001Good evening. I would now like to call this April 21st, 2026 regular board meeting to order. Can we all stand for the pledge? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Uh just briefly before uh we get started, we would just like ask everyone um in attendance to take a brief moment of silence to honor one of our students who recently passed away. Um Thomas Campanelli was an incredible person. He left an impact on many of us here, and our thoughts and prayers, our condolences are uh with his family. Thank you. Mr. D'Astous, will you call the roll, please? Mr. Flagler? Here. Ms. Lee? Here. Dr. McKay? Here. Mr. Schwartz? Ms. Snodgrass?
002Here. Ms. Snyder? Here. Ms. Wiedeman? Here. Dr. Shelton? Here. Dr. King? Present. Um please note that I'm sorry, Mr. Schwartz um is out due to a prior commitment. We're going to continue on to section two, which takes us to student reports. First up, we have Haverford Middle School student representative Peyton Manfre. Manfred, I'm sorry. Sorry. Good evening, members of the school board, administrators, and guests. My name is Peyton Manfre, and I'm in eighth grade at Haverford Middle School. Thank you for the opportunity to share a student update and keep you informed about what's happening at our school. PSSA testing will take place on a few mornings this week and next week. Students have worked hard this year and are prepared to do their best. Spring sports are in full swing, and our student athletes are
003enjoying the beautiful weather, growing as teammates, and competing with grade school spirit. The sixth grade musical, Seussical, opens at the end of the month. Tickets are available online for anyone interested in attending and supporting our students. We are all looking forward to Potter Cup and our end-of-the-year class trips, including visits to Camp Canadensis, Dorney Park, and Hershey Park. Thank you for allowing me to keep you informed about Haverford Middle School. Have a good rest of your night. >> [applause] >> Thank you. Next up, we have Haverford High School representative Liam Pinder. Good evening, everyone. My name is Liam Pinder, and I'm a current junior at the high school. Before I start, I'd like to thank the board for allowing me to present tonight. April started off with spring break at the high school, which meant
004lots of rest and fun for not only our students, but also our teachers. After this much-appreciated break, we moved into the fourth quarter, signaling the near ending of the school year. Our seniors have been working hard to finish out this final year before college, while also enjoying these last few months by participating in the game senior assassin. On the other hand, the thought of college is just starting to pop up in the minds of many many juniors, including myself, as we finish out this jam-packed semester. Specifically, juniors had a college planning night on the 8th and an in-school SAT on the 14th. As we are getting closer and closer to May, AP exams are also on the minds of many students across all grade levels. Personally, I will be taking five of the 38 possible
005exams, starting with AP biology in the first week. The AP art show was held on the 18th and is still sitting in the high school's library. This is an amazing opportunity for the talented artists at our high school to showcase their hard work throughout the year. Some other activities at the high school so far include the Best Buddies Friendship Walk on the 19th and the start of the PMEA State Conference and All-State Performance Festivals. Moving on to sports, our spring teams have been crushing the competition and are gearing up for playoffs. Huda has had an historically strong start to its 20th anniversary season. Following a very successful semifinal run at the biggest East Coast tournament and a win at another tournament in Philly, the team was nationally ranked in the top 16 for the first
006time in its history. They've won more tournament before the city and state championships and are hoping to be invited to the national championship in Oregon in June. Fords baseball currently has an undefeated 9-0 record and is looking to expand upon it. Additionally, the amazing 4x8 boys track relay will be heading to the Penn Relays tomorrow with the hopes of getting top three and qualifying for the championship. While the robotics team doesn't really fit under the sports category, they've also made amazing strides this year. The 28-person team took their robot to two regional competitions, where they ranked fifth place and then third, winning the second competition and qualifying for districts, where they ranked again third out of 66 teams and won the Engineering Inspiration Award. Now, they've qualified for worlds for the third time in the
007team's 26-year history, where they will compete against the best teams across the world at the end of April in Houston, Texas. The high school will be hosting the Frosh Dance tomorrow after school and a job fair on the 29th. Even though these two events have nothing to do with each other, I believe that both are very beneficial to students in their own respect, so I recommend that all students attend if possible. Looking into May, the junior prom will be hosted at the Drexelbrook on the 1st, and then an an SAT will be held at the high school the next day. Personally, I'm very excited for the prom, as I had the opportunity to attend a taste test with the other class officers, so I promise the food will be amazing. The jazz band spring concert
008will be on the 6th of May, and our radio station WHHS is hosting a similar-ish event called The Big Show on the 9th of May, where different student bands will be playing music in the back of the high school. Finally, I can't end the speech without giving a shout-out to our amazing National Teacher of the Year, Mr. Smith, especially cuz he's sitting in the front row. >> [laughter] >> If you don't already know, Mr. Smith teaches AP US History as well as AP African American Studies and has been at Haverford High School since 2001. That's what his LinkedIn says, at least. We are all very grateful at the high school to have him as a teacher and will miss him a lot during his year as an an ambassador for education. Once again, I'd like
009to thank the board for allowing me to present. >> [applause] >> Thank you, Peyton and Liam. I'll turn it over to Dr. Hayes for superintendent's comments. Thank you, Dr. King. Thank you, Payton and Liam, as well. Um as you know, uh Mr. Smith is here tonight. Um special guest, I am beyond honored and proud to announce that Mr. Leon Smith has been named the 2026 National Teacher of the Year by the Council of Chief State School Officers. Um just to put that into a little bit of perspective, I double-checked on a few numbers, and according to the 2023 Pew Research and National Center for Education Statistics report, there's 3.5 approximately 3.5 million public school teachers in the US. He is the sole winner selected to represent all of those teachers in that entire profession. Um
010Mr. Smith is here tonight. We want to congratulate him and recognize him, um and we do have a little bit of some of his highlights uh before we get into further recognition for him. I want my students to realize [music] that the world is theirs, and that they can really achieve anything. My name is Leon Smith, and I'm a social studies teacher at Haverford High [music] School. I teach AP US History and AP African-American Studies. Teaching is a mission for me. I love being around people. I'm [music] always interested in learning people's stories. He is still doing today, [music] 25 years later, the same amount of work with the same enthusiasm [music] and the same goal as year one. This is not a person that you come across often. This is a real once-in-a-lifetime [music]
011passion for teaching, once-in-a-lifetime great teacher. >> His mom is the reason he went into education [music] and is the person that he is today. My mom's influence in [music] my life, I think this is reflective of the stories that I would hear over the years of the students [music] that she served. >> I've been an educator over 30 years. The biggest lesson that I've taken from my mom is just this [music] genuine care for people, thinking about what they needed. >> He is committed to making sure that every [music] student in his classroom is going to be successful, and he'll find a way in order [music] to make it happen. He remembers like every detail in the specific way that you tell him, [music] and he really tries to catch up on them. Kids come
012to him because they know that [music] he's genuine in whatever conversation he's having with you. Mr. Smith [music] definitely makes a great impact in students' life and the classroom and outside of the classroom. When you think about the art of teaching, I really think it comes from you as the individual. I just want to be the best version of myself for my students. >> [music] >> I owe it to them. At the heart of teaching is always the educator and their relationship with students. I think that always should be at the central [music] focus. I had Mr. Smith as a coach at Haverford High School for basketball, and he's just like a great role model. I've coached the freshman basketball team for two decades. I love basketball, and I love playing it. He really takes
013his time to like help us [music] be better, not just as a player, as a person, too. I love being able to connect coaching to life. The classroom is still that place [music] where kids get a chance to truly connect with another adult. Somebody who is going to not just [music] teach them the skills and the content, but help them to develop character and confidence. I think great teachers are [music] so important to have in our community because a lot of students, some of their core memories from their childhood is how their [music] teacher shaped their mind. I think great teachers give students a sense of clarity, a really strong sense of self. >> He didn't tell [music] us what to think, but he taught us how to think. When I found out that I
014was the 2026 National Teacher of the Year, I [music] was speechless. It just reconnected me with the purpose that I've always had, really elevating the profession. >> [music] >> Words can almost not express, and I'm usually I'm always talking. So, but so proud. When I think [music] about how selfless he is and how much he wants to continue to give back to [music] his school and community, he is a modern-day hero, and I hope that somebody would see him and say, "I want to be like him." Yeah, I would love to be like [music] Mr. Smith. >> When I graduate, my one of my biggest wishes is to have a really big framed picture of him and me in my graduation gown. I want them to know how much I care, how much of myself
015that I give, [music] and the fact that they can, you know, recognize that is important. >> [applause] >> Uh Mr. Smith has more than two decades of experience as an educator, leader, mentor. Um he's here at Haverford. He believes, and you heard this, um I heard it yesterday was nice when I was at the high school. Um students are most successful when their classroom uh fosters that connection and that dialogue, um whether it's through morning circle, individualized feedback, engaging lessons. Um he has high expectations for them. Um Bianca mentioned it, but I heard it a lot yesterday when I was at the high school with other students that uh his impact is really on the how to think and critical thinking, right? Not specifically what, but how. Uh and that really is important. That's so
016core to education just in general. Um he creates these opportunities for students to connect um with the content, connect with big, complex ideas. Um his impact extends beyond the classroom. He was integral to this district's work for dignity and belonging. Um his passion for the field of education includes a focus on recruitment and retention of teachers. Um creating the Educators Rising chapter in the high school so students can see themselves as teachers, which when I was talking to them yesterday, many of them uh did not necessarily have uh an interest in becoming a teacher at first until they met Mr. Smith, and they do now. Um so, hopefully a few years later, they'll come back and join us here uh on the other side of the classroom. Um and he carries a belief that it
017is a great power to be an education, uh something we should have a reverence for. He is an excellent teacher. He is uh an advocate for public education, which is needed immensely. Um he's an incredible human being. He's a great example for others, and we I are so proud to have him as a board, and even prouder for him to have this honor. So, thank you, and congratulations well deserved. >> [applause] >> Um >> [clears throat] >> two other things, briefly. Uh we had a great turnout at the Twilight Run. Dr. Larson was there, as well. Um as she is heading out now. Uh we had a great turnout the at the Twilight Run last weekend. Really appreciate all of the participants, the volunteers who made that event such a success. Um we did a
018little bit of a competition this year to see how many people could how many staff members could get the most registrants. We had a three-way tie between teachers at both Lynwood and Manoa. Um so, while we are figuring out the logistical process to award prizes for a three-way tie, it is uh better than not having a three-way tie to have so many people register, uh volunteers, and participants. Also, really want to thank uh Michelle and Gina and the entire Ed Foundation uh for the work that they do for that event, for the support of the district. Um it was a it was a great community event. Um lastly, and uh Liam mentioned this, uh Payton did, as well. Uh students in grades 3 through 8 are engaged in PSSA testing, started this week. Uh we
019will continue um doing so. They'll continue doing an excellent job with the support of the staff. Um Keystones will be coming up shortly, as well, uh for our high school students, and uh we wish everyone the best uh for that success as the year quickly uh the end of the year quickly approaches. So, uh again, just a couple reminders, thank yous, and uh congratulations to Mr. Smith. Very proud of you. All right, thank you, Dr. Hayes. So, that takes us to section four, which is public comment. Members of the Haverford Township community are invited to speak during the public comment section listed on the agenda. Should a Haverford Township resident wish to speak during the public comment section on the agenda, they must sign up by 3:00 p.m. on the date of the meeting. Specific
020sign-up details can be found on the district's website. Public comment occurs twice during the school board meeting. During the first public comment section on the agenda, you may make a comment about topics listed for vote on the meeting agenda only. During the second public comment section on the agenda, you may make comment you may make a comment about any school-related topic. Per board policy, each sec- each speaker, excuse me, is only allowed 3 minutes for their remarks. A timer will be set at the start of your comments, and an alarm will sound indicating that your allotted 3 minutes time has been completed. Please end your remarks when you hear the 3-minute alarm sound. Should you have any materials for members of the board, please leave them at the end of the table with Mr. Testa
021for later distribution to the board. Please note that if appropriate, a member of the administration may follow up with you at a later date. When your name is called, please go to the podium and state your first and last name, confirm your residency and Haverford Township, and then the timer will begin for your allotted 3-minute remarks. And we do not have anyone signed up for this section of public comments on the agenda, so we're going to continue on. That takes us to section five, meeting minutes. Can I have a motion to approve the official minutes from the April 9th, 2026 board work session. McKay moved. Shelton second. Moved and seconded. Any discussion? All in favor. Aye. Any opposed? The motion passes. Section six on the agenda takes us to board reports. We will first start
022uh with the Delaware County Community College, Dr. McKay. Yeah. Um on April 14th, I was able to attend the DCC's um ribbon cutting ceremony for their new Southeast Center um and tour some of their very impressive new classroom spaces. So, if you have a chance to go and and look at it, it's quite an impressive new building. Um it's also really beautiful. They were able to maintain the old building that existed there as a historical context. Um on May 11th, um there is the DCCC Educational Foundation Golf Classic. Um and yep, those are two two main things that have happened there. Great. Thank you, Dr. McKay. Um for the DCIU, Ms. Lee. Summer camp registrations are open for the DCIU. Um registrations for all camps are open. Future City Robotics Camp, Steam Camp, Literacy Camp,
023English Learner Summer Camp, and DCTS Summer Camp. You can find information about all of the camps and the registrations on the IU's website. Thank you. Thank you. For PSBA, Ms. Ruderman. Yes, a few things from PSBA. Uh first uh Advocacy Day in Harrisburg is on Monday, May 4th. Uh the last day to register is tomorrow if you're interested in doing that. It's facilitated and organized. They um help give board members um talking points and and organize a a day of advocating for public education. The um there is a PSBA prepared and endorsed resolution on calling the state to pass a timely budget that makes continued significant investment in public education, and our school board may want to consider uh passing that resolution in support of a broader um statement for the state budget. Um we
024have an opportunity to help shape PSBA's legislative focus for 2027 um in what they call the legislative platform. Uh submissions are due by June 26th, so we have some time to consider um both the existing platform we can support for ongoing uh positions. We can amend or delete provisions, and we can submit new proposals. Uh that's an um that kind of a submission which this board has done uh a couple times in the past is um something I would need board approval, and again to be submitted by June 26th. That then um the legislative platform uh is one of the topics at the Delegate Assembly, which will take place in November, November Saturday, November 7th. It's PSBA's um legislative platform and business meeting. Uh our district can appoint three voting um members to weigh in
025on on the platform and bylaws, uh and that is something that will need board action soon to submit those delegates. And um board members should have also received a survey from PSBA about legislative priorities, another way to add your voice about um some of the platform issues that PSBA undertakes, and that is due also by June 26th. And that's it. Okay. Thank you, Ms. Ruderman. Um for the legislative council, Dr. Shelton. Thank you, Dr. Kelly. Uh since our last action meeting, the Senate uh was in session for eight days, and the House is in session for six days, so hard at work. Um And uh they have advanced some legislation. Um of 330 general education bills, uh five have cleared the opposite chamber's education committee and have been advanced to the floor. Um two of
026those bills uh are about barbering and cosmetology training. Uh what what the cosmetology is sponsored by uh uh Carol Kazeem, who represents Chester, so from our local area. Uh there's also Greg Moyer's Law. Uh Greg Moyer was a 15-year-old student who had a sudden cardiac arrest during a basketball game, and uh through a lot of advocacy, um this this this legislation is being advanced that requires state that establishes statewide requirements for AED access, CPR, and I AED, sorry, AED training and cardiac emergency response. And so, these bills are likely uh to reach uh Shapiro's desk uh and may have an impact. Uh there are 30 other 30 bills that are in um committee in the opposite chamber, so they passed one chamber and then Uh one is uh concerns cyber charter and funding, so cyber
027charter reform, uh which will impact some of our finances. There's also uh House Bill 1701, which the uh relates to school facilities and establishes a new facility advisory committee. Uh PDE, the Pennsylvania Department of Education, has cited aging facilities as a pressing operation. Sorry. Finally, there's a um teacher pipeline uh number of bills uh concerning uh the teacher pipeline certification that are uh in committee. And that's it. Um oh, if there's a question about a newly introduced bill, I think uh member Scott Scott Grass had asked about House Bill 2152, uh which uh relates to uh later start times, and uh this legislation has been newly introduced. It's in the House. Uh it it's actually been reported out of the House uh education committee. It has been tabled since February 4th. Um and it basically
028provides some additional funding for schools that are looking to move to a later start time. And that actually brings me to a point I I have just a question for the board. Um Because of the number of bills um pending in each chamber, and like usually I only talk about the ones that have been approved in one you know, reported out into another. Uh but this this year the bill with the later start time is an example of uh some of newly introduced legislation, so I may try to I I think the board would be okay if I brought maybe an emphasis next meeting on some new So, I'm going to try to do that. That way we can we can uh play a role in terms of advocating for legislation that might uh you
029know, impact our district. That's it for my report. Thank you, Dr. Shelton. Um for board president's report, are there any board members that attended district events that they would like to report on? I did. I would like to talk about Best Buddies. Um I always talk about Best Buddies, but really just some gratitude for the folks at the high school for organizing, for putting it together, for putting together a bus and making sure that everyone was able to participate uh to the extent that they were able to participate. We didn't make it past the parking lot, but it all counts. I want to thank you all so much for that. And then, if I may, especially since Mr. Smith was just here, we need to talk about the Making a Difference Awards. Last year, he
030was the host. Um this year, we have another host, but um May 27th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thank you, Ms. Well, Dr. Battistelli for all of the notifications, for helping us notify the Haverford winners. We had some really great submissions from Haverford again, so again, thank you all for the support. Thank you. Ms. Ruderman. And I'll just share that um I attended the AP Art Show on Saturday. Uh as Liam mentioned, it was and I guess continues to be displayed, but just a museum-worthy um display of talent, um mixed media, different um themes, and uh techniques. Uh it was great to walk around and have the artists there and able to engage with them and then kind of hear about some of their their methods, and um see some of the similarities and differences
031across. There was also live music with a student band at the time that I was playing, and a great turnout, and um just a a lovely demonstration of the talent in our art program, and how we have been able to cultivate these student artists uh through their careers, and and now showing off um their AP had received various awards and and designations were there hung with the artwork and great opportunity to see that and encourage anyone who can still get into to maybe see it. It's worth the trip. I'm so glad you were able to go. I was so sad I was out of town because I loved it so much last year. So I'm hoping next year I'll be in town to see it again. I just wanted to mention that the wellness committee
032met this week. However, the they are doing a full presentation next time we meet on May 7th. So I will hold kind of the the agenda items that we talked about till next time. And I also just wanted to give this was me as a parent going, but I still think that it deserves a shout-out. I was able to go down with our Haverford ultimate team, the Hooter team to Virginia where they competed and gave a just a really fantastic job which resulted at least from that weekend of them being ranked 17th in the nation. So I just a shout-out to that team. They're doing great this year. Thank you. And I also had the opportunity to attend our first food services advisory committee that was held on April 16th. It was comprised of Haverford
033high school students, Haverford middle school school students, a few parents in the community and our program director with Chartwells. It was really wonderful to have the kids participate and share their likes and dislikes about the food program. It's the the first meeting of hopefully many to come and hopefully we'll be bringing some positive change to our food services system. Thank you. I was able last Wednesday to attend the evening of jazz the sole program where they bring in an artist in residence for the music program. And this year is Marshall Bellanger. He's the trumpeter. And I believe he's a former alumni And so there were two groups from the middle school, two jazz groups and three jazz groups from the high school. And so it was two hours of jazz. The ticket price was great.
034So I highly encourage if people can attend and also help donate to support the artist in residence program. Thank you. All right, lots of great events that board members were able to attend. Um Thank you all for sharing. Let's continue on to section seven, the finance and facilities section. We'll start with 7A, our bill list. Have a motion to approve disbursements for payment totaling $3,123,670.05. Snyder moved. Helton second. Moved and seconded. Any discussion? All in favor. I. Any opposed? The motion passes. Item 7B. Have a motion to approve the renewal of the AHERA designated person environmental engineering consultant console contract with Environmental Control Systems Incorporated as discussed at the April 9th board work session. Helton moved. Moved and seconded. Any discussion? All in favor. I. Any opposed? The motion passes. 8C. Have a motion to
035approve the CB Development Services furniture package recommendation for the Cooperstown renovation project. Weidman moved. Helton second. Moved and seconded. Any discussion? Just to give this a little more visibility and this was not an item that was on our previous committee meeting. So the request is to utilize uh fully the budget that was in there. I believe it was the allowance for the furniture. So it was part of the budget. There is a bit of an overage of just over $53,000 and that will come out of contingency. We've received updates throughout the project of the adequacy of the remaining contingency. So this seems to be appropriate. The furniture at Cooperstown is based on similar fit out at Chatham Park. Yep, and um >> [clears throat] >> Tony and JR and myself met with uh uh Cannon
036and Ran in the construction group. We put those check-in meetings back on the books as we start to near this this spring or near summer finish the spring turnover and they've updated that we still continue on time, within budget, all within the contingency. So you're right, it was not previously discussed, but it is all in cause of the need to purchase the furniture for the project. >> Sure. Great. All in favor. I. Any opposed? The motion passes. We're going to continue on to section eight which is human resources. Have a motion to approve items 8B through 8D as presented on the agenda. Moved and seconded. Any discussion? All in favor. I. Any opposed? The motion passes. Item 8E. Have a motion to approve a resolution to reappoint George Ramundo to serve as a member of
037the Delaware County Public School Healthcare Trust Board of Directors for the term of July 1st, 2026 to June 30th, 2028. Snyder moved. Snyder second. Moved and seconded. Any discussion? Yeah, I just um for board members awareness and also for community the healthcare trust is essentially a consortium of multiple districts. They provide us with guidance and detail on healthcare and benefits. So being part of this Dr. Ramundo serves as our um serving as our our district representative. It allows us to have access to their expertise, gives us guidance when we're considering healthcare options, making decisions. They also provide communication to us on healthy lifestyles. Those healthy lifestyles Yesterday was national walk to work lunch day. So those are some things, but the idea behind that and the information we get from them also [clears throat] incorporates
038wellness, healthy lifestyle living within our district, advocates for those things which does have a direct impact on certain cost savings. It's also a a split membership between district and association member representatives. So it's a combined effort just to be able to get that guidance and expertise. All in favor. I. Any opposed? The motion passes. Section nine takes us to people services. Have a motion to approve items 9B and 9C as presented on the agenda. Helton moved. Snyder second. Moved and seconded. Any discussion? All in favor. I. Any opposed? The motion passes. 9D, educational service agreement. Have a motion to approve the following educational service agreement for a district student. This agreement covers reimbursement for privately obtained legitimate educational services as incurred by the family for the benefit of the student. Helton moved. Moved and seconded.
039Any discussion? All in favor. I. Any opposed? The motion passes. 9E. Out of district educational contract. Have a motion to approve the following out of district educational contract for a student. Snyder moved. Helton second. Moved and seconded. Any discussion? I just had a question about this when it says the term is the 25-26 school year which now we heard we're in the fourth marking period of Can we just confirm that this this student has received services for the school year even though we're just getting the kind of the paperwork now. Yes, so the student has been receiving services. Sometimes the contracts go back and forth with language before they come to the board, but the student is placed and receiving services. All in favor. I. Any opposed? The motion passes. Item 9F. Have a motion
040to approve the following out of district educational contracts for students. Moved and seconded. Any discussion? All in favor. I. Any opposed? The motion passes. Section 10 takes us to academics and instruction. 10A. Can I have a motion to approve the student educational excursions listed below. Snyder second. Moved and seconded. Any discussion? Just another piece of information from myself. Student excursions require board approval on certain conditions such as like distance, overnight stays, things like that. It's not necessarily an expenditure of funds because that runs through student activity fund, which is run and managed by the students and the board members are fiduciaries for that. But also, you'll see on here is the robotics team, which as William said, is headed to Texas and the robot for that team is already in route. So, congrats to them.
041So, I have a procedural question on the ratification. Yeah, there's certain situations where um >> [clears throat] >> qualifications for things, for example, um whether it be a band competition or athletic event, that the next event occurs sooner than we can meet as a board. So, the ratification is kind of back end approval of them so that they have the opportunity to participate in that event. Congratulations to the robotics team. My son did robotics. He went through a lot while there. I can't remember which one it was, but um All in favor. I. >> I. Any opposed? The motion passes. We have nothing listed under section 11 for policy, so we'll continue on to section 12 for other items. 12A The Delaware County Community College Trustee Reappointment. Can I have a motion to approve the
042resolution and reappointment for Bernice Clark Dickerson to serve on the Board of Trustees for the Delaware County Community College for a 6-year term from July 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2032. Okay, moved. Moved and seconded. Any discussion? All in favor. I. >> I. Any opposed? The motion passes. 12B Delaware County Intermediate Unit Board Member Nominations. Can I have a motion to approve the nominations and corresponding resolution for the individuals listed to serve as board members to the Delaware County Intermediate Unit number 25 for 3-year term beginning July 1st, 2026 and ending June 30th, 2029. Okay, moved. Moved and seconded. Any discussion? All in favor. I. Any opposed? The motion passes. Section 13 takes us to the second opportunity on the agenda for public comments. As I noted earlier, this section on the agenda is for
043public comments for any member of the township to make a comment. When I do call your name, I would ask you to go to the podium, state your first and last name, confirm your residency and Haverford Township. Again, per our board policy, there is a 3-minute time allotted. Mr. Testa will start the timer and when the timer ends, I would ask for you to end your statement. The first person I have signed up is Vivian Dan. Good evening. Is this turned on? Okay. Good evening. My name's Vivian Dan and I'm a junior at Haverford High School. I'm speaking to you today as someone concerned that our First Amendment rights were dealt with as transient in a recent episode of a rather insignificant event. I say insignificant because when our club planned to have a speaker
044from an immigration office come in and wanted to promote them through a flyer, I never imagined that the trivial matter of administrative approval for such a flyer could reveal a very disturbing trend of conformity that threatens to lull us to sleep. A recent argument was used by HHS's activities director to prohibit the use of the term ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in a flyer created by the United World Club promoting a speaker who would come to HHS and address, quote, current trends in ICE detentions, end quote. While our club complied and changed the wording to, quote, current trends in immigrants detentions, end quote, due to the rapidly approaching date of the event, the fact that we were asked to remove ICE is a violation of the First Amendment. I will begin by acknowledging that the
045First Amendment can only be respected under certain circumstances and will therefore lay my argument within the boundaries of what is considered non-political speech. There was the assumption that the flyer was political and we were told, quote, the school cannot show support to one side or the other in a political situation, end quote. A political statement would be one that takes a side regarding the operations of this agency with opinionated language such as the struggles of communities against ICE or on the other hand, the work of ICE to keep the country safe. While the agency is tied to the government and therefore is the subject of political debates, trends in ICE detentions does not inherently take a stance. As simply stating that there are trends in ICE operations is factual and does not qualify that statement
046by taking a stand for or against the agency. Our activities director further said that we should imagine the opposite about how the situation would be different if someone put a flyer with pro-ICE messages. This argument argues the wrong point. Our statement about ICE does not take a stance, so it is useless to use it an argument against it that implies it does. That brings us to the Tinker versus Des Moines case, which set the precedent that speech can only be restricted when it can cause, quote, material and substantial disruption to the educational environment, end quote. If someone gets upset about what was written on our flyer, the wording did not instigate it. They're making assumptions based on it that cannot be helped and such an individual could have the exact same response in a class
047discussion about current events. What may result from the use of free speech because of circumstances is inconsequential as the court ruling states that speech cannot be censored purely from anticipated or speculated controversy. The Tinker kids could have instigated a fight with the pro-Vietnam war classmates over their armbands, but the act of wearing the armbands themselves did not imply a desire to initiate violence. In the same way, any emotions, negative or positive, about the word ICE in our flyer are not inherent in the wording of the flyer itself, but the interpretation of the viewer. If our school hopes to pride itself on upholding the true meaning of education, it must first allow the bare minimum of non-political speech on even controversial topics. We should at the very least protect speech that is peaceful in purpose and
048neutral in execution without vague words like immigrant detentions that fail in relevance or precision and without the fear of the fundamental right to learn and deliberate that we are all here for. Thank you. >> [applause] >> The second person I have signed up is Um Can you hear me possibly? Sorry. My name's Colin Quinn and I'm a resident of Haverford Township. Good evening, members of the board and Dr. Hayes. Over the past several months, my husband, Andy, and I, along with others in the community, have communicated that AR 202.1 provision 3 is unnecessary, unsupported, and has a discriminatory impact. Despite that, no action has been taken. I'm here seeking clarity on why the district continues to uphold a rule requiring families to have a high school-aged child in the home to enroll an international exchange
049student. This is an administrative regulation, meaning Dr. Hayes can change it anytime. However, he's declined to do so citing precedent and the absence of a waiver process. At the same time, community members with direct experience have shared that this requirement was not in place as recently as 2023, raising questions about what precedent is actually being maintained. This requirement is neither standard nor a recommended practice. It is not reflected in state guidance from PSBA nor neighboring districts. If the rule itself is an outlier, it follows that a waiver process would not exist because the rule itself should not exist. At a minimum, a waiver would provide a reasonable temporary solution while the regulation is reviewed. The district has stated that the requirement ensures support because there's no formal exchange program. That explanation does not hold up.
050Most districts rely on exchange organizations and host families, not a high school-aged peer, to provide support. Our exchange program, like most, is invested in successful placement and demonstrated that commitment by attending the board meeting 2 weeks ago. Students in this district succeed every day without a same-age peer in the home, raising questions about whether this condition is truly necessary for student success or being applied inconsistently. Without evidence that a peer-age sibling is in the home improves outcomes, this rule is not a safeguard, it's a barrier. Continuing to enforce it signals a lack of confidence in the district's existing programming, staff, and students to support new learners. At this point, the district has been made aware of the discriminatory impact of this AR and has chosen to maintain it without providing clear evidence-based justification. While Dr.
051Hayes has made his position clear, I'm here to ask the board directly, do you support AR 202.1 as it's currently written? And if so, why? I reached out Monday and have not received a response. The community deserves to understand where the board stands. This process has had a real impact. What began as an effort to contribute something positive to the district has instead exposed a barrier that has not been clearly justified and has affected our family's sense of belonging in this community. We're truly hurt. We're asking for clarity, accountability, and a timely response so that we understand the reasoning behind this decision and how the district intends to move forward. Thank you. The last person I have signed up to speak is Rich McGlory. Hello, I'm I'm Rich [clears throat] McGlory and I used to
052still live at 1246 Still Road in Harriton, Pennsylvania. And I [clears throat] admit I cannot compete with the young lady who spoke first about my favorite case, Tinker, which means the Constitution does not stop at the schoolhouse gate. And I just used that in a uh in a legal writing today that I just did. I want to thank you. I missed the last meeting, but I put my uh I put uh out my uh um my thing from the yearbook for for um Furness High School because I wanted to emphasize this. To be an effective leader, you have to first uh build trust. To be an effective instructional leader, you have to build both credibility and trust as well. And I just wanted to make sure that you understood that as I advocate for reading
053specialists for all of our autistic children. Now, this is autism awareness month. So, that's what I came here tonight for. Uh my favorite author, Gregory Tino, a former Harriton High School student, and I recommend and I think I gave this book out to everybody, The Autistic Mind Finally Speaks. Everybody should read this, and I think every school teacher that deals with autistic children should read it as a matter of professional development. Uh but I came here tonight to talk about The Cagebird, the book that Gregory Ortino wrote, who went through our school district and never learned to read and write, and he lived in a world, a caged world, where the caged birds could not communicate until a blonde lady who thought he was intelligent taught him how to read through this spelling to communicate
054method. He had apraxia. And I can't read the whole book to you in 3 minutes, but I can read this. But here in his cage, his future is bleak. He is a caged bird with no song. He can speak. And then he goes on to say, once he learned, right, a strength to his frame and a song in his throat, and he soared in the sky where white fluffy clouds float. Once he learned to communicate, to read and write. And then he said, into the bright sun where his gray feathers turned to a crimson red color, but don't be concerned. Don't be concerned. Look at the pictures, beautiful pictures. I wish I could read it to you all. He was still the same bird, but his spirit had soared. His life was now something he
055loved and adored because he learned to read and write by someone who thought he was an intelligent young man. And >> for your for your remarks. Your timer has ended. Just 30 seconds. 10 seconds. 5 seconds. Autistic children are on a different developmental trajectory than we are. They learn to talk later. They learn to read later later. And every one of them deserves the service of a certified reading specialist. And without that, many of them will never learn to read. I will say that again and again till it rings from the rafters of this schoolhouse and our community. Thank you very much. Section 14 takes us to report on executive session. The board met on April 14th to review the personnel matter that if discussed in public would violate a lawful privilege or disclose confidential
056information protected by law. Section 15, the next regular board public meeting of the board is a work session scheduled to be held on May 7th, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. in the board room of the Oakmont Administration Building. Can I have a motion to adjourn the meeting?