001Call meeting to order. Roll call. >> Mr. Kevin Merritt >> here. Edavor >> here. >> Monica Haren Rider >> here. >> Ronnie Irwin >> here. >> Mata Manning >> here. >> Sean Murphy >> here. >> Jeff Rose >> here. >> Tammy Silvas >> here. >> And Jerry Veter >> here. [music] Please stand for the pledge. I pledge allegiance 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. >> Public comments regarding the agenda tonight. We have um the only one signed up is Frank Shrek. Go ahead, Frank. >> [clears throat] >> Nice to see everybody. My reputation probably precedes me. I'll read this and then I have a couple statements at the end if that's okay. I'm
002a graduate of Carinan High School. Four of my children graduated from Karkin. Eight of my blended family graduated from Meatville and I also served on this board for several terms. [clears throat and cough] The loss of several major employers has caused more than the usual of our younger population to move out of the area. I understand that we need to acknowledge a changing economy. I attended a one room school and I feel that that provided a good education, basic education. I am not advocating for the return to one return to the one room schools. However, the push for a consolidation of schools by the Pennsylvania Department of Education has not produced good results. If children learn by what they spend their most time doing, then we are teaching them to ride a bus and doing
003that very effectively. Busing the car and students to meville would make a long ride for students particularly from the new Lebanon area and others out that way. We would reduce the opportunities of many students to participate in school activities. Neighborhood schools, small classes, and good teachers are the best for the students, their families as well as the communities. From a facilities cost standpoint, possible suggestions might include move include moving, excuse [clears throat] me, Cochran Elementary to the high school and having grades kindergarten to 12 in different parts of the same building. And in Meville, move the middle school to the high school and use the middle school to consolidate your elementary schools and also save the two in town schools. Consider the bus savings in buses and the like on that. In some sense in
004instances, [clears throat] it may make better sense to have teachers travel between the schools and integrate Zoom technology to reach classrooms in other locations rather than busing hundreds of students. Please no bubble gum fixes and put students and their families first. Don't be afraid to think outside the traditional educational box. Now, today in the paper, I don't know whether anybody read it, a former principal in this district had some very good suggestions as well as what to do and what not to do. The whole time I was on this board, I had absolutely no use for PTE. I think all they try to do is make us all the same and in the process of all their testing, we end up in a declining situation. One that I don't see any way to [clears throat]
005reverse. And I'm sure you all are well aware. It's not Crawford Central anymore. There's kids going to Erie out of this school district. There's other schools in this district that are prospering. And if you're going to make life miserable for some of these students, you're going to lose more students. Now, do I like that? No. I believe in public school. But you'd better be aware of your environment. If you don't, well, think of when I was on the board. [clears throat] One of the biggest mistakes that was ever made was building on every one of these schools. We did all but Nissan Hill. What's the result [snorts] of what you're dealing with? Is it this week or next? East End. We remodeled it. It lasted two years. We had to go through endless BS and
006meetings to get it closed. PDE meetings again. Just make sure history does not repeat itself. And your kids are getting a good education, but it could be a lot better. And thank you folks for being on the board. Thank you for what you do. And do the best you can. Thank you. >> Thanks, Frank. [clears throat] >> Student representatives to the board of school directors, Cochran Junior Senior High School, Tessa and MLA. >> Good evening. It is nice to see you all again. As winter sports are finishing up at Cochran High School, spring sports are already underway. For basketball, both girls and boys teams recently qualified for the district 10 playoffs. The girls ended their season 12- 10 with a loss of 38-32 against Seagertown in the opening round last Wednesday. The boys received a
007buy in the first round, then played Rocky Grove on Friday. They won 48 to 47 and are scheduled to play in the semi-finals tomorrow against Tigertown at MASH. Along with basketball, Brady Ren, a CHS senior on the boys basketball team, also recently reached 1,000 points in his high school basketball career. 80 wrestlers have qualified for districts, and we had four qualifying for the NW regional wrestling tournament. They'll be competing on Friday and Saturday at Sharon High School. Along with that, we also have two junior high wrestlers who qualify for the PJW Junior High State Championship. It will be this weekend in Johntown, PA. Um, our girls volleyball, junior high volleyball is also starting and they have two scrimmages coming up. One today against Kanye Middle School and one tomorrow at Maplewood Junior Senior High School.
008On the other hand, our clubs and activities has also been going well. The marching band will hold their annual Vera Bradley bingo bingo event on March 22nd, which will help fund uniforms, props, and anything else during the season. Tickets are $25. Doors will open at noon and bingo starts at 1 p.m. The student council recently presented a check of $14626 cents to center for family services. CHS students raised this money to give back to the community and help support families in need. Student council also recently hosted the red and white dance which was a hit. Sophomores Leah Wy and Ally Hosk attended and performed in the PMEA District 2 Band Festival at Fairview High School. And sophomore Emma Myers attended the PMEA District Chorus Festival where she achieved 11th chair soprano 2. STEM Academy held
009a meeting last week where they discussed requirements to earn a certificate and what will happen in STEM. Any interested students in grades 9 through 12 were able to attend and ask questions. December 9th, the Ju the junior class headed to Pittsburgh for a day that perfectly blended history, culture, and a lot of school spirit. They started the morning at the Southshore thrift at the Southshore thrift shopping and eating. Next, they headed to the Hines History Center and got a hands-on look at Western PA's heritage. From there, the students spent the afternoon ice skating. The highlight of the game was the Penguins. The highlight of the night was the Penguins hockey game. Not only was the energy incredible, but the whole group made it on their jumbotron. We hope you all have a good rest of
010the month. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> And we have Midroer Senior High School, Emma, and Ava. >> Good evening. Ava McGawan is filling in for Natalia today. We hope you're all doing well. Since the last meeting, there have been many new things going on in MASH. Starting off with clubs, there have been plenty of opportunities for involvement to keep students attending meetings and staying up to date with their clubs and activities. Key Club hosted a successful blood drive February 6th where any student above the age of 16 had the opportunity to give blood and help save lives. Keycl Club also hosted a meeting to make Valentine's Day cards for the residents at Westbury and recently made encouraging signs to put up in the hallway for the Unified Botchi team. The Unified Botchi team has
011finished off their season after making it to playoffs, but unfortunately coming short in the first round. They were being cheered on by the Unified Botchi cheer team, a new addition this year. Everyone involved had a great time. Student government hosted a winter winter sports recognition pep assembly following a spirit week with dressup themes every day. During the pep assembly, all of the teams had a chance to speak to the school and encourage involvement and support at their games. Wrestling Districts was held at Claren University last Saturday where seniors Ryder Say and Jacobe Thompson, junior Cameron Overly, and freshman Jackson Bray Bender all made it to regionals. Girls basketball wrapped up a successful season and the boys playoffs are home tomorrow night. And the swim team at districts this week. National Honor Society has begun to
012organize their induction ceremony for the new inductees later this year. Outside of NHS, those who volunteer have the opportunity to help organize Balora, a church ceremony hosted on the night before graduation. Our MASH mock trial team is headed to the district semi-finals at the federal courthouse on Wednesday, making them especially successful this year. >> Thank you, and we look forward to the next meeting. >> Thank you. And the middle school is not here tonight. Okay. Approval of the minutes. Resolve the board of school directors. Crawford Central School District hereby approves the following minutes. The regular board meeting of January 26, 2026. Special committee meeting of the whole of February 11th, 2026. And the committee of the whole meeting of February 16th, 2026. And before I ask for a motion, Kylie, just on your um attachments,
013you have attachment to summary Monday 211. Okay. on whether you need to fix that later, but just I wanted to point it out. Um, is there a motion? I moved. Jeff, is there a second? >> Second. >> Ron, [clears throat] >> any questions on any of those? >> Not. All in favor, please say I. >> Post. Same. >> Motion carried. Uh, committee reports. Uh, Tammy. >> I. Uh, approval of the second and final reading of personal finance. Resolved that the board of school directors of Crawford Central School District hereby approves the second and final reading of personal finance attachment 4. I still move. >> I second. >> Sean. Any questions on that? Not. All in favor, please say I. Oppose. Same. Motion carries. Resolve that the board of school directors of Crawford Central School District
014hereby approves the tobacco resistance unit club area senior high school attachment five. I still move second >> any questions on that? Not all in favor please say I. >> I post same. [snorts] >> Motion carried. Resolved that the board of school directors of Crawford Central School District hereby approves the dual enrollment agreement with Northern Pennsylvania Regional College Attachment Six. And I move second. >> Monica, >> yes. >> Second. Any questions on that? Not all in favor, please say I. >> Oppos same. >> Motion carried. Extracurricular ed. Uh resolve that the board of school directors of Crawford Central School District hereby approves the following overnight trips. Uh Meville Area Senior High School to Wexford, PA Regional Orchestra, uh March 5th through 7th, uh 2026 at a cost of the district of $1,2116. You can see attachment
0157. uh the boys volleyball team uh from Needville Area Senior High School to the Northeast High School uh junior varsity and varsity volleyball tournament March 27th through 28th 2026 at a cost of the district of $2,8424 attachment 8 and I so move it second Jeff has a second any questions on >> [clears throat] >> Not. All in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Oppos. Same. Motion carried. Buildings and grounds run. Approval of the Co-Star salt request. Resolve that the board of school directors of Crawford Central School District hereby approves the Co-Star salt request attachment number nine. And I so move. >> Second. >> There's Monica. >> Any questions? Not. All in favor, please say I. >> I. >> Oppos same. >> Motion carries. Finance. Jeff. >> Result that the board of school directors of
016Crawford Central School District hereby approves [laughter] the following financial activities. The treasures report for January. Financial statements and the payment of bills. And I so move. >> Secondia. [clears throat] >> Any questions on them? >> Not. All in favor, please say I. >> I. O. >> Same. >> Motion carried. Resolve that the board of school directors of Crawford Central School District hereby adopts the lease renewals for with FCCA for West End and Cochran Elementary Schools. And I so move. >> I second. >> I have to abstain due to my employment with the FCCA. So I don't need to do a roll call. I can just do voice and abstain. All in favor, please say I. >> I. Oppos [clears throat] same. >> Abstensions. I and I have my sign form for secretary. Motion carries um
0178 Z with one abstension. >> We told that the board of school directors of Crawford Central School District hereby approves the fairgrounds rental contract for May 6, 2026 for remake learning days and I so move. >> Second Ed, any questions? All in favor, please say I. I post same. Motion carried. Resolve that the board of school directors of Crawford Central School District hereby approves a resolution for public school facility improvement grant program and I so move. >> Secondia, any questions on that? Keep our fingers crossed that we get a grant. Of course, that won't be until November by the time we get that award if we get one, but we'll see. All in favor? >> Opposed? Thank you. Motion carried. Personnel policy approve of the second final readings of the revisions to the following policies.
018We have policy 204 which is attendance which is attachment 16. Policy 218.1 which is weapons attachment 17. Policy 610 purchases subject to bid quotation attachment 18. Policy 611 purchases budgeted attachment 19. Policy 805, emergency preparedness and response attachment 20. Policy 805.1, relations with law enforcement agencies, attachment 21, and policy 805.2, school security personnel, attachment 22. Result, the board of school directors of Crawford Central School District hereby approves the second and final readings of the above policies. Is there a motion? So moved. >> Second, Ed. >> Second by Ron. We went over most of those changes to those policies and um [cough and clears throat] anybody have any questions? Not. All in favor, please say I. >> I. Same. [clears throat] >> Post. Same. >> Motion carried. Then we have first reading of the revisions to
019the following job descriptions. The elementary school principal which is attachment 23. Secondary school principal attachment 24. Dean of students, which is attachment 25, assistant principal, which is attachment 26, athletic director, which is attachment 27, and the assistant athletic director, attachment 28. And again, those are for first reading. They'll be up for second reading next month, unless there's some uh questions or additions we need to make. And then approval of the 2026 2027 school calendar. Resolve the board of school directors Crawford Central School District hereby approves the 2627 school calendar which is attachment 29. And is there a motion? >> So moved. Okay. We're on the second. Any questions on that? I mean everything was pretty much pointed out during the committee meeting. >> If not all in favor, please say I. I. Oppos. >> Same.
020Motion carried. Acknowledgement of professional employee status. Acknowledgement that under the terms of section 1108 of the school code. The superintendent has notified the secretary of the board that the following people have received satisfactory ratings for their six semester of employment and have hereby gained the status of professional employee and will be tendered a professional employee contract beginning with the second semester of the 2025 2026 school year. Madison Debelloo and Cararissa Lock Williams are the two approval of the personnel schedules. Result the board of school directors Car Central School District hereby approves the following personnel schedules which is attachment 30. Approval of schedule B professional appointments setting of salaries. Approval of schedule C support staff appointments setting of salaries. Approval of schedule D extra duty appointments setting of salaries. Approval of schedule E, attendance of professional
021meetings. Approval of schedule 8, leaves of absences. Approval of number six, approval of schedule I, field trip authorizations. And approval of schedule M, transportation subcontracted services. And is there a motion? >> So move. >> Ed. >> Second. >> Sean. Any questions on any of those? The only thing that I want to ask is if we reached out about um to the seat about letting them know that we were going to cover it this time but look into further. >> I was waiting to make sure it got approved tonight just >> yeah we don't want to pull anything out from under them that they're expecting but in the future. >> So once tonight was done then I was going to make the call. >> Okay. Thank [snorts] you. >> Any other questions? Not all in favor
022please say I. I post same. Post same. Motion carried. Administration. >> Okay. Uh first of all, I'd like to like to recognize a couple of our staff members. Uh Sarah Connley uh for receiving the National State Teacher of the Year for the Pennsylvania Apple Award. Uh the second is Rachel Miller uh for the PMEA Citation of Excellence in Teaching Award for District 2. Um, just want to remind everybody that on March 3rd at 5:30 p.m. at Meville Senior High School, uh, we will have a special committee board meeting for facilities discussion. Uh, the committee also will be televised. Um, also tonight we had the approval of the school calendar for next year 26 27. Uh, in that calendar we do have three snow makeup days. However, uh letting parents know that the district will be
023moving towards remote learning days next year for weather related days. Um parents and students will be informed about this process at the start of the next school year. Um and lastly, uh Meville Senior High School on March 10th, uh from 5:30 to 7:30, we're doing something new this year, um called Chart Your Course. It's all for all grades 9 through 12. Uh and this is prior to our course registration. So, we're inviting all students and families to that. >> Other public board comments, >> I just wanted to elaborate a little bit on the wrestling. Um, so not only did we have a lot of middle school and high school wrestlers make it, which um I have some more names, but to the Cochran varsity wrestlers, they um ended in 10th in team points. Like they
024stated, Cash Moral got first, Braden Williams fourth, Garrett Irwin fifth, Cole Schmidt sixth, and they all move on to the Northwest regional tournament next weekend. Um, Meville Jackson Bray Bender first for District 910 AAA champ first, Jacobe Thompson runner up, Cameron Overly third. They're all moving on to their respective regionals at Canton McMillan, I believe it's in Pittsburgh. um all vying to go to the state tournament the first weekend of March. Um for Meville Middle School, Aubriana Collins, she's a seventh grader um first year wrestling placed third, she's going to junior high states. Hank Moral and Carter Nesbbit both played second. They're heading to junior high states. And there was also a host of youth from both Meville and Cochran. Um I want to believe 15 or more that are making it to PJW states
025and Keystone State. So, congratulations to all of them. >> Okay, >> other board comments. >> Um, first off, let's I want to say stop believing the social media journalists. Um, I I know there's uh people reaching out still want us to rehash the whole East End um building decision and they don't come to the meetings, but things that we need to reach out to them personally, um, they could come to the meetings. I do want to say that there has been no decisions made whatsoever as far as closing any buildings or anything like that. With that said, if we just want to go by the numbers, um our current enrollment is according to the what we was supplied is 1539 and it's estimated we're going to lose 60 students per year. So, if you just
026went by the numbers, you could close uh First District and West End and that would take us down um to just over 1,500 um capacity and our enrollment by the time we could close those schools would actually match and we could then absorb this building into it uh into the schools. But that's not what we're doing. We literally are meeting with people. Um we we take and met with the we had the committees and they made recommendations. We met with the teachers and we heard from all the teachers. We have meetings scheduled with the administration. We're meeting with the support people. And I'm also hearing that we have students that want to meet with us also. And we are trying to check on the logistics of all that. So again, I reiterate, we have not
027made any decisions. We are gathering information at this point and then it's going to be the majority of this board that decides that. And if we can't get a majority, it just stays status quo. Um, but with that said, I want to propose the following. I I'd like each board member to write down their thoughts after we meet with everybody. Write down their thoughts and then of course their non-negotiables. If you say you don't want to close the school down, give a reason to it, you know, whether it's just because it goes past your favorite coffee spot, you know, and you want to pick up your coffee tomorrow morning. I don't care. Whatever your reasoning may be, but I'd like the board to put out their non-negotiables also. Um, and then each board member submits
028it to Kylie down here. She removes the name off of it and puts a a number to it. And then whenever we meet at the um MASH auditorium on March 3rd, all those suggestions are put on the board. None of the board member sees them ahead of time. The whole public, full transparency, the public sees it the same time the other board member sees it. [snorts] And then um we'll put on our uh social media page and website afterwards, but it'd be nice to even have somebody reading it, preferably at least two people. So somebody's just hearing audio only of the meeting, they hear the voice change whenever it goes to the next suggestion. So that way again full full transparency. Um these opinions uh can then be posted like I said to the website
029get some public comment period. Then we come back in April and we have we'll have time to have reviewed the comments. We'll have time to look at everybody else's opinions of what direction the district should go. And everybody it's in real time. Everything's in real time. Um, and then we'll be able to see where the board comes together on common grounds. And then we can sit there and discuss the pros and cons of of those ideas. Um, and then whether it be a special meeting in April or if it's during a regular board meeting in April, you know, we can begin the discussions. Um, and I I think that [snorts] I I mean we'd have to have at least five board members agree with doing that before, you know, it would come to light. But
030that's that's my opinion how we should move forward. >> To that it would give us a good talking starting place instead of just going into this meeting on the third almost blindly. You know, where where would we start with our discussion? So, if everyone has their opinions out there, then that could help us. >> Um, in regards to meeting with the students, I've reached out to Dr. Gum, but I don't know how that's going to actually work, but it's something that I met with the eighth grade class at MAM's last Wednesday and very, very engaged class. They were asking a lot of questions which was um I mean some of it was like mindboggling. We're talking to eighth graders and they're asking questions that we have discussed here as a board um merging Hawker and
031doing this doing that and to be hearing it from students kind of made me think that they're not coming to the meetings but they're hearing it somewhere. So there has been a lot of community discussion at home. So these uh 20 25 kids were were asking these questions but one of them came up and the question was when are you going to meet with us as students? When do we get to give our input of what we think should be happening which I told him was a very valid question because they are there. They are the ones that are experiencing what's happening in the classroom where the education's at. What are we lacking? what do they think where we're lacking? What could we do to improve? Um I mean anywhere from safety to what we're
032offering. So I don't know how that would work because of the logistics, but if it does come to futation, I would think we'd want to do basically 7 through 12. I wouldn't want to get into elementary schools asking questions, but I think it would be something we could give us some more of an input, especially when we're looking at decision making that's going to affect not only tomorrow, but 5, 6, 7, 10 years down the road where we may be going and um any little bit of information we can get I think would be well worth it. So um I mean I've turned out to Dr. Dr. G to handle if she can pull that off or that's something way above us as board that I think that it can be done whether it's we
033start with student councils or we try to student council we're just cutting out a lot of kids that's all um I'd really like to see how we would do that maybe our faculty administration can come up with some plan >> [cough] >> um how we can pull something like that off um how many lunch periods are there in each school >> three so I Yeah. Would that be a potential that we can use lunch period? And I don't know if we could get some type of PA system or not, but >> I have one of them at my figured out. >> I think we'll let uh Ken and the team look at some options and >> we could hear back on the third or whenever uh when we can pull that off and we we
034got time. Time's on our side. I mean, I'm not willing to rush into anything. I want to make sure that we have digested and redigested the info because there's just so many things that could and we heard tonight mistakes that have happened in the past and I don't want to relive that road that we [clears throat] do something and dang why did we just do that didn't work. >> I agree. My only suggestion, and I know you said you don't want to get into elementary, but if we're considering moving sixth grade to the middle school, I think we should I think we should request information from 5th to 11th. The 12th graders are going to be gone, but the fifth grade class is potentially the first class that this would affect, if that makes sense.
035Or even 6th to 11th. It's it's funny you asked that question because I saved a question for them and I'm not going to give the results of what that was, but my question was >> being the product, you're now eighth graders in a school. >> How do you guys feel moving sixth grade to a middle school concept? and it was across the board but being put on the spot. Someone's talking and conversations h being held and one of the one of the students said it was funny that I asked because I just read recently read a study and went into detail on this study. I don't know what would prompt a student to read that. I mean, it's exciting to know that they are looking at it, but it it was probably a a good
03650/50 in the in the room, and they had some very good reasons why you would bring them there and some very good reasons why you wouldn't. And um but I just felt that I have some [snorts] 20 20ome kids. I want to see what their opinion was and whether they're really paying attention and they were and very very um involved in the in the discussion. It wasn't one or two students. it went a lot of students were given input. So, um very impressed that it kind of tells me >> thank you for >> that there's conversation happening the community is concerned and if if these youngsters are are are knowledgeable that tells me there's either dinner conversation, car conversation somewhere they're getting involved. So, um, that's what prompted me to think that we really should
037have a some kind of a meeting with them just to get input. Um, I'm not going to say it's going to be the driving force, but it needs to be considered. So, I'll let Dr. G her team take care of that. >> So, where were we at on submitting the ideas to Kylie then? Monica agreed. You know, >> we can put something together tomorrow. >> Yeah. Well, you do something and we can kind of see where we're at and go from there. I'm not really allowed to call on Frank, but >> Go ahead, Frank. You got some? >> Yeah. Just I wish the board all the luck in the world when this auction comes up. Get the stink off of my back as well. And absolutely, whatever you folks do, don't put a new stink
038on your backs. Y >> and remember what Ron said up there. There is no going up in population which was dreamt about when I was on the board. That's not going to happen. And if you go by the size of the families, I think his numbers are generous. I question whether you'll need more than two or three schools in Mainville with or without Carpenter. I think you need industry and most of you folks are too young to realize what was here when I was a kid in the railroad, the Viscos, Westinghouse, Talon. It was real industry. Now you have benefits to the people who are here, but they don't generate an income like the industries did that we had back then. So, like I say, I wish you all very if you don't just let
039the grass grow up, shut the water off on it and walk away from it. I couldn't put it quite that [laughter] when it's on TV, but >> I did have one other quick thing. >> Go ahead. Um, I would just suggest if anyone is trying to reach out to the board members, please use our board member emails. They are very >> I can't hear you. >> If anyone is trying to reach out to us regarding board related topics, um, I would ask that everyone try to keep it to our emails. They are very easy to find on the website under the board of directors tab. I [clears throat] don't check my Facebook very frequently, especially messages. Um, and I also do like to keep all schoolboard related material in my schoolboard email if possible, just
040so I can keep everything straight. Um, I have my work email, I got my personal email. So, if I don't keep everything straight, I'll start getting confused. So, that's all I have. >> Okay. Any other board comments? I do want to make one thank you to Meville Medical Center during the recent water crisis in the city of Meatville when First District was closed first because of the emergency water issue that happened. And then second, the emergency right in front of their building for water as well. The Mevo Medical Center did reach out to those living in the first district attendance area that if they came to the hospital, they get a free meal. The students would. I don't know how many they served, if any, but the offer was there. The gesture was well taken
041and we as a school district appreciate that because that would have put those students where we know food is of the essence anymore in some locations. They were out from that um what they were out quite a long time. It would have made like four days in a row they would have been but the weekend it put them out. So, um, gesture, well appreciated. Thank you to Mealo Medical Center and, um, hopefully we never have to have that again, but if we do, we hope you reach out again. >> Yeah, I'm not I'm not sure on the exact number. I work there. Um, that was our believe it was our nursing supervisor, Valerie Wade, who initiated that. Um, but I do believe that some lunches went out cuz they had made the discussion that if
042it were to happen again that they may look into it like continuing. So, but I can get more information on that as well. Okay. [snorts] Any other board comments? If not, a motion for agenda or >> adjournment. >> So moved. [laughter] >> Letasia. Second. >> Second. >> Monica. >> Not motion in another agenda. [laughter] >> All in favor, please say I. I. >> Oppos. Same. [snorts] Motion carried. Meetings adjourned.