001Good evening everyone and welcome to the February 24th, 2026, excuse me, meeting of the Abington Board of School Directors. I note the attendance of all board members with the exception of Mr. Allen who is excused and Miss Frasier who will be joining the meeting virtually. Please stand 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. >> The Abington Board of School Directors has convened this evening's meeting at the administration building and the public is welcome. The meeting is also being broadcast live on the Abington School District YouTube channel for those who cannot attend in person. For those also for those members of the public who cannot participate this
002evening, this meeting is being recorded and will be available on the district's website and cable channel no later than Friday, February 27th, 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 place. Dr. Fetcher, do we have any additional announcements or agenda items? >> Yes, Dr. Mauy. Uh good evening everyone. I I know that we have a full agenda tonight where we'll be recognizing the success and achievement academic achievement of many of our Abington Senior High School students. Uh to begin, however, I would
003like to address a topic that I know has been on the minds of many members of our Abington Senior High School community. On February 12th, I sent a letter to high school staff and parents and guardians informing them that the the school principal had been placed on administrative leave due to allegations of social media posts that were not aligned with the values of Abington School District. I cannot go into further detail tonight as this is a personnel matter. This investigation is being conducted by a third party and we hope to have it concluded as quickly as possible. I ask for your patience and understanding as we continue to navigate this process. Our priority remains on supporting our students during this time. As we know, consistency is instrumental to their success. I thank our Abington Senior
004High School administrative team for stepping up to provide continuity and leadership. I'm especially appreciative that our students also have the support of our tremendous high school teachers and staff who provide them with stability each and every day. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. Um I just want to make a note that today is Dr. Fetcher's birthday and so we wish him a very happy birthday today and a good good year ahead. >> Best place to spend it. >> Okay. 100% that's not true. But anyways, >> um with that we will move on to opening comments of school board directors. Mrs. Brown, >> good evening everyone. Welcome and happy birthday again to Dr. Fetcher, >> Miss Eisenhart. >> It's great to see everyone here tonight. Good evening and welcome. >> Mr. Muhammad, >> um Ramadan Mubarak
005for all of the practicing Muslims in the Abington, the Abington Rock Ledge community. Um and happy birthday, Dr. Fetcher. Good evening all. >> Uh, Miss Spalding, >> good evening everybody. And happy birthday Dr. Fer. >> Thank you. >> Miss Hartman. >> Good evening everyone. >> Miss Fraser. >> Good evening. >> And Miss Fletcher. >> Good evening everyone. And I have to say it too. Happy birthday. >> Uh, I would I would also like to say Ramadan Mubarak for all of our practicing Muslim families in the district. Um, and well, I'll wish you happy birthday a third time. >> Um, okay. Dr. Fetcher, can you please present our board honors? >> Okay. Uh, first I'm going to ask Mr. Ronald Bryson, our assistant principal at Abington Senior High School, uh, to come forward to introduce our
006senior high school student, David Phillips, who is the two who is the February 2026 student of the month at Eastern Center for Arts and Technology. Mr. Bryson. >> Good evening, Dr. Mauy, members of our board of school directors. Dr. Fetcher, David Phillips is an Abington Senior High School senior is the February 2026 student of the month at Eastern Center for Arts and Technology in Miller Grove. David is being recognized for his outstanding work in Eastern's protective services program. The student of the month award is sponsored by Eastern's faculty joint operating committee and the Willow Grove Rotary Club to highlight student excellence, success, and service. 10 students each year are selected for this honor. David has been a junior member of the Rosland Fire Company for the past four years. After visiting Eastern with his high
007school and attending an open house during his 10th grade year, David chose to enroll in the protective services program to broaden his knowledge across multiple public safety fields, including firefighting, law enforcement, and emergency medical services. On December 4th, David proudly earned his firefighter 1 certification through Bucks County Community College through the protective services program. He has also earned multiple industry standard certifications including CPR, AED, first aid, several incident command system certifications, and more. Serving his community and being a role model for younger younger children so younger children can look up to him is important to David. As a member of the Roslin Fire Company, he enjoys participating in community activities such as bringing fire trucks to birthday parties and escorting Santa through neighborhood streets. As a junior firefighter, David also assisted in during the SPS
008Technologies fire last February and also took photographs at the scene. While the incident was devastating for the community, it proved to be a valuable learning experience, allowing David to observe the chain of command in action during an active emergency response. At Eastern, David serves as the sergeant for the pro uh protective services class and regularly volunteers his time at school and school uh community events, including the designer bag bingo fundraiser held last October. At Eastern's awards night May 2025, he was recognized with the protective services achievement award for security at Abington Senior High School. David is an active member of the first responders club. After graduating from Eastern and Abington Senior High School, he plans to continue serving his community by working part-time with the Upper Morland Fire Department while completing the additional certifications required
009to pursue his career in firefighting, including firefighting 2, vehicle uh rescue technician, and emergency vehicle operation operator. I'm sorry. Congratulations, DAVID. DAVID, JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT um to number one say that your accomplishments at Eastern are extremely impant impressive and your contribution to our community um is something that uh we we should all admire and uh we thank you for your service to this community. Um I I've heard many things about you at Eastern and all the accomplishments that you're doing there. So, um, couldn't be more proud of you, uh, as a student at Abington, um, Abington School District, but also, uh, at Eastern and a member of this community that, um, gives your heart and soul to the community. So, uh, we thank you for that. Next, I am very pleased to
010present and to congratulate our Abington Senior High School students for their recognition by the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program. This outstanding group of students responded well to many uh preparation initiatives in in place both at both the middle school and senior high school. As you may know, the ultimate proving ground for the Merit Scholar program is the yearly administration of the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test, more commonly known as the PSAT, and the National Merit Scholar Qualifying Test. This assessment is given to all students in both 10th and 11th grades. This evening, we are pleased to honor members of the class of 2026 who are being recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program. At this time, I'd like to introduce my colleague, Mrs. Casey Chackler, coordinator of student services at Abington Senior High School. >> At
011this time, I would like to invite Dr. Mauy to join us to recognize our students. I will begin this evening's recognitions by asking that the following student, Isa Mammud, join us up front. Isla has been selected by the National Merit Scholarship Commi Corporation as a semi- finalist in the 2026 competition for merit scholarship awards. And we actually just found out last week that Isa is also a finalist for the National Merit Scholarship this year. So, um once you decide where you're going to school, hopefully you'll get some money for that. The nationwide pool of semi- finalists representing less than 1% of US high school seniors includes the highest scoring entrance in each state. Congratulations, Isla. The next group of students, please join us up um up front. Faith Blitzford, Eton Bogatin, Margarite Buren, Eric Ginsburg,
012Charlotte Jameson, Emily Kaiser, Ryan Kawas, Suhan Kumar, Lily Orlovich, Nicole Robertson, Addie Shore, and Kareem Tricky. These 12 students represent the top 5% of a national group of approximately 1.6 million students who entered the National Merit Scholarship Program this past year. These commended students have demonstrated outstanding academic potential by their high performance in these programs. Congratulations. And I would just like to add that the administration, faculty, and staff at Abington Senior High School are extremely proud of the accomplishments of our students throughout their high school years. Being recognized in these nationwide competitions is a great distinction for them. And together, these outstanding students bring great honor to Abington Senior High School. We also value the support of our students teachers and the family and their families that are here tonight to honor them. and we
013thank them for their encouragement and for instilling the importance of academic excellence and achievement. On behalf of the administration and faculty at Abington Senior High School, we are pleased to have presented each of them with a commemorative plaque that makes note of their great accomplishment. Congratulations everyone. >> All the students and families can join us out front for a photo, please. Yes. Just want to make an announcement that um we also had over 100 additional students from both the class of 2026 and um who will be recognized later in the year as part of the College Board special recognition programs. as a result of their PSAT performance. Um there's a little change this year in in the recognition. Um so uh the numbers of having over a hundred students here is quite impressive just um
014and we will do that at the end of the year at our awards okay >> ceremony. So I just wanted to point that out um as it is a change from years in the past. >> Yeah. Congratulations um both to our students at Eastern and to our um National Merit finalist and semi- finalists. That's an extraordinary accomplishment and we look forward to celebrating the other students at the awards ceremony later this year. So well done. Okay, that brings us to right no other honors. Okay, >> no other honors is seated. >> Okay, that brings us to our first section of comments from citizens. So, reminder to everyone that comments from citizens are being conducted both in person and by phone. The number to participate is being uh displayed on the screen and is 2677153717. You'll
015be able to join the meeting by calling in on your mobile or landline phone. Um, also a reminder that a citizen will be recognized only once during this period of the meeting 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 who'd like to make a comment, please use the microphone either to your left or to your right. Go ahead. >> Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Joe Rooney. I live in Arsley. >> I'm here tonight to discuss uh very briefly about uh Dr. Swift and to uh give support to her. I'd just like to start off by saying I
016thought it was particularly tasteless to go from Dr. Fetcher's brief discussion of Dr. Swift and the administrative review that's going on into chuckling and saying happy birthday. I think that could have been segueed a whole lot better and and shown a lot more respect and professionalism. So, um I'm here first to say Dr. Swift has brought discipline and respect into our high school. She's been uniformly praised by the community, by parents, by teachers, students, and administrators, and I dare say graduates. She had genuine concern for students well-being in school and out. I know that she has seen to their physical welfare, literally with food, clothing, and uh health, and also to their educational welfare with concerns for each person. In fact, she refers to all of the kids as scholars. So that's really does say
017something about her. I have found her, if Mr. Lodwick's here, I'll give you a couple alliterations. She's competent, confident, and cordial. And if you don't like those, I've also found her to be professional, polite, prompt, and personable. Every one of those is laudable. And all I have heard for the 18 months or so that since she's been here is compliments to Dr. Swift for her dedication to the fact that she's a graduate, that her parents were graduates, that she worked in Maryland, and I actually paid her bills down there with my properties in Maryland. We had something in common in Anna Rundle and PG County, and now up here in Abington. I personally have found her to be incredibly uh welcoming, and this is a compliment. I don't know if she's a Republican or a
018Democrat and I don't believe that it matters. Okay. Um it's been my pleasure to work with her for the last 18 minutes. I believe and I only have a minute. I'm going to draw a little contrast right here. They say there's something on social media. At this meeting several weeks ago, just before the walk out, one of the board members decided he was going to refer to people as fascists and did it twice. Now, that received no approprium from anybody on that board. It wasn't addressed at the beginning here. So, you've got board members calling people fascists and under some nebulous social media problem with Dr. Swift after 18 months of laudable service. I'll end this first one with this. In the Marine Corps, I learned and it's a wonderful leadership trait. You praise in
019public and you criticize in private. If there was something about Dr. Swift, then there should have been a private investigation that was held that was looked at. >> Your time is up. Please take a seat. >> I'm right in the middle of important thing. You don't have 30 seconds. >> Please take a seat. >> You don't have 30 seconds for >> Please take a seat. >> I support >> there. People who are waiting to speak, please take a seat. >> Hi, my name is Amy Scar. I'm Montgomery County resident. Um, I am here also. >> Um, >> yes. Could >> Yeah. Could you give us your address in Abington? >> No, I'm not from Ab McGomery County, but I I work >> um I'm sorry. This is for Abington residents. >> I was told I
020could come as a McGomery County resident. >> Uh Mr. O'Donnie, >> there is no right to speak at a school board meeting as being a resident of the same county. Uh if school employees and residents are entitled to speak at in accordance with the Sunshine Act and your policies. >> Okay. I'm given the right. >> No, I'm sorry. >> There's plenty of time. >> Figures. >> There's plenty of time. >> Anyone else in the room? >> You have the opportunity to do that. >> Anyone else in the room? >> Mr. Cargus, do we have any callers on the line? >> We have a caller. So, the next citizen for public comment, phone number ending in 4437, please state your name and full address. Anyone else? >> Um, my name is Connie Briggs, 2953 Suscuana Road,
021Abington. Um, I just uh want to thank the CFO of the Abington School District for providing the current debt service schedule. I received it today by email. I'd like to thank you for that uh transparency for sending that document. I posted it on Next Door. Um, I just wanted to it helped clarify what residents are paying now versus what will be added over time for the uh middle school debt and the ongoing debt that uh precedes it. From the documents, the existing building debts roughly $650 per year for a median assessed home at $127,450. Once the middle school borrowing is fully phased in, it becomes roughly another $650 on top of that. But some older debt will also roll off over time. So the main question residents have is the timing. How will those changes
022happen yeartoear? I understand exact taxes can't be predicted because interest rates and market conditions will change. But residents are trying to understand the likely range of outcomes as borrowing timing, old debt, retirement, repayment decisions occur, cost overruns, and uh change orders happen. Would the district consider providing a simple public overview showing best case, expected, and worst case year-by-year tax paths and when payments are expected to peak and stabilize? Also, could the district explain how construction change orders or cost adjustments will be communicated to the public during the project? I think this would prevent confusion and help meetings stay focused and productive. Thank you. >> Thank you for your voice, >> Mr. Cargus. Do we have anyone else on the line? >> We have no more callers. >> Okay. All right. Dr. Fetcher. >> First of
023all, I just want to thank everyone for sharing uh their thoughts um and opinions on on Dr. Swift um not only at the meeting but um also uh in communication with me. So, uh very much appreciate that. And um I would like to just as as far as change orders are concerned, all change orders are um approved by the board at a public meeting. So any contract change order would be approved and uh within our um within the uh agenda of the meeting as well. So the public will have an alert to any of those. >> Okay. Um, do do you want to address the the citizens concerns about the pacing of the tax increases? >> So, I would like to share that the district um will be committed to borrowing only as needed during
024the project. Um so we will be doing um estimated another two bond issues but we won't be taking on you know the remaining 200 plus million in one issue. Um that will save taxpayers from having to you know pay continually when we haven't spent those funds yet. So we're aligning it closely with the construction draw schedules to make sure that we have money on hand to pay our contractors but also that we're not borrowing too soon and sitting on funds that we're not actively using in the project. Okay. >> Great. Thank you for that. We are also committed to maintaining what the district has already shared with the community as far as what the approximate tax increase will be. We are committed to staying within that range. >> Okay. All right. Excellent. Thank you. >>
025Okay. Um since we have no additional agenda items, we will move on to Hold on one second. Okay. Uh personnel. Right. Agenda item number five. Miss Fletcher, could you please read the recommended action? >> Yes, Dr. Mauy. That the board of school directors approves the changes in personnel as reflected in personnel addendum numbers 5.1 and 5.1A and confidential 5.1B. >> Second. >> We have a second. Dr. Fetcher. >> Thank you, Dr. Mauy. The personnel addendum begins with a request for leaves of absence for one administrative staff member, one professional staff member, appointment of one professional employee, and compensation for parent meetings, professional development, interpreter, and translation services. I bring your attention to retirement of Miss Heidi Anne Hartzell, a PAR educator at Abington Middle School, who has served the district for eight years. I also
026want to take a moment uh this evening to share what I I believe is a success story with you um under our personnel this evening. Um tonight you'll see the hiring of Aisha Jones for a special education teacher at Highland Elementary. Miss Jones began supporting the schools as a parent of ASD students. She then spent many years as a pareducator. While in this role, she earned her bachelor's degree and teaching certification in special education. Miss Jones has most recently worked for ESS, our substitute provider, and is now being appointed as a teacher in the district. I thought that was meaningful to share this story with you. Um and tonight under item number 13 um you will see a path to which the district is establishing to help our support staff follow a similar uh journey
027in a pipeline for teaching positions. >> That's great. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you for that questions and comments from the board. >> Go ahead. >> Uh just congratulation to Miss Hartzell. Thank you so much for your uh service here to the district and uh a big congratulations to Miss Jones. that story is inspiring. Uh the work that you've already put in and the work that you will continue to put in. Um I support you. I celebrate you and congratulations. >> Anyone else? Miss Eisenhart? No. Good. Okay. Yeah. Miss Fraser, I don't want to leave you out of the conversation. Did you have anything you wanted to add? Okay. Yes. Uh just congratulations to Miss Jones uh for her new uh position as special education teacher at Highland. Congrats. >> Um if I may.
028>> Yeah. Go ahead. >> Um also congratulations to Miss Jones. We actually had the honor of having her as a student teacher in my daughter's second grade class last year. >> And uh Miam loved her and Miam was sad when she left. and I'm very happy that she's uh on her way back. >> Um yeah, I I will add my congratulations as well. It is a lot of work to take on um professional education and training while working full-time. Um so hats off to Miss Jones for for doing the work. We're glad that she's staying with us. >> All right, Mrs. Flanigan, this is a roll call vote. >> Mrs. Brown, >> I. >> Miss Eisenhart, >> I. >> Mr. Muhammad, >> I. >> Miss Falding, >> I. >> Miss Hartman, >> I. >> Miss
029Frasier, >> I. >> Miss Fletcher, >> I. >> Dr. Mauy, >> I. The eyes have it. The motion passes. >> Uh, Miss Fletcher, could you please read the recommendation to approve the financial reports? >> Yes, Dr. Mauy. that the board of school directors approves the financial report for the periods ending December 31st, 2025 and January 31st, 2026 as reflected in addendum 6.1 and 6.1A. >> Second, Dr. Fetcher, >> I'm going to ask Miss Danakola if you could please summarize the December 2025 and the January 2026 financial reports. >> Good evening. As of December 31st, 2025, the district has received fiscal year-to-ate revenues totaling 151,271. That's compared to $149,71,848 during the same period last year. That's an increase of approximately $1.93 million and this is in large part due to our local revenue collections. As of
030December 31st, 2025, district expenditures totaled $83,525,813 compared to 81,178,698 for the same period last year. This represents an increase of approximately 2.34 million or 2.89% primarily due to contractually obligated expenditures such as salaries and benefits. As of January 31st, 2026, the district has received fiscal year-to-ate revenues totaling 153,397,473 compared to 151,170,165 during the same period last year. This represents an increase of approximately $2.2 million. As of January 31st, 2026, district expenditures totaled 97,100,48 compared to 95,841,315 for the same period in the prior year. This represents an increase of approximately 1.26 million or 1.31% due to mainly contractually obligated expenditures. >> Okay, questions or comments from the board? No. >> Mrs. Flanigan. >> Mrs. Brown. >> I. >> Miss. Eisenhart. >> I. >> Mr. Muhammad. >> I. >> Miss. Balding. >> I. >> Miss. Hartman. >>
031I. >> Miss. Frasier. >> I. >> Miss. Fletcher. >> I. >> Dr. Mauy. >> I. The eyes have it. The motion passes. Uh, Miss Fletcher, can you please read the recommendation to approve the payment of bills? Yes, Dr. Mauy, that the board of school directors approves the payment of bills for the period ending January 31st, 2025 as reflected in ADA 7.1. >> Second, >> Dr. Fetcher, >> I'd be happy to answer any questions that you may have regarding the payment of bills. >> Okay. >> Questions or comments from the board? All righty, Mrs. Brown >> I >> Miss Eisenhart >> I >> Mr. Muhammad >> I >> Miss Balding >> I >> Miss Hartman >> I >> Miss Frasier >> I >> Miss Fletcher >> I >> Dr. Mauy >> I the eyes have it
032the motion passes Miss Fletcher can you please read the recommendation for permits of use of buildings and grounds? >> Yes Dr. Maui that the board of school directors approves the applications for permits for use of buildings and grounds as reflected in addendum 8.1. The second >> Dr. Fetcher. >> Thank you, Dr. Mauy. The permit addendum continues to reflect requests for buildings and grounds for meetings and other school events and activities for this time of year. >> Questions or comments from the board? >> I just wanted to make um one comment. The Montgomery County Board of um commissioners held their meeting here uh in the building on February 19th. And I say that just because that may have been where one of our Montgomery community members got word that they would be able to speak at
033a meeting at this location because that was open to all Montgomery County residents. So, I just wanted to u make that note of clarification and apologize for uh the resident receiving that information for this meeting. Um that's it. >> Okay. Thank you for picking up on that. >> Anyone else? >> Yeah. Um I've had this thought for a little while now. Um in the last month, I I was at Mckenley two different nights. U actually more than two different nights. uh once for the uh Willy Wonka >> uh production production and uh for the VIP dance. And one thing that I that I took note of was the the amount of volunteers uh the parents, the community members, the educators, just so many people who come together and make these types of events happen for
034our children. And and I've been wondering, Madame President, Dr. um Dr. Maui and um Dr. fetcher if there's something we can do to celebrate, honor um our parents. >> Um and so, you know, a thought is around a lunchon or a breakfast or or something where they're recognized and it doesn't have to be dozens of people, but a representation from each school um on an annual basis so that our community knows we see them and we appreciate what they've contributed to our school community. I think that's an excellent idea. Um, and very much appreciate that suggestion. It's, you know, our parent volunteers are absolutely indispensable to um to the running of the district and providing our kids with the extraordinary range of opportunities that they enjoy. So, um, Dr. Fetcher, we'd be happy to have
035you explore that. >> Yep. That's that's uh first of all I want to say I I concur and I think that's a great idea. Um we do have a lot of people that give countless hours to the school district as volunteers and I definitely think that it is something that we can do um and make it a nice opportunity to honor um some of the individuals who have given a lot of time uh to the district. So uh we will uh begin planning. So, thank you. >> Okay, >> great. Excellent suggestion. Anyone else? >> Do the schools individually do anything to celebrate the volunteers like a volunteer breakfast or something that's school-based? >> There are there are various volunteer breakfasts and things like that throughout. It's um from a district standpoint, we don't have anything
036uniform. Okay. >> Um but yeah, at an individual buildings um there are schools that do different thing. It depends on each building. Uh but but I do think that from our standpoint as a as a full district >> uh that this would also be a nice opportunity to to bring everyone together from from different schools. Um but yes, I know there's a lot of um opportunity for that at the at the schools, but I I do think this would take it to a different level um and would be more than happy to explore it and plan something. >> Thank you. Yep. >> If I could just add, another alternative uh could possibly be the boardroom. Of course, it's it's not as big as a lunchon area might be, but uh in the event that was
037considered, perhaps they could be honored with a certificate and or a plaque in the boardroom. >> Okay, thank you for that. Anyone else? >> Love it. >> Yeah, I think it's awesome. >> Yeah, great job. >> Great idea. Um, okay. Mrs. Flanigan, >> Mrs. Brown, >> I. >> Miss Eisenhart, >> I. >> Mr. Mouhammed, >> I. >> Miss Balding, >> I. >> Miss Hartman, >> I. >> Miss Frasier, >> I. >> Miss Fletcher, >> I. >> Dr. Mauy, >> I. The eyes have it and the motion passes. Uh, let's see. That brings us to awards of contracts. Miss Fletcher, can you please read the recommendation? Yes, Dr. Mauy, that the board of school directors approves the awards of contracts for the courtyard at Abington Senior High School and network switches as reflected in addendum 9.1.
038>> Second. >> Dr. Fetcher. >> Thank you, Dr. Mauy. Uh, tonight for your consideration, we have two awards of contract. The first award is for the courtyard at Abington Senior High School. In this I remind you is through the donations of the friends of Ash Carter working in with Abington Educational Foundation to honor um Dr. Ash Carter. Uh this is exciting for the school but also quite an honor as well. Um so we thank again we would like to extend our thanks uh to the friends of Ash for this uh very generous donation. Um and the next one is for the network switches um which need to be replaced on a timely basis in order to make sure that we have connectivity and everything uh works. That's a uh technical term in the in the
039district as far as our technology is concerned. So that is out of the 2025 2026 general fund budget. >> Okay. Well, so these working switches, they um are they scattered across the district or >> Yes, the Mr. Cargus, I'm going to let you take it over from here and so I don't >> Absolutely. Thank you. Um these these switches um are will be um used in our elementary schools. Um, and going with these switches, we actually reduce our footprint. We're going to replace about a 100 switches with about 66. >> Oh, wow. >> Okay. >> So, >> okay. And just just a reminder that we have seven grade schools in this district. So, that's significant, right? Like, in other words, they're not just going into one building is my point. This is This is a
040pretty >> They're going into They're going into all elementary buildings, >> right? So, it's a pretty big project. >> It is. >> Okay. >> But it's a a must need project. >> Okay. >> All right. Great. Any other questions or comments? >> No. Okay. Mrs. Flanigan, >> Mrs. Brown, >> I. >> Miss Eisenhart. >> I. >> Mr. Muhammad. >> I. >> Miss Balding. >> I. >> Miss. Hartman. >> I. >> Miss Frasier. >> I. >> Miss Fletcher. >> I Dr. I >> the eyes have it. The motion passes. Miss Fetch Fletcher, I'm sorry. Can you please read the recommendation for the 2026 2027 membership services budget? >> Yes, Dr. Mauy. that the board of school directors in accordance with section 914A of act 102 of 1970 approves the Montgomery County intermediate unit membership services budget
041in the amount of 2,42,20010 for the 2026 2027 school year and said budget to be further acted upon by a proportionate vote of all school directors >> second Dr. Fetcher. >> Thank you, Dr. Murray. I'm going to ask Miss Denola if you could please review this item. >> Approval of the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit membership services budget requires an affirmative vote at a public meeting by each of the boards of the member school districts and a proportionate affirmative vote from the individual members of those boards of school directors. The 2026-27 MCIU membership services expense budget is $2,42,210 which reflects a decrease of $64,965 or 3.1% compared to the current year budget of 2,17,175. The expense budget is funded by $1,695,550 of contributions from the 22 member school districts, which reflects an overall 4.4% 4% increase
042compared to the current year. The current year member school's contribution is $1,624 for $1,624,460. Abington's contribution for 2026-27 is $113,15 which is a 3321 or 3% increase compared to the 202526 projected contribution of $108,289. Abington's 2026 20227 payment is 6.7% of the total member contributions and is consistent with our current year rate which is 6.8%. Abington's contribution supports professional learning and staff development, government relations, and technology services. Our contribution rate is the fourth highest among the Montgomery County schools with Lower Mar and North Penn and Springford school districts contributions coming in at 9.7% 13.4% and 7.7% respectively. The factors used to calculate each member school's contributions include market factor aid ratio, weighted average daily membership, and our student enrollment. At this time, administration is recommending approval of the MCIU membership services budget for 2026 27.
043>> Thank you. Um, Dr. Dr. Fetcher, I know Miss Danakola listed a number of services that um the district enjoys through the IU, but um I wonder if you could speak a little more specifically to student the kinds of of helps that our students get. Is that >> Yeah. Um I'm I'm going to ask Miss Denle if you could break down the the components that are student services specifically. Um in terms of the list there if you could give me one minute too. >> Sorry to put you on the spot. >> That's fine. >> So within the um MCIU there's different councils that help out the local school districts. Um there is a language arts counselor, there's a STEM council, there's a middle school and high school principles council, there's federal programs coordinators council, um
044there's coach mentor collaborative for the new teachers, um English language development network, gifted education network, computer science network, and world languages council. So all of those um councils with within the ICU lend the district um support that we directly use to support our students. >> Okay. And and further to that, as a result, you know, the it's important to mention that they uh work with us to support professional development for our teachers and staff development um and also our technology services. >> Okay. >> As well. >> Okay. So, that's that's a pretty comprehensive Yeah. >> list of supports um that go out to our district and other districts as well. I I'd be more than happy too to provide you with the specific um areas that are broken down within those categories as well. >>
045Provide the board with that. >> I if the board would like that, that's fine with me. But I just thought that there might be people in the audience and and watching who would like a little more >> information about what we're getting with that $2 million infusion. >> Yep. >> Okay. All right. Any other questions or comments? >> Are there any school districts in Montgomery County that don't participate in the MCIU public health schools? No, they all do, right? >> There's 21 school districts at who participate in um services from the MCIU. >> Okay. Anyone else? >> All right. Mrs. Flanigan, please. >> Mrs. Brown, >> I. Miss Eisenhart >> I >> Mr. Mhammed >> I >> Miss Balding >> I >> Miss Hartman >> I >> Miss Frasier >> I >> Miss Fletcher >>
046I >> Dr. Mauy >> I the eyes have it the motion passes Miss Fletcher can you please read the recommendation for the lease agreement with the greater Philadelphia YMCA Willow Grove branch >> yes Dr. Mr. Maui, that the board of school directors authorized the administration to execute a one-year extension to the three-year lease agreement between the Greater Philadelphia YMCA, Willow Grove branch, and the Abington School District by providing the YMCA with one room at no cost at Copper Beach, Highland, McKinley, Overlook, Roslin, Ryal East, and Willow Hill elementary schools for the operation of before and after school care programs said lease extension to mandate compliance by the YMCA with applicable policies of the Abington Board of School Directors and operation of the program in concert with the district approved calendar. >> Second, Dr. Fetcher. >>
047Thank you, Dr. Mauy. I'm going to ask Dr. Melor, could you please review the lease agreement? >> Sure. Thank you, Dr. Fetcher. This is the second of two one-year extensions uh to the original three-year lease agreement um for before and afterare services. We are well beyond 25 consecutive years of service being provided by the YMCA uh to our families at the elementary schools with this program. Um during the current school year, we have more than 600 students enrolled, which is a 14% increase over this time last year. So we have quite a few families across all seven elementary schools that take advantage of the program on a daily basis. Uh the >> program has been wellrun. We've received positive feedback from parents and guardians uh about the program. The Y has provided an opportunity for
048families to use either before or afterare or both and pay on a sliding scale based on the number of days of need. Um, so there have been tremendous benefits to our families on days that the school district is closed. Um, students have the ability to attend at the YMCA at no cost to participate in membership in Greater Philadelphia YMCA as well as receive financial assistance as necessary. And this year we have 18% of the students participating in the program receiving financial assistance from the Y to be able to have this benefit of before and after school care. So, we've been tremendously pleased with the program and are happy to recommend an additional year of this program for our students and families. >> Thank you. I'm sorry. Did you want to add something? >> Um I
049it's been as long as I've been in the district, the the YMCA program has been a feature here. Um and I'm particularly glad that they use the sliding fee scale. so that the opportunity for safe and reliable child care before and after school is available to as many of as as many of our residents as possible. >> Anyone else? >> Yeah, I just I just wanted to add to that that was probably one of the big things that I took away from it, the 14% increase and that we're able to meet that demand with affordable care. Um, and also the increase in participating students and family receiving financial assistance to do so. I think those are two great measures for a successful program. And in looking at the proposed rates um for the upcoming year,
050it's reasonable. Like we're not seeing these huge jumps. So, we're keeping it affordable, keeping the access there. Um, grateful to the community that we have this for um for our families and that the district is, you know, supporting it. um and growing it as the need presents. >> Yeah. There are um so many families that need this service, >> right? There's jobs out there that do not line up with a school schedule and someone has to drop those kids off 7:00 a.m. and the YMCA is there and can't pick them up until 6:00 p.m. and the YMCA is there. Um, and so it's it's an extremely important service that I know my family has taken advantage of and um I'm happy that it's it's available to our residents. >> Yeah. Yes. I I second that
051because I also used it for my son when he was at Copper Beach and it was phenomenal. It was such a great program. You dropped him off, they got them to class and you know then he took the bus home at normal time but it it you're right, it doesn't always line up with the work schedule. So, it's nice that the school district has something that that makes it convenient for the child to to have a streamlined approach in in an environment that they're familiar with. >> I found it really helpful to to have the holiday care when I because as a teacher those inservice days I wasn't home >> and it was great. It was all day long and they had great activities planned. And um to your point, it being around so long,
052I worked for the Abington YMCA >> at Roslin Elementary when I was in college. >> Wow. >> At their before and after care. >> Wow. >> So, it has been a long around for a really long time. >> It's been a great program for our families. So, >> okay. Anyone else? >> I agree and I take advantage of it. So, please vote yes. and and we've had a great relationship uh with the Y and um have over the years, you know, explored through RFP process um just various other vendors and the Y has been solid with us and uh also competitive in terms of um the cost factor and um I know that from an administrative standpoint when you're working with a provider, that relationship is extremely important and the communication back and forth um
053between members of the Y and and us, especially during um various situations, emergencies, snow days, those types of things. Um we are very pleased with that and they are extremely responsive to our needs as a district as well as you know um when our parents come to us and have a question or anything of that nature uh we work together uh to resolve any matters. >> Great. All right. Mrs. Fanigan if you would please. Mrs. Brown >> I. >> Miss Eisenhart. >> I. >> Mr. Muhammad >> I. >> Miss Balding. >> I. >> Miss Hartman. >> I. >> Miss Frasier. I, >> Miss Fletcher, >> I, Dr. Mauy, >> I. The eyes have it and the motion passes. Uh, Miss Fletcher, can you please read the recommendation for the 2026 YMCA summer camp program? >>
054Yes, Dr. Mauy. that the board of school directors authorize the administration to enter into an agreement with the Greater Philadelphia YMCA for its use of facilities at Copper Beach Elementary School and Ryal Elementary School to operate a summer camp with a projected charge of $69,290.24 if all spaces are fully utilized with the pration based on actual use. >> Second, Dr. Fetcher, I'm gonna ask Dr. Melor if you could review this as well. Thank you, Dr. Fetcher. Uh, this is again another program offered by the YMCA that is of tremendous benefit to our students and families. Over the course of the summer, there are 10 classrooms made available at Copper Beach to the YMCA to run a summer camp for the last several years. Uh, they have also utilized classrooms at Ryal East Elementary School to
055expand their ability to pro provide programming particularly to the uh students from Abington and Rocklage. Um the summer camp begins on Monday, June 22nd and will run through Friday, August 14th. Um projected cost based upon the amount of usage and the number of students who enrolled last year several hundred students u between both locations uh took advantage of this opportunity again um to have care uh during during the day over the summer months and quality programming. So again, we're pleased to have the opportunity to bring this back to you again this year as an offering for our students. >> Okay. Questions or comments from the board? >> Dr. Malcor, do does the YMCA um follow the same sliding scale um or a similar sliding scale for residents um applying for this camp as they do
056for the before and afterare services. >> There is financial assistance provided for families who need it uh for this program as well. And when >> with regard to the specific days of the week, I'm I'm not sure we can get that information. >> Okay. Thanks. And then when you say charge in char like that, does that mean um the costs of the district keeping the building open during those times is covered by that amount mentioned in the resolution at not an impact to not an additional impact to the district. Is that could you clarify that? So the YMCA is covering the cost for use of the facility, cleaning of the facility by the district's custodians on a daily basis for use of those spaces. >> Okay. Thank you for clarifying. >> Anyone else? >> We
057also enjoy the summer. Please vote yes. >> Yeah. Sim similarly same. >> It's society. All right. >> What's available in terms of >> Shall we hop to it then? Go ahead, >> Mrs. Brown. >> I, >> Miss Eisenhart, >> I, >> Mr. Muhammad, >> I, >> Miss Balding, >> I, >> Miss Hartman, >> I, >> Miss Fraser, >> I, >> Fletcher, >> not because you told me to, but, I, >> Dr. Mauy, >> I The eyes have it and the motion passes. Uh, Miss Fletcher, can you please read the recommendation for Bloomboard, Inc.? >> Yes, Dr. Mauy. that the board of school directors authorizes the administration to enter into a partnership with Bloom Board, Inc. Educational Preparation Program Partners that offer fully accredited portfolio-based degree and certification programs. Second, >> Dr. Fetcher. >> Thank you,
058Dr. Maui. I'm going to ask Miss Taylor if you could please review this item. >> Thank you, Dr. Fetcher. In honor of our recent commitment as part of the new agreement with our ESPA association, we explored pathway programs to teacher certification for members of our support staff. We are so pleased to recommend to you tonight a partnership with Bloomboard educational preparation partners. Bloomboard offers fully accredited portfolio-based degree and certification programs. It is a unique on the-job model offering affordable residency-like degree and certification programs. The pathways programs partners with Point Park University for bachelor's degrees and with central suscoana IU for certification preparation postbachelors. Our district will be joining um Mthactton, Pen Ridge, Pensbury, Allentown, Pocono Mountain School District and Downing Town in forming a partnership with this organization. We um have surveyed all of our
059support staff and we begin our information sessions next week. We've gotten a great response and we are so excited um to recommend this to you tonight. >> Thank you. >> Questions or comments from the board? >> I think this is outstanding. Uh this is the part of the uh agreement where our um classroom assistants can get additional education to become certified teachers. And I think it is outstanding. Again, thank you to Miss Jones for this wasn't in place when you when you uh went through what you went through, but you are an example of what it looks like to not only give back, but to continue to enrich yourself so that you can give back as a classroom teacher. So, I fully support and celebrate everyone who will take advantage of this program. >> Okay.
060I I find it almost serendipitous that we had um the announcement for Miss Jones earlier today and then we see the pipeline presenting um in the work done by the administration on the same evening. It's really exciting. Um pair of professionals uh love our kids here um and they deserve an opportunity to get the education um and momentum to move forward in their careers. and I look forward to what this will bring and the opportunities to the district and our staff that we deeply care for. >> I want to commend the uh district administration uh and ESPA uh for their forwardthinking approach to this challenge that we have within our society which is having a valuable teacher pipeline um as we push forward. Um I teach in a school of education and the numbers are
061going down. Um and so we want to ensure that we have people coming through the pipeline and who better than the folks that are already within our system and know our students and know our schools and want to serve in a greater capacity. And so um I look forward to voting yes on this. >> Anyone else? >> Um I would second those comments and observations. Um I think you know making sure that we get teachers or interested um pair of professionals into accredited programs that will enable them to take the next step forward in their careers and um folks who are already dedicated to our students is just fantastic. So very very pleased to see this. >> All right, Mrs. Flanigan, >> Mrs. Brown >> I >> Miss Eisenhart >> I >> Mr. Muhammed >>
062I >> Miss Folding >> I >> Miss Hortman >> I >> Miss Frasier >> I >> Miss Fletcher >> I >> Dr. Mauy >> I the eyes have it and the motion passes. >> Miss Fletcher, can you please read the recommendation for Immaculata University? >> Yes, Dr. Mauy. that the board of school directors authorizes the administration to enter into a partnership with Mulada University to host an on-site doctoral cohort. >> Dr. Fetcher. Oh, I'm sorry. We need a second. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Dr. Fetcher. >> Thank you, Dr. Mauy. Um, tonight we are asking for your authorization to enter into a partnership with Immaculata University and they will host an on-site doctoral cohort for our Abington School District staff members who are interested in pursuing that. >> Okay, questions or comments from the
063board? I I find it to be incredibly convenient to be able to do a program such as a doctoral program within a community local on site. It just removes one of the barriers. So I support this. Yeah. The ability to have exped like to be have experiential learning taking place at a higher level is extremely valuable to our community. So, the ability to be serving and having the experience and then apply it um to a doctoral level program and having access be available to the staff um and to our teachers. I'm excited for them. I'm excited to um vote yes on this one. >> Just similar to the last agenda item just in terms of investing in our community um and spurring this professional growth um amongst our our people. And so, uh I'm very
064excited to vote yes on this. Okay. Anyone else? No. All right. Mrs. Flanigan. >> Mrs. Brown. >> I. >> Mrs. Eisenhart. >> I. >> Mr. Muhammad. >> I. >> Miss. Balding. >> I. >> Miss. Hartman. >> I. >> Miss. Frasier. >> I. >> Miss. Fletcher. >> I. >> Dr. Mauy. >> I. The eyes have it. The motion passes. >> Miss. Fletcher. Can you please read the recommendation for the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf? >> Yes, Dr. Mauy. that the board of school directors authorizes the administration to enter into an agreement with Pennsylvania School for the Deaf for the provision of iterant teachers for the deaf to provide services to applicable students as indicated on IEPs as requested by the district through August 7th, 2026. Second, >> Dr. Fetcher. >> Thank you, Dr. Mary. I'm going
065to ask Miss Capola if you could ple please review this item. Abington School District has made tremendous efforts to uh acquire a long-term sub for our teacher of the deaf position that has been open through a sbatical vacancy. We have attempted to contract with both MCIU and the BCIU as well as have have had it posted for quite a while now. Um, Pennsylvania School for the Deaf has just recently started an outreach program that provides itinerate teachers of the deaf staff to school districts that are in need. So, that is the contract that we are hoping to enter into to be able to provide those services for our student for students for the duration of this year and possibly in ESY. >> Thank you. >> Questions or comments from the board? >> Uh, just one
066question. um what is being done in the immediate to service those students during the sbatical? >> We have a substitute teacher in the immediate that's covering the students but um we don't have an aiologist on hand for equipment checks. So our nurses are performing those checks and we don't have a certified deaf heart of hearing teacher to provide instruction. So that is what this contract will will allow us to have. >> Thank you. Other questions or comments? >> Once we vote on this, how quickly will the turnaround be to get teachers into the building to help these students? >> I have the contract right now. So, >> okay, great. >> It's important to think outside the box um when addressing again staffing challenges. Um, and so these stu our students, all of our students need
067their support, need this education. Um, and so I'm happy that we we have a a viable solution going forward. >> All right. Mrs. Flanigan, please. >> Mrs. Brown, >> I. >> Miss Eisenhart, >> I. >> Mr. Muhammad, >> I. >> Miss Balding, >> I. >> Miss Hartman, >> I. >> Miss Frasier, >> I >> Miss Fletcher, >> I. >> Dr. Mauy >> I the eyes have it and the motion passes. Dr. Fetcher, are there any additional reports and recommendations by the administration? >> Yes, Dr. Mallerie, I provide the conference attendance and professional leaves for your information. I bring your attention to Dr. Julia Sarco, school psychologist, who will be attending and presenting at the National Association of School Psychologists 2026 annual convention on uh February 23rd through February 27th. Dr. Dr. Zarko is presenting the
068aligning national and state legislative agenda session. She's also chair of the professional policy advocacy and credentiing committee for the National Association of School Psychologists. Uh also, Miss Ali Rour, our communications coordinator, and I are presenting at the Pennsylvania School Public Relations Association 2026 annual symposium in March. >> Okay, great. questions or comments. It's always good to see our our staff and faculty out there um at conferences representing the district. So, thank you for that effort and time. Okay. Any other business that appropriately may be brought to the attention of the board of school directors? All right. So we'll move on to our final 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
069the screen. You'll be able to join the meeting by calling in on your mobile or landline phone. Once again, a citizen will be recognized only once during this period of the meeting, and each citizen's comments will be limited to 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 aotment. If there's anyone present who'd like to make a comment, please use the microphone either to the left or to your right. it off you may. >> Hi, Carol Godfrey, 1021 Devon Road in Jenin Town. As a longtime board member of the Abington Y and the Willow Grove Y, I want to thank you, the board and the administration for the work that they put in for
070these two programs, the camp and the before and after school program. Um, I can't wait to tell the board about all your wonderful comments. I said it was as if we stacked the board here to tell us everything. So, thank you so much for approving this and I know how important these programs are to parents in my neighborhood. Um, they use the the facilities and um I appreciate that. Thank you. >> Thank you for your voice. Anyone else in the room? >> Of course. >> Go ahead. >> Joe Rooney living. Uh, first to my Christian brothers and sisters who are always ignored and often maligned by the Abington School District. I want to wish you a holy and a prosperous Lent. Started on Ash Wednesday and it goes through Holy Thursday. If any of you
071know anything about that, I'm happy to inform you on it. Second, Miss Amy has assigned lease so she can talk. The next one is again with Dr. Swift. I want to say that uh I tried to end this by saying leadership is to praise in public and to criticize in private. That is how this should have been handled. Dr. Swift had earned that courtesy and the board gave her zero courtesy. You have handled this very shabily. She should be at work tonight. It is our loss that she is not. In contrast to that, the board itself, Jordan Peterson says a wonderful thing. Before you start saving the world, clean up your room. You all should clean up your own activity. You all should look at your unprofessionalism and incivility and work on that before you
072send some kind of spies out to look at Dr. Swift, who I don't know what the details are because we haven't been told, but nonetheless, she should be here. I understand there were three fights in school at the high school on Friday. So the fighting has returned because she was there in tamping this down. So we already experience a loss in that. So um uh let's see here. That's all. I'll leave it with that. Thank you. >> Thank you for your voice. >> Oh, and I have a second still. Once again, I support Dr. Swift. She is a wonderful person. She's a great professional and it's our loss. We need her back. Hi uh Jen Pertell uh I live in Glennside. Um two things that were mentioned in the uh agenda today that I am
073excited about the opportunity with Immaculata University with the for the um staff and on a personal level my mom and my cousin are alum of Immaculata. So just want to you know shout out Immaculata and uh and I also have a cousin that is deaf. So, the fact that you're working so hard to have um staff in that will be able to help them, you know, be with their peers and learn and grow with all of their friends, I think is amazing and I appreciate that. Um, and I believe it's public school appreciation week, so I'm going to go with that. Um, I wanted to thank you all, uh, and the teachers and administrators who work so hard to teach and help our kids each day. Um, not only are you helping them in school
074from kindergarten through 12th grade to educate them and prepare them for life after high school, you're giving them the foundation and tools to learn and grow through life so that they can stay informed and be involved in the world they live in even as it changes. The skills that kids learn at Abington schools helps them and encourages them to stay curious and become lifelong learners. that gives them the tools to build on what they learn in school so they c that they can continue to seek out new accurate and relevant information and gain new skills as they move through life. These skills will help them not only for whatever work they do but so that they can make sense of our past, our present and what may be in the future and stay informed about
075our country and the world. Because as been said, history doesn't repeat itself but it often rhymes. Thank you. Thank you for your voice. Mr. Cargus, do we have callers on the line? >> We have no more callers. >> Thank you. >> That brings us to closing comments. Oh, Dr. Fetcher, did you want to address anything? >> Uh, nothing at this time. >> Okay. All right. So, that brings us to closing comments of school directors. Mrs. Brown, have a good night, everyone. Thank you so much for showing up and for sharing your voice. Miss Eisenhart. >> Uh I enjoyed uh celebrating the students this evening and um some exciting things that we got to pass for the district. Um congrats to all the parents and um all the supporters of the kids. They're doing amazing things
076and it's a grateful I'm grateful to witness that um here and good night >> Mr. Muhammad. >> Um yeah, I acknowledge that Dr. Swift being placed on leave is not a light matter. Um and that her impact at the high school has been noted many times on this day. Um as positive and transformative. Um as a high school administrator, I recognize the pressure that's placed on a community when any member of the leadership team is not able to be present. Um I commend the assistant principles at the high school who are doing their best to fill the void. and I'm hopeful that this personnel matter can be resolved in a way that restores community regardless of the outcome. Good night, >> Miss Falding. >> I don't really have anything to say. Uh just have a
077good evening everybody. >> Miss Hartman. >> Um I also want to congratulate our students and families for their um the awards that were received tonight. Um and have a good evening everyone. Miss Lecher. >> Oh, I'm sorry, Miss Fraser. >> Um, yeah. I'd like to commend David, our 12th grader, for acquiring a versatile set of skills that will allow him to graduate high school without any debt. Good night, >> Miss Le. >> Yes. So, you know me, my commercial for the Abington students. If you're looking for something to do this week, the students have been working hard for Guys and Dolls, and it is going to be amazing. So, I can't wait to go on Thursday. >> Good night, everyone. >> I'll be there, too. >> Um, I think I'll I'll close with this. Um,
078last Friday, I had a chance um along with Dr. Fetcher and Miss Fletcher um and Ms. Fraser to participate in the one book, one school event at Overlook. >> Overlook. And these events are are some of my most favorite during the school year. Um I got to read to a class of fifth graders uh that was brimming with reading Olympiads. Um, and it's just it's a wonderful way to see what's going on in our schools and to see the really creative things that our teachers and our staff do to inspire a love of reading in our students. So, um, I want to thank Principal Boyd for welcoming all of us on that day and um, the students for welcoming us. It was a great experience and I look forward to doing it again next year.
079So on that note, have a great evening everyone.