001Welcome to the Wattsburg Area School District where we are student centered and future focused for a world-class education. I now call to order the regular board meeting for the Wattsburg area school district board of directors for Monday, May 19th. Would you please stand for the pledge of allegiance? 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. May I have a roll call, please? Mr. Blaz, present. Mr. Blazer, Mr. Brumagen, present. Mrs. Burlingham here. Mrs. Heatherington here. Mrs. Lee here, Mr. Morve here, Dr. Pushchek here, Mr. Williams here, Mr. Young present. I will now entertain a motion to approve the agenda as presented. So move push check. Burlingham second. Any questions on the agenda?
002Hearing? None. All in favor, please say I. I. Nay. Motion carries. I now entertain a motion to approve the minutes from our regular or sorry to approve the minutes from our work session. More vehic we have the meeting on April 21st. And we also I will also entertain a motion to approve the minutes of the regular board meeting on April 21st. So move push check. Nicole second. Any questions on the minutes? Hearing none. All in favor, please say I. I. Oppos? Nay. Motion carries. It's now time for school reports. Yes, we have Mr. Thank you. Uh this evening we have uh a report from the middle school and I'll turn things over to our principal at the middle school, Mr. Paris. Is it on or did I shut it off? No, it's working. All right.
003Today we have uh members are from of our uh envir environ teams. Uh how many teams do we have? Oh, I'm just pulling I'm stealing their thunder. Yeah. Um but the environ's been going on for many many years. Um and our sixth, seventh, and eighth graders have participated it in it for many years. And we have Mrs. verdict that's going to introduce the team and tell you what it's all about. I'll give it to them. Hello everyone. We're really excited and proud of our teams and I'm going to let them tell you all about how our afternoon went that day. So, um, we were going to the what's it called? Headarters Park. And we started the day for waiting for the other districts to join us. And um it was Thursday. Um Tuesday, my bad.
004Um May 6th and uh sixth and eighth grade participated in the middle. Oh, bet says eighth grade up there. Oh, my bib. Nice. Um we all participated and had a lot of fun while doing it. Um we did soil uh what soil dang it I wildlife forestry aquatics and there was presentation a present current events presentation. Thank you. We had 16. We had six teams. the wood warriors, the green bananas, the volcanoes, the mighty Bobcats, faculty and oh that's not team um dream tropical and the green vines. So for the wood warriors, which was our eighth grade team, they took second place overall. Overall, so uh all teams that competed our sec our eighth graders took second place overall, which we've been going for many years. And this was very exciting because they did a
005beautiful job. So those students were Melanie Campbell, Sydney Williams, Gabby Schultz, and John Joel. And Sydney's going to come up and show you all of the good things that they earned that day. Congratulations. Nice. Congratulations. Congratulations. Well done. Yes. Very nice. So the volcanoes which is the sixth grade team and the members were Kendall Frell, Allison Sarah's McKenna Kelly, Elliot Chapman and Lucas Samansky and we finished in third place and it was our um first year of competing and the volcanoes also claimed first place honors in the wildlife portion of the competition and we got so not only Did they make this third place overall? Their very first time ever coming to the competition, but they also won first place honors in the wildlife portion. And they're all here to for Elliot, right? Yeah. Volcanoes,
006can you come up here? Let me see you. So again, these were brand new participants to the event. We're very, very, very, very proud. Do you want to show? I'm sorry. All right. All right. And green bananas. You want to come on up? Come on. Don't be shy. You want to talk? Nope. The green. The green bananas. We were a mix of sixth and eighth grade. It sixth sixth and seventh grade. It was Luke Leel, Carter Kger. Um those were the sixth graders. And the two seventh graders are Hannah Strommyer and Kira Smith. We took place. We took first place in the honors for the soil event. The soil event. They won first place in the soil event. Anybody have their soil? Oh, it was a bag, right? They won like a bag with like
007a squishy barn and a loveler combined with a tape measure. So on on behalf of all of us, our entire team, we wanted to thank you for your support, your continued support. We look forward to coming back next year. And we heard another team when we were leaving say, "Watch out for Watsburg. They're coming for everything." So, that's what we like to hear. Thank you. And I just want to commend the parents too for your support and and bringing the kids out tonight. Thank you. This is the greatest pleasure in what we do here from a local governance level is to be able to see the achievements of our students uh not just in our buildings but outside of our buildings and representing our district and and I know you kiddos did a great job
008at doing that. So, thank you very much and thank you for your presentation. You want to let them escape? It's up to you. Yeah. And and kids, the rest of this isn't as fun as you, so you don't have to stay if you don't want to. But if you want to learn all about schoolboard meetings, then you are more than welcome. And when you're in high school, you even have a class available to you where you get credit for coming here, so you could practice. So, it's up to you. Uh, it's now time for guest and citizen comments. And they're exiting. Do we have anyone signed up to speak this evening? Sydney, you have to stay, otherwise you don't get a ride home. So, Thanks, kids. We'll give them a second to get out here.
009Yeah. All right. Next on our agenda, it's time for the superintendent report. The chair will now recognize Dr. Kenberlin. Uh thank you, Mr. President. I just wanted to uh provide a brief overview end of the year here. Uh put things in perspective. Want to talk a little bit about um where we've been academic wise and what we're doing here at the end of the at the end of the school year and then just looking forward to wrapping things up in June um with the annual safety report. So, as you know, uh, over the past few weeks, we've got gotten into the end of the year assessments. This is that time of year. And three through eight took the PSSA, and that's in the three major subject areas. And the high school as well. Secondary students
010take the Keystone in English, algebra, or biology. Um, it might vary what grade they take it in, 10, uh, 11. Uh some there there are some students that take the algebra test even earlier in 8th grade. Uh but that is wrapping up this week. Started last week. So we're probably just doing some makeups. But just so a little retrospective, this is this is how we did in the fall when the scores came in. And you can see that uh we did quite well. We we we met or exceeded uh or if we missed a target, we were improving um almost across the board. there's a there's an exception or two there. Um but very very well-rounded um uh progressoriented achievement there. Things are going in the right direction. Um so let's go to the next
011slide. Yeah. So, and that's just what I had said a second ago. Overall, the the performance targets uh were met and we have strengths and challenges. Obviously, the strengths uh would be that everywhere you look for the most part, we've met increased or we're exceeding uh a standard or a growth metric. And uh math in particular in all the schools, the growth is very strong. Uh, and that's re we're really starting to see the effects of Eureka and some of these math programs we put in place almost 10 years ago. Uh, that's is really starting to to pay off with with um the teachers, staff being familiar with that. And then and parents too, families, you know, you have to learn Eureka math as well as many of you have discovered, right? Uh, okay. And
012then the challenges, we do have a few areas. science at the high school. We know that that's uh has been an area that that needs attention and and we have been um taking a look at that. We didn't meet targets there this year, but we are increasing growthwise. So that's the first step. You have to start growing before you're going to hit a hard target. Uh so that's moving in the right direction. And then the uh targets for proficient advanced ELA at the whams and elementary not met but the academic growth standards was exceeded. So the students are moving as quickly as they're capable of moving relative to what they've done and their peers are doing. Okay, next slide. Um so there's a building level score and these do get published. Uh, I noticed Yuri
013Times picks these up sometimes. Uh, this is a score that gets applied to the building for um PTE uh school improvement activities. Uh, now we're not identified for any of those things. In fact, we're far from it. Uh, the building level score is a compilation. It's a proxy that includes attendance, uh, achievement scores, growth scores, graduation progress, career, uh, goal exploration. It puts them all together. Um, so it's it's a very, uh, comprehensive global metric or proxy, uh, for how a a school is doing. So in short, you can see the elementary school is at the top of the crew there in this local area. Go to the next slide. Uh much the same middle school the building level score again aggregate looking at everything that happens in a school building with the kids you
014have. Uh we are near the top of the pack there. And one more slide. Um Senica also doing very well. Uh it can be especially at the high school level it can be a little discouraging looking at the achievement scores um on the keystones. They're those are tough tests and they're they're they're designed to be tough and generally, you know, across the county, across the state, you you don't have um people exceeding and just blowing the doors off the keystones. Uh and this score puts that in perspective. Uh we're actually doing quite well. Okay. And then uh finally just looking ahead some of the annual things we do at the end of every year uh the board u will uh receive a safety report from me and this of course started in 2018 when all
015schools had to appoint a school safety coordinator and uh here you know we don't have a real big staff so that's me and we'll do that in executive committee because that's what's um called for in the statute. And I'll kind of run you through uh some of the things that we identified last summer and that uh we've put into place. And then of course this summer we worked in some school and safety improvement uh upgrades facilitywise uh with our school improvement grant that that we were awarded by the state, which is almost a million dollars. So, we're going to we're going to be t taking care of some things like higher security doors uh at the middle school and windows and that type of thing. Uh so, we've made really excellent progress there. And I'll
016get more into the details with the board and some of the aspects of um you know, what we're doing with students and some of those um numbers next month. So, that's just looking ahead and that's all I had tonight. Does anyone have any questions for Dr. Berlin? Of course, the most important date right there. It's coming quick. Yep. That's why we're all here. So, and we're excited. All right. Thank you, Dr. Berlin. The chair will now recognize uh Mrs. Vicky Bendig for the business administrator's report. Thank you, Mr. President. For tonight, uh the treasures reports that were were presented last week. uh the general fund 10,957,714.116. I also have the budget versus actual report. We're about 83% of the fiscal year completed. There's two months left. Uh we're sitting at 65% of the year-to-ate total
017budgeted expenditures and 77.21% of the year-to-ate budget revenues. So, it's always good to see when revenues are exceeding expenditures. Uh capital projects treasury report $1722 as of the end of April. Uh cafeteria has $751,989 in that account as of the end of April. Cafeteria profit and loss report for April. We had a profit of $19,13.14 which brings our year-to-ate loss up to a negative $149,672.34. And then the student activities account had a total balance of $77,271.85 as of the end of April. Uh moving on to the bill lists. Uh the checks already written between last board meeting and the work session. General fund checks $40,499.33. There were no capital projects checks. Cafeteria had a check of $73.83. And then between last work session and this evening, there was $62,47947 of general fund bills and the
018cafeteria bill of $54,871. That was um our nutrition inc bill that was paid in advance to take advantage of the discount. And then the bill list for your approval tonight general fund totaling $538,81461 and the cafeteria bill of 273982. And that is all I have this evening. Does anyone have any questions for Mrs. Bending? I have a quick question. Uh so the uh cafeteria I I see our year-to- date loss uh and I'm assuming that's equipment and and we are stocking up on things. Uh but we still have a very healthy balance. So uh did you not say I know in the past you've talked about how we can only reinvest that within the cafeteria world. Uh but is there any uh movement on if we could use that money for other things or are
019we still locked into and if we are locked into is there any other equipment that we're looking at? There is absolutely no movement. never will be out of food service to other things. So, but something that we are looking at, the middle school is exceeding its space um for walk-in. They do not have a walk-in cooler at the middle school because when it was built, it was never intended to be um a standalone kitchen. Everything was supposed to be prepared at the high school and then taken over there. And that just did not was not a good plan. It did not work well. So, we currently have a whole bunch of produce in plugin um like milk coolers and we've got milk crates shoved here, there, and everywhere in coolers trying to keep everything where
020it needs to be. So, we have been investigating a a an external would be a walk-in cooler that we would purchase that would be plucked down, but that also includes moving some mechanicals um construction to put a door so that they can go right in off of the dock. There will have to be a footer to raise it up to the level so that it's the dock level. Um, and we have a quote for all of that and I have submitted it to food department of food and nutrition for their approval. I've not heard anything back, so I'm going to reach back out to them. They always say that construction is never covered, but if the purpose of the construction is for a food service thing, it can be. Mhm. So, it's kind of a
021I'm hoping that we're going to be able to do that, but that'll be a very large chunk of change. It'll put a debt in our balance. Yeah. Yes. All right. Thank you. Any others? I'll now entertain a motion to approve the business reports, payments, and invoices as presented. Nicole, so moved. Jeremy second. All in favor, please say I. I. Oppos? Nay. Motion carries. Thank you, Mrs. Bending. Under legal advisement this evening, uh we have the opportunity to ratify the collective bargaining agreement between the Wattsburg Area School District and the Wattsburg Education Association. Uh including all dep appendices effective August 16, 2025 through August 15 of 2028. Uh does anyone have any questions on the ratification of the contract? Let's move it first. Oh, sorry. I'll entertain a motion. So moved. Push check. Nicole second. Any
022questions? This one we will vote by roll call. Mr. Blazer, yes. Mr. Brumagen, yes. Mrs. Burlingham, yes. Mrs. Heatherington, yes. Mrs. Lee, yes. Mr. Morve, yes. Dr. Pushchek, yes. Mr. Williams, yes. Mr. Young, yes. Motion carries. Thank you. Chair will now recognize Dr. Andy Pushchack for finance. Thank you, Mr. President. Under finance this evening, we have five items. Two regular agenda items and three addendum items. Um I'd like to take the first one by itself. That is to uh approve the renewal con the renewal contract with our food service management company. Uh and that's in the form of a motion. So moved. Nicole second. Are there any questions on the renewal contract for food service management with the nutrition group? Mr. President, yes, Dr. Just like to recognize the nutrition group and the continued excellent
023service that they provide to our students and families. We've come a long way and we're so glad we made that change when we did. Agreed. Thank you, Dr. Pushchek. Any others? I would also request a roll call vote, please, Mr. President. Thank you, Dr. Pushchek. May we have a roll call, please? Mr. Blazer. Yes, Mr. Brumagen. Yes, Mrs. Burlingham. Yes, Mrs. Heatherington. Yes, Mrs. Lee. Yes, Mr. Morve. Yes, Dr. Pushchek. Yes, Mr. Williams. Yes, Mr. Young. Yes. Motion carries. Thank you all and thank you to the nutrition group. Dr. Pushcheek. Mr. President, without objection, I'd like to take uh items 7 A, I'm sorry, 7B, 7 C, 7 D, 7E in one motion. And that would be the budgetary transfers, the fund transfers, the election of treasurer, and the bucks uh comprehensive program agreement. All
024four uh move together as one motion. So moved. Nicole second. Does any have anyone have any questions on those four agenda items? Hearing none. All in favor, please say I. I oppose. Name. Motion carries. That's all I have for this evening, Mr. President. Thank you, Dr. Bush. Jack, chair will now recognize Mr. Jeremy Blazer from Buildings and Grounds. Thank you, Mr. President. Uh, I have three items under building and grounds. I'd like to make a motion to move all three at the same time. Uh, A is our renewal of our snow removal agreement uh, with Nelson Trucking. Uh, B is a facility use request uh, as seen in the item. Uh, and C is the HVAC preventive maintenance plan uh, with Stark Tech. So moved. Nicole second. Are there any questions on the three items
025presented by Mr. Blazer hearing. None. All in favor, please say I. I. Oppose. Nay. Those motions carry. Thank you, Mr. Blazer. Thank you. Uh, chair will now recognize Miss Nicole Lee for personnel. Thank you, Mr. President. Um, I have quite a few items again tonight. Um, I am going to start with two single considerations. Uh, the first one is 9A and it is to reconsider the approval of the appointments from April 21st, 2025 as outlined. So moved. Second. push check. Okay. So, this motion to reconsider is uh the action from our previous regular board meeting uh due to a board member that voted on the hiring of immediate family member uh which will result in final financial gain for that immediate family member. And by voting to reconsider this evening, the original motion is placed
026back on the table for a new vote. So, there are any questions or comments on this motion? Mr. President, I will abstain from this vote uh due to the immediate family member being listed. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Morve. Uh any other questions? So, all in favor, please say I. I oppose. Nay. Abstensions. Steve Mor. All right. Mr. Morve's abstension is noted. And the motion carries. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. Mrs. Lee. The next one I have is similar in action. Um, it is for appointments and it is to approve the following appointments as outlined. So moved. Second, Berlingham. Uh, any questions or comments on the motion? Mr. President, I need to abstain from this motion as well uh due to the family member being listed. Thank you, Mr. Morve. Any other questions? All in
027favor, please say I. I. Opposed? Name. Abstensions. Steve Morve. Mr. extension is noted and the motion carries. Thank you, Mrs. Lee. All right. And to finish out the rest of my section without objection, I'd like to move all as one motion. They include C resignations as listed, D summer help rates, E leave requests, F job descriptions, G tuition reimbursement, H Erie County Sheriff's Office deputy services agreement, I ESS substitute list additions, and J an addendum for the Gertard Barber Center uh onetoone aid service agreement. So move B second. Sorry, Burlingham. Second. Are there any questions on those eight items presented by Mrs. Lee? Not a question. Um, but we will miss Mrs. Schwarz. She was a great asset at the elementary center. Um, she will be missed. I I will. Yes, absolutely. Any others hearing?
028None. All in favor, please say I. I. Oppos. And those eight carry. Thank you very much, Mrs. Lee, thank you. Uh, the chair will now recognize Miss Mrs. Brittney Berlingham for policy. Thank you, Mr. President. I have nothing underneath policy tonight. Thank you, Mrs. Burlingham. Uh, the chair will now recognize Mr. Steven Morbe for curriculum. Mr. President, there are two items on the agenda tonight for uh consideration and one addendum item. And if there is no objection, I will move all three as a one motion. Uh those include 11A, the health health high school, excuse me, health curriculum between Watsburg Area School District and uh the education training research group. Uh the refocus refocus room agreements for the middle school and the high school between Wattsburg Area School District and Sarah Reed Children's Center. And
029then the addendum item is to provide agreement between Gertard Barber Center, Wattsburg School District and the ESY Educational Services uh from July through August of this year. Those three so moved. Second push check. Any questions on those three items? Mr. President, I have a question or two. Yes, Mr. Burton. Uh, just for clarification purposes, uh, what is the reasoning for the need to update the health curriculum? Yes. So, uh, we currently don't have a health curriculum. So, we've got three different health and PE teachers. Um and so they've kind of cobbled something together um that that does its best to meet the health standards as outlined by the state. Um and so in our curriculum revision cycle, this fell for the year that to to update that curriculum. Um and this is the one that
030they felt best met all the state standards. Uh it made sense and and allowed a certain level of flexibility because it's a digital curriculum. Thank you, Mr. Wrangler. And a follow-up question to that would be um in a recent PSBA school leader bulletin, there was legal action taken against the district for respecting parental rights in a curriculum such as health, there's an opportunity for potential controversial subject matter when it comes to sexual education. Do you view anything in this curriculum since we have not seen it verbatim, do you see anything in this curriculum that would be of concern? Yeah, I mean I don't think so. So the the standard that we discussed was standard 10.19A. Um it discusses factors that impact growth and developmental between adolescence and adulthood. Um and so that's where they talk
031about STDs and HIV prevention. Um and so this particular curriculum is divided into into five units. The last one being personal health and wellness. Um, and then there's some two add-ons uh that are part of that last unit of personal health and wellness that include abstinence, personal and sexual health, uh, HIV, SEI, and pregnancy prevention. Um, and so from that, it's it's mostly statistics. Um, and just giving factual information. I I don't think there's anything very controversial. Um, and again, the curriculum allows the the teachers to to opt out of any of that particular part of it. So, we're just trying to to meet that one standard 1019A for Pennsylvania state standards. Thank you for your response. Appreciate it. Any other questions? Thank you very much for the clarifications, Mr. England. So, all in favor,
032please say I. I. Oppos? Name. And those three motions carry. Thank you very much, Mr. Moray. Thank you, Mr. President. The chair will now recognize Mr. Jesse Williams for technology. Mr. President, I have one thing on the agenda for today. That's the addendum. I'm going to Is it V O P or we trying to do phonics on this and say VOIPE or say okay I'm gonna go with VOIPE voice over internet protocol is what that stands for okay VIP it is uh service and equipment uh the would be approving the purchase and installation um of that equipment blazer a second any questions on that VIP services equipment agreement hearing. None. All in favor, please say I. I. Oppose. Name. Motion carries. Thank you, Mr. Williams. Chair will now recognize Mr. Greg Bremagen for transportation. Mr.
033President, I have one item for tonight to approve the transportation request and replication of field trip since last meeting as attached. So moved. Nicole second. Any questions on the transportation requests? Hearing none. All in favor, please say I. I. Opposed? Name. Motion carries. Thank you, Mr. Bremagen. The chair will now recognize Miss Leah Heatherington for athletic and extracurricular. Thank you, Mr. President. I only have one item this evening. It is volunteer list additions um as listed on the agenda and with a couple of additions uh on the addendum part. So moved. Second push check. Are there any questions on the volunteer list additions? Hearing none. All in favor please say I. I oppose. Nay. Motion carries. Under miscellaneous this evening, uh we have the Ker Media agreement. This is to approve the agreement between Ker
034Media and Watsburg Area School District for the 2025 2026 newsletter production uh as attached. Uh may I have a motion to that order? Morve so moved. Nicole second. Are there any questions on the Kater media agreement? Hearing none. All in favor, please say I. I oppose. Nay. The motion carries. The chair will now recognize Mr. Steven Morv for the Erie County Technical School Joint Operating Committee report. Mr. President, this is a brief report on the uh April board meeting of the Joint Operating Committee there at the Erie County Technical School. Uh we were presented uh by a group of students that had had participated in the Skills USA challenge um and uh presented uh their report. Um and actually one of the groups uh which included uh our own uh Avita Pushak uh placed uh
035or excuse me won the state um um presentation and therefore she and her group will be going to Atlanta in early June for uh it's under early childhood education and they will be presenting their um um it's a little booklet uh and some other things that they call it little learning adventures. Um, it's really a kind of a quick and easy way and try to get kids to read and try to get uh uh very simple and easy uh images for them to uh to present uh for uh early childhood education. Very very informative, very uh interesting group and uh those folks will be presenting in June. So that's an exciting time for them um in nationals in um the first week of June. So um the next item that we had uh that I
036always like to report is uh any Wattsburg area students of the month. Uh we had two or three, excuse me. We had Elijah Carer under auto body repair. Uh Nathan Gregory in auto technologies and then Emma Trippy under she's also in early childhood education and they were recognized in March. That's a report that always comes out a month late and so I'm two months late actually in my report to you. Um some upcoming items that are coming up to the uh tech school uh on the 14th um was uh senior art showcase. I don't know if anybody was able to get to see that, but that uh happened for the uh students uh in art, senior art, that happened last week. Um the uh 2526 budget that we all ratified in all the other districts,
037those were that was sent into the state. Um so I'm u haven't heard anything negative along those lines, so I'm sure that's all been positively received. Um we uh continue to struggle at the tech school with uh keeping and holding on to a computer networking teacher. Uh unfortunately computer networking uh the marketplace allows for a uh higher salary and uh uh more exciting uh apparently uh opportunities uh than at the tech school. So uh if anyone knows anyone that is interested in computer networking that wants to be a teacher uh please apply. So uh that is still an open position. Um and then lastly just a few some few statistics. Uh currently there are 934 students enrolled, 76 are from Wattsburg and we have 95 available to us. So uh I know next year I
038believe there was over 500 and some odd uh commitments throughout all the districts. Um and they were working through registrations and there were about uh 350 of those had been registered at this point. So they're continuing to work through final registrations along those lines. Um, and then in addition, uh, the co-op program, which if you're not familiar with the co-op program, but that's where students go to work in the industries, uh, that they're of their chosen field, and they actually get credit, um, as basically being, uh, in school credit, uh, that applies to them. There's, uh, many students, I think there was I had down 124 students are in co-op um, over 107 different facilities or sites. So that's where the uh the broad reach of the tech school students are actually participating in their
039actual industries. And so those are and that's a goal of the co-op coordinators to try to get more and more students actually doing that um in the uh field that they're that they've chosen. So that's a brief report that I have, Mr. President, unless you have any questions for me. Well, thank you, Mr. Morve. And uh it's really great to hear how our students are excelling at the tech school and being able to come back and and celebrate them is is really exciting. Are there any other questions for Mr. Morve? All right. Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. President. The chair will now recognize Dr. Andrew Pushjack for the Northwest Northwest Tri County Intermediate Unit report. Thank you, Mr. President. Just a few items in addition to the board report that Dr. Berlin had
040sent out to the board. Um we did pass the budget uh similar to the VOTE or the tech school which all districts did approve. Just a few highlights. Um the innovative technology solutions staff which is the IT staff at the IU uh was recognized for their invitation to Hershey. They provided all of the support for the Pennsylvania Association of Federal Programs Coordinators conference. So that was pretty exciting to have our IU5 technology folks be showcased uh by providing that service. Um HR as I had mentioned in the past is still working to fill several positions. I believe um we have 25 positions that will be on our agenda for next week and we still have 28 more to fill. So working uh diligently to fill those positions. Um some of those are related to the
041um transfer of entity for early intervention from Erie's public schools to the IU. Um HR continues the onboarding of those 40 key staff for that um early intervention programs that are needed. They're looking for spaces um to uh house those programs. Um in addition uh to the governor's budget regarding early childhood funding, the um it's called Octell. It's the office for uh child development and early learning has also requested additional funds which would impact the IU in supporting the preschool um early intervention programs. And then our next meeting is May 28th, next week. And that's all I have. Thank you. Oh, one other item. Um, Dr. Berlin had sent out the digital copy of the two 20 thous 20 2025 state of education. I have hard copies if anybody would like to take them. A
042lot of interesting facts about our schools and resources in in Pennsylvania. So, that's all I have for real. Any questions for Dr. Kushch? Thank you for your continued leadership here and at the IU and in bridging that gap uh for this group. So, thank you very much. Now, time for board correspondence and dialogue. Does anyone have anything for the Mr. President? I have one thing. I I think I've said this before when I said that we we often talk a lot about septic tanks here and Voipe. No. Um and so the student showcases that you guys do here when you bring up students or groups is is greatly appreciated. I think it shows a couple things. I think one it shows to the staff who work for those students that we see you and we
043recognize that you are uh doing something well for our children. And then the second one is for the kids. Now I understand my kids sitting over there in the fifth style. So I understand that. But I would also really like to see if we could do this every time whether or not it's a wrestling club or a a baseball team. And it and it doesn't even have to be something that they're winning an award for of anything like that. I would just appreciate the fact that again uh showing in particular the staff members that we see them. We appreciate the coaching. We appreciate the um uh the team sports that they do or the clubs. Um because if you know anything about these schools now, it's getting harder and harder to to convince people to
044to be a coach or to be someone who's in charge of uh kids after hours. So, um, any time that we can get this on the agenda of any sort, uh, would be greatly appreciated by me, but thank you very much for for today. Absolutely agreed on all points, Mr. President. Dr. Ber, I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Williams comments. Um, and I would certainly support that as well. Uh, personally, I just wanted to mention that I attended my 17th and 18th honoral breakfast at the middle school. um they keep getting better and better. We took the time to actually figure out how many we've been to. That's a nice way to um honor the achievements of those students uh with a gathering with their parents and a delicious breakfast was served. And then also last
045week I attended the best of the Bobcats, which is our annual spring talent show. Um, and interesting, the award winner was a first grader playing heavy metal rock on his guitar. That's awesome. First grader. Do Do you recall what he played? Um, something by God smack. Oh, excellent. Wow. I'm not familiar with that, but I recall the name. And he had his glasses and his leather. If you're going to if you're going to play Yeah. 2010s Hard Rock, Godm Smack's definitely a good lane. So, more more good things that our district provides for our students and uh the leadership class at the high school put that on. Very very well done. So, just some more kudos to our district and our students and the good things that are going on. Thank you, Dr. Bush Shack.
046Mr. Berlingham, a little Andy stole some of the words out of my mouth, but that's fine. That's fine. I also was going to bring up the talent show because I go every year. I love it every year. Um I have you know the first grader getting first place was fantastic. I love the song that um the ones who won. What do they our special needs class? What is the specific name? Is there was there did they have a group name? They did. I cannot remember maybe. Yes. It was so fantastic to hear them sing and just see all of our kids connect. Um of course like my brother-in-law Michael got third so obviously every time he sings with the microphone I cry. But just the fact that all of the talent, like when we do
047the musicals and the plays, we have such a massive turnout and I got to attend one of the dinners for the theater group because I was doing a favor for my mother-in-law and I went and Mr. O'Donnell and Mrs. Cage, they just do such a fantastic job with these kids and I know my daughter going into seventh grade is so excited to participate in any of the because now she's at the age where she'll get to maybe I can be in the play. But I love how we come together to watch these kids perform because we have some really talented kids in Wattsburg. But it's just so fun. So I also same thing Andy. I agree. It was a fun time. We loved it. Keep keep doing it. So Mr. Mar, Mr. President, uh, a
048couple of things. Um, wanted to uh remind everyone again that the summer sendoff is next Friday. Um obviously that'll be uh we won't have a board meeting until then but that is uh uh you know always very well attended always very well put on by the leadership class and the group that uh uh has all the various sponsors and whatnot. So we want to thank them and uh look forward to that event next Friday. Um and then I also want to um uh highlight the uh summer sports teams that uh that have made it through to uh through the regular season and then into the uh playoffs and various things. I know the uh vault or excuse me the uh softball team actually played today. Unfortunately, I didn't hear how they did. They won. Did
049they win? So, there's there's a win. So, they moved on. Um and then the track district team um both boys and girls uh that happened over on the weekend uh on Saturday. And uh the little quick report here, we have uh eight state qualifiers, three D10 champions, and four school new school records for the track team. So, wanted to highlight all those. And uh that that uh state track meet then is uh begins Friday and Saturday. And I know the the softball playoffs continue. I don't know exactly when their next game will probably be later this week as well. So just shout out to those teams and the coaches and all the effort that they put together. So thank you Mr. President. Thank you Mr. Morvy for bringing the stats too Mr. Bremagen. And busy
050night tonight in board correspondent. So I apologize to add to it. But um likewise, I also have written down that I went to the talent show and we are lucky to have somebody like Mr. O'Donnell uh on our staff and I also went to the course concert for the middle school and high school and I enjoyed it. So I think that speaks volumes. Uh Mrs. Cage uh has done an excellent job uh with our our staff as her with our pupils as well. So I want to say that which is going to go into my third comment. Uh tonight we voted to uh increase cumulative 20% to our teachers uh pay package over the next three years. Uh my concern and we voted for it. I didn't bring it up earlier, but what I want
051to ask the board president is we bring up as a board several items in the last year and a half or so that I've been on this board and nothing has ever made the agenda that gets brought up by this committee and never makes it to agenda. So the problem is not that we have low teacher wages. Uh the problem is that I why do we have low teacher wages? It's it's a revenue problem. Um and my fear is in three years when this contract is up again, we're going to be right back to at or near the bottom again. I would rather see a proactive approach and I would like to see something where our work sessions are a little bit longer than five minutes long where we actually work in a proactive manner
052to research any and all solutions to to fix the actual problem which is the revenue issue that we have uh and how we can increase revenues uh in this district so that our teachers like Mr. O'Donnell, like Mrs. cage who deserve way more than what they're getting. Uh and uh I would appreciate if we can get some things on the agenda to that to do that proactively, Mr. President. Yeah. If there are things we can add to the agenda that are under the purview of us as a board, then absolutely. Um and some of those solutions do fall outside of the purview of this board of governance. So we need to work towards maybe not thinking of one or two or out to 10 or 12 as anything we can think of I'd appreciate it
053where we can beat absolutely Mr. Bin. Thank you. And I will build on as you commented on the chorus to hope maybe I'll wrap this out. Do you have something Mrs. Lee or Mike Stone? So as long as we're doing kudos. Um I um I was at the uh chorus concert as well. Yeah, it was great. I loved it. programming, the all the extras we're doing, it's it's extracurricular, it's it's sports, it's theater, it's music. Um, the comment I did want to make uh as a you know, lifelong resident in this district and a graduate uh of of our institution, you know, I've seen different flavors over the years from an instructional side. Um, band is one of those tough places to really bring a group of kids together and and bring them up, especially
054at that middle school level. uh the the spring band concert. I can't say enough how impressed I am with Mr. Crosby and what he's done with that program uh just in a short period of time um and how those kids performed. I I was in awe. Um it was a huge huge uh positive for me to to see what we're doing with our kiddos on the music side. Uh of course everything's great on the honoral breakfast. I did make sure I complimented the food service as well because it was an excellent breakfast. Uh and thank you Mr. Paris and your staff for continuing that tradition at the middle school. Um it's super important for the kids to be able to be celebrated and share with their parents. Those who allow their parents to sit with
055them at their tables at breakfast. That's what I've noticed is the newest social construct you've got to figure out is who's allowed to sit with their kid and who's not. So are there any others for G board correspondents and dialogue this evening? Hearing none, uh I'll entertain a motion to adjurnn. Nicole so moved. Burlingham second. All in favor, please say I. I. Those nay.