001710 710 call this meeting to order. I will call this meeting order. So would you please stand for a moment of silence and pledge 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. You may be seated. Second session we dealt with personnel matters settlement personnel and shoot matter. All right, next up will be uh guest presentation >> Erica council Erica B counselor Wallace and Merrick and I believe Lou Videlli is here and also Brad Reick. All right, Mr. President, before Eric gets started, I wanted to let the board know that uh since our last meeting, uh we discussed the micro >> Thank the uh we've been progressing through the timeline for the 2025 bond issuance. Um
002Erica is going to provide the board with an overview of the parameters resolution that is on the agenda tonight. Um but tomorrow we also have a bond rating call with Looney Mooney's uh investment. So we are on schedule and on task as presented in the last meeting. >> Thank you. >> Great. Good evening everyone. My name is Erikica Wyel. I'm from MCNE Wallace in Nurk. In front of you this evening is a resolution which has been prepared by MCE. Uh it has been prepared in accordance with the local government unit debt act. Uh has been properly advertised for and it was circulated among the working group. Uh the resolution in front of you authorizes the district to issue its general obligation bonds series of 2025 in the maximum principal amount of $18 million. Uh the
003proceeds of those bonds will be used by the district to provide for the certain capital projects and construction related to the school district's building located at 4401 Deer Path Road. um which building will be used for the fifth and sixth grade elementary school as well as administrative offices. Um also to provide capital funds and pro for certain projects for various other school districts and to provide um funds to uh to cover the cost of issuing the bonds. Um I noted in here that this is a maximum amount of $18 million that the resolution is authorizing. uh we use this higher inflated number of uh $18 million to give the financing team flexibility when they price, but we expect that the ultimate price of these bonds will be under $15 million. Um I do note if
004you turn to section four of the resolution, this is the section that describes the security for these bonds, which is a pledge by the school district of your full faith credit and taxing power. Um the resolution does authorize McNiss on your behalf to make certain filings with the Department of Community and Economic Development. Uh and also authorizes your proper officers to take certain steps in the closing um of the bond issuance. Happy to answer any specific questions about the resolution. >> Very questions. Great job. >> Oh well, very good. Thank you. Thank you. Oh, anything from the PSPA? uh but just um the uh the uh awareness of fact that we are now a state budget. This is obviously impacting um district school districts around the Commonwealth. uh PSDA is uh is preparing a toolkit
005for districts to be able to rely upon with respect to talking points uh research cost uh impacts, financial impacts um if they're putting together the end of this week. So look forward uh look look for that on the PSBA website and uh feel free to reach out to your local elected official about your concerns for fixing the budget impass uh buildings and grounds. Uh, Kathy Ken, uh, I was going to make contact, but what I'd like to next time at our next workshop that we can have some pictures of the rooftop water cleaning system. I'd like to have someone to see where cuz I meant I meant to ask that before. So if that would be available, I appreciate that that we can all look at what we spent that money on. And >> Mr.
006Heler was actually scheduled to present a little bit at the last working. >> Oh, okay. Okay. Cuz I know he was hurt. >> Okay. >> And and and since I said that, I did see Mr. Heler and I want to give him a shout out. I was over at the cafeteria. they're doing the work and I heard this voice ex explain to the students about what they were doing because they're part of their physics engineering class and I didn't realize with Mr. Eller but I did call him and thank him but he did a super job explaining to the kids on what was going on and someone was thinking about getting an engineer so I I want to give that shout out okay and then the board okay uh next up is student rep Yeah.
007Um, my partner Suha isn't here this evening, but it's it's okay. Yeah, you guys are stuck with me. So, um, >> you can have >> um, good evening. Um, this is our presentation for the district and the schools. So, next slide. So, Slack. This week, Slack had its whole school PBIS kickoff assembly for students in the gym. This assembly introduced the colony builders reviewed PBIS rules such as voice volume, dojo points, BC card/stamps, and lunch behavior, and bus safety. The assembly concluded with BRE and our cereal pledge. Buddy the Bee even made a visit to say hi to our students. Psych also held its back to school night on Thursday, August 28th. During this time, learners instructional teachings team met with families all together in the gym or cafeteria. Afterwards, families visited learner's home room
008advisory teacher and classrooms. In Thomas Holtzman, TWW PTO board and the TWW administrators met this week with representatives from the PA, the PA state police to discuss our annual trunk or treat event. This year's trunk or treat event will take place October 30th from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and it will be at the state police headquarters on Elbertton Avenue. Also on Thomas Holtzman this week they held their assemblies to kick off PBIS. Our outstanding owls TWW students leadership teams performed skits and led minute to win activities to demonstrate safety, ownership, accountability and respect for their peers. There was also a pop for kids fundraiser to help fund our PBS programming at Tom's Hillsman. We're proud we're proud to say that our families raised over $30,000. This will fund our PBS festivals, end of the
009year celebration, student teacher of the month initiatives, and much more. The middle school is off to a strong start academically. Our benchmark assessments are completed and indicated higher rates of student achievement in year-to-year comparison. Students are also soaring to s soaring to success having our positive behavior throughout the building recognized. Several students have been able to receive get air vouchers in recognition for following schoolwide expectations. Sounds fun. Juniors and seniors participated in the the ASVAB testing last week. The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery ASVAB isn't just for students interested in the military. It's a powerful career exploration tool that benefits every high schooler. Taking the ASVAB can open doors, clarify strengths, and build confidence about future choices. The high school has begun selling tickets for homecoming named the Golden Gala. They have begun helping build
010the excitement and in the community. Guy applications have been shared with all students and families for the current school year. There has been a growing excitement for the students about the guide offerings for this year. >> Oh, thank you. I'm sorry. >> I'm sorry. We have some late information. I'm sorry. Um, we are pleased to announce that the 14th We are pleased to announce the 14th Pinkout Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign throughout the month of October. Over the years, student led this studentled campaign sponsored by the alumni association has raised over $100,000 to support brave women and their families in the battle against breast cancer. In the US 2025, in the US in 2025, invasive breast cancer will be newly diagnosed is an estimated 316,950 women and 2,800 men. And an estimated 42,170 women and 510
011men will die of breast cancer. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death for women in the United States after lung cancer. money. Money raised during this year's event will be donated to two local charities, Vicky's Angel Foundation and Pink Hands of Hope. Over the years, the campaign has also supported PA Breast Coalition and the American Cancer Society's Making Strides. The 2025 campaign includes Friday, October 17th Pinkout football game with Trinity that will be participating in. In support of the campaign, we respectfully request that the net proceeds of the October 17th pinkout football game gate donate will be the net proceeds of the October 17th pinkout football game gate be donated to the campaign on behalf of the school district. Thank you. >> Next up, approve the agenda. Wait a minute. That's not I'm
012trying to go too fast. I said student uh susceptible alumni associate and I don't see anybody uh Anna foundation I have a report to them. Okay. >> Um very quickly there are uh they have their annual um flower sale. Um this Saturday is their fall fest and that is going to be Saturday at Sarah Lindamoo from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Um this is where they'll have the potted moms and pumpkins for sale. Um I typically wait and there's sale every year. So they have really uh nice arrangements. So that is this Saturday 10:00 a.m. 2 p.m. Sar L. >> Okay. >> And that supports the alumni association. >> Uh Hannah Foundation. Harrisburg Community College. No report. Dvin County T collection. >> No report. >> D County Technical School. >> Yeah. Just a quick note.
013Uh they are finishing the roof of the Dolphin County Technical School. There was a a new roof being put on we've had scheduled for a while and over the shop area. Uh we finally got it just about done. >> Thank you. Report area and media union. So we'll be have meeting commissioners report superintendent >> I have no this evening but I think I'm already did a good job for both of us. >> Oh I did want to mention 50 football team. Yes. Thank you. Good game. Good game. How many people showed up? Because everything it was parking everywhere. What kind of attendance do we have? Do we have 5,000 people there? >> Yeah, >> visitor and home. >> Huh? >> Visitors and home >> and circulating. uh approve the agenda for meeting for September 22nd
01425. Can I have a motion? >> Johnson moves. >> Second move and second. Any discussion? All in favor? >> Opposed? Board member comments starting to my left to my right. Just want to uh thank our our community for coming out this evening. Uh we appreciate your time. Uh we hope that if you have any questions uh you will avail yourself to the public comment section. And just to remind you of the commitment of each member of this forum. We we don't come out here uh for these meetings just for the heck of it. We come because we care. We're dedicated. We're committed to the the growth of our district and the health and uh the literally the success of every learner and uh it's more than a mantra for us. And so we just want
015you to know that that all of our actions, everything that we do is in the interest of the students and the parents, the community and we answer to you. >> Yes. cuz I was going to ask you because I want you to talk about the uh I meant to mention earlier I got an email today about relationship between link in the pipeline that's what I was going to see that the copy you and the copper on Mrs. Patrick. So I'd like for you to talk about that a little bit and then at our next workshop you can give us some more information. You can spend all the time you want to deal with kids. I give you all the time. >> So, on that note, I just uh first I want to just give a
016shout out to all the uh at the high school who are uh holding up study and uh renovations to the cafeteria. >> Uh they've been sort of put out uh last last month and a half um deal with uh sandwiches until uh this great express. So again, it just um it goes to the point that um it costs money to uh resources and um these things. You know, we appreciate the commitment of taxpayers. We appreciate the the sacrifice that everybody's making. Um but you know these are tangible benefits that uh that we're providing to the to the learners and they you know it's not a question of whether they deserve it or not. It's question of what the obligation of community support. Um on that uh note I'll uh I'll shift over to um what
017you were asking Mr. President. Uh so back uh late last month I had the opportunity to attend uh a conference down in Philadelphia hosted by uh Senator Vincent Hughes who's the uh minority chair of the state appropriations committee Pennsylvania Senate. Uh and the discussion was around uh men in the classroom and uh specifically how uh how to develop pipelines for uh male teachers uh male teachers of color. Um uh because quite frankly uh there is a disperate uh population of male educators. Uh numbers get even worse when you look at male teachers of color or male teachers uh bilingual male teachers. Uh so uh out of that discussion uh I was able to connect with uh a gentleman with affiliated with Lincoln University with the graduate education programs. uh they're interested in talking to the
018board, talking to the district about how they excuse me, how they can build and uh uh essentially nurture a pipeline uh for those next generation of uh learners to become educators. Um Lincoln, you know, it's uh one of the oldest uh H.B.CU in the Commonwealth. Um they have a story uh a story program uh story um history and legacy of of educating students um in this commonwealth and uh nationally and uh I think it will be a good opportunity for to connect. I know we we do have resources. We have the ste student uh cadet program. Um this would just be one additional resource to help build that. So you will get that information and have him come in. Yes. And do this presentation? Yeah. >> Because uh we do have one of the board
019members a grad from there. And I know that back in the day we have a lot of Harrisburg people that I know like the Warriors. They the whole family graduated from uh from from Lincoln and Lincoln has been been a pipeline for a lot of young young folks. So I I saw that and I know Cheney is going to do the same thing because we're just not producing educators anymore. Most you don't quite understand it just I don't know what parents say well you don't want to be a teacher somebody taught you but I think it's a great living. It's a great place to start. I I say this to my grandson. You say, "Oh, no, granddad. I don't want to be no teacher, but that's what he's doing now. Now you got to go
020back and get everything." But sometime you got to listen to the old people, but they tell you things about life. See, I tell kids this. This is what I preach. Once you're a teacher, you can be anything you want to be. So if you want to be a doctor, you know, want to be a lawyer, I can show you lawyers that was teachers, you know, doctors that would teach you. So parents, if you hear me, please, there's nothing wrong with that. Coming out of school making $60,000 a year, 180 something plus days. Now, some of us say you work more than that, but you got 12 weeks off during the summer. >> So you can raise your family, too. So that's my that's my comment. Anybody else? Um I will just add that um so
021I am an alum of Lincoln University and and founded in 18 1854. Lincoln University is the first degree granting historically black college or university in the country. Um founded as Ashton Institute. It began early on as a a university to e educate former slaves and teaching um at that time coming out of slavery and reconstruction and going on education was one of the fields that uh black people were largely permitted to to go into uh technical fields, mechanical fields, preaching and education. And so because there is a um a nice population of students from our area who do go to uh southern Chester County at Oxford uh in Oxford, Pennsylvania to attend Lincoln University. The goal is to keep some of our college graduates here in this area and to bring that talent back to
022Hsburg as opposed to going on to Washington DC or Philadelphia or Atlanta as many graduates tend to do. I happen to be one who went to school there and came back here and and made my career over the last 30 years and somebody has to to do it. And so we're looking to increase our enrollment and um to continue to diversify our talent pool with uh people that reflect graduates that reflect uh the demographics of our district. >> Uh next up we have uh everybody signed up to speak. Yes, please. >> All right, that's what we're at to hear the public. So, will you read your statement, please? >> The court provides for an opportunity to hear from public during this section of the meeting. Any district resident or cafe may address the board on
023matters of concern, official action or deliberation which are or may be before the board. The purpose of the exception of the meeting is to be heard and as such the board will not engage in a dialogue but will listen to your concerns and follow up directly through assigned administrative personnel as appropriate. Please begin your public comment by stating your full names. Each member of the public may speak for a maximum of three minutes. At the end of the three minutes, your time will expire. No participant may speak more than once on the same topic unless all others who wish to speak on that topic have been heard and only with the permission from the presiding office. Any comment to the board must be directed to the board president and not individual board members or administrators.
024Concerns related to specific buildings should first be addressed at the school building level and follow the chain of command before coming to the board. Any comment that I consider disruptive, obscene, abusive, slanderous or defamatory will either be interrupted or terminated. No complaint may be made against specific employees, community members or board members. Private information related to any student is prohibited. Our first speaker is Larry Arnold. >> Hey, Mr. Arnold. I email and if you come to the first meeting, you be able to speak as long as you want to, but you didn't show up. >> No, you sent me something about workshop. >> Yeah, we never saw a response from you, so we didn't know about that. >> Really? the circle. >> Well, I did respond. Check my phone right now. Go ahead. >> Good
025evening, board. We are Larry Arnold. We're a resident of what used to be second ward, now first ward in the township. We're taxpayer, and we've been a school bus driver for 50 years in counting. That's our subject tonight. We've been doing the job longer than some of you have been alive. This is a big issue right now. As the public well knows, school bus drivers transport the roadway's most important cargo, its children. And yet, society deems school bus drivers as holding a menial lowpaying onskilled job. Believe us, that is not true. Finding competent, skilled drivers to handle bus transportation has always been a challenge everywhere, but particularly so in Susuanda Township. We speak from experience. Our regular runs have been for the procure schools in the township for which we are very blessed. But we've
026also driven all the schools in the township plus schools for McDavid, O Dolphin, East Penn, Middletown, Sus Sus, Susanita, Northern and South Middleton. In all those districts, Susu understands stands out as being absolutely unique for one reason. Lack of student discipline on the buses. It's a glaring problem in this township. And we're not the only bus driver who can say this to you. This township has a reputation for unruly, rude, disobedient, undisiplined students on its school buses. Good drivers quit as a consequence or they go to other districts. drivers brought in from other districts to sub in this district to one day's driving and say, "I'm out of here." One student had 30 conduct reports written by his driver. That student was still on the bus. Why? Scuttlebutt is that other providers in this area
027are not willing to bid on transportation contracts for the township. Think about that. We subbed a couple a year and a half ago for a couple weeks at the middle school in the afternoon. When kids got on the bus, we thought we were at a rave event inside a big yellow tin can that was responsible for getting kids to and from school safely. We watched student uh teachers on the curb clearly aware of what was happening on our bus and unless we called for their intervention on the bus, they ignored the situation. Why? We've been robbed on a school bus at the high school. We've had to break up physical fights in the school bus even before we pulled out of the high school. Why? And don't ask us to get started on what happens
028at Holtzman. Some in this district want to blame the contractors for inability to cover all the runs consistently. Fudge feathers. That's not the problem. problem is the failure of administration to maintain proper safety procedures on its school bus. It's that simple. Looks like we're about out of time. Program is or suggestion has been to make $50 payments per week to parents to provide additional transport as drivers in this township are in short supply. We've already explained to you why drivers in this township are in short supply. You do that, you're facing a shitload of problems. It's a copout. Don't go there. If you want explanations, talk to us afterwards. We'll give you reasons why you should not be trying that strategy. Bottom line, Susana Township School District would not be short so many bus drivers
029if its student body was required to behave responsibly. Your safety policy was endorsed and enforced by the administration. If you have any questions about this, we're happy to chat with you afterwards. Off the record or on the record. Thanks for listening. I'll do something about it. >> Thank you. >> Good evening, Peter Fricky. uh after listening to you sir I feel woefully unqualified to bring up what I'm bringing up but uh basically I'm passing along some information or a suggestion um you know talked to a lot of community members as part of the referendum campaign and um you know people have lots of ideas and not everyone's able to make it to the board meetings so uh the one idea in particular that sounded interesting to me I just wanted to mood it for your
030consideration was uh some people have wondered why the district contracts out to I believe it's Roarer, right? Um as opposed to keeping it in house and not here to litigate that, but uh just here to uh make an observation that uh the Biden administration spent a lot of money to uh electrify school buses around the country and as a result there are kind of a glut of used but serviceable school buses available. Uh, I know there's a lot of considerations at play here. Um, but if the board was interested in considering that option, now would be the time probably to strike while the iron is hot and take advantage of some of those really low prices. Um, so I just wanted to pass that along. Thank you very much. >> First of all, congratulations. You
031did an excellent job. >> Thank you, sir. >> My name's Jody Everly. This must be the the busing evening. Um, two things. Thank you for your comments. I agree 100%. I used to live on Locust Lane and I could hear that bus before I could see it. That that bus of elementary school kids was so loud it was unbelievable. I couldn't believe anyone would even drive it. Uh, the other reason I'm here is I just have a question. I hope that you folks will answer it. I know you're not obligated to. Uh, I didn't always live here in Dolphin County, but I've been a PA resident, and I've never lived anywhere that the district provided parking for the busing contractors, and I'm wondering, is that a money maker? Uh, do you do you get rent
032for that or >> school buses? So, everywhere else that I've lived, the contractor, the owner of the buses took care of where the buses were parked, but here, the buses all seem to be parked on district property. And I was just wondering why that is the case. I mean, if is it a revenue generator or why why are the taxpayers paying to park somebody else's buses? >> The taxpayers are paying the box. >> Well, you you bought a 42 acre property and you're going to park buses on it. So, the taxpayers paying for that property. So, >> well, yeah. answer that. >> Yeah. I mean, I I know you're not obligated to answer, but >> we going to answer that question, but that's not the case. >> Uh maybe I don't want to tell you
033what happened with that situation. >> Uh so, the gentleman probably needs to understand it's our property to begin with. >> The buses are parked on there and we get a reduction in the cost of the service from the buses for that. Okay? So taxpayers are in effect not paying >> well you're being reimbured basically for >> quite a bit >> the contract's being reduced. >> Yeah. >> And so >> that's my question. I'm I'm wondering why it's beneficial to park the bus that's there. Really asking a question. Not trying to put you on the spot. >> We're listen we're responding. response is that cost to the taxpayers of the busing contract is reduced because they pay for parking space. So in fact the taxpayers make money off of that arrangement. Okay. >> Because the cost
034is reduced as a result >> and those contracts are available for public viewing. >> Yes. >> You probably wouldn't see that part in it though. >> It would be a line item, wouldn't it? If you're if you're not uction price. >> I would say that >> it's the negotiated rate, >> right? >> That that wouldn't say on the bottom line down here that you say $100,000. >> So, well, I don't want to get into the the ifands of it, but you don't pay a rate based on the amount of students. Do you pay route miles? How do you pay for busing? If you wish to make your rights request. Okay. >> Thanks. >> The last one. >> Nobody else. So, next up is to approving the minutes. August 18. Can I have a motion, please?
035>> Second. >> All right. Move and second. Any discussion? All in favor? Oppos? programs >> A through C. >> Yes. Motion to approve business things that we discussed at that workshop. So, can I get a motion to approve the programs A through C? >> Johnson moves. >> Patrick seconds. >> Move and second. All in favor? I >> oppose I personnel A through I. Motion to approve U personnel line items 7 A through I. Second. Any discussion? All in favor? opposed A through H. I get a motion to approve A through H and finances. >> Thank you. Second move. Second. Any discussion? All in favor? Oppos? I said contracts one of all these contracts also. Anybody got any? So A through 8 through S I think all of my action on >> Can I get a
036motion? Johnson moves approve for S S and second move and second any discussion all in favor I nothing in polish others I'll take a by self and will be a roll call vote I get a motion motion They're moving. Second. I have a roll call, please. 11A, the confidential settlement agreement for student 2025 26-003. Patrick. >> Nay. >> Miss Lel. >> Mrs. Hill. Yes, >> Mr. Steve Johnson. >> Yes, >> Johnson. >> Yes, >> Dr. Marino. >> Yes, >> Mr. Folks. >> Yes, >> Mr. Rose. >> Yes. >> Motion passes 81. >> Next up is uh PSBA officer candidates. >> The candidates were introduced during the last meeting through email. No objections to any candidates that are all the ones that are running. >> So we got the vote on that, right? Yeah. All right.
037So So you made the motion. >> Yeah. Motion to accept the DFA election candidate introduc. All in favor? I oppose. We adjourn. I'd like to adjourn, but I'd like to have an executive session after this meeting. Clear up some things. Okay. We will adjourn this meeting and we'll be done, but we will go into executive session. All right. Can I have a motion to adjourn? Second move and second. All in favor? I >> oppose. That's