001Right. Being that it is 7:05, if our clock is correct, I'd like to bring this upper percume school board meeting to order. First off, let's stand and have the pledge of allegiance, please. 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 with liberty and justice. >> Thank you. Mr. Bishop, could I have a roll call, please? >> Certainly. Director McCormack, >> here. >> Director Sharmitt >> here. >> Director Shrani. >> Director Cunningham >> here. Director McCarrick >> here, >> Director Fluki >> here, >> Director Prago >> here, Director Bieber >> here, >> and Director Penny Packer >> here. Thank you. I'll introduce our staff at the table. We have uh Mr. Bishop is our business manager. We have Georgie
002Fischer, our HR director. We have Dr. Andrea Fina, our assistant superintendent. We have Bethany today instead of our ex Kyle and obviously Dr. Roach. and we will be introducing our newest member in a little bit. Um, I move on to pre board president's report. Uh, as you've all seen, I'm sure on the agenda, we have um we do have a contract with our teachers union that we'll be voting on. And I just wanted to say a quick couple words that although it took a little while, I think this was this is my third negotiations, I feel like this was the most organized, um it was a it it went really well and um I thank my um my fellow members on the negotiating team and UPA's negotiating team did a great job and and Jeff
003Sultanic who's not here. We'll give him some credit, too. Uh, with that, I'll turn it over to Dr. Roach. Thank you. Good evening. Thank you. Um, look forward to I actually have a little bit of a longer report today, Keith. It won't be that long, but um, not as long as my video one in February. Um, so we'll kind of go through a couple things. First, we're thrilled uh, this evening. Unfort wrong one. Unfortunately, uh Ruth is not able to be with us tonight, but I want to welcome our our our student reps for the uh for the school year. So, um I'll read Ruth's quick bio here. So, returning this year as our senior representative is Ruth Padilla. Ruth is president of the senior class and student council. She's also active in Leo's club,
004FCS, I'm sorry, FCA, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and peer tutoring. When Ruth is not at school, she can be found working at Tuscos, training at the gym, spending time with family and friends, and attending youth group at Morning Star Fellowship. Growing growing her faith in being an active blood donor are important to Ruth. In the future, Ruth hopes to become a cellular pathologist. While achieving this goal, she plans to get field experience and learn more foreign languages as this is a passion of hers as well. So, we will officially swear her her back in at the next meeting. um wish he was here with us today, but we're welcoming Ruth Padilla. At at the same time, we're thrilled to be having Reagan Miles joining the board for the first time this year, representing the junior
005class as the president. She's an active member of FBLA, Future Business Leaders of America and FCA Fellowship of Christian Athletes, as well as the Upper Per upper cross country and track team. With these leadership opportunities, she endorses school spirit and advocates for a more unified student body. Reagan plans to continue her academic and athletic career through college and pursue a career in mathematics. So, Reagan, welcome. We look forward to hearing your report when we get to that. And you'll have an official swearing in as we get to the action items. >> All right. Uh, a couple things that are happening this this month and and then in the future as well. So, if you haven't been to Duncan, please take a drive-thru. Make sure you have your sweet tooth with you if you're going to
006get a uh tribal breeze. So Dunkin Donuts started a new program um across the Philadelphia area and had some drinks named for for certain schools. So there was a couple schools actually in Philadelphia and then somehow Upper Perk as well as the Perk School uh got named. So this is kind of a quick uh promo photo shoot that uh Mrs. Janowski had for us had some students over to there to promote that. And I'm not sure the day Dr. Fran is it Halloween when the Duncan truck is coming to the high school? Yes. Yep. 31st. Yep. So, they're coming there for uh to to kind of celebrate that as well and I guess some other schools. So, you'll start to see the campaigns. Um but from what I hear, it's a blueberry drink and it's
007very sweet. So, uh we're just happy to be a part of that. Yeah. Exactly. Exactly. Uh so, a couple things that happen typically in the first month here, the Herford hike. I was able to stop by there and um see the students and the parents and it's packed. You have to get there way early to get a decent parking spot, let alone on the grass. Um so, we had a a great opportunity. This is again led by our PTFS groups and uh Mr. Freeze there at at Herford. So the students had a great time at the on the same day was Marbrell's day of awesomeness and again I was able to drive down there. Definitely not as uh as muddy as as previous years but the kids uh I actually happened to pull in right
008when I think the kids were released. So you just saw them all running from the uh away from the school towards the uh towards the area there. Again, another PTFS and we appreciate the support from our PTFS and want to support them and and having uh for our students. So, two great events. Uh, we promote a little bit homecoming week. Um, so that's the the back of the shirt there. I think the students designed that and uh it was a great uh overall week starting with the bonfire on Monday and then moving our way into I'll show you a picture in a second of the class of 1975 come back for our for their 50th um graduation on uh on the Wednesday that week and then followed by the football game and um and into
009the school dance on uh on Saturday. So there's the class of um 1975 um graduates came back and again it's it's a it's a really neat night to see people that haven't seen each other in a long time and reconnecting and um and then talking about some jokes and I guess the snake dance comes comes up again and then the bonfire and all that. So it's really a really a special event that um that um that we have here. They had a really nice time. Then we had a pep rally. The high school had the pep rally on Friday to get ready for uh for the game and celebrate uh you know this the school and homecoming week in general. CBC coach there, a couple of the band students. So really it was a good
010event. Uh followed by the football game, our prom, I'm sorry, homecoming uh king and queen. Uh and the student the the entire students student section was packed. Yes. But the entire stands were packed as well. So, uh, it helped that they really, um, played very well against Upper Marian and, uh, and, uh, followed that followed the trajectory from coming off the PJP win the week before. So, a lot of, uh, a lot of interest there and the band was there and really was a nice, a nice evening there. And then the dance on uh, Saturday night. The only thing I heard about the dance was they were hoping that someone had the Phillies game on a big screen somewhere because, but they didn't miss much from what I've recollect. But um so again, a really
011really good week. We appreciate the the efforts of the high school and and uh and and everyone involved with that. Um really was a good good opportunity for our students and lots of smiles and dance moves. I can see. Moving on, we're in we're in National Principles Month, so we want to acknowledge the the um the work of our principles. It's not an easy job. Um is it is a can be a challenge and and leading our our staff and working with the students every day and and the families. I mean, the times that that we're on the phone and trying to support them, but we're really proud of all of our principles and assistant principles that you see here. So, if you see them in October or anytime, please feel free to thank them
012and happy National Principles Month. Also, uh, as we've mentioned the last couple years, we're we're we're in our area of PIAAA officials appreciation week. So, we want to continue to acknowledge without our officials, right, we would probably not have our games. Uh, and we've seen um I'm not sure exactly now. I haven't heard that much right now. I know there's still a shortage in general, but we start seeing football games on Thursdays or football games on Saturday afternoons because the number of officials aren't there. Um there's a lot of reasons why people will stop being an official and we want to continue to support them and and realize that we want the games to take place. Um so just acknowledging that that this week and uh gave you the winner in spring as well to
013uh acknowledging our PIAA officials. If you're bored for about 12 or 18 minutes, you feel free. We we have our first edition of Inside Upper Perk, the superintendent's view uh of a podcast. Our first version uh came out last week and we're already scheduled for our next one uh in uh in recording it uh in two weeks. Um so the first version we introduced uh Dr. Haney, our middle school principal, and I also spoke with um Mrs. Siligus, who's our executive director of the education foundation, to talk a little bit more about the upcoming Wizards game coming in November. So, it's an opportunity that I um that I'm I'm reaching out as a part of one of my goals to kind of talk to some people, have a more informal conversation, and uh hopefully that'll
014catch on um and be something that people look forward to. Um but again, it's in all the areas you can see there. So, if you are a normal podcast listener, um you can catch them on all the venues that you see there as well as it will be it'll be pushed out after the the latest version is put together. I appreciate Miss Janowski whose office turns into a studio quickly u with signs up saying please please be quiet because we're recording. Um but it really is a it's a great opportunity and I'm I'm getting ready. I was speaking with I invited Mr. Vigilante to be on the second episode. I'm going to have a conversation with all the principles and he said this is my first podcast. I like it's my second. So, we're we're
015good. So, looking forward to uh having a variety of guests. Maybe even new student reps would be invited to be a part of the uh be a part of the conversation. Really want to get to know some students and and and some of our teachers as well. So, that's out there. Just a couple other promotion things that we have. Unity day is coming up. We encourage everyone to wear and share uh share orange in terms of uh unity for acceptance, anti-bullying, those type of things. This has been in place now. I think this is the seventh uh seventh year uh that we've been celebrating this. In the past two or three years ago, we started with a uh kickoff in partnership with the Grand. Unfortunately, the the Unity Day night was not available, so we're
016going to do a pre-kickoff the day before. Uh free movie at the Grand. Concessions are open for anyone that would like them. We'll be showing Shrek uh the original and uh just an opportunity to get out. We did move it up 6:30. When we had it at 7:00, we saw people carrying their kids out because they were sleeping. They were so tired. Um, but we'll get that promotion out and registrations coming soon. Um, probably as soon as even tomorrow to get get some information out for for that signups, but a great opportunity and and evening for everyone. And then right around a corner is Red Ribbon Week. This is tied to, you know, drugs and alcohol and awareness. There you can see what's happening on each of the days. For those of you that know
017Project Live, they help support programs at each of our schools and we want to continue to uh appreciate them and and the support they have whe they do t-shirts or other giveaways or things for for our students. So that is um all part of Red Rupen Week. And then finally, a couple last uh key things here. Parent teacher conferences. I know it's only October, but those are taking place the Monday and Tuesday before um Thanksgiving. We've traditionally run a schedule that's there on the screen Monday from 11:00 to 8. So we're able to have parents that are maybe working during the day that can can be available in the evening and then the next day in the morning. Um and uh as it says there if parents need to to to zoom in or or
018phone conference uh the teachers are happy to you know participate in those conferences as well as well as in person at the buildings on the during those open times. You'll get information from your individual buildings or your individual teachers on how to sign up. There's time uh time slots those type of things available to have our parent teacher conferences. So, please take advantage of the time the teachers are available and it's a great time to connect after about a quarter of the year. And a one final push for our academic hall of fame. The submissions are are due in by by Halloween. So, if you have a an alum that want to promote and uh and celebrate and recognize through the hall of fame, that information is available uh on the website as well as
019uh it was I don't know how many times they put in the town of country, but it was in the town of country. So, real quick plug for the community conversation next week uh at Speak Easy. Again, few of them fewer of them this year, but still hoping to have um some fruitful conversations and look forward to that opportunity. And then finally, I just want to save the date even though it's way far out in February. We're beginning to gear up and get some promotional information and some details out about Upper Perky uh innovation fair titled preserving today and planning for tomorrow. This is the opportunity for anyone in the community. I'm hoping I get to get some some teachers, hoping to get some staff uh and including students and community members that if you
020have ideas of how we can improve things, how we can be more efficient, how we can save money, how we can improve what we're doing, it's a science fair type of uh of program. Again, we'll have more information coming out. Registration will begin in December for people to participate and and get themselves um there. And there's always spots for uh for board members that are exiting. to participate. Yeah, exactly. Uh um as as well as uh obviously I mean encouraging the administration as well to participate. So stay tuned. That's that is that is a date that I worked with Mrs. Cunningham on that is the February workshop. So we're going to because it should be on everyone's calendar already. It'll be at the middle school and we also hope to have some student groups leading
021some tours of the middle school for anyone that has not yet seen the middle school that wants to to see that because we're opening that to the community. So stay tuned. But just continuing to to work on that. Think of ideas. Think of a old school science fair board. I know Mr. Bishop is nervous that people are going to start asking well how much does this cost and what does this cost and all that kind of research. But that's what we want to do. We want to continue to get better and and hear some ideas and then share the respon uh responses and and what comes out of that. So that is the end of my report. >> Thank you. That wasn't too long. >> I like the mustache on your podcast. You saw that?
022>> Yeah, I did. I saw that. So now we'll move on to our student representative to the board report for our first time. Reagan, >> thank you for the opportunity to share the upcoming events that the high school has going on in the rest of the month of October and some of the beginning of November. So on the 22nd of October, we're going to have the PSAT and the SAT day. And FCA will be hosting Fields of Faith on the 15th of October at 7. At this time, all fall sports have had their senior recognition other than football, which will have theirs tomorrow night against Phoenixville. Last night was the college financial aid workshop uh that was open for students and families. And the freshman class trip to the Renaissance Fair took place today. Uh
023the sophomore trip is upcoming on the 28th and that will be to Blue Mountain. The junior class trip is on the 14th of November and that will be to Washington DC. And the freshman business tours are on the 18th and 19th of November. And NH NHS induction is on the 11th or is on the 18th of November. Thank you. >> Thank you. Well done. Thank you. All right, we're going to move on to our solicitors report and sunshine act announcements. B. >> Good evening everyone. I have two announcements tonight. The first is that the board met in executive session immediately prior to tonight's meeting for the purpose of discussing a matter of collective bargaining between the district and the upper percomenan education association. And the second is in regard to public comment. There'll be two
024periods for public comment tonight. The first is limited to action items on tonight's agenda and the second is for any matter that might come before the board. Each speaker will be limited to three minutes and there are signup sheets in the back of the room that will need to be uh turned in to the left of the screen up here prior to the comment period. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Uh next would be uh presentations discussion uh policies for first read. First off 246 student wellness. Hopefully, you've had a chance to look at the two policies up for the first read, the student wellness and the title one parent and family engagement. So, we'll try to entertain any questions or comments you might have. Dr. Fina, if there's anything you'd like to add.
025Okay. And second one, 918, title one, parent and family engagement. All right, I would invite uh Mrs. Malone up here for transportation update. There she is. Hi, John. Thanks. Hi, everybody. How are you? I got my clicker, but thanks Jim. So, as we do every year, just coming up to give you a little bit of an idea where we are right now with transportation. Um, we go. All right. So, currently that's about where we're looking at. Um, we have 2,900 students approximately transported daily. 42 schools. We're down a couple schools this year, which is kind of nice. It's helped a lot. Um, 205 routes are running. 63 vehicles are running. Currently, we need one van driver that's being covered by a sub every day, whether that be a mechanic or an office manager. Same thing
026with buses. We're still down three CDL drivers. And then we're down two monitors currently at this time. So the routing that we had did this spring and this summer to help with budget was also helping us with the decrease in staff. You know, a lot of our people are retiring. They're coming, you know, coming to that end. We're not drawing in the younger crowd quite yet. You know, Christ is really working hard to try to do that. We're working hard with our team, you know, to try to lead people in. Um but currently that's where we're standing. So I just put a little bit up here about what Christ is offering and the changes that they have made because I know that's always you know the big thing. What are we doing to pull in
027more people? So they have done a lot. They are still working on a lot. They have recruiters coming in and doing different things with job fairs and community events. They're at every community event trying to pull in some drivers to help us out here. Um that is also a link to their employment page. So if anybody would know anyone who'd want to come join our team, we have an amazing team. Really amazing team. Some of the questions I'm hearing out in the public um are our higher rider counts. Our counts are higher because we're trying to keep our buses low, the number of buses low. So, I did a poll just to see what we're looking at for high school, middle school because they we roster them high and they ride a little lower and
028they our wrership is probably around 80%. We're not at 100% on any of them. We're right around 80%. Now, at the elementary levels, of course, we're high. We're probably around our 90% mark, 95% mark. Um, so I think what we did with splitting the middle school and high school worked out amazingly. It did. Not only did it save a bus, it saved a lot for families. I've heard a lot of positives, a lot more positives than I heard negatives, which I love. That's what I wanted. Um, late arrivals to the schools have slowed. We're on time. We're getting there. We're always there on time now. We haven't had the late arrival anymore for morning. We haven't had late arrivals in the afternoons. We've made an incredible amount of adjustments. Our families, our community have been
029amazing. with all the changes we had to make over the course of the last couple weeks because I know it's been a lot. We've been emailing everybody on weekends. Monday we have to change this. Tuesday we have to change that. But they've they've been incredible. The families have been amazing. Um but aside from that, those are the big questions I'm hearing from the public. And I just wanted to say we've really been working hard to try to get everything buttoned down pretty good and pretty tight. And I think we're pretty tight right now with what we have. >> I'd like to add in Miss Malone, thank you for that because there are times where I pull in and I don't see your car. I assume you're on the road. So that's not what a typical
030uh employee would of the district. You're you're you're trying to do that. And just so the board is aware that Dr. Fina, myself, and Mr. Mr. Bishop and Miss Malone did meet with Christ um was it Friday? Last last Friday. um on a on a separate topic, but also to raise these same issues to raise the level of concern um that the uh Wayne I think his name is was talking about getting if we need to get a driver from another depot because Christ is beginning to expand or or knowing that that there are challenges here. You know, the splitting of the um as Malone said, the splitting of the high school middle school routes are are very wellreceived at the high school and middle school and then we was having some impact on getting
031to to the um to the followup to the follow-up schools. So that is, you know, it works through and as as Jen described, you know, when we're when we're having some subd drivers come in, it takes a little while to learn the route, to know the the piece to that. So it may be a little longer. So that's not the norm. We're trying to do that. And um we appreciate the efforts that that you're taking as well as the the drivers at Christ. And we want to make sure just like the officials that our that our drivers know that we appreciate them as well because that can also be a a toll on them um when they're told they're not so popular um because they're late one day. Yeah. >> So, >> not experiencing quite
032what we used to experience in in that world, but >> um it has been a little contentious. Yeah, >> definitely. Yeah. >> Anybody have any questions? >> Any questions? >> You don't need a CDL to drive a van, do you? >> No. >> Well, Peg, >> you keep looking You keep looking at Keith every year. >> Not calling you out, Keith, but she does every year. >> I know. >> But you're welcome to join. you know, join a bus ride any day to see what it's like. You're welcome. I mean, you're all cleared to work with kids and come in our buildings. You're welcome to hop on a bus with us. Can hop on one of mine with me. I can always use an aid. I never know where I'm going and I'm the one
033who helps make the routes. >> Jen, I just want to thank you for your all your work on the bus routes and uh thank you. That it >> means a lot. >> Thank you. There's an amazing team behind me. Trust I couldn't do half of what I do without that team over there. We have so many people that have retired probably three or four times since I've been here. Barb to be one of them. I Barb was here as a manager 40 years ago. Barb's still driving a bus. She's retired four times, but she's still driving a bus this week. You know, um mechanic who moved on to another district to be a mechanic is driving every morning in the fog and the rain because he can before his shift at his other job. So
034we we have amazing people behind us. So that's what makes it a little not easier but a little more bearable. Yes, definitely. Thanks. >> Well, Jenna, thank you very much. Make sure you do pass along our thank you to all to everyone. Christ drivers. >> Thank you. Thank you for the update. >> They appreciate that. >> Yeah. And thank you for the update. >> Sure. I know. I wave to him all the time. So, >> yeah. And like, who is that lady and why is she waving to me? No. way back every day. >> They do. Yeah. >> Okay. Well, thank you very much. >> You're welcome. All right. >> Thanks. >> All right. So, now we will have There aren't any public comments on action items, so we'll move on to the approval of
035the agenda. >> Madame President, >> yes. I'd like to make a motion to add an action item and which is an approval for a voluntary districtwide wear red for respect day on October 14th, 2025 and every following October um if it falls on a school day. The purpose would be to designate October 14th as an optional district-wide observance known as wear red for respect, encouraging students, staff, and community members to wear red as a symbol of respect, civil discourse, and the rejection of violence in public life. Um my rationale for asking for this is that several parents in the community um and also some other additional community members have requested that the that the district recognize this observance. Um and I brought it up um I added to the question. I asked the superintendent and
036he declined to move the initiative forward administratively which is his right to do that citing concern about potential controversy. I did ask the board president to add this to the agenda with um plenty of notice ahead of time. Um but she did not she was not inclined to move it forward. Um the proposed observance aligns with the Pennsylvania Department of Education's emphasis on character education and mirrors other voluntary initiatives such as wear orange for kindness day. >> Okay. And actually that was my decision. It wasn't his decision. U >> Madame President, may I just interject quickly? I did want to bring to your attention there are some legal concerns or considerations here with adding an action item within the 24-hour period. So voting to add an agenda item could potentially cause an issue. >> So
037it's not that that concern is not about the topic, correct? It's simply just about the process. So, how would you think we need to proceed, Beth? >> I think that if we're talking about adding an item and there's a motion to do so, then perhaps we retire to an executive session briefly to talk about the legal implications of doing that. >> Okay, I'm fine with that. All right, we shall be back. Okay. So, where we left off? We have a motion. Do we have a second? Okay. Hearing none, that ends the addition. All right. Um, so we'll move on to approval of the agenda. >> Motion. Second. >> Any discussion? All in favor? I. >> Any opposed? Okay. Uh, next I'd ask for an approval of the minutes of September 11th school board meeting. >>
038Motion. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Seeing none, all in favor? I. Any opposed? Okay. Uh, I don't see that we have anything under old business. So, we'll move on to new business. Madam President, can I make a motion to approve the personnel report in its entirety? That's the resignations, the appointments, the supplementals, the leaves, and tenure. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Yeah. The um under athletic under supplemental positions, athletic event managers, that's as needed, correct? >> Yes. And the list of athletic event workers, those are like ticket people, clock people, all of that. Right. >> Correct. >> Okay. And then just as aside, there are still several unfilled coaching positions. And the middle the uh high school girls soccer assistant coach position has gone empty the whole season. And just kind of wondering what
039efforts are being made to, you know, recruit. You don't have to answer that question, but just something, you know, I've been thinking about like the efforts that are made to fill those positions because winter sports is coming up and we have a couple winter positions open. So, it's all thank you. >> On the next meeting, I believe the workshop will have the groupings of the uh winter coaching that's that we have filled and uh in the board update tomorrow, um there is an update on two of the winner coaching positions. Um the names are there for the um middle school girls wrestling and indoor boys or girls indoor boys track assistant coach. So that's in the board update for that to update that but the whole list will be coming out on the 23rd uh
040in the update. >> Okay. Anyone else? >> Um all in favor? >> I. Any opposed? Okay. We'll move on to action items. Madame President, can I make a motion to approve item A, the professional agreement between the Upper Perk Board of School Directors and the Upper Perk and Education Association? >> Second. Do we have any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor? >> Any opposed? >> Motion passes. Thank you. All right, we'll move on to item B. PSBA school board leadership. Motion to approve Holly Arnold from Tonanuk Area School District to serve as the PSBA president-elect. >> Can I get a motion? Do you want to do all three of them? >> Well, it's all three at once. They're the only ones. I'll make a motion to approve item B, the school board PSBA school board
041leadership in its entirety. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Hearing none. All in favor? I. Any oppose? >> Okay, >> Madam President. >> Yes. >> I do item C, policy for approval the use of general artificial intelligence in education and D, the approve the student activity account and scholarship list for the 2526 school year. >> Second. >> Lots of seconds. >> Any discussion? >> All right, hearing none. All in favor? >> Oh. Oh, I'm so sorry. >> Well, I thought Trina was going to say something. Um just remember board 8:15 um the AI policy um is what it is today but we will be try you know watching that that's that's going to evolve so just you know be aware of that just a reminder thank you >> sorry about that uh any other discussion hearing
042none all in favor I any opposed >> all right we'll move on to >> Madame President item E can we motion to approve a appoint motion to appoint Ruth Padilla and Reagan Miles as the student representatives to the board. >> Second. Any discussion? All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? >> Okay. Thank you. >> So now, if you would meet me up at the front right here at the at the podium, >> administer your oath of office. Yeah. >> Okay. Want to raise your right hand? >> You're on the right. No, you're you're good. >> I have a daughter like that. I >> Ian Miles >> do solemnly swear >> or affirm >> that I will support obey >> and defend the Constitution of the United States >> and defend the Constitution of the United
043States >> and the Constitution of this Commonwealth >> and the Constitution of this Commonwealth >> and that I will discharge my the duties of my office with fidelity >> and that I will discharge the duties of my office with fidelity. >> All right, that was a long one. Okay, congratulations. >> Thank you. That's just something >> and we will move on now. Madam President, can I make a motion to approve item F to approve the request by Joanne Paza to allow Ricardo Zanado of Italy to attend Upper Perk School as a foreign exchange student for the 24 2526 school year and G to approve the overnight excursion proposal for the boys and girls water polo team to attend the Erie water tournament. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Yes. >> Go ahead, Karina. Oh, good.
044>> I just wanted to say thank you to the Boston family for um being willing to host this student and welcome ahead of time to Ricardo. I know he's not quite here yet, but um he will be soon. So, I hope you guys have a wonderful experience as long as this is approved. >> Just out of curiosity, if Ricardo is going to play sports, there's a specific PIAA process that has to go through. So, just be aware of that. and the uh trip to Eerie. Um I'm just a little leerary about Ler and Eerie a little leer about the timing of this. So they're going this weekend, right? And we're just knowing about this now. Was it not on the schedule? >> I mean, I don't I don't know the answer. I know we processed
045as process it as quickly as we have. I did see Coach Clinowski in the audience. Is he here? Yeah, >> he's hiding. >> Oh, Phil. >> Yes. >> Can you come up to the mic? >> Yeah, come to the microphone. Sorry. >> Yeah, it was on our schedule from the from the start of this. >> So, Phil, I'm just concerned about the timing. We're getting it now as opposed to not getting it like at the beginning of the season or did we not know? Did we? Yeah, it was on our schedule at the beginning of the season. >> Yeah. So, getting the request now as opposed to beginning of the season. I I just I'm just >> Yeah, that process I'm not aware of in terms of how that gets communicated to you guys. >>
046Okay, good. Thank you. >> Yeah. What if we say no? Well, well, that's the thing that we can't now, you know, not that we we would, but I I'm just concerned about the timing of things coming to us in a in a more timely manner so that, you know, we're prepared to make the decision. >> We'll follow up with Mr. Kurswig and if coach Clonowski is here. I don't don't know the pro. I mean, it was processed fairly quickly uh when it got to the EDS. >> And so they're they're you're staying overnight, >> correct? Yeah. We started the the fundraising process last year. >> Yeah. Yeah. Okay, I won't ask about details and that's fine. Thank you. >> It looks like the form was submitted on September 11th. >> September 11th. So, I guess
047that's when the process started. >> Well, there's only one meeting. We only had the end of September meeting, the first one in October. I'm just saying the time though. Right. >> Yes. >> Yep. >> Gotcha. >> Okay. Anybody else? >> All right. Um, all I have a first and a second. All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? Okay. Motions pass. I don't believe we have any new follow-up items. And do we have is there any more papers in there in that box? >> Yes, I can see a couple. >> Okay. All right. Well, we can get started a while. So, I'll start off with Holly Francisco. Come on up. >> Thank you. >> Okay, let me try again. Um, good evening. Holly Francisco, chief negotiator for the upper park and education association and upper upper
048handover resident. On behalf of the association, I want to express our gratitude to the board and to the district, especially those directly involved in negotiations for the time and effort that was dedicated over the past year to working with the association in securing a new collective bargaining agreement. While challenging at times, the process resulted in an agreement that will well serve the needs of all stakeholders in the upper school district for the next three years. We appreciate your willingness to both listen to and act on the concerns of the association. your patience as all parties navigated through obstacles and the cooperative nature exhibited throughout the course of these negotiations. We are pleased that an agreement was reached at the table and we thank you very much for your ratification vote this evening. Thanks Holly. >>
049All right and follow up by Phil Dweiler. I didn't do that on purpose. I just random put them on my desk. >> Phil Deweiler, Upper Prouming Education Association President. Uh, good evening. I want to first thank the UPSD board for diligently working towards a fair and equitable collective bargaining agreement. UPA is pleased to be part of the successful negotiation process of the new three-year contract agreement that reflects a shared commitment to educational excellence and community responsibility. The agreement offers meaningful improvements for educators, allowing them to better support their own families during challenging economic times. Of equal importance, the board ensured the agreement remains fiscally responsible and sustainable for local taxpayers. In addition, this contract was the result of respectful collaboration uh negotiations focused on shared values. This agreement supports the needs of our association members
050while reinforcing our commitment to students and the community. This contract demonstrates that with open communication and mutual respect, it is possible to reach outcomes that benefit all stakeholders, students, families, educators, and taxpayers alike. Thank you for your time and good evening. >> Thanks, Phil. >> All right, Melissa Keith, please. Hi, my name is Melissa Keith. I am the president of the Upper Perk Perky Omen Aquatics Club and an upper handover resident. My daughter has been playing here at um Upper Perk for three years. Um our struggle as a small team, we only have 22 students and we're finding we're definitely facing two major um things. The first is the ability to attract new players. A lot of people don't even know there's a water polo team and the fall sports like this year when they
051had the beginning of the school fall sports on the advertisement was some come see the football players and the cheerleaders nothing about any of the other sports. So things like we're lost in simple things like that. And our other thing is because we are such a small team of 22 kids, we're having a really hard time with fundraising because we're all pulling from the same people of all the sports, pulling from our small businesses and our parents who are all, you know, spent. So, we're just trying to look into new things. One of the great opportunities would be opening um a middle school water polo team. So that what this year when we're losing seven of our um 10 girls of our seniors and two of our guys, we're a team of 22, we're losing
052nine of our players. That's a big chunk of our team gone. So possibly opening something like a middle school where we need a coach and like a van for transportation. And there are plenty of opportunities to have other middle schools like Germantown Havford, Malvin, Alpha Water Polo, PM Water Polo, and Marian all have teams that we could have. And I've talked to just the immediate parents that I sit with. And we have at least eight kids with that would definitely be interested in doing this. And we know that um coaches, we've talked to the coaches and they'd be interested in also helping us with that coaching. And as for fundraising, we are open to any ideas that you guys have for us. Um, we're again a small team. We had one fundraiser. It raised $700
053and that's for both Polo and Swim Team. And we're going to Eerie and that budget has been eight. So, we're just looking for anything that you guys have that we could expand on that would be greatly appreciated. And another quick question. I know nothing about EIN's and we're supposed to get one. Does that legally bind me if I'm the one that makes it? Does anybody know that? >> You could probably talk to Drew later. >> Okay, that's my only other question. >> Thank you, >> Randy Baptist. Don't forget the microphone. Thank you. I'm to the point where I remind people without the button. Um, so upcoming, uh, we have Columbus Day, indigenous people's day. Um, and I think it's a it's kind of good that they're both there to sort of remind each other about
054where our past has been for this country. I feel like a lot of people are trying to sweep certain things under the rug lately of saying, "Oh, no, that wasn't in the past. You don't need to know about that." Um I'm a little concerned um that at a national level that there are groups working with the department of education um under a civics initiative um like PragerU, Turning Point USA, Moms for Liberty. Um I don't know what the outcome of this is going to be, but I want you all to look out for whatever influence that might be in the future. I say this because okay um Prageru they have something where they're downplaying um things like slavery um and saying oh don't judge Columbus by today's standards um you know I hope that kind
055of thing doesn't sort of creep in here um from the national level um turning points founder said that MLK was awful and that passing the Civil Rights Act was a huge mistake Now I have step two. Turn on the button and raise the microphone or hunch over. Essentially recapping that because there's a time limit on this. Um there's a national consortium working with the department of education now with some controversial groups. Um, Prageru stands out like a sore thumb. And I'm bringing this up because Columbus Day is right around the corner, right? And we know that that is not a perfect history there. I'll say that. Anyway, I'm just asking you to look out for the influence, whatever this is down the line of these types of groups. Um, what what I don't know what
056they're going to try to push on this school. Um, and I I know that social emotional learning um is not a cure all, but there's been so much violence, political and whatnot in this country right now. Um, and I know Moms for Liberty has very much bent against that. And so, I would hope that we have continued support for helping people to resolve conflicts and manage their anger and things like that. I I could never understand why that was controversial. I'll just leave it there. Um, thank you. >> And you still came in under time. Thank you. >> Okay, I'll keep going. I'm just >> Next up was Sharon. Sharon Bastone. You may have to move the microphone down. Just saying. >> Hi, I Sharon Bastone from Upper Handover. I want to thank the board
057for shutting down that agenda item that just came up. We um it was pretty obvious what it was. It was a political agenda being shoved in here under respect. Um, we all know it was for the remembrance of a political um, figure that was controversial and I can tell you for one that I do not want that in this school and I know many people do not. If it was truly a day of respect um, where all were read that can be done on a different day. We already have unity day in October. So having it on that particular day that is um a national or being pushed as a national day for this um controversial subject would um be very divisive in our school divide our kids unnecessarily even though you think it would
058be respect it would not and I can guarantee that um I would not put up with it and I know a lot of other parents wouldn't. So thank you for shutting that down. And um me personally I'm really getting sick of these theatrics um being veiled as things that are not. um you've been put these three candidate um schoolboard members have been doing theatrics for years and this is just another one veiled under respect. So if that's truly honestly the motive, let's do it on another day like maybe in April. So that's what I'm saying. >> Thank you Melissa Limeach. You're gonna you're gonna Okay. All righty. I'll just put you in the pile. Uh, Joey Debbach, did I say that right? >> I did. >> Okay. Yay. >> Oh, thank you. >> Yep. Thank
059you. Okay. Um, just to follow up on what Ms. Bestone said, "Imagine if you're a student here in Upper Park who's part of any one of a number of marginalized communities here, female, African-American, gay, transgender, Hispanic, Muslim, or you're traumatized by the myriad of school shootings that happen in this country every single day. And you're worried about getting shot at school, or you're bullied in a classroom because you're different than your peers." and someone on your school board chooses to dedicate time and energy to nominate a day made for a man who said things like, and I quote, "I can't stand the word empathy. Actually, I think empathy is a madeup new age term that does a lot of damage." He also said, "Joy Reid, Michelle Obama, Sheila Jackson Lee, and Katanji Brown Jackson, all
060women and all women of color are affirmative action picks." and said, "Certain black women do not have the brain processing power to otherwise be taken really seriously. You had to go and steal a white person's slot to go and be taken somewhat seriously." Another quote, "If I see a black pilot, I'm going to be like, "Boy, I hope he's qualified." He used a Bible verse to quote uh justify stoning people, gay people to death, saying it was quote God's perfect law when it comes to sexual matters. and that we should have just taken care of trans people the way we used to take care of things in the 1950s and60s. And finally, he said, I think it's worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have
061the Second Amendment. I don't condone violence, but I also don't mourn this ma man's death, and it certainly isn't something to be celebrated. What I think I should be mourning, and we all should be mourning, is what has become of our country. that a racist, misogynistic, hateful man seen by so many in this country as a man to be honored. He shouldn't be martyed or revered. He shouldn't have a day at school to honor his legacy. He should be reviled because his hateful rhetoric towards women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ community, and just about everybody who isn't a straight white Christian male has added fuel to the fire of hate, which has now become normalized in this country. and not just normalized but almost revered in this country. And this is not something
062or someone to be honored or memorialized. Not anywhere and certainly not here in Upper Perk and definitely not in our school. >> Thank you, >> Terry Olrich. >> Carrie, sorry I didn't hear you. You didn't hear me. >> Hi, Carrie from Green Lane. Um, I just really want to echo what Sharon said. I think it's highly inappropriate for the school to kind of lead a day on October 14th. We all know what that's really about. We all know what we're memorializing with that. I think given the political climate we're in right now, it would only cause controversy and distract from the real work that needs to get done at the schools. >> Thank you. Uh, see Joel Okay, thank you. And Maggie Buckwaver, the last people I have. Oh, there she is. >> I have
063the opposite microphone problem. >> I'm Maggie Bucker from uphead of her. Um, just this is a very personal moment for me because it's the eve of my 94year-old mother-in-law's u celebration of life tomorrow. She was a physician until 85 years old. um if she had followed the words of being an MRS degree only holder through college that many of her teachers in high school and college said why are you even taking these classes you're going to take the spot of a man who wants to go to medical school she had a practice in Horscham with her husband until they were 85 years old from that legacy they've made so many wonderful children and I'm I'm proud of my own children but let me just give you a little background there's a CFO worldrenowned found there.
064She's a woman. They're their boy their guide kids are, you know, wonderful, too, but they weren't told to go get an MRS degree by the person that was supposedly to be honored um for respect. Um my own daughter is the youngest person in administration in a cardiac ICU unit at the University of Pennsylvania. Um and then my son's girlfriend is Hispanic and a woman in college. She uh just restarted the EMT club at a college with 60,000 students. She was the one who did it. She also went to the vote school, got the highest award of the for scholarship from the VOTE school. Uh my son was learning disabled. That's another maligned group. Um he had chap he had dual diagnosis chapter 16 and chapter 14. He had a perfect score on his ACT. If
065we follow what this person who supposedly we were going to honor for a day of respect, these people in my life who have achieved so much, their lives were so degraded by this person. I never want to see that in this school district and I will fight it to my dying day. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. That was the last uh public comment I had. So, we'll move on to board comment. Uh yeah, I just want to make a comment to the woman that spoke about water polo. Um so couple things. One, did you talk at all or have you talked to uh Mr. Curtiswig about this? Okay. Just want to make sure that you were going through him. And have you talked at all to the All Sports Booster Club and the leadership
066there? Those are just you don't have to answer me. I'm just those are two suggestions um on ways to potentially get more um help. the all sports booster club is kind of reformed after the past, you know, this year. Uh so I would just say they they might be able to help you, but um I agree, you know, we we'll try and uh certainly I I chair the uh extracurricular committee which does a lot with the sports and and other clubs. So um we're we're happy to try to help you in any way we can. Um as far as adding a sport, there is a policy like a procedure for that. Um I would hope that Mr. Kerswig would provide the information um to do that. But we do have a pretty long process where
067we um basically we pull all the students and ask them for their interest levels and based on those interest levels and I'm kind of looking at Dr. Roach just to help me out. >> Iron and I >> based on those interest levels we um decide what sports could potentially be next. We're in the middle of doing that right now and as a result um there's a few different sports on the docket. I can tell you water polo is not one of them. Um >> but water polo is two weeks ago after the last extracurricular Mr. Kurswig and I met to go over the survey to revamp it and we did or will add middle school water polo to the options for those other options as we're continuing through right >> through those conversations in addition
068to the other ones we talked you know that we talked about at the committee level. So, it's already in the works. That that'll be that's the November >> student interest survey. Middle school water polo um >> uh will be added as an option there to get begin to get some interest levels as well. >> Great. Great. Yeah. And I would just encourage you um you know come come to those meetings too, but also uh please reach out to the I know Mr. Kerswick can get you in touch with the all sports booster club. And the point of that club is to really help the the smaller sports too that don't get a lot of love like football, you know, and and ones like that that that tend to get more. So, yes. Okay. Uh that's
069I did want to say something in response to the October 14th uh day of remembrance for the observance of this day. It would serve as an educational tool promoting free speech, civic engagement, and intellectual diversity by fostering critical thinking among students. It would encourage respectful debate, encouraging balanced discussion to promote free speech, protecting all voices, even those they disagree with, and evaluate diverse viewpoints. This could boost student involvement in studies about our republic and economy. offering a chance to teach students how to engage with opposing ideas constructively. >> Thanks, Liz. Um, do we have any other >> I uh I wanted to say to Sharon Baston, um, she brought up some, um, good ideas about renovations, possible renovation. Bradley, calm down. possible just ideas. Um, and so I wanted to um let her know and
070everybody um that there is talk about posting that feasibility study and then there's going to be some context around it that you might need to understand. But I look forward to and appreciate um Dr. Roach announcing February 26, which I have lovingly named Trifold Day. Um please uh please look out for those uh that it will be at the facilities meeting that will um talk through some of that. >> Yeah, the KCBA study will be reviewed again in depth at the um >> facilities >> uh yes October facilities committee meeting. >> Um and then uh in addition about October 14th, I I wanted to explain why I believe approving a voluntary wear red for respect day on October for 14th is the right step for our district. Actually, also I wanted to say I guess
071to joy with some of the quotes that you used um I would just encourage you to make sure you find the context for those. >> Those were direct quotes not a debate. >> First I want to emphasize >> comment now please. >> What it Thank you. First I want to emphasize what it would be and what it is not. It's not a political statement not a memorial to a single single figure or a demand for conformity. It would be an opportunity for students and staff to affirm values that every one of us says that we support. Respect, civility, and non-violence, which Randy brought up too, in how we treat one another. In the past, our district has chosen to highlight other civic or character themes. We've supported wear orange for kindness, unity day, leadership events
072at area universities, and training that encourages inclusion. Each of those efforts is aimed to promote positive behavior and understanding. Adding a red for respect day um is consistent with that same spirit. It simply broadens the circle by affirming that respectful disagreement is also a civic virtue worth teaching. When community members reached out, and more than one did, their requests were thoughtful and nonpartisan. They asked that we help students learn to discuss hard issues without anger or hostility. That's not politics. That's education. I recognize the superintendent's concern about potential controversy, but if we shy away from teaching students how to handle disagreement because disagreement exists, we lose one of the most important lessons that public education can offer. Our mission statement commits us to preparing students for engaged citizenship, which requires courage, empathy, and dialogue. This
073observance would be voluntary and could easily coincide with our monthly upper park day. Students could wear blue and gold or red as they choose. There's no disruption, no cost, and no endorsement of any party or ideology. It's a low-risk, high value gesture that signals to our community that Upper Perk stands for respectful dialogue and rejects violence of any kind. Some could express and some did that um approving this day opens the door to politics in our schools. I would argue the opposite. Refusing to allow a simple message of respect because someone else has politicized it gives politics the power, not us. Approving this day takes that power back and reclaims the ground of shared values. We have long been teaching kindness. We should also teach respect. We teach inclusion. We should also teach civil discourse.
074we already have the framework and this might just be the missing piece to complete the picture. So I want to thank you for listening um to what I have to say tonight. Um and I look forward to carrying on this discussion further. Um we obviously won't vote on this tonight or probably not in any way as a board in time for October 14th. I will wear wear red on October 14th um to encourage continued respectful civil discourse. Thank you. >> Excuse me. Excuse me. This is board comment. Okay. Thank you. Do we have any other board comment? >> Trina, I was just wondering like do you know what other school districts are going to do on the 14th? Like what's Boyertown going to do? >> I don't have knowledge of what other districts are doing.
075I think it may be a discussion, but I don't know of anything personally. So that's a good question. Thank you. >> What will you do in your classroom besides wear red? What kind of things could you do >> in my classroom particularly? We do talk about rhetoric so we could bring up like idea behind discourse but I don't have a specific lesson planned or anything like that for myself. >> Thank you. Thank you. Yeah. >> I I'm not asking to necessarily include lessons in the district for us. Um, I don't I don't know if that's something people want to discuss, so I guess I would be open to it, but I personally don't have plans to do that. Um, yeah, but >> thank you. Appreciate it. >> Thank you. Thank you, P. >> Yeah. Um,
076I'd like to circle back to athletics. >> Sure. >> I know you're surprised, but yeah. I The first thing I'd like to do is Bradley, I'm calling you out right now. Yeah. I And I I've shared this with you already, and I want to do it in public. I I really want to thank the town and country for their coverage of our sports because they cover everybody. They not just the high profile, but they cover everything. >> That's true. >> Very. So, >> thank you, Bradley. I really appreciate. Let Larry know too, please. So, um, and we would be remiss if we did not recognize girls cross country who are currently undefeated. >> Sorry. So, >> yeah, we've got a lot of good stuff going on in the athletic program. I mean, if you haven't
077been to a football game, you get better get there tomorrow night because it it's it's pretty powerful and exciting. And uh I'm sorry, but last Friday that game was amazing. But what really, you know, it's just the atmosphere, the band was amazing. I mean, they had their uniforms on. It was just, it took me back. Took me back. Yeah. So, thank you. I'd piggy back off of that. And I didn't even put it in my president's report. I had at least three things I didn't steal your thunder on today. You're welcome. Uh yeah, football game was a lot of fun. and any board member who'd like to work in the snack stand. I've seen a couple. I did it. I know. I saw you. I saw you. It's a lot of fun. Um, do we
078have any other board comments? >> Be careful. I I got put on dish duty for a while. So, >> it was okay, though. >> I like to be out front. Uh, do we have any other any other board comments? >> No. Okay. I would entertain a motion to motion. >> Second. >> Okay. All in favor? I Any opposed? All right. Meeting adjourned. Thank you. >> Go Phillies. Go Eagles. Go everybody. And flyers.