Punxsutawney School Board Committee Meeting, Thursday, February 5, 2026, 6PM

001I start by doing the pledge of allegiance and a moment of silent meditation. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay. [snorts] Okay. Susan has done the roll call. We had an executive session from 5:00 to about 6:12. Um, we have public comments. We have two individuals signed up for public comment. Um, we will start. You have three minutes. >> Mhm. >> Okay. So, I better put my thing on here, I guess. Uh, Randa, you're the first person. >> Hi. >> If you could please state your name and Yes. Go ahead. My name is Randa McGawan. Um I have three kids in the district. Uh one is at the elementary school and

002two are at the high school. And my comments tonight are in regards to um the high school and specifically the cafeteria. Um I know you guys have been having um staffing shortages with the cafeteria. And my daughter mentioned um my daughter's a vegetarian and she mentioned that with the um the kind of reduced staffing that the yogurt bar and the salad bar has gone away. And I ask that you guys just please as you're planning your menus consider um dietary needs that are out there um like the vegetarians and I'm sure that there are some other um considerations but that's all I have. >> Thank you. >> Is Lindsay here? Okay. You you heard the feedback. We'll discuss it later. So, uh next we have Nikki. Okay. Nikki, you have uh three minutes. If you

003could please state your name for us. >> My name is Nikki Agnello. I have two kids uh in the elementary school soon to be in the high school. One of which is fully disabled independent for every need 247. I was here in 2024 to request consideration for a multi-disability classroom to be added to the elementary school. And I'd like to start by thanking everybody involved um that was helped get that started. He has greatly benefited from the staff and the support in the classroom in so many ways. Uh I'm here today to respectfully ask that we can also put a multi-isability classroom in the high school. Continuity is key for a lot of kids. Having my son stay within our district is what I believe is best for him, for our family, and this community.

004While I understand there are a lot of logistics that go into opening a class, I feel the kids in our community deserve the support without having to travel to outside districts. They deserve the inclusion because what does it teach all of the students in the district? That sending them to another district instead of embracing them in ours teaches everyone involved that they are different, that they have different needs or need extra help. So, let's just send them somewhere else and let somebody else deal with it. Adding this classroom tells these kids that they belong here as much as anybody else, that they're all equally important. I'd also like to point out that financially it could be a good investment for the district and for the town in the long run. If we do a great

005job, other families from other districts may send their kids here. People who are looking to move towns may pass ours up because it doesn't have these supports in place. Uh this classroom would not only benefit the children who utilize it, but it will benefit the entire student body. A lot of kids aren't exposed to people with disabilities and then they form the idea that those people are weird or not worth their time or they can be scared of them. So many kids in the school right now know my son's name. They say hi to him in the hallway. They sent him get well soon cards when he was sick last Thanksgiving. They care and that's not something that you can teach the rest of the student body if they aren't in the same buildings together.

006It makes them all better adults. And I believe he should be able to stay with the people he's gotten to know for the rest of his school career. He should get to graduate with them and see the kids who have become his friends graduate. No matter what the future has in store, these classes and supports will benefit so many kids and families for years to come without the added stress of distance in the event of emergencies, distance between siblings and different districts, and the anxieties for children having to unnecessarily change schools, learn new routines, meet new staff, and make new friends. Thank you. >> Thank you, Nikki. >> Okay. Uh nobody else here, so we we'll move on to the student board report. We have Elizabeth with us tonight. [clears throat] Okay. Okay. So, I

007think everybody knows that the winter is pretty busy, but we've had some uh pretty cool things going on. So, last week on Friday, we had our groundhog assembly. Some of the inner circle members came up with Phil. We had our uh fillets perform. We had that at both the elementary school and the high school. I think it was a ton of fun. Everyone always seems like they enjoy it. So, that was really cool. Um and then this Friday coming up tomorrow, we have our Queen's Court assembly and then our winter formal dance on Saturday. So, I have seen all of our like a ton of our student council kids getting stuff ready for that all week. Like going through the halls, there's been posters hanging up for spirit weeks. We're seeing kids participate in that.

008So, it's been really fun. And then also just for sports like um I've heard a lot about swim basketball and indoor track. They've been having meets. They've been competing. Uh there's a girls basketball game I think tonight and boys tomorrow. And then our musical is also getting into full swing. So, that's pretty fun. Uh everyone's getting into that. That'll be in March. So, it's a big project to take on, but we've seen a lot of initiative with that. And then also our uh DECA junior steering committee. Some of you were at that meeting I believe last week and that's starting to get into full swing. DECA will be going to states next week and we have I think 11 kids going and I think that's kind of the gist of like all the big things

009happening right now. But it's a lot of cool things to look forward to and a lot of great things that have been happening. >> You before we ask I ask if anyone has any questions for Elizabeth, Elizabeth will also be our representative through DECA on the school board. So, she will be attending our meetings as a junior member of the board, I guess you could call it. Um, so she won't be able to leave halfway through anymore. >> Oh, man. >> So, she'll be she'll be here to give a good perspective. So, does anyone have any other questions for Elizabeth? >> No, but I think I I congratulated her before the meeting, but I think we should bring out that she was named January or is it February st musician of the month? January or

010February and she was also one of Phillet Phil's dancers. >> She's on Queen. [laughter] >> Nice. >> You were quite the busy lady. >> Busy and sought after. That's awesome. >> Good luck tomorrow night. >> Tomorrow night. Thank you so much. You're welcome. >> Okay. Uh moving on to presentations. Um we have the musical theater club. Hello, my name is Aaron Neper and I'm the adviser for the music theater club and we also out of that club we run our musical. So these students behind me are uh part of our music theater workshop class that meets every day and they're sort of our executive board for our club and they help to steer the activities that we do. They helped to choose the musical. They helped to produce the musical. And this year, we discovered

011an opportunity to have a service project tied to our musical. So, these folks behind me are here to talk about um a service project that will involve asking for donations from the public at our performances and then they will then get those donations approved by the board and then use them for their project. So, I'll let them tell you about them. Our musical is March 6th, 7th, and 8th. This year it is Matilda Friday night, Saturday night, and Sunday afternoon. Please come see. Okay. So, I'm going to start just by telling you a little about a little bit about where we got the idea to do this service project. So, I'm not sure how much you know about theater, but when you like do anything like this, you usually have a really big group of

012people. So, this year we're doing Matilda, which is set in a school. So, we needed something to really like tie a group of our kids together. So, we ordered backpacks and we ordered like 20 of them and we were like looking through our prop like our prop closet and our costume closet cuz we save everything we can to be reused for like efficiency and we realized we're not going to need 20 backpacks probably ever again. So, we were trying to think about like a good way to repurpose them or use them for something and somebody kind of threw out the idea that we use them to give back to our community in some way. So, Matilda uh it follows the story line of this little girl who grows up in just like a really bad

013situation. and like she doesn't have the things or the like goods or needs to help her. So, we wanted to do something that would kind of tie into our show and give back [clears throat] to the kids in the community who maybe need those things and are lacking. So, you just want to walk back. >> These are what they look like and I will pass it on to Holly so she can explain a little bit more. >> Okay. So, Matilda is a heavy story. It's a story of a little girl who is mentally abused by her parents and the only thing she does find peace in is her teacher reading books and telling stories to her librarian. Um, we want these kids to find comfort as well, even if it isn't just a single object

014that they find in a backpack. So, anything that makes their situation even feel just a little bit better. So what our in our backpack for example is so our workshop class we put together this just a little example backpack to show some of the things you might include and it's not limited to these things but these are just examples. So we have this blanket here. We have a coloring book. This is just a notebook and then a folder. This is just another larger notebook, some markers. Um, we've got pens and pencils, hand sanitizer, and then some snacks. And it would just be like one of these mediumsiz backpacks that would include all of these supplies. And then we had a couple more ideas of things that we might want to include. So I'll pass it

015on to Messa. She has a list of other things that might be included in the background. Those supplies are included but not limited to stuffed animals, clothes, a nice note, some craft supplies, toys, and some hygiene products. So, we would most likely be giving these backpacks to the students who are not in the greatest situation. Like I know personally taking charge with these people. Um, displaced students. That's one one of the biggest like groups of people that we want to like attribute these to. the ones who have like only a limited amount of time to get things out and they leave and they don't have very much. So, what we're asking from you guys is permission at our musicals to receive monetary and physical donations as we keep a list of who gave us these

016items, how much money we got. We would turn these into you at the end of the musical once we have a total tally. And whatever we use the money for, we would keep the receipts, turn them into you guys, and essentially use everything we can to fill these 20 backpacks and hopefully if there's enough, buy more and keep on going. We'd like to make, I don't know, five for the young boys, five for young girls, five that are like um not gender specific, and then maybe five for the high school out of the 20 that we have. And from there, we'll just take whatever we have and go with it. >> Is that everything, guys? >> And I want to introduce them. I forgot to say, can you introduce yourselves and tell them they're all

017in the show? What role you playing? >> Your name is and what character you're going to play. >> Yeah, what character? >> Yes, tell us what character. >> I'm Abby Martin and I play Miss Honey in the show. >> The teacher. >> I'm Beth Balls and I play Bruce. >> I'm Holly Zen and I'm Matilda. >> I'm Messo Clark and I play Nigel. >> And I'm Zachary Styver and I play Miss Trunch. [laughter] >> Great. Thank you. >> You guys are a club. >> Uh, so we're a class and a club. So these were all kids from our class and then our club is actually a lot bigger. >> So our class has about 13 kids and we produced the show and are in the show and then the club is open to >> Okay,

018we'll add their request to uh for approval to our meeting uh to our voting meeting on Tuesday. >> Um, don't have anything on our unfinished business unless anyone else has anything. Okay, we will ask for approval for the January 13th uh minutes on Tuesday. Uh moving on to reports for athletics. Um Mr. Gold, we have a resignation and we have three individuals, four individuals to hire um for uh coaching positions. >> He is at the basketball game right now supervising. So um I'll take any questions we might have for him. Okay, seeing none, >> the only thing that I would add, he he asked me to share that um the huddle camera is in. It's uh uh nearly installed or uh is it installed yet or almost installed? >> No, we have to car and

019I have to get together and get it mounted. >> Okay. Um his hope was is we should have it ready to go um for the February 13th um playoff game. So, we may be able to try it that that evening in addition to streaming it the the way we have been. Okay. Um, under transportation, we have one new driver uh monitor that needs to be approved. Any other questions for Kelly? None. Okay. Under buildings and maintenance for Carmen. Um, we have uh permission to advertise and distribute RFPs for custodial and cleaning services. Any questions on that item or questions in general for Carmen? None. Okay, moving along. Cafeteria with Mrs. Phillips. Uh, we have approval for a purchase order for Turner Dairy for White Milk. And, um, Lindsay, you want to discuss this donation for

020the snacks to grow on backpack program? >> Yeah. So, um, PRFSD is our like bid group that does our largest like vendor through US Foods. Um, so they have a charitable giving committee and I believe in October they had reached out to all the members and said, you know, if your community has a program that um, like a backpack program or something along those lines that supports your students, um, they were giving away a $1,000 donation from PRFSD to um, you know, your community's backpack program. Um, not everybody was awarded, but thankfully we were awarded this year. So, um, we PRFSD wrote a check out to Snacks to Grow on for $1,000 donation for the holiday charitable giving, um, donations. So, I thought that was pretty neat and, uh, pretty exciting for Lindsay Kendra and,

021uh, her program. So, >> yeah, >> just wanted to let you guys know. >> Great. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> I have a question. >> Yes. >> Um, the salad bar and the yogurt bar that was brought up earlier, I'm all for that. Just like the hot breakfast, I think that we need to really look into doing that for the kids because I know myself, I would love to have a salad bar and a yogurt bar instead of eating [snorts] hamburger or hot dog, >> right? >> So, I think we should meet the needs of all the kids, especially we doing a week now. >> So, we are doing um three to four days a week of hot breakfast. Uh started that in January. So, I think I believe most weeks four days, maybe

022one week out of the four-week cycle, three days um out of the five days. So, we did increase that. Um the salad bar and yogurt bar has always been a part of our menu. Um we've always had that. Unfortunately, in just this week was our first week where we had cut that out because um we are having some staffing trouble and uh I had to make some adjustments to the menu to kind of um move staff around to help in other areas to get you know the main meals out and things. Um so that was an unfortunate change and you know I did make that decision. >> It wouldn't be permanent. I just um you know when we get staff in these positions we'll go back to to normal. Can you offer a salad, a

023separate salad on a plate opposed to a salad bar for the kids that want to eat a salad? >> Um, potentially. Um, it's something to think about and I appreciate um your consideration and bringing that up. Um, you know, it's just a matter of figuring out who's doing it and what, you know. Um, so that's that's the hard part. It's it's all based off the staffing at the moment. Um, but not permanent, just temporary until we get um these positions filled and get back to normal. So once we do, everything will be back to normal. But um I'll take you know any um any considerations. >> Is there like a graband go option too [clears throat] for it? >> So we're still doing our grab and go cooler. Um so that would consist of Monday,

024Wednesday, Friday we do PB&J bundle which wouldn't be like the vegetarian option. Um right now we are still offering the parfets, the fruit parfets um a couple days a week. this week we were um so and that was mainly to um use the product that we have in inventory right now. Um but it's something that we could consider continuing on with um >> we could make little grab and go containers like salads and and yogurt, granola, fruit on top of it, everything already mixed and just have the kids buy them to go. >> Right. Yeah. Um that's something we've done in the past during COVID. Um it is labor intensive to do those boxes. Um, so again, that's that's where the problem lies. >> It would be a much healthier option though also, >> right,

025>> for the kids. >> You're about to be down one more too, shortly, right? >> Who is it? >> You're about to be down one more staff member for surgery here pretty soon. >> Yes. Um, we will be um about a week or so away, but hopefully we gain someone back. Um nothing official yet, but um so it's kind of, you know, a revolving door at the moment, but um so yeah, we're kind of at we're kind of in the same place we we were always. So at the moment, >> I know we have a request later on in the meeting where we're going to discuss uh a proposal for substitute or or additional help in our cafeteria. So maybe that'll help Yeah. with some of our situation. >> Yeah. any um advice or you

026know any constructive criticism, I invite that. Um I will take that into consideration. So, thank you. Um and uh we'll see what the staff can can manage to get done. Um but that's that's why that change was made, but we always had that before. It's just recently. Actually, just this week was the first week that we had cut that out. So, >> do you have any idea how many vegetarian students we have? I do not because it's not something that we like it's not like a um disability type of thing that you know we receive like requests. >> I just wanted maybe you knew I could Yeah. >> So no not I don't know if I have any of them like on on record. It's just some like a choice that they have. >> Sure.

027Okay. >> Okay. Thank you, Lindsay. >> Appreciate it. >> Moving on to federal programs and curriculum. Dr. Gaston, uh we have two items on there uh for purchase. If you could briefly just discuss them and >> absolutely >> what they entail. >> So both of the items uh on the agenda are related to um achieving the goals we set forth in our comprehensive plan. So the first is a software purchase um that essentially gives our teachers real time actionable data on their students and their performance. One of the issues that we have when we start talking about student achievement is that there's a lag in the data in when the teachers receive it. So, this should speed that up a little bit. Um, it gets it specific to um the students they taught last year

028so they can measure their effectiveness. But what my favorite part is that it gives them the data for all of the students that are directly in front of them so that they can see where their weaknesses are. They can see where the strengths are. They can adjust their lesson planning. they can adjust their instruction and assessment in real time that's actionable. So that allows us to have greater conversations about what's working, what isn't working, and how to dial in to get to where we're trying to be. Um the second is uh an agreement with Stutter Education. It's presented as a three-year pricing. Um we have the option to uh decline at any point. We're not tied into that. Um what they provide as a service and there's a packet for you that has more information

029about that. This is part of our administrator professional development um goal. So they'll provide development um from the district standpoint. They'll come and spend two days with us, learn about our schools, learn about our communities. They provide those 360 degree surveys that I know Mr. Balos has talked about previous. So they'll really do a lot of investigating what what our community is, how we tick, and then how that works in our school system. The second piece of that is they will help us develop comprehensive frameworks from K through 12 that keep us all moving in a consistent way. Um essentially we're aligning our our um programming, our functions and our behaviors from K to 12 from that that umbrella perspective um to make sure that we have everything in place to reach the ambitious goals

030that we have set. Um, one of the the pieces I like about this the most is it will provide um, monthly coaching to our administrative teams as well outside of the support that we have as their supervisors to keep the momentum rolling to make sure that um, the structures we build are working and are effective and those will both be paid in federal funds. >> What? >> Federal funds. >> Okay. So this builds on the kindergart like we were starting with kindergarten and doing investigations. >> This is all part of the full spectrum of making sure that >> what we're doing is align that it's consistent that it's predictable >> and it helps us build those accountability pieces in place. >> Any other questions for Dr. Gaston on these two programs? Okay. >> Can we

031go back to cafeteria for a minute? I have a question for Lindsay. I just thought of it. >> So, [clears throat] yogurt bar, salad bar, those are those that doesn't qualify for a school lunch [clears throat] like a free lunch. Or does it? >> Yes, it does. >> Yeah. If they take all the components. Yeah. >> Okay. Sorry. I was just trying to figure out how you could they would like if they just wanted to pick vegetables if there was vegetables and fruit, but that would be a um >> like a side. >> Yeah. Um all a cart. They would have to be because we don't have the salad bar and fruit, the yogurt bar. If they just wanted to pick things that weren't that were would fit a vegetarian meal that that would be

032considered all a cart. it wouldn't it wouldn't meet the requirements for >> um they there is flexibility there with like offer versus serve. So like let's say you don't take the main entree like let's say it's chicken nuggets mashed potatoes that day is the main entree but then we always offer multiple sides of fruit multiple sides of vegetables especially at high school we usually have a lot of options they can take like a double side of fruit a double side of vegetables and a milk and that would qualify for a lunch because they have three components fruit vegetable milk um so there is some flexibility in that way um to create a lunch without having to take the main entree. Um, so that is a possibility, you know, if if kids wanted to pick it

033that way. Um, does that answer your question? >> Yeah. So, is there a way to disseminate that information to the family so that they would, you know, their student would know and so that whoever's running the register would also know because they might be like, well, that doesn't work because they might not know that. >> They know the cashiers would know. Okay. >> Yeah. It would just be the the students like I mean even like packers can come up like if they pack their lunch they can still come up and grab those couple components as long as and the cashiers that's their job like that's their job to identify the revertical meal at the register before they let the kids go through. Um and they're trained to do that. They know what the kids need.

034Um so and like right now the way we have the buttons set up on the computer we don't really have a good button for something like that but we could always maybe create something if we got like a a large amount of students doing it that way. Um but yeah, there is flexibility during lunchtime because we do offer versus serve in that sense. So yeah, that's another maybe reach out to Lindsay and see what you guys can work out. >> Yeah, you should call me the default. It's just that that day was pepperoni. [laughter] >> Yeah, you can always call me and we can talk through the options and everything, too. So feel free to reach out anytime. >> Thanks. Okay. Uh got lost there with the pizza talk, but [laughter] that's the one problem

035about moving our [clears throat] meetings up a little bit. It messes our dinner time up. >> Okay. Superintendent report. Dr. K. Uh we have conferences and field trips for approval. We have a revision to the uh this year's school calendar reflect the two snow days we just had. Um, we have the comprehensive plan for approval and a motion to approve uh for a student expulsion. Um, any questions for Dr. K on them or do you want to expound on? >> Yeah, let me uh uh go from number two down. So, uh the number two is the revision to our current school year calendar. Um you have that in your packet there. Essentially, we had two uh snow days that were built in. um we use two snow days and we uh have the remainder of

036the days um at this point to be added to the end of the school year. So you see that reflected on there that um the last student day is [snorts] June 4, last teacher day is June 5. Okay. Um comprehensive plan. Um nothing was added to that. the uh uh the codes uh indicates that we have to have the plan on display for uh 28 days. So it was displayed following our last meeting. Um and pending your approval Tuesday, it'll be submitted to PDE for their review. Um and um and then we begin the cycle with that. Um >> did you say the last student day would be June 5th? >> Fourth. Okay. Teachers day. No more snow days. >> Teachers. >> Okay, good. >> Yes. Um, okay. Nothing to add with number four on

037there, the adjudication report. That that is in its entirety in front of you. It indicates uh the planning process and everything that we discussed prior is in place for that. Um, which brings us to discussion of the 2627 calendar. So, um, if I may, uh, let me give you a tour of what's on there and why it's on there, and then we can get into discussion of, um, factors that you would like to take a moment to discuss. So, um, in earlier meetings, I asked, you know, to give me some feedback on some components that you would like to have, uh, recognized in the calendar. Um I believe that I've accounted for all of those. The first one starts with um we wanted to be able to have our um first student day be consistent

038with the other sending schools to Jeff Tech so that we can get those students off on uh on a consistent positive school year as well. Um and all of those other districts are starting on August 26th and we have that on there as well. So we um were able to manage that. So we would have a Monday in teacher in service, Tuesday teacher in service, student first day August 26th. Um we still have two TBDs on there. This is still in draft form. We do need to have one of our our teacher onboarding uh situated as well as um one of our evening parent teacher conferences and I'll work with our association on on fine-tuning that. Um, moving down through there, the >> [snorts] >> um, holidays as we um, traditionally recognize them are all

039accounted for. We had a request to make sure that we had the Monday uh, after Thanksgiving or the uh, old traditional first day of deer season off. That is there. Um, we have our uh, mid-inter vacation uh, February uh, one and two off next year. Um, >> we could we could just not have dark stuff if we needed to. You could just have a second off the an extra day. >> I mean, that's just something to think about. >> We can we can discuss that as a group as well. Um, >> they got to be off for Groundhog's Day though, right? >> Yeah. [laughter] >> Um, >> and I think the other thing that I wanted to uh point out is so some of the question was about flex days. um those are accounted for

040in here and I believe we have five of them if I'm not mistaken and those are strategically planned to be the week following an assessment window with the specific purpose of it to be um using that time to work as a department or grade level and review and um use the an insight platform that we were uh that Dr. guest was just talking about to build some instructional plans with the data that we record from our kids. So, it's it's time sensitive and that's why they're positioned as they are. Um, and then uh we had the discussion about snow days. I had requests for two days, four days. Um, just as in draft form, I split it and put three on there. So, those were positioned on February 3rd. Uh there was one uh position

041on um March 30, which is Easter uh Tuesday, I guess we'll call that. Um we're preserving Good Friday and Easter Monday on there, not as snow days. They're just uh days off. And then we had the final third uh the third snow day on um April uh 23rd, which is the Friday before we start with PSSA testing. >> [snorts] >> Okay, any questions on the structural design of that? And then I know there's some other questions we had about things. >> And when the last day of school >> uh last Juneth June 3rd, >> yes. >> So, not too much different than this year. Um other than I know there some of the nice things we've discussed in the past was starting the school week for students in the middle of the week to adjust

042which I I know we have that. Um we also have a pretty nice break there over uh groundhog day. We would have that Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, possibly Wednesday if we don't have a snow day there. So it's a nice little mid winter vacation. Um, and we have this year we have two built-in snow days. We've exhausted them. Um, this calendar calls for three days. Um, I'll leave it at there. I know there's some things some some others want to talk about. So, >> I know that we've discussed about um seeing and looking into using the FID again after we've exhausted the snow days or at least having them on board if there's an emergency some way. Um, one of the things I think we should take a look at as well is maybe some

043of the school districts that are using them to see how they're utilizing them to make them so if we have to use them, they're efficient. I do like how on the schedule, which was one of the things that I did ask for, that we have these snow days built in before PSSA and the Keystone exams, which is really key because to get these lessons in and if we have to tack all these days on at the end of the school year, they're not getting those lessons built in for those testing. >> Yeah. Typically, our our snow months um or snow days, we need those days, however many we choose to put in. uh in February, March, and April. Uh if you put them earlier, there's the chance that it won't snow and they're just the

044day off and they don't serve the purpose that they were designed for. Um in terms of the fit days, um so uh the board voted in, um May or June of last year, I can't recall, um to not use FID. So currently, right now, we do not have a plan to utilize them. However, FID days are applied for and granted on a three-year cycle. So, those were um applied for and granted with the um previous administration. So, we have them this year and we have them we have five days this year. We have five days next year that were granted to us. Um again, we don't we were not planning to use them. Those that was the directive that was given. So, um, if you know there was a motion and you so chose to

045re-engage with that, um, I could bring back to you a plan of what those would look like or how we would do that, um, uh, right now though. However, we we voted not to use them. So, uh, we would need to change our direction on that. But, um, there there are different models and we could dig into the planning of that if that was something that you wanted to use. of 500 schools in Pennsylvania, 401 used Fed days. Um, utilize them in some capacity. And I um I I wasn't here for, you know, your initial vote on that or getting away from them, but it feels like with our weather and the possibility of an emergency, I think it should be considered. Mhm. >> The reason why I voted against it was because of two

046reasons. Our special education children >> do not get any lessons that day and they're left out. And the working parents, they have to find a sitter. First of all, some kids are given one piece of paper to color and the other kids are given a packet that they have to come home and worry about filling out and helping their kids do it or they're going to get zeros for the day. That's just added burden on kids that have working parents and parents who really don't have the time to give. >> I mean, there's a three-day grace period for completing the work. We could build in, you know, um each teacher could extend some grace or um set aart some time to make up that work. And I understand that there could be a consistency or

047an expectation placed on our teachers. there are professional people that if we are going to utilize this day, you must have a reading activity, a math activity, um you know, to meet the criteria for curriculum and instruction, those kind of things. In the past, I mean, we've utilized um you know, going into their Google classroom, doing a lesson on there if someone can't access it. I mean, everybody in today's day and age has a phone. they could upload it to YouTube if you wanted to incorporate something as easy as that. I I just think that um I think that we're hearing a lot of outcry from the community as to why we're not even considering incorporating them again. >> So if you're finished, I'll chime in there. So, if I could just add a little

048uh you know background on this for you know the discussions that we had prior to you guys you and Allen coming on the board. Um first of all I recognize this is a difficult decision. This is one of these decisions where you're not going to make everybody happy and it just you know we we we can't do that and I know a lot of people look at this through the prism of of the experience that they had for the first year that we had it or or maybe the pre previous school. I will say for me as a parent, I I felt the um you know what was the instructional materials that were provided to my student at the high school was sufficient. I was I was content with it. Uh they were able to

049bring their iPad home. They got a lot of work. At the elementary school, it was a completely different story. The feedback that we got from many of the parents at the superintendent's roundt um you know was that it was you know many students it took 10 minutes to do. Um, so there was a lot of um, you know, kind of like that wasn't sufficient of of what we were doing there. There were technology and and this plays into that. There was a lot of technology issues. You know, we don't send the iPads home. A lot of our students don't have access to the internet. Um, there are, as as Katie alluded to, there was some issues with uh, family members who work who have to help get this uh, stuff done. special education issues, um

050special services that we provide, meals that we provide, um to students that that you know they may have missed out on. There [clears throat] were also contractual issues. Um we heard directly from the bus company who was you know they lost a significant amount of money um because we didn't give them the 180 days that they were uh contracted to hire our kids. There are also contractual issues with our support staff that are you know expected to get 180 days who if they don't get them. Um I would also point out um and Doug could probably you know confirm this but when we had our teacher negotiations um there was no discussion on on their side of you know this is something we want this is something we think it's important. So I I think

051uh with that being said, I think they value as as many of us, you know, we do agree that a student's best uh option is to be in the classroom. >> Of course. >> Um course. >> So I what I would say is I'm not saying that we should never have fid days. I just think we maybe before had the cart a little bit before the horse here on this and and we didn't think all these things through. So I think if we if we do decide to do this, we need to address some of these issues before we agree to do it. I I also would point out that the discussions we had before was that the best way to address this is to build more uh makeup snow days into our calendar. Um

052which is when I looked at this calendar. So we have this year we had two uh this calendar calls for three. I see, you know, uh, Easter Monday would be a potential fourth day that we could add. Uh, Katie alluded to February 1st would be a fifth day if we wanted to add that breaks up that great vacation that, uh, we we may have off air for, you know, 5 days. But, um, I still think that is the best way to address that. So, >> I agree. I agree. I mean, there's a lot involved with the the FID where you have to come up with, you know, the consistency of the instruction and all of the things. I just um if we had them approved, but I agree if we could build in two extra

053snow days and not tack them at the end of the year because at that point all your testing is done, the kids are checked out mentally, it does a whole lot to bring down, I think, morale of of the staff, etc. knowing that, oh gosh, especially when you look at the tightness of next year's calendar. I mean, our last student day is a Thursday. So, if we mess up on snow days, you you have the real potential to go, oh, we're all coming back on Monday for the last day. So, just something to think about. >> So, if we build in five snow days, we could take off February 1st. You said February. >> I would prefer that we did not take that February 1st. We have a lot of students who go out and

054they enjoy their day with their family. Like I know it's something that me and the girls look forward to. We go down to the park. We shop. We go to all these small businesses. There's a lot of family that comes in. And I think them kids are going to be really angry with us if we take that. >> No. We go out on the first. And my concern with the first is >> already busy. Getting kids out, unless we did a flex day, getting kids out on those buses at 3:30 in the 2:30, 3:30 in the afternoon. Downtown is very busy >> the day before. >> What about that? Uh, Easter Monday, March 29th. Is that >> I I I would like to preserve Easter Monday for the same reason. Preserve February 1st. Families, that's

055a you know, that's a >> What about February 3rd? Did you say they have February 3rd? That's only a suggested snow day. >> Well, it >> I don't see the problem with February 1st being off. I mean, being in school or making it a flex day. >> My thing with Easter Monday is if if a family is traveling, they can choose to >> get a form and fill it out and not be here that day. Um, a lot of families don't travel and would be able to be here that day. >> If we go back in Pennsylvania to that being the first day of bug season again, there was talk of that. >> That's Thanksgiving. >> Okay. >> That was pre-Thanksgiving. This is Easter. >> Yeah. >> Okay. I was thinking, >> is that in

056the teacher contract about them about that being a holiday Easter Monday? >> No. I know me and Deei had talked about it because we were looking at it and we couldn't remember. >> Well, I I guess I mean we have to give some direction to Dr. K here. So, we can stick with the three days. We can >> this is draft and we don't have to vote this month. We can uh you know uh give it some time or if we feel that it's in the shape that it's in then we can move it to Monday's vote. So, that's up you know to the discretion. >> I think it sounds like we some consensus there needs to be another snow day at least one more put in there somewhere >> and >> if we're not

057going to do >> I mean I've been on the board eight years. >> What's that? >> And I've been on the board eight years and this year and last year were the first years we ever used more than one or two snow days. >> So next year we might have zero snow days. We don't know. I I have a feeling we're in a trend towards having more. Um, >> yeah, >> but you know, the first six years I was on the board, it was never even an issue. A lot of times they had the day off anyway because we didn't have to make up anything >> and we can't, you know, project. I think three or four is a good number. >> Okay, I can work another one in there if uh we could kind

058of work together on making sure that we position it correctly and and amongst where um other things might be happening uh schedule-wise throughout the throughout the district. I don't want to just arbitrarily pick a day without planning it how it might affect others. >> Yeah. Just uh give feedback to Dr. K, I guess, between now and I I think, >> you know, my opinion, we can vote on this Tuesday. Truthfully, I think we're this is pretty good. >> Um give some feedback to him on whether you want the fourth day or not. Um looking at that Easter Monday and then we'll we'll go from there and vote on Tuesday. Do you think um getting some information for the uh FID days that um you can maybe look at other school districts because I did hear

059some complaints that everything was thrown at teachers very quickly and they were sending home the bare minimum cuz I know me and you have talked. Um, when you see some of the comments being made that their kid only had a packet and they were done within 5 minutes, that's an issue for me because that's telling me these kids are not getting the proper education. So, if you could just get some information and then bring it back to us at March cuz I don't know when we have to if we wanted to do them for emergency days, when would we have to vote on that? >> We have them already appro they've been approved. So, and they can be used at our discretion. Um, as right now, the board voted to not use them. So, we

060would need a motion to um reauthorize their use, but rather we we need to have a plan to execute them moving forward. So, I mean, we need some time to collaborate with our with our staff and >> but an emergency day isn't a Fed day. >> No, we were we've been talking about like some like extreme things that could come up. um just to have them as a cushion and it would be up to them to decide do we use them or do we not use them. Um last year unfortunat we had all them snow or snow days we lost electricity and stuff like that. We exhausted them days but I think if we just had them cushion of the four snow days and then if we had to cuz sometimes when you progress further

061along people already have their graduation thing set in place. They have family that buys plane tickets. These kids start planning graduation parties. It can just screw up a lot of things for a lot of people. So, >> you can't work them into the schedule and then >> not take them. >> FIDs. >> Yeah. >> FIDs won't appear on the schedule. >> Okay. Because they're a day in session. >> Okay. >> So, you know, we would essentially um it'd be something kind of in the background. uh we have to report out to that report those out at the end of the year to PTE that they were um used that way. Um >> but they could you know they have um specific uses and and um uh that they could be you know instituted for you

062know as we were mentioning earlier um weather uh safety threats u power grid outages you know damage to the building any of those kind of things could be potential uses for those. And um but still we have to have a plan for how we're going to do it. If we say we're going to shift into that mode, everyone has to have the materials and know what's going to be considered um you know working. >> The problem I agree with Chad the problem for me with the FID was the last lack of rigor on the material that the students have. >> But we could set the criteria for that. It is a spiral review of a math lesson. And if you build them into um each teacher knows what the expectations are and if they put

063them in the form, even if it's a paper packet, if you don't have Wi-Fi or whatever it is, um you have, you know, the math, the ELA, go down through maybe, you know, a supplemental social studies or whatever it would be. Um, and then you extend the 3-day grace period to finish that coursework. And, um, you know, and then you could do a video component of it where the teacher says, and the other part to that is is you put, you know, the teacher is available via email for any questions. And that's part of a fit day where a teacher accessibility is factored into that. So if a kid's at home and they can't add 3 plus three, a parent can reach out, email a teacher and get an answer. So there's a response time

064in that also. And obviously these aren't something that is a replacement for classroom instruction. I'm not >> saying that, but it is nice if we have that cushion available to build it in in a way that does produce an education for the kids. >> I'm not in favor of it days. I've never been in favor of good days. If we had a vote again, I would not be in favor of good days. But that being said, as an emergency [clears throat] day, we don't have we don't know ahead of time that we're going to have a power outage. Like the day that we the whole town lost power, we didn't know ahead of time. So, if we' have sent a packet home in February for the elementary kids and that happened in March, it would

065have been useless. >> It I mean, it wouldn't have been useless. They would have had work to do but it would not have had any reflection on what they were doing. >> No, it just they also the students well but it would have been for previous like information that they had already covered moved on and moved to something else and the high school kids couldn't access it anyway because they couldn't be online because there was no power. >> But I don't see how it could work in an emergency situation. >> Well, >> but that's just me. that emergency day we had last year, it was just a it was a gimme day. Yeah, it was a fluke, but we we didn't have to make it up. We didn't uh I think it was granted by

066the state >> however that worked out, but it wasn't, you know, >> did not >> Yeah. I just I don't know how we could have them as emergencies, use them as throw it in, you know, something happened here, do it because it wouldn't it wouldn't necessarily reflect what we're trying to do, which is teach them what they're doing when the day happens. That's just my >> my biggest beef is and was that the special ed kids, particularly the ones that need assistance, are getting nothing. So, and that's a significant percentage of our our school population. And to me, if we can't provide the education to all of them, then >> I'm out. >> Yeah. >> And that's we ultimately as a board have to make the decision that's best for all of our students. Like

067I said, if you if you just had a student that was in high school, you probably thought they were great. I mean, they were um and I'm not saying the elementary things couldn't get ironed out. Uh like I said, it was a it was a one-year thing. we um but there was a number of things. So, like I said, if we consider them in the future, I think we just have to have some honest conversations about how we address all of these things we've talked about. So, anything else we move on? >> Yeah, I I would just add that, you know, we we're not done with the winter yet. Um our friend Phil said so [laughter] but uh if it turns uh poorly and we lose additional days and we have to revisit the conversation.

068Bottom line is is that they are pre-approved and we can develop something to get us through whatever circumstance we're faced with. But for now, I'm understanding the consensus is is proceed with the 2520 the current school year 2526 days are at the end as of now and then um add an additional snow day for next year and reproduce a draft for you. Is that the >> consensus? President's Day might be a good spot for that also. >> Okay. Which is uh probably February 22nd. Okay. >> Well, we already have >> Yeah, we have we're already in school that day. >> There's January additional snow day. >> Snow day. Yeah. >> Oh, so you wouldn't have school. >> We already have we have school that day >> on the 22nd. >> 15th, whichever day it is.

069>> Are you talking next school year? >> Yeah. >> The the 267 is what you meant. Yes. >> Um Yeah. Next year. Next year. Yeah. >> Is that not right? >> Yeah. President they have school day. MLK day is the only day they that's the holiday we don't take. >> I think she was saying it's making a suggestion of where to put the fourth snow day. >> Yes. Yes. For next year. >> So if we didn't have to use it then they would have a day off >> right now. They're in school that day. >> Right. So, if we didn't need the fourth day, that's in February, >> right? That's pretty early though for us. >> Oh, well, that doesn't have to be day four. I'm saying they would all bump forward. Just a thought

070for a consideration as to where to put it in >> because we talked about Easter Monday and there was a little bit of push back there and so would >> it would have to be a day that we are >> already off. This is just a proposal though. This isn't done. So, I'm saying if if we had President's Day off or build it in as a snow day, >> so then >> then we would add an additional day at the end of the school year. >> Okay. >> I wish this were colorcoded. [laughter] >> We can add color. >> I can do that. >> It's just easier to follow looking across. >> I would say that Easter Monday the 29th would be >> the best face >> probably. Yeah. So just just for clarity um

071what he was saying is that um because it's already in session putting the snow day there would push the last student day back one. Yeah. >> So we would be um last student day then would be June 4th. >> Teacher last date would be June 5th. >> That's way too tight toward the end of the week. We don't want to have to come back on Monday. Okay. >> All right. Okay. [clears throat] If you have any other feedback on this calendar fid days or you know just email Dr. K and let him know we can continue to have discussions that vote or hold till March >> so I know >> the calendar I think we could vote on it Tuesday >> yeah go ahead and add that to the agenda we had >> uh moving

072on to building principal reports we have Mr. Go. >> Good evening everybody. >> Good evening. >> I'm going to be asking for or requesting an additional person, Monica Draggas, for a tutoring sub. Not sub, excuse me, tutoring club. Um, that's my ask. Uh, some information about what's been going on at PAE. We've had a busy January. Parent conferences were held the 22nd and 23rd. Um we felt we had a great turnout. We had over 200 in face and over 100 um teleconferences. Uh so it it was fantastic to be able to talk to our parents and and have their students um represented bus challenge. We had our second one. Over 300 students participated in that. That was put on by our student lighthouse team. They put everything together with the games um laid out the

073how it was going to work and and did it. It went off uh very well for us. We had uh two very successful groundhog assemblies. Um coming from the secondary level, they are way different than the high school groundhog assemblies. [laughter] Um somebody notified me that I needed to have earplugs. >> Yes. Oh my, [laughter] it was loud. how it's just a little bit high higher pitched than a than a high school one, but it was a great time. Um, you know, we had a team that put that together. Um, student lighthouse action team, Mrs. Carlson, Mrs. Martino, Mrs. Bartlewa, uh, Miss Drum. Um, students enjoyed Puny Philly came in. They love that. members of the inner circle, groundhog dancers uh came uh recognized birthdays of those uh who had on groundhog day and our

074groundhog prince who was Henry Janoka and our princess Rya Damus were introduced. Um that's kind of January and a wrap-up um events for for um February uh Riverview immediate intermediate unit while I can't speak tonight. uh gifted consortium hosted the regional spelling be in oil city last uh last evening. Uh there were I think it was that was the second I'm sorry it was February 2nd. There were 15 students from eight schools in in the competition. Fourth grader Elim Elim Smith and fifth grader Cassidy Hammacker represented PAEES. Cassidy placed sixth and Elim placed third overall. We were very proud of them and the and the efforts they put forth. Um they did an amazing job. Elim did qualify for the Western Pennsylvania spelling bee regional qualifier which is online and if he would be one

075of the top 15 students from this test, he will move on to the uh spelling be in person March 15th at Point Park University. Uh Truman Hill, Vincent Richardson, and Jace Lennon are away right now. They left today. They're representing us in Lancaster at the state level Minecraft competition. So we have a good send off for them today. We had them walk the halls. They even came in to lunch so they could uh get their their due because they've worked very hard to get where they're at and and it's an accomplishment to get to that. Very proud of them. Uh we have walking Wednesdays from 5:45 to 6:45 where parents and students and and adults are allowed to come and walk um from our wellness group. Um we we will celebrate our 100th day on

076February 9th. Uh our after school clubs will begin the 10th although we did start our tutoring this week. Um so the other clubs will start on February 10th. We're also going to have for a love of math event held on February 12th for K to3. Um it's being this event is being sponsored by the math specialist in the IST department. Uh high school students that are appearing in amuseable Matilda will be um present a sneak peek to some of our students on February 17th. And then some of those students are going to stay behind and read to some read in some of our classrooms. So we're very busy. Um, I appreciate the fact that, you know, we work very well with the high school to get our students like Miss Valley's up in front of

077our kids at PAE. Um, our kids look up to them and it's good to see them not only in the building, but what they're doing, which I think can promote when they come up as seventh graders, promote becoming active >> and and want to say, "Hey, when I when I when I become a senior, I want to come back to the elementary school and show what I'm doing. So that's it for us at the elementary school. You have any questions for me? I love it. >> Thank you very much. >> If you've never had the opportunity to go to the elementary school groundhog assembly, [laughter] you need to indulge yourself in that at least once in your life. The only thing I can compare it to is when they bring that groundhog in is if

078you've ever watched Oprah when she gives away the cars [laughter] or something before Christmas, those kids literally lose their mind. >> Yes, they do. >> It's probably good that you have that at the end of the day and not the beginning. >> It was it was I was phenomenal. >> Yes, >> it was phenomenal. Um the fun [clears throat] they had and like you said when they saw Phil and then the inner circle members came in. >> Yes. I mean, it it just warms your heart. I don't know how else to say it. Not that it's not good at the high school, but it's a little bit different for a younger. >> It was fantastic. It's it's a great day. >> They were not happy when the she kicked that stuffed one off the court,

079though. [laughter] They were like, >> "Okay, thank you, Mr. Gil." Moving on to high school. Uh Dr. SM go. >> I have a whole bunch of stuff for you guys as you can see um on the agenda. Um February is our month that we talk about all things curriculum and our curriculum guide. Uh I thank Dr. Gaston for providing you with my little overview [clears throat] worksheet that I gave you because there is a lot of a lot of information that I'm going to be presenting this evening in regards to uh our curriculum guide for next year. Uh before I get started on that though, I'd like to just ask that we accept the donation for $100 from the Jefferson County Housing Authority for the art club. If you were out and about in town

080over Groundhog weekend, you saw that some of the windows were painted and things like that. That was done by our students and um Mrs. Young's club and they did a phenomenal job. So, the housing authority is is giving them a donation. Um I'm also asking to ask for 12 total teachers to work for two hours on um our parent nights in March. And I have that information in here as well. that will go through our title one program and is very similar to what we've done the past couple years in terms of scheduling. So, it would be very similar to that. And now for the big the big part of of this evening for me. Um, everyone received a copy of our 2627 draft for the curriculum guide. Um, everything that you see that is

081in red with a line strike is something that has been removed or moved. Some things were completely taken out. Some things were just moved around to make the the guide flow a little bit better for students and parents when when looking at it. Everything in blue is something that has been added or changed in some way. So to get started, um I would like to say that the changes that I've given you are in large part to align with our comprehensive plan and the guidance that we received from those meetings, not only from Dr. K and Dr. Gaston, um some of you that were board members that were there, but also the parents, the kids, and the community members that were engaged in in those discussions regarding the curriculum at the high school. We wanted

082to make these changes. so that we could give the students the opportunity to plan better for their futures and focus on what their post-graduation goals and aspirations are. Um [snorts] this was a very very large undertaking and it is still in draft form but I have to thank my staff. Um the teachers were absolutely phenomenal. We have had several meetings with department heads with individual departments. um they have had their own meetings after having meetings with me to discuss the changes, to discuss the things that needed to happen to make our guide work the way that it is and they have read over it and went through with the fine tooth comb for me. There might still be a few things in there that need to be fixed, but they put a lot of time

083and effort into this and I I appreciate their collaboration and their help in in getting this to where it is today. Some of the significant changes that you will see are in relation to some of the language that we added into the comprehensive plan. The way that our curriculum guide works right now, there is a standard track and an academic track um for courses of study for our students. And within that standard track and academic track, it's pretty prescribed for the students. They can float, so to speak, between the tracks, but for the most part, it's one one or the other. And and they tend to follow that track from 9th grade until they reach their senior year. We are removing that language out of the curriculum guide completely. There will not be a standard

084course of study. There will not be an academic course of study. Instead, we will have three pathways and that will include a career prep pathway, a college prep pathway, and an honors AP prep pathway. Within the guide, I gave very specific descriptions and explanations as to what those pathways will look like for the students and for parents. A quick overview for you. Students that are in um taking a course in the career pathway will be able to get the classes that they need for graduation. Those are the classes that are required through the school in order to meet their graduation requirements, which is 25 credits. They have the opportunity again to move out of that career prep pathway into a college or an AP pathway if they want to, but that is there for them.

085The college prep pathway offers students with courses designed to help prepare them for post-secary education in whatever capacity that may be. That might be a two-year school, a four-year school, depending on what their their needs are, a trade school, that type of thing. The honors and AP pathway are our highest level of rigor. Right now, at the high school, we do not have any honors classes. We have AP classes that are offered typically to juniors and seniors. Once in a while a sophomore may take a AP class if they are maybe part of the gifted program or if they are in a more [clears throat] advanced track. But those are the only AP level classes that we have. We have AP government, AP US history, AP literature, AP calculus, AP bio, and AP Chem. Outside

086of that, we do not have those honors courses established. With an AP honors level class, we want to make sure that the students and the parents understand that will be the highest level of rigor available to them in our curriculum. There will be independent work that is required of them. It will be fast-paced. There will be um potentially summer work, especially in those AP classes. For instance, if you want to be an AP literature um right now, which is what Mrs. Leave teaches there are se there are several books that you must read and activities you must do before you come into her class to be prepared to to excel in that class. Um before I move on since there is so much does anybody have any questions for me on that that change? >>

087I have a couple questions about uh our science uh our different areas. you you kind of touched on it as if if I am in a uh a college prep I'm in the college prep uh mode. >> Mhm. >> Uh is there flexibility for me to take uh for example say I'm somebody who wants to be a chemistry major. >> I'm interested in AP chemistry. >> Uh [snorts] not necessarily interested in AP biology. Can I take uh the um college prep biology and then take absolutely chemistry? There's not really uh a barrier there. >> Correct. The nice part of this is that the pathways allow the students the fluidity to move and be in a different pathway for different subject areas. Um I use myself as an example with the staff. I was an English

088teacher prior to becoming an administrator. I would have been in more that AP honors track of English classes. And I don't want to say track, I wouldn't say pathway. I guess changing the language that we're using and the AP honors pathway for my English classes. I would not have been there in math. Um I was terrible at math to be honest and needed I could do it but I needed a little bit of extra help. I would have been better suited taking the college prep math courses. So, I would be able to take those AP and honors courses in those areas that I feel strongest in and that I'm preparing for my future in and take potentially a a college prep class or even a college prep versus career prep. They can move in between

089all of those different pathways based on their needs. My next question is uh could I see that the there is no longer just u uh calculus but only AP calculus? >> Yes. Yes. Could you uh explain that or I don't know what what's been going on lately, but that calculus course uh you know, if I'm not going into higher level math necessarily, but uh something else. I'm just wondering about the that change. Many of our students when they get to their senior year are taking either probability and statistics or the AP calculus class. We do not have students um requesting just a standard calculus. Okay. Um, for the most part it's, you know, algebra, algebra 1, algebra 2, geometry, the, uh, pre-calc class, and then senior year they're deciding between [snorts] problem and stats, AP,

090cal, consumer math, or computer math depending on again whatever their their needs are and their interests are for that particular department. >> All right. Thank you. I will say though that the highest level calculus course >> Mhm. uh was uh very good. So yes, just just just to say it. >> Okay. Speak for yourself. [laughter] >> I said speak for yourself. They all sound scary to me. >> Thank you. Yes, [laughter] absolutely. Um so with all of these changes there there are a lot of things like I said a lot of work that has been done. Um, we have wanted to do not a slow release but a strategic release of how we want to implement these changes so that one, our students and our parents have the opportunity to truly understand the changes that

091we're making, but to to help our teachers be ready and prepared in the classroom to teach. Um, right now, like I said, you're in a standard or an academic. We're adding a third option into that and that will take some planning and some time with our teaching staff to make sure that they feel comfortable and confident in developing those other those other courses. So in the 2627 school year our plan for implementation and as you can see in our guide we've introduced the three pathways to the students. At the very beginning of the guide, each of the pathways also have the 16 um career clusters that are recognized by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. From that, we went in and added potential careers in the career prep pathway, the college prep pathway, and then

092the honors and AP prep pathway. That way, our students have an opportunity as they're planning for their future to go through and look and say, you know what, I am really into education and training. I think that's something I'd be really good at. I don't know if college is quite the right track for me, if that's where I want to be, but I could help out at the local daycare or I could be a library assistant or a pair professional here in our district. And then again le helping them determine if they want to be a teacher, a school counselor, an administrator, psychologist. It it lays all of that out for them. The other part of the career clusters is that we've gone through and added all of our electives that we currently offer in

093the building and which path or which career cluster they most align to. So again, there are a lot of options for students and it can be a little bit daunting whenever they're going through the scheduling process and they are trying to decide what classes they should take outside of their required classes. Do I need to take creative writing? Should I take creative writing or should I take advanced metal? This would give them an opportunity to look at those electives and say, "You know what? I think I'm going to take that creative writing class because that's going to help me prepare for what I want to do after school." Again, the career clusters that they're looking at and the career clusters that they might be interested in as a ninth grader, they may change their mind

094as they get to junior and senior year, but it's still a guide to help them as they're planning out that that scheduling process and having conversations with their school counselors, with their teachers, with their parents. sometimes with the three of us, Mr. Adorf and Mr. Gordon and I. The one class that we will offer next year as an honors level course will be honors algebra 1, but that will only be offered to the eighth grade class. Again, with this level of change, any of our students that are in 8th grade through 11th grade have already been kind of locked in, if you will, to the the guide that we have established for them for the past few years. This will change for a group of students what it looks like for their cumulative GPA, which

095will affect validictorian, saludiatoran, third chair, NHS opportunities, all of those things. We can't make that vast change to the junior class for next year and say all of a sudden, oh, now everything's going to be different for you for graduation. They will stay on that same plan that they have up to this point. But our seventh graders going into 8th grade will have the opportunity. They will be the first cohort, the class of 2031, which is absolutely crazy for me to say those words. I had to think about it a couple times to make sure I wasn't wrong. The class of 2031 will be the first cohort that will go through with this plan completely in place. In 8th grade, students that are ready for that more rigorous path in math and algebra 1 will

096have the opportunity to take an honors algebra 1 class. And they will receive the multiplier of a 1.2 two for their GPA because that class goes onto their high school transcript even though they're only in eighth grade. So, that group of students will will start the the the group that will that will have all of these changes for them. Anything yet? I'm trying to make sure nobody has questions. Okay. Um, science courses for next year. Right now, our science classes are two periods. Um, we are going back to a credit and a half. Um, a more traditional approach with a traditional schedule where they will have a lab period. They need that lab time still in order to do the the experiments and the things that they need to. So, we will be going back

097to a credit and a half. I know at the beginning of the year that was one of the questions that many of you had brought to me about the schedule that sometimes that double period while wonderful and great and is giving a a lot of instructional time it constricts the schedule to where they're not able to have some of the electives and some of the other [snorts] courses that they need. This will open that up for them and give them the opportunity to be able to schedule more things in there when they need to. Um, I I explained to you the introduction to career clusters. Another change, and this is for seventh grade, seventh and eighth grade are not going to see a ton of changes in the guide. Um, as a seventh and eighth

098grader, your schedule's pretty much set for you because it's junior high. They need English, they need math, they need science, social studies. They get an array of the electives so that they get a little sample of everything. Again, with the exception of that honors algebra one class, right now promotion from seventh grade to 8th grade and eighth grade to 9th grade is four and a half credits. The recommendation from my counselors was that it needs to be five and a half. So, that will require that they pass one more credit, one more class for that promotion. >> [snorts] >> Um, I will be honest that change happened during walk scheduling for some reason and they said we need to we feel that we need to go back to what it was before which was a

099five and a half. Some of the new courses that we're introducing are a social media and digital marketing class in our business department, a PIAA junior officiating course. my PE department came to me and said, "We think this would be a really good opportunity for our kids. This would allow the students to become certified PIAA officials and work as as a junior official within the week." Um, and in addition to that, a first aided CPR course. The students right now get a little sample of first aid and CPR, but they are not certified. This would get them that that certification to be able to use that for any number of reasons. Great. If you look through some of the course names, there are a lot of line strikes. They are the same courses, but when

100the teachers and the departments went through, I asked them, make sure your course descriptions and your course names are aligned and they they make sense and they they match. So, you'll see that there are some changes to that, but again, that was for continuity. That was to make sure that the the title matches the course description. And the same thing again with the course descriptions. Just making sure that everything's aligned so that when a parent and a student are looking at the guide and we're not with them, they know as much as they possibly can about what the courses that they're they're potentially selecting. We have offered rotations as well with our electives and you will see that in the course descriptions again to ensure that we have a schedule that flows as well and

101as as good as it possibly can. We cannot offer every single elective in the fall and spring. There has to be [clears throat] um some rotation there. So they might have and I can't remember if my head maybe public speaking is in the fall but novel studies is in the spring. Again letting the kids know these are the classes you can take the first half of the year, these are the classes you could take the second half of the year and making it possible so that they can plan as best that they need to for the electives that they want to take. As I mentioned with science, um, some of the elect or some of the credit totals have been adjusted to help us ensure that we're creating an effective schedule, master schedule. Last year

102at this time, I brought the bell schedule to you and and you know that there was a major change in in terms of the bell schedule and our schedule this year is working. um it but the master schedule itself we want to make better. We want to continue improving upon it so that we have students that are able to get the band the chorus um a foreign language class, an art class, whatever it is that they're that they want to take. We want to have as many opportunities for them and not constrict their schedule by not having a master schedule that flows due to to timing. Um that is still a work in progress. Um still I am still working with my faculty with my teachers to ensure that we're creating a master schedule for

103them and for the students that will maximize their day and their time while they're with us. >> Anything from that section? >> Wow. It's it's easy to follow along now that you're >> good. That's what I was hoping for. >> It's [laughter] a huge undertaking. It >> sure is. >> Wow. It looked like alphabet after a while, there was a lot of a lot of staring, but it's it's [laughter] I appreciate that. >> That's really fantastic. >> Um, moving into the 2728 school year, which again sounds very crazy to me that we're planning for 26 27, but we're going to talk about 2728. We will offer honors classes at all departments for the 2027 2028 class or 2028 schedule I'm sorry. Um again that cohort class of the class of 2031 will have the multipliers

104associated with it will have the opportunity to move through the curriculum guide as it will be as it's being presented to you. Now, juniors, seniors, and freshmen that year as well. I'm sorry, juniors and seniors, because the eighth graders will be freshman. They'll have an opportunity to take an honors level course. They just will not receive a multiplier on their transcript, which means it won't be weighted. that honors class can't be waited for them because again they're under the the previous plan that we're working with now to ensure continuity with with rank and all of those all of those things. Our scheduling timeline um I'm bringing this to you tonight with approval [snorts] hopefully fingers crossed on Tuesday on February by February 13th there is um a lot of work that needs to be done

105on the scheduling side. I will need to update scheduling papers and make sure that that's ready to go home with the kids and to be shared with the students. The week of February 16th, we will have our counselors conducting some classroom scheduling sessions and and working with the kids again to help them plan for for what they need to take the the following year. on the 24th. That is our second three-hour commitment night for the [clears throat] teachers for their contract. In addition to several other activities, I'm going to offer a scheduling session for parents to stop by, students to stop by and ask ask any questions that they might have, do a little Q&A with that. We'd like to have all scheduling sheets returned to us by the 27th. And then as I asked

106for with the title one funding, I would like to have 12 teachers on the 11th and 12th be able to come in and meet with our junior high students one night and then our high school students another night because the scheduling does look very different for both of them. Some additional programs and supports uh that Dr. Gaston and I have talked about. We'd like to do a fact sheet for parents that highlight the the changes. Again, this is a major change for everyone, for our students, for our parents, our teachers, for all of you. Um, a quick one pager, if you will, that shows them everything that they need to know. We've also discussed having video series, like a little podcast, if you will, where Mr. Curry's in Manchester doing the Minecraft thing, but I

107would say I Mr. Curry, he can help me um make some little videos and things that will help again give parents an opportunity to listen to what the changes [clears throat] are and and have have that available to them. And then have a section of our website that is dedicated to scheduling. So, it's again, it's quick, it's easy, parents can find it, students can find it, and if they have any questions, they can utilize those additional tools to help them navigate. If they still are needing any support or help, of course, we'll have them call us, have us have them call our school counselors and and get anything that they might need there. That is the curriculum guide for next year. Does anybody have any questions for that? >> I have a question. And I

108don't know if it falls under this or not, but I had a parent reach out um saying that their student could not take an elective instead of a study hall. If students want to fill their schedule and not have study halls, is that going to be an issue? Can they do that? >> We typically reserve study halls for upper classmen because we want to ensure they're getting all of the elective credits and the credits that they need to meet their graduation requirements. So, typically you will not see too many freshmen and sophomores with a study hall because they've only received maybe six and a half or seven credits or 12 credits and they there's still quite a bit of work for them to do in in that way. If if they're seniors on the other

109hand though, they might have those classes completed and and the study hall is maybe open to them >> or if they don't want the study halls. >> Right. That was the question. >> Oh, yeah. Sorry, I misunderstood. Oh, yes, there's they can schedule electives in place of a sign. >> So, they they're not told that they can't. There's no room. >> There they shouldn't be. If that is the case, though, please let me know. >> Unless it's a scheduling issue where they couldn't. >> They may not be able to take what they want because of their schedule. >> It's not offered. Yeah. If it's not offered during that period, then they wouldn't be able to take it. But that would be really the only even if a a class is what we consider capped out

110if it's maxed out on seats. Um we always take in consideration again does that student need that class for a specific purpose and can we open up a space to to help them get in and get that elective if that's something that they want. >> Sorry misunderstood that part. >> Thanks. >> Yep. Um I have one. >> Yes. under the arts audiovisisual technology and communication pathway on the college prep pathway. I don't think you I I think you should change makeup artists to cosmetologist. I don't know what but like my daughter did that but she does not consider herself at all a makeup artist. >> Okay. [clears throat] >> You could do that in that field but I don't think that most people going into that field that's what they're going to >> be looking

111for. just it's a semantical thing but >> absolutely um >> I think it should be called something different. >> Yeah. >> Physical [snorts] education. How many times a week are they going to be having it now? >> If right now they have it every day for a semester when we move the science classes to a credit and a half. They would have it on a rotating basis but that class would be all year because it's it's a half a credit class. Um, again, it would depend on potentially the grade level and the the particular student and what their schedule looks like, but that PE class could be what we call buddied up or with the with the science with the science class with the lab. So, the day that they have their lab, they wouldn't

112have PE, but the next day they would. [clears throat] >> So, one day a week, >> no, it would be it would be at least two or three. I don't have that part of the schedule, the master schedule quite done yet, but yes, they would still receive it a couple times a week. It and it would be the duration of the school year rather than for >> we're going to go back to having vis during the school year. >> Yes. >> Perfect. you because whenever you have that half credit that half >> um >> is this going to be for sure we're going to do this >> as soon as I have the master ready when I get schedule that in in most cases and um Dr. Gaston Dr. Okay, please if if you add

113to this. That's traditionally how the science classes are paired. It's what the PE class so that the students have the opportunity to take a PE class and that science class. And PE is required for our students all four years. So every student no matter what has a PE class. Every student that has a science class, it's a perfect pairing for them to be able to do that. >> Yes. So, just some uh comments, questions uh on my takeaways from this stuff. First of all, I I like the idea of the pathways. This sort of bore out of our um discussion when we were doing our comprehensive plan. I think um you know, I indicated I was a general student and nothing just says you're mediocre than hey, [laughter] you're general. Uh, so I um I

114like the idea of you're either college prep, your career prep, or your high honors AP. I I like that. I think it um you know, some of its uh PR or psychological. I think it also gives students a purpose now um to achieve uh you know to set goals and achieve them. So I do like that. I like the breakdown of um you know career options that's in this. I think that's very good with the 16 different uh categories that you've come up with. I think that's good. Um a couple questions here. So um it says on here on page three that counselors will be available during the two weeks prior to each school year to answer questions concerning scheduling issues. Yes. Does that mean students will have their schedule more than 3 days prior

115to school starting? >> Yes, that [laughter] is the goal. Um, something that we have been reiterating with staff from the beginning of the year is that we wanted to create a traditional bell schedule again based on the needs and the wants of of our stakeholders. And our goal this year going into next year is to make that schedule better than it is so that we can provide the students with schedules in a more timely manner. Teachers with their their master, you know, their master schedule for the day in a more timely manner. And once we get the course requests in at the end of February, that process is going to start immediately. we'll be able to start putting in how many sections of classes we need, where we need them, which teachers are teaching them

116because that is all based off of the scheduling. Um something that I learned very quickly last year in in the process of of creating the schedule. So yeah, so my my goal is um they will be as close to perfect as possible as early as possible. But yes, >> I know that was some a challenge for both teachers and students not getting stuff till uh you know >> and and it provides some opportunity. Our counselors um have an additional 20 days in their their contract that they are responsible for being in our building. um the sooner we can get these things done, the more effective and efficient they can be in those weeks leading up to school. So that if a parent does get their child's schedule and they're like, "Wait a second. We don't

117know if we really want astronomy anymore. We we really want to take this." it. That's the opportunity then that they can work with the counselor and and make some of the scheduling changes because the students don't necessarily realize that one change kind of like how Katie had asked that one change could change every other >> multiple periods. It's like a snowball effect. So the sooner we can get that in their hands and they can look at it the better. >> Okay. My next question is so um I know you indicated there's going to be a couple opportunities for parents to come and learn about all these changes which is great. Great. I appreciate that. Is there an opportunity for this document to be posted on our web page as a draft for people to view

118and see it? Because here's the deal. I don't want to speak for the rest of the board. This is Greek to me. I I'm my my daughter's just getting into high school. I don't understand a lot of this. But the minute it becomes official, I start getting or we start getting, you know, calls from parents and teachers. Hey, why did why is this this doesn't make sense? This that doesn't make sense. Is it possible to put this out there ahead of time to get feedback between? So, your goal is to have this passed by Tuesday. >> If when when if fingers crossed on Tuesday if it gets the seal of approval and you guys say yes, I will go through remove all of the >> red line. Yeah, >> I will update it and I

119will get it to Mr. McMahon and we we can get it up on as soon as >> I would love to have it up there between now and Tuesday with this draft version if possible. You guys think about it, but >> before I don't know >> people pick out some good things and then make good points that may be helpful to you. I mean some of it's you know just >> so you think >> we can do that and I believe these these links are live. Okay. >> I believe that they are. If they're not, we'll make sure that they are live. >> Great. >> Um, and also I would say Dee had a when I was Dee's not here tonight, but she had a a number of questions and I didn't have a pen

120on me and and things. There was like some typos and different things. I told her to type up her concerns or questions. So, I believe she'll be getting some stuff to you. But, um, I appreciate your efforts and and what you've done. It it all looks very promising >> and we're we're really excited. >> I was gonna say I just Yeah, you go first. No, go ahead. >> All right. Well, I kind of want to uh add on to what Chad said here at the end, but it's it's a different uh point of view or more uh just a comment. Mr. Gil also can see him looking. He can hear this. It's a pretty daunting task uh for parents uh their for as their students go from sixth grade to seventh grade. And one of

121the most uh difficult uh situations you have here uh is that a student has to in their family has to decide uh what math course they're going to take in seventh grade. and uh some guidance there or extra guidance for those students would be very helpful. For example, in our what we have here, there's nothing wrong with it. It's just as a parent, from a parent's view, uh it says, for example, academic math 7 pre-alggebra, uh academic math is a pre-alggebra course intended for students who excel in math. The problem is defining Excel as a as a parent. What what what how's that defined? Uh likewise, it says in in uh standard math uh standard math is intended for students performing at a seventh grade level in math. Uh do we have uh can a

122student can a parent call and say what level is my student on? uh you know see these these this this as they make that decision along with having to go to the high school uh now they're going to make a decision that's going to affect them even throughout their whole career because in eighth grade there's a prerequisite that you have to take um you know uh pre-alggebra and seventh grade to take algebra in eighth grade >> and so we are as parents relying on uh data uh that has been created by an 11 or 12 year old that's going to affect them pretty far up into their uh high school career. So what I'm asking for is to be uh cognizant of the fact that parents need to have a lot of information regarding the

123track or the pathway that they're going to get into in math and and and it's maybe a little easier I think in in in language arts but in math particularly uh that's uh that's a difficult time. One of >> just just a comment, >> one of the things that we do now, the sixth grade teachers um at the elementary school will take the data that they have been utilizing throughout the year and they will make recommendations based off of the students data, classroom performance, their assessment scores, all of those things, and make recommendations for those classes based off of that. Um, I do think when we have our parents nights, we two years ago we had everybody together. Last year, we separated it because the junior high world and the high school world are so

124vastly different that we want to be able to explain those those things more. We have our our parents night is usually very very well attended by the sixth grade parents because they there's all of those things. They're they want to be in the high school. They want to see what it looks like. They want their students to be there and see what it looks like. And there's that that fear that they are moving they're moving to the big building going with with the high school students. And I think if we can explain to them exactly what those classes look like and what is necessary to be successful in those classes that would be very helpful too. >> Thank you. Yep. >> Could you explain um the changes that we'll see for the National Honor Society,

125the Val Victorian and so on since there we were doing everything different compared to other schools. Now what that will change for our students that um right now I'm working with Mr. Bishop who's our NHS advisor. We are he's working on creating an updated NHS requirement that we'll have approved from the National Honor Society. Um so as soon as I have that I will I will bring that bring that to all of you for approval as well with our validator saludiatoran and and third chair um [clears throat] or third honor that is based strictly on GPA and where the student with the highest GPA is valictorian second and third that will not change with this that class of 2031 those multipliers that we're adding in will those classes that they're taking differently. So, that will

126affect their GPA, but um potentially in a positive way because they're taking those more rigorous academic classes. Um this year, the class rank will run until the fourth nine weeks and class rank will be determined in May. >> Okay. Um, and we we discussed a number of things with snow days and FID days and all of those things. I have multiple contingency plans based on snow days right now. But within that, we have a pretty set um schedule that we feel is going to work for the seniors specifically with ensuring that final grades get submitted on time. We have time for calculations for class rank so that we're ready for class night and and graduation. >> I have a question about what Alan said. Can the elementary guidance counselors get more involved in the decisions

127for the sixth graders going to the seventh grade meeting with the parents and the students on one-on-one and saying this is what your child we feel should be taking in seventh grade math wise because they would know all what these children should be doing. >> Yes. And they they also work with Mrs. Cerio. Um they work very closely with her on that as well. But I think that's something Mr. and I could talk about >> like make it mandatory that they talk to each student and see where they're going to be placed in when they get up to the high school. And we would we would love to be able to connect more with the sixth grade when making those recommendations and looking at at what classes they're recommending for students as they enter seventh

128grade because this is also like for many parents. This is not elementary world and they're not familiar with that. But working with them to make sure that they understand those things as well is important. I think they get now a a suggested schedule or a path that they should and and that's what the purpose of that parent night is. They bring that there and then they can meet and >> Yep. >> I think maybe even in high school guidance counselors maybe meet more with the students to see how their path is going. >> Yes. >> Because not all kids are going to go to college and they need to be guiding kids maybe in another direction if they need to like more. We have a career they the eighth grade students do um smart futures

129which is our career pathway program in e in eighth grade and they do that in their family consumer science elective that they take with Miss Miss Snider. We I've been talking with the counselors. We'd like to get more co-eing in that in that realm so that when they're scheduling for 9th grade that they're working with them ahead of time and helping them with that. And then Mrs. Trusel, if you notice, our career ed class moved from the um FCS from family consumer science into the business department. Mrs. Trusil is also working with them in 10th grade and and looking at >> Okay. >> I saw I thought that was eliminated because I saw it was moved to a different department. Yeah, it was moved. It was moved to and Mrs. Trusel also does our skilluers

130class um and does our employment program. >> I think that's a very important curriculum that we need to build on. >> Yes. >> And not cut because that is the future. No matter if you go to college or not, you need those skills. >> And she's working with the students on what jobs they want to have, what does a budget look like if you have that job. >> Um kind of like our reality fair, >> you know, thing that we do with the junior. She's working with them in that class as well. >> Okay. So, we'll have this draft. It's going to be live in the link. So, any parent or again teachers because I know we got some feedback last year that there was some things not jive in there. Please look at it.

131Get back to us as board members get back to um Dr. Smela. Um that way once we put this in place, it's it's kind of set in stone. So, >> okay. Thank you. Moving on to the scoopa program update, right? Is that what you're doing? >> My last couple um updates for you. The bell schedule will not change for next year. The master bell schedule that we implemented this year, a major uh the line, we'll call it teachers, students, everyone, they would like consistency um as much as possible. We're keeping the same bell schedule. student start time, teacher start time, end times will not change um at all for next school year. On February 24th, I mentioned we're having our second three-hour event for teachers. Included in that will be an employment expo where local

132businesses will be coming to the school to have an opportunity for students to find out what jobs are available um and work with them. That's being ran through DECA. Mr. Gordon has has headed that up for us. We'll have an opportunity for parents to sign up for parent teacher conferences with time slots by calling the office and we will do the Q&A on scheduling. Our reality fair is scheduled for March 5th. That is the same thing that we've done for the past few years through Priority First um credit union. I've been in contact with them to get the steps going that we need to be prepared for that day. Um I know Mr. has been there several times and he sits at one of the tables and and works with the kids on on the

133reality fair day. Our scuba program, we had it planned for last week and then the weather went crazy on us. So, they will be coming on February 10th. Um, we have a a group of students that are already interested, but they will be set up in the cafeteria through all three lunches to just show the kids what the program is and what opportunities there are for them through the scope scuba program. And then students that signed up to meet with them and hear the the full presentation will get to do that as well. We are currently working on a junior ROC club, an FFA club, and student run manufacturing as well. And we are in those planning and working phases with our faculty and staff to be able to bring those to you in the

134future for approval and planning. >> And I think that's it. There's a lot, but >> any other questions for Shaina? No, I I I have a comment for [clears throat] her and Mr. Gil. Um, could we could we standardize what our send off, not necessarily in the building send off, but what our send off for students going to different levels is because like the football team was going to playoffs. They got a fire engine away. The basketball team goes to a playoff, they go to a playoff. They don't get the big sendoff. Um, people going to states should get that, you know, like the students who went to Minecraft. I'm sure you guys did a really nice thing, but did they get to go through downtown with three firet trucks in front of them because

135that's like a huge thing in a small town and having driven through sometimes when I forget it's happening, there are a lot of people downtown like wanting to recognize those students. So maybe we could if we could try to standardize like if you're going to states you get this level and if you're going to you know other things. I don't know that's just my opinion that we should treat whether it's academic or athletic all the same. >> Yes. Typically at the high school when there is a sendoff, the teams um and and many times their booster clubs will organize that that portion of the send off with the fire trucks. We organize everything that's happening inside and getting the kids outside are doing it throughout the halls and then the fire trucks, the ambulance or

136the fire police cars and all those things are done through the booster club or the parents. We could definitely look at standardizing what that looks like. >> I just think it would, you know, I'm partial to the arts and music and those kids don't always get that big deal sendoff and they've worked just as hard as absolutely the football team or the basketball team to get to their level also. Yep. >> I mean, we had >> um students going to district band this week that like you didn't mention that they're there this week. Typically with districts, what we do the sendoffs when they progress to the state [cough and clears throat] the state competition, state level, >> but like for athletics, you would be telling us, oh, they're going to district the basketball team's going

137to district 9 basketball next week. >> Yes. >> We have students tonight or tomorrow with Mr. King for district. Yeah. >> Right. And like >> Yes. >> And my I forgot the names. I had it but I didn't you know that's what I I want to see more of. We keep talking about wanting [snorts] to uplift these kids. Um the deathy kids next week going to states. They should get a big send off. They're going to states, you know, that that is a huge accomplishment whether it's but we tend to whether it's the booster clubs or not. We tend to focus on the athletics and giving those kids these big sendoffs and the other kids, they don't they don't get that big send off. And I I don't mean you need to get a fire

138trucks to go to district B, but you should have come prepared tonight. I'm sorry to say this, but you should have come prepared to say because if that team was going to districts, DJ would have been telling us that >> and that my apologies that that >> I mean I sound harsh and I don't mean to be. I just want those kids to have more recognition. >> Yeah, absolutely. [snorts] Can you answer the question on what happens if school is cancelled tomorrow and if there's extreme weather on Saturday for the dance? >> This is me saying it's not happening. I don't know. Um [laughter] I will have a very very upset daughter and yeah, >> Miss Beth Valley's if that is the case. Um as we are with with any activity we are watching Dr.

139K and I were talking about that today. Um, right now based on what we're seeing, we're looking okay. >> Okay. >> Um, we though always try to make sure we get that information out as soon as possible. That way for planning purposes. [snorts] Um, the kids know what's happening. Last year we had to move to winter formal. That is not >> Yeah. And I think that's what they're worried about. >> Yes. As of right now, we are we are good to go for all activities tomorrow and Saturday. >> Okay. Well, Eric said do not cancel that dance. >> Okay. [laughter] You tell Eric I'm going to do everything I can to make that happen. >> Okay. We'll move on to financial section. Uh we will ask for approval at the meeting on the uh district

140and auxiliary uh board reports. Um the au occupation tax exonerations. Uh we have two budget transfers. We have uh purchase orders for uh three items there and number five is a cyber insurance renewal recommendation. Um Susan, do you want to address any of them or >> I do need your verbal approval tonight about the cyber insurance because the expiration date is the 9th and I need to be able to get that policy in place before the the voting meeting. Um >> is there anything we need to know about? Is there just a standard renewal? >> It's a standard renewal. We're going to a different company. The company we were with um wanted a huge increase. Working with Mike McMahon and the insurance agent broker found another policy that covers just as well, maybe a little

141better for a more reasonable price. So that's their recommendation. >> Okay. >> Any other questions before we get on to the discussional items for Susan? Seeing none. Okay. Next. Well, it's that time of year to set the the uh board's budget workshop, and I know how excited everybody gets about that. >> Stoked. Stoked. [laughter] >> There's candy. There's spreadsheets. What more could you want? Um, we were looking at February 25th or 26th for that event. >> And that's a special meeting. Correct. >> That's correct. >> I will not be here, but you can certainly proceed with I'm sorry. I will be on vacation with my grandchildren. >> When does she want to do that? Um but I would 25th or 26th the information is presented in >> I can call in >> I call in

142for a lot of things. I don't think that's going to be >> at 6 20 6 whatever. >> I mean >> I'm going to lobby for the 26th. >> I was going to say 26 works better for me. >> 26. What time will that take place? >> What time would you like to start? >> Early five. >> 4 2 >> Is 6:00 okay with everybody? >> 26? >> Yes. >> I'll be thinking about you all. >> Yeah. >> You want six, not five? >> Yeah. I was going to say, can we do five? >> Five's fine. >> Can we do 4:30? >> Ke, >> February the 26th. Is that what you said? >> Yeah. I have an appointment, but I'll make my wife do it. [clears throat] >> So 4:30. Is that >> Yeah. Early

143>> where we're at? >> Sure. >> Any objection to that? >> Okay. February 26th at 4:30 in this room. >> And am I I'm okay to do the cyber insurance? >> Yes. >> All right. Thank you. >> See any objection? >> Um the only other thing I listed there, it's been four years since we did an RFP for insurance broker agent. [clears throat] Um we don't have to. We're not required to. I just wanted to ask the board. I know back when we did it the last time, it was the board's desire to do that. And if you want us to, we will do it again or continue with the team we have. >> We did it last year, you said? >> No, four years ago. >> Oh, >> I think we discussed it last

144year, right? >> Yeah, I think it's a good idea. >> Okay. >> So, we're we're putting out RP. Okay. I'm putting in my calendar the date the meeting. That's why I was paying attention. [clears throat] Sorry. >> Okay. Moving on to personnel. Anything else for Susan before we move on? Okay. Um we have uh approval at our meeting for um some additions and deletions to our professional and support substitute list. We have three resignations. um couple couple more cafeteria workers and a school nurse. Um we have a leave without pay request. We have a um request to hire an individual as a full-time head custodian. We have two uh individuals to be approved as volunteer adviserss for the robotics club. Uh we have a participation agreement with PSEA health and welfare fund for a voluntary

145vision program and we have permission to advertise summer workers for the buildings and grounds and IT departments and we have a lifeguard uh head lifeguard to approve and two RFP uh we're going to award two RFPs for professional substitute services and cafeteria supplemental staffing. thing, >> Dr. K. >> Um, all of those are on the um hire memo um that we have there um for all the positions. Um there's not a whole lot more to say with those at this time. Um I wanted to take a moment to talk about number nine and 10. Those were the RFPs that came in um from our last one. Again, I want to emphasize on this that this is really a um uh when we say that we would like to um move forward with this, this this

146is going to require anou with our unions and it's a u uh really a backup plan. So, it's more of an exploratory stage. Um the these were added to your packets and I think they have does everyone have these in front of you, too? >> I do. >> Okay. Um, uh, my recommendation at this point because they we have the summaries of what came in. Um, correct me if I'm wrong, Susan, but we have four or six of them that weren't open because they came in after the date. Um, and some of these require some additional followup. So, I gave you the summary of what we have, but I have they they didn't come in timely enough for me to check references and ask some follow-up questions for those. So, I think um we would

147not be doing our due diligence to make a recommendation move forward until we're able to um explore all those thoroughly enough, but I presented the information here before you so you can see what at least on some level we're working with. So, um, with your permission, what I would like to do is reissue those RFPs so that we can, um, restart the cycle and then those ones that came in that we weren't able to open and look at, we can at least ensure that we did our due diligence with those. The substitute teacher one, we would not be engaging in until uh, you know, next school year. So, there's no rush on that. Um, the cafeteria worker one, um, is again, you know, that's a backup plan. So, it's not required that we do it.

148It's one of the plan. >> So, there were additional ones that come in for both the substitute one and the cafeteria one, >> correct? >> Okay. >> So, because it came in after the date, you can't. >> So, your recommendation is to rebid this or I'm sorry, readvertise it [snorts] for request for proposal. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Any objection to that, guys? Okay. And that's for both of them. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Could you um when we go over that when we we're looking at the actuals, could you show us what the cost difference is to us? Like I know like we pay $120 for a subday, but it's not it's more than that because of all the other things factored in. Just I'm just curious to compare >> together. We can share

149that. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Any other questions for Dr. K? Okay, >> Elizabeth, feel free to chime in. We're all uh [laughter] you know, anytime you you feel the need to speak up. We're we're uh >> Don't let Chad dominate the conversation. >> We appreciate Yeah. We appreciate any insight you can give us. [laughter] >> Um moving on to special committees. Uh Jeff Tech report. or Doug or Trevor. >> He wasn't there. [laughter] So, we'll just we'll just start with that. So, I had to take all the notes. You know what I mean? So, uh some good things that are happening are the kids started a ski club. So, they're going to be taking their first trip I think next month. Um they did find a meat processing teacher for their program and

150he's going to be starting February 16th. Now, the good news, uh, they're having a little bit of funding issue over there because they're getting, uh, these RACK P grants, which is the redevelopment assistant capital program grants, and the state has an unknown timeline for their reimburse, their reimbursements, and when they're going to to release those funds. So Jeff Tech's requesting that any surplus that is left over from this school year be m be maintained by them um instead of >> borrowing money and having interest loans. So they want they want the funds to stay with them to cover the matching grants so they have cash flow on hand and then once they no longer need that cash flow they will return the funds owed to our district. >> Will we get a formal request from

151them on that? >> It'll be part of their budget present their budget resolution that they present. We've already um they're already holding what was our 2324 Yeah. >> refund and our 2425. Um and it's purely just a cash flow. I mean that they've been approved for the grants. It's just the way these RACK P grants. You don't get the money for like a year or so later. >> So, it's really just a a cash cash flow. They're >> they've been approved for everything. They they have the money to pay it. They just need some some cash flow for now. One of the discussions I had with her was when it does come time for them to pay us back, >> um, obviously we've already done without that money for a while. We may want to

152consider having them build a committed fund balance and and a capital reserve fund like we have here. Um, so that they don't have cash flow issues in the in the future. >> Yeah. So, they're creating a budgetary reserve to pay for their facility upgrades rather than take out uh funds. Okay, thank you. Tremor Doug. >> Heather, a report from the IU. >> Uh, yeah. Um, I actually we a lot of us didn't make it in because of the roads and whatnot, but I was in attendance on Zoom [snorts] and the bulk of it is about finding a new director. we're going to do. Um they want as many board members on site for the remaining two candidates and if these two don't pan out then they're going to readvertise. So uh the biggest part of

153the conversation was about the operating uh the general operating budget and of course that was submitted to us to take a look at. um there's just a 1% increase in our contribution and things looking forward to the budget for next year. So, um that and and you'll and you'll see that in your copy. Um, other things that I'm trying to get my head around a little bit is, you know, um, how much we utilize the STEM lending library, how many how much and how often are we submitting for, um, PD consult like consult requests, and if so, how much we're utilizing those things. Um, so I just have some more I just have some more learning things to do, but the bulk of the meetings are about, of course, finding a new director because that

154will change probably a lot of things. We talked about once that person is hired and the assistant director that they come in and present to the board what their vision is. So really, it's very transitional right now and that's their focus. >> Anybody have any questions about any of those things? I have some about um as I go through their uh approved budget and proposed budget and almost any every category has a dollar value for other purchase service other purchases services other purchase services what is that do you know what that is Susan do you >> total $50ome If you look at page two, support and curriculum services. You pan down through their salaries, employment has other purchased other purchased services. Other purch one of them has other purchased services. Like I said, I did

155the math. They add up to a little over 50 grand. Those cur What page are you on? >> Two. >> Page two. >> Oh, sorry. the general description for that object code for that 500 object code. I don't know what their specifics are that they could they use that for >> but I can find out. >> Yeah, it's like having a miscellaneous fund in there. I'm like, okay, what's what's that about? I want a miscellaneous fund, too. >> Called savings. >> Just help them put that on. Okay, we'll have Susan check on that. Um, anything under communications, Susan? Okay. Okay. We will have the payment of the bills for the general fund, the cafeteria fund, and the construction projects that are listed. Um, and also um one other final balance due for uh under the

156general fund. Anything under new business? >> I have something. um the parents that were in here about their their child that they wanted a room added to the high school for him to go to. Can we put that under new business for next month to discuss or get some thoughts on that? >> That um is well underway, but we can discuss that. Um that's a staffing issue that is related to those the children and the needs that they have. So, but um we can talk about that. That was something that we were examining. Okay, thank you. >> I have a couple things. Sure, if I may. Um, just as a reminder, it's on our the front of our agenda, but we have um uh Dr. Barry Filman is going to be joining us on Tuesday

157bringing some of his tech students to talk about the programs. Um it is uh recognition for this month's uh tech >> career and technical education. Thank you. >> What is it? >> Career and technical education one. >> Okay. [cough] So he will be here to highlight a number of his students. Um a couple of the things um we are um you know as related to some of our our goals we were going to um uh put some extra effort into our um HR and recruiting process. So there are two job fairs that we are registered for. One is in the um um convention center in Pittsburgh and one is in the IEP conference that's coming up in preparation for that. Um although we have not yet gone through all of our staffing uh to determine

158in full what positions we will need or not need, um I would like to be able to um advertise for anticipated positions so that we can get out ahead of this and begin to build relationships potential candidates that are out there and that would help us at those fairs as well. Um so we can begin to at least collect interest and then as we get closer to that and we have those discussions, we'll know which ones are secured. Um uh next I wanted to just um you know uh publicly thank Carmen and his crew and also our um local road departments and our state crews. Um we have a uh an NOA weather bulletin that comes to us frequently and gives us updates. And one of the ones that they gave us here just recently

159indicated this last storm that we had was the second largest since 2000 and the third largest in recorded weather history here. Um and uh I think that they worked round the clock to get our campus cleared, our roads cleared in town. Um and um it was in great shape in in short time. So we appreciate that. Carmen and his guys were were round the clock working in plowing and uh a lot of that goes unnoticed while we're at home in the comfort of our warm homes. He was out in the truck and with his guys uh doing that. So we really appreciate that Carmen. Thank you. Um and then lastly, um I had a u a presentation um that um uh the other day that was um uh exciting an opportunity that I'd like to

160share with you and get your um I guess endorsement to move forward with the uh pre-planning of it. Um I don't know if any of you have heard of unified sports before. Um it is a um I guess the best way to call it is it's a derivative of Special Olympics and and essentially what it is is creating a um another high school sport um that is a PIAA endorsed sport. Okay. And so it has some criteria in it that uh is different and special and unique in that you have to have a certain number of students with an intellectual disability or physical disability as well as a certain number of kids without and also not participating in that season in a seasonal sport. So a fall, winter or spring sport based on where it's

161at. And it is a high school sport, a varsity sport. So they would have um competitions, intercolastic competitions. They would have the cheerleaders there. They would have the the gate and and the competition. They [snorts] would have uniforms, coach uh and the season banquet and the an ability to letter and the whole part of it. Um and it is a it's a great opportunity to build an inclusive environment and it's a great opportunity uh a cultural opportunity for our high school. Um and it's a great thing for the overall community. Um and it cost us nothing to get started at least. So the initial um sport that we would likely participate in would be botchi and they would provide the indoor practice court. Um they would pay for the stipen for a coach, uniforms, equipment.

162The only thing that we would be required to handle is busing to probably four or five away games. The requirement would be to um have uh at least two practices after school a week. Um and we would there's you know some more planning that would need to be involved in all of this. But I guess what I was looking for this evening is that it would require anou. But before you could get to that, >> um there's some planning that needs to happen. So if I have your endorsement on that, I would proceed with the planning and bring that. Um, and I think it would be something that would be nice. The other part of that is too is that they um have extra money that we would be able to do a pre uh

163intramur intramural version of this where kids could have uh internal competition. We wouldn't be on the road yet, but we would be able to practice and learn how to do all of this inhouse um prior to next. It's a winter sport. Winter sport. Yes. Um and then once we built out they have um uh uh track and they have uh fall sport would be uh fitness. So I'm not certain exactly what events are in there but um those are the the three that would be >> and they do have at the state track and field meet there are uh there's opportunity to make it to the state track and field meet if you have track and field >> yes at the giant center in in Hershey. So yes, they it would be it is a

164sport that would have uh intercolastic competition. You would have champions that would move on to um regional state competition levels and just like you would have for any other event. So >> have your blessing on that. I'll again I'll work forward with the pro planning process that we can >> Yeah, that sounds awesome. It's my daughter um my oldest daughter who has a masters in adaptive physical activity through slippery rock worked with um it's big out there the botchi especially because they've got these active people to be coaches you know from from that program but um she it was just incredible the things she had to say about it and to to watch the >> developmentally challenged students working with the the you know the people who weren't. Um she said it was such a

165it was a good learning experience for the regular ed people per se, but um she she had nothing but huge accolades to say that it's something that all school districts should do. >> Yeah, it's a great >> there's a number of our local um regional districts that are currently uh engaged in this. So it would be quite easy to create a a schedule and this would be run if you know we we make this work. This would be something that would be run through Mr. office in terms [clears throat] of it as if he's building a schedule out for any other athletic event. So, [snorts] >> I had one question in that in that vein. You and I talked about this before. They used to have the presidential cup. >> Um was it >> physical

166fitness award for that forever? >> It's back [laughter] now. It's it's well they the federal government did away with it. Now it's back. >> Okay, then we're doing it. >> Yeah. [laughter] That's what I'm saying. Yeah. Yeah. Definitely like to get back into that again. [clears throat] >> Let me research. I'm I'm unfamiliar with what it used to be. [clears throat and cough] >> Yeah. To do so many chin ups and so many situps and push-ups. >> You got to medal. >> Yeah, that's what they need to be doing. No. [laughter] >> There's a lot to unpack there, but we'll work on it, Katie. Okay. Any other new business? Um >> Jacob Bowser, Nova Shrek, Melody Schaeer, and Ella Burke are the students who are going to district. And next week, um 1213, we'll have

167students going to District Jazz, but I don't know those names. >> Thank you. >> District Jazz, you said? >> Yeah, we district band is separate from district jazz. >> There's also two students going to region choir, I believe, in a week or two. >> She does speak >> [laughter] >> Aren't you glad you signed up for this? >> It takes a meeting or two, but you'll be, you know. >> Yeah, >> I have notes. It's okay. >> Good. Okay, [laughter] that's all that we have. Okay. Anything else before we adjourn? Okay, seeing none, we'll see everybody Tuesday. Uh, our executive session on Tuesday is beginning going to begin at 5:30. So, and our meeting will begin at 6. Thank you everyone.