001I'd like to call this meeting to order. Roll call. >> Dr. Wiley. Mr. Brophy. >> Here. >> Ms. Connor. >> Here. >> Ms. Kratz. >> Here. >> Ms. Steinman. >> Here. >> Mr. Brad Upthegrove. >> Here. >> Mr. Roger Upthegrove. >> Here. >> Dr. Weir. >> Here. >> Mr. Pennarola. >> Here. >> All present. We can rise for a pledge of allegiance and a moment of silence. The Board of School Directors held an executive session prior to tonight's meeting. April 28th, 2026. Uh the topic was informational and personnel. Session lasted approximately 1 hour. >> All right, that takes us down to our recognition showcase for this evening and uh district is really proud to uh present this evening a program that was initiated uh last year across multiple counties in which Kutztown was involved in
002uh just this year and we're proud to uh recognize some students who are graduates of the Early College Academy program at Kutztown University. So, just to explain a little bit about what the program is, Kutztown College of Education Kutztown University's College of Education in partnership with many area high schools helped to create accelerated access to careers in education and exploratory studies with a unique dual enrollment program. In the early college academy, it provides accelerated access to college and careers for high school students. We partnered with school districts across Berks, Lehigh, Montgomery, and Schuylkill counties to engage in this process. And how does it work? Well, it works by having high school students who are generally interested in working in the field of education and and or in some exploratory studies. They They attend classes on
003Kutztown University's campus. These are all in-person classes where they take two courses in the fall semester and two in the spring semester. The four courses count toward majors in education. The classes are scheduled for half day two or three days a week, and by the end of the academic year, students earn up to including 12 credits equivalent equivalent to one full-time semester for college. For some schools, students will participate in an internship at the elementary or middle schools in their district on other days of the week. So, we are really proud to um present this evening students who we've asked to come this evening. I think they're all here minus one. One had an obligation, another senior recognition this evening. So, as I call your names, we're going to ask that you come forward. We
004have some items that we're going to present you with, and we would like to recognize you with a collective picture. >> Let me stand here and call your names from here, so it's recorded and people can hear those names. The Boyertown Area School District presents a certificate of recognition to Hayden Reifsnyder in recognition of her completion of Kutztown University's Early College Academy program. And I do believe Hayden is a student who's being recognized in another senior event this evening. So, congratulations to Hayden. The Boyertown Area School District presents a certificate of recognition to Sydney Peterman in recognition of her completion of Kutztown University's Early College Academy program. Sydney, won't you come forward? Congratulations. We're just going to have you stand here and I'll look at you again. The Boyertown Area School District presents a certificate
005of recognition to Rachel Serva in recognition of her completion of Kutztown University's Early College Academy program. The Boyertown Area School District presents a certificate of recognition to Melanie Calvert in recognition of her completion of Kutztown University's Early College Academy program. And lastly, certainly not least, the Boyertown Area School District presents a certificate of recognition to Peyton Blake in recognition of her completion of Kutztown University's Early College Academy program. All right. Come on out. Easier for in the real >> Hold on. >> You got a picture yet, Peyton? >> All right, let's do Let's see if we can take uh >> I'm ready. >> You're ready, you got it. Okay. All right. Let's take one picture. How about I go on the side, you All right, congratulations. I will also say we had the opportunity uh
006last Wednesday uh Kutztown really put on a nice um recognition ceremony at the university and all of our students were there to participate and it was a wonderful event at Kutztown. So, congratulations, ladies, on this. We do have one student um enrolled starting next year already for the um for the early early college academy again. All right. Next up, student representative report. >> Good evening, board members and meeting attendees. We're excited to be back to give our our representative report for the month of April. >> On Monday, March 30th, our school hosted Culture Day organized by the Student Diversity Union. Over 30 tables, the event was a great success and offered student the students the opportunity to experience a wide variety of cultures. There were many engaging presentations and it was truly meaningful to see
007students share their backgrounds and traditions. A highlight of the day was participation of our English language learning students who presented their home countries and did an excellent job. Confidently sharing and engaging with others. Each table offered something unique including traditional clothing, interactive games, and small trinkets or snacks for students to try and take home. Overall, Culture Day is quickly becoming a very special tradition at Bash and it continues to promote inclusivity and cultural appreciation within our school community. We would like to give a special thank thank you to Mrs. Sebro and the Student Diversity Union for organizing such a wonderful event. >> Coming up next month, the Bash Drama Club will be performing their production of a modern adaptation of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Midsummer Night's Dream. That one That one always gets me. This is
008definitely new territory for the Drama Club especially in the past few years, but they've been working so hard to put this together for the community. The Drama Club may not be as large as the music department, but we have just as much pas- passion. Please consider joining the Drama Club in celebrating a famous piece of art by our very own Bash Drama Club. >> Last Friday, our school celebrated Earth Day through a new event called the Unity Loop organized by Mrs. Bergiova. Throughout the day, students had the opportunity to go outside, walk around the track, and visit different stations set up by clubs and organizations across Bash. Each group hosted a table with students running activities during different periods creating an interactive and student-led experience. The Unity Loop was designed not only to highlight Earth
009Day, but also to promote kindness and a stronger sense of community within our school. A wide variety of clubs participated. From Thursday to Sunday, the the 16th to the 19th of April, the Boyertown YMCA delegation of Youth and Government took to the state capital for the program's 80th anniversary model convention. The outcome was stupendous. Not only has Boyertown elected our first ever Chief Justice Presiding Officer for the state of Pennsylvania, Roxy Samuel, but Boyertown was also awarded delegation of the the delegation of the year award during the closing closing ceremony of model, an honor our delegation has never received in all of our years in the Youth and Government program. Multiple students in the legislative branch were able to get their bills passed by the Youth Governor. And of our judicial students, one partnership made
010it to the semi-finals and one partnership made it to the finals. As a proud member of the Boyertown Youth and Government delegation, in my last years as a senator and my last year in the program, I'd like to applaud just how amazing this club I love dearly has bounced back from its small numbers during COVID-19. In my graduation, I plan on coming back and volunteering for the model convention, ensuring that I could support all students who find a home in our state capital. Last week, over 30 students from Bash attended the 44th annual Pennsylvania TSA State Conference at Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Champion, Pennsylvania. The Technology Student Association is a competitive organization that offers over 100 events ranging from coding and audio podcasting to fashion design and structural engineering. Each year, Bash students qualify
011through states through regional competitions held in January. And after months of refining projects, studying, and preparing presentations, they compete against more than 1,800 students across the state. Despite the growing level of competition, Bash students performed exceptionally well, bringing home numerous medals. Several teams placed in the top 10 and multiple students qualified for Nationals. Notably, Isabella Zettlemoyer earned second place in photographic technology, Julia Leshchinsky ordered third place in children stories, and architectural design team Jessica Buchanan, Isabella Zettlemoyer, Samantha Hemingway, Maya Brunner, and Faith Sedroga earned third place. We wish all of our TSA TSA members the best of luck as they prepare to compete in Nationals in Washington, D.C. this June. TSA continues to be an impactful opportunity that can support future college and career pathways. There is truly something for everyone when the new season
012begins in September. >> Starting May 4th, AP Exams season is finally in session. Teachers have been been preparing students for these exams all year, and students are finally getting the opportunity to share what they've learned and earn some college credit with good performance. We hope all students who have prepared have good results. Well, even if they haven't prepared, but it being my last year, although I'm taking six exams, I put myself through that, I it feels almost bittersweet never having to open that free-response packet again. >> I'd also like to share that we've begun selecting a new junior student representative as I transition into the senior role next year and my partner Allison prepares for graduation. She has truly been a dedicated and collaborative partner and it's been a privilege to work alongside her. Her
013contributions to the role have not gone unnoticed and she has set a great example for future representatives including myself. As we begin this transition, we are looking for a student who's not only qualified, but also is ready to actively engage with the community, communicate effectively, and ready to strengthen the connection between the students and the district leadership. We are excited to find someone who will build on the foundation that has been established and continue this important work. >> Due to extenuating circumstances, we'll be incorporating this month's student survey into next month's final report. We greatly apologize, but due to illness on both of our parts, as well as some family emergencies on my end, we are unable to get the representative statistics we would have liked to have. We'd like those to be of quality
014for our next report. >> That concludes our report for this month. Next month, we will have plenty to report on, and we can't wait for you to hear. >> Thank you. >> Public comment period number one, Gretchen Lea, Civics and Planetarium. Is Gretchen here? Anyone out there? No. Okay. Donnie Savage, Public Education Funding Advocacy for Bordentown. >> Um I actually signed up for public hearing number >> Oh, okay. Then at this time, we'll be looking for the approval of the April 14th, 2026 Committee of the Whole meeting minutes as presented. >> I'll make a motion. >> I'll second it. >> Dr. Wylie. >> Yes. >> Mr. Brophy. >> Yes. >> Ms. Connor. >> Yes. >> Ms. Kratz. >> Yes. >> Ms. Nyman. >> No. >> Mr. Brad up to Grove. >> Yes. >> Mr. Roger
015up to Grove. >> Yes. >> Dr. Weir. >> Yes. >> Mr. Pennarola. >> Yes. >> Eyes have it. >> We have one update under our discussion and information section this evening. It's just to update our public and the board with regard to the status of Bordentown Elementary School, as we had reported um to the district and to the families and staff at Bordentown Elementary, we did encounter um and sustain a fire in a classroom last week, early Monday morning. Um the fire was quickly extinguished, um and and many, many thanks to local fire departments, our Boyertown fire department, as well as many surrounding fire departments who reported to the scene. The fire originated inside a unit vent. It's a heating and cooling system inside the classroom. There was some damage. Now, obviously obvious damage to
016the heating and cooling system rendering it no longer working. There was some damage to a bulletin board above the unit vent itself. Thankfully, fire was able to respond very, very quickly outing any any lasting flame. We have cordoned off that classroom due to the fact that we do not have an active heating and cooling system inside that. We have and are working with our insurance adjuster and recognizing the many components inside the room. We were able to relocate the classroom to another area in the building and worked with Burke's fire remediation on remediating a lot of the smell of the smoke both Monday and Tuesday. As you all well know, we were closed last Monday and Tuesday. We were closed at Boyertown Elementary to allow that remediation to take place. We were successful. We were
017able to get the building back and operating on Wednesday, cleared by the Department of Agriculture in our cafeteria, and also cleared by the state police deputy marshal who investigated the fire itself and we were business as usual. We did that is last week was the start of our PSSA. So, we took a a one-day pause on that allowing students to return to some normalcy and then began Thursday and Friday with our PSSAs there. So, many thanks to our students and our our staff at Boyertown for their patience as we were able to get the building ready and many, many thanks to our facilities team, custodians for our making sure the building was operational as quickly as possible and and safe for all. We were we have cleared all of their unit vents and inspected those,
018pulled off their covers, and made sure that they are all operating purposely and and operating um correctly. So, um just an update with regard to that. We'll be working over the summertime in installing a new heating and cooling system, an independent one for that particular room as all the unit vents are independent from room to room. We'll be putting another system in as you many of you know, we're working on an HVAC project there now currently. Uh next, not this summer, but next summer, we expect that to be completed and to have a different operating HVAC system inside the building itself. So, we need a temporary 1-year heating and cooling system that can handle that classroom, which we will prepare and we do need that classroom put back into use for next school year as
019as necessary. So, that is an update with regard to Boardman Elementary. >> Treasurer's report. >> Good evening. Tonight, I am presenting to you highlights from the March 2026 Treasurer's report. Starting with local tax revenue, delinquent tax collection was $186,362.36. Earned income tax collection was $1,438,402. And transfer tax collection was $101,085.49. Um the only subsidy we received this month was for the pre-K counts subsidy and that was $50,625. And for our March expenditures in the category of salaries, benefits, and professional services, they accounted for about 70% of our total expenditures for the month of March. That concludes my treasurer's report for this evening. >> Thanks. >> Thank you. >> So at this time we'll be looking for the Board of School Directors to approve the treasurer's report as presented. We're motions. >> I'll second. >> Dr.
020Wiley. >> Yes. >> Mr. Brophy. >> Yes. >> Ms. Connor. >> Yes. >> Ms. Kratz. >> Yes. >> Ms. Nyman. >> Yes. >> Mr. Brad Updegrove. >> Yes. >> Mr. Roger Updegrove. >> Yes. >> Dr. Weir. >> Yes. >> Mr. Pennarola. >> Yes. >> That's how we do it. >> Under item nine, Superintendent's consent agenda, we do have a number of items listed there. I'll just go through those briefly with you. Item A is the 26-27 special education annual agreements. We had reviewed those at our last Committee of the Whole meeting. Uh the 2026 district projects as listed there, that is not all of the capital um projects that we had reviewed, but that is a list of those that we were able to get specific quotes on. There will be future projects that are
021related to capital once those specific quotes are in, and we have reviewed those projects with you. Uh the April donation list 2026, those donations were reviewed with um the board at our Committee of the Whole meeting as well. This evening during our um policy committee meeting, both D and E were reviewed, the federal fiscal compliance as auditing processes and so forth. Those are something that we need to move forward and update our policies as related to those federal requirements. Under items F through R or policies that have originated in our policy committee meeting. They've moved to our committee of the whole meeting. They have gone through a first read at our last legislative meeting and now are on for a second read at this legislative meeting. So, under item S, the the administration is recommending
022approval of the consent agenda as listed and presented. >> Panorella moves. >> I'll second. >> Dr. Wiley. >> Yes. >> Mr. Brophy. >> Yes. >> Ms. Connor. >> Yes. >> Ms. Kratz. >> Yes. >> Ms. Nyman. >> Yes. >> Mr. Brad up to Grove. >> Yes. >> Mr. Roger up to Grove. >> Yes. >> Dr. Weir. >> Yes. >> Mr. Panorella. >> Yes. >> I'd have it. Under item 10, the superintendent's report itemized agenda. We do have five items listed. The first is the appointment of the voting delegates for Pennsylvania. And the administration does recommend that the Board of School Directors appoint Lynn Connor, Michelle Wiley, and Wendy Kratz as the district's primary voting delegates at the P A S A P S B A 2026 School Leadership Conference. >> Panorella moves. >> I'll second.
023>> Dr. Wiley. >> Yes. >> Mr. Brophy. >> Yes. >> Ms. Connor. >> Yes. >> Ms. Kratz. >> Yes. >> Ms. Nyman. >> Yes. >> Mr. Brad up to Grove. >> Yes. >> Mr. Roger up to Grove. >> Yes. >> Dr. Weir. >> Yes. >> Mr. Panorella. >> Yes. >> I'd have it. Under item B, the administration recommends the Board of school directors approve the employment of Matt Mr. Matthew Lance as chief financial officer pursuant to a 3-year employment agreement beginning July 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2029. Initial salary of $195,000 as listed. >> I'll move. >> I'll second. >> Dr. Wiley? >> Yes. >> Mr. Brophy? >> Yes. >> Ms. Connor? >> Yes. >> Ms. Kratz? >> Yes. >> Ms. Nyman? >> No. And I want to give a little bit of a reason
024here quick. To me, I know our solicitor said it's not a conflict of interest, but you're in the same type of business that you own, and to me that does not go well. So, my vote is no. >> Mr. Radel Updegrove? >> Yes. >> Mr. Roger Updegrove? >> Yes. >> Dr. Weir? >> Yes. >> Mr. Pennarola? >> Yes. >> Eyes have it. >> Under item C, uh the Pine Forge boiler replacement, and the administration approves allocating 50% of the total cost for the replacement and installation of boiler number two at Pine Forge at the Pine Forge building. >> Pennarola moves. >> Wiley seconds. >> This is what we talked about last, uh 2 weeks ago, correct? This is Okay. >> We have, yes. And and just a reminder that the um 50% agreement is contract
025we have currently with the BCIU who leases the building from the school district, who works um and within the contract is worked on the service end of things, we did come to a an agreement inside the contractual language that a 50% um, of their part and contribution of our part, um, would be amenable to replacing this as well as you'll see in the following motion as well. >> I have a question. >> I know you had said before that they didn't know why it happened. Have we been doing any more looking into the cause of the problem? >> No, I did No, um, you know, it it it's somewhere inside the boiler, whether or not it's recognized in terms of gauges and switches and and so forth. Um, they did not do an autopsy of
026it, but they have rendered it um, rendered it to a point where it is not able to be repaired and must be replaced. And that was confirmed by two different contracted services. >> Dr. Wiley. >> Yes. >> Mr. Brophy. >> Yes. >> Ms. Connor. >> Yes. >> Ms. Kratz. >> Yes. >> Ms. Nyman. >> Yes. >> Mr. Brad Updegrove. >> Yes. >> Mr. Roger Updegrove. >> Yes. >> Dr. Weir. >> Yes. >> Mr. Pennarello. >> Yes. >> Eyes have >> Under item C, there were Excuse me, under item D, there were a number of, um, repair and restoration. Part of this is related to the boiler. Part of this was uh, related to, again, the valve, um, that blew on the tank, the water tank, um, which had uh, done some flooding to the the
027bottom basement. There were some repairs and restoration uh needed for both the smoke related to the original fire of the boiler and some restoration uh related to the uh the drying out of the basement as it related to uh the pressure relief valve. So, again, the board is or excuse me, administration is uh recommending approval of allocating again 50% of the total cost for necessary repairs and restoration related to smoke and water damage at the Pine Forge building. >> Panrella moves. >> Panrella seconds. >> Dr. Wiley. >> Yes. >> Mr. Brophy. >> Yes. >> Ms. Connor. >> Yes. >> Ms. Kratz. >> Yes. >> Ms. Nyman. >> Yes. >> Mr. Brad Upthegrove. >> Yes. >> Mr. Roger Upthegrove. >> Yes. >> Dr. Weir. >> Yes. >> Mr. Panrella. >> Yes. >> Eyes have it. Under
028item E, the administration recommends the Board of Directors approve the personnel agenda as listed. >> Panrella moves. >> Weir seconds. >> Dr. Wiley. >> Yes. >> Mr. Brophy. >> No. >> Ms. Connor. >> Yes. >> Ms. Kratz. >> Yes. >> Ms. Nyman. >> No. >> Mr. Brad Upthegrove. >> Yes. >> Mr. Roger Upthegrove. >> Yes. >> Dr. Weir. >> Yes. >> Mr. Panrella. >> Yes. >> Eyes have it. Upon your approval of the personnel agenda, we do have this evening with us Mrs. Julie Kerr. Julie, if you wouldn't mind standing or waving. Julie comes to us from the Muhlenberg School District and is currently the assistant principal at the Muhlenberg Early Learning Center. And um through your approval this evening will be our next Washington Elementary principal starting what we hope to be close to
029July 1st. So we're on a timeline that's going to be right around there and we welcome Julie and I think she will be an excellent fit at the Washington Elementary School and we want to thank Mrs. Lisa Duranzo current principal for her time and effort inside the district and work with the and her work with the Washington Elementary School staff and students and we we do believe that Julie and we thank you for attending this evening. We're going to do great things in Washington. So congratulations. >> Congrats. Public comment period number two, Gretchen Lea Civics and Planetarium. Did she show up? >> No. >> Okay. Donya Savage, public education funding advocacy for Bordentown. >> Good evening. My name is Donya Savage. I'll be attending a public education advocacy day in Harrisburg next Wednesday, May 6th
030organized by a coalition of public education advocacy groups organized by PA Schools Work. And I'm telling you this because I welcome your input as I prepare to go there. I will have an opportunity to meet with some of our legislators along with other constituents to communicate our passion for public education. This is mainly about asking for support for the publication public education advocacy funding which is a plan to correct for the long time inadequacy of state funding for public education. As you probably know already Pennsylvania provides among the lowest share of funding versus local funding in the nation. So far, Boyertown has received $2.9 million in this adequacy funding and is still owed $10.4 million. So if this funding continues for about nine more years, the level of state funding will be adequate um and
031constitutional according to the judges' ruling and a bipartisan analysis of the funding gap. I plan to ask our educate our legislators to understand each of their school district stories and to share ours. And what I hope to share is that we are here finally moving forward with full-day kindergarten. We're working to increase support for our students, power professionals, ELL, intervention, coaching, counselors, while proposing the lowest property tax increase since 2016. That is really really something and we couldn't do it without that funding and that funding needs to continue if we're going to continue in this positive direction. We have more more to do, a lot more to do. So I'm bringing this to your attention because I welcome your input to the message. If there's something you'd like me to share, you can reach out
032to me by email or call me. So thank you very much. >> Thank you. More comments. >> Yes, I had some parents reach out to me with concerning information regarding their their child or children in school. That um they are being told that their child cannot when they take a test or quiz, the parents are not entitled to look at it. And I want to know why that's being done. They have no idea what their child is not doing properly. They're just being told it's incorrect and it's not right. So >> Well, I'll need some information and we can touch base if you can send me the information on the building. We don't need to speak about it now, but we can you can send me information. >> out to them more and get more
033information. It was a quick little thing today and I said, you know, I need more information, but I wanted to bring to your attention if there's something else going on somewhere else if you know about >> this is first I'm hearing about that. So if you can give me whatever information you have and we'll we'll address it. >> Okay. >> appropriately. >> I'll talk to the parents and I'll see what I can release to you and not. >> Okay. Thank you. Mr. Kraft. >> Thank you to Allison and Audrey for your board reports. Always nice to hear um all of the highlights that are going on at the high school and beyond. And also I believe Trey Savage, class of 2020 alum, is pitching tonight, so we wish him well. That comes from his mom,
034so it must be true. >> That's right. Nothing at this time. Thanks. Dr. Wiley. Mr. Brophy. >> Nothing. >> I don't have anything to add either. >> Here are upcoming meeting dates. On May 12th, we have our educational and student services committee meeting at 6:00 p.m. in here and as well as followed by our committee of the whole meeting at 7:00 o'clock. Motion to adjourn. We are seconds. Meeting adjourned. >> Mhm.