001Okay, thank you everyone. Thank you for being patient while we waited a few minutes. We had some items in executive session to discuss. Um so thank you for waiting. Um right now we will have the pledge of allegiance. If everyone can stand to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic which stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay. Mrs. Ramirez, do you have a roll call? >> Yes. >> Okay. And I'm guessing that Mrs. >> Okay. So Mrs. Dennis is on the online. Um before we begin, we will be amending the agenda. We will be removing item 9B, professional property and casualty liability insurance broker of record. Um just so that's everyone understands that will be pulled and we will not be discussing it.
002All right. Next we have superintendence report. >> Good evening uh everyone and again thank you for coming out and thank you for indulging our tardiness this evening. A couple of things to report uh this this evening. One, I want to just an extend and a thank you to Mr. Bower and our middle school band um and any other adults and staff members who participated in the East and Iron Pig game last Thursday, I believe it was. I unfortunately could not make that event, but um Mr. Bower stepped up pretty quickly with about a week and a half's notice and I understand, you know, played for about an hour at the at that event. So certainly want to acknowledge him and his students for pulling that together very quickly and and again I'm not sure which
003other staff members were involved in the festivities but I'm sure fun was had by all. Um, also want to take a second to thank our 12-month employees, which include all of our our Act 93, our custodial maintenance, our building secretaries and principles, and so on and so forth, who have spent uh this summer, as they always do, working very diligently preparing our buildings and grounds for the return of our employees and students. And so certainly thank you to them. And hopefully everyone found a little bit of time in respit over the summer months. Um this Sunday is our back- tochool rally that is a partnership I think on its third year with Eastston um you know the city of Eastston in particular Frank Pitbone and then we have a team here in district spearheaded by
004Mr. Riel um but a collaborative nature across most of our departments. That rally is held in downtown Easton at Scott Park which is the park that is right there along the Lehi River um kind of where the waterfall bend is uh the Larry Holm statue and we invite all of you to come out and certainly ask you to spread the word to our community. It's a very nice event and is usually very well attended. It started out as an event um specific to our incoming kindergarters, but just turned into an event for school age kids and community to come out. Uh there's typically a DJ and some bouncy houses. Um most of our community partners come out with some giveaways and many of our uh district departments come out and share district-wide information. Um Mr.
005Dr. Pidabone has arranged with his, you know, the people who support him for haircuts for our students and book pegs for our students and some free food and festivities. So, it really is a nice kickoff back to the back to the start of the year and an opportunity for families to learn a little bit about our district um and also receive some resources that might save them a few dollars out of their pocketbook as they're getting ready for the return of school. So, that is this Sunday from 12 to 3. Um our I think it's our drum line will be there from 12 to 1. Always an exciting portion of the of the day. Lots of um you know spirit happens with that and usually our minimally our east rover uh shows up to that
006event. I'm not sure if any of our elementary mascots will be showing up this year or not. Um so again a nice event to come out to if you have nothing else to do on a Sunday afternoon. >> Um >> Mrs. PZ, I just want to mention too that we have transportation coming from uh Chest >> and Paxinosa elementary schools. It'll start approximately 30 minutes prior to the event. Um it will take you down to Scott Park and take you back to that uh location. So, we want to thank our our drivers for volunteering their time to come out on on that Sunday. Um they were all about it. So, um we're hoping that this will help our community members access uh all the great activities down at Scott Park. >> Thank you for that.
007Uh Craig, I did forget about that. And if my memory serves, it's running as a shuttle, so it will not be a onceanddone. It'll kind of shuttle every half hour or so as necessary to get folks back um back and forth as need be. Um we kicked off new staff induction today at the middle school. We certainly want to thank all of our staff for the work that they put into that, but uh Cara really spearheads that event. And we had a a very nice morning getting to know our new our new faculty and staff. Majority of our administrators were there and did a little get to know you activity and then took them on a bus tour of the community which is always a hit and then they came back and worked with um
008the their teachers union or the EA union and went back to their buildings today. They have two more days tomorrow and Thursday that it's just new staff and then next week, next Tuesday starts um all staff back to school. Um so we're very excited about that. And you know, finally, just a reminder, we'll certainly be sending out emails and phone calls and letters, but reminder that school starts for our children on August 25th, coming up very quickly. Uh don't know where the the summer went this year, as we say every year. And a reminder to our community that it is a transitional first day. So on that day, the 25th, it is just K, just six, and just nine for a half day of school. And then on that Tuesday the 26th, everyone will come
009back for their, you know, full schedule um and work through the remainder of the year. So, we're very excited to welcome everyone back. And uh thank you to everyone who has spent their summer preparing for these beginning days. And that's all for me today. It's not all for me today. Sorry. Uh falling under a superintendent report. Thank you. We do have a presentation today. It is our um >> You guys can go home. Everything was said that needed to be said. Um certainly want to thank we have our friends from Alloy and CHA here today. We had a a very um fruitful I think um ad hoc committee meeting last week. We talked a lot about VES which they'll explain a little bit of that and give you a little rundown of what we discussed
010as a brief overview. Um and then a reminder that we do have another ad hoc committee meeting next Tuesday the 19th from 5 to 7 here in this room. Um, so with that, I will turn it over Josh. Anything you need to do? So, I'm going to just turn it right over. Um, again, for a little recap of what we discussed last week. Thank you so much. Great. >> Thank you. Good evening, everybody. Uh, just a reminder, my name is Mike Depodwin with CHA, the construction management team here with all 5, the design team for the new high school project. So, as Miss Piaza said, just here to give a brief update what's been happening the past couple weeks as we transition from uh schematic design and that's wrapping up and head into design development.
011Uh so, a brief recap of the summer schedule, uh where we are today and where we're going. The green bar is today's meeting, uh our schematic design update, and as you can see, a lot's been happening over the summer and a lot remains for the rest of this the year. uh at the end of September, we're going to be having a schematic design approval, which will be at the next board meeting in a month from now, which uh Bill will talk a little bit more about. But between now and then, uh really we're ramping up the the VE process, the value engineering process. Uh we had a great discussion last week where we challenged uh each line item that was devised by our design team, some members of the board, the public, uh the staff
012as well over we had over 200 items that we we looked at uh which was a a great discussion about what how we can maximize value for uh our project. Uh next slide. All right. So, the VE process started a couple weeks ago and uh we had the three and four ad hoc meetings and we we worked through all the different VE items through the process uh to agree on viable uh viable items that were deemed for further investigation. Uh three items that were labeled three were chosen to be uh accepted already and then items labeled zero and one uh were deemed not appropriate for the project. So right now what we're looking at with the design team and our estimators is what were those ones and two items that we think there are value
013but we didn't have enough information and that's going to be what the next ad hoc meeting is all about. We're going to bring to you uh costed and detailed information on each of those line items and really discuss how we can maximize the value for each of those. Uh so review of uh value engineering. We're currently in the development phase which I just discussed. The next phase is the presentation and the reporting meeting. After that there will be a final report once we decide what twos become threes. So basically what gets incorporated into the project uh what twos uh we don't have enough information yet and we'll have to revisit during design development and then what doesn't make sense for us right now. And as a reminder we're trying to maximize the value. So increase
014the function, the quality, performance and life safety while minimizing construction and life cycle cost. I know it's a little hard to read but this is just we want to give a brief kind of snapshot of what we did last week at the meeting. This is just one division of work the uh part of the structural divisions and you can see uh assigning responsibilities of where we need to get more information pros and cons and then listing these items ranking them from zero to three. So for instance, uh we've threw out ideas that you know might have some value but are not being considered such as uh putting a pitch shingle roof on the classroom wing of the building. Positives of that would be uh better shedding of water, probably cheaper to install, but negatives would
015be the the aesthetics and also where we put some of the rooftop mechanical equipment. So the next slide, the next step that we're in right now working with the design team and estimating team is uh to take each of those twos and threes and to to add cost to them, real costs for the project where we're at right now in schematic design. So this is just a brief example of what we'll be discussing at next week's ad hoc meeting. Uh there'll be a bunch more of these worksheets that really kind of help pair down what we're looking at. So after VE is done, we move to the design development phase of the project from uh September and through the end of the year moving into January. And that's the kind of the handoff phase between
016schematic design and construction documents. So we're turning the program space into actual buildable space with real specifications uh and starting to build those those documents out, you know, to bridge everything from where we are now into the construction documents. the uh the important a lot of meetings between now and then but the important thing to look at are the the 60% DDS as I'll call them and that will be the next big uh budget update after we uh hit the end of schematic design. So the the next budget update would be in a month and then the one following that will be towards the end of the year for the 60% DDS. Uh the 60% DDS also uh will coincide with the act 34 hearing with plan con which uh Bill will talk a little
017bit more about. Um and that will give an opportunity for for everyone in public included to to review the project. Uh the other things we've been working on. So just this is a real brief overview, but uh the phasing of the project is continuing. You probably saw some general sketch phasing ideas over the course of the summer. This would be the next step that we're working with our phasing team to figure out how the building is coming out of the ground. So, it's not going to come all out in one go. We're going to be moving in this case from right to left, from the green to the orange, generally speaking, with the critical area being the the main entrance wing, that kind of tannanish brown color, which is only about 30 feet from the
018existing gymnasium. So, that's kind of a critical area we're looking at right now of how to best u uh construct that and how to phase that. We've had some good discussions with the design team and the civil engineer about what kind of foundation walls, how do we shore that, how do we get equipment around, but this just a quick snapshot of kind of the next part of the phasing plan. Uh wrap up at least my portion of the presentation is the budget. Uh this is the the same budget that we've been looking at the past uh you know couple meetings uh will be updated for the uh the final schematic uh design meeting next month. Uh but the important thing that we're we're looking at between now and then is how do we incorporate the
019early phase of construction. So utilities uh you know future utilities for the new building the future access for the the main phase of construction and also the athletic fields at the on the conungle tract area. How do we incorporate those and how do we best uh budget phase and utilize uh potential uh permanent ancillary facilities for the student athletes. So, um be it a fieldhouse or restrooms or um basically um anything to to serve and limit disruption of the folks using the fields uh during the whole construction process because we're going to be tearing up a lot of the site. So, that's what we're looking at and that will be reflected in the the final schematic budget update uh next month. Uh next slide. And uh finally, this was just again uh increased detail to
020the different uh scopes of work as we continue to refine the budget broken out by division of labor. And uh you can see just what we're focusing on in the VE phase, including the HVAC, the structures, masonry, concrete, and general conditions, how we're going to bid this project to best uh maximize value for the district. Again, this will be incorporated into the the overall budget at the next month's meeting. Uh, with that, I'll pass it out to Bill to talk about Plan Con and other design updates. >> Thanks, Mike. >> Um, we always start the value engineering process off with our guiding principles and our design requirements. We've seen this before, but we always like to just have that up before we start talking about adding value and and sort of cutting cost and different
021things. Uh so if we go to the next slide, plan cone um is a form from the state that justifies the need for construction or renovation. Um so all of the items that we've been looking at over time, not just through schematic design, but previous to that also um enrollment projections, educational need, explanation of the problems. Um that's in that document. And the goal is really to determine if the project is necessary and it aligns with the educational needs of the district and also with the state guidelines. So that's um one form that we'll uh be showing to you uh in uh September. Um and then the next slide is plan con B. Um and that's just to review and evaluate the schematic design of the project. So this is the past phase that we've
022been working on where we've really drilled down into the plan of um what the spaces are, how they relate to each other, how they relate to the site, um the description of all those spaces. Uh and that just ensures the proposed design meets the educational goals of the district but also complies with the legal requirements and it's that's fiscally responsible as a project. >> Um can add to that? >> Yeah. >> Can you go back one slide? So, uh, we're going to hear about Plan Con. Um, and I'm sure that you'll hear some things outside of this room as well. There is no Plan Con reimbursement. So, you may wonder, why are we going through this process? And while there is no reimbursement, there still is the act 34 law. So, we will go through
023plan con A, as Bill mentioned, which is us submitting our schematic design to the state. Plan Con B is where we sit down with PTE's architect and review our drawings. Uh, and then they'll give us approval to move on to we we don't need C because C we would only need if we're doing site acquisition, but we'll move on to plan con D which is design development and that's where that act 34 hearing happens. That's where the process will end for us because unfortunately there is no more state reimbursement for projects. Okay, just in case you're here outside of this room. >> Yeah, >> thank you. Uh we're we're really lucky to have some complete plan con experts in our office, so I'm always happy when people step up. Um the next three slides are
024really the slides of the building that we've been looking at the plans. Um it's the scheduled area plan and all this information feeds into uh the forms and this is what we'll be reviewing with the state. Basically, it's just showing the scheduled areas, the areas that you get credit for that are all the educational spaces. There's a lot of blue on there. So, we have a very efficient building. And if we go to the next slide, um you can see that the you're looking at sort of the upper levels of some areas, um a high density of blue areas, and then on the next slide, um you can see the the common classroom wing. So, um very much focused on educational spaces and solving the problems of moving people through the school. That's that's been
025a big issue for us and we think we've done a a good job with the design making it something that's going to be contain less friction in the hallways. If we go to the next slide. So, um overall on the site uh the phase that we're going to um be reviewing with you is phase one uh fields and infrastructure. That's on the left side. Uh you can see the baseball and the softball field. Um on the right we have the parking, the building and um the new road around the back. On the next slide, we're going to go through a few slides that talk about um one portion of phase one. Um the other portion is really a large uh infrastructure relocation um so that we can build the building. Uh and then on this
026end it's um just the relocation of the baseball field. Um so we have route 22 at the top, William Penn at the bottom, and then um I think it's Milford is the arcing road that comes through. If we go to the next slide, what the the plan is to get the um varsity baseball and the varsity softball field um on the north side of the interior road. Uh that's going to help us by consolidating some of the lighting uh and and other amenities together in one spot. So, it'll really be a showcase for uh the field sports there. Um and and those three fields are what we're undertaking. The one on the bottom right is just a grass field, a new grass field. If we go to the next slide, um this slide just overall
027shows the two turf fields to the top, the softball, the smaller one, um baseball, the larger one, and then it starts to show the amenities that are part of the master planning, right? So phase one might not include all of these items, but we want to master plan the site so that over time you can build it out depending on what the the budget is and what we can achieve. And if we go to the next slide, so this slide just really looks at the component pieces of that and I can't really read it from there. So, um, we have dugouts, uh, we have, uh, bullpens, we have a 400 seat grandstand for the baseball. Um, we have a dugouts, bullpens, and grandstands for, uh, softball. Um, and then, um, just to the the right
028there, you see a proposed fieldhouse. So again, what we're doing is we're master planning this site um so that we can uh in the future build uh what we can achieve um and have a vision for what that is. Um the other thing that we've been doing is working on the facades of the building and working with uh experts uh who know pre-cast construction. Um so we've been getting around the building. Uh primarily what we're looking at is the daylighting of the interior spaces and also the sort of finish and feel of the building. If we go to the next slide, this just shows the the building in an exonometric form. Um you can see the areas of mass which are sort of pre-cast panel to the glass. Um very important to get natural light
029into these spaces. And on the next slide, we just have one of the sketches that we've reviewed with the district about the courtyard. So, um, dead straight in the middle where the building comes together, that's the, um, the main library, the media center, and that opens up onto the courtyard, which really serves as like a large space, um, secure for outdoor academics, but also it serves as a hallway. In the middle of that space, uh, we have the the raised planter, um, which has natural plantings in it. So, a really great moment where we get some natural plantings out there because the building steps up the hill. It's a really a one-story building from the approach. Lots of natural light comes down into the building. So, you can see we are uh studying the sort
030of finish and look of the concrete. Um, and it's not a it's not a warehouse concrete. It's more like city hall. It's a more finished, refined look. And then again, just an overview of the um of the overall project schedule. Um nothing on here has changed since the last time you've seen it. And then the last slide is really just uh capturing what's coming up next, which is on the 19th where we're going to talk about the value engineering and some of the values that have been assigned to that. Um and then uh in September with the plan con A and B and ending schematic design. Thank you. >> Thank you. Before we move to questions of the board, I just want to reiterate a couple of things that came up as questions and make
031sure that we have a clear understanding of that. We are going to meet next week on the 19th. We are going to take a break from ad hoc committee in September, but you will present at our standing committee so that they uh the board has the opportunity to hear about plan con A and B and vote on that on uh the voting meeting in September. And then we will likely pick up with an ad hoc committee in October. I think we thought that was a probably an appropriate time and then schedule them out from there as necessary based on the work that you need uh done and the uh opinions that you need shared. Um so our next voting item will be in September and it'll be plan con A and B and then likely
032no voting item till maybe Januaryish um from that point. Okay. And I do think we saw a couple of questions here so I'll move on but I wanted to clarify that um for our board and for our audience. So thank you. Yeah, just maybe I maybe I missed something um on a prior thing. Where' the 25,000 square foot fieldhouse come from? I don't remember seeing anything about that before. Maybe I'm maybe I missed something. >> Yeah. No, it's been in since um the last time we talked about the uh the um the relocation of the field. So, the fieldhouse will provide locker rooms and open um athletic space. Uh but it's also going to be used as a swing space when we have to take down the um gymnasium early in the construction of the
033project. So there'll be a moment when you don't have locker rooms and gymnasiums because that area is being demolished so that we can finish the land up to the front entrance. So, um, we saw that as an item that helps, uh, with that transition, um, and fills that need temporarily. And again, it's just part of the master plan. >> Okay. Thank you. I'm I'm because I'm thinking of the other things that go with the fieldhouse. I'm thinking, you know, is there going to be a weight room in there? You know, that's that gets pricey now all of a sudden when you're thinking what amenities are in a standard >> fieldhouse that that we may want to think about. again, you know, is just that. And again, I don't know what that adds to the cost
034or anything, but just uh something I missed a >> must have missed in a past thing, but I appreciate the clarity. >> It's a big open space uh with trainers room, locker rooms, and a little bit of storage. >> Thank you. >> Was there previous discussion about a need to approve phase one to get that going? Yeah, I believe we discussed it at the last uh ad hoc meeting. >> I I missed that talk. >> Yeah, but um the the reason being that we need to undertake the um the relocation of the infrastructure uh and also to get the fields going in time so that when we take that field away uh they have a place to play. >> So what is the timing on that that you need from the board to >> we're
035we're looking to um Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. >> So, think of it ideally we would we would need probably a board action on the bids early next year. >> Okay. >> But think of it, we would we would want to time it and we can time it from an approval standpoint. So, as soon as you finish your spring sports, we could start construction. >> Okay. >> And then have the spring sports back for the following spring. >> Okay. Thanks, Randy. While while you're up there, Clan Con. >> Yep. So I when I came here many years ago, plan con was already in place. >> If by some chance I mean we can't even get a state budget but if by some chance plan con is reinstated in your experience districts that have already undertaken
036already gone through act 34 do they get they possibly get opportunity to apply even though he approved they approved it before the funds were available. If I had if I had a dollar for every time I heard this question, I say if we go through the process and we don't skip the process, we would be in best position, right, >> to make a request for it. >> John, would you agree with that? >> Yeah. Every major construction project that any district does that they're thinking forward, they go through the plan con process just in case. >> But in anybody's experience, if we have already approved it, started construction, is there an opportunity? Has there been a history of districts getting money? >> The statute still exists. It's just it's just the the funding sources has
037is dried up. So, it still exists. Arguably, you would have that argument to go back grab it. >> Okay. I I'll say that we were successful at the Dallas School District in 2017 for one of their projects where they actually had some board action prior to the moratorum and plan con did accept it and they got reimbursement. So, uh, there's hope, but again, if we go through the process, you're in the best position to >> Y. Thank you. >> Y, >> any other questions from the board? >> Okay. Thank you for coming out. We'll see you next week. >> Okay. Next, we have reports. uh start with Colonial Intermediate Unit 20. Mr. Snyder. >> Yes, there was no July meeting, so there's no formal report. Uh but just a reminder for those of you who
038are interested, the uh IU meeting time uh starting in August has been moved up from 7:30 p.m. to 7 uh p.m. So, just more for general information in case anybody had ever uh needed to attend. Other than that, uh the next report will be in September. >> Okay. >> All right. Do we have anyone from the East Area Public Library? Nope. Okay. Current Institute of Technology, we will be having our meeting this Thursday, so there's no report. Uh next, Northampton Community College, Mr. Feain, Mr. Caliato. >> Thank you. So, well, just like you, we're getting ready for opening uh on the 25th. uh good news is and everything um our our enrollment is up uh exceeding the numbers from last year. So that's all in a positive direction. Uh we also had good news that
039we got the official reacredititation report from middle states so that we're accredited for another 10 years. Um, you'll also notice when I send out the report that currently, probably for the next year, we're continuing to review all the policies that are related to students and staff and everything and updating them accordingly. Uh, it's been a while since some of them are done, but at this point it's one by one taking them. So, every month we do three or four and you know how exciting it is to go through policies. So, uh, we are doing that process. um standard purchases. Uh probably the biggest thing that's hitting us and hits you at the same time is no state budget. We talked about the other night that basically we lose roughly $17,000 in interest every month that
040goes by that there's not a state budget and just the same as in the past. Again, the legislators don't make up for that money. So, it is gone. And at the same time, it impacts what your other investments are and everything. instead of having some that you could do longer term, get better rates, you end up with uh short term that you cash in. So hopefully uh we do get one sued. So thank you. Enjoy the rest of the summer and uh I'll see you in September. >> Thank you, Bo. All right, next we have the foundation for Eastern Schools, Miss Seago. >> No formal report this month. Uh I do hope that we will have our new director uh joining us at the end of September to give a report in person and introduce
041herself. Nice. Um Charles Shren science and technology initiative. We have no current report association reports. Is there anyone from the EAEA, the PTA? Anyone else? No, >> there is not. I will share on behalf of EAEA that they do have a new president that is Bill Quinn. Um, and then we also do have a new uniserve rep, Molly >> Marabo, >> Marabido. Um, so we are making some transitions with our union union, excuse me. And they know they did meet with our new staff today and um presumably had a had a good meeting with with um with their leadership today. So, we're excited about the direction of of their leadership and wish them well as they you know undertake these new roles. >> Thank you. All right. Next, we have public to be heard on
042agenda items. Is there anyone in the public who would like to be heard on agenda items? Okay. All right. Seeing none, uh, next executive session. East school district held the following executive sessions on July 22nd, uh, regarding legal andformational matters. Okay. Next we have a motion to approve the minutes. Motion to approve minutes of the following meetings. Academic standing committee meeting, budget and finance standing committee meeting. Educational technology and student supports. All were held on July June 3rd, 2025. The regular board meeting of June 24th, 2025. The regular board meeting of July 22nd, 2025. Second. >> Any questions or discussion? All in favor? >> Any opposed? >> I abstain on the meetings that I was not at, which I think was the um the ad hoc and I think the standing committee as well. >>
043All right. Next, we have personnel. Um, I try to go through this as quick as possible because I know it's summer and everybody wants to get home. So, um, everybody that doesn't mind, we'll just take all the items and I'll read through them. Uh, A. Motion to approve job description, director of technology and director of teaching and learning K to 5. B. Motion to approve job description, director of technology and learning 6 through 12. C. Resignations. Motion to approve the following resignations as presented. D. Leave of absence. Motion to approve the following leave of absences as presented. E. Administrative transfers. Motion to approve the following administrative transfers as presented. F. Voluntary transfer. Motion to approve the following voluntary transfers as presented. G. Um, election professional contract. Motion to elect the following professional contract as presented.
044Pending receipt of all forms and documents required by the district. H. Motion to elect the following temporary professional employee contracts TPE as presented. Presenting presented pending receipt of all forms and documents required by the district. I election of LTS motion to elect the following LTS long-term substitute as presented pending receipt of all forms and documents required by the district. J. election support staff. Motion to elect the following support staff as presented pending receipt of all forms and documents required by the district. Okay. Election volunteer volunteer coach motion to elect the following volunteer coach as presented pending receipt of all forms and documents required by the district. And L support staff substitute motion to approve the following support staff substitute as presented pending receipt of all forms and documents required by the district. >> Second. >>
045Okay. Any questions or discussion? Uh just on 7G, I just wanted to reiterate the concern and I know there's a shortage and we need to uh staff the buildings, but the concern when you're talking about the retirement incentives and the replacements and non-replacements and the goal was to hire as close to the beginning steps as possible. And over the last couple agendas, I've seen quite a few mid-range hire. Um, so I'm just reminding everyone on the focus. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other questions or discussion? >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> I'm an A on 7 A and 7B. And just to be consistent, under 7E, I would be a nay on Hilton and Okay. All right. Next, we have academics. We'll do the same thing if everybody's okay with
046that. We have a EAMS 2025 2026 school improvement plan. Motion to approve the EMS 20252026 school improvement plan as presented. B. EHS 2025 2026 school improvement plan. Motion to approve the EHS 2025 2026 school improvement plan as presented. C. 20252026 board affirmation. Motion to approve the 2025 2026 board affirmation as presented. D. 202526 musical theater show contract. Motion to approve musical theater show contract for the 2526 school year as presented. E. United Way Community Schools partnership Paxnosa Elementary School. Motion to approve the memorandum of understanding for Paxnosa Elementary School with United Way Family Connection of Easton and EISD as presented. F. United Way Community School Partnership Chest Elementary School. Motion to approve the memorandum of understanding for Chestston Elementary School with United Way Family Connection of Eastston and EISD as presented. G. EL liaison agreement.
047Motion to approve the EL liaison agreement as presented. H. PreK counts formal agreement. Motion to approve LBCC's preK counts formal agreement as presented. Need a motion. Okay. >> Second. >> Okay. Any questions or discussion? >> I just have a question on item D, the musical contract. Just to confirm that the school district will again be covering the cost of that contract as we've done the rights to the show. >> Yes, that is correct. >> Okay. Thank you. And I do do want to share um it won't impact your vote, but I want to share I believe Bonita had in her board brief as well, but the two agreements for the two community schools chest and impacts. No. So there are the standard agreements that you do every year, but we do have a change in
048lead partner. We used to be um partnered with CIS, communities in school, and now that has transitioned to family connection. It is a conversation that we have had over a course of time, but that uh decision was really taken out of our hands when CIS decided to pull back on their support across the valley in community schools and concentrate on areas that they are most comfortable with, which is the student um student services and support mental health and social well-being. So, they um withdrew from there. Any district that didn't have somebody to take up as their lead partner, United Way is their lead partner. But for us, we asked Family Connection if they'd be interested and they are. And so that is the major change that you see there. It's just our our lead partner.
049>> I have a a question on A and 8 A and B, the improvement plans. How many years have these schools been on an improvement plan? Mike, I don't know if you want to jump in and correct me because I'm going to give a round a roundabout number, but it's been a few years at this point. So, Mr. Exca, to clarify so I can answer your question, all schools uh who are title one in the state of Pennsylvania must complete a school improvement plan. The high school and the middle school has to have board approval for their plans because of their school improvement status. Um, so, uh, the middle school right now is a CSI CSI cascading school. Um, which meant over as they reshuffled the deck, so to speak, in terms of schools that
050needed improvement, um, the middle school fell into that category of CSI support, they were formerly an ATSI school. Um, and the high school has been a TSI school um, for for a number of years now. Uh, particularly for some student subgroups. Remember, TSI is targeted school improvement. So, it's not overall. Uh, it's some specific subgroups. Um, some of those subgroups, uh, being our EL students in both of those buildings. Um, so the middle school has been in school improvement uh, it's probably about six years now. Um, from starting at ATSI status and then cascading to CSI uh, this past school year. >> Thank you, Mike. >> Okay. And so, I mean, I tried to read over the plan as much as I could. um what are we doing to try to improve every year because
051it didn't look like there's much you know again we've had hired many uh additional professional staff through uh um estra money I don't know if it went there but um we've added a lot of staff and are we going to look at different ways to try to change this >> yeah so over the over the past few years um we've seen some success and some improvement in the data which was reported out to the board uh back in June. Um the board has been willing to support, as you mentioned, Mr. Simonetta, the addition of another assistant principal who came on board last year and who's working diligently with that team um to move towards these goals. So, as stated in the plan, our focus is literacy as a district. Uh that will continue through our
052secondary schools. Um their primary target uh is for the keys to literacy, keys to comprehension strategy um which incorporates coaching and facilitation of that professional development this upcoming school year um as part two uh to this long-term plan um as well as a focus on mathematics. So something else that has been put in place this year is additional coaching for our math teachers in grade six primarily um so that we don't have that drop off from fifth to sixth grade as that some one of the most important transitions in our kids um education. Um so I can only talk to what we plan on doing. Um can't necessarily go back and say this worked or didn't work. Um once again there are a lot of metrics um that we use to determine the success or
053failure of our plans. um they're not just the state's metrics. So the state's metrics are primarily based on PSSA test results um and then growth or the lack thereof from those same assessments. Um but by our metrics we are making progress um and we are moving the needle so to speak at the middle school and we're going to continue to do so. There's a lot of work to be done um and no excuses um but our school improvement plan um you know will help us reach that and the support of the board as well. So there's heavy heavy emphasis in those plans on professional development um and core instruction. We've become um pretty good over the years at intervening where kids need that u remedial support and in some cases enriching support. But where we
054need to focus is in our MTSS model. It's that tiered level of uh tiered level of support with the largest emphasis on that core instruction that kids are receiving the information in a manner that they digest it um during that core instruction that eliminates some of the need for those interventions. Um it's a slow process and a lot of work ahead. So you know a lot of the emphasis is on what are we you know what are our teaching practices, how are they aligned with best practice, how are they aligned with current trends in student learning. Um and then supporting our professionals with professional development opportunities to hone those skills with kids. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. Then Mike did hit on some of the things I was thinking about too as I look
055through it. As I had mentioned before, um you know, when I look through that improvement plan, I see the words uh if improved 17 times. And when I say when I say if if is an escape clause uh because you don't need accountability with an if. It's like h if we hit the goal we do if we don't we don't and and given the trends you know there what kind of accountability is there you know he had on the PSSAs you know I'm looking at the PSSAs here uh you know science uh proficient advance 63 from 10 years ago down to 56 uh you know math below basic is is is 325 up 325 10 years ago up to up to 40 and and 10 years ago we had I think we had a smaller
056administrative staff. We had one superintendent and one assistant to the superintendent and a few other people uh listed under in that curriculum curriculum branch. So again and that was le and that was an enrollment of about 900 more students at that time than we have now and a budget of course about $60 million less. So what does happen? I mean we do know what happens you know in real life everybody keeps their jobs and that's it. We just move on and then we say we have professional development or or we have this that and the other thing but really nothing really uh improves and and other things I've hit on before and and Rudy didn't take my full quote. I wish he would have a couple weeks ago. You know, just going back five years,
057this board has approved everything the administration's asked for, save two items, policy 915 and public use of Codingham. Now, the point isn't to talk about board members whether they vote yes or no. The point is is that administration is getting that what they're asking for. They're getting staff, they're getting programs, they're getting software, uh they're getting their budget passed. So, you know, I'm I'm looking at that in the bigger picture and saying, well, we still need an improvement plan at this point. We shouldn't need an improvement plan anymore. We should we should be beyond that with with five or six years of or whatever it was now some of these schools have been on. And and if you want to go ahead and blame the pandemic, go ahead. But keep in mind, everybody got their
058full pay during the pandemic. every teacher, every administrator, every principal, every supervisor of this or director of that. Everybody got their full pay the whole time. So, we can't use that as as necessarily a crutch. And that's why in my charts, I'm going back just three years because I'm kind of giving you a little bit there with some of the uh numbers that I have on my spreadsheet. And I'm getting the numbers right from the PA website. Um, you know, they match up pretty much with what administration presents to us. So it's more or less just a general statement. You know, obviously I'm not looking for necessarily a direct direct answer, but but just something to think about and for us to reflect upon as goes on. You know what, you know, can we build
059accountability into this if we keep Well, we're on an improvement plan. We're on an improvement plan. Oh, we're on an improvement plan. you know, you know, it just seems like, you know, you're just you're just running in place at at times, but you know, the budget goes up and we spend more money and we keep raising taxes and maybe we hire an administrator here or there and we're still running on that same that same treadmill that it seems like we've been running on for eight years or so now. So, I've said my piece, I'm not going to prolong it, and I know we have other things to tend to on on the agenda. Thank you. I do have a couple I don't know if anybody wants to respond but if not I have do a
060have a couple other questions under this section and Brian to your point um you know the programs the staffing everything we've thrown at these these improvement plans is there a way to um qualify that with with numbers and what have we what has the cost been for this these improvement plans year by year whether it's staffing professional development contracts all that. I don't know if there's any way anybody could quantify that, but that would be uh you know interesting to know. Um 8F the United Way there there's a district cost of 5,000 for each school. >> That has been the standard um um cost per school. Yes. In the past it went to CSI. Currently it will go to uh family connection. We are um I don't want to get too too deep into the
061weeds because the conversations are still ongoing, but we are having conversations as to whether that can be um reduced or eliminated because we already have some partnerships with Family Connection. Um but I can't sit here and make that promise today because we're still investigating that as a possibility. >> Okay. Um 8G, a community literacy training. That is the boy contract. That's correct. >> Okay. So, we've been doing that for how many years? a long time. Um, >> and do you think under the circumstances we can find other ways to spend that $45,000? I think that that is a necessary um I think she's a necessary that contract is a necessary element of our district in that she does the predominantly does the translating for um for documents that are official documents translating for parent IEP
062meetings, parent meetings. Um and we have a growing exponentially growing Spanish population in general. Um, across our district families, we have 47 different languages spoken with obviously, uh, Spanish being our primary one. So, um, until we are able to hire additional, uh, staff that are multilingual, I do think that is a contract that is necessary. >> Is she just for Spanish or >> She um, supports multilingual, but her background is certainly Spanish. That's where she excels most. How does she assist with other languages? >> She will sit in parent meetings and work through them to the best of her ability or we use language line as well. But majority of our student work that we are doing where that level of intricate that um um translation is needed tends to be in Spanish, but she
063certainly will work with any of our students um to the best of her ability. And not speaking out of term, but during a recent negotiation session, there were staff members that were looking for stipens to do that. And would that have been less than $45,000 a year for a contracted service? >> They do not have Spanish or any other language as their uh in their frame of reference or repertoire. So we would be paying a stipen um because they are using language line or something else and certainly don't want to disparage that group. Um certainly a legitimate ask and a legitimate need but most of them do are not qualified to um translate in another language. >> So >> and we so we have her and language line. >> We use language line if we
064have a language that we can't have a human being support. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Yep. for me. >> Okay. Is there any other questions or discussion? >> Just what motions are we on? I lost track. I'm sorry. I didn't write it down. >> Are we on? >> I think it's the whole >> It's the whole the whole academics. >> Okay. I just want >> all of academics. >> I just wanted to make sure. Um, so I appreciate the comments from you guys asking the questions and everything, but this is something that I've been asking for a long time as far as the data and why it's so important that when we have the standing committee meetings to ask the questions on the data and why those presentations are so important because it
065does affect so many other things as far as the budget is concerned and the financing and and the interventions and everything else that goes into it. So when we have those conversations the beginning of the year, the middle of the year, and the end of the year, I find it so important that that should be one of the main things that we're discussing and that we take the most time on because that's what we're here for is educating our students. So I hope in the future we have longer discussions on the data during those presentations instead of just a 15 20 minute presentation on it and everybody starts asking those questions. So that's the end of my discussion. Okay. All in favor? >> Any opposed? >> 8 and 8. I am a no on A,
066B, and G. >> Okay, Mrs. Ramirez, do you have that? Okay, thank you. All right, next we'll move on to budget and finance. Uh, we will take all of them again with the exception of B, which has been removed. A, replacement of playground equipment of PAX and Shaunie. Motion to approve the replacement of elementary playground equipment for Paxinos and Shaunie as presented. C. Approval of non-resident student. Motion to approve student 42022 to attend Eastary High School for his junior year at a tuition rate to be determined based on information from PTE. D. Financial matters. Motion to approve financial matters as presented. Treasurers report. General fund revenue and expenditure reports. Monthly student activity statements. EMS and EHS. bill register, regular and AC, general funds, special activities, capital projects, and food services. >> Any questions or discussion?
067>> Just one quick question. Apologies if I missed it before. The playground equipment, um, did that break just through normal wear and tear or was it vandalism? >> Uh, no. The majority has been wear and tear, Brian. Um we certainly have had we've seen some vandalism in the in you know one of those playgrounds a little bit but it was not a direct result of that to our belief. Um but we were informed that it wasn't under warning anymore on both of them and we just want to get replacement as soon as we could. >> Okay. Okay. >> No great question out there. >> Yeah abusing. >> How old was that equipment replace? >> You know Mike I don't know that it's it's out of warranty. Um but I can get I can I can
068find that out for you. Just off the top of my head I don't remember. >> Okay. I don't remember uh the year, but PAX >> PAX was added at the time that that building was renovated. >> Um >> those is that equipment from back then. >> I'm sorry. >> It's the equipment from back then. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> And then Shaunie is probably around that same time frame. I don't recall that right off the top of my head either. Yeah. >> This is an item u I think you saw what the what the piece was, but we did talk about is it something we can just eliminate and it doesn't um inhibit any use of the playground, but it is not. they would actually have to board it up. Um, and you know, certainly
069not aesthetically pleasing, but also not safe for kids. So, we um, you know, we decided that it is in the best interest of our students to replace that piece of equipment. Okay. >> Uh, on 9D on the reports, um, I just want to state that um, a concern about approving this from my perspective. Um, I know it's a busy time of year, but we received the multi-million dollar of uh purchases and check registers um less than 24 hours ago and I for one did not have the opportunity to review and and go through that. So, I'm hardressed to approve. I know we got to make payments um but I am hardressed to approve that given the uh lack of time to review as I do every meeting. Uh, that's it for nine. >> Okay. Anyone
070else? All right. Um, I know this is this is more of a question. When do we think we're having for the audit presentation? >> The auditors are out, excuse me, last week, uh, finalizing some things that maybe should have been done by them maybe last summer or fall. just going through for example human resources records things of like that. Um all the information is out of the district's hands at this point. So I'm we will be following up with them as I have been you know twice a week, three times a week and hopefully can give an update on that soon. I mean we have a six week gap until the September meeting. So I would hope by then it would be be there. I don't see a reason it wouldn't be by the end
071of September. Jack, are we getting any calls any deduction in state aid? I mean, we're over a year late with the submission of the 2324 audit. And we're building we built 2425 budget. We built 2526 budget. We're going to start building 2627. And we don't I mean, you have an estimate, but we don't have the numbers. But also, this is a violation. Well, we've been getting plenty of calls and emails and I respond to everyone and work with them and so far, um, they've been willing to work with us >> and and not deducting. >> We have not had anything deducted, but at least once a week I'm talking to somebody about it. So, >> okay. >> But they have been reaching out. Yes. >> Okay. >> Thank you. All right. All in favor? >>
072Any opposed? I'm no >> I'm a no on uh D. Okay. Okay. Next we will move on to buildings and ground safety and security. Uh we have a updated pricing everdriven transportation motion to approve the pricing amendment with Everdriven Transportation Services as presented and B police vehicle purchase. Motion to approve purchasing a police vehicle from Stalkertown Burrow for 5,000. Motion second. >> Any questions or discussion? >> Yeah. On Everdriven, it says a uh increased cost agreement. What were the previous costs and what do we spend on ever driven? Do we have reports that show the use, the number of students, any kind of um game plan from transportation to take some of that back? They are. We spend millions of dollars. Yep. >> With every driven. >> Yeah, great question, Mike. So, um about two
073and a half years ago, three years ago, we probably spent close to a million dollars, uh in in alternate transportation, uh spec I mean, the majority of that through Everdriven. Um through, you know, the past three years, we've what we've done, we we've not only reconvened some of our routes and shifted some of our routes, but we've reduced those numbers. uh it was in one of the last briefings, but we reduce it from about a million to probably about 700 down to about 400,000. So, we've been de we've been reducing it. Um and then with some consolidations of routes each year, what that what happens is then we can utilize our vans and some of our micro buses then to transport other students which then reduces it. So, the game plan has been that and
074we've we've seen that reduction. Um if you want specific numbers exactly, I don't off my head I don't >> we've also student for alternate trans. >> We do. So we we actually partner with Ever So we partner with IU as you know we have F um Everdriven and First all or First Students the same company just two different names. Um and we do that because if we if if ever driven can't um if they can't do a route then we default back to them. Um but we we don't use first student all that much. It's only when we can't get it through our own. Um but it's it is a fail safe for us just in case for to meet the kids >> is appropriate. But then that reduction from ever driven >> Yep. Some
075of it went to first thought. So I I would like to see that the numbers over the last few years. >> Okay. >> Like to see that reduction and then more going towards our transfer. >> Yep. Sounds good. >> Okay. Any other questions or discussion? >> All in favor? >> Any opposed? >> I. >> Okay. Next we'll move on to 11. Educational Technology and Student Supports. We have a Colonial IU 20 agreement. Motion to approve the agreement with the Colonial IU Inter Colonial Intermediate Unit for the 2025 20226 school year as presented. B. Letter of agreement with Center for Humanistic Change. Motion to approve letter of agreement with the Center of Humanistic Change as presented. No cost is associated with this agreement. C. The out of district placement motion to approve the outofd district placement
076for the 2025 2026 school year as presented pending solicitor final approval. DSISAC agreement. Motion to approve the agreement with MSISAC as presented. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Any questions or discussion? Uh, I think I asked this before, but CHC there's no cost to the district. >> That is correct. >> Okay. Anybody else? All right. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> No. On A. >> Okay. Okay. Next, we have 12 other business. A settlement settlement agreement. Motion to approve settlement agreement as presented. >> Motion >> second. >> Okay. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> No. >> Okay. Next we have 13 public to be heard on non-aggenda items. Is there anyone in the public who would like to be heard on non-aggenda items? Okay, seeing none. Is there any other
077business from board members? >> I'm going to jump in for a second. Uh remiss in saying so earlier, but we do have coach Ed McIntyre who put in his his resignation after 43 years of coaching and I think nearly 50 years in our district as a as an educator and coach. Um so we will have opportunities to celebrate him, but certainly want to wish him well and congratulate him on his well-deserved retirement. certainly ended on a on a high note with a tremendous season and it's always nice when you can do that, you know, across such a long career. So, congratulations to him. >> Thank you. And, uh, also, uh, best wishes to all of our teachers and staff coming in for the new year. Hope everybody's excited to get back. Um, all right. So,
078do we have any other business from board members? >> All right. Seeing Oh, sorry. >> Oh, sorry. Just just a quick comment again. Um, everyone of course saw Rudy's story about whatever it was two weeks ago and and just just a general observation I made when I saw that. Uh, you know, there are 15 people on the board of education list who who couldn't reply. Um, I was the only one who did other than Mike who initiated the the article. Um, but I feel like we, you know, we have an obligation to speak to the press. Freedom of the press is not a one-way street. it doesn't work if if it's just, you know, the press speaking and and no other perspective or information. Um, you know, we're dealing with a $215 million budget that
079we're responsible for. Um, the city of Bethleam's budget is $112 million. The city of Allentown's budget is $240 million. We're pretty much on pretty close to a city that has 120,000 people, third largest city in the state, and they got a fire department and a police department and streets and and sewer pipes and and whatever else they have to manage within that budget. That is a huge entity, 17 a.5 plus square miles makes up the city of Allentown. 121,000 120,000 people. So, you know, with $215 million, you know, it's not our money we're spending. It's it's their money. It's the public's money. He said taxpayers money. Um, you know, I responded to Rudy a little bit more full than what he quoted me. But that that's no matter. It's just what I what I'm thinking
080like, you know, we should engage with the press, you know. Yeah. Okay. They don't come to the meeting anymore. And the press even what, you know, the press, you know, the newspapers aren't what they were even just six, seven years ago. Um, but you know, they're doing, you know, we got to, you know, they're doing a good job trying to maybe they're letting themselves die. I don't know. But, but if we don't answer them, they're going to die a lot quicker if if because they're just going to say, "Well, I'm not going to bother talking to these people anymore." You know, the Morning Call has pretty much given up covering us. for example, um you know, we're down to Lehi Valley News, Lehi Valley Live, and WFMZ cover us, but you know, who's next? You
081know, which one is going to stop covering us next, you know? So, it's just something more to think about uh you know, about the responsibilities that that I think we have sometimes. I don't know that we we realize the tremendous amount of authority we have as far as, you know, we're spending $215 million this year, you know, and and and it's nine people that get to make those decisions, you know, and another seven or eight or nine core people who go into that decision process to present to those nine of us who who have to vote on it. So, more or less just stuff to think about um you know, as as we move on and as the nature of news and information changes. So, thank you. >> And Brian, to your point, the statement
082that was provided was also a lot more detailed than what came out in the article, but uh if anybody's interested, I believe it's attached to the minutes. Um, so read away. >> Okay. Anything else? All right. If not, I will call for adjournment at 8:17. Need a motion? >> Second. >> All right. All in favor? >> I. >> All right. And uh we will be going back for executive session for >> on personnel matters.