001I'm sorry. I'll be right back. Good evening. Let's get us started right on time. I'd like to officially welcome you all and call this meeting of the Manine Township School Board to order. Welcome everyone here in person and those joining us online. Our district's mission, nurture, and challenge for success is a reminder of our intent to enable every student to learn, grow, and thrive. Now, please join me in doing the pledge of >> allegiance of America. stands. >> All right, we're going to get into our announcements. First off, I just want to acknowledge that our colleague, Mrs. Hence, is not here in person this evening, but she is attending over the phone. Mrs. Hence, are you there? I didn't mean to test her like that. I think she's there. >> She's >> I am here.
002Thank you. The unmute is not showing up until I get a a call that said notice that says I'm supposed to unmute. So, >> okay. I don't know how to bring that band up, but I it comes up and then it disappears. So, I am here. I will listen in. If I don't respond, don't worry about me. >> I am glad to hear that. Mrs. Tense, we'll get through it together. Uh, if you do have a question though, don't be shy. I appreciate that. Thank you for joining us. >> Okay, we'll do. >> Our next announcements are again, members of our community just like Mrs. Hence, are encouraged to participate in board meetings in person or online. in support of both transparency and community engagement. Recordings of meetings can now also be watched afterwards on
003our district's YouTube channel. Now, just a reminder for tonight that we will have our work session here in anticipation of our voting meeting starting next week or our voting meeting next week, excuse me. And then starting at 7:30, we will have a special board meeting where we are here hear from applicants for our vacant board seat. The board will vote on an appointment for this vacancy next week with the o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o oath of office to be administered at the facilities meeting of the whole meeting on April 2nd. I am also happy to share again that we are
004on track to appoint a substitute superintendent at next Thursday's meeting and we will share more information on that next week. Finally, I'd like to share I hope everyone had the chance to look around and and also in the uh the district uh office lobby about some of the artwork on display. It is sprouting from our boardroom and lobby in fact. And this is all art from Mrs. Grove. Mrs. Grove is a kindergarten through fourth grade teacher at Bucher Elementary on days one through five and then also works over at Nich hour on days five and six. We have art from all four different uh age groups here and I'm going to read about each of them. Also, I was definitively not an art major. So, if there were some if I have some mispronouncements or,
005you know, I get a name wrong, we're all welcome to to get through it together. So, feel free to correct me. But, I'll start with the kindergarteners. Students in kindergarten learned all about texture and how the way something looks and feels can be incorporated into a work of art. Our kindergarteners use different texture plates and surfaces around the room, like on the bottoms of chairs, to add different textures to our pizza slice creations. You can see them in the front there. Our first graders, I believe they're out in the display case. Uh, after learning about imaginary rainbow character Roy G. Biv, students created colorful portraits of what they imagine this person might look like. During our next lesson, students learned about warm, cool, and neutral colors and created the pets of Roy G. Biv by
006drawing hot dogs and cool cats in a 3D popup room. Students in second grade created landscape paintings that were inspired by the landscapes of Grant Wood. They've created a visual texture in their artwork by using crayons and texture plates followed by watercolor paint. Students were able to create any type of landscape and many use their imagination freely in this lesson. Our third graders learned about the balance and proportion of shapes while studying two different artists. Jeppe Armbolo Armbaldo. You see that's a Renaissance painter not familiar with their work and Jason Messier a contemporary college artist and we learned about how they used foods to create portraits of people. Before beginning students created lists of different foods they like and learned about what it means to have a balanced diet. Now out in the display case
007other third grade students create cupcake our third grade students create cupcake sculptures inspired by the paintings of American artist Wayne Thab. These works were created out of model magic and used an additive approach to sculpting as students attached pieces to make their desserts look more realistic and more delicious. And finally, our fourth graders learned about onepoint perspective and the history of the first public aquariums. This lesson required students to pra to practice drawing lines with a ruler to create the illusion of depth and space in their aquariums. After coloring, students use liquid watercolor, some with glitter, to paint their watery backgrounds. And so, I would just like to take a moment to thank Mrs. Grove and all their students for sharing their beautiful artwork with us here in the lobby and in our district office.
008And so, thank you. And now finally for the last of our announcements, there was some discussion for folks who attended or listened to our facilities team meeting last week about the bidding process for phase two of our campus master plan that we wanted to readress. There's there's a question that wasn't exactly answered. So Mrs. Robbins, can I pass that over to you? >> Sure. Thank you. Um, the bid advertisement for Landis Rod Intermediate School parking expansion and the new maintenance facility site work projects will run in the Lancaster newspaper three times over uh the next three consecutive weeks, specifically March 17th, 24th, and 31st. The advertisement will also be posted on the district's website under the business office tab. We anticipate the website posting to occur no later than early next week when once the
009bid documents are finalized. Interested parties may also request the bid documents by contacting the Manheim Township School District Business Office. >> Thank you very much, Mrs. Robins. >> Good to have you back. >> And that is the end of our announcements for this evening. Uh, and so we are on into information only, our first and only presentation of the evening, our winter athletic end of season wrap-up. Mr. Hullenback, our athletic director, welcome. >> Good evening, school board members. We'll get uh get right into it here with our uh boys basketball team. Uh finished uh for the first time uh since the 2021 season. Actually, there's a few of them in the in the crowd here over here. Give a shout out to them else over there. Um first time since in five years that we
010made uh the postseason uh in district. So uh super proud of them. Uh we got unlucky. We had a we finished uh in a tie for second place in section one. uh lost out on a very close tiebreaker to Cedar Crest, but uh we were playing very well at the end of the season. So, I really I was hoping we would be in, you know, so they could show what they could do there uh in the LL playoffs, but uh above 500 season for them and super proud of those guys. Uh girls basketball, um what can we say about them? Uh another tremendous year, 20 25 record. I think that's their third straight year with 20 20 or more wins. Um last year they made the finals. um unfortunately lost the final on our home
011court to a really really good Lebanon team this past year. Uh we we finally got over the hump. First time since 2014 we won the LL League title. Um not sure if any of you guys were able to make the game. Uh it was awesome atmosphere for our kids. I know again looking around uh we have some of them here tonight. Um you have some of the fans that were in attendance that night in the student section. It was a really really great experience for our kids and super proud of them. uh they qualified for districts, ran into a tough Central York team, but um again really made us proud with that first league title since 2014. Girls wrestling, we had a a an awesome year, 17 and six. Uh this year was the first
012year at the district level that they did team duels for districts. Um so uh we were able to qualify as a team for districts uh for the first time in school history. Um we drew Boiling Springs. unfortunately lost in a close match, but um awesome awesome season for the team. Uh we had some great individual uh well as far as the team goes uh at the league championships um it's an individual style event where they compete in their individual weight classes and then they kind of add up the points as they go through each round. Um our team lost to Hempfield in the regular season uh in a dual match uh but then we were able to overcome them in the league championship uh meet and we became league champions for the first time in
013school history. Uh so that was a pretty awesome honor for them. Uh yeah, Eva Bounds was the 130 pound champion. She um she kind of came out of nowhere as a freshman this year um to kind of shock the world uh at at that weight class and then uh ended up eventually going to uh on to districts and states as well. Uh we had eight district qualifiers there uh which which you see listed uh and then two state qualifiers in EVA and Leila. Uh, in addition, wrestling, uh, there's a kind of a midpoint between leagues and districts, uh, called sectionals. Uh, we went out to Dallas and our team actually won that sectional out of Dallas Town as well. Uh, got a got a cool trophy, which you see there, one of those the top
014picture there. I wanted to give uh, one wrestler in particular a huge shout out. U, Laya Cologne. Um, she's a senior this past year. She has represented our school with uh, the utmost class. Um and uh we're going to miss her a ton. Um she finished her career uh with a fourth place finish at states. Um I remember her my first year as a as a as a young freshman and it's just been incredible watching her grow. Um crazy story about her. Uh her so we're we got to host districts which I'll talk about in a little bit here. Um she needed to win uh her a match to qualify for the state tournament. Um that also happened to be her hundth career win. So um you can imagine the pressure that was on her,
015you know, on her home home uh court there, her home mat um in front of all of her uh her family and friends. Um and it was a really really awesome moment for us uh to celebrate that hundth win on the mat and get her to states and she she made us all proud finishing fourth in the state at at 142 pounds. So congratulations to Ila, >> Mr. Halbec. I believe she's right BEHIND YOU. >> [applause] >> SUPER PROUD OF YOU, KIDDO. UH, boys wrestling, uh, tremendous year as well. Uh, nine to seven overall as a team. We had two league champions individually, uh, with Frank Leanza and Colton before I get there, either them here. All right, good. Um, Frank is a freshman. Um, so, uh, kind of like Eva, very, uh, very awesome
016experience for him as a freshman to come in and, uh, dominate as much as he did. Um, I think he, I think ended up losing maybe six matches the entire season as a freshman. So, uh, and then Colton had a really, really awesome year that the 285. We had four district qualifiers um, who were listed there below, uh, Brendan, Frank, Colton, and Max. And then our two state qualifiers. And then giving Frank a little bit of a shout out there. He also finished fourth in the state as a freshman uh in the in the state quarterfinals. He actually knocked off uh a a three-time state medalist uh convincingly. It was a really really great achievement for him. So uh congratulations to Frank on an awesome year. Our rifle team uh finished nine and five. They
017were third place in uh in in the league. Uh kind of fly under the radar a little bit. Uh but uh we we do our best to make sure we're pumping up their matches and promoting them as best we can. We had um uh they finished third in the regular season, but they were second in the league championships over at uh Konosoga Valley. And then Gretchen Farney and Andrea Warren were two all-stars for our team. Indoor track, uh we had one state qualifier for uh the Pennsylvania track and field coaches association meet, which is the deacto uh state meet in the winter. Uh indoor track's not officially a PIAA sport. Um tons of PRs and and a lot of kids that use the indoor track season to you know continue on from cross country or
018or maybe just start up if they're uh they haven't done anything in the fall to build themselves up for the the spring track. But um so I won't mention all those names, but Emerson Hardy had a had a tremendous year in pole ball. Um and she finished 13th in the state uh in that event at Penn State a couple weeks ago. Unified Botchi uh which we just started a couple years ago uh for the third straight year they made the playoffs uh third third place in the regular season and then um lost a heartbreaker over at Epherta a few weeks ago uh to Penn Manor uh in the championship. Um but uh again tremendous program great experience for those kids. Uh we'll actually tomorrow be getting our unified botchi unified track and our um best
019buddies club um unified buddies club together to go over to Macasy for a special Olympics polar plunge. Uh which we're excited about. We got about 40 kids going. Uh so that'll be tremendous. Girls swimming. Uh I'm I'm a little tired because I've been driving back to Bucknell here the last couple days watching them. Um so uh finished as the section champs and the league champs. Um I believe they were third either third or fourth in the district um district three. You can see there all the all the league champions out of 11 events we won eight of them. Um so that should tell you how solid our our girls swimming team is this year. Uh we finished with two district champions. Um so uh Adora Mua uh in the 53 and then Cammy Schwarz in
020uh the 100 breast were our two district champions. Um and then you can see uh there on the on the list below all of our district medalists. Um, we had we have six uh girls that are up at states right now at Bucknell. Um, I'm proud to report Cammy Schwarz finished with a state medal in the 200 IM individual medley last night. Um, she also swam fantastic this morning and she will be competing for 100 breast state title at about 7:30 tonight. So, if you're not the board meeting um, finish with anybody around here that wants to check that out, she'll be swimming later tonight. So, um, proud of her and all her accomplishments as a senior and we're hoping that she can, um, end her career with a with a, uh, she'll get a
021statement on that one, but it'd be awesome if she, um, did as well as she can. So, um, boys swimming finished as a league runner up, um, and, uh, the LL's se section one runner up and then we had seven district qualifiers there, Cole, Kent, Aander, Micah, Vin, uh, Parker, and Andre. And then uh we had uh our divers um this is the first since I've been here as the ad. We had three district qualifiers um which is the most we've had. Um and we had two district medalists. So uh Haley Marino and Tyler Skolnick both placed eighth at districts which is uh in my time again the first first district medalist that we've had. So very very proud of them. Bowling um little bit of a rebuilding year. Not not sure if you guys
022remember from a couple years ago our bowling team won the state championship. Um we've we've uh lost pretty much all the kids. I think we I think we returned one uh one student athlete from that team. Um so we've been rebuilding that program. A lot of new faces. Um but um I had the had the pleasure of watching them a ton this year. They were a great group to be around. Awesome, energetic new coach. Uh and they finished third in their section. And we had Aiden Sofias who was the uh our our lone uh student athlete who qualified for regionals and represented us really well at regionals. Uh just some some highlights from the from the uh winter that I wanted to make sure you guys are all aware of. Just uh ways that I
023feel like are I want I want to highlight our event staff and and the people who work in our athletic department um in the winter because our facilities in the uh in in our in our gym and our arena are very nice. We do get to host a lot of different events. So uh we hosted the LL wrestling championships on the 23rd and 24th. So we have six mats. It's a it's a long setup. I want to give credit to uh our wrestling programs. They come out after a basketball game on the Thursday night and they're there setting up till 10 o'clock. It's a it's a really big endeavor, but um we're we're excited to host it every year. Um we hosted two uh we hosted both LL basketball championships. One obviously we're lucky that
024our our girls were in and won. That was that was pretty sweet. Uh but uh we also hosted two district three basketball championships. Uh the Giant Center this year did not have the availability to host. So they they called upon us as athletic directors to host. uh and we stepped up and host hosted two uh pretty big games, one being uh a district 6A girls final. So there was over well over a thousand people at the game and it was a really really cool experience. Uh and I feel like our staff really represented Manheim Township well. Uh we also uh were called upon to host the district 3 girls wrestling championships. Uh and this one I really want to give kudos to our team. Um, Minithm was Friday night. Um, and so was district swimming
025and we had people that were there helping whether it was teachers, custodians, uh, one, you know, uh, Dave Heley, one one of our custodians was there with us till 1:30, 1:40 in the morning flipping that to make sure we get rest wrestling going the next day for the girls. And then obviously to have a moment like we did with Laya and Eva, it was a pretty pretty cool experience having that happen. Just just real quick, just wanted to just some perspective for us. Um you can kind of see over the last four years where we rank across the LL. Um we we are far and away um you know crushing it in terms of our success. Um you know it's not all about wins and losses. Um but just just so you can see I
026mean we are we are really really uh tearing it up and then also across the district level as well. Um I think you know maybe in the past we you know we were kind of like I don't know we'll ever be on the level of a Cumberland Valley or Central Dolphin. We're there and we are you know we're you know if anything we're above them right now. So, um, we're really, really proud of our kids, our coaches, our staff. Um, and we really hope that we can keep this thing going. Um, so, uh, March 2nd, we started spring sports. Um, and we're excited for another spring season. Um, another promo I want to give a shout out to is our athletic leadership council, our student athletic, uh, student athlete leadership council. We meet monthly. Would
027love to have anybody out that wants to come check that out. Um, a couple of those guys are in this uh, room right now. uh really really teaching things, you know, beyond the X and O's that we can kind of um you know, again, it's not all about winning and losing games. It's about being a good teammate, you know, teaching life skills, that kind of thing. Um we're super proud of that. So, uh that's all I got for you tonight. Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Hollandback. Well, you might not be off the hook. There might be questions for you. Does anyone have any questions for Mr. Hollandbeck? I just wanted to ask if we could recognize some of the student athletes, the student athlete leadership council that you just mentioned. >> Sure. >>
028Our champion who wouldn't stand up, but I really >> anybody that's in that council here, do you guys mind standing up for them? >> We just love to recognize you. >> Yep. And these guys, you know, I think the last one, you know, they show up early and they, you know, our attendance has been great, so they're doing a great job. the participation, you know, you're always wondering how much you're gonna get and they're but they're they've taken it serious and they're they're learning a lot, I think, and we're enjoying it. So, >> yeah. Thank you. Uh, anyone else have any questions? I'll say I mean my my daughter is a part of the junior high girls wrestling program and just I think from from 7 to 12 uh great the culture, the support and
029the mutual um appreciation on that team was just awesome to see. know really uh uh proud of their success and just all the student athletes that we have this winter season. I mean I know we have a couple folks from LMP here. I wonder if these like these last two slides showing our titles uh maybe we could get that in the paper um or uh some other way. I think that's pretty spectacular. So, uh, uh, and also I'll just say in terms of our ability, uh, to host district and regional championships, uh, that's another part of why I'm looking forward to continuing to invest in our facilities around Journey Field and the football stadium to continue to have our ability to, uh, the district's ability to host those events year round. So, uh, thank you,
030Mr. Hullbeck. Shout out to the girls junior high girls wrestling team won the middle school league championship and I think we're also top in uh PJWs as well across the state. So we have some good up andcomers. >> Yeah, exciting times ahead. Thank you Mr. Holland back. >> Okay, we are now on to item three in our agenda which is action for our March 19th voting meeting. So, these are uh uh issues that we'll talk about now to vote on next week. First up is uh item A, our recommendation to approve a contract for Dr. Oliver Dion to present to the Manheim Township staff on August 18th, 2026 in the amount of $1,500. Welcome, Dr. Gillis and Mr. Good. >> I don't see >> you just got me tonight. Dr. >> Welcome. Well, I wish
031I had something as exciting as the athletics uh to talk about here, but something that we're pretty excited about on behalf of the district's artificial intelligence team. Uh we are recommending a speaker being able to come in, Dr. Oliver Dreon. He is a current Millersville University professor. Uh over 30 years of experience at the K to2 level as well as now at the college level. He has spoken both nationally and internationally on topics involving artificial intelligence, how it can be used inside the classrooms, ethical considerations, and it would be a great way for us to not only continue the work that we're already doing now, uh, but to also be able to start our school year to kind of set the tone for things, and just be a way to kind of invigorate our staff
032and our teachers. So, we're looking forward to being able to have him come in. We met with him one time before, talked to him a little bit. He's a wealth of knowledge, and he's got a lot of great things to be able to share with all of us. So, we're excited to be able to have that as a opportunity for us at the beginning of the 2627 school year. >> Thank you, Dr. Gillis. I know Dr. Schaefer and your team uh previewed that for a little bit for us last month. I know we were all pretty excited. Are there questions from anyone on the board for for Dr. Gillis? >> Oh, Mr. Rivera, >> not so much a question, but a comment. I've gotten to know Dr. D quite a bit because he uh he's
033supervised student teacher. So, he is truly a wealth of knowledge and and I'm glad he's coming here to to help us impart some of that knowledge on it. >> Thank you, >> Miss Lamb. >> Yeah. Um, he spoke at the Lancaster Education Foundation um, breakfast last year and there were so many great things that people said about him. So, I'm looking forward to this. Thank you. >> We've heard nothing but positive things, so we're excited. [snorts] >> All right, sounds great. If there's nothing else, Dr. Gillis, thank you. >> Thank you. Now we are on to item B, a recommendation to approve Dr. Jessica Mardle as an alternate to Mr. Raone Rivera on the Lancaster County Career and Technology Center board. I might just kick it over to you, Mr. Rivera, to set the stage
034on this. I don't really have much more than what you said, but at at the previous meeting I was at, they suggested we have one. Uh, it's it's really important that somebody's there every every board meeting since they only meet once a month. Uh and so we asked uh Colleen is kind enough to also ask if there was anything in particular we needed. Just it it has to be uh voted on by the board. So it's kind of a formality, but I'm I'm glad you uh you're interested. Dr. Mardle, thank you for stepping up supporting in uh the event that Mr. Rivera is unable to attend. Okay. Thank you, Mrs. Marshall, for helping us make that happen. Any other thoughts or questions? All right, moving right along to a similar item. Uh, recommendation to approve
035Mrs. Joanne Hence to serve on the Lancaster Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13 Board of Directors beginning July 1st, 2026. Mrs. Hence, do you want to share anything? You've kind of set the stage with us, so I could try to represent it, but if you're there, happy to hear from you. >> Yes. Um, it's a privilege to represent the district at the IU board meetings. Um but you do have to be reassigned every year and apparently that uh somebody comes keeps track of that. So um that is why this is coming to you now. I need to be reappointed to stay on that board. >> Well, thank you Mrs. Hence. I think you've done a spectacular job representing the school district with that board and I am so grateful for your continued service. Any thoughts or questions
036from anyone on the board? Okay. Okay, I look forward to voting on that next week. We are moving on to item D, a recommendation to approve the first reading of the following policy with final approval in April. Policy 113.3, screening and evaluations for students with disabilities. Dr. Ryman, welcome. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Granter. Good evening, school board. Uh 13.3 is about the evaluation of students to determine eligibility for special education services. Uh it references the requirements for screening students with special for special education services as well as educational evaluations. Um a portion of the policy refers to independent educational evaluations or as we say IE uh which is a portion that we are looking to recommend edits for. Uh the edits that the board sees this evening are supported by Amber Menz as our
037director of special education as well as Brook SE who is our uh special education solicitor through Saxon and Stump. Uh there's really two primary edits as you look through it. The first being um a matter matter [clears throat] of title nomenclature. It it mentions director of pupil services throughout the policy, but really those uh requests and inquiries should be routed through our director of special education. So that's one adjustment. And the second one that's there is um the expansion of the wording regarding the timeline that will help us to both honor uh federal and state guidelines and give the district appropriate time to gather information and respond appropriately. So right now the way it's written uh in response to a request for an IE within 10 days the district has to either initiate a due
038process hearing or issue correspondence with necessary stipulations indicating that we will pay for an IE. The adjustment that we're proposing to the board will give us the option to um determine if if the district is in a position to feel like we should pay for the IE or evaluate whether we want to revisit that topic with the family and see if we can sit down, have an IEP meeting and uh make something reach a different or improved outcome through that pathway before we would be um extending funds for an IE or moving to a due process hearing. So, it just gives us some extra space and it still honors the law. So the way it is now, we're we're kind of con uh constricting in a way that isn't necessary and this loosens that up,
039honors the law, and gives us options and opportunity as an administration to work with families. >> Thank you, Dr. Ryman. Are there thoughts or questions based on those changes? Miss Lamb, >> there's a line that says without unnecessary delay. And since [clears throat] it doesn't specify fixed timeline, I'm just curious if it opens up a dialogue to interpretation on what is necessary or unnecessary uh delay and challenge if the action is delayed. And I'm just curious if that's just common language that I understand >> it is and you've cued on exactly what the the adjustment that we'd be making to the policy would allow us. So generally speaking that uh without unreasonable delay is kind of seen as a 10day time period which is why the language was the way it was. This adjustment allows
040us to be respectful to parents but also gives us the time to evaluate a situation before we're spending money or booking a due process hearing to to check our checks before that 10day period extends. and we have to do one of those two things. So, that's a great question. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, Mr. McKenna. >> Yes. Thank you, Dr. Ryman. Thank you, Mr. Grener. I'd like to propose an additional edit to the policy uh beyond the proposals here. Um at the top of page four, there's a reference uh to various conditions that a student may have that would require um evaluation by a certified psychologist. Um, and one of those that's listed is mental retardation. It's my understanding in educational and medical and civil rights circles that that language is no longer considered appropriate
041or respectful. So, I would ask that we change that to intellectual disabilities. >> ID is generally what's there and I'm I'm happy to review that with solicitor and I appreciate the comment and suggestion. >> Thank you. Yeah. >> Thank you, Mr. McKenna. Any other thoughts or questions? Okay, thank you for those and we'll look to see those changes made at our reading next month. And we are now on to item E, a recommendation to approve the second reading and final approval of the following policies. Policy 103, discrimination, harassment affecting students. Policy 204, attendance. Policy 218.1, weapons. Policy 247, hazing, and policy 903, public comment and board meetings. Dr. Ryman. >> Thank you, Mr. Grinter. So, last month I walked the board through the um highlights of the changes that are suggested for these particular policies.
042Um at this point in the evening, I'm happy to address or or hear any questions or concerns that the board might have as we're looking at the second read for these particular policies. >> Does anyone have thoughts or questions? We talked about these uh last month uh and for some of them even longer than that. Nope. Okay. Dr. Ryan, thank you. We are now on to item F in our agenda. Recommendation to approve the presented out of state or overnight field trips. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Gunner. Tonight, I bring five field trips to the board that require your approval per policy 121 given that they are out of state andor overnight. Uh, these are high school trips and I have verified with Mr. Alat that there's a plan in place for funding chap
043rooms supervision and transportation. And I'd like to recommend that the board give approval for these five trips to continue to be planned and and ultimately taken in April and May of this year. >> Thank you, Dr. Ryman. Any thoughts or questions from the board? >> Mr. McKenna, >> I just had a question about one of the acronyms on here. Can you just explain what TSA is? >> I can. Yeah. Technology student Mr. Association. Thank you. >> So our MT tech team, which is our technology and engineering program, they attend conferences and there are competitions that take place there as well. They've had a nice showing there too in the past. We So we the board will probably hear something positive after that trip. >> I look forward to seeing that. Uh any thoughts, Miss Lamb?
044>> Um so four of them under the overnight procedures approved. It says in process. Is that is does that mean they're still figuring out the details of the overnight procedures? >> It does. So when we presented to the board roughly a year ago the the adjusted uh protocols that we're working our way through for any overnight trip, um there's a it's an extensive set of um procedures that we're following. All of those couldn't be uh managed by the time the board is hearing about these trips and and voting on them. So, what we're committed to is following those same exact procedures for, you know, pre-trip protocols, room assignments. Um uh there's a trip a trip meeting that takes place with parents and everyone that's participating in that trip. All those things will happen. They're scheduled
045to happen, but in reality, they're not they will not be finished by the time the board is approving the trip. But that's to communicate to all of you that we will adhere to all those protocols. Thank you, Dr. Ren. >> Mr. Grinter. >> Oh, yes. Mrs. HS, >> I have a question about the first field trip. There are 30 students participating with only three chaperoons. Um, and four students to a room. That seems um that seems light. >> So, what what >> a number of chaperoons. >> Thanks, Mrs. H. what we have adhered to has been a 1:10 ratio and that is in line with that. >> This seems like a lot of kids for three people to keep track of. [clears throat] >> Keep in mind also it's it's a conference setting. So it's
046not just our kids and our chaperrons that are there. This is attended by other other students and and districts as well who are also there with their chaperones and our the chaperones that we have going with those 30 kids. Um we're comfortable that they will be able to meet those supervision needs and numbers do change between um um proposal time now and trip time. So if that number is going to go in any direction, Mrs. H, it would be down, not up. >> If it were to go up, thank you. >> Sure. If it goes up, we'll make sure that we meet that 1:10 ratio. >> Okay, good. Thank you. >> Yep. >> Thank you, Mrs. H. Miss Lamb, I think you had another question. >> Yeah, just a fun question. Are is the public
047allowed to attend the TSA state conference? >> I know it's like robotics and STEM projects. >> I don't I don't not that I'm aware of. Do you want to join our MTE team? Is that what you're asking? Let Let me check in with Mr. and Mr. Nolton. I'll see what's possible and notify the board. >> This this newly designed board area allows for battle bots or something right here. I think pretty well. Uh Dr. McCardlin, >> thank you, Mr. Grener. Um I I was going to ask the the same question that Miss Lamb asked, her first question. Um is it possible for the board to get some an update before these trips occur? just confirmation that everything is in order given the um um I'm not sure the way but just because it's an overnight
048field trip to make sure I mean I know you said everything what you're committed to following all the processes but is it possible for us to have an update just uh so we can have a record of that >> if the board if would like us to do that and for each trip and we can we can certainly consider that. >> Yeah, I think I think that's something we can think about. But I think we're thinking about all those procedures constantly and the best way to to make sure that we're uh adhering to both the the letter and the spirit of all of our policies as it relates to prioritizing student safety and allowing students to continue to to access all the opportunities that are available through the school district. So, uh I why don't
049we think about that in terms of what sort of what that procedure looks like or what that checkback looks like um and uh develop that together. But I I don't think that's under I mean it could be as simple as an email confirmation, right? That's okay. So I think that that shouldn't be something and hopefully it's too prohibitive, but happy to work with you, Dr. Ryman, on what that looks like. >> That sounds good. >> Mr. Woodbury. >> I just had a um a question. And I know we were talking about the spirit of kind of these things and we've been thinking and working together over time on these things and I'm curious about just if you can share more about how the decision- making looks for the number of students per room because I
050know we had talked about um fewer seems safer, but I know there's lots of balancing factors. >> It's a good question and sometimes some of that is driven by the the venue that's hosting the trip. I know you might see one on there that's looks like a larger than usual number. That is a cabin setting. Um that those are gender specific. So if if that one presents as alarming to the board, just know that that's at at a location where there'll be multiple kids in in a larger cabin space >> and quad rooms in the first one. >> Um that to me to my knowledge and Mr. There were a lot of you know differently and you're welcome to take the mic but I I think that they're gender specific supervised in that setting and
051all the standard sort of trappings that would come along with supervision of that setting be it tapes doors or you know monitoring of those kids through the night would would be in place as as a standard. >> All right. >> So that that one specific one is a cabin. Okay. So there will be five of our students um you know along with other students from another school. There is also a chapron in that room who is gender alike. >> Yep. That was the five person cabin and then the four person is also the cabin. >> So the four person in the first trip. >> Y >> so that is actually um hotel rooms at the conference. So, and so right now it is at at a capacity of four. Um, we are anticipating that to
052be a lesser lesser attendees. Um, so we're looking at probably closer to 10, but we're still registration still open and and students can still attend. Uh, at the most we have 30 students who are interested um in that trip. >> Okay. I'm I'm just asking maybe we can give some consideration to double rooms versus quad rooms and and what those factors are. So no hard and fast thing but just a consideration of double versus quad rooms when we're talking about hotel setting. >> Thank you. >> Yep. So I guess uh well to that effect Mr. Lap maybe you might need to come back with so the for that specific trip the funds requested are relatively low right as opposed to the total cost. So is it a funding issue that would that's preventing >> additional
053rooms or is it a capacity issue in the hotel? >> So for each of these trips it becomes a capacity issue you know with because it's a conference many other uh schools are attending. Um so that is one thing as far as how many uh rooms are available. Um and then at that point in time, our um adviserss do try to get the fewest amount of um students in in one room at a time. And so um and sometimes it's bringing in a cut, sometimes it's it's doing things like that. Um for that specific trip, um speaking with that advisor, uh just yesterday, um she is thinking that that number is going to be closer to 10. Okay. And with two two students per room. >> Okay. Yeah, that's helpful. I think some of that
054additional context may be important for us before we vote next week. Um, and if there are obstacles, I think as always, if there are obstacles to pres to to trying to achieve those optimal ratios, uh, you know, the board wants to be a partner to administration in trying to solve that. So, uh, certainly would welcome that that communication and partnership from you, Dr. Thank you, Mr. >> Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Romero. >> I was gonna say chap run quite a number of overnight trips as well. sometimes that there's a costbenefit ratio to have. If you have less rooms, there's less rooms you have to check. And oftentimes if there's more rooms, they're spread out over a bigger area. So from a chaproning perspective, sometimes less is better. But again, it that you know, four in
055a room sometimes is tight as well. >> Yep. I appreciate that. And I think that that's just the spirit of again that gets to the spirit of the policy too. And certainly we're looking to uh you know the recommendations of the administration and and and looking to partner with you on making sure that with these trips are a success. So thank you. >> Thank you. >> Oh no, not yet. Mr. McKenna, >> this question is probably for Dr. Ryman, but um I I think compared to some uh previous trips we've approved, it seems like this group has a larger variance between the total cost and the funds requested. Can you just speak broadly what those alternative sources are of funding would be to to bring these trips to fruition? >> Sure. So there there are
056times when we might ask depending on the nature of the trip that you know student family pay a certain percentage if there's a booster club attached sometimes they will help with funds transportation funds a lot of times come out of Mr. the high school budget. Um and there are mixtures of of those scenarios that I just shared that exist for different trips. Um, as as we're having this conversation, I I can share with the board that prior to this arrangement with this form, we used to have a lot more detail about the the the sources of those funds. If if the board would like, we can return to that format because it it'll be specific about booster funds, self-pay funds, district transportation funds, we can return to that and then those questions are answered at
057your first look within the board folder to see the trip listing. So, I'm happy to return to that if if that would help. >> Yeah, thank you, Dr. I think that's something we can continue to to make sure that this board is getting the information we're interested in and and you know, certainly not trying to make it too burdensome on the administration. So, happy to to problem solve that with you. >> Sounds good. >> Thank you. >> Any other thoughts or questions? Mr. Sense, we good? Yes. Okay. Uh then we are >> Yes, we're we're good. Thanks. >> Thank you, Mr. Tense. Then that brings us to close of our action or item three, our action for voting for next. >> Mr. Woodbury, >> I have one question, but I don't know how to parliamentally
058ask it. I noticed something that I think is a clerical error in policy 903 and I know that's the previous agenda item. So, may I bring it up now, >> please? >> Sorry. Um in the policy 903 uh at the bottom of page two the discussion that I recollect and since we were striking the unless all others who wish to speak on that topic have been heard. I think the my recollection is that we were going to strike the entire line because the rest of the policy explains that all individuals shall wait to be recognized. Each statement will shall be limited to five minutes. uh and then strike the whole line instead of half the line. No individual may speak more than once on the same topic unless all others who wish to speak on
059the topic have been heard instead of half the line. >> Can you take a quick look at that? >> Has that is that looking is that what you're suggesting? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> That's that's what I that's what I thought that we had done and it just doesn't match what we're what's attached. >> So I think yeah what what Dr. Ryman is showing is the I think the the the the policy as we had seen it and intended it and I think that's different than what's uploaded for our materials. >> Is that possible M? >> Okay. >> We've talked about it several times. So that's absolutely possible. So >> yes, that that is what we said. >> Yeah. >> All right. That we were going to skip that whole line. I think that's just
060a clerical accident which is certainly understandable. >> So the way this one the way this one you just looked at is that's that's the way we want it. >> I'll work with Mrs. Marshall. We'll get that one uploaded. >> That Yep. That's >> Thanks for pointing it out. >> And so for purposes of just making sure everyone is understanding that we're all on the same page. What we intend for this I'm not going to read the policy verbatim, but what this policy will have is that for uh a work agenda meeting like this at the end of the session when we're done as we're about to go into item four, which is our public comment, each individual will have the chance to comment for five minutes. Uh that's the what we are changing is the
061ability for someone to come up a second time and speak for another five minutes. We've spoken for several months for our reasoning for that. So I'm not going to get into all that now. If there was those those conversations are all available on our meetings on our YouTube page. What the change for voting meetings will be is that we will continue to have a public comment period before we vote so that folks who want to provide comment on anything that we're about to vote on, they can do so before we take action. And then also a second public comment period at the end of the meeting akin to the one at the end of our work session meeting. And so again, the change there will be people will not have the chance to come up
062a second time for another five minutes. Uh other than that is the spirit of the change. That is the language of the change and we will vote on that language next week. Okay. Thank you, Miss Woodbury, for noticing that. And now putting that into action, we are on to item four, Manheim Township Community Comments. Uh community and district employee comments are now uh section residents, taxpayers, and districts employees, excuse me, and students are welcome and encouraged to participate. To speak, please submit a commenters card to the board secretary as you approach the microphone in accordance with policy 903. Please state your name and limit your remarks to 5 minutes. Speak once per topic unless others have finished, after which an additional five minutes may be granted. The board will not engage in discussion at this
063time and followup will be provided as needed. Is there anyone who would like to make a comment this evening? >> Good evening. My name is Mark Diner, class of 1989. I live in Bloomingdale Development and yet another inappropriate book in our middle school library. The book is called Shiver by author Maggie Steve Vodder. This author writes, quote, I am Maggie Stevart. I write books. Some are about homicidal fairies. Some are about werewolf nookie. Some are about neither. Nookie, you might ask. What does that mean? That's an informal, often vulgar slang term for sexual intercourse. This book by Maggie Steve Fder focuses heavily on the romantic relationship between 17-year-old Grace and 18-year-old werewolf Sam. There was another book weeded from our middle school library a few months ago called The Art of Racing in the Rain.
064It was about a dog watching humans have sex. So, I want to thank the administration for promptly weeding that book. There was a weeding criteria that says a change in intended audience. And I would certainly hope tonight that the uh book I'm going to read from called Shiver, I'm going to hope that that intended audience is no longer going to be seventh graders. I did an AI search and I asked the question, is the book shiver spicy? Yes. Grace and Sam have sex towards the end of the book. It occurs following several instances of them sharing a bed multiple times and engaging in intimate, passionate caressing beforehand. This progression, also known as foreplay, is that they share a bed multiple times. And Sam, while in his werewolf form, is noted to have seen Grace naked
065through her window, building anticipation. I read through some of the quotes by some of the parent reviews. One parent says, quote, "My only problem with the story, like many young adult books, is the moral choices made by the main characters that I would rather associate with adult books and hate to see them marketed to teens." I thought that was a pretty good concern of a parent. Teacher Lady Ten writes, quote, "Watch out parents. As a high school teacher, I was shocked, disappointed, and actually horrified at the glamorization and romanticization of inappropriate sexual behavior between these teenagers." What are you reviewers thinking about using the word tastefully? There is no such thing as tasteful sex between teenagers. Have we all lost our minds these days?" unquote. Page 292. All of me wanted to kiss her hard
066enough to make me disappear. I braced my arms on either side of her head, the door giving out a creek as I leaned against it, and I pressed my mouth against hers. She kissed me back, lips hot, tongue flicking against my teeth, hands still behind her, body still pressed against the door. Everything in me buzzed, electric, wanting to close the few inches of space between us. She kissed me harder, breath huffing into my mouth and bit my lower lip. Oh, hell, that was amazing. I growled before I could stop myself, but before I could even think to feel embarrassed, Grace had pulled her hands out from behind her and looped them around my neck, pulling me to her. "That was so sexy," she said, voice uneven. "I didn't think you could get any sexier." I
067kissed her again before she could say anything else, backing into the room with her, a tangle of arms in the moonlight. Her fingers her fingers hooked into the back of my jeans. Thumbs brushing my hipbones, pulling me even closer to her. "Oh, God, Grace," I gasped. "You, you greatly overestimate my self-control. I'm not looking for self-control." My hands were inside her shirt, palms pressed on her back, fingers spread on her sides. "I didn't even remember how they got there. I I don't want to do anything you'll regret." Grace's back curved against my fingers as if my touch brought her to life. "Then don't stop." I'd imagined her saying this in so many different ways, but none of my fantasies had come close to this breathless reality. Clumsily, we backed onto her bed. Part of me
068thinking we should be quiet in case her parents came home. But she helped me tug my shirt over my head and I ran my hand down a chest and I groaned, forgetting everything but her fingers on my skin. My mind searched for lyrics, words to string together to describe the moment, but nothing came. I couldn't think of anything but her palm grazing my skin. You smell so good, Grace whispered. Every time I touch you, it comes off you even stronger. Her nostrils flared, all wolf, smelling how much I wanted her to remember. Now in the book, there's a sex scene between a werewolf and a girl. I don't think seventh graders need to read about that. Knowing what I was and wanting me anyway, she let me push her gently down onto the pillows, and
069I braced my arms on either side of her, straddling her in my jeans. "Are you sure?" I asked. Her eyes were bright, excited, she nodded. I slid down to kiss her belly. felt so right, so natural, like I'd done it a thousand times before and would do it a thousand times again. Grace pulled the blankets up over us and we kicked off our clothes beneath them. As we pressed our bodies against each other, I shrugged off my skin with a growl, giving in. Neither man nor wolf, just Sam. And so they go on and finish the scene as you can all tell me. >> Thank you for your time. >> Would anyone else like to give public comment? Anyone else? >> Oh, you wanting to go again? So, the book that I read from, they
070want you to think it's just about this Amazon review. Misleading book reviews, what they want you to think this book is about. For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf, her wolf, is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives. In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human until the cold makes him shift back again. Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human or risk losing himself and Grace forever. What actually the book just turns into one long foreplay scene with
071sex at the end. So, couple months ago, I read from the book uh Art of Racing in the Rain. Very unusual book. Um there was a few books I read from that had these unusual scenes that just somehow slipped in. All of a sudden, we're reading foreplay, orgasm, and sex scenes and books that weren't supposed to be about that. You could read the misleading reviews. But so, I read to you Megan's story about a seventh grader who read some literature like this, if you want to call it literature, inappropriate sexual material. Well, she read from it in her public school library and it took her down a very dark path and she actually rebounded, got better and this is her mom's account of what her daughter went through. It started reading inappropriate sexual material in
072a seventh grade library. Her mom, it's called Megan's story, a mother's battle part two, lost in the pages. I'm the mom of that warrior right there. She does good. Listen to her. She's the next generation of good. Her daughter Megan says, "My mom definitely helped a lot. I probably would have not been as safe as I was." Shout out to all the mamas in the room to keep their daughters safe. Mom. Well, basically, as far as keeping that kid safe, first of all, she's a teenager, so that's like near impossible. It's really hard when you are trusting these valuable adults at the school to craft your child's mind, and you come to find out that they are teaching them how to explore more avenues toward the sexual content. And then her daughter Megan says, "Because
073this is so descript, the books and stories and writing is so descriptive and explicit, not appropriate." My mother obviously caught me. Her mom responds, "But I could never keep up. She's going through a thousand pages a day. The content I could never download that into me enough to filter it to help her. So I rely on those librarians sharing with my kids books that they find valuable." They're like, "Oh my gosh, she's an avid reader. Let's give her 1500 pages of content." And then she's overwhelmed but happily because she loves to read. The librarian is my godsend or the demon in our home. And I need to know and trust that that person is willing to take that tender mind and filter. Yes, I'll do my part at home because I'm the one who spends
074day in and day out in understanding how that child is. So, I need to have those guys be advocates for us. But you go take that tender soul and you give them materials that will literally wreck them. I've seen it destroy her friends. I've seen it affect our family's life. We fought for years trying to get her to be honest because she was hiding that content because an adult who's trusted to her said, "Yes, you can read this." And then I'm over here saying, "I'm sorry, sweetheart. Your brain's not ready for this. I can see what it will do to you." And then what where do we where are we at? And you tell me that you did a great job as a librarian. You know, you tell me that she wasn't affected by the
075materials that were given to her in a trusted situation. The mom starts crying. Their daughter Megan says, "When I was in that headsp space and I was reading those books, I choose not to listen to what she said. So more of it was my own fault. Mom, time after time I took the book away, read through it and said, "Sweetheart, see you can see right here. This will change your perspective of healthy relationships." So the understanding is or the argument is that an adult says that if the child comes across this information in a book, it might be able to help them if they're going through that current circumstance. The main objective is you want to help a child or help or somebody's who's gone through abuse. You give them the resources for advocacy and
076you give them a therapist and a counselor. You don't give them a librarian who says, "Hey, this is a great romance novel. Oh, you know what? At page 210 it gets a little spicy." Never. Sexual content is sexual content. Whether it's a rate, whether it's whatever the thing is, you can't play a therapist. You cannot play a therapist, you know, whose hands you're given that to. You're asking a librarian to fine-tune this and understand each one of the people that they send that book off with. That's bologoney, you know. Then the librarian needs to have a therapy license. They need to be a psychologist. They need to be all these things. They're trained for the information in the book. They're not trained for the client they're giving it to. I went through sexual abuse from
077a family member. That same family member gave me pornography. Okay, that pornography depicted the same sexual act that that person was doing towards me. You know what that did? It made it normal. Anyway, I'm not going to be able to finish. Thank you for your time tonight. Okay, that brings us to adjournment. Is there a motion to adjurnn? >> So move. >> Mr. McKenna, is there a second? >> Second. Miss Lamb. Uh before we move forward, I just want to take a moment to thank all of our staff, teachers, and particularly our librarians who use their judgment and process as trained professionals to provide a wide access of reading materials for students across our district. Their professionalism dedication is noticed and appreciated. As a reminder, schoolboard meetings can also be viewed online during this meeting
078or afterwards by going to our district website. Our next meeting is Thursday, March 19th, 2026 at 6 PM here in the district office. As always, comments or questions for the board may be emailed to board secretary at ntwp.net. Before I close, Miss Zimmerman, you had one more announcement I missed in the meeting. >> One more announcement. We've been able to recognize student athletes, student artists, and one more plug for student performers. This weekend is Charlotte's Web at Manheim Township Middle School. So, please purchase your tickets and support these students who have worked so hard. I do not believe it's sold out yet, right? I do not believe it's sold out yet. >> They usually do. So, get your tickets. And uh again, thank you to all our Man Township staff, administrators, and volunteers for your
079dedication to our students and community. We are going to adjourn. We will gather back in at 7:30. All in favor and adjournment say I. >> I. Oppose. Nay. >> The motion carries. Thank you all. We are journed. So I I told him I don't I disagree with ti out. second. >> Oh, no. I'm not Yeah. So, free to do whatever you want. They have like I know. Oh no. I'm about to go see her actually going to her right now. Sorry, I had to like find her. chicken. This is Oh my god. I think Are you teach? We didn't get those last. >> I'll tell Laura, our sports editor, I'll yell at her. >> But actually, the sports department's where we lost two people in January. I graduated. >> Is that right? That's right. I'm
080That was a really good 30 minutes. You got to say it wrong to be right. >> I guess so. >> Reminds me of last night. supposed. >> I like the theater. So I did a feature, you know, they had all documentary there about Yeah, it's very >> Yeah, they actually I did ask it came last year and then they showed it. It's very interesting. They showed it. >> I've gone from really good. It's like a big discussion like political polarization. time. I mean, Republicans 17. >> It's They might actually I get so diamonds up. I appreciate you guys. I have literally tried to like schedule every single day every day and I can't I can never keep up with it. Were you technically like you consider yourself retired doing this stuff? Are you still like
081trying to fill up your schedule? >> I should be wiped out. like every single I No clue. >> Yeah. My dad Aren't you glad you're Well, we'll only certainly think >> Oh, she worked there for a minute. I've seen the names. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I was surprised that they were still doing three days from newspapers. Well, 10 or 15 years ago. photographer is like steady might be I since I've lived here, especially after I started gone back and forth between seven days a week, you know, I only do what they >> Oh, thanks. I think I included a quote from your from the meeting. >> Oh, yeah. But it's good. >> Oh, thanks. No, I was working at busy. That's okay. It was more of an at least one person to say what happened inight.
082But thank you for your help with that. I just have my personal phone really. So I missed it. Facebook. Hey Kevin. >> Hi. Nice to meet you. How are you? >> Yeah, good. How are you? >> Good. Absolutely. So, um I was just telling these individuals, we're going to have the candidates sit in the first row. Um I did a random generator, so they're going to call you up based on the list. Um one question. Um you get three minutes to answer the same question. So, if you're not first, which you're not going to be because we have someone that's gonna be calling in >> because he's out of town. >> Yeah. Make the phone go first. >> Yeah. Going first. So, um Yeah. So, yeah. >> All right. Great. So if you want to
083just have a look at one of the first two monthly basis Yeah, we know Okay, I'll hold you until But he's good. What's that? Thank you so much. I think you'll figure out I don't know. They have actually Oh yeah, it's going well. Are you are you still I didn't expect it to be >> but Tommy was telling me That's really cool. Yeah. No, that's I thought they were I'm not sure. I don't know. Definitely. I'm sure [laughter] So I guess What does your wife I'm trying to I see that. You don't see much. [laughter] Last year when you're second. Okay. Okay, good evening. I'd like to officially call this special meeting of the Manhattan Township School Board to order. Welcome to everyone here in person and those joining us online. I apologize that we
084are a couple minutes late in getting started. Our district's mission, nurture, and challenge for success is a reminder of our intent to enable every student to learn, grow, and thrive. Now, we have a few announcements before we get started. I'll start by saying the board just met in an executive session uh for the purpose of re of discussing confidential personnel matters. Uh and next appointment, excuse me, announcement is members of our community are encouraged to participate in board meetings in person and to view them online. In support of both transparency and community engagement, recordings of meetings can now be watched afterwards on the district's YouTube channel. Now, before I'd like to begin, I'd like to uh remark a few more announcements and just clarify how the evening is going to go. I want to start
085by thanking all of you who are here tonight for applying. Uh and and thank you all to also to the members of our community who reached out with questions or interests or expressions of support in the role. Schoolboard service is a critical part of supporting our students, staff, and schools. And it is an honor to serve in this role. We all here don't always agree, but we all treat each other with respect and openness. I will stress how critical it is for whoever joins us to uphold that culture and practice in our months and years ahead together. And I appreciate the seriousness with which the candidates have approached this process. This board has reviewed candidate resumes and letters of interest. Additionally, candidates answered three questions in writing that we requested in advance of tonight. Those
086three questions were, "How would you describe the roles and responsibilities of an effective school board?" We asked them to identify the top two to three priorities for this school board in the next 18 months. And we asked them to describe their experience in navigating complex decisions in a collaborative environment with specific examples. We also have reviewed and considered those responses. For this evening, Mrs. Marshall, our board secretary, generated a randomized order of names, except for Mr. Loose, who is on the phone because he is unable to attend in person this evening. Mr. Loose will go first. After he goes, I will call each candidate up to the microphone and you'll be asked to respond to a prompt. You will have three minutes to respond. Uh and uh now, if you're wrapping up your thought in
087your 3 minutes 301, 302, I'm not going to stop. I'm not going to interrupt you. I'd like you to finish your thought. If you start a new paragraph, if you if you if you you you get a new point, a new idea, I'm going to have to ask you to stop. It's Oscars week. I don't think we have the right music. We're not going to play you off, but uh we'll ask you to try to m maintain within the three minutes of of the that we have so that everyone has a fair chance. Also, per request, Mr. Lions and Mrs. Marshall, please do speak into the microphone. We have many people at home watching right now. We have many people who will be watching in the days to come. So please speak clearly into that
088microphone. Uh now those are all our announcements from our board members. Any questions on process? This is consistent with what we've discussed. Okay. So we are on to item two in our agenda because we are voting uh or because of no because we're not voting but because uh we need to get a motion to approve excuse me or modify the agenda. So can I get a motion to approve? >> I'd like to move that we approve the agenda as written. Miss Whitbury. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Mr. McKenna. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Oppose. Nay. >> The motion carries. Okay. Now we are on to our school board candidate interviews. So the question, [clears throat] Mr. Loose, are you there? We start with that. >> Yes, I'm here. >> Okay.
089The question that we're gonna ask you to answer is, can you describe why you are the optimal candidate to serve on the school board drawing on your skills and experiences? >> Certainly. First of all, I want to thank you for the opportunity to do this remotely. Uh my wife and I are currently in Orlando and uh uh so I really appreciate this this chance. Um there's two main reasons why I want to be on the board and the second reason is why I feel like I'd be an important member of the board. The the first reason is my wife and I are both graduates of Manm Township where the parents of four Man Township graduates who happen to also have gone into the educational field are all employed in Langster County as teachers. Um, my
090family has benefited greatly by the excellence of May and Patchet School District. We've been known to be at the top in our county for a long time and I' I'd like to see that continue for many reasons and and um not the least of which is the the benefit it will bring to other families to go to a school that has the prestige of Manon Township. The [clears throat] second reason being is that I think my the breadth and depth of the knowledge and experience I have based on my my life experiences uh will be beneficial will be will be beneficial to the district um as an educator at both in the city and at Mayan Township. longtime educator and then um after I retired actually the school district of uh or the um CTC
091called me up and asked me to join them. So I had three years at as principal at CTC's all three of them Brownstown, Mount Joy and Willow Street. And um uh that's one of my particular things that I I really think is important is that while Man Township has been known about its its great education and the and sending kids off to college, I'd like to see more and more kids get involved with the CTC. We're so blessed in Lancaster to have that and uh I would work to to help see that happen. So again, uh, I was athletic director for a while at the same time as being an AP. So I've seen just about everything in Manon Township in the last 60 years. And my goal would be then to bring that knowledge
092and background into play and contribute to the board um, and collaborate with them on things moving forward. The other big reason is I know we have issues with with over not overcrowding but with buildings and I was the liaison to the um to the high school administration for the building of the high school project. So I've worked closely on building projects and seen what needs to happen. So again I'd like to bring that knowledge uh to bear here and um again really appreciate this opportunity. So, thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Loose. I appreciate you joining us uh from Florida. Hopefully, it's warmer there. >> Yeah, [laughter] it is. >> Hey, there you go. Proof of concept. Okay. >> Hey, it was 94 at the Phillies game in Clear Water the other day. >> You're
093doing it right. Okay. Well, thank you, Mr. Loose, and thank you, Mr. Lions, for making that happen. Uh, next up, Miss Greta Strickler. Welcome. >> Hi everyone. >> And so again, the prompt is, can you please describe why you are the optimal candidate to serve on the school board drawing on your skills and experiences? >> Uh, hi everyone. My name is Greta. I am a resident of Manheim Township obviously and I have two kids. They are five and two. So I am just about to enter my time uh as a parent and a larger participant in the school district going forward. I think that my position as a parent with really young children poises me to have a very longstanding and current investment in the school board and school district in how things move forward.
094And I think that that would give me an advantage of having a pulse on what a lot of the other younger parents and younger families are experiencing as they move forward with the school district. Uh I grew up, my mom just retired from teaching. We're not local, but uh originally, but she just retired and I was with her most of the time, just her and I. So I've set up a lot of classrooms. I've read through a lot of curriculum, played with the laminators, hung out at all of the uh union meetings and it was a very imp impactful experience to be that involved and that invested in the school that I was attending and also just with the families that were around us and that is something that I would like to continue here
095and for my own kids. So yes, my investment is sourced from my kids, but I would hope that I could push that forward to all the other families that I would get to encounter in this position. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay, next up, Mr. Todd Hecman. And again, the prompt is just please describe why you are the optional candidate to serve on the school board drawing on your skills and experience. >> Uh, great. Thank you. I appreciate the the time. Um, just very briefly, so I served on the school board for six years, two two terms elected. I think I can hit the ground running. Um, I've uh been involved with some of the things that you're going to be involved with very soon. I've been through uh two school board uh super
096two school superintendent searches. I've also had a good bit of experience uh with the athletic facilities and and construction of new school. So, I've been there. I've been in your seat. I think I can hit the ground running on day one. And I think that experience can be can be very helpful. I don't have any uh political agendas to bring to the table. I'm not interested in um promoting extreme uh policies from either side of the the aisle. I'm just uh my goal would be to help this board make decisions uh going forward as quickly as possible. So, thank you. >> Okay, thank you. Next up is Miss Sariah Hints. So, Roy Hence. Jeez, I know. Why did I say that? Excuse me. >> Can I put the timer? >> Sure. And again, it's describe
097why you are the optimal candidate to serve on the school board drawing on your skills and experiences. Um, so I am a parent in the district and I am currently a substitute teacher as well. I am a volunteer. Um, I think that this is a very strong team that we have here, but um, I not only fill gaps in representation for our district makeup, but also my life experience both personally and professionally is something that no one else can offer and would only serve to strengthen the positive impact that we could have here together. Um, I bring a lot of dedication where I am in this now presently. Uh, I've attended all of the work at voting sessions this year as well as the facilities meetings. I'm in this from classrooms to buildings to district
098events, uh, committees, board meetings, uh, on the Instagram page. I follow all of the Instagram pages for the district, Facebook pages as well. In conversation and in action, um, in going around in the district and interacting with, uh, all of the staff that I do, I'm in conversation with them. I've asked them, "What do you want from your school board? What would you like to see in your administration? What would you want more from your families? I talked to the students in the same way. What's working for you and what isn't? In fact, when this schoolboard vacancy came to um be known, I had librarians, administrators, parents, and students approach me and say, "I hope you run. I hope I would love to see you on the board." So, there's all of those people that
099want me to be here. I want to be here. I think I could help um make this district really be a place that serves all of our students. Um everyone in Manheim Township would have a place. Um I'm obviously doing it because I have five kids uh in this district and I'd love for them to have just the best version of education that they could. But also there's all the students that I've interacted with in my time here. Z, Hottie, Zoe, Nathan, Marggo, Levi, Madison, Nathan, Olivia, Marissa, all the Natalies, the Mollies, and the Maggis that we know. Uh, Fisha, like, Bryson, Colin, Celia, Noah, Daniel, Wyatt, Nick, Shardy, Hopper, Hobbs, Lily, Rachel, Ella, Graham, all of them. And there's the teachers like Mr. Clark, Mrs. Kramer, Mr. Iello, Miss Rice Snider, Mr. Stump, Miss
100Dinardi, Miss Mendelson, Miss Swank, Miss Topping, Miss Null, Senor Spedaro, Miss Halddederman, Mr. Seagull, and on and on who do such a good job here and would love to have communication with the board in order to continue their good work. The various administrators that I've met with in meetings um some that were good and some were that a little less than good, but we've managed to have a cohesive and coordinated relationship with each other. Um, I just uh I'm here and I want to do it and I think that I've shown that I would be willing to be another strong member of this team. >> Thank you, Miss Hints. Okay, next up is Mr. Kevin Kovaleeski. Welcome. And again, the prompt is read exactly. describe are you why you are the optimal candidate to serve
101on the school board drawing on your skills and experiences. >> Yeah, first of all, thank you very much. Thanks for the thoughtful process as well. It was uh clarifying to go through all the uh the questions and the interview process and we have a lot of great uh candidates here obviously today um share some things in common with them. I also have two kids that are in the schools. I have a first grader at BRE and I have a soontobe kindergartener at Brett and um I'm a somewhat new transplant back to Manheim Township. I grew up in Lancaster County. Um and when we moved back here in 2020, I wanted to u specifically my wife and I wanted to move back to uh the Manheim Township area because of how good the schools are. Um
102I'm going to take this in two parts. I'll first just talk a little bit about my experience. um that makes me I think optimal is a very um high bar to to reach optimal candidate but um from my experience I've been at Arizona State University for 12 years. Um I do live locally. I work remotely um for Arizona State University and during that time I've uh been a leader uh at the university that has seen um tremendous organizational transformation from leadership transitions um to really going from a small regional university to a massive um national presence. So I understand the collaboration that is involved with um creating a strong culture, a strong vision. um the work that you have to do with community, with students themselves, with parents of students and with colleagues from many
103different departments with many different perspectives. So I feel very comfortable and confident in that environment. Um I think from a skill perspective, I'm a very collaborative person. I'm a datainformed problem solver. Um very measured. Uh I'm endlessly optimistic. Uh I I take that very seriously. I think even in what is some pretty tricky times that we're in um you spend any time with young people and you see uh the promise of the future. Uh so I'm really invested in the success of my children and their peers and I am um very acutely aware that their success isn't just dependent on my wife and my family's influence and my my own influence on them. It depends on the strength of the community um the strength of the schools. I see in my role how college students
104um those that come from strong school districts, how they are already primed to succeed and contribute. And that's what I think we need to continue to do in Manheim Township, create those strong, safe um environments so that kids see the future and also see their future here and come back and invest in their communities. So, uh, it's a really great honor to to have this opportunity to give this a shot and I hope I get the chance to work with you all. Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Next up is Mr. Mark Ols. >> Please describe why you are the optimal candidate to serve on the school board drawing on your skills and experience. Uh well, [clears throat] good evening and once again I'm glad to be with uh so many of our neighbors who are
105so passionate about this district. I'm so glad to see so many of you showed up again. Uh I'm Mark Ols. I've been in the district for 24 years, 23 years. I'm a mechanical engineer and um I've been a volunteer here for uh sports and for in the schools for helping with leading with um literacy stuff in elementary level. Um, and when I'm looking at what this district has to do in the next 18 months, two years, um, need to find a new superintendent, right? That's going to take a lot of digging and we obviously need to be a little more diligent about who we pick this time because that person needs to provide the stability. Second thing is, um, I think we need to work on our facilities a little bit and drawing on my
106background as an engineer, um, I have a lot of experience with projects and getting into the details and things like that. Uh but your question is what makes me the best? Um I don't know guys. I'm the the shortest of three brothers. Uh I don't consider myself in the superlative like that because to myself the you can always be better. So I don't ever see myself as best. There's always something better you can do. Um, so I feel like that's part of the reason I'm even here tonight is because um, it was like seven, eight years ago that I went to my first board meeting and got up and spoke and I think I sweated through a suit doing that. Um, but I've been gradually coming to more of these and talking with all of
107you. Um, it's it's important that that people from diverse backgrounds are on this board who bring different perspectives and I think that's something that I bring. Also want to thank you guys for the new blue track. Uh we were out there the other day um and I was making sure that the new the new kids aren't dragging their feet. Um we don't want that track to scuff up really fast and they didn't understand what I was talking about when I explained it to them. This is the kind of thing that we need to do. So anyway, uh I appreciate your time. I appreciate everybody else's time. Thanks. >> Okay. Thank you. Next up is Miss Alyssa Curtis. Welcome and please describe why you are the optimal candidate to serve on the school board drawing on
108your skills and experience. >> Hi everyone. I'm Alyssa. I go by Ally Curtis. Um like many of you here, I have two young boys and my youngest son is in kindergarten right now at Schaffefer and then I have a son in prek who will be uh in Schaefer kindergarten next year. So for me, this is an opportunity to help give back to the community that helped shape me. I'm a 2008 um township grad. I was part of the Spanish immersion program as well. So, I was the second class through there. Um, that helped really shape me. Um, that's what I studied in college. I continue to leverage some of my um, Spanish skills now. But really, I wanted to give back to the community and I think this is a great way to help um,
109help do that. Um, in my professional life, I do I have a lot of um partners and I meet with a lot of stakeholders to um help make big decisions on different um training programs that we develop and implement in various warehouses. So, um I feel like I am a strong collaborator and I love partnering and just getting to know um people and figuring out how we can work together to reach our goals ultimately. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Next up is Miss Lisa Reid. Please describe why you are the optimal candidate to serve on the school board and drawing on your skills and Okay. Hello, Lisa Reid. Thank you for the opportunity to be here. Um, I'm a parent. I have three children currently in Manhattan Township Schools. I have a sixth grader
110at Landis Run, a fourth grader at Ryenball, and then a second grader at Ryen Ball. Um, I'm extremely active in our schools. I'm there almost daily between Ryen Ball and Landis Run. am uh on the PTO at both schools. Every event that we have, I'm either chairing it or I'm involved in it in some capacity of volunteering. I coach Girls on the Run at both schools. Um I'm also a junior achievement volunteer. So I am um in there and I think when our families and um staff see someone coming in every day quietly, you know, getting things done for them, you kind of build a rapport with them where they you're approachable, they can come to you, you see things, you hear things. Um and then I'm also invested in the community. I um am
111on the board for the Manhattan Township Youth Football and Cheer Association as their secretary and the concession director. also on the board for a Manhattan township age group swim um as their concession director. So again out in the community um family see you approachable um you kind of build that rapport like like in the schools. So I think what our what what would really benefit our board is having somebody with that that can bring that perspective here of what's you know decisions that are made how it impacts on the ground um in those schools impacts our teachers and our students. So that's why I'm here. Thank you. >> Okay. Next up is Miss Jessica Kaylor. Please describe why you are the optimal candidate to serve on the school board drawing on your skills and experiences.
112>> Hi everyone. Um looking at you all I I think we have a very strong board and I'm aware that you all except Mr. Rivera were elected and as such that means our community has trusted you. Um I humbly see that as we stand here um asking you to consider who should join you and what you're doing and what the public has chosen you to do. Um, I don't know if I'm optimal, but I think that I have some skills that would be helpful. Um, knowing that you are elected and how well you work together. I am good at being part of a team. I'm good at listening and asking questions. I'm good at saying hard things and hopefully doing it kindly. Um, there was one time that I came to Dr. allowed at the
113high school and I had a concern about Rachel's challenge which I know is a beloved program. But when my at the time freshman daughter came to me hurt and kind of traumatized by it, it was something that I felt I needed to talk to him about. And I did. And he received what I had to say very kindly and humbly. And so much so that three years later this year, he called me back when he let me know they were bringing the program back. And he wanted my input. He wanted me to read over the communication they were going to send out to the parents. And that meant a lot to me um to know that he respected my opinion enough that um he would ask for that input and that's important to me I
114think being heard as well as hearing. Um I have two teenage daughters so I do a lot of hearing and I hope I'm heard at times too. I also work at Millersville in the department of education. I'm so glad you'll have Dr. Dreon coming in. He's a colleague and he's wonderful. I mentor student teachers in their placements throughout Lancaster County and working with cooperating teachers throughout the county as well as the newest educators that we'll be welcoming. Um it's such a wonderful privilege and it's given me a lot of opportunity to get better at listening and watching and building community in schools and being part of it. So that is what I hope I would bring. um an education background with a real care for hearing and being heard and being part of a team
115that's been trusted already. Thank you. >> Okay, we are on our last person. You guys are flying through this. Last up is Miss Holly Rubik. Please describe. >> Thank you for the opportunity. >> I'm sorry I'm interrupting you already. Please describe why you are the optional candidate to serve on the school board drawing on your skills and experiences. Thank you. >> Um I will start with uh some personal information. Um I believe that both personally and professionally I bring u a unique perspective. Um personally, um my family includes three foster uh children and we are right on the edge of adoption uh with them, but uh one attends Landis Run, one attends um Booker and then I have a little three-year-old that keeps me very busy and running around quite a bit. Um and he
116will attend Ryen Ball actually. Um I moved a year ago. um stayed within the township because I was so impressed with what happened with the transition with my uh nine and 11year-old when they came to township from um another nearby urban district. um when they came to us in December of 2022, um they brought a lot of behaviors and lack of academic skills. Um and they both uh went to Booker and were accepted with open arms and such professionalism and such skill um among the staff there that it just was so impressive. Um they came without re with very little one with no reading skills and the other one with very little reading skills and within one year they were proficient proficient as readers. Um and it just blew us away. Um and in fact
117when we moved a year ago uh actually moved to the Ryden Ball district or Rydenbball um elementary zone uh we asked for special permission to get our um now fourth grader to stay at Booker. Uh she has a lot of anxiety. There was a lot of transition and trauma in her life before she came to us. And with um Dr. Martins's uh just just championing championing that idea and uh Mrs. Noak being the one to give final approval of that. Uh and I said I will drive her to Booker every day and pick her up every day. Um and that is what we're doing for this year and I think it just made such a difference for her. So, she will be quite prepared to start a new school with new people at Landis Run
118next year. Um, and so that just spoke volumes to me. So, as a foster mom, I have a 28-year-old daughter. Um, but as of my second goround, um, not a spring chicken anymore, uh, but with these three young ones and all of what they brought to the table and still bring to the table, I am learning every day just how beautiful they are and what skills um, and potential they have. And there are a lot of challenges too. Um, I am tired a lot. [laughter] Um, let me switch over to um, the professional side. >> Oh, I am sorry. I hate to do that. >> Okay, your time your time expired a little while ago. Yeah, >> it's in my my >> We'll look through everything you submit and everything you wrote. I appreciate it.
119>> Thank you very much. >> Okay. >> Well, those are all our candidates. I mean, there was a single through line of dedication to our schools from every single person who came up here. I think the the investment in our community is is self-evident. Uh, and and again, I just want to reiterate how much I appreciate everyone for showing up that the way they did and and for submitting such thoughtful responses to our questions and our prompts. Uh, thank you. This isn't easy. Thank you. Our vote on the nominations and an appointment of a new board member will take place next week on our voting meeting on Thursday, March 19th. Although all our applicants uh are welcome to attend, it is not required uh for an applicant to be present uh for the vote since
120they will not be sworn in until our facilities meeting on April 2nd. Okay. And that is all I have on that. So that brings us to adjournment. Is there a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved. >> Miss Zimmerman. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Mr. Rivera. Our next meeting, as I said, is on Thursday, March 19th at at 6 PM here in the district office. As a reminder, schoolboard meetings can also be viewed online during the meeting or afterwards by going to our district website or the schools or the district's uh YouTube channel. Comments or questions for the board may be emailed to at uh to Mrs. Marshall at board secretary at mtwp.net and she will make sure that we all receive it as she always does. Thank you, Mrs. Marshall. Thank you to
121all our Manheim Township staff, administrators, and volunteers for your dedication to our students and community. And with that, all in favor of adjournment, please say I. I. >> All oppose? Nay.