001Would everyone please rise and pledge the flag? >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisibley and justice for all. >> May we please have roll call. >> Mr. Abdullah >> here. >> Mr. Azar >> here. Mrs. Henderson >> here. >> Mrs. Hillibbrand. >> Mrs. Karum >> here. >> Mrs. Kho >> here. >> Mr. Moran. >> Mr. Robson >> here. >> Mr. Aker >> here. >> Seven present. >> Thank you. May we please have a motion to approve the agenda for this evening's meeting? >> So moved. >> Second. >> On the motion. >> Roll call, please. >> Mr. Abdullah. >> Yes. >> Mr. Razar. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Henderson. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Kum. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Kho.
002>> Yes. >> Mr. Robson. >> Yes. >> Mr. Aker. >> Yes. >> 7 nothing. >> Uh, we're going to switch this a little bit and have public comment before the superintendent's report. So, if anyone would like to address the board, uh, please come forward. We ask you to limit your comments to about three minutes and ask you to identify yourself and, uh, where you live. Anyone interested in Okay. Thank you very much, Dr. Schaefer. The floor is yours. All right. I'm I'm going to be very uh Yep. I think it's on. Can everybody hear me? Okay. Out there. All right. be uh pretty brief tonight. On on Monday, uh February 9th at uh 1:00, there will be a uh charter reform school hearing at uh the middle school with Representative Haddock. I will be one
003of the superintendants uh speaking at that event. I'm required to submit a written testimony. So, um I I wrote a uh very short statement that I submitted and I'm going to uh read that now because I I want um to one get that on the record here. Make sure um uh the board has kind of like a clear understanding of of what I will be emphasizing in that uh school reform charter reform hearing. So, um uh please bear with me. Uh much of the charter school reform discussion in Pennsylvania has appropriately focused on tuition rates and fiscal impact. Those conversations are important. However, cost alone is not the right place to start. If we are serious about educational equity and responsible stewardship of public funds, we must begin with the more fundamental question. What outcomes
004are students achieving? and how does accountability align with those outcomes? Pennsylvania already publishes standardized comparable data for every school district entity, districts and charter schools alike through the future ready PA index. These measures include state assessment performance on the PSSA and Keystone exams, student growth, attendance, and graduation rates. These are not local metrics or selective data points. They are the Commonwealth's own accountability measures. Using those same measures, I want to briefly compare outcomes between Commonwealth Charter Academy, one of the largest charter schools in Pennsylvania and the Abington Heights School District. On state assessment, Abington Heights students demonstrate substantially higher levels of proficiency in both English language arts and mathematics. More importantly, growth matters. growth tells us whether schools are helping students make progress regardless of where they begin. Using Pennsylvania's growth model, Abington Heights demonstrates
005growth that meets or exceeds the state standard, while the Commonwealth Charter Academy demonstrated demonstrates growth that does not meet state benchmarks. Attendance is a critical indicator of student engagement and the opportunity to learn. Abington Heights maintains very high rates of regular attendance. Commonwealth Charter Academy reports lower rates of regular attendance and higher levels of chronic absenteeism. In a cyber charter environment where flexibility is often cited as a benefit, engagement and attendance should be strengths. When they are not, that deserves attention. Graduation rates reflect the long-term impact of educational programs. Abington Heights graduates nearly all of its students within four years. Commonwealth Charter Academyy's four-year graduation rate is significantly lower. These are differences that are not marginal. They represent real students and real outcomes. This brings me to the central policy question facing the general assembly.
006Why does public funding operate largely independent of student outcomes? Charter schools are granted significant autonomy in staffing, scheduling, instructional delivery, and governance with the expectation that flexibility will lead to improved results. That autonomy must be matched with clear, consistent outcomes based accountability. If a publicly funded school district or charter demonstrates persistently low achievement, below standard growth, attendance challenges, and weak graduation outcomes, then funding, renewal, and expansion decisions should reflect that reality. This is not an argument against charter schools or parental choice. It is an argument for equity, transparency, and consistency. Families deserve clear information. Students deserve schools that deliver measurable success. and taxpayers deserve asurances that the public dollars support effective outcomes. If funding follows students, accountability must follow funding. Thank you for allowing me to share my perspective. So when I present I do
007have a slide that will show tonight school district assessment scores, graduation rates uh and attendance as well as commonwealth charter and the data is uh you know unbelievable. I have always been an advocate for public education and charter schools are uh public school entities. However, I'm also uh a supporter of accountability and in my humble opinion, we we shouldn't be pouring dollars into organizations that do not show positive outcomes or any growth towards anything that resembles uh positive outcome. So that will be my message uh to the to the legislators um uh this year. Um I found it interesting today that I I I I I read a lot uh about a Senate bill that just passed. is now going to the house where um the general assembly is working to pass a a a
008ban on on cell phones and schools from uh bell to bell. Um and in this uh legislation they cite a lot of the research that we've talked about and as a gratuitous plug for screeners um uh the the uh adverse outcomes associated with too much uh screen time, right? They're they're passing that and yet we are we are not doing anything about the abysmal um online charter results. It's just like being on double secret probation for your whole life. So um that's what I'll be talking about um this year. >> Dr. Schaefer. Um, I I know we've talked in the past about um the state uh assessments of school districts and coming in and reviewing what we do and so on. And correct me if I'm wrong, the their the standards for charter schools are
009not the same as public schools. >> Is that correct? Well, relative to the outcomes that I just mentioned, they are those targets, but they have a lot more flexibility into the areas with this staffing and how they deliver uh in in instruction and things like that. So, um >> so when their scores are low, the state comes calling on us, starts asking a lot of questions >> yet. >> Do they see that? >> They do. in in in um you know nothing is done. So uh you know I hate to you know make parallels to law and and policy but policies in place for the 5% that can't follow it not the 90% that do uh and and and we have laws and and sanctions in place in in our country so that when something
010happens uh there's something associated with it. So, if I if I speed, I'm going to get fined. And, you know, at some point, hopefully, I realize that's not good, whether it's my insurance or uh or my wallet. Unfortunately, here they do come in, but nothing happens. And I will be making suggestions like if you are unable to meet these measures, then maybe you ought to put something in place that says you cannot grow anymore. you cannot take any more students until this happens or you know you can't use money to buy real estate when you're a cyber charter school. Um so there are there are plenty of things I think legislatively that they could uh that that they could uh put into place. Um but uh I I think we're not focusing on the outcomes.
011Yes, we should be focusing on the money as it impacts uh our district, our taxpayers and and everybody. Um but we need to get back to uh our purpose. Um what what are we trying to achieve as districts? And if we have districts, charter or otherwise, that aren't doing that, then what are we doing? and just throwing more and more and more money and not getting the results. It just leads to me to believe that, you know, uh something something needs to change that way. Um that's all I have to say about that. Anyone else? >> Thank you very much. Hey, no problem. >> All right, so let's go on to the agenda. Okay. At this time, I'd ask the board to consider a motion to approve the personnel report. >> So moved. >> Second.
012>> On the motion. >> Roll call, please. >> Mr. Abdala? >> Yes. >> Mr. Azar? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Henderson? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Kum? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Kho? >> Yes. >> Mr. Robson? >> Yes. >> Mr. Aker? >> Yes. >> Seven. Nothing. Uh this next uh item is the uh BVA agreement with Chester County Intermediate Unit. We we did not approve it last year. So what you'll see on uh the website is the already executed contract. We we couldn't find it, so we we missed that. So I apologize. So, at this point, I'd ask the board to consider a motion to approve the contract between Abington Heights School District and the Chester County Intermediate Unit for services rendered by the Brandy Wine Virtual Academy. >> So moved. >> Second. >> On the motion.
013>> Roll call, please. >> Mr. Abdullah? >> Yes. >> Mr. Aar? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Henderson? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Karum? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Kho? >> Mr. Robson? >> Yes. >> Mr. Aker? >> Yes. >> Seven. Nothing. A bit of background here on this next uh action item. Last year we went through the uh the facility grant process and uh we're fortunate enough to receive a $775,000 uh grant which we are using to uh replace mechanicals at at South Albington uh Township Elementary. Uh this summer we have approximately 155,000 square feet of roof at the high school that needs repaired. Uh a current quote on that is approximately uh $3 million. Uh we are working to stage this over three years and pursue uh state grants. In order to do that, the board has
014to pass a resolution. So, this year's school facility improvement grant is for the high school roof. And I intend to do that for the next two years as well, so that we don't have to, you know, utilize any of our um cap reserve for that. So, at this time, I'd ask the board to approve the resolution to apply for the facility grant. So moved. >> Second >> on the motion. Dr. Schaefer, approximately what's the timing from when we apply to when we typically here? >> That's a great question. I'll have to get back to you. Uh, last year it was quick. The year before it was slow. >> So, how about that? It's somewhere between quick and slow, right? >> Okay, perfect. >> That that cleared it up for me completely. >> Exactly. Roll call,
015please. >> Mr. Abdullah, >> yes. >> Mr. Azar, >> yes. >> Mrs. Henderson, >> yes. Mrs. Karum, >> yes. >> Mrs. Kho, >> yes. >> Mr. Robson, yes. >> Mr. Aker, >> yes. >> Seven nothing. >> The good news is to answer your question is this is done through a reimbursement process. So, we already know in this first stage there are certain portions of the roof approximately 5,000 square feet that need fixed this summer. So, we'll go ahead and we're going to do that and if we get the grant then, you know, we'll do we'll go through the reimbursement. If not, we're still going to continue to pursue, but we know that we need to u get these 5,000 square feet settled up uh this summer. This time I'm going to ask the board to
016approve the NEIU general operating budget for 26 27th school year. Uh when I looked over that uh there is no increase um for us that way. We use their services. Um so they are value ad. >> So moved. >> Second motion. >> Roll call. >> Mr. Abdullah. >> Yes. >> Mr. Azar. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Henderson. Yes, >> Mrs. Kum. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Kho. >> Mr. Robson. >> Yes, >> Mr. Aker. >> Yes. >> Seven. Nothing. >> Mr. Aer, at this time uh I would ask uh the board to uh and then vote uh to nominate uh a board member to be the representative on the AJB, the Abington Joint Rec board. So, do we propose a representative first and then vote or do we vote? >> Let's let can throw out a name.
017>> Throw out a name. >> Um, let's see. >> How about M how about Mr. Abdullah? >> I'd like to nominate Anthony Abdullah. >> Okay. Okay. Uh, the floor is still open for nominations. Anybody else wants wants the job? Nominations are closed. Congratulations, Mr. Abdullah. >> Yeah. So, at this time, I'd ask the board >> uh to uh consider a motion to nominate Anthony Abdala as the AJB representative. >> So, moved. >> Second. >> On the motion, we haven't told the joint rec board what's about to happen, have we? >> No. No. It's a surprise. Well, we got a jersey with his name on it coming, right? We'll send them. Roll call, please. >> Mr. Abdala. >> Yes. >> I feel like that's the only vote that really matters. >> Mr. Azar, >> yes. >>
018Mrs. Henderson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Kum, >> yes. >> Mrs. Kho, >> yes. >> Mr. Robson, >> yes. >> Mr. Aker, >> yes. >> Seven nothing. >> Congratulations. >> There you go. Uh, yeah. the the the final item. Just on a little background, we we uh we we've spoken with the band boosters. They've been here uh at almost every meeting uh and we've talked about replacing uh their uniforms that have been here for about uh 25 years. I presented at the last meeting the annualized cost of that. I I did uh recommend to the board that we do this. Uh, I worked with the booster president and we uh the the Stanberry Uniforms representative uh the the quote is now at uh $75,235. Uh the boosters have committed to $7,500 uh so we're going to
019be like a shade under uh $70,000. I think it's a a very worthwhile investment. Um the boosters are great supporters of our programs. Uh our our students just, you know, do fantastic things in the program and and that pays dividends way beyond uh the graduation. So, at this time, I'd ask the board to approve the Stanberry uniforms quote for band uniforms. >> So, second >> on the motion >> craziness. >> We got it all. >> I just want to say one thing. Well, two things. So, uh and we talked about this after the last meeting. Uh I really look at this, you know, a lot of different ways. I look at it, you know, it's a great thing to support, but there's also math that makes a lot of sense here. Like there's a lot
020of uh activities that we invest in our kids to do, right? And they're not uh profit centers. They don't make money. They lose money, right? So, we're we're taking budget money and spending it. Uh when you look at the amount of revenues that comes in at a high school football game, they're significant. 10 to 15,000 a game from the gate, which a lot of people I've had many people ask me this question in the last two weeks. the gate from all of our athletic events don't go to the booster clubs, they don't go to the sports teams, they go to the general fund, they go back to the school district. So having a really big event on whether it's a Friday night or a Saturday afternoon and having thousands of people attend and pay admission
021that is supporting those programs, those are actually especially the band, right? Football's expensive, right? the that that's probably a profit when you look at the number of kids that have lots of family that come and watch them. Uh you know that you know we're we're not actually investing in my opinion like this is this is we're going to get a return on that investment. Um so I I just wanted to make sure I said that mainly because I had so many questions about people uh because people have heard about this like that the money from the the football games where does that go? So people just didn't know that that goes back to the school district. The second thing I want to say is that I had a friend that I was walking with uh
022last week and he wants to remain anonymous, but I told him this whole story and he has a $1,500 donation that I'm going to give to the band boosters. Uh so, you know, uh do with that what you wish. I promised I wouldn't say who it was. It's not me. Uh I will make a donation, too, but no, this was a this was a friend of mine. So, I just wanted to add those two things. I'm definitely supporting this. >> Thank you. Any other comments? Roll call, please. >> Mr. Abdullah? >> Yes. >> Mr. Azar? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Henderson? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Kum? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Kho? >> Mr. Robson? >> Yes. >> Mr. Aker? >> Yes. >> Seven. Nothing. >> Okay. Uh, is there any unfinished business for the board tonight?
023Mrs. Henderson. Uh, oh, here we go. >> I have a very >> curriculum committee. um minutes. We met earlier tonight um to discuss just a couple things. We there is a change to the calendar. Originally um April 7th was supposed to be a makeup day for snow and April 8th was professional development day. Now that'll be flipped. The professional development day will be April 7th, uh no school for students and then the makeup day um will be on the 8th. So students will have off until uh through the 7th. Um we talked about our workshop for caregivers. Um in the past we've done them monthly. We're currently revamping them um just because it was harder for from based on the survey information that we got back from families. It was hard for families to get
024to. So we are having one this year screenagers. We invite everyone to come. Um students are welcome. We encourage all family members um that is at the Waverly Comm next on um February 19th at 6 p.m. refreshments will be provided. Dr. Cas is going to consult with the admins um for some incentives for students and there will also be resources available uh for the families at the end of the event. So looking forward to the next school year. Uh Dr. C is and Dr. Schaefer going to speak with their administrators to see which events in each building are well attended. Um and we're going to strategically pair the workshop topics with um events that are already being held. We're also looking maybe we do them geared maybe one towards elementary, one uh middle, one high
025school. Perhaps having um some information available at curriculum nights again when families are already there. Um you know, instead of maybe doing them monthly, maybe we do them by marking period um or by season. Uh we're also looking at how we can leverage uh high school students and student led initiatives um that can kind of help enhance the workshops and uh potentially talk to uh different community members and different community groups to help improve attendance or have um community members come and um speak at the events. So to be continued. That is it. >> Thank you very much. Any other any questions for Mrs. Henderson? Thank you very much for your your efforts. Okay. Is there any new business for the >> uh just uh just a reminder that the IT committee is meeting uh
026next week at 6:30 and >> next Wednesday? >> Yeah, next Wednesday. It'll be here at 6:30. And the agenda is out there on board docs. But the two big things that we're going to focus on um is the classroom technology. You know, we put a plan together about two years ago based on the cost of things at the time. And so now we're doing a checkpoint to make sure a is it the right technology and b are the costs what we what we thought they were. And then also the PA system. We're going to talk about that. We're going to talk about other things too. I'm sure we're going to talk about AI, but um those are the two big ones. So hopefully if you can make it, come join us. >> Thank you very
027much. Okay. Other new or old business for the board hearing? None. I'd ask for a motion to adjourn. So move. >> Thank you very much.