ESASD Regular Board Meeting (September 15)

001indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. >> Oh jeez. Sorry. >> Okay. Roll call. Mrs. Rosado, I'm hearing echo. Can you turn off the TVs? >> The TV sound myself. You hearing voices >> we're hearing on the TV. >> Yeah. At >> least we know the people are at home are hearing us. >> We're ready >> and >> here. Mike >> present. >> Jason >> present. >> Debbie Kick >> present. >> Wayne Rona >> here. >> Michelle >> present. 900. I'm sorry. You did mute that one and that one. >> This one. This one's still coming through. Yeah. >> Well, am I >> there? Thank you. >> No, it's from the speaker right over here. >> Yeah. >> So, one of the TVs is still >> Okay. We welcome all of our

002guests. We ask if you have it to please sign in. There's paper out there to sign in. So we have a record of who is here this evening. An executive session was held this evening before the meeting for the purpose of discussing personnel litigation and negotiations. We need a motion to adopt this agenda for September 15, 2025 as submitted with the board of education reserving the right to add to the agenda and take further action on any items raised in executive session where immediate action on such items is considered to be in the best interest of the board. Second questions, comments, >> you want to add Do you want to add those to the agenda? >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> Want to add to the agenda a motion to appoint the superintendent as the district's

003point of contact for the district special construction council with Lyman. >> So move second. >> Questions. >> Going to vote on uh the addition to the agenda. All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Okay. And I'll go for the whole agenda. >> Now for the um I'm going to need a motion again. Well, we already had a first and a second, so we're just going to vote for the entire agenda. All in favor? >> Opposed? A motion to approve the minutes of the August 18th, 2025 board meeting. >> So move. >> Second. >> Questions? All in favor? >> Opposed? Okay, we are going to move to what I always say is my favorite part of the meeting and that's to hear except of course for the superintendent report which is always a favorite. >> It

004has to be our favorite. Always always. >> Uh and we have our new board our new student representatives here. I'll let maybe Dr. Vitali for introduce everyone to us this evening and we look forward to hearing you each month. And it's it really is a highlight. It makes all of us up here uh remember why we come here and why we're on the board. uh really to hear the good things you guys are doing. So, thank you. >> So, our MCTI rep, we'd like to welcome Caitlyn. So, welcome, Caitlyn. Thank you. Our south rep, we'd like to welcome Mariel Ellis. Did I >> Did I say it right? Okay. Welcome, Mariel Ellis. And then we are so lucky to have two north reps um because of some miscommunication as transfer of principles. So, welcome Lawrence

005and Dylan. >> Thank you everybody for representing your schools. Okay. So, we will start uh Lawrence and Dylan from the north. However you want to do that presentation. This is exciting. >> I'm impressed already. >> This is why I don't like going after them. >> Good evening everyone. We are so honored to be here today. And these are East Jawsburg North September highlights. So, first at North, we've had a lot of updates to our um team. So, first I want to talk about as board representatives how honored we are to participate and to represent our schools. Um my name is Dylan Perry. Um just a little bit about my background. Um I'm a part of the band. I'm the current year's drum major and then I help out with Mr. Edwards to make sure the

006school is good. >> And a member of the E team. >> This is correct. I am a member of the E team. Um, >> my name is Lawrence Cruz. Um, I am currently the senior class president at the school and also National Honor Society president and I am involved in cross country, winter track and spring track. >> Oh, great. >> So, I'd like to thank or say that I believe our school has done an amazing job transferring between administrations and staffing. I think uh an administrative change can be a huge deal for a lot of students especially when I know there are students at North who are very close with our dean and very close with our principal and our SRL officer. So I'd like to welcome uh Mr. Lenhard um officer Va and Mr.

007Duke as our new principal, our new SR officer and our new dean of students. Um they're all making North feel like North and I think that's always a wonderful thing to feel that it's it's a place to be. And then I'd also like to extend my welcome to all the new faculty at North this year. The arts I think are very important at North. So recently um I believe two weeks ago or a week ago uh the Delaware Watergap celebrated the celebration of the arts festival which is an annual festival that celebrates jazz and art in the area. Um North was lucky enough to have two students participate in the Kodakat Jazz Ensemble at the festival. Um that would be myself and Valentina Gdiva were lucky enough to participate and represent our school through the

008arts senior parking spots. Um thanks to new administration and the approval um of everyone that was involved, seniors were able to paint our parking spots to kind of liven up the school parking lot up in our school. Um I do think it was an amazing time. I was there both days from 1 to 6. Um and so it was the 13th and the 14th. It was a long day, but we had a lot of fun. All of the staff that were there, um, all of the students and even some parents who came to help with measuring tapes, um, and I was really impressed by all the people bringing leaf blowers, too. And so, um, but it was an amazing time. And if you guys can see, these are some of our band favorites. >> Wow.

009>> Really artistic people. I personally myself am not very >> athletic. So this month we're going to be highlighting cross country and golf as those are the most recent sports we've been working with so far. Cross country we were able to get a win um against atburg against Bethlehem Catholic and >> we all and then our girls team was able to win against Betham Pathic. I was also there so please and then our our golf team was able to win against Pocono Mountain. uh Pogna in West I believe. Yes. Uh which I I think is a great accomplishment. Um North sports we we tend to um struggle and I think it's great to recognize when we're doing great things and I I believe our sports have been off to a great start this season. >>

010Excellent. our NOR student section. Um, when I asked our student elected NOR spirit leader at school who was in charge of directing the making the the flags, making the posters and helping the, you know, the crowd cheer up during the football games and other sports during this fall season. Um, I asked her what she would like to say to the school board faith storage. and she told me just tell them we believe blue and I think that's a great way to to you know put all the feelings of North and all of our school finds it >> through the race. So at North we very proudly have a um news station who gets to broadcast the things that happen around the school and help all the students stay up to date. Um, our North Drive

011Live is a student ran um, North or news station for the North High School. It helps students like stay up to date with the amazing things that are happening around the school and it helps us figure out like when due dates are and just helps us as a school stay more organized and maintain a stronger school spirit. >> Car washes. Um, in the last two months we've had two car washes, one for the football team and one for the class of 2026. Um, and if you're looking at the pictures, um, the football team looks much more filled than the class of 2026. However, don't be fooled. Both of us made over $700 on these two days. And so, very successful day. And I am very proud as senior class president. So, I do am a

012little biased. I do think that the class 26 car wash was the best. >> Upcoming with that. >> Okay. So upcoming our yearly homecoming dance is happening which is normally around the school a big time for us to gather school spirit go around and like just enjoy each other as peers. Um we have our annual homecoming um port where students get to elect official or people to be the homecoming king and queen. And then alongside that we are um hosting a hallway decoration competition which allows all the different classes. So, the class of 29, 28, 27, and 26 each get a respective hallway to decorate and liven up the school, bring a new atmosphere into the school, and just make it like a really a really nice place to be. Um, as you know, as

013senior class president, the officers were able to elect what we would want the theme to be as seniors this year, and we picked the overall theme to be golden hour. And so because of this, each hallway or each grade is going to get a different time of the day, midnight, sunset, and sunrise, to decorate their hallways with. And these are just some examples. And we are I will be very excited next month to tell you that the seniors have won because we currently have a three-year streak of winning the Hollywood team. I think it's it's it's time for us to close it out. And finally, the class of 26 senior sunrise. Um the on the 26th of September, we are planning at about 5:30 a.m. see um to have our senior sunrise where people will

014be able to gather together on the football field and bring blankets, you know, maybe a little snack and just sit and watch the sunrise together to symbolize the upcoming new year. And then we we hope to do a sunset as opposed to graduation. Cool. >> Thank you and thank you for your time. >> Thank you. Wow. Have a beautiful time. So, some really clever stuff happened there. Marian Ellis from South Just give the tech one second to >> Okay. past president South. Um, some things about me. I am one of seven kids, but this more or less looks like a family meeting to me. I'm also inside counsel. I help out Special Olympics for sports. I'm in basketball, track and field. Yeah, that's pretty much it. Sorry. Um, I'm very grateful for this opportunity to

015be chosen for this position and I thank everyone who is here and I look forward to having a great meeting. I have great meetings all year long. All right. All right. To get started, we had a great freshman preview night. Um, as you all know, freshman preview night proves provides opportunity for freshmen, student administration, school counselors, and teachers, while also being able to tour the school and find out where their lockers and classes are. This allowed the freshmen to not feel less anxious on the first day of school and have a more comfortable opening day. This year, our freshman preview night was so well attended that in our opening presentation in the auditorium, some parents and students had to stand because the seats were all full. All in all, it was a great event and

016it was so awesome to see all their teachers come out to meet their freshmen. Opening week was tough as we all learned at South that they were no longer allowed to have homes at all in class. But on the positive side, we were appreciative of the hour each class got in the gym during cal periods during the first week to reconnect with our friends we hadn't seen all summer. No phones is definitely a tough transition, but Mr. Trio is confident it will help with addiction to procrastination and learning Tik Tok dances instead of paying attention in class. Moving on to staff recognition, one of our security guards, Miss Sue, was nominated and received the teacher of the month award for June featuring the post on record, which was very nice. She says, "I was very

017humbled by the community respect I received." Miss has been here for a while now and this award was well deserved. So, congrats to her. And congratulations to September teacher of the month, special education teacher and Zanella and science teacher Pat Bixler. >> Mr. Danella makes a difference in her students lives every day while also spreading joy with her treat. Her dedication, kindness, and creativity brighten our school community. The only negative Mr. Trio receives is that the treat doesn't stop by his office as much as it should. Mrs. Bixler continues to inspire curiosity and wonder in her students throughout creativity and innovation. With years of experience, she embraces new technology, divines and engaging hands-on experiences, and plans field trips that bring science to life. We are very proud of our staff. And now >> back one.

018>> Chris Bookski will be featuring Easter High School South on an upcoming special for Spanish Heritage Month that will air on WBRE and Wu. It will highlight the overall benefits of learning another language in high school as well as looking countries where those languages have spoken. And as someone who took up to Spanish 3 and had a little help with the lingo, I can say, [Music] in other words, we are very grateful for the opportunity to learn multiple languages. And now let's get into school and activities. This morning class had a senior sunrise and it was very successful. Last Friday, we had bagels, donuts along with coffee and hot chocolate. The students were able to listen to music, take pictures with friends, and do everyone's favorite thing, which is eating to the store. Memphis, the

019small business management class is running the New Zealand [Music] to order items from the store like chips, candy, Gatorade, clothing. I'm actually wearing one of the shirts that we recently made. Um, and they can come to the store to end their lunch to redeem their orders. This class offers students a look into how Michael students in this class rotate going down to the store to run it with either Mr. Bber or Mrs. Hopster. When not in the store, students help keep track of their new orders, update inventories or work on advertising. They'll be learning traffic lessons throughout the website. As of right now, the store is a little bee box outside the cafeteria, but this is only the before picture. During the art club will be helping us out, putting in their amazing skills on

020this blank canvas, and we can't wait to show you the after, right? Next up is the future educator cohort. 2025 to 2026 school year is off to a great start for our future educators. We are currently in the process of recruiting eligible students. Until this day, there have been over two dozen outstanding juniors who have expressed their interest and who are in the midst of the application/in process for acceptance into developments. We are very excited for the time of year for our upcoming kickoff event planned for early October to usher in the new cohort of accepted future educators from each other and south or to in the near future. And for those attending to the program are immersing themselves in the dynamic field of professional education. They are studying subjects such as philosophy, history, ethics,

021and contemporary issues. All while prioritizing equitable teaching practices guided by the common ground framework. They are cultivating cultural awareness and inclusivity. Additionally, they are employing universal design for learning principles to ensure engagement for diverse learners and students also engage in tactical application by aligning with K4 standard, crafting inclusion lesson plan, assembling a professional portfolio, and completing a 10day field experience at JM Hill Elementary starting Monday, September 24th. All right, next is our 12 plus program. a 12 plus program here at South is in its third year and it was developed for our 18 through 21 year olds life support students. Your students do daily lessons during block one that focus on getting them ready to be young adults in our community. Monday through Thursday they work on one of three rotations on campus with food

022service on campus with environmental science and off campus at Camelback. They finish work in time for lunch and then go to reading and math classroom. On Friday they do community based learning trips. Sometimes it is a place in the community to go shopping, learning about local businesses or a trip to the bank to learn how to do about the 12 plus program 12 plus transition class visited Bush Falls on Friday to participate and this was the first for many students and it was a grateful day as the class had the green and trick. Next up we have guidance. Our high school south guidance department has the great opportunity to be the first to meet all of our new student roles and this year hasn't disappointed in families wanting to be cavaliers. With that being said,

023these meetings have now sold down the south high school the south high school counseling team. Our counselors have been busy setting up colleges and instant decision days for seniors and informing juniors of the upcoming PST test in October. Additionally, the south counseling staff will be conducting the annual financial aid event displayed September 17th where they will present and they will present a college plan for seniors and parents on September 30th. >> All right. M we are sad to see Miss Rogers go as she has always been an amazing helpful. We welcome Mr. Murray as our new athletic director. This Saturday staff will have their first meeting at the Eastern Cunningham Field. They all the topics of athletics. Both sports are enjoying a good season and has a few highlights. They varsity made an appearance at

024the White Hall football game last week and he was inducted into their hall of fame. This was exciting for all who attended and also congrats to the boys varsity team for their first win of the season this past Friday against William 37 to 18. Soccer. On Sunday the 7th, the high school south girls team attended the NWSL which is the national soccer league ended a match at sports 83 and was allowed to host a banner on the field during the national jungle during halftime. The east driver east driver south team closed out the season showing major progress. While victories were limited, the Cowboys dropped 40 throws from the previous year and were more competitive in matches that they have been in the past five seasons, having five matches decided by less than 20 teams throw.

025A highlight came when sophomore Luke Green was nominated for Cook record at the end of the week, underscoring both his strong play and the team's improvement. This season has set a solid foundation for future success. We recently got a new scoreboard and Mr. Multidia 2 is a newly added class with focus on sports media design, video production, and graphic production for the scoreboard. Students are divided into committees to represent every false board and a complete task such as reading, creating game day edit, communicating with culture to update starting lineups to be displayed on the scoreboard and helping create music playlists for the scoreboard. The end goal of the class is to advance into video production to create media media that can be displayed on the scoreboard and to start an internship program where students can

026learn how to operate the scoreboard 5x5 with staff members. We're very excited to show off the scoreboard in the stadium. Hope you guys don't get too tired of seeing my face on the jungle before it begins. >> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. >> And now representing MCTI, Caitlyn. >> Good evening. Good evening, school board members, administration, and guests. My name is Kayyn Olora and I am a senior from East Strawburg North High School as well as a four year fouryear student in the criminal justice program for MCTI. I will be a student representative for your meetings for this year. On September 25th, MCTI will be hosting their fall occupational advisor meetings and the grand opening of the new addition. On fi Friday, September 26th, Pocono Home Builders Association will be conducting a national connections

027day at MCTI. Industry leaders in the construction fields in landscaping will be here to meet and talk with our students in various programs. Over the next few weeks, the career and technical student organizations will be conducting their membership drives, fundraisers, and officer elections. Adviserss and students are excited about the various events for the 2025 and 2026 school year. That concludes our report. >> Thank you so much. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Well, it's going to be a great student year and I'd always like to add to the students obviously come and tell us what's going on, but as representatives you ever have concerns or uh suggestions, Dr. Atali and myself always willing to listen uh because you do represent your schools. So, please always let me know that. Okay, we're going to move on to

028my favorite adult presentation, uh, the superintendent report. >> So, you are more than welcome to stay. You are more than welcome to head out and there is no judgment if you stand up and leave right now and no expectation that you stay through the whole meeting. Um, so Dave, I can't share my screen. It says that you've disabled that. The meeting will go much faster if I don't present. >> All right. Well, that's the end of that for you guys. Sorry, I tried to make the meeting faster. >> Okay. So my presentation for tonight I'd like to start by welcoming uh the hall East Pauls and walls of fame and Julian Costa Dr. Cobberline and Mr. Cardi. >> Now before they get started North High School students there's a bit of history here m I

029don't want to call you a bit of history Mr. Cardi but Mr. Cardi was the first North High School principal uh when the school opened uh many many years ago >> and Dr. was I am really happy to be here. Uh at my age, I'm happy to be anywhere. But >> thank you so much, student representatives. This was it was worth getting up and getting dressed for. I really really did appreciate your report. >> Uh I'm here because uh Dr. Douglas Arnold, who is the head of our steering committee, uh is ill and could not be here. He telephoned me yesterday and asked me to please come. And when Dr. Arnold asks, I deliver. Uh, >> as we all do, >> Yes, sir. >> Dr. Arnold is a founder of the East Stroudsburg Halls and

030Walls of Fame, and I'm pleased to be here on behalf of the Halls and Walls of Fame. I am president of the Halls and Walls of Fame Foundation, a 501c3 organization that is always soliciting funds. So if any of you would like to become a benefactor, you can contact me directly if you have a large amount. Uh we do do solicitations throughout the year, particularly with uh the the various constituencies from the halls and walls of fame. The halls of fame are operated at each of the high schools and include uh a variety of different sports and other activities at the school and those uh awards or uh honors are for students at the at the high schools. The halls of fame are for community members, uh, alumni who have brought distinction and honor to

031East Straburg School District. There are three halls of fame. There's a music hall of fame, athletic halls of fame, and meritorious hall of fame. Each of them celebrates citizens who again have brought distinction to the schools. The steering committee sets the criteria for acceptance into the various halls of fame and the steering committee really does all of the operations uh except for the fundraising. Excuse me. Our foundation board consists of 10 community members. We meet once a year. So, if anybody's interested in serving as a foundation board member, please uh let me know. It's only once a year and no heavy lifting. We do have a a considerably uh uh sound budget right now. Uh we have about 10 years of operating expenses and that's because we've had a couple of uh uh benefactors in

032the past couple of years. uh we have really uh had to work very hard to keep it together for for about 20 years and then the last four years have been very kind to us. Uh nonetheless we continue to seek benefactors. Tonight we have a a special presentation. Uh Mr. Cardi is uh is as you know the the first principal at High School North. I got to be here as superintendent when uh uh Mr. Cardi was a high school principal and and really really was thrilled to to work with him and he's going to say I promise a a few words. So please Mr. Cardi >> first of all I'd like to say I too was very impressed with the student presentations and that's a an added uh twist from when I was here and

033uh congrats stuff. Um, as a former educator and coach, my goal was always to, you know, make an impact students just as former educators and coaches had made an impact with me. And when I found out a former student had a book published on my career, I can only tell you was it's very surreal and I'm extremely humbled by all of it. Um, and that student, Julian Costa, is here today. And I could not be more proud of a a former North student and his accomplishments since he graduated from East Straburg North. He has written several books and had them published. Uh, he also served on the uh, faculty at Pace University in New York and currently he is teaching at uh, Panther Valley School District. And at this time, he's the hero of all

034this. I would like to introduce Julian Casta, who was so kind to put all of this together. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Cardi. Thank you, uh, Dr. Vitali and Mr. Catrillo for giving me a few minutes of your board meeting. And uh it's wonderful to hear the uh the wonderful things that are happening at North right now. You know, it's weird to think I was anywhere and can remember being where I was 25 years ago. I guess that means I'm getting old, but um I had a wonderful experience at East Strads North because everything was so new. And I know that sounds like a very generic answer, but when you think about it, you never heard anyone say, "Well, that's the way we've always done it." Because there was no way we've always done

035it. Everything was an experiment and we'll try this and if it doesn't work it's okay. We'll try it differently. Everyone had a voice. Everyone was made to feel welcome. And a few months ago I was at the graduation. My godchildren graduated in the class of 2025. It was my first time really on campus in a little while. And I could feel the same warmth and the same welcoming vibe that I felt 18 almost 19 years ago when I walked the halls of East Strazburg North. You know, it's great to learn about history, but then experiencing it in real time is very different. And that's something I think the biggest takeaway I can get from my years as a timberwolf. So, I'm very grateful for that. And that made me want to document that history. You

036know, 25 years isn't a very long time, but my attitude is if we don't start now, 30 years from now, it's not going to be any easier to try to document the past. And everyone was very supportive as I worked on this. But a common theme that I heard through people's conversations with me was about the wonderful leadership of a man named Richard Cardi. And I remember him as my high school principal and just how just great he was with the students and seemed like he really worked well with the staff too. And now here I am 13 years into my own career in education. And I find myself thinking, well, how would Mr. Cardi handle this? How would he approach this situation? And I'm very fortunate that I can text him and ask for

037advice every now and then. But um this is my way of giving back to a wonderful seven years if we count Leman in the high school. And I hope to if I can speak to some Timberwolves here, you know, you're part of a wonderful school and a young but very vibrant history. And it's been wonderful to see that history grow through the leadership of Steve Zaul, Patricia Moy, Ben Brenamman, and now we have Mr. Leonard, who I've not met yet. I'm not sure if he's here tonight, but I'll say this to him and somebody can pass this on, is that Mr. Leonard is now part of the next chapter of North's history. And I look forward to hearing about it, and I look forward to celebrating it just as we did the first 25 years.

038So, thank you for this honor and go Timberwolves. >> You show them to us. Can we get the title? >> Uh, coach of the building. >> And thank you for the copies. >> Thank you. Thank you so much. So, um, Rico, thank you for coming out. Um, we appreciate it. It's good to see you again. It's been a minute. Um, sitting at ATMs few years ago. >> So, Mark's been much better than >> Good. So, hopefully that's what you remember. Um, Julian, I'm about halfway through it and just thank you for documenting the history of our district and the history of North. I think that >> I'm sorry. It's books on Amazon. I just I first book >> I was like, wait, what's happening? Um, thank you for documenting it and being >> 10 left.

039>> Our district I I'll get through my thank you. I promise. and for um just being our historian and and making sure that we are on the map and recognized for the work that we've done in creating another part of our district that has a rich history just like South does. So we appreciate you. I'm a little disappointed that you're in Panther Valley, but uh we'll let you know when we have some openings. Um so thank you so much. We appreciate it. Anything else that anyone would like to say to Julian or Mr. Cardi or Dr. Coberlin? >> No, thank you. Thank you. It's so exciting to uh first nice to see everybody again. It's been a long time. Julie was in when I was a principal of Middle Smithfield. Uh Julian was there as

040an elementary school. So I really feel old. So but thank you so much for thinking of us and presenting the books. >> All right. Thank you. And you guys are also more than welcome to stay, but you can quietly exit out. >> Do do you want to hang out here? you just you enjoy it. Um so thank you so much for coming out. So um the rest of tonight's topics are going to be sadly me talking and I apologize. We're going to go over >> but everybody's Canadian tonight. Um I'm going to go over the superintendent assistant superintendent's goals. We're going to go through those fairly quickly. Um, we're going to talk about the new vision and mission of our district, uh, the goal development process, and then we're going to share the gradespan goals,

041and then we'll talk about kind of what's next in our presentations. So, first, um, all of these are on our website as they have to be, but also as they should be because transparency is important. Uh my first goal for the year is really talking about student growth and achievement and making sure that we are looking at data, tracking data and all the data points that are relevant and important to make informed decisions and be intentional with our planning. Also embedded in that is ensuring that our building level leaders are comfortable being an instructional leader. When I started here and I started kind of that quintessential listening tool, I heard from our building leaders that they are really just managers of time and space and the operations of the district and and my goal is

042to kind of transfer that and have them comfortable but also be seen as instructional leaders. And then obviously to look at curricular programming with the curricular curriculum and instruction department and just make sure that we're offering our students the best opportunities for success of whatever is next in their life. My second goal deals with organizational leadership and it's really um about leading our administrative team through solid professional development. I believe that there is a trickle down approach. If I do well in supporting my team, then my team supports the professional staff and support staff and then they appropriately support our students. So if I'm doing a job well done, they feel supported and they are growing as professionals. Also, it's to make sure that we plan and implement activities for the board. So it's really

043organizational leadership for the board and our administrative team. My third goal deals with operations and financial management of preparing a budget that is fiscally responsible and then making sure that we appropriately conduct a feasibility study, offer some opportunities to develop programs and better utilize or continue to utilize our facilities so that we're addressing programming and forward thinking for our district. Uh the fourth goal is about communication and community relations to make sure that we're communicating to both the board and the public what is happening in our district. There are so many amazing things happening in our district but also challenging issues that are facing us. So we just want to make sure that everybody is not only engaged but well informed. Um the fifth goal is human resource management. Man, it's going to be a

044long year. human resource management. And that is really looking at the evaluation process of all of our employees and setting a standard and expectation that every single employee receives feedback about their year and how they're doing with their performance so that they can continue to improve in their craft. And then with that offering professional development that is not only purposeful and relevant but also impactful and sustainable for the future. The last goal is honestly just professionalism into model um integrity, transparency and make sure that we are focusing on the core values of our school district. So Mr. Snider's goals are in alignment with um my goals obviously because we are working in conjunction with each other and if you pay any attention to EPR he is done but he is going to continue working. Um

045he will continue to look at programming and curricular review, make sure that we're looking at th those data points in making informed decisions, helping our building leaders become instructional leaders and looking at programs to ensure that our students have what they need for success. The second goal that he has focused on is that organizational leadership of supporting the administrative workshop and our F93 to grow and learn and then the us human resource management component as well. Dr. Dr. Bukowski has a few more goals because she is new. So Mr. Snyder had more goals when he was still new. So I don't want you to think that we're making Dr. Bukowski do more. She has the same expectation that Mr. Snyder had. Um well maybe we're making her do a little bit more, but she can

046handle it. Um, so her first goal is very much so very similar to ours of growth and achievement, but her goals, if you read through them, are really just about making sure that she is learning about the programming. It's very funny. We were having a conversation the other day and I said, "Okay, you haven't even been here a month yet. Um, although we feel like she's been here forever. Um, it's been only a month uh worth of time." So these goals are all going to be in alignment with the superintendent's goals and Andy's goals, but about really just learning programming so that we can make informed decisions moving forward. So it's going to deal with student growth and achievement, organizational leadership, um operations and financial management, community relations and communication, and then that human resource

047component. Any questions about any of our goals? >> Just lovely. I I just I I just I just like one I'm just going to repeat one night. I thought it was I just whispered an at least monthly meet with administrative team faculty as as appropriate to discuss district issues with an emphasis on education vision. What a novel idea. Thank you Dr. Vitali and thank you Dr. B because you know that's what we've said all along that that's what we're here for and and and it's nice to see goals and it's nice to see vision. So thank you. >> Excellent. Well, you queued me up. Thank you for teeing up that one. >> I'm sorry. Um so that oh the vision and mission >> we have worked on um really really intentionally and strategically the district's

048mission and vision statement. So this summer we had a 4-day admin workshop. We were very intentional not to call it a retreat because it did not have kayaking or mini golf or things of that nature. It was strong professional development for our team. um when I came on board and and this is not something I'm kind of speaking out of turn about, but there was some uh disconnect with our administrative team and our leaders and some trust issues, some respect issues and some feeling of people didn't have a voice or a say at the table. So, we worked really really strongly this summer to build a common mission and vision for our district. So, the vision statement really sets what our path is and then the mission statement is how we're going to do it.

049So what our path forward is and then how we act on it. So if you think about it kind of in an easy way, your vision is the what and your mission is the how. So we determined and every all the board members have packets. Those were given out little baggies. Some of us have opened them. These were given out to all of our staff on the first day of school. We decided that our vision statement is to maximi we're maximizing today's potential for tomorrow's success. If you notice that language, it intentionally does not say students because we're not only maximizing student potential, but we're maximizing our potential as employees, your potential as a board, our potential as a community. So, it's not just student facing, but if we do all of that, we are

050all growing and moving ourselves forward as educators, as students, as a board, and as a community. So we really we workshopped this. We spent four days on this, not an entire four days, but about an hour each day trying to workshop exactly who we were as a district and what we wanted to offer. So when we talked about the mission statement, it was actually much easier once we decided what our vision was. So, we decided that the East Child Area School District champions these guiding principles to support success for all, ensuring safety and belonging, committing to inclusion, valuing diversity, uniting our communities, cultivating curiosity, fostering solution focused thinking, learning without limits, and building resilience and hope. So, we've received some some feedback, if you will, that learning is the second to last bullet. So, I

051want to kind of frame it up a little bit differently of why we did it in that order. Because if you spend any time with me, my hope is that when you walk out, you realize that everything I do is with intentionality and thought. I don't do anything kind of just I'm not spontaneous. Nobody would ever say spontaneity is my thing. Don't say anything. >> I don't say work. >> Um, it's all very calculated. So my hope is that when we add some prepositions here, it helps you understand. So the East Strawburg Area School District champions these guiding principles to support to support success for all ensuring safety and belonging by committing to inclusion through valuing diversity to unite our communities. We are going to cultivate curiosity by fostering solution focused thinking to provide learning

052without limits with the goal of building resilience and hope. It all builds on each other with the ultimate goal of although content is super important. Nobody remembers what they learned in sixth grade social studies of all the dates, all that content. Our goal >> Jason does upset me. They all remember middle school. >> They don't remember great science, but they don't remember. Sorry, Andy. I'm sorry out there. Social studies teachers. >> But what we want them to what we want is we want them to be resilient and hopeful for the future and that they are setting goals and they are achieving those goals. That is our ending result is students who can power through see the end in mind and and meet those goals. So those are our kind of new we have posters made

053up they are in every area throughout our district. Now based on this we are going to build our comprehensive plan based on that information. Any feedback there before we get into the building level goals. So this summer during our admin workshop, again not a retreat, we talked about the goal setting process and I have basically morphed I don't know probably 12 different goals development processes into this and this is kind of my own little version of it. So we talked a little about noticings and wonderings which is what we've done as a board when I've presented data. From there, I've asked our administrative team to take their noticings and wonderings and turn them into hunches of the reasons why. So, if I'm noticing this, why do we think this is happening? And then from the

054why we think it's happening, build some hypothesis. So, if I do this, then this will happen based on that. That then leads into your development of goals. And once they had their goals, I had them identify their primary and secondary drivers. So what were the things they needed that the musthaves? So their primary drivers and then what was the secondary support that they needed. So primary drivers might be an MTSS teacher. Secondary driver might be the actual interventions for math support. So we had them identify kind of what they actually needed because that for us is what we need to do as a district and what we need to do at our cabinet level to make sure that our building principles had for success to meet their goal. Then the last step of this, and

055this might sound silly, but I had them identify their superheroes and villains. And what I mean by that is in any goal, you have the champions of whatever initiative you're doing, whether it be people or processes, but what is going to help them do that? And with that, what are the villains? What are going to be the barriers and the roadblocks? In doing that, you can be intentional with your planning. Sometimes the barriers are going to be people, right? We're not going to get buy in. Well, if that's a barrier, let's plan for how we get better buy in and address it and call it out. If the barrier is funding, okay, let's find a funding source. What do we do? So, we had them identify what were going to be kind of their superheroes

056with this goal and what their villains were. That way they they're able to fall back on the superheroes and then challenge the villains to bring them into the superhero category. Goals are going to look a little bit different than you have seen in the past. They are not directly focused on test scores. And let me kind of talk about this because this might be different than what your experience. So if I say I'm going to increase PSSA scores by 10%. Okay. What happens when 60% of our parents decide to opt out of PSSAs? I didn't meet my goal, but that actually had nothing to do with the work I did or the work our teachers did or the effort of our students. We right now, and it's it's actually an issue that we're looking to

057address, about 15% of our population opts out of state scores. So, you're already saying the best we can ever do is 85%. Because when somebody opts out of a test score, it goes in as below base. So we can only get 85% proficient. We look at all the different factors that go into PSSAs in keystones. There are so many different factors. So if you think of a scientific study, it is almost impossible for us to tease out just one control variable to change that. So, we said, I I don't actually want to focus on we're going to raise PSSAs by 10%. I want to focus on more intentional adjustments. What do we actually have control over? So, an example would be elementary, and we'll get to this. Elementary is going to focus on a math

058intervention period. Well, when they do that math intervention period well and with fidelity, guess what's going to happen? students are going to have a better foundation in math and the scores are going to go up. But their goal isn't a random percentage for scores to go up. It's to do that with fidelity. That way, we're actually very intentional with one thing, not 25 different factors that go into test scores. Um, an example I would use at the high school, so the high school's ATSI plan last year had an attendance improvement goal. And I said, "Okay, what were your steps then?" And all of the steps to the attendance improvement goal were about creating a better environment, a more welcoming environment, a PBIS reward incentive. And I pushed back respectfully saying, "Okay, well, that means you

059have determined that students don't want to come to school." When in fact, there's a large population of students that can't come to school. But when you set a goal and then you set about the environment and welcoming and all of that, you're saying, "Oh, it's the reason students aren't coming to school is because they don't want to." When some of it is that they can't. Some students can't come to school because they have a second job. Some students can't come to school because of transportation. Some students can't come to school because they have school phobia or something else that's a barrier to their education. But when we set those goals, you're assuming the root cause. So I said, why don't we set a goal to understand why students aren't coming to school first? If we

060understand the trend, then we can address a goal to attack that trend. But right now, we're making some assumptions and then we're addressing goals. And then when they don't meet the goal, we're thinking we failed when probably the goal wasn't targeted enough on an intentional adjustment and what we actually have control over. I've also suggested that I never ever want to see a giant pendulum swift that our move should be micro that we're making micro adjustments. We're educators. We know what we're doing. We do well by our students. Sometimes you don't have to do a 180 degree transition. Sometimes it's 10 degrees. So, let's start with intentional strategic micro moves and make some impact and then adjust those micro moves as we go. As opposed to saying we're throwing out the entire elementary schedule. We're

061going to rebuild the elementary schedule. Let's just say we're going to focus on math win this half hour of time and do it well. Does that make sense? >> Yes. >> Any questions on that? Okay. So, our elementary goals, as I said, all of our elementary principles have these goals. So, they are all working in cohesion. What it may look like at each building might be a little different, but all six of them are working on effective implementation of a math intervention period. When, if you don't know what is, it means what I need. So, it's a differentiated period. Um they're working on that through their building schedule of adjusting their schedule to allow for a half an hour of a math differentiated period. They are effectively implementing EXL which is a benchmark and assessment

062program and then they are supporting math interventions in the classroom. They are focusing on improving student perceptions of studentto student respect. So, we talked about that climate survey at the end of last school year and every administrator had to address one goal with the climate survey. They want to make sure that their students are showing each other respect. They're doing that by creating student leadership groups and meeting with their students and giving their students a voice. They're going to do community building interventions and more a stronger lean into PB PBIS. And then they are increasing instructional leadership which if you go back to my goal is one of my goals for them. They are doing quarterly walkthroughs of each professional staff. We are starting instructional rounds next week. And then we are going to train

063and support each of our administrators during instructional leadership meetings which might be the longest meeting of all meetings tomorrow morning. Our intermediate principles. So realize they're both new. So their first goal is to learn the climate and the system of each school. So they need to understand what they're in. They looked at all the data. They looked at the climate survey. They looked at achievement and growth data. But they need to live this and they need to be immersed in that community. So they are developing their own internal communication systems. They are creating and supporting their internal leadership teams with both their professional staff, their support staff and their students. and they are making sure that there are school safety procedures and protocols so that people feel safe and comfortable in their environment. They are

064working to create and develop a collaborative positive culture. Um they're reviewing all of the climate survey with their staff. They're doing those leadership teams to make sure that they have a pulse on their building and they are doing community engagement events. They are also looking to increase student engagement again through those quarterly walkthroughs for each professional staff. They are going to leverage their use of win and then their PBIS program >> at the high school level. They are improving the perception of school safety. This was a very intentional wording because originally they said they were improving school safety. And I said, "Well, that means that we don't have it." So, they looked at the climate survey data and students are reporting that there's some safety issues specifically in the bathroom, which if they can solve

065it, we're going to write our own book about it because that will cure every issue at every high school ever. >> Um, but they're going to do frequent a develop a system of bathroom checks to make sure that bathrooms are being monitored. Again, they're creating those student leadership teams and meeting with them to understand how they can help tackle this problem. And they are better coordinating their security personnel. They are focusing on attention to engagement and instructional leadership. So, they are really looking at their observation and evaluation process. They are doing quarterly walkthroughs and instructional rounds. And then they are also looking to connect with their school community through again the student leadership meetings, engaging students and their peers in extracurricular activities and empowering students to have a voice with planning of events and activities.

066So putting students in the driver's seat which honestly we see through our student leadership teams here. Okay, any questions about the goals? >> So what's next? Next month each department has to have goals. So, I'm going to share with you what each department's goals are. Then November and December will be RLPS doing their feasibility study. They sent out a survey today. We're sending out another one um in a few weeks for different stakeholder groups. So, they'll report on um their building feasibility outcome outcome of what they've done and then those uh survey results. In January, I'm going to kind of give back of where we are on the progress of our goals. February, uh, RLPS will do another feasibility study presentation. In March, Mr. Snider will present our comprehensive plan. April and May will be

067budget season. And then June, we will report out on the outcome of the goals. Right now, what we're working on besides running a school district is really just making sure that we're tracking these goals and making adjustments so that we are successful with them. I know that was long and I apologize, but any thoughts, questions or concerns? >> Yes. >> Oh, you have concerns. Okay, go for it. >> I have to bring them up. I mean, it's really important, right? So, actually, no. I I think this is all fantastic, right? Uh, I'm looking at the goal setting process and and between the hypothesis and goal development, I'm wondering if there should be some allowance for research to counteract confirmation bias or, you know, maybe just doing some literature review, talking to peers, like identifying in

068that process. >> I love that. >> Yeah. Just >> I love me some research, >> right? And it slows things down because you're asking people to take a step back and like look and say do an evaluation of what maybe other districts are doing or what what the literature says on these specific kind of ideas. But >> you know I think it kind of weeds out some of the ideas that may not be as valid as others. >> For sure. And then at the very end, how do we do our I mean, we're doing our measurement, right? But is there a way to debrief after that and then kind of circle back and have a conversation about what worked, what didn't work. >> So, we are tasked with as administrators, our cabinet meeting, our cabinet

069is going to meet with each administrator multiple times a year to discuss goals, progress on goals, and then allow for that end of the year debriefing. Okay. Um I would say that we spent I spent at least two hours with each administrator um in June, mostly in June talking about their goals, their year and we would continue that process just so that they have a space to debrief but not only individually but also as a team. >> Right. >> Yeah. Absolutely. Thank you. It's great feedback. Anything else? >> Thank you though. >> Yeah, it's very comprehensive. >> Yes. I mean it's it's amazing work and a lot of work. So thank you. appreciate of all the work from everybody in central and in the in the buildings. >> Thank you so much. >> Okay. Okay.

070We'll move on uh with our reports. Uh MCTI report Jason. >> Thank you so much. Uh Maro Career and Technical Institute. MCTI met on >> I have to get I I just logged in. >> Oh, I I'm I can take a long time. >> Yeah, you take your time. I'm going to log back in. business and finance discuss the following. The meeting addressed several financial matters, payment of invoices and investment information we approved along with a blanket student uh accident policy renewal for the 202526 school year uh which holds a cost of $4,000. Additionally, there is a third party tuition agreement with the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School and the Commonwealth Charter Academy. Uh they were both approved for an annual tuition rate uh for S for MCTI at $8,884.3 per student. And a motion was

071also approved for MCTI to apply for the state and local cyber security grant. Uh in curriculum and instruction, the committee uh approved several new agreements. This includes the uh agriculture agreement with LCCCC for programs in computer science uh networking uh culinary arts health professional uh professions cosmetology electronics outdoor power equipment andou uh with the Bureau of Career and Technical Education was approved for technical assistance activities and the rural education program overview for the EMS program was also approved. and that's pending the solicitor's review. Uh personnel items. Several personnel changes were approved including the change of assignment for Ashley Smith to business uh assistant business manager and Crystal Taylor to secretary receptionist. New appointments were also approved including uh Morgan Dowry uh accounts clerk and Joel Hess as custodian. Additionally, the committee discussed the approval and

072the final punch list for the new school addition. The motion was sent uh also to updated agreement of lease for the sending districts and the new board policy 707 regarding use of school facilities. Uh several field trips for the 2526 school year were approved, including uh one to Barley Creek golf outing and another to the green careers exploration deck. And finally, uh, we were shown the new MCTI promo video, which Oh, Dr. Vitali has all queued up. I thought everybody would >> This is a a fantastic video. >> If I play it, will the sound come through? >> Yeah. So, that's enough. >> Okay. say no. So unmute from >> there is put your microphone by >> microphone. There's like Oh, now it's going to echo. No, don't do it. It's going to echo now.

073Think about that forever. open to suggestions. >> Put your microphone next to it. >> That's creating the echo. >> Created the echo. >> The echo. >> Remember, it's only us in here that can't hear it if they're out in the in the real world. >> Align. >> So, you you want me to unmute it and just run it with the echo? >> Done. >> Yeah. >> And let's just let us hear it. >> A lot of it is seeing it, too. Let's see what this does. >> Your future doesn't start to happen. It starts right career technical institute >> with 21 hands-on programs across five powerful career classes. MCTI profession electronics and CAD design. Our engineering and technology classes train students to build the future one skilled step at a time. >> Connect and create.

074Whether you're into cyber security network or graphic communications cluster prepares you for the heights of the green and beyond. Third, >> our service cluster includes everything from culinary arts to cosmology, >> real world impact, turn wrenches, tune engines. In our automotive clusters, students take the wheel of cutting edge training in high demand trades. >> If you can dream it from CTI structure cluster turns raw talent trades ready >> in career and technical training today success of tomorrow. >> So what's your path? Discover it at XTI. Explore programs, meet instructors, and take the first step today. >> Makes me want to sign up. That's for sure. >> Our next meeting will be held uh October 6th at 7 p.m. >> Thank you. >> Hey, thank you, J. Will we will we be able to put that

075on our website? Uh I would believe it would make sense to put it on our guidance >> under MC like anything under our guidance or something. >> I guess that's what >> okay next report is IU 20 and uh that will be >> we had our meeting on August 27th and most of meeting focused on the opening of school. The IU starts with a theme every year and their theme which I think is a really cool theme for the IU to have is take me higher and that will be something they'll be focusing on doing more for their students and their family. Um over the summer 500 students were part of the extended school year program and that is for uh the neediest students who uh would lose skills if not educated over the summer.

076So uh there was a large number of students 500 who were participating in that and had instruction uh throughout the summer. Uh as far as some physical things, one of the major projects was completing the roof at Colonial Academy and that was able to be accomplished right during the summer. So it was ready for when the students uh came back um in late August. Uh we also discussed the effects of the budget and pass at the state level which is having effects on everyone but especially on the IUs and so you are aware the IUs are taking very active steps to uh discuss with each other throughout the state on how they will handle it. Uh most of the IUs figure they are in decent shape till November possibly December but if that impass were

077to continue much longer beyond that uh that could begin to seriously hurt them. So they are preparing uh for the worst and are already meeting throughout the state not only to put pressure on our legislators but also to make contingency plans uh so they will not severely affect any of the students that they serve and we recall the IU does serve our DDS students. Um good news on their induction program for new teachers. It was one of their smallest they ever held and that's good news because their retention of staff at the IU is the highest that it's ever been. Um, if you attend an IU meeting, you'll know why. The the energy level uh that they have at the IU is really amazing and it does make you want to be part of that

078team. Their orientation day for all their staff was very successful. Matter of fact, Dr. Carrie Row, who is the acting education secretary for Pennsylvania, was there and presented to RIU. One of the coolest things I think that she did that I they mentioned is she gave her email address out and she challenged every IU teacher and staff member, which there's a lot of them to email her on the opening week of school and tell them about a success that they had in the classroom. >> And if that is not a cool thing for a secretary of education to do uh in our state, uh that I think is is just a wonderful wonderful idea. Um also at the orientation day the other thing they do is they invite back former students to present about their

079success. And in this particular year stu a student with very severe learning disabilities who went on to be very very successful uh presented and also a student with um some rather traumatic severe emotional needs uh went on to present to the staff and that was so powerful we actually got to see a clip of that and it was just amazing to see. And then the last part of that orientation day, last year's theme was spread kindness. And their project for all classes throughout the IU were to make rings of kindness and add them up. And they decorated an entire ballroom with all the acts of kindness that were presented through the IU to their students and families last year. And again, if you want to see any of this, and you really should take a

080look at it, it is on the IU 20 website, and it's well worth taking a look at. Um, so again I say as I always say, our IU dollars are well spent and really are serving our our students well and our families. Thank you. Okay, our next report is property and facilities. >> Okay, items uh requiring action. Property and facilities did meet on September 9th. The number one north campus remediation cleanup for 40 classrooms was done the first week of August at a current cost of over $811,780. [Music] Uh payment of invoices to CHA, the school district engineer, JTL boiler and water heater uh for $728.70. Boardroom audio and visual upgrades for $3328. I can see we're ready for that, right? Storm water stage three for $4,6640. North Campus transportation building for $650. Purple ped

081equipment replacement for $73829. JTL partial flooring for $3,81787. Restica flooring for $1,44520. JM Hill flooring for $1,127.50. the Straburg Elementary sprinkler replacement for $26,43025 and the JTL data network for $3,176.70. the applications for payment to our contractors. Stage three storm water north campus for rutage excavating were applications uh for payment numbers 1 through three was totaling $27,25.13. The JM Hill school for the flooring to Lehigh Valley flooring for $5,318. Baresca school flooring to Lehigh Valley flooring for $13,659.50. JTL school to co flooring for the $32,75325 and for the data network improvements to Gedetti at $25,632. Purple pit for the Scrantan Electric at $43,927. Uh we had two change orders. The Rescue School from Lehigh Valley Flooring to decrease the contract by $22,760 and JTL from Lehigh Valley Flooring to decrease the contract by $48,160. Project

082updates. North Campus Stage 3, the storm water repair is completed. North Campus water tower generator should have a completion date of uh today. North Campus Nadiatorum roof league m construction is ongoing with a proposed ending date of October 2025. North Campus transportation facility is out to bid with changes to the floor plan waiting for bid opening date. Smithfield School Boiler Replacement is scheduled for spring of 2026. JTL boiler replacement is scheduled for spring of 2026. East Straber Elementary Fire Sprinkler Replacement phase one is scheduled for the summer of 2026 and phase 2 is scheduled for summer of 2027. Uh number eight, the purple pip boiler replacement is scheduled for completion by September of 2025. The next property and facilities meeting is scheduled for October 1st at 5:30 here and via Zoom. Thank you. >> Hey,

083thank you Wayne. And for educational uh programs and resources, >> the EPR committee met on Sorry. >> No, I'm >> It's right. >> No, I I had prepared it just in case. >> Oh, >> well, thank you so much. I appreciate it. Jason covered for me at the meeting as I was away but I was on but I was afraid in case if I lost you know internet connection so he ran the meeting for me but I didn't want to have to do something else so I did the homework in the summary but please feel free to >> no I couldn't not >> our EPR committee met on Thursday September 4th at 5:30 we began our meeting with Dr. Dr. Marilyn Parl, our director of professional learning. She presented our first EPR newsletter. And that

084newsletter was excellent because it really highlighted uh all of the new things that were happening in um you know, our curriculum world and uh in all of our buildings. The newsletter contained all the exciting learning opportunities that were experienced on the opening days. These staged a framework of learning for the whole year. Some of our topics included AI, the new teacher induction program, elementary school 95% group training, LinkedIn, and a walkth through look for tool. And there are a few more to mention as well. The walkth through tool is a tool that will allow the administrative team to collect data on engagement in our buildings. If you just remember from Dr. Vitali's presentation, the engagement, you know, is now happening in all of the buildings. Um, as she stated at our meeting and again this

085evening, the purpose of evaluations is for growth. And so the goal of this program is to support our continued efforts to improve instruction across the district. Um, and this is, you know, so important uh for teachers, for administrators, you know, all of it that we're all on the same page and our main goal is that our students are engaged in, you know, what's going on in the classroom. Um so you know thank you to everyone in administration who really um was putting this forth uh this year. Uh next uh Amy Palmounter our secondary curriculum director presented uh the program of studies. Um board members you remember we pretty much get the program of studies kind of at the you know very end and then sometimes we had you know questions about it. Um and so

086it's kind of taking a little bit of an overhaul. Um and Amy explained the four stage approval process so that we can understand each aspect of it and give feedback as the process moves forward. So she you know went over the beginnings of the process um and we'll continue to do so. So for anyone who's interested on the board obviously community members uh to really come to the EPR meeting so you can see how that process evolves. Uh and the best part of it is, you know, as I've said, it's a true improvement from what we've had in the past because at our December meeting, we will actually have the program of studies in hand. So, um you know, thank you so much for the efforts and for us to really see the process um

087and how it's put together so that as we read through it, if we have any concerns, questions, suggestions, um we can send them to uh Dr. Snder who's obviously working with Amy um so that it can you know continue. So appreciate that. Uh moving on, Dr. Tabitha Bradley presented the elementary science course plans. The amount of work of course as we know that goes into the plans is incredible. So once again, uh I want to thank all of our teachers who have worked um so tirelessly over the summer to put together these plans. Um it it's really amazing for me to see um really where we are moving as a district. Our curriculum work is continuing. Of course, this year we have a full rewrite for high school um English. and as the former um

088department chair of High School English South and over 30 years uh at High School South, the last full rewrite for English was 2005. And yeah, so we're talking Yeah. 20 years ago. And then we had a small rewrite not even a rewrite to call it that just revision uh because of language um in 2012 to 2014. So to see as I mentioned at our last meeting and I know I say it at all all of our meetings the change that has taken place uh within the last year and continuing to move forward. I can say to our students, you know, uh that are sitting here and those who are listening, you know, what a wonderful education that our school district has always provided, uh and will continue to provide, but for the teachers to be

089able to um really look at what it is that they want to teach moving forward to have the support of this board um and have an EPR committee uh and the personnel in central office to support that and those goals uh is really truly amazing. Um so I thank everyone for that and for the teachers who are are going to work you know so diligently and putting that together. So in coni and um in conjunction with the full rewrite for high school English middle school ELA will also need some revising. High school general science um which is like the ninth grade course will be rewritten to include the course plan with the steel standards and procedures and resources. High school personal finance 2 will be rewritten. If the board if you remember this is we

090had the presentation in EPR last year and I presented it to you. um personal finance one, this is their first year pre having personal finance one um which is in freshman year and then personal finance two will be in junior year and that will therefore meet all the standards and such that we need for graduation. I did ask at our EPR meeting um if we you know at some time you know we have the halfway through or at the end because it's you know most um I believe it's all um semester course am I correct in that yes right um that at the end of that if we could just have some feedback as to you know how that went uh and so forth so we can you know know what it looks like moving

091forward. Um and then the high school media 2 which um our south representative mentioned as the scoreboard course which is also offered up north. Um that is going to be looked at on a continuous basis since the scoreboard kind of came in new and was added to that course. um that will be looked at and revised as needed truthfully um because we want the students obviously so much involved in that to not only be able to create the content that will go on the scoreboard you know and not just for football for all of our sports I think that needs to be said um but also in the future having the students also being able to operate it. So um you know from a technological perspective wow you know for us as a district for

092sure and for our students it's great. And then lastly I think also mentioned by South um the course that will uh be added is the education for all that's our future educators course with the NCC um guide. So um really again kudos to everyone. Uh lastly, the following items were recommended to the finance committee and the board at large for approval. Uh Acadians, which is the elementary ELA screener for those of you who are like me, been around for a while. That's the uh new Dibbles. Everybody remembers remembers that. Um in addition, 3P learning, that's the math seeds, the kindergarten K1 special education screener, and reading eggs, which is a K2 supplemental tool. and then materials from HMH for the additional elementary sections that were added because remember we need to obviously give the resources

093for those um extra um courses or I should say sections and um basically I just want to say as I know I say all the time but I our district is really just amazing um and I think this month kind of exemplifies uh the excitement that we've heard you know about our opening day, you know, new people coming in, obviously our students and their enthusiasm um that we're moving forward in a cohesive plans and deliberate path. Um and I would like all of you to tune in for our next meeting which is on Thursday, October 2nd at 5:30 here and in Zoom. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Anything to add? >> Is Rebecca on the line? >> Let me hold a candle. >> Oh, perfect. >>

094Okay. Um anyone from the committee? I have a synopsis. Anyone from the committee want to do the finance highlights? >> You want to do finance? I can do finance. >> Okay. >> Yeah. The finance committee met uh when the uh September 9th uh we move forward to the to the board uh the EPR requests and the properties and facilities. We also move forward three more. We've moved forward the uh renewal of the transponder software for three years. The also the transponder GIS map system map uh map out the system and we also the touchtone uh renewal for the students. Uh the thing of the transform uh finder is probably the important one where that's where the parents can monitor where the students are and when they're going to be picked up. It's for our transportation

095department. And then when that works well, the parents are happy. When it doesn't work well, the parents are not happy. So, I'm I've got some good word from a number of parents uh this month that it's it's been working and I'm glad to hear that. Uh the next meeting will be uh October 14. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you, George. And uh batting cleanup is policy committee. >> Another exciting evening at the policy committee. Uh for those that attended, thank you. For those that didn't, you missed out. Uh we discussed some new policies and we are asking the administration to authorize and we are actually asking to authorize and direct the administration to post the following items. Um we are asking them to post policy 105 curriculum framework policy 113.4 confidentiality of special education student

096information which is a new policy. It's a very good read. our administration did some some work on that and it's a if it's a brand new policy uh policy 122 extracurricular activities uh policy 122.1 non-school sponsored student groups uh and it specifically was a a new PSBA policy rewrite uh to recommend for legal liability purposes um policy 123 intercolastic activities policy 209.2 2 diabetes management. Uh and we're asking those be uh noted revisions for public review. Uh those and noted revisions for public review during the month of September and subsequent board action in October. Our next meeting will be 4:30 here in the our conference room live uh for those that want to sit here. Uh it's a quick meeting uh on October 20th. And uh and then and just a correction, I mean everyone

097keeps calling it Zoom. Um for the public, it's not really Zoom. And I want to clarify that for the public. It's our YouTube channel. >> Um because we I was just looking we have 394 subscribers on our YouTube channel. It's ESASD schoolboard is our channel. >> For us it's Zoom, but for the public it's an easier find if they subscribe and like us and they get dings when we come on. But uh join us on on uh our YouTube channel if you can't live. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you D. Right. Uh we now have public participation and for the sake of order it is limited to comments on the agenda by residents and taxpayers of the school district at 3 minutes each. Do we have anyone from the public who would like to make

098any comments or questions? Okay. Anyone online? Nope. Okay. >> Another resounding night. >> All right. See none, we'll move on with the business part of the meeting. Uh we need a motion. First of all, is there any old business or unfinished business? Great. Seeing none. Motion to adopt the board policies as listed. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Questions. All in favor? >> Opposed? A motion to elect Holly Arnold as the PSBA president for 2026? >> Second. >> Questions? >> You want Do you want to take these as a batch? >> Yes. Uh motion to approve Holly Arnold uh for president, Matt Fedoy for vice president, and uh Kathy Swope for seat one, Roberta Marcus for seat 2 as the PBA insurance trust trustees through December 31st of 2028. And I guess the other one

099is also included a motion to elect Trisha Cusino, Christina D'Angelus, Jamie Zorski as PBA PSBA school board secretaries forum steering committee members through December of 2027. And don't ask me to repeat that moved. >> Second questions >> I. >> All in favor? >> Oppose. Okay, good. Should we put in this section uh Wayne's resolute Wayne Wayne's motion since it's >> It would be in this section, right? So, um could we have another reading of that motion because I don't have it in front of me. >> Uh motion motion to appoint the superintendent as the district's point of contact for the district special construction council with Lyman and Ash. >> So move second. >> Questions? >> All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion to approve revisions for the timeline of the ATSI addition which stands for additional

100targeted support and improvement plans for Lehman intermediate high school North and High School South. >> Some moved. >> Second. >> Questions? >> All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion to approve the updated agreement of lease and the Monroe uh with the Monroe Area Tech School as presented. >> I move questions. Just just for the record, the the land is for the board members don't understand, the land was set up as a as a a an authority that run that actually owns the land and the building sits on top. That's why we're leasing land that we think we own. It it we it's just a formality. Okay. Thank you for the clarification. All in favor? I >> opposed. Motion to authorize the field trips as listed. >> Move to the second. >> Second. >> Any questions? >>

101All in favor? I >> opposed. >> Motion to approve the implementation of the following intramural clubs. >> Second >> questions. All I could say is there are a lot of them I would like to join. >> Why is it a question? >> The the uh only two of the elementary school has ski clubs. is that >> so this is a brand new process that we have brought that I had talked to the board about um that we had some conversations last spring about what would prompt a new activity so what we did was we created a new process it's new so all the forms are slowly trickling they're not all here yet >> correct >> yep we got some time for ski club George don't push ski club yet >> any other between now and

102October I just saw the two. I just picked that for. >> No, good point. Good question. Thank you. Um, any other questions or concerns? Then all in favor? >> I opposed. >> Motion to approve the recommendation to modify expulsion agreement. Uh, requirement upon, excuse me, requirement agreed upon expulsion, waiver of schoolboard hearing release agreement in the case listed is substantially the same form as presented at the meeting. Determinations indicating the infractions were not manifestation of a disability were applicable subject to the final review of the school district's administration and legal counsel. >> Second >> questions. All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion to approve the settlement agreement for employee 9274 is presented. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Questions? >> All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion to approve theou between the East Straburg Area School District

103and the East Straburg Area Education Association with respect to participating in the early college program dual enrollment program with Northampton Community College. >> Second >> questions. >> All in favor? I >> opposed. Motion to approve the termination of employee 10542 having concluded that the charges are sufficient to support termination. Some move. >> Second. >> Questions? All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion to approve the employment actions listed in accordance with the associated applicable policies, procedural, and contractual agreements and they are listed in that attachment. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Questions? All in favor? >> I oppose. Motion to approve the adjudication of the board of school directors concerning an employee termination hearing held on August 12th, 2025 as presented. >> Second. >> Questions? All in favor? >> I I >> opposed. I >> I'm

104sorry. >> Okay. >> We want to >> We voted to Yeah. >> Sorry. I retract. >> She got confused. >> Yes. Yeah. That's >> Sorry, I was reading ahead. >> So, was there a um an 80 vote on that one? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> All right. Good. Thank you. Motion to approve the resolution from Burkheimr as presented. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Questions. All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Motion to award items A through E in accordance with the recommendations from the education program resource committee and finance committee. >> So move second >> questions. All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion to approve the payment of bills and unawited treasures report listed the agenda for the 2526 fiscal year in accordance with section 687 of the public school code recent directance

105from the department of ed and interpretations made by the auditor general >> move second >> questions all in favor >> I >> opposed >> I >> a motion to approve the payment of the following CHA invoices applications of payment for services rendered and change orders in accordance with the recommendation from the property facilities committee and finance committees. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Questions? All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion to approve the request to establish student activity funds for High School North and High School South class of 2029. That doesn't seem possible. >> That's a second. >> Okay. Questions? All in favor? I >> opposed. Motion to approve the request to renew the already established student activity funds as listed. >> So move. >> Second. >> Questions. All in favor? >> I opposed. Motion to

106approve the request to establish a special activity fund for the high school south young women in medicine. So moved. >> Second. >> Questions? All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion to approve the request to renew the already established special activity funds listed and there are >> few pages of them. >> Move. >> Second. >> Questions. >> All in favor? I >> opposed. Motions to authorize and ratify the sale of 72 passenger propane school buses for the amount of no less than $10,000 in accordance with policy 706.1. >> So moved. >> Second. question. I have a question. I'm I'm I'm lost in the agenda. I'm just This This is on the future sale >> for the future sales. Correct. >> Yes. >> This is setting a a floor for us. Yeah. >> That we cannot go lower

107than $10,000 to >> Where's the Was there I I lost I'm more Where's the other motion? There's another motion for the >> for the ratification. >> A separate motion. >> Was there a separate motion >> to authorize and to ratify? >> So, it's both. So you're authorizing for the future. You're ratifying those that have already been sold. >> Yep. >> Oh, we're combining them. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Is is we is there I'm sorry. Is there a motion yet? I motion right? Is there So is are we agreement in 10,000 as the minimum? >> But we have to do that because of >> We have to do that. >> Well, they're not. You could you could amend your motion to ratify those that which have been sold for the prices they were sold and

108to set X as the ceiling going forward or um going forward. >> Floor, >> not the ceiling. >> The floor ceiling is unlimited. >> No, I don't think I mean looking at the sale of what was already sold, we've proven we can get up to $14,000 for buses at higher miles than what we have for sale right now. I don't I just think >> I think it's >> want to separate them and then we can have a discussion. >> Right. >> So, is there a new motion to separate? >> We have to separate. That's what I'm saying. >> I would second that motion if you want to make it. Ann >> uh what do we just leave the other one for now? >> Was that was already moved? >> Motion and second to separate the

109authorization and the >> and the two ratification and ratify. >> Second. I'm fine with that. >> Well, we already we have a motion to second to take a vote on. >> Okay. So, then all in favor of the separation. >> I I >> opposed. >> Wait, we're separate. That's motion >> to separate. Yes. Now, the ones that were already done. >> Motion to ratify the sales which have already occurred which are in your packet. >> So, move for the uh no less than 10. Okay. And any questions on that one? So >> this is for the >> we're saying the ones we've already sold that no amount of no less than 10,000 >> already >> previously sold. >> Correct. >> Okay. So in any other discussion then all in favor of that. >> Okay. Opposed?

110>> I >> opposed to that one. Okay. So we had a 71 on that one. Okay. Now, we want the motion to authorize the sale of 72 passenger propane school buses for an amount of no less than fill in the blank. >> So, I'm a little conflicted on this one. Um, and I appreciate that you opened that up. >> You are the bus guy. >> I am the bus guy. >> That's why you are the bus guy. That's why. >> So, I look at this and say, you know, that they the market has already said, hey, it's about 10,000 12,000 per bus, but I really think we should be getting 15 at least. And when they were diesel buses, we were getting about 32,000 I think we sold them back for when they were part

111of Roar. I'm still having a tr I'm still having trouble thinking that they're not in demand. There's still pretty good. There's still life left in these buses. I I'd say we this month maybe what we do is we say we're going to set the floor at, you know, 20,000. See what happens on the sale. If it's not reached, then, you know, we we drop it at the next >> we or can we see how much life is left of these buses and keep them on sale? We're getting the new buses in anyway. They're just going to sit there. >> Yeah, but they should. >> You already purchased new buses. >> We already purchased new buses. We need to get rid of these guys. >> So, what we're saying, Rich, is that we we set it

112at 20. If we find that we're getting no takers, then we get other >> and we readress it. >> That's a motion. >> I make a motion. >> Still discuss. >> This is still discussion. >> May I? So, it is my understanding that when the new buses were purchased, this wave of these 25 buses, that there was an offer on the table to trade in the buses somewhere between 17 and 18,000 and the board voted that down because they didn't think it was enough. I was not here for that. This is what I'm being told. Um, but that that trade in offer was somewhere between 17 and 18,000 and that that offer was rejected and we were not we did not trade them in. >> So that we're So now we're in possession of these

113buses and attempting to sell. I'm not saying it is fact. I do not have the board action to >> I'm just curious to see when we when we that was brought before us because I don't recall that being an offer. >> Okay. I'm not familiar with that. Even even that that would >> even that even that's lower than what Rich is suggesting. >> Yeah, >> that would probably be right though because Rich said $20,000. >> I I have nothing to lose with trying at a 20 and then lowering. >> So we we've put it on out for bid. >> Okay. >> And gotten this is what we've got when we put them all we put the whole fleet of these both pages out and these were the best deals we could get. I think we'd

114make our minimum at 20 and then see what happens if I mean the buses aren't going anywhere. >> Okay. >> That would be my recommendation. >> Okay. So then um you you made the motion. Yeah. So it would say 20,000. So I'll read it again. Motion to authorize the sale of 72 passenger propane school buses for an amount of no less than uh 20,000 in accordance with policy 706.1. So that's >> and he made the motion on second. >> Now we've already did the first and second. So now we're just voting on it. So that's who we're voting on. All in favor? >> I opposed. >> Okay. On your way out, anyone interested in a bus, uh, stop by. And >> do you want two? Two. I hear two. Anybody? Three. >> Just clarification. At

115what point can I come back and say we haven't sold? >> But you're going to put it you're going to put it out for, you know, 20 days, whatever it is on on the online auction. Yep. >> And if it doesn't meet the minimum bid requirement, then you come back to us and say, "Hey, look at it." Okay, >> Rich, you you're >> and what I will do is I will fact find >> that tradein deal and get >> I like Yeah, >> I'll remember that. >> It might have been one of those long meetings. I don't know. >> Okay, good. Thank you. Good discussion. I'm not sure. >> Motion to approve theou with the the budding seed early development center for the uh use of Res Elementary is the primary emergency evacuation site and

116Middle Smithfield as an alternate site as presented with the appropriate indemnification provisions approved by the solicitor. >> So moved. >> Second questions. All in favor? >> Opposed? Motion to approve the contracts listed for their specific services, rates, and effective dates subject to the review and recommendations of the solicitor and approval of any administration of the administration regarding the terms and conditions of any final contract other than price or cost. >> So move >> second >> questions. I'm going to abstain from the United Way motion. >> I will also abstain from the United Way. There's two of them. Okay. So, we have two abstensions for that. Any other concerns or questions? All in favor? >> I >> opposed. We have a motion to authorize Mr. John Sriki of Westchester University to perform the study and research

117among the district's K to5 elementary school teachers as presented. >> So, move second questions. >> Can we say what that study will focus on just for everyone's edification? Uh let me let me pull it up and read it >> and stress that's a stress one >> and just a note is it is a a research among the teachers not the students >> we're checking >> it is examining the relationship between elementary school teachers perceive stress and their perceived implementation of multi-tered system of supports and ex explan explanatory sequential mixed methods study approach. Oh, that clears up. >> That's much better stress than that. >> That's clear. >> Thank you. I'm >> the best public I'm sure the public they are now >> a stretch. I remember a stretch. >> Well, it can research is always

118good. >> Always good. >> You never know. >> Happy to help somebody out with their dissertation. >> Um any questions further? Okay. Then all in favor? >> Opposed. Uh next section is on enrollment refer to your books or information for that. And I just need unless there's any questions or >> motions. So something happened very quickly and it happened very quickly. >> I would like to possibly consider going back and I I hate doing this like because I would always yell at people when we did this but the um on the board agenda can I deal with this real quick? We kind of went through real quick, but um 1380 with conduct disciplinary procedures. >> Did we we all voted I on that? >> And I'm not sure that was what our intention was. Well,

119that wasn't my intention. >> You told me my intention was incorrect. >> No, I think you >> No. Oh, >> so it was a motion to approve the adjudication and the adjudication was to return the employee. >> Okay. Good. All right. Thank you. It was It was Yep. Thank you. It was as recommended by the floor moment. >> Yes. You had a moment to hear me. Thank you. Thank you. >> Oh, good. No, I'm glad we're >> good with the moment. >> Unless you want to reconsider. Am I hearing that? We're hearing >> okay with that. >> I don't believe that was the question though. >> Uh I'd make a motion to adjourn. >> Okay. Second. All in favor? >> Thank you, everyone. button.