001Good evening. This meeting of the Manheim Township School Board is now called to order. Welcome to everyone here in person and those joining online. In addition to the live stream, both audio and video are being recorded. Nurture and challenge for success is our district's mission and serves as a reminder of our intent to enable every Vanam Township student to learn, grow, and thrive. Please join me in the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> I have several announcements to share with you this evening. First, I'll say that members of our community are encouraged to participate in board meetings in person or view them online. In support of both transparency and community
002engagement, recordings of meetings can now be watched afterwards on the district's YouTube channel. Um, as a reminder, there is a current vacancy on the board. The term of the appointed member will run from Thursday, December 11th to the first Monday in December of 2027. Members of our community are encouraged to apply by emailing a letter of interest and resume to board secretary ntwp.net. The deadline for submission is Friday, November 28th at 12 p.m. Full details about qualifications can be found on the district website, which is mtwp.net. Interviews will be held at a public meeting on December 1st here at 7 p.m. in the boardroom. Thirdly, I'd like to acknowledge today is the transgender day of remembrance. This is a day when communities across the country honor the memory of transgender individuals who have lost their
003lives to violence or suicide. Here in our own community, we have lost several transgender young people in recent years. We honor them, we remember them, and we grieve their loss alongside their loved ones. As a district, we remain committed to fostering a safe, respectful, and supportive environment for all students, including our LGBTQ students and families. If anyone in our community is struggling or needs support, the Trevor Project provides 247 confidential assistance for LGBTQ youth. You can call or access live chat support at the trevorpro.org. We hold in our hearts those we have lost and we reaffirm the responsibility to ensure every student feels seen, valued, supported, and a genuine sense of belonging. November is Native American Heritage Month. During Native American Heritage Month, we pause to honor the enduring contributions of indigenous peoples of in
004Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and our country. We acknowledge the history, traditions, and resilience of the First Nations peoples. We acknowledge that South Central Pennsylvania, particularly the lands surrounding the Sesuana River, are the ancestral home of many indigenous peoples, including the Sescuana, Kano, Lipe and other native nations who have lived, traded, cared for, and cultivated this region for many generations. We also recognize and honor the Native Americans who live in our communities now. We're mindful of the history of persecution and inequality that continue even today. During this month and throughout the year, we commit to understanding our history, celebrating diversity more fully, and fostering a deeper sense of belonging for all members of our community. for information. Um, please explore the resources and events of our local nonprofit, Circle Legacy Center. I found them successfully on Facebook
005today and was had a good time looking at those things. So, encourage you to as well. Item two on our agenda are presentations. Uh, the recognition of directors Hoffman, Landis, and Romano for their service to the Manhattan Township School District. Tonight, we recognize three board members whose terms conclude this evening. Aaron Hoffman, Michael Landis, and Cameron Mano. Each has devoted four years to this board while working full-time and raising families, and we are deeply grateful for the time, energy, and care they have invested in this district. All three have also provided significant leadership on facilities, helping guide complex projects, ensuring responsible planning, and keeping our students needs at the center of every discussion. Their extra lift in this area has strengthened our long-term foundations as a district. Erin, Michael, and Kim, thank you for your
006service, your dedication, and the partnership you've shown throughout your tenure. As a small token of our appreciation, we're pleased to present each of you with a cutting board engraved with the district logo made by a small business in our community. Please join me in a round of applause as you present these gifts. Thank you again for everything you've done. [applause] All right, we're on to item number three, a roll call vote. Unless otherwise stated, each vote taken at this meeting will be considered a roll call vote and the board secretary will record any negative votes or extensions. Item number four is Manheim Township community comments on consent agenda and other items. Residents, taxpayers, district employees, and students are all welcome and encouraged to participate. The board won't engage in discussion, but we'll provide followup if
007needed. If you'd like to speak, fill out a commenter's card for the board secretary to collect. Limit your remarks to five minutes related to voting items found in the consent agenda and other action items sections of the agenda. Share your full name before you begin. Who would like to make comments this evening? Right. Seeing none, before we move on, I there was another opening announcement that I'd like to share, which is this is not Dr. Pate Hefty. This [snorts] is Dr. Ryan, our our assistant superintendent, um Dr. Paige Hefty did not want to get any of us sick with her respiratory infection, but she said she'll be back on her feet soon. So, thank you, Dr. Ryman, as always. All right. So, moving on to number five, which is approval of the agenda or agenda
008modification. So, is there a motion to either approve or modify the agenda? >> I'll make a motion to modify the agenda. >> All right. Is there a second? >> Mr. Landis any discussion? >> Uh, sure. Thank you, M. I uh just need to remove the personnel report because my wife uh is a teacher in the district and she is listed amongst those receiving a sip for their work mentoring other teachers and as such I'm going to recuse myself from that vote. >> All right. So item 6 C from the consent agenda will come out for items pulled for consideration. All right. So, we'll um take a vote on that agenda modification. All in favor, please say I. >> I. All oppose. Nay. The motion carries. Items listed under the consent agenda under the sorry, we're
009at item number six. So, the consent agenda, items listed under this section are considered to be routine and are acted on in one motion. There is no discussion prior to the vote unless a board member requests an item be removed from this section to be discussed in section six. We've already done that with our agenda modification, but are there other consent items from the consent agenda that board members would like to move? Okay. Hearing none, is there a motion to approve all items that remain on the consent agenda? >> Mrs. Hence, is there a second? Mrs. Hoffman. Any discussion? All in favor, please say I. >> I. All oppose, nay. The motion carries. Now we will item 16 was pulled. So we will um do item 16 now, which is approval of the personnel report.
010Is there a motion to approve? >> Mrs. Hoffman, is there a second? >> Second. >> Mrs. Lamb, quieter, but first. Um, so we now I'll ask for discussion of this item if there's any. All right. Um, all in favor, please say I. >> I. All oppose? Nay. >> Any extensions? >> Yes. >> All right, Mr. Grenstein. All right. So, now we're moving on to section eight, other recommended actions. 8A is approval of the secretary's minute of the board work session meeting on October 9th, 2025, the regular meeting of the board of school directors on October 16th, and the facilities committee of the whole meeting of the board of school directors on October 23rd. Is there is there a motion to approve? >> Mr. Romano, is there a second? >> Mr. Bulazar. Any discussion? All in
011favor, please say I. >> I. >> All oppose? Nay. The motion carries. Item 8B is for approval of the contract with Miles 2 Consulting LLC for school-based access program consulting services for the Manhattan Township School District. Is there a motion to approve? >> Mrs. Hoffman. Is there a second? >> Mr. Granter. Any discussion? All in favor, please say I. >> I. All oppose. Nay. The motion carries. Item 8 C is the approval of the ratification of the expulsion agreement, waiver, and stipulation of student 2025-2026EA.02. Is there a motion to approve? >> Mr. Buldesar. Is there a second? Miss Lamb with a second. There is no discussion of this confidential item. All in favor, please say I. >> I. All oppose? Nay. The motion carries. Item 8 D is approval of the ratification of the expulsion
012agreement waiver and stipulation of students 2025-2026 SEA.03. Is there a motion to approve? >> Mrs. Hens, is there a second? Mr. Landis. There's no discussion of this confidential item. All in favor, please say I. >> I. >> All oppose. Nay. >> Mrs. Romano. Nay. We are moving on to our superintendent report which is item number nine. >> All right. Thank you, Miss Woodbury. I'm happy to take the uh superintendent's report on behalf of Dr. Py. I'll share the information about our employee of the month. I'll give some information about our community survey with feedback on our 2627 calendar. Um I'm going to talk a little bit about Dr. Pep's upcoming visits to buildings. I have a brief enrollment report for the board and then just a couple of announcements to round out the report. So
013to get us started here, uh congratulations to the MIT Trrower employee of the month which is Miss Emily Gutierrez. You see pictured there with uh Dr. Pedi and Mr. struggle and Mrs. Robbins as well. A little bit of information about Miss Gutierrez. In the words of her colleagues, she brings a cheerful spirit and a deep commitment to meeting the needs of all students. She consistently demonstrates professionalism, kindness, and respect in her interactions with both students and staff. Uh her positive energy creates a welcoming environment where every student feels valued and supported. She is known for her passion and her whole child approach. She finds innovative and engaging ways to help students to reach their academic goals while also nurturing their social and emotional growth. Uh she's a great collaborator with classroom teachers to ensure that
014all kids get what they need and her dedication and creativity make a meaningful difference uh in our school community which was shared by Mr. Schro. So um she makes the building better according to Mr. Schro and her colleagues. And I'd like to just ask everyone to join in a round of applause for Miss Gutierrez. [applause] >> All right. Thank you for that. Um maybe four six or seven slides I would estimate here with uh community feedback. We did get responses from about 75 755 different community members regarding our proposed calendar that we sent out um sort of forecasting what 26 27 might look like. So we're pleased with that response rate. Um and I'll just give you a few highlights of what we gleaned from that. Almost 65% support the um holiday schedule uh in
015terms of convenience for family as it was presented. Um there were comments that we extracted from that data identifying some particular holidays and six observances that you see listed there with an end next to each that indicate how many people expressed an interest in having some observance in our calendar recognizing those particular holidays which we'll certainly examine and take into account. Uh, regarding spring break, we recognize that there is interest here. About 62% of our respondents expressed interest in in what a spring break could be in our calendar. And so that's something that we'll also look to take into consideration as we build future calendars. Um, this slide speaks to uh half days and connecting those half days to holidays and weekends being a pretty strong preference. Um, a lot of times they're oriented to
016where a marking period ends and um, there was, you know, agreement that if we could tuck those up against a holiday or a weekend that that would be welcomed by our community based on this feedback. Um, almost 77% express support for the model that we use now with a built-in snow day. Um that gives us an opportunity to either have that as a day off or to you know use that as a snow day if we have inclement weather uh in prior to that that scheduled date on the calendar. And then the last piece that I'll share is uh 81% you know pretty strong support there for fid which is our our flexible instructional days. um communities, you know, valuing the the opportunity to use those as a school day where we do meet for
017instruction uh for the day, but students and and staff don't report to the building. So, I wanted to share that information on behalf of Dr. Pay Hefty related to the survey that we issued to the community for uh input on the calendar. Um this slide here shows that um Dr. adapt will be open to visiting classrooms and having conversations uh for the remainder of the school year. You see all the dates there. Any teachers or staff members with interest in meeting and talking with Dr. Pep just has to reach out to Colleen Marshall. Um the the closest dates that we have in December are where she will be at Nef on December 3rd, NRA on December 12th, and then the middle school on December 19th. A quick note on enrollment and homebound. As of today,
018our enrollment is 6,023 students and that includes 51 outplaced students and we have two students who are um in homebound have been approved for homebound instruction. And just my last couple of items first, I just want to again thank Mrs. Hoffman, Mr. Landis, Mrs. Romano, and Dr. Henderson for their their service to the board. We appreciate it very much. And lastly, you'll note that this evening we have board members and administrators dressed in red. Uh tomorrow our staff has also been invited to do the same. November 5th of this year marks the five years since the passing of our own school counselor um Alexandria Chickwood. So given that red was a favorite color of hers um wearing red each year in November has become a tradition for the district and that we have instituted as
019a way to acknowledge her and remember Miss Chitwood and all that she did for the for the students and the families of of Mayhem Township School District. And that's my report. Thank you very much, Dr. Ryman. [snorts] Next, we're on to item number 10, which is new business. Items brought forward under new business will not be active comment till the next school board meeting to allow school board members to have sufficient information and to allow opportunities for public comment. Does any board member have any new business going forward? There you go, Mr. >> I don't have any new business, but I kind of didn't catch it um at the beginning there uh during the thank you for uh us for us three uh board members that are stepping off. So, I just wanted to um
020share a couple words and thanks um for my time of service here. I want to thank the community for electing me um a little bit over four years ago. appreciate the the vote of confidence and electing um someone that maybe was a little bit on the younger side. Um but this has been a really good experience for me. Um and I do believe I brought value to the board. Um I wanted to thank I don't talk about this too much but um my faith is very important to me. So I wanted to thank um God, thank Jesus uh who I follow as my faith. Um supported me and given me uh direction as I've been on the board. And I also wanted to thank my wonderful wife and our four lovely children. Um as they've
021given up many nights, days um nights when I've been thinking about things even um thank you so much to my family uh for supporting me during these four years. Um, I wanted to thank the administration, Dr. P. Hefty who's not here, Dr. Ryman, everyone else, Nana Robbins, many others that I I could be here for a while naming. Um, it's been a pleasure to work with each of you. Um, thank you to the board members that are sitting here as well as previous board members that are um have moved on to different places. Um, and yeah, wish the new board uh the best. uh continue to listen to one another um and encourage the administration and board members to continue to do um things that engage the community because there's something that I learned once
022I got on the board and that is that a lot of the community doesn't even really know what happens at board meetings or if there even is a board meeting um and how they can interact they can learn from this. So um continue to engage with the community, listen to um the community since that's who's elected you. That's all I have. Thanks. >> Thank you very much, Mr. Landis. Um but we're in a new business section. We're also about to on the precipice of board member reports. So, I will just ask just to make sure no one has new business and in our board member reports give give chance. Miss Lamb, do you have new business? >> I do. >> Thank you. I know that so just in recent years there's like a huge emerge
023of new AI platforms. So I would love to see this an opportunity to learn about the safe integration of technology in our school districts. Um especially as AI continues to advance. I think it would be valuable for us to share what the school district is currently doing and explore opportunities where we could implement that could continue to build on the safety of our students and make sure that we as a school district stay proactive and ahead of the curve. Um, as a district, we should remain forward thinking while strengthening our safety protocols to protect our students, teachers, staff, and families. So, there's that opportunity to visit that. Thank you [snorts] very much. Put that new business. Are there other new business items? If not, I'm going to move to board reports, which is section number
02411. And um we're going to start with our student representative, but then I want to give um Mrs. Hoffman and Mrs. Romano a chance to speak and any other members. >> Thank you, Joel Franc. >> Thank you. Good evening. My name is Joel Francis. I'm a senior at the high school and I'm here to say a little bit of what's happening at the high school. So working period one is officially in the books and report cards were posted on Thursday of last week and we're all looking forward to a successful working period too. We had some exciting events happening this month. Min successfully hosted front retreat and raised over $900 and fun was held fund was had by all including high school students and even had some staff involved. Currently, Minthon is hosting its annual
025No Shave November contest. We have teachers and administrators joining the cause to fight against pediatric cancer and staff members are collecting money for four diamonds and if they reach specific totals, they will do something fun with the hair or the beer. Uh we had an assembly for seniors and family and staff members who are veterans on November 11th and our trepidoras and band performed the armed forces salute and tabs to honor and recognize our guests. Prior to this assembly, approximately 60 flags landed campus for Veterans Day. This tradition was started back in 2007 as an Eagle Scout project and the flags are installed each year on Veterans Day Memorial Day with a team effort. This year we would like to thank Mr. Ruts, Mrs. Dan Spang Conrad, and high school students from the AP US
026Dorian classes and our plan services staff and it was our small part to honor veterans. Last month, students in grades 10 and 11 had the opportunity to take the PAD early and earlier this month, 10th graders took the ASVAB and ASVAB stands for the armed services vocational aptitude battery. And this program is free and empowers students to discover their strengths and interests. And results from this assessment assist students in mapping out coursework and future career plans. On October 26th, the Try M Music Honor Society held its induction ceremony for the 25 to 26 school year. We are proud to recognize 190 outstanding student musicians from their for their continued dedication to academic excellence musical achievement and community service. Try music honor society is a program of the national association for music education and it focuses
027on creating future leaders in music education and music advocacy. Early this month during clubs, our student council was visited by a team of high school administrators, counselors, and teachers to get student feedback on the communication of information, events, and happenings related to the high school. And congratulations to a man who comes high school students of the month for October, Elaine Warfl and William Lee. The student of the month program is a valued partnership with the Lancaster Sunrise Rotary Club. On Thursday, November 13th, the Manning Township music department was invited excited to invite Alice an assem ensemble of Tubin musicians. The group is visiting Kuba, a region situated at the southern edge of Siberia with Mongolia to its south and they share their rich musical heritage with all music students at the high school and middle
028school. And this year, Mayan Township School District is changing the way we support families during the holiday season. In the past, we collected physical gifts, and this year, we're asking for gift card donations instead by providing gift cards directly to parents who have the opportunity to choose meaningful gifts their children truly want and to experience the joy of purchasing those gifts themselves. We will hold a holiday event in December, inviting the designated families to the event, to provide them with gift cards, wrapping paper, and tape. Our goal is to raise $15,000 in gift cards to support families in need. And tonight is actually the opening night of our fall play, Word on the Orient Express. Show started 700 p.m. in the auditorium at the high school Friday night and Saturday night. And yesterday our school
029had an assembly or high school to get a sneak peek of the show. And personally, I loved it. And tickets are still available online at the door. So come out support Township Performing Arts. And on behalf of me and share, we're fortunate to be here. We wish everyone a restful Thanksgiving break with family and friends. >> Thank you very much. I just learned so much and um I think everyone else in the room did too. I'll hope to see you at the place tomorrow night. Um now we are we've got some more board member reports. I first want to acknowledge and recognize if Mrs. Romano or Mrs. I would like to make a few remarks. >> I just have to do my due diligence for the education foundation this evening. Um each board member has
030a little flyer in front of them, but uh the fall grants cycle um we had 25 approved and it was over $107,000 which is incredible. Appreciate all of those grants moving forward. Um, and everybody on the back, there's lots of dates of things where you can support Education Foundation. Uh, tomorrow is the big one, Extra Give. That starts tomorrow. Uh, December 3rd is Family Movie Night, Zootopia 2. So that's at Penn Cinema. Um, and then look forward to in the spring the mini golf madness on March 21st and the big mte golf outing on May 1st. So there'll be more information coming from all those. But it's always exciting to hear about the grants and where we're going. And we actually had a meeting this week which included uh the creative commons at the high
031school which is amazing that they're doing such great work. So I'm I push them a little bit to expand on that and keep that program going because it's exciting for the students I believe. Um and second, I just appreciate everybody that I've had time to spend with the last four years. Um it's great getting to know all of you. I appreciate all of your input and insights and I love that we have such a wide group and everybody has different passions which makes for a good board. Um and to my family who I made come tonight. Uh thanks for putting up for long long board meetings and mom not being home. Um I appreciate that. But uh I look forward to serving you in a different capacity coming up soon. So I appreciate all the
032time. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. Um, agree. It's been an honor and a privilege to serve on the board um in support of our students and our families and our um community. Um, I've thoroughly enjoyed it. Four years, it seems like a really long time, but also seems really fast, but I think more like a long time. So, um, but you know, I really loved having a voice for the kids. Um, and I will miss that part of it for sure. Uh, so I can sit on the the other side and still have still have that voice, which is which is nice. So, thank you everybody for um for I would say just being able to each have a voice here in quoteunquote safe space, right? So, it it's never got um ugly
033and everybody's respectful and and that is certainly not always the case and I I'm I'm very grateful for that and uh I look forward to volunteering in other ways. So, thanks. >> Thank you very much. Appreciate that. >> Are there other board members with updates to report? Does this sense? from the PTO at NE. They are always working. Um the fundraising they do provide special opportunities for students and staff. So I would really encourage u parents if you haven't followed them Facebook website they're everywhere you'll find them if you go looking. Uh they're friendly and welcoming people. uh they can use your help and the good work that they're doing for our kids. So uh don't uh don't hesitate if you see that call go out for help. These are lovely lovely people who would
034be u very happy to have your your assistance. So, yay to the PTO at now. Uh, as far as my IU report, um, my I the IU13 uh, board meeting was more or less normal. All of the regular contracts. There are carryover funds which we will be able to use for Head Start to improve that that uh, program. um now that we know that we have a budget but the budget had been passed just that afternoon so we didn't have a lot of detail but uh again the IE relies on federal and state dollars more so than we here in the district so uh they're up and running and feeling much better about their program now that the budgets are in place. The only other thing I would say is don't read believe everything that
035you read in the LMP and please know that our executive director is conscientious about all incidents of behavior and discipline in our IU classrooms. It can be a very difficult place to work if any of you can imagine what the truly involved students can be like. um so please grant them some slack uh as you read those articles in the newspaper and I did want to say that um it has been a delight and a privilege. I really appreciate the fact that um each of us brings ideas and as you just said um just it's a safe place to say what you really think even if you're the only person saying it. we sometimes have not agreed and yet your comments have really informed my decision making as as I reach that final vote. So
036I appreciate the the facilities, the knowledge that you bring here and however many times Mike and I have kept each other on the right page at the right time. Um it has been the the community is blessed to have this school board that does indeed talk and share until a consensus rises up. Everybody doesn't have that and uh and we are blessed here at Man to have that. So thank you for your time. Thank you, Mrs. Pence. Any others? Mr. Bazar? >> Yes. I'd like to thank Mr. Landis and Mrs. Hoffman and Mrs. Romano um for your long years of service. It's been four I've been here, too, and I feel like it's 10. So, uh I really appreciate um really the dialogue that's Um, I think there's been a lot that's happened in the
037last two years when I've been here, we've been together, but there's been um I think what's really remarkable remarkable here is it's an unfortunate part of the process of how we get to this board that it has to come through a political process. Um, but here in this room, I've not felt there being any difference. There's no party. Um, it's all everybody bringing to the table. um what they have to offer and it's been a very respectful and and I think rich dialogue and I think it's really important to point out as we move into the future there's going to be a change on this board and it should look exactly the same it should not matter what is here um it it should look and feel exactly the same way even though the makeup's
038going to be different so I really encourage those who are coming on the board to leave whatever letter and I know what letter it is at the door. And when you come on this board, you're you're not that you're a board member that's here for the education of the students. Um, and the the support and the, you know, and support could be challenging, whatever it means to make this district the best. Um, so I am going to to to miss the the dialogues here even though I look forward to kind of what the future holds and um to my neighbor here particularly. I'm I'm going to see how I take this little patch of real estate and hopefully I get a neighbor. It's good. So thank you. >> Thank you very much, Mr. Bulazar. Any
039others? slowly and around obstacles. So soon we'll have a new boardroom set up, but it's not it's not coming soon enough. Um so we'll move on to Manhattan Township community comment. Um residents, taxpayers, district employees, and students are all welcome and encouraged to participate. The board won't engage in discussion, but will provide followup if needed. I'd first like to just remind folks that um that we'll have a timer up there, but it is not meant to be intimidating. It's meant to show everyone that we're following our board policy for how long we get to speak and give people a visual reminder so that um we all just know that we're keeping on track. The other thing is I'd ask our commenters to please address the me as the presiding officer or the board, but not
040each other or the audience or or anyone um anyone else besides the board when you make public comment, please. So, if you'd like to speak, please fill out a commenters card for the board secretary to collect. Limit your remarks to 5 minutes and share your full name before you begin. Who would like to make comments this evening? >> Hi, my name is Mark Diner. I graduated here in 1989. Had five daughters through this school. And I want to thank the township for giving me the opportunity to speak on an issue that I'm pretty passionate about. Um I consider that pornography is creeping into the school. Uh got into the high school and I think it's getting into the middle school and it's the nature of pornography keeps going after younger and younger and I'd like
041to see it stop. And I'd like to bring to your attention some books that have um some excerpts from I'll try to keep the excerpts short. I know nobody likes to hear them including myself. Um, [snorts] is the book The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinness appropriate for middle schoolers? A Google search in AI mode says this. No, the female of the species is not appropriate for middle schoolers due to its mature and dark themes, including graphic descriptions of sexual assault. [clears throat] I did another Google search in AI mode and I came up with the result with the question is the book 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher appropriate for middle schoolers? The book 13 Reasons Why is generally not considered appropriate for most seventh graders due to its mature and potentially triggering
042themes, including suicide and sexual assault. The book deals heavily with difficult and graphic topics, including detailed descriptions of sexual assault and rape. I did another Google search in AI mode of the book is homecoming I'm sorry is homegoing by Ya Gayazi appropriate for seventh graders. Keep in mind these books that I'm reading from and talking about and reporting to you tonight are books that are currently in our middle school. Homegoing by Ya Gazi is generally not considered appropriate for seventh graders due to its mature and graphic content, including detailed descriptions of rape and sexual assault. Publishers and review sites recommend Homegoing for grades 11 through 12 or even exclusively for adult readers. A seventh grader is not an adult reader. A tiny excerpt. Excited now. He pushed into her and she squeezed her eyes as
043tightly as she could. Her tongue circling her lips. He pushed harder, his breathing heavy and labored. She scratched his back and he cried out. She bit his ear and pulled his hair. I did another search on Google in AI mode for this book, a book called Grown by Tiffany Jackson. And another thing I want to remind everybody, these books I'm reading from are fictional books. Somebody in their mind dreamed this stuff up and wants our seventh graders to read it. Is Grown by Tiffany Jackson appropriate for middle schoolers? Grown by Tiffany Jackson is not recommended for middle schoolers due to its mature and graphic content, including detailed depictions of sexual coercion. It is a young adult novel intended for older teens. Sexual assault and abuse descriptions of nonconsentual sex acts. I did another search on
044Google in AI mode. Is 19 Love Songs by David Leviathan appropriate for middle schoolers? 19 Love Songs by David Leviathan is not considered appropriate for middle school students due to its mature themes. including explicit discussions of sexual desire. The reading level is 9 through 12. The book includes several stories that portray teens experiencing feelings of romantic love and desire. The descriptions are graphic, but they indicate sexual activity and disroing. In one instance, a teen is heard moaning during a sexual encounter. There's climax, foreplay, and orgasm in these books of fictional accounts. And I would encourage the township to keep reading these books out of the libraries. >> Are there others who would like to make public comment this evening? >> Good evening. Tonight, I'm asking the board to remember something fundamental to responsible governance. We
045cannot and should not rearrange, restrict, or remove books based solely on the objections of one individual, especially any individual who, according to our own board policy, does not have standing to challenge materials in our schools. Our district has clear solicitor vetted policies outlining who may file a challenge and how the review process must work. Those policies were crafted with care to align with constitutional protections, professional librarian standards, and the realities of a modern public school district. They exist for a reason. To ensure that decisions about learning materials are thoughtful, consistent, and legally sound, not reactive, political, or based on any one person's personal ideology. Right now, we have an administrative guideline that directs our certified librarians to meet, collaborate, and review parts of the collection in regular intervals based on a variety of criteria and
046not just one publishers's age recommendation. For example, we have books on World War II tanks rated as adult in the middle school library. I think we can all agree that students can research tanks in middle school. If we use just one criterion, we would be moving or weeding thousands of books. Publisher ratings change frequently and our librarians need librarians need time to consider those changes, especially since the middle school houses the widest range of our readers. Our board and administrative policies were created to safeguard professional judgment and to ensure that experts, not politicians and not individual residents without standing, determine what belongs in our school collections. We need to let our librarians do their jobs. It is not acceptable to expect a singular book to be weeded within 24 hours. That is not part of
047our regular process and therefore not weeding by definition. It is also not acceptable to demand that our librarians take time away from students to categorize and flag tens of thousands of books. That is not good for students and it is not good for our librarians working conditions. We need to respect the process that this board already approved. And we need to avoid obeying in advance preemptively altering library collections simply because one person is demanding action outside of policy. To do so would undermine our own governance, violate due process, and expose this district to unnecessary legal risk. There's also established Supreme Court precedent, which I have discussed here before, beginning with board of education vpo 1982, which makes clear that while school boards have discretion in managing libraries, they not may not remove books merely because
048they dislike the ideas within them. Decisions must be grounded in legitimate educational rationale, not viewpoint discrimination. Upholding this principle is not optional. It is constitutional law. Our adherence to these policies has mattered. It has helped attract highly qualified librarians who know that their professional standards will be respected. It has helped draw families and students who choose this district because they value intellectual freedom, diverse perspectives, and academic integrity. Undercutting that now by overriding policy for one person who does not even meet the threshold of standing would send the opposite message. We should be proud that our collection development process is deliberate, transparent, and professionally grounded. Our librarians remain committed to ensuring that all students have access to books that reflect their interests, cultures, personal stories, and the world around them. Tonight, I urge the board to
049stay the course. Follow our policies, respect the process, allow our librarians to conduct their regularly scheduled collection reviews, and do not move or restrict materials simply because one individual demands it. Our responsibility is to the students in our district, not to any single voice seeking to circumvent the rules. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mrs. Marshall. Just for the record of Samantha McN. >> Oh, yeah. >> I don't think she said her name, but I wanted to make sure we got >> Yes. >> All right. Are there others who would like to make comment this evening? >> Good evening. I'm Julie Der. Um, one individual outstanding. So now we'll say there's two and that would be me. And so I think the um what was just said about the librarian you're our review committee staying the
050course. Yeah, we do appreciate and see what has been done in the when some of these completely bolder um books with graphic images in them which is clearly defined as pornography. And so when those were brought to the board's attention, they were some of them, many of them were renewed. And so that's what we're asking here tonight is that the board would stay on top of this, that the review committee um would seriously consider, which it appears they have, take into consideration what it is Mark for bringing here to your attention. Uh, as a taxpayer with um daughters that graduated from township, he does have and I have and anybody else that wants to come forward have the right to voice our opinions. They're our children. It's our taxpayer dollars. Has nothing absolutely nothing to
051do with book banning. Um, again, book banning is to say that it's inaccessible. The books in question are not inaccessible and can be purchased on many sites as we're all aware of. So, keeping our eye on the ball and looking at what we really are saying here uh is appreciated and we do see the results have been favorable with the board removing some of these books, weeding them out, whatever whatever it is we're calling it. Um so, we respect that. We thank you for that and we will continue to stand against everything that we have been bringing here to this township. Um, and we thank you for listening to us and taking it seriously. Thank you. Are there others who would like to comment this evening? All right. Would any of you who have spoken
052like additional remarks? >> Yes. >> Time for additional remarks. >> Yes. Thank you. >> I did a Google search in AI mode. Is the book Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez appropriate for 12 year olds? No. The novel Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez is not recommended for 12 year olds. It deals with topics considered sexually explicit. Publishers recommended reading age is 14 to 17. Did a Google search in AI mode is Ready Player One by Ernest Klein appropriate for 12y olds? Answer no. Ready Player One is not considered appropriate for 12-year-olds due to mature content like heavy swearing, sexual references, and significant violence. Sexual content, suggestive themes, including depictions of sex dolls and masturbation, virtual flirting, and some descriptions of partially nude avatars. The book contains frequent use of strong F-word language,
053sexual innuendo, among other adult topics. Page 193, Ready Player One by author Ernest Klene. At the end of the day, I was still a virgin, all alone in a dark room, pumping a lubed up robot. So, I got rid of the sex doll and went back to spanking the monkey the oldfashioned way. I felt no shame about masturbating. Thanks to anorex almanac, I now thought of it as a normal bodily function as necessary and natural as sleeping or eating. Did another Google search in AI mode for the book is concrete rose by Angie Thomas. appropriate for middle schoolers. Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas is not considered appropriate for middle schoolers due to mature themes, strong language, and graphic content. Publishers and review sites recommend it for nine, grade nine and higher. sexual content, depictions of
054teens having intercourse, multiple discussions of masturbation, birth control, teen pregnancy, and a couple openly discuss getting an abortion, strong language. The book contains frequent strong language, including fuk, ass, damn, and the n-word. Page 137. Then she looked me in the eye and I unzip my pants. It's on. I help her get out. Get out of that dress and she helps me get my pants off. Me and Lisa lying in her bed all sweaty and panty. We went at it for hours. I did the damn thing. This was the first time we ever had sex without protection. I see what the homies mean. I did another Google search in AI mode. Is City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Cla appropriate for seventh graders? No. Publishers Simon and Schustster, among others, recommend the book for ages 14
055and up or grades 9 to 12. The book City of Heavenly Fire, the final installment of the Mortal Instrument series by Cassandra Cla, contains a descriptive foreplay and sex scene involving the main characters, Clary and Jace, in a cave. One reader noted it felt like a mix of explicit content where readers read between the lines. The author did, however, later share an unedited, more explicit version of the scene with fans online. So, the author writes this book and has this long foreplay scene, and if that's not enough for the seventh grader's appetite, then they can get online and find the rest of the unedited version of the book where the full-blown orgasm happens. So, I don't know what's in the author's mind to think that would be appropriate for seventh graders. [snorts] Thank you for
056your time tonight. I am passionate about this topic and I have brought some wholesome books with me and I also have a bag of t-shirts. I have Manheim Township blue and medium and I have larges in black. If anybody wants to become helpful in my um crusade for getting rid of this pornography in the school, I have free ones with me. Thank you. Would any who have spoken like to make additional remarks? All right, we are on to item number 13, adjournment. I have several uh sort of closing announcements. So before you pack up, um I've got some detail here you may want to avail yourself of. So first, is there a motion to adjurnn? Mr. Is there a second? >> Second, >> Mr. Bulazar. >> Our next scheduled board meeting is Monday, December 1st
057at 6 PM here in the district office. The new board members will be seated. The board will vote for president and vice president, which occurs annually the first Monday of December, and then the board will conduct a work session. As was mentioned at the opening of this meeting, interviews of those seeking appointment to the board will begin at 7 PM for those who have submitted a letter of interest and resume by Friday, November 28th at 12:00 p.m. All meetings will be public and will be livereamed and recorded for viewing purposes. Thank you to all Manheim Township staff, administrators, and volunteers for your dedication to our students and our community. And a final word to say thank you to our outgoing board members who have dedicated the last four years to board service. Thank you to
058Erin Hoffman, Michael Landis, and Cameron Mano. I wish each of you a welldeserved break and a peaceful and joyful holiday season. All in favor of adjournment, please say I. I. All oppose, nay. The motion carries. We are adjourned.