001I would like to welcome everyone to the Thursday, April 16th, 2026 board business meeting. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the stands one indivisible. The board met in executive session on April 13th to discuss health care options and again prior to this meeting. Tonight's topics included personnel, healthc care options, negotiations, and assessment appeal settlements. Both meetings lasted approximately 1 hour. And now I will turn the meeting over to Dr. Christian. We have quite a few um student recognitions this evening. >> Thank you, Mrs. Patrudo. I believe we have coach Kaleleski. Coach Stewart and Coach Blizzard here to recognize our outstanding Plymouth White Mar swimmers, divers, and a bowler. Coach G, are you here? >> Thank you. Oh, I don't have my glasses on,
002but thank you for speaking up. >> Come on in test. Um, I first want to thank Mr. Brett and Dr. Bani as well as Dr. Christian and the school board of directors for all of your support um that the district uh gives to all of our student athletes throughout the entire season. The boys swim team had a great season this year. We finished 8 and three overall, 4- one in our league, and finished second overall behind Upper Dublin. The boys then finished 13th at the district championships and were able to send two individuals and two relays to the state meet held at Bucknell University. Sophomore Ryan Mondura qualified in the 200 freestyle and the 100 butterfly and junior Eric Babka in the blue um qualified in the 200 freestyle and the 500yard freestyle. Ryan finished
00328th and 29th respectfully and Eric finished 13th and 18th respectfully. The relay teams of Ryan Monduro, Eric Babka, Owen Coyle, and Austin Otterer finished 10th at districts and the and 24th in the state championships in the 200 free relay. And the team of Ryan Monduro, Eric Bapka, Gavin Creel, and John Carr finished 14th at districts and 22nd in the state championship meet in the 400 free relay. The latter four also broke the school record this season, originally set back in 2012. I lastly want to thank my student athletes for the sacrifices that they gave up to achieve these great accomplishments. and we look forward to seeing how fast they can swim next year. I will now turn the microphone over to Miss Bolan who is our head females co head girls coach sorry. >> Good
004evening everyone. Um I would also like to reiterate our thanks to the school board, Dr. Christian, Dr. Beccani, and Mr. Brett for the invitation to be here tonight to recognize the accomplishment of our student athletes this season. We would not be able to accomplish the goals we set without your continuous support. Our girls team ended the season with a 6-4 overall record and a 4-1 record in our league. The girls finished 11th overall in the district this season, sending two relays and one individual qualifier to the state championship meet held in March earlier this year. The 200 freestyle relay composed of Samantha Moore, Alli Coyle, Lilia Veranchek, and Carolyn Forjioni finished eighth at districts and 16th at the state championship meet, breaking the school record previously set in 2023. The girls freestyle relay composed of
005Sammy, Ellie, Audrey Mhiny, and Carolyn Forion placed eighth at districts, breaking the school record previously set in 2023, and went on to place 19th at the state championship meet. Senior Carolyn Forion individually qualified for the 100 backstroke at the state championship meet and placed 28th overall in this event. Our athletes are one of a kind and exceed our expectations on a regular basis with their hard work and their dedication. Watching our athletes accomplish their goals is truly a privilege. I would now like to hand the mic over to Mr. Dave Stewart to recognize the accomplishments of our divers. >> Good evening. I want to thank the school board as well for having us here tonight. Um it is a privilege to represent the Colonial School District um as the coach of this fantastic program and
006these amazing young people. Uh over these uh overall these two diving teams have been 21 and one this season with a 10-0 league record in our event. In the last four seasons these divers have amassed a 81 and8 record within the diving event. Uh this season the girl divers have accomplished 10 PRs, six dive PRs and four 11 dive PRs. That would be personal records. Um went 10-1 and 5-0 in the league. At the Suburban One Championships, our girls scored 64 points uh with the next closest team being 10 points behind them. Riley Kieran took first place uh setting a new Suburban one Liberty Division meet record with a score of 38555. Annabelle Furhat took third, Tegan Stanley took fourth and Piper Zebi took sixth. At the District One Diving Championship, our girls scored 24
007points and finished uh second in the district in terms of points. We were the only school in the district meet with three divers placing top 20. Annabelle Fur Hat took sixth place uh with an 11 dive PR. Riley Kieran took eighth and Tegan Stanley 20th. Annabelle and Riley are the first female duo to top 10 and make the state meet since 1993 when then Allison Clemus and Jennifer Hitchcock Nail Keely um went to the state meet in 1993. At the state meet, Riley Kieran took 17th and Annabelle uh Fair Hat 19th. PW was the only school at the state diving meet to have two top 20 divers. Riley and Annabelle accounted for 149 of the team's 214 total points this season. Fortunately, Annabelle will be back next season. And unfortunately for us and fortunately for
008Riley, she will be attending Biola University in sunny Southern California next year. Uh we will miss her for sure. Our boy boys divers had 20 PRs this season. Seven six dive PRs and five 11 dive PRs. Took seven, 2nd, 8th, 11th, 15th, and 17th at the Ridley uh diving invitational, 7th, 11th, and 14th at the Parkland Invitational and had a record of 11-0, 5-0 in the league. At the Suburban One Diving Championships, our boys scored 63 points with the next team scoring 36. That gives you an idea how good they are. Um, we were the only team to have five divers in the event. Austin Oliver took first, setting a new 11 dive school record of 514.60. Morgan Hullet took third, Ethan Skully fifth, and Dominic Benvveni sixth. second and fourth place in the meet.
009We're both seniors from other teams, which bodess well for the future in terms of us scoring. At the District One Diving Championship, our boys were the top scoring team with 36 points, and we're the only team to have four divers in the meet. Austin uh became the first male district champion diver in PW history. Uh Ethan Skully placed eighth uh giving him the opportunity to go to our state meet. Morgan Hullet 13th and Dominic Benvvenoodi 16th. PW qualified multiple male divers to the state meet for the third year in a row and four years ago was the first time we ever sent a male diver to the state meet. Uh at the state meet, Austin Oliver took fifth place, becoming the first male PW diver to medal at the state championships. Ethan Scully over here
010placed 17th. We were one of only three teams to have multiple divers in the top 20 at the state diving championships. Ethan and Austin accounted for 150 of the team's 249 points this season. Fortunately for us, both Austin and Ethan will be back next season, and we are looking forward to another season of amazing results. These four divers along with their awesome teammates have made themselves one of the top five diving teams in the state of Pennsylvania. and next season we have the opportunity to be the top scoring team in the state of Pennsylvania. Congratulations. Thank you again for having us. Before uh before our families depart, uh I just want to say a few words as a former swimming coach. Um, so actually I can tell you I can tell you that uh I
011I really can appreciate what the long fall and winter is and swimming is one of those and diving are sports that it's a year-round dedication not just for the student athletes but for the parents and guardians. So you wake up in the dark, go to morning practice, make many meals, snacks, etc. Pick kids up in the dark, right? and then help them help them get through their studies. Um, in fact, he doesn't remember it, but and I won't say who I gave it away a little bit. One of your coaches was swimming for PW when I was a coach in Mthactton about a 100 years ago. So, uh, and he crushed us in multiple events. Um, that said, you know, it's a it's a family sport. It's a life sport, diving and swimming and, uh,
012very difficult and you have to balance all that with being outstanding students, too. So great accomplishment. >> I know you do. I know you do. So I just want to thank you. They're true student athletes and we really appreciate you sharing your kids with us. >> Coach Blizzard. Thank you guys. Uh my name is Jeff Blizzard and before I start talking about Melanie Delisio, come sit. Come stand here please. Um, I want to take this opportunity because, um, I've been so grateful and and blessed to have been able to coach, uh, bowling here at PW for the last, uh, 25 years. Um, 22 as a as a team and then three years prior to that as a club. Um, and it's it's really been the blessing of of my career to do that. Uh, and
013to go out um, as I'm retiring this year, to go out with a champion like Melanie is is an amazing thing. So, I want to I want to thank you first of all for the support that you guys have shown and the administration has shown the polling program. It's a it's a unique program that um doesn't fit the mold in a lot of athletics. We think about the traditional sports um but it is as Dr. Christian just mentioned a family sport, a lifelong sport. Um and it is a lot of fun to watch when you see the competitiveness that these kids have. Um, so again, I'm I'm grateful and uh I'm looking forward to the future. I think there's going to be some terrific teams in the future. Maybe once I get out of the
014way, we'll see some additional champions. Um, so I want to just speak a little bit to Melanie and and um and if you'll bear bear with me on this, uh, just over a year ago, I stood before most of you tonight to recognize Melanie for her amazing accomplishments following her junior bowling season. I told you then that she was the most accomplished bowler in our 21-year history. I told you that as a freshman, Melanie set the girls school record for high game and high threeame series on the same day. That she finished 17th at the Eastern Pennsylvania Regional Singles Tournament. She led the girls to an so record of 44 and 12 and an 18th place finish in the Eastern PA regional team tournament. I told you that as a sophomore, Melanie improved her average
015to 209 as the girls team matched the previous season with an identical 44-12 record and a 14th place finish at the Eastern Regional Team Tournament. I'm sorry, forgive me. A 14th place uh finish in the individual tournament. She won the so individual tournament uh by more than 80 pins over the second place finisher. Um and again as 14th play uh position she finished just four pins out of 12th place that year. A crushing day. You remember that sophomore year when you just missed this the state? Yeah, it was tough but she rebounded really well. I told you that as a junior Melany's average improved to 211 as she led the PW girls to a 43 and13 record and a second place finish in the so American Conference. She set a new single game record for
016the girls of 277 and defended her so championship title in February. Uh also named first team all league for the third straight season. Melanie earned an incredible third place finish at the Eastern Pennsylvania Regional Tournament, losing only to the eventual champion in the semi-final round. That was the first time that PW has been represented at the state championship level. And Melanie made us proud as she finished 11th place among the 24 best female bowlers in the state. That was then. As a senior, Melanie put high expectations on herself and she delivered. She averaged 218 in conference play, holding the highest girls average in our league. She again anchored a successful girls team that finished in second place in the suburban one league conference and finished an amazing eighth place at the regional tournament. She was
017once again named first team all league and then she placed first in the Eastern PA regional championship. She averaged over 220 pins per game throughout that tournament to win that. And it was amazing experience to be there and to watch her do that. At the state tournament for which she qualified again, she struggled a little bit but rallied for a career-high ninth place finish, making her family, her teammates, her coaches, and her school incredibly proud. But more importantly than all these accomplishments is Melany's character. Her leadership is displayed in her mentoring of younger bowlers, her work ethic in and out of the classroom, and her incredible sportsmanship. She carries a 3.5 plus GPA, is enrolled in the exercise science program at the technical high school, and is a joy to coach. Well, I'll be honest,
018she knows more about bowling than me, so I'll say it's a joy to watch her bowl. Melanie has bowled three perfect games in competition. She will be attending Sacred Heart University in the fall with a bowling scholarship while majoring in exercise science. We got it right. Um and I just couldn't be prouder to have her here today with me. And um I want to tell you that it's a team game even though all these individual accomplishments that she's done. Um, and she's really responsible for so many of these kids improving and getting better. Uh, to the point where we also have another bowler, uh, Tiffany Molinro, who's not here, who will also be bowling in college at St. Thomas, uh, University in Miami. Um, and and also has been an amazing leader with Melanie on
019the team this year. So, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention her tonight. Um, but, um, I'm just super proud of Melanie and I I hope you give her a round of applause for her accomplishments. Melanie, I just want to say on behalf of the board, before you get your picture taken, uh just like our student athletes in the pool, uh you're in rare air. Uh you've set a very high standard, not just as an athlete, but as a student athlete, and that's exactly what we want to see. So, uh, congratulations. Very, very impressive. That concludes our student recognitions for the evening. We know you have plenty of homework after getting back from the senior trip. So, if you need to get started on that, we certainly understand. All right, moving on with our meeting.
020Um, this is a motion to approve minutes as presented in items 4B through 4G. May I have a second, please, Sharon? Any questions or comments? All in favor? Thank you. This is a motion to approve financial reports as presented in items 5B through 5M for March 2026. May I have a second, Chris? Any questions or comments? All in favor? Thank you. This is a motion to approve the March 2026 treasurer's report. May I have a second, please? Jeremy, any questions or comments? All in favor? Thank you. And now, is there any public comment this evening on any items on our agenda? All right, seeing none, I will turn the meeting over to Dr. Christian for the superintendent report. >> Thank you. Board action is requested for the recommended personnel changes, appointments for promotion, employment, or
021transfer subject to the presentation of valid credentials, employment verification, documentation, and statemandated requirements. This is items 8A and 8B. >> May I have a second, please? Chris, any questions or comments? All in favor? Thank you. Um, hi, how are you? Do you have us a student report for us this evening? That would be great. Thank you. Hi, my name is Zoe Winsky. We're so happy to be here at or I'm so happy to be here as this year's junior board representative. Um, so for what happened in PW this month, the seniors, as Dr. Christian mentioned before, the seniors just came back from their trip to where they went to Orlando where they visited Disney and Universal. Cultural clubs across PW were being connected through equity, inclusion, and belonging to create a school to create the
022school a more accepting and open place. At CMS, the Best Buddies program ran a successful fundraiser for their upcoming walk. The course performed the national anthem at the Phillies game and students showed extreme involvement and leadership in their environment and with their Earth Day efforts and having a studentrun program through No Place for Hate. At Colonial Elementary School, CES scored a big big at 2026 Reading Olympics held at West Hicken High School on April 7th. Five of the eight teams earned blue ribbons, the highest honors. The beginning concert was held on Thursday, March 26. Over 575 students performed and families and friends. CS is celebrating Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month with students sharing some of their unique and amazing qualities with their classmates. At Ridge Park, ReadAcross America was celebrated across the during the week
023of March 2nd. We had many guest readers, including some from the district office and schoolboard members. Students enjoyed virtual author visits coordinated by Mrs. Fington and spent the time reading with their buddy classes. On the evening of March 10th, a group of second and third graders shared with the community members at the district EIB meeting with their leader about learning experiences. So this year, including No Place for Hate projects, Diwali and Black History Month's projects. Cindy O, music teacher, and Jen Fitzgerald, art teacher, designed a variety of activities for the music students in our schools and youth art month. We enjoyed themed days and students participated in a variety of related activities throughout the day. in White Marsh. On Friday, March 27th, the students and staff at White Marsh Elementary School welcomed autism advocate and
024motivational speaker Ben Handcraft. On Wednesday, March 18th, students and staff at White Marsh Elementary School participated in Rock Your Socks to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day. Mrs. Hope and Mrs. Brennan's class led the initiative, educating peers about Down Syndrome, distributing awareness badges, and organizing a schoolwide walk to promote understanding and inclusion. Thank you so much for reporting all that. And now we will move on to new business. Jeremy motion to approve and adopt the 2026 2027 proposed final budget as presented. The finance committee reviewed the 2026 2027 final budget final proposed budget and recommends the adoption of the budget. The PTE 2028 budget documents is attached on board docs and will be available for public review. um is a available for public review on the district uh website. The proposed final budget totals um almost
025168.8 million, an increase of 3.55% from the prior year and includes um an increase of 3.5% from a real estate real estate tax standpoint. The final budget will be considered at the June 8th, 2026 board meeting. >> May I have a second, please? Chris, any questions or comments? All in favor? Thank you, Jeremy. >> Motion to approve the stipulations to settle to settle the assessment appeals of the properties outlined below. >> May I have a second, please? Rick, any questions or comments? All in favor? Thank you, Sharon. >> This is a motion to approve the agreement with the Bucks County Intermediate Unit to provide the services outlined in the attached schedule on an as needed basis. >> May I have a second, please? Tomas. Any questions or comments? All in favor? Thank you. >> This
026is a motion to approve the agreement addendum with General Healthcare LLC Incorporated to provide substitute nursing and substitute instructional aid services effective July 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2027 as presented. >> May I have a second, please? Chris, any questions or comments? All in favor? Thank you, Rick. Motion to approve the rate classification change to the STS agreement as outlined in the attached addendum effective March 23rd, 2026 through June 30th, 2027. >> May I have a second, please? Sharon, any questions or comments? All in favor? >> Thank you. >> A motion to approve the revisions to board policy 907, school visitors on a second read basis. >> May have a second, please. Sharon, any questions or comments? All in favor? Thank you, Sharon. >> Uh, out of state student trips. This is a motion to
027approve the out ofstate trips as outlined below. Um, Plymouth White Marsh High School BCA Club to travel to Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland on April 27th, 2026. And the high school boys track and field team to participate in the 2026 East Coast International Showcase at Morgan State University on May 2nd, 2026. >> May I have a second, please? Tomas. Any questions or comments? All in favor? Thank you. Um, and Mark, >> this is a motion to appoint our friend Tomas Santiago to the Colonial as Colonial School District's representative on the Montgomery County Intermediate Units Board of Directors for the period July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028. >> May I have a second, please? Chris, any questions or comments? All in favor? Great. Congratulations, Tomas. >> Thank you. Um, is there a solicitor's report
028this evening? >> I have no report. >> Thank you. Um, and now we'll move on to committee reports. Sharon, >> uh, the, um, I almost said curriculum. The community relations, student life, um, committee met on Monday, um, this past Monday, the 13th. Um, three main topics that we discussed. One was we had followup from um an equity, inclusion and belonging perspective um and student club representatives shared uh what has been happening within their their uh respective clubs. Uh in addition to that, Dr. uh Figuroa Douglas also shared that we've seen high um increased PSSM data uh for the infinity groups that are supported by those clubs. So that was really good news. Um we had administration from the middle school and high school also share around the resolve room program. um that is a grant-f
029funded um a grant-f funded program that supports our middle schoolers and our high schools uh through uh trained counselors and provide space for students to manage their emotions, resolve conflicts, and build their social emotional skills. Um and so we're excited to hear the positive data coming out from that. And then lastly, we spent a few moments just revisiting and reminding um the board and our community around our bullying policy and procedures. Great. Thank you so much, Chris. Curriculum. >> Sure. Um the uh curriculum committee um uh meeting was on the 13th, just this past Monday, and Dr. for good guidance provided updates on the district's AI roadmap um noting all the different pilots that are going on teacher integration of AI into instruction and the development of an evaluation rubric to uh help them get
030uh choose a final tool selection by uh June of 26 um along with AI focused professional learning to support the staff implementation. Uh also the curriculum supervisors detailed the four stages of the curriculum cycle and the process in each stage for all the different uh content areas. Um Dr. Figuro Douglas highlighted how we consider the principles of equity, inclusion, and belonging as we review and revise curriculum instruction across the content areas. Uh Mr. city shared updates on structured literacy legislation um and uh con affirmed the district's alignment with uh evidence-based practices and continued enhancements including expanded cursive handwriting instruction. Um he also shared progress on the K to3 writing pilot set to launch uh this coming fall. Um, Miss Wilch announced the district's upcoming K12 art show on May 19th at CMS and the next
031curriculum meeting will be held on May 11th. >> Great. Thank you. Um, Rashidita is not here this evening. Is there anything for facilities or transportation from anyone? >> All right. Uh, Jeremy, finance. Uh the finance committee met on Monday, April 6 to review the final um budget that was proposed and approved tonight. Um doc I mentioned the 3 and a half% tax increase. Um any questions on that on the on the I mentioned the budget's on the website for um review and I just want to thank um Mr. Digian and his uh team for all the work that went into this um this year's budget. >> Great. Thank you. Um there is no HR and personnel report this evening. Um intermediate unit Tomas. >> Yes. Um we met on 3:25 and um they actually had
032a great presentation on a program called MCO Works and that's for um ages 14 through 24. Um it just gives you a better opportunity to help you, guide you, um if you struggling with school or you know have a you know not sure about the decisions that you want to make um you can go online and search up some more information if needed and we meet again on next Wednesday. >> Okay, great. Thank you so much. Uh Chris, the tech school. >> Sure. Lots of good things going on. But um we uh they uh rolled out the summer career experience camp information for this summer um at the at the uh tech school and they are running new a new barbering camp for three week three separate weeks. Um the baking and pastry, cooking, cookie
033and cake decorating, cosmetology, um hawk tank which is similar to Shark Tank, um landscape design and construction, networking and robotics, public safety, and sports medicine. And those camps run various weeks from July 7th to July 30th. Um so there's information on their website regarding the cost and uh more information and how to enroll. And secondly, they are having a plant sale. Uh plants that are grown and sold by their landscape design and construction students on May 8th um at 8 between 8 and 10:00 a.m. and 12 and 2:00 p.m. That is my report. >> Great. Thank you so much. Uh Sharon, anything legislative? >> Uh just want to thank uh the board members and Dr. Christian who were able to attend the uh legislative breakfast at the end of March. Um so that was really
034helpful. facilities was the um topic that we discussed. Uh we also want to shout out our Colonial students who were in Harrisburg yesterday um advocating for fair funding, student teacher siphons, and uh diversifying the educator workforce. Um and lastly, um a hot topic in the legislative committee right now continues to be the um Senate Bill 1014, which is the uh bell-to-bell potential ban on student cell phone usage uh during during the day. Um and so more to come. uh should that continue forward. >> Great. Thank you. >> And just so the board knows, we are already bell-to-bell K to8 uh at the high school level. Students when they walk into their classrooms, there's a um an area in the front of the room with pockets where students deposit their their cell phones when they go
035into their block classes, which are 70 to 80 minutes long. Uh they are permitted to have them during lunch. >> Great. Thank you. Um any community reports this evening? >> White Merch Township Day is this coming ap Saturday, April 25th. All are welcome for an exciting day for all ages. Also, the Fourth of July parade planning is well underway with the township excited for a big celebration of our nation's 250th anniversary. So, it should be something special this year. >> Thank you. >> I'll just add that uh Greenfest is this Saturday at uh Merrywood Park. So, check that out. Thank you. >> Um for the for the foundation. >> Yes. Foundation. Go. Yep. All you. >> Okay. Uh the feel the love campaign a few um weeks weeks ago raised over $5,500 for teacher grants.
036Uh last weekend over 150 runners participated in the 5K. Um and just to highlight a couple recent grants. There were two recent grants for books that celebrated autism awareness and sensory tools for Ridge Park and Plymouth Elementary. The next large event is the foodforthought golf outing on Monday, June 29th at the 1912 club, which is on Plymouth Road. Um, even if you're not interested in golfing, there's food and drink uh to help support the foundation. And uh this year, the foundation has awarded over $20,000 in giant gift cards uh for weekend meals and also helped pay for over 1500 lunches and over the past few years has helped distribute over $40,000 in teacher grants. So, please consider uh contributing and also speak to your employer uh regarding any matching programs that they may have. >>
037Great. Thank you so much. Um attached to this evening's agenda are school activity accounts, uh athletic activity accounts for CMS and PW, curriculum reports, building reports, and a technology report. And now, is there any public comment this evening? All right, seeing none, is there any further board comment this evening? All right. Uh, then this meeting is adjourned. Thank you.