001Okay. Thank you everyone. We'll call the uh meeting to order. We thank you for waiting a couple minutes. We had a couple items in executive session to cover. So, thank you for being patient. If we could have everyone uh please rise for the pledge of allegiance. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible liberty and justice for all. >> Okay, we have everyone here tonight. Miss Ramirez, do you have the roll call? >> Yes. >> Thank you. Next, we'll move on to the superintendent report. >> Okay, good evening everyone. I do have a a bit of a lengthy report today, but I will uh work my way through because I do want to give you a little bit of information regarding the
002budget impass. So, the state and federal budget impass ended um and the budget was approved on November 12th, 2025. Several presentations were made over the last several days by all the PE groups were the PASSA, PASBO, all of those groups. Um and I'm going to provide you with a brief overview of some of those details. So Gino, if you will uh take that one down and pull up the presentation, that would be great. Thank you. Okay, so this is uh you want to be very clear and give some credit where credit is due. This this presentation I pulled out excerpts of from it. It is about a 47page presentation which is on the PASSA um website. You can see the whole presentation there or I can certainly forward the whole presentation. Uh but tonight I
003pulled out some things that were applicable here to our district. So this was presented by Sherry Smith who is the executive director of PASA and some of the language here is exactly off of her uh off of her presentation. So I just want to give credit you know where the credit is due. So next slide please Gino. So quick overview. Governor Shapiro passed and signed the budget at 50.9 million u billion dollar budget package which is 2.27 27 billion or 4.7% increase over the 2425 school year. Oh, I apologize for the the u whatever. Yeah. Formatting. Um so K to2 funding again you can get all the detail there and we'll provide more specific to the district but full funding for um second uh full fully funded the second installment of $565 million uh dollar
004increase of adequacy adequacy sorry I can't speak today tax equity payments um to meet the constitutional obligation. So what happened here is they started with their base fund. They added in the adequacy funds and they added in tax equity funds. There's a 1.5 million or 1.3% increase to the basic ed funding. I will break that down in a little bit. $40 million or 2.7% increase in special education funding and 28.5 million or 6.7% increase to the early intervention grades three through five uh year old students. The funding continued one uh seven, excuse me, 1 point 178 million or 14.6 in estimated savings to school districts from the cyber charter funding reform. 100 million in cyber charter tuition is eliminated. 125 million for school facilities um is set aside with 25 million of that 125 being
005dedicated to solar uh solar panels in schools, solar energy. 100 million for school safety and mental health through the ready tolearn block grant. I will speak to that in a little bit more detail in a couple of slides. and 9.5 million for prek counts. Um, which is used to uh will be used to increase the per student reimbursement for full-time students from one uh from 10.5 to 10.748 u million. Special education, as was on the original slide, received a 2.7% increase over the 2425 school year, which is a 440 million increase to that budget. Of course, keep in mind that all these numbers I'm giving you is for the state. So, going across the 500 school districts um in the state. Next slide, please. Readyle [clears throat] learn block grant. This information gives you a
006trajectory over the last three years. So going down the 2425 column, you will see that the ready tolearn uh foundation or other word for that base was 20 uh 2,95 295 million which was increased to 820 million. The adequacy again looking at the 2425 was 493 million increased to f uh 526 million and the tax ex equity which east does not necessarily fall into this um based on utilizing act one utilizing or not utilizing act one was 32 million and that remained 32 million. So the overall um impact in 2425 it was an $820 million um budget that was spread across across our district our districts in the state moved up to a 1.3 um 1.35 1.35 billion dollar impact across the states. The reason for that is a lot of the adequacy funds in
007that um court case where we talked about the basic ed funding and adequacade adequacy that landed into the ready to learn block grant as opposed to entirely into the basic ed funding. Um next slide please. The other area that was increased was the safety uh school safety and health. That is typically the PCCD grants and there was a hund00 million um dollars combined for mental health and physical safety. School districts will um received a $100 million district um aotment across the districts in the state plus the amount based on ADMs which is uh basically the daily membership. I'm not going to get into all those details there. The grant application is um required to open by the state within 45 days of it being authorized, the budget being authorized on November 12th. So they have
008to open up that application within 45 days of that date and then um move forward from there with our applications. Um and they continue to prioritize tier one baseline criteria. So again looking at what are the what are the baseline needs and then supporting the applications through that lens. There's also eligible new eligibility uses for cyber security and to grant uh to grant uh school facilities and we'll talk about that I think in another slide that there are some funds put aside for facility usage. Next slide from there. Okay. facility use is $100 million in additional funding to public school facility improvement grant is being provided. 25 million additional dollars in solar school grant that was spoken about a little bit earlier earlier and there continues to be a moratorum on plan con. Um that
009is talked about both um in seriousness and tongue and cheek at times when we talk about the process of plan con because it was rather arduous. Um but at this point there are those on um in the state um lobbyist groups that are um supporting bringing plan con back through uh thoughts of it is a little bit more equitable um opportunities for sta for districts to apply through that process. But that has not come back. And so right now we have this um $125 million opportunity for facility usage um for school districts within the state. Next one. Thanks. Cyber uh cyber charter funding. Again, there's a lot in lot of detail around cyber charter, so I'm not going to get into all of that, but additional education to um additional education to cyber charter non-special
010ed student tuition um calculations have been reimagined. And so non-special ed cyber charter uh tuition is going to um be more aligned with that of a non a nonsp special education student. So if you look through here you'll see the 60% student activity cost, 60% plant maintenance operations and the removal of use of ADM. So um I do have another page on this. Basically what this is talking about is the reform on this on what the school district you can turn to the next one Gino. what the school districts and PD have listed as the base rate for base rate for students is what they can charge a school district. They cannot charge above the PDA PTE sanctioned um rates and there is a differential for how that's applied for regular ed and special ed
011now. Um same thing applies when reconciliations are happening those same new regulations that'll be spelled out a little bit more clearly in the next couple of weeks. Um, so again, I know I'm very brief in that information, but I think the good news is that there is a step one towards some reform on how we're funding charter schools and a little bit more equitable um in terms of the expenses that charters can can charge a district based on being a special needs student versus a regular needs student. And so a little bit more to come on that as we continue. Um, so the bottom line, what does this mean for our district? Um, for basic education funding, the estimated basic education funding for the 2526 school year for Eastern Area School District is 29 um
01229 mill 29,146,29. The base basic ed funding for 2526 is the 27 um,800,859 U.75. That is the base level. And then when you add the estimated student distribution, the 1,343,349.55, that brings you to that new estimated basic ed funding. So our we should be bringing in approximately $29 million through basic ed funding for this current year, the 2526 school year. For us, that was an increase of $420,000 and change. Okay, next slide. Ready to learn block. There you go. Ready to learn block grant letter. Ready to learn block grant estimated for the 2526 is 2,632,14712. Uh the foundation or base level of that for the 2526 year is same as it was last year 1,960,934 um26. And the estimated adequacy supplement, which is the added money that was put to that pot, is $671,212.86. So
013that number, the adequacy number is the increase that we received to our ready tolearn block grant. So again, um we'll come in at that grant should everything go as they're projecting at two uh 2.6 million, which is that 60 uh 600,000 increase. And then special education estimated special education funding for the 2526 school year as of November 20 uh 2025 is 6,754,262. The base of that funding is based on the regulations set in 2013 and 14. So the base of that and I think I have a typo in there. It should have just been three. I apologize. Not the four 43. It should be three million. um 838,430 and7 cent. So I apologize on the four there. Ally I think just corrected that for the slides that get attached. And then the estimated student-based allocations
014is a 200 uh 2,915,83164. So this is an increase for us um by $221,000 almost $222,000. So, by and large, we we fared, you know, fared okay in terms of increases should all the budget that they're promising actually come through to us. Any questions that you may have because I think that was Oh, sorry. So, that's that's kind of where the budget pieces end, but I do want to offer you a little bit of information on some school code changes. Um, you can go to the next slide, Gina. Thank Thank you. Um, so this one I thought from a athletic standpoint, it's going to be important for us to know, Matt, and we've already talked about this, but the uh new school new school code regulations are requiring that at PIAA events that we do
015accept cash at all events. So, our efforts to move to totally cashless is now um still the rate the way that we will be our preferred manner of operation, but we will be required to open cash um opportunities for our our fans moving forward. um with the one stipulation being it has to be exact change. They will not you can't hand a $20 [clears throat] bill to a $5 game and expect change back. So people need to come with the exact exact ca exact cash on hand if they choose to pay in that cash option option. You can go to the next one. [clears throat] This one is also important for our folks to know that in the new codes they are changing the grade span for teacher certification. Presently we have an elementary like
016a prek, a middle level and a secondary level. Prior years ago in mine I was a prek to 8th grade. Now it is prek to um fourth grade. With the new regulations it's going back to something that was in between when I started and present which was a prek to sixth grade certification. So teachers who have their current certifications um you know have what they are but as they move forward really in 2028 that date is to give the colleges time to re um authorize their coursework and criterion but there is some conversation about making those shifts immediately for those that are um certified currently. And then so when this all goes to through effect we would have basically two certifications for our public school. would be the early education which is the prek to
017six and then the secondary education which will be 7 to 12. Um so that will certainly help folks uh financially not having to take lots of different practices and decide right where they want to fall but it also assists our school district in being able to utilize our certifications for our folks from a pre-k to six standpoint and a 7 to 12 standpoint. And then there is a usually a one-year leeway. So, if you're pre-K to six, you can also teach seventh grade. If you're a 7th through 12, you can also teach sixth grade. There also have been some changes that are not in this document, nor the document that um was in this particular presentation around our science certifications um loosening up some of those criteria around basic science um and mathematics as well.
018So there's uh more to come on that for our teachers as they're being certified in the in the different areas. And that I believe was my last slide. Just want to make sure that my slides picked up. So I will attempt to take some basic questions from you and Jack can Jack can support the conversation though he didn't necessarily know I was pulling all this together today. So any questions on what you saw? >> Just some ballpark math there. the the blue numbers at the bottom added up to about 1.2 million. Right. That's approximately, Jack, what we're getting over what we had or what you had originally budgeted for, right? Yes. >> They're over the numbers for the 2425 budget, >> right? >> At which we level funded for the year. >> That's correct. Yep.
019It's over the 2425 budget, not necessarily what we budgeted. >> Did we budget the 2425 or less or a little more than that? So I budget at 90% of what the anticipated amounts will be. So we are receiving extra money. Yes. >> Okay. But we don't have the exact amount of over what we actually budgeted for, I guess, is what I'm looking for. >> I can put those numbers together and get it to the board. >> That'd be great. Thank you. >> Have one quick comment. >> Sure. >> As a senior citizen that cannot stand QR codes, we're very happy to hear that. [laughter] Cash is still king, huh? Just bring the right right denominations and you're good to go. All right. Again, uh Ally will put this presentation on for the board and the
020public, but you can I can also provide you the link that has the full presentation if you're interested in that. Um and really the commentary from the from the state is that over the next course of about three weeks, they will be rolling the funds out incrementally across all of those budgets. and they will also be reauthorizing some of the guidelines around some of the codes that are changing. So there will be lots more to come but those were the impacts um that are most prevalent to the element to the uh se uh public school sector >> and I know one of the specific uh funding or um spending restrictions we had was for after school programming. Is are are you all ready yet to think about when you're going to be able to reinstate
021in full? We we are and you know I don't want to speak out of turn Dr. Draper Draper can certainly speak to that but as we talked about that moratorum I think we are looking now at to restart those after the Christmas break doesn't make a ton of sense I don't think to start in between Thanksgiving and winter holiday if I'm misspoken please correct me because um we were hoping I think as soon as the money came to start that depending on when it was now I would venture to say it's probably after the winter break. Yes. Um, our original plan was to have after school program start from October through um, December, take that break and then do our middle of the year assessments and then regroup and then offer it again from February
022through the end of the year. So, at this point in time, we're just hoping that the funding comes through and then we will continue with that plan and revisit in February February to the end of the year. >> Great. >> Thank you. >> Sure. >> Any other questions? Okay. So, a couple more things here from my superintendent uh report. Um I do have a good handful of shoutouts and thank yous and congratulations. So, the first one I'd like to congratulate our girls uh district our girls cross country team who um had a tremendous season and ended up being our district champions. Matt will give a full-blown uh spring fall sports uh narrative at a later date. Um we also had a few individual boys who moved quite um far into their um districts and state
023practices. Um, secondly, well done and congratulations to Officer Steve Schlleg and all of our community partner volunteers who came out last night for a very successful night at the Chestn Elementary Operation Warm Coat Mission, which was a coat dist distribution for any student um, in our school district at the elementary um, age gap or age level or really the coat sizes through uh, typical elementary, early middle school ages. No one was turned away if we had a coat that fit them. They were certainly sized and received a new coat. Most of that organization took place through officer Steve Sle Schleg um with support through Chest and School and our um um community school uh liaison through family connection and then a a huge host of volunteers including schoolboard members, teachers and various community partners. So
024certainly want to thank Steve for his um thoughtfulness in organizing that um but also all of our community partners that made it a success. A congratulations to our Eastern football team who are division champs, district champs, and who are competing at the state playoff level as we speak, not tonight, but as as we move through the week. Certainly wish them much luck on Friday night and beyond. And certainly uh wish them luck on Thanksgiving. Thank you to the band and cheerleaders um and students sections and fans who also make those environments electric. So, lots to be proud about um within our our student ranks this uh this month. Um thank you to Dion, Nikesha, Susan, Meg, and Brian for your commitment to the district and our community as you served on the school as school
025board members. Please accept our gratitude and a small token if you want to put that first slide up for me Gino. um small token of our thanks. This for those of you who may have been on the board is actually no small physically small token. Um when we first ordered these, we thought they were cute little garden stones. They are actually a rather large slab of concrete. Um but beautifully done and hopefully you will enjoy them. They will be delivered thanks to our maintenance staff. They will deliver them to your residence tomorrow. Uh so that you do not have to try to lug them on on your own. Um Megan Brian, you will be receiving them as well. Um you know, certainly because you you uh dedicated your time and we are very grateful that
026you both have uh chosen and were elected to come back and join the board again. But for all of you, um this is at times a tireless um and thankless job in terms of its no pay and it's long hours and lots of nights out away from your families and and jobs and friends. So we certainly appreciate um your dedication, all of you that are sitting at the table and specifically the five of you who have finished your term. Um and uh we could not do what we do for our district without your guidance, support, and leadership. So thank you to all of you. And to Megan, Brian, as I said, uh, you know, I really appreciate that you're renewing your commitment to the to the district and the community for another four years, and
027we look forward to our continued partnership. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. And then finally, on behalf of our entire board um and uh leadership team, I'd like to extend warm wishes for a happy Thanksgiving. We are deeply grateful for the hard work, dedication, and support everyone provides to our students and schools. May your holidays be filled with joy, peace, and time spent with loved ones. Um, and I hope to see everyone at the traditional Thanksgiving events and at Fiserfield on Thanksgiving morning. Go Rovers. And, uh, thank you. I was just handed one that I hand wrote on my other form and forgot to put on this one. U, but I do want to take a moment of silence um, for a former employee who spent many years in our district. um and um in
028many capacities, Mr. Joseph Kish, who has fallen ill and is currently in the hospital. And so we certainly wish him a healthy return um back to uh to good health. Um but our thoughts and prayers are with him this evening. Um and so I would like to just take a moment to reflect and wish him and his family um our support and our prayers as Joe is recovering in the hospital. Thank you. Mr. Kish served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, um acting there may have been a director level in there. I can't recall, but certainly acting superintendent um before retiring here from the district. His daughter and son-in-law are both members of our um were members of our district and current members of our district. So, um, you know, our thoughts and prayers are
029out to the whole family as Joe hopefully recovers here, um, expeditiously. So, um, with that, I will conclude my superintendent report. >> Okay. >> Thank you, Callie, for handing that to me. >> Thank you. [clears throat] Okay. Next, we will move on to reports. Colonial Intermediate Unit 20, Mr. Snider. >> Uh, no report this evening. >> Okay. Uh, we have East Area Public Library. Good evening, members of the board. Um, my name is Anna Ramirez Lores, um, current member of the Eastern Area Public Library Board of Directors. Um, you've received the report of our activities in the last month. Um, the library's fall book sale brought in 6,500. Um, and a special actual shout out to student volunteers from Eastn High School who came to help and set up and dismantle the shelves and they've
030been great partners. So thanks to thanks to them. Um the library continues to run excellent supportive free um and important programs for our community. Um including the masterworks conversations uh with professional pianists. Um we participated in various Halloween themed programs um including a visit from our local eastern pediatric uh dentist Dr. Far Ali for Halloween which is very appropriate. Um and another partnership with um with another community partner Nurture Nature at the main library um with the help of representative Freeman who was in attendance to speak about the importance of the display and the partnership between the library and nurture nature and the continued partnership that we have with them. Um and that's all I have. I'll take any questions. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Next. Ker Institute
031of Technology. >> Okay. Uh we had uh we attended a meeting last week. Uh the discussion there at uh CIT was the open house and how well it was received and how there were so many parents and children that uh came out. And uh I think when they opened up uh the opportunity they got 200 uh requests and that was within a couple hours. So it's it's very exciting there. Um we talked about the expansion of uh CIT. There were three options uh that were uh brought forth and the decision was to go with the middle option uh uh for the uh building. And with that it's going to add four programs, a diesel tech program, a plumbing program, and then two more new programs uh to be determined. So, it was kind of middle
032of the ground and uh it it was something uh really really awesome to see. Um the diagrams and how much more space this uh this school is going to have going forward. Um that's that's my report. The only thing I will add to that was the discussion of how that will impact the sending districts uh you know as far as an increase in anything with the budget. And so it was sort of a opportunity um for us to bring back to everyone and and let them know uh again it sounds you know $10 million is comparison to what we're looking at. Uh but you know you have the four other districts that that it gets separated out to. So although Eastston is one of the major contributors, um I think it's a great opportunity for
033our students to get some of the skill sets that uh are desperately needed out in the workforce. >> Last year, East was the beneficiaries of having a decreased um uh cont contribution to the CIT budget based on their percent their three-year percentages that they utilize. This year we will have an increase compared to what that was last year. Um I agree with um Susan and Jod. The middle middle presentation or middle level of their options was the most financially uh secure or supportive option that they had and and the best bang for their buck there. I will also say that there one of the impacts um that is outside of the budget is that the five sending districts needed to agree to bring health and fizzed back to the school district and needed to agree
034to bring lunch back to the school district. So we are in the process of figuring out how that will uh how that will work at um minimal to no impact financially to the district. So it's a big lift. um the five five districts recognize that but thought that the um the challenge outweighs the you know doesn't outweigh necessarily the benefit to kids who get to go to CIT. So uh that is something that we're working on um you know make sure that happens for our kids. >> Thank you. All right. Next we have Northampton Community College. Mr. final >> in the report I submitted uh I had mentioned about the optic fusion splicing certificate and uh interestingly enough just right before this meeting I was out there as they were being awarded their certificates. We
035actually had 39 students that participated in this which far exceeded the number that uh Amazon was expecting. uh he was very really surprised by the number because we actually had over 50 people that applied and till they go through all the paperwork and everything only 39 made it into the class but that was still higher than the expected number and better what than what they've seen uh in other uh locations. Um each student did receive a certificate for fiber optic but more importantly sitting there at the same time and being introduced were employers so that they could actually interact with employers who may be looking for that type of talent and that type of you know working in that trade area and everything. uh it was highlighted at the same time about the need and
036everything for the uh the building trades you know the electricians the plumbing and everything else that's necessary as you know uh we keep moving ahead both with data centers and things like that and uh on another discussion that we were in not today but it had to do whether we Amazon or Microsoft or Google or whatever that everybody's going to be looking for these trades uh it's not only to say but even in today's society without even looking at data centers and all there's still a shortage in those areas. So, uh it was very important that they participated. One of the students that was there, the furthest they thought they came from, uh the student that came the furthest per se was uh from Texas. Uh plus they came from other states to participate in
037this that was a two days. Tomorrow they're moving on into LRYC. And actually that through this process the college is involved with a consortium right now uh for tech uh to help look at and be participating in these types of programs with LRYC with Lzern Community College and also with Bucks Community College because the real belief in everything is and then and we heard it today from again Nick who's with uh AWS was saying that you know we believe that the real base that we have to start with are the students from coming out of the high school and coming from the community college and that's where their focus is and that's where the money is going. So, uh that's something to keep in mind, you know, as our students are graduating and everything that
038this is just another opportunity for them. So, uh other than that, I'll be back with reports next year where we we take a hiatus over December. So, thank you. >> Thank you, Bob. All right. Next, we have the Foundation for Eastern Schools, Miss Siago. >> Thank you. Uh a couple things. Um, I want to first of all, um, just uh acknowledge the foundation's role in assisting with the author visits that we had at each of our elementary schools and at the middle school that every student was able to um leave with their own copy of a book that um from an author that they actually got to listen to, which is great. So, the foundation was able to help um the East Book Festival with that. And I want to thank Dr. Dr. Draper and
039her team, particularly Hector Bonia, who did quite a lot of work um to make that happen. Going forward, the foundation is assisting with some programming for our middle school students on the teacher inservice half days that uh just the middle school will have um part of the foundation's goal to enhance the experience, the educational experience for our middle school students. And then I also just want to let everyone know that the foundation has launched a new website uh which is just foundation for eastnd.org. So I encourage you to uh check that out to um stay updated on everything that the foundation is doing. Thank you. >> Thank you. Sounds like a lot more exciting things going on with the foundation. It's great. Y All right. Next we have Charles Shren Science and Technology Initiative. Uh
040we recently met and I'm very excited to say that we will be from the Shrin Foundation supporting our career and technology program here at the district. Um they had requested a new 3D printer um for the total of $32,944. They also do the CIT request. So we split the the money between the two programs between or to the between the two schools. and um the the they had asked for a welding simulator for the new programs that they have with the welding and we will be um funding their project for $30,75059 and I would like to thank Mr. Fenel for continuing every year to get all of this together and bring all all of us together. So thank you Bob for doing that. Um and that is it for the foundation. Next we have student
041uh is Jack here. [clears throat] [snorts] >> Good evening everyone. Thank you for having me here. Two weekends ago we had our homecoming dance held in the high school main gym. [snorts] Attendance was high. People had a good time and it was an overall success. On that following Wednesday, we had our annual EN Peber luncheon which we hosted this year at Green Pond Country Club. Everyone had a great time and we outlined all the details for Turkey Week. Tomorrow we will be officially inducting the freshmen into student council at our monthly exec board meeting. This Thursday, [clears throat] we'll begin our spirit week that will carry on all the way through next week. All four grades right now are currently preparing for turkey week, which is mainly just hallway decorating that will take place on
042Tuesday. The seniors are finalizing everything with the bonfire and the sleepout, which we're excited and hopeful to be having this year. The Powderpuff boys and girls are having their final practices this week before their game on Monday. The football players, cheerleaders, and band are getting ready for the big Thanksgiving Day game against Peberg. Um, are there any questions? All I have to All I have left to say is that spirit is high and we're excited for a great turkey week. Happy Thanksgiving and beat Pabber. >> All right. Thank you. Next, we have association reports. EA Mr. Quinn. >> Good evening everybody. Uh tonight in my report, I've decided [clears throat] to talk about something that's near and dear to the heart of most Eonians and all rovers, especially accentuated during this time of year. Tradition.
043Tradition is defined as a transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation or the fact of being passed on in this way. It also has a theological background as well as a doctrine believed to have divine authority though not in the scriptures. And while theology in its purest form is not really a part of the educational process in any public school in Pennsylvania at this point, I think it's fair to say that tradition in the Eastern area school district is different than any other tradition in the Commonwealth. [clears throat] Some of you know this already by virtue of heritage and growing up or over. Some of you know this as a transplant to East either in work or housing. Some of you know this through ancillary means and some of you don't know a
044lot about this at all. I [snorts] bring up this topic tonight as a reminder to all that this tradition is not a common thing and as such should never be taken lightly, forgotten, disregarded or discarded. Changes to our times and culture in our society have done their best to end these traditions and failed. Co tried to fracture this tradition and failed. A drought and fireban tried to destroy what Eastston has and failed. All those onslaught have failed because this community, this school district, our teachers, and our students refused to let it fail. Tradition is a way of life in Eastn and too important in this community to ever fail. As someone who was not born and bred a rover, but instead falls into that transplant category, I will never truly know what it means to
045be a Rover. However, what I do know is that what happens in this district and town does not happen everywhere. Heck, it doesn't happen anywhere in the same way. Not every town has a 2025 district championship football team with the tradition and the history east has. Not every town has the beast from the east with hundreds of students marching every year with a legacy of greatness. Not every town has ridiculously dedicated teachers who help organize logistics for wood collection, build bonfires, sleep out, or stay up all night in the cold. Not every town has a staff who gives their heart and soul to teach all K through2 students writing, arithmetic, and these traditions. Not every town has so many alums continuing to give back to the same community they themselves grew up loving. Not every
046town has a school administration willing to keep important traditions alive as times and society change and move forward. Suffice it to say, Eastston is a unique and singular place and its traditions need to be fostered, taught, revered, and kindled quite literally in a bonfire. Whatever part you play in this tradition, whether big or small, please continue to do your part to make sure this tradition never ends. Oh, and beat Pabird. >> Thank you, Mr. Quinn. Appreciate those words. Uh, next is the PTA. Anybody from the PTA here? No. Okay. All right. Then moving on, we will have public to be heard on agenda items. Is there anyone in the public who would like to be heard on agenda items? Please come to the podium. No. Okay. Seeing none, uh we held executive session on 10:14
047for contract and personnel matters. Um and then again 10:14 um for personnel, 1028 for contract personnel and confidential matters. All right. Next, moving on. Approval of the minutes. Motion to approve the minutes of the following meetings. Academic standing committee meeting, budget and finance standing committee meeting, buildings and ground safety security standing committee meeting, and the educational technology and student support standing committee for October 14th, 2025. [snorts] >> Any questions or discussion? >> All in favor? >> Any opposed? [snorts] All right. Next we will have seven personnel. Um we'll take AB, C and D. A motion to approve the following resignations as presented. B motion to approve the following leave of absences as presented. C motion to approve the following salary adjustments as presented. And D motion to approve the following voluntary transfer as presented. >>
048Second. Any questions or discussion? All in favor? >> Any opposed? Okay. Next, we will take uh E, F, and G and H. E. Motion to approve election of the administration administrative as presented. F. Motion to elect the following professional contract as presented pending receipt of all forms and documents required by the district. G. Motion to elect the following long-term substitutes as presented pending receipt of all forms and documents required by the district. And H motion to elect the following support staff as presented pending receipt of all forms and documents required by the district. >> Motion. >> Any questions or discussion? All in favor? >> Any opposed? Okay. Next we have I >> Mrs. I'm gonna I'm gonna stop you there for a second and we have Mrs. Cand uh Candace Cron in the audience. I'd
049like to congratulate Candace on her new appointment as the Shauny School [applause] president. Candace and I go way back to uh her I was her first grade teacher and so it's always a proud moment to see some of my students rise through the ranks and so you know special congratulations Candace. We look forward to the great things you'll do at Shaunie. Thank you. All right. Next, we have uh I, J, and K. Uh we have I, Motion to elect the following coaches as presented, pending receipt of all forms and documents required by the district. J, motion to elect the following volunteer coaches as presented, pending receipt of all forms and documents required by the district. and K. Motion to approve the following list of subject coordinators and headteers for the 2526 school year as presented.
050>> Any questions or discussion? All in favor? >> Any opposed? All right. Next, we have uh L and M. L. Motion to appoint Josh Zatic to the position of assistant superintendent for operations per the terms of the contract as presented. an M motion to approve the superintendent of schools Tracy Piaza to receive a 2% increase above the 2425 salary. >> Motion second. >> Any questions or discussion? >> Yeah, I have a couple comments or questions. So, um, we know, I mean, it's no secret there are a number of boards across the Commonwealth that are getting, uh, beat up a little bit for approving contract before necessary before new boards come on. Um, I just question the need to do this now. Um, this is not a personal thing about Mr. Zatic. Um, we're talking about
051a near $2 $300,000 impact on the budget over the next few years. We don't know what our finances our finance status is currently. We don't know what it is for the last two years. We don't know what the 2627 budget looks like. We've reduced teaching staff um through attrition through uh everything but furloss at this point. Uh we do not know where we stand and I have a concern on uh why do we need to do this now? The contract is not up until the end of the school year where it would be more appropriate as we get into our budget sessions where we know our status where we know if we are reducing staff we can address it then. Um and then there's there is one clause in the contract um that I have
052been assured by the attorney that uh it is clear but the uh clause for um receiving district paid medical benefits at the completion of this contract if he leaves until Medicare age. um that it does not specify in in this contract single only whereas act 93 it does specify single coverage only. So I have a lot of concerns with this uh document and excuse me [clears throat] with this approval at this time. [snorts] >> Okay. Is there anyone else? Um the only comment that I would like to make is that I I agree with Mr. Semin aspect of we have gone through a lot of attrition. We've cut different we haven't rehired different positions and so I ask that we going forward make sure that we are doing our due diligence in all positions as
053they come up. Um that was one of the things with the teachers we were looking to uh not hire through a tuition to make the budget and so I just want to make sure that we are respectfully looking at all positions when we are going forward. Is there anything else from anyone? >> Well Jody you make it sound like we didn't discuss this as a group. There was a lot of comments and a lot of uh conversations that we had about this position prior to taking his vote. >> So, I'm not saying that we didn't have discussion. What I'm saying is is that we looked at the teachers positions and looked at ways to not rehire teachers or other >> uh positions. And so, if we're doing that in that end of it, then we
054also need to make sure that we're doing it on the administrative end also. That's my comment. >> Well, okay. Now, I understand what you meant by that comment. Yeah. Okay, I I do have one more u comment on the uh next item uh m um I just wanted to uh qualify that uh the last uh agenda item for other administrators. I voted no on the increases this year and I will be doing this again. It is not a reflection on uh Tracy's effort or work. Um it's just that you know under our circumstances and I keep talking about the finances I keep looking at it you know in the past the administrative top levels initiated the salary freezes um to where they then tried to um perpetuate that with the other groups throughout the district
055and it did happen. Um every little bit helps. So for that reason I just I will be voting no on that race. Okay. Any other further discussion or questions? Okay. So, um, all in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> No. >> I will be a no on L. >> No on M. >> I'm a nay on L and n on M. Thank you, >> Jody. I'm going to be a yes on M and a no on L, which is no reflection on Dr. Ziatic as a person or an assistant superintendent because he's exemplary in both of those things. I'm looking at this through a financial lens and nothing else. So, Mr. Ramirez, do you have all that? Okay. All right. Thank you. All right. Next, we'll be moving on to academics. Um, we have
056AB C, D, and E. A, uh, motion to approve the following field trips as presented. B, motion to approve the following 2025 Lehigh Valley Children's Center agreement as presented. C, motion to approve the Corwin quote as presented. D, motion to approve the Cororwin agreement for services and products as presented. and E motion to approve Corwin agreement for services and products as presented. >> Motion second. >> Any questions or discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay. Next, we move on to budget and finance. A we have financial matters. Um and we will be a motion to approve the following financial matters as presented and we will be taking it uh number two and number three as the treasures report general fund revenue and expenditure report were not attached. Um we will be approving
057them next month. So this will be for items number two and three and the following below. Monthly student activity statements for the East Middle School and East High School. The bill register regular and AC regarding general funds, special activities, capital projects, the new East High School and food service. I need a motion. >> Motion. >> Any questions or discussion? All in favor? >> Any opposed? >> I'm a check register. >> Okay. [laughter] >> All right. Next, we have uh B. Motion to authorize the business office to pay regular December bills with all payments to [snorts] ratified to be ratified by the board at its January 2026 regular board meeting. Uh C, motion to approve the attached settlement stipulation with Valor HQ LLC as presented. Uh we'll do D and E also. D motion to approve
058the attached request to establish new student activity accounts, namely the Latin American Dance Club, East Ner Middle School Chorus, and the East High School PBIS. And E, motion to approve the attached school nutrition program agreement with Colonial IU 2020 as presented. Second. >> Any questions or discussion? >> All in favor? >> Any opposed? Okay. Next, we have buildings and ground safety security. Uh we have A, B, and C. A. Motion to approve the redevelopment assistance capital program application and supporting documents as presented. B. Motion to approve the Act 34 resolution for the high school project as presented. and C. Motion to approve the agreement with train to replace the public library chiller as presented. >> Second. >> Any questions or discussion? >> I I have a I just want to talk about the chiller for
059the library again. Um talked about the activities meeting. Uh please I did not say the libraries are not important or that's not something that should uh remain in existence. Um my concern is the resources that will be drawn from the school district alone and that other entities should and uh be willing to assist in this venue as well. I know we're the owner of the building. Uh we've been talking about this for many many years. Um we the administration has talked about the possibility and reaching out to people uh to share uh in the uh in the costs or to take the building over whatever the case may be. I can tell you that's not going to happen. We are going to be on the hook. We should not be landlords for free. Um especially
060when our resources are so tight. I mean we're doing $800,000 now. only five more million to go according to the capital plan and you can bet we're going to be on the hook for it. I would ask that when we talked about the library taxing um you know that's a separate item on the tax bill that when we look at the budget next year we seriously consider raising money to keep that building up up to speed and the library operating. But I cannot support it being uh alone on the school district. >> Okay. Is there anyone else? >> Yeah, I'm going to ask for C because we we do have to do something. It's a big problem, but can't sell that building without. So, we just got to bite the bullet and proceed, but hopefully
061recoup our money with a sale or whatever we're going to be doing. Okay. All right. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> No one. >> Let's see. I'm sorry. Yep. Okay. See, >> sorry. >> Thank you. Okay. Next, we have educational technology and student supports. We have A through E. Okay. A. Motion to approve the general agreement be between behavioral behavioral health associates and the East Area School District as presented. B. Motion to approve the student job coaching contracts with the IU 20 as presented. C. Motion to approve the applied behavior analysis agreement with the IU 20 as presented. And D, motion to approve the behavior technician services agreement with the IU as presented. and E motion to approve the parent transport agreements as presented. >> Motion >> second. Any questions or discussion?
062>> Uh yeah, I have a question on E. I'm not quite sure. I mean, I can read I can figure out kind of what that is, but I I don't recall seeing anything else in the board brief or anything about what that with this transportation entails with what the policy or procedure is with this. >> Yeah, no problem, Mr. Sn. It it was in board briefs. Um, it was about the parent transport. Um, there are a few throughout the year we experienced some difficulties in transporting students to alternative placements. Um, and for a variety of reasons that I, you know, I don't need to get into here. Um but we make an agreement with the parent um in an agreement between the district and them that we will reimburse them the IRS rate for mileage
063for them transporting their own child uh in lie of us hiring outside company. >> Okay. >> Yeah. We implement that about probably five years ago four or five years ago. Um and we don't we don't do it often. Uh but but there are certain circumstances in which we do. >> Okay. Thank you. Yeah, I did find it here. I I I used tra the keyword didn't come up and when I did IRS rate it came up to the thing in the board brief. So I appreciate the clarity. Thank you >> Brian. Thanks. I was going to ask that. I didn't hear at the student activities or at the the standing committee meeting uh last week but the are there specific guidelines on these contracts in PA like regarding insurance? >> Yeah. >> A motor vehicle
064are a certain vehicle is it all >> so >> specifically addressed? >> Yeah. Great. Yeah. So the answer is yes. It's all just in that agreement. That agreement was approved by Kingspry and rewritten by Kingspry. Uh we do not require insurance actually through the recommendation of Mr. Freed um at that time. So >> not but them to have like do you have their insurance information that they have? >> We do not ask for their insurance information by Kingspry's recommendation >> and that's not a requirement or >> I mean keep in mind this is transporting their own child. Um so that that's the reason >> that's for school purposes that we're responsible >> right but >> transfer >> right um and the reason being that that uh frankly you would be giving it more of a
065commercial nature at that point um to require them to have their own some level of commercial liability versus their own trans >> that would be required by law anyway >> there's no liability on the district if something happens not their fault they got an accident but if they don't have insurance it would be on the district for damages >> if they don't have insurance. Uh, no. Well, we wouldn't be in control of the motor vehicle at that point. So, under the Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act, there would be um an exclusion. Well, there would be um >> Okay. >> immunity. >> You're the attorney. I have to trust you. [laughter] >> And Mike, to be fair, we we had a long discussion about that exact question. Um but that was the final determination by by
066Kicks. >> Okay. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> All right. Next we move on to policy. Uh we will have A and B. Um and I know these weren't at standing committee. So before I get a motion, if you could give a little background. >> Absolutely. And these are just up for their first reading tonight. So there'll be there will be no voting for this evening. Um but on this evening's agenda, we have two policy amendments that are scheduled for their first reading. Both will be presented on for approval on December 2nd. The first amendment pertains to policy 626, which is federal fiscal compliance. The sole revision to this policy is the addition of a new attachment titled policy and procedure procurement code of conduct. So, this document that's attached to this
067policy this evening and also the next policy that I'm going to speak to were documents that we received directly from the state following an audit um basically around our food service is an administrative audit. Bless you. >> Uh in summary, the procurement code of conduct ensures that all employees, officers, and agents involved in federally funded contracting avoid conflicts of interest and maintain fair open competition. So, that's for policy 626. Um and there is also um one sentence added to the policy that you'll see there that refers to this new attachment that's attached to policy 626. Um similarly if you're looking at the second policy which is policy 8008 food services again the sole revision to that policy is the addition of a new attachment titled procurement plan child nutrition programs. So, the child nutrition program
068procurement plan outlines all goods and services um how they will be purchased with full transparency, competition, and proper documentation. Both of those documents do have a date of October 28th, 2025. That's when we initially were planning to have this board approved, but we needed a little bit more time to take a look at that administratively. Um so, that is one change that we will make. Um you know, when once it is approved, we'll add that new date there. Any questions? Just I assume these have both been reviewed um by Kingspay. They >> they have and actually these are all mandated at this point. So there was very little revision to the actual policies. It was about implementing it in what you already have. >> Thank you. Okay. So I need a motion to accept the
069policy adoption. >> Tenative. >> Oh, we don't need to. That's right. It's just for just for information. Sorry, presentation purposes. >> All right. So we have other business um A, B and C and then D is onlyformational. So uh A expulsion hearing waiver form motion to approve the expulsion hearing waiver form for student number 41301 under the terms as presented. B motion to approve the expulsion hearing waiver form for student number 44861 under the terms as presented. and C, motion to approve the expulsion hearing waiver form for student number 54045 under the terms as presented. And then D, as informationational is the October 2025 teacher tenure report. >> Any questions or discussion? Actually, no discussion on that. All in favor? >> Any opposed? All right. Next, we have 14 public to be heard on non-aggenda
070items. Is there anyone in the public who would like to be heard on non-aggenda items? Okay, seeing none, is there any other business from board members? >> All right, [snorts] >> I'll get us started. [laughter] >> Yeah. Okay. >> Uh, I just wanted to take a minute to publicly thank Susan, Dion, and Nikishha for their service. Only those of us who have served on the board know um the amount of work um and stress that goes into serving. I think we all know that um the easy decisions don't they're not the ones that make their way up to this level. So this is a difficult role to have. And um I also want to you know really give credit to um to all three of you but I have to say to Dion and Susan
071who are not in the field of education who don't have children in the district. You know I'm not sure that I would be willing to sit on a board in the businesses that you all come from knowing absoluting nothing right and and you both um have really learned a lot about education. You've brought a lot to all of us. I know I have learned from both of you and I've certainly learned from working with Nikishha as well. So, I just really want to thank you, Susan. I'm thrilled that you will be representing me on Eastn City Council that you will continue your public service is really excellent. So, thank you to all three of you and I uh please don't be strangers. Come and see. >> No, absolutely not. >> Thank you. [applause] >> Yes.
072And of course, I'd like to echo the settlements. I I those sentiments I I wish I wish the three of you well. Dion, Nikesha, and and Susan in whatever capacity that you're going to continue on, whether you're going to uh Susan, I know is continuing in public service. Uh Nikishha, Dion, whatever your pursuits are after this, maybe maybe again your your paths will cross with this board uh in this capacity. It seems like that happens a lot of times where people uh come back after after a little bit of a break for whatever reason or perhaps other business that you might be you know involved with in the community may may end up crossing our port too. So I I I do wish you well and I just want to add two things quickly. I
073want to wish a happy 62nd birthday to the touchtone telephone. Um, [laughter] and the other thing that this will make some of us feel I'm not going to say the word. Uh, today, uh, 40 years ago today, the first comic strip of Calvin and Hobbs was published. [laughter] >> So, think about that. Some of that maybe some of us like, whoa, that was 40 years ago. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. So obviously, you know, the same from I think all of us. So I won't beat a dead horse, but again, it is one of those things that until you sit in the seat. >> Yeah. >> Um you don't realize what it takes and the information and and everything that goes along with it. So thank you all very much and wishing you all
074the best. >> Thank you. >> I appreciate Mr. Quinn's sentiment being a person who went through Eastston. >> Yep. >> My husband, my family, my children, everybody. These traditions are very important and I don't think some of the people outside of this district or this community understand and to me I always hear it's just about football but it's not. It's about community. Um there's a lot of people that get involved and so it's very important to keep keep these things going. So I appreciate that and uh wishing everybody a very nice Thanksgiving. Please be safe. Um does anyone else have anything? >> Yes. So, I just wanted to say thank you again to my fellow board members, staff, and administration. I also want to thank the students cuz it this is why I came here
075and I got so much so much out of this. You can't you just can't imagine. Um and you know going through the eight years we built two uh new elementary schools. We built a stadium. The upgraded infrastructure of our schools uh have improved uh dramatically and and needed and had been needed for a very long time. So yes, money has been spent, but money needed to be spent is what I'm trying to say there. Um and um come January, I'll be moving to my seat with Eastn City Council representing uh Southside Eastn as I represent Southside Eastston here uh on this board and I'm looking forward to it. But I just want to say thank you to everyone. Uh city of East has a big heart and uh the kids deserve it. They really do.
076So thank you. Appreciate it. Um, I would like to thank uh the people in region three who uh signed my petition and then turned around and voted for me. Uh, the past four years have been so so incredible. Um, to the staff members, every single person who works for this district, >> um, thank you all of you who do the hard work every single day. Um and then to all the people in this room who have had the pleasure of working along working um thank you. Thank you. You guys work so hard and your efforts are definitely noticed and appreciated and I look forward to joining the 50 to 100 people who watch on YouTube. [laughter] And for me, for me, I I'd like to say thank you to everyone. I'm a transplant also to
077Eastern and I I took a trip one Sunday and I fell in love and I haven't looked back. So, I want to say thank you to Southside also for voting me in for giving me this experience. I've I've learned so much. Um I'm really grateful for the entire board. I the work that you guys do is so important and I I don't think sometime the public know. um how stressful it is to make the decisions that you guys make and I'm really happy that I get to experience this. Um this is an experience I'll take with me forever because it's special and I'm happy that I was part of it. So thank you to everyone. Thank you. Okay. Uh if there's nothing else then we will call for adjournment at 8:15. >> Second. >> All
078in favor? Bye. >> A