001Multiple relay teams and individual swimmers qualified and competed at the state level representing Abington Heights across a full slate of events. For indoor track, athletes competed at several highlevel meets throughout the season. These highlights included Julia Schuster, who finished third in the 55 meter hurdles and Anna Puchelowski, who set a new school record in the 3200 meter with 10 minutes and 59 seconds. The team demonstrated continued growth with multiple personal records. Unified Bachi had another strong season. Team one placed second at Northeast Region and team 2 placed third at Northeast Region. Team 1 also advanced to the regional championships at Penn State Schoolill, finishing fifth overall. Cheerleading. Our varsity basketball cheerleaders competed a completed a strong season, continuing to develop advanced stunt skills. The team successfully performed multiple highle stunts, including extended liberties, heel stretches,
002scorpions, and scales. Triyouts for next season are scheduled for March 24th through the 26th. For a spring sports up update, we have now finally transitioned into spring sports. Active programs include baseball and softball, track and field, boys tennis, boys volleyball, girls and boys lacrosse, and powerlifting. Practices and competitions are already underway across all programs. Lastly, we would like to thank you and the community for the continued support of all of our student athletes, coaches, and programs. We are extremely proud of what our teams accomplished this winter, and we look forward to an exciting spring season. Thank you very much. >> Good evening. To start, our progress reports were posted on March 6th, which indicated the halfway mark of our third quarter. And if parents are having difficulty accessing the report in Infinite Campus, please reach
003out to their guidance counselor. Program program planning is underway for students in grades 8 through 11. Eighth grade students received a presentation by Mr. Smith and high school students received classroom presentations in their English classes on March 10th through 12th. 8th grade parents are invited on Thursday, March 19th to the high school at 6:30 p.m. to hear the presentation that will help them guide their children to courses that match their interests and future goals. Students can begin selecting courses on March 24th. Mock Trial has experienced much success since our last board report. They have won the district and regional championship and will be heading off to the state tournament which takes place March 27th through 28th. The 2026 Abington Heights High School mock trial team members are Mark Barbreck, Christopher Cumins, Aaliyah Murray, Nolan Moore,
004Amishi Ait, Lean Abugnia, Chase Roberts, Jasine Montescino, Henry Mahoney, Hatic Kusack, Satie Robson, Grace Bennett, Ania Fudk, Gabe Wesg, and Eloise Drew. The coaches for the team are Anne Cumins and Denise Bennett. And the attorney advisers are Daniel E. Cumins of Cumins Law and Jod Healey of Cipriani and Warner. Art students have been on exhibit at the Gathering Place since March 8th and it's the annual the 9th annual Our Town student art exhibit. This was sponsored by the Gathering Place Shirley Wagner Egan Scholarship Fund and Abington Heights Civic League. On Saturday, March 14th, the Pennsylvania State Department of the American Legion hosted the state ortorial finals at Linglestown Post 272. Each contestant delivered an 8 to 10 minute prepared oration on a topic related to the US Constitution as well as an oration on a
005randomly assigned constitutional topic. The contestants all performed ad admirably with first place going to Judah Donnelly from the 11th district in the central section. Jud represent the state of PA at the national ortorial competition in Hillsdale, Michigan May 15th through 17th. Since 1983, the American Legion of the of High School ortorial Scholarship Program has encouraged the nation's high school students to study the US Constitution and to hone their public speaking skills. The com prom is this Friday night for our students in our VFT classroom. Thank you to the many businesses for their generous donations to make this night so special for our students in an environment that supports inclusion. The bunny breakfast is Saturday, March 21st. Reservations are now closed, but we wanted to publicly publicly thank Mr. Adam Baker and Interact for their dedication
006to the annual event. All proceeds will support the Women's Resource Center. And finally, on March, Friday, March 27th, our school will be hosting our inaugural our inaugural Minthon event. Junior Ella Musgrave spearheaded this event last school year and has worked dutifully with her leadership team and adviser, Mr. Brendan Buck, to make it happen. If anyone wants to stay up all night with a bunch of teenagers, we will be locked in dancing, playing games, and having fun from 700 p.m. to 700 a.m. on Saturday. Thank you. Thank you very much. >> Okay. Uh, next part of our meeting is for public comment. If someone would like to speak to the board, please uh fill out a card. We ask you to keep your comments to about three minutes to tell us who you are and where
007you live uh when you reach the podium. We this time have two cards. The first is Dr. R. Scott. >> Hello. So Karen Arscott, Waverly Township. Um, happy to be here tonight. I've been at therapy dogs training. That's why I haven't been here, but I wasn't planning on talking tonight. Uh, I should have been on the agenda for volunteer. Uh, I I applied to be the, uh, assistant softball coach for the JV team. Uh, currently Michael Thomas is the JV coach. He's by himself. So, back on March 7th, I'd submitted an application, but I I'm not on the agenda. So, I have my packet. My concern is if I have to wait two more weeks and he's by himself coaching, you know, I really just want to volunteer and help. I have my packet with
008me. I'm not sure what happened, but I would really like to be able to help him uh during this time. So, that's I wasn't sure what to do when I got here. I thought I'll just do a public comment and beg for you to allow me to volunteer my time free of charge. I really do believe it would be I played so I played college softball so I think I'm pretty and I'm a doctor so I think I'll be okay you know and I think that there should probably be a female you know there with the with the JV softball team uh and he really would like me to help so but I was told I couldn't start until I was approved by you guys so I said well I know a lot of them
009and I said but that may not be good for you >> well and you also coached many seasons for girls softball so you have don't sell yourself Sure. You have the coaching experience. >> A lot of things. Yes. And I've coached travel ball and and everything else. So, I'm happy to help. But and I do have my packet with all my clearances and and everything else. So, I can give that to you. But I'm I'm like I follow the rules. I didn't start coaching without your approval like I know some people do. And uh and now I don't want to wait two more weeks. So, I don't know where the, you know, if it was my email or what happened, but at any rate, I'm begging you to please allow me to volunteer my time.
010>> She >> Thank you very >> She can get a special exception or something, can't she? >> Now, we need weather. If you could do something about the weather, that would be great. >> Working on it. >> Got a dome. We have money for a dome. Pull barn. >> I think they'll work through it. Okay. Uh, Mr. Strawler, welcome again. >> Ask volunteer. >> Evening guys. Mark Stler, Waverly Township. I um put on my card uh debt and debt service, which is mighty important to the comingings and goings. I did have a chance to speak to Jim before you all got started and uh he enlightened me on some of the aspects of how you uh how you operate. So I'm my concerns uh are are much less. >> So does this mean you're going
011to be able to answer all our questions? >> I'm getting there, Warren. I mean, it has been a very enlightening experience the last number of months to see how you all operate the uh the budget. The $60 million corporation is is something to run. I'm getting there though. Um just as a quick add-on um doctor, one of your um action items is the uh NEIU agreement. Um maybe when you get to that you'll explain a little bit about it. It's the 2425. >> Yeah. >> It's a look back. >> They do it. It's not Jim can talk about it's not funded in the current year. It's like the previous year. >> I was just hoping to to >> if you show up here next year at the same time and we can talk about the
0122526. >> I will. Thanks for the time. >> Are you interested in being a junior varsity softball coach, Mr. Stler? >> Does Dr. RScott have some competition? >> Mr. Stler, we appreciate your involvement and your questions. >> No, he tried. He tried. >> That's good. >> Okay. >> Uh Dr. Schaer, I think the floor is yours. >> Sure. What I'm going to do is I'm only going to say make one one statement because there are a couple action items which I which I've been contacted uh you know by some board members. I know that we'll talk about them when they So, for instance, Dr. Tion, I'll have her come up when it comes time to talk about the the the curriculum guide. And um this is just an FYI. It's not meant to be a
013conversational item. However, it has come up in the in in the past with this board. And I thought that I would just kind of insert myself in the discussion and and uh just, you know, kind of let the the board know my my thoughts on it. Um but Um Jim and I got uh received an email at 3:30 on five o'clock at 3:30 on Friday with from the state which can only mean one thing. They're just much like uh the government but they're going to drop something federal. They're going to drop it on Friday at 3:30. So I can't call anybody to complain about it. Um but we've talked about this and I think Mr. dollar was the last one uh uh to mention it, but uh certainly Abington Heights along with uh many other
014school districts have received more money in in in state uh funding as a result of a lawsuit uh which several school districts won which forced uh the Commonwealth to start contributing more funds to public education. Even then uh we're we still have the seventh highest threshold of all the states. Uh said numerous occasions and we'll say once again that 70% of our budget is um from local uh local sources that way. Uh but in in in 2006 we have a we had a an act one index so the board can only uh increase taxes by a certain amount and uh certainly understand that and we respect it. uh back then when the law was uh put together, they allowed school districts to have some exceptions to raise the threshold of that that that tax index
015by by a little bit. And over the years, uh those different exceptions have like gone away. They haven't gone away on the books, but essentially you can't take uh any of them with the exception of special education. And even then, uh it's it's uh It's very difficult and has to be the correct timing. Uh last year, Jim and I had a discussion because we received an email saying that uh if we the school district received any money, additional money, what they called adequacy dollars, right? And this is just the money that the state owes us because it wasn't equitable, right? call it adequacy dollars which they give to us in the form of a grant that if we received 50,000 or more which a vast majority of the districts did then we could not apply
016for any exceptions they did not tell us this they buried this in the footnotes lesson learned I I used to read footnotes in college I will uh read them now uh and I believe Mr. Mr. Aar asked a question at a board meeting last year when we were talking about this and he said, "Well, they they still didn't we can still do a referendum." And I said, "Yes." And referendums is not a isn't it isn't five members of the board voting yes, right? We're we're going out to the community. It's the most democratic principle. It's the pillar of our democracy where the community gets the vote, right? And that's why 98% of all referendums around school buildings fail. Very rarely do you see communities that uh vote to increase their taxes past a certain amount.
017But yet there are communities most recently Abington in Montgomery County to build a new middle school ironically. So this I just set up because I I was you know Rod asked me the question. I said no there's no way that they would take away the right for the community to vote on something. This isn't a school board. Like there's there's no way that would ever happen. Not here. Uh so this memo came out on Friday and it did say that they then took away the ability for a referendum. And I said, "Well, you know, we've got many of many of things on the the pot, but um I will make it a point to talk to our legislators legislators and and let them know that my disappointment in the Shapiro administration uh for taking away
018one of the pillars of democracy, and that is for uh our constituents and our community to vote on something they want." It wasn't long ago where I had a group of advocates for full day coming here where we outlined all the the fiscal challenges and and you know someone said well could you put it through a referendum and I said yes and here I am wrong and it's very disheartening and so I just wanted to get that out there on the record and I will reach out uh to uh Kazaroski Senator Brown uh to to let them know that my you know yes it's very hard to get a referendum across the line but it's the principle of your community being able to vote on something uh that they want. So I just wanted to
019put that out there because I was wrong. >> Yeah. >> You're right. You're right. I didn't feel better like right. >> So with that said, I'll ask Jim to do the treasur and bills report. >> Good evening everyone. Uh first I just wanted to address the NEIU question. Um and that's uh those are part B funds. They're special education funds that come from uh the federal government. Now, the the state shutdown and the federal shutdown did push that contract uh pretty far behind this year. Um but we usually see it maybe a little earlier in the year. Um but so yes, that is actually a contract for the prior fiscal year so that we can receive our money, you know, properly on the books. We're hopeful to get our 2526 contract sooner so that we
020can submit and get the reimbursement for the funds because we are spending our our our dollars on special education largely salaries and then we claim those funds and bring them back into our general fund. Um and that's how the grant works. But we can't get reimbursed until we have a contract in place. So um that's the the matter before us. But those funds go to the NEIU and they disperse them out to us when we apply for reimbursement. Um so onto the the treasures report. Uh we started with a cash balance available um of 24 million251190. Now I will say if you had an earlier version when I first uploaded this, the starting cash balance was actually last month's starting cash balance. So we we we amended that. So if you printed this out um
021there was uh there was an error there and we did update that it is live now in the correct number. We had total local revenues of 1,335,941. State revenues of 3,448,265. Total monthly revenues of 4,882,500. For total cash available of 29,13369112, we had dispersements of 5.4 4 million bringing us to an ending cash balance of 23,680,42. Any questions? >> May I have a motion to approve the uh treasures report? >> So moved. >> Second. >> On the motion. >> Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Henderson. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Kho? >> Yes. >> Mr. Robson? >> Yes. >> Mr. Abdala? >> Yes. >> Mr. Azar? Yes. >> And Mr. Aker. >> Yes. >> 6. >> And Mr. Mayor Valley, thank you very much for making the report. >> Mr. I could ask the board consider a
022motion to approve the personnel report as presented. >> So moved. >> Second. >> On the motion. >> Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Kho? >> Yes. >> Mr. Robson? >> Yes. >> Mr. Abdala? >> Yes. >> Mr. Azar? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Henderson? Yes. And Mr. Aer. >> Yes. >> 6. >> Mr. Aer ask the board consider a motion to approve the March 2026 volunteer list. >> Can we amend it? >> Right. >> Yeah. And and I we'll expedite the question and >> Yeah. Yeah. >> You got it. >> So So I think we need to we have a motion. We should have a second. >> Second. >> Okay. Now, uh on the motion you question, Mr. Abdullah >> speaking. >> So, we can do Dr. Schaeer, we can amend it later. You could not even
023amend it. You could expedite it in a different way. >> Yeah, the board gave me I can I can do that higher. >> Okay. >> On the spot. >> We did that not like August or September. So, yeah. >> Roll call, please. >> Mr. Robson. Yes, >> Mr. Abdala. >> Yes, >> Mr. Azar. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Henderson. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Kho. >> Yes, >> Mr. Aker. >> Yes. >> 6. >> Mr. Aer ask the board consider a motion to approve the disposal five particle board computer desk. >> Can you make a desk out of particle board? >> I guess we have a Can we have a Can we have a bond? Should we save them for the for the bonfire for homecoming? >> Right. >> Can Can I have a motion, please? >>
024So moved. >> Second. >> On the motion. >> Lots of good ideas here. I you know, >> roll call, please. >> Mr. Abdala? >> Yes. >> Mr. Azar? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Henderson? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Kho? >> Yes. >> Mr. Roben? >> Yes. >> And Mr. Aker? >> Yes. >> 6. I could ask the board consider a motion to approve the 2425 use of funds agreement with the >> so moved >> second. >> Thank you on the motion. >> Roll call, please. >> Mr. Azar, >> yes. >> Mrs. Henderson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Kho, >> yes. >> Mr. Robson, >> yes. >> Mr. Abdala, >> yes. >> And Mr. Aer. >> Yes. >> 6. >> Dr. T, would you like to uh come up and give us like >> a brief rundown of some
025of the uh changes requested? >> Uh the easiest way for you to probably follow along is if you're looking at the change sheet. Um, so most of the changes while um there haven't been like large changes, they are important changes. So um I'm going to put my cheaters on so I can also follow along a little bit better. Um we just changed some wording on um how our students can access some remediation. We included u benchmark and diagnostic testing because that hadn't been included. So with us uh doing CDT three times a year, we wanted to make sure that that was part of our curriculum and that was noted for everyone um to follow along with. The state is changing. We have been compliant with this for years um in which our students have always
026received financial literacy um they receive it through um one of our courses in the 10th grade. The state has beefed up um the requirements for that. So we Beth Kelly is the current teacher for that and her and I attended um uh training at the IU to get all of the requirements that the state now wants. So that course is being rewritten. So those changes for financial literacy that is a course that's replacing um if you've had children come through the high school, it was formerly called intro to FCS. Um we updated some of the language with Johnson College because they also increased some of uh the offerings to our students. our students can go there for their senior year. The art department made some changes. Uh the electives are rewriting curriculum this year. So
027the art department wanted to reduce some of their full credit offerings to half credit offerings so that students can it gets challenging. um you know, you typically only have about two to two and a half credits of electives and if you're taking a full credit class and it doesn't leave you a lot of opportunity like if you're taking a full credit world language class and maybe you know then you're only getting one other credit option. So they recognized that maybe they were missing some students who wanted to uh experience some courses in the art department. So they've reduced creative expression to a half credit. We always had a photo 2 course and Mr. Butler, who teaches our photography courses, wanted to split his photo 2 class into the two units that he covers. So now
028it's um two um photo two type electives, but reduced to half a credit. And then Miss Fenton also wants to add uh an inclusive art class in which um your general ed students are preparing uh lessons and cooperative learning experience for them to work alongside with our students in our life skills programming. Um so that is an a very welcomed and um exciting opportunity that the art department is going um to deliver for us. uh PBF is personal business finance in response to how we are changing financial literacy. The business department also updated their language on that course. Uh they are adding because they collapsed keyboarding and business tech into one course. Um they have the opportunity to add a course for next year. Um Lily Seavoy is one of our business teachers and she
029pitched and wrote um a plan to incorporate entertainment and hospitality event planning which is a field that's just growing wildly um in the post-secary setting. Um we got we didn't have reading nine last year at the high school but it was still existent in our curriculum guide because we weren't sure um how the structure of reading would look in the K to4 setting and so now the teacher that was kind of supporting reading at the high school is at the elementary and our um our other teacher is able to support those students that still require reading at the high school. So, uh, that's why reading is, um, getting deleted from our curriculum guide. And PE also had a pretty big, um, rewrite. They wanted to change all of their classes kind of like names a
030little bit. Um, so we used to have a class called Bio Sport and it really focused on athletic training and that really isn't the focus. The kids aren't as into athletic training as they used to be and they like moaned and groaned when they were going into the athletic training. um room. So, they evolved that course uh into exercise science, more like fundamental movements, how your body works, body mechanics, things like that. Uh they're going to change all of the physical movement classes. Instead of having titles to them, they're going to call them sports and movement and to get those kids moving. And Amanda Caviston, um if you didn't know, now you know. Um shameless plug for her. She's a Pilates junkie and she wants to bring Pilates to one of our pees, um you
031know, at the high school setting. So, she's excited because she wants to use the auxiliary gym throughout the day, which is an underutilized space in our building. Um, so she's going to be teaching Pilates from there. Um, and then our intro to Tech program is going to better match um getting kids industry credentials in a much smoother way. um so that they can kind of instead of having to spend a whole year cycling through a quarter, they can pick two and get through that a little bit quicker. Our woodworking program is evolving so that those students can also receive an industry credential by the time they graduate and we're um looking to get them carpentry uh certified um so that it matches our auto certification and our masonry certification. And then world languages um they're
032restructuring to reflect the sequence of um as everybody that enters the high school can start in a first level like Spanish one, French one, German and Russian one and reach AP or what the Russian comparative is is new nel um by the time they graduate. Are there any questions about what you >> have two? So, what was the um can you just tell us a little bit more about the rationale behind getting rid of honors um languages in eighth grade? I'll have to defer to Dr. C on that because it's my curriculum guide, but it wasn't. >> So, here's my history lesson as I know it. um students had an opportunity at the middle school to take an honor Spanish class and initially the rationale for that was that it allowed them to take AP
033Spanish but we determined that actually all students have the opportunity to take AP Spanish that honors course at the middle school was kind of not really a value ad for anything when kids hit the high school from that perspective and it was a little bit hand tying the middle school schedule. So, because all of our students have the opportunity to reach those AP levels at the high school and we weren't offering commensurate honors French or honors anything else at the middle school, we're just going to offer the same courses across the board at the middle school knowing that kids all will have the same opportunities at the high school moving forward. Make sense? >> Yeah. Uh, I just I mean I guess I was a little taken back because there's not a whole lot of
034opportunities at the middle school level to take enrichment classes like that. Um, but I mean I see your point if it's only offered for one language, but I do think it was like a nice perk for kids, you know, at a younger age that was was interested. So, um, that caught my attention. And then so for the uh physical activity courses, are they now graded and then they're starting next year they're going to be offered past fail? >> So all of our P our whole PE department is on a 100 point numeric scale at this point. We're going to phase in the grading. So freshmen that take it, you'll still be able to So the incoming freshman class, the class of 2030, they'll if they're in a physical movement class, they will be getting past
035fail grades. If you're in a classroom PE course, which health, your exercise science, and your coaching principles, um there's still quizzes and tests in those. So, we wanted to keep them on the 100 point scale. Everybody will remain 100 point on that. And then the teachers will be able to enter the grades for 10th through 12th grade so that their transcript stays whole. >> Okay. So is there an option for because I know some of the classes that are pass fail that the kids can take they can choose to have it pass fail where they can take it on the 100 point scale or will they have that option or is it because I just think like Jim sometimes that's like a nice perk to help with you know GPA for some students who might
036struggle in other content areas >> when you so when you're asking about the past fail course as the seniors that if you have an 85 GPA you can elect to take a non-honors and a non AP pass fail. Is that what you're asking about? >> Okay. Yeah. >> Yeah. So, that option is only for seniors and there's like criteria that are set on that. So, I guess um like if I'm understanding the question correctly, >> will the rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors, could they still opt to be on a numeric scale? >> Yeah. or even like I mean I just was trying to figure out like the rationale of why take away the opportunity for kids to help bolster their GPA you know through taking one of the physical movement classes. >> Yes. So, the
037PE teachers um find themselves in a rock and a hard place because kids aren't truly participating as much as you would like to think maybe perhaps and then they are afraid to be the reason that their GPA are slipping when they're docking them points for not coming with appropriate footwear, not doing these things, not doing that. And so that's why they wanted to move away from the 100 point scale um because they were getting some push back from kids like you know I I don't I'm not going to participate today but please don't take my 10 points away from me type of thing. And so like they wanted to be able to give the kids the autonomy to still be in a class but recognize that if you forget your footwear I'm not going to
038be dropping your GPA every time you don't follow the thing. So a pass fail allows them a little bit of room to kind of have some classroom management and still not hurt the student on the non-particip like if they forget. It's like forgetting your homework one day type of thing. Um there's not a lot of teeth to what happens because there's no homework there's so that's why they were kind of thinking like maybe we should go back to past fail. Okay. Thanks. Yeah, >> I had I had a couple. Um, >> what about the reduction of the number of assessments that our students have to go through? I know a lot of times um students complain they're always taking a test or preparing for exams. Not not like uh subject exams, but formal by the
039state or by um any type of assessment that happens. I think last time I counted there were about 14 different ones. Not that every student takes 14, >> but it just seems like a lot. >> Yeah, the high school probably has less than other areas because only you're only assessed on in ninth grade for your literature. Um about half of our freshman class takes the algebra and then all of our 10th grade class takes the biology and then your state assessments. Yeah. >> Um you know, it's not where every single year they're in high school that they're taking a state assessment. So any assessment that our high school students take after those three state assessments um are ones that they're choosing like the college board. Uh and we we do offer a lot of those.
040Um last year we gave 592 AP exams. Um but that was all at will student choice. They did those things. Um the CDTs uh you know to to make sure that we're doing what we need to do to honor learning and fill in gaps like three times a year. um it's not as high stakes and disruptive to their schedule as maybe it would appear. Um it happens right within the classroom setting. Um it's not >> and usually I get the complaints when it's that time. >> They have other things they would prefer to be doing, right? Like a non-preferred task teenagers love to complain about for sure. Um but I would find that the assessment schedule at the high school is is pretty manageable. Okay. Um, I don't find that I'm disrupting schedules to give
041assessments um because the CDTs happen right within that classroom because it's a smaller population of students. My whole building isn't taking a CDT or isn't taking a Keystone exam. It's only those tested areas of algebra 1, biology, and uh English 9. Yeah. >> Okay. And then the the second question, first of all, thanks for answering that. >> Of course. Um, the other thing is, you know, we talked about classes that are very helpful for real life, like personal finance. I forget the name the name of that class, but >> you know, one thing that I brought up a couple years ago, and it's it's proven to be the case where AI is all over the place in everything we do. >> And do we have any type of class or lab or anything that instructs
042our students >> about what I'm not saying how to use catchy PT? We don't need that. >> Yeah. But like what is it like what how do we use it responsibly? What are the issues? What are the benefits? Where is it going? What kind of careers can I you know do I if I want to go to college what do I look at? Do the guidance counselors know about it? >> Yeah. I um >> it's only going to it's it's in everything. >> It's everywhere for sure. And I actually had the opportunity to do a walkthrough in um what is currently called intro to FCS but will be that financial literacy course. and she was um kind of they had to do like a comparative analysis of like find these three jobs or these three
043cars, their safety ratings, all these things. And she was showing them how to expedite research and to use research to your advantage using, you know, an AI or a generator of some sort that helps kind of as a consumer can help you become a better consumer. So I think that teachers are getting a little bit more comfortable with themselves using it and then making sure and embracing it that it's not a cheat code. It's not it's something that can enhance your knowledge structure and your acquisition of knowledge and quicken the pace with which you get that knowledge. Right? And so also then teaching them how to cross check to make sure they're not being fed a line of malarkey because the thing that concerned me was I and it's no one that I'm related to
044but students that uh I talk >> public public disclaimer I won't tell you >> I won't tell ourselves. >> They're very somewhat negative about AI. >> Yeah. >> And they don't even want to talk about it sometimes. >> Yeah. I get that. I think there there's still fear out there, right? because a little bit of like how powerful it is when you see it do something something a task that you've already done and you know how long it used to take you to do that task and then it in an instant it could be done for you. So there's still a little bit of fear. Um but I do find that the being in education now it is bridging the gap between like the adolescence and how the adults are experiencing it and we're putting
045our heads together on it. Um, and just being honest, like I'm very honest with my faculty and staff like how I utilize it and lean into it where it's appropriate, right? And so, you know, you always have to check yourself for tone. And I think that is a wonderful place where we could be using it. Um, and you know, there are are kids out there um that sometimes struggle even just getting their thoughts on a paper. So, sometimes it's a great like graphic organizer or helping them get Yeah. getting those things kind of getting their ideas going. Um, and so I do think that the teachers, so while there's no course, so back to your question, while there's no course that's actually teaching it, the teachers are implementing it and like using it um to
046their advantage. I know a lot of kids will ask um if you have a teenage kid, you've probably heard them say like, "Oh, I just asked Goth." That's like their AI person. I don't I don't know what that is, but um they will ask it to give them a study guide. Give me a study guide on this unit in this content area. and it'll generate a study guide for them and it's another supplemental resource for them to use. Um, so I I think they're naturally finding their path on what's right for them and how best to use it. Um, but if things come up and we see course opportunities, we, you know, I I treat this like a work in progress and we revisit it every year. So like if there's a place where it
047fits and how it grows here in our world, I think it'll naturally come up in >> conversation. It's only get bigger. And I the only thing I would say is thank you for doing this because this is really good and I know it's only once a year and you do a lot of good work and it's hard to >> add one because if you have to add one, >> you got Yeah, >> there's only so many hours to move. But I would just ask if we try to look at opportunities to reduce unnecessary assessments and try to find a way to start getting I won't even say AI per se but just >> uh the umbrella of artificial intelligence not just you know chatbt but like machine learning things like that that can be that
048is used in everyday things to >> sure >> check insurance quotes to we see unfortunately >> national defense Mhm. >> So it's it's all over the place. >> So this is what we're going to do given your question. Um and this is my philosophy. So it should not be looked at like a standalone. So Dr. Calder, Dr. CS, and we'll start with Dr. uh Tion will um seek out more information and lean into how we will embed this knowledge and skills into our our our pre-existing courses and to take a deep dive um into this. Um certainly um to your point um there are some like pragmatic aspects of this like all the uses and things like that. that at one point we used to have uh classes on how to use PowerPoint and Microsoft
049Word and Excel. Um and then we we learned that um it's best to uh practice these skills in context and so we may be learning this in economics right so there's tons of applicability some examples that you mentioned within you know civics government economics I can go on to on and on I talked to uh Mr. Aarov about the FOMC in the paradox that is uh AI and and in uh you know decreasing workforce while increasing uh proficiency leading to like you know companies doing really well visav the stock market, right? But yet job losses coming down, right? These are the types of things that um we can do a much better job at and um we have to take a look at that uh as we talk about professional learning um because we can't
050get uh behind this um like we did three decades ago um with email and I'm talking about in general right um so we will we will get on that point taken. >> Thank you very much Dr. The only >> at this time I'm going ask the board uh to consider a motion to approve the 2627 curriculum guide. >> Okay. In this particular case, I'm going to ask we have a motion and a second and then follow on with discussion and questions. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Okay. On the question, >> who would like to begin talking about the curriculum? >> Do we have the curriculum? Excuse me. We're still in the curriculum guide in that. I apologize. I >> put Warren in a pickle because I violated Robert's rules again. >> I apologize. So,
051uh, roll call. >> Mrs. Henderson. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Kho. >> Yes. >> Mr. Robson. >> Yes. >> Mr. Abdala? >> Yes. >> Mr. Azar? >> Yes. >> Mr. Aker? >> Yes. >> 6. >> Okay. So, >> Mr. Aer, I'd ask the board >> talking about the Go ahead. I'd ask the board could consider a motion to approve the proposed Abington Heights 2627 academic calendar. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Okay. Who would like to begin? Mrs. Henderson. Perfect. >> Well, spent a lot lot of time on this today fielding a lot of uh questions from teachers and parents that were concerned uh when they looked at this calendar at first glance. Um, I think the question I was asked most frequently today was, you know, is this something that's going to be approved tonight
052or um and are there other options um that can be explored? >> Yes. Um, great questions. I too uh have been uh fielding uh questions today. Um, and to give a little bit of the backstory in in May and actually a little bit before May of 2025, I as we were uh negotiating the early bird contract which the the board approved last year, um I had mentioned this um in our discussions about in the next upcoming year and years, we need to we need to think about starting school before Labor Day or getting a little more creative uh in our in are scheduling because the calendar is becoming uh compressed. And I say that because while the district, the school board has managerial rights, many managerial rights around the calendar in the collective bargaining agreement,
053there are a few things that are enumerated um which you do not uh have a control over. teacher days, student days, um when we start, when we end, um where are professional development days, how many can be where in in in certain instances um in in knowing this uh I provided the the union leadership uh Dr. cost did a great job and she's put together uh numerous calendars. Um and uh I asked the union leadership to put it up for a vote. While um you know I don't receive emails from them, it's my understanding that I don't I don't think that these calendars in their complete uh version uh were put in front. instead uh I was told that they couldn't put up a calendar for vote unless it met all of uh the requirements
054in the contract. So I put together a calendar after several iterations that was just uh meeting the contract and that's what you have before you. I do not think that this calendar is beneficial for our families, our students, faculty and staff and administrators. Um but I at the end of the day um you know I have you know very little control um over some of these things that are enumerated and I respect the collective bargaining agreement and I did my very best um without compromising the integrity of of what uh we felt we needed as as leaders to have. Um so that's what gets us to where we are today. >> All right. I just have a couple clarifying questions. So half days are there any I don't >> So usually we have half days
055before Thanksgiving and before the uh winter break. So as it stands there's not half days. >> There are none >> none. Okay. >> There there are not um in the uh collective bargaining agreement it it requires 181 days student days. And uh the challenge here is that despite uh the Pennsylvania school code changing uh in the 2324 school year, which gave uh the school board uh greater flexibility um to have less than 180 hour days. What they simply did was they took out the word and and they put or. So 180 days or 900 hours, 990 hours, 450 hours. and those hours are associated with the, you know, high school, middle school, half day, kindergarten, elementary, that type of thing. Um, however, uh, the school code does not supersede, uh, a collective bargaining agreement. So
056if we wanted to go below 181 days then uh we would have to negotiate that which is why I asked the the union to take a look at various calendars um and and put a vote on. >> So there's also we don't have any snow days built in here. Correct. So any snow presumably is going to go at the end. So, we're supposed to be done, the idea is the target date is to be done by the second Friday in June for for teachers to finish. >> So, any snow day that we have would be added on correct >> at the end of the year. And then how many um remind me how many FATs do we get from the state? We can take four. >> We can apply for five. >> Apply for five
057approved them or not. You know, typically they do come back the end of the year and ask us what day we use them. for what reason? So, they do come back on the back end and check that we use them as we said we were going to when we apply. >> Okay. I mean, I'll just I'll be honest, like I have very strong reservations about voting on this tonight. And I just um from the feedback that I have gotten from people that are teaching and are responsible for the care of our kids for most of their waking hours. Um a lot of them were surprised by this and they was coming back to us. You know, I can't believe the school board and the administration's doing this to us. Um had a big problem with
058that perception. Um I mean it sounds like you know we're kind of you're bound by what the collective bargaining agreement sets forth. So, it seems like there's not if you're starting after Labor Day and you want to finish by this this second Friday in June, doesn't sound like there's a whole lot of wiggle room. I just I'm not comfortable um voting on this tonight. Um I'm not sure how you want to proceed, but given the fact that from the teachers that I heard from they this was a complete shock to them. I would respectfully like to give the union and the teachers more time to have thoughtful conversations and consideration um about the calendar, but that's just my opinion. But I will be voting no if we were to put this up. >> Mr. H,
059I know you have some comments, but just just to reiterate this point. So in order to provide some more flexibility like you're talking about, we probably need to change ask the union to to to vote on those changes. >> Yeah. Or at least give uh people some time to digest it. I know like we have the agendas published, you know, 24 hours in advance, but I think, you know, people just this went live and and they saw it and um I think it's a lot to digest whether the union decides to have conversations about it or not. I mean, a lot of the teachers I spoke to had they were kind of felt blindsided. I just think I'm not comfortable voting on this tonight and I think the respectful thing to do to our for
060our educators is to allow them time to, you know, see what the options are. Maybe talk to Dr. Schaefer again and see I know you and Dr. C. I have yeah I have no problem releasing my emails uh in correspondence with the union leadership relative to this. Uh I we we had several calendars out there to take a look at. I would I would I would hope that that could be in front of uh union membership to to vote on. I mean, the reason why it was I asked for a vote is because I knew that I didn't meet the criteria in the collective bargaining agreement and I thought that that would have been that is the most democratic and and fair way to do it to say here are the here are the schedules
061that would meet uh some of the feedback I got. um you know, some of it just wasn't consistent um with things that we wanted relative to professional development. But there's a couple things in there like, you know, removing Martin Luther King uh day and Veterans Day, which are uh two holidays which I absolutely would not remove and nor do I think that the board would support that. Um so um yeah Mr. Azar >> so yeah I just I had a couple of questions. My first you mentioned that that you said that >> you right now. >> Yeah. >> So you mentioned that uh and I'm not a lawyer and I don't play one on TV but I would ask uh can we find out if they're allowed to put it to a vote? like you
062thought it seemed sound like you were told that they didn't think they could put it to a vote to go past what is in the collective bargaining agreement if we were going to make modifications. So like I'd like to know if they they may choose not to do that >> then that's their right. But if I'd like to clarify for them if they could do it right. Um, but then just to frame the issue because I got a good number of questions on this and I I think that there's not many people in the community, certainly parents and I think maybe even a lot of teachers that don't really understand the rules of the collective bargaining agreement and I just want to make sure I understand it. So the way that it's written right now,
063the school year has to end by this second Friday in June, right? Students have to be done then and the professional development days have to be done then. Correct. So nothing can happen past that unless we have snow days that are added, right? It can't be part of the calendar. And then it's also and I I on the record I I very much wanted to modify that part of the the agreement when we went into the early bird and it didn't get, you know, you only talk about a limited number of things. I I was on the record saying that I wanted them to consider going earlier. We're one of the school districts in northeastern Pennsylvania that still goes after Labor Day. And we are in the vast minority. I know there are there are
064some others, but if there's 37 or 38 schools in District 2, the vast majority of them go back a little bit earlier. And the benefit of doing that, I know it's a shorter summer, but the benefit of doing that is you can build in more days off during the school year, which you know, the kids need, the parents need, the teachers need. And so like I think that that's a win-win, but it didn't it didn't make it into the contract and I get it. So, but the contract says that we can't Am I correct that that's the book end at the end, but at the beginning students can't start before Labor Day and you can only have one professional development day before Labor Day. Is that right? >> That's correct. So the in the collect
065the bargain agreement states be students can't start before Labor Day and we are allowed to have one new teacher day. So those are just our our new hires. Pretty small number there. And then one professional learning day. Okay. Which means that after Labor Day, typically we have another professional learning day. And I I want to make sure that I clarify my philosophy here and where that is grounded. Um, we have a very limited number of professional learning days that we're allowed to have per the collective bargaining agreement. I believe that for the most part those need to be front-loaded, right? So, we it's we're kind of like anothetical to a regular business, right? You know, if you need to learn something on something, then you have it right then and now. Our our our years
066are finite. You're going to be a third grader from this time to this time. If we have some professional learning around some curriculum resources, then the the teachers should have as much of that prior to the kids coming in, right? Otherwise, if you wait long enough, then it's just autopsy work, right? So, we we you know, we're very we're very cautious that way. Um, so you know to your point with se with Labor Day being late September this year it really compresses the calendar makes it really difficult to get those things in. And >> that was going to be my next point. So you have that you have that book end on either side and >> right >> this is just doesn't happen except for a couple years every decade. This year Labor Day is
067September 7th. Y >> so that condenses it >> the most it could be condensed so you have the fewest days between those two bookends >> to operate right so you know I mean I I agree with Mrs. Henderson. Um, I think we do have to vote on it. It's on the agenda. But, you know, I I would like to I'm not voting no because I'm being negative, but I'm going to vote no because I would love to I'd love to see you go back and and talk to the attorney to see if they could do it and and just, you know, I think it's I think it's better for everybody. It doesn't I don't see why and and I'm sure there are some uh some people that it's going to inconvenience and they're going to
068vote against it because maybe they've planned things. So, and and you're never going to have 100% people that support it, but I'd be surprised if this wasn't better for a lot of people. So, that's my thoughts. >> Other questions or comments on this? Dr. Schaefer, is there a particular time frame that this has to be approved? I mean, >> well, I would I would I would I want to do it sooner rather than later because there's some some planning around these uh days and uh you know, I for all the reasons we've talked about here. It's um you know, I I I see we I I have uh very few options that way. I know that we have a couple people uh in the union here today. Feel free. I mean, would you guys be
069willing to vote that for the for the for your teachers to see the complete calendar and asked about this one as >> I mean we about to discuss I know Labor Day is late but if we were in this scenario in 2015 2016 was a year. I've done my homework on this. I have a folder full of things. Um the students ended on Monday, June 13th to Mrs. Henderson's point. If there's snow, it can filter into the third one. Um our last day was Tuesday, June 14th of 2016. So I mean I understand no one wants to go into that and I know there's a lot of factors with that. Um but you know, there's a lot of I think there's opportunity for more discussion and in previous years I went back in April as
070well. So I think that you know we still have time to work >> you know it seems to me >> different >> yes >> Dr. Schaefer, do we not have the right to table this for? >> Yeah, we can table on that. We did send >> a future meeting say within 30 days >> March 11th with that these calendars. So >> yeah, we can we can table it. Um, and uh, I will I will speak with the union and I will not uh, just so you know, I'm not going to deviate from what I said before on what I'm willing to move and what I'm not willing to move. Uh, and you know, I also would like the opportunity for your membership to vote on it. Um, you know, I think I think that that's
071I think that that's that's very fair. Um, because it's very difficult in in this position, in the position that the board's in that, you know, I get your role and how difficult it is as a leader, but you've got, you know, 250 other people and having other conversations. And I think as far as like transparency and collaboration that putting that out then everybody you know everybody can see what we're talking about because there are as you've heard so many details when it comes into a calendar. >> I I'd like to move or I'd like to >> Okay. >> Could I just ask before we before we table it? I just want to be clear. So and I'm not involved in the deeply in the discussions. I'm coming in at a higher level and might be
072wrong, but when you get back together, which is great. I think it's great, right? I I think that's always good. Right. Um, but it sounds to me like the issue hinges on whether or not you could go past those bookends. >> That's right. >> Right. For us, right? I mean, that whether or not And if you can't, then this is what we're going to be >> correct. you know, >> we're talking about starting before Labor Day or looking at the end of the year, right? >> A couple days after those the book end or a couple days before to create flexibility and if if that doesn't happen and they it either the decisions made to not put it to a vote or it's voted down then we'll be back >> to this calendar >> looking
073at you know this calendar. Okay. Yeah. I >> mean, it sounds like I'm sorry, but like, you know, if the union accepts to go past that second Friday in June, either like upfront or I mean, the reality of us not having snow days next year. So, I mean, it's it seems like we're going to be spilling into June, >> which is the exact point I made. >> So, it's almost like >> I don't know. I'd rather like set the table and know what I'm getting for dinner, you right? Like, I'd rather know what to expect than have to stare at this calendar. I mean, the lack of like little yellow squares where There's a lot you look at like family time like there was one day for like spring break. I mean it's just there's
074just a lot of glaring things that I think but I mean the reality is you're probably going to go into the third week of June, right? Like who loves that idea? I mean it is what it is but you could proactively >> right if you're some of the holes that are in this like there's no just so everybody knows that's watching like there's no there's only Good Friday off for spring break instead of you know we've had as many as three days. I think this year we have three days right? There's no half day before Thanksgiving. There's no half day before Christmas. And there's a professional de development day for teachers during the holidays. So, you know, this scrunching of the calendar, I mean, it it'd be great if we could come up with a
075better mousetrap here. >> I think there's another issue, too, at least from my standpoint as a board member, is I think we need to have our families have an opportunity to weigh in on on this topic as well. They're they're certainly part and far party to this this whole situation and and >> yeah, >> I think what we need to do is come up with the best solution for everybody. Um and and recognize everyone has different points of view which are all are important. So I'd propose we table it at least until uh the next meeting Dr. Schaer or the meeting after what >> the Yeah, what I will do is I will uh email the union leadership tomorrow and and I'll I'll just I'll I'll I'll put a timeline on it. Um and and
076that would be this is the last board meeting in March and I I I don't want to go any later than the last board meeting in in April. >> Okay. Before we do this, is there are there any board members that have a concern about tableabling this discussion at this time? Okay. Move on, please. Okay. So, at at this time, I'd ask the board to uh consider a motion to approve the Special Olympics Special Olympics Young Athletes for Newton Ransom Elementary. And just let me say something really quick on on this. I'm really excited that we uh uh special ed department put out a a completed a grant and we're going to uh receive some funds uh for Newton Ransom Elementary for kids in grades K to two just just to it's basically move around,
077kick the balls, throw the balls um and just get them into uh some of the uh uh unified sports at a at a younger age. And so we're really excited about this opportunity um at at Newton Ransom. We already have a volunteer coach. >> So moved to >> second. >> Can you let us know when those dates are going to be? Sorry. When they're going to do when they're going to do this activities. Can you let the board know? >> It's I believe it. Yes. >> Okay. >> It's embedded during the day. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Into their dayto-day. >> Gotcha. >> Okay. Roll call, please. >> Mr. Robson? >> Yes. >> Mr. Abdala? >> Yes. >> Mr. Azar? >> Yes. Mrs. Henderson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Kho, >> yes. >> Mr. Aker, >> yes.
078>> 6. >> Okay. Uh, is there any additional information that for the board? >> Is there any unfinished business? >> Just uh, Mr. Aker. So the uh IT committee would like to present um to the board maximum four to six minutes just on you know how we're utilizing the funds that were allotted to our group because we haven't been in front of the board I think for a year now so it's about that time not urgent uh and you know whenever there's a lighter agenda maybe put us on but if we if you just give us a week's notice we can >> keep it at six minutes but you should know what you're you know what you're getting. That'd be great. We can do that. >> Okay, that's a good suggestion. Thank you very much,
079Mr. Rose. >> Okay, so new business. If not, I'd ask for a motion to adjurnn. So moved. >> Thank you all. All right.