001Good evening and welcome to the March 10th, 2025 meeting of the Abington Board of School Directors. I know the attendance of all board members with the exception of Mr. Muhammad and Miss Spalding who are excused this evening. Uh please rise for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Uh I want to note that uh prior to this evening, the board met in executive session to discuss personnel matters. The Abington Board of School Directors has convened this evening's meeting at the administration building and the public is welcome. This meeting is also being broadcast live on the Abington School District YouTube channel. For those members of the public
002who cannot participate this evening, this meeting is being recorded and will be available on the district's website and cable channel no later than Friday, March 13, 2026. Comments from citizens will be conducted in person and by phone. Instructions for calling into each public comment section of the meeting will be displayed on the screen during each segment. The board thanks the public in advance for its cooperation. This is a place where we hold dignity and high regard and everyone's voices are respected and welcomed in this space. Dr. Fetcher, do we have any additional announcements or agenda items? >> Yes, Dr. Mery. I I just wanted to uh announce that we are proud of our uh Abington Senior High School chess team uh who competed at the Pennsylvania State Scholastic Championship uh this weekend in Harrisburg and
003they did extremely well. Which brings me to the next point is that they will be competing in nationals in Chicago at the end of the month and we want to wish them luck and hopefully hear more about our chess team and uh make sure we bring them into a meeting too for all their accomplishments. >> Excellent. And uh we also like to wish them no snow. >> Yes. >> Okay. Uh with that we will move on to opening comments of board members. Mr. Allen. >> Good evening everyone. Mrs. Brown, >> good evening everyone and welcome. Miss Eisenhart, >> good evening. Welcome to the meeting. >> Miss Hartman, >> good evening everyone. >> Miss Fraser, >> hi. >> Miss Fletcher, >> good evening everyone. >> Miss Lee, >> evening everyone. >> Good evening again and welcome
004to the meeting. Uh, Dr. Fetcher, can you proceed with the student council representatives? >> Yes. From Abington Senior High School, Lana Brown. Good evening, Dr. Maui, Dr. Fetcher, and members of the board of school directors. My name is Lana Brown, and I'm the student council president of Abington Senior High School. To begin with academics, we are excited to recognize several senior high school world language students who showcased their skills in French, German, Chinese, and Spanish at the annual MCATFL oral profici proficiency contest on Tuesday evening. Students competed against peers from public and private schools across Montgomery County, demonstrating strong communication and language skills. Congratulations to our gold and silver medal winners, Patrick Pelosi, Juliet Bartner, and Julie Murphy in Chinese, and Jason Woodruff, and Autumn Wilkins in German. Additionally, as Dr. Fetcher mentioned, the Abington
005chess team had an outstanding show showing at districts. Sophia Bora, Kareem Tricky, Nick Young, and Doron Fox delivered a standout performance, earning an impressive second place finish among teams across Bucks and Montgomery counties. Individual results were equally strong with Sophia Bora tied for second place, Nick Young placed sixth and Kareem Tricky finishing eighth. All demonstrating skill and strategy throughout the competition. We commend these students for representing ASHs with confidence and excellence. Regarding athletics, boys wrestler Ryan Salman has qualified for state championships and female wrestlers Michelle Yukapova and Chelsea Cam Gang also earned spots after very strong performances. The swim team had an impressive weekend as well, highlighted by Ruby Tucker breaking her own school record in the 100 backstroke with a time of 57.14 and Julie Chong recording a personal best in the 500 freestyle.
006Ruby Tucker, Julie Chong, Mary Carson, and Claronama have all advanced to states. ASHS's boys basketball, the number seven seed in district 1, traveled to Delaware Valley High School on Saturday, March 7th at 1 p.m. to compete in state playoffs. Lastly, in bowling, we congratulate Alex Haneia and Dion Hunter on qualifying for the state tournament. We are extremely proud of all our student athletes for the hard work and dedication they put in this winter season. In music and orchestra, four Abington Symphonic Band students, David Klinger, Brandon Hack, Patrick Sullivan, and Kayla Thirstston represented the school at the PMEA District 11 Band Festival at Central Bucks East High School. Following festival auditions, three students advanced to the PMEA region 6 band fest band festival on March 19th to 21st at Downingtown East High School. David Klinger, Brandon
007Hack, and Kayla Thirsten. Additionally, the ASHs cast and crew delivered a fantastic fantastic production of Guys and Dolls, bringing the show to life across four per performances on February 26 through 28th and showcasing tremendous talent, dedication, and teamwork both on stage and behind the scenes. Respecting Abington's community outreach, members of the Fruit Ninjas volunteered at the Willow Grove Baptist Food Pantry, helping set up food stations, distribute produce, eggs, meat, snacks, and household essentials. and assist with cleanup. Our garden club participated in the Philadelphia Flower Show, working together over two days to design and build a community garden display featuring an early spring vegetable and herb garden and cedar raised beds crafted by district carpenters. We are definitely proud. To close us off, the senior high student council is hosting an additional fundraiser at Crumble Cookie
008on March 18th to continue to raise money for Ronald McDonald House. Stu. The student council also has their blood drive partnered with the Red Cross coming up in April. Junior prom is around the corner and will be held on March 19th at the Fuge. Our students continue to shine and impress us every day. Thank you all for your time today. Respectfully submitted, Lana Brown. >> Thank you, Lana. >> Thank you. >> At this time, I'd ask for Mary Beck to please come forward from Abington Middle School. Sorry. Good evening, Dr. Maui and Dr. Fetcher and members of the board of school directors. I am Addie Beck and I am one of the executive board of the student council for Abington Middle School. Math Olympiad members will be taking their final contest this week. The final
009round of the AMS math competition occurred last week and the top scorers in each grade level will be recognized as this year's AMS math competition winners. On the grade level AMS MC plaques located in the AMS admin lobby. Our top math students in grades 6, 7th, and 8th took the PA math league contest on February 27th. These students will compete against other students in their grade level across the state. Moving on to chess club continues to be active and novice players are learning new strategies and skills while intermediate and advanced players will continue to own their skills. And in last month's teens against drugs and alcohol held two events for our members and the first event was a movie movie night in the AMS little theater where we also held a unique board game event
010on February 27th. Congratulations to the red team captains by eighth graders Charles Bo and Dominic Ferrerero on their victory over the blue and green teams. Going to reading Olympics, the six teams competing in Upper Dublin High School are the Sigma Delphia 67ers, Cookie Bookies, Blazing Books, Voitz Voyagers 2.0, Book Warriors, and Main Character Energy. Students are getting ready for their last meeting before the reading Olympics competition on March 23rd. For athletics, we have held many interest meetings for spring sports and are looking forward to the beginning of this season, which will start very soon. And for going green club, members have learned about how to grow plants from cutings during our February meetings and they've decided to investigate different methods and set up containers with cutings under the grow lights to watch over the next
011few weeks. Students will then get to take home cutings to share their knowledge with their families. Going to our musical of Mean Girls Jr. took place last weekend. Our cast, crew, and other student led teams came together to put on a great show. This is one of our largest school community events of the year. Those involved had a great time and were so glad to share their talents with the audiences. Students who have received January pledge of character were honored at the Montgomery County Commissioners meeting held the Abington School District. The pledge of character trait for the month of January was helpfulness. Students were chosen by their parents by their teachers, sorry, for being helpful and serving the AMS community. At the same meeting, AMS Middle School was recognized for receiving tier one recognition for
012our PBIS initiatives. And lastly, but and lastly but not least, the builder's club sent four large shipping barrels jam-packed full of supplies for schools in Jamaica. And we included letters from our students to theirs and hope to hear back soon. We want to thank everyone who contributed items, money, or take time to make this project happen. Thank you. Good evening. >> Thank you, Mary. >> Thank you. Great to hear about those reading Olympiads and the math Olympiads. And the play was awesome. Both plays were awesome. >> I heard those those were highly coveted tickets. >> They were and it was wonderful. They did a great job. >> Okay. Uh Dr. Fetcher, can you please pro proceed to our board orientation for this evening? >> Yes, Dr. Mallerie. At this time, I would ask that members
013from the ICS team provide an orientation regarding an update on the Abington Middle School project. Thank you everyone for having us tonight. So what we're going to do uh with this design progress update uh we're going to give you a update to the site plan that you saw last month. Some changes we got based on some feedback we received. We're going to share the interior floor plans for the first time with you here today and we're going to go through the land development process. It's the township and uh district submission that we have to go through for this project. We'll then of course go through the next steps and we're excited to announce a community open house in the next few months. So with that, I will pass this off and we can talk about
014the plans. >> Okay. Uh good evening. Uh my name is Dan Demo with Shrader Groupoup Architecture. I'm the project manager um for the design team. And starting off, we're going to look at the uh site plan um that we've presented to the township um with some updates um that from what we uh presented last time. So just to orient everyone here, we have uh Suscoana running uh north south on the right side and then Highland running across the bottom. uh the little T-shaped upside down building uh in the bottom left, that's the building we're in right now, the administration building. And then that kind of yellowish tan blob uh just above that would be the new high school uh building. We're going to locate that uh on top of where the existing tennis courts uh
015and the track are currently situated. middle school. >> To the right of that, uh, you see a bunch of gray areas that represents parking, and that's actually where the existing middle school is currently situated. So, if you kind of imagine that whole gray area from where the tennis courts are shown, all the way down to where those little yellow um rectangles are, which represent buses, that's where the middle school is. So, the concept of the site plan is to really bring in um office Susuana, the main boulevard that brings us up um into the site and towards the front door of the new u middle school. A couple things to note. Um there is a uh creek, a little stream area that has um some uh buffer that we have to stay away from. Um
016just near that we're going to do some um uh constructed wetlands to help manage all the storm water on site. The bottom right corner there's existing playfields that we're actually not going to touch during the um this uh project. They're going to stay as is and stay in working order. But everything on the north side in that brighter green um is going to be refurbished. So, the senior uh baseball field uh right in the top center of the page um is going to move south a little bit away from the properties of the neighbors um but generally stays in the same position. Um adding another softball field next to that and then the football field in the top right uh corner uh pretty much in the same location as it is now, but adding a
017cinder track around that walking track to replace what we're uh removing where the new middle school's going. Coming down below that, we have another baseball and softball field with a share multi-purpose field. And directly in the center, there's those two dark multi-purpose fields that represent um a synthetic turf fields that we're we're looking to uh install as part of this project. Between the baseball, softball, and those multi-purpose fields, we have the uh eight tennis courts. And just to the right of that, there's a little box represents um a concessions building uh that will be an alternate um during the bidding process uh of the project. Um one of the the key things that we are really trying to focus on with this site layout is separating parent and student drop offs um and keeping those
018uh vehicles separate from each other. So, the idea right now is that uh majority of the car traffic is going to be coming off of Suscoana uh onto Jericho and then looping around the front of the building through those parking lots um to drop off kids uh in the front of the building and then exiting back out Jericho. And then bus traffic will be coming off of Highland um through Tyler, looping across the bottom uh down the left side of the building. And there's a bus loop in the top on the north side of the new building. From there, they can loop back out to Tyler or go out towards Ghost Road. There's a couple options for them to exit the site, but the real idea here is again keeping um those two vehicle paths
019separate and providing multiple entry points uh for the students. Again, there's a large student population here. So, making sure we can um filter the kids in into the building in a in a safe manner. One of the other things we wanted to address with this site plan uh was kind of that throughway that comes across the top of site just below those wall fields. Um right now it kind of just shoots directly out um and people tend to uh speed uh and it creates an unsafe um area for kids to cross going out to those playing fields. So, what we decided to do is kind of bring that drive that's just on uh the top side of that bus parking lot, comes around to the front and comes to an intersection where people have to
020go right or left. Uh so, creating that stopping area uh we hope will provide a safer cross for students to make their way out to those athletic fields. Uh moving on to the building floor plans. Uh, one of the things I didn't mention with the site plan, and I'm sure a lot of people are familiar uh with this site, is the uh large grade drop. Um, so from that top uh tennis court area down to uh where we're at now, there's about 30 ft of drop. And so one of the things we're going to do with this um new building is make sure that we use that to our advantage um and drop part parts of the building down into the site um to help with cost issues and layout. So to orient everyone, this
021building's actually turned 90 degrees counterclockwise from where it was in the site plan. So Susuana would actually be running uh east west along the top of the screen and then Highlands running north south down the right side of the screen. Our main entry is coming right down the middle between that uh green area and that blue area. That will be the new front door. The greenish area right um at the top there represents the the front office with the nurse suite. And adjacent to that uh to the left in orange would be our athletic wing. As we move south, the bottom left in purple that would be our performing arts. And then everything you see uh on the other side would be our main academic wings. So currently the high the middle school uh is
022separate separated into four teams um per grade. So the idea uh really again to break a large student body down and a large building down into smaller uh learning communities. So by creating four separate wings for each team with three levels, one for each grade, we're able to uh keep the kids in a smaller uh close group um where the majority of their uh education is going to happen. So in each uh learning community there are um six general ed classrooms. Um and sprinkled throughout the learning houses and um other parts of the building will be the dark blue classrooms which represent um special um education areas, low incidence suites um and in the different programs uh to serve that community. All of the uh classrooms in each house are situated around an open learning
023uh collaboration commons and each has uh its own set of individual toilet rooms. The other uh defining feature to really organize the plan was uh the cafeteria. So currently there's four servings uh throughout the day and with this new arrangement we're able to decrease that have three servings one per uh per each grade and to do that we have a centralized kitchen and serving area that you see in that kind of salmony pink color um in the middle right and there are four um distinct cafeterias that serve each team uh at the head of um the classroom room wing. Again, there's like another green bar kind of dead center of the screen that represents the assistant principal and some guidance counselor suites along with instructional planning centers. Moving up a floor, um the majority of
024the plan stays the same for all of our uh learning commons. Um but what you'll see change in the middle would be the teal area. This represents the library. Another uh program programmatic element we wanted to anchor uh the organization of the building. Um also down in the bottom left you can see uh there's a the balcony to the theater. Um so a couple things that we want to do with the theater is make sure we can seat an entire uh grade. So we have 550 seats on the lower level, 200 seats on a top level for a total of 750. Um, another thing that we took in from a lot of our uh, tours is um, the toilet facilities and making sure that they're uh, open and accessible to uh, everyone. So again, in
025each learning house, there are individual toilet rooms and then accessible to the central area of the building are two larger group bathrooms um where there's two ways in uh to a wash area and then separate individual toilet stalls with floor to uh ceiling uh walls and doors. And then moving up to the third floor uh is where we get into uh the last of the special areas. So around an interior courtyard we have four art rooms and that you see in teal kind of dead center. And then just to the right of that would be um the STEM classrooms. And like I mentioned, um, with the grade, uh, dropping off so much, the gym is actually on a lower a lower level. Um, so it's almost a whole story down from the main floor. Uh,
026we ensure that we have um, stairs and elevators to reach this lower level. Um, as well as the main bleachers. The bleachers actually connect to that main floor. But down on this level, we have our main competition gym that has two practice courts um running perpendicular to the main competition court. Uh and then we also have an auxiliary gym that can be separated by a hard partition. And then a lot of the um adjacent spaces would be locker rooms and team rooms for sports. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. I'm Doug Taylor with ICS. Um, I always follow Dan's fun presentations with uh schedules and land development and things like that. So, not nearly as colorful, but equally as important, I will say. So, uh, first and foremost, the land development process. Um, sometimes referred
027to as approvals, project approvals. Um, a process that we need to follow so that we can get the, uh, permits that we need to construct uh, this facility. And I'll go over the schedule shortly. Uh, first, the zoning uh, board application. and we've been uh meeting with the township for uh zoning uh items uh for some interpretation and some uh preliminary feedback, just an informal process. They've been very good to work with to this point and uh we're resubmitting uh to them again informally uh this week and we expect that we'll be receiving some feedback from them next month so that we can actually submit the formal uh zoning application uh to the township. that will be heard sometime in May or June depending on when we receive feedback um next month. The next um
028process that we'll go through at the same time uh these are all concurrent submissions uh is the planning commission. So we'll submit to the planning commission. Obviously you know they uh have codes that we need to apply to conform to. Um they're looking at uh infrastructure of the site. They're looking, you know, at site, power, sanitary, gas, all the utilities, looking at uh lighting, at parking configurations, all those other things. So, we have to work through that process. Um, and that actually needs to follow the zoning process, but the township has indicated to us that we can submit that early and they may start taking a look at that, but the formal clock on that submission does not start until we get the zoning approvals in place. But we are going to submit that later
029this month so that we can get that process rolling. And lastly, but uh probably the uh piece of approval that has the longest duration is the conservation district. So, um, this basically are the environmental laws that we have to comply with, making sure that we are managing the storm water on site, coming up with proper control measures, and we're not discharging storm water, you know, onto neighboring properties at a rate greater than we have uh today. So, we're going to be uh very mindful of all of those requirements. That submission is actually going in this month as well. Um we will then receive an administrative completeness uh letter hopefully from the conservation district and then that starts the process which can be nine to 10 months uh of time to get through this process. So
030this is definitely the the longest piece and the critical path on our schedule. So the project milestone schedule I just want to go over each one of these items briefly so you understand um you know what the process is and how it's been working. uh programming and schematic design 30% that's basically getting us 30% of the way through the design process. We have already completed this piece. But basically what we did is it it takes the program that we developed very early on and we use blocks to represent the program area for each one of those spaces. Dan's team puts those in a plan to make sure that we're accounting for all the square footage, making sure we're kind of working out that building configuration. We then apply kind of a grossing factor. We put
031in hallways. We put in support spaces, vertical circulation, storage, and then we uh check that square footage against our initial uh square footage for the project. So, we've completed that. We've confirmed that our square footage is within range. Um we also check the budget um at that phase. And again, you know, we're within those parameters of the referendum. And uh lastly, we're always checking um these designs with the guiding principles that we've established early in this process. The uh design development phase, which is what we're working up to next, uh about 60% through the design process. Uh those uh drawings are are going to be coming up uh later this month, beginning of next. Um that's basically taking those shapes that we uh developed after meeting with the the staff and developing the program further
032filling those blocks in with the actual uh spaces that will you know become the floor plan that Dan shared with you earlier that the boxes stretch they grow they like them to shrink a little so the budget would come down however they tend to grow as we go through this process which is why we closely manage uh that process. So um at this phase we'll again um perform a budget review and uh a constructibility review and this is when we'll do our value analysis and do a value engineering session to make sure we can control the cost of this project as we move into the next phase which is the construction document phase that will follow what we're working on now. This is when Dan's team takes all of those uh conceptual and developed um
033design and start to turn those into actual construction documents that the biders uh can use to give us pricing. So, they're going to design foundations, structural steel, building envelopes, we'll design the site, all those storm water measures, parking lots, and such. That then uh moves into permitting and approvals, which is actually concurrent to all of these things. And you can see that that block um is fairly long. Uh again, primarily because of that conservation district approval process and uh the bidding and mobilization overlaps that as well. We will make sure that we closely monitor where those approvals are coming in. We'll go out to bid before we have all of those approvals in hand, but we will not receive bids until we know that we have those approvals in place. and we're managing that scope
034of work that could come could increase as the result of that approval process. So if we get comments back that we have to issue in an agenda so that we can incorporate that into the bid, that's how we'll manage. We have to extend the bid a bit until we get those final approvals. We'll do that as well. So we'll manage that carefully, but we don't want to lose time where we're waiting for all those approvals. And then lastly, the construction and project closeup phase about this time uh next year. We're hoping that we're commencing with construction on this project. So, that's the uh plan. We will um not hit the ground with shovels and start digging things up immediately. Obviously, we have to provide fencing around the area that we're going to disturb so that
035we're protecting the site uh for students and and safety of community. We will then provide temporary parking lots and do the things we need to do to prepare and then we'll start that actual construction activity. We'll wrap that new building up around June of 2029. Um, at that time, we'll vacate the existing middle school, move them into the new middle school. We'll then take that fencing and secure the other half of the site. Again, we'll have detailed phasing drawings to uh document how all that works. So, the biders are bidding that process. Um, we will then, um, take care of the demolition of the existing building while we're starting to, um, develop the new parking lot and those fields and site features that Dan shared with you, uh, just a moment ago. That will wrap
036up ultimately around the fall of 2030. Um, and that will basically conclude the construction process. So, we have a a lot of work ahead of us, a lot of approvals, and uh, a lot of excitement. Looking forward to getting started. some of the next steps through uh June of 2026. Uh we did have a sketch review with the planning commission. So, we've been doing our homework trying to get in front of the township to make sure they understand what's being uh shared with them more formally uh down the road. The next three items we just talked about um March um and April are the uh meetings with the township. Now, those township meetings will be um public. The zoning hearing is public and so is the land development process uh with the planning commission and
037board of commissioners. We will be letting community know when those meetings are happening and uh you're certainly welcome to participate uh as we go through that process. Um a community openhouse is scheduled uh for April. Uh we're excited to share this project with the community. So hopefully we'll see many people at that event. Um we'll actually share the first pass of the building renderings and views with uh with community uh later in um May. Additional feedback from the surveys will happen in June. And finally um an updated construction cost estimate based on these drawings we're going to see uh later this month will be uh reviewed as far as where we are with the actual um project budget and uh and construction cost. The community openhouse is uh scheduled for April 21st. Stay tuned. But
038please log in to 1d1 future.org and continue to track our project there. We will continue to provide uh bi-weekly updates on that u moving forward. So for the next six months, we'll be working closely with Ally and team to make sure that we're providing updates. There'll be a design um key that you can hit and find updates as we move forward. And that concludes our presentation. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Uh if there are any questions from the board. >> Okay. Questions or comments from the board? >> I have several questions. Uh what makes up back to uh slide one. What makes up the play fields? The bottom right of the slides. >> So, in the bottom right, I think they're uh their soccer fields. Uh correct. Lacrosse. >> Lacrosse. Lacrosse. Sorry. Lacrosse. I think
039they're labeled incorrectly on >> is the fields on either side as you drive in off Saskuana. Right now, >> thinking of baseball field. >> No, of course not. Wrong side. >> They're in the same location. >> Suscoana to turn on to Tyler. They're the fields on your left. if you're looking. That's a little theater. >> Okay. Okay. Thank you. A couple more. Uh oh, yeah. A pointer, a red beam would have been ideal. >> I said I forgot my laser. I apologize. >> That's okay. And then uh the through I did I think it was referred to as a through sight stopping area. I was unable to conceptualize it via the map. >> So if you could >> I think you can see my mouse. >> Oh, okay. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Thanks. So, this would
040be the in the current uh drawing, the road that comes from the high school over to the middle school goes directly through and to Suscuana. >> The way we have the new field laid out, there is actually a three-way stop here. So, it forces everyone traveling from the high school to the middle school site. It forces a stop which allows for safer crossing for students. Okay, let's see here. >> Oh, also, um, when might a 3D rendition be developed to aid the conceptualization? >> Yes. So, um, we're developing them now. Um, we've, uh, started applying finishes um, to the interior exterior building um, to really start that um, initial concept phase and we'll be sharing them um, in May. I have one more question. >> Okay. Um, oh, last question. Uh, uh, will there be
041a formal breaking of ground ceremony and if so, which time frame? >> Final question. >> Yes. Yeah, there absolutely will be a groundbreaking. We'll coordinate coordinate that closely with Dr. Fetcher. Um, and we'll >> like what year? Because as we're talking about a range of about four years. >> Oh, yeah. Curious. So, the groundbreaking will will either be, you know, early 2027 um >> to get get things kicked off >> about a year from now. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else? >> Yeah, I just have a quick question about the fields. You said that there was going to be and I I can see it like a little concession area. Will there be restrooms in there for the students who are playing on the fields? >> Yes. So, sorry. So, as Dan mentioned, uh it
042is an alternate to the project. So, it is depending on the project budget at bid time. But yes, there are the plans for there to be restrooms in that fieldhouse as well to accommodate either parents viewing the events or students doing them. >> But if it's not cost-effective, it won't be included. >> Is that correct? >> Correct. I just I I'm looking at the the the fields and as a parent who's been to football games, the bathrooms are really far from the school from from the fields and I think about the students having to like go back and forth and back and forth and I was just wondering if there was a plan for it because now they're even further away from the building is even further away from the fields. >> Yeah. So, we're
043certainly optimistic that our budget will allow us to construct that. But if it doesn't, we're going to minimally put u roughins in place so that we have the ability to construct it later. So, we'll make sure that we have water, sewer, electric, and all those things we would need to construct it at a later date if we can't afford to build it initially. >> Okay. >> Um I have a quick question. I I just want to make sure I understand this the schedule that you offered. Um it looked to me like you were expecting bids to go out Septemberish this year. Is that correct? >> Yeah, it I mean it could be September, October, but yeah, around that timeline. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Yep. We're going to carefully work that with you
044know the timing of these approvals as they move forward. So they'll tell us a little bit of a story as we go. >> Okay. Great. Thank you. >> I had one question about the first slide um of the initial Yes, thank you. So on the west side of the building where the tennis where the new building is going to be situated which is on top of the tennis courts. Um to the left of that begins parking there's the road that goes through and the left of that is parking for the high school. Um, is there any anticipated disruption to the current layout of parking for the high school once the new build starts or are we using andor are we using any of that land to the left of that divider road that currently sits
045there? >> No. So, one of the um the things that really defines our site is that left side of the middle school. That's like the middle school site and then to the left of that right >> would be the high school. So really we can't go over there. Um so we're not taking any like uh space away from the high school parking, >> right? >> Um and with the grades, we're actually trying to um work out some sort of um actual barrier between the two to help separate again keeping those buses separate and allowing the car traffic in the high school parking lot to stay separate as well. >> Good. Um that's good confirmation. That was my understanding, but I just wanted to make sure. And the other thing is, I know that we're talking
046about like smaller start or steps in the process, but they're important ones that are happening right now. Is everything on track? Are we on the timeline that is appropriate for the timeline that is following? And um have you had any hiccups with um any of the work that's been done such you know, especially in the zoning or township level or approvals? Are we all um on time and on track for the project? >> Currently, we're on schedule as I presented this evening. So, again, the next couple of months will will really tell us where we're going to go, but we believe that um we're going to see the cooperation from the township. Um, we're working, we're going through this process of informal meetings and getting feedback so that we can hopefully then expedite the actual
047zoning process by learning what interpretations we need to interpret our way or their way. Um, we'll prepare that submission accordingly and then expedite that process. And we did have a a sketch review with the township so they saw what we plan to present. We took feedback from that meeting and incorporated those comments in our land development set. So, we're doing everything we can to work closely and understand what the expectations of the township are so that when we submit we feel like we'll be in better shape to to keep that process moving as quickly as we can. >> Thank you. >> I appreciate the question about on time on task and I would add to that on budget. I know that um there was a small mention of the plans may get bigger which may
048cost more but we have a fixed amount of money. So my question about on um on budget has to do with the ex excavation um and not repeating mistakes of the past. So, when the high school was built, there was I think about $1 million in fees that we didn't anticipate because of unsuitable soil, which is a term that gives me PTSD, right? So, um what have we learned from that and how can we anticipate not coming across that same type of issue uh since the the land is so close in proximity? >> Go ahead. Sure. >> Yeah. So, we uh conducted a soil survey of the whole site. So what that entailed that was around 70 different borings uh all around the site and I believe we had around 25 to 28 within the
049actual building footprint. So what that was is they dug down, they tested the soil that was in there. They noted if and where they hitted bedrock so that we can account for it in the drawings that go out to biders. So anyone bidding on this project will know, hey, here are all the tests that we've done on this site. This is what you should expect so you don't have that unforeseen rock. Everything we have is tested, dug up, and we'll also make sure that we put allowances in there for anything else that might come up so you don't run into that same issue. >> Thank you. So, I think it's also important to note as we continue to develop the drawings um and we understand site features a little more and elevations a bit more,
050we have some additional borings that we um are going to go back and perform some test borings um at areas where we may have some additional uh cut for um a basin or retaining walls or you know anything else that could entail excavations that would um hit the depth of potential rock below. So, we're going to do some additional investigations as we develop the site further. >> And just to just to comment on that too from from our standpoint from the administration, um we have asked that there's extensive work done in that based on what occurred at the high school and uh I guess this is also a question. Uh this is more extensive than typically would be done based on the history that we experienced with the high school. Is that correct? >> That's
051correct. Yeah. And we actually started looking at some of those even during the very early sketch phase when um Shrader Group started talking about dropping the gym elevation a level below the the rest of the building. You know, we wanted to make sure that that area wasn't going to be full of bedrock that we tried to drop that and we encountered, you know, additional cost to to to rip out rock in that area. So, we know that there's not a lot of rock where we do plan to put that uh the gym the lower elevation. we we've encountered some but not a great extent and we'll make sure that we you know prepare the documents to protect you. >> So I have a related question that also stems from my own PTSD over that change
052order. Um my my understanding is that after they started to do actual construction for the high school edition, um they discovered not just unsuitable soil, but the fact that that area had been used um to dump fill and that that's what created the unsuitable soil condition. So my question is a little more specific than Mrs. Brown's. Are we sure that the tennis courts and the cinder track where we plan to put the new middle school was not also a site where Phil was dumped during the construction of the senior high school? >> Yeah. So, we're we're actually, you know, checking soil samples as well as looking for rocks. So, all of the profile of the depths of soil are categorized so we understand exactly what lives from the grass down to where we hit augur
053refusal. >> Right. >> So, But my understand Dr. Fetcher, correct me on this if I'm wrong, is that the discovery of the the fill dump for the senior high school was archival that they went somehow went back into the into the building plans for the high school. So I guess I'm wondering if those plans have been looked at. >> Mr. Danahue, >> what what my understanding is what was encountered was buried junk rock from prior excavations, >> right? >> That was thought to be bedrock refusal during the testing process. >> It wasn't when they dug it up, right? >> That's how they found it. So, >> it was the fact that they thought that was where the they were going to start building from. I understand your question which is we know that that's not
054going to that when we found rock with those augur probes >> that that's not just junk rock like we encountered yeah >> at the high school. >> Yeah, that makes I mean again we're looking for large masses of rock that may be below ground. We also will have unit pricing for we'll define what a boulder is and what it cost to remove a boulder from the project. We will provide the necessary protection to you to make sure that we're competitively bidding those numbers up front. In fact, we we may even include the removal of x number of boulders based on a unit price so that if they do hit a boulder, they have a competitive number they have to follow, okay? >> Versus just throwing a number on a unit price line that it doesn't
055matter, right? So, if we if they know they'll have to credit us back for something they don't encounter, they're going to be more careful with the numbers they put in their bid form. >> Okay? So, we have some bid strategies that we'll use to help protect you as well. >> No one likes a million-dollar change order. >> No. >> All right. Thank you. >> To the point, too, I think you were also asking and I just want to make sure that we're answering all the questions that the board has. Um, there was some historical geological research done in the area prior to before you were even digging and doing the borings. Is that correct? >> Yes. And can you speak a little bit to what that process entails? We'll >> talk about the phase one.
056>> Yeah. So, what we're doing is called a phase one study. What that is is um we have a group that specialized in looking at historical documents about what was done on the site. Uh what the site used to look like. ask. >> Um, and that tells us kind of exactly what is or not gives us a good idea of what uh was the site and how the site became what it is, which gives us a good understanding of what we might encounter uh based on the changes throughout the years. >> Thank you. That was that's the that's what I was trying to ask because that archival evidence is handy and relevant. So, yes, we are in the process of getting that phase one study done and if they would find something concerning, then we
057would move it to a phase two, but I think that we're going to see that, but we do want to be sure. We're doing everything we can to perform our due diligence. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yep. >> Any other questions? >> One question. >> No. Oh, go ahead, Mr. Allen. I'm sorry. >> No, it's all right. So, um, this presentation very nice. Thank you. I can this and I'm sure it's going to be on the micro site, but can this also be attached on board docs underneath? Um, usually the slide decks are on board docs and I'm guessing this was probably still in the phase right to the last minute. So, if this could be attached to board docs for the public to view, that would be appreciated. >> That's for you, Dr. F.
058>> Absolutely. >> Thank you. >> No problem. >> I had one final question. Where do um community members send emails regarding the project with questions for clarification? >> So on the on the uh micro site there, the 1AD1future.org, there's an uh opportunity to um send questions and uh email as well. >> I see it. Actually, I'm on the site. Is it middle school project atabington.k12.pa us? >> That would be it. Thank you. >> Awesome. I wanted to go on and look at it like I would if I was at home. So, I see it right here when you scroll down at the top of the page. That's great. >> Okay. Any other questions or comments from the board? Okay. Thank you very much, gentlemen. That was great. >> Thank you. >> Dr. Fer, do you
059have anything to add to that? >> nothing. Just exciting. And >> and I'm glad to hear that we remain on time with the project. Um and ultimately you'll hear some things about uh I want to speak just budgetarily. You'll hear things about alternates and you know we we have to remember that the amount of the project cannot be exceeded. Right? >> And so that's why you will hear various things along the way with alternates and possibilities. Of course we'd like to do it all but it has to remain within in that budget. Okay, great. Thank you. Okay, that brings us to our first section of comments from citizens. Comments from citizens are being conducted both in person and by phone. The phone number to participate in public comments is 2677153717 and is being displayed on
060the screen at this time. You'll be able to join the meeting by calling in on your mobile or your landline phone. During this period, a citizen will be recognized once and each citizen's comments will be limited to a total of three minutes except at the discretion of the president. Time may not be yielded or otherwise transferred by one speaker to another for purposes of extending a given speaker's time allotment. If there's anyone present in the room who'd like to make a comment, please use the microphone either to your right or to your left. Carol Godfrey, 1021 Devon Road. I saw the pictures and I heard turf fields and I like that. Will those during the day be used by the middle school only and after school sports for middle school only? Uh or maybe somebody
061can get back to me with that information. And the other question I have, if those are being used by the middle school, are there plans for high school turf fields at all in the works? And I wonder if somebody can back to me with that. >> Okay. >> Thanks. >> Thank you for your voice. >> Hello. Um, my concern is from the high school side. >> I'm sorry. Could you state your name and address, please? >> Yes. Sorry. Hi, I'm Eva Jarrett. I live in Rosland. Um I'm currently the assistant uh well co-director of the high school color guard. Have graduated from Abington as well. Um concern on the high school side, especially for the marching band. We're now moving the middle school on top of our practice field. This will also be the second
062time our practice field has been put on top a building put on top of it. We can't push all of that front ensemble equipment all the way down to that field. We are asking them to go from the high school all the way down unless are we getting a truck truck crew. Um and I mean in regards to the tennis team, the baseball team, anybody else who uses that area, we're pushing all those high schoolers further away from their usual practice times. So that is a concern on the high school side for me. >> Okay. Thank you for your voice. >> Anyone else in the room? >> Go ahead. >> Hi, Joe Rooney. I still live in Arsley. Um, I'm still concerned about Dr. Swift. I was pretty shocked actually to get zero comments from
063anybody that's sitting up there on the board. You all have received emails from me and not a single person has responded. I've written Dr. Fetcher also about this. So, uh, have any of all been to Bogotaa? Well, I have a bunch of times and um, they had some really terrible problems there. I was on a layover one time and there was a big mon there were little monuments set up on the street and then there was a a protest and it was about for all the people who disappeared during the drug wars and the civil unrest that they had there. It was really quite scary. Well, in a sense y'all have disappeared Dr. Swift and it's really both disappointing and for everybody that sit here and work here. If they've done it to Dr. Swift,
064they'll do it to you. It's very unnerving as far as I'm concerned. So, um, we're told, "Oh, just trust us." But no, what we've got here would, as far as I can tell from my asking honest questions to a lot of you all, is there's a kangaroo court right now. The kangaroo court has an anonymous judge. It has zero guidelines. It has zero oversight. Where are the checks and balances? What are the secret charges? What about justice? who is in charge of this operation? I looked in the thing and the HR supervisor is leaving and a new one's coming the next month. So, it's not that. Nobody knows. Nobody cares. Nobody says anything. This is a person who worked here for 18 months and as best I can tell received stell did a stellar job
065and received nothing but laudatory comments and we get nothing from you. Now, there's plenty of rumors out there. I can't verify him, so I don't know. But we just had a little protest, and this protest was all about uh free speech for for the kids, whatever. And some of the rumors about Dr. Swift is something to do with Thomas. One minute. Thanks. So, Dr. Swift has that same free speech. In fact, I've watched members of the board call people fascists from sitting up there. We hear about dignity held in high regard, but there's no repercussions for that. There's no apologies. There's no nothing. There's a board member who was quoted in the uh oh where do I have it? I'll talk about that later. Can't find it here. Who was quoted in the Northeast Times
066basically disparaging America. Racism is built into the fabric of our culture. You know, if we're going to go back and you're going to start digging into people's past, then there should be an even-handed justice there. But I don't see it at all. I don't trust you. It maybe y'all should read um the Gulag Archipelago and see what Barry did in the Soviet Union. It's a weak analogy, but it almost sounds like show me the person and I'll show you the crime. And none of y'all are worried about it. I don't understand that at all. It's very disheartening. It's no way to run a $200 million business. >> Thank you for your voice. >> Hi. Uh my name is Jennal Glennside. Um I wanted to uh thank um everybody for the uh presentation about the U
067middle school for the update. Um the building looks um amazing. I like that it's the how thoughtful the design is. It's going to try to keep a big school from feeling so big. Um so I think that kids can sort of take advantage of all the opportunities that a large school district and large school offer but without feeling overwhelmed by it. And also as a parent who has navigated the current middle school's parking lot and roads and everything, I really appreciate all the thought put into making them safer for the drivers and the kids and and finding ways to not have to um coordinate narrow curved roads with buses. So, thank you for that. Take care. >> Thank you for your voice. Hi, I'm Amy Scarbeck at 240 Maple A. >> Thank you. >> So,
068um I was compelled to come. I had the honor of um working in the morning. I worked in the cafeteria and um saw the transformation of the school from Dr. Swift. It was beautiful. It was truly amazing. and we just had fun at and um I just had a funny story to share that I don't know if you guys know but during lunch the parking lot was trashed like the trash was unbelievable and one day um officer Steve and I both at the same time saw Dr. Swift with a broom and a dustpin. And we both ran towards her saying, "No, no, no. You know, we'll get that." And she said, "No, no, because we teach by example." And I thought about that story today and I thought maybe we can turn this around as
069a learning tool. And I'm I'm speaking to the parents too because I have been confused since the gate and you know the media think the way people use words are so damaging to other people and I have never witnessed Dr. Swift use any disparaging words to anyone. And I went on I don't know Tik Tok, but I went on Tik Tok and I saw that it was AI created and you know we're human. We make mistakes. We people we we have errors and but we have to correct these errors and I think at this point the children need us to come together and as parents I had to talk to my daughter. I had to show her Bingbach Abington and I really pray you all go on it. It's scary and it's damaging to our
070community and it's very damaging to Dr. Swift to the point of a threat I believe. And I also want to extend my um just my respect and love to her family as well. and I had the privilege of meeting her father and he went here his her beautiful mother went here and this is painful and I think as a human being um maybe we all have to look at that at things were said things were wrong information's wrong there's no coincidences to me so I you know I could get angry and say what I think and feel but right now all my energy wants to go to healing because I believe Dr. Swift, Dr. Swift's family, this committee, we all need to put aside our political stuff. I'm not political. I don't know much. I
071didn't know what Dr. Swift was, but I knew every day it was about the children. Every single day and she spoke with an eloquence. I said, "I can never teach. Could I be yelling at you? Bye." >> Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. Uh, Mr. Carcass, do we have any callers on the line? >> We do not have any callers at this time. >> Anyone else in the room? >> Okay, with that, we will move on to the approval of minutes. Mr. Allen, can you please read the recommendation? I'm sorry, Dr. Fetcher. Before we move on to num item number six, is there anything you'd like to address? I'd like to address um the middle school and the design. Um there are we are in a a design process right now that will
072take a look at a lot of the questions that people have asked. One thing I want to clarify is um in terms of the high school and turfing of fields in the high school um that would have to be separate from this project itself. the middle school project must be just for the middle school and the parcels where the middle school are. Um there have been you know various groups and parent groups who have you know approached me to say hey listen can we do um can we do something about the the turf and um you know raise some funds for it those types of things. Uh but there's not a plan in place at this current moment for any turf of uh the high school fields. Um in terms of the middle school area
073as well, um I would say that the turfing of that area would also be uh depending upon budget. So whatever um needs to occur there um if if it is not within budget to have that area turfed then it would be grass fields. Um terms of the various practice areas. I know that um definitely recall the um the band and being moved from uh where the addition is on Shoresman Stadium to currently behind this building. um we would have to look at other fields probably closer to the high school because the point is very valid that moving that equipment especially uh downhill um is is not going to to work in those areas. So I appreciate you're bringing that up. I would also encourage as we go through this design process uh that members of
074our community pose those questions on on the uh website, provide suggestions and input because I think that you know that's the way that um we've gotten to a point where we are with such community input and ideas about what this middle school should look like uh from our community. Um, and I think that, you know, when it comes to these, um, smaller detailed areas, we truly want to hear from you, and I appreciate that coming up, uh, tonight as well. Um, and, uh, finally, I just want to address and acknowledge uh, an appreciation um, for the the word spoken this evening um, about Dr. Swift. And I would also like to say that you know we are in in a process um currently and you know I can't unfortunately cannot go into that process but
075it is it is my hope that um there is a good resolve in the process for our community at large but also for our students. >> Okay. Um, I would just like to second the suggestion that um, community members avail themselves of the website and leave feedback for us. Um, your perspectives are important and also help us kind of flesh out the details of how the middle school will be used and and the best ways to make it suitable for um, our students needs. Um, okay. All right. Now we can move on to agenda item six. >> Yes, madam. >> Mr. Allen, can you please read the recommendation to approve the February meeting minutes? >> Yes, Madam President. This is recommended action of the board of school directors approves the minutes of the board meeting
076on February 10th, 2026 and the board meeting on February 24th, 2026. >> Second. >> This is a vote by acclamation. All in favor say I. >> I. >> The eyes have it and the motion passes. Mr. Allen, can you please read the recommendation to approve the personnel agenda? >> Uh, yes, Madam President. This recommended action to board of school directors approves the changes in personnel as reflected in personnel agenda number 7.1 and 7.1A. >> Second. >> We have a second. Dr. Fetcher. >> Thank you, Dr. Mauy. Personnel addendum begins with the appointment of two administrative staff members, appointment of two professional employees, and compensation for interpreter and translation services. I bring your attention to the retirement of Mr. Donald Sanders, senior, a night line custodian at Ryal East Elementary School, who has served the Abington
077School District for 20 years. >> We certainly wish Mr. Sanders a happy retirement and a uh a wonderful next project chapter. Questions or comments from the board? >> I would just echo that. Thank you for all of your work. 20 years is awesome. >> Okay. Mrs. Flanigan. >> Mr. Allen. >> I. >> Mrs. Brown. >> I. >> Miss Eisenhart. >> I. >> Miss Hartman. >> I. >> Miss Frasier. >> I. >> Miss Fletcher. >> I. Dr. Mauy >> I the eyes have it and the motion passes. Mr. Allen, can you please read the recommendation for the permits of you for use of buildings and grounds? >> Yes, madame president. Is the recommended action that the board of school directors approves the applications for permits for use of buildings and grounds as reflected in addendum number
0788.1. >> Second. >> Dr. Fetcher. >> Thank you, Dr. Mauy. The permit addendum continues to reflect requests and for buildings and grounds for meetings and other school events and activities for this time of year. >> Questions or comments from the board? >> No, just it's exciting to see all the spring sports coming onto the schedule, so I'm excited for that. >> I was just going to say it looks like spring's coming. >> Yes. >> Felt like hope today. It >> did. The moment of it. >> Anyone else? Mrs. Brown, did you want to say something? >> Well, it was said, so I try not to repeat. So, thank you uh for acknowledging those who take time uh doing a sport. It really does take a lot of time beyond just being on the field. So,
079thank you to all of our coaches. We really appreciate you. >> Yes, absolutely. Okay, Mrs. Flanigan. >> Mr. Allen, >> I. >> Mrs. Brown, >> I miss Eisenhart. I >> Miss Hartman >> I >> Miss Frasier >> I >> Miss Fletcher >> I >> Dr. Mauy >> I the eyes have it the motion passes Mr. Alan Key please read the recommendation for awards of contracts >> yes madam president is the recommended action of the board of school directors approves the awards of contract as reflected in addendum number 9.1 >> second >> Dr. Fetcher >> thank you Dr. Maui. Uh, tonight for your consideration, we have two awards of contracts. The first is for food service kitchen equipment at Copper Beach and Rosland Elementary School, and this would be from our district's food service fund. Uh,
080next is for two 30 passenger student transportation buses and this is um will come out of the general fund budget as well as uh a set number coming from our district's insurance claim for a bus accident that is being replaced. Right. >> It was deemed a total lost one of the buses. So, >> uh it's would be from those two sources, financial sources. >> Okay. All right. Questions or comments from the board? >> I just have questions, not about the the accident, but uh for the other bus. Is it within our uh five-year plan that we know when we'll need uh buses replaced? >> Uh because we often see it up here a lot. So, is it part of the plan or is it when it's about to die that we put it on the
081uh agenda? So we we generally budget for things in a um you know in a plan of uh certain number of years per bus. However, uh we try to get the most out of the buses and and due to the fact that we are in um our our districts within 16 square miles um our mileage on our buses is low compared to other places. Um we do bust to 90 nond district um entities as well. And uh that being said, so we try to get longer than we plan on for our budget out of the buses. But when there's a repair that's too extensive and that you know is costing a lot more than the bus is worth, then we do a replacement or obviously if it's not meeting safety standards. >> Thank you. And
082those just for the purposes of clarification, those 90 other places include places like Eastern and the the IU. Do we go to the IU? >> Yeah, there are um stu it's for non-public school um placements as well. >> Okay. So, >> so a variety of private schools, >> variety of every private school as um indicated by school code that anyone who lives within um in in the Abington school district and is within 10 miles of uh another school district or another school uh could be a non-public school within that 10 mile period, we are required to uh transport those students. >> Okay. It also transports the sports teams and academic teams to right >> other districts for competition etc. >> Right. >> Okay. Any other questions or comments? >> Right. Mrs. Flanigan. >> Mr. Allen.
083>> I. >> Mrs. Brown. >> I. >> Miss. Eisenhart. >> I. >> Miss. Hartman. >> I. >> Miss. Frasier. >> I. >> Miss. >> I. >> Dr. Mauy. >> I. The eyes have it and the motion passes. Um, are we on 10? We're on 10. Okay. Uh, Mr. Allen, can you please read the recommendation for the agreement with the Burrow of Rocklledge? >> Yes, Madame President. Is the recommended action of the board of school directors approves the intergovernmental agreement with the Burrow of Rocklage for the implementation of bus patrol? >> Second. >> Dr. Fetcher, we have a second. >> Thank you, Dr. Mer. I'm gonna ask Dr. Melor if you could please review this item. Sure. Thank you, Dr. Fetcher. In August of 2024, the board approved an intergovernmental agreement between the school district and
084Nton Township for implementation of bus patrol. That system has now been in place for more than a year and has been successful in addressing um stop arm uh red light uh school bus violations within the township boundaries. So on an average basis since we implemented the system, there have been approximately three to 400 citations per month uh that bus patrol has has identified. However, any violations that occur outside of the township boundaries cannot be addressed by Edmonton Township Police. So the Burough of Rocklage at their February council meeting approved having uh putting in place a agreement with the school district so that um violations within the Burough of Rocklage can also now be addressed through bus patrol and through the stop arm cameras that were installed. >> Thank you. >> That's great. Questions or comments
085from the board? >> Yeah, I have a question. Um once the revenue I see that the district received over 28,000 uh in for from the citations what h where where does that money actually go like how what budget item or where exactly? >> So that money go back into the general fund budget. Um and that money is actually used to replenish buses to pay for other transportation things but it does go right back into the general fund budget to support operations. >> Thank you. my >> and then Mr. Allen, >> I guess my question goes to um its success being that people are actually deterred from doing it which means over time we should see less citations. So my hope is that next year when we we report out although that money is good for
086fixing buses and things of that nature but student safety is what is the priority. So if we still can see continue to see citations go up then we we have another problem that we need to address. >> Right. And and one of the uh things that is provided on a monthly basis from bus patrol is detail as to where their citations are resulting from so that Abington Township Police can identify particular um intersections or particular areas of the township. Okay. um that may need additional reinforcement by them or additional um observation by them. Uh in speaking with uh the mayor of Rockidge Burough, that was a benefit that he saw as well in presenting this to the burough council was u the additional ability to monitor through the technology on the buses all locations where
087students are being picked up and dropped off by buses because they just don't have the manpower to be everywhere every day um during arrival. and uh dismissal times. Uh so they can use the feedback that's coming through bus patrol to then adjust their monitoring as well. >> Mr. Allen, >> I was going to ask you to restate the number of rough violations. Was it 300 or 400? >> It's depending on the much on the month it's been ballpark 3 to 400. Uh since the beginning of the school year, 1,000 citations have been paid by folks. >> Wow. That's >> so I have a um follow-up question to to your um description of the way in which it's used. Um you mentioned that Abington Police Department gets an account of where excuse me where the violations
088are occurring. Do are do we also track that? So if if there's a hot spot and Abington Police Department knows it, but we are seeing continued problems there, we can have an informed discussion with the police department about the need perhaps for further further police presence, >> right? That that can be discussed. We we received that same report. >> Okay, good. Um, and we could also then look at each each citation before it is issued to the violator is reviewed by uh, Abington Township Police. So there are situations as well um where they review the information and they determine that the citation should not be issued because perhaps it was unsafe for the motorist to stop their vehicle or perhaps you know in the middle of January um with all the snow we had um
089there was not a safe way uh for that particular motorist to stop without potentially causing an accident. Um so we can use that information, the police can use that information to also inform um safety of our drivers and um best driving practices with regard to um putting on the lights with regard to stopping with regard to where bus stops are located as well. >> Right. Right. So we are not yet through the third month of the year and we already have a thousand >> violations >> since September. Since the >> Oh, since September. Okay. I thought you meant the beginning of the calendar year. Okay. >> September through February. >> Okay. All right. >> I have a question. I have another question. >> Okay. >> Um, yeah. So, before this AI technology, typically the old
090technology was the use of the arm. Well, the stop. So, is that happening simultaneously or are you guys depending just on the AI technology and no more arm? >> So, the arm is there. These are cameras that are mounted on the arm. So, the issue has been um that the bus will pull up to a stop, the red lights go on, the arm comes out, and folks keep on driving around the bus. Got >> so technology now captures video footage of that vehicle um going around the bus or disregarding the the >> the lights, the flashing lights as well as the arm. >> Thank you. >> It's not AI technology, is it? It's just digital technology. What gets submitted to the police department to review >> and then determine if a citation should be issued
091is a packet of information that shows from different angles of the cameras on the exterior of the bus that vehicle um and the surrounding conditions to determine if there was enough distance to be able to stop if there was something that was impacting the the driver's ability uh to stop for the flashing lights and then the vehicle going around the bus. It's equivalent to a red light camera on a bus. >> Yeah. According to Pennsylvania Commonwealth, the website, it uses the language AI technology related to the bus patrol or what have you. Yeah. >> So, >> yeah. And one of the other things that I think you was asked about where you know what happens as a result of this and having this equipment. Um, one thing that was not mentioned is the benefit that
092we have to increase safety on our buses because we have cameras on the buses in general and also um we're able to do GPS uh on the buses and through this equipment and then we are going to have a it's called find my bus app for parents to be able to use uh to to see that and that's >> all part of um this funding and does not create an extra burden on our general fund budget. So it allows us to have this technology um wi without you know being supported through these citations. >> Thank you. >> Okay. All right. Any other questions or comments? >> All right. Mrs. Flanigan, would you please do this? >> Mr. Allen, >> I. >> Mrs. Brown, >> I. >> Miss Eisenhart, >> I. >> Miss Hartman, >> I.
093>> Miss Frasier, >> I. >> Miss Fletcher, >> I. >> Dr. Maui >> I the eyes have it and the motion passes. Mr. Allen, could you please read the recommendation for MCE Wallik and Nurk LLC? >> Yes, madame president. is the recommended action of the board of school directors acknowledges that the education department of Fox Rothschild LLP serving as special counsel for labor negotiations and hearing office officer services will become the education group of MCNE Wallace and Nurk LLC effective April 1st 2026 with no changes to the current terms or uh terms of representation or rate structure. The approval also includes bond council services as outlined in the information presented by McNees Wallace and Nurk LLC. The superintendent andor chief financial officer are authorized to sign documents necessary to recognize the change. >> Second. We
094have a second. Dr. Fetcher. >> Thank you, Dr. Mary. Uh first, I'm going to ask that Miss Danakola and Miss Taylor speak to this item. Good evening. So, our current bond council attorney George Magnata, he has departed um his firm. Um administ administration at this point is recommending approval of McNees Wallace and Nurk LLC as we have a current working relationship formally with them through our HR department and their team has experience and expertise in bond financing. This will provide administration the option to utilize MCNE Wallace and Nuric LLC with future bond financing agreements. Members of administration have previously worked with attorneys on the MCNE Wallace and Nurk LLC team and hold their understanding of compliance around public bond financing to the highest regard. >> Questions or comments from Oh, I'm sorry, >> Miss Taylor.
095Could you speak to the >> Sure. Good evening. I'll add that we have been served by Mark Fitzgerald for labor bargaining. We've a very successful relationship with him through four different agreements over the last three years. questions or comments from the board. >> Okay. >> Mr. Allen, >> I >> Mrs. Brown >> Iart >> I. >> Miss Hartman >> I. >> Miss Frasier >> I. >> Miss Fletcher >> I. >> Dr. Mauy >> I. The eyes have it and the motion passes. >> Dr. Dr. Fetcher, are there any additional reports and recommendations by the administration? >> Yes, Dr. Mauy. I provide the conference attendance and professional leaves and the capital improvement projects report for your information. >> Okay. Questions or comments from the board? >> It's an exciting weekend coming. Got a lot on there.
096We've got science olympiad. We have the chess team. We've got the color guard going to Richmond. It's a busy weekend. It's going to be exciting to see the results. >> Yep. Anyone else? Okay. Um, any other business that may appropriately be brought to the attention of the board of school directors? Dr. Fetcher? >> Nothing. >> Okay. All right. That brings us to our second session of comments from citizens. Once again, comments from citizens are being conducted both in person and by phone. The phone number to participate is currently being displayed on the screen. It is 2677153717 and you can join the meeting either from your cell phone or your landline. A citizen will be recognized once during this period of the meeting and each citizen's comments will be limited to a total of three minutes
097except at the discretion of the president. Time may not be yielded or otherwise transferred by one speaker to another for purposes of extending a given speaker's time allotment. If there's anyone present who'd like to make a comment, please use the microphone either to your left or to your right. Whenever you're ready. >> Okay. Joe Rooney. Now, imagine we've had this entire meeting here and there hasn't been one word said about education. Nothing about improving education. We had ICS come up and I have to tell you, my father just had his birthday yesterday. It would have been 98. He's passed, but he moved in Abington in 1953. So, we've been paying Abington school taxes since 1953. I would say with my experience that Abington taxpayers and Rocklage taxpayers are as poorly served as they've ever been
098by ICS. We had a $75,000 contract with an addendum that we're paying them like $25 million. Now, does that$2 million cover Shraider Group? I don't know. Nobody asked. I don't even think y'all know about that. What does that 25 million start and end at? Do what do we get for nails? concrete, anything like that. I don't know. But they can't tell us anything about education. Look at all these educators up here. Not a word about how this is going to improve middle school education. The principal was right here. Nothing. Our engineer didn't ask any questions about the engineering. This is really crazy to me. Um, so for the gentle souls with PTSD, imagine if we used that hundred million dollar building that we had, then we wouldn't have to worry about site prep or excavation.
099We could save a hundred million dollars. Maybe there'd be room in the 285 million for the bathrooms around the the fields, but y'all are talking already. We don't know if we can afford it. It's your job to keep this thing under control and under budget. If you want bathrooms, you got to tell them you want bathrooms. Turf fields. Anybody played on turf fields in varsity sports? They're terrible on your knees and ankles. Just tell you right now. Okay. Um, I would say vote it down. Renovate it. Get a new plan. That's what we got to do before we start digging stuff up. Before any of you guys pick up your shovels, you got to get a new plan that works. Use the building we have. Don't tear it down and turn it into a parking
100lot. You save a hundred million bucks right there. That $285 million bond didn't tell you what building you have to have. So, I got to move on. um the protest theater that we just had two weeks ago where you all were up here about 200 kids that walked out and 2,800 didn't and none of you represent any of them. Well, you know about a week ago a woman named Aliceet Schubert was murdered in Rock Ledge. She was murdered by an illegal alien. Okay, ICE are the ones who protect women like Alys Schubert from people who abused women and kill them. Now, that happened in Abington and Rocklage right here. Well, you're all out there bad mouthing law enforcement, which Abington has a terrible reputation for doing it. ICE are the guys who are protecting women
101like that. The kids need to have that explained to them. They need to be told that an illegal alien in our own community murdered a woman. At the same time, while you guys are out with your no police protests, okay, the officer in uh Chester County was just killed yesterday, a state trooper. And last year three other ones were. So you've got I need >> Thank you for your voice. Please take a seat. >> To extend it. >> Please take a seat. >> So what are the rules for you extending it then? I have like 30 more seconds. >> What are the rules? >> Please take a seat. >> So you're not going to even if I as >> No. >> Mr. Carus, do we have any callers on the line? >> We do not.
102>> Okay. Anyone else in the room? >> Okay. With that, we will move on to closing comments of school directors. >> Good evening everyone. >> Mr. Allen, Mrs. Brown. >> Thank you everyone. Have a good night. >> Miss Eisenhart. >> Uh, thanks for coming to the meeting and participating and we'll look forward to seeing you next time. Miss Hartman. >> Um I just want to say good luck to our test club and congratulations to the high school students for their um guys and dolls performance. It was fabulous. The stage crew and the students were amazing. The actors and singers. I'm always blown away by the the talent in our district, our students talent. It's just always mind-blowing every time I see it. Um and have a good night everyone. >> Miss Fraser. I'd like to
103thank the community for your support and your comments about um Dr. Swift. Thank you. >> Miss Fletcher, >> nothing tonight. Thanks everyone. >> Dr. Fetcher, did you want to add anything at the end of the period for citizens comments? I forgot again. >> Um no, I I'm I'm okay. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> All right. Good night, everyone. Thank you for coming out. We'll see you in two weeks.