A Northampton Area School District school board director is warning that a Pennsylvania Senate bill could “eliminate the right of appeal for districts.”

“It could affect every school district,” Director Dr. Michael Baird said at the Oct. 28 NASD Board of Education meeting.

Baird cited Senate Bill 334, of which the prime sponsor is state Sen. David G. Argall, R-29th, representing Schuylkill County and parts of Berks County. The bill would amend Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to “ban spot appeals of assessments.” The bill was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee Oct. 28.

NASD, represented by Keystone Realty Advisors LLC, appeared before Northampton County Tax Appeals Board Sept. 25, challenging assessments of 52 properties in the district.

NASD school directors voted unanimously 9-0 at the July 15 board meeting to approve Policy 628, which is intended to increase tax revenue for the district. School Director Roy Maranki made the motion, seconded by Baird, for a vote on the policy.

If NASD appeals of assessments are successful, an estimated additional $3 million to $4 million in tax revenue could be raised. NASD officials have stated assessments that could each result in an increase of $10,000 in taxes would be appealed.

“School districts, in particular, have been very aggressive. My legislation will remove a taxing jurisdiction’s ability to appeal the assessment of a property based solely on the sale of the property,” Argall stated, according to a Jan. 28 memorandum on the Pennsylvania State Senate website.

At the July 15 meeting, NASD school directors voted 9-0 to approve an agreement between Keystone Realty Advisors LLC and NASD from July 8 to Aug. 1, 2022, for an ongoing review of property tax assessment of real estate parcels in the school district with the intent of identifying properties that may warrant review by the school district and its attorney for consideration of a school district-initiated tax appeal (reverse appeal). Baird made the motion, seconded by Maranki.

The vote approved an attorney engagement agreement between Atty. C. Steven Miller, school district solicitor; Atty. Raymond P. Wendolowski, of Fellerman & Ciarimboli PC; and NASD for the purpose of filing and representing the school district for tax assessment appeals and for other tax assessment-related matters.

Some NASD officials and school directors have voiced concern at school board meetings that tax revenue received from a warehouse distribution center in the district is less than had been anticipated. School officials reason what they perceive as lower tax revenues is because the assessment by Northampton County, on which the tax is based, is from an outdated assessment.

“The school district intends to take assessment appeals on those properties the school district believes to be substantially under-assessed,” Miller told a reporter for The Press after the July 15 school board meeting.

Also at the Oct. 28 meeting, the school board voted 7-0 with two directors absent, to approve, at the recommendation of the administration:

• Rachel Fackenthall, George Wolf Elementary School teacher, effective Dec. 16, at $53,366, prorated, with benefits

• Resignation of Debra Weeast, Northampton Area Middle School special education instructional assistant, for retirement, effective Jan. 6, 2020

• Resignation of Jamie Rockwell, special education teacher, Dec. 13

• Voluntary transfer of Taylor Kerbacher, Lehigh Elementary School special education teacher, to Moore Elementary School special education teacher, effective Dec. 13

• Contract between NASD and Paul Buechle, psychoeducational evaluator, at a rate of $625 per evaluation and $500 per re-evaluation, plus mileage, effective Nov. 1-June 30, 2020

• Julie Hoffman, Northampton Area High School 12-month secretary, effective Nov. 11, pending receipt of proper documentation, at $22.55 per hour, with benefits

• Additions and deletions to substitute listing for 2019-20 school year

• Revised master district volunteer list for 2019-20 school year

• Revised listing of 2019-20 winter season head coaches and assistant coaches with their designated payments, effective July 1-June 30, 2020

• Extracurricular staff members and stipends for the 2019-20 school year

• Mandatory attendance of security guards, Mark Keeler, Dennis Yost, Deborah Recker, Juana Walker, Kyle Haas, Carole Torbinski, Brandon Lawton, Richard Gladish, Kelly Rusnock and Tara Merkle, at NASRO basic school resource officer training courses at various locations on various dates as listed, at a cost of approximately $11,335.99

• Attendance of April Krempasky, Theresa Wenck, Courtney Schnyderite and Christine Marto at American Council of the Teaching of Foreign Languages Convention, Washington, D.C., Nov. 22-24, at an approximate cost of $1,213.86, included in the 2019-20 board-approved curriculum budget

• Adoption of revised policies, effective Oct. 28 - 141, Northampton Cyber Academy; 229, student fundraising; and 618, copy of student activity funds