001Mr. Antonio >> here. >> Mr. Badger. >> Mr. Blefeld >> here. >> Miss Kvachi >> here. >> Mr. Golden >> here. >> Miss Kianikis >> here. >> Dr. Morris >> here. >> Mr. Walker >> here. >> Mrs. Ginsburg >> here. >> Reed Harris >> here. >> Isabelle Dasta >> here. >> Right. Welcome everyone to this August 26th board meeting of the second school board. Would everybody please join me now for the pledge of allegiance? All right, I'm taking a look at our agenda and I apologize. I'm working from the paper copy, so I'm hoping I'm going I don't miss anything. Let me know if I do. Um, so first just listing out our prior meetings. We've been on May 27th for a work session, June 2nd for a regular public board meeting, and June 12th
002for a special public board meeting. And our upcoming meetings include September 22nd, both a communications committee meeting as well as curriculum and technology. September 29th, we'll have a work session and October 6th, we will have a regular public board meeting. And now we'll move on to presentations. U Danielle. >> Hi, good evening everyone. Uh, so tonight I get to introduce the this year's new staff video, which is really exciting. Um, but before we start it, I just wanted to give you some quick hiring facts from this year. Uh, we had our largest induction yet at 32 teachers, which is a big group. Um, and since March, we've filled over 103 total positions. Uh, that was 48 sets of first round interviews, 31 sets of teacher demo lessons for our administrators and hiring teams. um and
003we received over 2100 applicants um in total this hiring season. So, it's been very very busy um to say the least. So, a special thanks to our administrators who sat through all of those um interviews and demo lessons. Um a very special thanks to the HR team for getting everybody in and on boarded um and our tech department for getting everybody the technology they needed because without them we could not have started on Monday. So, uh they are they are the heroes in this story for sure. So um and finally I just want to say thank you to Kristen Rawlings and um Elizabeth uh Epstein sheet they they made this uh video uh possible. So we are going to run that now. >> Hi Dr. Sha Gardner, assistant superintendent. >> Hi my name is Carrie
004Coleman. I am teaching ceramics 1, 2, and 3 at the high school. >> Britney Stackhouse, LTS 6th grade math at the middle school. >> Hi, my name is Claire Park and I'll be teaching kindergarten at Shady Grove Elementary. Hi, I'm Kelly Carter, principal of Stony Creek Elementary School. Lindsay Nicolof, middle school principal. >> My name is Mark Bikia. I am a sixth grade social studies teacher at the middle school. >> Hi, I'm Cat Hopkins. I'm an occupational therapist. I'll be working at Stony Creek Greek and Shady Grove. >> My name is Greg Striano. I am a school counselor at Shady Grove Elementary School. Hi, my name is Corey Mccanei. I'm the school police officer here for the Wahhicken School District. >> Hi, I'm Sam Govitz. I am a physical therapist. I will be in all
005four elementary schools. Hi, my name is Ella Cummings. I'm going to be a a third grade long-term substitute teacher at Shady Grove Elementary. Hi, I'm Brianna Wisneski and I am the new English teacher at Wisah Hickin High School. Hi, my name is Giana Marino. I'm going to be teaching global history at Wahhicken High School. >> Hi, I'm Danny Null. I'm the global 2 history teacher uh at the high school here. >> Hi, I'm Kayla Parks. I'm the new fourth grade teacher at Shady Grove Elementary. Hi, my name is Kelsey Son and I am going to be at Blue Bell Elementary for third grade. Hey, my name is Kinsey Hart. I will be teaching third grade at Stony Creek. Hi, I'm Kristen Graham, assistant business administrator. >> Hi, I'm Kristen Funk, supervisor of special education for
006grades 4 through 7. Hi, my name is Kristen Wartz. I am an office clerk in the special education department. >> Kristen Neville, BCBA, Stony Creek. >> Hi, my name is Quamina Answell. I'm going to be teaching seventh grade math at Wiz Hicken Middle School. >> Marcy Drury. I'm going to be teaching K5 art at three schools. My >> name is Nick Zel. I'm the new PE teacher at Whistah Hicken High School. Hi, my name is Peter Garcia and I'm the music teacher at Stony Creek Elementary. >> Hi, I'm Shane Dockerty. I am the new eighth grade social studies teacher at Wistah Hicken Middle School. >> My name is Hannah Evans. I'm a school psychologist at Stony Creek Elementary School. >> Hi, my name is Hal Badorf Hicken High School, family and consumer sciences and business
007teacher. >> Hi, I'm Derek Platt. I'm the new transportation director. >> Hi, my name is Jess Doyle. I'm going to start this year at Blue Bell as one of the PACE teachers. Hi, my name is Caroline Harrell. I'm going to be at Lower Glennid as a reading specialist. >> Uh my name is Colin James Getty. I'm the long-term substitute for social studies in the high school. >> Hi, my name is Sarah Kellenburgger. I'm going to be a speech language pathologist at Shady Grove Elementary. >> Hi, I'm Noah Claus. I'm at the Wish Hicken Middle School teaching sixth grade science. [Music] Reason I came to Wicken is because of the true blue with a heart of gold. >> Great community is I grew up in the area and I would really love to serve my community.
008>> The district aligned with my values. W Hickens focus on diversity and building a positive learning community really attracted me. >> Great recommendations from people who have worked here in the past. A small community to feel like family. Strong community here at Wistah Hickin. DEI initiatives. >> I love working at Wistah Hicken. I'm an alumni here. It's got a great sense of community. >> It's a great community that prioritizes dignity, new experience, great staff, and awesome reputation. A very welcoming environment for the diversity, >> positive working environment, >> culture and relationships, great reputation in the community. >> Wor Hicken Middle School is a place of academic excellence and it's a wonderful community, >> vibrant, diverse community. the opportunity to meet lots of people and work with other art teachers and collaborate with a lot of
009other teachers. >> Community and partnership with all the other teachers in the building because of the great community and great staff, >> the great reputation and the awesome work of students and staff here, >> the overall positive culture. >> Excellent reputation. >> I have worked here in the past and really enjoyed the environment, the staff and the students who engage with the community. I've heard great things about it. >> The students and the people, >> the dedication to children, it's warm and welcoming environment. >> I fell in love with Haken when I did my student teaching here last fall >> because I was really looking forward to joining a nice small district community and I'm really looking forward to get to know everyone. Thank you so much. That's amazing to have that many applicants and
010to do that many interviews over the summer. So, you know, thank you to you and your team for and all the staff that participated. That's amazing. And I love the video. All right. Um, any other comments? So, Danielle, thank you so much for all your work this summer and hiring these applicants. And I can tell you that my kids have a few of those middle school teachers and they're giving them, this is only day two, but they're giving them a rating of A+ so far. So, >> good job. >> Yeah, I agree. My kids are loving some of these new teachers also. So, awesome. >> Anyone else? All right, then we'll move on to our first public comment period and uh the board appreciates hearing from the community. A maximum of five speakers will be
011heard on the same topic. Please limit your comments to three minutes. In the interest of fairness and in order to treat all speakers equally, it is the board's practice not to engage in dialogue with speakers. When appropriate, we'll follow up with responses on board docs. Uh when approaching the podium or speaking online, uh please make sure to state your name and your municipality of residence as well as the topic on which you're speaking. And this first public comment period is for agenda items only. And it looks like we have one person registered in person and that's Carina Taylor. Taylor and alum. Um I fully understand you don't have to answer but I just have questions. Item on board item number seven the ongoing district priorities and the on the annual district goals. The questions that
012I have that I hope that will be answered when you present are how the how are you going to maximize academic uh achievement potential? How are you proactively working toward dismantling systemic and structural racism? How are you continually identifying and eliminating the opportunity and learning gaps? Um, in terms of value, what does that look like when you want to operate the school district with a focus on both efficiency and accountability? So, those are my h my housing wise. Um, I just want to point out in terms of item number 10, all the lawsuits, I think we have up to $7 million that has been paid out by the district in the last four years. And I actually received texts earlier today from other parents just wondering how that is so high. It couldn't be that
013many families. But as I went to look at the descriptions of the the settlement language, there was actually a lawsuit in the upwards of 300,000 that was to be paid all the way up to 2031. And this is an ongoing um situation. And I know for a fact that there's a lot of black families that have been looking and trying to work with the district to try to say that they're not getting appropriate education for their kids. And I know white parents that have left the district because they didn't because they got lawsuits. So I think there's a disparity there. Then the third question I have, so again, why is that number so high? And then just a question for Danielle that maybe she can answer when it's time. The director of securityurities is a
014part-time position, but it's a grade eight, but the director of facilities, which I believe is a full-time position, is a grade six. So, just wondering how some of these idiosyncrasies um are existing at the district and I kind of tallied um your new hires and it just seemed there was one, two, three, only four um hires of color. So, I'd like to see maybe of that 103 did is there more um teachers or people that were hired that are of color? So, there's a disparity there. So again, item number 710 and um personnel. I I don't know why you're reclassifying those positions, but just wondering um why there's a difference between the security guard and the director of disabilities. Thank you. >> Thank you. Is there anyone online? >> There are no hands raised online.
015>> Close our first public comment period and move into the board president report. And uh first going to review an initial draft of our 2526 um ongoing priority areas and district goals. And um the first one is academic achievement. Maximize academic achievement potential of each and every Wahhiken district student. Racial equity proactively work toward dismantling systematic and structural racism and increasing cultural competence in the school district. Opportunity learning gap. Continually identify and eliminate the opportunity and learning gap at all levels. Value. Operate the Wistah Hickens School District with a focus on both efficiency and accountability and communication. Effectively communicate with persons at all levels in the WISA Hickens school community. And then looking moving forward at our 2526 goals. And you know actually before we do that, why don't you first address those priority areas?
016>> Thank you. Yes. The priority areas that are listed here um under item 7.1 are ongoing district priority areas that the district has used to drive the selection of of the district goals each year. Um so these haven't changed in in at least a few years that I've been here. Um but they've been helpful to help us to keep centered what the district priority areas are. And even outside of these goals, the work continues around ensuring that this these areas are centered. Um, and so one of the things that we'll talk about with the the four goals that were selected for the 2526 school year, um, I had the opportunity to do some work engaging with the community, engaging with various stakeholders, um, engaging with staff and students and and administrators, uh, and board members,
017uh, and community members and community partners. Um and through that work of engaging um we sort of had some um insights from con areas that should be priority in terms of selecting goals for this upcoming school year. Um and so coming out of that element of my superintendent entry plan. um we've crafted the the goals that are here um that are listed as the 25 26 um goals that are listed here that align with the priority areas but also align with the um priorities that have come out of the community work that we've done. Um so we'll go through the four goals that are being recommended to the board for the 2526 school year. >> Great. Thank you. So the first goal is to foster a safe and supportive school environment. uh create consistent schoolwide
018behavior expectations and restorative approaches that promote safety, respect, and belonging in every learning environment. Goal number two, strengthen communication and transparency. Establish clear and timely communication protocols and reinforce accessible pathways while resolving concerns to help foster trust through transparency and responsiveness. Number three, advance academic excellence and educational equity. Establish a comprehensive plan for creating a portrait of a student that reflects the district's aspirations for every learner and is grounded in strong instruction, culturally responsive practices, and opportunities for advanced learners. And goal number four, long-term facility sustainability. develop and adopt a comprehensive 10-year capital improvement plan that addresses the facilities and capacity needs of every district building to support the long-term sustainability and adaptability of learning environments. So, I'm going to have Dr. Dwan go these little bit more in depth. Thank you for that. Um,
019and I want to make sure to highlight um that this, as you mentioned, um, Madame President, is the initial draft of the goals. Um and so it's for the board this evening to get feedback and share their thoughts. Um and what you see is a very truncated language around the goal. Um, and once we have guidance from the board, um, and confirmation in terms of the the drafting of the goals, administration will then take the goals and create what's called smart goals, making sure that we have key performance indicators that are aligned to each goal so that we know how these goals are going to be monitored, what are we expecting in terms of outcomes for the goals. So, I just want to make sure to acknowledge that this is the sort of abbreviated version
020of it and then they'll be further developed out so that as we give updates throughout the year, we'll be taking a look at those key performance indicators to monitor our progress toward each of those goals. Um, and then I'll speak a little bit about each of them very briefly. Um, of course, for goal number one, we want every student to feel safe and respected and supported at school. And so, we're going to continue to build that consistent work around behavior expectations, you know, that the district has for the last couple of years. And last year was year one of implementation of positive behavior interventions and supports. So there's still still good work that has happened and still work yet to come around that. Um and so ensuring that we're continuing the work around behavior expectations
021and ensuring that we're being responsive to concerns that come up related to behaviors as well. Um for number two, we know families and staff deserve clear and timely and transparent communication. That's something that we've gotten feedback um from the community and from the board. And so we're going to work to ensure that we have efforts in place to streamline how communication flows in our district um and making sure that we have those accessible pathways for resolving concerns that that do arise. Uh and for goal number three um we are developing that portrait of a a graduate or portrait of a student. And um this is a communitydriven vision that outlines the essential skills, knowledge, and character traits that we want as a WISAN school district community um for every student to have when they graduate
022from our district. So, this is something that's new. Our district has not embarked upon this journey yet. Um, but the portrait will help guide how we align our curriculum, our instruction, our student experiences, making sure there's equitable access for all students across all grade levels and that every student is is prepared for success in their college career or life after grade 12. And then for the last goal, um, that's really focusing on our efforts to ensure that we're meeting the needs of today and tomorrow. um understanding that we need to establish this sort of 10-year capital improvement plan to take a look at how we're going to help um to maintain safe and adaptable and sustainable school facilities across the district. This has come up in board conversations and community conversations looking at the growth
023in the district, looking at our facilities that we have. Um and so these four goals were selected because it's an outcome of those conversations that we've been having and are aligned to the district priorities that you you read at the beginning of this uh segment. Wonderful. Thank you so much. Um, do we have any comments from the board regarding these, Steve? >> Uh, thank you very much, Dr. Dwan. The portrait of a student. Um, and that student sounds like the portraits of a graduating uh, student. Um, I guess I'm interested in understanding how we would measure that over time and if there's different parts of the portrait at different age levels. there are and Dr. Gardner can speak a little bit to that and looking at those transition points. Um so the process of this
024goal for this year would be establishing a plan to make sure that we have um a process for community involvement in in creating the portrait of a graduate. Dr. Gardner can speak a little bit more to that. >> Yeah, thank you Dr. Uh what we would look at as each transition point we would set that portrait of a student. So that fifth to sixth grade and then 8th to 9th grade. Uh, and then based on that plan, we would look, are we hitting those benchmarks for what we see as a portrait of a student going from fifth grade to sixth grade, ending their elementary experience, then transitioning from 8th to 9th grade, what does it look like as a portrait of a graduate from the middle school, and then our portrait of a senior who's
025graduating? And then over time we can establish is that meeting our needs or do we need to backtrack it even further down lower to see a portrait of a student maybe at second grade first grade. But we'll start with those transition points. >> And and the nice thing about this the process of identifying and creating a portrait of a graduate portrait of a student um is it takes a look at the whole child. So it's looking at a student academically, socially and emotionally and behaviorally as well. So, it's all encompassing really looking at the whole student. >> Thank you for these. Um I I like um how we're kind of structuring this a little different from previous years. Very excited about the priority areas. Um, and I think I need a little bit more time
026to sit with this, but I guess my knee-jerk reaction with goal three is advance academic excellence and educational equity to me can sometimes be in conflict or have different needs or priorities. So, grouping them together, like I'm struggling with that one a little bit and maybe I just need to sit with it for a little bit. Um, but that's the only thing that I'm curious about. And then I love the concept of portrait of a student. Um my only thought there is how do we make it fluid enough to ensure in our very changing world with our very changing needs and with the environment we're living in that we keep that portrait also fluid because nothing is static anymore. So how do we create portrait that's also reflective which is very hard to do. I
027I know we get we need to start somewhere, but I just want to ensure that it's it's not just for now, but also for tomorrow and the day after, if that makes sense. >> That absolutely makes sense. Thank you for that. That's excellent feedback. Thank you. And just to touch on that point, uh we're brought to Victoria Burnernhard's work which does a more comprehensive look at a student and holistic student and is a process that is open enough to be dynamic that you're talking about. Uh that we can respond dynamically to what are the needs not only today but tomorrow as well >> and have you seen this done in other districts and it's been successful? Great. It's wonderful. >> Yeah, I was I was also gonna that was my question. Is this a a
028data-driven based idea? I assume if it comes from Dr. Dwan and Dr. Garner, it is. And that it has shown um success. And I guess my real question is what happens if a particular student doesn't reach the portrait ideals that we have success. >> So that's where the multiple checkpoints come into play that we can identify early and often which students that we need to support and accelerate their learning in some holistic way. So gives us this common language to talk across levels so that we can then transition with students and support them all the way to the end of their career here in Melissa Hickin. >> Well, any other comments or questions? >> Is this about all the goals we're talking about? Right. Okay. So, sorry we were stuck on that one. But for
029goal one, um my question was um I mean I guess in the next meeting will you like break down further things that you plan to like implement for these goals? Like my question was I think we talked about this before but reviewing the student code of conduct as part of maybe under number one. Um and then I know we're really um we're really um driving PBIS right now which I think is great. Um my question is do you do you think that works for every student and if not like what other supports or incentives or consequences or whatever you might call it are would be in place for students and maybe you can speak more to that you know once we get like deeper into the goals but that's just like question. Thank you for
030that. um the the direction of the board related to these goals is going to help us in terms of the next steps to bring forward the final goals. Um and so the feedback that you're giving, the questions that you have will drive some of the additional content that we'll build out around the goals. Thank you. Any other comments or questions? Right. Well, thank you everyone for your feedback. Um, we'll now move on to 7.2, which is approval of Kristen Graham as the board treasurer for a one-year term. And, um, Kristen Graham works in in your office, right, Tim? Yes, we just haven't had, I guess, a chance to meet her yet. We'll meet her during budget season, but um um, so do we have a motion? >> So moved. Second. >> A motion's been made
031and seconded. Are there any comments or questions? I don't know. I don't know this person. Tim, can you give your full uh endorsement of Kristen since I trust you? >> It's been four weeks, but yes, Kristen is capable of doing the treasurer's position. >> If you're watching carefully, she was in the new staff video. >> Yes. >> Yeah, she's one of the one of the four What was her previous role? >> Did she have a previous role, Tim? >> She was the assistant business director at Exit Township. >> Oh, okay. >> If there's no other questions or comments, all those in favor? >> I. >> Anyone opposed? >> Right. Motion passes. Um, next is approval uh to the racial equity oversight committee to the Oh, this is approval to change the name. Correct. Okay. approval
032to change the name of the racial equity oversight committee to the board educational equity oversight committee. Um direct the administration and the solicitor draft modifications to the board policies um 005 and 006 to reflect this and to specifically address these policies with committees which committees are standing or ad hoc committees for future action by the board. Um so this is a name change change in policy and then also indicating because currently our policies don't indicate which committees are standing or ad hoc. Correct. >> That is correct. And um it is essentially directing us to make those changes and make those modifications to the policies. The policies in terms of the actual changes to the policies will go through the policy committee as as typical um policies do. Um, so for tonight's action item, the one
033change that would be immediate is the renaming of the racial equity oversight committee to become the board educational equity oversight committee. Those other two are directing administration to make changes which will flow through the policy committee. >> Great. Thank you. Do we have any comments or questions regarding those changes? >> What was the main reason we're changing the name? Can you just give me a brief explanation? Um I think essentially the thought behind the name change of the committee is to bring it um in alignment with our actual policy which is titled educational equity. So since the committee is sort of the operating arm of that policy at the board level, we thought it made sense to align the names. >> Any other comments or questions? >> Right. Seeing none, all those in favor? >>
034I. >> Anyone opposed? Right. Motion passes. Thank you. All right, we'll go on to the superintendent report. >> Thank you. Good evening. I have twoformational items this evening. I want to start by expressing gratitude to our staff, our students, our families, um administrative team, our board, um for a safe and energizing start to the new school year. And so my first uh item here is about the opening of the 2620, excuse me, the 2526 school year highlights. Um, but to talk about the opening of the school year, I have to go back a little bit to talk about the summer because it was a busy summer. Um, our summer was filled, as you know, with our 12-month employees working hard to prepare for our schools, our systems, our programs, our staffing, as as we heard
035from Danielle this evening, um, to get to get us ready for the start of the school year. And so, I want to say thank you. Thank you. Thank you for all of that tremendous work over the summer to all of our teams, all of our departments, and all of our leaders and all of our 12 month staff. Um the summer also afforded opportunities for um professional learning for our administrators. And so there were several instances that we worked throughout the summer on professional learning opportunities. Um and so all of that work led up to the staff opening day, which was last week. Um and at that event we were greeted by students who were on our cheerleading team and our high school band um to welcome staff back. We heard welcoming remarks from our board
036president, from our director of HR, Miss Haye, um from our WA president, TJ C um Carousel, and myself as the new superintendent. And then our assistant superintendent and I, Dr. Gardner, and I hosted a family feud game whis edition style. Um and that was a nice way to get the the school year started with a joyful celebration and really to help us to come together as one WIS family. So it was it was a joyful celebration. We heard lots of wonderful feedback about about the fun and joyful moments that we created for staff to come together which was awesome. Um and at that time I also shared and and also my newsletter uh shared with the community that our theme for the year is every student every day and the intentional focus is on highlighting
037the importance of making sure that every student feels supported and challenged and valued every single day. Um but it also underscores the importance of every staff me member feeling that as well in order for them to do their best work to ensure our students are getting their needs met their needs met every day. Uh so Dr. Gardner a little later will share more of an update about induction and the inservice days as a part of the start of the school year. Um and we know today was the second day of school and oh my goodness what a joyful start we had yesterday. Um our district admin team um every year we invite them to go to the schools and help with arrival and dismissal on the first day. So we kept that tradition alive which
038was awesome. And then Dr. Gardner and I got to visit every single school, all six schools yesterday. It was a busy day. We were tired at the end of it, but it was wonderful to get into every school and see our leaders, see our staff, see our support staff, see all of the students. They were so excited. They were spending time getting to know one another, spending time building relationships with their with the adults around them, which was wonderful. That's exactly what we want to see on the first day of school. They were also practicing some procedures like practicing what dismissal is like. Um but that that's also a part of the opening day. So there were lots of lots of laughter, lots of smiles. In the beginning there were a couple of tears mostly
039from the adults who were dropping off some kindergartens, not so much from the the students, but more so from the adults because we know it's hard from for for parents and caregivers too. Um, but it was just such an honor to be a part of such joyful moments. Um, to get us started on a wonderful school year and and I'm just so grateful and appreciate the support of our families and our staff and our community as we get this year started and and do the good work together as a as a team. Uh, before I move on to my next item, any questions or comments about that? I just want to say it was such an energizing day for the opening day. I've been to a couple of them over the past couple years and
040this was more excitement than ever. Like the family feud was awesome. Um, we got to learn a lot of things about Dr. Dewan. >> That was a bonus round. I had nothing to do with it. >> So, that was fun. But, yeah, I just felt I got such positive feedback from everybody that I spoke to. Like, everybody just loved it. So, awesome. Great work. I had a question actually for our student board reps for Isabelle and Reed. How was the first couple days of school for you guys? >> It was good. We also had freshman orientation the Friday before school. So all the Whistlink leaders came to help welcome the freshman. So that was a huge success. I think we had over 85% of freshmen come to freshman orientation. So that was huge this year.
041And it was great to help them get acclimated. I think they felt better after the tour. A lot of them got lost the first day but they got there eventually. So, and it was it was great also to see the teachers and be back for one more year. >> Yeah. As for me, same thing. I second what he said. I think uh the Whistling faculty members also said I think this was our highest turnout ever. So, that was exciting. And actually, one of the students in my Whistling room recognized me. So, I was like I was just walking around the hallways and then someone yells out my name and I was very scared. Actually, I thought it was an adult for a second, but just to find out it's a freshman. And it was very
042loud. I thought it was adult. And I walked her to algebra class. She was actually going the wrong way. So I did help her get there. At one point I did get six people asking me, "Where's F hole? Where's E hole? Where's L hole? Where's Dhole?" And I can only do so much. But yeah, it was really nice. Um and then it's also nice to see the teachers too because you know after summer you can like say, "Hi, I'm back. I'm here to bother you again." Um and yeah, also like smooth start to class. I think it was also pretty positive as well. And our our WIS links program is amazing. The leaders do a phenomenal job um for freshman orientation. And then the WHIS links leaders throughout that first is it the full week
043of school the first full week um are there to assist and guide and support. And on that first day, we saw so many the blue shirts. Every time we saw the blue shirts, I stopped and said, "Thank you for your service. Thank you for your service." Because they might have helped a couple of district leaders, too. Um but you just do such an amazing job of helping to reassure us. um freshmen, but also also other students who might be new to the school to to know that they see that blue shirt, they know that you're there to help and it's incredible the work that you've done. So, thank you and our staff leaders who have led that work as well. All right, with that, I'll move on to my second item, um which is just
044a brief update about the superintendent's entry plan. Um, so as you know, over the past several months, I've been engaged in uh listening and learning as a part of my superintendent entry plan and um from community members and excuse me, from community conversations to the meet and greets to um the conversations with staff and students and families and board members and administrators and community leaders. Uh this summer also afforded an opportunity for some new activities which were my outdoor office hours which was which was fun, very intimate and very wellreceived. Um, I also had the opportunity to um meet with our faith leaders and emergency officials to help to build trust and collaboration, which was wonderful. Dr. Gardner joined me on many of those opportunities, which was wonderful for him to make those connections as
045well. Um, and last spring, the board might recall that I shared with you um as a part of my superintendent's entry plan, the more expansive version, a 90-day timeline with deliverables for the board. and I provided early insights to the board um during the board retreat in June. And then um this evening the board reviewed goals that were that are initial draft of goals, but those align to the priority areas that we identified through the insights um that we gathered from those entry plan experiences. So there's there's this um thread of connecting all of these pieces here, which is which is wonderful. Um and so by day 90, which will co coincide with the fall, in fact, um somewhere around the next board cycle, we'll bring forward my superintendent's entry plan summary report. So I'll
046have more detailed um information to share. Um in the meantime, I'm going to continue to provide the weekly updates to the board about my entry plan. Um and just to reflect on the themes that have emerged. These are themes that I shared during the board retreat. Things that you see connected to the board goals this evening. Themes around our collective focus on safe and supportive schools. Um thinking about strengthening communication and transparency, advancing academic excellence and and um uh learning for all students um and addressing the facilities and capacities need. So those are those priority areas that come from those themes that come from the conversations that we've had and we've heard from the all of the stakeholders. Um and so I continue to uh update the board and I look forward to updating the
047community and the board um from all of the listening and learning and turning that into action and implementation as we move forward together. So tonight is just sort of an update for the community, but this is not news for the board because you've been kept a breast of my updates um from the board retreat all the way through the weekly updates that I provide to you. And then at the next board cycle uh that October meeting, I'll have an extensive um presentation to share with the board and the community. All right. Thank you. >> Great. Thank you for that update. Um any comments or questions from the board? Do you I just want to say Dr. D, I think you've done a really great job and I know you went to a lot of um
048you put in a lot of effort into like setting up times where the community could meet with you. I know you've done a lot of listening and just really reaching out to to people and like you said stakeholders and community. You worked so hard this summer to bring Dr. Gardner on board. You worked without an office for most of the summer and you just you you're really doing incredible job, you know, so far and I just want to thank you for all the effort. I know it was a lot of a lot of work and probably just like jumping in with both feet here, but thank you. I appreciate it. >> Thank you. It's easy when I have a community that's so supportive. So, thank you to the board and to our administrative team, our
049staff and and our community, our families, um, and our students. Um, and I I look forward to continuing to share updates and continuing to engage with the community. So, that's not going to end just because the school year has started. More of those opportunities to come. So, stay tuned. Great. Thank you so much for all that work as well as that report. All right. So, we'll move on now to our assistant superintendent report. >> Thank you, President Ginsburg. Uh, so we have twoformational items for you tonight. Uh, the first item is a recap of our new staff induction. And again, a huge thank you to our human resources team uh for all of their incredible work and putting together such an amazing class of inductees. Uh, also want to thank Isabelle and Reed. I think
050they are honorary members of our admin team now because they participated in multiple second round interviews this summer on their own time. So, thank you both for taking the time to help us hire quality people and quality teachers. So, new faculty members in their first three years in the district participate in the induction program. Uh, and we had an incredible three days of induction. There was a lot of energy and excitement in the room. Uh our year one inductees were engaged in learning sessions by administrators in various departments and in our building leadership teams. Uh we started with a brief motivational speech to kickstart the day and I do say kickstart because Dr. Dwan did do a high kick for everybody. It was amazing. Yes. Yes. It was awesome. Uh we had an overview of
051benefits and school district policies and procedures from our human resources department. A comprehensive overview of student services from our student services department. An introduction to staff affinity groups from our director of equity and cultural responsiveness. How we use technology in multiple ways throughout the district was provided from our director of technology and our instructional technology specialist and coach. We had an overview of supervision and evaluation from our curriculum instruction department and that's our department of teaching and learning. We had an introduction to culturally relevant and sustaining educational practices from our director of equity and cultural responsiveness and director of teacher and learn teaching and learning. We understanding the four domains of the Danielson model through a lens of equity and cultural responsiveness led by our principles and assistant principles. And let me say being new
052here to the district, this was remarkable. And I've worked in multiple districts over my career, this is the first district where building leaders led induction workshops. So, a huge kudos to all of us in this room to support that and an outstanding job by our building leaders with that. And we also provided an opportunity for our inductees to work with their mentors uh to get familiar with WIS nation and the the workflow for the school year. Our year two inductees con continued their work on the multi-tiered systems of support MTSS different differentiated instructional practices proactive behavioral strategies mental health first aid support and restorative practices and our year three induction group continued their work to dive deeply into their book study on culturally responsive teaching in the brain by Zarretta and with that I will
053take any questions about induction Any questions, comments? All right. So, no. I just feel like I have to give him a hard time. It's his first time. So, um it's not working. Well, uh it it's really exciting to hear all these um sessions that are done for induction for the first and second year teachers. One thing and not necessarily a question to be answered now, but a thought and I I've posed this thought in the past. How do we keep kind of some of that energy throughout the year and not just for the first and second year induction teachers? I think it's really refreshing to have all of our teachers whether it's at the building level. if we could have it at the district level together at different points in time throughout the school year
054to kind of reinforce some of the things like our priorities, our code of conduct, what to do in a mental health first aid crisis. Like these are all good reminders to have throughout the year and not just when we're kicking off the school year. Of course, we need to do that at the beginning of the year, but I would love for us to kind of evolve into thinking how do we kind of keep that pulse throughout the year, but good work. I'll give you harder questions in the future. >> Thank you. Thanks, Zafy. And and I'll say all of the thank yous goes to the departments that led all of the these workshops. It was just incredible work. Okay, we'll move to 9.2 staff professional development highlights. So again, the same leadership team, our director
055of teaching and learning, supervisor of teaching and learning, director of student services, supervisors, special education, director of equity and cultural responsiveness, director of technology, building principles, building assistant principles, instructional technology specialists and coach. all coordinated professional development for every single member of our staff across that w after the welcome back across those three days. Uh some of the highlights of those areas and these are included but not limited to our new illustrative math core resource uh in our math classes across the district. the multi-ter system of supports, MTSS, amplify core resource training, a focus on community partnerships with student activities and projects, performance-based assessments, and also student data review, collaborative conversations, and planning to just name a few in the sessions that our teachers and faculty participated in. Uh we also want to thank all
056of our instructional leaders and coaches for providing such high quality experiences for our teachers. We saw engagement. We saw growth. We saw learning. We saw collaboration. We saw motivation. Uh we saw just an overall energy to the staff. They're ready for day one. Uh a special thank you does go out to Dr. Schmidt, our director of teaching and learning who orchestrates through her team all of the professional development for induction as well as these professional development days. And it is a huge task when you think about it to develop a plan that an entire district is engaged and motivated through this professional development sees it as valuable. So a special thank you goes to Dr. Schmidt. Any questions or comments from the board? >> All right. Well, thank you so much for that first report.
057[Laughter] And I guess this was your first report as superintendent also. So great work to both of you. All right. Uh board solicitor report. Michelle, >> thank you. I have five action items tonight. There are five separate settlement agreements that are described sort of generally here between different families and students in between and the district. I'm looking for approval of action items 10.1 through 10.5. So moved. Right. A motion's been made and seconded. Are there any comments or questions, Steve? I saw you grab it. Any comments or questions? And we did get a memo on these. Um, so everyone should have received that. All right. Well, then if there's no comments or questions, all those in favor? Anyone opposed? Right. Motion passes. Thank you. Board secretary report. Tim >> tonight for your approval are items
05811.1 through 11.4 the resolution W1225 to allow Dr. Juan to electronically sign PTE documents and a meeting minutes for the May 27th June 2nd and June 12th. >> Second. >> Right. A motion's been made and seconded. Are there any comments or questions? >> Uh just one comment. Um, I did notice and appreciate it that there's um more detail provided in the minutes of on the public comment sections of our board meeting. So, uh, thank you for that. >> Any other comments? >> So, is the electronic signature thing just like a pretty standard thing, but we just have to approve that she can do it. Is that what it is? >> Unless she wants to get writer's career. Yes. >> Is do we do do we do this every year? I'm forget like I don't remember
059doing this. It's the changing of the superintendent. >> Okay. >> All right. Any other comments or questions? All right. All those in favor? >> I. Anyone opposed? Motion passes. Thank you. Board treasure report. Tim, >> tonight for your approval are the May, June, and July treasures report. I want to point out that these reports have been revised and run through Mr. Walker with regards to the new format to provide more clarity on the district funds. So moved. >> Second. >> The motion's been made and seconded. Are there any comments or questions? >> Just a a comment affirming that uh Mr. Bricker did run these by me and that they are simplified version of the treasures report. So it should be easier for both the board and the public to understand the financial statement treasur. >>
060Great. Thank you. Uh, any other comments or questions? All right. All those in favor? >> I I. >> Anyone opposed? Motion passes. Thank you. Human resources report. Danielle. >> All right. Hello again. Uh, so items for this month's agenda include retirements, resignations, appointments, changes of status, leaves of absence, summer appointments, and volunteers in 13.1 and 13.2. This does include uh the change in status for Mr. Kelly from the high school assistant principal uh to our newest principal at Shady Grove Elementary. And so with your approval this evening, we're excited to have him start next week right after Labor Day. Congratulations. Item 13.3 is salary changes for professional staff that have received additional education and are eligible for salary advancement. We do this one time per year at the beginning of the school year. So you'll
061see these in this agenda um and and the next maybe one or two in November if there's some strength. So but it does happen one time per year uh for educational attainment. Um 13.4 includes the list of appointments, resignations, and changes for our upcoming extracurricular positions. And then the next agenda agenda agenda items are revised job descriptions in 13.5. So the director of facilities, the business director, and the assistant business director. Um these are changes in title only. Um we wanted to update them uh to make them a little bit more modern uh to uh reflect some of the area area districts um the titles that they use. So that is all the changes in those um in those three um and again just to sort of get us into um 2025. Uh and then
062the director of security job description was updated to better align with the duties of the position. So this was a newer position a few you know a few years ago. So obviously things um change a bit. So um we revised that and also the position will become becoming under the um direction of the um business director now um Mr. Tim Bricker. So all of those changes are reflected in the job description for um the director of security. Um and then 13.6 is for a conference approval. 13.7 are extracurricular job descriptions. 13.8 is for a classroom assistant on special assignment. Just as a reminder uh to uh fill a leave of absence, we have a classroom assistant who's stepping up as the as a teacher on on special assignment. They remain a support staff. However, they
063step up with typically they have a C certification or they're emergency certified to step up in that classroom. They know that they know the students. It's actually a really great fit especially for shorter term assignments. So, we're really lucky to have classroom assistants willing and and able to do that for us. Um, and then finally, the last item is 13.9, and it's the approval of temporary support um for an acting assistant principal while we conduct the search for our next high school principal uh with Mr. Kelly's vacancy. Um, so this evening, I'm seeking approval for action items 13.1 through 13.9. Thank you. >> Great. Thank you for that report. Um, do I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> A motion's been made and seconded. Are there any comments or questions, Debbie? >>
064Well, I'll be the first to say congrats to Mr. Kelly. We're excited to have him not only um stay within our community, but grow his career, grow his career, and step up at the Shady Grove Elementary School. Um, did I say that wrong? Oh, okay. I'm very paranoid. Um, so I I wish that there was like little descriptions for um 13.7 for the Glamour Gals Club cuz I assumed what that was without reading it and then I read the description and I was floored by it and I thought it was so special and I I'm very excited to see this kind of service being brought forward. So, good job, Danielle. Thank you for all the work. I I don't know how you do it every summer, but we're very grateful for you and your team
065and everything that you guys have to do and technology and everybody who has to do all of this work. So, I'm excited to see all the new people coming into West Nation. Thank you. >> Yeah, like Zephy, I was pleasantly surprised. that glamour gals has nothing to do with glamour magazine or makeup or any of that sort of stuff. Um, but it does have a very good purpose. Um, I just had one comment. I think we should note Dr. Dewan's recent promotion in 13.6. She is no longer the assistant superintendent. She's superintendent. >> Great. Thank you. Any other comments or questions? All right, then. All those in favor? >> I. >> Anyone opposed? Motion passes. Thank you so much. Thank you again, Danielle. And um congratulations. >> You should go home. Make sure you take
066some cookies on your way out. Exactly. >> All right. So, now we'll move on to our committee reports, communications committee. Zephy, >> hi. Um, just anformational item for the school year 2025 2026. We have three scheduled communication committee meetings. One that Amy already mentioned that's coming up in a couple of weeks on September 22nd. That's at 6 PM here in person. January 20th will be via Zoom and then um the last one's April 6 which is also here in person. Hope to see you all there. >> That's all for me. >> And that's a good reminder public is welcome to all of our committee meetings. So please feel free to join us here for those in person ones or via Zoom. Any comments or questions about that meeting schedule? All right, then we'll move on
067to our curriculum and technology committee. Ian, >> thank you. I am actually going to pass it to Dr. Gardner. And we've discussed this beforehand. He's ready to go. >> We did. Thank you very much. That pass of the baton, if you will, maybe pass the money. Uh so before we get started on reviewing our information and action items, we wanted to provide an update regarding the MVP modern world studies honors course that was discussed in our last board meeting on June 12th. Imagine learning which is Ingenuity that offers a course through the MCIU has made updates to the course. However, the course is still not currently being offered to our students per the June 12th decision in our school. We also wanted to provide clarification about item 15.3. So item 15.3 is for the approval
068of anticipated outplaced educational services and tuition costs. As a reminder for the board, the outplacements are identified by the district because a particular program at another institution is determined to best meet a student's unique educational needs. These placements are based on team decisions during the IEP process and are chosen for the specialized support they provide. In a confidential memo to the board, I've continued with the past practice of providing the board with details about the specific services needed at these outplaced institutions. >> Great. Thank you. Um, were there any comments or questions regarding any of these items? >> Well, that's just a clarification. I haven't got to the items yet. >> Oh my goodness. questions about the pausing there for me to take it >> questions or comments about the clarification about those two before
069we get into the items. Just as with regard to the um MCIU, the egeneuity course, um are you able to provide a memo to the board just describing like what the changes were in that course so that we can if necessary reassess like that decision to so we'll actually be discussing that uh in our BCTC meeting planning uh to determine if we're going to move forward with a more formal presentation and recommendation to BCTC meeting. So we'll work on that together. >> Perfect. Thank you. >> Okay, then we'll jump into it. So, for your review and approval tonight, we have eight items under the curriculum technology committee section. The first item is forformational purposes only about the curriculum technology committee meeting schedule. Item 15.2 is the approval of start and end times for the 20
0702025 2026 school year. This is an annual agenda item. You will see there were changes made to our elementary start times for this year to streamline our transportation for students and to make it more efficient across all four elementary schools. Item 15.3 is the approval of anticipated outplace educational services and tuition costs for students. And you will see the table summarizes the majority of the anticipated outplaced educational services and tuition costs for the year. However, there may be additions to this list periodically throughout the year. In some cases on the list, you will see the contracts are still under review with our solicitor or we have not yet received a contract and so the tuition is an estimate at this time. But rest assured, in all cases, the contract status is noted there and we
071always ensure our solicitor reviews. This is a similar cost to prior years and the outplacements are identified by the district because a particular program at another institution is determined to best meet a student's unique educational needs. Item 15.4 approval extended field trips for WISK and high school athletic teams and or clubs and activities. Item 15.5, approval of addendum to McGomery County Intermediate Unit agreement for title one services to be provided for eligible students in non-public schools. Item 15.6, approval of title 3, memorandum of understanding with the McGomery County Intermediate Unit. Item 15.7, approval to purchase annual subscription renewal with leader services for IEP writer licenses and modules. Item 15.8 is the approval to adopt the elementary reading and math after school program. And there are two slight changes this year to that program that we
072have had for multiple years. So we've had the program for multiple years. Uh we are shifting the program structure. So it's shifting from three sessions to two. And what we found is that many staff and students participate throughout the entire program. So this adjustment aligns with our participation trends. The January start for session two still allows the building teams to add students who may need support mid year. The other slight change is transportation costs. The transportation cost has increased and will now be build at a flat rate for the entire bus run. And as in previous years, the elementary principles will send out a communication to their school communities in late September to raise awareness so families are informed in case their child is invited to participate. And with that, this evening I'm seeking approval
073for items 15.2 2 through 15.8. >> So moved. >> I have a motion. It's been seconded. Um we'll do comments and questions. Um I actually have a question regarding the school time changes. I'm just wondering I know it's only day two and I know we always have hiccups, you know, at the beginning of the year with transportation anyway, but um I'm just wondering if we've noticed um any improvement. I know my kids go to Stern Creek and buses often arrived late there um because of doing the prior runs for the middle school and high school. So, I'm hoping the push back in time, you know, helps that moving forward. But, have we noticed, you know, in these first two days any improvement? >> So, it's like you said, it's only been two days. The first
074couple days, the students are still figuring out which bus to get on. So, we've had a little bit of delays from the middle school and the high school. Um but the extra time has we have not been as late as we were normally. So we are getting some buses that are arriving on time which is positive but the goal is to get them all there time. And um as far as communications from the buildings to parents um do we have like a particular practice in place like if a bus is going to be a certain amount of time late that they should send out notices like how I got one I know from like Stony Creek the other day but I'm just wondering if we have set protocols in place >> when a bus is
07515 minutes late a notice should go out to fax. In prior years, we had talked about um having like a track a tracker app for the buses. Do you know where we are with that or anywhere? >> We were discussing it today actually. It's something we're looking into getting. Um I actually talked to the transportation director probably around five o'clock tonight about that. >> So, we're working on it maybe next year, maybe. >> Too soon to tell. >> Okay. Too soon to say. I I don't I don't know like the general pulse on it. My kids have never really taken the bus, but I can imagine it would be very helpful for parents to know, especially if it's like raining or whatever, like when they need to leave their house or, you know, so I
076think that would be a really great shift into the 21st century for us if we could do that. Um the the other question I had, and I I sent you an advanced question, but I don't have email. My internet's not working. So, >> why do we have to approve the start time? It's clearly already happening. And I want to I also wanted to say that like when this decision was made to push back elementary school times, I didn't know about it. It was just made. It wasn't like a board decision. Um so I was just wondering is this like a legal thing? >> Yeah. So thank you for that question. Uh this does fall under PA school code where the board of directors are responsible for determining the school calendar as well as the start
077and end times with an annual an annual item that you'll see to approve. Wait, were you done? I have a couple of questions for the after school reading and math program. I just need a refresher because I know this is not the first time we've done this, but I might have forgotten some of this one. Do you opt in or do you have to be um kind of like given the opportunity to take the this session? Number two is if you need both reading and math, can you cover both or do you have to do just one? And three is transport has transportation always been offered or is that a new thing because I don't recall that. >> Thank you. Thank you for your questions. Um first the it is eligibility there's there are eligibility
078criteria for students to be invited to participate. Um so that answers question number one. Question number two um looking at the trends in data over time. These are the areas that have been identified as um best targeting the needs of students in second and third grade focusing on reading and in fourth and fifth grade targeting math. Um I think there is some reading in fourth and fifth grade as well. Um but they look at what the priority area is for each of the students um who are in the program. So it's really driven by the the data. And then for the third question, yes, transportation has typically been part of the the program um in terms of costs that have been associated. It's not typically called out. We're calling it out this year because there
079is a an increase in the cost. Um but yeah, that's probably why it's um at the at the top of mind because we're sort of calling attention to it this year because of the increase in cost. Yeah. Thank you. Like that's awesome. So it it was just something I didn't remember. Thank you for that. Great. Thank you. Any other comments or questions, Steve? >> Yep. Just uh I think Deian might have been too uh nice to to not say it, but I think that question was for approval of the start times. We probably should get that before the start of school for the for the board to do that in the future. >> It was really just about we had proposed this before and we were told adamantly no and now we're doing it, which
080is fine. It's fine, but I had nothing to do with it, so don't yell at me. >> Thank you for that. And um and so the the the distinction is of course the number of minutes, right? This this is we're talking about 10 minutes or 15 minutes versus the community conversations um and engagement that has happened over the last few years or a few years ago um in terms of more significant shifts in the in the start in time. But certainly noting your concern around the timing of this uh is something that we will explore for for moving ahead. Thank you. >> Great. Thank you. Um anything else before we move on? All right. Facilities and transportation. Joe, >> did we take did we take a vote? >> We had a motion and a second.
081All right. All those in favor? >> I. >> Anyone opposed? Motion passes. Thank you, Joe. Okay. Um the facilities and transportation committee report. We have oneformational item and one action item for this evening. 16.1 is uh just a listing of the two facilities and transportation committee meetings um upcoming. There's an one in October 28th and then another one on March 10. Um 16.2 is the ratification of the purchase of three transit passenger vans uh for the trans transportation department. This was a purchase that occurred over the summer um in July, I believe, when we did not have a board. Um Tim, anything to add regarding the van purchase? >> So, when looking at the fleet, we had several vehicles that were over 10 years. After 10 years, you don't get any subsidies on them. So,
082we repurposed some of them and we auctioned off three of them. Four of them. Uh, two are being repurposed as sub vans and will be utilized by the athletic or activities at the high school. So, if they have small groups, they can just sign one of those out and use that. We also have one here in the back that they can sign out, which is just more convenience. It's shorter for them to get to to get that. That'll be our primary one. The three new ones will be put into service to transport students and they will be eligible for the subsidy. >> Thank you. So with that, I'm seeking approval for action item 16.2. >> So moved. >> Second. >> A motion's been made. Seconded. Are there any comments or questions? I >> I have
083a question. We we like rent most of our buses from um the transportation company from First Student. Correct. Like we don't own the buses. They own the buses. Or do we own the buses? >> The buses. They own the vans that I'm speaking of. We own. >> Right. That was my question. So, is it more economical for us to purchase the vans versus renting or is renting not an option from first student for the vans? >> We wouldn't be able to rent them from first student. Um, plus we getting if you you're not going to get any subsidies back on them, so you wouldn't get repaid. The rent would probably be equal to the monthly payments if we had rented it out, which would equal the total cost of the van. It would be economical.
084>> So, more economical. Okay. Thank you. >> One question. Well, two one question, one comment. Um, I know I've said this several times in the past, but can we explore finding vehicles that are hybrid? I'm assuming these aren't. >> No, these are not hybrid. Uh, we did look at that earlier last year. Um, but space, time, and constraints did not allow us to look. We're looking at plug-in electric vehicles, which we will continue to look in the future. >> I appreciate that. And I do think it's a good idea to have vans for our athletes. I know that's often a hurdle for some of our high school um kind of athletes getting to and from places. So I think that's a good use of some of the older ones. So that's exciting. Thank you. >>
085Great. Thank you. Any other comments? All right. Then all those in favor? >> I. >> Anyone opposed? Motion passes. Thank you. Finance Committee reports, Steve. >> Yeah, we've got uhformational item 17.1 for the audit committee, dates um for reporting that out to the board. And again, a plug for public finance committee meetings where we do discuss the budget and and have workshops around making uh sometimes difficult and challenging choices around the budget. So, we welcome public input at those meetings. Um 17.2 2 and 17.3 are approval of the normal finance reports and list of payments for May, June, and July over the summer. Uh 17.4 is we need to provide a delegate to the tax collection committee for our local taxing authority. 17.5 is approval of bus uh schedule changes. Um and so we're seeking
086approval of 17.2 through 17.5. >> Second. >> A motion's been made and seconded. Are there any comments or questions? >> Um, just one question about the tax collection committee. Um, I don't recall us having to approve it in the past. I was just curious about what the nature of that committee is. Um, Tim, can you give us more information about it? >> The McGomery County Tax Collection Committee represents all the taxing jurisdictions, uh, school districts and municipalities within McGomery County. uh they're responsible for overseeing the collection and distribution of earned income tax and the profits within the collection district. Typically Burkheimer does most of the collections for that. We need to put in an alternate to myself. So I was approved. Now this person will be approved as the alternate. >> Okay. Thanks. >> Any
087other comments? I do have one question regarding the bus schedules and I feel like I may have asked this in prior years but I don't remember the answer. Do we pull resources like with other local schools like if we have a number of students going to a particular Catholic school um that we're busing them to? Do we also have like upper Dublin students, North Penn students? Like do we try to work with other districts to bus those students or do we just take our own to wherever we're going? because it's taxpayer funded. We right now just do our own. We have talked about joint ventures with some buses and when they were having shortages, however, it's never panned out or worked out timing wise for their students and us to meet up at a location
088to get the bus to where it needs to go. >> Great. Thank you. All right, then. Um, any other comments or questions? All right, then all those in favor. Anyone opposed? Motion passes. Thank you. Policy committee Marshall. >> Thank you, Amy. Uh, we have oneformational item this evening, including the dates for committee meetings this year. We will have policy committee meetings which are public of course taking place on November 10th and February 17th, 7 p.m. Both meetings at 7 p.m. and both via Zoom. Concludes my report. >> Great. Thank you, Marchall. Any questions or comments? Right. Thanks again. Um Oh, do we don't have to approve that, right? That's not an action. Okay. Racial equity oversight committee call. He's not I was thinking it was virtual. Joe, >> sure. I'll take it. Um so, as
089uh per the board's action earlier this evening at a future meetings, this section will be titled Board Educational Equity Oversight Committee. And uh 19.1 isformational for this evening and it's just a list of meetings for this committee over the course of the year. There's quite a few. And I just also want to note that while most of the meetings are in or via Zoom, we do have two meetings a year uh upcoming November 20th and then on March 17th which are in person and intended to be more of a community conversations and dialogues with uh our stakeholders and constituents in Wagen. So, uh, encourage folks to participate in any or all of those in the upcoming year. Thanks. >> Great. Thank you. Any comments or questions? >> All right. Then we'll move on to um
090board health, wellness, and safety. >> Uh, yes. Uh, there will be two meetings this year. One, the first one will be October 13th. Uh, and that'll be virtual. and then one on April 13th, 2026 in person here in the boardroom. >> Great. Thank you. Any comments or questions? >> All right, then we'll move on to extra board representative reports. Extracurricular committee Marshall. >> Uh I have nothing to report this even >> and I don't have an MCIU report. We haven't met yet. North Monaco. >> So there was a board meeting last Monday. Um the future plan for the district uh in terms of possible enrollment uh at North Monco was reviewed um based on community growth etc. Um it was also recognized that uh the number of incoming students for North Monco uh is the
091highest it's been for a while and a lot of that is due to Wiz Hicken sending ninth grade students for the first time uh to North Monco. Great. Thank you. Any comments, questions? All right. Thank you again, ESBA. I was hoping to talk about tonight um what was in the Pennsylvania state budget for education, but there's no budget yet. So maybe next time. >> Um anything for ERC? >> Not at this time. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you for those reports and any comments or questions. All right. Thank you. All right. Well, that brings us now to our second public comment period. Again, the board appreciates hearing from the community. A maximum of five speakers will be heard on the same topic. Please limit your comments to three minutes. In the interest of fairness
092and in order to treat all speakers equally, it is the board's practice not to engage in dialogue with speakers. When appropriate, we'll follow responses on board docs. And um whether you're in person or online, please state your name, your municipality of residence, and the topic on which you're speaking. Right. First, we have uh Joseph Kfus. And I'm sorry if I said that incorrectly. >> Thank you. Um I wanted to bring to the board's attention, uh sorry, my name is Joseph Kenik, uh with Pay Township. Um thank you for having me. I wanted to bring to the board's attention situation that is currently happening with student transportation. Uh my children attend St. Genevy's school in Flowertown. The current afternoon schedule has them leaving school at 2:35, not arriving at our bus stop home until 3:50. Uh
093that is nearly 90 minutes of time on the bus for my six and sevenyear-old children to go the seven miles from St. Jen's to our bus stop. Myself and a number of other parents um have called and emailed with Derek Blatt uh and he has given us the following reasons for the long bus times. Number one, not enough drivers. Number two, efficiency in route planning where we had to combine with other schools. And number three, not enough buses and vans to be able to give our us our own route from St. Jens. Um to Mr. Plat's credit, he has been very responsive and respectful to all parents that have reached out to him. However, I'm having an extremely hard time reconciling the fact that the solution to too few bus drivers is making the kids
094suffer by sitting on a bus for 90 minutes. That's ridiculous and quite frankly not in line with the values of the school district. The tagline on the website says true blue and a heart of gold. It's a heart of gold making six and sevenyear-old kids sit on a bus for 90 minutes. That's coldhearted, not a heart of gold. Um, so why are there so few bus drivers? Uh, I can't accept the excuse that it's hard to hire bus drivers. It's really hard to hire anybody, good principles, teachers, sanitation workers, accountants, anything. Um, but solutions can always be found when the stakes are high enough. Having six and seveny old kids sit on a bus for 90 minutes or high enough stakes for action to be taken. Think about all the issues that occur by having
095the kids sit on the bus. There's safety issues with more time on the road as well as more time on the bus with 30 kids from three different schools practically unsupervised. There's academic issues with less less time to do homework. Health issues with the kids not having access to a bathroom or being tired or getting car sick. There's so many reasons for the kids not to be on the bus this long. And I'm absolutely certain that no one on the board would stand for it if it was one of your kids. So the bottom line with what I'm asking is temporary solution for the district to hire a transportation service for our kids or kids from another bus to make to give us an access to a bus. Part of the reason for this problem
096is too few drivers and there should be money in the budget that was earmarked for drivers to be used for the service. Last year in the middle of the school year, there were driver issues and we had an outside service take the kids for about a month and a half. I don't believe that this was from student first. Uh our kids were driven home by Dave in his minivan and I'm pretty sure he was not a certified bus driver. Um, I would like to see this service enacted again temporarily until more bus drivers are hired and the bus routes can efficiently be maintained without elementary schools sitting on a bus for 90 minutes. Thank you very much for your time. >> Thank you for those comments. Anyone online? There are no hands raised online. All
097right. Think Kina Taylor I just want to level set this conversation um and tell you that I was hit by a car as a pedestrian a month ago And it was a miracle that I did not sustain um like major injuries. Um God saved me. And ever since I have been trying to recover from being hit by a car, I've had a self assessment of where I really think I need to put my energy towards. And I got to tell you, Dr. Dwan, that you're refreshing. Um, I have criticized this board for years. There's a drastic difference already with you being in this room. And um, some mother messaged me on messenger two days ago and asked me, "What could they do to get rid of you?" And I said, "There's nothing you could do
098because the board has made their decision. And I'm sitting here and I'm listening to all of you guys. And um I was trying I'm like I don't want to get back up there and be negative. And so I'm going to resort to my energy of falling back. The ball is in your court, Dr. Dwine, to lead this school district in the next five years. It's up to all of you to do the right thing by the kids, by the families. you mentioned community stakeholders who I don't know who you who they are and um it's not worth it. I'm tired and I'm just sitting here and I'm looking at all of you and I'm saying this is crazy, man. Because I could come up here and give you stats and dab and things that I
099want you to improve, but right now there's nothing. There's no accountability measures in the Pennsylvania public education system that hold board members accountable. I don't want to go to court with any of you. I don't want to waste my time doing that. So, I want to just leave you with one note. I received a text system today from a teacher, a black woman who's been in this district in elementary school um for the last six years and and and she had some situations that happened to her at the school. And the one thing that she said is, "I don't know why um these white people don't care about me. I'm traumatized by my experience. They made me hate myself and I don't matter. And I responded to her and I said, "Girl, I love you.
100I am here for you. You have the responsibility of learning and teaching children you matter." And so, Dr. Dwine, I'm just hoping and praying you do the right thing based on your lived experiences, based on your desire to be school board superintendent, and For all of you, life is short. Other people's lives. I hope you make the best decision. I am not coming back up here to complain. I'm going to fall back and watch all of you because my life is important. My health is important. The best to all of you. Thank you so much for sixth and eighth grade. and hopefully we'll get some answers from that to lead this school district. >> Thank you, Carina. Anyone online? >> There are no hands raised online. >> All right, then we'll close second public comment
101period and we'll move now to uh board comments. Any board comments this evening? Um I just wanted so uh starting AP classes this year I was made aware that the school we they used to pay for two AP exams for each student. I understand with the budget that that was not possible this year. So students will pay for any AP exam they choose. I just wanted to put out there that I feel like I definitely heard from other students that it's $100 per exam. So if you're taking a bunch of exams, it definitely can add up. And I know that there are waiverss for students who um have those accommodations, but like if you're taking four or even three APs, like that's $300. That's not so I just thought I would share. >> Yeah, thank
102you for sharing that, Reed. Any other board comments? >> All right, seeing none, do we have a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved. Right. All those in favor? >> I. >> Anyone opposed? I have a motion passes. Thank you. Good evening, everyone.