001That's right. I would like to bring this regular meeting of the Upper Park School Board to order. And first off, soon as I get to the page, first we'll do the pledge of allegiance. So, if you'd stand and the flag's on this side. >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, [clears throat] with liberty and justice for all. >> Justice for all. >> Thank you. Mr. Bishop, could I have a roll call, please? >> Certainly. Director Oswald here. Director Sharmitt >> here. >> Director Chaffrani, >> Director Cunningham >> here, >> Director McCarrick >> here, Director Fluki >> here, >> Director Kopilski >> here, >> Director Bieber, and Director Penny Packer >> here. Thank you. Uh, now I'll
002do some introductions of staff. We have Mr. Bishop, our business manager. We have Miss Fischer, our HR director. We have Dr. Fina, our assistant superintendent, our esteemed Kyle Summers, our attorney. I always know he's esteemed. Dr. Roach, our superintendent, and we also have um Ruth Padilla, our our uh >> student board rep. Thank you. Geez. Okay, so move on to president's report. Just a couple things. um had the chance to go to the dinner at the Western Center, the state dinner, and I'll take all of their thunder away, just a little bit of it. Uh was a it was a beautiful meal. The kids were great. They um their speakers were amazing. The the food was amazing. We had mocktails and everything and and and it was all done pretty much white glove. It was
003great. Um I also went to the innovation fair. That was a lot of fun. Looking forward to to see what comes out of that. I was a greeter for about an hour of the time, so I didn't get to see everyone's presentations, but the ones that I saw every every time I went to another table, I was like, "Wow, that was amazing. What a good idea." Uh, looking forward to book bingo next week at Harford. And I just want to say just a little bit, this last week and a half or so, we've received the board has received a ton of emails. I didn't count them up, but I did answer all of them um with respect to the unity flag. And I just want to remind everyone that uh I tried to answer them
004neutally just to make sure that everyone was acknowledged that they sent an email. Um but there were there were a couple that I was kind of disturbed with. Um one of them called us racists, one of them called us bigots. And I just want you all to know that we're we're people and I don't think anyone really appreciates that. So can't stop you from saying whatever it is you need to say, but just wanted to give that proviso. And with that, I'll turn it over to Dr. Roach for his report. Thank you, Miss Cunningham. Waiting for the screen to pop up here. All right. I will not call Mr. McCarrick out this month as he timed me last time. This one will probably be a little longer, but I appreciate the opportunity to speak tonight.
005Um, yeah, I agree. There's there's been a lot going on. So, here's some innovation fair photos. Um, it was a great evening. Um, and a great opportunity. 22 presentations that were initially set up. I think we had 20 tables going at the one time. Nice steady flow of uh information, lots and lots of feedback, which we're still calling through and uh and collecting um feedback on them. uh some great ideas and uh it really was a a community event. So, we appreciate all the support. I'm sure can't hear me. Play that better. Uh great event in terms of community support coming out with a a steady flow. I know the raffle raffles always help to bring uh to get some more participation, but all in all, it was a I think a positive for the
006community. Some great ideas. Appreciated the students as you can see in the upper lefthand corner as young as two third graders that were spiffed up and ready to go all the way through to a community partner. So, uh, stay tuned for some more information, uh, on that. I'll have a quick, uh, preliminary, um, update for the board in their update and then we'll, uh, we'll continue to roll out. Definitely some ideas that we'll, uh, we'll we'll dig into as we move forward towards the end of the year and into into next year for sure. So, I appreciate Trina and and Paige and your family for for participating as well as all the administrators that were there um and and threw some ideas out and the community and again the students really the students I think
007were the star of the show. So, appreciated that and stay tuned for more part of that night. As you know, uh the uh we've been doing a podcast. We decided to record the March episode that night in late February. Um, so March will be a doubleshot podcast with two volumes because we've got a large number of speakers that that we had. So, um, they'll be going out probably tomorrow in the in the in the blast for the community. But stay tuned for the March episode which has two volumes. Uh, lots of the speakers before they even presented. Most has happened, you know, right before the innovation fair and through the early part of the innovation fair. So, I appreciated those that even beyond that stepped in. Some of the times they're they're first-time podcasters. Uh,
008I know Mr. Flanigan, he was a veteran at two times on the podcast. So, we appreciate that. So, pay attention. Let's listen to the excitement in the in the everyone's voices and proud of the work that they did, which we appreciate uh the community stepping up. Thawn took place just another previous weekend at at the high school. As you know, Thawn is typically through Penn State, a four diamonds organization raising money. So, the high school raised $7,35. uh they had a great night that I was not able to attend but they I know they did have a community part where parents were able to stop by with their students and uh and participate and then support the uh the high school. So great job for the high school on on u representing us as a
009part of that larger uh fundraising organization. Have you guys met Fiji? >> Yeah, I know someone really knows Fiji. Um, Fiji was is is has been a therapy dog that's been visiting and this is a new new relationship uh at the middle school. So, Monica uh one of our board members here knows Fiji very well and we appreciate it. So, anyway, just some some some highlights from uh getting to work with the with the therapy dogs. Again, you've been doing a lot longer than just recently, but I think Mrs. was able to grab some photos and we appreciate any comments on the experience. I know lights the kids up as they >> she look at the joy on her face. [laughter] She's she she loved every moment of it. She's looking forward to going back.
010We're going back on the 17th on St. Patrick's Day. So, it she enjoys it a lot. >> Great. Great. >> Well, thanks for doing that. I know it the kids are looking forward to it uh all the way through. So, thank you. >> A couple other highlights. Um Read Across America. So, we had some middle school students visiting elementary school. Um and on the right hand side, um funded through the Ed Foundation was an author visit just recently at the middle school this week. Um Lori Morrison spoke with all three grades of students and gave an opportunity to talk about her journey. I stopped in for a little while and got to see that she started her first book, let's say 2010, and never finished. So she was telling them how many books she started
011and never finished. And it was really a good story of perseverance and and and related to stories that they could relate to. So again, that's funded that was funded and covered by the Ed Foundation, which we appreciate their ongoing support uh for that. If you missed the uh middle school Susical Jr. then you missed out on a great show. Some photos here. Overund I think it was 101 middle school students participated in the overall program from front of house and back of house. And uh Mrs. Cell reminded me that we also had six high school interns that helped out as a part of that mentoring the uh the younger students as well. So very large representation of of the support there and the program at the middle school. Great job. And u I don't know
012is there a show tonight at the high school? No, tomorrow. I know. I'm I'll be there tomorrow and then there'll show on Saturday and uh there was a gold card on Wednesday for uh the Adams family. So, you can see some of the pictures and the makeup and the artistry. uh and our board extracurricular committee had the opportunity to uh to go and visit both the sets and speak with the students at the middle school as well as interact with a few students and got a behind-the-scenes look as well as going to the basement of the high school to see all the uh the storage for the musicals to get a good perspective. So, we appreciated Mrs. Cell and Mrs. Austin and supporting that. So, if you don't have anything tomorrow um and and or
013Saturday, the Addis family is at at our high school and Sunday. But >> thank you mate on Sunday. Awesome. Just a quick plug um and congratulations to Mrs. Janowski and her her department of one for um acknowledgement from Pensburgh um for school school public relations. Uh she submitted three awards, one one for the uh website, one for the annual report, and I didn't realize we were a part of a award-winning podcast in year one. So that's great to hear as well. On the top of the photos there, uh Dr. Fanda, myself, Mrs. Janowski, and Mr. Roth did our final tour of the uh sharing about a network outage that you guys may have heard of at some point. just providing some information at this time through through the lens of our uh from PR from
014a PR perspective. So we appreciated that opportunity uh last week as well. So congratulations Mitch Oscar, we appreciate that and are very proud of the work that you were doing. Finally, you see on the on the on the agenda here under presentations uh the update to the school calendar. Um, so the high school graduation for the class of 2026, we are penciling or penning in now on uh Wednesday, June 5th. 5:00 pm seems to work well at Keiny Stadium with a rain date the next day. Not sure the time of the rain because we'll wait and see. Sorry again. Say it again. I messed it up. June 3rd. Thank you. I'll change that two seconds. It's on the agenda. >> There you go. >> See, it looks perfect. Um, so it's June 3rd. Thank you.
015I saw I saw three from the back. I was like, thank you. June 3rd. Uh I I always leave a nugget in there so someone can find that. Yes. Uh June 3rd uh Wednesday uh for graduation. If we happen to go to the next day, we'll figure that out. Uh we have that time. But also on the agenda is the end of year calendar dates. Um last day for school is Friday, June 5th. We have some early dismissals June 2, 3, four, and five as well as the last teacher day for teachers that have the day of 190. Um on Monday, June 8th, if teachers can complete the hours that are required, then they're done on the 5th as well. So we hope all of them do that uh as a part of that that
016program. So that's the information. We're looking forward to another uh great beautiful graduation without any weather or smoke or anything else that that can happen. So Artsfest is uh right around the corner in May. Uh for the first time since I've been here, we have a concert going on Monday this time. So we have a full full five day week um and lots of information uh and opportunity there. Uh we'll continue to work on parking. I know parking is always a challenge uh at the middle school and we'll try to work with Mrs. to get buses Mrs. Malone for for buses uh for some shuttling there and we've also spread the concerts out a little bit as in past years to have some people that need that can exit and then open up some parking
017spots there as well. But a great highlight for the the arts program and and the talent that is in our in our district all the way through. So, please, you'll hear more about it, but this is kind of a more coming soon, save the date for that whole week. And then our last uh community conversation of the year, which we already have a couple people signed up for on April 10th at RAW Replenish um to have have the opportunity. So, please feel free to to join and and be a part of the conversation. Uh don't have to wait for there either. If you have other other thoughts or conversations and want to talk, please let me know. And then finally, uh just a a heads up on kindergarten registration. Um, so we that should be
018opening. It's now open. I thought it was going to be opening soon. So, it's now open and looking forward to help building us uh our kindergarten sections um for uh for next year. So, look forward to that. And that's the end of my report. >> Nobody time it. No. Okay. >> All right. We'll move on to our solicitor's report. Sunshine Act announcements, Mr. Summers. >> But before that, we'll have our student report. >> Oh, wow. boy. All right. I'm sorry. >> Okay. >> We'll turn it over to you, Ruth. >> As Dr. Ro mentioned, we have the Adams Family musical this weekend. The Gold Car show was yesterday. Um, I know that it was supposed to be recorded, so I think that's going to be up soon with UPV. Um, and then tickets are being
019sold like one day prior, like it ends online, one day prior to each show, and then you can buy tickets um at the booth there. So, if you haven't gotten your tickets yet, you can still get them. Uh, the NHS had a clothing drive that finished the 5th of March. All the proceeds that we raised all go to the Salvation Army. Um, sports, spring sports have begun. Um, no dates for seniors. What is it called? Senior. Yeah. No days for senior night yet. Um the blood [laughter] the um Leo's Club blood drive was on the 27th and tomorrow is the community blood drive here at the ed center. Um Minithon raised over $7,000. As Dr. Bush mentioned, college and career information night was last week. About a 100 families and 20 representatives from both college,
020industry, and military were in attendance. And the junior and senior classes have both ongoing fundraisers such as donuts, donuts, class shirts, and a dine and donate at Tossos on Monday. Pretty much it. >> Thank you. All right. Now, we'll move on to our solicitors report and Sunshine Act announcements. Mr. Summers. >> Thank you, Madam President. The board did meet in an executive session immediately prior to tonight's meeting for the purpose of discussing a confidential student matter, a matter of collective bargaining between the district and the upper education association and a matter of personnel involving an administrative employee of the district. Um, and by way of usual announcements, there are two public comment opportunities at tonight's public meeting. Uh, when members of the public, residents and taxpayers can make comment to the board. The first comment
021opportunity is for items that are being voted upon on the agenda for action tonight. And then the other comment period that's later in the meeting is for other matters of of concern or issues that individuals wish to bring to the attention of the board. There is a threeminut um limit for each speaker that is enforced. I will hold up a sign that indicates when there is a minute left in your time, 30 seconds left in your time, and when your time has run out. Um anyone who wishes to make public comment does need to sign up. Um, the signup sheets are available in the back of the room. They need to be filled out and turned in in a box that's directly next to the screen prior to each comment period. So, if you wish
022to comment on matters of public uh concern at the end of the meeting, prior to the start of that session at the end of the meeting, you just need to fill out the form and have it turned in uh in the box. Um, as a reminder, the public comment opportunity is is not a debate with the board. It's to provide feedback, your opinions, your information that you would like the board to consider. Um, and as another reminder that comments that are made during public comment uh reflect those of the individual speaker and not necessarily individual school directors or the district as an entity. And that concludes my report. >> Thank you. All right, we're going to move on to presentations and discussion. And first of all, we'll go over the 2526 end of school year
023calendar dates. >> Yep. Just want to clarify it's Wednesday, June 3rd. Everyone knows that that that's for the graduation. other that all the other dates that are are there and set and that'll um on the agenda is a a revision of the uh school calendar to just reflect those changes as per that. As you know last month we approved the 2026 27 uh school calendar. So this is a long summer ahead with finishing June 5th and starting again on August 31st. So enjoy the summer because probably next summer will be shorter. Um, and Keith pointed out to me, we need to amend um, action item A when we get to the agenda. This got June 5th on it. Just saying. Thanks, Keith. >> No, that's correct. >> Okay. >> June 5th is the last student
024day. >> Oh, all right. Never mind. Okay. >> I was wrong. >> We're all not with it. >> I was wrong, too. >> Okay. All right. We'll move on to policy first read. uh policy 701.1 naming of district facilities and 123 intercolastic athlet athletics. >> Those are the two up for first read. So board directors, if you haven't had a chance, please take an opportunity to read through those policies so we can hopefully move them forward. There any questions, comments, stories to tell? Okay. Not yet. Okay. Uh we don't have any. There was one public comment that said it was on an action item, but it's actually public comment, not an action item. Um, so the ones I have right now are for the the later session. And we'll move to the approval of tonight's
025agenda. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Okay. Hearing none, all in favor? I. Any opposed? Okay. Thank you. Next, we'll look for an approval of the February 12th, 2026 school board meeting minutes. >> Motion. >> Second. Any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Okay. We don't have anything under old business. So, we'll move on to new business. >> Madam President, make a motion to approve the personnel report in its entirety. That's the retirements, the resignation, the appointments, and the leaves of absence. Second. Thank you. All right. Uh, do we have any discussion? >> Yes. I'd like to congratulate Dr. Thomas on his impending retirement at the end of this year. He served the district quite well and the community. >> I would like to thank Georgie Fischer for her service to
026the school district. Thank you. Then I would echo Keith and Trina. Um Mark was has been an icon here. He's an Upper Perk alum and uh has traveled the world literally with his music and he also directs the Skookul County Chorus up in uh Skookul County and has done that for years um along with the many other things that he does. So uh congratulations to him and thank you Mrs. Fisher. >> Yeah, totally agree. Georgie, we're going to miss you. Um, we congratulate you on your new position and and Mark, I I know you're not in here. I don't see you, but yes, we're going to miss him, too. All right. Uh, any other discussion on personnel? All right. Hearing none. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Okay. Thank you. Next, we'll move on to
027action items. Uh, >> Madam President, can I make a motion to approve action items A and B? Motion to approve the revised school calendar and the um academic hall of fame inductees. >> Second. Do we have any discussion? >> I just want to share that the Hall of Fame inductees will uh be honored on May 19th, I believe, which is the senior award ceremony. the senior academic awards. There'll be a ceremony for them prior to that. The board will be invited to attend if they'd like, as well as attend the the um the event for the senior recognitions. >> Okay. Any other comments? Hearing none. All in favor? I >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay. Uh we'll move on to action item C. Madame President, make a motion to approve action item C, the settlement
028with the uh leadership charter school, and D, approve the Western Center budget for 2627 school year. >> Second. Do we have any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor? >> I Any opposed? Thank you. Um, Madam President, we're going to go for a few bit more here. Action item F to approve the education. The the >> Mr. Carrick, you didn't uh Item E was not yet. >> I'm sorry. >> My my focus was down further. E, the policies, all the policies for approval. F to acknowledge that Fox Rothschild um their special counsel is changing um to a new uh law firm and we're making adjustments for that. Uh G, motion to approve the central Susuana IU software services. H the part participation in PA local government trust funds for the PCR program recommended by the finance
029committee that's it >> second any discussion hearing none all in favor >> I any opposed okay move on to letter I >> picking up with motion for letter I which is the um cbiz agreement for the flexible spending and dependent care administration J, >> could we take those separate? >> Okay, >> sure. >> That's it. >> Do I have a second for letter I? >> Second. Thank you. Any discussion? [clears throat] >> The next one. Okay. >> Okay. So, we have a first and a second on letter I. Any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor? I. I. >> Any opposed? Okay. We'll move on to letter J. >> Motion to approve J. Triben Insurance Solutions to be life and disability insurance consultant. >> Second. Thank you. Is there any discussion? Uh, no discussion. So, all
030in favor? I. >> Any opposed? Okay. We'll move on to letter K. Motion to approve the proposal from Keystone Sports Construction for the replacement of turf in Keiny and Tribe Stadium and the resurfacing of the track and Kitty Stadium pending solicitor review as recommended by facilities. >> Second. >> You ready? I'll make the motion. >> Thank you. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Did we decide on the length of the blade of grass? Is that in collaboration with football and field hockey? >> Yeah. >> Good. Thank you. Recommended by facilities and the athletic director because he wasn't at the podium so I thought I'd say it out loud. You're welcome. Uh any other discussion? I know this is a project that's been um a long time coming. I know we need to do it. Um
031let's just hope we get some grant money for the roofs. All right. Uh if there's no other discussion, all in favor? >> I. Any opposed? Okay. Motion carries. Madame President, make a motion for item F, excuse me, um to reject all bids received for the roof replacement project at the Upper Perko High School, the fourth and four and five fifth grade center and Herford Elementary as recommended by the facilities committee. >> Second. Any discussion hearing? None. just >> comment so that people understand. >> We rejected these bids because um with our commitment to the turf field next year >> and that's going to be a sizable chunk of money going out. But with the roof replacement, we expect we're putting in for grants where we will pay 25 cents on the dollar for whatever we
032awarded. So, if we have to spend a million dollars, well, if the bid goes out for a million dollars, which is not really realistic, it's going to be more than that, we'll only be paying $ 250, $250,000. So, this is us being fiscally responsible and planning ahead for multiple projects in our timeline here. >> Any other comments? >> Thank you, Dr. >> Yeah, thank you. No pressure. No pressure. >> Everybody keep grants and your good thoughts. Uh all in favor? I. >> Any opposed? Okay. Motion carries. Uh next we >> Madam President, can we finish off the action items? M for the MCIU explorations on staffing agreement. N to approve the agreement with Upper handover authority for the 20oot water easement at Herford. O to approve the overnight excursion proposal for the Upper Perk music
033department to travel to Orlando. and P approve the following Chris staff >> second any discussion >> for the overnight um do and Dr. Roach you and I had a sidebar on this do are they doing um competitions adjudications do do we know >> look at the schedule that should have been attached on Dr. for any saw as well. >> They are doing three choir, band, and orchestra performance performances. >> Performances, but it's not like an education thing. >> No, it doesn't appear that way. >> Okay. I wonder if uh band will be marching down Main Street in Disney World. >> Is that Yeah. I don't I know for sure reading that that uh the choir I think is going to be a part of their Epcot the processional. >> Yeah. Candle light. professional. >> You
034know what? You know it's coming. When I was a junior in high school, we went to Disney World, the band, >> and we were supposed to march down Main Street, but it rained. So, they took us down underground where all the backstaging stuff is, and it was really cool. Unfortunately, we didn't get to march, but we did we did adjudications, we did concerts and stuff. It was 50 years ago. And now, I know that sounds like it was a long time ago, but it really wasn't. Right, Carol? It was It was just Yeah. Thank you. Hope they have fun. Any other discussion? Anybody have any questions on the upper handover authority water easement? >> No. I'm just checking. Um, all in favor? All in favor? I >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay. I don't believe
035we have any new follow-up items, so we'll move on to public comment. All right. So, we have a few. Um, Allison Parker, you want to come on up? >> Palmer. >> What did I say? >> Parker. >> Sorry. >> Boy, I am not on it today. >> Yeah. Okay. Come on up and come over to the podium. If you would turn our microphone on, that would be terrific. Sorry about that. Yeah. Am I on? Okay. All right. First, I want to say thank you all for what you do. It's not an easy seat being in. And I'm going to start off saying being this is a policy meeting. We really do have a good start to policies when it comes to bullying. But I truly do feel that we have a really long way to
036go. there's a very significant gap in what we have um where what we are currently able to do and what our students are experiencing. I have three students in our district. I have a fourth grader, a sixth grader, and scary enough, a 12th grader. All three of them have experienced bullying within our district at all levels of our schooling. It is not just words. It is not just one time. It has gotten to the point of physical assault where police needed to be called when it um escalated beyond the school properties. Just telling my kid brush it off, ignore them doesn't work when it's every single day they're being called names, every single day they're being put down, and every single day they're being called less. I struggle to get my child out of bed
037every single morning knowing that he has to come to school because he knows he's facing bullying. For years he has enjoyed coming to school because of seeing his friends, the kids that he plays soccer with. But now he woke up yesterday morning and said, "Mommy, I I don't want to go to school anymore." Not only is it I don't want to go to school because I'm being bullied, it's I'm not being listened to, I'm not being protected, get me out of here. And as a parent, that's extremely alarming. I truly feel that we need to do more to address these situations a and fill that gap, whether it be a conversation that director compels and I had the other day um potentially a um panel to hear these experiences. Um there's too much of a
038long-term effect on these kids. Um, bullying has health effects, mental effects, and quite frankly, long-term society um, concern. Um, I truly ask that you consider what more we can do because I don't want to be one of those parents that are pulling their skist and quite frankly exacerbating our situation when it comes to our financial constraints that we do have within the district. But I am at that point. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> And just one point of clarification, I think you said at the beginning that this is a policy meeting. Just to um for everyone's awareness, this is a regular meeting of the board. Um that's okay. I just wanted to clarify that there is a policy committee meeting of the board uh next Monday. Um and that's publicly advertised as well. >>
039Thank you both of you. All right, let's see if I can get it right this time. Uh, Adria Pace. Sorry. I'm sorry. Come on up. And if you would just turn the microphone on, that would be terrific. Just push it the light. Yep. You got it. Thank you. >> Um, some of you might recognize me from Miss Austin's policy project. I'd like to talk about the banning of the unity flag. Um, when I emailed >> Oh, sorry. Um, when I emailed the board about this matter, they responded saying that it was too political and exclusionary. Um, and I'd like to respond to that with just saying that things like this flag make sure that everybody within the LGBTQ community feel included and safe. And if we take that away from them, they're going to feel
040targeted. even if it is to disbuade um concerns within the rest of our community, this is going to be very harmful for the students that go to our district. Um it symbolizes the diversity of the community and the people who are within it are already marginalized and put down. About 80 82% of trans youth think about committing suicide a year and 40% end up actually attempting and this world is already built against them. So it is very important to keep symbols that make them feel included within our district. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. Maline Warden. Gosh, I hope I got it right this time. Third time was the charm. And if you would just turn the microphone on, please. Thank you. I moved up here from the south and I knew I
041liked women since I was about 5 years old. I didn't think it was bad until I was nine and I heard my teacher talking about how disgusting it was. I started to pretend to like guys so people wouldn't ask questions. But in the second grade, I would stare into my best friend's eyes and just smile. I'd blush as girls did my hair, but every time I went to a sermon and heard the words gay and damnation, I tempted in the pews and I didn't tell anyone. Once CO hit, I was stuck in my silent war, looking in my vanity mirror with self-hatred and disgust, picking myself apart piece by piece. I didn't tell my parents because I feared they thought the same way my pastors did. After we got back to school, homophobia had gotten
042worse. I saw kids stoned. I saw them get beaten black and blue because they had the nerve to fall in love. Have you ever seen someone you love curled up in the fetal position against a door that just wouldn't open? Heard them cry and beg for air as their inhalers failed them. Their arms covering their head from stones and fists because I did. I fought back and my friend begged me not to tell the school why she was attacked for fear of word getting home to her parents. We were 12 years old. Later that year, I had just gotten back from a funeral and gone to a church charity event. I don't know why, but all my bottled up thoughts spilled over that night. I waited for my house or the people in my house
043to fall asleep, and I cried until my chest burned and I was gasping for air in my pillow. Then I went to my vanity mirror and I pulled out my father's knife. I looked in the mirror and I pressed the blade up to my neck. And at 12, I thought death was kinder than the world was to me. The only reason I'm still here today is because I heard my little brothers in the other room. I didn't want them to walk in on the crimson scene. So, I opted for my forearms. [gasps] That summer, we moved up here and I walked into the middle school and I saw a simple sticker that said, "You're welcome here." on a rainbow flag. I nearly cried. I saw a symbol of people like me in a place where
044I'd experienced such pain and hatred. And it took me four to five years to fully recover from my past. Now I stand here to defend the sticker that had started it all. So that the queer kids facing their stones, the ones hiding from fists at home, the ones looking in that mirror with a blade in the hand can know that they're not broken or defective. They aren't a curse. They aren't unnatural. And most of all, they do not stand alone. Thank you, Maline. Uh, Ryan Hoffkin, if you would turn the mic on, please. Oops. Sorry, I lower it for our short people. Need a little stool. Okay, so good evening members of the board. As a past chair of the policy committee, I took the liberty of creating a proposed policy for classroom display neutrality
045policy. The goal is simple. It's to ensure that the classroom remains focused on instruction rather than advocacy while still respecting constitutional free speech protections. It's obvious with the planned ICE protest for tomorrow that it may be time to consider such a policy. The policy, the proposed policy is built around three principles. First, it helps avoid the perception of indoctrination in our classrooms. Second, it maintains neutral and welcoming learning environment for all students. And third, it keeps classroom spaces focus focused on approved curriculum and academic instruction. It's important to note that the proposed policy would apply only to displays placed by employees. It does not restrict student speech and it does not prevent teachers from dis discussing important controversial topics in the classroom. Under the proposed policy, several types of displays would clearly be permitted. This
046includes the US flag, Pennsylvania flag, the military flags representing branches of the armed forces. Foreign national flags would be allowed when used in instructional purposes in such uh such subjects as history, geography, world languages. Teacher teachers could also continue displaying educational material connected directly to the curriculum. These displays support civic learning and legitimate educational objectives. What the policy would limit are displays that advocate for for or against political, social, or religious viewpoints. It could include campaign flags, partisan political flags, religious advocacy displays or symbols promoting particular policy positions. The intent is not to stop the discussion. Teachers would be able to present multiple perspectives, encourage critical thinking, and engage students in objective discussions. The distinction is that the classroom itself could not appear to endorse a particular viewpoint through permanent displays. This approach is consistent
047with current policies of the district. For example, 7-Eleven restricts advocacy in district advertising, including campaign and political candidates or promoting disparaging religious viewpoints. Policy 320 recognizes the employees have free speech rights, but balances those rights against the district's interest when speech relates to school programs. Policy 317.1 sets clear standards for maintaining a safe safe and appropriate environment for all students. The proposed displayed policy simply applies to the same principles to the classroom environment. From a legal standpoint, courts recognize that schools may regulate school sponsored speech, including classroom displays when doing legitimate educational purposes. The key safeguard of the policy is that it regulates displays not discussion. Students retain their free speech. Teachers retain their ability to teach complex topics and classroom remains focused on learning rather than advocacy and protest. Ultimately, the policy is not
048to silence anyone. It's to help ensure that our classrooms remain welcoming, neutral, and focused on learning for every student regardless of their background or their beliefs. Thank you for your time and consideration. And I'd like to pass out these copies. and I was kind of hoping that you might be able to put it on Monday's policy meeting. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right, last one is Stormmy White. I got that one right, too. I just wanted to introduce this is my child Stormmy and they're in eighth grade and we are unable to come to a policy meeting on Monday because of my work schedules and they felt that it was very important to speak on a manner. >> Hello, my name is Stormmy White and I'm an eighth grader here in Up Park. As
049a student of the student Oh, sorry. as a student of the student executive board, a person whose sexual orientation is one a part of the LGBTQ community, and as a person who's who goes by a different name from where I was given to at birth, I don't think that removing the community flags is a good idea. I see speak for myself and many other students at Upper Perk who would agree that this is not good. Many of the students here are in some sort of way a part of the LGBTQ community. I find this disrespectful. It would have been fine if they um if they had never been up in the first place, but having them up and then removing them afterwards. The flags never um the flags are not bothering anyone. They are encouraging
050students to identify or feel attracted to some something else. It is to show inclusion that we are included. Upper folk is supposed to be a place where we can be who we are. These flags, while they might seem small, really do help the inclusion part of things. The LGBTQ community has always been discriminated against and this is just another step backwards. Removing those flags may just make people feel like they can't be themselves. The flags won't do anything but make um that they don't force anyone's beliefs. Our school has students of different backgrounds, identities, religions, and beliefs. We are represented by diversity, a welcoming environment. This is quite the opposite. There's much more important issues to look at than just removing unity flags. I hope the board considers the impact it'll have on the students
051you represent. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. All right, we're going to move on to board comments now. Do we have any board comments tonight? >> Yes, I'll start off. Um my fellow Western Center members here reminded me that there was a post out. Usually I brag on the workshop meetings, but we're doing it early this month. We have a student down there who is um selected as one of seven semi seven seven semifinalists of the NB's caucus beyond cooking food styling competition through CCAP. That's that competition that I talk about every year where we've had kids going consistently and winning hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships. Well, this person created um her name is Cali Nisley. Cali created an apple brie and bacon pie and her dish is now part of
052the people's choice award voting on Instagram. So we're asking if you follow them on Facebook, the Western Center on Facebook, you would see this article there, but I'm putting it out to the public tonight to say if you're not on Facebook, join it. Go there and vote for this person. Voting ends on the 18th, so you only have a few days left. So without saying it tonight, I would have missed it. But thank you to Sarah >> and Sarah >> and Paige who reminded me about it and gave me the paper to read from. So once again, go support our students. Thank you. >> Thanks. Do we have another board comment? >> I do. >> Okay. >> All right. Can read along for the beginning of this. Every student matters. Every decision counts. We are
053managing a large deficit, navigating policy and negotiations, and yet we've spent the last month going back and forth about a unity sticker. If we would spend half of the time trying to raise money from outside sources, search for additional grants, or partner with community businesses, think about how much we could accomplish. Indoctrination likes to be brought up a lot, so I'd like to go over the definition of that. It is the process of teaching a person or group to accept a set of beliefs uncritically. A symbol of unity is not political. Human rights are not inherently political. They are made to be. A sticker is simply representation. Stating that children cannot be exposed to a sticker in fear that their beliefs are being challenged is quite literally the definition of indoctrination. Trina, this entire thing
054was brought to the community at your attention. We've received not one email until you sat at the last board meeting and incorrectly stated that there was a very large pride flag hanging at the entrance. Incorrect. And that it's a 4x6 sticker placed at the guidance counselor's office and it's a unity flag. We all belong. First, this was your issue of safety. Then it was a political issue. And now this is an issue of neutrality and pushing positions. Yet you have yet to elaborate on how these unity stickers are harming the children and how removing is helping. The goalposts are continually changing. Saying we cannot have unity flags in the school due to issues of neutrality infers that having diversity is not neutral. It is our differences that make us stronger. Just 6 months ago, you
055sat here pushing to redear uh wear red week to encourage community conversations and healthy discourse. But it was never about that. By your very own logic, focusing on neutrality would require us getting rid of the fellowship of Christian athletes. It would mean that our choir can no longer perform at churches, and we should get rid of any holidays with religious undertones. We should not honor students who are awarded Christian scholarships. But I would never suggest those things because I understand that ensuring the safety of our children, having them be seen, safe, and celebrated is the most powerful thing that we can do as a board. In fact, it's our duty. We are not a steward of our own religion here. We check our personal positions at the door. We are here for every child that
056exists in our building. To make decisions or suggest writing policy that removes visibility of the one one of the most bullied and marginalized groups is embarrassing. It's embarrassing to our students, to our community, and it's embarrassing to this board. We're recorded. I stand by what I say. I am so tired of talking about this. In the last month as a board, we have yet to discuss how to address the very real issue of bullying and racism. Nor have we discussed how to balance our budget. Nor have we examined ways to prevent our community's taxes from going up. But we've heard a lot about unity flags and stickers. And our solicitor our solicitor will be billing the taxpayers for all of it. to relay your own quote back to you. Be kind for everyone is fighting
057a hard battle. Disarming children of their visibility and therefore their safety is sending them to a battle and then ignoring their cries. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Do you have any other board comments? All right. All right. Please. This is our meeting but please Thank you. Do we have any other board comments? Very well, Paige. Very well said, Paige. Um, I was going to point out that a lot of this started with the misinformation of the really big flag at the middle school guidance office, which doesn't exist. It was never there. It was not taken down. Um, there's been flyers sent around about how we need to stand up for, you know, it doesn't do anybody any good sending misinformation out into the community just to get everybody riled up. I hope. Thank
058you everyone for speaking. We heard you. Um, and we agree with you. I agree with you. I'm only speaking for me. So, um, we'll continue to fight to make sure that everybody, including Fellowship of Christian Athletes, uh, fields of faith, uh, the Mark Thomas who teaches, you know, uh, music and has visits the churches with the students, that's not something everyone identifies with. Everyone doesn't have to identify with everything that happens in the school. So, um, we would continue to support that. those students who need those programs just like they want to be included, just like they want to be feel like they belong when they see a unity sticker on a on a you know on a window of a classroom. So, thank you. >> All right. Thank you. Do we have any other
059board comments? >> Yep. >> All right. Um, I did want to clarify real quick that um, the question I raised about pride flags recently. Um, I wanted to clarify that because I want to make sure everyone knows what I was talking about when I raised it. Um, like actually Paige, when you were talking, I just went back and looked. I had saved what I said the last when I brought this up. I didn't say political. I said uh, viewpoint neutrality. That was the terminology that I used. So, um I that's fair. I'm open to having a a good discussion. I hope we can talk about this at the policy meeting on Monday. Um over the past couple weeks, the board has received a number of emails from the community regarding the displays in the school
060buildings. That level of engagement shows that people in our district care quite a bit about how our school spaces are perceived. Um, and when the residents raise concerns about something like that, it's appropriate for the board to discuss it. We often take on different work at all at the same time. To say that talking about one thing that's important to some people is taken away from other important work isn't really fair. That's sort of oversimplified. Um, when I first raised this issue, it was after noticing pride flags displayed next to signage identifying official school offices at the middle school, including the guidance office and the student entrance to the main office. My concern wasn't necessarily about individual teachers or staff expressing their personal views. The question I raised was about placement and whether displays connected
061to social movements when placed next to signage for official school offices may reasonably be interpreted by some members of the community as institutional messaging from the district, not from like an individual teacher. So to just narrow this issue a little bit, that's what I'm referring to is that if there is a sign right at the entrance of the school where it says like welcome to Upper Park Middle School, pride flag room 301, you know, is that a sign that this district is endorsing that? So just to narrow what I'm talking about here, and that is what I brought up. Um, let's see. Some of the discussion in the community has framed this as a proposal to ban pride flags or as a debate about whether students deserve support. That's not what I raised. Every student
062in this district deserves to feel respected and supported. Are you all going to clap for that? No. Okay. Concerns about bullying and student well-being are very real as we heard tonight and we have been hearing and should always be taken seriously. Those issues are addressed through policies, staff support, and consistent expectations for student behavior. These are all things that the board deals with and that we give time and attention to. The policy question I raised is simply whether displays that could be interpreted as institutional messaging should be guided by clearer clearer viewpoint neutral policy. [snorts] During a recent training on the legal foundations of schoolboard service, we were reminded that Pennsylvania school districts do have discretion to regulate displays in classrooms and school offices while employees are acting in their official roles. Some districts in
063Pennsylvania have adopted guidance like this and reviewing those examples may be helpful if our board determines clarification is needed. [snorts] And um Mrs. Hoffkin, I appreciate that you handed something out. I think it might be interesting to look at. Um let's see. Discussing a topic that members of the community have raised is not a waste of time or resources. When something matters to residents, it is the responsibility of the board to discuss it and determine whether any policy guidance is appropriate. My goal in raising the question is just to determine whether our current policies provide clear guidance and whether that is something the policy committee should review. Um I'm going to move on from that. We do have a lot of important topics that we're talking about right now and um a lot of really
064exciting things going on. I can promise everybody Oh, you're all recording me. Hi. Hi. Hello. Um, that's fun. How about it? Um, so there are a lot of important things going on and I am I am very proud to sit here today on this board. I can promise you everybody on this board and I'll speak for you, Peg. You don't like it when I do that, but everybody on this board loves your kids, cares about your kids, and wants the best for your kids. and every teacher that I ran into on the tour, I know that the teachers care and I'm convinced of that and I am I'm very proud to be playing this role with this district. So, um on those lines, I wanted to say something about the turf replacement project. I'm happy
065to see the progresses being made. I personally attended some of the other discussions, including presentations from several companies regarding the replacement. I know it's never easy to approve spending, but I also know the board and administration have spent a great deal of time studying this and planning very carefully. Based on the information that I reviewed, I'm thrilled to support this next step and provide much neededed support for our athletics department. Athletics can be incredibly important for students. Hopefully, you all attended the innovation fair and you saw a lot of excellent ideas about improving student success. Um, another factor for many students is participation in athletics. For some students who um may not feel as connected in the classroom, that can be an avenue where um athletics can provide motivation, belonging, and inspiration. Um, and on
066that note, I'm very happy to support continued investment in opportunities that help students to succeed both in and out of the classroom. Thank you. Word comment. >> Yes, I have a comment. >> Oh, okay. And then I'll let you go. >> Go ahead. >> Okay. Let me start by saying I really take offense at you speaking for the board. We I care personally for every child that's in this school. I cannot speak for everybody on this board to that effect. But let's go back a few steps at the policy meeting where you raised the issue of the flag two years after we had gone through a whole discussion and decided as a board as a community that the flag should stay. You said that it was a leftleaning propaganda or something to that effect. But
067you did say left. That means political. So when you corrected her for the political comment, it is a political issue to your words. There's a contradiction here. If we are charged with the safety of our students, how is excluding a group of students ensuring their safety? because we read in those emails and it was something like over 70 emails that we received in support of the flag. It was less than 20 who said we should take it down. This institutional neutrality I want it explained to me because I can't understand neutrality in an institution that's to be for all students. Every student is honored and accepted. Diversity, Paige said so eloquently, much more eloquently than I am saying it, is what makes us human. I don't want everybody to be like me. I don't want
068everybody to think like me, but I do want to accept the fact that there are differences of opinion and I accept your difference of opinion. I accept that and I know that that's how you feel. But you cannot ask me to ensure the safety of the children and ask me to exclude a group. We have issues that have been clearly laid out that we need to be concentrating on that would help with the safety of the children. You have resisted everything we've done so far at the ad hoc committee. In fact, when I was named chair of the ad hoc committee, you were offended because I was a left-leaning liberal. I'm tired of this. I'm tired of it being political. I'm tired of this. I'm want to accept the fact that every one of us
069has a voice on this board and you do not speak for us. I worry when you go out to various meetings and whatnot that you are speaking for me and I am speaking for myself right now and I have said from the very beginning. I can't do this alone. So, I need everybody to help with helping me on the ad hoc committee as chair figuring out a way that we can address the real issue here, which is bullying. Bullying. When I was running for this office, somebody said to me, "What are the two issues that are most important?" And I said, "Bully and the budget." They're still the same two things that we really haven't fixed yet. So, let's get on with the work that we were charged to do, who elected us, and get
070to the budget, get to the bullying, and be done with it. Thank you. Go ahead, R. Um, I just wanted to thank everyone on the sorry, on the board. Um, and I wanted to say that I'm lucky enough that I can represent the class in the high school. Um, but I am speaking for myself when I think that we should stay focused on the students. Um, and letting them feel welcome in any way that they can. I mean, I'm an immigrant. I'm also in the army. I feel like I'm very diverse. Um, I would just like to say that bullying and issues such as bullying and policy are really important. Um, but at the end of the day, it's always about the students and that was pretty much it. Thank you. >> Thank you. Do
071we have any other board comments this evening? >> I just wanted to clarify one more thing. So twice in your comment you mentioned that this issue came up because you heard from the community, the residents. We didn't hear from one resident, not one community member until you mentioned the really big flag. Not one. So again, just want to clarify this was you bringing this issue up, not the community. The community didn't come to us and say, "Hey, we want you to talk about the policy, right?" They didn't I we didn't have we I haven't I mean, I've only been here since December 1st, but I haven't heard anything until that was brought up. So, I appreciate the community coming out, though, and supporting um their views that they do have. So, >> thank you. All
072right. Thank you. Do we have any other board comments this evening? All right. With that, I would call for >> motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> Any discussion? All in favor? I >> I. Any opposed? Okay. Meeting adjourned. Thank you.