001Okay, good evening everyone. I would like to call the June 2nd work session to order and we will start with the Pledge of Allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. >> And to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay, we will start this meeting with the audience of citizens and I will go ahead and read the statement. The public is hereby advised that this meeting is being recorded. Any residents or taxpayers who who speak must state their name and municipality. The comment opportunity is limited to 3 minutes per speaker. As a reminder, the audience of citizens portion of the meeting is not designed for debate or discussion with the board. When appropriate, individual school directors may
002choose to respond to public comments that they have that have been made once the audi- audience of citizens period has concluded or request that a member of the administration follow up with the speaker speakers after the meeting. Good evening, Mr. Lanier. >> Good evening. Um Jason Lanier, Lansdale. It's funny you should read that because uh I I read in the I guess this was the um the North Penn Comprehensive Plan uh Comprehensive Plan in 2022 to 2025 and it talks about increasing um citizen engagement in in public comment. And it seems to me that maybe if you want to improve accessibility for all stakeholders and increase participation, maybe change these rules up a little bit. Now, I don't might sound a little bit self-serving, but I'm a person who will say something because I'm don't
003understand it or I I think it should be known by the public and if I'm wrong, tell me I'm wrong. Just come out and tell me. And ask me a question. I have no problem with that. And I think the point here is it's sort of like I'll say something and if I'm wrong and I'm waiting another month and a half to say or to to to narrow it down to make more sense, I I think it loses value in terms of of of airing it out and making it correct or correcting the issue that I said. That being said, just going back to what we had talked about previously about the number of administrators per teacher. You do the calculation, you you take off I don't know 10 administrators because they're they're they're sort
004of do you know, they're in their own sort of sector doing their own sort of thing and I I got that, but it's still awfully high. It's awfully high percentage of administrators per that aren't doing that, but are administrators in schools, administrators here doing things that have nothing to do with running the finance, the bus department, SNS, any anything like that. They're education administrators. And what what what flexes to me a little bit about this also is is the the their work schedule. In terms of I mentioned this before that we come here on a Friday and it's a it's a ghost town. And I I said I think at one of the meetings, which would have been great if you guys corrected me. They said they only work a four work a four-day work
005week. That's not how it's it's actually worked or ver uh the verbiage is they have a fourth uh the fifth day is flex day and they can work from home. That's what it says in the contract that I read. The is it the title 93 contract or something like that? Something like that. So it it it it it has to be approved by other administrators. So we four days a week with this This is preposterous to me. There seems like there's there's there's a room for efficiency here that that needs to be kind of uh hammered out in terms of what gets done and what are what is the metric determining whether or not we're doing the right thing. And I mentioned uh to Ms. Quinn when just between it's like I I feel like
006we're spending a lot of money and getting not the best results for it. I mean not only are in the infrastructure of the buildings, but the performance of the students and the the the in how the the um proficiencies have just dropped and dropped and dropped. And I you know, you look at Niche, which I know is a sort of a a very particular grading system. In 2015, we were ranked 27th in the in the state. We're now ranked 60th in the state. So we're we've gone down. We We were ranked much higher in Montgomery County in 2015. Now we're at 12th. We're at at the halfway mark and a little below it. So what are we getting out of this? And And when we dial it down to even >> Mr. Lanier, I'm sorry.
007That's your time. >> What's What's >> That was your timer. Sorry, we didn't we weren't synced up yet, so I just had >> All right. Well, let let me give me a second here. I just think that those things need to be looked at in more depth and and and Dr. Dell said that he would he would visit with me. And cutting me off here when there's not a lot of anybody else here to comment seems a little silly to me. It really does. >> I do also just want to note to Mr. Lanier. I think thank you so much for your feedback and for your comments and and thinking about the four-day work week and where cars are parked and where are they here. I think we also know these the people who sitting
008around this table with us and their schedules and their time and how they're using it. I and one evidence that piece of evidence that I'll just share with you because I know you know it very well and that is Our committee meetings are after hours. We often have many administrators who are on those calls who have prepared them, who participated in them, and you won't find their car in the parking lot, but you will find the meeting accessible and available and them present. So, I think it's a a mischaracterization of the level of work and engagement by just judging where their cars are parked, but we know that cars are parked at the work is done. Yeah. So, thank you. Thank you very much. Okay. So, we'll move on now to the superintendent's report and
009I'll pass it over to Dr. Bauer. Oh, do we have any other public comment? Yes, we do. Thank you very much. >> Hi, Anna Fox, uh Montgomery Township and um I just wanted to express my gratitude to the board and to the school district for your support and encouragement of the North Penn television crew. Um my son has been involved in NPTV all three years at North Penn High School. He's graduating next week and it's just been an incredible experience and I really want to recognize Mr. Gilmer, Mr. Dideo, Miss Fakish. They just provide an environment for these kids to have such breadth and depth of creativity. They're exposed to amazing technology that's accessible to them, which, you know, is really unique to North Penn School District. Um they have the opportunity to say, "Hey,
010I have this great idea." And Mr. Gilmore will just let them run with it. And it's it's amazing what they come up with. And um I just wanted to thank you for encouraging them, keeping them going, and um really really really appreciate the North Penn Television crew. Thank you. >> Thank you. And we just want to check that Mr. Gilmore heard all of that. Did he hear it? Did he get it all? Okay. Okay. Um he deserves to hear that and and and so do all of the students who are part of that program. Um as a school board member and being able to connect with members in the community, it is so nice to I've run into more alum who have participated in that program who talk about how impactful it was on their
011careers and the things that they're doing. So, whether they're they remain in communications or they don't, it was something that was a building block. So, um we do have some seniors um who are present tonight who are part of the North Penn program. So, I want to thank Adrian McLain, Katie Taylor, and Ethan Fox. And I hope someday Oh, yeah, get each other. Here we go. Here we go. TURN THE >> [applause] >> AND SOMEDAY I WANT TO RUN INTO EACH OF YOU IN THE community and you tell me about the incredible things that you are doing um and share with us how this experience informed you. So, um but more yeah. So, thank you very much for that. Okay, anyone else interested in making public comment this evening? >> Mrs. Coyne. >> Yep. If
012I may, before Mr. Lanier leaves, um just cuz Mr. Lanier always asks Sorry, Miss Coyne. Uh for a response um if he's wrong. And Mr. Lanier, you are wrong. Uh the Act 93 agreement does not say that administrators can work from home 1 day a week. Uh as a matter of fact, instructional administrators are not entitled to work from home on instructional days. Um it does say, "Quote, there may be times during the year when it may be advantageous and efficient for the district administrator to work remotely. As such, district administrators shall be authorized to work remotely from home or elsewhere upon obtaining approval from district administrator's direct supervisor and one of the following other individuals, the superintendent, assistant superintendent, the CFO, the director of HR, the chief academic officer, administrator of secondary ed, that's
013Dr. Nicholson but now Dr. Williams, and director of elementary special ed or uh secondary special ed. Um so I just want to be clear and I'll always speak for myself that in 261 uh workdays in a year, I in the last calendar year have worked from home three times. And all of them uh were either a day in the summer or a day uh where the entire district is off and 12-month employees are working. So, I just don't want to miscat- categorize or characterize um the hard work that all the people do uh cuz people work really hard. And um Miss O'Neary, when you take shots at the people that work really hard, it's hurtful. And I think you know that. Um I think you know how hard, not me, the other people in the
014school district work. So, please do your homework before you cite things that are incorrect. >> And I do want to thank all the administrators who were out um out at our buildings last Friday. There's great video evidence. Thank you to North Penn TV um and Mr. Gilmore. So, you were I think that was a specific request and desire of the board was to see administrators in buildings and engaged in our um activities far more. And so last Friday, the parking lot was empty, but you were all out um joining and celebrating our students on Olympic Day. So, um there is no doubt that you all that you rise up and you do the work and you're incredible um and that you are taking it and connecting to our students and in our buildings. Um so
015this is a place of work, but so are every stop in between um our district. You may have an office and a desk here, but we recognize that you are on your feet and you're mobile and you're out in the building. So, thank you. Mrs. Quinn, thank you for waiting patiently. >> Of course, of course. I I just wanted to say in addition to thanking the students that have come here and and film us and all the North Penn crew, thank you to the parents that support their children in these adventures. It's It's not easy and I know there's multiple engagements that they have to do after hours. Um, so again, thank you thank you to the parents and families that support these students. >> Okay, moving on now to the superintendent's report. >> Next
016I recommend approval of the personnel items as per the attached. >> Do I have a motion and a second? >> Second. >> Motion by Mr. Bell, seconded by Mr. McBain. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. >> Uh, next I recommend approval of the contracts per those listed and copies are on file and the business office. >> Do I have a motion and a a second to accept um item B? Motion by Mr. Kaiser. >> Seconded by Mr. Resch. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. >> I will point out um sorry, I didn't say this during the comments, but Mr. Summers leaned over and said, "What is this?" Uh, there is a contract there for $262,000 for world class vacations. That is
017a senior class trip. Um, students pay for the senior class trip and um this is likely going to be this year's sophomores is likely going to be the last group that will do this trip. Uh, we're kind of incorporating a a senior class trip that's a little more inclusive and more more students can attend in future years, so. Just so you're aware. That's now on record, by the way. Um, >> Thank you for the update. >> [laughter] >> We look forward to hearing more from you, Dr. Waters. >> were amazing for everyone. >> Yes. All right, recommend approval of student agreements as per those listed and copies are on file in the office of special education. >> Do I have a motion and a second for item C? Motion by Mrs. Coin, second by Mr.
018Kaiser. Any comments or questions? All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. >> Okay, as we near the end of my last item that I'm going to recommend, I'm officially going to ask those in the truck, Mr. Gilmer, send Ethan Fox in here right now so we can clap for him, too, please. Um I recommend resolution >> [laughter] >> approval to submit an application to the PA Department of Community and Economic Development Public Safety Facility Improvement Program Grant Submission as per the attached resolution. If you have comments or questions, I believe Mr. Slaughter is here to answer them. >> Do I have a motion and a second? >> So moved. >> Motion by Mr. Bell, seconded by Miss Mr. Kaiser. Any comments or questions? Seeing none, all those in favor say
019I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. >> Next, I'd like to recommend that we applaud Ethan FOX AS WELL. >> [applause and cheering] [applause] >> AND TO ADRIAN, ETHAN, AND KATIE, you guys spend a lot of time in this room and a lot of time with us. I said to Ethan earlier, if you can try to eye up Dr. Waters or myself as you approach the stage next Thursday night. Love to be in the picture with you as you celebrate. So, it's hard to catch with a thousand kids coming from four different lanes and but But you kind of make eye contact beforehand, we'll be sure to hop in those photo apps for you, okay? So, thanks for everything. Sorry you've sat through some of these so many of these meetings. >> So many.
020So many of these. Um and we can't wait to see you in 9 days at graduation. So. Okay, my um board access frozen. So, I think we are um at the Oh, perfect timing. Um do I have a motion Oh, I do also just for the sake of the community too just for an update. Um tonight we've had finance and work session and prior to that we met out front of the ESC and with our Rainbow Alliance um as students and students from Penn Dale's club um we raised the pride flag and I want to thank Mrs. Coin for her words um and I want to thank our student from Penn Dale who spoke this evening um and for their sibling who partnered with me to raise the flag. Um that was the first for
021both of us. Um we've never um done that. So, um teamwork makes the dream work and we're able to do great things together. So, um and having an inclusive environment for all is something that we all value um very much. Okay. So, with that said, I think we are adjourned um or I guess I need a motion a second for that. Says the attorney. Okay. Thank you so much and have a good evening and have a great final 9 days of the school year.