001Good evening. I would like to call the Colonial Board business meeting to order. It is Monday, June 9th, 2025. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The board met in executive session prior to this meeting to discuss personnel matters, special education placement, and a software program for student residency. The meeting lasted approximately 1 hour. And now I will turn the meeting over to Dr. Christian for some student recognitions. Thank you, Mrs. Patrudo. I believe we have Anna Johnson here from our middle school to recognize one of our outstanding students. Sorry. Use them. Okay. All right. Good evening, everybody. Andrew, I'm going to ask you to
002come up with me. All right. So, I have had the pleasure of knowing Andrew for the last This is my our third year of working together in the math program. I had Andrew um very early on when he came up to the middle school and he I I knew within a couple of I don't know days that um he definitely was excelling at math. He's definitely a student whose energy and enthusiasm has propelled him up into the high school and has also propelled him to go to our math counts competition twice to the state competition and this year on to the national competition where he finished 74th out of all students um that were at that national competition. So, it's my pleasure, Andrew, to uh present this certificate on behalf of the board. Congratulations. [Applause]
003Congratulations. Well done. [Music] Once again, congratulations. Excellent work. Uh, and now moving on. This is a motion to approve the board business meeting minutes from 5:15 as presented. May I have a second, please, Rashidita? Any questions or comments? All in favor? Thank you. This is a motion to approve financial reports as presented in items 5B through 5M for May uh, 2025. May I have a second, please? Rick, any questions or comments? All in favor? Thank you. This is a motion to approve the May 2025 treasurer's report. May I have a second, please, Sharon? Any questions or comments? All in favor? Thank you. And now I will turn it over to Dr. Christian for a superintendent update. Thank you, Mrs. Patruno. Uh welcome to our community members and welcome to those who are viewing uh uh
004the streaming of the board meeting. I'd like to make a few statements uh before the formal board's business meeting commences. As the school year ends, we prepare to recognize the class of 2025. I want to thank our parents, specifically your students, and our staff for a strong year. We're fortunate to have dedicated community where over 5,300 students learn and grow each day. We have a wonderful and diverse student body. This is one of our district's many strengths. While we regularly celebrate and embrace our differences, as an administrative team and as parents and guardians and board members, we are concerned about the increased use of derogatory terms among students. Whether it be in person, in writing, or online, or social media, words have power and intent and can have a significant impact on our students who
005hear them. There is no denying that tensions are high in our world and in our community. We still not forget the disturbing image of graffiti at Plymouth White Marsh earlier this year involving hate speech with the use of the n-word and a swastika. Last week, a dispute among young school students turned into a physical altercation after the n-word was used. Use of the n-word and the image of a swastika are vile examples of hate speech. This language should never be heard and that image should never have to be seen by any students, especially in our school community, which includes our classrooms, the hallways, the lunchroom, our buses, and the playground. I would like to re reiterate as we close out the school year that derogatory language or symbols have no place in our schools and
006will continue to be met with swift discipline followed by counseling and restorative practices. We remain steadfast in our commitment to stop hate in its tracks. We also need to continue our proactive approach. We have been committed to equity, inclusion, and belonging efforts for many years. Over the past few years, our administration and faculty and staff have participated in professional development based on the book Courageous Conversations About Race. This sum this coming summer, our administrative team will be receiving additional professional development from the Anti-Defamation League as we prepare for the 2526 school year. All Colonial School District schools have been designated as no place for hate schools for several years. The work we do in our schools is to encourage a sense of belonging benefits from your support at home. We implore you to speak with
007your children about hateful words and the negative impact they can have on others. We must work together to maintain a safe and caring atmosphere where students feel that they belong and are supported. We are grateful for your efforts in helping to prevent the spread of hate in our school community. Thank you. Thank you. Now we will move on to public comment as it's related to items on this evening's agenda. All right, seeing none at this time, I will turn it over to Dr. Christian once again. Uh items 9A, uh 9B, and 9 C. Motion to approve the personnel report as outlined in 9B and 9C. Board action is requested for the attached personnel changes. Summer program appointments and extracurricular appointments. Appointments for promotion, employment, or transfer are subject to the presentation of valid credentials. Employment
008verification documentation and the statemandated requirements. May I have a second, please? Uh Chris, any questions or comments? All in favor? Thank you. And now we'll turn it over to new business. Rick, it's a motion to approve and adopt the 2526 final budget totaling $162,997,782 which includes a real estate tax rate of 26.495, an increase of 3.18%. May I have a second, please? Rashida, any questions or comments? All in favor? Thank you. This is a motion to approve the 2526 taxation rates, fees, and billing dates as presented. The 2526 real estate tax rate of 26.495. The act 511 earned income tax rate of 1% 50% shared with the resident municipality. Real estate transfer tax of 1% 50% share with the resident municipality. Amusement tax rate of 10% 50% shared with the Plymouth and White Marsh townships.
009Real estate tax certification fee of $25 per property. Billing date for 2526 real estate tax bills of July 1st, 2025. May I have a second, please? Sharon, any questions or comments? All in favor? Thank you, Rick. Motion to approve bids for art supplies, general school supplies, and paper products for the 2526 school year as outlined below. May I have a second, please? Sharon, any questions or comments? All in favor? Thank you. Uh, section 404 of the public school code directs the Colonial School Board of Directors shall during the month of May elect a secretary for a term of four years beginning on the 1st of July following such election. This is a motion to appoint Jessica Lester for the position of secretary for the period July 1st, 2025 through June 30th, 2029. May I have
010a second, please? Rick, any questions or comments? All in favor? Thank you, Mrs. Les. It's a motion to approve the rental rates for the 2526 before and after school programs in all elementary schools, the 25 summer camp program at $49 per day and $179.54 per day, respectively. May I have a second, please? Rashidita, any questions or comments? All in favor? Thank you. And this is a motion to approve the Colonial School District's cost plan, which includes services purchased through the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit. The proposed preliminary cost for the 2526 school year is $982,83244. May I have a second, please? Chris, any questions or comments? All in favor? Thank you. Motion to approve revisions to board policies outlined below on a second read basis. Policy number 320, freedom of speech by employee and policy number
011342, jury duty. May I have a second, please? Uh Jeremy, any questions or comments? All in favor? Thank you. Motion to approve the tenative trips and academic/athletic competitions our PWHs and CMS students will participate in during the 202526 school year as presented. These trips are out of state or require an overnight stay. May I have a second, please? Sharon, any questions or comments? All in favor? Thank you. Motion to approve a settlement, full release and placement agreement in lie of FAPE due to student confidentiality. This agreement was discussed in executive session. May I have a second, please? Uh Rick, any questions or comments? All in favor? Thank you. And now I will turn it over to our solicitor. Solicitor's report. It's I have no report. Thank you. Thank you. And now we will move into
012committee reports. Chris, uh, no report for CRSL safety and wellness. Thank you. Sharon, no curriculum report this evening. Uh, Mr. Winchester is not here this evening. Um, Mr. Lai, would you like to give us a quick update on the great renovations here? Yeah, things are going really well. uh we're on schedule and uh we expect to uh we will be ready for the start of school. Um there's no issues at the current moment and we are past the point of opening walls and finding the unexpected. So we're very confident with where we are. Great. Thank you. And um thank you to your team. I know a lot has been going on at all the schools with closing ceremonies um and graduation coming up. So thank you for all their hard work. Uh Rick, finance, no
013report this month. Uh HR, I know Gail said there is no report this evening. Chris, I do have a report for the tech school. Um they uh had 320 students graduate this month and um they are really uh going gang busters with enrollment. It's it's such a great popular um set of programs that they have there. So they started this current year with 884 students and next year they already have 1,13 students enrolled. So that's really a fantastic increase and it's been increasing every year for the last 5 years to the point where it's more than double than when I started with the JOC. So it's it's fantastic. They also have a new barbering program which they're introducing for the fall. Um they're getting their spaces ready now and that program is already full. though
014for this coming class. So, a lot of great things happening at our tech school. Awesome. Thank you so much. Uh Mark, anything from the intermediate unit? No intermediate unit report this evening. Uh Sharon, legislative. Uh just one quick update that uh the Pennsylvania House Bill 1500 um around cyber charter reform is made its way over to the Senate uh which could possibly bring some much read uh much needed relief to school districts all across Pennsylvania, including ours. So something that we're monitoring and keeping our eye on. Great. Thank you. Are there any uh community liaison reports this evening? The White Marsh Township Fourth of July parade is back on and the ability to register to participate in that parade is available. There's a link on the White Marshtown.org, sorry, White TWWP.org website where you can
015get access to that and hopefully we'll see a lot of people out there. Thank you. Fireworks and are on July 3rd as always. Um, so if you want to come out. Great. Anyone else? Um, and then the foundation. Um, I believe there was not a report from, um, Mrs. Plant for that either. Um, attached to tonight's agenda for your information is a curriculum, technology, student activity, and student athletic reports. And now we will move into our closing items of public comment. Uh please remember when you come to the microphone to state your name and uh township and we welcome um hearing from our community this evening before any folks go to the mic which we certainly want to hear from anybody who wants to speak. Uh I do have two public comments that were submitted
016uh electronically that I'd like to do first if the board would indulge that. The first is from Dr. Jamina Clay of Plymouth meeting. Good evening. I'm submitting this letter as a public board comment as a follow-up to the email my ex-husband sent on the evening of Thursday, June 5th. I am unable to physically present tonight, excuse me, be present tonight because I am attending a graduation, but make no mistake. I should not have to be here for this board to acknowledge a matter this serious. Last Monday, my 11-year-old son, who is the only black student on his bus, was a bystander as a girl screamed the n-word at his friend. Let's not be koi. That term in that context was a standin for an end lover. It was meant for him just as much as
017for his friend. This is a direct racial attack on my child. The principal handled it between the families fine. But where was the broader accountability? Where was the communication from the school to the community to the students to the families of the kids on the bus? Where was the district leadership? This is a clear viol violent expression of hate that should have prompted a public and immediate condemnation from district leadership and instead you stayed silent. Even after my ex-husband formally brought this incident to your attention in writing, you have remained silent. As of the writing of this letter Monday, June 9th, all that has been received is a one-s sentence email claiming ignorance of the situation that you should be well aware of. Four days later, all we have received from district leadership is, "I
018don't know about this and I will look into it." Were it not for two individual board members who reached out personally to check on the welfare of my son, I would genuinely be questioning whether this was an actual concern about what took place because your collective silence has been that loud. These are not words that I take lightly. These are not words I use. These are not words my son has ever used, but they are words he and countless other black students in your district are forced to hear every day. I write them unfiltered so that you can see and hear them. The vile disgusting language that they cannot escape. You may find them offensive. Good. They should be offensive. Imagine how it feels to be 11 and have those worlds hur hurled at your
019friends or even worse yourself. You may choose to bleep them out, but our children can't bleep them out. And when they're hurled at them on buses, cafeterias, and in classrooms, they have no choice but to internalize this hate and then go on to class like nothing happened. Pardon me. Let me be clear. Our children don't get us to censor their lived experience. They are forced to absorb this verbal violence, this hatred, this centuries old trauma, and then returned to class like nothing happened. I am an educator, so let me educate you on what our bodies go through when they are faced with a racial slur. The brain detects a threat, triggering triggering the amygdala, the fear center of the brain. Your body tenses up, your breath quickens, and stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol increase.
020Your stomach may react with nausea. Your nervous system kicks in, launching a fight or flight response. Only in colonial when this only in colonial when this happens to our children, they are unable to fight or flight. They just have to sit there and take it take all of this violence and hold it within their small broken bodies. Now, let's put this in historical context. These are the very words that were used while our ancestors hung from trees. This was spat at them as they were marched across auction blocks that that were shouted at them as they were raped, beaten, brutalized, and dehumanized. And now in 2025, they are thrown around casually on your school buses, weaponized against children, excuse me, against black children in your care, and you continue to do nothing. Your silence and
021refusal to stop this from happening means you are complicit in the contentious harm of our children. So, let me now amplify the question my ex-husband asked after my 11-year-old was assaulted and that you still refuse to answer. What are you doing to protect black children in your care? What systems are in place to address the violence they experience daily? Because this is violence. Slurs on a bathroom wall and hate slurs yelled into their faces with no consequences. When you do nothing, it tells black students exactly what they are worth to you. Nothing. It sends black students a clear message that they don't matter. Enough. I am demanding the following. Require all school leaders to formally report all racial incidents involving students of shared heritage, including black, Jewish, Hispanic, Asian, and Muslim students. Publish this data
022quarterly. Make it making it accessible to the public so families understand the racial climate within your schools. Issue a clear and district-wide communication stating that the use of the N-word is unacceptable and that students using it will face immediate suspension. Convene a parent group made up of black families and trusted community leaders to guide intentional strategies for protecting black students. This must be separate from the watered down twice a year DEI meetings that have proven to be mostly performative. Deliver a public apology from the board and specifically from Dr. Christian to black students and students of shared heritage for your ongoing failure to provide them with a safe and welcoming environment. Do better. Our children depend on you and right now you are failing them. Dr. Clay, I'd like to I spoke with Dr. Clay
023and Mr. Dingle twice today each. Um we had a candid and open conversation about their concerns. Um, as I said earlier this evening, our black students should never have to hear the n-word or any other derogatory slur at the elementary, middle, or high school level. They shouldn't have to hear it in the spoken word, nor should they have to see it written on a wall or see it on social media. These actions are unacceptable and are met with immediate discipline. I wish they would never happen. Respectfully, I do believe we have provide we provide a safe environment for our students. Our efforts with equity, inclusion, and belonging have been with done with fidelity. I recognize, however, that we can always improve. Annually, we develop district and building level goals specifically to support the mission of
024providing a safe and caring environment for our students. I will continue to look I look forward to working with parents, faculty, community leaders, and the administration in an effort as we prepare to welcome students in the fall of 2025. Every student needs to feel that they belong. Uh, one more email from Emily Cole from Plymouth Meeting. Uh, we are concerned about the news that the fourth grade gifted program at CES is to be changed. the new program does not align with the social, emotional, and academic needs of our gifted children. Um, we just got this uh uh before the meeting there. There is no change to the fourth grade gifted program heading into the 25 26 year and we'll make sure we reach out to this resident to make sure they understand. Thank you. Is
025there any additional public comment this evening? You can please come to the mic. Good evening. My name is Dr. Plet Jones. I live 1024 Belvar Road in Plymouth Meeting. I have lived in the Colonial School District for over 30 years. And as a black family, my daughter and grandchildren attended uh the school district. And over those 30 years, my child and my grandchildren have been demeaned in various ways, most prominently being called the n-word. Not one of them, all three of them, all three of them are here this evening. But outside of overtly racist comments, microaggressions add up on young minds. and yet fly under the radar when it comes to disciplinary actions. I'm expressing our concern and outrage because it is not known if anything is ever done to hold those offenders accountable. There
026was certainly no meeting like we're having tonight. Our voices were not heard. But we need to do something to make sure our children feel safe. Whatever the outcome regarding hateful, painful remarks, it is imperative that black children and other ethnicities be protected. And hearing that letter from Dr. Clay from something that happened a week or so ago and 30 years ago it was happening and it's still happening and something should be have been done all this time to protect these children. their feelings are important and it it they have to carry this with them their whole life. It happened to me as a young person because that's racism in America. But we are supposed to be better and I hope this school district does something to raise that awareness and protect all of our children.
027Thank you. [Applause] Uh, good evening. My name is Dr. Andrew Geritzky. I'm a resident of Lafayette Hill. Uh, and I'm also the regional director of the Anti-Defamation League's Philadelphia office. But tonight, I'm here as a father. My son is a student at Colonial Middle School, the very building where the last Anti-Semitic incident was reported. Over the past 3 years, the climate for Jewish students in Pennsylvania has changed dramatically. ADL's audit of anti-semitic incidents shows a four-fold increase in statewide incidents since 22. In 22, we recorded zero anti-semitic assaults in Pennsylvania. In 23, that number jumped to five, every victim of school-aged child, and four of those occurred before October 7th. In 2024, that figure rose to 12 assaults. Nationally, we saw two people murdered while leaving a Jewish program from a Jewish institution in the
028last two weeks. And a Jewish group was firebombed in Boulder. Grim reminders that anti-semitism and hate unchecked becomes violence. Against that backdrop, I want to commend what occurred at the middle school. The administration there did what I would want and what I would recommend. Students reported the incident quickly. The administration notified families promptly and transparently and the message was unambiguous. This behavior is unacceptable here. Many districts still try to sweep such incidents under the rug and that administrator did the opposite and that matters. I hold a doctorate in education. My research focuses on student engagement in mobile technology. Getting adolescence to come forward, especially about online hate, is notoriously difficult. The fact that colonial students did so tells me that at least for some kids, they're building a culture where they feel safe speaking up.
029I'm going to ask that you keep going. And these next statements I had written previously before coming here, but they actually ring true to a greater degree given what I just heard. Respond just as decisively when the target is a student who is black, Asian, Latino, Latina, LGBTQ, Muslim, Buddhist, Christian, or anyone. Educate the student who causes harm. I hope you will because education is the one intervention that can change a young person's trajectory. As somebody who works full-time for an organization that tracks hate and extremist violence, I'm reminded of a line I heard recently. When a person feels rejected by their community, they may try to burn it down just to feel that community's warmth. The antidote to extremist behavior is creating a true sense of belonging. Please continue. Please try to do that
030here for every student. Know that I and ADL stand ready to support you whenever needed. Thank [Applause] you. Mark Wolfimer, Lafayette Hill. Good evening, members of Colonial School District Board, educators, families, and students. Tonight, I stand before you to address an issue that strikes at the very heart of our values as a school district and as a community. The rise of anti-semitism and its profound impact on our children. Anti-semitism is not a distant problem. It's here in our schools affecting the safety, well-being, and sense of belonging of our students. In recent months, we've witnessed distressing incidents in our own district at Colonial Middle School. Anti-Semitic videos created and shared by a student cause significant disruption and distress among students and staff, undermining the inclusive environment we strive to foster. Earlier this year, Plymouth White Marsh
031High School graffiti, including a swastika, racial epits, was discovered in the restroom, prompting a swift action by our administration and law enforcement. We thank you for those actions taken. These are not isolated events. They are part of a troubling trend. The impact on our children is real and deeply concerning. Jewish students and their families are experiencing heightened levels of anxiety, fear, and even self-doubt. Some have reported feeling so isolated and targeted that they question their own identities. The psychological toll of anti-semitism is severe. Children subjected to hate may experience chronic stress, depression, loss of trust in the very institutions meant to protect them. When hateful acts go unadressed or are minimized, it sends a message to their pain is invisible. Their identity unimportant and their safety negotiable. This is not just a matter of individual
032incidents. It's a systematic issue. Across the nation, the Anti-Defam defamation league has documented a staggering 434% increase in anti-Semitic incidents in K to2 schools since 2020. Nearly half of Jewish parents surveyed reported that their children have experienced or witnessed hatred directed at Jews and educational settings. These numbers are unacceptable. So, I stand before you today to ask, what is the board doing to ensure that programs for equality and hate speech include all races and religions? I've spoken directly with Dr. Christian in the past and as recent as this week. I know that you've indicated there are actions being taken and I thank you for that. But we want to know what are those actions? the EIB representative creating programs that address hate speech, including anti-semitic comments. It affects not only Jewish students, but the entire
033school community. Hate in any form diminishes us all. And we ask that you ensure anti-semitism is clearly defined and consistently addressed in our school policies and practices. We ask that you educate our students, teachers, and board members about the history and reality of anti-semitism, incorporating Holocaust and genocide education into our curriculum. We must be vigilant in removing biased or problematic content from our classrooms, and respond swiftly and unequivocally to any incident of hate. We must support students who are affected, providing them with counseling, safe spaces, and the assurance that their voice matters. We must foster a culture where every student, regardless of their background, feels seen, valued, and protected. And let us be clear, hate is has no home in Colonial School District. Our commitment to a culture of belonging is unwavering. We are grateful
034to the students who have spoken out, to the families who have demanded better, and to the educators who work every day to make our schools safe for all. Let us stand together, not just in words, but in action to ensure that anti-semitism and all forms of hate are confronted and eradicated from our schools, our homes, and social media. Our children are watching. Let's show them what true courage, empathy, and community look like. Thank [Music] [Applause] you, Rabbi Glenn Etman from Lafayette Hill. On my wrist, I wear a statement. It's also on the marquee of our synagogue. It says, "What you do matters." It's a new version of an the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC's form of education because we have to move past the concept of just never again and looking at what our
035actions do and how they matter in everything that we do in our life because they the world is watching and we are watching. words and actions in meetings, silence, anything that we do matters in every single way. It's also a reminder that no matter what, each and every day we can do better. It's unique to stand here to address all of you collectively and I'm honored to have a great working relationship with many of you sitting around here and a great working relationship with many of you sitting in this whole room. And I I feel sometimes I'm literally in many of the rooms where all of these conversations are happening when it comes to the deep talking and planning about how to call out and address anti-semitism and confront hate. But right now, more than
036ever, I'm feeling a weight of history pressing down. And it's pressing on my shoulders. And I still dare to hope and still will work. But I need us to do more. I need us to push to do more, to share a more of what we are doing. I want to amplify what is being done, but I want that to be known more to the community. I've had recent meetings having a great opportunity to hear that we are beginning to think differently to be more effective, but that should be known to other people as well. It begins there's a beautiful pyramid put to put forth by the ADL about a pyramid of hate. We need to focus on the bottom of that pyramid. What do words do? How do words matter? Few weeks ago as well,
037I was invited to participate in a meeting with representatives of most if not all of our vulnerable communities in our high school. On one hand, I am super proud of many of these young incredible men and women who are not afraid to speak out about their experiences and micro about their experience with macro and microaggressions. But one person shared that all the microaggressions are the worst because while they seem like small actions, there's an enormous impact on each and every person who experiences it, especially over time. Precisely because they're not addressed directly and completely. Words lead to actions. Actions lead to acts of hate and violence just like we're seeing in our world today. The thing too that was missing at that meeting were the people who may have been saying those words. We need
038to include everybody to not just talk about how hate is bad, but how hate affects those people that are being spoken to, especially our Jewish students. Sadly, I I can echo other comments and reflect other comments by saying I remember every single anti-semitic thing that has ever been said to me, and it started in the second grade. I want to make sure that my daughter, who's in the fourth grade, doesn't have to carry the trauma that I carry. I stand here amplifying what we're doing and asking us to say and share how we're going to be better and to challenge us to be better, to think differently, and to be able to continue moving forward. I stand here also in partnership and proud to be able to be able to continue these conversations and look
039forward to continuing them to make a difference. Thank you. [Applause] Hi, I'm Sher Cumins. Um, formerly of Plymouth. My kids still live here. I do not anymore. Um, so a lot of things have already been talked about. I didn't know that, uh, there was so much going on tonight, but um, I decided I wanted to speak because of those two incidents. Actually, there was two incidents of black um racial discrimination last week. We didn't hear about any of them. Um and I feel like we rarely do hear about those ones. So, it's not surprising as we live in a systemically antilack world with K through2 institutions being some of the worst offenders in perpetrating and reaffirming these issues. As unsurprising as it may be, it is unacceptable. About a month ago, the Gossip Mill made
040me aware of an antilack racist incident. So, I asked my teen if they had heard about it, and if they had, why hadn't they mentioned it? Their answer was the heartbreaking. It happens all the time. It happens so often that if they brought up every incident, our entire afternoon conversations would be taken up by racism. A recent study seems to support my child's claim that it happens all the time. The study reports that black teens experience five incidents of racism or discrimination per day. Research from the US government's accountability office and the FBI's UCR report confirm stating that black students are the target of over 60% of school-based hate crime. Those studies center on overt and direct events which occur in school settings, settings that are already inherently antilack in their lesson planning and disciplinary
041practices. The district's lack of communicating incidents of racism directed at black students is sending the message that our children don't matter. A message that the world already sends them loudly and constantly. Black children deserve to be free from racial intimidation at school. Black children deserve to feel that their schools care about how they are treated. Black children deserve to feel like their schools are making the same efforts to protect them as they do with other groups. Black families deserve to know the types of issues our children are encountering at a school. And the community at large needs to know how pervasive these issues are. Every failure to treat race-based hate with the same seriousness as other forms of bigotry contributes and compounds the racial trauma black children incur from the second they walk into school.
042I don't believe Colonial School District has intentionally chosen to further marginalize its black student body, but the harm incurred from this oversight lessens not at all for lack of intent. Sadly, I believe that we will continue to see a rise in overt racism in our schools affecting all of our groups. I urge Dr. Christian and the board to re-evaluate your policies and criteria for reporting incidents of racism in an effort to eradicate this disparity and commuting um incidents of hate in our school. I implore them to prioritize efforts to ensure that black children know that their school districts think they matter. Thank you. [Applause] Good evening. My name is Alan Sharavski. I live in Lafayette Hill. Two of my children went through the school district. Uh I'm very involved and very connected to uh Plymouth
043White Marsh Schools. I I I have to applaud the school's response, immediate response to the racial anti-semitic episodes that happened recently. um those responses, particularly the uh anti-Semitic episode, uh it sounds like the racial episodes have not been addressed well at all. And the sad part of all of this is I stood here 6 years ago with the same exact experience. So, we haven't come very far, have we? We have not grown in the last six or seven years, and there are more episodes now. We live in a racial uh I should say a bigotry adjacent world where it's accepted. It's encouraged. This administration is encouraging racism and anti-semitism. And you have a tough job, but you need you need to be up to the task. And one of the things I would ask you
044to consider is not just reaching out to students, but what about the parents? What are you doing to reach out to the parents on an ongoing basis? because we know a lot of this starts at home. What events can you have? They don't have to be all training events. They could be inclusive uh theater events. They could be um focuses on race and and combining gender um in sports and in arts. So, I would I would focus on these events to reach out to the parents and comment that we need that they need to be better at uh taking care of their children and preventing racism. Um the other thing I would say to you is please make the connection between racism and bullying. Okay? A kid that is bullied is going to reach out
045to any target he or she can to attack that person and get some vengeance. So, please make that connection because I understand there have been many bullying episodes in the school recently. Um, I heard recently that racism and anti-semitism are like viruses. They're always there and they rise up. They go away. They rise up and now they're flaring. So, I would say to you, treat it like a virus and think proactively. The same way you you think proactively about student safety, think the same way about student protection against anti-semitism and racism. Get ahead of this, okay? I shouldn't be here 6 years later having the same conversation with you. I grew up in a school where I was one of eight Jewish kids out of 800. I know all about anti-semitism, okay? I lived it.
046So, I'm telling you, do better. Be more public about this. Get ahead of it. Make it a priority. Don't react after the fact. React before it happens. Thank you. [Music] [Applause] Good evening. I do not have any slides. I don't know why. My name is Sonia Pinkney of Plymouth Meeting. I have three children in the district. first grader, sixth grader, and a 12th grader, 11th grader, rising 12th. I'm already preparing for senior year. My rising 12th grader started as a kindergartener in the district, so I have quite a bit of experience with raising children, African-American children, immigrant. I'm an immigrant um in the district. I want to commend the school board for your work related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Even while the Secretary of Education has issued a memorandum highly discouraging curricula representing our
047diverse communities and attacking and asking for disbanding of clubs for specific groups, which we all know is a core part of students feeling included in the larger community. I commend you for increasing the number of male teachers in the elementary school, the number of African-American teachers in the district as a whole. There was a point in time where there was one African-American teacher in the entire K through2 district, which is not acceptable for any of our children because that's not representative of the world that we live in. I commend you for protecting the safety of our students through your partnership with the local police department and involving them in acts of violence in our schools. For the avenues you've opened for hearing from and working with parents and community leaders. I've spoken with many of
048you one-on-one throughout the years. I do agree, Dr. Clay. Data is important so families can be aware and others have said this tonight. Families need to be aware of the environment that their children are in so that they can protect them and if they choose to, they can continue to support this district and educating their children at home. The communication is so important. I can't recall a time in my 11 years in the district that I've seen a communication or discipline regarding the use of the n-word and the multiple other instances my children have endured. My current middle schooler should not have to hear from a classmate that she's not smart enough because she's black. Specific exact words that were told to her. And she only revealed this to me after I nudged and asked
049her if she had such type experiences of people treating her differently at school. Not because of racism, just treating her differently because of how you are, because of how you look. She raised this with me. This was something that she had held for months. She also could not name the multiple other instances where she was made to feel other. My now junior in high school, rising senior, told me when she was in middle school of students asking her to her face if they could use the n-word, if they could have the n-word pass because other black students had given it to them because they had asked them to their face, "Hey, can we say the n-word?" and they said the word. No student should have to deal with that. I can only imagine the immigration
050jokes occurring about ICE roundups in our country and neighboring community and there has been no communication about that. We cannot stand so firmly in protecting and looking out for any one demographic. I think everyone has said that here tonight. If we focus on any one religion, race, gender, or sexual identity, we miss the point. We're raising future leaders, citizens, community members. We need them to believe in our shared humanity and the fundamental belief that no one should be underestimated or bullied or excluded because of their race, religion, or sexual orientation. We need to work together. We need to learn together. We don't all have this figured out. Parents, teachers, and administrators so that we can help our children. Families need the support of this school board in providing a learning environment that is free of
051bullying, attack, and where parents have the information about the environment their children are in. Thank you. [Applause] [Music] Hello. Hi. How you doing? I'm Kim Williams. Um, I know the last time I was here, I addressed the same thing as far as the African-American students as far as the n-word. And again, that never stopped. And I agree with the young lady that was up here saying that she was here for 30 years. So, I was here 30 plus years and the same thing was going on. And I said that I find that to be sad. It didn't. We say we try to cover it up like it's getting better, but underneath it's not getting better. So time signs when I go to the administration they look at me as here she go angry black woman
052here come Kim angry and that's not that's not my intentions my intentions is for the love of all students but especially I have to say my black students so one might say oh you know use the word prejudice or I'm looking out for a certain and are c are black students and I never backed off of that cuz I do because there's a lot of things that I went through when I was in school here and the same things that we were complaining about it's the same thing that's going on today and that's sad and even when we went to higher up one of the things that when they said the n-word was used they said that it was told to a students, haven't your parents ever taught you sticks and stones? The n-word is
053not a stick and stone. And until we realize that and we talk about that is it's not going to get any better. Until we can have conversations, it's not going to get any better. And just like I I always bring out Kaka Elementary School, Miss Marks. It didn't take Black Lives Matter for her to open the doors and recognize black students. Miss Marks, she always like no matter what I came if I went to other schools it was like oh no not right now or it's like put underneath the bush but Miss Marks always opened this door for like the other gentlemen and said activities that included black students so that other students can learn about other cultures and you know within the school district because like one of those parents said here it starts
054at home kana elementary school whether it started at home or not. They make sure as of today, a lot of us miss and cry about leaving Kajjab Elementary School. So, I have to put Miss Marks on blast on that cuz it's the truth. So, I'm just saying where we need to not wait until this happens cuz I even sent the email when it happened in school. Can we get a meeting when it happened? When this incident happened and they said they're taking care of it and then we hear anything else about it. So if we start having more conversations before this happens, then we don't have to come up here because usually I am loud and I get out and right now I'm just trying to be chill. But we need to have conversation before
055this happens and keep having conversation and let the kids like when we went to one of the school districts and also stop using our black kids at times cuz sometimes they want to put our faces on certain things during certain times just to say that oh we're not we're diverse here and I see that all I see that a lot too and that should stop also cuz I I one of the school districts we were going to and then when this thing came about with um Trump I'm not trying to but now that stopped they don't even call anymore but we were used during that time and because I say things where some of my students don't understand me sometimes when I say no we're not doing that or no I know and I see
056underneath a lot what's going on I know the fake hugs I know when people hug you and who's stabbing you behind the back, why they're hugging you. And I know the real ones when we can sit and talk and having conversations. Me and Miss Marks have conversations all the time. Whether we agree or disagree, we talk about black, white, Jewish, whatever. We don't hate each other. We have love for each other, but we can have conversation. So, I'm just saying that's what we need to start doing more of. Hi, my name is Amy Wine. I live in Lafayette Hill. Um, I want to thank everyone who came out tonight to speak on behalf of our black and Jewish children in our community. Um about a year ago, I came to address the board um about
057my experiences growing up as a Jewish child in this community. Um and the anti-semitism I experienced um and the adults in the district who knew about it and chose not to do anything about it. Um I didn't actually come to talk about this topic tonight. I had a different thing to talk about, but as I was listening to the experiences of our community members, I wanted to just share um something that has popped into my mind recently. um in that growing up here, my dad used to bring me to PW basketball games. I have a very vivid memory of being a little girl and um I learned the n-word because it was graffiti on the bathroom wall around the corner just down the hall here. Um that graffiti remained there for years. It was there
058for years. I had never heard the n-word before. I had to go and ask my parents what it meant. They explained it to me as sensitively as they could and as seriously as they could. But as a little girl, I was curious. And when I would go into that bathroom stall for years, coming back as a student when I was in fourth and fifth grade, and then returning for more sporting events, the graffiti remained for years. I cannot imagine the pain of the black students and visitors to our school who saw that day after day, year after year. I have a 7-year-old child at Ridge Park Elementary. He learned the n-word in school this year. Nobody from the school brought it to my attention when they had heard children using this word. I found out
059on a family vacation over winter break during a fairly innocent discussion um where he implied he knew the word and then so I had to get to the understanding of where he learned it from. I decided to reach out to his teachers and um they shared the story and that they handled it in the moment which I can appreciate. But as the mother of a child who now is in possession of this word, I needed to know that so I could have the proper followup with him and to make sure that no other children were harmed and that my child didn't have anything to do with harming other children and to prevent him from harming other children with a word that he truly at his age cannot comprehend the impact of. So again, I I
060want to thank everyone who spoke up when I was a child. that I I shared last year when I was a child, nobody spoke up on our behalf. There was nobody listening. I'm so happy that we live in a community where people feel that they can come out and speak and know that there are people listening. And I hope we can continue to work together to make this a place where children, staff, community members feel safe. I will briefly just discuss my other topic because this one is so much more important right now. But Dr. Christian, earlier you referenced an email from um my friend and neighbor Emily Cole about gifted programming. It is the understanding of some of us in the district that are that there are changes to be made not in curricular
061programming but in the robustness and the directness of um the instruction for some of our students. I have um three children in the district. One of them does receive gifted services. Um it is our understanding that there may be changes to the um spreading like how how much instruction they're receiving and that the teach some teachers may be spread out across mult more grade levels than pre previously. I just want to highlight and emphasize that gifted programming and direct instruction for gifted students is not a privilege. It is addressing a a need of a a learning need for them. Um, I want to understand the reasoning behind spreading out the instruction across multiple grade levels. If the amount of frequency and duration was previously identified as meeting student needs before, I would like them to
062continue to be receiving that robust instruction so that their needs can be met. Giftness giftedness while an asset requires thoughtful cultivation and attention in order for children to benefit from their abilities. They tend to be outside the box thinkers and there are often social and emotional repercussions to thinking differently than their general education peers. Gifted teachers engage students in project-based learning activities that help cultivate and direct their outside the box thinking and it helps them work more collaboratively and consider others perspectives. These are essential skills for our future thinkers and leaders and change makers. So I urge you to just please consider the amount of instruction students are receiving and to keep the gifted program robust. Thank you so much for your time. [Applause] Hi, I'm Stephanie Bach from Lafayette Health. Um, I'm also the
063education director at ORME. And first, I want to sincerely thank the school district for responding to the recent anti-semitic incidents in our schools. All incidents should continue to be made public. This isn't the first time I've raised this concern. In fact, after October 7th, I stood before you and asked, "What is being done to prevent these incidents from continuing? Now, I ask again, more anti-Semitic incidents continue to take place, and each one serves as a painful reminder that the words of support must be followed by lasting change." So, I ask again, as an education director, where is the education? How are we helping students understand not just anti-semitism, but the broader context of the conflicts in the Middle East? How are we equipping them with the historical, political, and cultural knowledge they need to understand
064complex issues and avoid falling into harmful generalizations or hate? We need programs that build empathy. They replace stereotypes with stories. They turn ignorance into understanding. And that is what we need right now. As Rabbi Etman suggested, anti-semitism, like all hate, doesn't disappear because we condemn it. It disappears when we educate against it. And that education must be ongoing, intentional, and built into the very fabric of what we teach. So, thank you truly for what you've done so far, but I challenge us all to go further. Good evening. My name is Lori Scott. I'm with uh I live in White Marsh and I'm just sitting here listening to all the different stories here. And I raised my children in the Pelum area of West Mount Airy and the Pelum area has received for decades um nationwide
065recognition for its diversity and diverse populations of people living together and getting along. And I recall driving up Germantown Pike to go to Plymouth Meeting Mall and seeing the signs outside of this campus back then that said no place for hate and not being from this area. I wondered what's going on in this school district that they need to have these giant signs. And then years moved on and I forgot about it and ended up purchasing a house here. And then I got involved with Carsey and I began to hear um more recently actually about um all the issues of bullying and racism and hate speech and hate um activity in the school and in the community. And it reminded me of these signs that I saw on my way to the mall. And I
066continue to ask the same question and not receive any answers. My question is, I see um no place for hate. I see there's zero tolerance for this type of behavior, but I don't ever get the answer to what are the consequences. So, there's a zero tolerance. What does that mean? There's a zero tolerance. Um what deterrence are in place for children to, you know, be afraid to engage in this type of behavior? Um, what kind of motivation do you have for children to not want to behave in this kind of behavior? Are there awards or prizes or some recognition for kids who don't get into trouble with these types of things? You know, we don't ever hear um of the consequences. We hear we had a swift action, but we don't know what that means.
067and how does that affect the next child who might be thinking about engaging in this behavior? They might feel, you know, more willing to do it because they don't know what's going to happen because nobody's talking about it. And I think I've heard other people say that we need to have more information about what is happening as a consequence to this type of behavior. It could be a deterrent to the children. And if the parents know what the what the consequences are going to be, that might give them more motivation to talk to their children and teach them a different behavior because they're going to have to take time off of work. They are going maybe there's a stigma in the community. There's got to be some information that comes out of the board or
068the school district to let people know if you do this, this will happen. And that's what we need to know. Thank you. [Applause] Good evening everyone. My name is Zoe McAffrey. I'm a rising ninth grader in the White Morse Township and I'm here to speak in support of the current gifted program in my school district. I am concerned about possible changes to the program at Colonial Middle School and Colonial Elementary School. Fourth and fifth grade seek or special education of Athena's children was a turning point in my educational experience. In my previous years, I'd found myself severely unchallenged. And while I appreciated academics, I wasn't truly satisfied. I'd gone through and interpreted these feelings even in my young age. Mr. Murray changed that. Throughout his curriculum, I became more and more invested in the world
069around me. Not just by doing math and reading paragraphs, but by examining human nature and relationships, invoking discussions about deep topics and studying associations between things underneath the surface. His class activated a part of my thinking that I didn't realize existed and has paved the way for my understanding of the topics I'd like to purs pursue. Not only that, but he was so nurturing yet authorative. I respected him and could also confide in him, and I'd hate for anyone to be stripped of that. Without Mr. Murray's constant guidance, invigorating class periods, and encouraging nature, I can't say I'd be as academically successful or aware as I am. By learning not only about these topics, but the way I like to think and learn, I found that there are certain ways I like to do things
070and certain way things I'd like to work on that would have undoubtedly taken me much longer to discover without his guidance. I've struggled with anxiety, perfectionism, and executive functioning skills, which despite our high intelligent quotient, gifted kids can easily be susceptible with to dealing with. And the way the curriculum was laid out with on-site challenges and deadlines, was extremely beneficial for my extremely differing characteristics of my brain. It pains me to imagine a scenario in which children like me, including my own brother, won't get to experience as much of Mr. Murray's caring and encouraging nature and his invigorating topics. WA to share inquiries and interesting points about things they are discovering in real time. WA to determine the way they'd like to grow and get that extra boost in traveling the path to their future.
071If rising fourth graders are deprived of creative and invigorating activities, some might be seen as inattentive or irresponsible and no child should be thought of that way. I ask that you please reconsider your proposal. As fourth and fifth grade SE was a staple for my education and quite frankly for my self perception. It forever changed who I am for what I truly think is the better. Thank you so much for your time. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Hi, I'm Florence G. I'm Shay Deani. Um, we are also here to speak about the gifted program. When I was at CES, gifted happened every day and I always looked forward to it in class in in class. It helped me challenge and helped me grow. I believe that if gifted is only one day a week, it doesn't impact
072educations enough or even at all. If gifted only happens once a week, certain students aren't being challenged nearly as much as they could or should be. Not only that, but the teachers who are being shifted to change this will now be spread across more schools, causing them to have more difficult schedules. Along along with that, students and teachers cannot connect as well. meaning that even when they do have gifted, they may not be able to guide themsel them or and help them according to their specific ability. Um my brother is in is graduating from third grade this year and I think without Mr. Murray as his gifted teacher, he will not be able to grow and challenge himself in the same way that I have. Mr. where he was extremely like supportive and while he
073was strict at times, he was you talking um gifted it it felt in class it felt like I wasn't always being challenged and that made it boring. But in gifted, even if it was hard or anything else, it still felt interesting because of not only the teachers, but what we were learning felt like more suited to what um I would like to be doing. Um, I feel like if people don't only get gifted once a week, it's not affecting them enough and it's not really helping them in ways that it should be. Gifted always felt like it was supporting me and if I didn't have that, I just don't know what I would be doing. Um, I've had um thing if I hadn't been in gifted, a lot of things that I'm doing now wouldn't
074be possible. and the teachers and what I was learning helped with [Applause] that. Is there other any other board or um public comment this morning this evening? Sorry. Um, is there any board comment? I would just like to take a moment to thank each and every one of you. Um, everyone that came up and spoke, but everyone that came out tonight to support our students. I think the big takeaway this evening, um, I heard is that we need to stand together in action. Um, we need to do more and make more known um, within our schools and our community. and we need to communicate more with you. We need to have strong partnerships. We need to have a place where people can speak up and feel heard. Um and and that we need to continue
075to do the work. And I can tell you that I speak for all of us, including um two board members that could not be here this evening to say that we are up for that challenge. and we hear you and we see you and we thank you for coming out and letting us know how you are feeling and that deeply we are committed to serving all of the students of the Colonial School District. So, thank you. [Applause] Any other board comments? Oh, speaker. Come on. So nervous. This is so nervous. You girls did so great and I'm like an adult and I'm afraid to stand up here. Um, I sent an email. I'm sorry to interrupt you. If you could just state your name and place. My last name is Herb Eerb and I'm here
076um to talk about an incident at the high school. My daughter's 15 and she's a freshman. On May 29th, which was a Thursday morning, there had been an ongoing conflict between a junior 17-year-old student, female, and my daughter. Um, it had gone on for a little over 3 weeks. It began in the beginning of May, and it started with a phone call to my house from the Plymouth Township Police Department. My daughter and this other student had a falling out. They didn't want to, my daughter didn't want to be friends any longer. And the older student took it upon herself to cause drama. Social media, we all know the phones are an issue in the schools, in our homes, especially with girls. They have enough with just being present with one another. She had a
077rough seventh, 8th grade middle school. coming into her freshman year. She's a kind girl. She's a girl that likes to laugh. She's she's just like a lot. When you're in person with her, she's a lot of fun. But she kind of gets anxious and has anxiety when it comes to conflict with other students. So, she was bullied a little bit going into her freshman year. I have a daughter who's a senior. So I instead of pulling her out and putting her in a home school or some other type of curriculum, I let her stay because my older daughter went down the path and made it out. Okay. On this morning after 3 weeks of this ongoing harassing, bullying after the phone call from the police, the other daughters I don't want to get off track.
078The other students parents called that my daughter was threatening her their student via social media saying if you don't stop talking about me we're going to meet somewhere and there's going to be a fight. This isn't okay and I didn't know about it. I sat her down. I talked to her. We called the police back. They apologized. We apologized to the other parents. My daughter agreed. She's going to stop. They're gonna block each other on social and mind their own business while in school. They accept our apology. Everything was done. Case closed. Contact the school in the morning. Let them know we're all on the same page. My daughter continued to be bullied, harassed, threatened by the other student, which roles flipped. An incident occurred in the library. They had words. I wrote in an
079email to the dean of students and to the principal that this happened. I let them know if anything moving forward was going to involve this s in situation or any other incidents that I'm going to make note of it in an email. I would appreciate a response. I got no response. I let them know that there were other things that people were hearing. There was it got to the point I think week two, week three of May, where the other student posted on social that her Stanley water bottle was going to be used in response to the threats of my daughter which have ended. Something happens to me. Look out for my Stanley. I've looked up Pennsylvania. This happened three different schools in our surrounding counties in 2024. Parents protested. The school board took initiative
080to hire a law firm to investigate safety procedures, precautions, protocol. There was a hit list. The kid was hit in the back of the head. Staples, blood. It was a big thing. My daughter went to the bathroom on Thursday morning of the 29th. You have to take an electronic hall pass in order to use the restroom. Mr. Mr. Could you address the board, please? Sorry. And I I just want I want to give you a heads up. It's a five minute limit. So Oh, I didn't know. So that's okay. I didn't go ahead. I went to the bathroom and the other student was in there. It was a coincidence. Nothing was planned. My daughter has a record of that's kind of her time at 8:00 during first block. She goes to the same bathroom every
081day. Has never run into the other student. She went to the bathroom, came out, and the student was washing her hands. Said, "What the f are you looking at? Why are you looking at me?" me. My daughter said, "I can look at whoever I want." She told herself in her mind, "I'm just going to walk away." The student grabbed her Stanley water bottle, swung it, and said, "I thought you want to hit me. You want to hit me? You've been talking about hitting me. Let's go." Calling your names, saying slur words. They both had foul language towards each other. Neither student is not at fault here. My daughter said to herself, "I should just leave." But she had had enough. She was to her breaking point. I asked to be mediated. I asked to come
082in and sit with both the girls and both the parents. I have multiple emails with multiple no response. I told them all these other incidents were happening. Something was going to happen. My daughter had fight or flight. She punched the other student in the face. The other student took her water bottle and there were four or five blows to my daughter's front of her head, back of her head, on her arm, and on her back. This happened at 8:00 a.m. I didn't know till 9:00 a.m. My daughter took her hand, pushed it down, punched her a couple times, and the student went flying into the hallway screaming for help. 911 was called by the other student's parents. My daughter was brought to the office. A nurse came to her aid. The other student went to
083the nurse. An hour went by and I never received a phone call. The nurse didn't call me. None of the administrators called me. The police were called. Nobody called me. I had to go outside because my other daughter received a message. Your daughter Luch was in a fight. You need to go get help. You need to go get her. I got my daughter. We went to the ER. Mild concussion, contusions, you know, all this stuff. On top of what these kids have to deal with, guidance counselors were coming up to her that weren't her counselors. It should have been done a different way. I'm just advocating and I want this not to be put under the rug. What if she had stitches? What if her eye was knocked out? This is a water bottle that
084weighs six pounds when it's filled up. Pretty sure it was the start of the day and it wasn't empty. It's not okay. And I just The investigator hasn't called me back. I had to call. You know, I'm doing my research and doing my due diligence. It's just there's got to be better ways to handle girls attacking each other, things happening, fights. It's a lot. These kids are young. Our parents are some parents both work. I have young kids at home. I try and see every one of my kids at nighttime. If I would have known sooner, if I would have maybe suited up and came into the office and said, "I need to sit down." I was told not to knock on the other family's door and say, "Hey, I'm a mom. I love my
085daughter. You love your daughter. We got to figure it out or something's going to happen." So, I just things need to change. Procedures need to change. Four emails shouldn't go unanswered. When the safety and well-being of my daughter is at risk, it's not okay. Mrs. Oh, sorry. I hate to be end on a bad note. Mrs. Herb, you and I have spoken before and I emailed you. Hey, how are you? And I replied, "Yeah, I did. You did immediately." But I I will meet with you uh and I'll set up a time with the high school administration. Uh I can't comment on an open investigation. Correct. as you know right and everybody may not know this when students get into a physical altercation at the secondary level we do involve the police because we don't
086want it to grow into a larger correct and so because it's open uh I can't make any more comments than that but I uh I have also contacted the other family involved uh and I think you said a very key thing students need to know when to walk away right and I'm wholeheartedly on helping families I appreciate you saying that working through something like this. If you know your student is feeling this way, you have they have to figure it out. But we as parents and the administrative and the counselors have to work together so that it's done so it doesn't get to something like this. I'll reach out to you and we'll get together. I appreciate it. You're welcome. God bless everybody. Thank you. All right. Um thank you all for coming out tonight.
087Uh this meeting is adjourned. Thank you.