001We'd like to call the meeting to order. Roll call. >> Mr. Broofphy >> here. >> Miss Connor >> here. >> Miss Katz >> here. >> Miss Nyman >> here. >> Mr. Brad Uptogrove. >> Mr. Roger Uptogrove >> here. >> Dr. Weir >> here. >> Dr. Wy. Mr. Penerella. >> Here we rise for pledge of allegiance. A moment of silence to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible and justice for all. The board of school directors had no previous executive sessions. All right, that takes us down to item number four, our discussion and information section. I just want to announce for the board and for community we have I'd like to welcome, you can see behind the camera, uh Joselyn Krinowski, pronounced that
002correctly? >> Yeah. >> All right. She is a Bashman and he she will be joining us through the uh both this meeting and the May meeting. um as Evan Degan is going to be graduating and uh we're taking a little bit of time with Mr. Chaskky back there to train um Joselyn through uh through the month of May. So, welcome. >> Thank you. >> All right. Our first item this evening for discussion information is item A and that's our proposed final budget update as we are nearing that time period in the in the school year for proposed uh final budgets and final budgets al together. So I'm going to turn things over for item A to Mr. Lent and to walk through some updates related to the budget. >> Thank you. Uh so first u
003wanted to update um at this point uh school districts across the county of Burks um have begun their uh proposed final budget process. Um so collected as much data as I could possibly obtain in preparation for this um to outline the um proposed tax increases um as we've discussed we're at a 1.9% uh tax increase um for this year. Um I also ranked um above about ranked the districts by um the millage rate for tax burden. So you start with the lowest mills. Um you can see that Boertown um ranks um in the middle um at a 1.9% um which is one of the lowest tax increases that is on the table right now um with public knowledge uh from other Burks County school districts. Next slide. Uh to refresh, uh we shared this at
004a previous finance committee presentation. Um this is um showing the adjusted act one index. Um highlighted in red is our real estate tax increase. Um and so when we look back over the 10-year period of time, um this is the lowest tax increase that we um have presented since 2016 to 17. So on the next slide I want to um explain the homestead farmstead exclusion. So eligible homestead and farmsteads um receive um homestead farmstead exclusion off of their tax bills. So to be an eligible homesteader farmstead um you have to complete a form with the county uh be approved. Um once you receive approval for um the homestead farmstead um it remains unless there's changes or a change of owners and every year we do a mailing to new owners um for um interest in
005this exclusion. The funding for the Homestead Farmstead exclusion is from the Pennsylvania gaming proceeds. So those are allocated uh to school districts. Um and you can see that uh we had a slight increase of around uh 22,000 or so. um in our allocations for the year. Um and of course the allocations are distributed by the number of eligible homestead farmsteads. So there's a slight decrease in that number this year. So um this year roughly a $2 increase um per eligible homestead farmstead um in that um allocation that will be received on on tax bills. So when we kind of look to the middle um piece when we look at Homestead Farmstead, we also reference what's the median assessment uh for our district. Um so if we were to now translate our millage rate um into
006a median tax bill, um you can see the change there. We then apply the homestead farmstead exclusion for um a property that receives that and the median value property tax increase as a result of the final approval of the 2627 budget would be $51.36 for the year. Next slide. Uh so to review the 1.9% tax increase. Um, we've talked about our alignment of revenues and expenditures as we've gone through the budget process. Um, also have talked about the market adjustment for support staff. Um, moving uh to 50% of the current Burks County average. Um, also the adjustments that we've made to our contracted services agreements um, which is all incorporated within this budget at 1.9%. On the next slide, we've talked about the planning process um that we as a district um have gone through
007um preparing for full day kindergarten. Um because we don't have the ability as a school district um to incorporate positions at the time that we're ready for full day K, we've gradually proposed a plan to incorporate budgeting these positions into the budget. And this began in 2025. So, we budgeted two uh full day kindergarten positions. This year, we're adding five professional positions for full day, five paraprofessional positions, and then um to both support our current needs as well as our needs with um full day additional um intervention positions for three additional full-time equivalents and a high school ELLL position. and then based upon student participation, six coaching positions. So those are all built into the budget. The plan that we've discussed is that when we bring next year's budget back, we'll have um more additions
008to again build up so that we are as a district fully ready from an expenditure and revenue standpoint to support full day kindergarten. Next slide just um gives us a comparison for for revenues. And again um overall um revenues increase 7% in this budget. Um a contributing factor of that is the adequacy funding that we um have um received from the state and are expected to continue to receive um as a district. Um that's um in total um $3 million number um that's now been incorporated into our budget. Um, additionally, we've aligned revenues to respond to what we actually realize for interest um, earnings, transfer tax earnings, earned income tax earnings, delinquent tax collections. And that really is an important point to make because those are going to be one-time adjustments we're able to take
009to the budget. We're not going to be u beneficiaries of that um, every year. on the expenditure piece um when we incorporate the new positions into the budget also make sure that our salaries are aligned to our actual expenditures. So as a school district um we have a number of transitions that take place during a year with um onboarding offboarding staff position vacancies um turnover um and so when we incorporate that in we're actually um down as a budget for salaries uh for next year. um our benefits. Um we did have um an increase in our employee benefits um based upon the usage and in particular um some driving prescription drugs to our health care plan um to increase there. And then overall other expenditures that are driven by our contracted service costs uh for
010providers, um charter school costs, student placement costs, and then our day-to-day supplies um and equipment budgets um that were developed by budget administrators um brings us to a 5.75% increase on our expenditures. So at this point um the next step is that we would approve the proposed final budget at the May legislative meeting. Um the budget will then be put into the required state form for um public view and then an approval of the final budget on June 23rd. Any questions from the board? Mr. I have one more >> for the delinquent real estate taxes. The actual last year was 1.2. How come we're only budgeting for 600 this year? >> So delinquents eb and flow based upon payment plans and cycles. And in particular, there was a large payment that we received for a
011delinquent property. So that's not necessarily going to okay recur. Um delinquents take a number of years to collect. Um, and in particular, um, on commercial properties, um, they wait until there's a sale or something for payment. So, I don't see where we're going to be able to capture that every year. >> Okay. Gotcha. Thanks. Okay. Thank you very much, Mr. Lance. And, uh, we're going to keep you keep you at the plate here with item B, Homestead Farmstead. if you could just review that with the board. >> Sure. So talked about the homestead farmstead. So a little bit of the mechanics. So we um receive these funds in two payments from the state and then um they are obviously um taken off of tax bills. Um so um we receive these the board has to
012accept these funds. Um if you're if there was not a desire to accept these funds um we would have to notify the state of that board action. And again, it's estimated at a $24866 value for properties. And item C, the installment plan for payment of the the proposed uh real estate taxes that we um are recommending will be recommending to the board for 2627. Just want to review that plan. >> Absolutely. So, um, we have a, um, installment plan that's been in place. Um, individuals can make four installment payments, um, July, August, September, and October, um, for 25%. Um, also if somebody chooses not to participate in the installment plan, um, they can receive a 2% discount on their taxes. And if taxes are paid after October 31st, there's a 10% um, late fee and
013then they go turned over to our delinquent tax collection. >> Item D, the diamond disposal agreement. You want to quickly review that with board, Mr. Lince? >> Sure. So, um, diamond disposal is for our trash recycling disposal. Um, the board had previously gone out to bid for these services. Diamond disposal was the lowest bidder by 58%. Um, so um, we're bringing forward a renewal uh, for a total um, approved cost. Um, the disposal actual expenditure is based upon uh, pickups, the number of pickups we have um, that we need. um the number of actual um dumpsters that we have or or recycling um pieces there um you know for that. And so um the costs um do vary. Um the cost that is um being proposed um within this contract um is aligned to what
014our spending is for the current um fiscal year. And our um cost this year was to be $95,698 um um but that does vary from from year to year based upon our pickups. >> And item E, Comandscaping Agreement. >> Yep. So Com Valley um does the um mowing services for Bash Ed Center support services in Colbergdale. Um the um also um is a prior three-year contract. Um the pricing that was um obtained um from um Com Valley um is actually less at 82,000 than what the total approved cost was for 2526 at um $88,170. Um previous contracts didn't break out the weeding cost. It was actually an add-on cost. Um, so that's um included in here now. Um, and the total approved cost is less than the total cost with the add-ons for um applying
015chemicals um which was around $96,000 for for last year. Also, in order to apply those chemicals, you have to have a license with the state. The district does not have an individual at this point in time um with those license. I was just going to ask. >> All right, that takes us to item F, e-ray bid award. I'm going to invite Mr. Dave Feight, our director of IT, to the podium to walk and talk through the -ate process and some of the considerations um we're recommending to the board for capital projects this year. >> Good evening everyone. Uh this is a summary of two large-scale projects that we wish to accomplish through the e-ate bidding process over the upcoming summer. Uh the two projects are both eligible and we have already bidded them out with
016a successful bid campaign uh where we received six uh individual bids for each project. The first project uh is our wireless access points. They are those little modem looking things in the in the ceiling that provide our network connection to all of our rooms. uh that will be a total of 565 indoor units. We are also planning to upscale our exterior coverage to ensure that we have uh coverage out on playground areas and other areas where students may need whether it's a health monitoring device or some other internet connected device uh so that they'll have Wi-Fi access provided to them. The second project is a firewall appliance which helps us uh with our firewall and our security infrastructure. One of those units would be installed in our data center which is located at Bash and
017the second is a redundancy um uh load balancing uh appliance which we have at our middle school west location because we are only entitled to one - uh eligible appliance that would cover the data center. The second appliance would be non-ate eligible. Uh, and you'll see that in the slides uh, moving forward. What is -ate? Just a a real general summary of what -ate is. That's a federal program that allows schools and libraries the ability to access federal funds to help with the delivering of technology and infrastructure within the buildings. This is a category 2 usage which is includes the install of new routers, switches, and firewalls. Category one would be something that provides the actual internet connection like the fiber optic project that we had several years ago. So we applied through the normal
018application process and we had six vendors as I said bid for each um individual project. That first project is the proposed equipment is a 40et 40 gate uh 40 gate 701g series appliance. uh that is a top-of-the-line uh issued um appliance under the -ate uh eligibility terms. The total cost is listed there. Those two appliances cost 156,000 and change because we only are eligible for -ate on one appliance. That's where the rate cost comes in at just over 34,000. So the outofpocket estimate for the district for that project would be 122,000 and change. Our second project is a more robust project that will probably extend possibly into the school year. It depends on uh you know how how lucky we are with inventory. Obviously when you wait till July 1 to order equipment which is
019part of the -ate consulting um obligations sometimes they can be backordered. might take some time to get the full scale of over 530 units. Uh that project will encompass this building, our uh transportation building and all nine schools. So it's a pretty robust project. All of the equipment that is being replaced has been marked by the vendor is out of service, out of support, which is necessitated the need for us to move forward with that project. Does anybody have any questions for me at this time? >> Got a quick question. So, are we levying all of the uh e what are they called? Um >> e- rate. >> The rate. Um are we maximizing, you know, everything that we need? We're trying to get through this. >> Absolutely. Last two years we've had projects. This
020is our second year in a row. uh -ate allows you to use their funds and then that pro those that equipment must remain in the buildings and in use for a total of five years. That is an obligation of the -ate project. So there will be some other projects down the line, but everything that falls under a category one or category 2 instance with -ate, we consult with an independent uh consultant person who allows us to file for everything that we can. So yes, everything that is eligible under that contract we send out for bid. >> Okay. >> Yes, ma'am. >> You said we have to keep it for five years. What happens if something happens to it and say we're in our third or fourth year? >> If there's failure, then it is covered
021under the vendor warranty that because as an access they to access the ability to bid on an project, they must extend the warranties for those that time period. So if something were to happen that is not the fault of the district, it would be reimbured by the vendor. >> Thank you. >> Sure. >> Are all those -ate things are they backed up by our generator service then? If >> anything that would require power? >> Yeah. >> Yes, >> they are. >> Yes. Anything that would fall under that would would anything >> power at a building then we still covered then. >> Correct. Yes. Everything in our data center is covered under the the generator backup. We also have UPS devices which are also covered by underate which are a battery operated backup. In case the
022generators fails, we have backup redundancy on top of that. So yes, >> thank you. >> Also just as a point of of clarification, um we do maintain a technology fund. Um 8.1 million's the current balance. Um, and so we utilize those funds for these improvements. Um, and again, as Mr. Fight said, uh, we received the the ebate credit or discount off of the purchases. >> Thank you, Mr. Fight. Um, we did list here the computer to science and the tech supply bid awards. And you can see the bid tallies um that are listed there totaling a little over excess of 4,700 for that. Item H. Um I'm going to ask if Mrs. Bartman would come to the podium. Our director of special education, she'll be speaking to items G, H, and I. Or excuse me,
023Hi. H and I >> got it. This is the BCIU annual service agreement. So this is the agreement that we utilize with the Burks County Intermediate Unit to provide early intervention services. We also utilize a school psychologist from the IU and deaf and heart of hearing services. >> Mr. Where would you scroll down and you can just board can see the service components on that >> and there are the rates. >> There are the rates. >> Correct. Any questions? Okay. The next item that I have are various contracts that I have for your approval. Um, there are some for related service providers for our extended school year program and also for next year. There's also some contracts for alternative schools and a few schools that we do have some pre purchase slots. So, we do
024have schools that are throughout this contract agreement that we pre- purchase slots and we do that so we have those slots throughout the year and typically we get a discount as well and every year we review those slots to see how many do we need for this school or how many do we need for that school. >> Yes. How many schools do we have placements or seats but we're not using them? We use all of our seats throughout the year. We may not use them all at the beginning of the year, but they are used throughout the entire year. >> How many months are they not used? >> I I would have to look at that. It truly depends because we do place students and then we work very hard to bring students back to
025the district. So, sometimes one slot could be used for two students. Any questions? Any more questions from the board? All right. Thank you, Mrs. Barman. Under uh item J, we did have a and we had put this information in the weekly, a confidential settlement agreement. Um and again, many of our other agreements that we have um with other schools allow us to not necessarily um include more settlement agreements. We're able to meet the needs of other students outside the school district with some of these other annual agreements um inclusive of some of those placements to which we prepay uh for seats. um it is a a oftent times a very much um high demand and supply demand with regard to um many placements that we're competing with other school districts for those those same seats.
026So under item K um Mr. Lance if you could just uh quickly just review the BCTC and town school district nutrition program agreement. Um ultimately this is really just an agreement um as a shared interest and reciprocity with regard to the food service between tech and the school district. >> That's correct. Um so the um agreement sets forth that for um the next year um there we're going to be the home school and Burk's Career and Technical Center will be the receiving school um for um the National School Lunch Program because uh students that um attend there are actually under our um our food service program. um they're in our numbers and so um this agreement is in place so that those students receive the benefits of the national school lunch uh program um when
027they're at BCTC. Thank you. Item L uh board treasurer is that time of the year where we need to um annually um approve or reapprove and we are recommending this Carrie Fox who you see here doing our legislative meetings as the accounting manager who has the qualifications to serve as the board treasurer. Um again we'll be recommending at the legislative meeting she serve in that same capacity for 2627. the stipen that she receives for that um for that work is $1,200 for the year. Under item M, the board secretary um and again an every four-year um requirement um with us transitioning July 1 to Mr. Lent as the uh CFO here in the district, makes most sense that we um move forward and recommend that Mr. Lent serve in that term um when he does
028establish as the new CFO starting July 1. And we're certainly pleased to recommend to the board uh an overnight trip and this is for some of our TSA National Conference students. these students, eight students and a teacher um who have qualified for the national conference based on their uh their regional their state competitions and have been selected to um move to the national conference. You can see the dates of that which are after school lets out in later June. um transportation provided by through a vehicle van to which the teacher will be um or excuse me that which we will have a a quickigly van driver driving both the teacher and the eight students down for that particular trip. Everything that they're going to do inclusive of that trip is going to be a foot
029in the city for their um a number of their meals and so forth. You can see listed in item uh O a number of donations and again thank you to our providers for um their willingness to provide many donations throughout the school year. The list there includes the PTO at Boyertown Elementary for some decodable reader sets, the Rotary Club of Boyertown for uh Joy Otter materials um and a number of different things as we begin um our water safety program at the YMCA later this month with with throughout our elementary schools. And Shutterfly for donations of books to our newest book vending machines. is if you visited any of our elementary schools, you'll see in the lobby area or in some prominent area a book vending machine uh to which uh students through our PBIS
030program and incentives to um of behavior and proper decorum um are are awarded tokens throughout the course of the year to then uh purchase books through the vending machines that that are there. Again, the vendetting machines themselves were a donation by the education foundation to the district as well. So, we thank them for that. And then lastly, uh the Giant Company, and again, this is through um their uh monetary donation system. We earned $6,200. Those that money will go back through um to purchase small equipment and specialty food items. um some for some of our economically challenged um families and students as well. So, thank you again and we're recommending approval of that list at the next legislative meeting. Um the next list and it really goes from P through Z and double A through
031double M. Uh we had a pretty uh thorough uh policy committee meeting um two weeks ago. went through a number of policies that you see listed there and I'll just quickly summarize some of those and some changes. If you were to open any of those documents, uh the changes are either in bold or there's lines that are struck. What we will do based on um fe any feedback today, we will take those back and we will adjust those and create clean versions to bring forward at our next legislative meeting for a first read. So, I'll start with policy 1051. Um, we had originally talked about an appeal process, but really due to um this it's not necessarily um you know, it's guided by federal law. Um and we did not really need to make any
032adjustments to that. The 105.3 uh no updates to that. Um we do cover in a uh policy 718 items about service animals and we will be looking at that at a later time. um policy 108 um the suggested edits were accepted. The ARS 01 and two there were some slight adjustments and you can see those either bolded or struck inside those particular policies. Um, as we make our way down to 112, uh, policy 112, uh, there was an edit except along with the minor change to replace the word guidance with school counseling to bringing it into a little bit more modern approach, an acceptable approach with school language. And then items the policies 113, which begin at W and extend all the way through MM. uh all the suggested edits were accepted. Many of those
033um were updates through PSBA which were guided mostly by a lot of federal law changes through the time since those policies were last reviewed. So, it's a very extensive list. We went through the committee um and bringing those to you here and and committee of a whole so everybody could see those um as well as our public. And um we are going to we will be recommending these to a first read at our next legislative meeting. Any policy committee members? Anything that you'd like to share? Okay. >> Okay. All right. Good. Thank you. >> Okay. Believe that's all we have under discussion and information. Mr. Panerell >> reports BCIU. Mr. Brophie, >> the BCIU meeting this week was primarily or this last month was primarily internal issues. So there's really nothing relevant to this meeting.
034>> Okay. >> BCTC, Mr. Up the Group. Uh yes, the last meeting we were discussing um as far as um replacing teachers and you know that that kind of stuff that goes on every year because we have teachers retiring and uh it's kind of hard to get to to replace skilled teachers. So that's what we're working on. Public com period number one. Mister dear all facilities and budget. >> It is red. >> Uh okay. Okay. I wanted to know how much in dollars and cents that we're getting added to the budget for the ghost employees that we're hiring this year and how much we had from last year and what are we doing with that money in the meantime since we're not hiring the teachers. That was one thing. Um >> Moff, can you just
035explain ghost? >> Well, you're hiring positions and no teachers, >> right? Are you speaking to the kindergarten positions to which we Okay. Okay. >> Yes. >> Um I appreciate the schedule and the lower taxes. That's very helpful. Um we're we're getting more and more nonprofits added to the list. So anytime we add a nonprofit, we get less money. And I just hope that the district is aware. We had several this year again and there's more coming up next year. U and that can get quite quite uh put put a burden on your tax bases. Um you said the secretary is getting an extra 1,200. Do we pay any extra for the treasur? >> They didn't mention that. >> We do not. >> Okay. It's the opposite. Mr. >> Pardon me. >> The treasur gets the
036ball. The secretary doesn't get >> Well, that's up to you when you want to play checkers. I don't play uh out forbid. Do we send all these things? Out forbid the uh uh the mowing and the uh garbage and all that. So we did not because they were bid the last round and for continuity of service and in light of the bids yielding that um in particular for disposal it was 58% below the next um lowest bidder um the decision was made to um renew that agreement. The com the valley landscaping is a one-year um extension of the three-year that went out for bid the last time. So, we don't have to do that. We just change your wording and then >> it's a service. >> Okay. How about um is it normal for us
037to pay for performance bonds? I thought the person doing the work had to pay for them if they're required to have one. >> I I need more specifics of what you're referencing with the question of the performance. If you're if you're doing work for the district and you're required to present the district with a performance bond, is it normal for the district to pay for it or the person doing the work? >> Ordinarily, the the vendor doing the work present? >> That's what I thought. So why are we paying performance bond for one of the vendors? >> I'm not understanding that we are. >> Well, is it all right if I see you afterwards? >> Sure. rather than discuss names in public. Is that all right? >> Yeah, that's fine. >> All right. Thank you.
038Um, how much is one mil equal to in dollars and cents? Like if we increase our taxes one mill, how much money do we get in for that one mill? I'd have to look again at the breakdown for the exact amount because the homestead farmstead distorts that because you actually do the calculation then you pull out the homestead farmstead so it's a reduced number. >> Okay. I I just want it approximate. Doesn't have to be right on the money. Just I have no idea if it's $1,000 or 5,000. So that's why I ask. Uh, can we know what last year's budget was for technology? >> Um, we can we can certainly follow up on that. >> So, when you say budget for technology, are you I I don't know what you're talking about the or
039>> every department puts in a budget, do they not? >> They do. >> I know what last year's >> So, you're not talking about the capital reserve that we just talked about with - you're talking about technology budget and the general budget. Yes. Um, >> of course. >> Thank you. >> And this isn't I'm not supposed to talk about something that's not on this menu, but it's just one little question which they will have to look up anyway, Mr. President. So, if I could, I'd like to know how much did we pay to date on facilities for overtime, which would include the janitors and maintenance and the grounds because We have had four grounds people before and we did all the weeds or whatever you want to call it. And now we have six grounds
040people and we're we're not doing that ourselves anymore because we don't have anybody that has a license. We always had two people that had a license. So I guess I'd like to know why because that saves a lot of money. Thank you. At this time, we're looking for the approval of the April 28th, 2026 legislative meeting minutes as presented. I'll >> motion Mr. Brophy, >> yes. >> Miss Connor, >> yes. >> Miss Katz, >> yes. >> Miss Nimon, >> no. >> Mr. Roger. Up to Grove. >> Yes. >> Dr. Weer, >> yes. >> Mr. Penella, >> yes. Under personnel item eight, personnel, the administration is recommending board approve the personnel agenda as listed. >> I'll second Can I ask a question real quick? So, uh, reviewing the personnel agenda, I see we have a lot
041of individuals, um, being hired for the SIP program or the SIP teachers. Can I get a just a general understanding of what that program is, how it's funded, you know, those kind of things? >> Mr. Stout, you want to take that one? Or Mr. Han, do you want to take that? >> The SIP program. how >> just a a general overview of what that program is, um how it's funded, how it's utilized throughout I'm assuming it's over the summer, >> right? Just just a little an overview. >> Absolutely. It's a program that has evolved uh really since the COVID years. Um we were able to put supports in place over those summer um to support kids because of the loss of learning over that time. Um and since then we've continued the program. So um
042it's it it truly is based upon um need um and it really turns into a program that um for those that um choose to attend it uh we've opened it up a lot more. Prior to COVID we used to do teachers in the parks program which was more of a limited program. Um this is all separate from our summer school like extended school year program for special education. This is for regular education students. Um, we try to coordinate the two programs together due to transportation purposes and kind of going back and forth and housing them in similar areas throughout the district. Um, and it really is just trying to uh to maintain student progress and to not have a summer slide. Um, so it's it's a period of time in the summer that kids can
043just stay kind of engaged in their learning. Um, so it it's it's evolved over the years. Um I can't say that it is incredibly participated in over the time because some families choose not to to send their kids but um we definitely have um you know strong participation maybe not as quite as strong as we would like and we've been able to put money in our budget each year to maintain that program since co >> Is it every day um of the week uh all summer? How >> Yeah. Um so typically it's four days a week. um our our ESY program, Mrs. Bartman, if you can correct me, is is that four days a week as well or do we do five days on? >> It's three days. Three days a week. Um Tuesday, Wednesday,
044Thursday. >> Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. >> Tuesday. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Um and the hours 8 to 2, 8 to 3. >> What is our 12? >> Yeah. >> 8 to 12. Okay. >> Yeah. It's only a partial day of program. >> Okay. >> 8:30 8:30 to 12. >> 8:30 to 12. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> So, you said we fund that through our budget >> is >> we do over the past um year since co when we're receiving all the co relief funds. The initial um push at that particular time was to utilize funds for that purpose and we've decided to be able to to budget money to uh maintain the program over the years. >> Is there a minimum amount of students? If we don't hit that, we don't run with it. No,
045it's it's districtwide, so we don't have it building specific. So, it's open a little bit more so that um we we have enough students to be in a classroom to support. Um there are random times when families take vacations and such over the summer. We actually have our own substitute teacher plan um during the course of the summer because obviously some of our teachers that participate in SIP are um are on vacation as well, but we don't shut down a classroom. We have enough kids to to have the the different supports. >> What do you call enough What's the minimum? >> Yeah, go ahead. >> Because it's an intervention intervention program, the numbers are smaller. It's not a typical class size. So, we do cap the classes at 10 so that they can get that
046individualized attention during the summer that they need. And just to clarify, we do have five classrooms running at Colbergdale and four at Gilbert'sville and they are all full right now um with their classes. >> It's just those two schools. >> We host them at that schools, but it's offered to all students across the district. Mr. Broofphy, >> yes. >> Miss Connor, >> yes. >> Miss Katrz, >> yes. >> Miss Nimman, >> yes. >> Mr. Roger Uprove, >> yes. >> Dr. Weer, >> yes. >> Mr. Penerella, >> yes. Eyes have it. >> Under item nine, there's currently no old business listed. That leads us to public comment period number two. Gretch and Leah planetarium and voter registration. >> Has the planetarium been totally approved? >> So, uh, >> yes, Michael. >> Oh, is it not on?
047>> Okay, it's on. Okay, >> you got just want to repeat that question again. just for everyone for the public. >> Oh, okay. I was just curious. I've done a little research about other planetariums and I'm wondering has the planetarium the whole thing been approved? >> So, we are currently working with two entities that are a large funding source for this until that has finalized. Um, nothing with the planetarium at this point would be moving forward. So, that will be brought back to the board once all of those details are are established. and they've probably done a little bit of work that I've done. But I called Methactton and talked to the man that runs that he was so for it. I mean, I couldn't get him off the phone, but he did say the
048school does not support it. Even though that they have things that they charge people to come, it takes additional funding. So, I just thought I'd pass that on. Now, the next thing uh was about voter registration. I just was surprised to hear Well, I'll tell a little story. I was trying to set up a table at coming out of hiberntown's coming out of hibernation and I was going trying to do a voter registration table so people learned that you know it's better to go online register and things like that and I thought uh it would be nice to ask the school district if any of their kids that have to do you know outside participation if they'd want to join in that so I asked a board member u Dr. WY to ask about it
049and she told me that it was too political and they won't let their kids do that. And I thought that's I don't know why that's political because I think it's in our 15th amendment the right to vote. So I'm hope you're teaching your kids about how to register and that they have the right to vote. >> So we do share that information throughout the high school um in in some of their government classes and make them aware of of those types of things. We typically don't get involved with entities coming because it does become and it could be in in you know perception is everything to some and it could be determined to be a very political way of entities engaging um the school district when it comes to establishing registration and and so forth.
050So we do try to stay away from that. However, educating our students about that is something that is our responsibility to do which we believe we do and do well >> to all the kids. >> Yes. >> Okay. Because in the oddest thing, I was talking to someone that said they had approached uh the Burks intermediate unit and the League of Women Voters is very much behind teaching people how to register and that you're right. So, they offered it to all the school districts in the Burks count in Burks County and some school districts responded and said yes, they would like it. What was going to happen was a a League of Women Voters would work with the civics teacher so that they could teach all the students that stuff. Boyer town didn't even answer.
051So, I'm just a little bit wondering what you're teaching your kids. >> Well, we do feel that we're teaching our students exactly what they need to do if they want to engage in the registration process for voting. Um, and I will certainly circle back with our high school principal and he can circle back with that the the the lead department member about that. >> Okay. >> To ensure that. >> Okay. I just like to know that your kids are getting everything that's being offered. >> Yep. >> Thank you. >> Announcements. board comments. >> I just wanted to wish all the teachers and all the educators a happy education week. Um, happy education week. Yeah, just real quick, um, welcome to Jocelyn and congrats to her and the rest of the cast of A Midsummer Night's
052Dream for their, um, for their great shows. Thank you. >> Nothing at this time. >> Nothing. >> Roger. >> Yeah, I just want to congratulate the Bears baseball team on making the playoffs. So, we'll see how far he go, but I'm behind him. Thank you. >> Also want to congratulate the track team. Looks like we have a couple people that are going to be going to states. >> All right, it takes us to announcements. Our meeting dates. So, in two weeks, we will have a facilities committee meeting here at 6 p.m. followed by the legislative meeting at 7. Motion to adjurnn. >> We are seconds. Me adjourned.