001The executive session was to engage informational updates presented to the board on a number of district initiatives as well as discussion of confidential student and personnel matters including proposed expulsion adjudications, special education due process matters, discussion pertaining to ongoing collective bargaining negotiations with various employee groups and ratification of Teamester's collective bargaining agreement updates in and confer with council. We had updates in conference with the council on a newly proposed tax rebate program and updates related to the 2425 fiscal audit. The board welcomes and invites public comment. You may address the board on agenda and non and or non-aggenda items. The first opportunity for comment is at the beginning of the meeting and is limited to agenda items only. Comment cards must be received by the start of the meeting which is now. We will not
002be receiving public cards once the meeting begins. A copy of the public comment policy is located on the table next to the comment cards. For our board's policy, any person may address the board in accordance with the procedures and limitations of that policy, either on issues pre presented in res resolutions being considered or on other matters affecting the administration, management, or operation of the district. Remarks of a personal nature directed against any individual will be ruled out of order. If you choose to address the board, please fill out a comment card and hand it to the board secretary, Mr. Simonson. Comment cards are located at the podium near the door. Once recognized, please come to the podium. State your name and address for the record. Madam superintendent. >> Yes. Uh good evening. Thank you, Madam
003Chair. Uh good evening, school board directors. Uh to my team, of course, to our families, our students, and members of the public. I am so excited tonight for you to please join us in welcoming the Sheridan Elementary School. I want to thank uh Mr. B, Miss Palman, and of course, Principal Shada for his leadership. We are so thrilled tonight to see them perform. I'm like, go Sheridan. I think they're ready tonight. Let's give it up for Sheridan. All right. And under the we want to thank Mr. B and and Miss Palman and of course principal Shada for their leadership and service. We are so excited. And of course, our sensational students. Let's give them another round of applause. >> Thank you. Good evening everybody. Um this is the Sheridan Percussion Ensemble and my name is
004Mrs. Palman and I am the director. Um over the summer I learned that there weren't many groups out there coming out with all of the wonderful instruments that Dr. Burks um got through for us. So this is our percussion ensemble. This is our first year. Um, I asked for my fourth graders to sign up. I was impressed when I had I think 35 or 40th graders sign up. >> They did a phenomenal job in our winter concert playing Carol the Bell and today they're going to play two pieces for you. The first piece is Armadilla Dance and the second piece they wanted some drums. So, I wrote something quick for them. Um, it was called New Song Forever, but we just named it the CD song. Um, I know our first one has Ready? One,
005two, one, two, go. up your instrument. >> Oh, we don't have we don't have another number. No, >> we did see Carol the Bells, but we haven't played it since December, but it was phenomenal. >> Okay. Let's give a round of applause for Sher. What a sensational job. Thank you, Miss Palman, Principal Sha, and team. We're so thrilled about all the great things that are happening at Sheridan. Keep up the great work. That was fantastic. Woohoo. >> That was hard, too. That was hard. They did it. >> That made our day. >> Okay. I'm so I'm so thrilled. And well, all the families, moms, dads, Abuela, Abuel, Tio, everyone, family, can you please stand? and all the families tonight. Thank you so much. We are so honored to serve you and your family. What amazing
006job. Thank you. We appreciate you. We appreciate your partnership. Thank you. Please. Thank you. You're welcome to stay or you're you know. So So thank you. You can have a seat. You can stay. You can leave. So thank you so much. Yes. Thank you. Happy. Bye. Bye. Also, we're going to move to center city and I'm really excited to showcase a movie celebration and oh, I messed up the other side of town of as well as the east side. Um, we had our two schools have a movie premiere last week and we just want to share with the school board uh the trailer. I want to thank the school board directors who were there that evening. It was an sensational mo uh movie premiere. Uh our district our district is partnering with Wonder Media and
007Central Elementary Stream Academy and Sonia Sotomayor dual language immersion academy. Uh the students created an anim created an animation film and so we are really happy. Just think about this. We have students who are in kindergarten through fifth grade and they are actors in an animation film. um they were able to partner with a movie producer who he was the CEO for the former CEO for the Rugrats and the Simpsons and he's working right here in Allentown. He came to Allentown. All of our lovely uh darling children and their staff received their Oscar awards that evening. We had a red carpet event. You missed it. It was at the Civic the theater. So, we're going to show you a little bit of the uh twominut uh clip of the animation fil film. And if you
008missed it, you can go on to YouTube and our social other social channels to see the film. So, let's give it up for Central Elementary Stream Academy as well as Sonia Sotoayor Dual Language Immersion Academy. And while we appear Oh, there we go. Hi everyone. I have a new movie coming to the Civic Theater of Allen. It's called Heroes of Kindness and it was made by students at Central Elementary Stream Academy. >> Oh, hey, I've got a new movie showing the Pacific Theater 2. It's called Legion of Leaders. >> It's made by students of Sonia Dual Language Immersion Academy. >> Hey, why don't we play these two movies together? You know, like like the feature. >> Perfect. Come on. Come all to the Civic Theater of Valley Town. One day only on Thursday, May 21st
009from 5:00 p.m. to 7 p.m. See you there. >> See you there. >> Let's give it up for our our young people so we can all see you on YouTube or Facebook or in other channels. If you could please watch the film. It was very moving. a lot of great messages about kindness and we all need to ex execute a lot more kindness in the world today. Uh as well as it showcase great lead leaders and pioneers and just think our like our children had to learn the lines themselves. It was great and I want to thank um thank Miss Noel, I'm sorry, as well as Miss Dia Moore and Dr. Johnson who who supported the students that evening. So thank you for being there. So thank you so much. Also I would like to
010um one more student recognition before we get to the formal finance agenda tonight. Uh we had an amazing multidisciplinary fair. We had more than a thousand people attend the multi-disipline fair. I want to thank our entire leadership team. Thank you u Dr. Rocklin and Miss Singer I know you are really on and Miss Ramos who really are on the front line on this and managing. So I appreciate you. If you missed a treat, if you missed that, we have lots of pictures and clips of that event on our social channels just to see our children. I want to commend William Allen High School. They were the grand prize winners. We want to thank Miss Lascos. Give it up William Allen High School. Woo. Uh Miss Lcowski, who is actually I'm so thrilled about the work
011Miss Lcowski is doing. She's very quiet about doing it. She's been also featured nationally. Uh we have a partnership with digital promise and we have um a relationship with school a school in Lebanon and our students were working apps over with students applications in Lebanon. So I want to commend her. They got this big go. It was heavy. So we want to thank all the work. We had other winners too across the district but they were the grand prize winners. If you saw some of the great things that were happening with our youngest learners and remake learning which is a national initiative they also invested in this. And I want to thank again Dr. Rockland and Miss Singer for writing those grants for us and they had never worked in this region before and so
012they marketed our work across the nation. So I want to thank you. Let's give a round of applause for Dr. Rock Singa. So thank you so much. So, I'm going to um before we go on, we have a lot more a lot more student uh recognitions later on in our our meetings, but I wanted to bring, you know, we want to get the students in so they can go home and do their homework because we still expect to go home and we get some rest. So, that's why we want to showcase them early. So, uh back to you, Miss Mat. And we have some more recognitions to come. >> At this time, we are only taking public comments on agenda items. Do we have any cards? Harris. >> Hello everyone. It's strange being on this
013side. Um, could you please I think you have these up on your right there with you. Could you please bring those up? Okay. and turn to page turn to uh it was just an introduction page but it's Lehi County participating schools and if you look you see all the districts okay so this is taxation without rep representation this is still the feudal system and the feudal system says because you have more property of value than we do in Allentown you get more representatives on that board So Parkland has six, which they do not have as many children because that we have. Um, East Penn has has five and we have five. It's still wrong. I don't know how you're going to make that change, but you still need to change that from the feudal system
014because if you turn to page uh three, page three, you will see um the the students the appropriate share of the budget. It is 26% Allentown of the budget. The next person to us is Parkland at 18. So that means that 25 cent out of every dollar that goes to LTCI comes from Allentown. I did it with Jeff. I said 26. He said 25. So, you know, he's a little bit better. But however, we need to understand our students are not getting what first choice. They're still not getting first choice. I know when I was here eight years ago, it wasn't. And that's a shame. We had a student who had aged out. She was 21 and turned 22 in February. She was special ed. They would not allow her to come back. They wouldn't
015allow her. And then when they finally did allow her, it was too much damage done. So they So the little girl, young lady, didn't want to come back. How awful. But 25 cent out of every dollar comes from us. And if you look at the staff when I asked about this five years ago, five, six years ago, the super, I guess the principal, whoever said it was, you know, Menard, it was all Caucasian. It still is. So now they're still being white, white, and extra white. But yet our students are coming there and we're a minority majority school. What does that say? Do they respect us at all? Do they really? I'm asking you to look at this and I know you already looked at the report and saw how much money we are giving
016over $7 million to their to whatever there are. Okay. And they're still not giving our students first choice. Build our own schools. Build build our own cosmetology. That's the number one. Build that and we will keep the money here. So I'm asking you not to go through with the budget. Thank you. We have 13 items on the finance agenda this evening. First, Mr. Cuff is requesting approval from the school board of directors of the budget of the budget discussions and approval of the 2627 preliminary general operating budget. Sorry. Good evening, school board directors, members of the public. So, as an organization, our budget is built on our major foundations uh foundation of the district. One, all decisions are made coupled with our strategic plan um including our mission, vision, and core values. As you can
017see that we have seven priorities. I want to thank our collective community who for their input and their execution on those seven priorities. As we know, we are um we have more than 2600 plus employees uh full-time employees and we have some additional part-time employees. You can see the demographic makeup of those employees. We have the new pleasure of serving 16,200 uh students and their families. Um and as an organization, we've been very forthcoming with the board and the public about the budget process. I want to thank the more than 200 people who attended our budget forum. I want to thank all the school board directors who were there that evening um in the public for their the great questions and their input like uh thank you uh Mr. Morris and Miss Diamore as well
018as Miss Mat for being there that evening and sharing your insights with us. As you know we here we're here today. Um I have to I'll be remiss if I don't commend the schools. they engaged in uh their process along with their school governance councils and I want to thank all the school governance council's members who were at the bud budget forum that evening as well as their participation throughout the year. As you know the board we set a goal to establish these school governance councils and for the school board directors you are you would be extremely proud to hear the conversations and the dialogue. We want to thank the United Way for being great partners and ensuring that our school governor councils are being taught governance including learning a great deal about our budget
019process. So tonight we're here to present a preliminary budget. Um, and we, as you are aware, we have to post the budget for 20 days uh for the public to view. And we will do that this evening if you pass this preliminary budget uh to be in compliance uh in compliance with uh the Pennsylvania Department of Education's uh rules and regulations. And then in June, we will present the final budget for your consideration. Mr. Cuff is going to talk you through where we are at at a high level as it relates to our budget process and also present to the board for its consideration a proposed tax increase. Mr. >> Okay. >> Thank you, Dr. Burks. Um, so I'll be brief. I know we've talked about a lot of these things before and I don't
020want to bore anyone, so I'm going to be brief and be concise. You'll see here that we have we have approximately a 5115 $514 million budget. A lot of our budget is composed of state subsidies that we receive. You'll see here we're looking at roughly a 6.4% increase overall in our revenues as well as our expenditures. Um you'll see the major increase that we're looking for comes from state subsidy report. You'll see our local revenue here. This includes the increase that we talked about about the millage increase. Our local revenue consists of our real local local real estate taxes are act 511 taxes interest donations and IDA funding which which is a federal subsidy but it still comes through local sources a total local increase of approximately 4.2%. You'll see our state revenue here which
021is a total increase of approximately 7.7%. The major increase you'll see is the ready tolearn funding. This is the adequacy funding. They came as a result of the fair funding lawsuit. You'll see the other increases are in line with standard increases that are proposed through the governor Shapiro's budget. So total is 7.7%. State revenue is approximately a even between last year. There were some slight adjustments in last year from the federal government. That's why it looks like a negative negative. Z7, but we're looking at a flat amount going forward for federal re revenues. And this is composed of our major title grants, title one, two, three, and four. And there's a reimbursement there also for the Medicaid reimbursement as well. So, I'm going to briefly talk about expenditures for the school district. Our expenditures are
022broken into five major categories by the chart of accounts and PTE regulations. Those are instruction support services, non-instructional services, facilities, and other expenditures. Mainly your debt service we'll talk about briefly. So I put those items into four categories that are easy to explain so everyone understand how it gets broken out. As anyone would as you would expect, instructional coverage are regular education, special education, voced, and post-secary education. Support services are those expenses that provide supports for the education process whether it be student services, counseling, guidance or administration services, our health services, transportation, maintenance and IT services. Non-instructional service are those items or those expenditures that fall into a category where we cover our student activities as well as our community service or anything is community related. The last area is our debt service. Our debt
023service is the the amount that we pay for our debt. This would be for any type of borrowing or any type of long-term building we did. So, this is where your debt service comes. This is basically your credit for like for those of you who make the analogy of your home's expenses. So, you'll see here our expenses are composed what you would think for a typical school district. The majority of our expenses are coming in our personnel related area which is our salaries and benefits which composes approximately 60% of our budget. You'll see the other high area of expenditure is the 500 tuition purchase services. This is the tuition rate for charter schools as well as the tuition we pay for LCTI and LRYC for the Lehi Carbon Community College, Lehi County Technical Institute, any
024type of uh postsecondary tuition that we pay. So th those are the high areas that you'll see there. Again, you'll see our total is a 6.4% increase, which is the same increase that we had for our revenues. And I'll state that to say that we we are we're currently have a balanced budget. We are required by PTE to have a a balanced budget and that is what we're requesting right now is to move this preliminary budget forward in the amount of 514,716,77. So also we had talked also about having a tax rebate program and if you follow the diagram here we are proposing a property a property tax rebate program for the 26 27th fiscal year to assist senior citizens and residents with disabilities. This initiative's aim to neutralize the impact of an increased millage
025by providing financial relief to homeowners who earn less than $46,520. To qualify, applicants must meet specific age or disability requirements, maintain local residency, and prove that they have fully paid their property taxes. The district finance office will oversee the application process, requiring documentation such as proof of payment and evidence of participation in the state level rebate program. By mirroring the state eligibility standards, the district expects to support approximately over 2,000 households at a projected cost of $159,000. This local program ensures that the most vulnerable community members are not burdened by the potential increase of the 2.9%. So in short, what we're doing is we are basically writing on what the state has done for the same um core group of people and we're mimicking that program and providing support for them as we move forward.
026Okay. So as we go forward with our our budget, we talked a lot about our capital projects and we talked about the need. We talked about um in the past we had a deferred um cost of approximately $463 million in expenses and we have new new costs related to capital projects for new buildings that we're moving forward. So we're in the process now we're financially stable. We're financially strong. So we have a a capital improvements plan but we also have a capital improvements finance plan. And part of that plan is for us to basically address some of these issues that have been pushed down the road for a while. So in part of that, we're potentially going to have to go out go to the market and we're going to have to borrow money or
027float bonds to to accommodate a lot of the the um infrastructure needs that we have to increase. So to help insist pay for that we are pushing we are recommending that a 2.9% millage increase which this ties back to our public uh a presentation we have from PFM. PFM is our our our financial advisor from public financial management and they helped us and helped us uh crafting out that with a 2.9% millage increase we can accommodate $363 million of borrowing over the next couple years. So that is our recommendation as we put forward to the board a millage increase of 2.9%. And this this is what the um tax rebate program will look like. Oops. So I'm going to stop. There are any questions from the board before we close out in this area. Can
028I ask you to clarify >> the 2.9%? Could you tell us just for context for everyone what the other school districts around are recommending for their millage increases? >> The average increase or in a school district is they're slightly above 3.5% some are some are actually up to the Awan index. And just for a point of context, every school district has what's issued an awan index, which is what the state allows you to raise your your millage or raise your taxes um to. So some districts are raising theirs to the max. Our max is 5.4%, we are not raising it to the max. We are we we made a fiscally responsible decision in conjunction with PFM and and our plan was 2.9% which will help us as we move forward to address some of our
029our um needs for capital improvements. >> Thank you. Um I had a question. And so you said the 2.9% increase supports $363 million about in borrowing. How much actual additional revenue does that generate for the Allentown school district per year? >> Slightly over $3 million. >> So ju just to put in perspective when as as we go forward for the KDA building, our projections for our debt service, which I talked about briefly will go slightly up in in that range a little bit more. I have a comment. >> Yes, ma'am. >> I think it's so admirable that we're willing to help people who are uh let's say disabled or seniors with the getting the tax some of the tax back um if they are applicable for the homestead >> program. I I I appreciate that.
030I but I think a lot of that comes from the um leadership that Dr. Burks had with us. We sat down with Dr. Burks, our finance team. We sat down with our administration team and this is one of the areas that we wanted to address and we thought that it was it was prudent that we actually put this in place going forward. So I think a lot of it is a team effort. So I thank you and I appreciate I I can't be the sole person to take that that thanks. It was a team effort as we move forward. >> Anyone else? In that case, may I have a motion to move this item forward to the May 28th 26th >> Oh, I'm sorry. Was there I missed you. >> Yeah. Sorry. >> Thank you.
031I would actually like to move to refer this motion to a new budget funding alternatives committee tasked with exploring and recommending alternative means to fund our budget besides a tax increase. I would also ask that this committee be chaired by myself, Audrey Mat, and Nancy will as members. >> I don't I I did not understand. Oh, I'm sorry. So, I'm moving to refer this motion to a new budget funding alternatives committee tasked with exploring and recommending alternative means to fund our budget besides a tax increase. And I would ask that this committee be chaired by myself, Audrey Mat, and Nancy W as members. >> Motion you really have caught me by surprise and I need a little bit of time to actually figure out what you're asking. >> Okay. And I'm happy to explain after
032a second on the motion. >> Okay. >> If I if I may, have we adopted a proposed final budget yet? >> No. Right. That's we have to do that tonight in order to have the prerequisite waiting period before adopting a budget on June 30th. >> Yes. But you need to the schedule D. >> Okay. So by virtue of your motion to create a the equivalent of an ad hoc committee to review this would defer us from acting on the proposed final budget this evening which starts the time clock required under the school code and we will likely not be able to pass a budget prior to June 30th if that were to occur. her. >> We must do it by June 30th. Correct. >> Right. We have to do it by June 30th or uh
033you will be uh in a position where you could be removed from office. >> But there's there's the other question in mind. This is not the final budget. The final budget gets passed in June. So can't the finance committee meet? >> Well, you can meet, but you need to start the time clock ticking. So you must adopt a proposed final budget. >> No, that's what I'm saying. Is not that >> but there's nothing to prevent the existing finance committee or for that matter the entire board from meeting to further discuss the budget as presented. >> Right. >> Yes. >> So I think what they're trying to say tonight is not the final budget. You'll still have time. So if you would like to call a meeting for the finance committee to meet to discuss before
034the final final budget which is next month >> that can be done. >> Yeah. That you know the purpose of doing that the proposed final budget is to give the public an opportunity to see the budget and give input prior to the ultimate vote. And our failure to do that would make our budget non-compliant. But uh technically uh our board president is correct that there's nothing to prevent the finance committee from further reviewing that assuming the finance committee elects to do that >> provided we take action on the budget tonight. >> Yes, you must take action tonight on a on a proposed final budget. doesn't need to be as exactly framed by the recommendation, but you need to make uh you need to approve a proposed final budget this evening because uh the one thing
035we don't control is the calendar and we're already up against the 30-day time limitation. >> You want to you want to say something else? >> Oh, understood. Yeah. So I think the main gist of and I understand the timing constraints the main gist of what I'm getting at and the reason I would like to create an ad hoc committee is because there's a sign and in the interest of expediency there's a significant other alternative for us to fund our budget besides a tax increase. So, I would prefer that we don't do that tonight and we could set a time that would allow us to fit within the timing constraints. >> The finance committee um involved too if you're going to do this extra meeting. >> Oh, absolutely. And thank you. Uh so that's actually why
036I assigned Audrey Mat to the committee as the chair of the finance committee. Um >> my entire committee should have a part of that. >> Entire committee. >> Okay. And that's fine. Is there a way to make sure that I'm involved in this process? Because I mean I guess the strategy is coming from me which I haven't had a chance to discuss yet which I would be happy to. >> So So the Jeff maybe you can explain this a little bit deeper. I years ago the finance committee used to meet separately. We then learned that they weren't supposed to be meeting that way. That was against the law. So now we have to have our meetings out in the open in the public. So during the finance meeting, every I think every single meeting we've
037had, Jeff has been explaining the budget and going into details about it, which each month gives us the opportunity to kind of address concerns and, you know, stop anything or do whatever. So I think we had every month to be able to do this. So, like right now is like a critical time where we're up against the clock right now, but there's still time um for something to happen in between that time before we pass the final budget in June. I will say when it comes to this budget and um the tax increase, the tax increase is not necessarily about balancing the budget. It is about our capital projects in the foreseeable future because we have a ton of buildings in Allentown School District that has that are broken down over a hundred years old
038and we've never been in the financial position to be be able to address it. The t the tax increase is not about balancing the budget. Our budget is balanced. It's really about the capital projects that we need to do. >> Exactly. >> So So yes, um I know you're saying we don't need the tax increase. None of us here want to do the tax increase, but we understand the reasoning behind the tax increase. >> Well, I'm glad you >> I I just want to raise one other issue. We do have and I'm I'm checking your board policies. Your finance committee is charged currently from a governance perspective under existing policy to make this recommendation. And I have to check whether we even have the ability to create an ad hoc committee, which I don't think
039we can, to usurp the role of the finance committee. >> I think that's that's really >> I think we just need to have another meeting. >> We're a committee of the whole. A committee of the whole committee of the whole. You certainly could if you wanted to or you can uh you can address it this evening as part of your deliberations. So yeah, before addressing that this evening and thank you for that clarification, I want to stress the point that Andreine had, which was absolutely correct. Um, we do need to increase the amount of funds that the district brings in to support our capital spending. >> Uh, my point here is that the tax increase represents $3 million in increased revenue. >> And we actually have an opportunity to increase our revenue by approximately 12
040million by actually fixing the assessments in our district. What do you mean fixing the We don't have the power to control the assessments. >> That's the county. The county determines that. >> Understood. According to policy 627 tax assessment appeals, we do have the authority to challenge >> when we have a reasonable expectation of 10,000 in additional real estate tax revenue. Well, we have the authority to file individual challenges upon review of your finance department in the event that they believe that the property is not valued appropriately. And we would usually need to have an appraiser to suggest that and the like and we can do that irrespective of the budgetary approval. >> I think we've done that. That's a separate issue. >> Correct. >> We've been doing that. And so this is the rationale behind
041why I'm asking us to reconsider the tax increase because we do have the ability to do that. We have done that, but we have approximately 277 properties that represent a $12 million gap in additional revenue to the Allentown School District that we have not challenged their assessment to raise that. >> Uh the the issue is and I'm going to probably defer to Mr. Cuff on that issue. It unfortunately is not so simple in terms of that and right now nationally and locally uh commercial properties are >> probably more overvalued uh given the current marketplace than undervalued. Uh and we're finding that in the appeals that we have currently pending. Uh, I I will tell you that I appreciate what you're attempting to assert and that may be a whole separate discussion, but even if we
042were to undertake that, the process is timeconsuming and even if we were going to win, we wouldn't likely see that reflected in our budgetary revenues for a couple of years. So, >> so and this is why I'm calling out the difference of the gap though. So, we're talking about 3 million from a tax increase and we're talking about opportunity of 12 million from this. So, even if you have the risk of having a lower percentage, um it's still worthwhile to pursue it. And I can bring up three properties based upon a fair market value just sold in like the last year. We have one pump place in Allentown that sold for uh 16 million and is assessed at 5 million. And that represents a underassessed gap of 11 million dollars that we are not generating
043revenue. >> And and and and the answer to that question is uh assuming that gets appropriately vetted by uh the uh the uh our finance uh department. That issue could be addressed, but a resolution of that could be years away. So, we can't count on it for revenue for 2026, 2027, and we're going to have a shortfall in our budget. I I appreciate what you're saying, and that's a whole discussion into itself that's going to go probably a lot longer than even the entire duration of this meeting. But uh I I get back to the issue of creating or that that the issue of creating an ad hoc committee I have concerns with and I'm still trying to pull up the policies if you give me a second >> and I would back sorry excuse
044I I would back off of the ad hoc committee. We can forward it to the finance committee. Think the point here is that the finance committee hasn't even considered going this route before offering a tax increase which we may not need to do. >> Actually, that's not exactly accurate. Over the past few years, as we have gotten uh individuals who have been helping us with our finances, we have made other cha we have made increased challenges to some of those decisions on assessments and it has improved Yeah, but then there were there were also some that came back where we actually lost >> and that and that is always >> that is correct. So let me just so you're both correct. So actually we do have the process where we go through we go through
045a list of the properties and we typically go through the properties that are on the transfer list. That's what we go through and we try to make that evaluation. If they're in a certain percentage we try to challenge them. So, but just so you're aware, the challenging or the process of challenging assessment is a it it's a limited by a certain timeline. It has to be in to the Department of Tax Appeals by a certain date. So, it's and I'm not sure if that date has passed yet or not. I'll I can get that information for you. So, we do do a combination of both. And echo what our um solicitor Sultanic said, typically most districts are probably on the losing end of that. And I'm not saying that we would be, but typically that's
046why we actually go out and we we more we've been more the aggressor than a lot of districts around us as far as a challenge in assessment appeals, particularly those on the transfer um on the transfer docket. So what you're saying is right, we can do that. We can look at that. I'll be more than happy to sit down. But typically, as um Mr. Sultanic said, typically a lot of districts are on the losing end of that deal. And just because we challenge it necessarily doesn't mean that we would win. But there is a process to that that we challenge it and then it goes to appeal. And that that process typically takes a little more than a year sometimes. >> And I will also say you're now venturing in an area that is heavily
047litigated and my firm litigated the seinal case on this issue. We need to have a carefully drafted policy if we're going to address that issue. And we can't just pick commercial properties to go after. >> I I just want to clarify. I'm certainly not saying that. I'm actually using our existing policy 627, which does not discriminate based upon property type. >> It just so happens that the most egregious offender, and this is why I want to point this out, >> he's under assessed by 11 million, and they just sold in 2026. So my only recommendation is that the finance committee would investigate this, talk through this before we offer up a tax increase for our budget. >> In honesty, that can't happen this evening. And we do have some legal guidelines here in terms of
048what we must do as the next step of the budget process. >> Right? So just to understand the procedure here, what I'm proposing is that we pause on the tax increase. Is that not possible? Is that what we're saying? >> You have to vote. You have to vote this evening on a tax decision on a proposed final budget which will need to contain either a zero tax increase or a you know maximum act one tax increase or what is being recommended by the administration. If you fail to do that this evening, we will not be able to get a budget passed appropriately by June 30th. And not only will the board be in default of its statutory obligation to pass taxes annually, it will also cause our taxes to be delayed in the receipt of
049the community and our taxpayers, which means that the discount period would have to be extended. So our cash flows would be significantly impacted as the result of that decision. The decision to go and file tax appeals is something that can and should be debated and is a separate timeline and a separate consideration because it will not be able to impact I can tell you that right now your 2627 receipts it might impact 2728 >> understood >> fiscal year >> right and I appreciate all the clarification that's what goes into the capital planning So then I would ask for your clarification, Attorney Sultanic, because I mean I guess I would like to move to amend >> the tax increase then. >> Can he can he make a simple motion not to not as a part of
050amending this just a simple motion for what he wants? >> Well, we would have to amend the agenda under the Parkland case to do that. We can do it. uh the court has sustained that but the board has to agree to amend the agenda to do that. What I would recommend on this issue and uh we hear you loud and clear is that we can at a future meeting of the board which will be very soon go and present and we can talk about a plan to address this particular issue and focus in on a report showing what some of those issues could yield. And indeed the property that you identified might indeed be a property that we want to examine but we need to follow an organized procedure and not because otherwise that will
051be a spot assessment case if we just uh look at that issue. I think we need to examine that issue. I can work with uh our assessment group in our firm and work with Mr. cuff and the finance team to address that particular issue and we could do that as quickly as possible but it won't impact our need to pass the budget right now. So I hear you loud and clear and I think the board hears you >> so that for tonight we need to vote this motion up or down. Yeah, this motion you need to either approve in its current I mean you can amend the amount in this motion for a proposed final budget but right now I I analogized this to a paper budget. This does not commit you to the tax
052increase this evening. All it commits you is to put a number that goes before the community. When you get committed for this is when is at our June meeting when we vote on the final budget. So with that understanding, since you're saying that this does not commit us to a tax increase, that's why I would move to I I would like to move to amend this to 0% tax increase. And if by June we understand that we should do a tax increase, then we can do that. Is that not possible? >> You if you can convince four other board members to go to a zero tax increase, you can uh move to amend this to a zero tax increase. But either way, whether you say zero doesn't commit you to anything or the the the
053number that you have right now, it doesn't commit you to anything. It's it's symbolic. Now what unfortunately this does though, it also impacts other issues in the budget if you go to a zero tax increase because the property tax rebate was predicated upon the pro the proposed increase. >> So there's a there's a whole channeling effect. But regardless of what percentage you choose this evening, it doesn't bind you for an increase next month. It just it's a what I call a paper action. We have to do this in order to comply with the law to get a budget increase. And this board can have a robust debate on whether or not that's the case. Understood. M are you going to make that motion motion formal? >> I would like to make the motion to amend
054this action item to reflect a 0% tax increase and the attending implications through the budget. >> Is there a second to that motion? >> I'll second it. >> We have We have a second Dian It's a difficult decision. I know we have that need. That's why I took a while to debate. I know we need these buildings to be updated. I'm just concerned about the tax increase. >> We have a maker and a second or is there discussion? >> Just to clarify, your motion is to simply amend the tax increase from being 2.9% to 0%. >> Yes, >> that's the only change. >> No, that changes everything. >> The only >> I I understand. I'm just clarifying. But I didn't hear I couldn't quite hear you. >> I'm just clarifying that Mr. Morris's uh motion
055is to reduce the 2.9% to 0%. >> Okay. That's what I thought you said, but I want to make sure. >> Okay. >> Yes, that's accurate. And uh following alternative sultanics consultation here. Basically, he's telling us that this is not binding. So, it's completely possible that by June, we find that we do need a 2.9% tax increase, and that's absolutely fine. Uh but just in the interim we will be investigating other alternatives uh to fund our budget and satisfy those capital needs. >> But we have to vote on it. I mean the rest of the people have other opinions. >> We haven't voted yet. >> There are all in favor. >> Is there anybody else who has discussion? Seeing none, all of those in favor of the motion as amended, please say I. >> I.
056And this is pro moving it forward to this evening >> with 0%. >> 0%. >> Perhaps it'd be better to take this vote individually. >> Let's do that. I think that I that's appropriate. All right. I'm just going to go around the table. >> No tax increase. >> This would be a no tax increase. >> A a vote of yes would be no tax increase based upon the motion as presented. >> The vote for no would be just that. Okay. Can I just add can I just add one thing and give Mr. before you vote what would this mean in terms of in practice I I understand what this motion is but you're going to come to your June meeting and we need to have some detailed calculations for what our budget is going to
057be and what the increase is going to be and for lack of a better word off the cuff you may not be able to do that Mr. cop >> a and we miss a year cuz it's going to take a year at least a year or more in litigation to figure this out. So I think it's something that we can do like I'm happy you brought that up and I want us to do it because we've been doing it but I wanted to go harder especially if you identified specific buildings but I think for this upcoming year it would not benefit us to um go at 0% and just go do that approach. And by the way, by the way, I just got >> Okay, I just finished my train of thought. >> Mr. Cuff
058has prepared a uh memo, an internal memo outlining in detail this entire issue that you were going to get anyway uh on the real estate tax inquiry uh and moving forward. But I just want to clarify right now if we go to zero right now what does it mean when we come in June even with this additional information >> and that's what I was trying to finish. >> Well I think we don't need to clarify that now because answer but some a part of us as a team is me also providing some clarification and understanding about the way I'm thinking about it as well. Like I like I said, Denzel, I agree with your findings and everything and I think it's going to bring additional revenue to the um to the to the school district,
059but I'm thinking about when it would happen and and in in the terms of where we are right now, what we need to do for next year versus like that would probably kick in two years from now. >> Understood. So, so that's my thought of like, okay, maybe we move forward, do that strategic plan that you came up with and then see the outcome of that and then we make our decision for the next cycle based on that. >> Understood. And I just want to call out the fact that this motion specifically is a non-binding action though. So, we can still arrive at June with the 2.9% increase. That's perfectly fine. This is, I guess, is alternat purely symbolic, right? >> Yeah. But then what what happens now? They go back and they do the
060calculations for that. But then we're going to come back at the next meeting and vote for the 2.9% more than likely. >> It's possible. But there's 2.9% Mr. >> Okay. >> So, so on the contrary, the converse of what you're saying, you can vote for the 2.9. You can still have your additional meeting and discussion and still come back in June and vote a zero. >> Yeah, I understand. >> So, the motion in front of us is just >> Oh, no. I'm just you I'm just raising the the point there. So, it it it can go either way. If it I'll let you guys have your discussion. Sorry, >> Mr. Kafa. I appreciate all your work you've done for the accounting. I hate to make more work for you. I think this vote for this
061tax, no taxes, is going to mess up accounting. I could just see it for the next 30 days trying to figure out where to get that 2.9% um the $3 million just put that. >> So, so what are we doing? Cuz >> I believe >> the motion's on the floor now. Are we voting on it? Like what are we >> I was I was just going to go right around. >> Okay. >> All right. >> I'm Are we clear in understanding what the yes and the no is? >> Yes to change it to zero. No is not to change it to zero. >> Okay. >> My you I just want >> when when we approve a budget, Mr. Cuff. Okay, we're not just approving a percentage increase. What other associated calculations flow from the 2.9
062or if the board comes back in June and says they want 3.2 or 2.1? >> Great, great question. There are a couple things that are will be affected um once we if that is changed going forward. It'll be one, it'll be the discussion we had on the tax rebate. That will be an adjustment to that if that's going to happen or if that's not going to happen. There's also an adjustment to the homestead calculation um that will that will affect that um adjustment as well. So, there's a couple things there. We also have to make an adjustment to our expenditure line because that reduction in revenue will cause a reduction in our expenditure as well. >> So, that will there's a lot of trickle effects there that will have to go into place. And you're
063not ready to do that tonight in terms of all those numbers. >> I am not. >> Okay. That's that's the So if the board were to vote to zero, you're going to have to modify the 2028 form. Is that correct? Correct. Reflect which is a state form that we need to file alternative expenditures and other issues associated with that. >> Correct. That is the report that we once well the tentative thought was once the 2.9 was approved or the budget was presented as approved we would post it tonight to hit the PTE regulations to have it publicly posted and reviewed at that point if there is more discussion that discussion can happen between now and June 18th if there's other revisions to the what was proposed or rep or what was presented by the administration
064>> but right Now, if uh you would have to if the and the board ultimately does have the prerogative to push out a 0% proposed final budget, but you're going to have to do and scramble to get the 2028 form and recalculate the expenditure budget, which you won't see. So, certain things would have to be cut from that budget in order to balance it. Is that correct? >> There would be a lot of work this evening. Yes. I'm sorry. Wow. >> Okay. So, I wanted everybody to understand it. It sounds easy, but it isn't as easy as it sounds. And and the administration certainly will share with you, you know, the whole issue for tax assessment appeals. And I will also tell you that the picture uh from a valuation standpoint without going too loud
065and this is probably better in executive session will not be as pretty as the hard facts look to you right now. Uh >> and I I just want to clarify I don't take this action lightly and the reason I actually took this action is because I tried to work on this for months actually with the administration with the administration. I brought this issue up multiple times about assessments. Uh so that's the only reason that we arrive here. I did I did participate in the process and now we arrive here and I have to ask that we have this motion to reflect 0%. >> I I hear you. I hear you. >> But uh does that help I think the board understand what this means? >> Want to move through with the motion? >> Yes. May
066May we ask Mr. Simson to do the roll call >> again? A yes is for zero. A no is for >> yes is for zero. No is for 2.9. >> Uh Miss Diamura >> Dr. Is Dr. Johnson on >> she was >> she >> Dr. Johnson Dr. Johnson, >> I'm here. Can you hear me? >> Yes, ma'am. I can hear you. Is it >> okay? >> Your vote, please. >> My Say that vote again, please, cuz I was You guys were cutting out. >> Yes, ma'am. Yes for zero. No is for 2.9, >> meaning no, you're not raising it to 2.9. >> No, the opposite. >> I'm a little lost. I'm sorry. I couldn't hear you guys. I came I just came on when it was like 0% or 2.9%. >> No. >> Why don't
067you say zero or 2.9 and we'll know what you're >> zero or 2.9%. Just >> 2.9%. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> Miss Mat >> 2.9. >> Miss Michaels >> zero. >> Mr. Morris >> zero. >> Mr. Nicolof. >> Oh, no. >> No. 2.9. >> Miss Noel. >> 2.9. >> Miss Sierra. >> 2.9. >> Miss Wil.9. two, three, four, five, six. >> So, you have seven nos and uh two uh yeses. Motion um >> fails. >> Which brings us back to the original motion that would include the 2.9. May I have someone to move to move that forward to the later this evening? We have a maker. Do we have a second? We have a second. And All in favor? >> No, no discussion. Oh, >> I just I just want to put on the
068record that I do want us to visit what Denzel said. I want to put that on the record for us to visit that >> in terms of the assessments. >> In terms of the assessment, and I agree. It's just >> other issues. Okay. Any further discussion? You want to mad >> chair? We just administration for the record. We do have a report of the past two years of the assessment appeals. It was attorney Satan is going to explain to you how difficult this is to get. So I want to uh commend Mr. Cuff. I do have a copy for the board for review so you can take with you and so and have further conversation about this. But we did do this. We work with our council to get this information. I know Miss Diama
069had asked us and we were working on this document. So we do have it. Can you explain this you know so for the record how this happens? >> Okay. Uh the administration does have a memorandum that we can review and obviously some of the uh review will have to be deliberated in executive session uh under the circumstances with council to talk about the process for reviewing it and why we've seen a uh decline in our have we seen a decline in our assessed valuations? Actually, we've seen it increase due to the val the value of properties increasing. While we have not won every assessment, we've been on the losing end of some of the assessments. The assessed value of the properties districtwide has increased. >> Okay. So, we need to talk about this and go
070through the memo. Uh I don't know if tonight's the night to do that. A but Dr. Burks would like to give you the documentation. we can start looking at that and we can start the necessary dialogue to move that issue forward. >> Thank you. >> Yes, please. >> Okay. >> She's approaching the bench. >> In the meantime, I'm just going to ask him to run. >> Yeah. >> No, no, no. I bet has something to say. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot. >> No, it's it's on. >> It's on. As long as it's green light, it's on. >> I don't take this vote to do the increase lightly. Um, I am a homeowner. I have a rather large property and I know it's going to be more than 70 to $71 a year for me.
071However, it's the one tax real estate tax I've never complained about because I understand it's to educate our children and they are our future leaders and if they're going to run our country someday, I want to make sure that they know what they're doing. So for me this I love the idea and I want us to go looking at the these appeals because we should we really should on the other hand I can't not say yes let's do this because this is for their education >> thank you agree >> so madam chair >> can I chair >> yes so welcome back so so right now so once this go once Um, as the vote has moved forward, next steps will be we'll have a the budget itself will be up for review on our website,
072we will have a information going out in the morning call letting everyone know that is available for u review on our website. It also will be a statement stating that we plan to approve the budget on June 18th at the board meeting. >> Thank you. >> If there's no other comment, uh, Mr. Mr. Simon, would you call the role again, please? And this time it is to move the item as stated with the 2.9% increase forward to later this evening >> Miss Mat. >> Yes, >> Miss Michaels. Yes, >> Mr. Moors. >> No, >> Mr. Nicolof. >> Yes, >> Miss Noel. >> Yes, >> Miss Sierra. >> Yes, >> Miss Wil. >> Yes. >> Motion passes 81. Are we ready? >> Okay. Next, Mr. Cuff is requesting approval from the school board of directors of
073the Lehigh Career and Technical School Budget. >> Change the slide. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Matson. Waiting for the slide to change. Sorry, I won't pause. >> The champions are here. the champion champions. Wow. We ask fitting to showcase our superstars, the William Allen High School baseball team. Woo! WOO! I want to make sure I say this right. So, for the public, I'm just reading my phone so I can get the title correctly. >> So, William Allen High School, for the first time since 1995, 31 years, won the District 11 championship. Let's give it UP FOR WILLIAM VALLEY. Go Caneries. We are extremely proud of you. We are so excited. I want to thank the coaches, administration, all the students, and I met my friend this morning, the peer mentoring program this morning. I
074also said we are so thrilled and happy. And you know, we love winning here in Allentown. So, we hope on Monday, so everyone standing, woot woot, and all the people who say, "I went to William Allen High School. I'm a proud Canary." These young people want to see you next Monday in Bethlehem cheering them on saying and bring it so we can bring back the win. But they need us there. >> They need us cheering. They need us saying yes. Go Allan. I'm telling you, I am so pumped right now. I heard it on the news this morning. I was like, I was so excited. So, I thank you. We appreciate you. Keep up the great work. And not only are they uh great athletes, they're all also great um they have strong academic prowess.
075So they are exceptional students. And for everyone who's listening out there, we have some spaces. So if you're attending another school that you could come to back to William Allen High School, there's some amazing things happening here in Allentown. >> Some sensational things happen. And people should be clapping. Work with me here. There's some sensational things happening in Allentown. And you're missing out if you're not here over at over here celebrating and and I'm telling you this is my appeal. Okay? You want to be here with us. What they say they're not like us. They're not like us. Okay? They're not like us. So keep up the great work. Come on. Monday. Let's make this happen on Monday. Thank you. Woo. Woo. Let's give it up to our team. >> Do we have the actual
076name? I know only thing I heard um earlier today was Bethlehem. Dr. off. Do you want to say something? >> The only thing I would say in addition to them being phenomenal student athletes is really their character. A quick example, last night after the game, Miss Pollock and I were on the field and I introduced her to one of the players and she was admiring his medal and he took it off and put it around her neck and said, "This is not just for us. This is for you and the entire community." So that's really a representation of WHO THEY ARE. DO WE DO WE HAVE an actual address because we're going to say it's the whole world to see so they can show up. >> It's going to be at the sales university time
077to be determined tomorrow. >> The sales university and Miss Reese is going to post the actual time when we get the the actual time. So please look at our social channels as well as the school. I want to thank was Mr. Tia here. I want to thank him for his leadership. We're we're we're winning this. We won. We have the um athletic director of the year. We have all kind of great things happening here in Allentown. >> They also won leagues. So, they're league champions and district champions. And I wouldn't forget, I'd be remiss to, you know, acknowledge the time that our coaches spend away from their families to give back to our students so that we can make these types of accomplishments. >> Thank you. I I I know that we um I know
078the hour is getting late late, but um I don't know if the board would just want to take a quick picture with the children just just because of why we're here. We're here for them and the young people and Yes. And shake their hands and let's take a nice photo. >> Young people, sorry. I want to call you children and coaches. >> Yes. your picture. Can we have some of my friends? Monday night. They're looking for us. Monday night at the Sales University. Yes. >> What's up? What' you say? >> A >> nice >> I don't even know where we were. >> Where are we? LCTI. >> LCTI. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Thank you very >> Go for it. >> Ready. Okay. So this evening we're going to present the LCTI Lehi Carbon
079and Technical Institute budget for the 20 2026 2027 year. Joining us this evening are our partners from LCTI, Miss Debbie Miller, the business administrator, and Mr. David Helm, the assistant business manager. They're both here to join us in case there are any questions after I'm finished. So they recently approved their budget in the amount of $35.4 $4 million, which is roughly a 5.9% increase over a prior year's um budget. So, the cost for for Allentown School District for this year is our proposed is 7,327,123. The breakdown for that cost is estimated cost of 5.8 8 million capital cost district share of 79,000 debt service of 535 and our academic center of 843,000 for the total the $7.3 million budget. So right now what we're getting right now from LCTI the current enrollment that we have
080is 645 students with an average ADM of $74. And for those who are new to the acronym of ADM, that is the average daily membership. That is basically PTE's um methodology of keeping track of student attendance. The Lehi Career Technical Institute serves 88 students representing a 87. This does not include I'm sorry, an average member for the LCTI academic 704 and academic center of 87. The contributions for the academic center contribution is an increase of $288,000 from the prior year. So just to give you a little bit of context, there are 2349 students participating in LCTI across 10 schools. Allentown makes up approximately 27.5% of the total LCTI student activity. So we have 604 students enrolled. Our enrollment has grown by 28 students from prior year up 4.5%. The our high alg has a high
081concentration in the top programs. Of the 400 of the 646 Allentown students at LCTI 462 are enrolled in the top 20 programs. The top 20 pro three of the top are cosmetology um diverse career oppations health and medicine sciences. So we have the highest amount in those three areas. Those students are enrolled from Allentown school district. Cosmetology at has a increase of 61.5% from prior year. Allentown holds 38% share of this program versus Parkland at 18% and East Penn at 13.9%. Diversified career occupations Allentown accounts for 23% of the students leading East Penn who also matches us to 23% and ahead of Parkland at 13.3%. Health and medical sciences Allentown leads that with 25 point 25.4% 4% of the program enrollment compared to Parkland at 18.5% and Whiteall at 17.7%. Thank you. >> What's the
082completion rate completion like? >> I don't >> I do not have the question. I'm sorry. I'm not sure. The question was the completion rate for students. >> Um I'm sorry. I don't have that information available. I will relay that request to Dr. So we can get that back to you through the superintendent. >> Any data showed up tonight? Any >> I do not have I would not have that. I'm sorry. >> No. And I'm apologize Dr. Greenalt was unable to attend this evening. Okay. >> Due to prior planning, but again any questions that you have, we can certainly take back to LCTI and get those addressed for you. >> Yeah, if we can present maybe at the next meeting that would be great. Just >> Okay. >> If they can. >> Okay. We're sens uh
083we did re uh have a request to LCXCI to provide us with some of the data. I think Dr. I'm not sure exactly what we're requesting but Dr. Seoe does have some of that information to share with the board tonight. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, that'll be great. Please listen. There was a little something. Good evening. >> Good evening. >> On the first page of the document, you have the number of students per district. Mr. Cuff gave an example of the top um categories programs. You have the number of students per district for the 2526 school year, 24 25 and 23 24. at it. The first page is just the number of students from each district. I'm going to go to the third page. On the third page are the programs for the number of
084students. The actual number of students for 25 26 24 25 and 23 24 in that area for the Allentown School District. On the next page, >> excuse Dr. Williams, sorry. Can you just say it for the public because they're not looking at the document what you're looking at? >> So there's a page that has the number of programs that LCTI offer and then it shares with us for example cosmetology has 63 students in 2526 in 2425 there were 39 students and from in 2324 there were 34 students. So it shows an increase in especially cosmetology and then the the categories are cosmetology, criminal justice, auto technology, advertising, design, commercial art, health and medical sciences, diversified career occupations, print technology and graphic imaging, marketing and entrepreneurship, culinary arts, carpentry, computer and network technology, early child care
085education, veterinarian techn technology, dental technology, automated industrial technology, get old, web design, web programming, emergency health services, service occupation clusters with um building trades maintenance, computer information technology and emerging digital media and social communications. The document shows that in some places in some of the programs we have remained stagnant but some of the um most popular programs we have grown in population. >> Madam chair may just for a matter of clarification those programs that you list listed doctors are those the top 20 that was referenced or those all the programs that they offer? >> The top 20. >> Okay. >> And then you um there is another page and it says market share of program by district. at the top shares um the information where Allentown School District is compared to the other districts. The
086other districts go across, the programs are at the um go down on the vertical and the schools are at the horizontal and it tells you the number of students who are in the program. What we do not have um is the number of students who to your point, Miss Noel Brown, um that complete the program. So, I'm looking at the um the activity page. >> Yes. >> And I'm seeing there's increases in some numbers like, you know, early child care education, um culinary. There's a few there increases, but then the ones that are decreasing, we're looking at health and medical science, diversified career occupation, and then a pretty big dip in emerging digital um media and social communications. Funny enough, we are Bridgefield Academy is going to be doing a lot of those programs. So,
087I want us to take a look at that and kind of find out what are the reasonings for the dip there from our students signing up for that or or being accepted into those programs to make sure that we're filling that gap. Absolutely. >> Over over at Bridge View. So, I would say like data is so important. Like everyone knows I'm going to ask for data. It's for various reasons. I I really want to know the completion rate, how are our students doing, how can we support them better, whether the challenges that we're seeing that they're having in the classrooms, those things are very important. It's not just a bill um for us to just pay. So yeah, >> madam president just for clarity. So when the administration is asking making the request to LCTI
088uh you want to know I just want to be clear um overall completion rates of um graduation rates as well as people who are persisting in the courses. >> Yes. >> So if I signed up in nth grade and my persisting and now I'm in 11th I'm something different. Right. Okay. So, we want to know persistence rates, graduation rates. Um, is there any other data you want us to collect? >> Persistent rate, graduation rates. Um, my understanding of how they select courses is that they students list by preference and then they're told which courses they're enrolled in. I would love to know what percentage of Allentown students get their top choice classes on their register. >> Top choice. So the we want to know the number of students or the percentage of students who receive
089their first their top choice who attend the Allentown who from the Allentown school district >> who enroll in LCTI. >> Would you like the same number of years of the other data 23 24 >> so three? Yes. Three years longitudinal five would be lovely but we'll take three. >> Okay. No it's fine. We'll do. >> Thank you. That's one. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> Anything else, Mr. Cub? >> Yes, I have one more. >> Sorry, turn my page. Requesting board approval for the 202627 workers compensation insurance with ENOVA. >> No, we didn't. No, no, no. I'm so sorry. >> No, I meant on the LCTI. >> No, that was it. >> Okay. >> May I have a motion to move the LCTI budget forward to later this evening? >> Is there a second? >>
090We have a maker. We have a seconder. Is there any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor of moving the budget forward, please say I. I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. Now, Mr. >> Thank you. No problem. >> Approval from the school board uh of the 2627 workers compensation insurance within Kova and the renewal for the Allentown Public Library with UPMC work partners. >> Correct. Workers comp insurance provides wages wage replacement medical benefits to employees who are injured or become ill in the course of employment. The administration is recommending all recommend that the Allentown School District purchase workers comp insurance within CO at a cost of 1,67525 for the 2627 fiscal year. The min ad min administration also is recommending that Allentown Public Library renew coverage to UPMC workers partners for the 2627 fiscal year. The
091cost for the workers comp insurance for the Allentown public library will be $3,187. Thank you. >> Is there any question or discussion? >> Um does the school does Allentown school district pay for the public library UPMC? >> No, they are separate. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Anything else? >> May I have a motion to move this item forward? >> So moved. >> Mayor, do we have a seconder? >> Dunzel second. >> And there's a second. Any further discussion? >> All in favor? I >> opposed. The motion carries. >> Dr. Wharton V is requesting approval from the board for Miller Sports Construction to provide new main court basketball stop back stops. PIAA required uh shot clocks and LED lighting at William Allen and at Derif and you have a couple of items with Miller. You want
092to take both of those and >> Yes, that would be wonderful. Without objection, we'll vote on those together. >> Good evening board. Good evening, Dr. Burks. >> Good evening. >> So, you just said it best yourself. What we're requesting is for Miller Sports Construction to provide us new back stops for Allentown School District as well as shot clocks. Shot clocks are going to be a requirement of BIA next year. So, we're a little ahead of schedule. And we would also like to do the same thing with Derif. Their basketball back stops are fine. However, they're going to require shot clocks. So, that one's in the amount of $48,180 with Miller Flooring. The second Miller flooring contract that we would like you to approve is for $35,000 in uh finishing refinishing the gym floors at William
093Allen Derf High School, Harrison Morton Middle School, Rob Rob Middle School and Texler Middle School, an amount not to exceed $35,000. Uh on a almost an annual basis, we try to rotate through the schools to redo their gym floors. their gym floors are uh take a lot of use. All the kids are using the gymnasiums. So that is it for those two items. >> Okay. Thank you. And is there any is is it Yes, go ahead. That's just what I was going to ask. >> Yes. Um I have a question um for the floors. So I am hearing a lot um from the students when they're playing basketball specifically at Rob um about it being too slippery. So when they're playing their games, they're just slipping around a lot and it makes them upset. So
094um >> and that is one of the reasons why we're doing the gym floor. At some point the the clear coat on top becomes slick. >> So it just wears down. >> Okay. Thank you. That's all of my concern. >> Is there any other discussion or question on those two items? Then may I have a motion to move them forward? >> So moved. >> Second. >> I hear a maker and a seconder. All in favor? I >> and the motion opposed. The motion carries and you are also requesting approval from us to engage with Barry Isit and Associates to serve as the district's engineer of record and provide comprehensive engineering services in support of capital projects compliance and districtwide facilities planning. >> Yes, thank you very much. So the intent of this is we have
095a very aggressive and and I mean that in a good sense uh capital program I we've discussed it tonight in in detail uh Mr. Cuff did and in order to do that we also have to be at the forefront of design because it's going to have to be expedited as well as permitting and approvals which it takes up 60% of the time of any design. So by having Barry Isizette as our team member for the district, it'll help accelerate that. And also Barry Isizette is uniquely positioned because they know our schools very well. They've been working with our schools for quite some time. They have what we call institutional knowledge of basically all our buildings as well as our grounds. >> Is there any question or discussion about that item? >> Seeing none, may I
096have a motion to move it forward? Second. >> Have a maker and a seconder. All in favor? >> I >> opposed. The motion carries. >> And you are requesting approval from the school board to engage with pest control to provide districtwide integrated pest management, pest prevention, monitoring, treatment, and emergency response services. >> Thank you. So obviously we have 24 buildings. Our 24 buildings are older. So, we'd have what we call vectors, uh, rodents, bugs, whatever. So, we have to we have to treat it no different than a house. So, what this is going to do is going to be a three-year plan with Erlick to continue to provide that service to us and make sure that we are abiding by state state regulations. We post on our website that we have a uh integrated pest
097management plan. They monitor that plan for us, making sure that we're compliant. They also come in whenever we want. For instance, the last couple of months we asked them to do come in twice a month because the weather's getting warmer obviously and you know you get bugs in the building but conversely in the winter the buildings are warm. So you get the animals and bugs from outside coming into the building so it's robust. So we're just managing that and that's going to be for the next three years. >> So the 77,000 covers the entire three years or is it 77? >> No 77100 per year. per year. Okay. >> Say that again. 77,000 is for >> one calendar year. >> One year. So, okay. >> Yeah. For the >> contract for three years >> for
09826 buildings. >> The 20 24 26 building. >> Well, altogether. Yeah. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Anything else? >> Madam Chair, >> just for clarification, can uh Dr. Wman can just um share that we're just intensifying um doing a little bit more to ensure that >> we are doing a little more. Like I alluded to, we increase from 1 month to two months uh per visit. They are also on call. Like if I if Kirk and I were to see something run across the floor, we'd make a call, they'd be here. So they're actually very engaged. They also work with us with this building. If you're aware, we had some bat issues in this building. They're the ones that mitigated it. So they do a lot. >> I'll tell her after. Hey, I have a motion
099to move this item forward. >> So moved. >> Is there a second? >> All in favor? >> I >> opposed. The motion car. >> Miss Mat, you missed an item. >> Which one? >> On the bottom of page four, there was a waste management item we need approved. >> Oh, I'm sorry. So, if you want to backtrack to waste management. >> Oh, yes. So, I'm requ uh we are requesting the board to engage whitetail disposal to provide comprehensive waste removal, recycling, and related environmental services in support of clean, safe, and efficient operations across all school district facilities in the amount of 1,778,8740. And this is a three-year contract. So, that number represents a three-year contract. >> Any questions? May I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Makers and seconders. All in favor?
100I >> opposed. >> The motion carries. Now you're requesting approval to award prime construction contracts for the new K to8 academy project in support of the construction and development of the district's new educational facility. >> Thank you. >> Please bring us up to date. So this is for the new K through8 academy and we're talking about $89,95,000 for the project. It includes six different primes uh of varying values as you can see in your document. Uh note four of the six are non-union, two of the six are union operations. So again, 89,95,000 for the project and it represents about a $10.2 million reduction, not reduction, uh, scrap that uh, retract that. We had a higher estimate and when the project came in, it came in 2 uh, $10.2 million less. Very, very good. >> Any
101discussion? Excuse me. Go ahead, >> Denzel. >> Oh, after you. Okay. Okay. Um, I just had a brief question. Uh, could you walk us through I believe we had the prime contractors and we also had alternates that came through for each award. Can you walk us through how we determined and picked >> so? Absolutely. So, what you have is you have a base contract. Here's what we want for this building. And then you also have the alternates. Would it be nice to have this? or you have alternate deduct meaning you may have a product that you're thinking about but it comes in too high we'll defer to the base contract what that item is. So the ad alternates are would it be nice if if the bu if the budget comes in if if the
102bids come in under budget wouldn't it be nice to get this now we can afford it because we're under budget under the construction budget that was estimated. On the flip side of that, we might be designing for something that we want, not necessarily need, and the alternate would be the deduct. Okay, that came in a lot higher than what we anticipated. Let's stick with what the deduct alternate was, which is still a comparable item, but obviously less expensive. >> Okay, >> so that's the difference between the base bid, which is what do the specification manual say? the alternates. Wouldn't it be nice if we could afford this or that came in high, so let's go with the deduct alternate. >> Okay. Thank you. And one follow-up question before I pass it to uh Miss Diamore.
103>> Yes. >> Um there was an alternate for JBM Mechanical, I believe, that came to the attention of the board, which was like a $400,000 deduct for a control system that we did not select. Correct. >> Meaning we would have saved 400,000 if we selected that. And I'm just curious, why did we not select that? There's multiple reasons. A, it's a new project that uh product that really hasn't been tested. So, for lack of better words, we would have been first to test it. B, the product, and I also have our consultants here to maybe further elaborate on this. B, the uh being that the product was new and not tested, we were concerned how would it operate in the field. Uh, C, we went with the product that was specified. So, that was the
104alternate. We opted not to do the alternate. That was a deduct of $400,000. That would have been nice if we were over budget, then we would have considered it. However, being that we weren't over budget, we stuck with what was in the specifications as designed by our design professionals knowing that the product that we chose would be right for the building. So that would have been slightly on the wouldn't it be nice side of the fence, but we exercise caution because the product really hasn't been tested. Just to let you know that very vendor, we're still possibly going with their product, albeit not that product for $400,000. It'll still be a X unit and the one that you're talking about is a X unit of the same company. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Evad's next,
105I think. So which two of these are >> absolutely. So Todd Devon food equipment. >> Okay. >> And vision mechanical. >> Okay. And then my next question is are the other four going to use project labor agreements? >> We project labor agreement would be incumbent upon us to create. >> Okay. >> Not not the contractor. Project labor agreement would become a board policy. >> Okay. >> That we would institute. I would not recommend a project labor agreement. I would consider a responsible contractor agreement. Two different vehicles. >> Yes. >> Two inherently different vehicles. >> Okay. I was just curious because I wasn't sure if we were using state funds or not for this because if it's prevailing wage. >> It's anything over 25,000 is prevailing wage. >> Okay. So then all these are prevailing wage
106at least. >> 100%. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> My question is um you say is Oh, now my phone dies. Of course. Um, I'm using my phone as a magnifier in case anyone doesn't know. Um, okay. So, it's from the capital funds. Um, do we have these funds? I know they're accounted for. Um, and uh or is this debt? >> Great question. So, of the 2.9 million uh 2.9% increase of taxation that we were talking about earlier, >> we would be borrowing these funds. So >> that would only account for 3 million though. >> No, no, that wasn't 3 million. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I got that number wrong. >> That pays for the debt. That's the debt service. >> Okay. Um, so although it's accounted for, we don't really have the 89,95,000.
107>> Mr. Cuff, come to the microphone, please. >> I'm sorry. >> Excuse me. Although it uh is accounted for, we don't have the $89 million for the um project. >> Correct. It's not in our account as of yet. So, if you recall, we talked about this and this is what we're doing. We're going out to the market. When I say the market, we're going out um our financial planners will be in and we're going to talk about going out and doing another issuance or another general obligation bond issuance. So, that's what the whole process is when we talked about borrowing. So we will go out and we're going to borrow approximately somewhere between$1 and $120 million to complete the KA project. So that will be coming within the next couple of months. We were going
108we'll be going before S&P to have a call rating and to see exactly what that looks like. And keep in mind the board already went through part of the process where we had a parameters resolution back in December of 2024 I believe. So the parameters resolution is already done and we'll bring that back before the board so you have total clarity of what our next movements are. >> Thank you Mr. >> Thank you Mr. Cuff. >> Anything else? Go ahead. >> Um I did just have one additional question. I I believe this project is at the intersection of our finance committee and maybe this is for the board. Our finance committee and our building cafeteria and supply committee. And I'm curious what involvement our committee's had in overseeing this process. >> So for these awards,
109>> the building committee's been involved in that process. >> Are you is the may is the question was the building committee in all the negotiations with every vendor? Is that the question? I'm curious what the building committee's involvement was in this vendor award process, this bid process here. >> Um, Mr. Ali, can you talk about the process, please? >> Good evening. Uh, so when we go out to bid, um, there we we have very strict legal obligations that we have to follow when we go out to bid. Um, and and that's exactly how we came to the conclusion with these vendors. So there's there's a procurement process that we followed and that's how we came to the conclusion that to choose these vendors. It was a sealed bid process and it was a public meeting
110and a public uh bid that was actually held here. Um so that's that's how we we get to the to the awards. As far as the >> maybe if I can clarify there's generally in these processes not a lot of board member involvement because it's highly technical. Not that board members can't do that, but uh there needs to be analysis of pricing because this is a low lowest responsible bidder process. We don't get to pick and choose or have discretion as to whether or not we want to pick uh skeptic construction or XYZ construction company. We have to re uh we have to award it to the lowest responsible bidder. So there's a vetting process of bonding. There's a vetting process of uh uh what the architect says as to whether or not what they
111submitted meets the actual specifications that were uh actually bid and uh and the like. So those issues are in every district. It's the the the board doesn't get involved. The board gets involved in the decision as to whether to go out to bid and we hire professionals such as the project architect or construction management firm to make recommendations on this because uh candidly it's uh it's beyond my pay grade to make those kinds of decisions. Uh as it is for many of the administrators we rely upon that and this is heavily regulated under Pennsylvania law. Uh Mr. uh Nasta has no discretion to say that he was going to pick XYZ contractor versus ABC. No. Which sometimes we wish we would. >> Yeah. So that would make life very easy, but no, this was a
112a sealed bid process. >> Okay. Yeah. And I appreciate the clarification. I guess I just do want to highlight the fact that what we just said is that the building committee was not involved in oversight on this process >> and the selection the the receipt of the bids but they were involved if my understanding in the decision to go out on the project and deciding the parameters of the project uh moving forward >> and that's the scope of the business building committee of what they can do once it gets to the bidding The building committee is not a part of that process. >> But I think what, correct me if I'm wrong, uh, Mr. Morris, what you would like to see the building committee do is be involved in the process from cradle to grave,
113if you will, uh, be part of the discussion. The one thing that we did do earlier in the year or at the end of last year, we came to the board, we asked to for you and you have to by law, you have to ask permission from the board to go out to bid. So the board was aware that we had to go out the bid. Then you get all the bid documents together and then you go out the bid. If you're asking as part of being on the building committee to be involved possibly in the next next uh project, especially when we're receiving bids, by all means, you could do that. But from a technical perspective of going through all the documentation, Mr. Sultanic is right. It's very literal. It's very engineering speak. And
114we we look at it from a project specification perspective. What do the specs say? What does ABC company say they're going to provide us? Do they meet the intent of the specs? So that now gets very deep. Uh but for somebody to be involved in the building committee, I welcome it. >> I welcome somebody being at the table. >> The predecessor was. >> Yeah. And I appreciate that. And I think, you know, it's one reason I'm bringing it up after watching past board meetings. Um, I think that cradle to the grave involvement is important uh because I mean we are the elected members and we are residents of Allentown whereas sometimes these contractors are not. Is that accurate? >> That's true. But again to again to Mr. Sultanic >> what's that >> be that part
115of the decision making process? Correct. >> And I'm not saying it is. I'm just saying so I'm fielding questions. I'm getting emails. I'm getting contacted based upon things that are happening with the K through8 school. People are very excited about it. Um I'm unable to and I can forward and I do forward these questions. I'm unable to give a reasonable answer and I feel like well that's kind of what I was elected for though is to be that strategic oversight in this process. Not that I'm participating in the decision-m but that I'm aware of how the process is correct working. Being that every project that we bid that goes out for public review is public, everybody has the opportunity to s submit a proposal. That proposal gets reviewed. Again, we are controlled by the the
116school code of 1949 which dictates certain aspects of things. One is uh the responsible contractor or uh lowest lowest responsible contractor right best lowest value responsible contractor those two items that's what we're subject to so we are actually agnostic to act who is bidding we're looking at those criterias we're making sure that they can meet the criterias of the RFP the request for proposal that they can meet all the specifications that they can be bonded for the project that they don't have too many bonds out there where they might not be qualified for the next bond to cover their shity bond or their performance bond. So, there's a whole bunch of things that are happening in the background that we do. And yes, sometimes local local uh industries, local shops don't get it. But that's
117just part of the the experience of public bidding. you it's lowest responsible and it can go to anybody right it can absolutely go to anybody so in this case we had quite a number of responses which is good so we have to go through it happens in this room we set up a table over by the Diaz and we open up the bids we read them out publicly we give each contractor that shows up a bid tally sheet so he or she could write down what the numbers are as they're going through the numbers I'll use the electrical contractor as a Perfect example. As we were reading the numbers of the various contractors, the one that knew that he was no longer the low bidder just up and left because there was nothing more for
118him to do. So, it's a very very open process. It's anybody who's interested can even come. Typically, it's just the vendors who are subpoin because they want to see who their competition is, where their numbers fall, so they can sharpen their pencils the next time. If they know that XYZ companies always bidding against them, sometimes they win, sometimes XYZ wins. So, it's a very very public madam chair. >> Yep. Thank you for the clarification. >> Madam Chair, I just want to say and um for Mr. Morris and any board member, if people are asking you questions, we have the administration. We'd be happy to answer the questions and we can get back to them. We also have a robust team of contractors, architects. They are on demand. They will hear and they're here tonight. So,
119they'll be happy to answer any questions. We call them up. They are they deliver and within an hour they'll be on all over this. So, you if there are any questions, you could direct it to us and we will answer. >> Right. And but I I do want to put a point on that though. Um just because this is why this is coming up for me is that someone did try to follow that process. They did try to get in contact with multiple people in the administration, spoke to the administration, and finally they came to the board. So that's why I'm bringing it up here. >> That might not be 100% accurate because people have their versions of the story and then we have a lot of documentation. So, but I I I'd be happy
120to talk to you offline about a particular vendor >> and that sometimes does happen, Denzel. We all get those emails from whether it's contractors or someone they're looking for a job and it's not that I think they automatically assume like if you apply for a position you automatically get something or you get a call or but there's a process that they go through and then they select it. So, anytime I get those emails, I forward it right to the administration because I there's this line that I think sometimes the public wants us to cross in believing that we have the power to help them to get in and we do not and and that's just unethical. So, we just forward it to the administration and let them handle it. >> Yeah. >> I I just
121want to clarify my position. I'm not asking for us to be involved and I'm not asking for us to put our finger on the scale. I think it was purely just getting this contractor in contact with the responsible party in the administration >> and following up on that. Um, so my main point here is I I would just like to see our building committee be a little bit more involved in the cradle to grave on on these projects especially with something as important as our K through8 academy which everyone is excited for. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> May I have a motion to move this item forward? >> So moved. >> I heard a maker. Is there a second? >> All right. All in favor? >> I >> opposed. >> Then the motion carries. And you
122are also requesting approval from the board of of change orders 01 and 02 from CMG of Eastston general contractor for the family and community resource center project associated with infrastructure storm water management irrigation system coordination and regulatory compliance modifications necessary to support the continued development of the project. >> Okay. Um Madam Chair, can you context that before you get into this as to why we're coming before the board? >> Yes, 100%. And actually, it's it's pretty easy. Uh, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania D as well as Lehigh County Conservation District had some changes in the design, requested changes in the design after the bids were received. So, the design is going to incorporate subsurface drainage. If everybody's familiar with a detention basin, this one's going to be underground where it collects all the rainwater. They wanted
123us to change certain aspects of that entire design which resulted in uh $331,000 of changes. So it's all the catch basins, all the pipes underground and the outfall structure on the end that goes into the uh city's city's uh uh drainage infrastructure. The one for 16,000. We also have to do what they call best management practices when collecting rainwater. One of the new things that they want us to do now is collect that rainwater and irrigate, you know, provide sprinklers in the lawn areas. They had changed that as well. That resulted in a $16,996 worth of change to the irrigation system. We have a similar irrigation system for the K through82. So, that one that one's good as we speak right now, but that is the context of this uh change order. It's driven by
124the state. It's driven by Lehigh County Conservation District ergo making the change to the design since we already had the design bid. The contractor had to change his value. So what we do when that happens, the contractor provides unit costs for everything. So you can quickly calculate what the difference is. Those calculations are reflected right here. >> We need to go over to Sonia Sotomayor. Those kids over there figured out how to turn dirty water into clean water. I think we need to hire them and figure out their system >> and it'll probably come in cheaper. Okay. >> Is there any other discussion? May I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. We have both. We have both. All in favor? >> I >> opposed. The motion carries. and you are requesting approval to
125engage with Villiter Electric to provide electrical service connection to 13 new digital marquee signs to 11 schools across the district. Yes. Thank you very much again. So, Billet Electric back in March, if I'm not remiss, February and March, the board approved all these new marquee signs. They also have to be electrified. So, Billet Electric is going to provide that electrification from the building to the sign. Uh, we already purchased the signs on a separate with a a separate uh vendor. So, Billier literally is going to plug it in on one side, plug it in the other side, and that's going to cost the district $51,960. >> Any discussion? >> May I have a motion? >> I make a motion. >> Second. All in favor? I opposed. The motion carries. And you're requesting approval of the
126transit service agreement with the Lehi and Northampton Transit Authority, Atlanta, for the school year 2627. >> Absolutely. Thank you very much again. So, this is an annual contract with Atlanta. As you're well aware, LAN provides transportation to many many of our students uh besides STA, School Transportation of America as well. So, LAN charges us. So this year the charge is going to be approximately $644,46 which is an increase over last year by $270,000. It is 100% reimburseable by the state but just by data alone. Last year I stood before you and I stated that from the prior year of 23 24 to 2425 there was a 64% increase in ridership. We now are at 35% greater ridership than last year. So it keeps on increasing which is great. The more kids that get on the
127bus, they're going to school, they're in the classroom, they're being educated. So this went up this year for a myriad of reasons. Numbers increased students and obviously as we all been experiencing the cost of fuel prices. So but again it's 100% reimburseable. >> This question or comment. Yeah. Does this cover summer for the students? >> As long as Yes. >> Yes. >> As long as you have your school identification. Okay. You're allowed to get on the uh the buses. >> Okay. Go ahead. >> I'm sorry. >> Any day. >> Yeah. Any day. Any day. Okay. >> Any day. Evening. Any day. >> May I have a motion? >> So move. Second. >> All in favor? I I >> opposed. The motion carries and I think this is your last one. >> Praise the Lord. >>
128You're requesting approval for the purchase and replacement of district vehicles and equipment necessary to support student transportation, facilities operations, athletics operations, maintenance services, and districtwide operational activities for next year. So we are looking to spend approximately 399 thou say $400,000 on all these new vehicles. And as Dr. Burke says, Robert provides some context. Many of our vehicles are old. The two for instance that we're replacing, the two vans, 1999 and 2000, they need to be replaced. our uh plow truck as well as our dump truck are equally as old to a point where they probably uh will would not be uh reinspected by the state. So, we need vehicle replacement. The good thing that school districts do is keep things running. We're past that point. Just like we're talking about deferred maintenance for our buildings,
129we also have to be cognizant of the stuff that our staff ride in and that our students ride in and we have to get on an aggressive plan uh replacement plan. We are doing that. So what we did also with this we shift the onus from the facilities department to the transportation department to come up with a replacement plan for all our vehicles. This is the start of that replacement plan. That replacement plan might extend over 10 years. These are the ones that are needed now. And >> just to add some of those vehicles, we're transporting students. So, we're at a critical juncture. We need to replace those vans. >> And this is coming out of this year's budget, right? Not next year's budget. >> Yes. >> This year's budget. Okay. >> These vehicles are
130already on the lot. We can probably go get them pretty pretty quickly. >> And the the ones that we own that we won't be using anymore. What do we do with them? So, the first thing that I'm going to do is uh take pictures, put them on something called Municip Bid. It's a public website for the disposition of municipal vehicles, stateowned vehicles, uh school-owned vehicles, and we try to get money there. The second thing that we can do, literally right across from facilities, is a scrapyard. They could also purchase it, but they're going to give they do that on how much does the vehicle weigh because they're just going to crush it and sell it for steel. If that then that's the way that we can dispose of public property. So I want to do
131the auction first, you know, the minissy bid. If that doesn't work, then we can go to a salvage yard and sell it there. >> Have we ever thought of, and I don't know if this is legal, given some of these vans and buses to some nonprofits because summer programming, it's difficult for some nonprofits to get transportation. >> I will share a very short story with you. uh yellow school bus with the name of a Bucks County school district >> on it sold down in South America somewhere. It went over a cliff. So you can only imagine what the picture of the bus was the next day with the name of the school district on it. So it's a liability. It's a liability. >> Okay. >> Many of our vehicles what we're looking at there is
132if it can't be inspected, it cannot be safely driven. >> Okay. >> So the short answer is really no. It's not good practice. It also puts us in a liability. >> But the municipalities, when you put it on that bidding thing, who who buys it from those? >> One of our staff members. Uh she's laughing, but it's true. So, anybody could buy it? Like the police will put their older vehicles on it. They have a lot of miles on it, but they're generally not in bad shape. So, people will buy it. They'll put their uh fire engines on it that are outdated. Maybe another municipality that can't afford a new million-doll fire engine will take one that's 250,000. So that's >> So another municipality would have to buy. You're saying it can't be >> No,
133no, I'm just saying in general there might be a value to somebody. The value might also be to, you know, to purchase that vehicle and cannibalize it the parts for another vehicle. Okay? >> So they do that, too. But to donate it to somebody, I you're really stepping into that legal threshold. Okay, >> Madam Chair, I just want clarification. Um, I know we talked about this about a year ago and maybe the solicitor remembers. We do have a board policy and before we dispose of any property, we'll bring it to the board, correct? Get the board a list and get the board's approval. So, we are not just going to go sell it and do all these things. We have a lot of >> interest about this about in the past because we were giving
134away a chair that was broken that was going to hurt somebody and it became a big public thing. And so, so with that said, we're going to look at the board policy first. We're going to ensure that we're following it and we will present to the board the list and then we will let you know but we're not going to dispose take bitty bid all those places until we share with the board. >> Okay. >> Thank you Dr. Wartby. You're welcome. >> And that was the last item. >> May I have a motion? >> Second >> and a second. >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> opposed. The motion carries. Do we have any comment cards on non-aggenda items? >> Thank you very much. >> Robert E. Smith Jr. I'm Robert E. Smith Jr.,
1351060 East Gordon Street. Um, I'm just going to talk a little bit about Power School, but a couple things happened tonight. Um, also my family's Husky pride, my children, my grandchildren. So, even I give our condolences to uh the school district. When we lose a student, it's like losing a part of our family. So, it's really tragic what happened today. So, I send our condolences to the ASD family. Also, Jeff Glazier, who used to be the president, and I used to sit where you are, Denzel, and uh we had some scraps upstairs, but we always were respectful down here, and he was a good president, dedicated board member, and I hope we have few words for him tonight because he was a very good board member, very dedicated, and just a good person. Great sense
136of humor like the Grateful Dead. So, now to power school. It's a lousy program. You got to get rid of it. I've brought this up privately, publicly. I'm going to bring it up again. It's just we just spent a million dollars and thank you Denel and Diana because it's just not the school tax, it's the city tax, it's the trash tax. It all adds up. So, I appreciate you. I used to make those same amendments and then when it gets closer to the budget, there's not going to be enough time. So, make sure you get it in that committee meeting. Also, no building committee meeting with a new building being built. Good points tonight. There was always a building. Let's get an update. Are they on time? Is it on budget? I know they're not
137on time. Hopefully, they're under budget. The data from Sapphire is still not in power school. Does everybody know that? Why is that? Especially data of critical populations such as special education. They had a password leak of Sapphire two months ago that caused so much stress that was not shared with the public. We have paid Power School more than a million dollars. But the data transfer was and still is incorrect. On top now, Allentown School District has signed anou with the University of Pennsylvania to do AI research on schools. Is that on the agenda anywhere tonight? district people got two days prepping on it and were informed that they are research participants. I didn't know our our employees are research participants. Now also look at the dashboard contracts that have been given to Abra ABRE. Allentown
138school district allowed AB to post their logo and direct link from ASD site. The data is incorrect and word is that both of these were given favors to administrators. Also, when a student misses a class, there's usually a powers school sends a something right home to the parents. It's not working. Does everybody know this? It's just not working. You have run out. >> Mr. Mrs. Smith, your time is up, sir. >> Bob, you have run into out of time. Please, >> Bob. >> Mr. Smith, your time is up. Your time is up. Buzzer sounded. I'm sorry. >> Yeah. Oh, yeah. It's running. It's It's >> It was right behind you. It was running >> and and I heard the buzzer. >> I'm sorry. >> We'll just fill out another paper and come out. >> You're
139done, Bob. >> Thank you, Mrs. Smith. >> You don't have 12 people Mr. Smith, we have to honor the same thing. No, no, we have to honor the same thing for everyone else. You can't say rule and policy, but only when it applies to other people and not you. >> Have a good night, Mr. Is there any old business to come before us? Any new business? May I have a motion to adjourn the finance committee? May >> move. >> All in favor? I >> I >> opposed. Motion carries. >> I'm quite sure we need a bathroom break. I need >> So we'll take a quick five minute break and then we'll come back for >> our next the board of directors for the school district goes to the city of Allentown. Um before we get
140started, I'd like to just uh for indeference of time have our student reps go through their uh updates. So then we can send them home at a reasonable hour. So we can go from uh I guess right to left since I have eye contact with one of them and then we'll go from there. Um, I'll have our other representative come because I'm not the one that's supposed to be giving the update. >> You've been saved. We'll start over here then. >> Maybe the names aren't helpful. >> Oh, okay. Good evening. Um, our boys volleyball team concluded their spring season with a three-game win streak to end their regular season, which finalized their district playoff spot. Cheddar Cologne from our boys baseball team made the EPC second team in the league division for his infielder position.
141and Malaysia Moss from our softball team made the EPC second team in the Lehigh division for the utility category. On day one of the EPC track and field championships, um I placed first in the 300 meter hurdles. And on day two, our boys 4x4, sorry, thank you. Um on day two, our boys 4x4 ran a season best, placing third in the meet. The following week, I also earned a district title in the 300 hurdles. Thank you again. And then on May 1st, we attended the Lehigh County Special Olympics track and field event with athletes as well as their buddies. The Allentown School District won the relay and the mascot race students came together to support our life skills and autistic support students. Some of our student athlete leaders had the opportunity to help out at
142Dodd Middle Dodd Elementary School with their field day. Students had a great time displaying leadership, teamwork, and giving back to our school community. Um, I was awarded an EPC scholar track athlete award last week. Thank you again. Um, we held our yearly Husky Fest last Friday where students came together as a community to enjoy the numerous games and activities that were held. Two of our talented theater students were nominated for the Freddy Awards. Rosalinda Garcia and Zoe Lambert were both they were both nominated for small ensom ensl. Okay, thank you. Um, their performance. Rosalinda was also name nominated for outstanding featured performance by an actress while Zoe was nominated for outstanding performance by an actress in a leading role. To end off our mentor program this year, we had a small celebration to honor the
143senior mentors and the freshman mentees. This program Oh, yeah. She attended. They both did. This program continues to grow and makes a positive impact through our school community. The autistic support and life skills classes collaborated with Professor Nester Gil from Lafayette College to create a flag day at school. These students created flags and paraded through the halls where they met in the main cafeteria for a dance party. Afterwards, the district Pennsylvania Junior Junior Academy of Science competition was held at Penn State University where our ninth grader Josh Cologne Hernandez presented his project and earned a first place finish at districts. Senior Maya Celebei was awarded the Roger and Louise Mullen scholarship at the Rotary lunchon last week. and another senior of ours, Valentina Ukra, was selected as a recipient of the Clark's Honors Scholarship at
144Penn State University. This is only given to 10 students per year at Penn State University who are entering the field of engineering. Valentina will be awarded full tuition, full room and board fees, books, and meals for all four years of her bachelor's degree. Um, that's all I have for today. Thank you. >> Nice. >> Okay, cool. State your name. >> Yeah, please introduce yourself. >> Just state your name in school. Please, honey. >> Um, I'm Annayiah Holder. I go to Dar. >> Thank you very much. And then we'll move on. >> Can you say your name, love, and your school? Thank you. My name is Mary and I go to Birch View Academy. Good evening from Birchby Academy. May has been a busy month at Bridgeview full of of opportunities for students to demonstrate and
145celebrate their learning. Our annual show took place on May 14th and brought back to our campus many alumni who remembered fondly their own work in art and fashion shows in the past. 35 student projects were submitted and displayed at our building science fair on May 5. 16 projects from View were on display at the MDP on May 13. We we are especially proud of the science department and our students whose project that taught community members how to avoid lead contamination in soil and water was recognized as first place in the high school category. We want to thank the city of Allentown and the Bloomberg Youth Community Action Fund whose grants supplied the test kit and other materials that begin this project and the Allentown Health Bureau for their support. Yesterday, we held our end of
146year peer mentoring breakfast where students celebrated the relationships they had built this year and looked forward to a full year of the program next year. We appreciate the support that this program has shown at the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office and we're happy to host their impact and community outreach specialist at the event. This morning we held our senior capstone exhibition called From Ideas to Impact. Students showcased 23 different projects where a group of students use their learning to impact our community. From expanding our esports club to finding club basketball and volleyball programs to collecting clothes and hygiene products for our students and families to sharing information on AC on accessing county emergency services. Our seniors found all sorts of ways to serve our community with their work. I'm happy to share that a small
147group of my classmates and I will be traveling to the National Constitution Center on June 6 for the Pennsylvania State My Impact Challenge Competition to showcase our work on the peer mentoring program. This showcase our work on the peer mentoring program. This event is sponsored by the Bill of Rights Institute who generously supported our capstone projects and exhibition this year. We look forward to partnering with them again next year. We are looking forward to prom this weekend at the Renaissance Hotel and graduation at Miller Symphony Hall on June 11th. We hope to celebrate with many of you as Bridge Academy celebrates his first graduation. Speaking of celebrating, we are all celebrating being named as a recipient of the powerful learning propelled by technology award by Verizon. And with that, this is my final report. As
148Bridgeville student schoolboard representative, it has been an honor to give voice to my school here at our monthly board meetings. One thing I will take with me from my time in Allentown School District is all of the people I've met, especially those who have helped me learn how to be a leader. Thank you to the many people who have supported me along the way. And that's the news from Bishop Academy. Thank you. And remember, as always, together we rise. Hello everyone. My name is David Thor and I'm representing William Allen High School. The May 2026 board report notes detailed significant student achievements in academics, organizations, and vocational competitions. Xavier Morales, a graduating senior who will be attending East Strawburg University, received the $1,500 Chandler Barn scholarship for post-secary education. Genesis Beltry and Alatia Encarion, a
149graduating senior who will be attending Lehigh Carbon Community College, were named the Elmer Gates Award winners. William Allen High School students, Edwanis and Tuan, who will be attending Mercy University to study nursing, and Cassandra Prio, who will attend Dales University majoring in business administration, each received a $2,000 scholarship from AAW towards college tuition. Students Alma Sceed Deleon, Assad Aikita, and Justin Cruz were winners in the 16th annual hope and healing jured art show awards. FCCLA Janice Jan Genesis Beltry, a senior in LCTI's commercial bank uh baking and academic center programs, won a silver medal in baking and pastry for and qualified for nationals at the Pennsylvania FCCLA state leadership conference. Uh, Skills USA district results. State qualifiers first place Joel Wilkinson uh, 11th grader in automotive re refinishing tech and Amelia Taja Bayz 11th grade
150and nail care. Additional winners, Genesis Beltry, 12th grade, took second place in baking and pastry arts. And Levi Rose, 12th grade, took third place in automated manufacturing. Team of three building global apps program. Students from Mrs. Hannah's classroom successfully launched their first mobile apps using MAD, learn, and Padlet. This was accomplished through a digital promise cohort program which allowed them to collaborate with peers in Lebanon on apps addressing local and global challenges emphasizing global uh collaboration and communication. SAD Club members traveled to the capital to advocate for the Clean Indoor Air Act to eliminate secondhand smoke in public spaces, meeting with Representative Dne. Okay, that's and congratulations to our baseball team for winning the EPC league championship and last night securing the district 11 championship beating Straburg. And an upcoming event is graduation is scheduled
151for June 12th, 2026 at 12 p.m. at the P&L Center. That's all I have for tonight. Thank you to our student reps. You guys are free to go for the night. We won't make you stay up much longer. Do we have any comments? >> Okay, Dr. Burks, any comments? >> No, I just want to thank you again, Mr. Nicoloff, and the entire team for all the hard work and update in our policies. So, thank you so much. >> Thank you. We'll get right into it. First off, we have five policies tonight. Our first is going to be presented by Dr. Whartonby. Policy 801 on public records. for open public records. It uh is not a new policy. It's been around since 2008. PSBA recommended some changes to the policy to make it more modern, if
152you will. For instance, simple as, you know, they said that you could fax a right to know. The word fax is no longer in there since we've been modernized. So basically the po the draft policy uh prel pre preliminarily modernizes and updates the existing public records policy to align with the current Pennsylvania right to know practices PSBA formatting recent open public record guidance while the overall purpose of the substantive structure remains largely unchanged the draft legal clarity excuse me unchanged the draft improves legal clarity administrative ative flexibility, procedural consistency, and operational defensibility. If you were to look at this with the red lines in it, that PSBA, it's it's basically immaterial other than modernizing it and there's no changes for you. Uh, Mr. Simons basically still follows the same thing. >> Any discussion? I have
153a motion to move this forward to our regular meeting. >> So moved. All in favor? I. >> Any opposed? Thank you, Dr. Warden B. >> Thank you, sir. >> Next, we have two policies. Policy 803 and 804, school calendar and school day. >> Good evening, Dr. Burks and school board of directors. Um, policy 803, school calendar, uh, is a new recommended policy from the PSBA, uh, related to the annual school calendar. The policy formalizes the board's authority to annually establish the school calendar and instructional schedule in accordance with state law and instructional time requirements. Uh the policy also provides flexibility for temporary operational adjustments during emergency situations including calendar changes, adjustments to instructional time, remote or um and remote or alternative instructional methods under the direction of um designated school employees. Uh finally, this policy
154clarifies the responsibility of the superintendent or designate related to preparing the annual school calendar and documenting emergency related adjustments in accordance with PE guidance. >> If it's all right with my colleagues take 803 and 804 together in one vote, we can move on. >> Great. >> Uh policy 804, school day. Uh policy 804 includes revisions to existing language regarding uh school day operations and emergency procedures. The policy reforms the board's authority to establish the times for daily school sessions. The revisions also clarify the authority of the superintendent or designate to close schools, delay openings, or dismiss schools early when necessary to protect the health and safety of students and staff. Finally, the policy clarifies responsibilities related to emergency notification procedures and student entry and dismissal under exceptional uh exceptional circumstances. >> Any discussion? May I
155have a motion to move this forward to a regular meeting? >> Some moved. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Thank you very much. Next, we have policies 814 and 903. If it's acceptable to my colleagues, take it again in one vote. Sure. Okay. Miss Reese will do copyright. Scratch the together vote. >> Good evening. Tonight I am bringing forward policy 814 for your review and updated adoption. This is another policy that has not been updated since the 1900s. That joke would have landed a lot better if the kids were still here. Um PSBA has updated the language to focus heavily on digital compliance, accountability, and the explicit definitions of fair use, which you can see are been updated in red. Uh most importantly, this will align our district's guidelines with current federal
156copyright laws, including what's called the digital millennium copyright act. We were not in that in 1998, uh which has been, you know, written for modern educational environments, which I think we're in. So the language recommended from PSBA updates these standards directly into board policy rather than leaving it more ambiguous and uh expands you know the copyright sorry the copyright use to beyond what teachers used to make like physical photocopies of textbooks to address things like software streaming media online articles and internet digital assets. So, uh, revising these policies reflects our commitment to legal compliance, but also the 21st century. Thank you. >> May I have a motion to move this forward to the regular meeting? >> Okay. All in favor? >> Great. Thank you, Miss Ree. Next up, we have policy 903, public comment. >>
157Thank you, Mr. Nicoloff. Good evening, everyone. Policy 903 is public comment in board meetings. It is actually considered a new policy. Our prior policy was called public participation in board meetings which was adopted in 1993 and revised in 1998. Um after uh COVID the PSBA recommended some changes and adjustments to the structure of the public comment policies. I just want to point out not much has actually changed even though there's a lot in red. Um the practice continues that we request public comment at the beginning of meetings related to agenda items, at the end of meetings related to non-aggenda items. It what it does is provides more detail on when comments violate law or policy um that the board does have authority to address and um redirect that. It spells that out a little more
158in a little more detail. Um there's also uh statements in here regarding commenters not seating their time to other individuals, speaking more than once on the same topic um and gives the board some authority to to adjust um the process. It also uh maintains our current status which is the purpose of public comment is to allow the board to learn thoughts on the public prior to deliberation and official action. And it it generates that um the board doesn't necessarily engage in question and answer between the public um but that the board can direct the staff to follow up and address those inquiries in a reasonably prompt manner. Those are pretty much >> any discussion. May I have a motion to move those forward? >> Second. All in favor? >> I. >> Great. Thank you, Miss
159Ramos. Just want to take a moment to uh thank Miss Ramos and the team for the hard work on the policies. It's been a priority of mine to address policies that are from the 1900s, as Miss Ree put it. And I know that revisiting policies that old are a lot of work from a policy perspective, and we've made a lot of progress. I want to thank them all for their diligence and taking time to stay late with me to review policies. Do we have any public comments? >> I'm not sure if if he's still here, but um Robert Smith Jr. had a comment on a non-aggenda item. >> Okay. >> Or an education agenda item. One or the other. >> Oh, I guess we'll move on. Thank you very much. I have a motion to
160adjourn. >> So moved. >> Second. All in favor? >> I. >> Thank you very much, everybody. I'd like to call to order the education committee of the whole meeting of the board of directors for the school district for the city of Allentown for today, May 28th, 2026. As my two uh chairs have said before, we all know the the procedure for public comments, so I won't read through that. Before I yield the floor to you, Dr. Burks, I would just like to take a moment to um honor and remember former school board member and public servant Jeff Glazier, who left this earthly world on Tuesday. Um, he was a dear friend of mine and I considered him a mentor. Um, Jeff loved our city and served the community in many different capacities. He was a
161mentor and a friend to many of us and he was always filled with kind words, but as Bob said, he was thoughtful and forthright when necessary. He often would call me to share his thoughts on what the district was doing, most often positive, but he also was quick to tell me that we needed to clean up the trash outside of Rob Middle School on more than one occasion. when he was walking his beloved dog, Artemis. Um, like I said, he loved his community and this city and he was dev he devoted countless hours to serving us all and his generous spirit was shared in time, talent, and giving. So, on behalf of all of you, I would like to end the and the district, I'd like to take the liberty of offering my condolences to
162his family and all others who are feeling a sense of loss with his passing. So, if I could just ask ask for a brief moment of silence and thank you. >> Um, thank you, Miss Wil. So, tonight we have several items on the agenda and I'm going to pull my comments about um, Lost and Star Learning Community in the regular meeting. So, that's why I didn't address it right now. Uh, but we have several items on the agenda this evening. I think tonight we're going to start with Miss Smith. Is that okay? >> Um, before we do, are there any there are no public are there public comment cards? >> No, Mr. Smith has one of these items, >> but he's not here. So, okay. Well, then I will um yield the floor to yield
163the floor to Miss Fit. >> Good evening, board of directors and Dr. Burks. The first item that we have this evening is approing your approval for course mojo to provide Mojo AI licenses and support services for grades six and seven uh grade students and teachers across the Allentown school district's middle school at a total of cost of $54,416. Now, you know, we have had a pilot with Course Mojo this year in grade six, and every week you're receiving an update where you're seeing our student engagement is high. You're seeing increases in student uh writing scores. I did have some I had Course Mojo pull some data for us. So, within comprehension, when we look at comprehension from our sixth grade students, um their very first three sessions, they were averaging about 67%. their last three
164sessions in the past three weeks um they're averaging 77.5% and so that's an increase of 10.4% points. >> We also are looking at our writing scores where we have decreased the number of students scoring a one out of three by 14% and we increased by 11% students scoring a three out of three. So, we're seeing evidence of student success with Course Mojo. We asked middle schools if they wanted to continue course mojo and they said yes and they are paying for the sixth grade licenses. We as a district are committed to that sixth grade cohort. So, we are paying and using our ready tolearn funds for the seventh grade licenses. >> Thank you. Okay. >> Um, may I have a motion to move this item forward to >> second? >> Okay. Is there any questions
165or or discussion? >> All in favor? I >> I >> opposed. The eyes have it. Now we have um I have Dr. Coleman, but you're not Dr. Coleman. >> No, I'm not. Um, good evening, Dr. Burks, Madam President, and members of the board. Tonight, the office of learning and teaching are requesting approval for purchase the elevation platform to support English language development programming and benchmark assessment at a cost not to exceed 190,000 funded through title 3. This purchase is included in the current budget and does not require district match. Elevation will replace our current loss links benchmarking process and manual data tracking systems with one centralized platform. It'll allow staff to monitor multilingual learners pro progress weed to proficiency levels, benchmark data, annual growth and compliance information more efficiently. The platform also integrates with clever
166and power school which will streamline data sharing and reduce manual work. This shift will benefit students by reducing the amount of time spent testing while still allowing the district to collect meaningful benchmark data three times per year. Teachers will have quicker access to accurate information, allowing them to adjust instruction, monitor growth, and provide targeted support throughout the school year. Districts across the country are showing the impact of using real-time student data targeted instruction supports for emergent bilingual students. For example, Cicero School District 99 in Illinois tripled the number of students achieving English proficiency in one year through strategic progress monitoring and community independent school district and Aldine Independent School District in Texas uh strengthened accountability, engagement, and achievement through intentional use of data systems and instructional supports. For these reasons, we respectfully request the board's
167approval to purchase Elevation to strengthen the English language development programming, improve progress monitoring, and better support multilingual learners across the district. >> Thank you. Any questions or comments? D question. Um, >> yes, I'm short. Anyway, um, so it says staff uh requirements. Is it is it extra um work for the classroom teachers? Is it really like intuitive for them? Yes, it's more of a data warehousing and analytic software and with the benchmarking capabilities for the teachers that's pretty much just for them. >> Um that what we're excited about with elevation, it actually allows the teachers, the educators to track and act on data regularly. Whereas um loss links provides us with um standardized assessments. this opportunity provides us to progress, monitor and respond to data regularly throughout the school year. >> So the the question
168is about staffing um team and so I know we asked the board because we may need some additional staff for our English learners um some additional maybe tutoring supports. So we're still assessing to ensure that we're providing with their needs and as you know we don't know how many students are English learners sometimes until the year starts. So we just want to be forthcoming with the board that we may need some additional staffing to support. >> Thank you. You're welcome. >> Yes. >> So, we say yes and then doesn't happen then tell you no and then we have to come back. Okay. >> Any other questions or comments? Okay. Then may I have a motion to move this item forward to the May 28th regular morning. >> Is second. We have a maker and a
169seconder. All in favor say I. >> Any oppose? >> Okay. That brings me to Miss Perez who's requesting approval for the school um for the purchase of SNAP Health. >> Hi. Good evening, Madame President, school board and Dr. Burks. I'm presenting the request for the purchase of SNAP Health. The proposed purchase of SNAP Health is to provide district health rooms with a comprehensive electronic health record system that supports the full scope of student health services. The medical needs of students within our district are increasingly complex. Our health offices are functioning in many ways as clinical care settings requiring robust tools to safely and effectively manage student health. To continue advancing district health initiatives and ensure high quality care for our students, we need a system specifically designed for this level of service. SNAP Health provides
170the comprehensive infrastructure necessary to support our staff, improve documentation accuracy, streamline workflows, and ultimately enhance student care. SNAP Health is designed specifically for clinical level documentation, compliance, and care coordination in school settings. It allows school health services to function effectively in increasingly complex environments by enabling nurses to accurately document detailed health encounters, safely manage complex medical conditions, track screenings, immunizations, and follow-up care. Meet state and regulatory compliance requirements. Streamline daily workflows and reduce inefficiencies. send health communication and letter notices directly to parents securely in their preferred language. And it creates a centralized dashboard with student health alerts and trend analysis allow allowing nurses to prioritize not only individual student needs but also early identification of illness trends and potential outbreaks across the health rooms. How will it affect students? Implementing SNAP Health will have direct
171and meaningful impact on students by strengthening the quality and coordination of care they received in school. It enables the health service team to move beyond basic documentation to comprehensive care management supporting a more proactive and coordinated approach. This enables student health need this ensures that student health needs are effectively addressed so they no longer serve as a barrier to learning. Some key impacts for students include safer care, improved health outcomes, reduced barriers to learning, stronger follow-through on screening, and coordinated access to care. So basically, what does all of this mean? The medical needs of our students have grown increasingly complex. Our health rooms are functioning as active clinical care settings. And to safely and effectively manage this reality, our nursing staff needs clinical grade tools. Powers School is a student information system with a place
172to document health information. SNAP Health is an electronic health record system designed specifically for this level of service. Power School recommends SNAP to districts like ours with complex student health needs. They are an industry leader built specifically for health service teams by school nurses. They have a national footprint trusted by over 2,000 districts and local usage in 130 districts in PA, many of which use P school as their student information system. SNAP Health is built to integrate and communicate within P school. Um cost will is not to exceed $90,000 annually and imple implementation can begin within a few weeks of purchase. >> Madam Chair, yes. Um thank you Miss Perez. Thank you for explaining that you know as an organization we be in continuous improvement. So we using various systems and as we learn we
173learned here that we needed some additional tools. We met with our nurses. They provided us with feedback um on many occasions and I want to commend Miss Perez and her team saying that we need more in order to secure the medical records as well as uh uh house those records so that we have a better accessessility and access for our students. I do want to point out to the board, I know the original memo, like I said, just in a uh spirit of transparency, uh the number was quoted a little lower in your original memo that you received. However, we realized we needed some professional learning. So, the team didn't take that into account. I want to commend uh Mr. Ali and Mr. Walk for going back to the vendor and negotiating a great rate
174for us so that we can meet that need for our nurses. So, yes, we have prior school. It is our student information system. They have worked with districts all around the country. However, we need some additional resources and that's what we're doing. We're meeting the needs of our students. So, thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. >> Does anybody um any colleagues have questions or comments? Denzel, >> um I don't I don't know much here, but I guess just for the public, could we compare this to what we had existing with Sapphire? I believe they had a health module as well. I also believe Power School has a built-in health module. So like what is the comparison between these three alternatives? >> Sure. So actually both powers school and sapphire are considered student information system. So
175primarily for student academics but they have a health component to them where nurses can document student health information. SNAP is completely different. It's an electronic health record system. So similar if you were to see a medical provider in an office or hospital setting, they use electronic health record systems. SNAP is an electronic health record system built for school districts. So that's the primary difference. >> Okay. Sorry. So So what did we use before? >> Sapphire was actually a student information system. >> We didn't have any EHR. >> No. >> Okay. Understood. >> Any other questions or comments from the colleagues? I would just like to to ask um or comment. I would imagine that be with this health system if it's similar to Epic where you can go, you know, from doctor to doctor and
176they can pull up. We have a lot of students who move from school to school, especially our elementary schools. So if you're in Jefferson and now you're in Ritter, all of all of that is is universal. So the nurse and or who you know, whoever medical um person is will be able to see everything. >> Yes. Absolutely. Yes. >> All right. Great. Thank you. and it continues to interface with powers school. They communicate back and forth with one another. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. If there's no other comment or questions, I will entertain a motion to move this to the regular board meeting. >> Second. All right. All in favor say I. >> Any opposed? All right. Then we have Dr. Rocklin uh who's requesting approval to move forward with
177the purchase of I Ready supplemental digital adaptive mathematical program for students in grades K5 beginning next year. >> Yes, good evening. Uh thank you very much. And tonight I respectfully request the board's approval of the I Ready KTO 5 digital adaptive math solution as a supplemental instructional resource for elementary students. I Ready will provide personalized learning pathways aligned to grade level standards, allowing students to receive targeted recommendations for instruction based on their individual strengths and areas for growth through adaptive lesson resources, real-time progress monitoring, and actionable data for teachers. I Ready will support differentiated instruction, guided small groupoup learning, and will help strengthen foundational math skills. The cost is not to exceed $200,000 for one year and will be paid through the ready tolearn grant funding. >> Thank you very much. Any questions or comments
178from my colleagues? >> Is this similar to what the high school kids use called Alex? >> Yes and no. Okay. >> Um so I Ready is more of a diagnostic program for students that will help teachers to support with their in-person instruction. Um whereas Alex is more programmatic for students, this gives teachers a better idea of where the skill gaps are for students so that they can uh diagnose and give very targeted lessons. >> Awesome. Thank you. >> All right. Um I will entertain a motion to move this item forward to the regular board meeting. >> All right. Um all in favor say I. Any opposed? >> All right. And Dr. Coleman is requesting um approval to implement the STAR curriculum, a researchbased curriculum and professional learning model designed to improve outcomes for students and
179with autism and other developmental disabilities. >> Thank you. Good evening, Dr. Bergs, Madame President, board of directors. The administration requests the board's approval to implement the STAR curriculum, a researchbased instructional program and professional learning model designed to improve outcomes for students with autism and other developmental disabilities. The STAR program, strategies for teaching based on autism research, is a comprehensive evidence-based curriculum grounded in applied behavior analysis and designed to teach critical communication, academic, social, and functional skills identified as essential for students with autism. This comprehensive approach combines curriculum, training, and coaching to ensure consistent use of highquality instructional practices across classrooms and schools. Students are expected to benefit from improved communication, social, academic, and daily living skills, increased engagement and independence, greater consistency in instructional supports, strong progress toward IEP goals, and grade level expectation. The
180total cost will not exceed $119,12250 funded through ready to learn. The administration respectfully requests the board's approval to implement the STAR curriculum as an investment in evidence-based instruction and improve outcomes for students with autism across Allentown School District. Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Coleman. Any questions or comments from my colleagues? >> All right. Is there a motion to move this for? Is there all right um all in favor? >> I opposed. All right. Miss Smith is requesting approval for the school board um to renew Lexia Core 5 for the elementary schools and Lexia PowerUp for middle and high schools. >> Good evening again. Very similar to what Dr. Rocklin explained with math with I Ready. This is our adapted software program that we use at the elementary level and in the secondary level to
181meet students reading needs where they're at and then teachers can target those skills. There's actually lessons that come in to that teachers can download and teach in small groups to meet the student needs. This will not exceed a cost of $300 and $111,500. This is actually less of a cost than it was last year thanks to the negotiation of our finance team and Mr. Ali. Um I would like to share some current data with you. Um we in core five at our elementary level students working on skills at or above grade level increased by 37 percentage points from 10% to 47%. Students working on two or more grade levels below their current grade level decreased by 30%. From 60% in the beginning of the year to 30% right now. And in powerup which is our
182secondary program students working in that foundational skill level decreased by 30% from 59% to 29%. So we are seeing evidence of success with this program and again um it will not exceed $311,500 and the source of funds is access. Thank you Miss Smith. Any questions or comments from my colleagues? All right, I'll entertain a motion to move this forward to >> a second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I opposed. Okay. And that is doc brings us back to uh >> Aha. >> We get confused all the time. >> Hi, Kyle Kaufman. Good evening. Kyle Kaufman, director of innovation and and instructional technology. Uh the request this evening is for board's approval to purchase equipment for the SOTayor learning innovation hub at a cost not to exceed $95,000. Um high level this is a
183purchase of specialized equipment, fabrication technologies, hands-on learning supplies essential to the launch of the Sodomayor Learning Innovation Hub. Um I think we'll we'll skip into this how will it affect students. The Sodomayor learning innovation hub serves as a blueprint for innovation. It's transforming traditional instruction into a high rigor interdisciplinary system where students design, build, and communicate solutions in both English and Spanish by integrating engineering, computational thinking, and immersive technologies into tier one instruction. It's part of what everything happening every day. Um, it basically initiates um a a direct intervention to the opportunity gap um that many emergent bilingual uh experience. This mastery will help divide uh drive the language development. We have some cool ideas around these strategic pillars and um Miss Aante and her team there have done some amazing research on this. Steam
184as the engine of biiteracy. Students anchor their academic um and uh vocabulary and concrete problem solving experiences uh moving beyond wrote language production to true engineering in two languages. And then we got this cool new word fidgeting experience, physical and digital. Uh it's a learning model where the cognitive cycle allows students to imagine solutions in virtual spaces. Imagine the the digital technology, but then they build them with the physical tools. Many of you have seen the thing where the the students have these really cool things where they can cut cardboard and do some amazing construction from from simple tools which are very developmentally appropriate for this age group. uh and then articulate their findings using high level academic discourse again in dual language. The innovation pipeline basically is this idea that we are starting to
185prepare students for a highly technical and innovative workforce at the earliest grade levels. This of course is deeply aligned to the strategic plan uh with pathways for tomorrow, exceptional workforce because the staff there will be u trained up to to meet ISTY standards and then technology for universal learning. And again um this is uh at a cost not to exceed $95,000. Very cool stuff uh that we're using ready to learn title one and title four to pay for. >> Any questions on this awesome experience? Any comments? >> It's an awesome. I know, right? And you get to say fidget. >> Well, if there's no questions from my colleagues, I'll take a motion to move this forward to the regular meeting. >> All right. All in favor? >> I opposed. >> All right. Dr. Coleman, you're
186back up regarding Renaissance Star Reading and Math Assessment. >> Yes. Good evening again. The administration respectfully requests board approval to renew the Renaissance Star reading and math assessment system for the 2026 2027 school year at a total cost not to exceed $210,000. This request represents a continuation of services currently implemented across the district. STAR assessments are standards aligned computer adapted reading and math assessments using reading grades 1 through 11 and math grades 1 through eight to support both benchmark assessment and ongoing progress monitoring. An important component of this system is the use of STAR CBM as a universal screener. A universal screener is a a brief assessment administered to all students to help identify academic strengths, areas of need, and students who may require additional support or intervention. Universal screening allows schools to proactively respond
187to students needs early and ensure instruction supports are timely and data informed. So, we're really excited about our upcoming assessment strategy. We strengthen it in this way to include a universal screener. The renewal of STAR enables ASD to maintain a cohesive district-wide assessment system that supports continuous improvement and informed instructional decision- making. I respectfully request the board's approval to continue this important assessment system in support of student learning, early intervention, and academic success across Allentown School District. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Administration, I'm sorry. >> Both both. >> Both. And what how are they reacting to it? Are we seeing like a good reaction to the assessment? Like they're really utilizing >> Yeah. So, we're excited that this year we have um we're strengthening our assessment strategy and we're supporting it with with with
188with professional learning. One of the things we wanted to not do this year is add too many new things but get really good at what we already have. So, this was an opportunity to do so. What we noticed this year was that we only provided universal screening for our kindergarten students and which put us at a disadvantage. This upcoming school year, we're looking to provide a universal screener starting at the beginning of the school year and utilizing it across the school year so that we can progress monitor and refine accordingly. We're also excited, you'll hear later um maybe not today, but later in June, how we are strengthening our assessment strategy in the middle of our school year next year. We will leverage um Firefly, which will allow us to really get a prediction on
189how well our students may achieve on the state assessment and respond to it mid year as opposed to just waiting. um we'll take the state assessment in March or April and close the year out with our universal screener and with our star assessment so that we can move into the the next school year more ready with with real time data. So we we we are utilizing it. We've started to be utilizing it this year but we are looking to get better at it across the system. So this year we did kindergarten. You said >> we did kindergarten with a different >> So is the initial plan to do like maybe kinder to third grade just to assess to make sure that they're on reading level by third by third grade. >> Absolutely. >> Okay. >>
190That's exactly what we are looking to do. So, we'll have data as early as September going into the before the first quarter ends and we'll begin to respond to it and then we'll our um u sorry our assessment calendar will allow us to more frequently assess student learning throughout and any student that isn't where he or she or they need to be. That's the star CBM data will provide us with information so that we can adjust instruction accordingly and some of that instruction adjustment will respond to Dr. Rocklin mentioned the use of I already will be able to utilize that intervention. Miss Smith mentioned Lexia will be able to utilize that intervention in addition to getting better at grade level instruction and embracing explicit instruction across our district. >> Okay. Thank you so much. >>
191You're welcome. Any other questions? >> Okay, we'll entertain a motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I opposed. >> Okay, >> Mr. Kaufman, you're up again. >> I'm up again. >> Thank you. Good evening. Kyle Kaufman again, director of innovation, instructional technology, formerly director of STEM, which is part of what this is related to. Uh this evening I'd like to request board's approval to the uh for the purchase of needed supplies to support highquality instruction within our high school science courses called biology and the living earth and chemistry and earth systems uh at Allen and Deerf high schools uh that cost not to exceed $55,000. Uh my first presentation to the board uh years ago uh well like three years ago was uh around the shift to the new steels standards and it is
192a significant shift in both teaching learning and assessment. Um that shift uh has been taken on by our teachers and our teachers are doing amazing job. We've rewritten curriculum. The curriculum is robust and and framed out exactly the way it needs to be. It's exemplary. um our teachers at Allen and Derf who had resources within their closets, the store closets of of of the year over the years were able to um implement some of that new curriculum uh well and then we identified that there were some gaps in resources and materials that were necessary. This memo is requesting that we purchase uh the materials necessary to implement this phenomenon-based instructional approach where students uh learn by investigating intriguing real world events and natural occurrences. Your science experience you had was probably a lot of talking
193and reading and then a lab day every once in a while. The new science standards require that inquiry is occurring every single day. But a structured inquiry that requires resources and we have identified a a gap in the resources that are necessary. We want to fill that gap. Uh it basically the most crit critical part here is it supports teachers and then uh in turn benefits our students because they will get to engage in active sensemaking. That's the term we use in in steel's standard sensemaking through hands-on investigations. Uh and again that is a continual process not a once in a while lab experience. I've been working with the high schools to make sure these are the exact materials that they need to implement for the biology and the chemistry core science courses which all
194of our students are taking now. There's a core sequence of biochem and physics. Eventually all of our students will go through those three to meet all the standards. They are integrated with earth and space standards. Each one of those the earth and space standards are distributed and the total cost not to exceed $55,000 uh source of funds is ready to learn. Do I have any questions on this amazing opportunity for our high schools? >> Apparently not. >> Outstanding. I did my job. >> All right. I'll Is there a motion to move this forward to the regular board meeting? >> Move in a second. Okay. Um all in favor opposed. >> All right. Then we will uh move on to Dr. Seavoy who's requesting approval for the digital learning program encompassing K through2 virtual learning etc.
195>> Good evening Dr. Burks and board members. I have Miss Nicole Zawinsky who is with me. She is the director of virtual um virtual campus. Virtual campus virtual campus. We are asking um the board's approval of the proposed Allentown School District's digital learning program encompassing K through 12 grades kindergarten through 12 um for virtual learning opportunities for student and full-time hybrid and credit recovery models at a cost not to exceed $300,000. We were before you believe a year ago where we had Imagine Learning for K through >> five and we had Pearson for 6 through 12. We are using Pearson K through 12. We are also including um opportunities for career pathway work in the virtual program setting and virtual program have has a new model where we are incorporating hybrid learning which means students
196will be virtual and in persons >> yes I had a had a question that I had shared out um where will the hybrid um learning take place >> want to talk about that you hybrid right now V virtual um campus is located in the William Penn building along with um our gain program and AEDY. We are looking at the space that we currently use for virtual education where the teachers h have their space. We're looking at that space and additional space to have virtual still in that space. >> Okay. Thank you very much. >> Any other questions? >> So, so we have virtual learning happening in William Penn. >> Yes, virtual campuses in William Penn. ADY based on the floors ADY program is in one space game which is also using the virtual platform and
197then we have virtual campus that um >> Mr. Whiskey manages directs. >> I know in the future we need to look into enhancing William Penn's building. >> So yeah, I just wanted to bring that attention to the board as we start thinking about maybe another thing building committee could could talk about. But William Penn Yeah. That was that was that was just the board. >> Any other comments or questions? >> Do I have a motion to move this forward? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I post. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Dr. Seavoi. >> I am bringing Miss Finger up for it. She's the acting director of college and career readiness who's going to present Pennsylvania College of Technology agreement. >> Good evening, Dr. Burks. Madame President and the board of
198directors, I'm here in front of you tonight to request the board's approval to move forward with the Pennsylvania College of Technology Enrollment Agreement for the Advanced Manufacturing Pre-apprenticeship Program. The advanced manufacturing pre-apprenticeship program provides high school juniors and seniors with foundation technical knowledge and skills to prepare them for an entry- level position in a manufacturing or potential post-secary study in engineering or technology programs. This will be at no cost to the district as the pen college has a grant that's helping fund this. >> Thank you. Any questions? >> I have a question. Where will this be taking place? >> So, it is like it's also like a hybrid learning. It is online some of it and then it is an inerson hands-on lab. Um there are four other schools in the state of Pennsylvania that
199did do it. This past year the labs are actually held here at the Allentown School District and the other schools came to us. So, um, one thing that we looked to build in this year for the students because one of the challenges that the students said was because we, um, brought this program on mid year last year, it wasn't built into their schedule. So, the online learning was like kind of on their own with check-ins with their counselors. Now that we're ahead of the schedule, we have it built into our students schedules next year. So, they'll have a counselor that will meet with them daily to help with the online learning. And then Pen College sends their representatives four times throughout the semester to do the hands-on labs, which are a full day of labs.
200And then it the um end all is they hold an industrial day here in the um Lehigh Valley where all the schools that are part of this program and then schools that don't take part in this program but are invited to meet with trades from around the area. >> Good question. Um staffing requirements. So there really is no staffing requirement other than if we put the kids in like a study seminar to do their online that we would have somebody overseeing that study hall or whatever we want to call it. But everything is done through Pen College when it comes to staffing. So it wouldn't be any additional staffing. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions or comments? Is there a motion to move this forward? >> I make a motion. >> All right. >>
201All in favor? Any opposed? Okay. >> Dr. Cavoy. >> Yes. Good evening again. >> The guiding light. >> Yes, that is the name of our code of conduct. It's called the 2026 2027 guiding light, a code of conduct for thriving together. I am requesting the board's approval to approve the revisions of the Allentown School District's Guiding Light um 2026 to 2026 2027 guided light, a code of conduct for thriving together. yearly we update the code of conduct. Um, and I believe you have the document with all of the changes. Um, we did review the current code of conduct, looked at the code of conduct from the perspective of our families and students and kind of rearranged the um the document so that it is more um what is it comprehensive and consist coherent more coherent
202than it was in the past. We update the cover, the inside cover with um we always update pictures and then we have the academic calendar in there. We also have the updated board members in there. There are certain parts that we did not change which will remain consistent as in previous years. We um included some additional information as it relates to technology um device management and device um responsibility. We also included information as it relates to virtual education. And one of the um bigger highlights we highlighted in the previous year specific policies as it relates to students. This year we put all policies as it relates to students and student programs so that families, students, staff are aware of the programs that directly impact students. >> Thank you very much. Questions or comments? All right.
203I'll entertain a motion to move this forward. >> Move. Second. All in favor? >> Any opposed? Okay, Miss Singer, regarding the Cariban Community College, >> I actually think I have the next two agenda items that I can just go through both of them. >> Okay. Um, good evening again. I'm here before you tonight to request the board's approval to move forward with our um agreement with the Lehigh Carbon Community College current enrollment agreement, a pending approval from our solicitor with ourou. Um what this is is our dual enrollment program that we offer at our schools. Students can um engage in classes that are at um college level wigger. Uh we had about 150 to 175 this past year that took classes either at William Allen Bridgeview or um Dear High School. This also encompasses our
204early college program. Um we have cohort we're starting next year will be cohort 8 of this program. Um, cohort 7 has just will be graduating 40 students um that will be walking across your stages in the next couple weeks wearing the nice sashes that they have earned their associates degree. We had a total of 95 students in the this year go through it. So 52 students will be um moving forward next year to start their senior year and we'll be adding those additional 40 students that graduated with juniors that we are um replacing kind of thing. And then also we have a teacher candidate program with them hoping to get some students um involved with that. That would help us streamline students into the education process and hopefully give back to their community at William
205Allen Dear off or anybody in the Allentown School District. This will not exceed more than $420,000. any comments or questions on this before I just want to say I I excited that the the cohorts are continuing to grow, but I was really particularly excited to reach to read about the teacher cadet cadet initiative and just really trying to get um our young people involved and and engaged in in educa in the educational field. So kudos to you and and to Elracy and and Cedarrest for um building this out. So >> thank you. And um Madam Chair, I just want to say we'll be remiss if we don't didn't acknowledge the honorable um Representative Charles Schlesberg because this was his vision and he provided us with resources with this program. So I want to acknowledge that
206publicly. And then my next um agenda item is um a gear up. We request the board's approval to move forward with the approval of our gearup staff and students to participate in the following summer camps and conferences. I camp at Westchester which is a media production digital storytelling and technology literacy. Pennsylvania free enterprise week at Lycoming College which which is a business dynamic. The free enterprise system and entrepreneurship leadership and then the voice academy at the slippery rock university which is a communication skills self- advocate and development of personal voice for leadership. In addition, we are asking to send four students and one staff member to the youth leadership summit in DC. This is an interaction interactive national training experience and peer-to-peer learning opportunity focused on life leadership and learning. The life-changing experience builds students
207confidence to speak publicly, lead locally, and engage deeply in their home Gear Up program. Students will enjoy high energy engagement with peers from across their the country and dedicated Gear Up staff. And just to give you a little bit um of information, we have exceeded our numbers this year with our gear present our participation with our students in 11th grade. And so this will continue into um their senior year. But just to give you a couple, we met our goal of um 90% of the students engaged in academic counseling this year with our counselors. Um with our college visits, we had over 85 college visits. Some being to colleges that we've never gone to before. We took them to Morgan State. We took them to Cheney and we took them to Lincoln to try to
208get some of the H.B.CU in the area. Um there we exceeded our SAT skill building with our students. Um 100% engaged in that and we had 94% of our students engage in mentoring just to give you some of the numbers. So it's a promising program and hopefully this will you know enhance our students leadership qualities and this is funded um totally by Gear Up but our expenses cannot exceed 16,000 for the summer. Thank you. Any questions or comments? >> All right. I'll take a motion to move these two agenda items forward. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Opposed? Okay. Dr. Seavoy purchase of Cartwheeller services. Good evening again. I'm here to request the board's approval for ondemand mental health services via Cartwell Health Services. Cartwwell Health Services is a school-based mental
209health provider delivering therapy, psychiatry, and medication management to students via teleaalth and on demand. Some key components of cartwheel is that it delivers 14 plus sessions of an average um of 8 to 12 sessions to ensure sustained improvement which includes an on pla on platform psychiatry and medication management is culturally and linguist linguistically ready 40% plus bilingual bicultural clinical staff and they have I believe it was 144 languages available. There's um academic preservation. 90% of services delivered after school evenings and weekends preventing vital instructional time loss for 16,500 students. We also shared that because it's after school, we will have opportunities for students to still participate in safe places within the school setting. That was important to us um important to our students but important to us that our students had access to that. It
210is proven to have an attend uh impact on attendance ensuring that students um attend school with a 44% reduction in chronic absenteeism. Um it is an it does have an evidence-based clinical model that is very similar to what our social workers use for um students. So that part will build consistency. They use CBT, DPT and trauma informed care. Um again, it's a comprehensive service. Um rapid access to care, high engagement rates, and I talked about and is flexible after hours. And we did do um the um our due diligence with references from agencies from districts within Pennsylvania and around Pennsylvania, um districts larger than us and comparable to us to determine whether or not they were consistent with their services. >> Thank you. Any questions for Dr. Floyd? Comments? Okay, then I'll take entertain a
211motion to move this forward. Second. All in favor? >> I opposed. Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss um I'm going to get that by next month. Um >> you're very close. >> Thank you. So this is regarding president and fellows of Harvard College through Harvard Graduate School of Education and Center for Education Policy Research for participation in a strategic data project fellowship program. >> Yes. Um good evening again. Uh so this item requests approval for the two-year partnership with the Harvard Strategic uh data project fellowship program. Um so as the board knows uh the district currently has a Harvard fellow, Dr. Zimmerman. Shout out to Dr. German um supporting the oper operationalization of our strategic plan through action planning um dashboard development and the establishment of continuous improvement routines and structures um such as
212data wise system wise um and as we continue implementing our district strategic plan lighting the way 2030 a blueprint for innovation and excellence we've identified a growing need for stronger systems to consistently collect operational implementation and stakeholder feedback data across departments and schools. Um, so the Harvard Fellow's proposed scope of work is intended to complement the progress already underway by focusing specifically on implementation monitoring and district-wide data collection systems. So the role will help the district strengthen how we collect, organize, monitor information related to strategic initiatives uh so leadership teams can more effectively support continuous improvement efforts and make more data informed decisions over time. Um in addition to the fellow position itself, the partnership um includes ongoing support from Harvard strategic data project team, including recruitment, training, um executive coaching and implementation support throughout
213the fellowship, helping ensure the district continues building sustainable systems and internal capacity beyond the two-year partnership. >> Thank you very much. Comments or questions? Mr. Morris? >> Uh quick question. So the 54,000 that includes um sort of like compensation for the fellow or is that just the recruitment fee? >> The 54,000 is the uh partnership fee. So yes, the partnership fee, the 4,9500 SB partnership fee and the 45 uh00 onetime recruitment fee. >> Okay. So we don't have to pay additional salary on top of that. >> Yes, we do. >> We do. Okay. So this is just for the agreement to enter into the agreement. And I think as mentioned here, there are staffing requirements. So be yes. >> Any other questions? Okay. Is there a motion to move this forward? >> So moved. >>
214Second. All right. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay. Um that brings us to the end of the agenda. Are there any non-aggenda public comment cards? No. >> Okay. Is there any old business? Any new business? May have a motion to adjurnn. >> All in favor say I. I. >> All right. >> Do we need a break or just go right into it? >> Just right into it. Everyone's good. If if if you need to take a break in between, just get up. It's It's okay. We'll live. >> She's going to go. I'd like to call to order the meeting of the board of directors of the school district for the city of Allentown for today, May 28, 2026. The board welcomes and invites public comment. You may address the board on agenda
215and or non-aggenda items. The first opportunity for comment is at the beginning of the meeting and is limited to agenda items only. Comment cards must be received by the start of the meeting, which is now. We will not be receiving public cards once the meeting begins. A copy of the public comment policy is located on the table next to the comment cards. Per our board's policy, any person may address the board in accordance with the procedures and limitations of this policy, either on issues presented in resolutions being considered or on other matters affecting the administration, management, or operations of the district. Remarks of a personal nature again directed against any individual will be ruled out of order. If you choose to address the board, please fill out a comment card and hand it to the
216board secretary, Mr. Simonson. Once recognized, please come to the podium and state your name and address for the record. We will now have the roll call. Please, Mr. Secretary, please call the >> ROA. >> Present. >> Doc Dr. Johnson >> here. >> Miss Mat. >> Miss Michaels. >> She's present just not here. >> Oh, she Okay. Thank you. I appreciate that. Mr. Moors, >> present. >> Mr. Mr. Nicolof >> here, >> Miss Noel >> here, >> Miss Sierra >> here, >> Miss Wil >> here. >> We have eight members present and one uh virtual which is a total of nine. >> Thank you. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance followed by a moment of silence. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the stands. One nation under
217God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. >> I'll keep my president comments really brief. Um, this past month a lot of activities happened in ASD. We had the multid-disciplinary fair which went amazing. I was able to attend and do some judging and I witnessed some amazing presentations from across the district. Our students are brilliant. um some of them created apps um that there's a possibility that we may we may be signing up to to do some work with the apps. So, we're really excited about the work that's happening in ASD. I was also able to attend the um the animated film feature and that was amazing as well to see our little ones. They were so bright, so smart. They were working the red carpet, but they were just so excited to
218see themselves on film and the messaging of the films were amazing. I can see them going out as PSAs um across the district. So, I'm really excited about the work that's happening um with the district. And there was also the day of service that happened um where we really have to thank our interfaith um community that really showed up um really give them a hand round of applause. Hundreds of people showed up and went across every single school across the district and they helped with cleaning up or facade um things that that were happening and they were really in support of the work that's happening in ASD and that's what we need. We need community that's coming together to help us for one common goal because like Dr. Burke said we we can we do
219it together. All our strengths are needed. So I'm really excited about that. And then we had the you are the light celebration as well. So many things happened across the district. So, I'm really excited about that. Um, I'm going to end it off um tonight with saying, you know, I know, you know, parents have the opportunity to listen and students have the opportunity to listen as well. I really want to encourage our students right now to, you know, follow rules, go to school, do what's right. Um, a lot of things have been happening. We we we lost not in ASD but in our community we lost a young man that was um at prom, you know that that happened. And just recently, I think earlier today, we lost another another young man. And you know,
220it's just so sad, especially as a parent to hear that a child left for school one day or left for an event one day and did not make it back home. It is really sad. And um I just want to encourage parents just be very involved in what's going on with your children in every way, shape, or form. Um when you get that powers school notification or that phone call that says your child is not in school, please follow up with that. See where they are because we have to be way more vigilant and more involved in our students lives nowadays. So I just wanted to share that tonight. And that ends my report. Dr. Burks. Thank you, Madame President, and good evening, school board directors, uh to all members of the public, uh to
221our leadership team, and to everyone who's assembled this evening. Um before I begin my comments tonight, I just want to take a moment to acknowledge again that we had two very difficult losses throughout our learning community and within the past 24 hours. Um we're deeply saddened by the passing of our former board member, Mr. Glazer whose leadership and service within the district as well throughout this city was quite admirable. He was very very vocal in his viewpoints. It was very encouraging and so we are very saddened um by his loss. Uh we also today learned um that one of our students um from uh Dear of High School um passed and so um we're really saddened to hear that and and please um join us and just um in the prayers and thoughts encouragement to
222our team team at Dur High School as well as to the family uh who suffered a great loss. As you know, as Miss Noel mentioned, it's very hard uh to lose our children and we and I consider them all of my children and I get to partner with all the families in the community to serve um during these times. It also reminds us of the importance of compassion, kindness, love, um and community because we need each of us. And as we we use our slogan, we get better together, all of our strengths are needed. It's going to take the collective community to help us heal for these great losses within our community. And so we had a moment of silence, but you know, as we go through the day is please remember, you know, we're
223here this one time and so and if we can just really exercise a lot more love and compassion and kind kindness towards each other. Um tonight the the administration had um a comprehensive report. We each week we give the board an overview of our strategic plan. The board gets receives an extensive report from every topic um to discuss our progress as a district. And so tonight we want to give a presentation. We were going to present a presentation to the entire community because we're in May and we didn't want to do it in June when school was gone. But just out of respect of all the families and and staff who's here and we've been here of course the board too um that we will not give that presentation tonight. We'll wait until the June
224meeting and talk about the progress that we've made together. And I I commend our learning community for all the great firsts that we've had this year. And I'm deeply humbled and grateful to serve with each of you. Um I would be remiss and miss Noel mentioned all the thousands of people and the events that we've had recently, but I have to say this. Um I want to commend the the team. Everyone does a great job in the district. We have great wins um across the district, but Central Stream Academy was featured today in education week. And to think that the Allentown that's like being featured in the New York Times or Forbes magazine. So let's give the that that's incredible. A district that many people didn't know about and think about all the X. Now
225this is no utotopic situation. We believe in continuous improvement and building on the work, especially for some of our school board directors who know who've been here for a long time. This is a major victory with the the Pennsylvania Department of Education was here uh yesterday or two days ago, Dr. Yesterday, they came down to see the great work that's happened across our secondary schools as relates to our sec success centers. They said it was a model and they featured it. Um the governor featured it as a success, as a win. So I want to remember when you feel like oh I'm tired or discouraged or we are doing great things for children. We as a community are doing great things for children and I appreciate you for the great things that you're doing. So
226again next month we will highlight many of successes. I do I wouldn't be the superintendent if I don't remind the families one there's summer programming. We have a lot of things happening across the district for your children. So, if your child says, "I don't know what to do." I'm bored. We have plenty of activities, academic ones, as well as extracurricular. We will have leagues this summer. I want to commend um Central again, Central Elementary Stream. They won our soccer league, our first ever elementary soccer league throughout the district, and they were the champions and they did an exceptional job. And I want to thank all of the students and our entire team who are providing these opportunities for our students. And so, um, also we have, um, again, everyone, please come support William Allen High
227School. I said that in the committee meetings. So, if you were not here before, our students need to see you. You love the Canary, you love Canary Pride, all that kind of good stuff. You love um, deer and Huskies and we won Allentown. We need all the one Allentowners on the field or at the Sales University on Monday cheering on our students, making some major victories. So, good things are happening here. So, I appreciate you all. We'll have my extensive PowerPoint board. I'll be ready for it next month. And remember, we get better together. All of our strengths are needed. I think Miss Ree, I've covered everything I'm supposed to cover at this point that we can Thank you so much. All right. Thank you, Madam Chair. >> Thank you, Dr. Burks. >> At this
228time, we're only taking comments, public comments on agenda items. None. May I have a motion of approval of the minutes? Second. >> Is there any discussion? Please call the role. >> Dr. Johnson, >> yes. >> Miss Mat, >> yes. >> Miss Michaels, >> yes. >> Mr. Moors, >> yes. >> Mr. Nicolof, >> yes. >> Miss Noel, >> yes. >> Miss Sierra, >> yes. >> Miss Wil, >> yes. >> Miss Dora, >> yes. >> Motion passes 90. >> Thank you. And now for our information updates. Is there any updates on the Allentown Public Library? >> I'll be really quick. Um there's a fountain park me um mural going to be done by Kyle Edwards. There's a lot of recreation coming on in the summertime. Um there's a youth middle school program, a PAL's basketball program. There's
229going to be eight movies in the daytime in the park. Um um Monday's fundays and Sunday b and summer basketball program. Um they have an 80% return rate. So that's really good. And they're expanding their aquatic and playground services. And they're also expanding soccer lots for the kiddies to keep busy in the summer. >> Okay. Just for the record, that's parks and recreations, right? Yes. >> Okay. Okay. Anything from the public library? >> I say parks, right? I wasn't. >> No, I said it's it's okay. But you >> Great report. Great report. >> Sorry. >> I was unable to attend last um month's meeting. >> Okay. Thank you. >> And there is a report from the Allentown School District Foundation. >> As the year winds down, the Allentown School District Foundation is focusing on various
230events to celebrate Allentown School District students, staff, and volunteers. On May 12th, we participated in volunteer challenge um wrap-up event at the sales university in which local nonprofits and businesses showcased projects they worked on together this spring. Our table highlighted an office refresh refresh day we hosted with eight volunteers from Meyers Insurance who helped us clean and reorganize our bookshelves and closets for the for the district's May 13 multiddisciplinary project I'm sorry exposition held at the PPL center. We serve as one of the event major sponsors and set up the literacy themed booth in which we advertised our literacy volunteer program and conducted a book giveaway. We attended two events in May 14th. The reading is is rewarding awards at Rob Middle School and the I am on a bookshelf meeting um meet the author
231night at Barnes & Noble Pomminade. From May 22nd through May 24th, the foundation partnered with William Allen Arts Alliance to host the Mayfair Festival of the Arts. Booth featured art created by district students. We received a lot of positive feedback on the high quality of the of the artwork along with close to $1,000 in donations, which will help fund future art programs. Our annual teacher innovation grant reception is taking place in the administration building lobby and boardroom on June 1st at 400 pm through 5:30 p.m. Please join us in celebrating the 25 educators from 11 schools who receive um innovation grants from the foundation this year. On June 3rd, we are hosting a literacy volunteer um celebration to honor the 102 volunteers who assisted preK through third grade teachers this year in helping students learn
232to read at above grade level. And additionally, we are we are administrating close to 75 graduating senior scholarships totaling near $100,000 to honor the achievements of class of 2026 graduating from Allen Derov and Bridge View Academy. And that ends my report for tonight. Is there a report from LCTI? Okay. And we had the students report. Um before we we approved the board of directors report, it is with great sadness that I share the passing of a former ASD employee, Mr. Keith Verie on April 20th, 2026. I would like to read an obitu obituary minute in in his honor and call for a moment of silence immediately following the reading. It is with sincere regret and deep sorrow that we record the passing of Keith Verie on April 20th, 2026. In recognition thereof, the board of
233directors submits the following orbituary minutes and resolution. Whereas Keith Verie as a faithful and devoted employee of Allentown School District for almost 14 years and whereas in his position as a teacher at South Mountain Middle School, he carried out his duties in a caring and professional manner. And whereas he treated colleagues, other staff, and students with a cheerful attitude and willingness to help. And whereas he provided the learning community of Allentown School District of um with a pleasant and encouraging environment. And whereas his passing is marked by a deep sense of loss across the district. Be it resolved that the board of directors take note of the untimely death of this faithful employee by causing this obituary minute in resolution to be spread upon the permanent minutes of the board this 28th day of May
2342026 with a copy to be sent to his berieved family. respectfully submitted. Andreine Brown, Noel, Audrey Madison, Ivette Diam, Serita Johnson, Diane Michaels, Denzel Morris, Robert Nicolov, Zalia Sierra, and Nancy Built. Can we please have a moment of silence? Thank you. May he rest in peace. Um, may I have a motion of approval of the board of directors report? >> So moved. >> Is there a second? >> Is there any discussion? Please call the RO. >> Miss Mat, >> yes. >> Miss Michaels, >> yes. >> Mr. Morris, >> yes. >> Mr. Nicolov, >> yes. >> Miss Noel, >> yes. >> Miss Sierra, >> yes. >> Miss Wilt, >> yes. Miss Dora, >> yes. >> Dr. Johnson, >> yes. >> Motion passes 90. >> Thank you. May I have a motion of approval of the policy
235agenda? >> So moved. >> Is there a second? >> I second. >> Is there any discussion? Please call a role. >> Miss Michaels? >> Yes. >> Mr. Morris? >> Yes. >> Mr. Nicolof? >> Yes. >> Miss Noel? >> Yes. >> Miss Sierra? >> Yes. >> Miss Wilt? >> Yes. >> Miss Dora? Yes, >> Dr. Johnson. >> Yes, >> Miss Mat. >> Motion passes 90. >> Yes. >> I was just sharing with Madam Chair on the board of directors report. We finally made I want to just acknowledge to the public and say we're very happy that we've made it. We have an agreement with the Allentown School District uh and the Teamsters Union. So that has now board just passed it and so we're really we're really excited about that. We've grim are there members of
236the teamsters in the audience? No. Okay. We want to thank you uh for your partnership, for your leadership. We're really thrilled that now we have reached an agreement that's respectable salaries for our team. Yes. I want to thank the board for the uh for its advocacy of ensuring that we are able to meet the needs of those employee those invaluable employee employees for our district. So I just want to acknowledge that publicly. So thank you so much. >> Thank you. And I know it was a long time coming and it took a lot of work but we're >> I thank my entire team and I thank you for saying that for the entire team. God bless you. Our finance team for the Mr. Fazio and of course our solicitor and Mr. Ramos and Mr. Cuff
237and and everyone who worked really hard in making sure this got over the finish line. So, thank you. >> Yes. Thank you. May I have a motion of approval of the secretary and treasurer's report? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? Please call the role. >> Mr. Nicolof, >> yes. >> Miss Noel, >> yes. >> Miss Sierra, >> yes. >> Miss Wilt, >> yes. Mr. Dora, >> yes. >> Dr. Johnson, >> yes. >> Miss Mat, >> yes. >> Miss Michaels, >> yes. >> Mr. Morris, >> yes. >> Motion passes 90. >> Thank you. May I have a motion of approval of the superintendent report? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? Please call the RO. >> Miss Noel, >> yes. >> Miss Sierra, >> yes. >> Miss Wilt, >>
238yes. >> Miss Dora, >> yes. >> Dr. Johnson. >> Yes. >> Miss Mat. >> Yes. >> Miss Michaels. >> Yes. >> Mr. Morris. >> Yes. >> Mr. Nicoloff. >> Yes. >> Motion passes 90. >> Thank you. May I have a motion of approval of the personnel report? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? >> Yeah. Um I would actually like to move to divide the question so that we can consider the CFO's appointment separately from the remaining personnel. >> What's the number? What's the letter? the letter uh it would be section 4 letter A, administrative elections. Uh I'm just moving to separate out the CFO's appointment from the rest of the personnel items. >> Okay. So, we'll go for um we're separating the CFO position. >> Needs to be a second, doesn't
239there? >> Yes, a motion. Is there a second? It dies if there's no second. Okay. May I have a motion of approval of the personnel report? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Is there any discussion? Please call the role. >> Miss Sierra, >> yes. >> Miss Wil? >> Yes. >> Miss Dora? >> Yes. >> Dr. Johnson? >> Yes. >> Miss Mat? >> Yes. Miss Michaels, >> yes. >> Mr. Morris, >> no. >> Mr. Nicolof, >> yes. >> Miss Noel, >> yes. >> Motion passes 81. >> Thank you. Tonight, the vote approved new administrative hires. Mr. James, would you please come forward and introduce our new hires? school board directors and Dr. Burks. It gives me great pleasure this evening to certainly announce and welcome and congratulate all of our administrative appointees to the Allentown School
240District family. We have new members to our family this evening and we also have members who have been with our family here in ASD who are being promoted this evening and we want to congratulate all of them this evening. First we would like to start with Miss Hannon Aia. Miss Hannah Tia is our supervisor of instructional technology. Let's give her a round of applause. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing student centered learning through technology integration, professional development, and innovative instruct instructional practices. She has successfully led STEM and robotics initiatives, secured more than $165,000 in grant funding to expand educational opportunities for students, and has trained and supported educators in the effective use of instructional technology and datadriven practices. She currently serves as an innovation and design specialist and previously held
241several instructional leadership roles including technology integration specialist, coding and robotics teacher and district grant manager. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Miss Satia has been recognized nationally and statewide for her leadership and innovation in education. Let's give her another round of applause. We welcome Mr. Dexter Oxford. Mr. Oxford is our network engineer for Allentown School District. Mr. Oxford is an experienced and highly skilled network and telecommunications professional with more than 25 years of experience experience supporting wide area networks, telephone systems and and complex IT infrastructure environments. Throughout his career, Mr. Oxford has demonstrated expertise in network engineering, Cisco enterprise systems, firewall security, and telecommunications systems. Mr. Oxford currently serves as a field technician with Verizon Business where he has successfully supported network and telecommunications operations since 1999. His background also includes project management experience with
242EDS Corporation where he managed large-scale telecommunication projects and system migrations for airline clients across North America. Let's welcome Mr. Oxford to the ASD family. Miss Julia Hayen is been selected tonight as our human capital manager. She is an accomplished human resources professional with experience in human capital management, employee engagement, talent acquisition, onboarding, compliance, and HR operations within large and complex organizations. Currently serving as a manager of human capital for the United Way of New York City. Miss Heayen has successfully led organizationwide employee engagement and recognition initiatives, supported recruitment and onboarding processes, managed employment and labor relations matters, and partnered closely with senior leadership to advance human capital strategies and organizational effectiveness. Miss uh Heiden is currently pursuing a master of science degree in human capital management at New York University and brings a strong commitment
243to employee support, operational excellence, and organizational collaboration. Let's give a welcome to Miss Julia Heayen. We are so excited that we have a CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, MR. JACK TRENT. MR. Trent currently serves as the chief financial officer for the Eastern Area School District where he manages a $214 million annual budget for K12 district serving 8,000 students. Upon his arrival, he successfully closed a 7.5 million budget gap to deliver the district's first balanced budget in five years. He also oversees a massive 298 million building project and commands a diverse team of 150 personnel spanning the business office, facilities, transportation, and food service. His career in school business administration is further built upon his roles as a business administrator, board secretary for Montgomery Township, Holland Township, and Alexandria Township school districts. And he was a math teacher.
244Let's give it up for Mr. TRE. We're so excited about Miss Tara Walter, the principal of Jackson EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER. Miss Walter currently serves as the acting principal at Jackson Early Childhood Center within the Allentown School District uh within the Allentown School District where she successfully leads the school's instructional vision, manages daily operations, and cultivates an inclusive datadriven school culture. Prior to this role, she spent nearly three years in an elementary assistant principal role, managing student discipline systems, overseeing building level budgeting, and leading curriculum improvement efforts. Her leadership is deeply informed by her extensive classroom experience spanning multiple grade levels and subjects, including roles as an elementary teacher, a design 21 teacher, and a family and consumer science teacher. Additionally, she has contributed to the development of future educators as an adjunct education faculty member
245at the Sales University. WE WELCOME AND CONGRATULATE MISS TARA E. WALTER. the principal OF WILLIAM ALLEN HIGH SCHOOL, DR. Alicia North. Dr. Noff currently serves as the acting principal of William Allen High School where she success successfully steers a massive diverse campus of over 3,000 students. In this role, she has already de demonstrated an extraordinary capability to maximize operational efficiency and champion academic excellence. Most notably, she re-engineered the school's department chair model to empower instructional coaches and launched a high visibility leadership framework focused entirely on protecting the instructional core across a faculty of 200 educators. Her extensive administrative background also includes a year as an elementary assistant principal. Can't believe that. And nearly 15 cumulative years as a secondary assistant principal and interim assistant principal at Whiteall High School. Let's give it up for Dr.
246Noff. Congratulations. We would like to congratulate Lisa Lisa Frankenfield with 18 years of experience. Miss Frankenfield is now will be one of our supervisors of instructional technology. She comes with 18 years of experience in the educational field. Lee says that Miss Frank Frankenfield is a seasoned administrator known for her exceptional relationship building skills and proactive approach to school operations. Her strengths lie in her ability to manage complex daily school daily school environments, lead staff development and implement effective student discipline strategies through PBIS. She has a proven track record of fostering high quality learning environments and maintaining positive connections with students, parents, and staff alike. Let's congratulate Lisa Frankenfield. Melissa Roric, AP, Assistant Principal, Harrison Martin Middle School. Miss Ror is a dedicated teacher leader with over two decades of experience, specializing in English and ESOL
247instruction. She excels in curriculum revision and program development, notably facilitating a decadel long afterchool tutoring program and driving significant academic improvements as an academic coach. Her strengths include her deep expertise in restorative practices, her ability to mentor new teachers, and her success in using data to increase student participation in college readiness. Let's give a congratulations to Miss Roric, Dr. Maria Spinosa Eert, assistant principal Harrison Morton Middle School, an awardwinning leader. Dr. Swinosza is distinguished by her expertise in literacy and her commitment to closing the achievement gap. Her strengths include her ability to manage zerobased budgets, craft customized college level curricula, and lead district-wide data analysis to drive instructional growth. Recognized as administrator of the year by her staff, she is particularly skilled in mentoring and has successfully spearheaded distinguished student mentoring programs and community-based global
248conferences. Let's give a congratulations to Dr. Spinosa Eert. Mr. Nicholas Snder, assistant principal, Hayes Elementary School. Mr. SNDER IS A PASSIONATE, fully bilingual educator and leader with a strong focus on secondary and higher education. His strengths reside in his ability to connect diverse communities through language, his expertise in rewriting and executing bilingual programs, and his talent for public speaking as evidenced by his role as a TED X speaker. He is highly effective at building a culture of trust and transparency while managing complex ESOL cohorts and schoolwide policy. Congratulations to Mr. Snder. I am especially happy and excited tonight to certainly congratulate Miss Elizabeth Henning. Miss Henning will be our assistant director of data in human capital and talent management. She combines a tech technical background in computer science with deep expertise in labor relations and
249HR data management. Her primary strengths are her ability to manage highlevel HRS processes, support complex union contract negotiations, and automate data reporting to improve operational efficiency. She is highly proficient in multiple programming languages and has a talent for translating technical data into actionable insights through dashboards and I'm very excited about that and SOP documentation. Let's give congratulations to Miss Henning. And finally, our assistant director of talent management, MISS SAMIRIS ALLEN. Miss Allen is a bilingual HR professional with over 18 years of experience that encompasses a unique blend of expertise in human resources management, accounting, and community advocacy. Her strengths include directing full cycle recruitment for large organizations, managing intricate employee life cycles and ensuring compliance across complex state and federal requirements. Beyond her professional HR roles, she is deeply committed. She is a deeply committed
250community leader serving on numerous advisory boards and committees to support local educational and family initiatives. Let's give a congratulations to Miss Samiris Allen. And let's give it up for all of our administrative appointees. YES. CONGRATULATIONS. YES. All right. Okay. Quickly. Quickly. >> All right. Okay. Are we ready? We're ready. We're two minutes from glory. Okay. >> Yes. Who has it? >> Oh, I have it in my Hold on. May I have a motion of approval of the finance report? >> Any discussion? Please call the roll. >> Yes. >> Dr. Johnson. >> Yes. Miss Miss Mat, >> yes. >> Miss Michaels, >> yes. >> Mr. Morris, >> yes. >> Mr. Nicolof, >> yes. >> Miss Noel, >> yes. >> Motion passes 90. >> At this time, any agenda items? Any? >> No. Okay. Any old business?
251New business? Motion to adjourn this meeting? >> Have a good night, everyone. Thank you for your patience.