001Okay. >> Yep. We'll do. >> I'm good. How are you? Yeah. give you guys the extended version tonight. >> No, no, no, no. Yeah, he's with Mark. at least like four bite. >> Good evening everyone. I'd like to call the Pleasant Valley School District Board of Education meeting to order. If we could all rise for the pledge of allegiance and then if you could please remain standing for a moment of silence. And Isabella, would you please lead us this evening? I allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you everyone. >> So tired to sit. Again, I'd like to welcome everyone that's with us this evening. And if we could have roll
002call, please. >> Norm. >> Robert Clark >> here. >> Janet Jun >> here. >> John Gazinski >> here. >> Denise Opley. >> Sue Kresky >> present. >> Ryan O'Keefe >> present and account for >> Diane Surface >> present. >> And Matthew Walters >> here. >> Thank you. I'd like to let everyone know that we did have an executive session. Uh we had two actually. One was held um both well we had one February the 12th, 2026 and one February 26th, 2026 immediately prior to this meeting uh for purposes of personnel matters including but not limited to performance and our discipline negotiations and legal issues. Um our student government president is with us Isabella. Good evening. Hey, good evening. Um, there's a lot going on right now. Um, energy has been building up with Minithong coming
003up and our kickoff being tomorrow. So, Leo club has been working hard with for diamonds to help with that presentation and this year it's going to be virtual which everybody's really excited. Um, we also this weekend um our drama club we're having into the woods junior and everybody's excited for that. They've been working really hard, especially with the new um directors. And we also have March Madness, our food drive. Um everybody's excited for that because we get it's students versus basketball. Oh, sorry. There's students versus teachers championship for the class that raises the most and gets the most donations. So, everybody's really excited for that. I'm super excited because student government gets to lead that assembly this year. That's all I have to say. Thank you. It's really quick. >> Yeah. Thank you. All right.
004This evening, uh, we have representation from MCTI and they're going to present our budget. We have Dr. Vera, who is the director and business manager, Mr. Brook, with us this evening. And we've threatened him to be quick. So, let's see. >> Pretty good with that. >> I will do I will do my best. Uh, thanks for having us tonight. Um, I do promise I'll try to be as brief as I possibly can. Um, I think what I'm going to share with you guys is is hopefully all good news. Um, even your budget increase in my view is good news and I'll try to explain it as best I can. So, I always start off uh for the new uh board members and for those of you who just maybe not remembers how we're funded. Um,
005so we are funded by the four districts in Monro County, you guys, uh, Poking Mountain, Straburg, and East Straburg. And the formula we use is based on a four-year rolling average of ADMs. Now, that's a fancy terminology for just enrollment. So, if you guys can see, Pleasant Valley is the second column. You'll notice, I'm going to talk about enrollment a little bit more in detail in a second, but your enrollment has just continued to grow tremendously. Um, so if you look at that that year that fell off of that fouryear, uh, so you went from 212 to 279. So, uh, you've had by far the largest increase of all four districts. Um, so to me, that's a good thing. Uh, I think the more kids that come to us, the better. So that that percentage
006that you see at the bottom with the green arrow, the 21.99, that's the number that you guys will be responsible for for our entire budget. So uh when we when I show you the budget, I'll break it down for you, but you're responsible about 22%. Poking Mountain is the largest school district as you guys know. So they still comprise about 35% of our budget. So enrollment, uh where we're at, so we are over,200 students at our school. To give you a little perspective, uh it's about a 40% increase compared to 10 years ago. Um we are the 12th largest current tech school in the Commonwealth. So there's 84 current tech schools in Pennsylvania. We are 12th largest. So we are we're big and it's something Monroe County should be very proud of. Uh so we
007continue on an upward trend. We are pretty much maxed out. Uh I'll talk a little bit about our our new program that we're starting next year. Once that program opens, that's the completion of with the addition that you guys helped fund. That's really the final piece that we can utilize that space. So, I'll talk a little bit about that in a second. I always show this. I try to explain this as best I can. I think this is a very important indicator. So, when you take all the students grades 10 through 12 in Monroe County and that's is this is what the state looks at. Um, just under or just over 17% attend MCTI and you'll see Pleasant Valley is much higher than that in a little bit. State average is under 12%. So, Monroe
008County as a whole, um, again, as a county, we should be very proud of that. Our kids are are seeing the value in career and teched and seeing the path that it gives them. Breaking it down by school, and I think you guys should be very proud of this. I I think uh kudos to your administration, your counselors who we work with uh every day. Um, you can see Pleasant Valley is by far uh sends the most amount of kids percentage-wise to MCTI. grades 10 through 12 in Pleasant Valley, you can see 26% of them come to MCTI. So that's over a quarter. Yeah. >> Question. So why the two other school districts you see a decline where the other two are increasing? >> Great question. So Pokound's very steady. So if you look at
009the percentage, it's it's fairly steady across the board. So they're in good shape. Straburg has always struggled with enrollment with us. So for them, 14% is good. The year before that was even better, but they were, you know, 10 years ago, they were in the 8% area. Um it's always been a struggle there. Uh East Straburg is the second largest growth model um behind you guys. Uh Pleasant Valley and other historically has always sent a lot of kids to to MCTI. It's just more now than ever. All right. >> Yep. So again, so kudos to you guys and your administration um for all the students who come to us and they they just do exceptionally well. All right. So the budget, I'll try to get this through this real quick. Um, so you can see
010we have a 3.92% increase. So it's $416,000 approximately. Again, you're not responsible for all of that. The driving factors behind it, the major one, and if you look at our total budget of $11 million, when we add a program, that's a pretty significant cost increase. So next year, uh, we will be opening up our first responder program. What that consists of is students who come to us will get introduced to criminal justice uh firefighting and most importantly they'll hopefully leave us with their EMT certification. Um so we will partner with St. Luke's and Pok and Lehigh Valley. So when you get your EMT you have to have rhino hours and ambulances. So we'll partner with them to provide that just like our health program. Uh so they will leave with that EMT and be employable
011right away. And if they want to stay in the field, great. if they want to um become a paramedic, which is a a much higher wage, they can do that, but also opens up other doors in the health field. Uh so that is by far the biggest driver. So with that program, that's about a third of the increase. The second personnel item that I want to share with you is our our Laurel Lake Cafe. Now, I always give this sales pitch. If you've never been to our school, please come. Uh we have a restaurant that is open to the public Tuesday through Friday. Uh the food is excellent. It's a great experience for the kids. Um, but part of that is we have a hundred students in culinary. We have two instructors. They are running
012all over the place. Um, on top of our restaurant, they also cater multiple events probably monthly. I won't even say yearly. It's it's all the time. They're catering events. We use our new venue. Um, we have counselors meeting so on so forth. For those of you who were there for our opening ceremony in the fall, there's over 400 people there, all catered by the culinary students. With that, um, our culinary instructors who are top-notch, we do use and abuse them. Um, and so they are spread thin. So, what we're looking to do is add what we're calling an assistant chef. It's really an instructional assistant, but in the kitchen itself. So, it would be somebody who has culinary experience, would be a chef, um would be in the kitchen where they can work with the
013kids on that skill set, would free up our instructors to help kids on the front end because they have to teach that as well. So, those are the personnel changes that we're looking to make to improve the offerings at the school. The other increases are nowhere near as exciting. It's just the reality of the world we live in right now. Uh healthcare, we're budgeting a 10% increase. We are in a pretty good spot for in consortium like you guys are in, but it's still something that we were recommended by the consortium to increase. So just to keep up with it and then obviously utilities um just like us homeowners. Uh electric rate 9% increase, oil 20% increase. So those are the big driving factors. Salary uh we don't negotiate salary. That's just an average of
014the four districts. So a couple years ago, you guys remember when East Straburg had their their inc large increase that increased our teacher salary as well. So, uh, but for this year, this is the driving factor for our budget. So, I'm not going to spend a whole lot of time in this because Sue's already giving me the death stare. Um, but we just like you guys are are funded pre our budget is predominantly made up of of benefits and salary just like any other school. Um, the one thing I always try to say is two things. One, we're debtree. So, we have no bond. We've been like that for years and we try to maintain that. Um, and secondly, all the large equipment we purchase all comes from grants. So, we do not include that
015in our budget. It would blow our budget out of the water. Um, our diesel program, for example, for us to buy a brand new Mac truck, you're looking at $140 $150,000. So, we get that through grant funds. Um, so that's something that we we continue try to to keep the cost down. Now, you're probably looking at your number. You're seeing 8.6% and he's trying to be positive. Remember, that's tied to enrollment. Um, I looked today, you guys have 300 students who attend our school. in 18/19 you had 195. So that's a huge increase uh in that shorter period of time. So that to me that is that is good news. So uh without taking vocational subsidy into account which I'll talk about you're looking about 172 $172,000 increase. Capital we're asking for no capital. Um
016for those you've been around long enough. Uh that used to be a huge concern for us. We had no funding mechanism for capital, but we fixed that when my former business manager who's sitting up there, uh, we fixed that years ago to to really make it a little bit easier for us to plan capital-wise. So, um, I try to explain this as well because this is something we are very unique and a lot of people don't understand this. Um, if you look at the state budget that was just released, there's a line item for career and teched and there's something called vocational subsidy. Now, it's called career and teched subsidy. That is money that comes from the state. Now, it comes to MCTI. Uh we in turn give it back to the school districts. Most
017career and tech schools keep that money at the school. We're a little unique. There are other models like this. It's how it's always been done. Um so, just to give you a little bit better view of the total cost, uh what you see up there is your budget subtract the vocational subsidy that you'll get back from us. Um, and you'll see uh it's really your net expense is $137 $137,000 uh dollar increase. Now, if you remember last year, and I'll show you in a little bit, up until this year, the vocational subsidy was actually outpacing our budget increase. So, dished countywide, you can go back to 2122 and our expenses at at MCTF for the school districts actually went down because the state was providing more money than what our budget increase was showing. Unfortunately,
018this year, uh, it was flatfunded, so there was no increase at all, uh, from the state. That's why you see that that spike coming back up. All right, any questions on that? Okay, capital. Um, for you guys haven't been there, our our addition is, uh, is awesome. We use it every day. Uh, we just had our student art fair in there, uh, for career tech month. So, it's just it's something we're very proud of and thanks to you guys and the rest of the school boards in Monroe County. Um, as far as capital goes, I mentioned where we are. So, 10 years ago, um, we had nothing. Um, there was no money in our capital. We had to come to you guys and essentially ask for money. Um, we are now sitting at about $2.3
019million on our capital fund. And that's after the addition. So, the addition we we marked off paid for, my very talkative business manager behind me, um, does an excellent job monitoring this. is working his butt off right now for another million dollars uh that we are awarded through an Iraq P grant that we have to go through the process before we put that towards the bottom dollar. So once we go through that process, you're looking at about $3.3 million that we can now start planning and start, you know, come instead of coming back to you guys and asking for all this money, um it's there and it's just good for the future of the school. So what are we working with? Uh what do we have next to come as far as capital goes? Uh
020the big one is public sewer. Uh we have a sewage treatment plant at the school which is a huge liability for us. It was built basically in the 70s. If that shuts down, the school shuts down. Um and then with that with the EP that we're working with, they're becoming more and more difficult and more and more strict. So it's just something we really do not want to be in the business of. We are in Pocono Township. Pocono Township is currently going through the process of going out for bid to run public sewer up to the school. it's actually going to a development behind the school. Um, and we will connect to that. Our feasibility study was about $517,000. So, we already have a grant to pay for half of it. But, um, at the
021last JC meeting, we they approved us to apply for the school facility improvement grant that is now out there. That's a minimum of $500,000. And I've been fortunate at the other school districts when I presented, I've had two representatives there. Um, Representative Madden was at one and Representative Propes was there. So, they know we're applying for it. And if we can get that, that'll pay for that entire project itself. So, uh, that's something that we're working on. Now, after that, it's it's smaller items like our part or uh stairs at the bottom lot. Parking lot eventually has to get taken care of. And I'm going to throw this out there about program growth, but there's I will tell you the superintendent and I met uh this week, there are some other options. I mean, there's
022multiple options that we need to pursue. We still have a pretty substantial weight list. So last year we ended with about 630 kids on our weight list. We just finished this month uh the first uh open month of enrollment and we already have 530 students on the wait list. So it's a problem um and everybody recognizes that but we need to look at some options outside of building whether we use satellite sites or the community college has approached us about using site up there. Um so there are op options out there and that's something that the superintendent and I will be discussing in the next few months. So, with that said, I'd be happy to answer any questions. >> Yeah. >> How how um out of that 530, how many are Pleasant Valley? >> I
023actually have that. >> Do you have top of your head? Does that have to be >> No, I have the list right here. So, you guys are at 113. Okay. >> Thank you. >> Does this fall into what you were projecting for the budget? Is this kind of align with what you were Okay, thank you. That was my main question to you. I just I just have a quick question. Does the courses you're take sorry the first responder course is not going to affect our courses in any way in curriculum that we teach in uh healthy phys because I know they do some of the first responder things. >> Yeah. I just didn't want it to stop here. >> Okay. Yeah. >> Yeah. EMT is a little bit like we have a ton of courses
024to get CPR, but the EMT is a little higher. >> Yep. >> All right. Um, thank you, Dennis. >> Thank you, Joel. >> Um, we will put this on the uh agenda for ours >> March meeting. Okay. Thank you. >> Safe travels. >> All right. Um, Dr. Conrad, um, superintendent, uh, community questions if we have any. >> Sure. So, uh, good evening everyone. There were no community questions. >> Okay. Uh, secretar's report. Mrs. Smail, please. >> Good evening. Tonight, I am requesting approval approval of the minutes of the meeting held on January 22nd, 2026 and approval of the February 26, 2026 board meeting agenda. >> So, move. >> Second. >> I have a motion by Mr. Burgerer and seconded by Mr. Walters. Is there any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor, please signify by
025saying I. >> I. >> Anyone opposed? >> I must abstain because I was not at the 2020 January meeting. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, and that motion carries. >> Uh, at this time, are there any Pleasant Valley citizens that would like to address the board? I don't see anybody rushing to the podium. So, I'll save my breath on the instructions and we'll move to the treasures report. >> Yes. Good evening. Tonight, I'm seeking a motion for item 4 A through H. A isformational only. >> So, move. >> Second. >> I have a motion by Mr. Gaziski and seconded by Mr. Burgerer. Is there any discussion? >> Yeah, a couple questions. Uh Tammy, uh 4D, the spy glassass group professional service for 26,000. What's is that? Um, so a couple of months ago, um, Mr. Van
026Vorhees and I presented this to the board at a working session. They did an audit of all of our communications, cell phones, internet, um, all of our phone bills. Um, part of the agreement was is any savings that they had found and implemented. So, they took care of implementing these savings, um, we would pay them the first year. So, now this is all savings for us moving forward. >> They're called the Glass Group. that that's the name of their group. Yep. >> I just thought it was a glass for our cafeteria or something. >> It is not. >> And uh 4E East Straber University. Um the van shock something for 249. >> So this was for payment for nine of our teachers. They participated in the PET program there. >> It's they take classes. It's
027tuition reimbursement. >> Okay. And then uh the northeast sub teachers, that's that's our regular substitutions, right? >> Yeah. And I do know the description says teachers, but it's not just teachers. It's the teachers, custodial, it's all of our substitute staff. >> And then the Hillard uh Delaware Valley School wood restoring for uh 871. >> Um so this is actually gym floor cleaner for the middle school. >> Okay. Okay. And then the Pennsylvania Principal Association Curriculum Budget Association fees. What is >> this for the principal the Pennsylvania principal association 16 memberships? >> Blessed membership. Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome. Okay. Anyone else? All those in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> Anyone opposed? And that motion carries. Uh, moving on to unfinished business, Mr. Fitzgerald. >> Uh, ju just briefly, and it's
028it's something that I has actually popped up here at Pleasant Valley and is actually popping up all over the um the state and that is there were changes to the school code surrounding cyber charter schools and certifying that students actually live in the district. um we had we've had an issue and had issues in the past with this very this very issue. So they put language in into the uh to the public school code, but unfortunately these cyber charter schools who know that they make their money off of these students, frankly, um are trying to do an endound around around the process to essentially substantiate that these um students live in the district without actually having any interaction with us. so they can confirm, oh yes, you know, student A does live in Pleasant Valley
029and here's the documentation. That's not that's not what the law says. And you have a whole bunch of districts and business managers throughout the state now losing their collective mind off what was thought to be or intended to be a way to assure fraud wasn't occurring. Um so, uh Dr. Conrad has already been on the forefront of this and our office is working with a couple districts in this county who are confronted with the same issue right now. Uh, unfortunately I do think um deals are made in Harrisburg and then the law that comes out is muddled. I think the changes to this law are muddled were will be muddled and we're going to have to now uh kind of push our way through it. So I just wanted to update you on on on
030that issue. >> Anyone else have any other unfinished? >> Okay, we'll move on to new business. Monro Career and Technical Institute. Mrs. Surface. >> Yes. Good evening. My reports are attached. Uh, I do want to say congratulations to all the winners at Skills. Pleasant Valley had 32 students competing. 22 competed between first, second, and third. There's also a list of um the farm show winners and FFA and DECA. So, if you have some time, take a look at those. Be very proud of our students. That's all. Thank you. Uh, Colonial IU, Mr. Clark, >> uh, the report is attached. Please take time to take a look. >> Okay. PSBA liaison Mrs. Hopeley. >> Uh good evening uh Denise Hopeley. So uh PSBA the report is attached. Couple of the features though are curriculum already advised
031everybody of this local education eleas are reporting the instruction curricula used 2526 by March 31st. Um and the school code no later start sorry the report supports a PA school code requirement no no later than 2728 uh that the entity adopts the ev evidence-based reading instruction. August 1st, schools that have habitual truent students are currently enrolled must provide an attendance improvement plan um for habitual truencies um until the student is no longer truent. And school entities must begin reporting attendance information to PTE and most quarterly reports are compulsory attendance enforcement. And then um FAFSA um effective start date is 2627 must either submit a FAFSA or opt out the form but schools may not withhold graduation based based on FAFSAs and there's a student scholarship um that people that students can apply for that for
032PSBA members trust the 26 2026 student leadership program provide a onetime award for up to 2500 or 5,000 for graduating seniors and they meet require for one of the four available scholarships and the applications must be due March 13th. Then there's a research one um this research is based on the responsibility to improve uh real learning outcomes. This was research published in there and our local performance is 58% of PV students are proficient reading language arts roughly on par with state averages still leaving 40 cent below proficiency. 34% are proficient at math um and a concern in foundation skills. High school level reading proficiency is about 64% and math is around 29. A math figure is below the state average. These me these numbers matter and based on the research literacy and numeric are are
033the building blocks of the future success. Nationwide $30 billion has been spent shifting instructions on laptops and tablets with a promise of better learning. Main scores didn't significantly improve over 15 years though that research is showing and heavy heavy heavy years sorry heavy heavy use of the um technology. Gen Z is the first generation in modern history to score lower on standardized tests than generation before it. And excuse me, this is not about rejecting technology. It's about aligning education with how human brains learn. Screens encourage skimming and distraction. Deep reading, sustained writing, and critical thinking require teacher-led instructions. And then this is just a summary. our priorities. If we're concerned that literacy isn't where it should be, spelling and decomprehension lag, students struggle with focused learning, then we need to double down on screenheavy learning
034is not leadership. The continuing to double down on screen heavy learning is not leadership. Technology should support our teachers, not replace them. And at Pleasant Valley, our mission is literacy, mastery, and real learning. We refuse to let devices, screens, and distracted instruction define our students future. Live teaching must remain a foundation of the learning in this district. It's a hard stop. >> I do have a a question. Um so for PTE, did they site those? >> No, this was our information from Pennsylvania >> from >> Yes. No, they didn't site Pennsylvania. >> Okay. But that was this from um >> PSBA. PSBA and >> um Fortune magazine 22126. >> All right. >> Okay. Thanks. >> And that's all in the report. I did look at the report. I didn't >> No, this one was not.
035>> I didn't. Okay. That's what I thought cuz I I read your report and I was like, wait a minute. >> So, can we get it attached so that we can read it? >> Sure. Not this copy, but young. >> I'd appreciate that because of course. Okay. Very good. >> Thank you. Um, education report. Um, as you know, most of the stuff has discussed at our work session uh this evening. The PV Cub uh summer academy is on for approval. Uh the PVE furniture is on for approval. I want to thank um Dr. Howard and Mrs. Fulmer for the very extensive and new that you put together the professional development plan that you shared with us at the uh work session. And then lastly, um, PBI did their spotlight la at our work session and
036they talked about their PBIS program which is to do with their expected behaviors in that building and it it's based on be a bear and the bear stand be stands for something but I didn't write it down but it was attached in in their report from last last uh working session. So um that's all I have on that uh finance report. Mrs. Surface. Yes, thank you. Uh, I will be calling for a motion later on in the agenda under item 14 and 15. >> Okay. Thank you. Athletic report, Mr. O'Keefe. >> Good evening. Athletics update for 26th February, 2026. Congratulations to Pleasant Valley's Evan Gle. He's a wrestler on becoming the first uh, excuse me, becoming the district champion in his weight class. He's the first student athlete from Pleasant Valley to achieve this since
0372013. What an incredible accomplishment. Good luck to all spring athletes as they prepare to begin their season. We're hoping the snow melts quickly so they can get back onto their playing services. Uh a little public uh pitch for the All Sports Club. Uh all sports club relies on uh parent support, grandparents, and siblings siblings aged 16 and up to come help out the concession stands this spring. Every dollar they raise goes back to our student athletes, but it takes volunteers to make it happen. Uh, this did not make the report, but last Saturday or this past Saturday was um and this Wednesday, last last night, we hosted at the high school a boy two boys games uh basketball and two girls games. What an awesome job uh from an athletic perspective, but I want to
038say a huge shout out to everyone that was involved from our school district, from the uh custodial staff to security to the people working events. Mr. Gazi was there representing district 11 on Saturday. Uh I think it was a heck of a job. uh good basketball we got to watch. Um but I think it's awesome that we get to host these events at our school and we also make money from that. This is not we're we're not paying out money. We are getting money for these events. So thank you to Mr. Kinski to uh to go out there and ask for them and there's a potential that we could have another one potentially this weekend. Another two, excuse me. I am not going to read the coach's corner winner 2026 sports wrap-up, but please feel
039free to go and look at it. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh, Mrs. Duner, policy report, please. >> Good evening, everyone. Thank you, Janet Duner. And there is a short policy report attached. There are four policies for the board to approve tonight. Uh, they're on the second reading. There are five policies which go under the first reading and you can see them in the report. And Dr. Conrad added um back policy 227 on 22426 for us to have it as a first reading. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh, capital improvement, Mr. Burgerer. Um we had at our working session an update uh on what's going on on on the uh development of the administrative cafeteria and mechanical additions which will continue through August of 26. Um also preparations are are in going in place to
040start working on the exterior activities. Uh we went as the capital improvements committee uh today. U part of that discussion included uh change potential changes to the high school traffic patterns for school year 2627. Um, we'll be looking at options to deal with the continuing high school greenhouse leaks. Um, Pleasant Valley and our vendors continue to work on finding a solution to the mar surfaces on the new flooring that has been installed in the renovation areas of the high school. Um, discussions uh are ongoing. one of the uh possible replacement of the JC Mills vestibule vestibule doors. Um we're also working on uh intermediate school chiller replacement. That project is ongoing and we're starting to work on the middle school uh HVAC upgrade. Um, additionally today for the members of the school board, the U
041capital um improvement plan which we discussed back in December has been released. A copy is available on your uh through your website. Um Pleasant uh Valley will be getting a credit for uh high school um renovation on our general from our general contractor for a electronic signs that are going to be donated by u other vendors. Uh, Pleasant Valley continues to work with our partners to pursue grants uh of opportunity to help us with our funding as they become available. Our next capital improvements meeting will be March 26th. Thank you. >> Sorry, just real quick, Mr. Ber. So, the electrical signs, they're going to like out front like marquees to >> Yeah, that will be it. but also in the in the um gymnasium, >> the scoreboard. >> Awesome. Score. Okay. >> Scoreboards. >> That's
042great to hear. And then last but not least, uh so I did park in the new parking lot yesterday. Um are the numbers temporary that are spray painted or do we intend to actually have stencils for a multi-million dollar project to list the numbers that are there? >> Thank you. >> We'll make it look pretty. Yeah, >> it's it's a work in progress right now. >> All right. Technology report, Mr. Clark. >> Uh, nothing to report. I just >> Okay. Security report, Mr. Walters. >> Just that there are open positions for for uh security officers on the website. Uh, no additional information. >> Okay. Thank you. Citizens Advisory Committee, Mr. Kazyski. >> Yeah. Uh we there was no February meeting. March 11th will be Dr. Conrad will be present to talk about where the district
043has gone, where it has headed. Future plans for us to continue on are successful. So, we're looking forward to hopefully the community coming on there on March 11th at 6:30 to 7:30 or longer. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right, moving on. Dr. Conrad, superintendent report, please. All right. So, uh, tonight I'm seeking approval for items 7B through 7D. Items 7E, 7F, and 8A are informational. So, >> move a motion by Mr. Walder, second by Mr. O'Keefe. Is there discussion? >> Yeah, I just have one on um the new policy 805-2, page three and page four of that. I I'll read it if you want. It's it says meet with school employees annually to seek their input on mandatory school safety and security training. Are they need like what employees are they is it everyone
044or is it just the security employees >> page that's page three in bold? >> Thanks. Sorry. Um >> near the bottom number four it says >> sorry I'm just trying to uh find it. Um >> Page three. And where did you say it was located? >> No down the bottom there. Number four says meet with it's all of it's meet with school employees annually to seek their input. >> So what that refers to is we have uh safety meetings that actually occur each month and and what we've actually done that's kind of morphed. So essentially these safety meetings uh encompass our uh chief and assistant chief of police as well as our administration team. Um, what we've done is we've actually taken a step further because we know that each school building has its own
045unique needs and safety, you know, uh, areas that that we want to continue to address. So, um, now we're getting additional input from, uh, security. >> So, it's a safety team, so to speak, not not bringing a whole >> correct. Yeah. from from the safety teams and and um yeah, even when we when we have individuals, you know, if we have individuals for threat assessments that we just want to, you know, kind of assess how things are uh being handled, they're providing input so that way if there are some gaps or some areas for us to um be strategic in, we want to make sure they have the input. Uh we do obviously also do the act 55 training, which is a PTE mandate. Uh but I know that there's also additional conversations um you
046know with all of our collective staff that has opportunities just to add input or um you know maybe concerns or uh clarification. So there's always that um availability for uh communication. But in terms of the actual uh meat and potatoes planning we have a a collective groups in each of the buildings that are coming together to move it forward. >> And then it's moving down there to page uh four number nine. coordinate school safety and security meetings with school and building leadership at least on a quarter basis. So each of those groups and each building is meeting together or each of those groups are meeting with as a collective. >> Yep. Uh so every two weeks the uh there's a meeting that's held on site uh with each of those buildings, building administrators, police and
047security. And then each month uh we have uh those coordinated meetings with each of the principles. we're actually doing a little bit more frequently. Um, and through that process, again, we're looking at, you know, what are some of the gaps and some of the needs. Sometimes it's it's just even as simple as we talked about last time, uh, making sure that doors aren't being propped open, making sure that, you know, certain gates are being secured even after school just to kind of mitigate risk. Um, but that's all I mean, again, good conversations and good planning come about. So, thank you. >> Sure. Um, >> I have a question pertaining to that, Tammy. Do we still have to uh report the committees to get a discount on our insuranceances. >> We have to upload all of
048the information, the meeting minutes once a year and we get a certificate from the state that we are safety compliant and then we submit that to workman's comp and we get a discount on our premium >> and those notes also help uh chief Bronson when he has to report to us and we have to submit our state report. >> He's part of that safety committee as well. They're they meet once a month and they go over anything that hap any cla worker's comp claims, anything that's been um reported. Um they go over that. You're welcome. >> I just have a quick followup from working session. The calendar, we're still going to work on a different schedule for fid days because like are fid and are the fid days on the calendar? >> The fit the
049fid days are not listed on the calendar. So >> that's for next year because you have to apply, >> right? So uh we have I believe three remaining five each year is is what our current um you know um process is and uh we have a few remaining this year uh at the I would say probably March April we're going to begin to uh apply actually uh um Mr. and do you know Dr. and I actually have already begun that process. Uh we've been reaching out to the union uh because as I explained to the board, we we have a current uh plan that's been put in place since October. Uh we had some really good feedback about that and I assured all of you that um I would not, you know, come back to
050the table with the same exact plan. Uh there's been two iterations and actually last evening at 11:00 I think the the final iteration of option C, as you know, I like my options. uh was presented um to the association. You got it. So uh and now we're just waiting for feedback uh from that once we get some uh you know collaboration with our union that you know we contractually have looked at what the minutes and hours would look like. Uh I've been given authorization from the board to apply for the fid days. Uh I would imagine sometime in Julyish, maybe August, we would get an indication as to you know if we um you know are approved and then at that point I would bring the plan back uh to the board because I think
051we still need to discuss you know what are the um parameters that we would potentially move to a remote instruction day versus uh a traditional snow day. And you know again some really great conversations have come about. Um you know I I want to be here every day. I think that that's going to be the best uh you know uh direction but certainly more to discuss. Uh so our next juncture at this point is just uh once there's an agreement um and an understanding with uh both administration and uh the professional staff uh and also feedback from the uh support staff. We'll make sure we share that uh probably next month or actually that that is the goal that the March working session to share with you where we're at, what the plan is. If
052you are in support of it, then we'll proceed with the application >> and then the rigor of the schedule that'll come up after that. >> The rig uh that's something we're we're talking through. Um there were some pivots that we've made based on uh some things we've done in the past and some things we're doing now. But I would uh I mean I know for certain that we have a lot of intensity and rigor um during those remote instruction days and we've tried to be very intentional about um how students are utilizing the time, what are the expectations, attendance, things of that nature. So that's again ongoing discussions. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Sure. >> Dr. Gar, I have a question and I'm not sure. So I I heard I don't know if this is
053true or not. Maybe someone can clarify that the state redefined so there's what's called a virtual instruction day. I heard some of the districts aren't even going to apply for fid days. They're just changing the verbiage to virtual instruction day. And I wonder if if that's something I think it's happening starting currently and how would that impact because then we don't have to apply for fids. We could just switch what's called virtual instruction day. I think it's to combat cyber type uh institutions, right? I believe if you just like maybe if you know anything about elaborate a little bit on or that's something for future date perhaps. >> Yes, absolutely. I would say um I do not have all of the details of this. I had a colleague of mine uh in Monroe County within
054the last three days bring that topic up and it kind of piqu my interest. Uh so I am uh looking at it right now because traditionally there was always that process where you apply for um flexible instruction days. we here call them remote instruction days because you're remote and you're learning, you know, instruction. Uh so I will find out more information. I could probably let's add that to the agenda on March because again I I just recently heard almost like a second story >> and I kind of want to bring that information back so the board can >> It's basically the same thing. They just kind of rebrand it, >> right? >> And then you don't have to apply anymore. You can and I think I think we're already kind of doing a virtual instruction
055day based on their definition of it. Yes, >> except we're just calling it things. So, it may it may be adventation be helpful to >> Yeah. >> to the district. >> It It's all my searches right now. So, thank you. We'll definitely continue it. >> Thanks. >> Anyone else? >> All those in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> Anyone opposed? And that motion carries. >> Okay. Uh moving on to human resources, Mrs. Lorie Fulmer. >> Yes. Good evening. Tonight I'm seeking approval of items 9B through 9K. Items 9L through 9N N areformational. So move. >> Second. >> I have a motion by Mr. Walters, seconded by Mr. Gaziski. Is there any discussion? >> Hearing none. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> Anyone opposed? >> And that
056motion carries. Okay. I'm seeking approval of items 10B through 10E. Items 10F and 10G areformational. >> So moved. >> Second. Second. >> I have a motion by Mr. Gaziski and seconded by Mr. Walters. Is there any discussion? >> Just on the inter murals. Are are inter murals for perport? Are they allowed three separate? And is there any stipulation on where those three should be or >> three? What? >> They get three three >> like is it all three at the high school and they get three at the middle school and three some or is it they use those threes across the board? >> I think it's across the board. They each can do three for each sport. >> Right. But what I'm saying is like it's on volleyball. So the volleyball do three for the
057middle school, three for the high school and >> or is it just >> I think we would have to uh consult Mr. Corinski. >> Yeah, I don't I don't know that answer right now. I'd have to talk to Mr. >> Quizens. >> What is it? I'm sorry. >> For the high school, one for the middle school. >> One for the high school, one for the middle school. >> Two for high school, one for middle school. >> Okay. Thank you. >> And and he I think if they choose, right? Correct. Is that a fair statement? >> Yes. So to to rephrase, thank you very much. Two for the high school, one for the middle school if they choose to do that. >> Correct. Okay. Thank you. >> Yep. >> Anyone else? All those in favor, please
058signify by saying I. >> I. Anyone opposed? >> I oppose to number letter E as I think it's ridiculous. >> All right, that motion carries. >> Moving on to curriculum. Uh Dr. Raylin Howard. >> Good evening. Tonight I am seeking approval for items 11B and 11 C. >> So move. >> Second. >> I have a motion by Mr. Gaziski and seconded by Mr. Burer. Is there any discussion? I have a question about A. >> Can you turn your mic on? >> I don't have any I I don't have any items under A tonight. >> I know, but it's listed. So, I have questions about Should I wait till the end then? >> Uh, it's not before. >> What? I'm sorry. >> Well, we do school board directors at the end. >> Yes, at the end
059there. Thank you. Thank you. >> Anyone else? >> All those in favor, please signify by saying I. I. >> Anyone opposed? >> And that motion carries. Good evening. I'm also seeking approval for item 12A. >> So move. >> Second. >> I have a motion by Mr. Kazyski, seconded by Mrs. Hopleley. Is there any discussion? >> All those in favor, please signify by saying I. >> Anyone opposed? And that motion carries. Uh, moving on to building reports. Again, I believe we have copies outside, but just take a minute to uh take a look at all the great information. I think now, especially for parents, it's a great time because, you know, you're hopefully looking at uh where your child will go in the next school year. So, if we're at a pivotal point where, let's say,
060a second grade uh student is getting ready to go into third grade, I think it's pretty neat to see, you know, if you take a look at what's happening at PVI and, you know, some great opportunities that are happening there. Uh so, just again, a lot of uh fun and exciting things. And we have Read Across America coming up, too. So, uh, you know, we look forward to seeing a lot of, uh, you know, community members, uh, board members, staff members to, uh, read to our our littlest learners. So, yeah. Thanks. All right, moving on. Um, so, business management, Mrs. Tammy Spell. >> Good evening. Tonight, I'm requesting approval of items 14B through 14S. Items 14T through 14V areformational. >> So, moved. >> Second. I have a motion by Mr. Kazinski and seconded by Mr.
061Surface. Is there any discussion? >> Yeah, I have a couple, please. Uh 14E fast signs. In there, he talked about costs for installation. Are they doing the installation or are we or is that something we're getting? >> They're going to do the installation. We waited out um their installation charge was so low and it it's a lot of windows. >> So, it would it's better for them to do it than for us to pay >> to do it. >> Okay. Thank you. and um 14K. Is that something I have to talk in the back room? >> I actually think that was answered back there already, but yes, >> I'm sorry. >> It was answered back there already, but yes, you have to ask that there. >> Okay. Um and then 140. Um I'm going to
062have to say that I am going to vote no for the one and two under the furniture for the teachers. That's all I say. I think it could be spent for >> I do have pictures to show because >> there were pictures attached. >> Oh, they were attached. >> They were attached, but I have them as well over here with Mr. Van Borhees. >> They were >> I just want to see more money spent toward getting our kids going. I I that's just my personal Thank you. >> I um also have questions about 140 one and two. Um and just be patient because I have questions to get through. So everything that's listed here for the teachers is almost a half a million dollars for their furniture and the money is how much money is
063in the capital reserve? >> 21 million. >> Okay. Is there a limit to use funds in the capital reserve reserve for project guidelines? >> It has to be used for capital improvement projects including the furniture. >> Um and does the money get transferred into a capital reserve? I'm sorry. From a a fund to capital reserve. >> Sometimes sometimes we transfer money from general fund into capital reserve at the end of the year if there's a surplus. >> Okay. Um and capital reserve is being paid for. Sorry, strike that one. Um are there restrictions on the use of capital reserve? >> Yes, we can only use it for capital improvement projects. >> Is furniture an asset? >> Yes, >> it is. Yes. >> And it's a capital improvement furniture. >> It would be part of that
064improvement project. Yes. It's a building improvement. >> Is the furniture going to be a fixed? No. >> It's part of the improvement. It's an improvement asset. Improvement to the building because uh well, research that I was looking up says no, it can't be. But I'm wondering why the purchase of this furniture isn't coming out of the operation budget >> out of the general fund budget. >> Yeah. >> It wasn't budgeted in the general fund budget. It was budgeted in the capital reserve >> because my understanding is is that you can't use this for furniture. >> We purchased the furniture in 2425 and we've had our audit and >> it's fine. >> There was there's nothing found on that. So it is a legitimate expense. >> Okay. Well, I am opposed to this also because I
065think um these funds should not be used and I my understanding of the capital reserve is different. So I just don't agree with it. Plus I don't think we should be spending this kind of money. >> Anyone else? >> So what is the definition of capital improvements? >> Excuse me. >> What's the definition? Well, capital reserve it's for >> No, no, no. Someone asked. >> What's the definition of capital improvements? >> I thought it would be for something big like you have to get a new HVAC system, not furniture. >> It's part of it though. It's a very wide window you can walk through to get that. They're experts. You know, they go to school. >> I'm not questioning that. I'm not questioning that. Just my >> Well, no. I'm I'm questioning why we're spending
066that money. I hear you. I hear you. >> But my understanding was Movable furniture. How is that a capital How is that a capital improvement? It's just furniture >> improving the building. >> Well, okay. I disagree with the use of the money for furniture. >> That's your choice%. >> The life students plus the useful life of it is long. I mean, makes it doesn't acrue value. It's not an asset. >> It's permissible both both under Gazsby guidelines and also the IRS. Yeah. >> Okay. Anyone else? All right. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> Anyone opposed? >> Just to those areas. >> I would just I'm sorry. Uh Janet Junior, I would just be opposed to 1401 and two as well. And my reasons are different. And I think my
067reasons just are going into spending money. I know it's an asset. You're considering an asset. I'm just in the reference of spending money. and because of the property assessments that are being done that aren't going to come up until 2027. It's just a concern on my part personally about spending money right now. Thank you. >> And I just want to make sure we have this for the record for for Kathy. Um John, you're no on again the same items as as Mrs. >> one and two, right? >> And same thing, Denise. Okay. Just wanted to make sure so Kathy has it. >> No problem. Okay. And that motion carries. Thank you, sir. >> I'm also requesting approval of items 15B through 15D. >> So move. >> Second. >> I have a motion by Mr. Walters
068and seconded by Mr. O'Keefe. Is there any discussion? >> 15 C. Mr. Fitzgerald. >> Oh yes. something that I've been uh me and my partner have been working with for about another last 10 months. Um Jeff Sultanic and I and that is um we've decided to collectively move our practice group of of roughly 30 attorneys, parallegals, paraprofessionals, support staff uh to the um firm of MCE Wallace, which is a great firm out of Harrisburg. Um they have an education practice and we have arguably the largest education practice in the state. So it's going to be supercharged. Uh the effective date is April 1st. Uh there's no impact to uh to you guys. The same personnel that you work with will be coming. The rates are staying the same. Uh this begins the process of allowing
069for the transition of files as part of the attorney client privilege. >> Anyone else? All those in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> Anyone opposed? And that motion carries. All right, moving on under new business, Mr. Fitzgerald. >> Um, just quickly, I I was intrigued by the virtual learning day versus the flexible instructional day. >> And I I will I will tell you, I just I just tried to dabble in the PTE, you know, webphere, and you're not seeing anything on it. I think I I suspect what PTE has done is they want to get out of the business of actually approving your flexible instructional days. So it will have zero impact um for for districts, but ultimately you'll have the flexibility whether you're an hours-based or or a daysbased calendar >>
070to utilize these days in a in a in a more flexible way. >> Sorry. Terrible. >> It's not limited like right now we're limited to five FID days. It's unlimited virtual days. >> Correct. Yes. And and nobody want to do that. But >> and it'll be a balance between how many of those days you want to use versus we'll call it a traditional snow day, right? >> Yeah. Mark, you think it will still include an emergency day if needed? >> Oh, I I Yes, I think as certainly as needed. And then they'll be like when we had supertorm Sandy and other ice storms and certain buildings were out and they'll have they'll have flexibility in giving you your your full subsidy if we can't make those years. >> All right. Uh Pleasant Valley citizens, anyone
071like to address the board this evening? Okay. Again, seeing no one hurry their up to the podium, we will go on to Pleasant Valley school directors. Does anyone have anything? >> Yeah, I'd just like to congratulate I think we had two outstanding teachers that got the Shopright award. Um, congratulations to them. It's nice that we're having a lot of them. Uh, the Wizard game, is that high school or middle school gym? >> It's been moved to the high school. >> Moved to the high school gym. And in addition to what Mr. O'Keefe said about district 11 playoffs. I as a representative have gone to a number of schools and by far Pleasant Valley does run a very efficient and safe environment uh for those games and it was very nice to work. Thank you. >>
072Go ahead. Uh yes, it's I I I think we kind of touched on the on the uh problem associated with the increased training requirements uh that are being levied coming from the state level. And I think we need to do some internal search on how we're going to deal with that and the amount of instruction that our students are getting. And it's I'm my I don't want to get too much in my personal opinion here, but it it might lead to the fact that we're going to have to add days to our calendar in order to give our students the required number of hours of instruction that they're supposed to get because I don't see how we can continue to add hours that that get bled away in order to do all the tasks that
073have come down from the state level at the sacrifice of our students. So, we need to examine that carefully. Thank you. >> I do believe they have started that and I know that I think Dr. Conro will probably make some remarks at the end here. >> I I can tell you that uh we've worked really closely on this and we have a plan and we are not worried at all. >> Okay, >> that's good news. >> That's >> good news. >> Yes. >> All right, >> Denise. Um, yes. Okay. Um, I just have questions about the testing because it's still I'm still looking into it. So, I'm I'm just comparing the NWA, so bear with me with the questions again. Did all students take the NWE test across the district? >> All students are supposed
074to take it. Um, there have been students that are absent. We try to get every student in, so they do take the test. >> Is there a time limit for NWA? They know but they don't want it to extend more than a t a period because they don't want it to be the test sort of shows when you start to struggle with questions what we need to go re go back and teach. So they do only want students to take a period on >> like 45 minutes. >> We don't it depends on the school. Sure. >> Period. Okay. Um what's the time limit for PSSAs? >> There's no time limit. But the PSSAs and NWA are not the same thing. I know. Okay. Okay. >> And are there accommodations for PSSAs? >> Some. Yes. >>
075And does NWA have allow accommodations? >> Some kids do test with other people. Yes. >> Some be meaning >> it it could just depend on the needs of the students >> and they follow NWA for the time that they were allowed >> different accommodations for the time. Oh, I think you're missing the aim of NWA versus PSSA. Two totally different things. So, I think you're missing the point on that. I'd be really help Sorry, I don't mean to interrupt you, but my point is what are our kids are testing differently because they're used to PSSAs and they're used to PSSAs and now they're taking NWA where they sorry where they are allowed extra time and accommodations. NWA they're doing a period. So, let me just finish. Okay. And um there's extended time for PSSAs and
076NWA does not have extended time. So they don't go into different rooms to finish the test if they need more time, right? No. No. So do AP honors did the AP honors students take the test? >> Um I do not believe it goes up past K to Keystone, but I do think there are students in 11th 12th grade that are taking it depending upon the class that they're in. You sure about that with that one? >> I would I would have to double check on that for you. >> Okay, thanks. Um, and are AP honor students exempt from PSSA? >> No. >> And >> but you but you only take PSSAs if you're in the trigger course. So if you're not in 10th grade English, you don't take the test. >> So if I'm an
077AP lit, I'm not in a trigger course. So I don't test. Okay. If you're um just to add if you're taking AP courses, you're in the high school. PSSAs is not provided in the high school. That's Keystones. PSSAs go. >> I just >> So are the IEPs followed with the testing with NWA? >> No, because we're not >> I know. Just let me finish. It's only two more. So, and accommodations. So, they don't have to What you're going to tell me is they don't have to abide by IEPs with NWA. >> Can I answer that? cuz it's just benchmarks and then only one more question. So, could the test scores with people taking not taking affect? >> You're asking questions. Hold up. You're asking questions and trying to answer it and you keep cutting them
078off like you're asking the question. Yes. >> Could test scores could test scores have been affected by differences why they were so low. >> You repeat question number one. >> Um here's what I'll say is that so so we have we have a couple things happening. Okay. Uh we have NWA. So NWA is giving us a real time data that as we talked about at the last working session is information that a student on grade level would have probably learned within a certain period of time. Meaning that if you take the NWEA in the fall, it encompasses what you should have learned uh in that grade level content area within that period of time and henceforth in the spring you would have learned more. So it assesses uh you know those uh standards and and
079learning expectations regarding the um so so we're using that information to then help drive uh curricular and instructional changes in real time. I want to be clear with N with the PSSAs and Keystones that is a assessment that is obviously provided by the state that the students take um that kind of helps us to focus on what the students uh know and can do by the end of a particular grade level. Um we tend to call that autopsy data meaning that when we take have our students in fifth grade let's say take the PSSAs in uh May April May that we don't get that result back until after the school year ended. So it can be informative to us uh at a later point in time and a lot of times our teachers are looking
080back to see kind of where they fell. Um, but when you're asking questions then about uh, so they're they're they're apples and and and oranges. Okay. What I would also say too is that with PSSAs and keystones, the accommodations provided are those defined under SDI in the IEP and that's specially designed instruction. So what that basically means is that there may be some students who specifically have all assessments as extended time and there may be some students that uh it could be specific assessments. Uh we always try to accommodate uh the students. There is uh extended time. there are certain parameters we have to follow that are, you know, state requirements and predicated that we can only give that extended time if that's something that's within the IEP. When you're talking about pivoting back to
081NWA, as we're talking about, so if we're taking the NWA three times a year, we're trying to really use that data point to help guide instruction. So, what we don't want is a multi-day. Imagine you have three tests that last three days. I have nine fewer days of instruction. So, the idea is to give us a snapshot. Um, neither of these tests or assessments, we'll call them, actually impact the students overall grade in that particular course, but it is very informative to use that data. So, of course, we want to support uh our our students. our teachers are doing a great job of looking at standards and and uh you know again we're using that data and especially the NWA to make uh adjustments along the way. So I hope that helps to clarify it.
082Does that help? >> No. >> Okay. Anyone else? >> Okay. Dr. Conrad. >> So just uh I'm excited to experience uh you know a lot of the growth and uh the exciting things happening throughout uh PB. So, uh, just want to really take a minute real quick. We we just kind of recently ended the, um, first semester and just again a lot of great work happening from all of our staff, you know, whether it's, um, you know, our support staff in the buildings, whether it's our business staff uh, here uh, and and just a lot of great work, a lot of collaboration, and something that I I've seen that's a little bit more unique this year is just uh, more of that trust and opportunity for really excellent dialogue. So, we want to keep that
083momentum going. Um, as I said, I will be here at the Citizens Advisory Committee meeting. I think it's March 11th. Is that right? 11th at 6:30 uh here. So, you know, hopefully some parents uh can come out. As is always, you know, parents uh can certainly email, call uh we're always going to be responsive and uh answer any questions you have. And uh you know, as it relates to um things that you know, maybe you see in here, like always feel free to reach out to myself or uh any administration. Unfortunately, we all kind of see that uh things aren't always as they are and a lot of um you know, misinformation is uh unfortunately spread very quickly. So, um just be mindful of that because again, here here's here's the bottom line. We're here
084to keep our kids safe. Absolutely. We will educate our kids. We're doing a great job doing that. But I pride ourselves to keep our students safe, keep our parents informed. Um, and in a sense I look at it as no news is good news, but you know, you are our partners and we have an obligation to keep you up to date. Um, so just be mindful of uh, you know, kind of what you're hearing, seeing, and reading because, uh, some sources just are really, uh, inaccurate. That's all I'll say. Thanks. >> Um, just a reminder, we are going back into executive. Um, could I have a motion to adjurnn? >> Okay, I have a motion and a second and motion by Mr. Clark, seconded by Mr. Gaziski. I'm sure we're all in favor. >> Good
085night, everyone.