09/18/25 School Board Action Meeting

001Good evening and welcome to the September 18th, 2025 regular board meeting of the school board of the school district of Havford Township. Would everyone please rise for the pledge? Thank you. I'll now ask board members to read the district mission and our district goals. >> The mission of the school district heard Township is to educate and to inspire a community of lifelong learners who become well-rounded global citizens. The district goals are academic excellence in an evolving world, prepare future ready learners who persevere, adapt, problem solve, think critically, and are supported by engaging learning experiences and intentional use of technology. Belonging. Honor every individual's inherent dignity through equitable, inclusive, and diverse practices. Social emotional growth. Build a learning community that prioritizes social emotional wellness as a foundation for academic success, resilience, and strong relationships. Community pride

002and civic engagement empower students to be active, responsible, and contributing citizens through shared responsibility and community partnerships. >> Thank you, Mr. Schwarz and Miss Snuggrass. I'll now ask Mr. Ta to take the role, please. Miss Lee >> present. >> Dr. McKay >> here. >> Mr. Schwarz >> here. >> Dr. Shelton >> here. >> Miss Nodgress >> here. >> Miss Vitali >> here. >> Miss Weedman >> here. >> Dr. Larson >> here. >> Dr. King. >> Um Dr. King has a prior work commitment. >> Okay. We'll now move it uh turn it over to our Hford Middle School student representative Sophia Kleti. And just want to welcome our student representatives back. It's great to have you in the room. >> Good evening everybody. My name is Sophia Kleti and I'm an eighth grader at Havford Middle

003School. We have a wonder we had a wonderful opening to the school year this year and just wrapped up our first full week with the schoolwide barbecue. It was lots of fun and a great way to kick things off. Our PIAA sports teams have finished triyouts and are now practicing. We'll be excited to share an update on how we're doing at the next meeting. This year I'm doing the girls soccer team and later today I'm going to support our Lady Ford soccer team with their senior night. Tonight this week we also we had our grade level back to school night. Families had the chance to visit our school, meet teachers, and learn about the curriculum. It's a great way to connect with the district. Tomorrow is our annual gold out to show our love and

004support for those in our community impacted by childhood cancer. Looking ahead, there will be no after school activities on Monday, September 22nd. There's no school. There's no school for staff and students on Tuesday, September 23rd. We are wishing those in our community celebrating a happy, healthy Jewish New Year. Over the next few weeks, we're excited to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. After school clubs will kick off next week. School pictures are also coming up next. There will be no school on October 2nd, which is Yamapur, another holy holiday for our Jewish community. Everyone is looking forward to have for Township Day on October 4th. The eighth grade band performs at the Habford High School football game on October 17th. There's always a lot happening here at the Habford Middle School and in our community, and I'm

005excited for everything ahead this year. Thank you for your support and service. Have a wonderful evening. Thank you. [Applause] Thank you, Sophia. We'll turn it over now to our Hford High School student representative, Liam Pinder. >> Good evening everyone. My name is Liam Pinder and I'm a junior at Hford High School. I'd like to thank the board for allowing me to present tonight. As this is my first time presenting for the high school, I'll take a moment to introduce myself. I've been doing cross country and track for the past two years now, and this year I have the honor of being a captain for our HXC team. Apart from running, I'm a class officer and the vice president for chess club. I also enjoy going to the math center on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school

006where I tutor students with whatever problems they might need help with. This year I'm taking a variety of classes, but one of my favorites is definitely AP Biology. The science department has some extraordinary teachers and they've really helped me grow my love for science. I also love language learning and this year I'm taking AP French. In fact, during the second semester of last year, I had the chance to study abroad in France for four months. This was through an outside program called NEL. And because of Havford's awesome administrators and counselors, I was able to make this trip a reality. I lived in a city called Among, which is about an hour north of Paris. It was hard being the only foreign student at my school, but I lived with an amazing host family, and I

007made great friends who I still keep in touch with. I definitely became much more grateful for the opportunities that we have here at Havford. In France, they had very few clubs, and the teachers had much less patience than they have here. Luckily at Hfordford we offer an enormous selection of clubs and if you can't find what you're looking for you have the opportunity at HHS to create it. These first two weeks at the Ford Center have been great with picture day, college planning and of course sports. On the 13th Hford Athletics held an open house for all interested students and their families. This was a great chance for the community to see our H pride. Our soccer and field hockey teams had an amazing start to the school year with wins against Penrest on the

008first day of school. Golf, tennis, and volleyball have also had lots of success these past two weeks. Personally, cross country's been going really great. Between the Unionville Bash and our long run excursion to the John Hines National Wildlife Refuge, everyone is having lots of fun. On the 12th, our football team had a redout game with an impressive 61 to0 win. A quick reminder that students can get free season tickets to all games by using the QR code on the H Pride Athletics Instagram page. Looking forward, we have multiple games tomorrow, but most notably, the football team has a home game against Strath Haven. A great day to be a Ford and a bad day to go to Strath Haven. On Saturday, some cross country members will be heading up to State College for the yearly

009foundations meet, while others, myself included, will be going to the George School meet. Boys soccer is having their 15th annual mum sale on Saturday the 27th. And a bit farther in the future is the Ford's Fight for Life on October 17th, which will raise money for the Kevin Kaine Memorial Foundation. Moving on from sports, drama club had auditions Monday and Wednesday of this week and call backs were from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. today. So, congratulations to everyone that made it. Best Buddies is having their first pretzel sale of the year tomorrow. Personally, I will definitely be getting myself a snack from them. FBLA will also be raising money too as they'll have a Kona ice truck after school on the 25th. This next part is very important for all seniors and parents of seniors. The

010Common App is open and Havford will be hosting a pizza party this upcoming Wednesday for people to come to for people to come together and make progress on it. Our amazing school will also be hosting an SAT on the eth on the 8th of October. So, make sure to sign up through the Google form and not College Board. A few of my friends and I will actually be taking October SAT, so fingers crossed it won't be as difficult as the August one. Other SAT dates can be found on College Board, and while thinking about college, maybe consider signing up for an inschool college visit through Naviance. I recently went to the John's Hopkins visit this past Tuesday and found it to be very helpful. My last reminder for you is that free breakfast is offered

011every day at the Havford Institute of Higher Learning, so make sure to take full advantage of that. I'd like to finish by giving a quick shout out to all the amazing teachers, coaches, adviserss, and staff members here at the high school and in the district for all the great work they do for our students. And I want to thank the board for all they've done to get the school year rolling. We are appreciative of everyone making this school year special. Thank you for allowing me to present and go fors. [Applause] Thank you, Liam. I'll turn it over now to Dr. Hayes for the superintendent's report. >> I um don't necessarily want to follow Sophia and Liam, but um uh I do want to take a moment to welcome you guys back. uh look forward to

012having you uh here working with us on the board and everything. I also want to take a minute to um acknowledge the community members Hford Township Education Association members who are here tonight. Over the last few weeks, obviously the the board hta have been sharing some negotiation updates with our community about status of negotiations and the information surrounding the process. It's important to know that both groups are continuing to engage in conversations and negotiations in order to work towards a fair and competitive comprehensive contract. I appreciate all the work that's been put in to the process from both sides. Um, and look forward to a positive resolution in the near future. School got off to an amazing start. Um, it was the first day for me as well at Hfordford. And um I was able

013to join over at Monoa and cheer on the bike riders in the 9/11 memorial bike ride in honor of 911 victims last Thursday. Uh we even had one member from our business office team participating in that ride. Um we also had as Liam mentioned a great home opener win last Friday. It was amazing to see the community come together, the band, the cheerleaders, youth sports football team all celebrating. Um, and this year we're going to be bringing back our golden ticket program where community members 65 or older and/or military personnel can receive a golden ticket for free game entry. Uh, residents can email Ria Dunley in the high school athletic office to schedule an appointment for that. And then lastly, I just want to give thanks for the generous support of the educa Havford Education

014Foundation, our facilities department, and the innovative and dedicated minds of our teachers uh for the Lynwood Storywalk that officially opened on Monday. Uh I was out there with uh Miss Saxa and a number of others. Uh and it was an opportunity. So they debuted with Masterpiece and the story walk is a creative approach to literacy. Uh it puts the pages of a picture book along an outdoor walking path. Um and it lets readers literally walk through a story uh combining reading uh with outdoor activities um and being active. Um and that's also available for our students and our entire community to enjoy. Um so looking forward to that throughout the year. and uh just got off to a really good start this year. >> Thank you, Dr. Hayes. I also want to take a moment

015to address the public. On behalf of the board, I'd like to acknowledge those of you here this evening in support of our teachers. Like you, we believe that Hford teachers deserve fair pay, strong benefits, and time for professional professional learning and collaboration with colleagues. As a board, we are charged with making decisions that balance our many priorities, including labor contracts and educational programming with our financial realities and fiduciary responsibility to taxpayers. The board remains committed to continuing goodfaith, respectful negotiations. Our goal is a fair, responsible contract that strengthens our teachers, our students, and our community. We look forward to continued negotiations and to reaching a positive resolution in the near future. Okay. Next, we'll move into public comment for items on the agenda. We do not have anyone signed up to speak this evening evening

016on items on the agenda. Um for items not on the agenda, we do have a lengthy list of those of you who are interested in speaking and we will um get to you a bit later in our agenda. Thank you for your patience. Okay, next we have um I'd like to accept a motion to approve the official minutes from the September 4th, 2025 board work session. >> Shelton moved. Second. >> Moved and seconded. Any discussion? >> All those in favor? >> Any opposed? >> Motion passes. We'll move now to our board reports report for the Delaware County Community College. Dr. McKay. >> Yeah. So, just a couple of things. Um, first, the college's new Southeast Center was scheduled to be opened in January of 2026. This means um that their annual school board appreciation dinner

017is going to be postponed until that building is open so that we can all go and um view the new building um during that time. So, we'll hold off for knowing when that date will come. and they'll be announced soon. Um, additionally, just so everyone is aware, we have um 312 enrolled students um at the Delaware County Community College this fall, as well as that includes 20 dual high school students um attending. Um this is a great opportunity that I encourage both high school students and residents within Hford Township to take advantage of the great opportunities that are at the community college. >> Thank you, Dr. McKay. Next report for the DCIU. Miss Lee, >> the Delaware Oh, sorry. That was intense. The Delaware County Intermediate Unit is launching a comprehensive communityinformed search for our

018next executive director. After many years of faithful service, Dr. Edleberg is retiring. Community voices, including families, educators, staff, and partners, will help shape the profile and priorities for our next leader. Experienced applicants are encouraged to explore this opportunity to lead a high impact organization serving schools and students across Delaware County. Both the application for the executive director role and the community survey can be found on the DCIU's website as well as it was emailed out to stakeholders. Um, one other thing of note that on October 15, 2025, the IU is having a hiring fair. In addition to looking for their executive director, they are also seeking paraprofessionals, custodians, admin assistance, food service, head start assistance, part-time coaches in addition to educator positions that are available. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Lee. Our PSBA report,

019Miss Weedman, no report. Thank you, Legislative Council. Dr. Shelton. >> Thank you, Dr. Larson. Good evening, fellow board members and community members. The DCIU Legislative Council met on September 10th. In the interest of time, I'll keep this brief, but I want to provide you with a critical update from the council on the state budget impasses directly impacting our schools and students here in Delaware County. Pennsylvania is now over two months into a budget impass. School districts have not received approximately 1.4 billion in it with a B in basic education funding or 255 million special education funding for July and August. Additionally, 99 million in federal subgrant payments under title one and IDA have been delayed. These are funds that should have been flowing to our to districts like ours to support core educational services. Many

020districts across the state are now being forced into a difficult financial position. Several school entities are in the process of securing revenue anticipation notes or RANs that would allow entities to borrow money to pay staff and fund programs and services while the state continues to determine next steps. Last Thursday, the Philadelphia School Board approved a measure to borrow up to 1.5 billion to enable the district to pay its bills through December at a borrowing cost of $30 million. In July, the William Penn School District secured a $10 million loan with an expected $100,000 borrowing cost. These borrowing costs are dollars that could have been spent on educating students. The impass stems from fundamental disagreements between the legislative chambers. Governor Shapiro originally proposed a 51.5 billion budget. The House passed a $50.6 6 billion budget in

021July that increases public education funding, but the Senate countered with only a 47.5 billion budget in August. It essentially flatlines education at last year's levels. The House proposed $526 million more for the Raid toearn block grant, 40 million more for special education, and 75 million more for basic education funding. But as I said, the Senate um has not increased any of that spending. seeing the the field of red. Um I know I'm preaching to the choir, but I encourage all board members and community members to advocate for our state representatives to put aside differences and pass a budget that adequately and fairly funds public education in the Commonwealth. If you want more information on education related legislation, the detailed monthly legislative reports available on the DCIU website. Thank you. I will turn it back to

022Dr. Lars. >> Thank you, Dr. Shelton. [Applause] For our board president's report, I'd like to ask any board members to share any district activities that they may have participated in since our last board meeting. >> Maybe not a board activity, but I would like to remind everybody that coffee on the path is back open. So, it's been fun to go over and get coffee with with our students and support the Kelly Center. So, please do that everyone. [Applause] >> And on August 26th, I attended the district's opening day. Always such an uplifting and invigorating way invigorating way to kick off the school year. There was a barbecue on the field and then we gathered under a slideshow of pictures of staff in action across the district here in this very auditorium. uh filling up even

023more seats than are filled here tonight. Dr. Hayes welcomed everyone with remarks grounded in our new strategic goals. Mr. Nankaro got everyone inspired for the school year uh even without a song or playing guitar. The bell ringer was Karen McCroy, a special education teacher at Chadam Park with 37 years of service to our district. [Applause] And I'd like to recognize and thank the Habford Ed Foundation who sponsored a raffle featuring sought-after gift cards to local businesses for our lucky staff. And Dr. Hayes continued the tradition of offering some half-day PTOs for a couple of staff. So, it was a great way to start the school year. >> Thank you, and Miss Any other board members would like to share? Okay, we'll move on then to the finance and facilities portion of our agenda. >> I

024will accept a motion to approve items 7B and 7 C as presented in the agenda. >> Okay, moved. >> Vitali second. >> Moved and seconded. Any discussion? >> All in favor? >> Any opposed? Motion passes. I will accept a motion to approve item D. Um a transfer of contingency funds of $55,000 from the general general fund contingency of budgetary reserve. >> Moved and seconded. Any discussion? Okay. Hearing none. All those in favor? >> Any opposed? Motion passes. Okay. Item E, I'll accept a motion to approve dispersements for paying to for payment totaling 4 million 985,53049. >> Okay. Moved >> second. >> Moved and seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor? >> Any opposed? Motion passes. Moving on now to human resources. I will accept a motion to approve items 8B through 8D as presented in

025the agenda. >> Vitality second. Moved and seconded. Any discussion? >> Just again appreciation for HR department and the long list of appointments that we're approving tonight. >> All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? Motion passes. Section nine, pupil services. I will accept a motion to approve items 9B through 9 C as presented on the agenda. >> Second. >> Moved and seconded. Any discussion? All in favor? I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes. I will I will accept >> I will accept a motion to approve the following outofd district educational service contract contracts for the following students as listed below. >> Okay moved second. >> Moved and seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor. >> Any opposed? >> Motion passes. Item D. I will accept a motion to approve the following educational service contract for services provided

026to students within the district. >> Fatally second. >> Moved and seconded. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes. This takes us to section 10 of our agenda, academics and instruction. I will accept a motion to approve the reading skills and tutoring program provided by the Institute of Reading Development at a cost of $268 per student for the 2526 school year at Monoa Elementary as discussed at the September 4th board work session. >> Shelton moved. >> Moved and seconded. Any discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes. This takes us to section 11 policy. Miss Snuggress, do you have a policy review update for us? >> I do. Thank you. Um I'll also just take this time to introduce what the board

027has been doing um on the policy front for the past couple years. In 2022, the board undertook a review of all of its policies in the entire policy book. Um, obviously we couldn't do that all at once. Our policies are broad and they cover every aspect of the school, the the schools, the districts, staff, students, um, administrators, uh, everything that you can think of. So, there's there's a lot there. We have uh I believe it was at the last work session that we went over that the policy committee and this board has reviewed and uh adopted revisions for over 100 policies in that time since we started. So um the last few weeks since we've gotten this new uh board format with the work sessions, we haven't had any policies on our agenda yet. They're

028coming. The drought of policy is almost over. So um we will see uh policies coming down the line first at the work session which we will act um as the what our committee used to be um and we will present policies uh either new policies that the board doesn't have yet. They fill needs to find best practices or just new um legal issues that come up and that we should have policies for. Um, but more often we are reviewing policies and what we found in our audit over the past three years was that uh some of our policies just didn't reflect what was actually happening in the district. And so that's one of the goals of our policy committee and of this board is to make sure that our policies in our book are easy

029to understand, accessible and follow the practices of the district and the best practices um that we think should be implemented. So, um, we are going over, um, Dr. Hayes and our council and I are going to go over what policies will be coming down the pike that'll be, uh, depending on, uh, different needs of the district and also some, uh, just topics that have that have, um, come to, uh, come to the front that we'd like to discuss. And hopefully, we have some policies on the next working session. If not, it'll be really soon after that because it's definitely been too long since we discussed policies. Um, and it'll have the same process as as normal, which will be two readings and then an adoption uh of the board. So, again, you can just see

030how seriously we take our policies here. And that review is going to be starting up again real soon. Thanks. Thank you, Miss Snagrass. Okay, moving now to other items on the agenda. Section 12. I will accept a motion to authorize the school sorry I will accept a motion to authorize the board secretary to cast an affirmative vote for the following candidates to the offices of 2026 PSBA Pennsylvania school boards association we moved >> second >> moved and seconded any discussion happy to seize a representative from the Delaware County community all those in favor Any opposed? >> Motion passes. Moving on now to um item B. I will accept a motion to approve the revised school calendar as discussed at the September 4th work session. >> Moved and seconded. Any discussion? >> Could we just get

031a reminder for the benefit of the public um the nature of the change? Sure. Uh the at the time that we approved that you approved the calendar, the actual primary date was not yet established, but now it is and we were off by one week. So we've now aligned it to the actual primary date. It was uh May 12th and now it's May 19th. >> Thank you, Miss Saxa. >> Sure thing. >> Any other discussion? All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion passes. Okay. This brings us now to section 13, public comments for items not on the agenda this evening. Okay. Um so in an effort um to be efficient in our process, we have a number of you signed up this evening. Um while also ensuring that we're respecting everyone's comments

032and the time, we're going to call up five individuals at a time for public comment. Each individual will have three minutes to speak and we ask that when your name is called, you come toward the front and stand near the podium. As a reminder, when you do come to the podium um and it is your turn to speak, please state your name and confirm your residency in Habford Township. No need to give us an an address, but just confirm that you live here. You will have three minutes. At the end of those three minutes, a buzzer will sound and your time, we ask you to conclude your remarks. Then, if you have any items to share with the board, we ask that you please um give them to Miss Sax or Mr. TSA and they

033will be passed down the table. Okay. So, I'm going to call our first five speakers and again if you could line up please, you'll each have three minutes. Matthew Stullen on the topic of general statements supporting teachers and the learning experiences. Tom Capista, Havford teachers bargaining agreement. Adam Naro, president of HTEA. Evan Kentiello, teacher contract negotiations. Todd Hall, district goals. Matthew Scullan, Htown, Pennsylvania. Hello everyone. As I said, my name is Matt Scullan and I am a lifelong resident of Htown, PA. I graduated from Habford High School in 1992. My two sons, Nate and Zach Skullin, graduated from Habford in 2022, and I currently have a son, Ben, who is in 11th grade. Before I address my concerns, I want to applaud the district on the recent improvements and renovations to the buildings in the

034district. The high school looks fantastic, and I'm glad to see that they have already broken ground constructing a new Coopertown Elementary School. I am proud to live in a community that prioritizes education and supports our public schools. That being said, when students are asked to reflect on their educational experience, they rarely discuss Chromebooks and Smartboards. In reality, the most effective element of a successful and strong school district comes down to one thing, the teachers. When I talked to my sons about what it was When I talked to my sons about what it was like to attend school in Hberttown, the names roll off their tongues. Mrs. Betts, Mr. Felgus, Mrs. Cerillo, Miss Wallof, Mr. Robar. My son's experience at the high school has honestly been been beyond all of my expectations. Teachers like Mr. Caviglia,

035Mr. Schultz, Mr. Smith, Mrs. Grady, Dr. Thomaseski, Mr. Greb, and Mrs. Jackson inspired my sons to live up to their potential and strive for success. Their influence and efforts helped my sons grow and mature in a well-rounded, hard-working, and responsible young men. Last year, my son Ben had the pleasure of being a student Mr. Withers AP class. Like all the teachers I named, Mr. Withers went above and beyond his responsibilities as an educator, being a true role model and mentor for my boy. I am aware that the contract for our teachers expired in August. I implore this board to do the right thing and agree to a fair contract for our teachers that rewards their commitment to our children and our community. Respect and admiration for educ educators has been rapidly declining over the past

036few years. Please show our community that we support public education. stand by our teachers and agree to a contract that will keep great teachers here and attract strong applicants in the future. Frankly, our teachers have earned it and they deserve it. For those of you in the audience and on Facebook who may disagree with my opinion, I would like to remind you that over the summer, a house on Brooklyn Boulevard sold for over $1 million. The quality and affordable education ava available in Htown has benefited property values for all homeowners in Hford Township for years. Both of my older sons attend competitive colleges with peers who attended elite private schools and paid thousands of dollars for their primary and secondary educations. The student experience in the Herford School District is comparable and in my opinion

037supersedes the education available at these elite schools. I think it's about time our teachers reap some of these profits and are rewarded for their efforts. I hope the school board will support my request and address the contract issue as soon as possible so teachers can concentrate on what they do best, educating, promoting confidence, and developing positive relationships with our students. Thank you. Okay, next we have Tom Capista. It's a tough act to follow. Good evening. My name is Tom Capista. I live at 17 Springhouse Lane in Htown. I've been a resident of the district for 42 years now. I had the privilege and pleasure to be a science teacher here in the district for 38 of those years. Starting in the junior high, teaching at the uh at the middle school 11 years ago. I've

038been retired for 11 years now. Uh obviously I'm here to support my my I consider them my forever colleagues, not my former colleagues. Um I understand that they have started the year without a bargaining agreement. I had a lot of experience with that in my uh in my years and it's not a pleasant situation. Uh it's unsettling for the teachers to not know what your salary is going to be for the year, what your benefits cost will be, when and if you'll be able to move up a snapper or get credit for your for your years uh for your for your increased education. We all know that there's a teacher shortage nowadays in in the country, in the state, and even in Delaware County. From what I understand, I suspect that Hford with its good

039reputation will continue to get applications to most of its openings. But the question is will the best, the brightest, the most qualified of those applicants choose to accept the position in Hford if they can get a better starting salary, better step movement, better benefits package in the neighboring district. I see the on the district website that you list points of pride. These are uh well-deserved achievements and and accomplishments of teachers, administrators, students, science clubs, music groups, and so on. There's no question that the teachers play a large role in the success of these these achievements. I took some time to read the bios that you folks have posted on your on your website as well on the schoolboard website. And clearly this is a highly educated board with impressive resumes. I see some of you

040even have been teachers or administrators at the at the public school or university level. I suspected before any of you chose to run for school board that you had a pretty good idea what makes a quality school district. It's not a secret. things like an engaged school board, qual quality uh cooperative administration, uh a good tax base, involved parents, engaging curriculum, all important college in the machine, but research has consistently shown as my pre Matt said that the single most important factor in the success of the student is a teacher in the front of that classroom. I know you folks are aware of that. For the sake of the public, I'm going to repeat that. The single most important factor is a teacher in the front of that classroom. Nowadays, teachers, a lot is expected

041from teachers, by legislators, school boards, administrators, and parents. And that's probably a good thing. Teaching is an awesome responsibility. Parents send their their kids to us seven, eight hours a day. They expect them to be safe, to be protected, to be well educated. And I can guarantee you every day I walked into a classroom that was foremost for me. And I know for a fact that that's in the minds of the vast majority of the teachers in this district. I want to finish up by saying these are the reasons that I think our teachers deserve a a good contract, one that's competitive with surrounding districts, attractive to new applicants, and fair to our existing staff. I want to finish with a question for you folks. We have a great district. We have quality teachers. The

042question is, do you as a board believe our teachers, counselors, nurses, psychologists, librarians are worthy of compensation that recognizes the value of their work and are they worthy of a contract that's comparable >> to their peers in neighboring districts? I hope the answer to that is your remarks. Your time is >> and I'll leave you folks with that question. Thank you for your time. Okay, next we have Adam Nancaro. >> So, Adam Nancaro, president of HDA. You'll have to bear with me, but I'm got my teaching voice on, so I'm a little light. I'm losing my voice here, so we'll try and go. Uh, so good evening, Dr. Hayes, board members in the Hford community. Uh, I'm here tonight to discuss our shared priority, which is maintaining Aford Township School District as a topranked destination

043district throughout Delaware County that prepares students to be outstanding community members. Our reputation for academic excellence, championship athletics, and innovative music and arts program is unquestioned, and it's built on one foundation, our teachers. They bring the curriculum to life and and transform strategic plans into the student successes that we've heard here tonight. As a dis as the district continues to focus on excellence and equity, keep our educator workforce strong requires competitive compensation. And this challenge is urgent. Our pay significantly lags neighboring districts, limiting our ability to attract and retain talented educators. A new teacher with a bachelor's degree, fresh out of college, can start at some nearby districts at the same salary that a Havford teacher only reaches after six years of teaching. Given Pennsylvania's teacher shortage, this disparity is pushing highly qualified professionals away.

044Havford teachers have consistently demonstrated our commitment working with the district through the financial difficulties of the 2010 2014 years, innovating through the pandemic and meeting new challenges as they arise. They've led, they've supported our community, all the while experiencing years of minimal financial growth as other priorities seem to have taken precedence. Despite all the rhetoric that we hear, we remain open and ready to work together towards a fiscally responsible, equitable agreement. As a father of five, a business owner, and a financial literacy teacher, I understand the sound the importance of sound budgeting. But I also understand that investing in what matters is truly essential. And sometimes we have to make hard choices. Our request is simple. Prioritize investment in our educators from our veterans to our future hires. We care deeply about this district and

045its future. Competitive, fair, timely compensation is not merely an expense. It is an investment that maintains Hford as the district the family chooses for their children's future. And just as your just as our students need your advocacy, our teachers need you to demonstrate that they are your priority. They are the backbone of this district. Thank you for your time and your dedication. [Applause] Okay, next we have Evan Kentella. Hello. >> Okay, moving on. Todd Hall. Good evening. Todd Hall. I live in Hford Township. Within two days of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the Havford Township Democratic Party posted on social media the need to acknowledge his racism and misogyny and that quote pretending otherwise whitewashes the truth and betrays the collective masking of how we got to this place in America. End of quote. Everyone

046on this board is an elected Democrat. Everyone here is on a board that states its strategic plan goals are to honor every individual's inherent dignity through equitable, inclusive, and diverse practices. In the interest of honoring inclusive and and diverse practices, I share the following as a person of the Christian faith. The words are spoken by Pastor Gary Hamri of Leburg, Virginia last Sunday. And I quote, he was only controversial because he had biblical views that shaped his political views that challenged the cultural views. But he was always willing to engage in conversation with those agreed with him and especially those who did not agree with him. Which is why when he went to college campuses, he ended up dying. I'm sorry. Which is why when he went to college campuses, he ended up dying on

047one. He wanted to have respectful, intelligent dialogue because because he believed in the value of the exchange of ideas and the right to free speech. But unfortunately, his personal rights and freedoms were silenced by an assassin who was too cowardly to debate Charlie Kirk to his face. So he decided just to murder him. You may not have liked some of the things that Charlie Kirk believed and said. He had his friends and his foes, obviously. But to fight words with violence by killing someone for what they believed and said is not only unamerican, it's downright evil and demonic. Let me tell you what else is evil and demonic. On Wednesday night when it was suggested on the House floor of Congress that they should pause and pray for Charlie Kirk's family and some Democrats booed

048and objected, that was evil and demonic. What's the matter with people? Can you not pause and pray for a widow who lost her husband and children who lost their father? Are you that insensitive? Do you have that much vitriol? Can you not have an ounce of compassion and pray for people who just had their loved one assassinated? And let me tell you what else is evil and demonic. A lot of haters out there who have taken to social media and written things that are vile and disgusting celebrating Charlie Kirk's assassination. That's e evil and demonic. And it just serves to highlight the fact that Satan is always at work to incite people to do evil. And have you noticed of late that Satan often incites violence towards people or organizations associated with God or faith?

049a synagogue, a church, a Christian school, a Catholic school, Jews, Christians. Can you sense the rising tide of anti-semitism and anti-Christian hate in our world? In our world today, I urge you to urge your party leadership to honor inclusion and diverse practices and not criticize a human being within 72 hours of their untimely death and all the more so when their death arises out of political violence. Thank you. [Applause] I will now call the next five speakers. Please come up to the podium. You can either be seated near the podium or stand near the podium. Sarah Crispen on the topic of teacher contract. Ryan Shance, real world educator pay. Marie Costa, support for HTA. Patrick Berland, teacher union negotiations. And Jacob Jose Hibadian, children's mental health. And Miss Chrisman, when you're ready. >> Good evening.

050My name is Sarah Crispen. I am a lifelong Havford resident, a proud graduate, a current parent, a taxpayer, and for the past 18 years, an English teacher. I began my journey in this school district as a Cadam Park Bulldog. It was there in 1994 when my guidance counselor first encouraged me to become a peer conflict mediator out on Chattam Park's playground. The program was revolutionary at the time because it gave children the tools to handle everyday conflicts. At 8 years old, the experience taught me empathy and critical thinking, and it was the very first step I took toward becoming a teacher. Since then, this community has shaped my entire life. Today I am choosing to raise my own family here. My daughter is thrilled to be a Lynwood Lion. And I have had the privilege

051of teaching in this community that made me who I am. This is not just where I work. This is my home. Over nearly two decades. I have taught the full spectrum of students. I have cared for and mentored each one and I have seen them succeed, gain confidence, and step out into the world. Every child who I encounter deserves the same chance at success and to feel that they are valued and that they belong. This is at the heart of teaching and it is what keeps me teaching year after year. I have also invested in my own professional growth so that I could be bring more to my classroom. I earned my master's degree from the University of Pennsylvania, a financial commitment I made because I wanted to ensure that students received the very best

052practice and the best instruction that I could give. But the reality is belief and passion alone do not pay the bills. To support my family, I have had to take on a second job teaching at a private school after my hours here are over. And at times over the years, I have even sold plasma to make ends meet. It is not just me. I know an experienced teacher in my own department who has been door dashing at night to get by. These are not the choices that anyone expects to make after nearly two decades in a respected profession with multiple advanced degrees. Yet, they are the choices that many teachers are forced into when the cost of living rises and wages remain stagnant. Without a cost of living adjustment, dedicated educators like myself fall further

053and further behind. And when teachers can no longer afford to live in the communities that they serve, they leave. The cost of that turnover could shape the reality, the stability, and the quality of education in this school district for years to come. I ask you tonight, please show the same empathy and compassion that I first learned as a Havford student and have tried to pass along to my students ever since. Recognize the reality that your teachers face and prove to the students at Havford that you value the future enough to invest in the people who guide them every day. Without that commitment, we risk not only losing teachers but the very heart of our schools. Thank you. Ryan Sh. >> Good evening, members of the board. I'm Ryan Sh, Avertown resident, parent of two boys,

054and a chartered financial analyst. My work centers on analyzing data and evaluating investment performance. People are wondering if educator pay is at Hford is really competitive. So, I reviewed the 24-25 salary schedules from nine peer districts in our direct labor market, and here's what I found. Across our peer group, four districts clearly lead. Three fall into the bottom tier, Havford sits in the middle with two others. Step for step, our pay schedule falls below the peer median 75% of the time and below the peer average 90% of the time. in plain English. Across most of their career, Havford teachers are paid less than their peers in competing districts. Over time, Havford starts low, only reaches the middle by year 14, and never breaks into the top group. The competitive edge comes very late, only for

055those who stay decades. The difference shows up in what teachers take home. In their first decade, Havford teachers bring home tens of thousands of dollars less than nearby districts. That gap shapes whether great teachers stay here or leave. And our families feel the difference. If we zoom out, the pattern is the same. Since 2019, Havarford's cost of living adjustments have lagged inflation, statewide wages, K through2 education wages, and even the district's own growing revenues. When I reviewed public budget data, it's clear that while revenues have grown grown, the share going to teachers has gotten smaller. Te the teacher budget didn't shrink, but as new dollars came in, more of them were directed elsewhere. That leaves teachers with a smaller slice of a growing pie. In my profession, there are global standards for fair representation and

056full disclosure. I realize that's not the case here, but can't we aim for the same spirit of transparency to tell the whole story, use the right comparisons, and plan responsibly that would serve the board, the teachers, and the community. Speaking as a parent, our kids only get one shot at their education. Teachers are the difference between a child who thrives and one who falls behind. If we lose great teachers because our pay lags, it's the children that pay the price. Herford should be the district where great teachers stay and new teachers want to build their careers. As parents, we all want strong kids, strong schools, and a strong community. And that depends on how we take care of our teachers. Thank you. [Applause] Next we have Marie Costa. Okay, moving on. Patrick Berland. Good evening

057members of the school board and welcome to Havford Dr. Hayes. My name is Patrick Berlin and my wife and I live in the district with our three children who all attend district schools. I'm speaking tonight to stand with our teachers and express how disappointed I am in the recent conduct of the board and administration during these contract negotiations. Hford is truly blessed with some of the best teachers I've ever encountered. I've watched over the years that Havford teachers have seen my children as they truly are and encouraged them to grow as both students and individuals. My oldest just started high school this year. The night before her first day of school, she received an email from her fifth grade teacher that read in part, "Always be yourself because you are amazing. Remember that I will

058be rooting for you in everything you do. You will forever be one of my students." It was a truly beautiful message. And that email is indicative of the type of educators we have here. And that's the type of educators you guys are going to run off and out of this district. You can replace bodies, but you cannot replace genuine care that our teachers demonstrate day in and day out. Look, I understand that union contract negotiations are challenging. The truth is often in the middle. I'm a senior HR leader for a manufacturing company with multiple unions. I'm in the middle of two union negotiations myself right now. I know how hard this is. But one thing I would never do is use my company's website and social media channels as an avenue to insinuate that my

059employees are lying to us. You use district resources to chastise the educators that we taxpayers trust our children with every day. It's appalling. It reeks of amateurism. Who among you is coordinating this effort? Who would approve such nonsense? And while we're on the topic of fiscal responsibility, my question is why start now? Where was the fiscal responsibility when we shut out $5.3 million in confidential settlements between 2021 and 2024? Where's the fiscal responsibility when it comes to our technology spend? Seemingly every year the district has us accessing the new website or app between Power School, Canvas, Zern, School Cafe, My Schoolbox, Meium, Stopfinder, School Pass, and the new online athletic ticketing software. I feel like this district has not said no to a software salesperson in years. Where's the financial responsibility when it comes to

060the headcount of the Oakmont building? Each year, it feels we have more and more administrators making more money and providing less to the community. I'll admit I will admit it gets hard to get an accurate count of who actually works at Oakmont since you guys refuse to be transparent and update your school district directory on a regular basis. My experiences with the folks at Oakmont have left me cold and wondering if this is the right district for my family. A Havford teacher has never made me feel the level of angst and anger that some members of your Oakmont staff have. So instead, you decide to draw the line at our dedicated teachers, the teachers who are foundational to the Havford student experience, the teachers who make Hford Hford. So I implore you to pay them

061a fair salary that not only rewards our current teachers, but makes Hford attractive to teachers looking for a change. give them the professional time they need to continue to deliver a high quality education. In closing, this administration loves to trumpet all of Hford's successes. We see these achievements regularly at board meetings and online and they are truly wonderful. But they are not a happy coincidence. They are because the hard work and dedication of our amazing teachers. Please don't throw that success away. Do what is right for our teachers and our community. Thank you. Our next speaker is Jacob Jose Hibian. Good evening and thank you for your time. Just want to thank you all for coming out here. We all have stuff that we should be uh doing, spending time with the family. Our >>

062Could you please state your name and confirm your residency in Hford Township? Thank you. >> Jacob Jose Habedian. I currently live in Drexel Hill. I grew up in Htown. Went to Harvard High, graduate 06. Um I am here to discuss the mental health that's going on, not just in this school, in this township, but in society altogether. I mean, I understand we're here to offer teachers a fair pay, and I think that should be uh definitely something that's looked at, but we're Why is the topic always about money? You know what I mean? Like, what are we giving our what are we giving our students? Do our students feel safe in these halls? As someone that was always bullied and picked on in these halls, I felt like I was always unseen and unheard. And

063now here I am, you know, 19 years later, fighting for my daughter's voice. My daughter is currently goes to Manoa Elementary or she went to Monoa Elementary. Uh she currently is in the middle school in seventh grade and right now she just has a slew of issues that has stemmed from bullying that has gone unchecked and unheard and it is all started around COVID when these kids were just glued to their screens. Everyone was trapped at home but no one wanted to have the important discussions on mental health, what it was doing for our children and what it was doing to our families and communities. I see these same people that I would take a bullet for anyone any one of you guys. I would I would die for right now if I had to.

064But we are nothing but a divided community. I don't even feel I don't even feel like a Habitatonian anymore. I grew up in this community. I went to Chattam Park. I went to Butch's Deli. I went to all the Harford Township days. But I also I lived a very wild life. So I seen how the other half lives. I've been in the court systems. I went to Glenn Mills for two years because I got bullied. I got picked on. I hit someone. Caught an aggravated assault charge. or I almost killed that person. My life could have changed very drastically. That person's name is Matt Eis. I pray for him every day that that me and him can somehow reconcile. He was also a grade below me and a student of Harford Township Trip and I

065did his family a great injustice. But that incident put me on a trajectory of I was a juvenile delinquent in the halls of Hford High. You know what I mean? And here I am trying to make good on all the damage that I've done. I'm trying to teach my daughter how to live a path of truth, of justice, and to stick up for herself. But this past uh this past summer, you know, 3 days after her birthday, she attempted to take her life at 12 years old. And here I am trying to make make peace with my own missteps. you know, how do how do I give a daughter that's been ridiculed for just sticking up for a lot of her friends that are in the LGBT? She has friends that are trans and she's

066sticking up for those people and in return, she's getting bullied. She's getting harassed. How do I give a 12-year-old daughter hope again? Hope that the community stands behind her, that she feels safe getting onto the school buses. She's terrified half the time. She has social anxiety. She doesn't want to do certain things. And now I feel like I'm I'm I'm in a corner now. I feel I don't want to go to war against anyone in the community. I want this community to unite under one common cause. Love and compassion. That is what this world needs right now. I have seen enough violence, enough darkness. I know where it leads. >> I hope everyone can just open their hearts. Have a conversation with your neighbor. Hug someone. If you have parents that are still alive, hug

067them. Tell them you love them. Hug your children a little tighter tonight. >> Your remarks. >> I thank you for your time and God bless everyone. And Dr. Hayes, could we have a member of the administration follow Dr. Mr. Thank you. [Applause] Okay, I'm going to call our next five speakers. Rita Waters, board of education and support of Habford teachers. Kristen Luxier, teacher contract. Janice Miller, social media posts from teachers. Sharon Donnelly, teacher contract. And Susan Miy, teacher support. >> Good evening. My name is Rita Waters. I have lived in Havtown for 20 years. My children all came out of Upper Derby. And I remember when we walked from Upper Derby High School to Habford High School, but Havford High School was the middle school. I do not have children in the Habford school district,

068but I am a supporter of public education having been a teacher in both the Detroit public schools and the Pittsburgh public schools. When I started teaching, an entry teacher salary was $20,000. Try to live on that today. The reason that I'm here and what I would ask for is I see the teachers in red, one of my favorite colors, and the board of education looking like board of education people. What? No offense. What I want to say is that we need to really look at the data, but we also need to look at the proposals that the board and the teachers have brought to the table because somewhere there are financial implications for those of us who live in Havtown. 17% of Havtown's population are 65 years and older. How much would the increases as

069and it should be part of the conversation because I as one of the gentlemen have said I'm also been involved in union negotiations. How much is it going to cost the taxpayer taxpayers? Please keep in mind that as a result of tariffs, each one of you are going to incur $2,300 more. Medicines have gone up, groceries have gone up. There's an impending government shutdown. Also, what's happening is your federal grants have been pulled away. The state is not funding school districts. And there's some school districts that are in worse shape than Havford. Look at Chester and look at William Pang. What other entities contribute to funding our schools and our teachers? We need to look at that. We are not a Rner or a Swathmore or we do not have I don't think we tax

070our businesses who are in Havford to pay towards property taxes. So, I just want to thank the teachers for their service and the board of education for their integrity and hopefully there will be an agreement soon so our children will be successful. Thank you. [Applause] >> Okay, Kristen Luxer. Good evening, members of the school board. My name is Kristen Bond Luxshire and I am a Havford Township resident and mother to Hford School District students. As a former math teacher, I taught productive struggles, growth mindsets, the beauty of mathematical solutions, and perhaps most relevant tonight, how to be a curious skeptic about statistics. To ask when, how, and why data is presented. I have always been proud to be a Ford, to be the granddaughter, daughter, niece, sister, cousin, and mother of Fords. The Bond family,

071and now the Luxire family have strong ties to this community. We've been your crossing guards, fixed your small engines and machines. We've resealed your driveways, cleaned your schools, took care of your school buildings. We've worked on your HVAC. We've lifeguarded your children, coached your kids, directed them in musicals, created and ran their community events, ran their te-ball leagues, helped them with their homework, and even taught them a little math. We have sat next to you on the sidelines and in the auditorium for the concerts. We've celebrated town and city victories and mourned alongside you during our losses. This is our town, our schools, our kids. As a Havford resident and a mom, I want to speak directly to the educators in the room. I see you. You spent hours beyond the school day planning, preparing,

072and learning. When the world turned upside down, you moved mountains, reinventing teaching on the fly, and even riding buses to deliver meals to our children. In not too distant a time, you put colleagues first, voting midcontract to take less so others could keep their jobs. You spent the most recent holiday weekend building your classrooms from scratch because it was the first time you were allowed to go in and prepare for your eager new students. Now, as you negotiate time and salary, I'm troubled by selective statistics on district platforms that diminish your value, especially when neighboring districts prioritize their teachers while you're still fighting for a living wage. As a former math teacher, I can see what the numbers leave out. The unpaid hours, rising costs, expanding responsibilities, and the expertise required to do this job

073well. I teach my own children fairness. This is not fair. You are not being fairly compensated. Your time not fairly valued. Despite late back to school nights and mixed messages, you keep showing up and climbing new mountains for our students and families. Families that feel so connected and invested they are still here and have a for generations. That is a true growth mindset. I see the beauty in your solutions and the productive struggle you carry for your students and for your own families. I stand with you. Four generations of my family stand with you. I ask this board to settle a fair contract that honors teachers time, talent, and impact because our community's future depends on it. Thank you. Go fors. >> Next, we have Janice Miller. Sorry, >> Sharon Donnelly. >> Good evening. >>

074My name is Sharon Donley. I'm a lifelong resident of Harford Township. My husband and I have raised our family here for over 40 years and all three of my children have attended Hford Township School District. I am also a retired council teacher and has served the district for over 37 years. I've dedicated years of my life for our students, our schools, and this community. And I'm proud of the work that we have done, and I'm proud to have served as representative of HTA during that time. I'm here tonight because I am deeply concerned about the district's refusal to come to the table to negotiate in good faith with our educators. I've been through contract negotiations before. I know they are not easy. I know compromise is required. But I also know this. When a district

075refuses to negotiate honestly, no one wins. Not the teachers, not the families, and certainly not the students. Our students are the ones who pay the highest price when educators are undervalued and unheard. Morale suffers. Recruitment and retention becomes harder. And the best teachers, the ones we want in the classroom, leave the district where they know they will be respected. And the students left behind feelless losses. Every single day I've seen firsthand the difference it makes when a district and its teachers work together. Students thrive when the teachers are supported and communities thrive when their schools are strong. I've also seen the damage caused when districts dig in their heels and treat negotiations as a fight to be won rather than a partnership to be honored. I worry that the district views this as two opposing

076sides against one another and not a partnership to identify a solution. In classrooms all across this district every day, our teachers help students learn to collaborate, work as groups, share responsibility, and take care of one another. I know you understand the importance of this work because it is reflected in your strategic plan. One of your explicit goals is to empower students to be active, responsible, and contributing citizens through shared responsibility, etc. I love that goal. So, I'm calling on the school board to reflect on that goal and our shared values. I want to call on you into this conversation because you are entrusted with the well-being of our schools and our children. I urge you, put the students first by valuing the teachers. sit down with the association, listen, negotiate, work towards an agreement that

077strengthens, not undermines, the foundation of our schools. Thank you. >> Susan Mji. >> Thank you. My name is Susan Mi and I thank the members of the school board and Dr. Hayes for listening to us. We're all talking about our favorite topic and that is teachers. >> Mrs. Miy, could you confirm your residency in Habford Township, please? >> Uh, Ardmore. Sorry. First, please let me welcome Dr. Hayes to our community. I have spent 40 years working for this district and for this community and I can tell you without question that our children, our families, our citizens, our senior citizens, and most especially our teachers are the very best in the business. I began in 1980 as a teacher in Habford, and my 40-year career in Hford is well documented. No one really wants to hear

078about it. But I am here to express my strong support for the teachers of Havford as you continue contract negotiations. I believe that right now it is crucial right now 2025 that we prioritize the well-being and the professional needs of our professional educators. As a principal and a special ed supervisor, one of the most important jobs I had was hiring teachers. It was a very complex process and it was a summerlong project for all of us at administration. From the superintendent, Dr. Hayes on down to principles and assistant principles and supervisors. We all got together and we worked as hard as we could in the entire summer to find the best and the brightest. I would have loved to explain the process but I assure you that every teacher is chosen for their excellent abilities

079has we've been told by HR quality assurance is demanded. So what did we look for in all those months? We look for people who can teach, people who can guide, people who can mentor, people who can support each other, their families and their students, people that can communicate and collaborate with everyone that's important in their students life. Transparency was one of the most important things we look for when we spoke to teachers about families. We look for people that could work with teams. Sometimes I would be looking for a fourth grade teacher, but I had a team that I wanted to make sure someone would be able to work and collaborate with those teachers. Teachers learned how to work with families and they learn to work individually with students. I want you to look around

080this room because you will see the best and the brightest that education world has to offer. And we as a district hired them. Many times as I sat here, people would question things that happen in the classroom. People would question things that might happen already. I will stop. I'm I all I want you to know and believe in is that teachers are the backbone of our schools and they're the heart of our community. They dedicate countless hours to not only mentoring, educating, and supporting our children, but it's 2025. They work to keep them safe, protected, and confident. Thank you. [Applause] I'm going to call our next five speakers. Rich McGlory, Vicky Pard, Grace Sullivan, Maggie Fox, Renee Lawler. Good evening everyone and I left my what I had to say over there but I'm not

081going to say it today. What I am going to say is how impressed my >> could you state your name and confir My name is Rich Mclo. I still live in Habtown. I speak before you guys all the time and I just want to and I just want you to know that the Manoa team is here tonight. Without them, my little Johnny would not be talking today. And without them, I wouldn't be advocating for reading specialists for my autistic grandson and every other autistic kid in our school district who is below level in reading. Thanks, Mrs. Gallagher for being the reading specialist who taught my grandson beginning reading. I see a cow. I see a thing. She created that. She did a great job. If it wasn't for those teachers, my grandson not only wouldn't

082be talking, but he wouldn't have any social skills. They created themselves a program that is an ideal program. And this community that's sitting before you today is a great school community. I've been in many schools. I've applied for jobs in many school districts. This is one of the greatest school communities that I have ever come to know and I want to speak about Jake. What Jake said too. Okay. After that, after the wonderful I had a brother who committed suicide when he was 18. I did not, it did not go unnoticed to me that our high school belonging statistics faded off in high schools. No one helped my brother, not even me. I didn't even know that he was suffering from depression. And I live with him. And when I taught in Philadelphia and was

083an administrator, the greatest reward that I got for my teaching was not the money, was not the status, but when a kid came to me and said to me, "Mr. Mclo, I want to thank you because if it wasn't for you, I would never graduate from this school district." And I want you to understand that is what these people do for our children. And I just want to see you finish the contract, pay them what they deserve so we can get back to arguing about and debating about the best way to teach our children how to live together, learn to read, write, and think and determine fact from fiction so we all come together. And that's what I want to see. And I want to see an a a reading special for my grandson. Thank

084you. [Applause] >> Vicky Polard. My name is Vicky Pard and I'm a resident of Hford Township. Um, I'm a stakeholder with three irons in this fire. First, I would been I've been a resident of Habford Township for 28 years, and I plan to stay in my lovely Htown home forever. Second, I am the proud parent of two Hford alumni, class of 2015 and 2017. And third, I had the privilege to teach biology and AP biology to some of your students um here at Havford for 17 wonderful years and I retired recently in 2024. So my perspective is one of lived experience as a res resident of the township, a parent in the district and a teacher in the high school who knows the history of the typically cordial, collaborative and synergistic relationship between the district

085and HTA. I remember the financial crisis facing the district in the early 2010s caused by rising health care costs, increased piecers employer contribution rates, and property tax issues. HTEA responded to our district's financial crisis by agreeing to renegotiate midcontract and take a pay reduction to help balance the budget. When it came time to negotiate a new contract in the 20134 school year, the district was still struggling. So, HTEA agreed to a complete pay freeze and every teacher lost a step on the pay scale. We agreed to that so that other vital members of our community didn't lose their jobs. Then, during the biggest crisis that we all lived through, the pandemic, we were asked to do the impossible. take our brickandmortar, handson curricula and make it virtual overnight. Thousands of collaborative hours of work outside

086the normal school day from everyone in the district made it happen. I'm proud of the way we as educators responded to these district crisis. Today, I'm asking the district to meet the needs of our educators. The teacher salary schedule in our district has lagged far behind inflation rates for the past 12 years. In the last five years, Havford teachers have taken the equivalent of a 15% pay cut due to inflation. Um the headline in today's Philadelphia inquir was actually Philly's income does not keep up with inflation. And it was a it's a big deal. This might make you think that this is an inevitable crisis for everyone, but if you look at the numbers in that article, incomes in the Philly area dropped by 1.3% while educators here in our district have experienced a drop

087of 15%. An order of magnitude higher. I'm asking the board to do the right thing and deescalate our teachers current financial crisis. It's the only way we will attract and retain the amazing teachers that we have come to expect and depend on in our wonderful township. Thank you. >> Grace Sullivan. >> Hi, my name is Grace Sullivan. I am a resident of Hford Township. I am a parent of two students currently at Chestnutwald Elementary. I am also an educator. While I started my career as a classroom teacher, over the past 10 years or so, I've taken on various roles that have allowed me to work closely with teachers and students in many different schools and districts. This has given me a unique perspective on the multitude of challenges that teachers are currently facing. While still

088feeling the emotional and academic effects of the COVID pandemic, teachers have been asked to completely rethink the way they teach students to read, adjust to entirely new curriculum, and ensure that their students individual needs and accommodations are being met. After working with teachers in schools at every end of the spectrum in terms of resources, I can tell you that our Havford Township teachers are unique. While so many teachers are understandably burnt out, frustrated, and exhausted, our teachers approach these challenges with a level of positivity and professionalism that is unmatched. They spend what I'm sure is countless off-the-clock hours ensuring they are up to date on the latest research-based practices and then more time walking parents through the reason their child can't just do long division the way we learned it. They do all of this

089with a smile and then they greet our children at their classroom door with that same smile the next day. This is what makes our school district so special. Our teachers deserve fair, competitive compensation. It is my fear that if we don't offer them this, we will slowly lose what is making our district unique and what is making Havford Township such a special and desirable place to live. Thank you. Maggie Fox. Hi everyone. My name is Maggie Fox and I am a resident of Htown. I have two kids at Monoa and one at Habford Middle School. Our family has been at Monoa since 2019. Throughout our time at the school, we have endured both the pandemic and multiple diagnosis leading to 504 and IEPs. So, I have needed a lot of handholding and each of our

090teachers have risen to the occasion. I want to share some specific times with you. Our teachers have gone way out of their way to help my family. While these stories are truly extraordinary, I know similar stories are shared by many Havford Township families. My child's kindergarten teacher was about able to detect issues that needed further evaluation after I had been reassured for years that everything was fine. Today, my child is thriving thanks to the support she has been given at Monoa. I hate to think where she would be if this had continued to be missed had it not been for her exceptional kindergarten teacher. We had another teacher who never gave up during a rocky time for one of my kids. She went out of her way to get friendship bracelets, make videos specifically for

091my child for me to show her before school to reassure her, and came to cheer her on at outside events to make her feel supported within the classroom. Another time, I had to reach out to one of my kids' math teachers because she was not understanding the material. The teacher responded with, "Let me take the weekend to figure out how best to help your child." And then she set up the most thoughtful, thoughtout meeting with me to explain how she would cater to my child's specific learning style to help her understand the material. Another one of our math teachers took the time to meet with me outside of conference time just to discuss how to support my child's confidence in math. I have received many phone calls home just to let me know everything is

092going well, to check in and for teachers to introduce themselves before the start of the year and to check and see how my children feel about their new grade levels. These are just some of the stories that I'm sharing tonight, but I have so many more examples of how our teachers have gone above and beyond both inside and outside of school time. We have incredible teachers in this district and we owe it to them to meet their needs with fair salary, professional time, and a competitive contract. Thank you. [Applause] Renee Lawler. >> Hi, I'm Renee Lawler and I live in Howardford Township. My family has been a Hford resident since 1999. This is our 18th consecutive year with children in the district. We have three daughters, two of which have successfully moved on from Hford,

093class of 2020 and 2022. Our youngest will be class of 2030. We have been a familiar face in all the schools over the years, volunteering for PTO events, PTO board, home room parent, attending PTO meetings, volunteering at the blast, and following board meetings mostly online. I state the above because I can testify that the schools are growing academic, socially, and physically, mostly in a positive, but sometimes not so much. Our two oldest had a wonderful experience throughout their years in Manila, the middle school, and Harford High School. Not all days were perfect, but they what they could count on is their teachers and the staff. My older girls had a wonderful relationship not only with their teachers but with administrative staff, counselors, and even some janitorial staff as well. Times have changed over the years.

094Since my youngest went through Monoa and now entering her last year at the middle school, times have really changed. Teachers and all staff are wonderful, but they are more stressed, more frustrated, and they're just tired. They need help. They need more time to prepare, more time with the students, more aids in the classrooms, more times to prepare. Oh, sorry. More times with the administrators, more time to learn new curriculum. Hford is a sought off sought after geographic location. Houses are selling crazy, some even over a million dollars. It is time that we give back to our teachers and staff. They deserve double the salary. But in all seriousness, let's give them what they want. Let's give them what they deserve. Let's give them what they're asking for. Financial security and time sorry financial security and

095more time sorry more time to prepare for our children to be successful past graduation and prepare them to be successful addition to our society. Our neighborhoods students are our future and we need our teachers to have the tools to continue making our community a better place to live. Thank you. Our next five speakers, Danielle Vitali, Michelle Icenogle, Jameson Monahan, John Deise, and Megan Malagan. Hi, I'm Danielle Vitali. I live in the uh township and um the opinions I'm expressing tonight are my own and not reflective of the board. I wanted to express my frustration with the frivolous spending the school board has engaged in during our previous superintendent's administration all prior to Dr. Hayes's arrival. I have long been vocal about my frustrations with board spending that does not promote academic excellence and enhance student

096outcomes and instead only advances certain board members pet projects or agenda-driven goals. Money always seems to be there when the board wants to get our lawyers to draft a resolution or a proclamation. I've lost track of how many feel-good no action resolutions we have drafted. We had tens of thousand dollars to pay Sage Wellness to tell middle school ELA teachers they were racist for wanting to teach classic literature. We had money for the dignity through belonging um instruction that was just pointless word salad. Money was also there for solar that was I do not believe economical. And if you question this, God forbid you needed to think of our children's future, which is actually what I'm doing by speaking tonight. I'm tired of being disregarded by certain board members when I bring up fiscal responsibility

097and how money is a finite resource. Told items are just $100 per family or dinner out. And I sincerely hope the board moves forward making decisions that directly benefit our students now, not 25 years from now. And nothing promotes and drives academic excellence and student success more than excellent teachers. Thank you. Heat. Michelle Iceogle. >> Hi, I'm Michelle Icenogle and I uh affirm that I live in the district. Uh my daughter is one of the many wonderful students that are served um by Havford Township. Um I hate public speaking. Um but I am here in support of our Hford Township teachers. Uh they are dedicated, highly educated, creative and caring individuals. Um who could have done any number of careers but they chose to be teachers. Um, and I think that's really important because it

098speaks to a contract that we as strong communities have when people make choices to their detriment for the good of a community. It is our responsibility to take care of them because they are taking care of us. Um, I'll put a lot more in an email because that's more comfortable for me, but um, it was really important for me to stand up and say that for them. Thank you. Jameson Monahan. >> Good evening. My name is Jameson Monahan and I live in the district and I am a parent of a current second grade student at Chattam Park Elementary. Six years ago, my wife and I decided to move into the district and raise our kids with the understanding that they would be attending highquality schools with exceptional educators. It was important to us that our

099kids receive this education and be a part of this community. During my child's time at Chadam Park, I've been impressed by the level of care and education that he has received. his kindergarten teacher, Miss Cindy Scandlin, here tonight, uh, demonstrated the value of having a veteran teacher who knows the ins and outs of working with our youngest students and helping them to grow. Her dedication to her craft, especially at a time when the curriculum was changing, was more than evident in the results that I saw in my child. that he was able to have that experience is so important to me and to many families in our community. The idea that Miss Scanland was able to do all of this while having less time to collaborate and plan is as incredible as it is frustrating.

100The institutional knowledge that she possesses is so valuable to her colleagues and deserves to be valued. Having veteran teachers receive competitive pay and have the time to make themselves and their peers better is common sense for a district as successful as ours. On the flip side, last year my child again had an amazing teacher in Miss Gilligan uh earlier in her career. While he again took leaps and bounds thanks to her incredible efforts, how beneficial would it have been to a younger teacher to have had more time to work with her peers and learn more about the profession? How better to ensure the longevity of teachers in our district than to support them and incentivize them to stay and work with our students for as long as possible. I love being a member of this

101community and having my children educated in this district. I hope that it is the top priority of this board to see our educators continue to be the best in the area and to take the necessary steps to demonstrate it to them and to the community. Thank you. Megan Maligan Good evening. Thank you for letting me speak tonight. My name is Megan Malagan. Live on the 200 block of Walnut Place in Abertown. I'm the proud parent of three children, two at Chattam Park, one at the middle school. Um, two of them have 504 agreements. They struggle with ADHD. And it was a journey like a lot of other parents have shared just trying to navigate that. And I seen my te my my peers in the community struggle with those same struggles. On multiple occasions, my

102children's teachers have created individualized behavior checklists, transition reminders, verbal, and visual cues so they can be and thrive in the classroom. Those small tools made a huge difference in helping their days run smoothly and allowing them to thrive in the classroom. The truth is those supports take planning and teachers often don't have enough dedicated time to prepare them. When teachers are given more prep time, every student benefits. It allows them to design lessons, build supports, and meet the diverse needs of children across our schools. More prep time isn't just an investment in our teachers, it's an investment in our kids. I implore you to prioritize this because when teachers have the time they need, all of our students are set up for greater success. Thank you. [Applause] John Deise. Apologize for skipping over you. We're

103circling back. Hello. My name is Jonathan Deise. I live at 2422 Winfield Drive in Haberttown. Uh my family and I have been in this district now for about 10 years. Um, it's difficult in situations like this to not solely be guided by emotion. The teacher is probably the most important job this country has. As a father of three daughters, the teacher is quite possibly the biggest impact in their lives, second to my wife and I. Um, when my reserve status in the United States Air Force became active and I deployed to the Middle East, it was the teachers that picked up the pieces. had the hard conversations with my family when I was on mission to make sure that they were okay and that my family was okay. So that's why I'm here tonight. We

104call teaching a job, but it is really not just a job. It is rather a lifelong commitment to our children and to the growth of humanity. As a teacher's commitment grows, so must our commitment to them. Here are the facts. The board has claimed that its salary proposal would increase the average salary of Havford's teachers by more than 4%. HTEA's website says that this can't be true because the district is subtracting phantom costs for former employees from its calculation of salary increases. As a community member, I am confused about how there could be any disagreement about this at all. District already knows the step and column of every current teacher. It could simply calculate what the average salary would be under its proposal, show its work and settle the question. to board. I ask you

105do this equation and show us the facts. Stop hiding. This seems worth doing because HTEA said it would accept the board's proposal if it really does raise the average salary by over 4%. I hesitate to think that it does. Additionally, I was especially concerned to learn that the board's lawyer has refers refer refused repeated HTEA requests for the current bargaining unit data needed to do this calculation. This is unacceptable. The board's update accuses HTTa of misleading the public. But all the while, isn't it the board that is misleading the public by refusing to share the data? I might add that you had one of your own stand up and go against you. It's the one vote that I will have of these people next time that you run. The teachers union and the community have

106the right to request and receive this kind of data about its bargaining unit. So why are you refusing to provide it? Why refuse to show us information that can bring this negotiation to an end? Why refuse information that can save the district money on tens of thousands of legal fees? Tonight, I ask the board to release the information and be transparent for the sake of the district. It is not acceptable to hide this information. It is downright wrong. The facts are the facts. Let them speak for themselves. If you are really trying to raise the salary of these good people, then show us the information. Stop beating around the bush. I would like to leave you with this. Board members, you are supposed to be advocates for us, the people. So, be our advocates. Be

107the people that we voted you in for. Work for us, not for yourselves. And for the teachers, we have your back. Every single one of you. [Applause] I'm going to call our final six speakers. If you could come up to the podium, please. Katie Mummy, Heather Chory, Karen Race, Amelia Kelly, Jonathan How, Kelly Mats. >> Hi, thank you for allowing me to speak. My name is Katie Mummy. I am a resident of Hford Township. I'm also a very proud parent at Monoa Elementary. Uh, and I am here to speak also in support of our teachers. When my husband and I uh moved to the Bonire section of Havtown, um this was more than a decade ago, there were a couple of things that we were very unaware of. Um I I was unaware of how

108loud the Bonire Fire Department siren would blare. Um I love them, but it's really loud. Um and I was also unaware of just how impactful the Monoa community would eventually become for my family. We didn't have kids when we moved here. And my only acknowledgement of the fact that Monoa was right around the corner was cool, there's a school there. Like that was the only acknowledgement I paid to it. But how lucky were we? Fast forward, I now have twin fourth graders who have worked their way through Monoa since kindergarten. And I can honestly tell you that our experience with all of the teachers there has been nothing but stellar. These teachers do so much more than guide our kids academically. I have witnessed them going so far above and beyond for their students and

109not just my own children. I have witnessed them showing up to soccer games, races, performances, taking their personal time off the clock to be there for these kids, to show them how much they care about them. And that feeling is very mutual. One of my daughters makes a point to stop off on her way to her home room to hug her teacher from last year. Shout out Mrs. Donovan. She goes up there every single morning and gives her a big hug because she loves her so much. The feeling is so mutual for us to all of our teachers. And I did not have that kind of experience growing up. I have honestly never seen this kind of community anywhere else or heard of it from anybody else I know. This is unique and it's special.

110But I am so grateful that my daughters get the chance to experience this because all our kids, all our kids deserve to know that they matter, to have their accomplishments celebrated, and to feel appreciated. And while these teachers are the epitome of professional because they are damn good at what they do in the classroom, they are providing so much more than education. They are actively showing our kids how to be responsible, honest, good people. And they're leading by example. They are demonstrating inclusivity, kindness, ethics, and compassion. And they are helping reinforce the lessons that we're trying to cultivate at home. So, as parents, I believe it's our job to try to leave things better for the next generation. And that's the reason I chose to speak publicly here tonight in support of our teachers because

111the work they do, the impact they have, the care they show is making a difference. And I'm so hopeful that you can come to a fair, competitive agreement. These are incredible professionals, incredible people. They deserve to be compensated appropriately for the vital work that they are doing. And selfishly, we want to keep them here, too. Thank you. >> Heather Chory. Hi, Heather Chory. Yes, I live in Htown. Um, however, we I did not grow up here. My husband and I are not from the area. We moved here 12 years ago because of the community, because of the schools. We moved here from California. We knew nothing about this area. And what drew us to Hertown was the way the community was. We were looking at homes. We would see like families talking to each other,

112gathering on lawns, and we were like, "This is an amazing community." Then we started looking into the schools and we were like, "How lucky are we? These schools are amazing." And we were like, "We have to live in Hertown." And lucky enough, we did. I have a child who graduated last year. I have a child who's in eighth grade this year. And I can't say enough about the teachers. I have a child who had IEP who went to a 504. But we already know all this. You know, these teachers are amazing. Everyone has told you. What you don't know is that I too was a teacher. I now teach again, but I took time off to be at home with my children. I was a PTO president. I was on the IDC. I've worked with

113some of you. I've been involved and I decided to go back to teaching and I decided not to go into public education and the reason is is that the amount of things that you are adding on to these teachers daily was way it's way too much for them. It is a lot for us to do the when they say they need a prep period that prep period is so important. The 40 minutes that you give them is needed. We work so much at home, but the 40 minutes is what we need. That taking that away or giving us 20 minutes isn't enough time. Oh, you have lunch period, too. I'd actually like to sit and eat my lunch and not be an aid in the lunchroom and not take care of that. I'm already taking

114care of the kids through the time. Teaching is such it's something that people just love to do. And I know all these people here love it just as much as I do. And I wish that I had the courage to go back to public education. But I chose a private sector because I felt more valued. I get the 50inut prep period a day. I get the 45 minute lunch period a day. And let me tell you, I use that time wisely. I don't have to take as much time at home doing the work. And those are just the little things. I just worry as a taxpayer if we're not going to pay new teachers what they deserve, are we going to get the quality of teachers that we have here? So, I hope that you

115can find way to make amends and meet in the middle and give them what they need because I know as a teacher, as a parent, it is so so necessary. This is such an amazing district. We don't want to lose those amazing teachers and those families that come here for the school. It'll really just be sad. So, please, please put your passions aside and let's really, really thank them for everything they do and give them what they need. Thank you. Karen Race. >> Hi, good evening. My name is Karen Race and I'm a Hford Township resident. I'm the parent of two students in the district. One is a freshman here at the high school and one is at Coopertown Elementary. I've been actively involved as a volunteer in the school since my older child, who's

116now in high school, entered Coopertown in kindergarten. I volunteered in the classroom, the cafeteria, and in various roles with the Coopertown PTO, including currently serving as their president. Earlier this year, I got my PA emergency substitute teacher certification in response to the teacher shortage in Pennsylvania. But I'm coming here tonight as a parent, a volunteer, and a taxpayer in full support of our teachers. We all understand the importance of retaining and attracting top teaching talent to our district. As a parent, it's distressing to know that while our teachers are teaching our kids every day right now, they're working without a contract. These teachers have in the past agreed to voluntary pay reductions, a pay freeze, dealt with an abrupt change to remote learning during COVID, and regularly take on extra duties for no additional pay.

117I'm sure many of the parents here can tell you stories of the amazing way our teachers handled the pivot to remote learning during COVID. many juggling their own families. Something our PTO does every year is provide our teachers with a check. It's not much, but it's something to help them set up their classrooms to be the best learning environments that they can be for our kids. Because we know otherwise that money is coming out of their own pockets due to their dedication and commitment to our kids. Beyond what our teachers do in the classroom, they contribute to what makes this community so special. We have teachers who take the time to attend their students sports games and they volunteer at PTO events, taking time away from their own families. That's what Havford Township is all

118about and our teachers embody that every day. When my husband and I bought our first home in a nearby district, we knew eventually we wanted to move into Havford Township for the community it offered and for our future kids to attend Havford schools. We worked really hard to achieve that and we have never regretted that decision. Please do whatever you can to work with our teachers to provide them with a fair salary, paid professional time, and a competitive contract to retain and attract the top teaching talent to our school district. Thank you, >> Amelia Kelly. Hi, my name is Amelia Kelly and the address you have is correct. Um, good evening to everyone. Ditto to everyone who said things in support of the teachers. That's exactly why I'm here. I am from a neighboring district.

119So, keep working and keep fighting and stay united as you can. Um, I am here to share my support. >> Sorry. Would you confirm your residency in Hford Township, please? >> Yes, I confirm my address in Hford Township. I've been here for 36 years because I am also an alumni of the Hford School District and proud to be so. My son just started, but this is not my first year interacting with the amazing teachers in this district. I am a product of this district. Um, you might know me as Amy Thompson, not Amy Kelly, and I'm sorry if you didn't think I would ever be a teacher, but I am, and I really, really love my job. Um, it is so disheartening to hear that our teachers are forced to fight for a competitive salary

120during contract negotiations. Our educational world is driven by data and the current numbers highlight the achievements of the students in this district which is brought on directly by the teachers. Um our teachers are not receiving comparable salary increase and it's unfair. Teacher wages should be increased at a minimum for cost of living. It should be noted that teachers suffer a 25% wage penalty compared to other college graduates and the raise is not enough to keep pace with the earnings of other college graduates. If we don't take into account the needs of our teachers, you will see a shift in the mindset. Teachers always do what is needed because they know what is good for our students. They stay extra time. They bring work home to ensure the success of their students. I know I do

121and I know they do. If you take the respect and fair pay away, it will no longer be that way. They need the time and they need to be trusted to know how much time they need and to know how much pay they deserve. The shift will be seen in morale and the loss of amazing teachers in the district. I urge you to listen to the union teachers who and the union leaders who have spoken so eloquently on behalf of the teachers. I'm not as eloquent. I teach first grade. I've been talking all day. I'm not used to speaking to adults. Um so please listen to them. The teachers are their foundation. I also come here at the urging of Mrs. Boricker and Mrs. Lee, my close personal friends who I still see frequently. And

122shout out to my cousin in the back row. You are the reason I am a teacher. I watched you teach in Upper Derby when I was in college and I saw how inclusive you were to your students and you are the reason that I am the teacher I am today and the inclusion that I make sure to instill in my classroom and in my students. And I cannot wait to see my son and my daughter go through this district and have the experience that I have. Again, I bought the house I grew up in. I love it here. Everyone does. Please give them what they deserve. They know it. Jonathan How >> Jonathan How 18-year resident Chadam Park. My name is Jonathan How. I am the proud parent of a Habford Middle School 7th grader.

123My son has attended Hford schools since kindergarten. Each year, his teachers have gone above and beyond for him. When I boast about my son's education, I don't speak about our new construction or our expansive fields. I glorify his amazing teachers. Havford teachers that work well before the beginning of the school day and long after the end of it above and beyond. Every one of my child's Hford teachers has made the time to connect with him. Not just learn about his academic strengths and and areas of need, but to see him as a person, to learn about his love of sneakers and his passion for flag football above and beyond. When I see a flood of young families moving onto my street at Chadam Park, they're not moving in there for the new addition. They're moving

124there for the teachers that populate that school and transform young minds into prepared middle schoolers above and beyond. When my child sees his teachers supporting him at sporting events outside of the school day on Saturdays, it doesn't make him just feel important. It makes him feel cherished. My child is one of a title wave of students that love school because of the teachers that sacrificed time with their family and friends to make this community the zenith of public education. Now is the time to acknowledge their dedication. Now is the time to provide an adequate living. Now is the time to remain competitive to keep these incredible teachers here. Now is the time to compensate teachers that always go above and beyond. You take away these wonderful habit for teachers, your shiny new buildings are nothing

125but empty sad vessels. [Applause] >> Kelly Mats. Hi. I'm sorry I'm the last one, so I'm gonna try and be quick. I'm You have heard a million time Oh, sorry. Kelly Mats. I live in Binmar. Sorry. Um, good evening to the board, Dr. Hayes, teachers, and fellow community members. Coopertown friends back there. Um, my name is Kelly Matz. I have three children in the district. Um, Libbyy's at HMS and my other two are at Coopertown. Um, I have spent my entire life in academia. I was a product of the public school system in South Jersey. I was a first generation college student. Um, and then I went on to graduate school for chemistry. My husband also went through public school in PA College and then medical school at Temple. When we decided to settle down

126and start a family, our number one priority was a great public school system. After a lot of research, we settled in Binmar with the Havford School District. We moved here for the schools and more specifically for the teachers. Our teachers have had to cope with unprecedented changes in the last five years. During the shutdown, they had to drastically pivot their learning plans to help our kids over Zoom. I was teaching college chemistry at the same time, and the prep and execution of those lessons took me five times longer than in-person teaching. I was hyper aware of the struggles during that time. Yet, Mrs. Hourback, I don't know if she's here, still taught Maddie how to read, and Mrs. Bolita taught Libby how to do math between her Bolita brain breaks. I do not know how

127the teachers survived that time because as a parent and a teacher myself, I struggled. When I heard Mrs. Morris speak at a PTO meeting about meeting kids where they are, something clicked for me with my own teaching. I was able to get through that time at my job because of her. Our teachers have not only the task of teaching our kids academics and social behavior, but they are charged with keeping them safe. When I was in school, not too long ago, but kind of long ago, there were no air quality alerts where you have to keep 600 students in the building all day. Um, we didn't have stranger in the hallway drills. The world has changed. Your job has changed. Many of us elected the people on this board in the hopes that their actions

128would reflect our shared values. I am deeply troubled by this ongoing battle with the teachers contract. Our teachers are our greatest asset. As one million people have told you tonight, the reason we take such pride in our district, the reason some of us move here, their influence goes far beyond the classroom. My children have thrived with their love and support and I have quite frankly become a better teacher and a better parent because of them. Please do the right thing. We are counting on you. Thank you. We do have one additional speaker who did sign up. Carol Taylor. [Applause] >> Thank you. You thought you were done. You're not quite done. I am Carol Taylor. I live on Brooklyn Boulevard. I've lived in Havford Township for 30 years of my life. Many of those years

129being an educator in this district. My husband and I raised three children who attended this district schools. And after retiring, we moved back into this township to proudly watch our seven grandchildren, all current students, plus one graduate, attend ha it outstanding Habford schools and to put our tax dollars into funding these schools. as a resident grandparent slashbsitter slashpicture taker slash chaperon slashv volunteer slashcon ceremony performance attendee. I have had abundant opportunity to witness the enduring commitment, passion, creativity and wisdom that Havford Township teachers bring to their job. My grandchildren's teachers have been therapists, coaches, bonus parents, tutors, inspirations, cheerleaders, and advocates at all times of the day and night and any day of the week. And their parent and I don't believe any of these roles are mentioned anywhere in their contract. As far as

130I'm aware, like me and most of Habford's residents, none of you spend your days teaching in a K to2 classroom, what we ask educators to do in a day in 2025 is substantial. And yet, they exceed this in their care for our kids. They deserve all the thanks and requested compensation. Your proposal most certainly does not reflect the financial interests of the taxpaying residents should we continue to fall behind in our compensation for our teachers. And furthermore, your negotiations update infographic was insulting to the public. You intended to discredit the teachers association using the school district's public platform and social media accounts. You present data that is vague, inaccurate, or clearly curated to sell your narrative. And you are also clearly missing an important point. We don't want our school district to be middle of

131the road and mediocre in performance or in compensation for our teachers. You have numerous other opportunities to allocate finances with more restraint. Teachers salaries are not where I or other taxpayers want. obviously want to see it exercised. Please do the job I voted you in to do and do the things you say you stand for. Manage our collective fiscal resources wisely to uphold academic excellence, enhance belonging, foster social and emotional growth and empower students to become global citizens. None of that happens without this caliber of teachers. and you have the ability to help ensure the continuity of excellence by fully funding HTA's contract request. Thank you. The board would like to thank everyone who came out to speak this evening. We appreciate the modeling of community pride and civic engagement that we expect of our

132students as part of our district goals. Um tonight, this group modeled empowering our students to be active, responsible, and contributing citizens through shared responsibility and community partnerships. The key word there being partnerships. and the board listened this evening and we do look forward to future negotiations with hta. Thank you. You guys are a tough crowd. Okay, moving on now. Um, we have a report on executive session. There was not any information or executive session held prior to the September 18th regular board action meeting. Our next regular public meeting of the board is a work session scheduled to be held on October 9th, 2025 at 7 p.m. in the boardroom of the Oakmont Administration building. With that, I will accept a motion to adjourn the meeting. >> Moved. >> Second.