001All right. At this time, we will call to order our um January 15, 2026 committee meeting. October. >> Thank you, Madam President. Good evening, uh board of directors, administration, committee members that are in attendance this general evening. I have five items for committee presentation tonight. Uh before I do, uh I would like to make two announcements. Uh the first uh and as a reminder, school will be in session uh on Monday, January 19th. Uh January 19th was a makeup day for the uh day coming right out of the Christmas break or holiday break on that Monday, the 5th of January. So, we're making that up next Monday, January 19th, as a reminder. Okay. Second, and also very important, uh, nationally, not just in the Commonwealth, but nationally, January is school board appreciation month. So, I
002want to take a moment, uh, to thank our board of directors, the board members that are here uh, for the countless hours they volunteer to the school community uh, for the leadership and the dedication in guiding the district. So, if those are in attendance, if you will join me in a round of applause. Thank you. Special thank you to Joe Walker Elementary uh and Miss Kim Tyman. They had a cake made and that cake was not everyone here. I think some people are watching. Um but there was a there was a cake that was made for the board in appreciation of them. So, thank you to the Joe Walker Elementary staff uh for having a cake for them to recognize them. Okay, so moving on. First item for tonight is middle school student of the
003month for January um to make that presentation all about timing. Perfect timing is our associate middle school principal, Mr. Justin Weiss. Mr. Wise. >> All right. Good evening everybody. >> Good evening. >> Evening. My name is Justin Wise. I'm the associate principal in the middle school. I'm honored to present our January student of the month, eighth grader Chase McKe. Um, I thought Chase was going to be here tonight, but unfortunately it looks like she's not. Um, but we'll play our video. >> Hello, I'm Mr. Middle School. It is my honor to introduce our January student of the month. >> Some questions. What's your main involved in school? >> My name is Jason Key. I'm in eighth grade and in school I'm involved in things like the National Junior Honor Society, the student form, and volleyball.
004>> Outside school, I like to spend time with my family, my friends, and like spend time with animals because I have a lot of them. What does being the student of the month mean? >> Student of the month to me I think is not being the best student but trying your best. Trying your best on your test, your homework, just in general. >> What's your favorite subject and why? >> My favorite subject has to be math. I don't really have a reason why. I just >> Is there a teacher or a staff member who's helped you? >> I think Mrs. I'm going to do because although she is a little strict, she really pushes you to do your best. So, I think that's really important. >> I said like basically just try your best like
005I said before really that's all you can do. Thank you for sharing all your energies with us. Congratulations again. >> Thank you guys. >> Thank you, Mr. Wise. >> Appreciate you. >> Okay, tonight uh on the board agenda for January, I'm recommending the reestablishment of the esports club for students in grades 6 to 12. Uh it's an opportunity McGuffy School previously had and we offered it during the 2022 2023 school year. Um it had very strong student interests at that time. Uh with that, I'd like to invite to come up and present Mr. Ben Gill. Ben is our high school English teacher and Mr. Walder Machowski, our high school special education teacher, uh to share more details about the esports club, the structure, how it impacts students. And I also want to mention before they
006present um it was both men's initiative and uh eager enthusiasm I would say to be club sponsors uh that in part is why we're having this uh reinvigoration of the esports club. So thank you to both gentlemen and I'll let them present. I like the uh the logo. Thank you. >> We were we were very happy about that as well. Um all right. Well, thank you so much for uh taking the time to hear our uh plea to bring esports back to McGuffy. So, we're just going to cover a few things tonight. Uh first being a little bit about us um as the sponsors. Um, my name, as Dr. Over said, is Mr. Gil. Um, I've been teaching since 2015. Um, I have been involved in a lot of clubs and extracurricular activities in my
007time, including, uh, supervising the school paper. Um, as well as creating and running a club for Magic the Gathering, which is a card game. Taught kids how to play. Um, we would have regular meetings for that. Um, and I've been a lifelong avid and active gamer, so this is definitely something that is close to my heart. Yep. Hi, I'm Walt Machowski. I have my uh masters in education from PIT, which I got in 2022, after which I almost immediately began teaching here. I've had a great time doing so. Uh before that, I was a classroom aid and a hospital attendant for people with special needs. Uh I'm a lifelong and active gamer as well. And uh my big hope with the club is not only to create a reinvigorate a program and help get it
008off the ground, but also create an inclusive environment for kids who might not fit in with that traditional varsity sport or might not have had the opportunity to become involved in the music and the arts, things like that uh at a earlier age. Thank you. >> So a little bit about esports in general. Um, it is an organized and competitive team sport that is focused on video gaming. Um, the esport market was valued at over two billion in 2024 and has continued a growth rate of 20% um, up till today. Um, and with that comes a lot of recognition for the sport. It's covered on ESPN. Um, and more importantly for our students, many colleges now actually have esports teams. Um, and they offer scholarships along with those teams. Um, and that includes UC Irvine,
009Boise State, uh, and Miami University. >> Yeah. And so with that, uh, explosion of growth in the collegiate circuit, we also see in high schools over 8,000 school high schools nationwide have started their own esports teams. We hope to get McGuffy back on that wagon. And um Mr. Gil and I had a thought that like this is the one thing we won't have to like drill into our students to go home and like really practice a lot. So from the article, which is a National Educators Association article, um about 90% of teenagers already play some amount of video games. So we figure not only will we have that core team, we'd also like to have that in place to bring other kids in the door. you know, whether it's for like a school fun event
010or fundraiser community kind of thing, even if they're not in the core team, chances are if it's a Mario Kart tournament or like a Super Smash Brothers Nintendo tournament, there's going to be some level of interest across a lot of the student body as well. Um, our vision is to establish a uh high school esports program that begins as an inclusive student driven club uh and evolves eventually into a fully recognized athletic team. Um, and that is mainly to reflect the values of teamwork, discipline, integrity, and the competitive excellence of McGuffy. >> Yeah. So, we're beginning at the club, so it'll be mostly contained to within school hours, like period 13, our resource period. At the end of the day, we hope to ramp up to a varsity sport within the next several years, >>
011but um starting off as a club, really our first steps will be to determine and obtain our required resources. We already have a few gaming consoles, uh available, but we're going to have to with that get, you know, monitors and controllers and possibly online passes as well for students. Uh, and then we'll begin holding meetings to determine our core membership and ground rules for the club. You know, keeping games respectful, all that good stuff. Um, and then by the end of the year, we hope to host in-house events, tournaments, little things like that, and possibly look into one or two local events uh on a smaller circuit, but we're not sure about that yet. And then uh as well as hosting hopefully an event to boost engagement and raise funds for the club moving forward.
012And lastly, our goal eventually within the next few years is to bring this to an official team uh as part of McGuffy. So, some of the things we're going to keep in mind with that is just increasing student involvement and awareness so that kids are involved. There's a lot of uh people that want to be involved, want to compete. Um, and then we're gonna have increased expansion into local events, um, more so than we're going to be able to pull off within the remainder of this school year or even next. Um and then once we have a consistent and competitive team, uh we will follow the proper channels to become an official sport for the school, as well as applying to join the Pennsylvania Intercolastic uh esports association, which is kind of the uh team
013that oversees everything in Pennsylvania regarding esports. And that is our presentation. If anyone has any questions, we're happy to answer. >> That's one question. I understand the focus is on high school at the moment. Have to do that, but thank you. Um, is there going to be some initiative into reaching down into the middle school? Um, getting them aware of it, kind of involved so that when they hit high school, they're ready to join the team. >> You know, do you see it moving that direction? >> Yeah, absolutely. I think making awareness in the middle school. We've discussed how we can do that. Um >> both teachers at the high school have correct. >> Yeah. Um some logistical things that we would need to iron out, but that's definitely something that we we want to
014include them. Uh you know, if it if it is at a part of the team playing level, if it's at a just you know, awareness and interest, maybe like helping out with things to eventually then once they get freshman year transition into the team. Um that's definitely something that >> I just think it'll grow. I We tried it before interest was immediate and it was big, you know, and I just, you know, look at Long John Silvers who clearly underestimated the amount of interest in that and they still aren't caught up, you know, and I think you guys it'll grow fast, I think. >> Right. And part of that initial limitation we are going to just have to face as a logistical thing is like how many consoles do we have? How many controllers do
015we have? You know, if it's 12 and even that's a lot of money there, you know, 12 setups going at once. So there is a just a built-in logistical thing. But yeah, we do have to include that. >> And then with that kind of moving towards that needing more equipment and things like that, um considering maybe as you move towards the team component, a boosters organizations, they are great at helping with costs that the school can't cover. >> Sure. Yeah, that that's definitely something we've considered. We we had talked about, you know, fundraising when we reach that point in the boosters in any way that we can to once we we kind of are closer maybe to the point of jumping from club to official team, things like that would really help us >> get
016that final push. >> That's great, guys. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. No problem. >> Yeah, sir. >> Yeah, I have a question. Um, I think it's a great idea and my question is what type of cost do you think that you'll incur or will incur to do this? Like what are we going to need in the future? Do you have any expectations of what will be needed to do? >> Yeah. So most most of the costs will be upfront and that is just primarily for the consoles um and whatever setup we need for all of the students participating in the club to be able to play. Um once that has been purchased, there shouldn't be any additional funds needed really until we were at a point of expanding or potentially moving from club
017to sport where we would need uniforms or something like that. Um I think primarily the main cost which we would incur right at the beginning is just the materials needed to host the club. >> Yeah. >> And do you have any idea rough estimate of what that would be? Um, so >> we have not gone into the nitty-gritty of prices and things like that primarily because we with everything going on, you know, I don't know if you are aware, but a lot of >> uh like circuit boards and chipsets and memory and things like that has gone through the roof lately. Um, so it's definitely something like once we can actually start planning out how we're going to move forward, picking what is the most cost-effective way to begin the club. Um, it's it's just
018it's very difficult to say because even you know consoles which usually have a set price throughout their entire life cycle have changed prices years into their cycle given the need for the cost of, you know, chips and motherboards and RAM and all the things that go along with that. So, we're our goal is to look at what is going to be the meeting of making it the best we can for our kids as well as not spending too much money. >> And and we do have um a grant >> uh not quite two years ago for Range Resources and and part of that grant actually is went to help pay for the co-sponsorship of of Ben Walter and then there's enough there for some of those consoles as well. So there is some money already
019that's been sitting there. We just have not had the team. >> Yeah. And I believe corre someone correct me if I'm wrong on this one, but there are some extent consoles left over from the prior esports. >> Yes, that's correct. >> So we would save a bit on that as well eventually. >> Yeah, I was aware of that Dr. Oberg and that I wanted to try and see how much we're going to agree to do something. We have to support it also and we just need to know an estimate of what that is and it sounds like that will be coming in the future. Yeah. >> So, what we're what we're going to have proposed tonight for uh Ben and Walter is they would be the co-sponsors >> for the next two years that sponsors
020of the club that we paid through the actual grant for range resources and then their club which is currently not residing with the MEA >> contract would actually reside there moving forward. So that would be an additional expense after the new contract >> if we're wanting to add it to the list of the um clubs that are in the already in the MEA contract. Are we looking at anou or are you looking at doing that the next time we re renegotiate? >> Yes. So theou no. So there's two things tonight for you to approve is the first is theou the MA >> right >> uh for this and then the second is the actual approval of your co-sponsors of of the club. >> Mhm. >> So then for the next two years their stipens for
021sponsorship comes out of the grant but after that it would just be assumed by the budget. >> Correct. Potentially Any other questions? Yes. >> I I would like to know where where can parents and families find information on safety and safety precautions through these esports. Um there's a lot of conversation about screen times and and online dangers and chat rooms and different things like that. Um, and we certainly trust our administration and our our club sponsors, but where can parents find more information on safety in regarding to esports? >> So, there is information on the Pennsylvania uh intercolastic esports website. Um, that covers a lot of questions like that. Um, however, with with the esports, it is self-contained. So in terms of like you had mentioned chat rooms or you know online interactions that doesn't
022happen in an esports setting. Um it isn't the traditional online gaming per se. We won't be engaging with anyone outside of sanctioned esport participants. >> Yeah. So it would be like our team having a a home game over the internet versus like your mental park or something like that. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. Very good presentation question. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you, Ben. Good job. >> Okay. >> Um, as part of our future ready comprehensive plan adopted by this board in 2025, we identified uh several areas that we wanted to work on for the next three years. One of them is gener generative artificial intelligence um as a key focus again for the next three years. Uh this work centers on ensuring responsible thoughtful um use of AI in instructional way by
023our teachers, our students and our community. Understanding this tonight, I've asked Mr. Mike Wilson, some of you may know him as a director of our transportation, but he's also Mr. Wilson is our director of technology to provide an overview of what generative AI is, how it's being approached in our district, and the guiding principles shaping the work moving forward at McGuffy with generative AI. So with that, Mr. Wilson, >> good evening everybody. >> Good evening. >> Uh thank you for letting me take this time to or at least a few minutes to explain a few things. Um put an introduction out there to our our generative AI process. Um this is probably one of the bigger things that I've seen um in my career. The the next biggest thing I can remember was like when
024we put like smartboards and Prometheian boards in classrooms that was like huge that that this is like that times 10 I would say. So that's kind of exciting from that perspective. So um I just wanted to take a couple minutes tonight just to kind of give you an overview of um what what AI is uh and kind of where we're going with it. um so you have an understanding of what our intentions are and you can help us guide us through that process. So um I'm gonna run back back and forth between >> um so I figured we'd start at the beginning a little history of where what AI is, where it came from. Um move into kind of the benefits of of AI, generative AI specifically. um some of the the the considerations that
025we want to take for the concerns. Um and then kind of lay out a little bit of our plan for for moving forward. >> Um starting at at the beginning, uh AI really began back in the the 1950s. Um Oh, hey. Thanks. just like Vanna White. Um so it really kind of began in the in back in the 1950s. Um they they talked about uh basic basically where um computers were just solving simple problems and then progress um into like the the 1980s to the 2010s where they were actually having machines learn in a way where they could calculate out problems. And if you think about um when you're typing in Microsoft Word now and it gives you the the predictive text like hey you should add this next that's all AI and it all
026works out in the background and that's been around for a long time if you can if you can think of it in that way. Um and then in the 2020s obviously um the emergence of uh generative AI which is focused on being able to create new content um and interact with that AI and give you that that feedback and actually generate things for you, whether it be text or images or videos, whatever it might be. Um, that's kind of where we're at now. Um, so some brief just definitions and I do have an an additional handout um for you um that kind of explains it in a little easier terms. I shared that with our our policy committee the other night. Um, and there's a a nice little graphic on the back side that kind
027of makes it easier to understand as far as AI being a librarian and generative AI being the author, right? So, kind of think of it that way. Um, so artificial intelligence is basically um computer systems that are designed to think like humans or you know have that intellectual capability. Um and there some of some of the examples that I've listed there are just adaptive learning platforms. Um when you when our students are on a plat they answer a question for incorrectly it'll push them to um suggested suggested and questions after them support that that learning and those are those are artificial intelligence types programs. Um I mentioned uh the predictive text in in word stuff like that. um generative AI uh moves into some definitions or examples of generative AI that you can think of
028would be um like chat GPT everybody's heard of that before Gemini claude AI um those are those are systems that you can interact with and it'll provide text back to you um and generate text and you can actually carry on conversations and um with those those programs um there's Dolly is OpenAI's version of a of an image generator. Um, and so that's an example of um a program that will generate images for you based on what you ask it to, you know, you you basically create a prompt, describe what it is that you want it to do or look like, and it pushes out an image for you. >> And it can help you do that. It can help you create your prompt. >> Yeah, absolutely. Yep. Um, beyond that, Generative AI also can write
029code for you. It can do a lot of things that um, you know, I'm I'm not I can write a little bit of code, but I'm not well verssed in it for sure. Um, but I can I can actually have it help me write a program to solve one of the issues I'm having at work every day if I wanted it to, and it'll write that code right for me. Um, which can be pretty powerful. Um I think that just generally speaking it's important to draw a distinction. You know AI is basically this big umbrella um artificial intelligence um and generative AI is a part of that but it's it's it's important to understand that that's focused strictly on generating that content and that's where um we're really talking about at this point. One more.
030Let's talk a little bit about the benefits. Um, some of the benefits that that you can see. Oh, man. Hold on. I got my papers all mixed up here. There we go. Um when we talk about student learning um that's really our focus as a as an educational institution right so all the focus on personalizing student learning if you think about um the progress we've made as an educational institution uh you know not everybody fits in in one box right and and we try to tailor that education to each individual student and that's where AI can really be powerful um when looking at specific students and being able to tailor that instruction um and obtain those educational outcomes for that student. Um it can help with um our special services with assist of technology. Uh
031it it has potential for teachers obviously. Um if you're if a teacher wants to get on and and ask it to help create a lesson plan for them, they it'll do that for you. Um you know those are all time-saving tools um for any teacher and administrator for that matter. Um the other part that I thought was important what is it also helps at a certain level create um it helps create more uh creativity with with what's going on in in your daily in your daily life. Um I'm not the greatest artist to be honest with you. always wanted to create something nice in art class but have never really had those skills. Um, this potentially could help those students and and people do that. Um, and you can ask it to create an oil
032painting. Um, and it'll create an oil painting for you or a picture of it, image of it, right? Um, and so you can get uh pretty detailed and it can be pretty powerful. So, um, let's talk some some about the concerns that we have. Obviously, uh, there are some concerns and I'm sure everybody has them. Um, some of the things that AI potentially could have is, you know, could be, um, not accurate. So, inaccuracies um, and misinformation. Um, if you're familiar with anything having to do with AI, I'm sure you've heard about hallucinations. Um, those things do happen. Um, and that's why it's important to be able to look at the content that it's creating for you and analyze it and um, just reinforce. Yeah, you want to well, you want to validate the accuracy
033of it basically. So that's important to to be able to do that. Um, some of the other things when you look at the the data that um, AI is trained on, there's a lot of inherent biases in there. Um, so it's important that you parse through that and recognize that and and I know there's been a lot of work done um on the the vendor side as far as AI to try and remove some of those biases, but I think everybody in this room understands everybody human humans have bias as well, right? And if um if you're aware of that and you can recognize it, you can put some things in place to try and um be more aware and and prevent it if if possible. Um one of the biggest things is privacy and
034data security um from from my perspective. Um and it's nice because um some of these concerns I I sat in on a a policy committee meeting the other day. I was able to do that and um enjoyed that time. Um, and we talked a little bit about that, but uh, I guess from my perspective, I thought it was important that, um, that policy is, uh, being drafted and put in place to help us through and guide us through these these processes and and that policy is going to provide us that that guidance when it comes to privacy and security. Um, everything we do here in our district has to be FARPA, COPA compliant. I mean we're we're we are very strict with being able to um stay within the guidelines. Um and that's of utmost
035utmost important. It will remain that as as we move forward. Um another concern was uh equity and over reliance. So uh making sure that all the students have the ability to access these programs equally. Um and then also being able to recognize that uh we don't want them to become over reliant on these tools as well because at at that point now we're not learning uh the basics of what we need to do, right? And that's that's important to to know. Um if you can flip it. Uh one thing I wanted to say was the the policy. I'm just jump back to the policy real quick. The policy actually informs both of the the two slides that we're talking about here. Um the next part obviously with with data privacy requirements um you know we
036have protocols in place uh we're protecting our student information and we're going to remain doing that and that policy puts those guidelines in place for us in order to to follow through with that um usage guidelines and access you know these are these are different safeguards um that we want to put in place in order to ensure that these things are are follow being followed through. So, um, when we're looking at AI, uh, we want to make sure that it's it's being used appropriately, obviously. Um, and when it's when it is being used, you want to make sure that it's that you're giving credit, right? Um, and I don't know if you guys recognize it or not, but if you look at my slides in the lower right hand corner, it always says AI assisted.
037I did use AI to help me build this presentation for you tonight. Um, so beyond that, there's um we should have some vetting and approval processes in place and that comes back to the committee meeting that we were talking about the other night and also um the committee that I'm going to talk about in a little bit as far as as we move forward. Um and then as part of that policy and the and the implementation committee that we're talking about um some regular monitoring and assessment as as we move through this process. So let's talk about the committee. Um the committee I I just call the implementation committee. It's that's just a generic term. Um the committee itself is going to be made up of uh it's going to be made up of teachers,
038administrators, um IT staff, it's probably me. Um any specialists that we want to invite um you know specific to AI, we have there's a lot of professionals out there that have a lot of knowledge that can probably um add add their two cents um and be done that way. um parents, community members, and at least one representative from the board would be appreciated as well. Um and these are things this this correlates directly to the the policy that we were talking about um the other day. Um and hopefully we can get a draft soon. Um as far as responsibility committee initially, I mean Sue's a soon relative term. Yeah, I get it. >> There's a lot of meat to that part. >> Yeah, there is. Um, as far as responsibilities, uh, I think as time
039progresses and as the implementation process, um, continues to, um, go, I think responsibilities could change a little bit, but primarily at the at the start, we're we're looking at recommending tools um to the board to be approved on a on an approved AI tool list, basically. Um, and part of that process is developing a standardized rubric that we can use. Um, and we can bring these tools in, analyze it, make sure they're safe and secure for the students, make sure they're educationally sound, um, making sure they're appropriate, easy to use, cost effective. I mean, there's a lot of different components that we should use to evaluate these things. Um, but initially, I think that's that's a good um process. Uh, and I'm we're we're currently in the middle of kind of reaching out, not I
040haven't reached out to anybody yet, but we will be reaching out in the near future to try and solicit some participation in this committee. So, um, from all the members um that I, you know, member groups that I listed below or above. Um, so the tool evaluation criteria would be a part of that process. Um, and I think the the ultimate goal of of this committee is uh to be collaborative um and transparent in the process and and ensure that we have we have the tools for our students that they need to move into the future um and at the same time keep them safe and secure and and make sure that we're doing it the right way. So, um, if I had three things that I could hope that you leave here with today,
041I think, um, we want to be responsible with our AI implementation. Um, we want to be able to support our students so they're successful here and after school. Um, and then obviously the last thing is we're going to introduce an implementation committee to help us through this process and guide us in the right direction. So questions. >> My question uh for now unless others provoke more out of me is um how how will you be soliciting parents involvement? Do you do you have a game plan on how the community will be >> notified of that? >> Yeah, I mean I think social media always helps and we can put it on the website. I think all the the regular means of soliciting interest is I think appropriate. Um, we're not We can put something up
042on Facebook. I think I know a lot of parents look at Facebook and stuff like that. So, >> I mean, occasionally. >> Um, but no. Yeah, I mean, we'll we'll publicize it to the best we can. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Y >> I appreciate the fact that you always refer to it as a tool because it it's going to be important that we all understand >> that AI should be exactly that. It's a tool we use. It's not something >> that uses us. Yeah. >> So, I think I think that's important and I'm glad that you've started that already. >> Thank you, Mr. Wiser. Mr. Wilson, I have three questions. Um, first of all, who's actually in charge of the team to implement? Is that you? I mean, have we decided that yet or
043is that something we're working on? >> Reasonably, it falls under my under my responsibilities, I would say. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> Right. And do you have the resources you need to implement it? Because in your presentation you said 10 times bigger than these whiteboards and these things. And I'm thinking that was crazy, but >> well, this is going to need some resources, right? >> I think I think that'll that'll kind of rear its head as we progress. I think initially it's setting setting up this group. It's it's putting the policy in place. Um, and then as we move through the process, there may be more resources that we need. Um, but I think part of that that committee will help us identify that um, appropriately and and figure out what it is that we actually
044need. I mean, as far as resources right now, I think we're in pretty good shape as far as that's concerned. And one of the reasons it fall under I didn't mean to interrupt you but kind of because it relates to that >> fall under specific other line items like some of it could be technology some of it could be maybe fall under a curriculum or or school you know supplemental material things like depending on what the resource is. >> Yeah I think it all it all kind of overlaps and ties together at the same time. Um, yeah, absolutely. And I think a lot of the a lot of the tools that we're going to be looking at specifically are probably more curricular related than anything, but um, you know, we can use chat GPT for
045free to help us draft an essay if we wanted, you know, but as an administrator, um, I'm kind of oldfashioned, Mr. Wilson, but when I was in 58 years old and in college, um, a lot of our younger students was using AI to complete their homework assignments and do their tests or do we have anything in place to prevent that here? >> Wait, I'm I lost you. >> Okay. A lot of students when I was attending college recently >> Oh, okay. >> used AI. >> I thought you meant back in 1958. >> I'm sorry. I was 58 years old when I had to go. Okay, >> I'm with you now. >> All right. >> They was using AI to complete their test, the work assignments and everything. Do we have anything in place to prevent
046that from happening >> currently in place? Yes. >> Okay. >> Yes, we do. Um, we have we have um most of our AI tools uh are actually block blocked at this point. Um, no. That's excuse me, that's to say that um a school issued device on a school account, yes, it's it's blocked and they're not able to get to those things. Um, with the exception of one um our new web filter that we purchased um last year has a built-in AI through that which is also um kind of merged with our web filter. So the same securities that are in place um are in that AI chat as well. Um and that's all supervised by the teacher um in real time as well. So those those things are currently in place. Um but on our
047devices if if they try to go to any any kind of AI tools um a little gnome kind of pops up and they chewing on a cord and it says you can't go there. So, >> but when they're at home, I I know we can't control what they do at home, but it is there any way to detect that they've used AI to complete their assignments? I guess what I'm trying >> Yeah. Well, there are AI detection tools. There's tools that teachers can use to um basically scan those assignments and and it'll come up with a basically a a probability of whether or not that essay or assignment was created by AI. Um those things are are available to our teachers at this point. Um but they I mean when they're at home like monitoring
048those in real time, there's not a whole lot of that going on. Um >> no, >> only it's more of a reactive it'd be more reactive at that point. >> Yeah. I'm just afraid of what I seen that >> was able to complete their test in five minutes and leave and I was there for an hour and a half. >> Yeah, there's a lot of potential there. It's quick, that's for sure. >> Thank you very much, Mr. Wilson. >> Thank you, guys. Thank you, M. Wilson. >> Thank you. >> In your uh committee packets, you'll find the proposed school calendar for the 2026 2027 academic year. Uh before I review the particulars, I think there's two things I want to share. Uh the first is as the the calendar was put in place uh as
049I put this is now my sixth calendar that I've put in place. Um I know that we can't um necessarily make everyone happy. Um but really it's first and foremost the focus is on what we believe is going to be best for the kids as far as the calendar is concerned. And secondly, and and just as important, the process itself I want to speak just quickly to before we actually go into the ticklers. Uh the process begins in mid- November. And the first thank you or shout out I want to give to is Miss Laura Cyber. Uh Laura takes a look at the previous year's calendar and starts mapping out a tando look at the following the following year. So in this case, 2026, 2027. And you think, oh, no big deal. just look at
050last year, plug in a dates, good to go. That is not the case. And that's why I started in mid November. Uh from there, after she brings that first calendar and we look at each other from across the table or start looking at at ways in which we can improve it, ideas that we had suggested to us in the previous year, ideas that we had going into it as well, we start plugging away at it. Once we feel like we have it at a place where we can then share it, it makes some sense to us. Uh there are two main groups within this district that we share it with. The first is our administrative team. Uh they are the eyes from their perspective when it comes to things happening in the building. Uh their
051direct supports how it's going to impact their year and they have a great idea going into that following year based on the current year. And the second and just as important, just as as critical is, and this is the fourth year of doing this, we actually have a teacher committee. And I want to give shout outs uh to that group. That group is made up of Tony Carroll, Jackson Null, Laura Minan, and Amanda Becker. And each of them represent a different uh part of our school. They come to it from that lens of of being an educator, being a teacher. And trust me when I tell you um they come with a lot of ideas. After meeting with them, we take back those thoughts. We reook at the calendar itself. And the biggest thing that
052we have to do in addition to creating a calendar is making sure that the number of days that teacher is required to be here both as a teacher in a classroom from the the time that we give them for professional development, but also they have clerical days is there. but also the minimum number of days which is 180 days for instruction and they have to match up when we start in August and end in this case in June and that is a monumental task. Also keep into account some landmines potentially uh such as uh the fair. I was made aware today that the fair is a week later. Uh but I will tell you um having said that um we're really not talking about impacting any of our students because as you'll see in just
053a minute uh that's not something that will impact them. We do have some teachers here that we work with that we have teachers within within our VOAG that actually have requirements of being there and we'll work with them. But overall, as I just said, um I want to thank that group. Uh quite literally, we're working right up until about a week or so before I actually share this then with the board. So this is not the first time they're seeing it. So, let's kind of walk into this a little bit and then uh as I go through it, please hold any questions you have until the end and then I'll be sure to go back if that makes sense. Okay. All right. So, um some some changes. That's what I'll try to highlight here. Some
054things that are new in this calendar starting in August. Uh the first change that you'll see is we've gone from three days in August for professional learning for our staff. So, three days to start the school year down to two. The rationale is we've always built in that cliffer that third day because in the past we've always adopted something new curricular. This is the really the first year in a six-year curriculum cycle that we have not adopted a major change to our curriculum. So ELA, math, science. We do have some things that are going to be changing. Um social studies for example is one of them, but it's going to have a smaller impact on the entire staff. So we're going to go from 3 down to 2 and again this is with the staff
055taking part in having that discussion with us. So that'll be on the 19th and 20th of August and then the 21st is a clerical day. Now in the past as an example um this board had offered using a floating clerical. So to show you the amount of input um we asked the the teachers to poll their staff. What would you prefer? one clerical day set in stone or floating clerical day that maybe goes over a course of the week. Our teacher sent out a survey. They got the responses back. We said this is the day it's going to fall on and their response was one day. So that one day is on Friday uh August 21st. Just like this year school will start on a Monday. In this case it's August 24th. So that is
056the first day of the school year. Okay. Moving into September, the new thing that we did this year, again, we learned from previous years, the ask was not to have open house in all of our buildings on the same week. Okay, we we heard that. So, this time around, uh open house for the high school middle school will be uh the first uh week, which is uh 9:14 through 9:18. We haven't set the date yet. We'll give our principles and our teachers a chance to do that. And then the following week, the 21st to the 25th will be the open house for both Joe Walker and Clayville. So something we've heard, we changed, made that adjustment. Moving into October. October is where you're going to see something new. And that is where we find our
057third inservice day. Again, moving that from August to October. And the main reason was our staff said there's often times things that we're introduced to right before the school year starts and then we never have a chance to kind of go back and revisit, right? So we because we do we give them a lot over those three days. And so the idea behind having that in October is present new information. If there is anything new in those August and service days, let them digest it for two months and then we come back in October and assess. So very smart I think on the part of the teachers we agree. So uh that's where that day is going to fall. And it also gives our families a 4-day weekend sort of to speak in that the
058October 9th is no school for the day in service day and then the parent teacher conference traditionally held in October is on the 12th. So Friday into Monday. Okay. That was done intentionally. November uh no changes really. November uh same as as before. traditionally that Monday after Thanksgiving has been sacred. Uh even though honey is no longer on that Monday, but we've kept with that. So that's that's the same in December. Um the last two years we've benefited from where Christmas has fallen. Uh this year it falls on a Friday. Uh so early will be on the 23rd. There basically guys is one less day this year for our Christmas break. So last this this past winter break we had nine days, nine school days, not counting weekends. Uh in this calendar there'll be eight
059days with um the staff returning on the 4th for their clerical day that is in their contract and students returning then on the 5th. Okay. Then moving into February, February is unchanged. Same look that this past February's had. There's really nothing new under the sun in February. um what's in March is a little different. So we we also like to look at other schools, right? What how do other schools address and attack their holidays like we do? Um in the past, we've always held it the week before leading into Easter. So think of it this way. If Easter's on a Sunday, we we've started our break that Monday leading into it. So Monday through uh Monday, Thursday, Holy Friday, and then Sunday. Okay. Um, input from our staff, input from administration was to have the
060spring break, Easter break start with holy or Good Friday the 26th. Have the week off of March 29th through February 2nd. Staff comes back on the 5th and that is their inservice day. That's the last inservice day of the year. They have four inservice days. that is the fourth in service day that they have and that would be on the 5th. Okay, moving into May. Uh May is full of testing. We don't touch May. We don't think about doing anything in that month. Um and so that has remained unchanged this year aside from moral day. Again, that's on the 31st. And then we'll finish up here. So the 3rd is going to be the last student day. That's 180 days for staff. And the Friday the 4th is clerical in service and that's also going
061to be our graduation. Typically we've always uh like to do two things as we finish the year if possible not always possible. One is to have graduation on that Friday and two if possible and teachers always appreciate this and I think everyone does is to finish out the year on a Friday on a Monday. The first year I created a calendar for this board. I finished on the Monday and I didn't hear about it for I didn't stop hearing about it for a couple weeks afterwards. didn't realize I was as you know but so um so having said that again I want to give a first again a shout out huge credit to Mrs. Cyber for starting this work, getting us going, to our administrative team, to the the teachers that were on that committee
062for their feedback. I I I know that when you look at the calendar, you can always find something that maybe not be perfect or not work, but trust when I tell you, this isn't just a culmination of a week's work. Uh this is a long time in coming and bringing a lot of folks to the table. And I think that's what makes it a good calendar. So, I'll open myself to questions. So, did I hear you say because we do have a few teachers who are going to need to be at the fair, Washington County Fair for some things, they also have a con contract, excuse me, cannot talk, contractual um requirement to be here for in service days. I hear you say you're going to work with them. >> We would work with them.
063We would work with them if there is and I know of several that and here's the thing, too. Remember, we start this process in November. I'm not sure when they came out, but in the past the Washington County Fair was always that week before >> and for some reason um they they moved it a week ahead and I was alerted today uh to that fact. But when we started this process, it's one of the first places we go. Laura was on there looking up and trying to Google search it and and through up until Christmas, nothing was there, right? >> Um and so we went with again that idea that okay, not it's probably still going to be that week before. So then my question my my follow-up question to that is because it is
064a contractual requirement will do we need to create some kind of anou that covers those specific people and however we work with them >> that is something that would have to have a conversation uh with the MA president Jay Krable about but again I am in this case I'm willing to work with those individuals that are absolutely required to be there and again we're talking about three days right >> right for does not impact students whatsoever, but it does impact several teachers. It impacts the fact that they would have a clerical day and then student service days that we need to talk about. But I don't think it's we're not talking about a large number of >> No, I'm not saying I'm just saying because while it may not be a large concern for everyone,
065it is a concern for those individuals and you know that's a when you've got requirements that require you to be in two different places at the same time, that's a concern. So I just wanted to make sure. or I thought I heard you say you'd work with them. And then just to follow that up, you know, do we will we need to do something more specific like with anou to help with that >> questions? Okay. Um again, thank you to all those folks that took part in that. Next. >> Okay. >> So, next um as we start looking, we're talking about the calendar. This is a perfect segue. Uh as we start to look at the future for our district when it especially when it comes to facilities, uh the question I think was asked
066Mr. Leisure about technology and do we have the wherewithal? Um we're going to have a presentation about looking at a bond as a district that could help pay for some of the renovation that needs to occur here within our buildings. uh some of the major projects that we need to do from a safety and security standpoint. Um and so with that, I'm going to have Mr. Craig McKe and Millian introduce uh John McCain from John. Am I saying >> I mean if it's good Germany >> No, no, no, no. The E is before the I don't care. report. >> Uh, good evening everybody. Uh, once again, I'm here to see if we can secure some funding for some more facility uh, maintenance and upgrade things. Um, the the bond we're looking for is is uh
067$6 million. Um, it sounds like a lot of money. It is a lot of money. uh no matter how you split it. But I'm quickly go through uh my wish list here. Uh and then and then I'll um give some background for those that are new uh or just coming in. Uh so I have uh HVAC, I have unit vent replacements. What I'm looking at is like these ceiling units. Now back in 2019, we did the floor units in the classrooms. Uh that was a big boost for us for reducing humidity in this building. They're designed a little differently. Um so now we want to come back and do the ceiling units uh that aren't capable of that same dehumidification that the other ones are. Get them changed around so that they'll also uh take
068care of that for us. Uh Joe Walker, it's still an old pneumatic system. All the uh on the hot water side, the heat side, everything over there is controlled by air pressure, right? Everything here and at Clayville is all digital control. We'd like to to get those switched out at Joe Walker. Uh so that they at least have room by room control on their heat. Uh they have um if you've been over there, the air conditioning, they have the cassettes in the ceiling. That's all electronic. That was done in 2014. Uh, that's pretty accurate for them. I know they like that, but you know, we struggle with the heat. It works. It works okay for what it is. It's a 60-year-old system. Um, but we'd like to take those out. Get them some more comfort
069in in their classrooms. And then down at Blaine Buffalo, their classroom unit events, they're just full heat all the time, right? That uh we did the Boilers down there, which has made a a huge difference to them. I I met with the uh uh Mike Schlump, the transformation owner, uh yesterday um to go over things down there, how you know, how are things going for them. The new boilers there uh because uh we can control them better. Uh there's even though they have less control in their classrooms, we control the water temperature much more precisely down there and now they're they're way more comfortable. But same thing, we'd like to give them a little more control in their classrooms and they still have up to nine years left on their lease, right? They're a good
070tenant for us. It's a good use for that building. So, we'd kind of like to take care of them at the same time while we can. Uh asphalt, uh yep, you've all seen the driveway, right? It's time. We all know it's time, right? So, the uh asphalt here at the high school uh and Joe Walker, what we'd like to do all of that, what we would do is in the actual parking areas, we would mill the top, the wear layer off the top, repave the top, but in all your drive lanes, we'd go down to the base, redo the base because that's where, you know, the buses and the trucks and and all that sort of thing goes. Um the tennis court also it was put in then it was overlaid I don't know how
071many years ago a dozen years ago 14 years ago the drainage underneath it was not addressed at that time um we spent some money uh last year in the spring we had a everline come in and they did a really nice job of patching it but it's a patch that asphalt shifts in two different directions. So, we'd really like to just pull that asphalt out of there, take care of the drainage underneath it, repave it while we're doing all this other paving, while we have economy of scale, while we're buying, you know, how many thousand cubic yards of asphalt, be much cheaper at that time to to redo that tennis court. Uh, and it does get a lot of use. Uh the the gym classes, I have to say, McGuffy Dy classes, if if the
072temperature is uh even remotely warm and the the sun's out, they're outside. I mean, they're they're they use our outside facilities. We'd like to keep that uh you know, nice for them and and you know, obviously that we still have the two tennis teams, so u include that into the paving. Claysville Fire Alarm. Okay, we've um been maintaining that. Okay, it's an old analog system, right? The new uh the new code um they're much more stringent and so on. Uh the number is big, but the job is big. It has to be rewired now. Now they require an annunciator in every classroom. When fire alarm goes off, it says fire, fire, fire. So, um, it's time though. You know, what's what's down there works, but it's it's time for us to, uh, to update that.
073Uh, we put the new panel in here a few years ago. Joe Walker has a new panel in. It's only a couple years old. So, Clayville is is the last one, but that, you know, being a fivetory building, that's a lot more complicated. Um but again because a lot because the code is so much different now compared to what is actually there existing uh camera system districtwide um anybody that has to use the cameras here for whatever reason they function uh they're frustrating. Um, the newer camera systems though, we don't have the resources like the Las Vegas casinos to have somebody watching cameras 24/7 to tell you when something's going on right now, right? So, we're more on the reactive side. We something happens, we go back, we have to rely on, we go back
074to the video and see see what happened as Mr. Wilson's presentation with AI where it really helps on the security side. We we did a demonstration last year and and I know the AI stuff has been tweaked upward since then, but um they had a a college that allowed them to access their cameras for uh sales purposes and they were showing us and they said, "Okay, we're finding this lady in a mob sweater coming in. How many places can we find her?" And within about 20 seconds, we found her in seven different places in town, you know, and it went just that quick. And so for us, we have an issue instead of having to sit and go through hours of video to see, you know, when did this happen? You know, the newer systems
075pull that up for us. Now, again, big price, right? the newer digital cameras running at 4K and at the frame rate that we need to do that. When we put this system in, it was analog system. Not a big deal. But you've all seen like network wires. Oh, is this a, you know, cat 6 wire, right? Well, we're running on Cat 3, right? So, there's where the other increase on the camera system comes in. Cat 3 will not push the video signal at the frame rate that we need to really use that system, you know, for what we're paying for. So, it's not just a matter of go around and replace all the cameras with new digital cameras and put a new server in or go on the cloud. We have to rewire so that
076we can push that that signal through. High school, middle school, library, right? We've had a number of meetings about that. Uh, one of the biggest spaces in the building. It's the center of the building, right? I don't think we're ready here yet. probably not for another 10 years to really start looking at renovating this building. But, you know, we would really like to reinvigorate the center of this building and, you know, again, make it the hub of the building and and kind of get us that um it's going to sound sound like that extra sparkle, whatever. You know, I'm not a big sparkle guy, right? I'm a facility guy, right? But I, you know, sometimes we have to have that, right? You need a place that that kind of shines as the center of your
077building. So, we like to spend some money there and kind of, you know, repurpose that repurpose that space. Uh, water fountain replacements, right? Seems like a little thing, but we just put a new water fountain up in the uh middle school side. Uh, $1,200, right? Put a bottle filler on it. to $1,600. Right? We're now starting to get to a point where the age and vibration of these a lot of the water reservoirs that hold the cold water starting to crack down. It's not uh cost effective for us to try and because of the um both the water and the refrigeration that you have to deal with to replace a reservoir. It's not worth it for us to to even get into that water fountain that deep. Like when you go to Clayville, they have
078a lot of their fountains are set into the wall, right? So, we'd really like to replace those, get them some bottle fillers and so on because so many of us carry carry the bottles around and and kind of get that much. It's a little touch for the kids, but it's a meaningful touch. Uh and then lastly, the stadium running track. Um you know, we just didn't have the budget uh when we did everything else. That track kind of got painted, right, is really what happened to it. It didn't really get resurfaced. It got painted. So, it's going to need some attention. You know, it's starting to get some areas. We made some repairs and, you know, we have the proper stuff to do it. But, you know, it's what 2002 that that was laid down
079that that stuff and it's lasted well. I mean, there's no no shame in it, but it's it's at a point where, you know, we need to really look at, okay, let's take it out. Let's let's make sure the base underneath it is still good and and let's do it. Now, all these, right, you add that all up, 6.3. But what I've done because of lead times for these projects, right, I already know from talking to my people, uh, we borrow the money tomorrow and we put the specs up and have it up in March, we've already missed the window for this year, right? Because we have to do it in the summertime when we can restrict the traffic because we're going to be digging out the driveway to to get a lot of that done.
080So that uh um fire alarm and clayville, right? Because they're going to be pulling wires all over the building. Can't be done during school. So those projects that can't be done this coming year, right? I said, "Okay, I'm going to throw roughly 8% on top of that because we're going to see more than likely we're going to see one price increase. Now, if we can get in and and when we did the roof uh here and at Joe Walker, right, we bought the material in the fall ahead of the price increase and we had them hold it for us so that we could not, you know, suffer that 10% price increase. And obviously, we'll continue to do those things. If we can lock contracts down and if we can lock materials down, that's what we'll
081do, right? Because, you know, it's not I'd rather give them that deposit and say, "Okay, we're holding this price and save that 10,000 or 20 or 50 or whatever we can save." Uh, but you know, we just have to be aware and we have to be ready ready to make that decision at that time. Most of these projects, right, again, we're asking for six. There's going to be some uh costs that come out of that and so on. Most of these projects can be adjusted, right? So, like the HVAC, um, what I allocated for here, it won't do everything that's left in this building, but if I need to, you know, we'll pick and say, okay, here's an outlier that'll be okay. Here's another outlier we can take out of that. Um, we can maybe,
082you know, we could adjust the paving some. Probably the only one that can't be adjusted is the fire alarm at Clayville. It's got to be what it's got to be, right? Even the cameras. Okay, you know, we have, you know, plan for 140 cameras. Well, maybe we need to cut that back to 130. Okay, but we can cut it back, right? Like I said, I think the fire alarm is the only thing that it has to be what it is. So, everything else can be adjusted. Like I say, I've tried to try to kind of, you know, take into account future costs as uh we may incur just because of the lead time that we need to get these projects done. >> Okay. Yes, ma'am. When we say library renovation, $500,000, >> could you give
083us an idea of I guess that maybe we don't know exactly what that place space is going to be, but when we're saying we want to all lot $500,000 for renovating that space, do we have kind of an idea of what we'd be spending that $500,000 on? >> So, we had we had numerous discussions about it, right? We would like to make it still some some common space, right? Some more like reward space. Uh, a big component of that is really trying to get guidance out of the back hallway here, get them over into their own proper offices where then um, you know, we have a need for uh, in that in that space a quiet space you know as part of our you know mental health awareness. And by tying some of this stuff
084all together, moving some offices around, we look at ways to try and uh be efficient with our labor needs to do those things, right? Because if you have a common space that's a reward space for kids to come down, it still takes labor for somebody to keep an eye on them. So, you know, in speaking to the guidance department, they're like, "Oh, man." And they really come up with some really nice ideas and some nice layouts for us and so on. You know, we could do this. we can, you know, share responsibilities on that and so on. And, you know, we still have some tweaking to do on it. Um, but that's that's kind of the you know the combination of I guess overall you would you would really call it like a mental health
085space because like okay um you know kid earns a right to come down and just chill out at lunchtime and and they can come in there and you know sit in the soft seating and and so on or again they need to talk to a counselor or maybe they need a little bit uh you know more private of a of a safe space, you know, for a while they're having, you know, some some issues and so on. So, the really the the vision of it is like your like again, you know, kind of like your personal all all revolving around your your personal well-being in in one form or another. >> So, the $500,000 then isn't necessarily what we're saying we need for these particular items to renovate that space. just more of like a
086budget within tour. >> So you'll see, you know, we have to do carpeting. We're still going to have to do, you know, depending on how we configure offices, we still will need to reconfigure, you know, HVAC and lighting and and you know, we have >> we don't have all of that kind of planned out. This is >> that's a So we worked with with the architect on it and said, "Okay, >> this is what we have." We had a meeting with them and and we said, "Okay, you know, where am I at budget-wise, right?" And they're saying half a million dollars, right? No, could be more, could be less. Again, obviously to do a a space like that, you got to get pretty specific with your uh specifications on it or what you're going to
087do and and so on. And you know once you start to go to contract on it and or go to bid on it >> I think my concern is more of they could be more because if it ends up more >> well you just where's that coming from? >> So what we do in a case like that is you know once we're once we nail down okay we're going to move these offices here. We're going to have this as a community space here maybe because we talked about putting esports on one side so kids could see esports and and so on to say okay let's do these spaces as part of your base contract and now let's do these things as alternates and you bid them all together and then you say okay well if
088my base bid came out not 400,000 like I thought. My base came out at 450. Okay. Well, I know I'm not going over 500 because that's that's my budget limit, right? So, then I've got to look at my alternates and say, "Okay, what else can I do? Can I fit in or is there anything I can fit in for that for that 50?" But, you know, if we have a hard budget line, then that's what we'll do. We'll just go to a hard budget line. >> Thank you. And I just to be that's not I you do a great job at all that you do and I I I'm sure everybody else appreciates that. I just was >> Oh yeah. No, it's for that. No, that's very legitimate because, you know, Project Creed, you know,
089it's a terrible thing, you know, because you get and this is why I try to put in, you know, be realistic about, look, we're we're looking, you know, this is today's price, but by the time I can do a contract on this, I'm 12 or 14 months down the road, right? And I learned this at at my last job. We did it was a $44 million high school renovation, right? We came in a million dollars under budget, right? But we took our time. We used the high side of our estimates on everything, right? I'd rather come and say, "Hey, guess what? We didn't spend all that money." Right? and I'm coming back with an endless list of change orders that then ends up in Project Creek and next thing you know I'm trying to find
090another $50,000 or $100,000 for something that was only supposed to be five. And so, you know, I'm all for, you know, we get a budget. Hey, we're going to make it happen and this is what we'll do and this is how we'll do it and that's the way that we do it. And I get it that, you know, I'd love to have, you know, endless money out of a, you know, bottomless pocket, but that's Yeah, that's just not reality, right? You just don't you just don't go into construction projects that way. We just have to stay realistic is is you know what we can afford today and and and so on. So, >> thank you. >> Okay. And with that, I will the most important name Great question. >> Before we get started, I just
091like to say Mr. Machine has been here on multiple occasions for a long period of time. We had what was called swapions years ago that the district had and he was very instrumental in getting us out of that mess. So, I highly regard his expertise and he's helped this district financially tremendously. Very, very much. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Leer. Um, it's great to be here. This is one of my favorite districts because I feel like it's a place where I came from. I didn't specifically come from McGuffy, but I came from a district like McGuffy where every dollar does matter. And when we're talking about of course you could borrow, if you wanted to borrow 15 million, you could borrow 15 million today. We know as your advisor since 2006 that that would
092bankrupt the squished. So whatever we decide, whatever you decide to do, we'll look at it wholeheartedly to figure out the best way to pay for it. And that's sort of my job. And Charlene had asked me, let's go back, there's a lot of board members, let's go back to the basics of what a bond issue is. How's it different than what I typically do? It's I asked my analyst to come up with a couple pages for this and he did and in fact it's too many pages. What if you have it in your packet you open it at your leisure it'll be great to fall asleep tonight but realistically when we talk about bond districts we're talking about a loan. The difference is it's the lowest cost of capital to school districts communicate entities because
093unlike going to a bank when we go out to sell your bond you could buy your bonds financial institutions can buy your bonds. Pension funds can buy your bonds. Anybody that wants to know McGuffy can own McGuffy. So if your pool of buyers is limitless, you're going to get the lowest rates possible. And that's why every municipal entity would go to a bond issue versus a bank loan for the most part if they had the financials to uh go into the market which you do currently and I do say currently because I think your next presentation is on the budget which is important. It's going to play into this as well. So it would actually would have been a little bit better from your standpoint to know what can you finance how's it going to
094affect the budget. But I think what you heard from Craig was that you need 6.3 million. So what's the best way to get that 6.3 million? Well, uh I'll go back to the the bond issue slides. Well, let's go with Yep. Let's just go with the municipal bond slides first. We'll do that last. We'll do that market last. Yeah. >> So, we talked about it's the best way to fund your project. Um we take care of 95% on a bond issue. We do bother Charlene and she's going to hate me for about a month because it's her job to present the financials, demographics of the district. We put a little packet together. It's about 40 pages contains all that information and that's what we go and present to the rating agencies. So, just like every
095credit report, we go to the rating agencies, we do a dog and pony show and say, "This is why Muffy's so great." and we've done with the administration a unbelievable fantastic job over the last 20 years. The district is currently rated A+ and there were times if you know your district and where the majority of your money comes from, it's large large entities pay a large amount of your budget and for the rating agencies to buy off and keep your rating at that especially during say the mid- teens or the coal is having a problem and even till recently and until this point you've never been downgraded. You've only been upgraded. I'm going to tell you that because most likely and it's not your fault just because of the state of the economy that that
096might you might take a little ding on this issue when we go to the rating agencies again because we know you have limited amounts of funds available. We know that your budget's going to sort of take some of that fund balance down. When your fund balance goes down, your rating goes down just like if you have less money in the bank. So, we do expect it on this issue, but we don't think it's going to be a major hit because still the majority of school districts in the state of Pennsylvania are A-rated. Remember, you're A+. So, if you even get thr up to an A, now you're average. We still think you're better than average, but you're average. >> So, we take care of all that. You have um then from the standpoint of when
097we start, when you say, "John, we're ready to go." So, we actually lock in that rate about a four to six week period. We lock in the rate and then from that six week period takes about another four weeks to actually get the money. So if you needed to start you needed some of this funds by May or June, we would actually pass a resolution probably in March or April so that you could have those funds in May or June. Does that make sense so far? Um so then once you get the money, there are certain requirements especially what Craig was talking about because you're not going to spend all the money this year. You do have to commit to spend 5% within the first six months. Well, you know, you're going to do that.
098You're going to buy those cameras immediately. And you have to spend 85% of those funds within the final three years. If you do that, and you borrow less than 10 million, not just in this bond issue, but in all borrowings for the year, you can go invest those funds while they're waiting to be spent at an interest rate that's actually higher than the rate you can borrow at. It's called positive charge. Usually bad. usually very bad. IRS doesn't like that because when you borrow money, the IRS doesn't make money and they don't like to see you make money when they're losing money. However, if you borrow under 10 million, you get to keep those funds as long as you spend those funds within 85% within three years, which we've gone through the analysis, you're going
099to be okay. So, we have nothing to worry about. It's actually the next slide. There's nothing else to worry about from a federal taxable standpoint. We've already talked to bond council about this. This will be considered bank qualified. Bank qualified means that if you issue under 10 million, you actually get a lower rate because most issuers issue over 10 million and banks aren't allowed to participate in buying those bonds for their portfolios. If you issue under 10 million, which we know you will, banks can buy the bonds and that's more buyers and more buyers you have, the lower the interest rates will be. So, they will be bank qualified. And finally, there is no arbitrage rebate considerations because you're under 15 million. So we have no tax issues. You're in a great position. Next slide.
100Next slide. This is just timeline as we talked about one to 10 weeks from start to finish. And now what's this mean for the district? How's your debt look? Where are you? And I think we had a meeting what about eight months ago? a year ago. So he said over the last 20 years, our job beyond issuing bonds for new projects is to monitor your debt to make sure that if you can lower your interest cost, we will. And we have and we did. And like Mr. earlier had said we actually probably put you guys in the best position possible because on the top part of that page you're going to see every bond issue you currently have outstanding the original P amount what you have remaining the interest rates associated with that the maturity
101of each one of those issues and most importantly is the call date because if those interest rates are higher than market what we would recommend to you is to refund that issue and lower your interest cost at the middle part of this page, we looked at all the ones that you can refund today. And even though rates are somewhat attractive today, it's still the majority of your debt is below market and it doesn't make sense to refund it. And you would actually need a major move over a percent in the full marketplace on long-term issues for you to be able to refund any of those issues. So, from an overall outstanding debt standpoint, you're in fantastic shape. At the very bottom of this, this is going to be important for how we're going to structure
102the new money. That's your payment stream. So, you're paying about two and a half million per year out to 2038. You're going to see multiple different colors in those because each one of those represents each piece of your bond issues. So, for instance, the real small piece, the gray, that's the 2019. The dark blue is the 2017. 2019's the light blue. What you can tell from that is that those payments go up and down. They don't they don't this on a standalone basis the 2019bs you might be paying 100,000 a year and in 2033 it's crunch up to 300,000 a year. So from an individual standpoint you look at and say my god this doesn't make sense. This is going to bankrupt the district. We look at you as one big house just like your
103mortgage. We don't look at the individual pieces. They all sit together for one large payment that always remains constant until it all gets paid off. So you add them all up, you're paying 2.5 million until 2038. The reason that's important because we're going to structure the new issue. We need to wrap around that. We need to take that in consideration so that we don't increase things too heavily until that debt gets paid off. That's called wraparound financing. And that's how 99% of the school districts in Pennsylvania will finance a new capital project. And that's what we're going to recommend to you as well. So here's the estimated cost and we ran three different scenarios so you can see what it would typically be in today's market. In fact, rates would be slightly lower than this
104today, but relatively wise and again we'll talk about where the market is, but we all hope that rates would actually be lower today than they currently are. We're sort of stagnant. We'll get in that a little bit, but um hopefully by May there could be some changes to help rates go down lower. Left hand side dark blue, that's your existing payment stream. So you add up all those existing pieces on the last frame on that graph, they equal 2.5 million per year until 2038 and you see a drop off. If you were to issue 6 million in the first light blue box, you can see that says EST estimated NM means new money debt service. That 6 million would cost the district once it's fully implemented roughly 300,000 to the budget. And did you build
105anything to the current? Okay. So that's in the budget you're going to hear a little bit later. That'll be in there. So 6 million cost you 300,000. That 300,000 remains payable until 2040. You'll see it's going to jump up to 1.1 million. That's not because we're trying to bankrupt the district. It's because the old debt goes away and then you start paying the new debt. And this will be a 20-year issue. So, it gets paid off in 2045. When it's all said and done, instead of budgeting 2.5 million, the new budget will be a total debt service of 2 roughly 875 for this project. If you bought an additional 2 million, just figure this just back of the envelope. You need to know every 2 million is going to cost you roughly 100,000. So the
106middle column is 400,000 for 8 million. And then the far right, light blue is 500,000 for 10 million. We're not recommending borrow 10 million. It's just always important, you know, as the district that if you wanted to borrow more money, that's sort of the increment. So if you needed to borrow 6 point or you needed to borrow 7 million instead of six because you thought geez we're going to do this one time we needed to add another 700,000 in to do XY or Z project well that 7 that extra million would cost you about 50,000. Does that make sense? >> So if I'm understanding this correctly just to make sure we're all on the same page. If we were to go with the six million, right, >> um we would be paying like 2.8 million
107on all of our debt until >> 2038. >> Yes. And it would drop it. This payment would go up, but it would essentially all drops down, right? I just wanted to make sure. >> Yeah. The reason we do that, by the way, that's a good point because we could we could button it up and shorten it and keep it at that same level. We know districts, you're always going to have a capital project. We like to recommend to you to finance your project over the useful life, whatever you're going to finance, right? Because if you do it too short, well, another this building is going to need work and all of a sudden your debt service is too high. How do you afford to do work on this project? So, we talked to Craig and
108said 20 years seems like a useful life for this project. Let's borrow this over 20 years. So then in 20 well 20 240 according to this our debt would drop from 2.8 overall to 1.1 overall. >> That's correct. >> Correct. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> So where's the market in general? We'll get back to market page very beginning. That's okay because the other thing we like to do to comp to comp complicate things is we like to put a lot of graphs together. Here's what is important on this page at the very bottom. >> This represents a 20-year borrowing. This graph at the very bottom your package or the bottom. Forget about this graph at the top. That's it. If you look at this graph at the bottom represents since 1994 where longtime interest
109rates have been. So our rate relatively in that place. We did see a drop down since they started to cut rates last year. We have been sort of stagnant in the last 6 months. Even with the interest rate cut in December, remember they're cutting a short-term rate, a 30 day rate. We're talking about a 20-year borrowing. Long-term rates have not moved in the past four months. Um we do see some political now we don't we can't we can't guesstimate on what politics are going to do to interest rates they are holding rates up whether that's geopolitical risk or internal US political risk um we are seeing from an economic standpoint CPI and PPI are both coming down that's great that's what the Fed has always told you that they want to see CPI under 3%
110close to 2% two days ago came in at 2.7 7. It's in the target range of where they want to be. So based on everything they've told us, you would expect next week, which is their next meeting, they to cut interest rates. The chance that they cut interest rates next week is 5%. Whether that's because of political or whether that's because they think that the economy is not slowing down enough, I don't know. All I can tell you is that rates are sort of been jumbled up for the last six months. And the hope would be that if you need to borrow money in the end of the first quarter that you're going to start to see this unravel a little bit and rates drop down. And that's sort of what don't listen to me.
111This is over what the talking heads are saying. They expect that we see some relief on the long-term side come the next two months. So from the standpoint of we don't ever like to tell you to time where rates will be. That's not your job. That's not our job. Our job is to get you capital when you need capital. It just so happens that it should be a little bit better than it is today. Cross our fingers for hopes. But whatever it is, it is right. It's all built into the numbers. I feel like this is a worst case scenario and hopefully when you do go to market, it'll be lower than this and the ultimate cost will go back to your budget. So with that, once you do make the decision to start running,
112the next time you'll see me is will I'll be with your bond council, Chris Brewer. And it will have a resolution that'll say in this case, if you say you want to borrow 6 million, we actually don't do a resolution for, this is where it gets kind of conflicting, confusing. We don't do a resolution for six million, we do a resolution for 7 million. One reason we do a resolution for seven nights is we have to file with the state and we don't know what the ultimate interest rate is going to be but we have to give them a schedule that the payment schedule we give them that you adopt whatever we issue will be in that schedule. So just common practice you put your borrowing amount higher but you only borrow what you want
113to borrow because you have to sign off on it. So if you only want 5.9 million million borrow 5.9 million but if you need 6.3 you borrow 6.3. So, just want to make sure that you guys are aware of that because that'll go into the paper. That'll be in a debt a debt act filing. I think the last time we did that was 2021 and it'll be for probably 7 million, but it won't you will not borrow 7 million. It'll only be what you want to borrow. >> Thank you. >> That's a lot of information in a short amount of time. I don't have any words left. >> Any questions? >> Thanks, >> Sean. Thank you. Thanks, Greg. And then the last uh presentation we have is uh Mrs. Hollers presenting us uh a budget
114update uh as we're going uh quickly into creating that budget for the 2026 2027 school year. Good evening. I'm going to try to cover all years from 24 all the way to 262.7. I'm going to give you a quick recap of 2425. Um, our audit is not 100% done yet, but she's very very close and we should have that finalized within the next month or to six weeks. Recap the 2425. Our actual revenues looked to have come in at 37 million and our actual expenditures were at 35 million. I will say we budgeted about 35 something in revenue. So we exceeded our revenue expectations and a lot of that was from delinquent tax money. That's it varies every year. Anyway, actual expenditures were basically right on what we had budgeted in expenditures, but we did
115have a net gain for 2425 of 1.3 million. So, what does that do to our fund balance? So, after June of 2024, we were looking at an overall fund balance of about 5.2 million. But what you need to pay attention to really is the unassigned balance. That unassigned balance is what we can use to help balance our budget. So after June 30th, 2024, unassigned was at 2.1 million. Go ahead, Laura. So with us having a net gain, what do we anticipate that June 30th, 2025 unassigned fund balance to be? And it does jump up by that 1.3 obviously. So, we're looking at basically $3.5 million in savings. That's a positive. But if you remember our 2526 budget, we had projected revenue at 35.5 million, but our projected expenditures were at 37.2, leaving us a deficit
116of 1.7. So, obviously, that's going to be subtracted from that savings. So, we're anticipating a fund balance after June 30th, 2026. So, after this school year, if everything would play out the way it does with our budget for 2526, we're looking at unassigned of only 1.7 million. So, going into 2627, it's going to be tight. I'll just tell you that. So, this is just a recap because I know that was a lot of information quickly. unassigned fund balance June 2024 2.1 million after a net gain through 2425 3.5 million and then if the budget plays out for this 2526 season we're looking at 1.7 so let's take a look at where we are currently these numbers are as of December 31st 2025 we had budgeted 37.2 2 million in expenditures. We are actually after the
117first half of the year 16.864 spent which is 45.2% of our budget. We're halfway through the year and we're a little less than halfway through our expenditure. So I'm feeling a little bit good there. But everything's subject to change, right? Things happen. It's fluid. On the revenue side, we budgeted 35.5. We are actually right now just under 23 million which is 64.5% of our budget at this point. The 2025 year is over. So our real estate tax has been collected. What is left over now that we would be collecting would be delinquent taxes. Taxpayers that didn't pay it on time will now go to the tax lean office and then as they pay it, we pull that in as delinquent. Okay. Last month, you heard me talk about once the state budget passed, there was
118some cyber charter reform in that bill. Um, good news here. We have at my last count 43 regular education students in a cyber charter school. Once the Pennsylvania Department of Education updated the form that we submit that helps calculate what our responsibility is per student, we are now allowed to add extra expenditures that we were not allowed to add before such as maintenance of facilities and cyber tuition chy tuition that we are already paying for for regular education students. So once I ran the formula, submitted the form to them, prior to that change, we were paying 15,278 for a regular education student in a cyber school. Now it's down to 12,525. With 43 students enrolled in cyber, we should see a savings of $118,000 for that population. And again, it's fluid because we have students
119that can come in and out of cyber all year long. On the special education side, this is a bigger um savings to the district. The prior re prior to reform, we were paying $33,000 per student that is a special education student in a cyber school. After the reform and after I completed the form, we are down to $23,600. That's a savings to the district of about 143,000 for the 15 or so students we have enrolled right now. And this is for true cyber schools. The brick and mortar schools the price is a little bit higher but we don't have too many that are in brick and mortar school if any. All right. So now I'm going to go on to 2627 projections. And let me tell you this is very very early. I have not
120given the big deep dive into anything yet. The principles and administrators are still working on calculating what their needs will be for 2627. So basically the numbers that you see tonight are going to be a 3% increase over our 2620 2526 budget. You heard Sean say that inflation right now is at 2.7%. Some things in our budget may be lower that lower than that, but some things are going to be higher than that. And I'll talk to you as I go through. So for salaries, you know, salaries and benefits are our biggest expense. So if we add 3% to last year's salary pool, we're a little under $15 million now in salary. Benefits also a big chunk of our budget. As you know, we pay right now 34% into piecers, the retirement system. That's going
121down slightly. I think it's 33.69 or something. It's going down slightly. But our increase in salaries is going to offset anything that we would have saved in piecers because now we have higher um salaries to to offset that with also in benefits is our healthcare. We have seen increases over the past couple of years. Two years ago it was 14%. Last year it was or three years ago now 14%. Two years ago 9 and last year 7 and a half. ASIC is anticipating for the 26 27 school year an increase between 8 and a half and 9 12%. In health care costs. I have included in this budget the nine and a half the highest end of that health care cost. They probably will not have a final number to us late February, early March.
122Purchase services. These are our um contracts that we have with outside vendors, any type of care that we have to bring inhouse to help our students, occupational therapy, things like that. So, traditionally, I just increased it by 3%. So, we're looking at almost 2.4 million. property services. Those are the leases, our copers, printers, things like that. About 450,000 other purchase services. This is our transportation cost, our cyber charter cost. That's one of our bigger expenses too to the district. Now, I will tell you I have not reduced this number by some of that cyber charter savings. So, that will go down a little bit. That's why I'm saying this is very, very early. So I don't want you to stress too much when you see the numbers at the end. Supplies took that up 3%.
123So we're looking at 1.7 million. Uh property. So this is anything that would be equipment, new equipment purchases or replacement purchases. I put in 180,000 there. Other objects are bond interest and uh dues and fees. And then the debt service is the bond and I do have the updated amount in this budget for a $6 million bond rate. Now on the revenue side, the first thing I wanted to start with was our local revenue. So the biggest one for local of course is our local real estate tax. I'm using our current assessed property value which is 942 million. We will not get that actual update probably until March, maybe beginning of April quarterly, they'll send it to us. Our current millage rate is 14.62. So if you take our assessed value times that 01462, that
124gives us the amount of tax revenue. This 12 million is collecting 96.5% of our tax dollars. 15. If we take it up to 15, so that would be 015, we would be collecting 12.8. And through act one, the state only allows us to increase to a certain percent. And this year for McGathi, it's 4.6%. That 4.6% would take us from 14.62 to 15.29. That's the max we could go. And that would bring us in about $13 million in tax revenue collecting 96 and a half percent. Earned income I basically kept the same as what it was last year. Um delinquent tax it's it's funny. We collected a good number for 25 26. So I'm always hesitant to keep it at that number. I look at like the three-year average. So I'm being cautious at $400,000
125interest on investments. have decreased just a tad because of the interest rates have start have started to fall. So I wanted to take that into consideration in our revenue proje projections. Um rental income is what we're making off of places like transformation learning and yeah so we're we're doing okay there and really other incomes just anything other locally donations and things like that that come into the district. Then their state revenue. These numbers I kept basically stagnant because for the past three years they have been stagnant. Uh basic education subsidy this year is 113. So I kept it there. I won't know these actual state numbers until closer to probably March. Um property tax reductions to we were at 1.424 million this year. So I kept 1.4 four million in here. I don't see it
126dropping, but the state is supposed to let us know, I think by the end of February, maybe March, what our aotment or pot of money is from the overall state property tax deduction funds. And then you can see our PCCD grants. Those are our safety and mental health grants that we've received. Ready to learn grant. That grant is paying for kindergarten stu kindergarten teachers. Um, it was a classroom reduction grant when it first became available. Social Security subsidies, we do get subsidies from the state for the amount of, you know, we pay 7.65% of everybody's salary into Social Security and Medicaid. Uh, the state does give us some subsidies for that. Same with the retirement subsidies. We do pay you 34% into Pacers, but they do give us a slight subsidy. It's not nearly enough,
127but it does help a little bit. So anticipating 19 million in state revenue and that's basically the same as this year federal revenue. This is the one that is like very very iffy right now. We're hoping our title funding remains the same which right now is $330,000. Dr. Botan went to a federal programs meeting last week I do believe and there's a lot of talk that the title two and title four are going to be completely gone. So, I removed it from the budget until I know any different. I don't want to count on that money and then it not be there at all. So, I'm just removing it right now. And I'm leaving our Title One funding, which supports our reading specialists. I'm leaving that basically the same at 330,000. The access funding is
128funding that's coming from um our cost for Medicaid eligible expenses and then we can draw down some of that money and we are drawing about $80,000 down to support a special education teacher down at Clayville. So we've seen a drop in federal funds. So if you look at the big picture of total revenue at the different millage rates 34 35.5 35.7 not good okay so what so what does that look like as a budget impact based on our expenditures so if our expenditures remain at 39 and they won't that is that is high um our revenue at 14.62 62 milled rate, we're looking at a deficit of $4 million. And then so on. Expenditure 39, revenues at a 15 mil rate, you're looking at a deficit of 3.6. And then expenditures of 39, revenue at
129the 15.29 millled rate, we are still looking at a deficit of 3.3 million. But again, don't stress yet. There's a lot of cleanup to do, right? So the fund balance, as you know, we went through that and I anticipate a fund balance of 1.7 million after June 2026. So if we ended up with a $3 million deficit, we don't even have enough in our savings to cover that. So we have to start looking at where can we reduce our costs. That's going to be the biggest driver for us because we are not in a position to have increased revenue from state funding. There's definitely no federal funding coming. So, we have to start looking at where are we going to be able to reduce some of our costs. So, next steps, I'm working with our
130principles and our department heads to look at their specific needs to get their costs solidified. I will start doing line by line reviews of expenses over the past couple of years. Um see where that has played out and look to see what obviously the inflation rate is doing and you know utility rates are going up. We are in a consortium with those. So it does help us a little bit but we will probably still see an increase in utilities. I'm waiting for the state obviously to update us on the property tax relief and also the state and federal funding amounts to come through and be solidified. And then the budget committee we meet um this is the se the first Tuesday of every month. Uh so the next one will be February 3rd at 4
131o'clock and then we will start diving deeper into the expenditures and the revenue part of the budget. Any questions? Thank you. Wilson. >> Thank you. >> Madam President, that is all I have for committee. >> All right. We will um we will meet back here at state 8:00. All right. At this time, we are going to start our regular school board meeting at I do actually. Oh, there we go. Okay. I just needed to be closer. I'm sorry. Um, all right. 8:01 and we are going to begin our regular meeting. Um, Mrs. Cyber, if you could do roll call. >> M >> here. >> Mr. Rose >> here. >> Mr. Hoover >> here. >> M >> present. >> Mr. Leer >> here. >> Mr. Martin >> here. >> Mr. >> All right. At this time,
132we are going to have our uh school district prayer here. Um, tonight's pastor is Pastor Bruce Graph from West Alexander Christian Church. Would you join me in prayer? Our heavenly father and most holy God, we ask your blessing upon the gathering of McGuffy School District board meeting here. We ask your blessing upon each and every servant. Remembered how that you, oh Lord, in your divine counsel, you exhibit to us your wisdom, understanding, and patience. Father, that's what we pray for our gathering here. We pray for each interested and very involved member of our community that's here as well for the betterment of our children that each student would be built up the edification for their very best that you desire. Father, we thank you for the freedom that we have in this country to serve
133in such a way. May we do it in a very responsible way being mindful that we are trying to follow and mimic and do the very expression of your nature and your character that others can see what you do through lives of others that are faithful to you. Thank you oh Lord for all these blessings for in Jesus name we pray. Amen. >> Amen. Thank you. All right. At this time, can we stand for the pledge of >> allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation indivisibley and justice for all. All right. At this time, I am going to announce our executive sessions. We held an executive session on It was December. I'm so sorry. That date totally escapes me. 16th. December 16th. Yep.
134And um again on the 13th of this month to discuss um personnel Do we have to announce the times for those? Okay. Yeah. Um, yeah. The >> Tuesday's was at it was 6:10 when we began and then today's was at 5. All right. Um, at this time we will have our public comment on agenda item. >> Madam President, call Vicky Jordan, Buffalo Township. >> Thank you. >> Give me one second. Let me catch my breath. >> Okay, I'm ready. I want to start off Vicky Jordan Buffalo Township. I'd like to start off by acknowledging that it's school board appreciation day before I go a little scorched earth on some of you. Um I appreciate you all but I got problems with some of you too. I want to welcome the new board members and if
135I have enough time left we can talk about uh how what I feel your responsibilities are to the public. So, I was going to start off this time by pointing out that yet again, uh, the public was being left in the dark regarding an important position being filled and that our voices were being denied yet again. But since you took ad off of the agenda, I'll save those comments for the appropriate time. Hopefully, with the creation of the personnel committee, this will never happen again. The public's voices should never be denied um by the administration or the board. Uh I'd like to call to your attention K1 on the agenda under uh superintendent. Um after some allegations that I heard uh repeatedly at the personnel and then again at the policy meeting. I don't know
136who writes the agenda, but I need to ask if this egregious error was done by design uh or error. Either way, it's unacceptable. It's an unacceptable error and is on the level of the cut and paste letter borrowed from Quaker Valley where you change the name to McGuffy everywhere but at the end of the letter. Uh, I'm sorry, but I feel we really looking incompetent as a district when these things happen. I was going to pick on Dr. Oberg about the school schedule, but I I've given up. Snow days are going to be December and February, so let's just pass. Um, I'd like to now move on to policies. I see that policy 004 is on the agenda tonight for review and it doesn't escape me that the only changes in regard to remote participation
137by board members. What this tells me is that our two previous board presidents allowed board members to participate remotely and both doing so themselves when it went against current board policy. Now, I'm sure they will try and excuse it with reasons about exceptions during CO, but these things happened well after CO and if it was going to continue, then policy 004 should have been addressed then. There's the reason I'm bringing this up is because at last month's meeting, and I'm going to be brutal, if you want to call it that, we had several board members violate some of the most important policies and laws we have in what I consider an attempt to discredit our solicitor and embarrass one of their fellow board members. There was open discussion publicly about questions asked in a private
138interview. If you want to open up interviews publicly, I'm all in. You violated executive session topics to discredit our solicitor and Mr. Legion, Mr. Leisure, for his actions during a private phone call. Statements were made as fact about a phone conversation between Leisure and the solicitor that none of you were a part of. To present them as fact is deceitful. Fingers are pointed, but you all violated policy at one time or another. We've all heard about people who live in glass houses. Maybe you should think about that next time you want to criticize your fellow board members publicly. At a previous meeting, Mrs. Jackson stated that a board member was found guilty of harassment and bullying, but didn't name this individual. At the last meeting, Mrs. Shingle alluded to an unresolved situation with a board
139member that struck a nerve hard enough for Mr. Leisure to finally speak up. So, I'm asking you, if you want to keep throwing these tidbits of information, then how about you just make it public, hash it out, and let's move on because this infighting appears to be consuming the board. My point to all of this is that this ongoing petty fighting has consumed this board for the last two years and continues to take the attention away from the enormous number of district needs and problems. You were you were all the talk of the town following last month's meeting and not in a good way. It was a great way to initiate new board members with what I considered and others did also a full-on poop show engulfed in chaos. It's an embarrassment. As a stakeholder
140that attends these meetings monthly, I'm over it. The community is over it and the staff of the district is over it. And you all need to check your personal BS at the door. stop the personal attacks dividing this board or resign. My goal is not to hurt anyone, although I'm sure I have. But this is was not our goal in 2021 when most of us came together to bring change to the board. This is not the kind of change I wanted and it's not the kind of behavior our district needs during these trying times. So either literally get on board for the betterment of the district or get off of it. Enough is enough. >> Thank you. Thank you, >> Madam President. That's all public comment. >> Thank you. >> All right. At this time,
141um, we are going to begin our monthly action, uh, action items. Um, we have the approval of the December 4th, 2025 reorganization meeting minutes. >> Second >> announcement. Okay. All right. So, we have Mr. Thomas as a first and Mr. leisure as a second. Okay. And um approval of the December 4th regular school board meeting minutes. Oh, I'm so sorry. Any discussion on that? All right. All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. Motion carries. All right. Um, approval of December 4th, 2025 regular school board meeting. >> So move second. >> All right, we have Mr. Leer with a first and a second from Mr. Thomas. Any discussion? Excuse me. All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Abstension? Motion carries. Approval of the general fund schedule of bills. >> So move. >> All
142right. We have a first by Mr. Leisure and second by Mr. Grove. Thank you. Any discussion? All those in favor? >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? Motion carries. Approval of food service schedule of bills. Second. >> All right, we have a motion by uh Mr. Gross and second by Mr. Laser. Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I opposed. Any extensions? Motion carries. Approval of treasurers reports. >> So moved. >> All right. We have the first by Mr. Laser and a second by Mr. Grove. Any discussion? Um, all those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? >> Motion carries. All right. Committee recommendations. The 2026 2027 district calendar is there for approval. >> Second. >> All right. I've got a first by Mr. Gro and a second by Mr. Laser. Any discussion? >> Yeah,
143madam president. Go ahead. >> I yield. Go ahead. >> Um, I just wanted to thank Dr. Oberg. Um, I brought something to his attention about the calendar and I think he's done a very good job of trying to correct it and work with it. Thank you. >> I just had a question a couple questions and Dr. Oberg, this is not in any way I appreciate the time. I've done a school calendar as an administrator I know the work that goes into it. But um from an educational perspective sometimes those first first week to be a full week for students can be after the summer break a challenge sometimes a shorter week to kind of get their feet wet. Um, you know, I don't know some things I would it be possible to maybe move the
144clerical day from the 21st to the 24th, have the students start the 25th and take a March 31st off as and to have the Friday through Tuesday. That's a pretty long spring break. I just was curious. >> Something I would think about it for next year. I mean, some things even from last year to this year, >> but I believe the calendar was really vetted by your teachers, your admin, myself. I feel really good about this. >> I can definitely put that down there to look at feedback about that. So, you're the first. >> Thank you. I appreciate it. >> You're welcome. >> All right. Any other discussion? Okay. All those in favor? >> I I um any opposed? Any extensions? Motion carries. Okay. E sportsou is up for approval. >> So move. >> Okay.
145I have Mr. Laser for a first and Mr. Berg for a second. Any discussion? I have I will preface this by saying I don't have a problem with esports. I think esports is a great program. It was when Mr. Headley started it I believe um it was very well received by both board I think the um students and the teachers in general. So my my questions are not because of that but I do have some questions. Um and I get that there's a grant for which we can use for the first two years of the co-sponsor stipent. Um, my questions relate more to then passing anou that then adds the co-sponsorship for that activity, that club to the teachers contract. Um, if you, you know, we've talked about this, this is no secret. I've said
146this before. I would love I to get all of the sponsorships for clubs and activities out of the teachers contract, not add more too. And no one has ever been able to answer for me in any way how it's decided which ones get added and which ones don't. For example, Gay Straight Alliance is a paid sponsorship, right? Christian Youth Fellowship is not. Several years ago, this board was asked to consider outside of the budget an additional stipend for a chorus teacher who was doing lots of extra clubs and activities, the harmonizers and and so forth. We didn't have it within our budget to do that. She ultimately left the district and took another job somewhere else. At that time the recommendation wasn't to add that sponsorship to theou and again this is not excuse me
147understand this is not an esports I you heard me I think it'll grow leaps and bounds I just I have a a real tough time understanding how we decide which ones to add which ones don't get added and frankly looking at the the straits that we're in maybe It's time to consider whether we should ask for volunteers for all of them. >> Um, I've been trying to get them out of the teachers contract for years. That and the coaches. I don't understand why they're in the teachers contract. Um, so I don't anybody else have anything to say, but those are my concerns. if I recall, didn't I don't I can't remember if it was last year or the year before, but there was um from the Gay Straight Alliance, she was a former sponsor and
148she mentioned about her stipen and she talked about donating it or deferring it and so I have to wonder if there are other sponsors that are doing the same. And my understanding with that was that we paid it to her and then she >> we had to pay it to her first. Yeah. Before then she could do something with it. >> Correct. But nonetheless, >> yeah, she paid it forward. >> Yeah, I see what you're saying. >> So, >> I will remind the board that the MEA, the McGuffy Education Association contract expires in June 30th, 2027. >> So, we we will be starting those conversations conversations next year. we will have a committee created for that uh negotiation. >> Um to piggy back off of Mrs. Jackson, I've also had concerns about I don't understand
149why some are paid and one are vol some are volunteer in general. Um it doesn't seem right to me either we pay for all of them or we they're all volunteer um or remove them all from the contract in general. Um but I I share those concerns. I have for a very long time. So, I appreciate you bringing them up. Um, >> and as Mrs. Shingle has pointed out, the contract is >> if the those clubs and activities run, then these are the sponsorships and stuff. Nobody wants to see us cut >> those activities. They're not important to the student body. So, please understand this is not about the activities. This is not about >> um taking away from opportunities for our students. But when you look at the the financial condition that we're in
150moving forward, maybe we should agree to, you know, we have a grant that covers these two co-sponsorships for the next two years and then we look at beyond that at that time after those two years >> that all being yes this is to allow for and previously the esports was actually volunteered and an individual who volunteered for that time when he left then it left us there. So what we're asking here is anou to allow phase two to be co-sponsors and for again the grant to pay for that co-sponsorship for the remainder of this year and all of 2026 2027 which would then lead us into the discussions that Charlotte said. Uh what your question is is a contractual thing. >> Yes, theou I just pulled it up just to double check. Uh theou says
151that it's only for one school year. So it's from August 2025 through June 2026. So we're expiring theou according to these terms this summer. Um oh I I did not write theou but um I will say those are the terms. So then when it expires, what what would be the next step? >> We typically do it year to year. >> So the goal would be to do anou specifically to pay the these two as co co-sponsors for this activity using grant funds. Is that correct? >> That is correct. >> And this in no way, shape or form adds these two sponsorships to the list of sponsorships in the MEA contract. would be what again we would have to talk about. >> I just want to be clear >> in the meantime maybe we can before
152we get to negotiations get an answer to how we decide which ones to change. >> So I guess my I'm sorry are you okay? Um my question would >> Oh I'm sorry. Go ahead. >> Oh thank you. um under under purpose where it states like the intentions of what this is for. It does state this MOU is intended to facilitate the goal of both the district and the association of expanding by the end of 2627 school year into the fully sanctioned athletic teams. I'm sorry I misread that. I was thinking it was stating the goal was to be part of the contract in the future. >> That tie up for me is that first paragraph, Mrs. Fry. >> Yeah. the memorandum of understanding entered into between McGuffy School District and McGuffy Education Association. If this
153is merely anou to pay them a co-sponsorship under the grant and not add them to give them protection quote to for legal terms under the contract. Why does MEA have to be involved? Well, this thisou does in fact amend the collective bargaining agreement. >> Exactly. That's what I thought. >> Yeah, it it would add this into the collective bargain agreement for this school year. >> Is there a way to pay them without doing that? Well, so what what you're doing is you're actually stating through thisou that you recognize that there's going to be sponsors for this group, in this case esports, and then that allows for us then through the grant pay them to be the co-sponsors. >> It it and again as this says there's no cost to the district. The money for this
154for this year, remainder of this year will come from that grant and when it come back to us again next year with the MLOU, it'll be for that year. pass that then it would have to be something that has >> and I understand that and my concern is that by doing it this way we then give this this sponsorship not the people who are fulfilling the sponsorship but this sponsorship we're giving them standing to then be included in the contract when we go to renegotiate it >> right because we've already protected them under standing. >> I don't if I understand what you're asking. >> Yeah. >> Does by bringing to this for the remainder of this year, does it give them standing then to go into effective? >> Correct. >> So I I I'll answer
155that in one way but I'll let the legal I mean again the goal yes absolutely is for this to be a long term here right like what was presented today what we had just two years ago was a way to engage students and I'll I'll argue on that side every day all day. This was something a program within our school that we had students that didn't so you know associate to another club or sports program and they gravitated toward this was awesome. So my goal would be for this to be long term but again I know we're talking about the here and now. So from a legal standpoint the question is does this create presence for lawyers? So, I'm looking at the terms that I'm going to say yes, it does cuz there's no clause
156in here that says it wouldn't. So, and it it indicates in here that the goal is to have a, you know, fully sanctioned team by the end of 26 and 27. >> So, and again, please understand, yeah, this is not I want esports. I think it's a great program. I want sponsorships if we need them. But for where we are right now, is there another way to do this without creating anou to the teachers contract? Could we not just say as a board make a motion as a board to pay these two co-sponsorships for the next two years via the or through the grant? Well, we I mean >> what >> we have to talk to >> Well, and keep in mind it's a money issue, so we couldn't do it tonight. >> Yeah, it's
157a money issue. We have to talk to the NEA. Um, and >> I'm guess I'm I'm not understanding why we have to talk to the MEA because these sponsorships are not current currently part of the contracts. >> But but these types of clubs and are part of their collective bargaining agreement. That's why I just >> Yes, that's correct. you know, and um and >> and this was something again, >> this was something that we agreed to in 2022 for this. We we agreed to it as a club. >> And at the time when we agreed to it, we also agreed to that the sponsor in this case >> was going to do it as for free, right? So, it was going to donate their time. The change now is that moving forward, we're asking for
158this to be sponsored uh next few years again through the the grant. that's there and then after that yes we are asking for that to be part of if that's still >> I'm going to let Mr. laser answer ask his question then I have another >> um the question I have is a couple things if we're going to be paying if we're going to be creating positions and paying people even though they're grants we better do it through anou because we'll get grievances coming out everywhere that's my opinion secondly if you look at theou the way it's written I would actually recommend that I would rephrase my motion to say that it should go till 2 years to the end of June 2027 because you're getting a grant for two years. So we've already 50%
159of this we're approving >> already that's already been gone. So, we're going to go through this same thing in six months basically, right? I mean, I would say that maybe we >> come to a conclusion of >> if you look under the terms, it says the terms of thisou shall be one school year August 2025 through June 2026. Thisou shall expire on June 30th, 2026 and shall be of no force or effect on or after that date. That's from the actual wording of theou not from the minutes or the agenda. >> Yeah, >> correct. Because if you look at under under 2B, >> I think we have a >> under 2B, it reads, thisou is intended to facilitate the goal, >> facilitate the goal >> of both the district and the association of expanding by
160the end of the 2627 school year, the McGuffy Esports Club into a fully sanctioned athletic team. So we're saying that's a goal. Yes, we're I understand that down below it says this or up above wherever it is up above it says the term is for this school year but the next section gives them standing to then be added to the teachers contract going down the road and that's er again my concerns are about esports but if we're going to create anou and mleasleasure I'm not saying that you're wrong that if we're going to create a position and pay it we it should go that way I Maybe that's true. But if we're going to do that for these two, why didn't we do that for the coral teacher? Why haven't we done that for Christian
161youth fellowship? Why haven't we done that for whatever other volunteers that are out there? Like, how do we how do we choose? I I've never understood that. Why are some paid? Why are some not? I may have an answer for you. >> I have one, too. Um the language states that if any of their time is outside of their regular work day, they get the stipen. >> So the coral teacher, her work with the ensembles was outside of the regular workday. >> Right. Correct. >> So I again I just there's like a lot of it doesn't it's never made sense to me. I think we play fast and loose with the description in the contract and I'm very concerned about passing anou to the teachers contract which is going to be renegotiated in 27. Um
162that gives standing to add more money. Look at where we are with the deficit. Maybe there's another way to do this. >> I'm I can just I'm not historically familiar with how it's been done with the other groups here yet. Um so I'm could definitely meet with Dr. Oberg and Charlene and everyone and we sit down and try to figure that out and answer that question. We'll probably I can't answer it tonight because I'm not familiar. But >> and to Mr. Leisure's point, we can't we can't make an a an amendment to the motion to lengthen it because it involves money, >> right? Yeah. >> So, I think I'm going to make a motion to table it pending further review. >> Before we do that, can I >> speak or not? Or >> there's a
163motion to table. Once there's a motion to table, if there's a first and second, there's no more discussion. And have we had the first and second? >> Well, I made the motion. You said that's your first. >> Well, technically that's not the way that works. >> Parliamentary procedure. >> Not really. >> He did have his arm up in front before the disruption. Would anyone permit him to say, >> "Okay, I'll withdraw my my table. My votes and then roll." >> All right. Uh my question would be Mrs. Jackson, do you have any way that we could rewrite thisou to satisfy what you're stating or are you stating shouldn't have theou all together? I'm I'm not sure. I'm more than willing to accept whatever language you have to add to to keep from having standard or
164whatever if that's the issue. >> I don't believe. You're saying that you don't want one all together either. I'm I'm just trying to understand. >> I don't believe there is a way to reward it that doesn't give them standing. >> There's not a 100% full. >> There's not. >> I could put right here. >> That's not going to be and we'll end up with grievances filed and everything else. again. So, and I understand where you're coming from as far as this setting for future, >> but if everyone here is agreeing um with the fact that this is a program that should have legs here at the right and and we've seen past success from it. We have two individuals that have come tonight that said they're they're all in. We have some money set aside
165two years ago that not only will pay for the next two years but also for the equipment. A lot of it up front. That's what I'm asking to vote on is and I understand there's maybe nothing to be a process. Let's focus just on the fact that you believe that esports is going to be something that's longstanding. If so, I'm going to ask you to approve the US as is. we can have a discussion about this is great longstanding moving into the next contract. So that's why what we're presenting to you is the next two years grant funded with the idea that we're not saying this program could die off if they reside within I'm just saying next >> and I can appreciate that Dr. Oberg. I truly do and I think I would have
166no problem if you were asking us to approve them picking up where Mr. Hegley left off and continuing the program. Not a problem with that. The board's already approved esports as a club, right? So, I don't have a problem with that. I do I really have some concerns about thisou and I I just I do I I they just seem so gungho on getting started and it's un I just I don't want to see things delayed because we're having trouble with some wording in anou and I see I see your point. I understand with the budget and deficit and everything, but we're to take away from a group of kids and delay them because we're worried about a contract that's going to be up in 2027, whether it has standing or not. That's something that
167we're going to bring to the table. I'm sure at some point it's going to come up clubs and whether they stay or they don't. So, >> I would like to not see it be delayed. By that point, the sponsorship would already have legal standing to be included in the contract >> if we do. And again, I think we could we have we as a board have already in the past approved esports, >> right? This is specifically about paying them a sponsorship. All I'm asking for is a little bit more time to really research how that is done. When you look at the budget that was given to us, I don't We as a board made a decision not to fill some administrative positions not too long ago because of money. And yet we're sitting here
168adding to money to the teachers contract. And again, I get it for kids. I fully support that. if they want to run with it a as volunteers until we make another decision until we figure this out next month by next month great esports already been approved by the board. So here would be my question is if it's expiring in June of of this year any or yes June of this year yes the no no theou theou from August 2025 through June of 2026 what would what would the board can think of if we approved this one and we hash this out before June when it comes up again. My problem is the wording. If you're looking at this from a legal perspective, if we pass this one, it gives them legal standing to then file
169grievance if we don't pass the next one. >> So, was it in the last one we approved? >> We didn't approve anou for esports because it was a volunteer position, not a sponsor, a paid sponsorship. Do >> you see what I'm saying? I remember approving the esports. I was thinking there was an MOU along with it last night. >> There was not. And and what we're doing is if you look at the language, the memorandum of understanding entered into between McGuffy School District and McGuffy Education Association, PSA, NEA, right? We've now we've joined them. >> Okay. And then you go down to under section two purpose. Thisou is intended to facilitate the goal of both the district and the association expanding by the end of the 2026 27th school year the McGathi esports club into
170a fully sanctioned athletic team. Right. recognized by McDuffy School District included amongst coaches salaries at a rate to be mutually determined by the MEA in the district and governed by Pennsylvania Intercolastic Esports Association. >> Right. So, we're already saying we would >> and if we pass this one, then it gives them room if we to file grievance if we don't pass the next one. >> Yeah. >> And I'm not saying we wouldn't ultimately get there. Maybe we would. I don't know. >> I just I'm concerned about the legal precedent itself. >> Yeah, I understand that. >> They'll still get it though. >> I'll go ahead. >> The coaches are >> Yes, >> the coaches pays are. Yes. I've said this before. I don't understand why the coaches salaries are part of the teachers contract, but
171it is. If I had to guess, I'd say historically most coaches were teachers. >> Well, if we're going to split hairs, then why are they sponsors and not coaches? >> Well, because they're not an official team yet. >> The ball is for them. >> Not yet, but they're going to be coaches eventually. >> Well, and that's what this is saying. If you look at this, this is saying we're going to go ahead and approve them to be part of the section of >> paid sponsorships for clubs with the intended goal that this facilitates them to then move to paid coach salaries. >> Okay. But so that's where we're moving is to be coaches. >> I'm saying yes, I agree with that. >> Yeah, but they don't have a team yet, so they can't be coaches
172yet. So, you're you're pointing out that it would be a temporary fix on the budget because if they're going to ultimately be coaches anyways, then we're squabbling. >> Well, not we don't know that because the TV contract is going to be renegotiated before that. >> We don't know that. But I'm I'm the whole thing like we're trying to predict and we don't know and right now in this moment we have to make a decision as to what is best for our kids. >> The kids that is that is what I am getting getting at and hearing from Dr. Oberg and hearing from both of those teachers, they are enthusiastic and if we delay this any further, it's going to just defeat them. And >> well, with all due respect, I'm 100% for the kids, too.
173But this board also has a fiduciary responsibility. >> I I don't disagree with that. But >> Madame President, if I >> understood the two that presented earlier, this was their intention and they clearly stated it in their presentation. And that's why I assumed we was going to move forward and approve this. Um, and that's why there's a motion and a second. Um, I think it's the right thing to do. I think it's the right direction to go based on their presentation. I know it's going to cost money. Everything's going to cost money. Um, but it's about the students being able to that what really struck a chord with me was it was about students that don't engage in other things >> that this lets them engage in. And I think that's very very very important
174because not everybody fits into sports, the band, theater, whatever you want to call it. This gives a more of an opportunity for our students to build self-esteem and to learn in a way that is productive for their success in the future. I personally think even though it's going to cost us money, we need to do it. That's my two cents. >> I would just respectfully say to that that again I don't have a problem with the program and again the board has already approved the program. Anybody could volunteer to lead that program until the board has more time to look at this. >> Right. So with that said, I make a motion to table it pending further review. >> Correct. up until we approve something. >> No, they can use the grant towards equipment. >>
175So, the grant would still be used. There just wouldn't be the precedent of entering them into >> I and especially when you consider I wait forget that I made a motion. Is anybody seconding the motion? >> Okay, so it's a motion to table. >> We haven't had a second that I'm aware of. Is there a second? >> I made a quandry because I'd like to get rid of everybody getting paid for this. >> There's a motion. >> Well, I mean that's >> the table. >> Madame President, you have a motion that has failed for a second. >> I know. >> And we have a motion on the table that has a first and a second. and we've been discussing. >> Well, the other thing to keep in mind if you go back to your definition,
176they said it's the club they would be meeting when >> we have a motion. >> Do you want to withdraw your motion to table again? >> Well, it died. There wasn't a second. >> Okay. I didn't know if there was time. >> No, not I was just making sure. >> Just to be clear, if we go by the definition in the contract, right, meeting outside of the school day, when did they say they'd be meeting? Highlander period in school and out most of their events that they participate in the schools outside the school there will be time that we'll designate like we did before learning period period some students are involved else come down so it's going to be a combination of the students um but I >> yeah I I can't predict I mean
177I know we're saying oh it's definitely going to be the I can't predict right? And we're going to bargain the contract and and things terms change on the contract, but I can't predict with certainty that this is in the 2027 contract. If not in the 2027 contract, um it just my understanding at least for the next two years, we're covered with grants or a donation for this. Um you know, there was talk of booster. So hopefully this is something that could grow and be covered. I don't know. >> Can't predict. >> So, where we're at now is >> Mr. B. >> Oh, I'm so sorry. Go ahead. >> So, if they do work outside of work, but if they they can't volunteer based on the definition because they would have to be paid outside a
178club can't start without being paid based on >> Mr. Hegley did it as a volunteer. based on the contract >> only if it's part of the NDA contract. It's not currently right now >> once once it's in there then those rules would appreciate it sounds to me where we're at is they are still going to be paid. There's still money there. It's just not setting a precedence to add them into a contract. Is that the correct >> understanding? It'll >> So, what I'm saying, if we were not to approve this or table it or whatever we do with it this evening and we don't approve it this evening, there's there's still money there. They can still be paid because there's a grant. Correct. >> There's a grant. Yes, it is. Correct. >> And we've already
179accepted the grant. So there's nothing how that's to spend >> pay them out of that grant. >> Yeah, you can spend the grant money however you want. >> Approved by the board for that purpose. >> Correct. >> We have to look at that to make sure it states that they can be paid from when we approved it or what? >> Well, no. Would that standard for any grant? >> Well, why bring anou forth if we don't want it? >> They want it. >> There we go. >> Right. >> So that I that but it's So it's not that they're it's not that they're going to be theou will be delayed but the sport itself won't be delayed currently >> the club itself >> the the club itself >> and they could be paid from the
180grant >> are so we're certain they could be paid if this was voted down tonight >> I don't I don't think so >> Mrs. Popper Chuck >> I don't know what the grant is the grant. Yes. For any purpose. >> Yeah. The grant was from one of our natural gas companies. I just say it was range range resources and that money was meant for purchasing of equipment for sponsors >> for esports. >> And so how that is spent is is up the >> correct. >> Okay. and Charlene saying there's no restrictions. >> I don't necessarily see a problem with the EO EOU theou in regards to tableabling it. Me personally, because they're not losing any funding, it gives us time to go to the drawing table and look at it and and make a decision
181at another time without rushing into it. Um, and I mean I'm just I'm just saying I don't see a problem with I don't think we're delaying esports. We're just delaying them entering into a >> a binding contract >> that as long as they can get started. Yeah, that's that's because that's why I want clarification too because I would also like them. I'm not necessarily esports kind of person, but >> for those >> for the kids, right? Exactly. I think it's still something that that is >> So then are you making a motion to table or >> um we've received the grant. The grant was specified for these two individuals salary. I have no idea how we received that grant, but I assume >> No, that's not correct. >> them or somebody else >> that was
182that's not correct. >> Um went out and tried to apply for the grant and got the grant. Somehow we got a grant. Somebody had to do something to get the grant. Period. >> Mr. We have a company willing to voluntarily donate money to us and we're here squawking whether we want to accept it or pay these people or move on. >> Please let me finish. Please let me finish. I don't think you can create a position and pay them without anou. The the money is designated for them to do that. And if that's what it's designated for, we have to create the position for them to do that so they can get the money. >> Is that not right or I mean that's the way I understand it. money was >> I mean I guess
183we got to look at the grant. It's very confusing. >> I don't have the answer. >> I I will make a motion. Is everybody else >> Okay. I will make a motion to table. >> I will second that >> so that we can have further discussion on it. Right. >> Roll call. All right, >> Mr. Hoover. >> Yes. >> I want to clearly say I have no problem with each of course getting started. My problem is theou. So yes, I'm going to table I want to vote to table. No, I think it takes the wind out of the sales of a couple of our employees. >> No. >> Mingle. >> Yes. >> Mr. Palmer. >> Yes. >> All right. Motion passes. Okay. Superintendent report memorandum of understanding with local law enforcement agencies. Second. Let's see.
184All right. We have a first a motion by Mr. Bergall and a second by Mrs. Barnick. >> Any law enforcement? >> This is Green County. >> This is for Green Washington Regional Police Department. The LA was it last month that it was? >> We did the other one. >> Yes, there were two of them in the other one. And then um I don't remember I think we're still not done with vonable correct >> this was additional this was additional that was not on the original share way which we're going to share resources between the deputy police and the so chief went out the additional understanding >> which interestingly enough I don't think they're going to renew their contract with Morris Township. So, I don't know where else they might be. Is that what you were
185going to say? >> Pretty much. I don't think anybody knowed they existed actually to reach out to get anou >> and now they exist. We're going to get an MOU, but it sounds like we they may not be in at least one of our districts. They've already decided not to have them. So, >> yeah, they're they're I I can't remember. They're It's free. It's I don't remember the three >> contract in Morris Township expires in February. I don't know what's out said I don't think we're hurting anything to pass anou with them. Oh, I'm not saying that at all enough that we just did this and we wanted them to come you know we wanted thisou and then in between then and now >> we find out they don't want to renew. >> Um okay
186any further discussion? >> All those in favor? I >> opposed. Extension. Motion carries. PHS care center letter of agreement. >> Um, sorry, I I forgot I not reading the recommended action. I'm sorry guys. I just realized that. Uh, so motion by Mr. Grove. >> Second. >> Okay. Second by Mr. Leer. Should we put forth the request of this? >> Um, this is agreement we have yearly. Uh, both the SHs care center and the SDH behaviors uh provide services whenever a student goes through our staff services. Uh, parents are notified if parents want to continue with that. Uh then this organization uh the southwestern Pennsylvania services provide services everything from child care, family support services. In our case, we have a schoolbased therapist on site um that for those families that have agreed to it for
187their child, we actually have a therapist here. >> Talk a lot about referrals, >> I guess. So you're already working with that counsel when the neighbor is part of these services. >> So um if a child is say a child who we believe is having an issue with addiction, we first reach out to the family ask they would like for us to link them to services provided through SPHS. Parent agrees agreement is the line for students. >> It runs through the student assistance program. Referrals to the student assistance program can be made by a teacher. Student can self-reer, parent can refer. Um, and then once they've been referred to student assistance, there are other things that student assistant covers. This is one. It could then refer to this. It's >> a long place. We have
188a bed we don't >> I guess this isn't really it's not really going to change my mind one way or another. I'm just curious is there ever feedback about this agency and the services they provide? Are there other agencies that provide those services that I'm just curious on that level of are we are we getting >> Yeah. >> Are families happy with their services? >> I have never surveyed um the families, but they provide a vital service that doesn't exist in most places. >> This is sort of that wraparound idea. I mean I figured they might be asked questions. I mean they provide everything I think child care substance abuse treatment homeless assistance home health care nutrition services support services and then uh you know for this case for the center um the care center
189they provide the mental health addiction support and crisis intervention. So crisis is one of the big things you get out of this particular one but the next one you're going to vote on is that the schoolbased therapist behavioral health. Yeah, >> it's difficult to find one company that can provide that many resour >> and that's why and especially in >> in southwestern PA very hard. There are very very few which is why most of the time when you find them they are more regionally based than just central. >> Right. I I know I see them everywhere. I was just curious because the people's district, so I figured I'd ask. Um, okay, that was all I had. All right, so we had a first and a second. Um, any other discussion? All right, all those in
190favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? Motion carries. Um, this is another one only. behavioral health SPHs behavioral health letter of agreement which um well we'll go ahead school based therapist for us to sponsor. >> Yes. >> So moved. So the only difference is this is more for the school-based therapists here within the building and the one above that is the agreement that that individual those are the service that individual will offer the district will refer >> I guess. Yeah. Yeah. So the first one is that we are agreeing no cost to the district that during services provided for our families with the umbrellas of mental health um >> outside of the school. outside of school. >> Yes. working through our staff program like four alarms and we we find this student actually benefit
191from a school based therapist and so that's what this is for therapist to provide a space for them here and they meet on a regular basis with based >> yes >> for oh for this one okay thank you I'm sorry I forgot to Um, okay. So, this is >> real quick. So, is there any cost to the district for the probate therapist? >> No. >> I'm sorry. I might have missed it. I apologize. no cost to the district. Okay. I was trying to figure out if you know if a student was identified and went to this schoolbased service that there would be a cost that occurred but okay. Thank you. >> All right. Any other discussion? Okay. All those in favor? >> I opposed abstension. Motion carries. Okay. Application for homebound instruction. Approve the application
192for homebound instruction for student B, grade 12 for medical reasons. >> So move. >> Second. >> All right. Any discussion? >> Not much we can discuss there. >> Not much. Um, all those in favor? >> I opposed. Motion carries. Um, kids of steel. uh approve kids this seal as a school activity at Clayville Elementary for the 2025 2026 school year at no cost to the district. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All right. We have Mr. Leer. You said you're the second. I heard you. Okay. I was going to say I thought I thought I heard you first. >> All right. Thank you. All right. Um any discussion on that? I think it's a great program. Um, >> It always is. It It's >> appreciate Kelly uh Ruffus >> Katrus and the Clayville kids school
193for kids with school committee because they do this every year and at no cost to the district. We appreciate that. >> Was it around as long as the Girls on the Run or was Girls on the Run kind of the start of a program like that? I know that one to go back and look, but >> I know >> you can't remember. >> That was awesome. That was awesome. >> And I love that there's one that's not just All right. Any other um discussion? >> All right. All those in favor? >> I opposed motion carries. Kids of steel transportation grant um accept the kids of steel grant of $1,250. Oh, I missed that period, too. >> Permagi school district policy number 702, gift, grants, and donations. >> So move. >> Second. Although I would gladly
194for 1.25 million. >> Yes. >> Cover it for a long time, right? >> All right. So, we have a first and a second. Any um discussion? >> All right. Um all those in favor? I >> I any abstensions? Any opposed? Motion carries. Middle school girls on the run. Um >> there it is. >> Yeah, there it is. Approve girls on the run as a school activity at Adopted Middle School for the 2025 2026 school year at no cost to the district. >> Um I I heard Mr. Leer first and then um did I hear Seth second? Okay. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. >> Doesn't matter. >> It truly doesn't matter. Somebody seconded this. >> All right. Thank you. Okay. Any discussion on that? I'll just say again, it's a great program. They both
195are, and I appreciate them being here. >> And who they uh that's Aaron Lambi. Worked with several staff members and parent volunteers. Thank you to all of them. >> Yep. Absolutely. All right. All those in favor. >> Any opposed? Any extensions? Motion carries. NJHS fundraiser approved the snowball dance fundraiser to be held on Friday, February 20th from the 26th in the middle school gym. >> So move. >> Second. >> All right. Any discussion? >> All right. All those in favor? I. Any opposed? >> Any extensions? Motion carries. Middle school fundraiser. Approve the spring sling dance fundraiser to be held on Friday, April 10th, 2026 in the middle school gym. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All right. Got a first on Zony, second from Ken Lasure, and um any discussion? All those in favor? I
196opposed. Any extensions? Motion carries. Let me make sure I'm not missing. There it is. Okay. Winter guard competition. Approve Mrs. Christina Gho. Guho or Gho to Chaffer members of the McGuffy High School Winter Guard to the Atlantic Atlantic Coast Winter Guard Championships in Wildwood, New Jersey, April 29th through May 3rd of 2026. So move >> second. >> All right. First and then second. First by Chen, second by Zony. Um any discussion? All those in favor? >> I I Any opposed? Sensions. Motion carries. All right. Personnel committee report. >> Yes. Um, Madame President, we talked last month and we created two new committees and uh, one of those being personnel. Um, we met last Thursday, January 8th for our first committee meeting, which I must say I'm excited. I think committees are my jam. I >>
197poly not policy. Yeah, I Dr. Gotchin kind of got me on the committee bandwagon. So, I'm I'm excited for this one. Um, especially because we we met and we talked about kind of like what our expectations are going to be for the the committee and that is to improve um and stream by streamlining our hiring process. Um, everything's related to personnel decisions as in hiring will be brought to the committee first. Our goal is to hold the personnel committee after a final round interviews have occurred so that the committee can discuss candidates and make recommendations to the board in a timely manner and then that'll be of course prior to executive session and board meeting. So streamlining is key. Um community members, we did have a community member because we did publicize the committee um
198because we did discuss policy. I thought that it would be an opportunity, well really when Mrs. Cybert and Dr. Oberg looked at all of the policies that are connected to hiring, there are 67 policies related to personnel. >> So my intention for that was to understand like learn the process of how we hire and our policies behind it. And so then we realized it might help the policy committee to first review the policies that are connected to personnel in the personnel committee. Um it's just it became a little bit of a conundrum with how the public can attend because then we discuss privileged information and so then we have to excuse the public and so um we kind of ended ended there. I guess I >> Yeah, >> we were going to reach out. Well,
199we were going to talk about how we were going to move forward with whether the committee was going to be public or not, but that's kind of a stay tuned. So, for now, we're meeting the second Thursday of the month at 4:30. >> Thank you. Okay. All right. retirement um accept with regret the letter of intent to retire from Mr. Mark bonus secondary principles uh for grades 6 through 12 effective June 30th, 2026 and authorize the administration to post and advertise if necessary for the position. >> Second. >> All right. I I have discussion on it only because um the the blurb in this is to authorize the administration to post and advertise if necessary for the position. I'm not saying it wouldn't be necessary, but we just talked about the personnel committee. Does that
200need to be worded differently to match what the goal is of the personnel committee? >> Well, no. I I don't think so because ultimately the administration is the one who makes a recommendation as to whether we need to fill a position. Now you could take that to the personnel committee but ultimately that the recommendation comes from the administration. >> Okay. I'm I'm getting the time. I'm putting it out playing it out now. So with a retirement, you would look to fill the position, you would have your candidates. Those would then go through their first and second round interviews, then go through personnel, then come I'm just playing it out here. >> Well, you can make sense of it. >> Sure. Probably go we have a discussion in personnel first about what it looks like. Remember,
201he is our lead principal for 6 to 12. Yes. Brand new district. >> Right. Right. So then the discussion would have to be had about the structure moving forward having lost your senior administrator and you have two associates. So that will be discussion probably first direction we want to go in as far as the structure for the high school middle school. Once that is understood then we go through first, second and third. If I understand correctly we're saying final round and then we do the final round before the uh personnel committee meets. person that committee gives, you know, understanding recommendations to the board based on that and then before that happened before the board meeting. >> I'm sorry, I thought I misunderstood. I thought you were asking in general moving forward for not just particularly
202this one, but not necessarily retirements or you know it's whenever there's a vac a vacancy of whatever reasoning. Yeah, >> that that was the general >> there around >> with the personnel committee then you would look and there's business and then you would look to ultimately fill that position. I'm just like I said >> but if we don't but I'm looking at timeline so board meets once a month right so if we don't for example >> this is worded differently but if that were not included and then the personnel committee meets has that discussion and they want to put out advertisements they now have to wait till the next month's meeting. >> Yes. So I I think the goal was to go ahead and give them permission to advertise to post and advertise if necessary
203so that when they meet whatever if the decision is made to move forward then they can instead of having to tie them up for a whole another month. >> That makes sense. That's what I was trying to to play it out because the the personnel committee is so new and this is the first vacancy since then. So that makes sense to me. >> Okay. >> And we're work in progress. >> Yes. Well, again, that's why I was asking. I figured >> I will just take a moment to say that I this district will sorely miss Mr. Bonus and all of the hats he wears and all of the the things he does on a daily basis. All right. Um I didn't write down my first and second. Okay. Okay. Thank you. All right. Thank you.
204And um Okay. So, we have a first and a second. Any other discussion? All those in favor? >> I oppose. Abstension. Motion. >> Okay. So, Okay. All right. Custodian position. Hire Tyler Douglas as a custodian. Subject to assignment. Current assignment is the high school from 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Per the terms and conditions of the current collective bargaining agreement between McGuffy School District and McGuffy custodial food service transportation and pending receipt of all required clearances, medical exams and act 168 verification. >> So move. >> Thank you. Any discussion? All right. All those in favor. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? Motion carries. All right. Resignation. Accept this the letter of resignation for Gina Williamson, school nurse, letter dated December 16th of 2025 and authorize the administration to post and advertise if necessary for the position.
205>> Second. >> All right. Thank you. First by Mr. Leer. Second by Mrs. Jackson. Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? Motion carries. Um, school nurse hire Caitlyn Bradley as school nurse as at Bachelor. Step one, subject to assignment. Current assignment, McGuffy Middle School. Middle school, high school. Is that what it should say? Okay. All right. and per the terms and conditions of the current math education association agreement and pending receipt of all required clearances act 168 verification and medical exam >> so moved >> second thank you first by Mr. Laser second by Mrs. Jackson. All those any discussion? All those in favor? >> I opposed any extensions. All right. So, Caitlyn Bradley, she's joining McGuffy School District as our new school nurse at the middle school high school.
206She earned her bachelor's of science and nursing from West Liberty and has spent the past eight years providing advanced critical care at UPMC medical facilities. Uh most recently, she served as a charged nurse in the critical care unit at UPMC Washington. Already familiar with our McGuffy community, Katie has served as a substitute nurse at Claville Elementary and also has attended some field trips for us. Um she's a Clayville resident and is eager to transition her clinical experience to serve our families and students here at McCuffy. Thank you. I appreciate the opportunity and I'm excited to be here. >> Thank you. >> All right. Substitute nurse. Approve Gino Williamson as a substitute nurse for the 2025 2026 school year. >> Move. Second. >> All right. We have a first by Mrs. Jackson, a second by Mr.
207Malaysia. Any um discussion? All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Any extensions? Motion carries. Building substitute approve Brad Kim as the building substitute teacher for the remainder of the 2025 2026 school year pursuant to terms of the current collective bargaining agreements. >> So moved. >> All right. We have a motion by Mr. Leer and a second by Mr. Rose. Any discussion? All those in favor? >> I um I'm sorry. Any opposed? >> Any obstensions? Motion carries. Change of job status for assistant rifle coach. Approve the job status change for Mr. Howard Ashbrook from paid assistant rifle coach to volunteer assistant rifle coach as per the current NEA agreement >> move. >> Okay. First by Mrs. Jackson, second by Mr. Thomas. Any discussion? >> I would just like to thank Mr. Ashbrook for
208all his hard work in this area. I think he's been there ever since I started on the board. I mean >> longer than that. probably since people been in school. Yeah. >> But thank you, Mr. Ashbrook. It's greatly appreciated. >> Yeah, >> we've had a lot of state champions. >> And we've had a lot of scholarship students from this team. >> Probably shouldn't age myself, but he was my coach. >> I was just going to age by saying when I was in high school, she was coaching. Okay. Well, All right. Okay. Any other discussion? Okay. All those in favor? >> Any opposed? Any extension? Motion carries. Additional drivers GGNC. Approve. Joseph Bundash, Cody Henrik, Van Aid, and Carrie Mccl Mlen as drivers for GGNC for the 2025 2026 school year pending receipt of all required
209clearances as suggested. >> All right, thank you. First by Mr. Thomas, second by Mr. Bro. Okay, any uh discussion? All those in favor? I I Any opposed? Any abstented? >> Motion carries. Did I get it wrong with you? >> Okay. All right. Approved esports sponsors for 2025 2026 school year. Approve Benjamin Gil and Walter Makowski teachers as esports sponsors for the 2025 2026 school year at the rate outlined in the 2025 2026 esportsou between McGuffy School District and the McGuffy Education Association. I will motion. Well, I was gonna Well, we have to We can't discuss until it's got a motion until it's a first and a second. >> Okay. >> All right. Discussion. I was about to make an amendment to the motion, but I don't know if I can because it involves money. So
210my my idea was to amend it to approve them as esports sponsors for the 2025 2026 school year. Period. Because we've already determined that the grant could be used to cover that and the board doesn't need to vote on that because the board had already accepted the grant. And how you disperse the grant is up to you. But I wasn't sure because there's no money. Am I still able? >> There's no money now. >> So I'm able to make that amendment. >> Yeah, >> there's no money. There's no cost. >> I just wanted to be sure before I did it. So I make a motion to amend the motion to be approved Benjamin Gil and Walter Machowski teachers as esports sponsors for the 2025 2026 school year. Period. motion to amend and a second by
211Doug. Thank you. >> Okay, so now we are voting on the amended motion which is approve Benjamin Gil and Walter Mcowski teachers at Eastport sponsors for the 2025 2026 school year period. We can't need to have discussion on an amended. >> Then I we are allowed in the district to enterain rate asking for which is in the background information. >> Whatever you do with the grant grant whatever you want to do with the grant is what you do with the grant. >> I would be very cautious >> cautious. I don't know what the terms of I don't I've never >> we cannot have discussion after an amendment. >> Okay. All right. So again, we're we're >> right. >> Well, all you're saying is that they're the sponsors. >> So that's all you're proving right now.
212So, we have restated what we're actually The motion is. >> It is a motion to approve Benjamin Gil and Walter Mahalski teachers as esports sponsors for the 2025 2026 school year. >> Thank you. >> Yes. And we will we will do a roll call. Mr. >> Yes, >> Miss Jackson. >> Yes, >> Mr. Laser. >> Yes, >> Mr. Mr. Thomas. Yes, >> yes, >> Madam President. >> Yes. >> Sorry, Madam President. I have a question since we wasn't allowed to ask questions because it wasn't one or two meetings ago, we made a motion to table something and it caused great consternation in our school about fundraising and money being returned and everything else. Is there any dayto-day issue with this going forward for our teachers or students or anything that is going to affect them
213is my question. >> I would defer to our superintendent. >> Well, >> and you may not know that's okay, too. I mean, >> yeah, as far as they want to go as soon as possible, right? We all know that. >> Do we want them to? >> I I I think if I understand correctly, I can have conversation. I mean, There's a grant. There's money there. Um I believe based on the fact that you now have approved these individuals that I can proceed with paying them through the grant for me earlier. Okay. >> But we're not going to have any dayto-day issues like we did when we tabled a motion before. I assume no. >> Okay. That was my concern. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. All right. Unpaid leave. Excuse me. Approve the unpaid leave
214for employee number 841 effective January 20th, 2026. So move. >> All right. Thank you. Motion by Mrs. Jackson and a second by Mr. Burgd Doll. Any um discussion? Um all those in favor? I >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? Motion carries. Budget committee report. Mr. Michael Hoover. You all can hear me. Um we met for our first meeting January 6 at 4:00. Um myself, Mr. Leer, Mr. Berg, and Mrs. Hopper. And Mrs. Huberchock gave us a overview of the budget. um which was very informative for I know myself because I you know had seen it or I looked into it that intent before. So I appreciated what she had prepared for us. So I don't really have any other comments. >> All right. Thank you. >> Okay. Weiss Burkheart Kramer LLC invoice. Approve payment to Weiss
215Burkheart Kramer LLC for two invoices dated December 12th, 2025 in a total amount of $1,590 as submitted. >> So moved. >> We have a first by Mr. Laser, a second by Mr. Groves. Okay. Any discussion? >> All right. All those in favor? I >> I any abstensions? >> I oppose. >> Well, that was my next any oppose. Thank you. Motion passes. Okay. Um act one resolution approve the act one resolution to not exceed the 4.6% as submitted. So moved. >> Thank you. All right. Any discussion? Okay. All those in favor? >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? Motion carries. PSEA Health and Welfare Fund Vision Agreement Access. Approve the PSA health and welfare fund vision agreement renewal for clerical staff and para educators effective April 1st, 2026 through March 31st, 2028 at no increase in cost. >>
216So move. >> Thank you. Motion by Mr. Laser, second by Mr. Gro. Any discussion? >> Yeah, I would just like to thank Mrs. Harbor Chuck cuz apparently she done an awesome job in negotiating the contract with no increase. >> Agreed. Thank you. >> And when it comes to medical stuff, that's rare. >> Yeah, very rare. >> All right. Any other discussion? Okay. >> All right. All those in favor? I. >> Any opposed? All right. Thank you. All right. Motion um carries with 8 to one policy committee report. So, we met um just this week actually on Tuesday um on the 13th. We meet on the second Tuesday of the month at 4:30 p.m. and that is a public meeting um as in the public can attend. So, just so that we're all aware of that,
217we have been really busy um mostly on the uh 815.1, which I'll get to more. I it's we had 815 done and we were going to submit it to board. We held it back because 815.1 on generative AI directly relates to 815. So, we thought we in case there need to be any changes, we are still actively working on those. Anytime the administration puts forward a request to look at a policy to bump up what's on the agenda, we consider that because of timelines. There are things that they may need to done in a more timely fashion. And that was why policy um 626.1 on the travel reimbursement um was on there and it was on there for a first reading I believe in November and we postponed doing the vote in December because there
218hasn't been enough time for everybody including the public to review. So it's been much longer than the typical 30 days. So tonight it is on there um for um vote. We will be voting on policy 626.1. And um Mrs. Hover, I don't know if you want to take a minute and explain what you needed done with that policy. >> Yes. Because we are now allowed to pay community members to attend conferences such as for title one funding. um the travel and reimbursement policy just needed amended to match those federal rules and guidelines now so that we added the terminology of community member is also eligible for reimbursement >> and so that's the changes that you see in that policy that's pretty straightforward I'd like to remind everybody when the policy committee started the ultimate goal
219of the policy committee was to look get a better look at all of our policies um and become more familiar with them and consider them on a more routine basis and particularly looking at how they link to one another, how they relate to one another. Like 815.1 directly relates to 815. Um and so like if you're looking at all of the policies under the 0000 that they all relate to each other in some way. So, one of the things that came up was somebody um asked us about a particular paragraph in policy 004, which is not one that we had um reviewed at that time. Um but the question came up about a paragraph in there that reads, "Acccommodations shall not be made for the participation of schoolboard members in schoolboard member meetings andor executive
220sessions via video conferencing, telephone, or other technological means. And I said, "Well, we voted on that. We voted to to change that way back." Um, and I did go back to the pandemic years because we did that's how everybody was doing meetings at that time. Um, because you weren't allowed to meet in public. I spent hours going back. So at the beginning of the pandemic, the current president at that time, Mr. Group, asked the board to suspend 006. I don't believe at that time any board member realized that 004 also related to public meetings. the board at that time. I went through the minutes. I've gone through the video. The board suspended 006. We all were attending remotely at first. That was the only way we could have meetings. Um I just think it got
221missed. I don't I don't think it was anything intentional. I think it just we didn't realize we we suspended 006 as we got through the pandemic. There was one point um and this actually I was wrong. I thought it we we talked about it in a regular meeting. It actually was during a committee meeting prior to the regular meeting that Mr. Group talked about lifting the suspension of policy 006 and there was a very lengthy and energetic conversation about what that meant. Um, and there were several of us board members who were concerned about the public still being able to attend remotely, school board members still being able to attend remotely. They're like, "Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Because we're we're still having they're still public meetings. They can still." And we went over specifically with
222the attorney the def the legal definition of present. And being present in a meeting by legal definition is can hear and can be heard. And we talked about that. You can go back and look at the video. It was big discussion. So at that point based on all of that discussion, we lifted the suspension of 006. Again, I don't think anybody was aware that 004 had this paragraph that related. So going through all of that, I am not able to find anywhere any kind of mention of 004 in relation to any of that at that time. Just 006. I do firmly believe and we talked about this at the per at the policy committee meeting. I do firmly believe that the board's intent was to allow for remote um participation from board members. that that
223was the gist of the conversation as it related to 006 because we are so heavy into 815.1 and we need to get that done. My recommendation is to simply strike this paragraph from this policy so that it now correlates with 006 and then we will further review the entire policy later. But for right now, I think we need to clean up what we have by just strictly striking this this paragraph. This is for a first reading. That is the only change we're recommending at this time. It is merely to bring it in line with 006 and then next month we would vote on it. Does anyone have any questions about that? You have the next month to review it. Um you could uh let me know if you have a question or a concern. Um,
224but that's where we are with that. And we continue to work on 815.1. I I feel like we we made progress, but it there's a lot there. That is a really deep >> topic. So that's all I have. Thank you. >> That's for the first read. Next month, we will vote on that. No, you're fine. >> Okay. Thank you. Policy 626.1, travel reimbursement federal program. Uh, approve policy 621.1, I'm sorry, policy 626.1 for adoption. >> So, move. >> Thank you. First by Mrs. Jackson, second by Mr. Grove. Um any discussion? Okay. All those in favor? >> I. Any opposed? Any abstensions? Motion carries. Policy 004 for membership is there for the first reading. Do we we do we offer discussion on that or no? It's just there >> typically just say if they have a
225question or a concern to reach out. All right. Administrative reports, uh, disability use reports. >> Madam President, we have situes in December of 21 of the community, BTO, Clayville, boys and girls basketball, and youth wrestling. >> Thank you. Budget expenditure report. Um, the budget expenditure report through the month of December 2025 is presented for your review. Cafeteria report. The cash security report for the month of November 2025 and December 2025 are presented for your review. Pecard spending summary. The PCARD spending reports for the month of November 2025 and December 2025 are presented for your review. Um solicitors report. >> Uh I do not have a report this evening. >> Thank you. Um okay. Is that is that something that to amend it to be corrected? Does it need to be corrected for the minutes or
226can it be >> No, no, no. I just um it's a paper copy so I just didn't know if it has been Thank you. >> Thank you. I appreciate it. Okay. All right. Um board director community representative reports, Western Area Career and Technology Center report. Um, we met in December on, sorry, I had it pulled up here now. Go on. There we go. We met December 17th of 2025. Um, we reorganized. Um, we have the I don't have my notes on me. I'm sorry. The student of the month was Sienna Gump um in cosmetology from Canon McMillan School District. Um they do have the um minutes up on the website for you. Um we really didn't have anything other than reorganizing and our student of the month and the normal motions on the table. Um
227it's um it's a pleasure to to sit on that board. I appreciate the opportunity. Uh Pennsylvania School Board Association report. There's only a couple of things. One is I'm supposed to remind everybody about getting your director's required um training in. There are on-site visits available and there's also the webinar uh visits. Uh in addition to that, the cyber security and infrastructure security agency is offering uh three different webinars. One is January the 20th. It's preventing school violence and improving physical security. Okay? And then there's one on February 17th. These are all webinars. They're all at 11:00 in the day. The second one on uh February 17th is enhancing school safety and security federal resources to protect the K through 12 communities and keep in mind these are all about cyber security. I thought you were
228asking something about cyber security. I thought this might be something you'd be interested in. The third one is on March 17th at 11:00. Enhancing school cyber security, preparing schools and districts for cyber threats. I just thought that might be um something that everybody thinks is valuable. And again, we're supposed to remind everybody about getting your required time in. And there's a big open house coming up. It's well, it's January 22nd, and it is on site at Mechanicsburg. I don't know if you want to make that trip there, but it it it really does sound like it would be really a night a nice thing, something to consider. There's a budget u meeting, a big legislative budget meeting on February 23rd at 12:00. Those are on-site visits. And that's really all there is. >> Thank you.
229>> All right. At this time, we will have public participation on agenda and non-aggenda. >> Madam President, we call Megan Graham, Donagle Township. Thank you. You just put that on. Yeah. >> Hi, my name is Megan Graham. I'm from Donville Township. I'm going to try to go a little bit quickly because I have a lot of things to cover. I have both comment and then if I have time at the end, I welcome any feedback from you all because there are things that I might not um know or can use further information on. Uh I have three kids in the district. They all go to Clayville Elementary. I have two in third grade and one in second grade. It was brought to my attention last week that the oven situation at Clayville Elementary Cafeteria is
230broken. Um the oven is not technically fully broken to the point that it doesn't work at all, but it's not working to the capacity that it's supposed to. Um as well as finding out that the only two pieces of equipment that they're using is that double oven and a steam rack. It's a big standup rack that they put trays in and it steams food. That's it. That's all they're utilizing. there is other equipment in the cafeteria kitchen. Uh I'm unsure if it is in disrepair or if they're just not educated to the capacity that they feel confident in using it, but I think that that needs to be addressed. I did make a phone call um to both reach out to the principal and the assistant principal. I was able to talk with the assistant
231principal this afternoon. It was a very what I felt productive conversation. Um she stated that they were not aware. This leads me to my next point that not only were they not aware, but it was brought to my attention that some of the cafeteria staff members have reached out to what would be their manager or higher up. You would have to find out who that particular person was. I didn't get a name. Um that there were met with too bad, do your job. That was a problem. Um when they brought forth that there were complications or issues with the equipment, that there was equipment in disrepair or they weren't educated on it or felt comfortable utilizing it, that was their response. Um, after speaking with the principal or assistant principal today, I felt a little
232bit better about the situation that she is going to immediately start reaching out and finding out what the actual situation is, but I thought it was something that you all definitely needed to be aware of. Um, I'm again going to try to go very quickly. I have problems with school nutrition programs across the board. It's something that I will prepare further in, but I think that we can do better. I really think we can do better. I would challenge you all not to just eat a meal in your cafeteria, but to eat your meal in your cafeteria for the entire school year and come back to me and let me know how you feel at the end of the year. Um, we provide way too much processed food for our kids and I understand that
233there are USDA standards that we need to adhere to and that there's not really flexibility on those. But my question is what we purchase and then what we provide to our kids. Is that strict? Is that standardized or is it this is the money you're allotted. these are the standards you have to fall within. But how you do that is up to you. Um the biggest thing that my kids I would say complain about is that they don't eat the eggs and then it was reported to me that they don't even cook them anymore because the kids won't eat them. They don't cook the eggs anymore because the kids don't eat them because they're bagged and they're gross. And if we could change that to a fresh egg, then why aren't we doing that? We
234should look into that. Um my next point would be uh something that I heard this evening and I also was looking into this afternoon. the library status and then attending this meeting and hearing that we're not only don't have a librarian, don't utilize our library, but now we're gonna get rid of it. What what um I have a whole fuel here about the importance of librarian and how much more valuable they are than someone who just cataloges books. They're an educator, an informed navigator. They foster digital literacy and promote uh intellectual freedom. They offer crucial support for research, learning, critical thinking, and the library is a sanctuary of learning. I stand very firmly on that. I think it would be an incredible disservice to our students to um make alterations or changes to that space
235and not in some way provide a library. Um on that note, AI I know it was talked about I want to add to the discussion of AI that I fully understand that we need to protect protect the education that the there is no plagiarism. However, I also think that it's important to note that we need to protect our students from the wrongful accusation of plagiarism and you AI utilization. Um, life skill classes. I think that life skill classes are incredibly important and I think there's ways to work those things into a library situation as well. One of my ideas would be a rent a center rent a center corner of a library where you could have a bin that correlates with a book with supplies and used that can be taken or rented from the
236library and utilized to teach kids um skills such as sewing, crocheting, things like that. It's another way to utilize the library um that I feel strongly we should keep. Um, athletics. I would be very curious to know, again, I'm kind of newer to all of this, uh, where the money and the funding came from for the weight room and how are we prioritizing athletics and showing athletes that they matter, but kids that might want to be part of a book club in a library that they don't. Um, transportation in my last 5 seconds, the fact that we didn't have a 2-hour delay this morning was absolutely asinine. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. President Christy Florian, East Finley Township. >> I'll be nice at first. You know how I go. Um, >> Chrissy, Florida and
237East Finley Township. I completely support everything Megan said. uh you put this whole weight room and spent all this money on this weight room and the nutrition that you feed these kids which I have continuously preached to you about for years you do nothing about because you're stuck in the USDA regulations and whatever they tell you to feed the kids. It's all poison and you all know it and you all need to make a difference and until you do we're going to keep saying something. I guess I started off negative. Anyways, good evening and happy new yearly township. Kristen Florian um missed last month's meeting and I want to first say congratulations to the new members and to our new board president and vice president. I am again hope hopeful as I was last election
238and I pray I'm not disappointed again. I am hopeful that due to a new year we you all have a fresh new year to do better and get some things together that you didn't last year. This past year was frankly a crap show. Off and on, but more on. I'm thankful that certain people went away and no longer can threaten damage to the district. Try trying to exclude prayer and bringing up things that gets the community in an uproar was reckless and obviously frustrating to so many. So hopefully this year is a better year. All right, unleashing it on you, Mr. Do Dr. Oberg. You completely dropped the ball on the 2-hour delay. You have a lot of people in an uproar about not calling it a delay this morning or any type of cancellation.
239There was a sheet of ice on the road. The roads were a sheet of ice. Um, let's see. There was a vehicle in the ditch. There's trailer jack knight on the highway. You have many many roads not even touched by the time the buses are running. The lack of school delays and cancellations in East started snowing at 900 p.m. last night. There were already calls for freezing rain in the morning. The weather wasn't just a recent snow squall. The roads were a sheet of ice. buses couldn't get up hills and bus drivers shouldn't have to go to work frustrated because of the calls that should have been made. Um, some of us country girls are requesting you, Mr. Oberg, Dr. Oberg, to come on out in the country country with us and and see the
240difference the accumulation of the snow um between a 5 to 10 mile span for example, it can go ve it can vary. Two weeks ago, we got one inch in Clayville area and in Cadinsburg they got nine inches. Within a 20 minute drive, you had nine inches of snow compared to one inch of snow. Um, I will again praise the bus drivers for the work that they do by getting all of these children to and from school safely. You upset a lot of people this morning. Also, a rumor was going around, which who knows, we know what rumors are, but that the Keystone testing was today and that was part of the reason why there was no delay or cancellation. If that is the truth, if that is the reasoning on not delaying this morning,
241that is disgusting. I am not sure what the grip is with the solicitor, but I wish y'all would knock it off. by and just accept it. Miss Hall, I have no issues with her whatsoever. I don't know what you guys's issue is with her, but it's just ridiculous. This is this is ridiculous. Um, some kids on the bus, the call that came in this morning, there's some kids on the bus as early, they get on as early as 6:50 in the morning. A call came at 7:35 a.m. this morning. Some of these kids are already on the bus for 45 minutes. Um, I would sure hope that none of these children were standing outside for 45 minutes and 16 degrees weather. Um, makes no sense to many. I also hope that you all are paying
242attention to what's happening pertaining to these vaccines, all the information and stuff coming out. I know some people will not and will never ever accept anything that has come out positively about how badly the vaccines have damaged so many people and killed so many people and it's completely changed the human race honestly. How they just completely turns the stuff upside down. I mean, they there's just so much that's going on and I hope that you all are paying attention to because I am. Thank you very much. See you next month. >> Madam President, your last speaker is Vicky Jordan, Buffalo Township. >> Vicky Jordan, Buffalo Township. I want to start out by thanking you all for a peaceful meeting tonight. It was pleasant to see. Uh I'm here to talk about safety. Uh Ashley Lawson
243and I had planned on presenting together, but she just couldn't wait any longer. So I just want to touch on a few things real quick. Um, I'm sure some of you have a clue of what happened with Brown University and the massacre and the reason it took so long for anybody to locate the suspect was due to a camera issue. So, I'm glad to see that the cameras are on a list of things that need addressed. My problem is is we have from what I understand one camera at a key location where students come in and out and that camera was obstructed and it led to a student getting hurt with no answers. There was no incident report filed to detail what happened and it was a sad day at Clayville Elementary. Um, I also
244want to bring up the McGuffy Middle School. I have an 11-year-old niece. It was the maybe second, third week of of school. Her mom called the office said, "Aunt Vickiy's going to pick her up." And the office staff said, "Okay." And she was like, "Well, don't I need to send a note? Don't you need to know who she's leaving with?" And basically, she was told and Mr. wise confirmed to me that at the end of the day at the middle school high school, these children as young as 11 years old are released into the parking lot. They don't know if they get on a bus. They don't know if they get in a car. They have no idea who they're leaving with. And we've got eight predators on the Megan's list within 10 miles of
245this high school. We have security issues at this district that needs addressed. We have camera issues. We have lack of reporting. We have students as young as 11 being released to god knows who. This is a sick, crazy world. I reached out to the superintendent and we spoke about this and I basically got told there's nothing they can do up there. Well, we made huge changes at Clayville that unfortunately didn't get carried over into this year, which I've addressed with their administration. Um, but Mr. Weise has guaranteed me this is something he's going to look at. We cannot allow children that young to just be dispersed into a parking lot. Somebody's going to get hit. Somebody's going to get kidnapped. It's going to be bad. I should never have been able to pick up an
24611year-old child without parent approval, notes, identification. Turner loose. Shame, shame, shame. You guys got to fix them. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> That's all, Madam President. All right, >> items for discussion. At this time, we will open the floor for um board members to provide discussion. Um I just have one. It came up in our policy committee meeting um regarding public comment and if the public can comment during a committee meeting. Um, and we had a little bit of conversation. What I understand about the board's authority with public comment is when and where. Um, does that apply to a committee meeting as well? A public committee meeting? >> Generally, there's there's no public comment at the committee meetings and the public comment would occur at at this voting meeting each month. >> Yeah. >>
247Okay. >> Yeah. >> Now, is there anything stopping like is there anything illegal about the board allowing public comment or is that just the board's discretion? >> There's nothing illegal that I know of. I'll check I will double check your policy to see if it speaks to that. >> Okay. >> Um I I don't know off hand. I been a little bit since I looked at the policy. >> I I always thought that committee meetings wereformational. I thought that would give us information and they usually ask who we have they have to ask questions. >> I think she's talking we're talking about the individual committee. >> Yeah, like the policy committee. I mean not personnel because you know there's but I was talking about the policy the budget committee. No, I I understand. I understand.
248>> So you would look at what we have and if there's anything >> Yeah. look at the policy and then um you know typically there there's not public comment in a committee meeting. I the board wants to have a discussion about that. We certainly can't. But >> I I bring it up because I I'm I'm all for public participation. I think we need more of it and we don't always have more of it. I'm thankful for those who come um some regularly, some not. But I know it can be taxing to hear the public's feedback on on situations at times. Um, taxing or not, I I personally welcome it. But with that being said, I know the general idea is they attend th those committee meetings and then they can speak on it here, but
249we have limited time for them to speak on things here for one and for two. Often times there are things that we do with those policies there that by the time they come here it's it's in the past and it can be difficult to bring up their thoughts and their concerns that they may be remembered in that moment of sitting within that meeting. I would ask that the board consider that once we have more information about if our policy allows it or if there's something illegal about it or legal about it, whatever the whatever the outcome is from from our solicitor's guidance that we have that discussion in the future. Um especially the policy committee because that's where a lot of weight is not just from the board but also from our our our community.
250Um I look at it at the perspective of our taxpayers. you know, they might not pay all the bills, but they pay a lot of the bills. And um I think their their opinions and their voices >> should matter enough to have the conversation in live time. I'm sorry everybody. Um that was all that I had for discussion. This is if I could just in response to that. >> Sure. >> Two things. First of all, I think If I if there is no legal reason why we couldn't extend a public comment time at committee meetings the individual committee I think we should do them for all of them not just the one >> like if we do it for pol I don't think it would be right to have it for one committee and not
251the other I think it should be blank I mean obviously not the personnel but right >> but the other so just to make sure that we understand that but the other thing is in the interim Um public members who do attend could contact people on the committee after the committee meeting before the board meeting and give their input you know before the next committee meeting you know so I don't want to say I you know me I've personally several times motioned that we get rid of the time limits at our regular meetings. >> Um I am no way suggesting that we need to limit them, but to say that they don't have any input if they can't speak at the policy committee is not necessarily true because they could reach out to those committee members
252before or after. So just to keep that in mind. >> I absolutely I didn't say that they couldn't. I just said that it's difficult at times to not respond in the moment or not respond while things are fresh in their minds and you know I again I want to hear it. >> That said I appreciate the committee the community members who do show up for things. >> I agree. I do too. >> The second part to that too is even though they could contact us after it's still after the fact. It's after we've left. is after we could we you know our public could make their comments or have their questions there and then we could actually have the conversation as a committee. It's just it's just to me it just it's just matter. It
253just matters to me that's all. Um so I would just ask that we at least entertain the idea in the future. I'm fine with whatever the will of the board is. I just would like to at least entertain the conversation in the future. But that was it for me. Thank you. I just um wanted to piggy back off of what Miss Jordan said about the release time and how the kids I too as a parent share concerns because I've often picked up my children and the bell rings and there is just a flood of kids and there are anxious like I literally get stressed out when I have to come pick up my child because there are kids walking everywhere and there are parents trying to get out of the parking lot with their kids
254to beat the buses down the hill so that they can get out. And then there are high school students waiting trying to fly out at the bottom as well. And I think that we just look for opportunities to improve and get better um so that we do prevent because I I really am worried that a kid's going to get hit in that parking lot. Um and I'm glad that Mr. Wise said that he's going to, you know, work on that. And here I go again. How how about maybe we think about a committee that involves the community and come up with some ideas to uh >> Well, funny you should say that >> because we have a wellness committee we're trying to get started then >> but at the same time I do think there
255needs when that committee meets something to think about is >> once school is dismissed school is dismissed the school like you know what I'm saying like you can't control everything. When at the end of the day, when the bell rings and kids are dismissed from school, they're dismissed from school. >> But there's probably a way with which we could be a little more controlled with how they are dismissed. >> I I'm not disagreeing with that. I'm just saying I think there's some things because >> while I there are some parents who who think that there are other parents who I've watched in the parking lot, they're down at the end of the parking lot looking at their watch waiting for their kid to get there. So that they don't want any hold up. They want
256to go, you know, so just to kind of keep that in your mind. >> I just would hope that they would understand if we like, you know, staggered times or something that it's for the kids safety. for sure. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. As long as the students own our property, we're still responsible for them and we have to make sure that they're safe. >> From the even on the buses, it's it's still our responsibility. Yeah. >> And we've spent a lot of time at Claysville. Um they have spent and worked out and unfortunately a couple of our schools aren't located in the best place to have people come and go. I mean, I drive by Joe Walker all the time and see people lined up and down the road and >> they're ready to
257walk. >> Yeah. So, >> something good to look at. >> I mean, and >> Yeah, exactly. >> And everybody's in a hurry. >> That's the problem. They want to go. >> Yeah. >> And it's not necessarily pointing any fingers at anybody. It's just >> looking for for room. There's there's always room for improvement and if we can prevent >> that's even better. >> Correct. >> I did have one more thing. >> Okay. Yeah. >> I appreciate um Miss Florian and Miss Graham talking about nutrition because I I sit here when they talk I'm just like thinking to myself, wouldn't it be great? We have an a program. We have SFA students that we >> we have a greenhouse, you know, we have students that raise market animals and someday, wouldn't it be great if somehow
258they could collaborate and provide food for our and nutrition for our >> cafeteria and our students. >> Government programs With that being said, are do we know of any I know I've I've tried to look like not that I would fill out the grant, but I've tried to look into like what opportunities there are for things like that, you know, farm to school type grants of some kind. >> We've applied for them >> and we're waiting on them. >> How would that support the green houses at both the elementary schools? Mhm. >> I mean, not to put any more >> on the egg teachers, but >> I know >> it would just be great. >> But think about the like think that community mindset like you're taking care of your community for sure in school.
259you know, it's it's it's been a stick for me, too, because it's since I've just learned a lot over the years, and nutrition's one of them, and you can heal yourself with the right nutrition, but >> yeah, I think that's I think that's good. Um are you they talked about this safe or not safe wellness committee. Do you know like whether where are you with that like is it still just in the process or >> Okay. Okay. And would that would it consist of like like the community and things like what what Mr. They're talking about >> required for that one. >> Okay. I didn't >> I just >> Well, that's a question to have. Is that if there is a wellness committee, would that be something that if a parent were invited in, they
260would have part of the collaboration? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Any other discussion? Mr. Laser, >> is that the end of that? >> Yeah, I'm sorry. >> Okay. >> I think we should go to the fair and buy all of our a students animals and bring um I have two. The first one is based on that FFA is we had a lot of students go and receive their Keystone awards and jackets at the farm show recently. if we could do something to maybe next meeting so to recognize who they was or what they was, I think it'd be beneficial. And if they could bring their animals and maybe we could I'm just kidding there. >> But no, I >> But they very they they spend an awful lot of time to get that award and it's
261a very high high award.