001Thanks for your patience everyone. We had a lot to talk about. First meeting back. Oh, I just said thanks for your patience. All right. Being that it is 7:22 thereabouts, I'd like to call this meeting of the upper school board to order. And first off, we will have a pledge of allegiance. You would be so kind as to stand. And it's over here. this side. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Justice. Thank you, Mr. Bishop. Could I have a roll call, please? >> Certainly. Director Oswald, >> here. Director Shmidt, >> I'm here. I'm on Zoom. >> Okay. Director Shaani, >> Director Cunningham >> here. >> Director McCarrick >>
002here. >> Director Fluki >> here. >> Director Konopski >> present. >> Director Bieber >> here. >> And Director Penny Packer >> here. >> Thank you. I'd like to introduce our staff at the table. We have Mr. Bishop, our business manager, Georgie Fischer, our uh HR director, Dr. Fina, our assistant superintendent, our standin super attorney, Bethany O'Neal, Dr. Roach, and also Ruth Padilla, our uh senior uh student representative. All right, board president's report. It's going to be short today. Um just wanted to say uh Keith and I worked with the Grinch at the Holiday Bazaar. It was a lot of fun. Um, kids would be coming up to get pictures and they get close up and then they'd be like, "Not sure about that." So, it was fun. Um, I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays and
003had a chance to relax. I know I did. And I'm looking forward to working with our couple of new board members. So, I will welcome them again, Paige and Monica. And that's all I have for today. So, I'll turn it over to Dr. Roach for his superintendent report. Thank you very much and happy new year everyone. Excited to be here in 2026. So I'm going to go through my report. It's a exciting start. Hopefully everyone had a great break and we're ready for uh the second half here of the of the second the first semester and then starting off um next semester. So uh a couple highlights from later in the year there. Our Upper Brookhead Foundation held their first ever alumni night. This was over at the high school and you can see from
004the pictures it was a great turnout. Um Mr. Moyer from the uh high school opened up the the XLAB and people got a real chance to see what was going on there. Uh Dr. Thomas had the students there singing as well and uh really a good good effort as well as I think it was 81 pounds of food was donated to the uh open link based upon donations from the alumni coming in. So again, just a another plug for the foundation, but really it was a great event to be at and see people again seeing each other for the first time in a long time. So I think slowly but surely the the the alumni buzz is continuing and I think at our most recent alumni I'm sorry ed education foundation meeting this this week.
005Was that was that last night? >> Last night uh we were here for a couple of hours working on our our workshop. Um there's a couple more that are that are being planned for the future. So thanks to everyone that participated as well as the uh the foundation for hosting that. We we since our last meeting, the winter concert season took place. So, um in addition to to being uh in New York for the choir, you can see that pictures there of the of the group and and concerts all the way through elementary, middle, and high school. So, great. And we're proud of our uh our arts. This is a couple pictures that I actually took the at the botchi match um just the other day. Um so, if you haven't had a chance, this
006we have two home matches, so this is one of them versus North Penn. I don't know the outcome, but just watching the students uh and our teachers and staff participate and uh and lead that was a was a great event. So, it's really inclusive obviously, and we appreciate the uh the sports that are there. Congratulations to three of our students for having their artwork chosen as a part of QMB's calendar contest. So, there's free calendars at QMBB if you wanted to pick up and you can see our three students, Asher, Madison, and Rachel, that have their artwork. I guess it's March, April, and September according to the pictures there. So, we're proud of them and the and the uh the efforts that are there. So, again, some some other local recognition. Uh at this time,
007I wanted to uh share that the 2025 Miniax High School Award winners for the state of Pennsylvania were just released in late December. 55 players were selected from the from schools across the Commonwealth and they were nominated by their coaches throughout the 2025 season and were evaluated based on the criteria that include football performance, academics, and community service. On this year's on this year's honores, the Maxwell football club put out a statement saying this is another exceptional class of student athletes who will represent the Miniaax awards very well. They accomplish extraordinary feats on the fields, in the classroom, and in their respective communities. So, we are extremely lucky to have one of our own in the room of the 55 players from PA uh that were nominated as a Miniax award tonight. So, please join
008me in welcoming and congratulating Brody Weiss from Upper Perky High School. >> Hit that button. >> Hit the button. So, is that working? >> There you go. There we go. >> There you go. We're not going to grill you and give you all sorts of questions. We just wanted to say we're proud of you. Coach Hinrich put the information out and the whole board got it and and chimed in. I have a small certificate here if coach wants to come up get a couple pictures. I don't know if any of the board wants to ask anything, but we're awesome. Thank you. Thank you for representing. >> Thank you guys very much. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. Would that be perfect? >> Uh, between the podium and >> I'm trying to get trying to get one.
009>> Really [ __ ] today, huh? All right. >> Coach, feel free to brag if you want to. You're more than welcome. >> Yeah, maybe a little bit. >> Um, I just want to thank Dr. Roach for uh for allowing us to be here tonight. And uh you know, Brody has done a phenomenal job of being a leader and uh >> hit the button. >> The button, sorry. >> There you go. There you go. Okay, there we go. Um but yeah, Brody Weiss has been a phenomenal uh student athlete, role model for us um over the last four years. Um he he really exonerates uh our program and and what we stand for with we over me and um you know, putting the team before yourself. Um he's been a phenomenal leader and this is really just
010a uh a cherry on top of an awesome career that he's had here. Um we will not replace Brody Weiss ever, but um the the work that he's put in and the community service and and the young players he's helped will hopefully carry on for a long long time. So uh he he's a huge part of our program. He's a a keystone in in what we do. Um and I just couldn't be more proud of him. So uh thank you for honoring him tonight. um and and all of his success and we appreciate your support for the program and everything that that you guys do to help support us. So, thank you very much. >> You said in your email he was one of eight of from Upper Perk. >> Yes, I I was corrected
011on that. I believe it's I believe it's nine. So, I did forget. Uh Craig Austin was was was one that I missed on there. So, um unless there's someone I'm missing earlier, that's that's the the count that that I had. So, um, and the last the last, uh, two were Tyler Wary in 2016 and then one of my coaching staff members, Casey Pearlstein, uh, was also a winner, which is cool. So, >> yeah. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. >> So much. >> All right. >> Hold on. Well, we we still have to plug No, we have to plug the innovation fair, of course, to make sure that everyone everyone is uh is aware of the opportunity to participate in the innovation fair. I've continued to visit classes. Um this week I was at the
012high school for a couple classes from the the AP students. So they already have some of their their their thoughts and um we have a couple submissions already. We have one from Herford. We have one from an outside group, at least one administrator um and I think from one from the middle school as well specifically. So I'm hoping to see a couple board members in on the submission before February 12th. Plenty of time uh to submit. Um, and I did reach out to Lifelong Learning to hope to go to talk to them next week as well to see if they can't share the information and at the very least invite people to come attend the event. Not necessarily present, but come attend and walk through and provide some feedback and some opportunity. And I'm working
013with Mrs. I'm sorry, Dr. Haney to see if we can't have some middle school students give tours of the middle school as well for those that haven't had a chance to be in the middle school on that night. So we'll continue to hear and and and hopefully get more excitement about the opportunity and then this may be the final slide just again recognizing with the upcoming spirit week across the district and great kindness challenge week which was started many times ago. Um and we want to make sure that those are the holiday I'm sorry the consistent spirit days. I know um Mrs. Zanowski has been working hard to make sure we can get everyone on the same page because the feedback she hears is it's hard when you have one child in one building and
014one spirit day and one child in another building and a different spirit day. How can we get those coordinated and every people are very specific about what they want to see Mr. Freeze smiling because he knows he knows. So, uh we're happy to have those uh those opportunities and look forward to a great week. And by the way, for the board, if you're able to um join us on the the 28th for the board back to school day, you can wear your favorite sweatshirt or sweater that day because that's the theme for the great kindness uh challenge week that day, meaning don't sweat the small stuff. So, more about that later. All right, and that's the end of the report. >> Thank you. >> All right, we're going to move on to Ruth with our
015student representative to the board report. Um, since Reagan isn't here, I do have a little bit of a lengthy list, but um, starting off great events with winter concerts in December, like Dr. Rosha had mentioned. Um, I was there for all three concerts. It was great. I love the music every year. Um, it was actually my last winter concert. Um, holiday spectacular assembly was a nice way to end the break, the student um, school day before break. Um, student council sponsored both the singalong and the elves going around school. We had candygrams and um, both teachers and students were able to participate in the singalong. This year we have course selection night coming up for families on the 21st at 6:00 p.m. We're going to have I forget the schools, but I think last year
016we had Millersville, um, Penn State, I want to say like we had a few um, armed forces representatives. It's a really great way to get in contact with different like e sorry because there were um schools armed forces and even some um tech schools and companies that came out so different pathways after graduation. Um dine and donate at raw replenish on the 2nd of fee 2 sec 21st of February for the junior class. uh bake sale on the 3rd of March for college and career night. Junior class fundraiser 6:30 to 8:30. Um the Reading Royals game is on March 14th for the another junior class fundraiser. The junior class field trip will be on what will be on March 20th to Washington DC. Winter sports are about halfway through. Uh senior nights are coming up
017at the end of January. We've started to plan prom and graduation. We have t-shirts finalized and we will start selling them for seniors and then Adam's family tickets will be on sale soon. >> Thank you. Nice report. All right, we'll move on to our solicitor's report and Sunshine Act announcements. Beth, >> good evening everyone. First, I want to announce that the board met in executive session immediately prior to tonight's meeting to discuss a confidential student matter. Uh second announcement is that there's going to be two uh opportunities for public comment tonight. The first being limited to action items on tonight's agenda and the second for any matter that is or could come before the board. Each speaker will be limited to three minutes and there are signup sheets in the back that you can um
018return to the front of the room prior to the uh comment period if you'd like to talk. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right, we're going to move on to presentations and discussion. School Director Recognition Month. >> All right, that's me. Yes. January marks the annual observance on of schoolboard director recognition month, a time to honor the commitment and service of the school board directors who champion public education across Pennsylvania. More than 85% of the students in the Commonwealth attend public schools, including the 3100 students roughly that are enrolled here at Upper Perk. Together with the superintendent and the administration, the nine members make often make complex decisions that shape educational experience and help every student discover their pathway to success. Schoolboard directors play a critical role in the school system. They devote countless hours
019voluntarily to the demanding work of board governance, including budget approvals, policy adoption, and long-term strategic planning. Their unwavering dedication and deeprooted passion for the Upper Perk community is truly commendable. Later this month, the board will be participating in a board professional development session on a Saturday to continue to learn and grow as a board. In addition, some board members will be going back to school for a day in the last week of um of January to get a chance to experience several classrooms, lunch, speaking with students, including a van ride. Yes. Um the decision and actions of school board directly impacts student achievement making it essential for boards to work collaboratively for all students. So we have a small token gift for you that are that we're going to hand out as well as I
020have a short video thanking you for your efforts and your time streamer. >> No streamers today. >> Yes. So I'll get this ready. Let's watch the video and then I'll work with put the uh >> Thank you, school board. Thank you to the school board members. >> Thank you for the thank you. Yeah, it's rewarding in its own way. All right, we're going to move on to public comments on action items. Ruth, is there any papers in there? I make you get up and do everything. Okay. So, there's no com public comments for the action items. We'll move on to the approval of the agenda. >> Motion to approve the agenda. Any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Okay. Uh, next we'll ask for an approval of the minutes
021of the December 1st school board meeting. That includes the reorg meeting and the regular meeting. >> Motion. >> Any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay. Uh we don't have anything under our old business. So we'll move on to new business. >> Madame President, can I make a motion to approve the personnel report in its entirety? That is the resignations, the appointments, and the leaves. >> Second. Okay. Do we have any discussion? >> Yeah. Just want to voice my concern again about the numerous coaching positions that are open. It has now hit the town and country headlines. So if it's in the town and country must be true. So uh again very concerned about open coaching positions and probably something that we will have discussion about in extracurricular. Thank you.
022>> Anyone else? >> Oh go ahead Georgie. >> I just wanted to um make sure that the board knew that uh Bobby I did follow up on coaching today. There's five open positions remaining. Uh we have several people have been recommended who will appear on next agenda on the 22nd along with our spring coaches and then that'll leave us with five coaches left to fill. So that's the most current update as of this afternoon. >> Thank you. That's good. That's progress. All right. Anyone else? Uh hearing nothing else. Uh all in favor I >> Sorry I was meos. Yep. I No, I was waiting for you. Any opposed? Okay. Um, we move on to action items. >> Madam President, can I make a motion to item A, the to approve the office environment proposal in
023the amount of 295? >> Sure. >> Do I have a second? >> Thank you. Do we have any discussion? Go ahead. >> So, we talked about this a little bit. Um, you know, I was not on the board when the original budget for the project was completed this summer and there were a few things that came up unexpectedly. Um, and I do I think that everyone had done their due diligence in the way of trying to um, get the display case done as quickly as possible, but I do think that there are some procedural issues that I think need to be transparently discussed. Um, I just don't think that we should find ourselves in this situation again. Um, it feels like a governance red flag to have us vote on something that essentially is retro
024retroact Oh my gosh, I can't talk. retroactively happening. Um, the work is completed. I would have liked to have some discussion about that. Um, I think that it's it's a misrepres misrepresentation of authority to have one person make a decision for the board at large. um and that was effectively decided outside of a meeting and without correspondence. So again, I don't think that anything nefarious happened, but I think that I would like to avoid those and have better um better procedures in the future for when items like that come up in the way of executive session or just email correspondence. Thank you. >> Anyone else? I wanted to ask um to avoid that in the future. Do is it and maybe um legal can speak to this at tonight or at some point, but um
025in a case like this where you have hours to make a decision like that, are we allowed to call like an emergency public board meeting um if if something like this were to come up again? And maybe we can discuss this, you know, moving forward, but this was obviously something that needed to happen, so I understand that. But um Paige just brought up a legitimate point, >> Stephanie. >> Well, we need a 24-hour notice, right, for public meeting. So, that's the problem with that. >> I think we could have done a Zoom meeting except for it was Thanksgiving weekend. So, that's and we were only a few hours. >> So, we could have had a like called that what would that have been then? an exact session like a a quick Zoom with a quorum.
026>> Yeah, I'm not sure what the legality of that is for that particular topic. Beth any thoughts on that? >> Well, information I mean informationally but not voting wise. So, I mean that's that's what I'm saying. That's the issue. There's not enough notice there. >> I was going to say we we strive to bring everything through committee and we'll continue to do that. I'll stress that back with the administrative team. Unless barring a something that has to an emergency, this was a unique situation of getting uh either missing a window to get it done. Um we could have hindsight said we're not going to get it done or communicated better. So we'll continue to try to drive things through committee and um you know we waited six months with four months we could have waited
027another five I guess too. So get it understood. >> Thank you very much. >> Yeah. I just wanted to make a comment that had it been at the December 1st December 1st board meeting, none of this would be an issue. It would have been approved. I mean, even after it was okayed on the phone, it still would have been approved by the full board and then the work would have been completed. >> We didn't have the the we had a number on on in the 295. We didn't have paperwork to provide there and as was already said, Thanksgiving was there. So I mean understood. >> Yeah. Delay noted. Uh anyone else? Okay. Having no other discussion. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opp Sorry. >> I sorry. >> It's okay. Any opposed? >> No.
028>> Okay. >> No. Okay. All right. So motion passes. We'll move on to item B. Madame President, can I make a motion to approve item B, the agreement with the in with ICS for the renewal services for one year for the title N training. C the motion to approve the VM's VFC agreement with the MCIU for um that amount that's there. And D to approve the following Chris staff for the school year. >> Do thank you. Uh any discussion? Okay. Hearing none. All in favor? I >> I >> Any opposed? Okay. Motion motions pass. I don't believe we have any new follow-up items. Uh we do have one public comment and that would be Karen Feain if you want to come up. And the microphone's already on for you. >> Melanie, did we forget to
029did we approve both of those at once? >> Did you get to see? >> Yep. There were four. Hey. >> Yep. >> Oh, okay. All right. I lost track. Thank you. >> Yep. >> Hey. Um, I just wanted to make a possible improvement point. I find it difficult to hear you when I'm in these meetings. Um, if you don't speak directly into your microphone, your voices taper off and it's really hard to hear you. Um, another item would be, and I don't know, I mean, if you could just speak really clearly and slowly into your microphones, I think it would help all of us. And this podium, we can't see you. Um, it usually blocks at least three people. I'm wondering if it could either be to the side or if it could be a
030different style, like maybe clear or just a microphone on a stand. I don't know. So, just some possible improvement points. Thank you. >> Thanks, Karen. >> All right. Thank you. >> All right. So, that was the only public comment. We will move on to board comments. Do we have board comments tonight? >> Yeah. Just uh congrats to uh Brody again. It's just a phenomenal accomplishment and I have a unique opportunity to be on the football sidelines as the volunteer equipment manager. So, having watched Brody just kind of explode in these last four years has been a treat for me. So, I didn't really recognize him tonight without his football helmet on, but congratulations to him. Um, I wanted to share with the board and audience that on December 9th and 10th, I was invited to
031sit in on Mrs. Austin's AP language and composition classes to hear students policy proposal presentations. It was absolutely phenomenal. Students were given time to research school-based issues and develop thoughtful and evidence-based pro proposals for potential implementation at the high school. and groups were given five to seven minutes to make their presentations. There was a brief Q&A and feedback by those who were in attendance which included teachers, building administrators, district administrators, schoolboard members, alumni, and we heard presentations on many different topic areas, some of which included senior painting parking spots. Seniors who meet the requirements would have the ability to paint their assigned parking spot in the student lot. Uh water bottle bottle filling stations, finding resources to install water bottle filling areas at the current water uh fountain locations at the high school. dress up
032closet, which would be a student fundraising effort that allows students to donate homecoming dresses to be resold and uh at a more affordable price. Sponsor a scholar, a sponsored base uh sponsoredbased program to help cover the costs of AP tests for students. Open library after school hours to provide a study environment for students, act as a community hub, provide a space for group work, and help and promote reading. Adding a club cultural awareness club to help facilitate a school community build on respect, understanding, as well as create a safe space for students to learn and communicate. New social studies course postvietnam. The goal of the course is to understand how the past has shaped the present. And that just sounded phenomenal. School work internship programs to connect current students with potential career and job opportunities.
033Graduation senior year. This is an effort to create a true celebration experience for seniors on the on the day they receive their high school diplomas to encourage teacher participation districtwide. Create formal more formal stage presentation. Create the opportunity for more robust stadium or gymnasium decorations and things like that. This is just a list of some of the presentations that we heard. there were more. Um, so if any board members have any questions or would like to hear more about what the classes presented, please contact uh me or Monica was there too and uh we really had a great experience uh listening to those classes. Also, we had a chance to visit Mrs. Austin's AP class on December 22nd and 23rd for their uh a much more lighthespirited event which it was their annual Santa's tribunal
034court where we were asked to judge students their arguments as to why they should be removed from the from the naughty list to earn a spot to Santa's nice list. And let me tell you those were pretty interesting. So, we had a great time. It was really a neat experience. And and again, for me as a retired educator, to get back in the classroom was so refreshing and uh just energizing. I just want to echo Dr. Roach's comment about the December 10th alumni event at the high school. It was awesome. It was great to see folks. Um I heard a fellow alum just rave over the XLAB. They really enjoyed that. And of course, uh the music by the Uptones. It was just a very nice event. I've been attend I know this is a
035shock to you all, but I've been attending a lot of athletic events and there's still there's still plenty left. So, get out and uh check it out. Still a lot of good winter sports left and spring is right around the corner. Thanks. >> Thank you. Anyone else? >> I'd just like to reiterate that the policy um projects were really amazing. Not only did they come up with great ways to raise money, but great ways to spend money with the adopt a scholar, um just things that maybe I things I didn't even hear of. Hopefully they come to the innovation fair with some some of those great ideas. Um and the naughty to nice list was was enjoyable. So I need to retire so I can come do that. friend I'm talking to. Go ahead. >>
036Well, usually I brag about the Western Center on board workshops. Tonight though, I have to remind our board. Couple months ago I talked about the Western Center having a state dinner. We had our first JOC meeting on Monday and they reminded us. They said, "Look for the red envelope." They are holding a state dinner at the Western Center on February 19th. Anybody who got a red envelope is invited. So, board members, some administrators, um their featured dinner. They're going to feature um basically locally state um uh meals, I guess, if you want to say sourced locally sourced. Thank you. I was struggling on that. Um the two options are braised venison shank or anagalade auatro famaga from birch run farms. I think that is some type of poultry. Anybody speak Italian? But anyhow the key
037on this response they gave you an envelope to reply self address to the coordinator stamped. you need to drop it in the mail. They have to have it by the 19th. So, don't delay in responding. Um, I'm considering to I'll check with legal counsel and see if I can put this up for auction. Maybe I'll auction off to the highest bidder for one of our residents, but um I'll have to check with legal first. >> That's it. >> If you fill that out and leave it, we can mail it for you so it'll get lost. You just leave it for us. >> Excellent. Anyone else? >> Yeah. Real quick, I wanted to give a shout out to Dr. Roach. I watched his podcast. Uh, not watched, I listened. I listened to it. Um, and it's
038really good. I love that you're using a different avenue to um just give out information and have some interesting discussions. So, thank you. If anybody um sees that and wants to listen to it, I highly recommend. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um, anyone else? All right. Well, I would ask for a motion to adjurnn. >> Motion. >> Second. Okay. >> All in any discussion? >> No. >> Hearing none. All in favor? >> I >> Thank you. Any opposed? >> Okay. Meeting adjourned. Thank you.