001foreign want to order January 9 2023 meeting at the Conestoga Valley Board of school directors we'd like to welcome everyone that's here and online you please don't join me with our pledge allegiance of the United States foreign attendance of the superintendent happening I asked if we can be heard well out there if I get away from that please give me some sort of sign because you have everybody to be able to hear what's going on the kids are being very honest with you right now we look out they're all waving they're like yeah we're good you know usually lie on the kids they're honest as the day is long this is our work session one of two meetings per month in which we receive most of the informational presentations as well as discuss and deliberate
002future decisions there are also sometimes some action or voting items required on timely issues or to read time restrained deadlines our meetings absured the requirements of the school code legislative directives the original ATP Sunshine Law all subsequent amendments judicial rulings in our district policies to the best of our understanding and ability our agendas and related public documents and details are posted on the district website that said are there any additions changes or deletions tonight's agenda hearing none could I have a motion all those in favor please say aye aye opinionated her abstentions we want superintendent's comments no comments for this evening Madam president are there any board comments on board activities I would like to add one and that's the board's thank you to everyone that participated in the bowl superintendent search as well as
003those who participated uh in the focus groups I want you all to know that we read every line of every post that was presented even though many times they were at country officer engine Spectrum because what we should do and in the next line someone said that's exactly what we should not do we will listen listen and take in everything you say and come up what we feel is the best effective history if you feel we have missed something we apologize in advance please know that uh you were heard and you were considered that said we are ready to move on to our student report would you like to do the introductions doctors [Music] Miss gordiac second grade teacher at Brownstown I'm going to turn it over to Dr Gabriel the principal at Brownstown to
004do the formal introductions all right yeah thanks it's great to be here it's okay here with Miss going next she's a second grade teacher and Mrs Ripley our fifth grade teacher uh both of them actually provide a lot of leadership every month to our first sighted Gathering assembly um I don't think that District 12 years now and we've never really highlighted our First Fridays at least for a student board report but it's a great little way for us to be and uh showcase and the support and communicate District initiative School initiatives and so we thought we'd just take about 10 minutes and run you through when our first Friday night looked like so uh students I'm going to pass it on to you and one microphone and just pass back and forth good evening School
005Board we are pleased to be here tonight to Showcase one highlight of Life at Brownstown but first letter let us introduce ourselves I'm Charlotte and I'm in second grade [Music] I'm Lily and I'm from I'm eating and I'm in second grade I'm K-9 in second grade I'm lean on the fifth grade our first Friday of each month We Gather the whole school together in the lobby to build community roles [Music] The Gatherings also allow for student recognition in areas mathematics and character strong each month's presentation includes the pledge and Anthem will provide behavioral expectations [Music] gatherings [Music] hello School Board we used we usually start off with the Star Spangled Banner and the pledge but we're just going to start off with the around the world so to start it off I'll start by telling
006you why we do this we do this to show you that everybody belongs in this school no matter how diverse you are you're welcome I think I'm taking you too loud because my parents were born and raised there I want and I want you to get to know me more so I'm going to say hello and you repeat after me Mr body now I'm gonna say good morning good job I got to get going since I would be saying too much so I'm out peace [Laughter] [Music] show a video and hold a discussion on the tree we review the monthly Challenge and here is what we've shown and discussed last month connecting to and please understand and connecting to other people's feelings have you ever heard the saying walk in someone else's shoes this is
007another person's point of view and understand how they feel you are being empathetic you're willing to watch A Brief video clip while watching look for an example of empathy one more feet okay thank you [Music] as you saw in the video empathy can be given in a form of a gift but also a warm hug a caring friend or even a listening ear this month's secret challenge is to discuss how empathy can make Pastor teacher grade level post character strong poster share your ideas and read others well in the hallways and remember to show and teach not only this month but throughout the whole entire year on Thursday January 12th from 5 30 to 8. please [Music] can you participate in a scavenger hunt in the end entered into a battle from gift card listen
008to music performed by your peers in review there are displayed throughout the sword catch your teachers performing in the readers theater and if you are thirsty head to the cafe for a bulldog steamer this is always a great night for our robot Sound Community to get together for a fun time and a good cause to use money for the library we hope to see you there on Thursday January 19th we will be having a wacky hair and or outfit T I am pretty wacky myself with my amazing outfit and if any of you school board members are interested or any of the crowd um I would like to see you on Thursday January 19th when your wackiest hair and or close and now anyone with a January birthday please stand for recognition everything [Music] thank
009you now normally we would have a lot of names called but since none of you are students we don't really have anymore so now we'll just read some descriptions in December a math award description was for her hard work and perseverance in solving difficult math problems and having a positive attitude a reading award example was for her drive and passion of reading and finally showing empathy towards others and caring about what they think and how they feel that's it for me but now it's for Parker as we as we start to wrap up our first Friday meetings we always have a teacher okay and a class or a group of students share a message with the school sometimes this is through a video they create a poem a song or a letter the night our
010morning message is an evening message in the form of a letter for you dear school board members we want to thank you for all the time hard work and dedication that you have gave the students at CV earlier we saw a video of an adorable but sad Hedgehog throughout the power of empathy and problem solving the Hedgehog's friends found a way a way to make sure he was included that little display of kindness changed the head shark's life we can be those friends we can be those friends everyone in this room has the power to make an impact on someone else's life and our own each day empathy is just one of the many character strong traits we are learning about this school here throughout the year we are learning about respect responsibility gratitude perseverance
011honesty cooperation courage and creativity because these traits we can all learn to be better citizens and make our community a better place as we continue as you continue your meeting tonight and each meeting throughout the rest of the year and Beyond we ask you to remember the Hedgehog and his friends and the power that all the character strong traits can have on you and everyone else around you again we appreciate your hard work and dedication to us and the rest of our CV students so and the rest of the BT Kids here tonight each month we close out our gather with a song sometimes we sing The Bad Times closer and other times we sing the songs that we have practice in music here is a clip from last month all right dude I don't
012know if we're gonna sound so you may have to sing for us foreign let's see real quick volume all right guys foreign [Music] presentation if you would like to join us for a real first Friday Gathering there are the dates and times for the remainder of we'd love for you to join us thank you and have a great night [Applause] I'm willing to bet that if your principal and teacher would join you'd sing the song for us any questions preventing the board members for these young people thank you great thank you you guys can head home and do some homework now um next time on our agenda is a time for public comments is there anyone from the community that would like to address the board good luck to the microphone we no longer we
013are pending revision and policy not excuse me policy 903 we no longer request your address would you please state your name for the record ER that's a hot mic I'm sorry did you do that my name is Elizabeth redgood and are you a resident of TV yes ma'am you have five minutes for your remarks please thank you this is regarding item 4-H board policy 123. a few weeks ago School Board president idette Groff and I connected on the phone as a follow-up to the board's November 21st meeting where Mr Michael Talley presented that he wanted the board to amend the CV athletic policy to discriminate against students who identify as transgender during the call with Mrs Brock she stated that she believes the two things the Board needs to focus on are one that the
014board are obliged to follow the law and two that the board must vote do right by the students I would like to speak to both of those ideas which are similar to the email I sent to the board and administration on December 5th in support of inclusion and equity for students who identify as LGBT Plus first of all I want to reiterate a point that Dr Diane Martin made at the November 21st meeting any discriminatory policy could leave our school district and CV taxpayers liable for vote tens of thousands of dollars in legal costs if our athletic policy violates Title IX no matter what side of the political aisle we're on I think most CD taxpayers can agree that we do not want to violate a student's rights so badly that we're inviting expensive lawsuits
015a discriminatory athletic policy would be cost prohibitive recently Pennsylvania's independent regulatory review commission updated anti-discrimination regulations for areas including education stating that our schools can't discriminate based on sex which includes quote sex assigned at Birth gender identity or expression and affectational or sexual orientation I want to recognize that someone works of the board might be unfamiliar with the concepts listed above and although Mr tally stated at the November 21st board meeting that he doesn't want to learn more I say that it is negligent to avoid learning more especially in an educational setting where this board would be responsible if they violate students rights and the law additionally this ongoing ignorance risks putting students in the LGBT plus community at further risk of bullying from their peers although I appreciate that Mr Mark gensel expressed at
016the November 21st meeting that he does not want students who are transgender to feel excluded the impact of any rules to rules dates Tron students is that they will not just feel but actively be excluded in October 2001 excuse me 2021 is a private citizen Mr gensel said at a board meeting that quote not everybody's on board with all this stuff with gender identity but I want to respectfully counter that it doesn't matter who's on board or not members of the LGBT plus Community are already part of our CD community I don't think that Mr tally Mr gensel and some of the other board members might mean well but speaking in ignorance they are expressing attitudes and using language the bullies are our students who are trans they are setting an example for CV students
017as well as administrators and Educators that it is okay to bully and exclude certain students but it is not okay if the board of adopts an anti-trans athletic policy it would be an undeniable statement that Conestoga Valley Schools under this board are not a safe place for students especially those who are trans our schools would not be a safe place for any person student family member or staff who might identify as part of the LGBT plus community as Dr Z said these students who already faced bullying from some of their peers and sometimes even adults in school are just children we are our CV students they want to fit in as themselves and participate in school life and activities free from bullying and intimidation and unlawful exclusion policies just like any other student thank you
018is there anyone else you would like to address the board at this time now I'm going to move on to our regular agenda items business starting with King George for the Middle School on you hear me all right okay um I'm here to present two change orders both for the general contractor at the middle school 14 and 15 and I'll give a brief explanation and that there's additional questions I'd be happy to elaborate so 14 involves a few code items uh PCO 33 and 37 regard code clearances or door swings the code requires 18 inches on the pull side or 12 inches on the push side and we needed to remove and reinstall some door frames to allow for proper code clearances 37 involves and actually that should say the a028.1 is a duplicate so
019there's actually only three doors we ordered new frames for um to allow for the proper door swing for ADA requirements and then the third one is for the stair at uh the main Monumental stair the teaching stair um we had to add additional guard rails for that because those stairs if you've seen them or seen them elsewhere are the double height stairs so the guard actually has to be taller for the code inspector at this location so we're actually adding um additional guardrail on top that's under fabrication first two regarding the door swings that has been completed already so that's that's 14. I actually question about that yes I have this is to make an ADA Compliant who sat in oversight and design or was that a change in the red now the in our
020drawings um we didn't have a specific Dimension there so if we would have snapped a specific Dimension there we would have known that that it was actually 12 inches and not 18 inches um so nothing had changed it just wasn't detailed in our drawings in hindsight we could have snatched on into actual drawing file snap that Dimension and discovered that ahead of it being installed and caught by the inspector that would have been for the first one there I would I think I would testify that under errors and Emissions it's it would it's incorrect and we could have caught it earlier thank you any other questions on 14. and then 15. there were a few details for the flashing at the media center roof this is where the patio pavers are above the media center
021next to the main entry to clarify the detail and actually update it we added additional flashing insulation and sheathing there and took away some a masonry that we didn't need so it ended up being a net ad there of about 600 dollars and then pco53 we are painting some of the exposed MEP items that are directly above the vestibule when the vestibules under it'll it'll have um ceiling laying ceiling there it's not there but you will still see some of the mechanical items above and they're white and gray so we're just going to paint them monotone up there a simple color to blend in so it's aesthetically more pleasing so if you see it down the hallway or from the outside through the curtain wall it'll blend in more that's what that change order is
022there and that has completed the flashing at the media center roof is completed already any questions on those two this one is actually going against uh the allowances uh listed there 9A and nine any questions thank you okay thank you I think the next two issues are yours so this uh resolution that's attached I had referenced okay thank you I had referenced this resolution last month when I was talking to you about some of the budget highlights for the 23-24 year and with this resolution does is it tells uh confirmed with pde that we are not going to apply for any of the referendum exceptions uh we don't qualify for them anyway this year and it also confirms with pde that we are not going to raise our millage rate more than the Act One
023index of 4.1 percent and just kind of as a little side note I found an interesting fact on PD's website regarding school districts in Pennsylvania applying for these referendum exceptions and for the 21-22 year uh out of the 500 school districts in Pennsylvania only 30 applied for the referendum exceptions and only seven used them I thought that was interesting I thought that number would have been a lot more so that kind of gives us a little more satisfaction that we're going to be in good shape so uh I don't need action from you this evening we can simply roll this over into the consent agenda for next week so the next item is a revised audit report so the you approved the audit report back in November and a few weeks later I got a
024call from the lead auditor the partner of the firm saying that after our audit reported going through technical review along with other school districts audits somebody on their technical review quality review team discovered a very small addendum to a very large policy and procedures about buying single audit procedures to expenditures used with Federal monies so it's a little technicality stated that they had to come back and apply a few procedures to some of the expenditures that we used with Esser funds we're going to be they're going to be auditing the Esther funds this current year but last year that that particular funding wasn't identified as a major major project so they had to come back two and a half hours they were in the office and all that to say that it's a very large
025audit report 70 80 pages on page 74 of their Auto report there were five words added to say that we are in compliance with the audit for Esser funds no findings so again same thing uh with this we can roll that into the consent agenda for next week you're okay and if you have any questions questions okay thank you yes Ben we're very proud of our partnership with the CTC it allows this year 86 of our students to attend we have 44 full-time students and 42 halftime students attending in order for them to CTC to operate they charge the local school districts in Lancaster County to make contributions the average increase is 4.92 percent across the 16 districts ours is a little bit over 5.4 percent increase of what our contribution rate is but again
026we are very proud of the Partnerships and we wholeheartedly support the budget as presented and I would just ask Mr Hurst if there's anything else to add on that no I contacted about it and everything and he went into more depth is into why the higher percentage and all that kind of stuff and it is it's good budget and I am also very excited about our partnership with the CTC I think they do an excellent job and I think they are extremely um disciplined in our financial feelings I feel very good any questions good evening I have two items here the first item is a new course proposals for next year for the high school there are actually Four courses which are in The English Department the first one is a course on uh in
027our college and high school program on literature um you recall last year we talked about this some of these courses before this hackers making some changes in their programming we're making some adjusted adjustments we're making some adjustments again because of uh because we can because it's it's best for our students this first course is giving our students an opportunity to have a literature course watching the high school level so they can earn college credit apparently we do not do that apparently it's one of the college in high school 101 which is a English comp class um second course that allows us to do this is the argument class um which is actually there is some current there's some curriculum currently in the 102. in that first class that plugs nicely into the uh argument class
028so again a college in the high school course this course actually is through the University of Pittsburgh um that our students can they sent you so um that would be a news for us third English class that's new is history of film two um this elective would afford the students an opportunity to further uh study film um at another level it would build upon courses that they built upon film of what were you any questions about the English Department before moving tonight the last one of the computer science class as we continue to grow our computer science programming here we'd like to offer this computer science 3. this course is actually a college and high school course as well uh through the Carnegie Mellon so students that opt to take this course uh potentially could
029earn credit through Carnegie Mellon if they so choose this you know it's the comment it says three to five total as far as students typically at that level that's how many students we would see taking that course that would be limited just to three to five students it's typically that's how many students would be um it will take that level of course yeah um that that course also runs concurrently with other computer science courses those four classes I don't need action tonight they would be on the consent agenda next week doctor man would each of these be offered in 23-24 yes I assume you weren't ready to change the title argument I um I did check with Mr Carly uh the the the instructor of that for us and I said just wanted to confirm
030that that was the University of Pittsburgh's title and it is um the my personal opinion argument like is that a book yeah argument yeah versus maybe just the debate we've heard so now we're not I'm recommending keeping okay any other questions [Laughter] yeah and actually that one question says PC bird uh we have a problem with that which one is that it was fun it's a computer science not sure I had to get back exactly sure we'll check with the um level two and the AP courses what devices are using currently we're using iPads of the high school that's why right it could be right um plus it could also I don't know an off the double check in that room it's such a small number of kids we may have PCS available but I'll
031check I just wanted to make sure the kids can get in class and find a day handicapped around together we wouldn't want that really Mr Apple thank you next item I have is a Math 180 . as you recall earlier this year Dr koser and I presented our pssa data one of the areas that we've noticed that um we need to really look under the hood is middle school math um one of the things that we did this year is we should use What's called the CDT which is provided by the state of Pennsylvania which is classroom diagnostic tool that we use that assessment so along with IXL take a look at our students and what we are able to do is we've identified specific areas that need tier two support we currently do not
032have a proven research-based tier-term support for the middle school math program Math 180 is a is a new tool but it's with a company that we've used before read 180 may sound familiar to some of you which we currently use in the district Math 180 will give us that tier 2 support for our middle school students that we've identified through the CDT and the use of IXL you recall when we presented that data one of the things that we noticed was that our special needs children are actually growing right because they have a specific tier two tier three courses and interventions in their curriculum so this would fit into your typical student that needed tier two we are able to pay for this through Esser funds for the first two years this is a three-year
033subscription so I'm recommending that we do this and I would like to have action on this tonight so we can get moving can you just clarify so this is a service for covering all grades this will be for six seven eight six so it targets that specific area I just remember we had uh remember it was Matt's science you may have said that sorry and when he talks tier two we're talking mtss at level support tier one is in the classroom tier two was additional help so that's what this is and like you said with the read 180 we've had that for years this is just their sister company from was read 180 brought on okay so that I'm assuming we kept that's back right no that's for the three years of scripture okay and
034two years so what is our absolutely um any question Dr man I see that there's um some training getting started training do you feel that that's sufficient for the teachers to implement this absolutely timeline on getting this um as soon as the provider can um get it you know that that would be relatively quick that they they can turn it around um so I'm hoping within two three weeks and as soon as we get it approved and we I can sign the contract and we can get moving okay if they try to get us to start shipping into over Christmas break and I said they will build us accordingly um over the you know for the three year because I had to ask for that since we would be using us for funds I have
035asked for them to break this up for over a three-year period so they'll send us that accordingly thank you thank you everyone's actually that was good yes I mean we accept the proposal by doctor no he said he wants action tonight hi thank you the other one five issues that we just went over involving questions each week I do um when we started looking at our district goals for the school year 21-22 it just so happens to coincide with our three-year strategory comprehensive planning comprehensive plan and so what we felt was probably what was most prudent was to focus all efforts from the board to the classroom on those three-year goals that are listed in our comprehensive plan and the board to their credit said let's align our district goals with the comprehensive plan but
036this allowed us to do as Educators is you can't have a different goal every year this gives us time to plan Implement revise and finish as you remember we gave an update last summer how we were doing for the end of year one of the goals we will do the same thing again this summer for year two but if there's any input on changing updating or editing truly just for the edification of everybody here just as a reminder it is a three-year goal it's a three-year process we're ahead in some goals and not as far in others but you'll get your update in the summertime did anyone have any concerns about these goals or because they needed to be tweaked in any way we won't change them but we can make Minor Adjustments if one
037that you think one thing I I would mention in Mr cancel requested in this I'm interested in seeing this process policy something we've tried to see if it's worthwhile and I think if something is worth being in goal it's worth putting your effort into you know something you may want to look at when you address to an item that we've been playing with for six months now um I'm hoping the board is prepared give some direction as to what we do ing word policy 123 that references inner Scholastic Sports and transgender we have had a number of suggestions as you should do what we could do and uh in fact we've had three hour long discussions about advantages disadvantages you know secondary uh effects of making changes so at some point we have to decide
038what we're going to do next rather than constantly uh Passover the same the same issues you need to decide where we put our focus and what we do so I am simply going to open the floor to that discussion anyone who would like to suggest where we moved don't all rushed here don't leave it to me arsha my suggestion at the beginning is to do nothing basically because I saw no way to win I let them put down that I had all of the resources the only school districts they did make changes out of Memphis District I've been gracious enough to provide to me as well as many of those people contacted me offering to come to yeah no one on the sport asked for any outside info and quite frankly I was pleased with
039that question to me that meant we were focusing on what was most won Our obligation to say the law number two what's best for the children that is my um unrecognized 11 again take care of the children uh there have been small changes ups and downs uh in the public fund official front still left with the same position we were in then this line of change to protect the district and that was one of the big issues and I think we have at some level aggression everyone's concerns maybe not as well as we would like them to turn out which uh the legal aspect Mr tally who presented this um well as if he would tell this fact at me and say oh you say Dr rely on policy and that's true providing your policy
040is on firm footing is notes from putting any of these policies as it is still being meshed out in the legal Arena my feeling basically is that if I have a policy on either side of the issue open ourselves up to lawsuit shots I expected any like considered it small problem uh other um with other concern uh kids and my feeling always is more individual and personal we get our students are having any sort of problem at all better off forward what we do now one thing did come to the surface that I think we all expect I'm wrong because that we're not really happy with the CIAA decision to leave this in the lab principles um because the first thing I would suggest is that we just our current policy not not add one
041but uh put in the process that we feel works best and I've spoken to our solicitor and we can do that without being in trouble with the IAA providing but I I think anyone that has a challenge to eligibility no matter what their reason for that challenge and there are dozens of reasons why people challenge to go uh through the athletic director should be refer to the superintendent uh who of course is free to consultant with principle or anyone else available that keeps it on a personal level and it's very worst he can always try to send it back to PIAA uh is there anyone that has a problem with adding that process to our policy there's silence consent even when it nod their head or bubble or something okay that leads us with the
042question of whether or not we're going to change passion to the falls I will not leave that discussion I'll sit here as long as you have to somebody suggests Which Way Forward yeah my only concern was setting it up to superintendent that's a big heavy person so I kind of like it would be like superintendent with the principal with the athletic or as a team where they each have a you know a say in it so it's spread out over I think good management suggests that the superintendent would use the input of everyone that he could I don't know if you can codify that kind of behavior but with your superintendent but uh quite frankly uh we can get in trouble any District can get in trouble for some of its decisions they end up
043with accordion Junction requiring them to reverse it that's very different from getting to see and you forgive me for this but that's the job they asked for and the leader and to come up with ways to handle issues I don't know if that satisfies you or makes you more comfortable all right a little bit more too Diana we all API double A and the Atlantic 11 and League work it is between the A.D and the principal who are in constant communication with the superintendent because ultimately it's a superintendent's call even though PIAA says that the building High School building principles responsible Dr Smith isn't going to do something without my mind so and that's Universal not just in CV but across so there is a tight communication so it simply clarify them so we would
044put specific language in the policy that says under such circumstances or cases it would be discussed between the athletic director principal and superintendents by case basis I would word it as any challenge to eligibility so it's the blanket policy the only thing I might suggest and I agree with that is to put some framework around the considerations that those three individuals take into account I'm sorry would you say that again yeah to put some framework around uh what those three individuals take into consideration with any challenge and to put some expectations that the board would have on what is considered for example I would suggest adding to that taking into consideration safety fairness of competition and the advice of our legal counsel to try to put some framework around I understand and as I think
045of those three things we did previously talk to them based mostly in relationship to transgender issues in many ways that would apply to other regions people had for uh for challenging so I I am fine with that how do you feel about getting some specific insurance they would not be the only things it would be done but certainly not specific ones yeah we would have to look back at the this is properly safeguarded players in Spectators that's facility part of it is in the PIAA I'm going to have to pull those back up I don't have those with me right now okay but student safety student athlete safety is Paramount within that and then legal review obviously we're not going to go and do anything illegal and that's where we would consult the solicitor as
046well so part of that that Miss cap is um question about making sure there's a team to make the decision obviously if depending on the situation legal advice would be brought in as well and Dr Z even if the PIAA requirements mandate the safety must be considered I would personally have no problem with duplicating that requirement in our own policy that's there's no reason why we can't be a little more specific to make sure that we have a focus I want to make sure doctors don't think that this is going to deter any superintendents or anything like whether like um not touching out with a 10 foot putting yourself in that position would that sway your I'm looking out for the safety law student so regardless of the situation athletes need to be safe right
047right that's a given because all students need and so I have no problem adding that somewhere in there that seems redundant to me that's my only pushback um the other part is the legal advice I think it's important that would make a superintendent feel better right legal standing on the number all right I would like to clarify something real quick and this is just you know my behalf that this is in my opinion no way in anti anybody policy or something that's been stated numerous times not the intention at all we are not saying that anybody cannot play a sport my personal opinion is I we athletic sports or Sports in general are very important I I have two daughters that play sports and stuff so preserving that fairness and that quality and that safety
048is very important to me it's not anti anybody else it's observing the Integrity of the female sports so personal opinion is I would put biological male and female in there well we seem to agree on the process to her suggestion some anticipation available for you know whether or not we do that uh this is not about this evening but the people writing this policy deserve some sort of guidance I will add one thing provided just like this concern about how Iron factors policy is we all understand that this is an issue in flock and it may take a while to it all works its way out I have no idea it could take we've been told as much as two years as little as six months or less but whatever happens I assure you that
049this year will continue to follow whatever the law tells us to do all of us some of us are none of us like it that's the only thing I can assure you is that we will follow the law and as it changes we will revisit this issue as required can I ask one more question absolute clarification as our policy currently stands there is nothing that prohibits uh let's say uh male basketball player that does not make the team to then go play for the girls correct he makes the team right that's on but I'm saying there's nothing right now in our policy that says boys must play on boys or girls on girls right it just says that there has to be equal opportunity for both it does not say that a boy cannot play
050on a girl's team remaining as a boy that that has been um one of the courtroom arguments opportunity availability part of our problem is that back in the day I mean way back today uh Society was different different shed hockey we just sort of all understood that um right and I'm not talking about only like that is why these teams many of the names of the teams don't specify but when we do have two teams the same name I don't know of any ruling you can specify it's called boys and girls but there's nothing that says they can you know my only other one looking at uh our athletic director is that an accurate statement that if we have a boys basketball team and a girls basketball team he just gender student cannot play on
051the opposite team can you come up to the mic just real quick can you hear me okay yeah so I said that's correct and I said however if um we offer a sport that is not offered like if we offer a growth sport such as field hockey that's not offered for boys boys can go out for field hockey girls can go out for baseball because softball and baseball are not the same so girls could go out for baseball we actually had a girl that was interested in baseball coming into her ninth grade year we were in discussions all summer about her participation on that team and then um at the 13th Hour she decided to or the 11th Hour she decided to play softball so um but but that's how we would we would go
052about that as those discussions of whether or not it's safe for that like that's written somewhere other than it's not written it's just an understanding correct okay and and that too if the student wanted to play on one team and was denied challenge the eligibility that's the process we're talking about so where do we stand folks what do we tell them to do to leave you as it is and make those adjustments to the process that we feel more comfortable with now please somebody I think I made my opinion clear I would vote to put biological uh male and female in there okay I can I can pull the board it will not be an official vote uh you're not required uh when we do see the policy to vote that way but would that
053be easier for you if I just went around okay Mr Hearst do you want to change uh adding the transgender I would like to change your policy to specify biological boys and girls Sports biological voice plan boy Sports biological girls playing girls Sports Dr Martin which policy would you like so I'm thinking about what policy and what we currently do and correct me if I'm wrong doctor but isn't that what I get what you described as far as procedure adding those things into the policy but it's not in policy we do that informal so what would be the benefits adding that who holds your responsibility station would be hard that that was my my personal reason for wanting to look at that because right now it sits on the principles the the question is um
054when you're talking about safety and legality I've got to follow the law all right that's right so when we start adding whether it's I forget I first saw you so the biological that's where now we need to jump into the legal side and see if we can or can't do that um so when you write policy you don't write it for specific so it's applicable across so your question is safety and legality is that cover Mr Hurst concern if it deals with safety or legal issues yes it would but I don't know until there's a specific case everything is Case by case and we talked about that for months I'm not sure any questions are we putting in policy what we already do yeah yes but um this codifies it make sure everyone's exactly the
055same way cases handled instead of being informal and we've never dealt with this usually these issues have to do uh and that's how we've handled those just simply make sure that all of the issues as their stuff as it's fun more broadly are all handled this is not saying that boys must play on boys so we do not have anything in there that talks gender identity right that is something that is not so what we do is we handle it again on it Case by case if I deny they appeal so I guess ultimately you might behind you already I understand that with you perhaps I should have separated these two on this process right now I like to start I guess he gave his things this is coverage do you agree with the change
056I think um foreign I do think that Authority there it goes now that it used to be legal landscape so from an authority stamp I don't regardless of I would rather them start off with the focus on function yeah okay um well I don't honestly I don't know how to separate I understand um because for me it has to start with already changing that's the first thing um especially because in a specific she's got her shoulders appreciate that the content part equal piece of that is always gonna regardless of the fact that when it comes I disagree about themselves but they're not um Village to stand I also would find it frustrated a lot about it they haven't but again it's also inappropriate opportunity to say we legal issue I appreciate the Case by space
057when it comes to caring for kids and families that should be across them so I hope all things it's a regular simple sport or it is a transition where there's this kind of distinction that we are taking the time to ask them let's talk about the safety sport let's talk about your size and your speed skill and all um regardless of the desire to win let's talk about this thing so I hope that is taking but at the heart of the issue okay it's not okay we will come back around with the question do you uh welcome change to uh to a policy that did or did not change content I personally agree with Mr Hurst however the legality of it without playing in the background and I would be willing to entertain the facts
058that we the process of which goes to Dina all right however I will say for what Mr Hurst said is that if we do go that route and like I said previously this doesn't end for me this will continue and it will go on and it will go on until obviously the Supreme Court decision but if we do decide to go in our route it doesn't end I'm still going to continue to believe personally but Mr Hurst we would never ask anyone to change what they believe I know it's often difficult to approve a policy and it isn't what you really want um it doesn't happen elephant but it does happen as board members we have to put things we don't like it there's some of us find ourselves either way Mr Gilman are you
059willing to uh welcome apology for review that does not change that that specific so simply clarify for myself the suggestions to incorporate the athletic director superintendent and the principal in my mind do change the content because that is not currently in the policy okay correct okay the content as you posted the process that was in the policy Mr her suggestion is expected by uh the transgender you would not be allowed to participate acceptance specify uh teams uh do you agree with that changing content or would you prefer we leave it as it's working now and we'll get back to process the second time around okay well In fairness to Mr Hurst I think what I heard him say was based on biological gender he didn't mention anything regarding transgender athletes so just to try to
060clarify that understand that that is what I mean genuine birth yes biological born at Birth right so I just want to make that clear I didn't like Mr hurst's comments to be misrepresented fair enough having made that clarification however um I need to separate my personal opinions from what I feel is best for the Conestoga Valley School District and based upon the current legal landscape um at this point I can't support that change being recommended this is capital I definitely important uh that that needs to change content I would say no in the content change of your site well if um and I am going to assume and if I'm wrong tell me that we all are in favor making sure the process cast thank you sorry in meaning that as in not to go
061through the principle correct yeah you're changing now yes I agree with that I think that's what's responsible oh yes um I understand this is not it's difficult to vote against something to keep in your heart you don't it's quite the right way to do it and Mr Benigno is right as things change it will come before this yeah no doubt there is no way anyone on this board in this District would probably try to block something that had been legally decided no way I understand thank you well I'll be the first one to bring it up I understand I just want to clarify I'm trying to take the heat off of the superintendent I understand that that's their job and that's what they're signing up for I just I don't want to be like you
062know there's all the responsibility yeah I do and my dad is and I'm sorry for digging into this again but as part of changing that process are we willing to add some of those um considerations yes I I think I think we all agree that to invent somebody 's safety equality and what we'll do is we'll run this we'll run the policy through our normal procedure and we'll put it on the next agenda where Mr gentle and I and members of the association sit down who create that first draft and then you'll see the changes and then they'll be comment just like we do on all other policies and I'll save you a round of comments personally I would like to see safety fairness of competition and the advice of our legal counsel VES if
063it addition to uh mystery against uh liking and we all agree we can change it at that time yeah as long as she knows what it is but I think he knows what I'll be looking for I think so and I would agree with that 100 again be careful fairness of competition because you don't want a stellar athlete not to be able to play because they're a stellar athlete okay I'm ringing my button over here y'all are there any other concerns sorry my request would be that our solicitor look at me I want to make sure everyone has had the opportunity to express the where in the wine and I just want to say one thing I appreciate the board and this professionalism tonight I think that could have gotten worse but I just wanted
064I just want to acknowledge the fact that we think we had it professionally and like like how we should I can't disagree uh it's just not aboard the habit of argue and we need to respect even though thank you I do appreciate that uh I don't think I've skipped anything which doesn't sound normal agenda for next week I posted you at this point is there anyone else in the public like the best support on any issue if not um are there any board matters for board members like I would remind you if you're having your PSJA insurance January 16th I've done that other than that I would um entertain a motion to yearn for legalization we are adjourned thank you