001Good evening everybody. Um the purpose of this meeting is to conduct the business of the Gettysburg Area School District. Board of directors meetings committee meetings are open to the public but are not public meetings. All school district residents who wish to make public com comment should shine sign in prior to the start of the meeting and request to speak during citizens participation. School district residents speaking wishing to speak to the board shall do so only during the citizen participation section of the meeting. Public comment is welcome and all issues will be referred to the appropriate board committee or administrator. Comments will be summarized in the official board minutes which will be available by contacting the business office. Please take a moment to silence all of your electronic devices and your cell phones. Uh, prior to
002this meeting, the board conducted an administrative session, and we have all of our board members here except for Tim uh, Sigman, who is excused this evening. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. 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. All right, kicking things right off with uh Miss Wallen and our budget presentation, updates in the budget. Uh good evening. Um so uh we're going to prepare pro provide you an update to the budget. Um so if you next to the next slide please. So of course uh you saw this somewhat before but however this is just an updated version. So uh my point of providing this again is of course we're
003having a review which just updates this evening. April 20th we'll approve adopted advertised of proposed final which is the proposed final. It's not a final. And then on May 4th, we'll have a public hearing. Uh, one of the reasons I wanted to point this timeline out is the information May April 7th, April 20th, and May 4th will likely not change. It will be the same information just providing um information for the board as well as the public and for to provide hear from the public. uh it will not change simply because the information related to Homestead Farmstead will not come in till after pretty much the May 4th timeline. Additionally, we will plan to advertise the meeting um at the max index and then we will work down from there and I'll show you some
004information here relatively soon what that max index means. So, of course, our timeline in intact till we hope to have our budget approved by June 1st. Next slide. So, what was the change? I know we've talked a lot about um what what will we do to balance the budget in terms of the capital reserve, but truly what has changed and why the need for um consideration of a tax increase. So, of course, the special education comprehensive plan is one of the leaders. Um we with this budget proposal have two social workers with the removal of the family navigators. We had an additional supervisor of special education um which has been shared before. This is a goal to have one supervisor for elementary and one supervisor for the secondary all within the comprehensive plan again. Um
005and as well as um just to show that you know artistics, life skills, learning support is all uh growth in the part of the education the special education comprehensive plan. they all those items are related to that specifically and is one of the largest drivers of the budget. Um, additionally we're looking to uh add a technology department classified position to assist in those things that are listed there. Additionally, what other has increased? We had a contractual increases which is with salary with uh contracts. The piecers rate has increased service contracts such as other professional development uh contracts to provide professional services to the district, transportation, our software, hardware, and cameras installation and updates of cameras. This will be our third year for acti funding. Um as well as the cost of inflation. we're not obscured
006from having the cost of inflation affect us like just like every other household um around. So that's really what's changing. So it's not the standard items that we have had in the budget. It is the the items that are listed pretty much there that's driving the um the deficit in the budget. Next slide. So where are we at? um minimally um we spoke previously that 1% was for ACTI and then of course where we should be is somewhere between 3 and 12 to 4.2% with some changes anticipated in the end. So I mentioned a little earlier we will provide a budget advertised and on display and proposed final with the numbers of 4.2% with the understanding that we will likely come below that. Um but what rate of course will be determined as we move
007a little closer. So as such our revenues um without fund balance utilization 1% would be 81 million 3.5% would be 82.2 4.2% would be 82.5. Our expenditures are across the board are $83 million. And so then of course the unreconciled gap between revenue expenditures if it's 1% we're looking for 1.8 8 million 3 12% we're still looking for 850,000 4.2% 2% we're looking for 570,000. Um as we have done in the past years we have pro provided um a portion of the piecers committed funds fund balance um as a revenue stream for the increase of expenditures. In doing that of course we're looking at the addition of $2725 of addition to the budget. um as well. What that does then really reduces the gap that we're looking for. So um the unreconciled difference is 1.5
008million for 1% 3 and a.5% is a little over a half a million and then the 4.2% is like $298,285. Maintain fund balance policy says 6 to8%. Um if you recall when we reviewed the uh audited financial report it was 4.9 million for unassigned fund balance. Um to maintain 6% we need 4.9 million of unassigned fund balance. So in this budget proposal there is no intent to use unassigned fund balance. So I want to make that clear. Uh so we will need to find a revenue source at this point. I do not anticipate any additional expenditure cuts. Um what has changed from the last meeting to this meeting is we had several changes uh in terms of finding out new information for some of the contracts that we had in place. uh our insurance the
009only thing that's outstanding is our insurance renewals uh in terms of professional professional liability building uh liability um the package policy uh however I don't determine that it's going to be a huge increase that would have greatly affect the expenditure line but we were updating as we were receiving new information from the previous meeting to this meeting um but moving forward I don't see the $83 million changing significantly daily to um change that unassigned fund balance or to change the gap drastically. Uh next slide. So these are slides and I will say with a a caveat here these slides are looking directly at revenue uh streams local, state and federal. The local is slightly lower than the previous slide simply because we're presenting these slides based upon a 0% increase because I don't want to
010preempt the board to say we want 3.5% or 4.2% of additional revenue when there has no been has not been an action taken as to what that tax increase look like. So these few slides here remaining are based upon a 0% tax increase and basically they're showing the difference between a local, state and revenue sources between 26 to 27 budget local revenue 55 million state revenue 24.4 and federal at 1.1. Now we will also um anticipating to rece continue receiving federal revenue. So, of course, if that comes out that we are to um not obtain federal revenue in title one, two, three or four, that could obviously change our budget. I have not heard to date. So, we are still planning on moving forward um with those revenue streams for federal dollars. Next slide. Here's
011a summary detail of the revenue of and of itself. And as you can see the sorry what slide was this slide represents the um actuals of 25 the budget of 26 and the budget of 27. seven. Um, and then of course the percent change and the dollar change. So, for example, our current real estate taxes. And if you recall, I did do an update to the board, the difference between the assessment values that we were factoring in at a previous meeting. So, here is the proposed um real estate taxes as they currently stand from the latest um assessment data that we obtained. Um, our budget for real estate taxes is 38 million, which is a 4.3% change over the 26 budget. Of course, our earned income also a 4.9% increase change you can see is
012um anticipated to go uh 453,493 over our current budget. Um the reality transfer tax again um small increase but still 4.29% 29%. And the delinquent real estate tax increases is 1.3% projected uh over our 2026 budget. All other revenue sources are are or for local sources increase in a total of 12.76%. Um so overall our local revenue went from 55.2 million over the 52.5 million which is a 5.1% 5.12% increase. um nearly a 2.689 natural increase without considering tax increases. Our state source revenue um again uh we have our basic education funding estimated at 1.29% increase. These numbers are relatively small in the scope of the the the budget and the scope of revenue. Um the special education budget was pretty much flat. Uh when you think of the the dollar change in of itself,
013transportation again actually went down a little bit from the estimates that were provided to us. State share of social security and medical taxes are typically half of what our expenditure is. Um and we have been typically receiving half from the state source in that aspect. Uh as you can see the retirement contributions also is half. So those two items the social security and the retirement are based upon the salaries that were in the budget. So our total state revenue um is anticipated to go up $749,557 above the 26 budget in terms of 3.16%. Federal revenue as you can see slight increase. Um those numbers are based upon we are currently receiving. So of course that could fluctuate from year to year. Um then the revised numbers have not come out yet. So we are still
014anticipating to uh currently receive or account for 205,000 in the current year which will be a part of the next year's funding. And of course then our total revenue overall local, state, and federal um $80.8 million 4.65% and this is a 3.594417 increase over the 26 budget. Next slide. Here's this represents our expenditures in of itself and broken down between three major categories. Salaries and benefits, purchase of services and supplies and equipment. Uh salaries and benefits um in terms of object on our budget is the 100 and 200 series. Professional services of course includes all special education services, transportation services and so forth. Um that's the 3 4 500 series objects. Supplies and equipment are the six, seven, and 800 900 equipment category of objects. Salaries and benefits of course 2.75% change from the prior
015year 40.7 million. Purchase of services 20 million.2 which is a 7.36% change from prior year. And of course supplies and equipment is a 14.46 46 change from prior year of $4.3 million. Next slide. This provides just a little bit more detail on a chart like in a form um where you can see the difference outlined between each of the sections. So salaries of course make up the largest portion of the salary and benefits which is 5.66% for the entire district. And of course the employee benefits down slightly 1.23% from prior year. So the total salaries and benefits that was was stated in the previous slide 48.7 million with 2.75% overall increase from the current budget. Purchases services all purchase professional and technical services IU is really where that is falling. So we are going from
016$6.1 million in the 26 fiscal budget to um $6.5 million an increase of approximately 470,000 7.69%. Purchase of property services are um exactly related to property services. Um that's actually a little bit of a decrease. And then of course other purchases services these will be outside services that we also obtain um services from. Um so that is going on an increase of 7.97% a $950,000 change from prior year's budget. Uh what I'd like to say with the supplies and equipment as I may have mentioned before if you quite remember supplies here are not just classroom supplies our supplies involve software hardware um tax materials consumables along with uh supplies to the classroom. So um it's it while it tends to increase 10 it's actually increasing 10.56% it's not related to classroom needs it's related to
017software and computer needs which is also servicing the classroom um is is where the largest portion is uh our property of course is um 9 96.14% um and this is services that are equipment related to a to property And then of course our debt services and transfers are listed below truly funding our um outstanding debt. Uh no specific change there. We budget the principle and interest of every one of the debt instruments that we have. Um and it's based upon the amortization schedule. So that can change you know yeartoear based upon what theort schedule calls for. So um overall our debt services 6.78%. And um overall our expenditures are 4.8% over prior year's budget which is $3.8 million. And I believe that'll conclude the presentation. So as I mentioned before with our timeline the next
018phase of our budget we will approve, adopt and advertise a proposed final. We will prepare the documents related to a 4.2% increase because that's the max and that'll be out. We ask the board to approve that. That is not the final. That is just setting the stage as to what the maximum would be. That is our ability to provide the necessary documents needed in order to prepare for the finalization. Um so it's it's just showing what that max is. It's not saying that that is what the max will be. Um, we still need to make decisions as to what do we want to do. If you could, um, Vanessa, if you could go to the next slide, please. I'm sorry, the next one. We need to decide what we're comfortable with and what. Sorry, this
019one. Yes. So, as you could see, the deficit there, if we just go 1% is 1.5 million. If we go 3.5%, it's 577,000 and 4.2 to is $298,285 that we still need to look for. So options there which we can discuss as a board at the upcoming meetings um as well as the public hearing um the options that you have really which we have historically done is decrease the capital reserve funding. Right now it's set in the the in the budget as $1 million based upon the capital plan, the five-year capital plan. Um we historically when we needed and looked for money that was the first area to cut uh in hopes that we would not necessarily cut into the continual improvements of the district on the capital plan. There are there are other options
020available too. There are taking some assigned funds that we have specific to the increases in the budget to assign as well and use. I will say using assigned funds as it is, it's a one-time deal. Once those funds are gone, they're gone. Um, so that's like basically two options. The homestead farmstead numbers that are we will be anticipating to come will likely not produce $298,000. So, um, really providing you the options of what what are you comfortable with? um and how will we address it? Either by using assigned funds or by cutting capital reserve um and bringing it down for the 5-year plan. Those really are the two options that are available uh unless we decide to do um a tax increase of this nature. So, could we get to 1%? Sure. but we're using
021a lot of assigned funds andor cutting the entire capital plan funding mechanism that's in place in the budget. Um, and we'd still be looking for some more money um in terms of balancing. Uh, if if you were to ask me or any one of the administrators, we would be comfortable with 3.5%. So, we're still looking for over half a million dollars. Um, and it would not be cutting into the capital reserve quite as bad. um or as utilizing those assigned funds quite as as bad as well. Um we feel as to 4.2% is not something that we're wanting to recommend. We don't want to recommend the max index and I don't think we necessarily have to recommend the max index. It's just we need to be cognizant of how we will address the deficit. Um
022because realizing this is the first year that we will not have an assigned fund balance to balance the budget moving forward. Thank you, Belinda, for the overview and also the comments at the end. I think um I will leave room here for questions, but I'm going to start with a couple. Um when you talked about next meeting and what we're what is on the agenda for the 20th, um you were saying something about 4.2%. I would just like you to repeat what it is that we're doing on the April 20th meeting to clarify. >> So, we will prepare an action item for an increase of proposed final of 4.2% which will be those numbers in that column. Um, and then we will have all the necessary documents on for display for 30 days. That same
023information along with what it would be to get to 3.5% would be what's going to be reviewed at the budget hearing on the 4th. >> Correct. Then of course on May 18th then there'll be decisions where do we want to go? So there'll be plenty of open forum public discussion as a board as to where we feel comfortable with the budget in terms of what an increase looks like andor using capital reserve funds or assigned funds to balance the budget. >> Okay. And we can continue to ask these questions, but what I'm hearing from you is that the majority of our discussion surrounding that in these meetings will be on May 4th and May 18th. >> That's correct. >> Thank you. Um, the only other question I have just to better understand with my Tuesday
024post breakin is assigned funds. Your your general explanation of assigned funds actually confused me. So, I'm wondering, can you reexlain what that is in terms of an option to save money? >> Vanessa, could I ask you do a favor? >> Thank you. >> Could I ask you to go out to the website and to do the last presentation to the board? >> I do know we have this has been reviewed. I know that >> it has and the presentation is available on the website but if she can bring it up I'll review it once more >> that more of those specifics are on that presentation. >> Yes. >> Sorry. >> Because I think leading up to this um where where my mind is going is leading up to the meetings where we have more robust
025discussion about what the decisions are we will be making. It's helpful to know to remember what those um specific options are. Yes, the balance sheet presentation. And I apologize if I had the the thing. You'll need to go down scroll down to where the um discussion of assigned unassigned funds are. If you can keep scrolling here. Okay. Yeah, keep scrolling. Sorry. Okay. So, we are heading into the general fund um balance up a little more. There we go. Stop. Okay. All right. So, um these here items are the general fund which is committed. So, these fund balances are committed. They're not able to be used. They're for a committed purpose. If you go to the next slide down, Vanessa, here are the assigned funds on the fund balance. These are assigned for a specific reason.
026Um, these are typically assigned by the business manager when we are finalizing the audit. These are items that we can use specific to the needs of the budget as they increase. So for example, the 1.23 23 million which is listed as capital reserve assignment. That number could be used in portion that could be number could be used in full to balance the budget because we have $1 million in the budget of capital reserve. So you can use a portion of this, you can use all of it, but I will say once it's used it's gone. Um there is no more assigned funds in terms of capital reserve. Um, our medical insurance is not increasing, so I would not recommend using assigned funds for that. Um, our safety and security grant, uh, from the grant, it's
027not increasing, so I would not recommend using funds from that. Uh, the technology improvements, um, I'd like to keep that set aside simply because, uh, there will be more future technology needs that, um, will help offset the budget maybe the following year. And then of course um the future borrowing cost which is there as we set aside uh for the next starting to set aside for the next project um as in terms of borrowing. So when I mention about using assigned funds what I'm really talking about here is using some portion of the $1.2 million >> For capital improvements. Okay. Yes. >> Thank you. That's helpful. >> Thank you for pulling back up an an older document. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> All right. Great question. >> Yeah. Thank you. Now that I've asked all
028of my questions, sorry to take the time first. Is there anyone who has uh more questions for Belinda about that presentation? >> There are probably a couple, but you can start. Dave, >> I just have a question for Belinda. Linda, have you done an analytic of what it would take annually at your maximum index to make up for the past fiscal neg negligence of not taxing properly to balance your budget? Uh Dave, I have not done an analytics um simply because we would never be able to catch up with being underneath the index to um fund us appropriately for the past years uh to the index. So it would be too much of a change that I don't think we could substantially um take on that portion that was left off the table, so to
029speak. Okay. Well, that's what I thought, but I wanted to find out if you did it. >> Great. Thanks, Melinda. >> Other questions? >> I have two. Just a quick clarifying one for slide six, which has um the budget summary revenue detail. The 80 million there is assuming the last line of total revenue at the bottom for fiscal year 27. That's assuming that's without any tax increase. >> Yeah, the 80 million is presenting without a tax increase. >> So all the percent change increases for real estate taxes and earned income are based on current tax rates and those are changes because of new builds or changes in assessments and everything else. >> Yes, the change in assessments. Correct. >> Thanks that that I just needed that for for clarity sake. But then I had a
030a question also for clarity sake about the committed piecers fund. um the 272,000 that I think is mentioned on slide four. Um and just the proposed use of the piece commitment. Um it's got the word commitment in there. And so I'm just uh wondering what what that actually entails and and if it is potentially exposing us to >> some issues down the road. >> It's not going to expense uh expose us to issues down the road. So a few years ago, the board had set aside x number of dollars for piecers because we knew we were going from nearly 14% to 38% over the few years. So at that particular point in time, and I I can't remember the exact year, it was on the um the uh presentation that Vanessa just had up. So
031it's available on the website. Um but it was uh a fund set aside and every year we do u Mr. form does a calculation based upon what the new rate of piecers is what that call will be and the 272,590 is just a pration utilization of that piecers committed funds to apply. So anytime piecers is increasing we're able to take a portion of that commitment and apply that to the actual increase moving forward. Sorry, just as a followup because we're on the topic then is that that's calculated then basically as like what we can tolerate taking from the piecers commitment and and so it I mean just how much wiggle room is there within that calculation. >> We we keep those funds set specifically for the piecers increase. So this is looking at your uh
032salary accounts times the piecers rate and then of course half of that portion is what the state should be providing us. So the yeartoyear portion if the piecers goes 30% to 31% we're looking at 1% use of committed funds to help. So there's no more pull on tax rates to help fund the piecers where you're using those committed funds. Does that help? Okay, >> thanks R. >> So Belinda, even with a 4.2% increase, we would still be over a half a million dollars out of balance. And you're thinking, well, I I think you uh the administrative team is thinking around 3.5 to make up that $850,000 difference. Most of that would be taken from capital reserve. >> Uh yes, if first first if it's unreconciled 850,000 is got >> what's unreconciled. What we're saying here
033is we're going to take that 850,000 apply the pieers commitment >> because the piecers portion is increasing. So which actually brings the the the gap down, you know, the available funds minus that gap down to a little over half a million dollars. So, we're really technically looking for half a million dollars at three and a half%. >> Right. And when it comes to assigned fund balance or or assigned balances, you all really don't aren't recommending. That's really one-time money to try to balance a budget that's really in then we don't have that money in that area that we uh uh perceive that we're going to need in the future. >> That's correct. >> Yeah. using assigned funds. Yeah. >> And in what what I mentioned earlier, um once it's used, it's gone. And so then
034you've got to address future years what to make up with those funds, >> right? And a ACTI, I know uh we mentioned here this is our third year we're committing to it. >> Has it been is it um how much are we committing to it? >> Sure. It's about 365,000 a year. 365,000 is 1% for us. So, this budget has all but $900,000 associated with uh ACTI and we need five years. So, this is three of five. So, we need two more years yet to make sure that we're building in for ACTI's future loan. And the hope there, I think according to the Joocc, they're pretty close to looking at some uh good options for a land purchase, which I I think is going to really set it off then uh once um the county
035sees we're serious about uh ACTI that uh we'll we'll get some other contributions there. Um but technically we if the board would choose the capital reserve and any of the assigned monies or whatever could be utilized if if we so chose >> not not that we're recommending that. >> Great. >> All right. Thank you. >> Yeah. Thank you. Appreciate that. So, Belinda, how did we allocate the $50,000 adequacy funding that we received from the recent state budget? >> We didn't. It's not proposed for us for next year. >> Did we receive it for this year? >> We received it this year, but it's not in the proposal for next year. >> Okay. But I'm curious, where did it go this year? >> Um, it just it comes in as basic ed subsidy as additional subsidy.
036>> Okay. All right. Thanks. >> So, if we didn't budget for it >> Yeah. which we didn't in the current year because it was not necessarily a guaranteed >> it when it came comes in it'll go into fund balance >> and then it'll be applied for the following year. >> Okay. And we won't really know for next year, right? Until the state passes the budget. >> Correct. It's proposed but we we're not we're not counting on that proposal at this particular point. We're only preparing a budget on known facts in terms of basic ed subsidy. >> Okay. uh the average increase per household for the 4.2% or 3.5%. Do you have an idea of what that would be? >> We plan to provide a calculator in the upcoming meetings so you have a clear understanding
037what that is. But we like to reserve uh doing that until we know what the homestead farmstead numbers are. Um because sometimes that number as that increases will lessen the burden for the taxpayer. >> And when and you said already I know but when will we expect that information? It's due to come out May, beginning of May. So, we will likely have that information by May 18th to present to the board and to show what that would look like for the average um parcel. >> Mhm. Okay. Any additional questions on the budget? >> Have comments? >> Uh, okay. One moment. Any additional questions before we have a comment? Okay, keeping in mind that we will be also discussing this further at next meeting. Um Dave, if your comment is related to what has been presented,
038then you can say it. >> Okay. First of all, if you're going to deplete unassigned funds, you're robbing PE robbing Peter to pay Paul and just pushing it down the road as the past boards have over the last eight years. So you're just exponentially increasing your issue. The capital funds I think you need to identify which projects you're not going to do rather than just say broadly we're going to take X out. So, I'm here by making a motion to have a special admin meeting before our next meeting, an hour before to understand what direction we can head because I don't know that any of us has enough information yet to make critical decisions in May. So, I'd like that be brought to a vote if possible with a second. So, I'm hearing Dave made
039a motion for a meeting. Um, keeping in mind that if it is an administrative session and it is um voting in any regard that it would need to be um a a public meeting um that is advertised ahead of time. So, I'm hearing a motion and uh that it is looking that I'm hearing a motion. Second. >> I don't hear a second for that at this moment, Dave. So, um, what we'll plan to do is at our next meeting, we do have, uh, let me pull back up what was just open. >> Just say second. Alison, >> we do not have a second here at the table. Um, hold on. I'm looking for >> Could we repeat the motion one more time? I'm sorry. I uh another senior moment. >> Go ahead, Dave. You can
040say what your motion was again. And now is asking you to repeat it. >> I recommend that we a motion to have a an administrative meeting for an hour before our next board meeting to further understand our options because to go straight into May decision time to me is shortsighted and everybody needs to understand where the money's going to come from. So, >> I don't think we're at a level of education and understanding to make decisions. >> So, we heard the motion repeated. Thank you for repeating it. Um, the motion has been stated again. We don't currently have a second for that motion. Um, but what we do have, just reminding people of the timeline that's on the table, um, that we're not voting on the budget until >> June 1. So, as of right
041now, um, I'm not sure if you're able to be looking at the timeline right now, Dave, where you are, but this is in that document that Belinda shared with us for the presentation this evening. We have one, two, three more meetings. Two of which in May, May 4th and May 18th are specifically set to discuss these items that you are referring to with ample time to ask questions and discuss as a board and the public including the public hearing where the public can comment on it. So the it is built into the process of the budget to have a lot of time to do exactly what it is that you are asking for. We are not voting on the final budget at our next meeting. >> I know we weren't. >> Correct. So, as of
042right now, because there is no second on that, that is the schedule that we will follow. Um, are there any other questions on the budget review presentation for today? >> Just a clarification. Um, something that Dave had said, Belinda, I want to confirm. When you talk about that $1 million from the capital reserve funds, that's not taking money away from from funds that are allocated to capital projects. This is a reserve fund. Correct. >> This is this is money sitting in the general fund operations budget >> to fund the capital like PR plan. Excuse me. So, we set a million dollars in the general fund budget as a line item expenditure that we would move to the capital plan to fund those projects. Um, the capital plan has been approved, but for obviously some discussions
043we can reduce that level of funding. It is subjective to what the board chooses to do with the general fund portion of the capital plan. And just as a correction, like the next meeting will approve a proposed final, but it is not the final. Like there's still lots of work to do. >> There's room for discussion and changes um before the final vote. >> Correct. Thank you. >> Can I add some context and flavor to what Belinda said, and it may help some some of the newer board members? So, in previous years, to help balance the budget, we would have the administration reallocate some of the money that was set aside for the capital improvement plan for that year. And what what they would do is they would take a portion of that money and
044Josh and the facilities team would reprior rep prioritize certain projects and may not do them in that current calendar year, but may push them off a year or may juggle something to do it in a different order. So, it's it's not permanently robbing that money. It's just using it at a different time in a different manner. It's just being agile with your budgeting and and project planning. Am I am I overstating that? Okay. >> Yeah. Thank you, Mike. It's helpful um to know that we would be looking at the impact more in more detail. Okay. Uh we are going to move on from that for this evening, but again, much more to come with the budget uh next as soon as next meeting. There's no citizens participation this evening. So, we are moving on to
045routine approvals. I'm looking for a motion to take 5.1 the agenda. 5.2 the regular board meeting minutes from the 2nd. 5.3 regular board meeting minutes from the 16th. The approval uh 5.4 approval of the Clowny Transportation Drivers. 5.5 approval of Jacobe Transportation Drivers. And 5.6 human resources recommendations. I'm looking to take all of those items together in a vote. >> So moved. >> Second. Any comments or questions? >> Yes. I I think I speak on behalf of all of us. I hope I can do that to congratulate Susan Yingling on her retirement after 25 years as assistant secretary at our high school. We wish her all the best. >> Thanks, Kathleen. All right, let's take a vote. There's the end of the line there. All right, Ryan, >> yes. >> Donna, yes. Kathleen, >> yes.
046>> Al, >> yes. >> Justine, >> yes. Mike, >> yes. >> Dave, Dave. Oh. All right. Well, he's not there. And I vote yes. All right. Moving on to information items. Uh, we're going to start with 7.1. um non-resident student and I believe uh Dr. McFarland has some information about this item. >> Good evening. Yes, I've been in communication with a family uh who are really excited about the opportunities Gettysburg Area School District and our high school have to offer. They do not live in the Gettysburg Area School District boundaries uh in talking to them have talked them through the process of enrollment uh through registration, board approval through policy 202 and then tuition uh to which they have all been agreeable to. So, this is an information item for you guys here uh for
047voting, I believe, at our next meeting. >> Great. Thank you. Any questions about that item? >> Uh Dr. McFarland, we did we didn't recruit a great athlete here, did we? Or something. >> I'm not sure about that. We'll find out. >> Okay. >> Just likely a great kid, right? All right. Uh moving on to 7.2. Our first policy on uh the agenda this evening, policy 125, adult education. This policy is revised. The revisions are in red. Comments or uh questions on this, Kathleen? Go ahead. >> I have a couple of questions. Thank you. Is this policy uh really written for um adult well is it is it specific toward the achievement of a high school diploma or eighth grade graduation certificate? Is that the purpose of this adult education? >> Yes. >> I mean that
048is the purpose of it, right? >> Wait. >> So when you're saying that is the purpose of it. So what >> the purpose of this policy? So it's an adult education. >> Yes. >> Policy. And is the real purpose of it so someone can achieve a high school diploma or eighth grade graduation certificate? >> Yes. I mean there there is a series of services that districts are expected to be providing which um and the 1901 the section 1901 it just just instructional and recreational services um and it talks about adult education um and it doesn't necessarily talk about a diploma or an eighth grade but it just talks about adult education as being a a an expected extension type of education um that's that's offered I don't know. But I didn't want to talk with
049doctors Matt Sner and McFarland like I don't know the history like this policy has been around. This wasn't a new policy. We revised it. But I did wonder what the premise like what your history is in providing it any adult education which I know many districts have these policies and nobody no adults are ever showing interest. So it doesn't really come. >> We have not had any since I've been here that I'm aware of. >> Yeah. Well, in the authority section, it mentions the achievement of high school diplomas, eighth grade graduation certificates, credits toward graduation, which led me, you know, to think that. But I have to say, when I first started reading and I thought, oh, adult ed, are we going to be offering, I don't know, like underwater basket weaving for adults, like
050no, that's not it. This is really about getting your credential. >> Yeah. This is for the purpose of you're you're older than graduation than 18, but you want to get your diploma. Yeah. >> All right. Thank you. And I think at the bottom of that document there may be some old language that might want to go. Starts with utilize appropriate staff members. >> Yeah, I saw that too. It's just after the list item. >> So >> yeah. Yeah, it's beyond the list. Yeah, I guess. >> Okay, thank you. That's it. Any other comments on policy 125? I I just have a pretty generic question about um ACTI and if this would apply, if our policies um in, you know, from our participating um districts for ACTI would have reach into their programs or are they
051autonomous in terms of this type of of policy? I just don't know. >> That's probably a Lee question. >> Lee, did you hear that question? >> Oh, I'm listening. this is all new like we don't have very many adult ed policies that come up and so I'm I'm hearing your question about ACTI and your question would be like whether ACTI could absorb some of the responsibilities or expectations of this policy I think it's possible I think that it depends on the joint operating committee of ACTI right so what are they willing to provide an offer that probably seems like a more appropriate place and that might be where many of the other clients that I work with where I who don't have this policy are probably relying on on their local um career and technical
052education center. Um and so I think it's reasonable to ask. Um I don't think there's a limit one way or the other. If the if if jointly the handful of districts comprising ACTI say yeah this would be a great service then jointly it could be offered in lie of of what the district's offering. But I think if it's not at the moment that's where this this plays in. But yeah it's a good question. Any other questions on policy 125? Okay, seeing none, we're going to move on to uh 7.3 policy 011. Um this says it's a new policy. Uh we were this was brought to our attention uh by Justine. We were she was going through our board training and it referenced um having this policy um for school boards. It's basically the well it
053says right here it's the standards and code of conduct uh principles for governance and leadership just kind of the standard what is the expectation of the board. Um, I believe, um, Lee can speak differently to this if this is true, but I believe there used to potentially be something like this written and then as we were reworking maybe it it's wasn't there, but we decided that we wanted to put it back down in R. >> You mean as a board? >> I don't know that history. Maybe like my brothers might know, but when I got here, it wasn't in place, but most many boards have it in place, but I don't know. >> Yeah. Okay. in in my brain, I'm remembering like maybe even way back in 2019 that it was, but maybe I'm wrong.
054Either way, uh it's a good thing to have in writing. Now, there are two different options here, um which I believe are fairly similar, but just kind of formatted different ways. So, um if you could speak to that, Lee about So, so this policy is not required in any way. It is a policy drafted and I that makes sense that Justine would have learned about it through PSBA training. They drafted it. It's a an understanding of how boards get along a certain expectation of operational interactions. So whether you the I don't the differences I mean one I think the the one that talks about code of conduct I think that's slightly older um than the older one that talks about principles for governance and leadership. I think that's the more recent one. That's where most
055of my other clients have the principles for governance and leadership versus the code of conduct, but some of my clients still have code of conduct. So, it's it's it it is really just setting the stage for how you as a board interact and and incorporating like m Dr. Matsner and sort of like the board of 10. >> Mr. President, Miss M. President, >> yes, I'll go ahead. I would just say uh I I do believe uh this uh gives us a good reminder of uh how we should be interacting with one another and good group dynamics and so on. Uh and just you know having this as a resolution or approved by our board. I just uh think it it just uh proves that we, you know, we're committed to having positive and productive meetings
056and the group dynamics that we all mutually respect one another. And I do believe uh at some point my first year on the board, I thought I remembered us having a certificate somewhere posted on a wall or whatever. And I I think we just lost track of that along the way. But I I think it's good stuff. >> Yeah. Was that a PSBA certificate? I think I think pre-COVID they would visit and they would during board appreciation month they'd visit and they'd hand out certificates and whatnot. I feel like post 2020 it's not happening but not intentionally just you know lots going on. >> Yeah absolutely. >> Well I I have to say I agree I don't see any downside to having this. I mean and I think it's really beneficial especially for people who
057are new to board positions you know to know okay this is what's expected. I think it's really helpful. No, we wouldn't be voting on this until the next meeting, but um I wonder if it kind of does it sort of behoove us to figure out which format we like better. >> Yeah, you probably should pick an option. >> Okay. >> Like not voting, but >> yeah, just kind of general consensus. Any opinions on format? It's pretty much it's very similar content. I I would say that it gets into more detail um on the bullet points for the board governance standards code of conduct one. Uh but the categorizing bold headings on uh the principles for governance and leadership is pretty slick in my opinion. I think it reads reads in a cool way. It also
058seems like it's newer. That's kind of where my brain went, but I'm up I'm up for either opinions, thoughts. >> There's just a couple >> Oh, Karen, I'm so sorry. Thank you for the wave. I was zoning into my computer. Go ahead, Karen. >> Um, I just want to say I mean I like both of them um but you know not as a board member just looking that the um 011 there's a lot more in there and if you want to make sure you're following it maybe it's too detailed. >> Mhm. >> But which one? They're both 01. >> Yeah. >> Oh well I thought one was >> No, one had a different number on it. >> There's O1 was >> O there's O1 and >> Oh okay. Yes. >> So, um I was supposed
059to say one >> they actually have different titles. >> I wanted to point that out. >> One is title principles for governance and leadership and the other option is board governance standard/code of conduct. So the titles are different. >> Yeah, that's a good point Karen. Um that the school governance one is way more detailed in that regard. >> Yeah. the the code of conduct one, the board governance standards code of conduct has got a couple of references to complying with board policy for media engagement and for um applicable local, state, and federal laws. And I just feel like it leaves us open to maybe not having explicit policies that we then have to make in order to be able to adhere. So I my preference is for um the first one, principles of governance and
060leadership. Thanks, Ryan. Anyone else? I prefer that one as well. I think that we might want some language change in the section that's planned thoughtfully. Um, do we want to begin each of those four bullet points with adopt? So for instance, you know, does the board adopt annual goals that are aligned with the comprehensive plan or do we set them? Does the board develop a financial plan or does the board adopt a financial plan? Does the board formulate a master facility plan or does it adopt one? I I have to agree. I like using the word adopt on all. >> I also like that plan much better than the the other one. It's it's clearer to me what's expected. >> So you want to just so I'm clear, Kathleen, you're saying to change the wording
061on all four of those bullet points to start with the word adopt. >> Yes. The first bullet point does begin with adopt. Two, three, and four currently do not. >> It sets a different intention for what um our role is, I think, in all of those things, right? Which is more accurately reflective of what what we do. Anyone have um anyone averse to having the principles document be the one that we um kind of adjust and move to the to the vote next meeting. All right, great. Well, then let's say that that's the one that we want to move forward uh to to actually get a chance to vote on >> and we'll change the wording on those bullet points. >> Wonderful. Thanks. Any other questions on that policy? Okay, moving on to 7.4. Policy
062712, school security is revised. Um, it kind of goes handinhand with the 7.5, although you can ask questions separately about it. Um, the administrative guideline, which we don't vote on, is there for just your reference. It is all changing a title. Um, so school security is changed to school supervision in both of those items or school event staff. It's just a change in title. Questions or comments on those that policy or administrative guideline? >> Dr. Dalton, I'm just guessing the uh intent the spirit of the intent behind that was that staff uh and security staff provide supervision, but they're not technically security people. that there's a little bit of a different role there. >> That's correct. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> I'll just answer that one for you. >> Which policy member re refers
063to actual security? >> What did you say? >> What policy actually refers to security? So, this is no longer about security. It's about supervision. But oh, all the 800s. There's which we're working on. I'm working on with Officer Bibons. around 805.1 and 805.2. There's a whole series of security policies, but we're working through them based on new laws and whatnot. Yeah. >> Thank you so much. And since we've changed some of this language, do we want to change the title of this as well to something like school supervision >> because I think we have the word security in the title. >> That's listed in there as well, >> right above the attachment. the name changes. >> Oh, yes. Changes include changing title to school supervision. >> Thank you. >> Inoc. >> Got it. I appreciate
064that. I read that as the title in Anyway, that's fine. Yes. Thank you for clarifying. Any other um comments on 7.4 4 or the AG for 7.5. All right, we're going to move on to 7.6. That's the ACTI general fund operating budget for the 2627 uh school year. We do have um Sean Eggenroe coming in to talk to us about this next meeting uh on the voting portion of it. Um, so tonight if you have comments or questions about it, we can gather those um and and provide them for him um so he can kind of help prepare that uh for our next meeting. So any comments or questions on the general fund operating budget for ACTI? Okay, seeing none, um if any questions do arise, uh we will get a chance to ask those
065as well at next meeting. I did not get a chance to ask these people beforehand, but do we have any um committee reports from PSBA? No. Or um the JOC? >> Oh, okay. Then we will eagerly await. Al Al started to hint at things, so I'm sure there'll be another update coming soon. Uh, moves on to program reports then. Dr. Mer. >> Yes. Uh, just a few things. Um, I know I announced for a couple of meetings we were doing a keeping kids safe from hidden digital dangers presentation that happened back in uh on March 25th. We had well over 100 families in attendance. It was fantastic. Um, we do now have a resource page from that presentation on our website. So, um, everything that the FBI agent talked about and, uh, people who were
066there from our resource fair, we have some resources on our website for, um, people to check out. Um, again, I want to shout out to the, uh, Gettysburg Area Education Foundation for donating 100 copies of the book, The Anxious Generation, which we gave away at that presentation also. So, thank you to them. Um, if you are a fan of farm show milkshakes, uh, tomorrow, uh, the high school and middle school minthons are holding a milkshake fundraiser from 2:30 to 6 at Warrior Stadium, uh, presented by the PA Darman's Association. The event supports Four Diamonds, helping fund life-saving research and provide care for children and families battling childhood cancer. Uh, hopefully the weather will be a little nicer because a little cold for milkshakes, but please stop by. uh 2:30 to 6 o'clock tomorrow at Warrior
067Stadium. Um we did have uh recently announced our uh GLOWS winners for the month of February. Um, those winners were Josh Sig, a phys teacher at the high school, Britney Crows, who's food service staff member at Franklin Township, and Mary Finnmeer, a seventh grade math teacher at the middle school, were recognized for their dedication, kindness, and positive energy um every day. So, congratulations to them. Today, we had a donation from uh the Good Samaritan Lodge number 336. They made a clothing donation today with an estimated value of somewhere between 10 and $13,000. Uh the organization's annual clothing drive will assist our elementary and middle school students and we're very thankful for their continued support. Uh they came in this morning for a photo op and had all the clothing that they uh collected for this
068donation out on these tables. It's fantastic to see the amount of items that were able to to give and help out. So uh thank you to them. And lastly, I need to give a quick shout out. We have amazing assistant principles in our district. One of them sitting back there. Uh so it is national assistant principles week this week. So I just want to give a shout out to all of our assistant principles in the district and thank them for the hard work that they do every day. Thank you. All right. We've just had a team from Gettysburg complete a year-long attendance training. Uh we were attending quarterly at the IU with many other school districts and related resource providers. We focused on evaluation of our current practices, implementation of preventative and reactive measures in
069hopes to increase student attendance and engagement. Our teams getting together again tomorrow to see what we can do to put some of these steps in place for next school year. Testing windows right around the corner with our first testing day on Monday, April 20th. And our new math resources were delivered to teachers today, which is great. Um, we're planning for our first round of professional development for our new math resource occurring on our half day in the afternoon on April 15th and then beginning the process of planning for that as well as our other district-wide professional development needs for August already. Um, we've concluded our new teacher induction meetings. Um, got a lot of really really good information and feedback from how that went for year one and year two teachers. And our next step
070is to begin planning for induction for next year and see how we can take that feedback to improve our programs for our new teachers. >> Awesome. Thank you. Many good things happening and I know that your your uh updates don't include everything. There's all sorts of sports things going on. There's all sorts of concerts happening. I had the pleasure of uh participating side by side with all the elementary and middle school um chorus directors for Songfest two weeks ago. So, lots of lots of great things going on uh in a busy time of year. So, good luck to the teachers and students involved. Our calendar of events coming up next board meeting on a Monday, April 20th, here in this room at 7 o'clock. Can I get a motion to adjurnn? Thank you.