A motion to transition the school board into using fewer paper materials in its general functions raised considerable debate Sept. 14 but ultimately failed by popular vote.

Board Director Wally Vinovskis submitted the motion for the board’s consideration, and worded it, he said, with deliberate ambiguity, leaving room for the board and the administration to craft the transition to the best possible outcome.

Vinovskis’s proposal included two options previously discussed– to limit the amount of paper consumed by reducing the number of hard copies of board packets made available before each meeting; and to make those documents available to the board using an as yet undetermined online system, such as (but not limited to) Moodle, Dropbox and Google Drive.

The idea, Vinovskis emphasized, is not to go “paperless” but to reduce paper consumption, for the sake of an easier transition from the current hard copy system to, eventually and ideally, an electronic system. Vinovskis suggested should such a system be employed, the board may gradually find paper copies are redundant, though admitting himself to being accustomed to the advantages of hard copies like some other board members.

Board Directors Charles Ballard and Sandy Rhodes both expressed caution and hesitation when dealing with online systems as far as security of board documents; how encryption, for instance, would be employed. Ballard stressed the awkwardness of using Moodle, a classroom material presentation system, for document organizing, a purpose for which it could only be coerced, and then imperfectly.

Board Director Lynn Donches listed some of the advantages of using a service like Boarddocs, which was built with this purpose in mind. While the online system does not provide annotation capabilities, it would realize a potential reduction in the costs associated with producing board documents, while also offering security and flexibility.

Superintendent Dr. J. Michael Schilder reminded the board the issue of hardware had also to be settled. Either the board members must bring their own devices, or use something provided by the district. The latter would require a new expense, as current devices could not feasibly be allocated to biweekly use and setup. On the other hand, board members including Board Directors Kenneth Bacher and Alan Earnshaw, who do not use portable laptops, were resistant to the idea of purchasing a device to use solely for board meetings, particularly after Schilder noted that in the event of litigation any devices used for board purposes may have to be made unavailable for a time.

Earnshaw, speaking from his experience of other meetings, opined the use of electronics during meetings tends to cause disengagement among those participating and that in the case of the board it would be a distraction from the public comments of district constituents, who deserve the board’s undivided attention.

In addition, Earnshaw stated, board members would have to be strictly cautious about exchanging messages during meetings on these devices as these would be considered violations of the Sunshine Law.

In light of these considerations, and with several board members having expressed an interest in the idea as viable for a limited time to test or as a transition, the board voted it down 5 to 4.

The board’s remaining official action for the evening was limited to its usual personnel and business operations, but included the approval of a reduction in the committed fund balance bringing that figure to a level budgeted for the coming school year. The balance refers to the sum set aside or committed for Public School Employees Retirement System. Reducing it is required by law. The board voted to reduce the $1.225 million balance by $600,470.39 to the amount of $625,147, allocated for the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 school years respectively, per requirement by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board.

Transportation during the first week of school went “smoother than last year,” Schilder reported. There were a few missed stops and bus breakdowns and a few buses behind schedule, but, Schilder said, nothing out of the ordinary and nothing that wasn’t remedied quickly. “We’re in a much better place than we were in last year.”

Regarding enrollment, Schilder reported the district’s population was 8,063 students as of Sept. 2, up from 7,993 this time last year. Surprisingly, the kindergarten through fifth grades are down 36 students, while the secondary levels are higher by 106.

Schilder says some classrooms are still higher in student population than he is comfortable with, 28 in some cases, and there were some very last minute registrations at the start of the school year. But the superintendent is confident the teachers can handle it, the students are still getting quality education, even while saying a lower class figure is desirable.

Schilder also noted for the board demographic studies for the district predict lower populations in coming years. Earnshaw agreed the board has been made aware that a few years would be tight before there would be some more space.

A sudden lack of hot water in Lower Macungie Middle School at the opening of the school year has been corrected and an unfortunately timed breakdown in the air conditioning at Jefferson Elementary School during the first week of school has been fixed.

The board also welcomed Laura Groh to the position of community liaison, recently vacated by Nicole Bloise. Groh will take over the position from her current role as administrative assistant, in which she has served the district since 2013. Groh’s other credentials include a term as staff assistant in the district, as well as event planner and sales manager at earlier points in her career.