Boyertown Area School Board Meeting: 8/26/25

001[Music] Mr. Uptogrove, >> push it. >> Mr. Upgroo, >> which one? >> Roger. Up to Grove >> here. >> Mrs. Aada >> here. >> Mr. Broofphy >> here. >> Miss Dro >> present. >> Miss Katz >> here. >> Miss Nimon >> here. >> Miss Scott >> here. >> Mr. Brad Upgrove >> here. >> Mr. Penerell >> here. All nine present. >> Okay. If we go all rise for the pledge of allegiance and 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 with liberty and justice for all Board of school directors held an executive session on the following dates. August 26, 2025. The topic was personnel. See, it lasted approximately 65 minutes. Takes us to our recognition showcase. And for

002this evening, I'd just like to update our board and uh uh members of the community who um are attending and listening this evening. Just have a few updates um on the first couple of days of school. And first and foremost, I want to thank all of our staff uh for their efforts over the summer um in preparing our district, the buildings um involved in all the staffing and hirings and basically just the overall preparedness for us to be ready to accept our students. uh this past Monday. So, just to recap a little of the last three weeks, um the week of August the 11th was our new teacher induction week and that's where we uh invite our new teachers in uh acclimate them to a lot of the nuances to the district, go through a

003number of mandates required by the state and as you're aware as a board uh this induction process is required by by state code. Uh mentees are also invited in um at different points throughout the process. So just to give you a little bit of flavor of what our new teachers are this year, we have an opportunity to share with you an opening day video that we shared with our full staff, but having each of our new teachers introduce themselves to you as a board and to our community as well. So Mrs. Moyer, if you would please share that with the board at this time. Thank you. [Music] Hi, I am Ava Anderson. I am teaching fifth grade English at Boyertown Elementary School. A fun fact about me is that I'm actually a floral designer and

004I specialize in weddings and events. Hi, my name is Ally Baker. I'll be teaching tech ed at Boertown Area High School. And a fun fact about me is my high school mascot was a bubble. >> Hi, my name is Emily Capazello. I'm the speech therapist for autistic support at Colbrookdale Elementary. And a fun fact about me is that I love reading. >> Hi, I'm Mandy Capella. I'm teaching at Washington Elementary life skills and I used to teach kayaking and paddle boarding. >> Hi, I'm Lauren Cox. I am the autistic support kindergarten teacher at Colbrookdale Elementary School. I have both visited and lived in Europe. Hi, my name is Rachel Day. I'm going to be an autistic support teacher at Boyertown High School. And a fun fact about me is that this summer I just ran

005my first half marathon. And next summer I'm hoping to do a full marathon. >> Hello, my name is Brenda Donado. I'm a learning support teacher at New Hover Elementary. And a fun fact about me is I love clamming. >> Hi, my name is Marian Elco. I'm the incoming school counselor at New Hover Elementary and Washington Elementary. And a fun fact about me is that I do medieval fencing. >> Hi, my name is Montana Robbins. I'll be an emotional support teacher at Gilbertsville Elementary. And a fun fact about myself is that I have a 2-year-old lab named Bailey. My name is Lauren Haley. I'm going to be at Gilbertsville and I'm going to be teaching fifth grade ELA. A fun fact about me is that I actually graduated from Boyertown in 2017. >> Hi, I'm Jonathan

006Hullman. I will be teaching ceramics here at Bash this year. A fun fact about me is that I own over 200 art books. >> Hi, my name is Emily Hunt. I will be teaching English as a second language here at Boyertown Senior High at Junior High East, Junior High West, and Washington Elementary. And one interesting thing about me is that I am starting my 18th year of teaching. >> Hi, my name is Bradley Landis. I'm a fifth grade teacher at New Hover Elementary School. And an interesting fact about me is I've had 22 dogs over my entire life. >> Hello everyone. I'm Tanya Laramore. I'm going to be the new certified school nurse at Middle School East. Um, an interesting fact about me is I like to do living history and participate at World War

007II weekend at the Reading Air Show. >> Hi, my name is Sydney Marsden. I'm going to be teaching life skills at Washington Elementary. And my fun fact is that I like hedgehogs. Hi, my name is Cheryl Creden. I'm going to be teaching eighth grade math at Middle School East. And an interesting fact about me is that I've been vacationing at the same family camp in New Hampshire since I was a baby. Now I take my husband and kids along. >> Hi, my name is Angelina Maza. I will be teaching kindergarten at Gilbert'sville Elementary and I absolutely love Disney. >> Hi, my name is Travis McCoy. I'll be at Earl Elementary as a learning support classroom teacher and in my spare time enjoy fishing. >> Hello, my name is Olivia Mik and I will be teaching

008third grade at Washington Elementary and I recently moved to the area from New Jersey and I have five sisters. My name is Gina Palatui. I'll be the third grade learning sport teacher at Bertown Elementary. And a fun fact about me is I love to travel and I spent my summer in Alaska. Hi, I'm Allison Palmer. I'm going to be teaching English at the senior high school. And a fun fact about me is that I'm moving back up to Pennsylvania right now, coming back from Virginia, um, and getting married in October. Hi, my name is Meredith Palmary. I will be teaching kindergarten at Colbrookdale Elementary. One interesting thing about me is that my son and daughter were born on the same day, two years apart. >> My name is Madison Saniz. I will be the second

009grade teacher at Earl Elementary. And a fun fact about myself is I'm a beekeeper. Hi, I'm Joanna Santiago. I'll be a district-wide speech therapist. And a fun fact about me is that I have a pet rabbit named Carrotcake and a pet wiener dog named Frankie. >> Hi, I'm Terry Schaw. I teach intervention at Gilbertsville Elementary. This will be my eighth year in the school, but my second year teaching intervention full-time. I worked for 6 years before that as an intervention parah. Hi, my name is Cassidy Shainer. I'll be teaching first grade at New Hover Elementary. And a fun fact about me is I'm a Boyertown grad. My name is Molly Shoemaker. I'm the physical therapist. I'll be districtwide and I've played field hockey on four continents. Hi, my name is Cington Smith. Cington is my

010first name. I will be teaching FCS at the high school. And an interesting fact about myself is I can do handstand push-ups. >> Hi, my name is Ryan Stenner. I'm teaching health and fizzed at the high school. And my fun fact is I'm pretty sure I'm the only one of the new hires who can say that they've led a musical in Berin's school district. Uh shout out to the cast of Shrek 2016 Middle School East. And hi mom. >> Hi my name is Tabitha Temple. I am one of the high school emotional support teachers. Um something interesting about myself. I became an ordained minister this year. >> Hi everybody. I'm Nick Viviian. I am split learning support between Washington and Gilbertsville. My fun fact is that my wife and I were both graduates in 2014

011of Bash. >> My name is Heather Whitmore. I'll be teaching intervention at Middle School West. And a fun fact about myself is that I went bowling with the 2011 Philadelphia Phillies. >> Hi, I'm Kyle Williams. I'll be the health and PE teacher at Boyertown West. And my interesting fact is that I was born in Germany. >> Hi, my name is Julia Williamson. I'll be the certified school nurse at Middle School West. And my fun fact is that I have two sons. One is a three-year-old and one is an 11-month-old. Hi, I'm Abby Wise and I will be teaching intervention and kindergarten at Washington Elementary School and I'm a Boyertown alum. [Music] All right. Well, wonderful. Hopefully you enjoyed that. Got a little sense of some many of the new teachers. Just to give you some

012other statistics with regard to onboarding and preparing uh professional staff, we we uh Mr. Han and his department as well as many others here in the education um center prepared over 30 new professional staff that were hired this summer. Six long-term substitutes who became contracted professional employees and 14 professional professionals who also transferred within the district. In addition, the team also hired and onboarded 18 support staff members who helped um to support the district through uh through various roles. So, I want to thank everybody for um their assistance related to interview panels, onboarding and mentoring to all these recent hires over the summer. Congrat congratulations to all of those hires and welcome to Boertown. So during the week of August 19th, we uh did invite back all staff. Um included in that back to school

013was an hour of uh welcoming everyone back um to to uh to the district. Uh we also uh took time u through many mandated trainings that we had. One was an active shooter training that we that took place with all professional um all employees in the district. We also had an ethics training that took place with all professional employees. Our teachers uh were worked through many of the MTSS initiatives and goals that we have for the 2526 school year. Um in my keynote address back to the staff, I I I uh asked them to consider a couple of facts and I'll share those facts with you here as a board as well. Uh the first is kindergarteners starting uh just this past week will retire in 2008. Take a minute to for that to sink

014in. Right. If the retirement age of 65 maintains uh 2085 for all of our starters in kindergarten in60, our elementary students, the average elementary student will be in their mid4s and still taking advantage of the the learning that they received while in school um in their careers. And those are some interesting things to just stop and pause and think about. I think it gives us some perspective. Um, I don't think we can say that we really can predict what the future's going to look like in 2016 nor 2085. But I think some of the things that we can say and this is what I did share with our with our staff um is that we can certainly um agree that that our charge as educators um will be as our mission is to uh continue

015to cultivate curio curiosity foster critical thinking and support decision-making abilities among our uh students just like our our plan's mission really does suggest. Lastly, I did want to um just share with you the last couple of days. Obviously, we began school on Monday, just yesterday. Had a very successful day um overall within the district. Um you know, transportation, safety, orientation, transitioning, all those things along with teaching and learning are are most important in the first couple of days and certainly during this first week of opening up and and and uh realizing school again for 25 26. Just a couple of other data points. Our first day enrollment here in the district was 6,191 students, K12. Our senior class at BASH, the enrollment is 57. Our kindergarten, our kindergarten um class was 388. Currently, we have

016alternative education placements, students that are placed out for various reasons. And we have 86 students across the district, K12 that are placed. And we transported over the last two days 525 non-public school students. Those are students that we are required to be transported by the district within a 10mi uh radius of the circumference of our school district boundaries. And we have 525 of those. So kudos to uh working with our partners at Quigley and um uh the challenges that exist with with uh transportation today and certainly um I think everybody's experienced a little bit more congestion on the roadways here in the last week um as schools around the area have come back on. So, I just want to thank all of our employees, our our parents, our community, uh, for for an effort in

017in really, uh, bringing us back to a successful couple of days, and we look forward to many, many more here in the in the coming days and weeks to come. So, thank you. That leads us to public com period number one. No one has signed up, so at this time, I'll be looking for the approval of the August 12th, 2025 committee of the whole meeting minutes as presented. want to move. >> I'll second. >> Mr. Roger Opter. >> Yes. >> Mr. Zawatada. >> Yes. Mr. Roofy. >> Yes. >> Miss Dro. >> No. >> Miss Kratz. >> Yes. Miss Nyman, >> no. >> Miss Scott, >> yes. >> Mr. Brad Upgrowth, >> yes. >> Mr. Penerella, >> yes. >> Motion passes 78. >> That takes us down to the discussion and information section. So this evening

018um as shared back in the winter when we had our last update with regard to the planning and consideration of a turf field project uh one of the the uh many of the outliers that still existed were the ascertation of certain permits. Uh those permits through MPDES as well as local permits uh related to Colbergdale and the finalized planning to which bid documents are prepared and readied um are now at that point. We've invited um Mr. Jamie Lynch from CHA to come back to give a uh brief overview of the project as it exists, the timeline for next steps um and all the components that um are in this final bid document package. So, Mr. Lynch, welcome to the podium. >> Are we on? Yes. All right, very good. Thank you, Dr. David Heiser. Good

019evening. Uh, congratulations on a start of another school year. I wish you all the best in the coming year. And as stated, um, I have an update for you this evening on the turf field project. Uh, many of the slides that I have in the deck are the same slides that you've seen in past presentations. So, tonight is just, um, really an update as we get set to advertise for bidding. Um, I'll go do a quick overview of both fields. the stadium field and field one. Um when last we met, we shared this image of the stadium field. Um and I'm pleased to say that we've completed the storm water design. We have the NPDS permit in hand from the county conservation district and we have township approvals in in place. Also, our work related

020to geotechnical is complete, including storm water analysis. And so we are prepared with bid documents that uh create a field inside the track at the stadium um that looks like this. This is a an updated color rendering of the field that contains all of the sports lines for the various sports that would be inside the uh field. And all of the work is inside of the track. Um so it includes the turf field, new goalposts, and it displaces the throwing events for track which will be over near field one. I've got another slide that shows that. Also included in the field project is uh safety netting at the ends of the field. Uh obviously in this case it would be at the end of the end zone to protect those track athletes who are in

021the Dzone from things like soccer balls or lacrosse balls from crossing over. So there's protective netting at the end of each field. And that netting is removable. The nets can be raised and lowered. the poles can be removed from their stansions. And also under the field is a new storm water basin in accordance with local and county conservation requirements. That shaded uh area in blue is where an underground storm water basin will be located. All of the drains in the field will drain to that basin. Storm water is held and retained in accordance with the requirements and then it leaves under the track through the existing storm water outlet. Field one as it was presented in our prior meetings is also a multi-port uh field surrounded by a fence. Uh it provides for uh a

022small bleacher stand and it has a paved area for patrons beyond the fence. Uh here also we've completed storm water design have the NPDS permit in hand have the township approvals in hand and completed geotechnical work and provided ADA spaces and access to this field and in a color rendering it begins to look uh like this. So both of those fields and their pertinances have been designed here at field one is the location of the storm water basin which again is under the field in uh the lowest side of the field and all of the under drains and the storm water around the field dry uh go to this basin drain to this basin in accordance with conservation district and township requirements. Just an overview of what's in the bids for each of the fields

023um is listed here on this slide. So you see the multiple sports that are provided on both fields. Um at the stadium field there's two-tone turf netting as I mentioned at either end. We have the same netting at field one. Uh logos at the center of the field, names in the end zones, all things that are pretty standard fair with turf fields of this type for K to 12. A new flag pole at the stadium has been provided and relocation as I mentioned of field events. Both fields have the prerequisite under drain systems as well for storm water. Accessories that are included in the bid include football goalposts at the at the stadium field, the ball netting which I described. We've got electric at the stadium, the aluminum benches, new soccer goals, corner flags, lacrosse

024goals, field hockey goals, shot put circle, all of those things that are necessary for the uh track, field, and sports events. Also associated with the turf, the owner receives a new turf groomer, a turf sweeper for the maintenance of the turf, annual GMAX testing for the entire warranty period. That's a test that's done annually to confirm that the infill is installed properly and that we have a safe and proper score on that GMAX test. Training will be provided for the groundskeeping crew for grooming, sweeping, and repairs. There'll be a local local vendor provided for any emergency maintenance, and there'll be extra turf material and infill provided to the district so that they can use it as they need to across the life of the fields. This is a cross-section of the turf field that you

025can't quite read from your seat, but I'm sure that you can blow it up on uh board docks. And it simply identifies the two components, I should say three components of a turf field. And that is the turf itself. The blades, both fields are the exact same uh product height. It's a monofilament with a 2-in blade with infill. Underneath that uh turf product is a shock pad which is provided for additional safety. And then underneath the shock pad is a very specific drainage stone that allows the turf field to drain when it rains at up to 22 in per hour. On the left hand side is the spec for how that stone is fabricated at a quarry, brought in and placed on the site. So that's really the cross-section of the turf field and it's

026the same for both fields. With respect to vendors for the turf products, um we've provided a list of the vendors that are commonly employed to build turf fields of this type for K through 12. There's a chart here that provides the names of those vendors. Um, and we leave the bid open so that all of these vendors can submit bids. And then on bid day, we provide bid alternates so that you'll see the cost of each vendor. And together, we'll make a selection based on the cost of the vendor. So, all of the vendors are are there. They're listed. It's really an open bid. These are comparable products, all 2in polyethylene uh fibers, and they all have their own recipe for infill, but they're all rather uh comparable products. Each of these vendors also provides

027a very important piece of documentation to the districts and that is a certification that their product does not contain harmful chemicals. It's a certification that is really new in the synthetic turf industry and it's been mandated by all of the questions that have been raised over the past several years. So, each of these vendors provides a certification that their product does not contain materials or substances that are above regulatory limits. Uh just a list of installed fields um in the area. Um we've got quite a list here. This was a list that was actually developed and requested by the township as a part of the approval process. Uh so you note here that 17 of 30 NFL teams have synthetic turf. Many of the top tier division one colleges have synthetic fields including local colleges,

028Lehigh, Lafayette, etc. that are listed there. And then there's a countless school districts in the region. Most of these are in uh Burks, Montgomery, Northampton, Lehigh County that have existing synthetic turf fields. Um, as a side note, one of the requests of the township during the approval process, uh, they asked for, uh, some more environmental information, and we made many phone calls and reported back to the township after talking to these districts, uh, to find out if any of them had experienced any issues with changes in the content of their water, any testing that they were asked to perform, any other issues associated with their synthetic turf. and we really received zero responses of any problems that they had related to their turf installations. Alternate bids. There's a number of alternate bids that we'll consider

029in order to have a costbased decision um before you when the bids come in. Um, I'll go through them rather quickly here just so that you can um begin to digest them and if there are any other questions that the board may have, if you funnel them through the superintendent, I'd be happy to get back to you to help you understand what they mean. The first one that's listed here is a very simple alternate for unclassified excavation. And what that means is both fields are underlined by local shale rock like geology. And what the classified and unclassified means is the base bid means that whenever we find rock that we have to remove with a hammer, we have to pay for it per cubic yard. The unclassified alternate sends the risk of the rock to

030the contractor and he'll state the cost to assume that risk. And so we'll look at what that cost is together on bid day and make a determination if it's a good value. So base bid, we pay for rock. Alternate, the rock is paid for by the contractor, but we'll see an ad on bidday for that unclassified risk that the contractor takes. Excuse me. We also have a couple of um alternates for infill and it's two alternates to be clear and it's an alternate bid on each field. As you know, the stadium field is the base bid and field one is the alternate ad for the project. So, we're either doing one or two fields or no fields depending on how bids come in. But what we've done is add alternates for infill. And the two

031alternates are described simply as this one is, you know, that most of the infill that's used today is a mix of crumb rubber and sand. And an alternate that we commonly apply for two reasons. One is to coat the crumb rubber with a product that encapsulates the crumb rubber but also usually is a lighter color. So it tends to make fields in the south cooler. It's not something that we can really measure here in the northeast because we don't have extreme temperatures um and we don't have a lot of sports that are playing in in the in the dead of summer. but it's a protective coating on the crumb rubber and it also accounts for temperature. That's the one infill, coated infill. The other alternate for infill is for an organic infill. It's called Brock

032fill. And this is a product that is really a wood chip infill and it's been uh used in numerous locations. We don't have an installation here in eastern Pennsylvania that I can site for you, but it's been gaining ground in other locations, but it is an organic infill and it's made of wood chips. So, we're going to take a look at what that product uh adds or deducts from the cost of the project and then those infills are um made alternates for each of the fields. So, we'll have a decision one or two fields and you'll have a decision of which infill to use on each field. Hopefully, I've said that as clearly as I can, but I'll be happy to answer questions here in a moment. Estimated cost for the project. This slide is

033exactly the same as it was the last time I was with you. So, um there have been no changes there as far as total cost project schedule update. This is the slide that I shared with you uh the last time that I was here. We've now of course received township approval and the NPDS permit. And so that sets in motion the ability to go out for bid, advertise bids, puts the rest of our schedule together. And the great benefit is that you've acted very early. So I believe that your project is going to get great attention from contractors who want to fill their books for next summer. bidding nice and early that allows them to get a jump on procurement and not be in line with other districts who are doing projects that they bid

034after the new year. And so we've put a schedule together that identifies how we go through the bid process. The award meeting in October followed by presumably a notice to proceed and our construction schedule really remains the same. Procurement will happen at the end of the year and into the spring. we would mobilize on the uh field outside of the stadium, field one, sorry, there's a typo there, in March, and then when track ends in the stadium, we would mobilize on the stadium field in May. So, it works out very well. You've got one contractor who would be doing this work, starting on one field as early as he can in uh March, moving to the other field with substantial completion at the end of August. And really, those are our next steps to advertise

035for our public bids, conduct a pre-bid meeting. We'll receive and tabulate bids, come to the board for its action, and assuming a project uh moves forward, execute contract, and just as I mentioned, get shop drawings and procurement underway so that uh Bertown is first in line for work next spring. With that, I'd be happy to entertain questions that you might have. >> For the field one, >> we were supposed to have some type of protection there for the house that's there. I don't see that on here. >> Uh, so there are nets that have been installed. As I mentioned, there are field nets, the same ones at the end of the field. And there's also a line of trees that are up the slope in front of that house. that's what's been incorporated in the

036design. >> I don't see it worded that way. >> Uh it's in the documents that we flip through with the administrative team and we could share them with you if you like. >> I would like to see that. >> Absolutely. Yes. So, um, basically just for information, uh, the field will be able to support band. >> Yes. Uh, that's the short answer. Uh, band is, um, on many of the turf fields that we've installed. Um, and it all depends on how heavy the use is, but it's an absolute permissible thing to in to to have on the field. As you can imagine, in any stadium field, the band is both practicing and performing on that field. We have many fields in use where there are band competitions and so no problems with band on the

037field. >> Yes, >> we had a lot of meetings with the township and got permits, etc. How much money have we spent totally so far? um >> to get where we're at. >> I would have to uh discuss that with the business office to get you that number. So, we had a we had our preconstruction fees and I would have to give you a tally of that. There was a permit fee from the township. There was also a permit fee submitted to the conservation district. So, I think if I work with the business office, we could put those numbers together and send them your way. >> Okay. I appreciate that. Thank you. Oh, the the other thing was um I seen where on one of the documents it said you were putting a cement pad

038down for the bleachers, but the bleachers would be at our expense. >> Uh so the bleachers, yes, would be at the district's expense. The cement pad is simply one for a loose bleacher to sit on them. >> So that cost wouldn't be in here. >> Yes. And I'll confirm that for you because I just want to I just want to confirm if we have that in the spec or not. You have them. >> Okay, great. All right. >> Okay. >> So, the district has them. There's not an additional expense, just to be clear. >> Has what? >> The bleachers. You currently own them. >> Aren't we lucky? What are we doing with them? We have them in storage. They're on the field right now. We're using them. They're just going to be placed on a

039cement pad instead of on the grass like they are now. >> Okay. Uh the water underneath, we already have drains underneath the football field. >> Correct. >> So, we can't use those drains. >> So, in short, the conservation district and the township consider synthetic turf to be impervious. In other words, they consider it to be asphalt. >> Right. And so they require additional drainage. So not only are we using the drainage that's on the fields now, we're supplementing it with additional storm water storage, which are the two blue boxes that are under the field to hold storm water. >> Okay. So be more, do we have to have that tested? >> No, there's no testing requirement. >> Okay. Because I I thought the drains were in pretty bad shape that we have on the field

040now. I just want to make sure that >> well all of those drains at the surface will all be replaced as a part of the project because there's an elevation difference and there's a stone layer that goes in and there won't be inlets, if you will, on the field like there are now. Everything flows through the field and into the collection pipes that are under the field in the new design. >> So, we'll be ripping them out. >> Yes, >> that's what I was getting after. Um, okay. So, a lot of these things there could be additions or deductions that we'll make at the end. >> Uh, >> for like I was looking over this and I didn't see any place where you're putting a new parking lot that you have that out for bid.

041I didn't see any place for for the where you're going to have the the new uh shot puts area, whatever that's called. >> Okay. There's there is not a new parking lot associated with the project. We're just doing >> We had to put one in. >> You've got an existing parking lot at field one that will be reused. There's a ADA accessible ramp that goes to the field and a p and a asphalt path that runs around the exterior of the field. Okay. And >> I'm sorry, what was the what was the other one? >> Oh, the shotputs that is included in the bid that the field events are relocated. That's included. >> So So that's in where they're going to be located and to make it up to what standards or whatever. >> Yes,

042ma'am. >> Okay. Because I didn't see that either. And that's good about the parking lot because that was in the first set that we had to make a bigger parking lot because we were using some of that parking lot for something. Uh, I would have to refresh my memory, but we're not touching that parking lot other than to connect the ramp to the field. >> So, I think we have adequate parking at that location. Is that right? >> Okay, that's good because it was in the original RFPs because I read it. >> Okay. >> So, we don't we aren't going to do nothing with the parking lot. >> Correct. >> Okay. So this 7,490,000 is the estimate for both fields. >> Yes. >> And if we deduct field one, is that the field hockey field?

043>> That would be field one and it's multisport field. I don't know if the district refers to it as the field hockey field, but it's got the ability to play field hockey, lacrosse, soccer. >> Okay. It's not the the football field. It's not the football field. It's not the stadium field. >> So, originally when we talked about this, we could have did the turf for what we originally wanted for 22 million$2 and a.5 million. >> I'm sorry. Could you ask me that again? >> Originally, they wanted turf field for the field hockey. So, what you're am I correct in understanding? We could have done that for $2 and a half million dollars. >> I think I need a little district help on that one. The con the decided uh approach was because of the value

044that it provided to the district that turf inside the stadium track would be the most beneficial to the school district. And that turf is being set up to play field hockey, soccer, lacrosse, football. All sports can play on that field. And so because of where it was and its prominence and the fact that it has lights that was identified as the preferred base bid with field one being the alternate as the second field. >> Okay. Also in the the other uh RFPs it was then about the walkways to have them. I don't see anything in in this now. Uh, field one, as I mentioned, has a macadam walkway around the entire perimeter and an ADA approach ramp. >> And that's all going to be in the that's all in the bid. >> It's on the

045drawing that was in the presentation. Yes. >> So, it'll be on the bid. >> Okay. How about bathrooms? >> There are no bathrooms associated with the project. >> Okay. And we don't have to have any. >> I'm going to ask for the district help there. >> Okay. I think that's all I have. The other question I have with to administration is when did administration a date, month, something ever come to this board and say that they were recommending we do this like any other project we get like you came to us with kindergarten and said you would like us to you know to think about that but I cannot find any dates where administration ever came to us about turf. I think this project has been going on for multiple years and even prior to

046my taking over here. But initially, I believe it was either January or February when I came on board about 6 months ago, we did bring this and and and shared with the board the intentions of this project. So, I do believe that, you know, we've kept the board up to date with regard to that. I'm I'm not debating that. >> You did keep us up to date, but when did administration ever say to us that they're recommending this? >> I think I answer that for you. >> Yeah. >> Um, two years ago when the field hockey team brought it up to us, I would say within maybe six months of that, we I put it on the agenda for the board to discuss. I don't remember the exact date, but I would say it was

047a board ago, two years ago. It's when we started the pro started talking about it, >> right? But administration never came to us. That was my question. >> Oh, the PE the the students came to us and then I put on the agenda for the board to discuss. administration when we do a project like this usually comes to us and says we just like they did you know for the ter for the uh uh when we first originally talked about the uh planetarium it was administration's recommendation that we don't go forward right now um when talked about kindergarten it was administration's re recommendation we check it further my question is when did administration ever say to us that they recommended that we do the turf? Well, I can't give you particulars in terms of that

048exactness, but what I can say is that our ambitions to continue where the previous administration left off and continue this process, I think assumes some things in regards to that recommendation. So, we did continue that process. This had been something that um the now current administration picked up from the previous administration that had been stemming for for some time prior to I can't give the exactness of that and we did pick that up to continue that process and in doing so have have recommended that we wouldn't be placing we we would have cut ties with that project back during the time of which we initiated continued planning services with CHA to continue that process. of collecting the bid documents and ascertaining all the permits that are necessary. We knew that was going to be a

049lengthy up to six-month timeline to be able to do that >> because the previous administration did not recommend it. >> Mr. Bill. >> Yeah, I'm looking back on the records in board docs and on February 27th, 2024, there was a motion authorizing the administration to work with Fox Rothschild LLP on any necessary submissions to Colbertdale Township for the artificial turf field project. Um, so that was a process that had gone through with the motion by Mr. Zawatada, Mr. Penerella. Um, and it passed at that particular time. So, if I'm remembering correctly, and I think that might have been in a in a building. >> It might have been in one of our I don't think it was here. >> I'm not debating that. >> I'm just That's that I remember it moving forward at that

050particular time to do the investigation. >> Thank you. That wasn't my question. Now, >> I believe the question that Mr. I was asking is when did the board when did the administration come to the board and give a presentation to the board saying we would like to the board to consider putting in turf fields for these reasons and then at the same time recommended it go into the five or 10 year plan for discussion and for financing. I think I believe that's your question. >> Well, thank you for clearly stating that. So um again you'd have to ask former administration as to the initiation of that process when when we began uh and I came on board that process had been underway. So again, our consideration to and meeting with former CFO, understanding the complexities

051of uh what we did or did not have when it came to um you know our capital budget and this project, we did uh continue that process. And while maybe not make it specifically clear, certainly by continuing this process, this is something that the administration is recommending and has supported in um as a desire for our students and for the district. >> Okay. So, administration is the one that's been approving the expenses so far. >> Excuse me. the expenses so far somebody has to be approving them or saying to pay them. >> You you approve those through the initial contract to to to which those those go through and most of which are the design uh fees associated which also include all the permitting fees and include those types of things that are all part

052of those uh components. So that that was inside of the contract when it relates to that. I realize we vote on that, but somebody has to be telling the business office to pay the bills. >> Yeah. I don't I don't have the numbers in front of me and I don't remember it, but I want to say it was something like $240 something,000. Not to exceed that. Anything above that, they had to come back to the board. >> And again, I don't know if that was the exact number. I'm just giving a roundabout. If you look at any motion that administration is recommending, it says administration recommends. This motion puts out authorizing the administration too. It's not the administration asking for this. It was certain people on the board asking for it basically and it was

053not so if you go back and look at the motion that'll tell you it was not administration asking for it. >> I'm okay with that though. I'll if you want to something on record I totally want this for the kids. I put on the agenda me I've always said that. I mean is that what you're trying to figure out? That's that's what happened. Kids were here complaining and I took action to put it on the agenda and the board as a board voted on it. >> That's the little confusion here. It was the field hockey team that asked for it and now we're doing the stadium. So >> that did you agree to the administration? Well, we didn't agree to anything. That's why there's two fields on there. >> We we didn't agree to any

054of that yet. That's that's that's what the bids are going to come back to. But the administration recommended that it be that field, the football field. >> I don't recall them ever recommending that. In fact, when Mrs. Torsy was asked about does this does the administration recommend going forward, she did not answer. >> The whole bid package was put together by the administration. That's their input >> at your direction. >> No, no, no. Not at my direction. I asked them to put it together for what they need and want. That's what it is. >> Your direction. They put it together your direction. >> Well, it wasn't with my input. It's their input. It's what they want. >> Doesn't matter. >> Okay. Then it doesn't matter. >> Either way, this is irrelevant. This isformational. >> That's

055true. >> It's true. >> Mr. Sultanic, does the administration have to recommend or board can tell administration to do something? Legally, the administration does not need to recommend uh a particular project or not. The board has the authority to approve that. And in fact, the board did approve the contract. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Lynch. >> Thank you. That takes us down to item B, the CFO business office updates. And I would like to introduce to um our board who is familiar with Mr. Lent already, but our our public, those in attendance, and those watching, Mr. Lent um is the CEO of EDM Financials LLC, which is running our interim business services. As Mrs. Denola has moved on to a different district as we continue our search for a new CFO. So, we welcome

056uh Mr. Lent here this evening and he has just a brief update um as we begin the school year and I'll turn it over to Mr. Lent. >> Thank you. So, just to give the board and public an update of the work to date. had the opportunity uh last week to transition uh with Miss Denakola, talk about the work that she had been um um completing in progress with her team in particular um as the school year was getting prepared for uh working with payroll. Um and from that I've already identified and begun to work with uh your audit firm on the annual audit. Um we're um on track at this point to have that timeline be that the the fieldwork or the work of the audit will be completed in October. That will allow

057us to file the state's required annual financial report by the end of November which is the normal time frame and I think will be um a a quicker earlier schedule than um in the past for the district. What that will help you do is to get a better sense of the financials for the previous year and also use those as a basis for um improved budgeting um as we develop preliminary budgets um moving into um the next fiscal year. Um also we've already begun working to improve payroll. Um some of the feedback from the um board was the transitions and the number of transitions with payroll. Um, so we've been having uh meetings and in particular um with a member of my firm's team who um is very highly skilled in Skyward um to look

058at how payroll has been processed. Um I also think that um one of uh the goals um is to um continue to improve not only the the processing the data with payroll but also our collaboration internally in getting our data for payroll and I've already taken steps to um have u multiple teams come together um to discuss and prepare for uh payroll um human resources changes um other matters that will help us um not only improve the data but also the understanding of the various moving pieces um in a district um with the number of staff that that you have. Um, additionally began working with external departments in particular with um, pupil services um, and other offices with regards to um, rolling out the budget for this year. uh with the goal that as we

059get further into the fall and the school year um we'll have a better um uh understanding of our roles regarding the um budget accounts um that individuals have as well as um tracking spending throughout the year um so that I can come back to you um at various intervals um during my tenure here um and turn that over to um the permanent CFO um uh updates to the board about where spending is in relation to uh budget um to again not only have that be informed for decision-m but also aligning the revenues that the district receives to expenditures. You'll hear in a little bit how the expenditures and revenues so far um you know really haven't hit and in particular when you look at a July that there haven't been necessarily tax receipts. There hasn't

060been state subsidies that have rolled out. Um we're now off of a higher level of federal uh revenues for the district. um as we get further into the year, we'll have better information to be able to um track those as well as to communicate to you um changes and variances so that we both have an understanding of um the way the budget evolves throughout the year. Um as well as from an administrative standpoint um you know, we can um be proactive in addressing um any gaps and also addressing uh funds towards the district's goals and strategic plans. Any questions for Mr. Lance? >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Lance. >> Thank you. >> Treasures report. Good evening. Tonight, I'll be presenting two highlights from the July 2025 treasures report. Uh local revenue deluxe tax

061collection was $148,9354. Earned income tax collection was approximately $1,429,56.74 and transfer tax collection was approximately $132,651.54. And in regards to what Mr. L said um we are stagnant right now for state um revenue and for July's expenditures for salaries, benefits and professional services, it accounted for 53% of our total expenditures for the month of July. That concludes my report. >> Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Go ahead. >> With our um >> major accounts, >> Miss Fox may be a question here. Sorry. With our major accounts, would it be possible to have it like what we were supposed to be spending monthly for each account and then what we actually spent in that month. That would probably go more with the budgeting part of it. Um, >> and that way on this thing we could see

062if we're within that month's budget or if we're out of that month's budget and what's left for the rest of the year. Yeah. And I I think actually in the treasures report, it does give percentages as to >> but I'd like to see it as July being we have x amount of dollars. We spent this amount of dollars, we went over budget or we were under budget. >> Okay, that's something I can work with Mr. Lince with. >> I think that could be very helpful for us to know whether we're staying within our budget or if we're out of our budget. >> Okay. I think we can work and I I think to what Mrs. Fox is referencing that's part of looking at the projections um there are some nuances to the budget. So for

063example when you look at expenditures you really have just in an upcoming payroll we're going to start to have teacher salaries roll out for the year. Uh so from a if you're thinking of a budget, it's hard to divide that because it doesn't really hit for July and August. For this year, your July and August teacher salaries actually go to the previous fiscal year. But I I think we can give give a sense and um uh an assurance about how the budget stands as a whole so we can come back to uh and work with um Mr. David Heiser and and and include that as part of our updates. I think it just could give the board a better scenario what's going on with their budget >> and that can also be comparable to what

064we have done in the previous years to see if we're on track with how we were spending at that time as well. Any other questions? >> Thank you. >> At this time, we're looking for a motion to approve the July 1st, 2025 treasures report as presented. I'll move >> Mr. Roger. >> Yes. >> Mr. Zawatada. >> Yes. >> Mr. Brophy. >> Yes. >> Miss Gerov. >> Yes. >> Miss Kratz. >> Yes. >> Miss Nimman. >> Yes. >> Miss Scott. >> Yes. >> Mr. Brad Upgroo. Yes, >> Mr. Penerella. >> Yes. >> Unanimous. >> Under the superintendent's consent agenda uh for this evening, we do have two items. Uh the first is uh due to the nature of the exiting CFO um Bertown must elect a delegate to the Burks County um EIT um tax collection

065committee executive committee and um the administration is recommending this morning to or this afternoon to appoint Mr. Matthew Lent as the district's delegate to uh the Burks EIT Bureau Executive Committee. Um the second item, item B, the August donation list. There are three items there, two of which were covered in the committee meeting, both the Shutterfly and the for Boy Bertown Elementary and Washington. there. We have added and since received one other um donation and we're thankful for the Bortown Optimus softball. They wanted to donate a road a road facing sign. Uh it's approximate value you can see listed there $1,700 to identify the entrance of the sports complex um behind Middle School East. So it allows um those those individuals coming from out of the area that come to compete um knowing exactly where

066those fields are. And uh so we are recommending uh those three donation items um for your um consideration this evening. So it takes us to item C which would be um approval of the consent agenda. >> Pella moves. I'll second >> question. >> Um, with Mr. Lent being our district delegate, um, it's not a permanent position for Mr. Lent in case we find somebody, uh, who would fill that position besides that, if after Mr. Lance was to remove lead the district. So >> we we would u hope to um then bring forward our u new CFO um would be would take over in that position uh once um you know we've transitioned completely and and have a CFO in place. >> I'll do the roll call vote second please. >> Mr. Roger Uproo. >> Yes.

067Mr. Zawatada. >> Yes. >> Mr. Broofphy, >> yes. >> Miss D, >> yes. >> Miss Katz, >> yes. >> Miss Nimon, >> yes. >> Miss Scott, >> yes. >> Mr. Brad Upgro, >> yes. >> Mr. Penello, >> yes. >> Eyes have it. Unanimous. Takes us down to item nine, the superintendent's itemized agenda. And we start with item A. Um this evening we're we're seeking uh approval of an agreement between Crest and the school district to um bring forward an interim assistant principal to Bash High School. As you're aware, Dr. Bergie uh was appointed at a recent meeting to be the next Gilbertville Elementary principal and has already begun that um next journey in his career. Uh that leaves us without an assistant principal right now. Um at a building that um has cons considerable volume

068and we want to make sure for for certainly for safety reasons that we have uh student management and other um um components uh under control and are seeking um your approval this evening to um move forward with that interim contract. with the individual uh listed in that Gwen uh Mallei um needs to complete the onboarding process with Crest which is the approvals and um the clearances uh as such. So we are seeking your consideration this evening uh to bring that contract. So as soon as that is completed by that individual, we can bring her her aboard to Bash. >> I'll move. >> We do. >> I'll move. >> So we need a mo motion to approve. I move two seconds. Okay. Quick question and I don't mean to bring this out of left field but

069I guess it is. Um some of us have come to this school and went through the high school and we had a principal and a vice principal. the vice president used to be in charge of basically demerits that would send us um and I'm just wondering at the level that we're at now why and again you can get back to me but why do we need a principal as well as three additional uh assistant principles and the cost that affects the school district? >> Yeah, and I think I can answer that right now. We have graduating classes of over 500 students. Um, in today's management of a school alone, that's pretty significant. Um, we align one of those assistant principles to those 500 students. And that's a pretty significant ratio of 1 to 500. Along

070with that, we have um a staff of nearly 200 there of professional employees to whom need to be observed multiple times throughout a year, evaluated throughout a year. Uh the mandates that are placed now on a school district and it's you know serving schools are um considerably different than they once were. um with that and um you know our first concern is always safety and um not having a a ratio that we feel comfortable in being able to simply manage the components of a day-to-day operations in a school is significant. um uh you know in in other school districts and not meaning to compare but we've seen I've seen ratios that are that are far less um in in relation to student to um principal or assistant principal ratios when it comes to all of

071that. So that's really the um the the belief behind that and why we are able to successfully navigate a school year um and did have this past year a very very successful school year in doing so with that ratio. I do want to I would never be against safety and if that's but class of 78 graduated 504 students. So again I understand what you're saying and I appreciate the answer and uh we'll move on from there but I just always wanted to ask that question. >> You can take the vote. >> I'll take the vote. Thank you. Mr. Roger Uptogrove. >> Yes. Mr. Sawada, >> yes. >> Mr. Broofphy, >> yes. >> Miss Derov, >> no. >> Miss Katz, >> yes. >> Miss Nyman, >> yes. >> Miss Scott, >> yes. >> Mr. Brad Upgrove,

072>> yes. >> Mr. Penerella, >> yes. >> Eyes have it. 8 to one. >> Under item B, uh, board secretary appointment. Again, a function of our past CFO has been um the uh representative board secretary. This evening uh we are recommending uh the appointment of Matthew Lent to act as the acting board secretary. Uh we did put a date of effect of August 25th, 2025 and ending on August 12th, 2026, not knowing an end date. Uh again, as Mr. Zada had uh referenced um if and when a new CFO and permanent CFO is appointed um this would be altered to move that individual and uh consider a an appointment for the board secretary position at that point. So moves I'll second >> Miss Dolph is we giving also him permission to sign checks and so

073forth. >> We are he is the interim CFO so he has the duties and obligations um as such. >> Okay. I don't have a problem with it. I just want everybody to understand it. Yes. >> Because it's never mentioned. >> Yes. >> Thank you. I will take the vote. Mr. Roger Uptogrove, >> yes. >> Mr. Zawatada, >> yes. >> Mr. Brophy, >> yes. >> Miss Girro, >> yes. >> Miss Katz, >> yes. >> Miss Nimon, >> yes. >> Miss Scott, >> yes. >> Mr. Brad Uptogrove, >> yes. >> Mr. Penella, >> yes. >> Eyes have it. And >> under item C, personnel recommendation to approve the personnel agenda as listed. I move. Do I have a second? >> Miss Nyman, >> I see Mr. Landon is leaving. Do we have a reason why? >> Mr.

074Landon. >> He's taking another position at a local district. I'll call the role. Uh, Mr. Roger upgra. >> Yes. >> Mr. Zawada. >> Yes. >> Mr. Roofy. >> Yes. >> Miss Deroff, >> no. >> Miss Katz. >> Um, yeah. I just uh quickly noticed that there's a teacher under support staff. I don't know that that matters, but like under leave of absence, we have a teacher that's listed under support staff. Shouldn't she be under a professional staff? >> Yes. >> Okay, >> I can make that. >> Okay, >> I'll make that correction. Thank you. >> Okay, thank you. >> Yeah, >> Miss Simon, >> yes. >> Miss Scott, >> yes. >> Mr. Bradrove, >> yes. Mr. Panerella, >> yes. Eyes have it 81. >> No one has signed up for public comment period number two.

075So that will go to board comment. Mr. Upgrow, do you have anything? >> No, I don't. >> Miss Nyman. >> Yes. Can somebody give an update on what is going on with um our stopfinder? Uh, I don't know what it was called in the past, but I've had several comments from parents wanting to know they can't get on the app anymore and what's going on. And I said, "Well, we changed it, but I don't know what else is going on." >> Yeah, sure. Mr. D, I know you've been >> I do. Um, so the um recently, as of this past Sunday, the GPS and Mr. um Quigley is here also. There there's two components to it. Each individual um bus or van has required a new GPS unit and um they were officially completed this

076past this past weekend. I think it's upwards of almost 200 GPS's were put in in about a two-eek time frame. Um that was the first component. Mrs. Moyer had put a communication out to our community um outlining the process of what was taking place. Quickly bus service can monitor all of our buses from a safety perspective to know where they are. Um the next step is to communicate with the transfinder system which is going to connect an app that is going to be a process that um parents will have access to. That's the next stage of the of of the completion of this project. We are going to work on a timeline for that and um how quickly that is going to happen I can't speak to because it's going to be kind of a

077stage process to make sure it all connects parents can have um access that is consistent and then moving forward we would give access to our whole community. So, um, our goal was after the first month or so of school to possibly have something up and running, but we won't know that until we do a couple pilots to make sure everything's good at that point. >> I can tell you from the people I've talked to, including my son and daughter-in-law, they did not receive a communication, and there's a lot of others that are out there that did not receive communication. >> Yeah. And I did check with Mrs. Moyer, and there was um it was the top item in our newsletter that went out. what we plan to do and thanks for bringing that to our

078attention. We'll we'll highlight that in a separate just a separate communication before the weeks end for folks just updating them a lot of what Mr. Mr. Stout said uh with regard to that. So, something went out uh I believe it was the Wednesday or Thursday last week prior to the start of school. However, some folks may have not seen it inside the newsletter as a top story. I think a special letter going out to all the parents needs to be done because there's a lot of confusion out there >> and they want to know where their kids are. And I said, "Trust me, they're fine, >> but >> we need to get that out to them." >> Yep. We will. >> We made sure that the safety was paramount and they worked diligently to get

079the GPS's in so the buses could be tracked internally and we specifically articulated that that was the priority to make sure. And quite honestly, I'm so happy that it was done this past weekend because it was getting close with school starting on Monday. But the uh we'll we'll make sure we do that. >> I just cut in on that for a second. This this is part of the the uh zone RZ program where you have GPS on the buses and you also have uh I guess cards for the kids to get on the buses so they register coming on. There's a bus there's a zone RZ program out there also where it logs the kid like and when you say the GPS is on the bus it logs the kids onto the bus and it

080it logs the kids off the bus so that the parents the kid know the kids are on the bus when they get on when they get off. Uh that program's out there. Now there's a cost to that program. So it's about I think 26,000 to implement and about 350 350 a year to maintain. So just I don't know I don't know if you were even aware of it or you had looked into it or you about it >> when we were investigating the process um this has been a um a long a year-long process to look at that and there are more elements and components um we wanted to make sure that we had the foundation in place and then we can look to do an additional additional items. Um there's various um there's various

081devices that drivers could have on the bus to do certain things like that, but we were not moving in that direction to start. It was the key thing with the uh the the kind of the GPS mechanisms were to the point where the replacement needed to happen and it was going to be a process to evaluate. >> Yeah. Well, this this was a part of that I think also where it logs that the kid is on that bus and the kid has gotten off that bus. So, I think that's that's part of it. I don't I don't know if you were aware of it or you looked into it or that was just something that wasn't all part of what you were doing at this point. >> It it is those those additional features were

082investigated but were not decided to move forward this particular time but um can be considered in the future. >> What about bus patrol? We looked at bus patrol. That's that's the cameras installed. Yeah, Quigley um actually um um Amywigley has already committed um and submitted grants in terms of uh bus patrol for us. We're still waiting to hear back in terms of that to install on certain highlevel buses that we find that to be in not all of the buses but in some of those those areas where there's high traffic. >> That's a revenue sharing also of that. So it is any violations after the equipment's paid for, >> you get a portion of that. >> Yes, that's that's shared with the police department and so forth. >> But also, once again, a big thing

083on safety once it gets around it, you pass a bus. >> Yeah, >> you're going to be in trouble. >> Yeah, >> seems like seems like a pretty decent program. Those two things are out there. And that one's a no cost. >> It is. I'm I'm pretty familiar with the bus patrol program as we've had that in and a former district of mine that I have been in and was successful. Um, I would assume the other thing you're speaking of that would be ID related, right? They'd have student ID badges that they swipe on those buses. >> Swipe getting on the bus. >> They swipe getting off the bus. That way that when you when you brought up that the fact that we're following the GPS, that would go along with that because now parents

084know the kid got on the bus, >> right? >> And parents know the kid got off the bus. So, and also know where they are when they're on the bus. So, that's why I brought that up. That that's like I say, that's a cost program that you have to pay for. 26 grand and then >> there is there is a yearly fee for that. >> Are we going to look into that? Because that would be ideal. The parents would know probably then if their son or daughter got off at a wrong stop. Yeah, we'd have to look at to see if that's independent of the new uh I don't call GPS I guess that we just installed to see if that's an add-on to which that software or that hardware can take on. Um in

085terms of that >> I think that could be very safety. It it could, you know, there'll be a lot of training with regard to um you know, one of the components of the ID badge, >> but we're talking safety of our students. >> No doubt. And this is I'm not so much talking training of our adults. This is a training of having every student wear an ID badge >> um um through that. So that there there there's some challenges. I you know I what we what we need to get up and running is our first concern was to be able to run buses so that we could track and Quigley could track those buses in real time. We have that operational and we're able to do that. Our next step is hopefully within the next

08630 days being able to allow that access to parents to get on that app so they can track their bus and they can they can understand the proximity levels of the bus. After that, then we can look at are there additional things that we can include and what are the benefits and costs to some of those things too. >> I would hope that's one of them because that could be very beneficial to parents to know yes, my child's on that bus. It did not get off at the wrong stop. Whatever. >> Mr. >> Um, first I just want to wish everyone a good school year. Um, second, I just want to say I really enjoyed the school visits that we were invited to last year. Unfortunately, the high school visit was cancelled due to weather,

087but I'm sure it'll be rescheduled. And I would just encourage everyone to go if they're able. It really helps you understand or it helped me understand just what goes on in each building, how hard everyone's working, and how busy they are. >> Miss M. >> Okay. Some good news. Congratulations to Trey. Yes. Savage. I hope I pronounced >> Savage. Mr. Savage. >> Mr. Can you turn your microphone on? >> Want me to start all over? >> Yes. >> Congratulations to Trey. >> Trey Savage. >> You Savage. Yeah. >> Uh, who was moved up to TripleA Buffalo Bisons for the Toronto Blue Jays on August 11th. You can tell I'm a good sports person. >> Um, Trey's the has been working very hard and determination. This is what it can do. Keep up the great work,

088Trey. We are all very proud of you and we will wish you the best on your journey to play baseball in the major leagues. Go Blue Jays. Boy, that was a bummer. Okay, I have a couple questions. Do we have to hire more support staff for food services? I see we had one last time. >> Are we completely filled in food services? >> We have roughly two um part-time roles that we need to fill. >> No. Last time we approved one and it said NA, so I assume it's a new >> that's substitutes. >> Oh, >> substitute. We're have we have a substitute pool for food services. So, there are individuals that were just hiring, putting them in the pool. People take off, get sick, we can uh plug and play. So, Yep. >> Okay.

089>> I didn't know what that was. Um, and admin assistant for student services. When did we approve that position? I know we voted for it last meeting, but when did we approve that position? And I haven't seen the job description for that. They're supposed to approve a job description for the new um position on >> Mr. Do you have any information on that admin role? >> So the admin assistant position is one that is working with student services and school safety. So that was I I don't have a date in regards to when that discussion was was had but obviously with the amount of work that um officer bow is doing with truency. Um there was a need there and there was also a need for uh Dr. Horton to have an individual assist um

090with with some grants and some different things that are going on in in pupil services. That individual will also assist as needed with any overflow that may occur within the athletics department as well. Um I can look for a date. I don't know when that was discussed. Um but I can >> we got information from administration uh about what that position would entail. Uh but we never were asked to approve it and it was we didn't get a job description on it just that this person could use help that person could use help who did the work before. We keep getting less students. And one thing I hear from the public continuously, stop hiring administrators. Stop hiring secretaries. You got more secretaries than you do students. I know that's what you're going to say. That's

091what I'm hearing. That's what gets hollered at me. So, uh, according to our policies, we're supposed to approve a position before we hire someone. Number one. And we're also supposed to approve a job description, which I don't think we did either. And who did the work before? Who did the truency? Who did Rafe used to do that? So, >> well, I know from from that perspective, Officer Bow is utilizing a few different folks at the high school that are helping with just coordinating um and keeping, you know, notes and things like that. He writes everything, but with the with the sheer number he's utilizing off hand, I can't remember the individual's name. Um, the job description is a generic admin assistant job description that talks about some of the key functions that admin assistants do.

092Um, I and again for I I don't know when the date was that we we talked about um adding that role, but I can get you that date. >> Well, I don't want to know the day we talked about it. I want to know when we voted for it, and I want a proper job description like we get for other things. And then that I I want the policy followed because every time I say something, I get another thing way out here that it is. And I I'd like to know uh also um safety and security. We had appointed Mr. Stout January 28th of 25. Okay. Well, we also appointed Mr. Bone for that same position and and adjustment in his pay on July 16th of 24. >> Yeah, those are two separate um components.

093So >> components that gives the same title. >> So school say while it may gives the same title what Mr. Stout has been appointed and what must be registered with PCCD is that we must have a u an SSC uh a school safety coordinator. So he is the report mechanism to the board. Um he is and if you recall in an executive session reported out on the um the the various types of safe to says the various types of threat assessments the various types of things that the district has initiated throughout he oversees and coordinates safe to say um with regard to that Mr. Bow's role as safety coordinator is a physical role here in the in the district in which he oversees all of the SRO's. He coordinates all of the SRO's. He is

094um supervisor to all of those SRO's and acts in that role. So while they say the same, they are completely two different things as it relates to the responsibilities that are part of that. Mr. Bow, Officer Bow, um is an SRO. He has the additional component of being then the supervisor um in regards to that. So there's a little bit of difference in clarity when it when it comes to those types of things. >> Okay. Who did that job before him? >> Who did the >> before Mr. Dude, go ahead. Go ahead. >> So that was that was officer Perez. Officer per officer Perez was the school safety coordinator hyphen school police officer. So when he retired, that's when officer Bone was appointed in that role as school safety coordinator hyphen school police officer to

095oversee um the other SPOS that are in the district. >> Okay. The other thing um way back we used to have a superintendent's round table. You probably are not familiar with that. Maybe you are. Uh I I would like to see us institute that again because it had great benefits. I thought it told us what other districts are doing and and I think it was a very good idea. I don't know why it stopped with one of the superintendent. >> I I don't know. I don't have any history of that. Maybe you could provide me some It doesn't have to be tonight, but provide me some history of that. I'd certainly be able to to look into that and see what we can do in 2025 as as to what that is. Do you have

096an idea of when that ended in what year? >> I have to talk to my brain. >> I mean, are we within the last couple of years or is this more 5 10 years or >> It's more 10 years probably. >> Okay. So, why don't why don't you you and I connect on some of the history of that and we can see what what that means. And we used to have a program after school um down at East um and it was kind of for the kids that had no place to go and for if they needed help with homework or they needed help with if anything. I was called from the hearts and it was it was a great program and I'd like to see us look into that because not all kids play

097sports and not all kids do music and and we have a lot of kids out there that have a place to go after school. So I'd like you to like >> it was called from the hearts. >> Yeah. And maybe we could have uh because I know one year I have to look on the on the uh on the uh they sold books. U they did a what can I think of? They did a food book, >> right? >> Yeah. And and I I'll look into a little bit of that. Uh we do have some different clubs that are named different things that I believe are >> they didn't they didn't charge money. They didn't get paid. Everything was >> Yeah. And we do have some of those. Um and I'll check with m with

098Mr. Mayori um uh in regards to whether or not u and maybe rename something a little bit different. I believe >> going back maybe 10 years on that, too. >> So, all right. >> Um but, uh I'll look in their cookbook because they they did a cookbook. See if there's anything in there that tells me anymore because they I sold enough of those. Um okay. Uh also on our policies, we have a policy uh function three with with evaluation of board procedures. Uh we've never done that and it's one of our policies. We're supposed to do it every year um for for our local board procedures. And I think I'm suggesting maybe leadership read that and see if we can't do something that might bring us closer together even. >> Yeah. and you reviewed that

099policy uh just within the past 6 months if you recall. Um we did look at some components to that. Um one of which was again the uh I believe it was the recording of meetings. So the the policy was out there and being reviewed. >> Different thing. Well, it's still part of that policy, but if there's some other things in there that you're you're interested in looking at and reviewing, please bring them to my attention. We can bring them. We do have a policy meeting that's coming up. >> I just did. >> Okay. So, >> again, a little bit deeper detail into what inside that policy you're looking at would be helpful. >> The name of it. >> Thank you, Mrs. Dur. Mrs. >> Can I I'm sorry. Can I have that policy number again?

100Uh it it it will be on uh in the policy man O3 functions evaluation of board procedures. >> You're welcome. Uh the other thing um I I read over the cost for the virtual academy and I'd like to know how many students we have in there and what I guess it be the subject areas because I briefly added that up and it's way over $200,000. And I know other schools, they don't charge at all. They're they don't pay their teachers at all extra. Um that's part of their daily um duties somehow. >> Um >> I can I can speak specifically to that and um we did investigating that and I'm if you can share with us another district that does not that's part of their extra duties, I would love to hear about it. Um

101because we did investigate that. Um, currently the the ballpark numbers because it it fluctuates a little bit. Um, the total cost of the Bertown area virtual program platform is $424,000. It supports about approximately $139 students at the end of last year. Um, again, the new numbers will happen this year as we progress forward. If we were to project out at a minimum of $12,000 per student, that would be approximately a $1.668 668 million cost to the district. Um it costs us I mean we save with $424,12 from last year. Um approximately $1.2 million in running our own virtual program. Um if we were to lose all these students to outside virtual programs. So um we did give those numbers to the board last year. Um so that's just an update of what um the estimated

102cost or cost savings would be by running our own program. But I would love to know another district that has it as an extension of what's happening in their current platform. So if you could share that with me, I would like to hear that. >> Well, I'll check around again. There was, >> please, because I would love to hear about that and I will reach out to them um immediately to learn about that. >> Okay. Where do you want to learn how to do it? >> No, I feel like we've put a robust program in place. I would like to know your reference point to an outside district that has it as an ongoing extra responsibility that um teachers are not that are not um supported financially for. So, if you can share that, I

103would love it. >> Okay. Well, some of the teachers with different subject areas that are on our our our sheet, they have three and four classes or I don't know if I should call them classes or what to call them, but they're getting three or four different pays and they're still teaching full-time. Correct. >> That's why they're um going above and beyond the duty of their day. That's why the stipen and theou that was agreed upon back in um I believe we proposed that in May. Um, and you agree to board it for as a board, >> right? But that wasn't my question. You know, let me finish. How can they teach like four or five four say four classes and still be able to do what do they take? Teach five nor five regular

104classes. >> It it depends. But um the reason they're compensated for this because it goes beyond their school day. This is not a requirement that's during the school day. It goes beyond that instructional day for them. They're still doing their five dorm. >> They are doing their regular coursework. Correct. >> Right. Okay. It's a question I had. And um how I don't know how to ask this. How many students are in? I was told there's some classes that only have one or two students in. Is that correct for the virtual? There are certain classes sections that are run by only um there are only um a handful of students. That's why the ranges in theou are part of what they're compensated for. And I don't have theou right in front of me, but um there's

105a a compensation range that goes along with the amount of students that are supported. Um just just as a reminder, if we would lose a student to an outside cyber and wouldn't offer that, it's a pretty extensive cost to the district if we don't if we don't um provide some sort of um comparative support for students to be um instructed virtually. >> Okay, one more question. I'm getting calls about lockers. Can anybody tell me what's going on with the lockers at the high school? >> What's the question? >> Well, I don't know. Some people are saying they their stu their student has to pay $50 for a locker. And I said, "What teacher is charging it?" Then I don't hear nothing. But I got like four phone calls already. And I said, "Well, is this

106a sports locker, a music locker, you know, something besides a normal locker?" And they said, "No, and you have to ask for a locker." None of it was making sense. So I would like to know, is there a deal with the I'm not accusing anybody. I just like to know is there a deal going on with the lockers? What? >> Yeah. Without a specific question, I don't know. And I've not heard anything related to lockers. So, we'll >> each child get their own locker. >> You're talking just at Bash. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, we I'll have to ask uh >> here. >> I have heard something on that too and it is not true. What has happened and the reason I know this is because my granddaughter is a ninth grader. They are not

107being given lockers. If they want a locker, they must ask for one. They will get one. They are allowed to have their book bags with them because of their location and where they might be at the end of the day. So, they are not being given a locker unless they per say they ask for one. If they ask for one, they are given one. Right. >> But they carry their book bags around. Yeah, and that's pretty par for the course um in today's school world and that um most of our students opt not to have a locker in any way, shape or form and those that would do do like them to have one or are just as as um was stated um they're they're given the opportunity to have that. So I I I

108had not heard anything about being charged for um >> put it to rest. >> I I'll confirm that with Mr. Sparks, but I believe what Miss Nyman shared is is probably very very accurate. >> Yeah, there would be some legal issues. >> Correct. >> That's how I answered the phone call when I got it. There's nobody being charged $50, which is what I said. >> Correct. >> Well, I just want to make sure I know what to say. Thank you. I think I'm done now. >> Mr. Brophie, Mr. >> Just want to uh welcome all of our new teachers. That video was great to see faces of everyone um who's joining Boyertown. And also just want to wish all of our students and staff a safe and exciting school year. >> Just want to wish

109all our students, staff, and teachers uh welcome back and hope for a great year. That takes us to the upcoming meeting dates and announcements. Uh we will begin our uh committee structure uh starting in September beginning with our finance uh committee meeting and um that will begin 6:00 here prior to the committee the whole and we'll follow up at in front of the legislative meeting on the 23rd with a policy committee. Um we will certain be certain to have 003 on that to answer all the questions related to the functions of board um and any other policies that the board so chooses from the um the committee members to to bring forward to discuss u followed by a legislative meeting on the 23rd. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Me being adjourned [Music]