001to call the meeting order. Um, and everyone would join me in the pledge of allegiance. And please remain standing at the pledge of allegiance. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Please remain standing. >> At this time, I would ask that we observe a moment of silence in memory of Amy Knight, who recently passed away. Amy faithfully served the Y missing area Education Foundation for 17 years as administrative assistant to the executive director. Through her dedication, kindness, and commitment to the foundation's mission, she made a lasting impact on the Wy missing area school district community and all who had the privilege to work alongside of her. She will be greatly missed
002by her colleagues, friends, and the many people whose lives she touched throughout her years of service. As we remember Amy, we also keep her family and loved ones in our thoughts during this difficult time. Please join me as we stand in honor and remembrance of Amy with a moment of silence. Thank you very much. >> Is anyone recording the meeting? And then >> Mrs. Sorenza >> here. >> Mr. Hershey here. Mrs. Ke >> here. >> Mrs. Phillips Miss Rodriguez >> here. >> Mr. Shippers, >> Mrs. Taylor >> here. >> Mrs. Torres, >> Mrs. Zinsky >> here. >> Thank you. >> Just like to welcome everybody tonight. It's nice to see such a big group here. Um I know we're honoring some really special people tonight. So, thanks for being here. Um there are there is
003one upcoming meeting. Um there's a board of school directors meeting on June 8th at 4:45 here in the community boardroom. Um we're going to start with our student representatives um with their report. So why don't you guys go right ahead. >> Hello. Okay. So we're going to start off with our activities. So spring standardized testing is coming to an end. Tomorrow morning students will conclude the Keystone exam, thus concluding this school year's assessments. AP exams have wrapped up for the school year. Staff and students expect another year of successful scores. The district art show dazzled in an old gym last week. Artists including AJ Toy and Anna Anna Gardi had various pieces on display showing off their skills in multiple mediums. Congratulations to the art department for their time and efforts. Spring concert season concludes
004tonight in the auditorium with the fourth grade concert. Thank you to the music department for all their hard work. Our seniors are racing to the finish line at the Scottish right. Next week, the class of 2026 will celebrate senior day on Wednesday, May 27th. They will visit the halls of the hills in West Reading as they reconnect with the faculty that helped shape them into the newest Y missing area graduates. Then the seniors will gather for the senior academic awards on May 27th and the W scholarship awards on May 28th. As one last special evening prior to graduation, the seniors will gather select staff members and with select staff members to award Dr. Jones Spartan impact awards to members of the Wyoming area faculty on Wednesday, June 3rd. This is the first year that the
005awards have been renamed for Dr. Jones and the name will stay. Moving on. >> So, on to athletics. The football the football cheerleading triyouts are coming this week. The girls lacrosse team starts working towards one of their goals. Back-to-back district championships tomorrow night at home. The track team attended districts this past weekend. The team went for a seventh consecutive district title. Notably, junior Lily Palini is currently ranked first in the state for hurdles. The baseball team begins their district journey tonight against Cutstown. Good luck. Boys tennis suffered a heartbreaking team loss in the district quarterfinals to York Catholic. Individually, Park Kachain and Cooper Stringer went undefeated on the season and finished the regular season as county champions. Park continued on to become district champion and the season continues at he as he advances to states
006beginning this Friday. The yearly sports award banquet will take place tomorrow evening at 6 p.m. in the auditorium. You are all invited to come and celebrate the success of our athletes. Great. Thank you so much. We really appreciate you being here. You're welcome to stay, but I'm sure we have plenty of other things going on. So, you're also welcome to leave whenever you're whenever you're ready. Thank you so much for bringing that to us. >> Yes. Uh certainly we have lots of wonderful celebrations this evening. Um this is a bittersweet night. Uh we recognize the tremendous efforts, years of service, um incredible instruction that these fine folks have put forward um over the past numerous decades. Um and yet we also wish them the very best as they move forward into the next phase of
007their life. So we want to recognize our retirees. Um we have the resolution. I'm going to read the first resolution and then as is tradition we have some information to share about each one. Uh so we're going to begin with recognizing Regina Hart. So Regina, if you wouldn't mind standing. Yeah. >> Resolution. Whereas Mrs. Regina Hart has served 37 years as a dedicated professional staff member of the Y missing area school district. And whereas Mrs. Regina Hart has tendered her resignation from the employee of the district for the purpose of retirement effective June 30th, 2026. And whereas the board of school directors of the Wy Missing Area School District wishes to recognize her for her valued service and officially record its appreciation be it hereby resolved that the board of school directors of the Y
008missing area school district observes with regret the resignation of Mrs. Regina Hart from its professional staff and expresses its deep appreciation for the qualities of compassion and dedication which have been so characteristic of her teaching approach with our children. And be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be recorded in the minutes of the of the meeting of the board of school directors of the Y missing area school district held on May 18th, 2026 and that a copy of this resolution be presented to Mrs. Regina Hart. >> So Regina um that was the formal we want to take a few moments and share a few words about you. Um, and I believe if I'm not mistaken, doc, Dr. Red K and Mrs. Kursky, that um, this has kind of been written by some
009peers um, that are probably in the room right now. Um, and we appreciate their words. Regina Hart, kindergarten teacher, wack, 37 years of service. Gina is not just an exceptional teacher. She is the kind of educator who leaves a lasting imprint on the hearts of everyone she meets. She is the perfect last name for a loving kindergarten teacher. She is the heart of our team and has grown to be the heart of our wack building. It's the only time I'll allow heart to be spelled H. She has a special gift of connecting with both students and their families, making each child feel seen, valued, and loved. She embraces every student for exactly who they are while gently but firmly guiding them to grow into who they are meant to be. She knows when to push
010and when to give a hug. She always ends every interaction with students in a positive manner, telling them to Gina truly reaches every part of a learner. She nurtures their minds through engaging instruction, always adding her own creative and fun twist to the curriculum. She has the best crafts. She supports their emotional needs by listening with patience and compassion. and she cares for their physical well-being by incorporating daily brain gym, brain breaks, movement, and yoga. Gina has been the heart of the kindergarten team for decades. Her dedication is unmatched. She arrives early, stays late, and gives her all to everything she does. She is always the first to volunteer, decorating for celebrations, baking brownies, or stepping in to help wherever she is needed. She is a constant source of positivity, support, and inspiration to her
011colleagues. Gina, at this time, we would like you to stand, and we're going to present you with your resolution and a gift from the district. Uh the gift from the district this year is a shutering board that has engraved with the WA um thanking uh you by the way the engraving is on our steam They are so cool. Mrs. Maya her first year of kindergarten >> and I have to tell you she's incredibly anxious child. Um, and every year whenever we Oh my whenever we talk about her next teacher, she says, "I hope they're like Miss Hart." And so I genuinely wanted to thank you on behalf of just all of the children you've taught in the last 30 years. I think they're all going to look for you in every teacher they have for
012the rest of their educational career. Every year she tells me about fail. I hope they're like Mrs. Hart. And so you were just so welcoming to an anxious little girl a few years ago and she will never forget that as her mother. Thank you. And >> are I know I'm gonna try to keep it together. Um, >> so you were my first teacher as a mom. >> And I remember having an argument at the dinner table with my daughter Sersa and I'm still going to get this wrong. Is a square a rectangle or square? And I was like, "No, they're two different shapes." He said, "No, Mrs. Hart pretty great and she is smart and she knows everything." So, um, you definitely left an impression. I I remember you getting up early with Mrs. Null
013to come to a horse show like 30 minutes away on a Saturday morning to cheer her on. >> Um, so as thank you for loving your students so much and as a mom, thank you for putting up with neurotic first time. We definitely need that. I will. I will. >> Congratulations. So, we're going to move on. All right. Actually, you know what? I grab the make. All right. Resolution. Whereas Mrs. Melissa Sigfrieded has served 21 years as a dedicated professional staff member of the Wy Missing Area School District. And whereas Mrs. Melissa Sigfrieded has tendered her resignation from the employee of the district for the purpose of retirement effective June 30th, 2026. And whereas the board of school directors of the Y missing area school district wishes to recognize her for her valued service and
014officially record his appreciation. Be it hereby resolved that the board of school directors of the Y missing area school district observes with regret the resignation of Mrs. Melissa Sigfrieded from its professional staff and expresses its deep appreciation for the qualities of compassion and dedication which have been so characteristic of her teaching approach with our children. And be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be recorded in the minutes of the meeting of the board of school directors of the W missing area school district held on May 18th, 2026 and that a copy of this resolution be presented to Mrs. So Melissa, >> let's see. Special education teacher, stand up, West Reading Elementary Center, 21 years of service. I learned quite a bit by reading this information that has been compiled about you, Missy.
015And by the way, she's the Missy with an I. I'm the Missy with the Y. So that Missy Sigfrieded began her teaching career in following her graduation from Dukane University. Shortly after marrying her husband Devon, she accepted her first teaching position with the Owen J. Roberts School District, beginning a career marked by dedication, adaptability, and care for students. After relocating to Burks County, Missy continued teaching while also taking time to raise her family. years she holds especially meaningful. During that time, she remained actively engaged in her professional interests, serving as a preschool director, adjunct professor at Alveria University, and even working as a licensed realator. In 2006, Missy returned to the classroom as a special education teacher in the Lion Missing Area School District, where she became a valued member of the West Riding Elementary
016Center. With the exception of a brief time at home following the birth of her second son, she has served Wester Elementary students and families with compassion and commitment ever since. As she enters retirement, Missy looks forward to spending more time with her family, including her two sons, and splitting time between Pennsylvania and Florida. Her 35 year career leaves a lasting impact on the many students and colleagues she has supported along the way. So Missy at this time Dr. the back. >> Yeah. >> Congratulations. Congratulations. We're going upstairs. Got our fourth grade concert. So they're all right. And uh finally this this evening um in person we have the resolution Mrs. Nancy Boyer. Whereas Mrs. Nancy Ber has served 26 years as a dedicated professional staff member of the Wyoming area school district. And whereas Mrs.
017Nancy Ber has tendered her resignation from the employee of the district for the purpose of retirement effective June 30th, 2026. And whereas the board of school directors of the Y missing area school district wishes to recognize her for her valued service and officially record its appreciation. Be it hereby resolved that the board of school directors of the W missing area school district observes with regret the resignation of Mrs. Nancy Ber from its professional staff and expresses its deep appreciation for the qualities of compassion and dedication which have been so characteristic of her teaching approach with children. And be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be recorded in the minutes of the meeting of the board of school directors of the Wine Area School District held on May 18th, 2026 and that a
018copy of this resolution be presented to Mrs. Nancy Ber. So this time going to read a little bit about Nancy if you could please stand. Nancy Berth grade social studies teacher read 26 years of service. Nancy Ber began her career in education in 1987 as a long-term substitute in her hometown of Palmerton, Pennsylvania. She soon secured a full-time position teaching kindergarten before moving to first grade where she spent five impactful years shaping the foundational skills of young learners. After taking time away from the classroom to support her family, Nancy returned to education in the Wyoming area school district for the 1999 2000 school year as a long-term substitute. She then transitioned into a permanent role teaching social studies where she remained a dedicated and valued member of the faculty for the rest of her career.
019Beyond her work in the classroom, Nancy continued her commitment to serving others by founding NextStep Burks in 2020. This initiative aims to create an inclusive community in Burks County, offering housing and support for adults with intellectual disabilities and senior citizens along with a shared community center to enrich the broader community. NY's career reflects a deep commitment to students, families, and inclusive communities. Her impact will be felt for years to come and the color purple will forever be associated with Nancy Boyer at Quest Reading Elementary. Nancy, CONGRATULATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, I want to make sure to recognize our other two retirees. And I'd like to actually uh read the information about them as well. They were unable to make it this evening this evening. Michael Gallagher, social studies teacher, junior senior high school, 30 years of service. After
02030 years of dedicated service to the Wy missing area school district, we recognize and celebrate the retirement of Michael Gallagher, one of our outstanding social studies educators. Beginning in the 1996 1997 school year, Michael has spent three decades shaping students understanding of history and the world while also sharing his expertise as an adjunct instructor at a lo at local colleges including Reading Area Community College, Alia University, and Penn State Burks. Throughout his career, Michael has taught a wide range of courses from ninth grade American history to AP European history, world cultures, and his current classes in 8th grade American history and current global issues. His passion for content and instruction was especially evident in courses like AP European history and the Russian studies component of world cultures where students experienced history in meaningful and memorable
021ways. Beyond the classroom, Michael contributed significantly to the school community by advising the Kofon yearbook for over a decade and organizing enriching field trips from Gettysburg to New York City, and even an unforgettable international trip to England. In retirement, Michael looks forward to traveling with his wife, volunteering in the community, gardening, and exploring genealogical research. While he is excited for this new chapter, he shared that he will deeply miss the moments when students make meaningful connections in their learning, as well as the camaraderie of his colleagues and the fulfillment of contributing to a profession he loves. We thank Michael for his years of service, his passion for teaching, and the lasting impact he has made on generations of Wyoming students. And finally, uh, one of our, um, very dedicated support staff members had retired earlier
022this school year. That was Carrie Warner. He was an HVAC technician for the entire district and served Why Missing Area School District for 19 years. Carrie Warner came to the Y missing area school district with years of experience in the HVAC trades. Over the years, Carrie was able uh to ensure the students and staff had a comfortable learning experience. He was instrumental with several multi-million dollar HBAC projects districtwide. Over his 19 years, Carrie was one of the most trusted and respected members of the facilities department. His institutional knowledge is going to be very hard to replace. So, we thank Carrie for HIS 19 SO, I just want to say again on behalf of the entire W missing area school district, we congratulate those of you who will be officially retiring at the end of the
023school year. We wish you the best in this next phase of your journey and we thank you again for all of your years of service for everything that you've done to truly truly impact the students and colleagues of why missing area. Thank you. out what anybody else wishes to share before. >> Yeah, I guess on behalf of the board of directors, I mean, how lucky are we that you chose to spend your career here at Y missing? Um, for my own children and for so many hundreds of children in the district like your legacy will be certainly ongoing and we'll just miss you all. So, thank you so much. >> Thank you. Thanks. >> So, you are all welcome to Let's see those littlebody. >> Thank you so much. Congratulations. >> Thank you. Thank you.
024>> Thank you very much. All right. >> Okay. So, thank you very much. Uh that was our retired recognition. We're going to actually move forward to the West Raiding Elementary Center presentation. So, we have Dr. Bab here for that. >> I don't know how one follows that. So, uh, with that in mind, I decided I would bring along Elijah and Jonah, who don't know that they're actually earning their merit badge by having to present for me. >> Uh, thank you. It's my pleasure, uh, to talk a little bit tonight and I'll be brief because, like I said, how how do you follow that up? Uh, but I I wanted to uh talk to the board about our one book, one school uh, author visit that we had on May 7th. It's the first time we've
025done that. We think it's the first time we've actually done it at West Dreading. Now, it is definitely the first time in my 17 years there and none of these other veterans remembered having done it before. So, I think it was literally our first one vote, one school author visit. Uh, tell you a little bit about Dana Craroth who is the author uh that we invited in. Uh, she is a teacher down in the Border County School District and she is now an author. uh she has published uh the do more club and it's not a self-published book. This is a big time penguin books published uh book now uh that speaks very well to middle-aged student uh middle level students. Um it also uh after we had already booked her I found out that
026Dr. Woodard was actually the person who hired her as a teacher in a former life down in the town school district was which was a neat connection. Um, so we had her in on May 7th and uh I tell you what, uh, we're very grateful uh, for Waif uh, we wrote a grant uh, to afford to bring the author in as well as to buy purchase the uh, paperback copies of the novel uh, for our students. It was the first uh, paperback publishing of the book. It's only one come out in hardcover before. They did a paperback version when we contacted the company special for us. Uh so she was very excited about that to see your book in not only hard cover but also paperback as well which is a good thing uh for
027her. So if you can move to the next slide. Uh her big message uh for the book was uh to spread kindness so hate can't hate can't win. The uh main uh story uh is about a student by the name of Josh Kramer who is the only Jewish student in a middle level school. uh the school comes under attack through some anti-semitic uh activities both internally and outside of that and Josh goes about having to process that as well as process what's going on as the school had to process it as well uh and how he's going to respond to that. So the book is told through him. It's told in verse. We were looking for a novel uh and an event to celebrate the end of PSSA testing to be honest, but also to
028anchor in with the seal uh and character education initiative which uh I had two teachers come earlier in the year and talk about. So this was kind of like our anchor activity uh to that piece because it really reinforced the you know the elements of kindness um and compassion um that we had talked about earlier in the year. Uh so that all anchored very nicely. We were also looking for a companion books that go along with PSSA testing. Students need to read something when they're done with their test there. So we were looking for a book that hey they could grab uh and actually open up a book and read during that time. But it also needed to blend in well uh not uh over over uh what do I want to say over shadow
029uh the incredible units that are fifth and sixth grade end the year with uh sixth grade ends with the wax museum biography unit. Uh fifth grade ends with the World War II historical fiction unit and those are like anchors of the fifth and sixth grade curriculum. So, we wanted something that would be a good read uh give us some uh important themes and emphasize those and also pulled together an event that would uh end uh the PSSA season. All right. Now, there was nothing wrong with the um dodgeball tournament which historically has ended the PSSA window, but I think we were looking for something a little bit meteor, a little bit more academic that tied in the other things as well. Uh so we uh skipped the uh dodgeball tournament day and instead did uh
030one book, one uh school uh author visit day. Okay, next slide. Uh there was the team that put it together. Um again, thanks to Waif. Uh it was uh approximately $5,000. It was a $5,000 grant almost um that uh we secured through Waif and we were very happy to work with them. Um and there's a couple other wave uh roots that run into this program that I'll get to later. Okay, next slide. Uh, so we started rolling this out about a month before the actual event. Uh, about midappril actually. Uh, we had a gradual reveal. So, uh, these puzzle pieces that you see up on screen here actually came, there was a puzzle in every room that would, uh, begin to, you know, build a little interest, reveal what the book was going to be,
031uh, what the event was going to be. Next slide. All right. And it built and built and built and built. This is actually the end of reveal assembly that we took these through. Next slide. All right. till it came together for that uh that big this is what the puzzle formed. Okay, next slide. Uh there's the author. There's Den Kramer. She put together a little steel that we videoed in uh that was part of the big reveal day. Next slide. And then we handed out the books right before PSSA so students would have them in hand. Okay, next slide. Uh this was our day basically. We got a very I have to say we've had a lot of assemblies over the years. I know what they cost. this was an excellent value for what we
032paid and what she she worked her tail off from the time she got there and through the end of the day. Uh she opened with I'll just run through these real quick and then I'll there's a couple slides that speak to each one but she opened the day with a grand fifth and sixth grade assembly uh in the gym and then we broke into several workshops, student workshops, three different student workshops and then two grade level uh riders workshops where the entire grade would be in the gym. So that was literally 1 2 3 4 5 six six different sessions that she held over the course of that uh school day which is just an amazing piece of work. Uh so there was our there was the big assembly. Next slide. And she was asking
033the questions when she uh the main assembly message you know uh was the following things. What does it mean to um what does it mean to belong? We are more alike. Next slide. We are more alike than different. And finally, trust is the key to belonging. And I'm just I won't go into those in great detail, but those were the three main themes in the opening uh assembly. Next slide. Next slide. Uh these were the workshops we had over the course of the day. Dana uh did a really cool thing and it was obviously the most popular workshop because kids wanted to be with the author but she ran a step into the circle which was a belonging and trust gaining trust oriented activity which was really just wonderful. I had to it was one
034of those uh it almost brought tears to watch the kids that were participating and what they were willing to kind of put themselves out there with and then being able to look around and say hey you know I'm not the only kid who has had this dynamic in my life. There were seven other kids who stepped into the circle. For example, when she uh said, "How many of us have uh you know come from a family of divorce stepped into the uh circle herself and then the rest of those students that uh also had that kind of situation stepped in as well. But if you just look quickly over those uh activities, there was a huge lineup, a mix of kindness and belonging and building community type activities. uh some that were just pure interest
035uh of teachers that wanted to want a workshop. The Mrs. Klein and Mrs. Coupe workshop. I just wanted to point to that because that was another waif grant uh piece there. Earlier in the year, we had uh acquired a waif grant to have indoor gardens. This was the day that the indoor gardens were transplanted out onto the playground and into the gardening containers out there. So, that was also another very popular activity. Uh most of the plants are I just saw them this morning. It was very hot today. Most of the plants are doing very well, you know, and they continue to be taken care of and watered well. Uh, and we're in the process of also setting up, uh, you know, some things with our students and community to make sure that those gardens
036continue to grow the summer. Okay, next slide. Uh, so this is just a picture of that what that grade level writers workshop looked like uh, in the gym. Uh, she, you know, wo her way through uh, the students there and then as next slide. as she was uh you know she would give them prompts you know and and then throw out questions and pieces there. Her first was write about what makes you different. Okay, everybody stop think what makes you different. Okay, next slide. There's a couple of our group of girls that are enjoying that up in the pictures. Yeah. And then uh went on are are any of the characters or events in the book based on re real people or experiences? So these are the questions students would ask, right? And then she
037she'd respond, have a little chance to talk about her book, but then roll it back out to the students and place it in the form of like a writing prompt or exercise that they would work on in their small groups. Next one. Or any question was that are any of the characters or events in the book based on real people or experiences? That's her brother. Next slide. That's Tim Little. That's him grown up and that's her with her brother. Next slide. >> And her brother's name is Josh. >> Josh. Yeah. So Josh was the character. Yeah. The main character of the book. >> Okay. Mr. Thread Gil was the teacher that made a difference in uh her life that became Mr. G in the book. So they didn't think Mr. T would be there's some
038infringement rights there call somebody Mr. T. So Mr. T became Mr. G. Next slide. And that's a picture of Dana uh with him uh with yeah with Mr. T later in life. Next slide. So uh somebody do you have any advice for young people want to make a difference in their community like the characters in your books? and she'd worked them through that and then she would say, "Okay, well, what were some of the uh you know, what were some of the traits of the characters in the book or or those pieces, you know, that you would choose to write about? If you could write about that, which book would you write about?" Next slide. Are there any books or authors? Okay, if you hit the next slide, these are the authors that she revealed
039uh were special to her. Next slide. Favorite scene to write about book and why if you could give here and what? Yeah, let's go to that. Um if the next slide. All right. If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be? And this was the kind of piece. This is tied that whole uh workshop together. Next slide. All right. She uh one of her big themes uh for her that she was very honest with and also played through in characters in the book was you she was very self-conscious about her appearance uh growing up. And next slide. All right. The way you look is at least this interesting thing about you. And that was one of her core messages that day as well, which tied in directly to the book. So, all
040right. So, that was I just wanted to give you a real broad overview overview of the day. I don't know what you guys thought, you know, if you'd like to speak up and be honest, but it was I felt a really successful day for us, a nice way to wrap up PSSA's a nice academic piece uh to end that PSSA season with. All right. Um, and also something that really anchored in some of those important things that came across the year to the uh the questions at all. >> How did you guys like the book? >> I liked it. >> Yeah, I liked it. I mean um I liked it if the book was in um reverse. >> Okay. >> Which was um really cool and I think that really like showed the emotions the
041book. I kind of like that it as well like it didn't have anyation or punctuation like normally you can get a lot of the gist from like the punctuation but there was no punctuation like does it mean this or this? >> Can you give us a spoiler alert in case we don't read it? like how did the main character come to terms with the fact that he had been discriminated against or bullied because of how he was different? Um well like he really didn't really hide well he hid at the beginning and then he was like near the end of the book he started this club hence the title do more club um that it ended up being really popular so it's like do more >> thank Thank you very much. >> I will say
042my son asked me to cancel an orthodontist appointment and usually after the orthodontist he gets Wendy's because he did not want to miss the author visit. So leading up to it, you guys must have done a great job marketing everything. So we really enjoyed it. >> Yeah, >> you guys should just get your merit badges like tonight. You need somebody to come like get proof that you were here. not only here but contributed on the fly. >> Be happy to do that. >> Thank you. >> Very interesting. >> It's a great day. >> Yeah, it was a phenomenal day and I give credit to the staff at West Reading Elementary Center because, you know, having spoken to Dana and and she does five or six uh school visits a year is what she aims to
043do. Um, and she's like, "Missy, I don't think I've ever been at a school that made the full day experience like this for the students." And the teachers really got on board. Um, they wanted to facilitate those breakout sessions as well. They wanted students to have choice in their breakout sessions. Um, we were able to bring uh some of our our Best Buddies Club, I think, down. Um, and they helped. >> Yeah, I didn't mention that. There were there were probably at least two dozen 30 high school kids that were part of the day. I should have brought that up. Uh, that played a role. The Girl Scouts, uh, I think it was the eighth e seventh or eighth grade girl scouts. >> Um, and the big the best buddies, big buddies, uh, were down
044there for the whole botchi ball activity and working with the kids. It was just great. Yeah. So, it was just really neat to see how the teachers brought their passions and interests into their um the breakout sessions, but also that they wanted to do that. They didn't just want it to be a standalone assembly. Read the book and let's have assembly when you're done. They really wanted to celebrate and they felt that it really did hit a lot of the social emotional learning components that we've been trying to to to go after all year. So, um I give credit to them and uh Dana's like, "Boy, if I can replicate this other places, but I I know we're looking at the possibility um of bringing her back every couple of years." >> Yeah. Every other
045year having a new author next year and then rotating, >> right? So, yeah. So, thank you very much. Oh, Eli, go ahead. So, how they like a few days before the author visit, they did um a sign of genius to figure out the um activities >> and it was found that kids did not understand how signis works. >> There are a lot of adults. We had to do a revamp of the uh >> there were certain activities that like everybody wanted like the seven circle um botchi ball painting kindness rocks and a few other things and everybody was like I want this but then they're like no it's taken up why can't I get this >> so we We have to learn sometimes that we don't always get exactly our first choice, our second choice
046as well, too. So, good life lesson, I guess. But >> fantastic. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you guys. I put you on the spot there. >> Yes. Appreciate your input. >> Okay. All right. >> We are moving on to liaison reports. Um, VCI, you Mr. Hershey. >> We have not had a meeting since my last report. Our meeting is this Thursday. So, I reporting June. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, Mr. Torres is not here and I didn't get a report from her. So, I'm sending no reports for this evening. Um, Mr. Hoyer Burks, EIT, >> we also did not have a meeting. Next meeting is in June, so probably won't be till August. >> August. Yep. Um, Mrs. Zinsky, um, for W has all 31 scholarship recipients have been notified. Senior day is
047May 27th. The scholarship ceremony is May 28th at 6 p.m. in the auditorium. The fire and ice picnic is cancelled due to burrow events being so similar and teachers being honored in other ways. Um, Waith will be posting a position for a part-time bookkeeper administrative assistant soon and W is currently meeting right now in the library. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Um, legislative report, Mr. H. >> Same report in the future. >> Yep. Gotcha. And I know Mrs. Phillips couldn't be here tonight. and she presented >> she did share a little bit of information with me today uh regarding PTA. Our remake learning day community event will be held on Thursday, May 21st. That's this Thursday at Ryerson Hills Elementary Center from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. So, I know that uh
048we have some different community organizations coming out. Um I know the I have that on my little spiel. Um, Remake Learning Day's theme this year is Spartan Sustainability, small hands, big change. Um, the community event is that Thursday evening from 4:30 to 6:30. And then Friday is our remake learning day at the Hills Elementary Center. PTA is still looking for volunteers um to help. If parents with clearances would like to volunteer, they can go to the PTA uh PTA Facebook page and sign up there for the remake learning day. And then the last meeting of PTA for the year will be held at WC from uh at 9:30 a.m. on May 27th. So coming up pretty soon, the end of the year. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Um that concludes the liaison reports. U moving
049on to public comment. Is there any public comments? Okay, we will move on then to routine approvals. Um, see, it is recommended that the board of school directors approve the following. April 27th, 2026 school board meeting minutes. Treasurer's report for the month of April 2026. Payment of bills for the month of April 2026 as listed in the financial packet. May I have a motion? >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? >> Okay. Um, this can be done by voice vote. So, all those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> All those opposed, please say nay. Motion passes. And we're moving on to the superintendent report. >> Yeah. I just have a few more things. because I felt like I've been speaking quite a bit this evening. So, just a couple of little paragraphs here.
050Our last full month of the school year is chalk full of exciting events showcasing our talented students across all three schools. The K through2 music department has hosted numerous concerts featuring members of the band, orchestra, and choirs. Tonight, again, uh began at 6:30 p.m. and that is our last concert of the season. and then it features our fourth graders who will take the stage in the junior senior high school auditorium. Additionally, last week artwork from students K through 12 was on display in the old gym. The variety of projects included mixed media crafts, pottery, pencil drawings, and many forms of painting. Truly, truly a testament to the the talents of our students. On Wednesday of this week, uh we will be hosting the annual signing day event in our junior senior high school auditorium. Our
051student athletes who are planning to compete at the collegiate level in their respective sports will be recognized. As was previously shared, our third annual remake learning day will be held on Friday, May 22nd, with the community event scheduled for Thursday evening the 21st. The theme for this year's remake learning day is Spartan sustainability, small hands, big change. Several assemblies will be held during the day and students will will participate in a community project and various sustainability projects. Students from the high school will also perform demonstrations for our Wex students. Um I think they're going to bring some steam stuff and also out in the garden areas. So we're excited for that um collaboration. high school and elementary. Thank you to the Wex staff members who've been a part of the planning process for this very
052special event. Um I don't know if many of you remember, but several years ago I was at the SAS Institute in December. Um and I learned of Remake Learning Day and I said, "Boy, it would kind of neat to bring this to this side of the state. It was more popular on the western part of Pennsylvania." So I met with um Dr. Wangard and Mrs. Matts and some other folks um at the Hills at the time and we got a little small activity and event um started and then it grew and then it's grown now to a community event and a school day event. So, we're excited at all the partnerships that we have with our community organizations to make this happen. Um and next week BCTC will hold their annual senior recognition ceremony at
053the Santander Arena. I wanted to bring this up because it's a little bit different this year. One of our very own seniors, William Maize, will actually receive his Guessing Area School District diploma at that recognition ceremony. reason he will miss our school district's commencement ceremony because he has placed first and has um qualified for the National Skills USA competition and he will be in Atlanta, Georgia from June 1st through June 5th. So will not be able to attend. Um, I believe there I think are four students from around the county that this h that they have a conflict with their own school's commencement ceremony and the skills USA competition. Um, William has decided he really wants to take advantage of this opportunity to showcase his skills and compete across, you know, the nation. And so,
054um, the BCTC recognized that this was a conflict and they said, "Hey, we have the, um, recognition ceremony for our seniors scheduled for May 26th. Would a representative from each of those districts be there to award the uh, diplomas to the recipients?" So, I will be attending that ceremony. um looking forward to celebrating, you know, again his diploma that evening um and the other seniors from BCTC who will be provided awards too. So shout out and good luck to William as he uh participates in that Skills USA competition. So um so that's what I have there. Um and then I guess we'll move into the actual voting items if that's okay. Okay. It's recommended that the board of school directors approve and ratify the following curriculum and technology items numbers one through um two ABC
055D and E. Okay. Second, please. >> Any discussion? Now, >> Mrs. Sorenson, >> yes. >> Mr. Hershey, >> yes. >> Mrs. >> yes. >> Miss Rodriguez, >> yes. >> Mrs. Taylor, >> yes. >> Mrs. Zitzky, >> yes. >> Motion passes 6. >> Miss Lambo, Miss Lambo, you'll get the philosophers way textbook approved. >> Thank you very much. U moving on to finance and facilities. It's recommended that the board of school directors approve and ratify the following finance and facilities items numbers 1 through six. I have a motion >> second. Any discussion Mr. >> Mr. Hershey? >> Yes. >> Mrs. >> Yes. >> Miss Rodriguez. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Taylor. Yes, >> Mrs. Vincent. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Horenza. >> Yes. >> Motion passes. 6. >> Moving on to personnel and policy. It is recommended that
056the board of school directors approve and ratify the following personnel and policy items as presented. Numbers one through 10. Second. >> Any discussion? Roll call, Mr. Warner. >> Mrs. >> Yes. >> Miss Rodriguez, >> yes. >> Mrs. Keller, >> yes. >> Mrs. Ainsky, >> yes. >> Mrs. Horizon, >> yes. >> Mr. Hershey, >> yes. >> Motion passes. >> And that concludes my report for the morning. >> Thank you very much. >> Uh, is there any old business? >> Any new business? I heard the covers at the West Rain playground above the benches were not there for the sun today. >> I did hear that also. >> Yeah, they had we had no shame. >> I'm pretty sure they haven't been there since like >> Yeah, at like November. >> I asked the teachers and they
057said that they've been requesting them to be put up for a while, but they haven't been put up. >> Thank you guys. Yeah, I I think >> we knew that they were not up yet, but I don't know when the timeline is to get them up. >> We'll get them up ASAC. >> Yeah, >> especially for tomorrow. >> Thank you, Mr. >> Yeah, might need some shade. >> Yes, thank you. >> Uh, right to no requests. >> Okay. Um, updates from organizations. Can I sit up here? Yes, you can. Thank you. >> Um, so I emailed these remarks to Dr. Woodard if any of you would like to review them at any point. Um, hello, my name is Joel Mulling. I was Joel Ostrich in a different life. Um, I might have had some of
058your kids think was the ostrich. Um, and I'm the president of the Lying Area Education Association. I am finishing my first year in this role but my 31st year of teaching and I've taught many of your children in addition and in addition to my WAEA role I teach AP literature. I am creating a philosophy course for next year. I coach boys and girls tennis as well as coaching quiz bowl. I'm a taxpayer and I'm a proud mother. I'm proud to say that my daughter graduated last year from the junior senior high school and she is loving Arizona. Dr. Wood had informed me that the board was upset by the appearance of Dr. Dit at the last grievance meeting. I could not be there as the boys tennis team was playing for the county championship. I
059think we can all agree that that was the right call. But there's another issue I wish to address with his appearance. I certainly don't I do not have the time to go and study all the contracts of the other districts in Burks County to find an amicable resolution for the issue presented. That is what a UNISER rep is supposed to do. He holds the context, policies, and laws at the ready. Dr. Dit to my knowledge has not had to appear in front of the board in some time but we have felt strongly enough in the veracity of our claim regarding the grievance to include him. I apologize if any any of you feel blindsided by his inclusion and the tur delivery of his argument but we felt like we were not being heard. Moving forward,
060in years previous, board members and association leadership have engaged in informal talks about working conditions, including incorrect reimbursements and stipens and the cleanliness of the buildings. In trying to address these issues, we've had inconsistent outcomes. Before we ever get to the level of a grievance that we just adjudicated, I will I will offer my time and communication with any board member who wishes to reach out. At present, I cannot email the board and attach documents. The vision statement in this district states, "The district will attract and retain educators of impact." That is the goal of the association as well. With that common goal, I would welcome any communication from any board member who wants insight about working conditions, teacher morale, and salary issues. My email can be found at the district website. Thank you. >>
061Do you have any questions for me? >> I just want to respond to you. So, and I so appreciate you taking the time to be here and to respond to our concern, too. But just I don't know, it's just great to see people face to face. And I am wholeheartedly and I'm sure the rest of the board, I didn't even realize that there used to be informal conversations. >> It was only after conversations per minute last week that I found out that when Brian Arian was the president four or five years ago, >> okay, >> that they were regularly having conversations. So, >> I mean, what did that look like? Was that in the Rob? I'm not aware of that. >> So you guys talk regularly >> trying monthly. >> Once a month you try.
062Yeah. >> And are are you proposing that that would be helpful to return to those days? Like I I >> I think I think the Mrs. Coon's point is well taken. I mean there's a lot of rage in email. There's a lot of um frustration in words that are not communicated vocally. So, you know, I think I I think I don't know what it would look like because I again, this is my first year and I have I've not spoken to many board members ever. Um, so I don't again I don't know what it look like. I would guess maybe you guys would want to talk to yourselves and you know if there's one if there's one person that you can direct me to to and I can I I is it helpful for me
063to send you the agenda items that I that I write up when I meet with Dr. Woodard? I think that wouldn't hurt just to be copied on it. And then I was thinking like I don't know like do we meet once a quarter? some representative from the board meets with, you know, you or whoever happens to be in that, you know, if you're not available for coaching or whatever reason, someone else. Um, that was my thought. Back in Rob days, um, we used to, um, we had some conversation about, and we can talk about this another time about how you would feel about it, but we talked before about whether it would make sense for a board member to be part of your conversation with WA or at least because there used to be conver
064there used to be accusations, probably a bad word, but that they were saying things pretended that weren't getting back to us. So then at least we suggested like minutes that or like a you know some type of memorialization of what you talked about that we would see. But so some form of that I think would be >> probably a good idea. >> I think so too. me know if you guys thought it was a good idea, but we can >> And another suggestion that I've mentioned previously is I know no one can compel you to stay at a board meeting or attend a board meeting, but there have been some pretty big issues that are discussed repeatedly and then when it gets time for the vote, um, association members are upset and come and voice
065their dissatisfaction. And I personally feel if they had been at some of the other meetings when the discussions were had, there may have been more productive communication ongoing so that it didn't come to that level. >> Okay. I do watch every board meeting whether I'm here or not. >> No, I'm not pointing the finger at you. >> No, no, I'm not saying it's my first year. I >> No, but the association has how many members? Like >> 155. >> Okay. Um and I for myself it would be nice to see some association members at meetings even if it's informally um but you know being present might be helpful in making sure communication is clear like what was one of the issues that the that the association it doesn't matter I'm just trying to figure out
066like what what was something the association would have brought to a board meeting and and got up and said something in a board I I because I never I haven't seen a lot of that. >> I can touch base with you. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Um you know and again my email is up on you know I'm an English teacher. Um so anybody can contact me at any time and I'm happy to talk to anybody. Um but I think that we're we're going into negotiations eventually. Um, and we all need to be mindful to bring the tenor of that conversation. Let me put it this way. I think that as educators, it would be good for us to model good communication before we get to negotiations. >> Yeah, >> agreed. Okay. >> Yeah, I
067think that would be really helpful and I think that we can come up with some kind of mechanism and >> either Dr. Woodard or I will reach out to you or somebody from the board and we'll get something >> planned. I just think it's a good practice. And I would just encourage you like we all have to be mindful of our PL place isn't the right word but like just because none of us would individually reach there may be constraints on us individually reaching out to you. So I I would hope I would encourage you to not read much into that. It more has to do with all the instruction we receive about what we can and cannot do rightfully. So yeah, certainly a better way should could exist for us to communicate, but please
068don't think we're disinterested because we don't email you individually, but we're probably we're probably prevented from doing that. So we need to come up with a better certainly a better way, but that may not be the way, >> right? And I think the the suggestion that you know we if we take notes during our meetings with Dr. word, you know, what is the content that maybe that would be enough, but I understand and I respect your roles. Um, but yeah, I just don't know what it would look like. So, you know, if you want to have face to face conversations, you tell me what that's going to look like and I'll be here. I will be gone for all the summer, but I can do the phone. >> Yeah. >> And I would say from
069our part too, if you feel that there's things that you'd like for the board to hear that somehow the right avenue isn't through Dr. ordered. You know, we're certainly we certainly all appreciate and value our our staff and so um we we regularly want to hear from from staff. So yeah, >> I mean is sorry. So is doing that then something that would prevent I don't have much knowledge at all of or yet in uh a lot of interactions with the association but by having these kinds of conversations is that something that you think then would have avoided what happened here the other night because as someone new on the board that was my first exposure to that and I was like yeah it was I didn't like it. It it made me feel like
070defensive and and taken off guard and then it was my understanding that no one knew that this gentleman was coming. I didn't have a problem with him being there. I didn't even know who he was. I mean, I wanted to kind of stop in the middle and say, "Wait a minute, who are you?" Because you're kind of and you know, when he was calling Missy the wrong name, the whole thing was really >> I heard it all. >> It was really like it gave it left a really bad taste in my mouth. Like I went home and said, "Oh, I know I can never be asked to be on the negotiating committee because I didn't like >> Well, just so you know, Dr. Dwood is our negotiating." So, he will be at all negotiations. >>
071Oh, yeah. I've never been on that. >> Well, I will. I mean, I knew him because I had been on the negotiating. So, yeah. Yeah. Um, and I just want to address the email thing too. I think I think if you go through Outlook, you can email us attachments. If you don't go through the website, there's something with the website. There's some kind of security thing where you can't email like if you know what I mean. If you go on >> So if I do arunach.co area.org it'll I you should be able to send me an attachment. >> They have a different naming convention. >> Yeah, ours is by the same. However, I believe if you would type in just a search for like WD board, then you could do a right click and then
072they'll all individually by name come up. So you can select there. So through Outlook, you can definitely email and include attachments. Through the web page, you are correct. You can establish a connection and email because you can't attach anything. But if Mrs. would respond to you, then you could respond to her via attach with an attachment. >> Seems like there's just some >> to me, it's better just without book. >> Right. Right. So I I I just want to say one last thing. My position as president, I am inundated with frustration from members all the time. It's the nature of the job. It's not anything. I mean, I've been teaching for in five different schools. I get it. >> Um, you guys uh are the recipient of the frustration of the community. So, I don't
073think that it does us any good to be frustrated with each other. >> Right. >> Okay. Anything else? >> No, we'll be in touch. >> Thank you so much for being here. >> Yeah, no worries. We appreciate it. Am I okay to go? >> Yeah. Yeah. Good job, John. >> We're almost at the end. >> Thanks for coming. >> No worries. Thank you for having me. >> Good night. >> Um, >> good night. Thank you so much for being here. >> Um, I think we are at the point of adjournment. So, I can accept a motion to second. Voice. >> Voice vote. Thank you. Sorry that me off. Um, all those in favor, please say I. >> I. >> All those opposed.