a vote on a $15,000 pilot math curriculum and training program from Innovamat Education, Inc. Document the vote and add Innovamat to the vendor tracker for curriculum and professional development.
Policy Lever: $15,000 Contract
|
| WATCH (LEVEL 6) |
|
Policy Text Not Available – Pull Before Vote
The board is scheduled to approve its annual Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for nursing services. The text of the MOU, which governs health services provided to students and may contain provisions related to parental notification and consent, was not included in the agenda packet.
Policy Use
PULL THE DOCUMENT: Item 5 is an annual MOU for nursing services. Retrieve the referenced MOU attachment from the official agenda link to confirm parental notification and consent provisions for student health services before the vote.
Policy Lever: Parental Notification & Consent
|
| WATCH (LEVEL 6) |
|
Technical School Budget Increase Presented to Board
The board is reviewing the proposed 2027-28 budget for the Upper Bucks County Technical School (UBCTS), which this district helps fund. The UBCTS budget is increasing by over $500,000, and this district’s contribution is projected to rise by $157,368, driven partly by the addition of a new guidance counselor and security staff.
Policy Use
WATCH: Item 9 is a presentation on the UBCTS budget, which will increase Palisades’ contribution. Note the proposed addition of a guidance counselor and monitor for the final vote by the UBCTS Joint Operating Committee (JOC).
Policy Lever: $157K Contribution Increase
|
| WATCH (LEVEL 5) |
|
District Reports on Charter School Enrollment Costs
The board is reviewing monthly reports on charter school enrollment and its financial impact on the district. The reports detail the number of students attending brick-and-mortar and cyber charters and calculate the total anticipated cost, which is currently running under budget.
Policy Use
WATCH: Item 12 provides the district’s financial tracking of charter school enrollment. This data is often used in debates over school choice funding; monitor how the board discusses these figures.
Policy Lever: School Choice Impact
|
| WATCH (LEVEL 4) |
|
New Budget Request for Behavior Analyst Services
The agenda includes a new, undefined budget request for a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). No supporting documents are attached to detail the cost, scope of services, or rationale for the new request.
Policy Use
WATCH: Item 6 is a new budget request for BCBA services. Monitor board discussion for details on the cost and purpose of this request; re-evaluate when operative language or a dollar amount appears.
Policy Lever: Undisclosed
|
| WATCH (LEVEL 4) |
|
Monthly Public Records Request Log Published
The board is reviewing the monthly Right to Know (RTK) log, which details public records requests received by the district. October requests included inquiries into high school master schedules and course rosters, vendor contracts, and school board member comments on staff compensation.
Policy Use
WATCH: Item 13 is the monthly Right to Know log. Note the request for master schedules (Request #18) and board member comments (Request #25) as examples of public interest in curriculum and governance transparency.
Policy Lever: Public Records Access
|
|
|
“America First, Always.”
AFPI exists to advance policies that put the American people first. Our guiding principles are liberty, free enterprise, national excellence, American military superiority, foreign-policy engagement in the American interest, and the primacy of American workers, families, and communities in all we do.
America First Policy Institute |