001we will move on to uh an opportunity to hear from citizens and I believe we have some folks here that would like to speak. I'm not there's a there's a long list of rules. I'm not going to go through reading that because I think um history has shown us in the past couple years that I've been on the board that everybody's been very respectful and we are here to listen. Um, so we do have a time limit, so I'd like to limit folks to 5 minutes, but um but uh we do want to hear from you. So if you want to uh get up and speak, please feel free to do so. Just provide us your name um and where you're from and if you're involved in an organization or not and then have at
002it. We're here to listen. So um you'll have our undivided attention. So would anybody like to step up? Thank you, Val. Uh, my name is Brian Giselman. Many of you have already know me. I live on Fifth Avenue in Altuna. Um, as a part of a school board uh, candidate, I have been out in the community every day um, listening to parents, listening to students and their concerns. So I had received about um about two weeks ago I had received over 25 messages within the community and I came across this very wonderful family um who had many concerns. Nobody was reaching out to them um and they were not seeing any justification of what was happening to their child. So today I would like to speak on that to hopefully and um get some help
003from you all and I hope that we can come to a resolution for this child. Um it's very important. I'm not here to disrespect anybody, to call out anybody's name. I'm honestly here to get help and assistance for this family that is with me today. Um when this had happened, so I will name his name as the parents did give me permission to go ahead and name their names. Um, Jax, who is with us right now, is in second grade. Um, in kindergarten, it actually first started when he was bullied. Um, he was pushed on the ground. Five kids had approached him and pretty much beat him to obliv oblivion. Uh, first grade, he had his arm broken. Um, he is now in second grade. Jax not only is a caring and sweet kind individual,
004he is an amazing student who has an awesome family behind him, a caring mother and father who deeply care about his well-being. He not only has autism and ADHD, but he also is just trying to make his day the best that he can with the best solution that we can possibly give to him so that he has a welle equipped education as every student should in this community. I reach out to you guys tonight so that we can work together as a community so that we can resolve this situation. As he was told that there was no um consequences from these students that had bullied him, nothing came about it. Jax had defended himself and pushed one of the children back and he was told by his principal that if he did it again that
005there would be repercussions for himself. I feel that if he is defending himself after everything he's been through, we should not be taking it out on Jacks. We should have resolutions for these poor sweet parents that care so much about their children to make sure that this is taken care of. This family wants help and they have never received it. In the 3 years that this Jax has been in the school district, I'm hoping that we all have the same feeling that we just want the best for the parents, for the community, and for the students. Jax, if you like to come up, buddy, just so they can all meet you, I would really appreciate that. So, this is Jax, everybody. Um, so if anything, bud, these people will help you the best way that
006they can. Some of them know me, some of them do not, but mo most of them that I do know are great people on this school board and on this administration. If anything, we will get the best solution for you. Is there anything you would like to say to any of them? Okay. All right. Um, with that, I just understand that Jax has been through a lot and I think about this this way. Many of you have children and I want to say if this were the case, if this was your son or your grandson or anything like that, I would hope and deepen your heart that you would fight back for your own children, for your own grandchildren as if they were jacks. I know many of us in our life, we're not perfect.
007And I own I know we've all experienced bullying in one way in our entire lives where people have talked badly about us, felt a certain way about us. But bullying has existed for so long, not only in this school district, but many other school districts, not in only Pennsylvania, but every state. We say that bullying is being handled appropriately. I feel like maybe sometimes we take a step back into reality and understand that bullying is a part of every single day living and we don't want these kids to have an unstable mental health. We don't want them to drift off from what they have a purpose for. Jax, I look at you and I want you to be able to do the best that you can in life and your dreams and your aspirations, whether
008you go to trade school, community college, a university, or just anything in general that you love. And I know that you have dreams and goals just like every child does. Many of us have an education on this board. We have our bachelors, our masters, PhD. You know how important education is to everybody. I just hope you guys can help me and as a school board candidate, I know many of you um a few of you are running with me this year and I hope and you know that you three can help me out the best way that you can. I know you guys are really good people and I hope that you can help Jackson a way that it's just we can get answers especially for Joe and for Delaney. His parents are amazing. Um,
009and that's and to come to conclusion for this and I know I don't want to take up more time than I'm alludicated and I'm very respectful for everybody. Um, I want solutions and I understand that doing it spell is the last thing on the list. I wish that we would be able to evaluate these children better to see if they don't have a very good at home living. I know sometimes like parents may be the issue or you know the community might be the issue but we can't keep sweeping things under the rug when children are getting affected every single day. I see the rates go up as the enrollment rates continue to go down within the school district. The population in Altuna has decreased significantly. Many children have been pulled out as their parents
010are allowing them to go online. We don't want that. We want them to feel that everybody's here for them as a solution and as a community. Um, well, thank you very much for everything today, guys. Please let me know if you guys can help out these parents. They just want answers. They want things resolved. And I feel like instead of us citating kids that may have holes on their pants and allowing that to, you know, reflect our days and worrying about them have detention, we take care of the serious issues. And I understand that we're all one person and it's a lot. The school district is huge and I'm like I said, I'm not putting fault on anybody today. I respect every single individual that is up here on the school board, this administration. You
011are all very educated. You are all very knowledgeable. I will never discredit anybody. But I just want best what is for Jax, for this community. And I know that you all wants best for this the children of our future. They are our future generation. and we need to get it right now or we're just going to continue going a downward spiral. Thank you so much for everything today, guys. Okay, thank you. And just uh demonstrate our level of fairness. I You went seven minutes, Brian, but that's all right. Wanted to hear wanted to hear what you had to say. I know you're representing a lot of people, so it's that's fine. Yep. Sir, please. My name is Dan Casey, 417 North 12th Avenue. I think uh Chris Cook has uh achieved a great deal. I
012think he ought to come up and tell the mass of what's going on tomorrow. Come on up, Chris. Please do. You were called out. You were called out by the public in a good way. Okay. I wasn't expecting that. Um so, we've been working on a project for the last 3 years in downtown Altuna. um, Center City Markets. So, um, tomorrow is our grand opening. So, I'd love to invite everybody to the board and all the public. So, um, it's been a labor of love. Um, literally blood, sweat, and tears. Um, she asked me how I was doing. I said, "I slept 3 hours last night." So, um, she said, "I look pretty good for 3 hours." So, but we really thank the community and, you know, everyone on the board. Brad's like, I mean,
013even last week, he's like, "Are you coming to the meeting?" I'm like, "I'm still here trying to get it done. Last minute stuff." So, I really appreciate it and um all the patience um you guys have had with me and all the community support. So, thank you. You'll be receiving an invoice from Sue for the advertising, but that's all right. Please have at it. Please uh share your name with us. And so first and foremost, I would like to thank uh the board for giving us the opportunity and the platform to bring forward what is a serious issue and ongoing in today's society. My name is Stephanie. Um I am actually a very good personal friend of the uh little boy by the name of Jax who is having the situation. Um I'm here to
014support him and I probably am going to stray from my notes. So if I run over, you just ring a bell or something and I'll move for you. But, uh, Jax is one of the most caring little kids. I mean, you can do him wrong and he's still going to be your friend. Um, this has been going on for quite some time. And when it gets to the point where and and I know, listen, as school board, uh, you you guys all endure things on a daily from parents and, you know, just other issues that come about. Um, Jax was was given he was he's dealt a difficult hand. He's he's autistic. um functioning autistic with ADHD diagnosis which kind of a target on him at times, you know, with other students. These guys endure
015things. The bullying it has just kind of progressed and we just kind of wanted everybody to hear Jax's story. We don't want him to become a statistic. Unfortunately, in this world, it is difficult. It is hard. As parents, as grandparents, I'm sure you all experience these kinds of things, too. when you've heard of situations at this age, this is where we don't want it to progress. We don't want to lose more kids to suicide because they are becoming statistics. And I know a lot of times the parents don't feel like they're seeing a lot of feedback, a lot of return. And I'm actually here to speak on behalf of bullies, too. Let's be honest. These kids need your help as well. Not just the kids that are being bullied. These kids may be come from
016difficult families that can use that assistance. they need to be directed in another way. And that's where we're relying on the school board, the teachers, and I know it's not a teacher's job, but we need the administration to help more in that kind of a thing. So, all I'm asking, and I'm thanking the board again for the opportunity because you might get some crazy people in here, you know, they just kind of lose their mind. But when you get home tonight and you hug your kids, think about that. When you go to bed, think about the pain your kid deals with. And when you got a little boy, when you got a little boy like Jackson that wants to eat lunch in the office because he's afraid to go to lunch, it's not fair. So,
017I'm just asking that everybody takes this seriously, considers this, and moves forward to some sort of a resolution or consequence, and helps the bullies in addition to the kids that are being bullied. I thank you for your time. Is there anybody else you'd like to speak? Welcome. Share your name. And my name is Carrie. I live on Broad Avenue in Altuna. I typed something out because I would go off if I didn't. Um, every year I worry about my kids attending in the school district. I have three kids that are still in the school district and for over a decade because my oldest is now 24. I've had to worry about bullying. I've heard heard zero tolerance when it comes to bullying like crazy. And this is not the first time I've I've spoken to
018you guys regarding bullying. My daughter, I was here um a year ago because she left school halfway through to do cyber because of what was going on at the junior high and again she left halfway through because of the bullying. She's she has so much anxiety about going in person and it stinks because she's missing out on a lot of stuff. And that was mainly what I wanted to talk to you guys about today until something last week occurred at the high school that really has me worried for my kids safety in the school district. Um, I found out that a student, I don't know if you guys know this or not, a student managed to sneak a screwdriver into the high school past the metal detectors and my son was one of those targets,
019potential targets. And nobody from the school contacted me. I had to find this out for my son. And and the worst part is I'm not even supposed to know about this because it's supposed to be kept hush hush and secret. And that's not the way to do things. When these kids are are being picked on or threatened in any capacity and they tell a teacher, they tell a guidance counselor, all they ever hear is it's being handled. It's being handled. They need to know what about it is being handled. You watch the news, somebody commits a crime, somebody does something horrible, you find out what happens to that person. These kids need to know this too. They in order to trust that they can go to an authority figure and say, "Hey, this is going
020on. Can you help me?" Because right now, my kids are of the attitude that nobody, with the exception of a select few, actually care about what's going on. They have it in their head that, yo, if even if I tell somebody nothing's going to happen, it doesn't matter. And incidents like what occurred at the high school scare me even worse for their safety because if it was something else, who knows what would have happened. And if it wasn't for one of the parents of one of this kids potential targets like you know pushing about it, I don't know what in the heck would have happened and that scares me even more and it terrifies me. So I'm I'm begging you guys something. The zero tolerance is not working. There needs to be a new phrase.
021There needs to be a new system. There needs to be something done. Please, I am begging you. My youngest is 12 years old. I would like her to graduate with no issue. I would like her to go in person again. They even did try like to help her. You know, they put her in class with a friend of hers to try to make things a little bit better and it it still it did nothing. It didn't work. Um even at some of the extracurricular activities, there's been situations and she will even come up and tell you about some of them because she's working up the gumption here to do this. So, I'll let her talk to you guys about that. But I'm begging you, please, something has got to give. Something has got to change
022because this has been going on for way too long. For 10 years, I've heard zero tolerance and it just feels like it's getting worse and worse every year. So, that was it. That was all. Thank you. Thank you. Is there anyone else who wishes to get up and speak? Okay. Could you share your name with us, please? Yes. Hi, I'm Bridget Pierce, the daughter of Carrie Pierce. I'm in seventh grade. I'm a 12-year-old and I'm diagnosed autistic. My whole life, especially since fifth grade, I've been non-stop harassed, attacked, and bullied for being myself. One of these instances was the Minithon that happened, I think, a month ago. I went with my best friend. We Everything was going fine until I started getting a little overwhelmed. I was over stimulated. I couldn't handle things. So they
023let me go to an area where I could calm down. I was crying. I was panic attack. And once I calmed down, I went back to my friend. And like we my best friend knows she has ADHD. She knew I was autistic. So she was trying to give me space and just trying to help me overall. And these boys, a group of boys who have been harassing me since fifth grade, barked at me, yelled at me, screamed in my face as they ran. It was like a a giant track at the top of the gym and we were forced to walk like we didn't have an we didn't have a choice and they were running past us and barking at us and yelling in my face and me and my best friend was holding my
024my best friend was holding my hand cuz she was just trying to comfort me. They walked past us. I know this was not trying to be not a simple question. And they asked they asked me if I was a lesbian with her in a the most rude way cuz these boys have called me slurs before. Um Chloe, which she knows I'm talking about that's my best friend's name, kind of flipped out. And when after they walked away, she told them to go f off, which they did the whole tough boy thing. They started like getting ready to like fight. They like did the whole broad shoulders I'll fight you blah blah blah. It's really dumb. They have not been punished. This was a month ago. No punishment, no detention, no suspension. And these kids have
025been doing this to other people. They openly make fun of others for how they act for their gender. I have a friend who's also autistic. They just so happen to be non-binary as well. I had them in art class. All part Okay, sorry. I almost said it's the kid's name. All this kid did was harass her. They them I'm sorry. They stuck a note to their back. They They stuck a note to their back. Constantly bullied them, made fun of them. My favorite thing that they did favorite. They would openly make autistic noises to mock me and my friend because they thought it was funny. They thought it was hilarious to mock us. I don't get it. They still haven't been punished. And my best friend, who's still in school, has been dealing with non-stop
026kids calling her and her friends slurs. One of them two slurs in Pacific, the n-word and the fs slur, which both these kids are white and not of that category, and they don't see an issue with it. Yes, they did get a lunch attention, but that's all. One of the kids have also been harassing me since fifth grade. non-stop harassment. And I've been told by the principal of the seventh grade principal that it'll be handled with. I've been harassed by eighth graders. And it got play it got played off as a joke. So nothing happened. No detention, nothing. They just keep as long as the boys say, "Oh, it's a joke." Nothing will happen. The principal just immediately take their side. my friend today. Um, she got some boy kicked her like really hard and
027it left like a bump on her ankle. She gently kicked him back and it's like self-defense. She was angry with him. She got a detention. He didn't. And the seventh grade principal said, "Well, it wasn't self-defense because he only hit you once. She only hit him once. The boy hasn't gotten a detention, but she did for hitting someone who hit her first and way harsher." My mom is right. The zero the zero like bullying policy, it doesn't work. As much as I love to think it would, it doesn't. Kids will non-stop harass you. Threaten to. My best friend got threat. My best friend was threatened that some kid would jump her at her house because she looked in her direction. You can't even look in a kid's direction without being threatened anymore. That's all for
028now. I'm just this school doesn't this school zero bullying policy does not work. Thank you. Thank you for having the courage to stand up there and speak to us. It's it's appreciated. Um would anybody else like to get up and speak? Sure. Sure. This is going to be a strict minute though. Sorry, I did forget to mention too, we do have these t-shirts. Um, Jax actually came out with the logo. Um, it's for donation as well for Autism Against Bullying. Um, I'm proud to announce too with partnering with Delaney and Joe that we will be starting a nonprofit organization. Um, which Jax will be in charge of naming it as well. So, I just want to tell you guys real quick all donations go to a very good cause. Thank you. Sure. Would would anybody
029else like to speak? Now is the time. Please uh let us know who you are. And my name is Allison Wilt. I have four kids in your school district right now. I have three autistic children and then one child that has ADHD and OD. My child that has ADHD and OD is being bullied by the same person that Jax is being bullied. Every single day he has to be seen in that classroom with him. He actually got physically abused by this person and still has to go every single day into that classroom with him. He was choked on the playground and hit in the face twice. Nothing was done. I have talked to the principal multiple times. Nothing has been done. He has been called names. He has been bullied by a bus driver for
030months. I have gone above heads. I have spoken to every single person that I possibly can. And I had gotten told to pull my kid off the bus if it was too much of an issue. I have been told to take my kids to Mclliff Heights because my issues can't be resolved because in their opinion my kids are too much of an issue. My kids have all had special needs since they were born. My oldest is nine and he has been dealing with bullying, biting, everything. And my kids do everything in their possible power to be friends with everyone. My middle son, yes, has anger problems, but whenever you talk to his teachers, you talk to the principal, you guys don't see it. He has that problem at home because his medicine does wear off
031by the time he gets home. But for him to hold back and not hit that kid back, I was very proud of him. And the reason he said was he looked at me and he goes, "Mom, I'm bigger than him and I've been told if I hit back, I get in trouble." So, my son, who got hit and choked, could not defend himself because the rule is if you self-defend yourself, you get in trouble and you get kicked out of school. Yet, he gets to sit every single day by this kid in class and gets bullied still to this day. I've called the principal. I've emailed. I've called vice principal. Everything. I cannot get justice for my children. Right now, they are pulled out of school until I can figure this out. And I really
032would like policies to change. My son would like policies to change. He hates the fact that his parents have to drop him off and pick him up. And he doesn't understand how adults can bully children and get away with it. He has heard that there are videos on the buses. The videos have been turned in and that bus driver still has a job. So, I would like you to put in my put yourself in my shoes and your kids come home every day and they can't ride a bus. They can't be with their friends and they can't have fun because they're worried because of their diagnosis or because they're a little different, which it's okay to be different and they know that. They can't do what quote unquote normal kids can do. They can't have
033the fun that they want to have. They can't be on a bus. And half the time my one son can't even go on a field trip because he has so much anxiety from other children. And I have pushed and pushed and pushed and I finally got an approval for him to have an aid with him to go on field trips. Last year I had to fill out the same field trip paper eight times and nobody cared to ask why. Nobody cared to ask why he has anxiety or how they can help with his anxiety. They just brushed it under the rug. No matter how many times, how many IEP meetings I've had, nothing. So, I just really would wish that you guys would sit down, really think about the policies you have in play, because
034right now, all you're doing or all the policies are doing is destroying our children. And that's not raising them to be able to be adults that can stand up here like us and defend their children. And when they have kids, I don't want them to have to do this. I want their kids to be able to live a happy life and not go through what they're suffering through right now. Thank you for your time. and I appreciate it. Thank you. Is there anyone else who'd like to speak tonight? Please share your name and Good evening everybody. My name is Karina Griffith. I spoke to you at the last meeting. I'm also running for school board. Um I just want to talk on the same subject. Um, where I work, I definitely deal with our kids
035from Jax's age the way up to seniors in high school. And one of my concerns is even my seniors are coming to me now and telling me stories about what's going on in these buildings. And it's concerning. I have had students that have brought up how they are afraid to come to school because they're thinking of ways how am I going to get out of the school if somebody comes in here and does harm. I actually had one conversation where one of them actually explained in this period I know I can go down this hallway to get down these stairs to get out of the building because I'm afraid somebody's going to do something to me and I'm not staying behind. I'm I don't care about anybody else. I'm running out to save my own
036life. That fear should not be there for our students whatsoever. Another thing that I've been told is the bullying is so intense. My kids that I've talked to, parents are actually bring it up. I'm pulling them. I'm going to be doing cyber school and I've asked questions why and a lot of them are the bullying. A lot of it is what Jax's family has brought up and also Bryant and Stephanie that bullying is just so intense. I can't say a better word for it. It's just so critical that we start doing something for these children. Um whenever I was in school, I'll never forget I was in sixth grade and I had a bully. I was always big. I'm still big and I know that and I knew who I was as a person. But
037this kid told me multiple times, why don't you go home and kill yourself. If you just commit suicide, nobody would care. I've been in these kids' shoes. And whenever that happened, I went home. Thankfully, my parents listened just like his parents did. And I'm so proud of them for doing that because kids don't sometimes have that voice. My bully was told to say he was sorry and to write me a letter. That was it. It continued. It continued up until senior year of high school. And thankfully, I didn't become a statistic. That's one of the reasons why I became a counselor because I didn't want children to have to ever deal with that. Especially if I could talk to them and get on their level and be like, "Hey, I've been in your shoes. Not
038exactly the same walk, but the journey is similar." And that's what bothers me is I graduated in 2010. In sixth grade, oh gosh, that was back in the early 2000s. We still had bullying. And it's only gotten worse for these kids. I would just like for you all to consider a family like this that's standing up for their child is so important and it's crucial. We have kids out there. They don't have that support. A lot of them come to me to sit and talk for an hour and tell them all their things that are going on, whether it's good, bad, ugly, whatever. I listen to them and it breaks my heart to know that our students are suffering. Thank you. Is there anyone else who would wish to get up and speak? Please approach
039the mic and share your name with us. So, it's like kind of a shame that like bullying is still going on. When I was younger, not only did I get bullied by kids, but I got bullied by teachers, too. I don't like admitting to people that I'm disabled. Um, just because the simple fact people pick on you when they know you're disabled. Um, I had a home room teacher call me a I literally defended myself and then I got in in school suspension when the I flipped out on the teacher for calling me a Um, and honestly like 29 years old and the fact that it's still going on. I mean like no disrespect to teachers like I mean but sometime like sometimes they're bullies as well to children and it's kind of depressing like
040it puts you in a bad state. Like my home life wasn't great either. But then like going to school, getting bullied, and then being called a by teachers, and then when you're taking depressive medication and falling asleep in class, they're calling you drug addicts, not knowing the situation. Um, it's just super s super super sad that it's still going on and it definitely needs to change. Thank you, here. Would anyone else wish to get up and speak? Going once, going twice. I I would just like to offer um a reminder that we are publicly elected officials. Um we all have email addresses that are on the website and I know that I respond to every email that I get, every one of them. And right now, you know, I'm the president of the board, so
041I'll be that for seven more months. So, for the next seven months, I promise if if I'm emailed, I respond and I will share the message with my fellow board members. if you don't want to enter eight other email addresses. Um, and anytime I get an email, um, Brad and I are in communication pretty much immediately and Brad is very responsive to to me when I text him, call him or email him. So, um, just offering that I I think this what has gone on has taken on a life of itself on social media, which is fine. I don't I'm not on Facebook. So, I was sort of blindsided by all this, but if you sent me an email, I would have answered it and and and we would have responded appropriately internally. Um, so
042just a reminder, we're we're accessible. We're elected by you. So, feel free to to reach out to us. Not looking for more emails, but I don't I I don't disregard any email. So, please feel free to contact any one of us. Okay. Thank you, Brad. I'm sure uh we uh reacted to some of the things and are going to react to some of the things that these people said. Uh and uh you know and I'm sure that we're going to do what we can. Trust me. Uh I got some bad news for you. I'm 75 and I was bullied. So let me it doesn't stop it. It's just it's just a way of life. I hate to tell you and you have to adjust to it. But uh I just hope that we can stop
043it which you know like Mission Impossible it's going to be a tough thing to do. uh you know just with the grace of God and maybe some good parenting uh we could uh get rid of some bullying and uh faith is such an important thing in families and uh I think that uh that coincides with a good family life and good respect for other for other people. So that's just my opinion and and I hope that uh that everything goes right, honey. And I'll tell you something about those boys that are bullying you. Let me tell you something. They're cowards because they won't bully boys. They'll bully girls. Remember that. So, they're cowards. All right? Don't worry about them. You'll be fine. You're a great kid. God bless you. Thank you. Just quick comment. I
044just want to say that um we hear everything that everyone is saying and and I can assure you that we want as administrators, teachers, support staff, as a as as a learning community, we want the same thing that you want, which is to have a positive learning environment for our students, a safe and secure learning environment for our students. That being said, we also recognize that that people are human, kids are human and that there there will be issues and making sure that we have mechanisms and we have systems of support in place to address and deal with issues when they come as proactively and as preventative as we can be with our educational pieces, teaching kids right from wrong. um directly having conversations with them, doing simulations with them, having you know daily conversations
045about appropriate behaviors, appropriate words. Um we do recognize that that challenges do happen and we don't want that for anybody. I mean, I'm a parent. I I have three students that that have been through school and one still in school. Um I would hope that they have the same positive learning environment that that I want for our kids here. and we will strive and do anything that we can do to make that happen. And you know, I have a commitment. I know that we have some folks already working with um Jax's family on on coming up with a solution uh to the concerns and problems. And I think Mrs. W, I think some people have been in touch with you as well. Um my phone and door is always open. Um I I can tell
046you that I have I have communication with Mrs. legal, the building principles, the teachers, the counselors on a daily basis. Um, so if there are things that that you feel like are not being adequately addressed, I'm a firm believer that sitting down in the room and having a conversation and coming up with positive solutions and not that they're always going to work, but finding a way that that we can address concerns and issues as they come up is is the way to handle situations. So, uh, again, you know, we're we're committed to doing that. Uh and we would hope that that you give us that opportunity to do so. Yes, ma'am. If could you share with us again your name? My name is Delaney Miller. I'm the mother of Jackson Miller. From kindergarten, we talk
047about consequences, but from kindergarten, five kids holding him down on the playground and literally beating him. They were told to tell him sorry. Last year, three kids broke his elbow. And the kids still went to school every day afterward. There was no consequence. I was told a month ago when this kid grabbed a hold of my kid in the lunchroom and called him a that he would be away from this child. He wasn't. I was promised things when he returned to school that were not fulfilled. Then I find out Friday after I get off work, this kid cornered my kid in the bathroom and nobody was watching him. Alli's son is 120 lbs and he choked him and he smacked him across the face. Jackson is 52 lbs. A child do that to him, there
048would be nothing left of him. This is me fighting for a change for him and for other kids. It's not safe. When I have other parents in that classroom, not only Ally, but other parents contacting me and saying, "This child is not safe around our children." That's a problem. I had to ask if that child was attending a birthday party this weekend because he was too scared to go if he was. He went and asked Mrs. Myers if he could eat lunch in the office because he was too scared to go to lunch. That's not okay. I I am the one that started it on social media. I take full responsibility for that. But I needed to be heard. Nobody has heard me over the last three years. I've been manipulated and I've been lied
049to and I've been promised things that have not happened. And now I have a principal from St. Pats reaching out with open arms to take him in and to help fix him because this kid broke him and all the other kids broke him and you guys allowed it to happen. I'm begging you guys for a change. If not for Jax, for all the other kids. There's so many of them and I don't want to be I I want to tell his story but I don't want you guys to think this person has reached out to me and this person I've been promised so many things and nothing has happened. So I think it's I know we all know what's going on in the district and I think it needs addressed now. Thank you. Okay. Thank
050you. And um since we closed public comment, we will be done and we're going to move forward with the rest of the agenda and um just fair warning, it's not very exciting, but um you're all welcome to stay as as long as you'd like. Okay. All right. So, moving on to item five, which is minutes. We're going to um seeking a motion to approve the regular board meeting minutes from March 17th, 2025 and the committee of the whole meeting minutes from March 31st, 2025. Do I have a motion to approve those minutes? Do I have a second? Second from Justin. Would anybody like to discuss the contents of these minutes? Okay. All in favor, please signify by saying I. I. Anyone opposed? Motion carries. Uh, moving on to item six. Um, we have a list
051of payments uh that were available for our review. Uh, the financial reports available for our review. Um, under item C, administration recommends renewal of the agreement with Madison National for voluntary disability coverage at no change in rates for 2025 2026. Under D, administration recommends approval to renew the COBRA administration services agreement with UPMC benefit management services with no increase to the current year rates at $1,100 per year. And lastly, under F, uh, administration requests approval to pay student approved honorarium to the staff members listed below at the Altuna Area High School for the spring drama musical. The honorarium will be paid from the drama student activity account for the 2024 2025 school year. And listed under that is uh, Miss Kelly Deweiler in an amount of $800. So, I've uh discussed items 6 A through
052E. Do I have a motion to approve those items? Do I have a second? Second by Michael. Would anybody wish to discuss any of these? Okay. All in favor of of approving item 6 A through E under finance, please signify by saying I. I. Is anyone opposed? Motion carries. Moving on to number seven, education. Uh we have quite a few things here. Um under item A, administration requests approval of the attached 2025 2026 ESL consortium articles of agreement between the Altuna Area School District and the AIU8 not to exceed 5,000. Under B, administration requests approval to submit, operate, and pay all associated costs stipens for the 2025 2026 federal and state grants on the attached separate report. Under C, administration requests approval of the attached cooperative agreement with Mount Alawishas College to provide dual enrollment
053opportunities for students at the Altuna Area High School for the 25 and 26 school year. Under item D, um, administration requests approval to retain Terry Desquuire as hearing officer for the 2526 school year at the rate of $175 per hour. Under E, administration requests approval of an agreement between Marake, Pennsylvania, and Altunary School District from April 14th, 2025 to April 13, 2026. Under F, administration recommends approval of a letter of agreement and referral form between Extended Family Programs, Inc. and Altun Area School District from July 1st, 2025 through June 30th, 2026. Under G, administration requests approval of the Lorocco counseling agreement to provide outpatient drug and alcohol treatment services for the Altuna school district, Altunary School District, and will run from July 1st, 2025 through June 30th, 2026. Under H, uh, administration recommends approval of
054the Blair County Drug and Alcohol Student Assistance Program letter of agreement effective July 1st, 2025 through June 30th, 2026. Um, under I, administration requests approval of a list of secondary field trips that we were provided. Under J, administration requests approval of the attached list of volunteers. All clearances and TB tests have been received and we had the list at our disposal. Um, under K, administration requests approval of the attached elementary field trips which we were provided a list. Under L, uh, administration requests approval of the attached new teacher induction completion list which we were provided. Under M, administration recommends approval for Kayla Mantini to conduct a dissertation study entitled a qualitative study of special education, teachers perceptions of academic barriers to middle school education in the urban setting with special education teachers at Altuna Area
055Junior High School. Miss Mantini is currently enrolled as a doctoral candidate candidate in the ind at the end Indiana University of Pennsylvania's curriculum and instruction program. The proposal the proposed qualitative study aims to explore what what special education middle school teachers describe as the largest barrier or barriers to effective academic instructions. Please see the attached um the attachment for more information. And lastly, under N, administration recommends reviewing the SAP agreement between County of Blair on behalf of the Blair County Department of Social Services, Mental Health, UPMC, Western Behavioral Health of the Alaganis, and the Altun Area School District effective July 1st, 2025 through June 30th, 2026. So, I am seeking a motion to approve items A through N under seven. Do I have a second? Second from Mr. Papis. Would anybody like to discuss any
056of these topics? Okay. All in favor of approving items 7 A through N, please signify by saying I. I. Is anyone opposed? No. Motion carries. Um, under eight, personnel. Um, administration recommends approval of the attached personnel agenda items. And under item B, under eight, administration recommends the approval of the attached addendum in the contract with ESS Northeast Limited Liability Company. Um, seeking a motion to approve items 8A and B. Just one a one amendment. Uh item D3, item D3 under personnel under elections. If we could remove that from consideration, please D3 secondary music instructor from high school. Rescended. Okay. So, with that in mind, seeking items uh a motion to approve items 8A and B. So, I had a motion uh Dave and then second from Bobby. Okay. Would anybody like to discuss any of
057the uh items under 8A or B before we vote? Can someone just explain to me what B is like? What what that is. No, under item B, the ESS. Oh, sure. So, um, we had a need for a long-term substitute in music at elementary. And typically, you in order to find somebody that is qualified, uh, we're paying the person the higher rate. Essentially, we're paying them the long-term rate instead of making them acrue that time over that period of time. So, not the daily sub rate. They're getting the extended long-term rate for that position. Um, correct, Mr. Flegal. Okay. Yes. Um, he's been amazing. Uh, Jimmy Mauy of musical local musical fame is uh assisting with music instruction at our elementary and it's been a phenomenal experience. Yes, I saw him Friday. He's wonderful. I
058can't imagine these kids have to be excited to work with him. So, that's pretty cool. Um, any further discussion on items 8, A, or B before we vote? Seeing none, all in favor of approving items 8, A, and B, please signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? Motions carry. Just real quick before we move on, um, we have our two elected administrators with us this evening. I apologize we weren't able to get you into executive session uh to discuss but I would like to congratulate Miss Gray who has been a uh the interim principal at Mclliff Heights and will continue in that capacity in light of Miss Agnu's uh retire resignation. So congratulations Miss Gray and I also like to congratulate uh Mr. Hatch for your uh appointment as a position at the junior high
059school as an assistant principal. Congratulations Okay, moving on to uh the world of business 10 business operations. We have under item A, administration requests and recommends approval to renew the dental agreement. Oh, I'm sorry. I missed nine. Man, I'm getting old. The dementia is setting in. Sorry, everybody. Under nine, uh, we have a couple items. Student services section, uh, Blair Family Solutions, uh, to approve the following, um, Blair Family Solutions Behavioral Health Services Agreement, Blair Family Solutions Service Agreement. Under B, we have um, West Morland uh, Intermediate Union Unit Student Services Inter Agency agreement. Administration requests approval of a student services agreement between West Morland Intermediate Unit and the Altuna Area School District commencing May 1st, 2024. Um, so seeking a motion to approve items 9A and B under student services. Do I have a
060motion? Do I have a second? Would anybody like to discuss either of these items? Seeing none, all in favor of approving items 9A and B, please signify by saying I. I. Is anyone opposed? Motion carries. Now, moving on to 10. Um, and thank you, Brad. We have uh dental insurance agreement. administration requests and recommends approval to renew the dental agreement with Pennsylvania State Education Association Health and Welfare Fund. Renewal rates and are as follows. $2425 dental budget rates are as follows. Single $2352, employee plus $45 and a family $68.74. Cobra rates are as follows. Single $23.99. Employee plus one $45.90. Family $7011. Administrative fee is $2.70 per employee per month. Under B, we have uh a number of repository bids listed uh in and which uh the Blur County Tax Claims Bureau has received and
061we're requesting approval for those. Under item C, administration requests approval of the following Amtra bus drivers for the 2425 school year contingent upon receipt of required clearances and forms. Um Heidi Hartley is listed. Um under item D, I think we had um one listing of a capital reserve payment. Under E, administration requests and recommends approval to provide summer food service program from June 9th through August 1st, 2025. The program will be closed on July 4th. The labor rate will be $16 per hour. Open sites will be the Altuner Junior High School, Mclliff Heights Elementary School, Juniata Elementary School, and Pleasant Valley Elementary School. Hours will be 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. daily for the summer food service. Summit Tennis and Athletic Club. Under item F, administration requests approval for the Alterunary School District tennis clubs
062to utilize the Summit Tennis and Athletic Club courts in the event of an emergency. Under G, uh we received a listing of um a bid for fall sports equipment for our approval. Under H, uh, administration requests and recommends approval of the bid from Justins to provide yearbook service for the period of 26 through 28 2026 through 2028. The production cost per book at $85. And lastly, um, under item I, administration requests and recommends approval of the bid from Justins to provide photography services for the period one year with the option of extending the contract for four years uh, commission package of 20% per order. Um, so seeking uh a motion to approve items 10 A through I. I'll make the motion. Would anybody like to second it? All right. Plenty of seconds. Um, any discussion
063on these items? Okay. All in favor of approving items 10A through I. Please signify by saying I. I. Any opposed? Motion carries. All right. Staying in order. Under 11, new business. We have a couple with complex things. Um administration under a administration requests approval to renew the flexible spending account agreement with UPMC benefit management services with no increase to the current year rates. Um under B administration requests approval to renew the health savings account agreement with UPMC benefit management services with no increase to the current year rates. Under C, administration requests approval of the renewal of the joint administration solutions agreement with Highark Blue Cross Blue Shield. And under D, administration requests approval to accept the proposal from Covet Health Incorporated for administrative services of the Altuna Area School District Medical Insurance Plan. Under E,
064administration requests and recommends approval of the following calculated healthc care premium rates for the 2526 fiscal year. We were provided those uh rates in a list and under F, the Altunary School District Athletic Office is requesting approval for the following. uh the Altuna Area Baseball Association to use the Ebner Baseball Field from April through June 2025 for the purpose of little league baseball practices. Two, Altuna Independent Youth Baseball League to use the Centennial Field at Mansion Park from April through October 25, 2025 for the purpose of Little League baseball practice and games. Um renewal agreements and certificates of insurance have been provided and are on foul in the athletic office. Um, do I have a motion to approve items 11 A through F under new business? Do I have a second? Would anybody wish to
065discuss anything? I just have one question. So, are the um the highark solution proposal and the health plan third party administrator is one to administer people by are they to administer people by plan that they choose. The co agreement is the third party administrator. So they administer all benefits and claims for all the programs. The high mark agreement is to allow high mark to be a provider in our network. Okay. Thank you for the clarification. Um anybody else? Okay. All in favor of approving items 11 A through F, please signify by saying I. I. Anyone opposed? Motion carries. All right. Moving to committee reports. Do we have any reports from committee chairs? No. Um board president's report? I have none. I would I would congratulate the Altuna uh baseball team. and I had the pleasure
066of attending the Curve Classic in freezing weather and saw them win that. So that was uh that was exciting to watch. Um but other than that, nothing else to report. Um Miss Jiosa is not here, so we do not have a student representatives report. Mr. Hatch, do we have a superintendent report? Just very briefly, we're we're heading into state testing season. Um, so I would just like to uh remind parents and families that as we head into the the end of April and beginning of May and through May, uh, we will be, uh, engaging in our state testing program with our students in grades 3 through 11. Um, we'll send out letters and reminders of dates and specifics, but it's very important that our students do their very best on those exams, as well as,
067you know, be prepared by getting a good night's sleep. Um, making sure that they are are wellnourished on those days. And again, um, these are are one measure, one one piece of information that can help indicate, uh, you know, how we're doing from a student performance standpoint and really help us, uh, guide instruction as we move forward. Thank you. Sure. Okay, moving on to 13. Other comments, do we have an employee unions response? Seeing none, B. Uh, anyone from middle management? Seeing none, we move on to the solicitor. Mr. Beard, real quick, we had to uh complete, at least according to the feds, a document, a statement of verification on we were going to be in compliance to continue to receive federal funding. A lot of flurry, a lot of activity, a lot of client
068alerts. uh Secretary of Ed uh basically stood up to the plate and said, "I'm weighing in on behalf of all the schools in Commonwealth, Pennsylvania. I'm verifying that we're all in uh compliance." Uh that followed like a New York State model. We're going to see where that goes and if there's any push back because otherwise you have to April 24th to file individual responses. But so far uh it appears to be going well and if there's a change we'll certainly let administration know ASAP. That's it. Thank you, Mr. Beard. I will seek a motion to adjourn this meeting. Wait, I just want to I think we'd be remissed if we didn't talk about the uh production of The Little Mermaid and how wonderful um Ben Coser and the drama team did. I think it's the
069best play that I've seen in our community in a long time. um from the costumeuming to the um the singing and the music and the sets and everything was phenomenal. So agree if if you had the opportunity to see it, the level of talent in it, you know, for that type of student production and I'm sure at the end of May when they uh when they do the awards, we'll be well represented uh in a number of ways there. I know Bryce left already, but he was an integral part along with our faculty and staff members that were part of the production. Uh the students were it's it's amaz it really blows you away to see the level of talent that our high school students have. Um a number of the leads in in the
070singing that they did throughout the production. Uh special. Not to mention thank you to the board for all of the the commitment to uh the puppetry. I know the foundation donated um that was a big part of the show along with uh the lighting mechanisms and the backgrounds, the digital backgrounds. It has really enhanced our shows. I mean, our shows rival anything that I've ever seen. So, again, Ben and his and they put an amazing amount of time in. Uh, Kelly, you proved your honorarium tonight to run a pit orchestra of that caliber. Like, that's our kids. I mean, it's really special to see the level of talent that they exhibit um at all of those events, but you know, especially that culminating musical, you know, and we're getting into concert season now. So, uh,
071super excited, super happy, and and I know that we're trying to find a way to fix our, uh, what what's up? Tomorrow night, jazz band. Oh, tomorrow night jazz band. We have a full full array of concerts. But, um, but anyway, we're trying to make sure that we solidified our groups for graduation as well because I know that we're we're minus a coral director right now. So, we're we're getting all hands on deck to make sure that our oral performances at at graduation are going to be special. And I think I've mentioned it before, but I did want to reiterate, we are bringing back a tradition this year at graduation um where we are going to be having a guest speaker. And that guest speaker this year is the 2020 saludiatoran that was not able
072to deliver her speech at graduation in 2020. We had both the valadictorian and the saludiatoran um coming back. Uh but Addie Birfield will be coming back. Giana Caputo had committed but then had to back away. Uh she's aerospace engineering. She's into something crazy right now. So she had a a commitment that she wasn't going to be able to make graduation. But u moving forward, this is going to be something that we will continue to do. Um to have an alumnus come back and and address our students. we feel that it's very important to show what what can be. Um so we're excited about kind of bringing that tradition back to graduations. So you know it's nice that uh we have the positive from our students. I know there was some negativity here tonight that will
073probably be front page or something tomorrow. But what those kids accomplished tonight are award winners and what we what Kelly just brought up about our our our play and it's just amazing the talent we do have in this district. But do the I hope the positive does come out. I really do. This district has so many positives and and the negatives are going to is are going to run over the positives. That's just my opinion. Thank you young man. Hey Kelly. Thanks. That would have been a horrible misstep not to recognize that. So, I appreciate that because I heard so many good things about that. So, thank you. Um, so that being said, I will seek a motion to adjourn this meeting. Mr. Papis, do I have a second from Dave? All in favor, please
074signify by saying I. Opposed? Moshe carries.