001call the meeting to order. Roll call, please. Miss Beers here. Mr. Banick. Mr. Brown. Yo, Mr. Chy here. Miss Crawl here. Mr. Kuster here. Mr. Johnston here. Mr. Mr. Borski here. Mr. Velasi [Music] Algiance 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. Please remain standing for a moment of silence. Thank you. Good evening everyone. Uh we're going to get into the committee of the whole work session. Um we have a student here tonight. Okay, let's do an update here. Our PA representative. Yeah, you're given that. Yes. Awesome. Um, good evening citizens, administrators, board members, and students of Penrest. My name is Tina Walsh, and I am speaking on behalf of the teachers and educational specialists
002of our school district. I am also representing Debbie Miller, our PAEA president, as she is alongside many of our Cambridge Springs community, cheering on the Lady Blue Devil softball team at the Western Finals in Slippery Rock going on right now with only one raid delay so far. Um, you see that is the way we are in Penrest. Three tightlyk knit communities with small numbers but with enough pride and commitment to equal an area much larger than ourselves. That is the gem of Penrest collectively offers families. Three small towns with unique identities and needs. It is this small community atmosphere that is sought after. In a recent discussion with a notable real real estate broker spanning Erie and Crawford counties, they specifically noted that sales in the Cambridge Springs area leading the other towns in the
003two c counties by 5 to 10% in asking price and often resulting in bidding wars raising the sale prices anywhere from 10 to $20,000 over asking price. And who are the buyers? They are young couples with families who want to raise their children in our communities. I am relatively certain that Maplewood and Seagertown would be close to that same standard if I asked as well. So why do I point this out? Well, first of all, the schools are turning back the corners to our previous notability of being outstanding for children. We're making the news like Cambridge Springs High School did in the US News and World Report for best high schools in America. Despite the reduced focus on education at the federal level, Penrest is vowing to budget for quality programs for its students. While
004we've seen some negative news about closing schools, the message from the majority is that these schools, each unique, offer value that is sought after by families for their children. My hope is that we will keep this ball rolling into the next school year. On this positive trajectory, we will continue to rise as a desired place for kids to grow up and learn in, as a place that turns out the best students for successes in their future and in ours. Thank you. Thank you very much. On to um the business manager and myself have a couple. Um, Becca, are you ready to go over the final budget numbers? All right. You'll see on the agenda tonight, we have the final budget to be approved. Um, we went ahead and factored in attrition savings there um of
00563,260. So, we went ahead and brought the expenditure number down to 58,58,56,869 um and with a deficit of $462,187. Um, and as always, we will continue to um look through the budget diligently to find um any savings and we still have not heard from the state. We finally got some title numbers um today right before the meeting. So, that shows you how timely it is. Um we have to have our budget approved before we get final revenue numbers um from the state and federal level. Any other discussion? Questions? Um, when I research similar districts, again, I always like to look at districts similar to Penrest. Too often we look within the county or we just do the state, excuse me, we just do the state. Um, we're in far better shape. Uh, so thank you
006for uh the work that you did this spring. We're in much much better shape than many other districts given even the um funding formula that we're kind of up against. So, um, this is this is good news. [Music] Thank you. Yeah, like I said, this is since I've been on the board, this has been one of the nicest years to do this task. Uh, so thank you to all you guys for working so hard. And, uh, just goes to show if our politicians would pass the bill for the cyber and charter reform, we'd be in great shape. this. So, I mean, there's $800,000 that would we'd be in the in the lack which would be awesome. So, keep hounding our local politicians to support our school system instead of bashing it and do what's right.
007Like to um also thank Kristen and her team. I'd also like to reach out to all of our employees because when you build a budget, it's everyone. It's just not administration. We've we've we've gone line item through line item multiple times. Um, and I'd like to, you know, thank all of our departments, our teachers, everybody feels that. But where what we've done I believe very very well this year is we've kept um those budgets limitations out here away from students and here we've kept kept that um so we I'm really proud of the team I'm proud of everybody though in the district because it really it takes everyone so so thank you for that. All right on to some uh uh news on the solar um project. We had talked about this last oh right
008when I came here we had talked about looking at ways to increase income and revenue for the district. So we started looking at that like I said it was last summer when we first discussed it. We got a little more into it in the fall. Then we had the opportunity to apply for the solar project. Um and and we in which we did and um we've just gotten word that um we have received um a grant um for the solar project. And Kristen, do you want to give those numbers? Sure. Um so yes, we just received word that we've received $336,960 in the solar grant. Um it was awarded up to $500,000. So that is the amount that uh we applied for and were awarded. Um it has to be used within 3 years. So
009we have um we have time to decide if we would like to use that, but we do have to accept the grant within 45 days. So we need your direction. Um again, this is a revenue source that we've been looking into. Um so we need your d direction if you'd like to accept the grant. Um going briefly into the solar project that we looked at, it was up here at Sagertown High School. Um there is a cost outlay to get those solar panels of about $2.7 million and then if you take off the tax credits which now are kind of we are unsure. Um we don't know what those tax credits are going to be. Um it's supposed to be 40% of the the project but now it's coming out that they may lower these
010amounts. So, it's really hard to give um an actual value on how much it's going to cost us and how much revenue we're going to get back with the rebates and the SREx and that. Um but we're probably looking even after all of um the incentives and rebates, we're still looking at a cash lay about $1.2 million probably. Um the return on investment is approximately five years is what they're estimating. So, we just need your um direction, discussion. How would you like to proceed? Would you like us to have a representative come in August and give a presentation on the solar and go from there? Um, and then have us accept the grant. Again, we have uh 45 days to accept. If we do not use that within 3 years, it goes back to uh
011the state. This is a DEC grant. So, there's no penalties or anything. There's no penalties. We're just out. I mean, we had the $100 fee to apply for the grant. So, that's all we would be out. Well, I think it'd be crazy not to take it. And personally, I would love to see a representative or two come in August and discuss the options that we have and and what you know give us a more uh firm payback period. You know what what's the incentive to do it? How can we utilize it in our system? Can you know can we use it in our parking lot? Can we use on roofs? You know what's best? And is there a way that we can make some revenue from this in the future? So that's my personal opinion.
012I agree. Yeah. Everybody shaking their head. Yes. Okay. So we'll go ahead and u we'll move forward and we'll make sure we get the uh the experts up here to talk about it in August. Okay. Thank you. Departmental reports. Um this is the education. Sure. Typical items on the agenda for approval this month. We have annual agreements with Perseus House and Parkside. We have a two-year agreement for Mystery Science in K through three. We don't have a current science resource for our K through three students because it's been embedded practice. So, with the new STEAL standards coming on, we had our teachers this year um pilot mystery science. We got a lot of positive feedback. that aligns very nicely with steels and it's um it's a pretty reasonable cost for our students in K through
0133 and our teachers to use as a resource. So um we're pretty excited to have that op option available. The Renaissance Star Benchmark test, that's the test that we give our students in K through six for reading and math. We do that three times a year. It helps us to determine what interventions our students need and what progress we're making as we approach PSSA tests. Um, we have affiliation agreements for dual enrollment at Penn West. Each month we've been bringing more and more dual enrollment options. We're really trying to increase those opportunities for our students and the availability um for them to earn some credits. Summer meals program. Um, Penrest will again offer meals to anyone living in the district actually under the age of 18 is eligible whether they attend our public schools or
014not. There's a a bl we did a blast out on Facebook and each building send it out for you can sign up and they give you breakfast and lunch every day for 5 days. So we have Wednesday is our first day of distribution of sun meals. Cambridge has 130 students, Maplewood 128 and Staggertown 160 that have signed up for for a total of 418 students which will be 4,180 meals that we will distribute this week to uh Pancress residents. I think that's phenomenal for our community. And there's a weekly sign up for that. So, if you didn't get signed up for it this time, it's not too late. You can get on and register for the following week. Every week, every Wednesday, we're distributing meals from 1 to three at the three attendance areas. So,
015no, I had a which I think this is awesome. I'm not but I had a few people ask me how how's this being paid for? So, we qualify to um because of our rural schools and our free reduced population, it is paid for um outside of our coffers. So, there's really no additional cost. There's a little bit of work on our end, you know, with distribution and um getting that out, but we we've asked for some community support. I know we have some NHS members helping at the attendance areas with food distribution. Um volunteers helping our staff, but yeah, it's it's very exciting and a wonderful program. Well, that's good because that's what I told people. I hope I'm right. You were right. Um we have the access agreement on there. It's an annual agreement
016we sign so that we can go through that school-based access program and bill for those services that we provide to children. Um the other item on the agenda is an agreement for the Ben for Benery and Ben is um a gentleman with autism who tells his story and it's a very uplifting positive story and we would like to bring Ben in um on opening day actually be it would actually be a great um opportunity for our staff. So we're excited to be able to bring him in and tell his story and kind of launch our year in a positive focus. Um the other and we're part and we're partnering with with Crawford Central. Yes. So the whole common do both districts. Good. Um we I also wanted to just for information purposes, we had seven
017students from Mwood High School participate in the PIT Titusville um basic machining and CNC operations program. They received six PIT University credits. Um they all completed the program, were offered full-time employment. They had a ceremony for them on uh last Friday that I attended. It was it was fantastic. So, we're hoping to be able to open that up to more students um moving forward into the next year. Very good. And as Kristen um alluded to with about 4:00 today, we got our um federal allocation for um this year and it is down about $33,144 from last year. And that's title one is down 22,746. Title 2 is down $4,991. And title four is down $5,47. So that's where we're at. Any questions? That's all we have. Facilities, transportation. All right. So on the agenda tonight,
018you'll see a couple um things that you guys will be presenting. Um one of them uh is the electric supply agreement. If you remember back in February, the board approved um purchasing of electrical supply with Dagy uh which was formerly Energy Harbor uh at a fixed rate of either 14 or 26 months uh when it was advantageous. Uh Kristen and myself have been, you know, watching those rates weekly. We've been getting updates from our representative. um and they're they're they've dipped to the lowest point um since February um to where we felt comfortable executing the agreement. Um we've been operating month-to-month since March. So um we locked in a 14-month agreement uh that would be retroactive back to March. So it will be um from now until March of 2026. and we're hoping those rates
019would improve um you know a year from now. So it is a a 3.8 cent kilowatt uh higher rate than the previous contract um but it's the best rate that we've we've seen today. Um additionally we uh put our garbage and refugees uh contract out to bid. Um, we only got one bid back on the contract, but it was by our current provider, Waste Management, and it actually is at a 38% reduction over our current contract. Um, so you'll see that up tonight. Um, actually will be a net out annual savings to district of about $34,000. So, uh, we're really, really happy to hear that. Um, there's some competition moving into the market, um, on the waste side. So, all of the providers have sharpened their pencils on their rates. So, um lastly, you'll see
020um on the agenda tonight for facilities is the subcontracting of our water operating um here at Sagertown and then also at Maplewood. Um due to a number of factors, most notably, we had a retirement within the district and then also an employee um um leave the district for another position. Um, I'm currently in classes for my water licensing and we have a gentleman that'll be on the agenda to get approved tonight as a maintenance manager that has um a wastewater operator license and we'll be going to get a water certification. Uh, but currently we're without any active employee that's that's licensed. So, um, we're looking to enter into a a month-to-month service agreement with uh, Book and Poch. Um, very reputable company. they they do the cash school district their water system. Um so it's
021a it's a temporary measure to keep us in compliance with D and help um take care of some of our water issues until we have fully operated uh fully certified operators in the district. So that's all I have questions. Thank you Richard financial Kristen. Okay. You'll see the traditional reports on there um every month for the dispersements. Um there's a couple budget transfers on there. Um you'll see for um the tuition coming out of the reserves and the substitutes. Um couple building transfers. You'll see that we have roughly $9.5 million left as of the end of May um on our current budget. Um keep in mind that we have a lot of dispersements going out in June to make sure we get everything in. So that number will be a lot less um in July.
022We're asking for approval on the budget. again uh revenues 59,44,682 total expenditures 59,56,869 [Music] for a total deficit of 462,187 um and that is with no tax increase this year. The Homestead Farmstead, that's an annual um agreement that is a property tax reduction for everyone in our district that is qualified. they will receive approximately $354.99 off of their um property as long as they are approved homestead or farmstead in order to qualify for that. It has to be your primary residence um where you vote pay taxes um and those are sent out. You just have to send it back and you automatically get approved. Um that's through act one with the state and that comes from the gambling revenues. So that revenue this year was increased slightly from the state. You'll see the insurance quotes
023which again um every year we do that. We had a total savings on the package of roughly uh three and a half%. So not much but every little bit helps. We went to bid for paper. Um you'll see we're going to ask for approval to award that to WB Mason. We have a couple lease agreements. This is our prek um FCCA. Um they rent some of our spaces. They had five classrooms. Their uh enrollment numbers are down. So they've reduced those to four. Um the IU um last month you approved a lease for them. They we have been you know searching for additional revenue streams. The IU is going to lease four additional classrooms um from us over here at Seagertown Elementary. Um so there is additional revenue there that again is not included in
024this budget because this lease is just being approved today. But there's an additional $12,337 the IU uh special ed contracts. These are reoccurring every year. You'll see the Bethesda partial, Bethesda residential, Bethesda acute partial, the behavioral contract in our special ed. But remember, Bethesda's in our district. Therefore, we have to host those those classrooms. We get a 3% fee for hosting from the IU from the other districts that send students to those locations. Um so, it's passed through in our budget. Um, and the employee assistance program is on there as well. We didn't have an official document with MMC, so we're just asking approval. It's just a pay by service. If we use it, um, we'll pay. And we're looking for other options, um, that might be out there for our, uh, employee assistance program.
025Any questions? [Music] hearing none. Um, before we get into the meeting, do we have an update on the softball game? One- nothing union. Okay. All right. Thanks. It's important. Top of three. Top of three. Thank you for the update. Appreciate it. Um, we're going to That's an exciting time when you make it this far. So, the kids, the school, everyone's excited. So, uh, and if you get an update during a meeting, just kind of So, um, we're going to transition now into the voting meeting. Um, there was no one signed up for citizens comments on agenda items. Is there anyone who would like to speak on the agenda items? Thank you for the opportunity to speak this evening. Again, my name is Tina Walsh. I live in the Burough of Cambridge Springs and I teach
026at Cambridge Springs Elementary. And I also recently signed a petition that you have already received a copy of concerning the decision to move school psychologist Mrs. Brittany Atkins from the Cambridge Springs attendance area to the Maplewood attendance area. When the teachers at Cambridge came together to discuss the creation of the petition, I have to be honest with you, I was not going to sign it. I thought, what difference does the art teacher make with the school psychologist position? I don't interact with Mrs. Atkins much. I like her. She's a great person. We've had lots of robust conversations, but I don't work with her professionally all that much. However, I did have a discussion with our emotional support classroom teacher, Mr. T. Daddio, and he helped me see that I was very wrong in the way
027I was looking at it. So, in his own words, because he does not live in the district and cannot speak, this is what he convinced me with these words. When a school building has an emotional support program, a therapeutic support program and services for the deaf and heart of hearing population, it's essential to involve the best people, particularly those who have worked together for a long time. It usually takes two, three years for a team to really come together and gel to learn their roles and to understand how to support not just one another but the students and the families that represent them. Daily at Cambridge Springs, we encounter cases involving aggression, self harm statements, intense tantrums, and they all require effective management by multiple staff members. Our team meets daily to adjust behavior plans,
028change schedules, reassign staff, and analyze data to inform instructional and intervention strategies daily. Britney Atkins plays a crucial role in that process. She's a driving force in parent communication, effectively conveying positive and sometimes negative information with a plum. Britney has established strong relationships with the community, staff, parents that help ease the dayto-day chaos. Her connections to county agencies and programs have taken her years to develop. When all three programs are housed in one attendance area in one single school, it's vital to have someone like Mrs. Atkins who can quickly facilitate access to the necessary resources in the county. Over 10 years at Cambridge Elementary, Mrs. Atkins has helped create a crisis team that operates smoothly even in challenging situations involving very struggling students. Despite Mrs. that can significant contributions. Cambridge Springs continually faces challenges managing
029crisis plans, paperwork, student safety, and it will take years to recover if you Thank you. Thank you. Before we move on, I would like to um entertain a motion to change a I'm a under new business tonight. Um now excuse me under the facilities where you see the water operator services the book approach due to um the fact that we have recently got an employee that has the waste water. Um we're we're hopeful that that can be a month-to-month type of contract now cuz he's going to be able to go take the test and he has the 12 month requirement that you have to have in the field. Richard also is uh working through his water license every Wednesday and he'll be ready and eligible in January. January January. So, I'd like to reflect that
030in this mo in the motion and I'd like it and I'd like to make a motion that uh this is what it would say. Um resolve that the penrest board of school directors approve the attached water operator services for Maplewood Elementary and Secondary and Segtown Elementary and Secondary with Book Approach Incorporated on a month-to-month basis. um that um cost at Maplewood High School would be $1,188 a month. The cost at Maplewood Elementary School be $1,188 per month. And the combined cost of Segtown Elementary School, Seagertown High School would be 1,93766. Not to exceed 21,568.30. that would be July to November and we're hopefully confident and if not we would come back at that point in time. Um so that's what I I'm I'm proposing and asking um to modify that. Is there a motion? Some
031move. Second. Got a motion in a second. Any comments or questions? My my question I always have where's the money coming from to pay that? It's in the budget. Thank you. Any other questions or comments? Sean, can you tell me the two numbers for April? I got I got it for you. Thank you. You're welcome. Any other comments or questions? Hearing none. All in favor say I. I. Same. Motion carried. Number four. Number four, approval of minutes. Resolve that the Penrest board of school directors approve the following minutes. May 12th, 2025 school board meeting. So move. Second. Okay, we have a motion and second. Any comments or questions? Hearing none. All in favor say I. I. Post same. Motion carried. Under policies tonight, we have resolve that the Penrest board of school directors approve the
032following policy. Policy 702, gifts, grants, donations. So move. Second. A motion and a second. Any comments or questions? Hearing none, all in favor say I. I. Oppos? Same. Motion carried. So under the policy resolved that the Penrest board of school directors approved the attached Penrest School District artificial intelligent guide book. So moved. Second. Have a motion in a second. Any comments or questions? I'm just interested in in the AI and and how the AI is going to help a a student gain uh critical thinking and creativity. Is there any answer to that how it's going to help us? Yeah. So I use AI often person this is personal matter um for the kids to brainstorm a list of um I've had students actually talk to Harry Truman to discuss whether the the use of the
033atomic bomb was necessary or not and Harry Truman would respond and using so it it collects data in real time uh that's already out there that they would research. There is a lot of bad to it, but much like anything, there's also some good, too. And teachers are being trained on how to responsibly use it. And if you have conversations in the faculty room, you would have different views on that. Um, but yeah, it definitely has it its place for students. I mean, they are going to be using AI in the future, right? I mean, uh, yeah, they're using it now. Um, and so it's awesome that we're going to have a policy that we can hold them to because right now it's it's anarchy probably in the schools. some teachers allow, some don't. Um,
034so, you know, students use it to compose their emails and so forth. And and there's arguments as to why that's bad. I I agree and I I agree with those arguments, but there's also good to them as well. But it is a part of it is a part of their world. Uh, and so I think if we can take the first step in teaching them how to properly and responsibly use it, just like we did when the internet came along, right? Right. when the internet came along, oh, this is great, but it's also really bad. Uh, or phones or Google maps, etc. Um, it if used properly, and it's still so very early and we're in the, you know, the fetal stages of AI. Um, if used properly, I believe that yeah, it not only
035can teach kids, but it can enhance their creativity. And that to me, that's the that's the key. If it's used properly, that's the key. In fact, the fact that we have to monitor or manage it to make sure it doesn't get out of hand. And hopefully that's what the handbook's going to take care of for us, right? That it's that's going to assist. We have the policy, then we put this attachment with the policy, say, and our principles work together at a team. And uh that's exactly Brian and Randy why we have it. We want to um we want to teach students um and I like Ry's example. I remember when Google came out, right? and we want to teach them what's a good search, what what how do we utilize this the proper way
036because there is a lot of bad. So, we're taking a proactive approach to it. Um, kids, teachers, administrators, we're all using it. Teachers are taking classes and training on it. I'm I'm taking a class this summer on it. Um, because I figure if I'm the educational leader, then I should step up and learn it also. And I'm going to look and see operationally, can it help us? Can we do anything administrative wise? So that's why we're doing it, Brian, just to try to take a proactive approach. Right. I I I would imagine it's kind of anarchy right now with the students and teachers and everybody's got their own views on it. Some want to know part of it, others like this is really cool. Let me teach you something. I mean, that's kind of where
037I felt. Uh but yeah, having a policy and a training and hopefully you get everybody on the same track. Mhm. Uh I agree. It's it's it's it's very scary. Well, I would say I'm not against it. It's just I want us to be cautious. Yeah. I wish you know um I could come up with many other examples. Yeah. You need to be cautious. Well, I can say I played with a little bit here just playing with it. And when you brought up critical thinking, uh you type something out. Just take a paragraph on a thought and type it out. Then use AI and it retypes and gives you multiple versions of what you just said. And it's like, oh wow, I never thought of it like that. That that makes better sense. So it opens
038up your mind to different ideas in that aspect and the way I use it now I'm not the one right the one and the importance of a digital literacy class or a digital citizenship class maybe is what it's called is you know you teach kids here's AI and then you can say show me where this information came from so then they're taken to the source and then they're taught how to evaluate the source etc and that's pretty high level thinking uh if you're asking students to evaluate sources and not just take things um you black and white from what uh Chad TPT tells them. So done properly, it's actually pretty high level thing. That's pretty cognitive. That's a high cognitive level I think to ask students to do. I'm glad we had, you know, this
039I'm glad we had that conversation because this was when we opened the policy. I think we had a training I think even a long time ago. We talked about it and it was just kind of going through. We never actually talked about the policy. This is brand new. Um, can I ask where where who helped you with the policy? Right. Dr. How at Seager Town. Um, and our our other high school principles. Okay. Was there any outside for um they you mean actual like PB PSBA? We used um there was a document by PSBA and pass I give I gave them. So, we tried to use reputable sources that we're already utilizing. And I believe um the national the NEA has come out with something too. So, they tried to utilize I thought that's what
040they told me. I could be wrong. Yeah, it's all of a sudden it like chat GBP hit and everybody was like, "Oh man, we needed and all these organizations um were trying to get something in writing." And I mean, higher ed was also struggling. Um no, Mrs. Henry was involved in that as well. Okay. You know, we had gotten some resources from the SAS Institute that helped beat some of that as well. Any other comments or questions? Hearing none, all in favor say I. I. Same. Motion carried. Number six, education report. Resolve the Penrest board of school directors approve the consent agenda for education items B through I as presented. So move second a motion and a second. Any comments or questions? Hearing none. All in favor say I. I. Oppos same. Motion carried. Number
041seven, facilities transportation. Um resolve that the penrest board of school directors approve the consent agenda facilities and transportation items B to D. Second motion to second. Any comments or questions? Just a reminder we are utilizing the change that I had earlier there too. Hearing none all in favor say I. I post same. Motion carried. Number eight, the financial report. I'm going to pull out item E for a separate vote. Um resolve that the Pen Crest board of school directors approve the consent agenda items B through D and F through L as presented. So move second motion and a second. Any comments or questions hearing? None. All in favor say I. I post same. Motion carried. Resolve the Penrest board of school directors approve and adopt the final fiscy year general operating fund budget and the
042annual tax resolution for the school year as listed. Authorize the business manager to prepare the PTE 2028 budget document. So move second. Have a motion and a second. Any comments or questions? Of course. I'm going to say you guys have done an excellent job. We're better off than we've been ever in history and as far as other districts, but I would still like to say we had an opportunity for the first time to balance the budget. And I think we should have tried to do that or from now until when the state money comes in, if we could balance it down, it would be nice. But as it is, and thank you for taking it under 500,000 for the carryover, but I'm still going to say no. Any other comments or questions? Hearing none, do
043a roll call vote, please. Miss Beers, yes. Mr. FS, absent. Mr. Brown, yes. Mr. Chsy, yes. Miss Crawl, yes. Reverend Kuster, no. Mr. Johnston, yes. Mr. Storski, yes. Mr. absent to one. [Music] Number nine, personnel report resolve that the Penrest board of school directors approve the consent agenda personnel items B through M as presented. So moved. Second. There's a motion and a second. Any comments or questions? Hearing [Music] none. All in favor say I. I. Oppos. Same. Motion carried. On personnel, could I add something real quick? Uh seems how that the board is uh uh we're elected officials. Uh Ryan's been missing for a couple meetings. So, I asked that maybe the board president and maybe the superintendent reach out and see if everything's okay. And what's his intentions? I mean, he's missed two voting
044meetings now. And I don't I don't want not going after him right now, but is everything okay? Yeah. You know, is he going to stay on the board or, you know, he does have the opportunity to call in if he needs? Exactly. And I I mean I know his brother I mean I know there's things going on but just if you two can reach out to him I'll reach out to him and just make sure you know what what's going on because we it's important that he's elected to be here for himself graduation as well. So like I said I don't know what's going on and hopefully nothing bad. So hopefully it's an oversight and we'll see him next month. But under new business, um resolve that the penrest board of school directors approve the
045attached PSBA 202526 membership renewal policy maintenance program participation agreement at a cost of 15,000 um 10.33 cents. So move second. Have a motion in a second. Any comments or questions? [Music] Hearing none. All in favor say I. I. Those same. No. Actually, I did have a question. I was trying to get it off real quick. But go ahead. Keep going. Well, it's too late. We already passed it. Resolve that the penrest board of school directors to authorize the solicitor's office to send Carlos Brown correspondence pursuant to the Pennsylvania rule of civil procedure 1023.1 motion comments or questions. I have a question. Um what is uh there are other there are other people out there who have cost the district more than this one. So, I'm going to vote for this. Yes. But why are we
046picking and choosing people? Well, I think the last time we said from now on anyone's any lawsuits that come in that are going to be pursued and the solicitor says that this is has no basis. We are going to start doing this to everybody. This just happens to be the first one since Okay. First one with four. First one since I've been here. Okay. Thank you. Would you need Jordan to weigh in on that if you'd like me to? I mean, I think we're good. Okay. Yeah. Any other comments or questions? Hearing none. All in favor say I. I. Oppos same. Motion carried. This this next one is just a notice to the board. In accordance with act 44 of 2018, on June 9th, 2025, the director of safety and security officer presented to the
047board of directors current safety and security practices that identify strategy strategies to improve school safety and security. So, I just wanted to let you know that that took place. Any other new business? Yeah, I'd like to bring something up um for the board to discuss. Uh also more or less maybe a question for solicitor um if you can provide input if you want to provide input. Um there was a citizen initiative out there uh which I believe stem from the last finance and our community nights. So that we had uh let's see three community nights, one at Cambridge Elementary and one at Stertown and Maplewood High School. Correct. Uh we also had a finance committee and during those community nights it was discussed about uh extracurriculars in athletics specifically. We talked about potential consolidation and
048even curtailing some of those. Uh I believe that the citizens listened and um they're looking for a way for the board to be set up as a 333 region amongst the schools for the seats in the coming elections down the road. um this would be a referendum that they'd like to put on the ballot to see if the citizens would support such a measure. They think it's fair that if you're going to start curtailing and consolidating that at least everybody has a seat at the table. Uh otherwise, and I agree with this, it looks extremely vindictive. Um so I guess that would be a qu I mean neighboring districts do it this way. Uh in fact, I believe a lot of our neighboring districts do it this way. Uh they have regions. So, I don't
049know what that looks like. Uh, this would be initial step. I'm just bringing it to the conversation. Well, and I I I was I've been told and I haven't researched it, but we used to have that. I think you did. And I don't know what happened to that or why it just went away or what changed, but uh like I said, I've had a lot of similar conversations too that uh it's just they're seeing a lot of unbalance happening and they would like to see make sure that each district is representative. So we said we'd bring it up and as a board if we have to vote on it, can we vote on it? Is that what we need to do to get it on the ballot? There's a lot of questions. I think the
050best thing to do so it's not uncommon and this question does come up. You know, the key really is sort of at a high level just for tonight's purposes is that have to work with the local municipalities as well as the county. Um, and there has to be a lot of procedural steps that are taken in order to get it appropriate appropriately on the ballot. So, the board wants me to look at it. I can uh talk about it maybe at the next meeting in my solicitor's report, but it's certainly something that I'm happy to look into. I think you're right, Tim. I believe Penrest maybe at one point in time had a different um setup than the district-wide, you know, setup that you have now for seats. So, well, I talked to past board
051members and they they said that that it did, but I haven't been able to research it to prove, you know, to make sure to confirm that, I'll say. Not that they're going to lie to me, but you know, I don't know if it just worked out that way or if there was actual policy or if it was what what had happened to make that go away. So, yeah, I mean, the key you have to work with your county bureau elections as well, right? You know, so there's a there's a lot of steps to it, but it's uh certainly something I'm happy to talk to the board about. I'll have it available for solicitor support at the next meeting. Okay. Okay. Very good. Any other new business? Yes. So, I just wanted to to have it
052put out there for for general knowledge that something that um we've been working on is reinstating um having the validictorian and saludiatoran uh put back in this policy at Penrest. So, we've had some work that they're doing and they're checking. Uh, I know some people um really wanted it to come back and to not be afraid of it and not be afraid of not be afraid of somebody's number one, somebody's number two. We We have to give the kids the opportunity to be challenged and to rise above and be able to have that that title. Why? I don't want everybody to have a participation trophy, but we are working on that. Yes, we we um Mrs. Henry, our our coordinator of curriculum, um had has started, I believe she started with some surveys and then
053this we've asked her this summer to look into that more fully. And it's probably something if we wanted to move forward with into the future, we probably would have to start with a ninth grade class because that way it would be the same, you know, going back in time, right? Right. So, um yes. So, we we will at some point this fall um be ready, you know, bring that a little clear. Yeah. If we could especially if we could vote on that September, October, so one. Yep. That'd be awesome. Okay. I will say I just attended my granddaughter's graduation down to Senica Valley. There was almost 600 kids and they had a saludiator and a valadictorian. I think the valictorian got shared because they their scores were identical. So, but out of almost 600 kids,
054three of them got recognized. Mhm. Yeah. Well, I um I agree. I like that obviously the competition, especially when you get into the good classes. I think, and I could be wrong, I think the counterargument is that students actually take harder courses when they don't worry about that. it's not I think they they're they're now going to go and take that weighted course. Um but if they're worried about getting that title then they may not take that course and so actually by not having it you're actually challenging the students more by providing that. I believe that's a counterargument. Uh I would like to hear both that would be really good discussion amongst everybody. Yes. Another thing that I'm going to bring up, I was approached after our graduation at Sacred Town. I guess there was
055two students that attended our our cyber school and didn't get recognized for high honors. So, it's I don't know what we do to look into that, but uh when the other kids were recognized through the graduation process, them two got overlooked. Right. I get it. I'll look into that. We'll look into that. Anything needs to be adjusted, we'll do that. Then we'll make sure forward. Any other new business? [Music] Move on. Executive session. Under number 11, announcements. The board the board did meet for executive session on June 9th, 2025 for personnel legal matters and legal matters, sorry, and the act um 44 safety and security training. And you wanted to meet again after this for today? Thought you said something. Yeah, I need I need about real short about five minutes, but I will need
056another executive session. Not coming back to vote. And you're not coming back to vote. We're not coming back to vote. No, that's all I have, sir. Interesting comments. Yep. Citizens comments, non-aggenda items. [Music] Okay. Now, hearing none, need a motion to adjourn. So move second. All in favor say I. I. Carry. [Music]