001[Music] Mr. Antonio here. Mr. Badger here. Mr. Blefeld here. Miss Kavachi here. Mr. Goolson here. Miss Keranikis. Dr. Morris here. Mr. Walker here. Mrs. Ginsburg here. Do you need the student boards also? Isabelle Deasta here. Reed Harris here. Thank you. All right. Will everybody please join me for the pledge of allegiance. Welcome to all of our guests for this June 2nd meeting of the West Hickens School Board. Uh first in our agenda, we list out our prior meetings. Uh the board met on May 27th for our work session and we then list out our upcoming meetings and our next actual public board meeting will be on August 26th. All right. And that brings us to presentations. Blue Bell Elementary renovation and addition project update. Is that Tim? Oh, good evening everyone. Pardon me one second.
002Let me get things set up here. Okay. Um, as we are aware, we are getting ready to wrap up our blue bell um, renovation and addition. We expect this to be completed about uh, the end of June. We're right on schedule where we should be. So, um, just want to go through a quick couple slides here. As you recall from our last presentation, this is the schedule that we were following for this particular project. Um, I love to see all the green completed for all the phases at the final phase that we're in now. Phase four, which is June June uh 2025 completion date. Um, things are moving so fast that all the pictures you are going to see are old and because I I go over there every day and there's more. So, just
003to a brief uh overlook, this is our uh entrance to the from the new bus stock area is on the left. Uh walking into that beautiful foyer area and then to the right, the picture to the right is um our new gym and cafeteria space with the door open. It's wonderful. The kids love it and anyone who's been up there knows that they're very excited to have that space, particularly with large events that they can have all the students in the same place. Um, here's a quick picture of the back parking lot there. Um, it might not be fun to everybody, but it is to me. Have a nice new parking lot back there. All the spacing has been completed. The sad uh seating has all been completed in the back of the building. General
004landscaping is is all done for the whole project. Um, the parking lot's completed. line straightening has all been completed back there as um this is the front of the building now which we call we're calling area C. Um this is the renovated classroom area that used to be our former cafeteria and kitchen space. We've uh added some new windows out front uh along with um closing up all the exterior openings out front. If you've been past the building at all, you there was a door in the middle we were using and that is being closed up as we speak and should the building should be tight to the front of the building within the next day or so. Here is a couple sneak peeks of inside the building. Uh the left picture shows one of
005our new special ed classrooms um which as you can see everything is coming along very nicely. We have countertops in place. Our casework is in place, windows where we where we can have windows in. So that's that's a very progressive uh project right now. U the right hand picture shows uh one of our teaching walls and one of the other educational spaces in there. Again these pictures every day I go over there and every day there's there's more done. So it's it's very exciting to see. And uh the final slide I have for tonight is um just shows a little bit more of the internal work being done. The left picture shows our a newly renovated uh main entrance lobby which is currently closed. As soon as we remove plywood from there, this will be
006part of our main entrance lobby similar to Stony Creek's entry where you have a big wide entry to the right when you walk in the door. Um pictured in the back on the lefth hand picture as well. You can kind of see some scaffolding back there that opens up into a new conference space for the uh for the school to use. The right-hand picture shows uh our new faculty planning space and those this is another great space for teachers to collaborate and work in there working on furniture with Mr. Bricker on those type of things as well. Uh finishing touches are um in progress as I said and daily changes are happening uh too many to list. So that's where we are at the moment and um very happy to uh to uh say that
007in three or four weeks we'll be substantially complete. Great. Thank you. And I have a question. This faculty collaboration area is this uh just for collaboration or is this also your staff room previously was extremely small and has like a loud machine in the corner like is this in place of that? Yes. Yes. So, it'll so it's it's a collaboration space. It'll alo be their their space that they can they can have lunch and um it'll be fully furnished with all their um their lunchroom um equipment in there now. But there's a lot of we're putting furniture in there that they can, you know, have small meetings and such in there. Great. And do we also do um updates to um some of the restrooms that were in that what was initially like the first
008hall? That was one of the things we talked about at one point. So, yes. Um, last summer we took care of two of the hallways. I think it was green and blue hallway. We ran into the restrooms and we brightened them up. We um we put um some we refinished the tiling that was in there. Um it's a it's more of a it's not the pink or blue yellow that was in there before. Uh it's more modern looking. We painted in those spaces. We've updated some some other items in there just to make it look a little bit more welcoming. And then this summer after July now we'll finish the second half of the buildings and then all the restrooms will all look the same. Great. And does the new hall are they going to
009have is it going to have a color like the other ones have colors at Blue Bell? Will the new hall No. So this there's only one small hallway that enters into the space. It's probably 15 feet long. There's not really a not really a um a way to color that hallway, but so so hate to disappoint you on that, but it's great new space. So So give you a question. Um anybody else any comments or questions, Steve? Congratulations on the all the progress on the building. That's great. I know in prior meetings we've had some issues uh from some of the neighbors around lighting at night, things like that. Have have most of those uh issues been resolved? Um I I haven't heard any um I haven't got any emails or anything. So best of
010my knowledge, everybody is mostly happy with where we are now. Thank you. And so does this mean that there's we're done as of the fall? We won't have any more construction at Blue Bell. That's it. So we uh substantially complete means we'll be able to use the space. Uh, and then there's a there's punch punch list items that have to be taken care of. And um the the project won't actually be closed out probably for another six or eight months because of all the permitting and stuff and all the inspections that have to be completed and the but essentially we'll be able to use that building come fall. We will have students in that space. Thank you. I was mostly talking about like disruption to the students. So it sounds like that would be very
011minimal at that point then. Awesome. Great. Thank you. So um Brian, we started this project um almost two years ago at this point. So just can you um refresh my memory? I mean my recollection is that um well number one the reason for the project was that we were experiencing um enrollment growth and projected increasing enrollment growth at Blue Bell such as the point where the building was getting too tight. And so we in essence through this project added a whole another wing that added I believe it was the intent was to add like six or eight classrooms. It was nine classrooms. So, it's about 30 31,000 square ft that we're at and that includes classroom space, office space, the the um the new maintenance or I'm sorry, the mechanical space in the back, restrooms,
012and then the kitchen and cafeteria and gymnast. Yeah. And I think also um I guess we were building like an expanded like gym right as part of that as well too. Yeah. I so I was looking today the the the original gym in the in that building was about 2500 square feet and the when they put the dividing door in half we're we're up at like 3600 square feet. So they got they gained over a thousand square feet in the gymnasium and then the cafeteria is about the same number too. So we gained about a thousand square feet in there too for the for the cafeteria space. Great. And um we're coming to the tail end by the time we wrap things up. Are we going to end up having the project completed on time
013and on budget? So that as you recall, there were a couple change orders, but we are we don't anticipate any other the other changes. And um there are actually some of the trades that uh we may be getting some of the um to hold that money. So um we're going to be on time and as close to budget as we are right now. Yep. Great. Okay. Um well, thanks uh again echoing Steve's point. I mean this is a a big major project. I think that'll be great for the Blue Bell uh school community and good job of managing and uh making sure that uh we successfully got it to completion. Thanks. Anyone else? All right. Again, thank you so much. All right. So, this will bring us now to our first public comment period. Uh
014the 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 and in order to treat speakers equally, it is our practice not to engage in dialogue with speakers. When appropriate, we will follow responses on board docs. When approaching the podium or online, please state your name and your affiliation to the district and the topic on which you're speaking. All right. So, first we have Rachel Granger. Hello. Thank you for having me. Uh, so my name is Rachel Granger. I'm a parent of two middle schoolers in our district and a member of the Wishahickin Jewish Family Association. First, I want to thank the board for last week's thoughtful discussion and for your openness in exploring solutions
015regarding the problematic curriculum presented through the MCIU's virtual studies platform, specifically in the honors world studies class. I truly appreciate your willingness to engage on this important issue. As a follow-up to the discussion last week, I'd like to ask what that what the plan is for correcting the misinformation that's already been taught to this year's students and to those in years prior who are exposed to the same materials. As previously discussed, the course material covering the creation of the state of Israel is not just factually inaccurate. It is part of a broader, deeply concerning pattern of misinformation being introduced into classrooms both locally and globally, erasing or manipulating Jewish history and identity. This distortion isn't just theoretical. It has real world consequences, including the eight Jewish people, mostly elderly, set on fire while peacefully marching
016with a larger group in Boulder, Colorado yesterday. The group had gathered for a regularly scheduled weekly peaceful event which was organized by Run for their lives, an organization that raises awareness for Israeli hostages still held in Gaza. The young people shot outside the Jewish Museum in Washington DC less than two weeks ago on in May 21st. The first the fire set to Governor Josh Shapiro's home, Pennsylvania's first Jewish governor in an arson attack on the eve of a major Jewish holiday in April. the 28-year-old Jewish dentist dentist murdered in his own office in California in February of 2024. Closer to home, we've seen anti-Semitic slurs and swastikas drawn in schools, including right here in our district and in neighboring districts. In the Colonial School District, students recently circulated an anti-semitic video targeting Jewish classmates. We
017are witnessing an astronomical rise in anti-Semitic rhetoric online, fueled by propaganda and misinformation designed to dehumanize Jews and delegitimize Israel. This is not abstract. Jewish students are frightened. Jewish families are exhausted and communities like mine are desperate to know that someone is taking notice. Please keep this in mind when discussing the plan to correct the misinformation that has already been taught to the students. This is not about politics. This is about the safety of our children and the integrity of their education. If we do not correct falsehoods, if we do not push back against systematic manipulation of Jewish history, then we are complicit in normalizing hate. And we will continue to see it spill over into violence. Please help us ensure that every student in this district is taught accurate, balanced history and that no
018community feels erased or endangered by what's presented in their classroom. Thank you for your time and for your commitment to transparency and [Applause] truth. I did forget to warn everybody about the buzzer. There is a buzzer at the end of the three minutes so that I have to watch the clock. Thank you for your comments, Rachel. Is there anyone online? Yes, we have one hand raised. We have Mark Kane. Mark, you can go ahead and unmute yourself. Hi everyone, Mark Cayman from Whitpan Township. Uh first I want to commend Marshall and Joe for what they said at la at the last board meeting uh about the virtual academy slides and calling it out for what it is. Uh the slides the the purported curriculum on the creation of Israel in the Middle East is factually
019inaccurate, is inflammatory, is dangerous and it has no place in whahicken or education. uh Jewish or not, we should all be able to appreciate the seriousness of this and how irresponsible it is to allow this material and any like it to continue to be out there. Uh though not all board members spoke out on the subject, I hope that all are aligned on this. This should not be controversial. As Rachel just said, this should not be political. And though Chrisfield had the gall to proclaim that the vote on the MCIU's virtual program contract should not be held up pending the MCIU's purported review. You should know that the only acceptable position here is to vote no on renewing the MCIU's virtual uh academy contract until one, the district confirms that the inflammatory slides have been
020removed. Two, the district has reviewed all virtual academy material to ensure no similar anti-semitic, factually inaccurate or inflammatory content like it exists. And three, any students who had access to the same content are educated on the subject matter. The district can hang as many no place for hate signs as it wants. It can create a position of director of equity and cultural responsiveness and throw money at that feckless position. and it can send out as many belongingness surveys as it wants. If you feel you cannot unequivocally and specifically denounce the content that's in the MCIU's virtual academy slides, and if you question the seriousness of this and the impact the content like it has, you are not qualified for the position you are in. You are a threat to every Jewish student and family in
021this district and beyond. And I urge you to get educated on the subject. If you need legitimate resources on this very complicated and age-old conflict or on anti-semitism, please let me know. There is a lot out there. If you've not already seen it, watch the documentary October 8th just to start and do one of these things this week. But tonight, please vote no on renewing the virtual academy uh program and maintain that position unless and until the necessary corrective actions are taken. Thanks. Thank you for those comments, Mark. Our next person um is Nick Milello, but I apologize if I said that incorrectly. Uh thank you. My name is Nick Melatello from Lower Gwenn Township. Um I couldn't uh I think this is probably going to be uh uh Dr. Chrisfield's last meeting here and
022they couldn't let him go out without a bang and saying hello and one more community complaint. Um I wanted to thank everybody. I did I wasn't at the last two meetings but I was able to watch um the the meetings and I I did very very very much appreciate the thorough dialogue and discussion that was going on back and forth about the chillers and the noise in this whole process and what I've learned. I've learned a lot more in addition with the help of uh Mr. Rudolph who lives on the same street and is has to endure the noise even more so than I do. The noise being from the waist of Hick and Chillers. Um many months ago I had made a suggestion. I found out a lot of reasons that were given to
023me about why the suggestion wouldn't work. But I still want to bring up the suggestion again which is put the chillers back inside. Here's my argument and here's my thought process. I've been told that that inside space has been repurposed. My suggestion reclaim that and reuse it. Here's my reasons and I go with simple reasons and they are cited but in three minutes I can't share all those citations. First aircooled system is a 40-year system that has lasted and been proved. Air ch air air chilled outside has a 20-year lifespan duration at best. But here's why taxpayers like me in addition to those handful of neighbors that have to do endure the noise. Noise is one thing. Noise affects our neighborhood. Noise affects the kids on the field. Noise isn't great. However, why would you
024do this? From what I learned from the systems, and again, these are where we have cited information from how the system runs. An air chilled system is double the efficiency, which means half of the energy cost. Mr. Rudolph and myself, Mr. Rudolph did most of the work because he has most of the understanding said at x number of temperature with x number of square feet at this size system the estimated savings not the cost of the districts is over $100,000 a year in energy just for the whist and chillers. I had no idea these things took this much energy. I can only imagine your electricity bill. But if you have a $100,000 savings per year, the eight years that's been installed is a $800,000 savings, which would have been more than enough to put the
025right one in and soundproof it. My argument, the remaining 16 years that we have on this system, that would be a $1.6 million savings just in energy. So, if you're looking at a taxpayer reason why to spend money, put the right system in, which the school was already designed for, reclaim that space, take it back, soundproof it, and put it where it belongs. Even though this system has 15 years left, that's a $ 1.5 million savings. And again, these are cited, and we'd be more than happy to share. But thank you very much for listening. Thank you, Nick. Anyone else online? There are no online. Okay, then our next inerson speaker will be Alan Deco. Good evening school board. My name is Alan Deco. I am one of the your neighbors who is impacted by
026the Wick and Middle School children noise. First, just let me take a minute thank the school board for trying to understand this problem and its impact on the community. Second, we appreciate that you're actively trying to find a solution. I realize that your main reason to be on the school board is to serve the community by helping provide the best possible education and school experience for the for our children and this is a distraction from that. We are here again to raise our concerns about the inadequacy of the proposed solutions. While I understand that you want to take action to do something to improve this situation, I am concerned that it will not solve problem and we will be back again starting this process again. We're asking you to try and get this right, not
027a quick fix with the hope that it just does enough to make us go away. We believe that a firm that specializes in sound remediation of this type should be considered. firm that assesses the problem, designs and proposes a solution, installs and guarantees the results. These firms do exist. I have seen and read materials from companies that do this exact type remediation. I'm sure they have client references who can vouch for the results as well as actual examples that can be viewed and heard in person. We realize this takes a lot of time and effort away from your business, students, and education. So, let's try and get right the first time. Thank you so anyone online. There are no hands raised on uh Irene Lewis. Hi, I'm Irene Lewis uh from Montgomery Road. As the
028board votes tonight on its last meeting of the summer to grant the business manager authority to sign off on expenses during the summer recess, I want to raise a concern that directly ties into this authority and that affects the day-to-day quality in our neighborhood. The board recently decided not to proceed with the permanent sound wall for Whisten Middle School, citing the cost in its place. The district is moving forward with a fence and sound blankets, but this is at best an unproven interim measure. It's not clear that it will meaningfully reduce the noise from the chillers, especially the low frequency hum that travels across our yards and into our homes. This means the burden of this ongoing problem will fall squarely on the community, especially over the summer when families expect to enjoy their backyards,
029patios, and open windows. We understand there are some summer programs at the middle school, but these are limited in scope. The building will not be filled with students at as it is during the school year. In fact, there will only be a small number of personnel and summer students present in the building on any given day. We feel that it is reasonable to ask that the chillers be turned off for the summer and that some other accommodations are made. So tonight, I respectfully urge the board to direct the business manager under the authority you are granting, particularly considering the costs financially and the impact to the community to consider severely limiting the operation of the chillers this summer. Also consider the fact that us neighbors will be on our own in the summertime in terms
030of having an accountability. with whom an accountability partner with whom to communicate any problems. This solution will alleviate the stress that we experience when we have nowhere to turn. This would be a lowcost immediate step to provide relief to neighbors who have been patient for years. It acknowledges that the current noise levels are excessive and that the interim fence may not be enough. Let's not go another summer with no meaningful relief. Please use this administrative authority authority um wisely and compassionately on behalf of the families who live around the school. Thank you, Irene. Anyone online? There are no hands raised online. Hey, Rudolph. My name is Eric Golf over at Montgomery Road, lowered. And uh before I start, I just want to thank you all for your service and reiterate. I've heard the the board
031members say that the problems they're working on relative to the chiller are confusing and challenging and we know this is not part of your day job or anything like that and your patience to work through this when you're here really for the intent of making sure our kids have the best future by getting a sound education. um we want to make sure we're doing and and that you have the opportunity to do that, you know, and give it your all and not be demotivated, okay, by having to deal with these issues. But these issues are reassurance as you've heard from papers and the proposal tonight kind of from our perspective we have very limited information because we haven't been communicated to from district and understand things are busy but we don't have any we're counting
032on you to help protect us okay and hear our voice okay to to get what we need and what we want to do is make sure we have a comfortable summer this year. This will be the fifth summer that we're going to go through this. It's very painful. I just have to tell you when you hear that noise, that shriek at that first level, if that stayed that for 12 hours, how would that feel to you? And if you woke up the next day and you heard that noise 12 hours continuously, how would that feel? This is a big deal. Okay? And so I know you're treat treating it, you know, with utmost, you know, importance. You've expressed that. What I'd like to do though is just listen to my neighbors, okay? They're they're dealing
033with this. They're going to be here for years. You might look at me and say, "I'm not going to be here long. Maybe I'll go away." Okay. Um, I just want to let you know, I shared with you last time my daughter is moving out and she is now here. She lives about a hundred yards over there, one of our neighbors, and I've got two little kids. So, I want you guys to be able to do the best job you can, okay, to have this district operating, okay, to have provide the best education and experience for them. But it also has to be safe, okay? And it has to be free, okay, of this type of environmental pollution that's coming. All right? So again, as as Irene said, we respectfully request that you turn off
034the chiller this day because we don't know if the mitigation. I don't believe it will. It was proposed by the the the expert back in April. Same type con. [Applause] So anyway, we look forward to working with the district to help identify solutions and thank you again. Great. Thank you. Anyone online? There are no hands raised online. All right, Carina Taylor. I thought I was next. Um, happy to be the second graduate to be able to speak at public comment. So, I wanted to just point out that at 19.1, which is the race and equity committee, that there's nothing to report. And I'm thinking to myself, why isn't there something to report at the end of the year? And I just want to point out it should be because we mentioned here at a board
035meeting that the black students in Penlland expressed to administration that um black students were treated differently. Black parents have incident reports out there from schools that they just received that happened in the wintertime. It's gone undressed. I looked at um future ready index and the numbers are still very poor in terms of the proficiency rate for students. So I just challenge um the race and equity committee and whoever is in charge of it to really listen to the community that deals with race and equity. And again for it to be at the end of the year is quite troubling. I wanted to also say that back in the day when you had subcommittee meetings like on budget on facilities you had the the community had an opportunity to actually sit at the table with board
036members to get feedback from them to talk about the issues. Back in the day board members were open and receptive to community's um expertise or their views. Um it startled me when he just said that this is the fifth summer that they will be uncomfortable and it's it's again what are we doing here in terms of reporting and engaging and involving. I remember when they first spoke and said they spent four years emailing the superintendent and Wade Coleman. And so when we look at um the things that are on tonight's agenda and I'll say it again, there's over 50 items on this agenda. you're not meeting for the second time in June and you're just rushing through to say that, oh, we put this in check, we put this in check, we put a band-aid
037on this and all the time we keep coming here talking about our issues and they don't get addressed. And I think it's very problematic that there's more committees that are not reporting than the ones that are and then all the items in here are being shoved in here again without explanation. Now, I do recall since the last board meeting, there was a lot of Facebook talk about the board being engaging with the community and and shouldn't have to necessarily explain at every time um what's on the agendas because people need to have the responsibility to do it. I disagree. I think that you should be able to share some salient points on complex matters on all of these last minute agenda items so people will have a better grasp at what you have culminated to
038the last school board meeting of the year. So I'm at 10 seconds. I'm going to let it go, but just know that we are watching you. I'm certainly going to continue and there should be a report on race and equity. Thank you, Carina. Anyone online? No hands raised online right now. And last speaker tell you to settle. Good evening. My name is Saos and I'm from Whitney District and I'm here tonight to speak plainly and truthfully because what's happened to me and my family has been deeply de damaging and the silence from the board has only made it worse. I was falsely accused of assaulting a school principal and being escorted by police to my son's graduation. These are not rumors. These are lies. Lies that were spread by current board members and repeated by
039two board members, both of whom are now running for cease on this board. Rather than verify the truth, they spread falsehood, damaging my reputation and putting my family in the crossfire of public harassment. Noel Kelly, Dan Strauss, and Dian Morris. Let me be absolutely clear. There was no assault. There was no police escort. I have criminal records and documentation proving this. Everything I'm saying here tonight is backed by evidence. The Morris also falsely claimed that I bullied her for wearing a mask. The truth I simply said I couldn't hear her behind the mask. Clearly, that's not bullying. That's a basic respectful attempt at communication. Something this board should be modeling. But this goes deeper than political smears. My son has been targeted, harassed by adults in this community who accepted and repeated these lies. And
040while what happened, Elena Sickles, a public supporter of Deian Morris, no Kelly and Dan Strauss, allowed her own son to send my child racist, hateful text messages. And she did this after mistakenly identifying my son as a completely different student, which I also had proof of. And how did my son respond? In text, with grace and maturity. His me message back to her son was simple. Hey, I thought we were buds. Please no more racist talk. That is the kind of character we should be protecting, uplifting, not punishing through rumors and silence. And yet from the board, nothing. No clarification, no apology, and no action. Actually, 150 comments to date. That silence speaks volume. Not just about the individuals involved, but about a broader failure of leadership. And now, knowing Kelly and Dan Strauss, both
041of whom helped spread these lies, want to join this board. How can we trust them to lead with integrity when they won't even own up to the harm they've already done? So tonight, I call for what any decent community should demand. A full public retraction and apology from Dian Morris, accountability from those who spread misinformation, including Noan Kelly and Dan Strauss, and a commitment from this board to finally stand up for the truth for our children and for every family that entrust you with their well-being. And let me say this clearly, despite the lies, despite the loss of endorsement, I will still be running independently because integrity doesn't come from a stamp of approval. that comes from standing up when it's hardest and refusing to back down when others want you silence. Thank you. All
042right. Thank you, SA. And um actually, I think we have one more. Cleo, you didn't I think you went first public comment period, right? Okay. You've written down um agenda items, but I did put down the second. Okay, no worries. I'll add you just a second. Thank you. check. All right. And no one is online. Okay. Then we'll close the first public comment period and we'll move on to the board president report. And Tim, can you run through these again for us since we'll be voting on them this evening? Sure. The uh first one is W5 which is the resolution for the school district's PDE 2028 presented with a balanced revenue and expenditures of 133,382,693. The next one is to set the annual tax levy in resolution W6-25. Next one being W7-25 which is the
043property tax rebate program for senior citizens, widows, widowers and disabled persons with fixed and limited incomes. So I want to mention that that form has been adjusted and made simpler for individuals to file and it also will be sent out through the mail the tax certificates tax bill sorry and it will also be provided to the state representatives. Next one is resolution W9 W8-25 which is the heaven state of Barbstead exclusion. There's resolution W925 which is the continuence of real estate tax installment payments. There's a resolution W10-25 which is the taxing for the Wagen Valley Public Library for a mill and that's it unless you want me to go into the other things regarding my position. No, that's fine. Um and the other item this evening will be for the approval of our two new
044student board reps um this evening for July 1st, 2025 to June 30th, um for Sime and Tatum. Um all right. Uh any comments or questions regarding um any of those items? I know we had some discussion last week. No, I just want to acknowledge that Ann Frank, the Wiken Valley public library director is here and we do support you. So, thanks for being here and you I think you're here last week, too, but we appreciate you showing up and we do support the library. Thank you for all you do. Just another plug for uh we appreciated the input from the community at the budget workshops that we have had since February. Um again, the budget is going to be difficult moving forward in the next uh years upcoming and we would appreciate as much uh
045public input on our budgeting process uh in the years to come. Uh and again that normally starts in the February time period. Thank you. Thank you, Steve. Any other comments this evening? All right. Um then do I have a motion? So moved. Second. Motion's been made and seconded. And here's where I should have said, are there any comments or questions? Anything additional? Sorry, I went out of order there. All right, then. Um, all those in favor? I I. Anyone opposed? All right. Motion passes. Thank you. Superintendent report. Thank you. Just oneformational item tonight. It's update number three of three on the district's annual goals for the 202425 school year. And as everybody will remember, we have five of those. And we'll go over each one just very briefly. District goal number one is to fill
046key staffing vacancies in district leadership positions. When we crafted this, we thought we would have two of those. Uh and we quickly filled those. Uh and I'm thrilled to say what the results of those are. And then we had another principal that uh announced so we filled that as well that this goal became three. And then we had another principal to announce and tonight with us is the solution to that one where we are going to later I won't steal anybody's thunder but hey um fill that fourth principal vacancy. So that will be 100% after tonight. District goal number two is to support the implementation of positive behavioral interventions and supports otherwise known as PBIS. and I'll have uh ask Dr. Dwan maybe give people update on that. Yes, thank you. I'm happy to share
047a brief update. Um I'll I've shared information throughout this year as we've um this is a third update on these board goals. And so the final update that I'll offer in addition to all that I've shared earlier this year on this goal is um that in April on April 9th um we held the PBIS core teams participated in a spring PBIS convening session. So, Miss Lour brought together the core teams from each of the schools um together to share how things are progressing to offer um insights to those core teams to help ensure there's fidelity in the implementation of of tier 1 this school year. And then the next day on April 10th, um there was a PBIS family night, which you may have heard uh information about. And that included representatives from each of
048the PBIS core teams from each of the schools to share information to families and caregivers about positive behavior interventions and supports. Um and there was a lot of positive feedback about that event um to help inform families and answer questions. Miss Lour facilitated that session as well. And the final update that I'll share here is um that the PBIS core teams have successfully completed this year's installation of of tier 1. Um there are three tiers in positive behavior intervention and supports. And so as we look into next school year, our teams are going to continue to strengthen our tier one responses and strategies in each of the schools. And they will complete what's called the tiered fidelity inventory. And that will mark the culmination of tier one installation. And then we'll start to transition into
049tier two, which is when we have more conversations about strategies and interventions that are tailored to specific student needs. Thanks. Okay, thank you for that. Goal number three, as you recall, was to obtain and examine updated long-term enrollment projections by school and match them up with updated capacities of each school, uh, each of the district's six schools. And we did accomplish that back in the fall. And then I think an important um extension of this is the plan for next fall when we have the next um enrollment projection update. We're going to engage a different source for that, the Montgomery County Planning Commission. They're very good at this. They're very crowded. We have to get on their long-term calendar, but they know what they're doing with the projections and also they have a very good
050finger on the pulse of of development plans and trends in the in our district. So, that will happen in the fall. This may or may not be a rollover depending on what the wishes are, but for this year, that one has been accomplished. And then number four was uh in partnership with the WEA craft a fair and reasonable successor WEA collective bargaining agreement. And thanks to the hard work of Mr. Bricker and Miss Haye and others, this was accomplished in the fall and is ready to go into effect come July 1. And I cannot overstate the the importance of that accomplishing that goal. So kudos. And then number five was uh goal number five was to cultivate a safe and inclusive school environment through a number of things uh through the implementation of practices that
051promote belongingness, conflict resolution and pro-social behaviors including the continued approved implementation of ADL's no place for hate program. And I'll again call on Dr. Dan for a brief update there. Sure. We've continued this year with the um trainings around restorative practices to ensure that staff are familiar with these practices um to support students in the classroom as a proactive measure as well as a responsive measure. Um we've also of course as I mentioned earlier around um positive behavior interventions and supports which doveetailed nicely in with this goal um and the work that we're doing with restorative practices. Both of those elements are important to mention here because they do promote the the pro-social behaviors and help to um provide teachers with tools to support conflict resolution for with our students. Um, additionally, as it relates
052to the implementation of ADL's No Place for Hate program, um I'm proud to announce that all six schools have submitted their um set of projects for the 202425 school year. Um, I know the board at our, um, second update around board goals inquired about learning more about the specific projects, which I said that I would have um, to the board by the end of this school year, and I certainly will. Um, one of the things I want to share here is that the projects um, require schools to focus on specific criteria, which I'll share out now. Um, the criteria includes um, projects that are going to help challenge bias and or bullying. um projects that will explore and celebrate diversity and projects that promote respect for others differences. Um and you may have seen some
053of these projects shared out on social media or in our um WISWatch newsletters, but I'll have a crafted document for the board to have them all in one location for you to see the projects that our schools um implemented throughout this school year. Thank you. Great. Thank you so much for that report. Um, so Jim, I know you're leaving, so Dr. Dwan, this fall, um, I would really love to have a presentation on PBIS. Um, I still hear from parents about incidents in our schools, bullying, fighting, and I'd like to get a better understanding of how we're using PBIS to address these issues. Um, as well as number five, belongingness aspect of it. So, if we could get some sort of presentation just to hear a little bit more about that, what we're doing to
054try to I know we can't put a full stop. It's it's not going to happen, but what are we doing to really minimize those things in our schools? I'm still hearing a lot of it. Absolutely. Thank you. Any other comments or questions? Thank you for that report. All right. So, we'll move on to assistant superintendent report. There are noformational items or action items for this meeting. Thank you. Thank you. Uh board solicitor report. Good evening. We have um two action items tonight. They're two separate settlement agreements that were discussed last week. Uh they are nothing has changed since that time. And I'm looking for a motion to approve agenda items 10.1 and 10.2. Second. Motion's been made and seconded. Are there any comments or questions? All right, seeing none, all those in favor? I I.
055Anyone opposed? Motion passes. Thank you. Board secretary report. Tim this month for approval is 11.1, 11.2, and 11.3, which are the minutes for the last three meetings. There's no changes from last week. Do I have a motion? So moved. Second. A motion's been made and seconded. Are there any comments or questions? Seeing none, all those in favor? I I. Anyone opposed? Motion passes. Thank you. A board treasure report. Tim, we have motion 12.1, which is the approval of the April treasures report. All right. Do I have a motion? So moved. Second. Right. A motion's been made and seconded. Um, are there any comments or questions? I'd see none. All those in favor? I I. Anyone opposed? Motion passes. Thank you. All right. Uh, human resources report. Good evening. Uh, changes from last week's agenda are
056marked with an asterct and can be found in bold in the details. These include appointments, changes of status, leave of absence, extracurricular changes and volunteers in 13.1 and 13.2. Uh the list of fall extracurricular appointments in 13.5 and an agreement for our various HR software systems through P school in 13.6 have also been added. And finally, I'd like to bring to your attention a blue sheeted item this evening. I am excited to share the request for approval for the appointment of Mrs. Kelly Carter, our next Stony Creek Elementary principal. All other items were reviewed at last week's work session and have no other changes. So this evening, I'm seeking approval for actions 13.1 through 13.6. Second. Motion's been made and seconded. Comments or questions? Amy, I just have a quick question. Would you please pull
057out 13.5 to vote separately on that, please? Sure, we can do that. Thank you. And I do want to say welcome to Mrs. Carter. We're very excited to have you. Thanks for being here tonight. It was a pleasure to meet you and I know you'll do great things at Sunni Creek. And Danielle, um we didn't have a 13.5 and 13.6 to review and discuss last week. Um something happened um between last week and now that they were just added. Uh the I think we forgot to put the fall extracurriculars on realizing this is our last meeting. Um and then that contract was the agreement was just finalized late but actually really important to the work that we do in HR so we wanted to get it on this agenda. Okay. Got it. Thanks. Any any
058other comments or questions? I did want to welcome Mrs. Carter as well. All right. Um then seeing no more comments or questions. Um, all those in favor. Oh, actually, I'm so sorry. 13.1 through Do we need a separate motion actually then, Michelle, if we're going to be just voting on Yeah, I mean, I think we should have a a motion for approval of agenda items 13.1 through 13.4 and 13.6. Okay. Do I have that? So, moved. All right. A motion's been made and seconded. Are there any additional comments before we move? All right. Then 13.1 through 13.4. 4 and 13.6. All those in favor? I I. Anyone opposed? All right, that motion passes. [Laughter] [Music] Welcome. All right, and now do I have a motion on 13.5? Second. A motion to made and seconded. Um,
059any comments or questions? All right, then. All those in favor, we need to do a voice on this one. Roll call. No roll call. Okay. All those in favor? I I. Anyone opposed? All right. Thank you. Motion passes. All right. Uh we'll move on to 14.1, communications committee. Uh Zephy's not here and it looks like there's noformational items or voting items this evening. Curriculum and technology. Dan, I'm gonna let Dr. Dwan take this. Thank you so much. Thank you. Um, in our in our report, items numbers 1 through 16 were reviewed during last week's work session. Items number 17 and 18 are indicated with an asterisk because they've been added. Um, we received um with later than we anticipated, we received theou with the McGomery County Community College for our participation in the dual credit
060program. This is an annual approved an annually approved item. And then item number 18, we received um a request for extended field trip for the high school robotics team. So we wanted to make sure to present that to the board for tonight's vote. So this evening, we're looking for a motion to approve items 15.1 through 15.18. Well, Amy, can we pull out 15.14, please? I was gonna say I'm gonna pull that one out. So the motion will be for 15.1 through 15 14 13. So I'm sorry. And can we confirm that that action item is the item with the questionable curriculum? Thank you, Jim. Which item? I believe you want to pull out 15.15. Yep. Thank you. They look very similar in my defense. All right. So motion for 15.1 through 15.14 and then 15.16
061through 15.18. Do I have a motion? So moved. A motion's been made and seconded on those particular agenda items. Are there any comments or questions this evening? Right. All those in favor? I I I Anyone opposed? All right, that motion passes. Now, let's regard to 15.15. Do I have a motion? So, moved. A motion's been made and seconded. Uh comments or questions on that particular item. Marshall? Yeah, we we pulled out uh we we specifically spoke about uh this particular provision last week because there was a a lesson um that had some concern um specifically in regard to um uh I guess they termed it the the creation of Israel and uh the conflict in the Middle East. Having discussed it at length here last week and then having um reviewed this lesson in detail,
062um I continue to have significant concerns about this particular lesson in and then potentially our contract in in general. Um we pride ourselves as we discussed earlier about a safe and inclusive environment. The lesson that we were reviewing is not just simply slides, but it's information. And this particular lesson, this particular issue, um, is one that is very sensitive to a lot of people. And what makes it incredibly sensitive is the truth and veracity of the information provided. Having reviewed this in detail, um I do not believe that the information contained within the lesson is acceptable for our district. Certainly not virtually when students don't have an opportunity to know whether what they're being told or taught is in fact accurate or inaccurate. Um, when we have information that is potentially inaccurate or inappropriate, that
063leads to feelings of discontent and that leads to a less safe and then less inclusive environment. I believe this lesson falls within that purview. I believe it amplifies potential insensitivity. Um, it is, as I said, a very complicated issue on both sides. But there are many recent events that show that protest alone doesn't go unheated. It is oftenimes met not only by protest, but by acts of violence. And if we're going to ensure the health and safety of all of our students, I believe we should also ensure the truth and veracity of what we teach them. Um my concern is not only with this lesson but in general what else may be uh difficult for members of our community um that maybe we need to take a deeper look into this. I do not want
064kids not to have an option to be virtual learners. But what I want them to have is an opportunity to learn it appropriately and learn it properly. because of that uh because of certainly this particular lesson. Um I'm a no on this. I would I would urge my fellow board members to vote no on this because I think we have to have a better way forward. Yeah, I share Martin's concerns about having the lesson. Um Jim, I'm kind of curious like what options are available for virtual learners because I agree with Marshall like we we don't know what's in other material and maybe uh provided to our students and watching that um course there's really not like there's no opportunity for interaction ask questions the teacher um so what other options are available for our
065students sure um there are actually opportunities we weren't but the students taking it can interact but notwithstanding um we would need a different provider for virtual at this point um this motion pertains to all of the virtual subjects, not just history. Um, we can certainly p um look for one and engage with a different firm to provide those virtual options. We we don't have the capacity to do it ourselves. And what sort of assessment does our curriculum team do when we're choosing a provider? when we choose a uh when we do our own curriculum, it's it's a good bit different because we have teams of people who and keep in mind too that it's the curriculum, it's the textbook and then what happens in the classroom is is uh up to the professional judgment of
066the teacher. That's what happens here. That happens in all school districts. Online is different because um it's a provider and the MCIU in this case is a go between. They just arrange they get some consortium pricing for districts in McGomery County and we do a lot of things with McGomery with the MCIU including this. Um so if we don't want to use this vendor for online instruction we we can find a different vendor. Do we know um if the MCIU works with any other vendors besides this particular one or imagine this? I do not know about their other contractual arrangements. We can ask them. Steve, yeah, more more on the I happen to agree with Marshall, but more on the logistics of how we manage this over the summer so that program is available in
067the fall, right? So that that will be a substantial challenge. I'm not going to lie to you. We we there aren't a whole lot of these virtual providers out there. Um if we wanted to, we could decide to to examine certain courses. Um, I don't know if there's been complaints about this vendor and their math courses say or science. Um, this is the first of that I've heard of a complaint with this vendor. Um, so we won't be ready for a virtual academy in the fall if without a vendor. And it's going to be very difficult to get somebody in place between now and then. We could carve out a class theoretically, which is why I said last week that we don't have to necessarily blow up the entire agreement to not engage any longer
068with one particular class. But if it's the board will, we certainly can look at other providers. It's just going to take a good bit of time. I'm also concerned about the quality of the product. Like watching that particular section, I realize there was just like one section of the overall course. This was an honors level course and I found the material to be very basic. I think well I I mean I I don't know that we necessarily need to get into that. I don't disagree with you necessarily. It's just that online instruction is different from in person. I mean there's just no getting around it. There's the the dyn dynamism of the the inerson teacher matters and it's incredibly hard to replicate that in a product that is produced for the consumption of thousands of
069students across the country. You're just not going to get that. If I may, um this virtual academy through the MCIU reaches a whole scope of districts. Um, I believe that our district is a leader and I believe that whether others have had issues or not, uh, I think that if we stand up to what this is, maybe we can urge the MCIU to look at the program, maybe come up with different solutions and maybe um, with all of the other districts come up with a solution that helps all students in all districts, not just ours, but to make sure everybody gets a fair and accurate picture of all the lessons uh that they are learning. I certainly wouldn't want to put our stamp on this based on what we reviewed. Yeah, Marshall, I agree with
070what you're saying and um Marshall was actually kind enough to spend about 45 minutes on the phone with me yesterday explaining um his Jewish history essentially and he's quite an expert in all of it. So, thank you so much for that, your time on that. Um, my main concern though, and I agree with you, like could we go to the NCIU as a district and ask that they use a different vendor. I have a few concerns though, like one, we don't know that another vendor is going to be superior or better in some way. There are some states that teach curriculum very differently than we do here in Pennsylvania, and my concern would be deviating from some of that. My other concern would be, like Jim said, availability, cost. I'm sure we get some sort
071of discount through using the MCIU, so it could be substantially more expensive. And my real concern would be timing um because it I really do feel um speaking of safe inclusive environments, there are disabled and imunocmpromised students that have to learn at home and they cannot come to school and I need for them to have an option to learn um through the district. And so I just feel that that is so important. I want the change. How do we make the change? and we should push for the change but we cannot totally exclude those students who need a way to learn at home that I don't know how do we balance that oh I'm sorry I was just going to say that um my so from my perspective I'm not I'm I'm not saying that
072we need to find an alternative vendor what I'm saying is that I want to hear I want to see the resolution um of the complaint about the problematic content It hasn't happened yet. Um, and until it happens, I don't feel comfortable like moving forward with a vote on approving this contract. But again, it doesn't mean that I don't think that we should get a alternative vendor. What I would like to see is that um, the MCIU does whatever investigation they're doing and they come up with an acceptable resolution to it and then we could put the contract in place and active for next school year. We do have although this is the last voting meeting that we have for this current school year, we do have a voting meeting in August prior to the start
073of the school year I believe. So that is another opportunity where and a little more time for this uh situation to play out and we could potentially revisit this contract at that point. That meeting is after right before school starts though. I don't think that would be adequate time, right? Jim, can you chime in on that? I don't know. Would that be adequate time than an August meeting? I mean, if if at that time the answer is yes, if if we decide that the MCIU investigates and and makes for these four changes, whatever they are, and and it's decided that they are acceptable, then we're good. If it's decided that they're not acceptable, then we're definitely behind the eightball. And at that time we might be I again I I don't believe that a blanket
074no is necessary in the sense that we could say no to this course and we could have our students not do this course until they do make the changes that are acceptable. We certainly could make a statement whisten withdrawing from this for is not going to move the needle. Whicken raising the issues that are of concern in this particular course I think might have a positive effect. I think Dr. Speaker um speaking to her, it sounds like she is in touch with the vendor regarding this um and that they're looking into it. But I think it's not just this course. Um I think perhaps you know having our curriculum committee look at the that committee, excuse me, inhouse, our curriculum team looking at the courses that are being offered through this program. Is that a
075possibility to see if there's any other courses that you know we may want to check out? The answer is yes. Theoretically that could be done. That's a substantial amount of work to gather people to do that. Um and that's why we rely on partners like the MCIU to do that. They have people because they're doing that for the 21 districts are using it in the county. Obviously, there was some problematic material here. Um so I think that we need to assess what those other courses are in the curriculum because as you mentioned I think you know this is a course that's being taught across the country. So right so again this could that we that uh process you speak of could happen certainly it it um it could happen without this agreement in place or
076it could happen with the agreement in place and then the decision could be later to discontinue this course or not. this C this agreement isn't um exclusive in that if we enter into it and we decide that we don't want three courses let's just say we can we are allowed by the terms of this agreement to go find them somewhere else so that's it's not like we're entering into an exclusive agreement with this this vendor and they're part of the problem is we're actually entering into agreement with MCIU but again we can find a different vendor for some of the courses if we'd Amy, sorry. Hi. I just have a comment also. I I I'm in total agreement with what Dr. Chrisfield just said and what Joe said. I think that, you know, taking away
077the ability to have virtual learning is really not a good thing, but we need to not have that course in in the curriculum. So, if there's a way to actually strike that course but still enter in a virtual agreement, I would be okay with that. Was actually the um um Rosetta that specific course. There are no courses specifically um outlined in the agreement. The agreement is the blanket agreement for online instruction. We we can just not engage with that course if we don't want to. We can say we can say to students you can't take uh physics AB because we do that here. I there's lots of things we we can say to our students you do have access to that course or you don't. There many other courses that don't match or mirror our
078course offerings. So they don't have access to those either. Jim, do we know the timing for when they're expected to complete their investigation? Do not. I'm sorry. I can I can find that out. Have other districts raised concerns about this content or any other? I'm not been made aware of any other comments. Yeah. Again, just in terms of timing, um I realize we've we've announced the public uh meeting at the end of August. Is there any way to have a single agenda meeting uh a single agenda item meeting or something prior to that so that we can resolve this before how many days before school starts? Yes. Yes, we've done that in the past. We've had meetings over the summer for specific agenda items that we've need to approve over the summer. So, you could
079certainly do that if necessary. So again, I yes, I would prefer that we get feedback from the MCIU on their investigation and then we have a separate meeting to discuss. Just so I'm clear, is that going to be a meeting to discuss the specific forces or the whole agreement? Uh I would assume the um the whole agreement Amy's raised a lot of questions on the current content from this vendor. Anyway, um I'm sorry. Well, I would I would hesitate to to not vote yes on the agreement only because then students would be uncertain if we were offering a virtual academy which could push more children to an online charter school which we don't want as well. Our district loses money. So when we talk about that, yes, I want resolution for this course and specifically
080the misinformation in the slides. Yes, but to be fair to our our online learners to make a plan for the fall, they they need that information now. They don't need it in July or August, you know, or else they're going to have to make alternative arrangements, and I wouldn't blame them. And I don't think we want that. When do we use usually um start to get enrollments for the online program? And I don't think we're saying we're not going to offer some sort of virtual academy. It's just whether or not it's going to be this virtual academy if if uh well that's correct. Um but we are going to need to know what that looks like. Getting together a virtual academy at the last minute is is virtually impossible. It would seem Do we know
081that if there are other I'm sorry Marshall. Okay. Do do we know if there are othermies that have capacity to fulfill our our needs if we were to go away from MCIU? So there are other vendors. Yes. And I don't know if MCIU has agreements with arranges for them or if districts have to go individually. I think it's the latter and that's not unheard of. It's just more time consuming than which is the whole reason everybody goes to MCIU. But so I guess my next question then is we could we could guarantee our our families and students an option. We just might not be able to state what that option is today. If we don't agree to this to approve the MCIU agreement tonight in order to guarantee we'd have to in simultaneously start pursuing
082another arrangement now which is is going to be tough. Listen I mean I believe that we can take care of the concerns without holding up the entire agreement that and if we don't if they don't come back to to meet our needs to and in a way that is acceptable to us, we'll go to a different place for online history classes. Then yes, then we can guarantee it. We don't we wouldn't be able to tell them which vendor would provide the history class, but we would be able to prov. Yeah, I was just going to offer if we don't approve this um doesn't that potentially light a fire under the issue as well and they say if they're not going to do this program, we might want to figure out an answer to this rather
083quickly, which is what we want anyway. If we simply agree to it and say, "Well, we'd like for you to look into this and or make some changes here or there." I don't see any urgency for them to do that once we've signed an agreement and it's in place. But if we say we're not signing the agreement now, we don't agree to it now because we have concerns, well, I would think that would get people moving to try and get the issue resolved. And as we have done in the past with other issues, we have SC we have called special meetings in order to deal with issues that whether they're an emergency or take precedent. And I think that again if we're going to put a stamp on this and have our students learn from
084this, it should be something that we all believe is appropriate for our students. Yeah. Also to just to let folks know, the MCIU is is not a monopoly in this. Um the other IU's do this for their member districts as well. Chester County IU has the oldest virtual learning program in our region. Um, and in fact, they were serving districts in McGomery County prior to the MCIU coming up with their own version. So, um, Chester County, I know for sure, uh, is also a provider of virtualmies or virtual charter school programs for member districts in Chester County and al actually beyond Chester County. So, we shouldn't feel like we're being held hostage to this one vendor and that they're only game in town. There are there are other options. I mean, my point for me
085to simplify the vote in my mind here is whether or not I'm comfortable um saying yes and approving this contract at this point. And the answer for me right now is no. It's as simple as that. I mean, all the other gerations and what happens afterwards, I mean, we can figure that out later. But there are many options, many possibilities. All I know is that tonight, because of the unanswered questions about this complaint and the MCU's investigation and resolution to it, um it the fact that it's not completed is the reason that I'm not comfortable approving this contract at this point. But again, there are many options. Other providers, we can call special meeting. There's a whole host of reasons, whole host of things that can happen. MCIU could come back within as early as
086next week and tell us, hey, we looked at it, this is the resolution. and we could look at the resolution and say that makes sense and that's great. Then we move forward. Um again there's a whole bunch of things that can happen and there's still time. Um I just know that tonight, you know, I don't feel comfortable approving this contract as is. All right. Any other comments or questions before we vote? I I I'm inclined to look at it a little bit differently, Joe, and I'm not saying you're wrong at all. I'm inclined to look at it as if we get a, you know, some reassurance that they are going to look at this and make a change and it sounds like they're investigating it and we go forward with the contract. Great. And if
087it's not to our standards, like Jim said, we could use a different vendor for history. Great. But for me tonight, knowing that there's something in place for our virtual learners is that's what's really important to me. So I mean I'm trying to balance the needs of everyone and I think that's the fairest option where we make a commitment to understand you know knowing that that's needs to change but also make ensuring that we have something for our students in the fall and that they know that right now. All right. Thank you Deian. Any other comments or questions? Steve, sorry, just repeating the logistics. As as soon as we hear back from the NCIU or have other options for vendors, I would like to call the board back to to address those as quickly as possible
088so we can u make sure that we have a program. Yeah, absolutely. All right. Um then we'll do a voice vote. Roll call. No, Mr. Badger. No. Mr. Bleill, no. Miss Kavachi, no. Mr. Goulson, no. Karen Nikis, no. Dr. Morris, Mr. Walker, no. Ginsburg, no. That is eight no and one yes. All right. So, motion fails. So, we'll work on getting information from the MCIU or an alternate vendor. Thank you. All right. Um then moving on. Um next is facilities and transportation. Joe, thank you. Um we have two items for a vote tonight. 16.1 which is the construction of a fence and sound barrier blankets for the Wisfiten Middle School chiller. Um and then 16.2 which is the parking lot expansion for Stony Creek. Both of these were reviewed and discussed last week and they're
089unchanged from last week. So I'm seeking a motion for approval of action items 16.1 and 16.2. So moved. Motion's been made and seconded. Are there any comments or questions? Tim, I just wanted to confirm again we are going to be within the levels we need for noise with this solution. That is the projections. I would like to see something in place to ensure that our families on McGomery Avenue have peace this summer. All right. Any other comments or questions? Steve, if if this is approved tonight, uh how quickly can they start? So the first thing we have to do is we have to clean out the thing that's there and seal that and close that off. And then once that is done, I already have that on process started. Once that's done, they'll take the
090fence down and put it up. So I don't have an exact time frame, but I'm figuring just a couple weeks. Thank you. Anyone else? So yeah, I just wanted to be clear. Right now we have an air or water chilled system. Air. Okay. And so we used to have a water chilled system in the basement. We talked about putting it back in the basement and you said that wasn't possible. Correct. That's correct. Was there noise in the building when it was in the basement? Was that part of the concern? Yes. And when it rain it also vibrated the rooms. Yeah. Also, what is the middle school used for in the summer that is chilled, that is air conditioned? So, there's staff in there. Um, there is also YMCA program that has well over 130 students.
091We have our cleaning and then there's ESY maybe. Is it possible to run the chillers for a like a like fewer hours during the day? Depending on the temperature, the building would not be adequately cooled. Change the run times. The YMCA goes from I think it's 7 to 6:30. Yeah, it's Yeah, it's a long time. Okay. Yeah. I mean, I just wanted to address some of the concerns. I don't want to ignore what the residents said, but I also need to be realistic with what we can do in terms of money and time and just feasibility of the building, right? Like we need to keep that building cool for the students and staff who use it during the summer. It would be terrible if we turned it off and it would be 100°. So, I
092couldn't do that. Um, you know, I think we've been working on this for a long time and I feel like this what we're proposing now after a long list of things that we've gone through seems to make the most sense. I don't I'm really sorry if the neighbors don't agree with that. I don't I'm not sure what else to do. So, that's it. Any other comments or questions? All right. Uh, then all those in favor? I I Anyone opposed? Motion passes. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Finance Committee, Steve. Yeah, we have items 17.1 through 17.11 um that were reviewed last week. Uh those include the financial and payment reports for April. Uh the tax collector's compensation um revisions. Uh approval on 17.4 for our insurance premiums. uh approval to for our uh PSBA membership
093um approval to accept uh donations uh three of those 17.6 17.7 and 17.8 approval to transfer unallocated fund balance to make sure that uh that unallocated funds are not in excess of 7% of the budget and those go to the capital projects fund. 17.10 10 approval of our commitment of the fund balance uh along different components uh compensated absences, capital projects and special education. Uh agreement to go with board docks again and then there are two uh additional items from last week and those additional items are uh amendment to the first student busing contract and extension through 203031 and this will help us over uh again to plan for the budget in upcoming years. Um and then uh 17.13 uh approval for the district to engage a provider uh for the safety officer um within
094the uh within the schools. Thank you, Steve. Um do we have a motion to approve? So move seconded. Are there any comments or questions? All right, seeing none. All those in favor? I I Anyone? Anyone opposed? Motion passes. Thank you. Policy committee Marshall. There are noformational or action items this evening. Great. Thank you. Rio, there are noformational or action items this evening. Thank you. Health, wellness, and safety. Yes, there are noformational items or action items for this evening. All right, thank you. Then we'll move on to our reports of board representatives extracurricular Marshall. I have nothing to report this evening. All right. Um for MCIU, um we did have our retirement celebration as well. Um but one thing I did want to share is there had been some concern about whether Head Start would be
095funded or not or fully funded and um it will be fully funded for the MCIU. So that was some good news um that I did want to share. All right. And let's see. North Monaco uh nothing updated from Zephy's report last week. Okay. PSBA. Um, I have nothing for PSBA right now and nothing for BRC. Thank you. All right, then that will bring us to our second public comment period. And um, again, the board appreciates hearing from the community. A maximum of five speakers to be heard on the same topic. Please limit your comments to three minutes. Um, and as I noted earlier, we do have that buzzer. In the interest of fairness, in order to treat all speakers equally, it's not the board's practice to engage in dialogue with speakers when appropriate. We will
096follow up with responses and board docs. Um whether you're in person or online, uh please state your name and your affiliation uh with the district when either approaching the podium or speaking online. Right. First speaker, um Lewis Way. Good evening board members of WA Haken School District and everyone else who is here today. My name is Louis Weey and I am a fifth grader at Stony Creek Elementary School. I had the opportunity to collect signatures for my school to support adding Lunar New Year to our district calendar. So far we have gathered 163 signatures. My team members will now show you the signatures. But more than just the number of signatures, I want to share with you something even more special. Many of these signatures came from non-Asian students, friends who are eager to learn
097about Luna New Year and the traditions of families who celebrate it. One of my classmates told me, "Le, this is great. I'm happy to support this because I don't know much about it, but I really want to learn. Another friend shared, "Le, if we get Luna New Year on the calendar, I can finally go to Chinatown and see the dragon dance. My dad did that when he was young, but I've never had the chance. This experience has taught me something important. Our students are curious, inclusive, and excited to learn from one another. We don't just want to read about culture, we want to experience it. So today I ask you, please help us keep this excitement alive. Please encourage us to explore and embrace diversity. Please support us in practicing what true inclusiveness means. By
098adding Luna New Year to our school calendar, you show that our voices matter. You become role models for what it means to truly celebrate different cultures. So board members of Wah Higgin School District, thank you for listening. Thank you for supporting us and thank you for inspiring us to keep learning and growing together. And thank you for fostering this sense of belonging in the Wy Hickin School District community. Thank you so much, Louis, for those comments and thank you for uh putting together that um list of names. That's awesome. All right, our next speaker. Oh, are they online? There are no hands raised online. Okay. Um, in person is is Alice. Hello. Go. I'm sorry if I'm saying that incorrectly. Dear board members and everyone, my name is Alice B. I am a second grader
099at Stony Creek Elementary School. I have two good friends, Sophia and Emily. We go to Chinese school every Sunday and we always play together. Sophia is from Upper Dumpling and Emily is from Central Bucks. I learned recently that I'm the only one who will need to go to school on Lunar New Year's Day. Go there school. I want to celebrate this important cultural holiday with my family with Sopia, Emily, and many others. Can you please help me? Thank you. Alice, thank you so much for your comments also. All right. Um, and Cleo. All right. Hello. My name is Cleo Norram. I'm a proud 2011 graduate and a mother of four children currently in the school system. One eighth grade, sixth grade, fifth grade, and kindergarten. I'm speaking today out of deep frustration and disbelief at
100ongoing lack of communication and accountability across multiple schools. My concerns go beyond academy. They're about the physical, emotional, and mental safety of our children, which should never be up for a debate. From my daughter being bullied and told by staff members to figure it out to my kindergarter kindergartenner who does not have an IEP being placed in restraints as long as for five minutes after I was reportedly ensured that he was never had hands put on him or touched to my son coming home with marks all over his face with no phone call or no explanation to what happened. to my daughter failing behind academically this last marking period and not one teacher or staff me member reaching out to ask of any concerns of why this is happening and from me today witnessing a
101child falling on a field trip and being told that an incident report did not need to be reported. These are not isolated incident. These are systematic failures in communication, care and transparency. It's not just parents and students who feel unheard. I've spoken with many staff members who feel dismissed by the board and unsupported by our previous soon-to-be superintendent. Why are so many dedicated staff members leaving midyear? Why are they choosing early retirement rather than continuing in a system which they once believed in? That should be a wakeup call. I thank God every day that I know how to advocate for my children and that they're learning to speak up for themselves. But what about the children and families who don't have the knowledge or the confidence to do so? What happens to them? In fact,
102I personally brought six brave children to directly speak to Dr. Dwam um about their experiences with racism, not just from students, but from staff members as well. These students shared how they felt unsafe, unseen, and unheard in this school district and not supported or protected or uplifted. And not just by uh teachers of uh Caucasian descent, by teacher of African-American descent as well. Um, sorry. When uh children are the ones raising their voices and names to racial injustice, this something needs to change. To our new superintendent, my question to you is, what is it going to take for the community to finally be heard? To the board members, I understand that serving the board is not a paid position, but when you accepted this role, you took the responsibility of serving the entire school district,
103not just the issues that affect your own children personally. If you can't lead with fairness, compassion, and urgency, then in my opinion, I believe it's time to step down and allow someone else to come in. How can we feel confident to reelect anyone who is prioritizing chillers over expanding a school that's now about to have 33 to a class? We need answers. We need action. And above all, we need leadership that truly is going to listen and serve all of our children in the community. Thank you. Thank you. [Music] Anyone online? There are no hands raised online. Okay, Eric Rudolph, Laura Quinn, and I just wanted to thank you for the vote. Okay, so I I believe there's some positive, okay, in getting uh a level of relief long term. I say that leave that
104as a question. Um and again that's based on reports that have been understood to be lacking in clarity which has now propagated into the design and what we're going to be installing here and that's why I say appreciate the mitigation effort okay that will provide a level in the discussion here today we talked about timing and two weeks maybe two weeks it'll start next question is that we had a lot of conversations about that the board did was yeah it was the cost but the question is is it going to address the ordinance the ordinance is not even the destructive thing it's disturbing of the piece independent of express that to this this team since the get-go it's an OSHA safety violation it's public disturbance and a public nuisance independent of the ordinance I'd like
105to invite you all over Okay, join me tomorrow afternoon. Have beer. Okay, and you come in the backyard and sit down. Okay, and listen. Really, I'd really like to honestly have you come over and uh enjoy beer, have some conversation, and listen to our experience. So kind of with that said the the qu that brings a need for immediate relief and the thought the whisten middle school capacity I would believe is on the order of a thousand people okay 10 10% occupancy okay if Mr. number is correct for 130 students is relatively low occupancy that could be accommodated at other schools and I would think much more efficiently okay than the energy it takes to cool that further the timeline I'd ask you to consider and validate those timelines that are being understood I live
106that school I live right behind the school I walk around that school every day and for that school to be cool from 5 to 7 in the evening Okay, it's a masonary building. It holds cold very, you know, comfortably. And to leave that running until 7 o'clock in the evening is just a simple waste. It's a waste of our money. And it's also very disturbing to the neighbors who want to be able to eat in their backyard and play in their backyard without. So, I really ask you to come back and think about that and give us relief for sure and guarantee that because we're not guaranteed on any of this stuff if you just vote. Okay. Thank you. Thank you so much. All right. Anyone online? There are no hands raised online. James, Good
107evening everybody. I I heard you already voted on the uh the next bid. Uh, sorry I couldn't be here earlier, but I want to point out to you that the engineer, sounded engineer that the district has used to make these calculations leaves a lot to be desired because I'm no engineer, but I can read something pretty carefully that is an obvious problem, which is the testing that was done for the decibels on that chiller was done on a 68 degree day. 68 degrees. What relevance does that have to the days in when the air conditioning is actually needed, such as the next three days, 80°, you should take up Eric's invitation over to his backyard and listen to this thing when it's in the 80° days. Then you'll know what we're talking about. Don't you
108know why those houses in our neighborhood under sonic attack? I've been standing there recently when it's nowhere near 80 degrees and that thing's going and if you want to spend an hour in that backyard to be running out and you think I'm exaggerating, test me. He get a new engineer. He goes, "If that's who you're relying on, you're wasting your money." The other thing I'd like to ask is uh I know there was some discussion about the uh use of the buildings and how much air conditioning is needed for the buildings when the school's out. I heard the numbers about summer school. One thing I like to know is are there are there zones in any of the school district buildings zones where partial partial of the building is air conditioned while the rest of
109it is off? Sicker is that uh are there any zones in these buildings or is is it all or nothing when the heating or the air conditioning? So we follow up with responses on board docks. I'm pardon. We'll follow up with responses on board docks. Okay. Well, that's a yes or no. Can't have that. So, I I have a a modest house in the neighborhood and I have four air condition four heating zones at two air conditioning zones upper second floor first because we're not up there. So, are there zones in these school buildings which could save a ton of money if it was conceived by a competent engineer to ship the zones during the summer to only the staff when only the staff is there or maybe shut the whole system down and get
110some of those units within the wall units, window units. Meanwhile, if I'm right and your air conditioning is building, you're wasting everybody's money and it's insulting. Thank you for your attention. Thank you. Is there anyone online? There are no hands raised online. Carina, you were checked off first for both of them. I thought I thought maybe you just went with two different topics, but yeah, you can Okay, they both were checked first, but yeah, go ahead. Hi, my name is Sita Settles and I'm from Wain Township. What I want to say tonight is about equity, discipline, and respect and how those things are not being applied fairly in our district. After listening today today, tonight to how long you guys went with the conversation about the curriculum with Israel, I loved it. I support it.
111But I just would like that same sentiment when it comes to indigenous people, people of color, and Muslims. Let me start with something recent. A Caucasian student brought nicotine, weed, gummies, and weed lemonade to school. This wasn't a rumor. Students told staff, parents knew, and it was confirmed that the student even gave some of it out. One child had to be sent to the nurse. And yet, that student only received a three-day suspension. Compared that to another student, a student of color, who was involved in a fight and got a 10-day suspension. How is that just? This is not about policy. It's about bias. And it's about who gets protected and who gets punished more harshly. This isn't the only example. When Caucasian parents recently raised concerns about class sizes for the incoming sixth grade,
112their issue was resolved within a week. Meanwhile, when parents of color raised concerns, whether about class sizes, unfair treatment, or culture, were often met with silence. The difference in how concerns are handled is clear and is deeply disappointing. And just recently, a teacher was absent for an entire sixth and seventh period. There was no communication, no accountability. It was just swept under the rug. That wouldn't be acceptable in any other setting. Why is it okay here? These double standards and discipline and communication are rooted in a culture that starts with leadership. The board, the staff, the system, and they send a message that some voices matter more than others, and that some students are treated with more grace and forgiveness than others. On top of that, I want to call attention to a deeper issue
113of inclusion. I'm asking that the board recognize Eid as a school holiday just as we observe Pride Month and will begin recognizing the Luna New Year. Religious and cultural inclusion shouldn't be selective. The majority of Muslim stu students are students of color and my son is both indigenous and Muslim. Recognition matters. Representation matters. Inclusion matters. Our school should be placed in fairness, equity, and respect for every family, every voice, and every child. Thanks. Thank you. Saya line. There are no hands raised online and Carmina. So I think it's pretty poignant. I want to share a letter, an email that I sent to all of you and Dr. Kresfeld on November 25th, 2024. And I think it's apppropo so everyone knows today's the last board meeting that this 10-year superintendent has been here. And I think
114it's really rich that the night is filled with all these errors of ways and complaints and that's the best way you can leave. I want to share what I said on November 24th that went unanswered. Dear Dr. Cresfield, I wanted to personally congratulate you for methodically and systematically placing fear of professional retaliation if any teacher speaks out about their work condition. I've spent weeks trying to encourage these teachers that feel that they have been mistreated to execute a whistleblower protection document through the Pennsylvania Department of Education. But to no avail, they feel this process will truly not protect them. They have shared with me that you will still retaliate and make their lives at Whist Hicken a continued living hell. I have thrown up my hands and I've realized that in my humanness, I am
115powerless now. No one will bend in the good of the order or in the best interest of the school community. Therefore, I'm leaning on my faith as a Christian believer that God will contend with those that contend with me. Since November 4th, I can't stop thinking about the smirk you gave me when you were walking back in the hallway to your office. My interpretation is that you wanted me to know that you won again. You got over on the board again. The next steps of your plan to leave the district untouched is closer than ever. Well, touche, Dr. Cresfield. I'm leaving you in my savior's hands. It's going to have to be the supernatural to give us justice for your deeds. You have succeeded to be above real accountability. Dear board members, I have attached
116documents that you might find as an interesting read. The first one is an op-ed that Dr. Cresville wrote in February 2015. probably by then he um he got the position at Wy Hicken. I will let the word the words speak for himself. Um the second document is a response to his op-ed. It was a former graduate of Milbourne school district and at the time a current parent of the same school district. What I find interesting about how Dr. Bestfield basically did not conduct community conversations or community consensus building around contentious community issues that s stakeholders sought to clarify understanding or validation of their concerns. But it was near the end when she indicated that their teachers had an unhealthy fear of him and they were unhappy under his leadership. I saw the same parallels in
117this district. Bottom line, Dr. Cresville, Dr. Cresfield is the same superintendent that left three school leadership in New Jersey with litigation to deal with after he left or right before he left. Absolutely not. A three minutes up. Everybody got three minutes. You know what? Okay, no problem. No problem. There's more. But I want So we're gonna move on now to I think there's no more speakers online, right? So we'll move on then to board comments. Oh, we have one more. Okay. Irene Lewis Irene Lewis and I live on Montgomery Road. Um, I don't have prepared remarks for this uh second section of comments. I have to say that I am really surprised that we are going into the summer with no plan. I mean, we're supposed to get the oil tank taken care of eventually.
118We're supposed to get the fence started. Who knows when? There's no uh dates. There's no uh specifics that I know of uh that are going to make our living condition better this summer. As far as I can see, uh we're going to spend another summer full of noise and it's probably just going to get worse as the summer goes on and we're going to have no recourse. There's nobody to talk to in the summertime. The township can't help us. the uh school board won't be here to talk to. Mr. Bricker doesn't give us information and everybody's tiptoeing around that and it's really upsetting and I don't know how else to express myself. I'm really tired of coming to these meetings and trying to do the right thing. But be clear, we are going into the
119summer with no solution to this problem and it should be acknowledged. Thank you, Irene. Is there still no one online? Okay, there we'll close the second comment period. Board comments. Do any for fellow board members, excuse me, have any comments this evening? I would just like to say I know he wants nothing said. That being said, but I do want to thank Jim for his many, many years of service to the district. I know we'll celebrate more at our retreat, but um I did want to thank you for your service even though you didn't want anything said. Anyone else? Just briefly, Dr. Chrisfield, thank you for your service. Anyone else? Um Jamie Hold on. Just one second. Sorry. Um Jim, I just wanted to say that uh I've been on the Wen School Board for
120um about 10 years now. And um I started as a school board member shortly after you took over the helm of the district. Um so you're the only superintendent I've known uh for this past decade. And um I want to thank you for uh you know all the service you've uh given to this district. The district has changed a lot in the 10 years that you've been here. Um, and I think that you leave this district uh bigger, stronger, and better than it was when you first arrived. And so I thank you for for that. Zappy, hi. Um, so I just wanted to say thank you to Lewis and Alice who came out probably past their bedtime to come talk to us. I think they might be the youngest folks that came out to talk
121to us. I appreciate their um passion and uh their voice. And then uh a logistical thing, uh I don't think I was heard, but for 13.5, I want it noted that I said no, but I think I was double muted and I I I I said no, but and you could probably see it in the video, but I want that noted in the record that I voted no for 13.5. Thank you. Sure. And Zephy, just so you know, Amanda did get your no, so that is recorded. Any other comments? All right, then. Do we have a motion to adjurnn? So moved. Second. All right. All those in favor? Hi.