001This is the One minute. Just make sure your thing is done. >> [snorts] >> Okay, good evening everyone. I'm going to call this meeting to order and we will start with a video. >> It may be the shortest month of the year, but February has been packed with big moments across North Penn. It was an evening of vibrant celebration at the annual multicultural celebration at North Penn High School organized by students of our cultural clubs. The event showcased the rich diversity of our school community through music, dance, poetry, and traditional food. It was a powerful reminder of what makes North Penn such a special place to learn and grow. North Penn High School football players took literacy on the road, visiting elementary schools for the annual reading Super Bowl. Players read with students inspired a
002love of books and served as role models for our youngest learners. The event also supported Mana on Main Street through canned food donations. Literacy, leadership, and community all came together for a championship worthy day. Thank you to the North Penn Educational Foundation for making this possible. The North Pan High School Chorus continued one of the sweetest traditions of the year with its annual singing Valentine fundraiser. Chorus members traveled the halls delivering surprise serenades to students and staff, turning ordinary class periods into unforgettable moments. A simple song can truly brighten a day. Montgomery Elementary caused quite an uproar as the mountain lions celebrated the Lunar New Year. The South Jersey Lion dance troop dazzled students while sharing the traditions and cultural significance of the holiday, bringing energy, color, and joy to the gymnasium. Lights, camera, germs.
003Students at Oak Park Elementary got a hands-on lesson in hygiene thanks to the mobile egg unit. Through interactive demonstrations, students learned the importance of proper handwashing from fingertips to underneath the fingernails. The mobile lab provided engaging lessons for students at every grade level throughout the week. Northbend High School Theater and Thesbsians continued their tradition of supporting Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS with their annual gala performance. Middle and high school students performed selections from upcoming shows and students performed individual pieces. To date, North Penn High Schools raised more than $118,000 for Broadway Cares through this incredible studentled effort. The North Pan High School Black Student Union presented its Black History Showcase titled When the Street Lights Come On. This student produced program highlighted the excellence, creativity, leadership, and courage of Black Americans throughout history. You can
004watch the full program on NPTV and the NPTV YouTube channel. As February and Black History Month come to a close, North Penn will be hosting the annual Black History oral competition next Thursday at 6 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Community members are encouraged to attend this amazing event. Amy Lena, deputy secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Education, visited Northpan administrators this week to discuss the Pennsylvania Department of Education initiatives and priorities. The conversation included updates to school code and the current challenges facing public schools across Pennsylvania. At the high school, principal Kyle Hassler and the coordinator of safe schools and emergency management, Mr. Brandon Ran, hosted student feedback sessions during lunch periods over [music] three days last week. Students had the opportunity to ask questions and share their thoughts about a potential school police
005officer program, what it could look like at the high school and throughout the school district. Dr. Bower and Dr. Waters also attended many of the sessions to listen and respond to student feedback. And if you've driven by the high school lately, you've probably noticed it. Dirt, lots of it. Site work for the new transportation center is well underway. Storm water retention basins along Summittown Pike and the WNPV property are nearing completion. And the footprint of the new transportation building is beginning to take shape. Milestone after milestone continues to keep this project on track. [music] And finally, do not miss Northpen night at the Phillies on May 9th. Visit mlb.com/filly/tick/specials/northpen and use promo code nights to reserve your seats. That is it for this North Pen news update. As always, check out these stories and more
006at youtube.com/nptv. Welcome to our regularly scheduled action meeting. This meeting is being videotaped for community cable channels and streamed live. Individuals attending this meeting and intending to speak to the board should be aware that they are being videotaped. In order to meet the requirements of Pennsylvania Sunshine Law, it is necessary to record the names of all citizens who speak to the board during the meeting. To assure compliance with this requirement, it is essential that those planning to address the board state their name and municipality. Members of the audience will limit their questions and comments to three minutes. And now, please stand for the pledge of allegiance to the flag of our country. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under
007God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay, good evening everyone. Uh, let me start by thanking Mr. Gilmer and his team for yet another great news update. And thank you to everybody for making all those wonderful events happen. Um, for some of our newer board directors, we started, I'd say two years ago, uh, highlighting student programs. We used to just do proclamations at these meetings where we honored championships and awards and then we decided, you know what, let's highlight some other things and other programs and things that are going on in our schools. So, a continuation of our, we called it the student spotlight. Uh, this month we're going to highlight our world language department and in particular, we have Mrs. Britney Ais, our department chair at the high school, and some students
008with her this evening to highlight some of the great things going on in their department. Mrs. Ais, welcome. >> Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Yep. >> Hi. Can you guys hear me? Uh, so I am Britney Ais. I'm the Spanish teacher at North Penn and also the world language department chair. Thank you so much for having us and the amazing students here today. Um, I just want to say that I am a North Pengrad myself. I vividly remember learning Spanish at Penrook Middle School. Um, Senora Dobs just lit this passion inside of me for learning a language. The first time my dad took me out of this country, I I knew I had that travel bug and I just wanted to learn the languages and use it. And so many of these students are getting
009that same experience. So, I'm so happy. Um, I truly believe that our students that walk through world language are among the best. Um, I truly say on day one to them, I have my dream job and I mean it. I love what I do. My students are kind and empathetic and they are, you know, always asking questions and wanting to be better and make the world better. Um, I also want to shout out my whole department. Um, everyone I work with, the teachers are so supportive and kind and we always have each other's back. So, I feel so lucky to do what I do. Um, so you're going to be hearing from our different language students today. Uh, unfortunately, Casey Kim was sick. She's the Latin student. So, if it's okay with you, I'm going
010to read off my phone, uh, her speech. Um, so, here we go. While many people might shy away from taking Latin because of its lack of modern applications, it's actually one of the classes I use the most in the real world. I've been taking Latin for four years now and I have learned as much about the language as I have Roman culture. Because Latin is so ingrained in our own language, I am better to read difficult text by deciphering the word roots I learned in >> climbing out of the country by myself. And I got to use a language I didn't know how to use with other people who were like me, other students, other people of my age who were also confused. And I got to meet new people, make a new connection with
011different family members with my host family. And they showed me how their customs worked. They showed me what their culture is like. They expanded my taste in music. They expanded my taste in dancing. They expanded my taste in just my love for any other language and culture. And I'm glad they showed that to me because when I came back to America, I couldn't appreciate the same things as I was over there. And it felt like a second home. And it felt like I had more freedom when I was over there. And now coming back here, I need I now see that I have more job opportunities. I now see that I can use this language to push myself harder and give myself the permission to be more free and give myself the permission to hopefully
012inspire others to pursue a language even if you're not good at it. I was not good at it either. But if you have the love for a language and you can push yourself to continue learning it, even if you make mistakes, then you will continue to grow and you will continue to see that you have more freedom. And I hope that it does inspire some people to learn a language because it is a life-changing experience. You will meet new people. You will make a lot of friends. You will get the experience to have more independence and travel on your own. And I think it's a great thing to have such a language like this. >> [applause] >> Hi, my name is Evan Tamuro. Uh, I'm a junior and so far I've taken four years of
013German. Um, I've been taking German ever since 8th grade. And through the four years of becoming familiar with the language, I've come to realize that learning this language has granted me opportunities both present and future that I wouldn't be able to find anywhere else throughout high school. Learning German allows you to experience just a culture from overseas. It uniquely connects you to many historical influential figures that we are familiar with and that we learn about in school like Einstein, Beethoven, which helps us to better appreciate their impact on society. when it comes to understanding their background. Also, I think more importantly, it helps um as Nico has said to just improve your experience traveling overseas and just seeing the world, which I think everybody should get the opportunity to do. Um whether that be in
014the German speaking countries of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Um I had the opportunity to um travel to Germany uh around 8th grade. Yeah, 8th grade my summer uh summer leading into eighth grade. um just you know putting in a few phrases I knew here and there it just helped me to connect with people that I wouldn't other otherwise have the opportunity to do so without you know traveling to that country and just experiencing the culture and traditions that um they offer there. Um and I'm personally I'm really looking forward to just continuing that um experience traveling abroad. Um, I really want to um go abroad for um at least maybe a year or two in college and just study um in Germany, which I'm really looking forward to. And I believe that taking German now
015has helped me prepare for that. Overall, it's uh learning German has increased my cultural awareness and has helped me understand the lives of those who have different customs and traditions that that we aren't necessarily used to. And I believe if we um do that and ex experience or learn another language, uh we'll have more empathy towards each other in other cultures. I believe that if we can continue to support uh not just German, but the language department at North Penn, um it will help students receive these unique opportunities to help them understand the world around them and help promote a future centered around global opportunity. Thank you. [applause] >> Good evening everyone. I'm Anna Zuckley and I am a junior who is taking German for honors. Tonight I will share with you why taking German
016has greatly benefited me. My first reason is that you are being exposed to a culture different than your own in which you learn more about the world. It also broadens your perspective. Another reason is the process of learning a new language which includes reading, writing, speaking and grammar. Each and every time I am in German class, I am being challenged in a way that wouldn't occur in a math, English or science class. For example, learning German grammar and thinking in German forces several parts of your brain to work simultaneously. In the long term, you will be able to think better and more logically all because you decided to take German. Overall, studying German has majorly benefited me to to the learning complex grammar and getting to kn know a new culture. And I'm so grateful
017for the world language department and German for giving me this opportunity to study in high school. And also a shout out to Framol because she has been a wonderful teacher to me this year and last year. Thank you. [applause] I'm Zoe Tiger and I am a junior who is currently taking ASL 3 at the high school. ASL is now in its third year at being at the high school. I've taken ASL 1 and now I'm taking ASL 2. I am so happy that the high school had all has offered this course because it is such an incredible class to be able to take and to learn to sign and be able to learn something new, to be able to communicate with those who are deaf and use ASL. The ASL class has taught me how
018to be more confident, whether it be in signing or talking. I am so grateful to have learned so much about deaf culture to be able to understand and be compassionate for them. Taking this class has been such an honor because during Thanksgiving break, I went on vacation and had the honor of having a real life interaction with a little girl and her family who are deaf. Being able to use the signs I have learned from ASL to talk to them was such an amazing opportunity and they were so grateful to have met someone who could sign to them and their child. At this time there's a petition going around that says we want to add ASL3. I have a copy of it if you're curious to see it and it has 200 signatures. I and
019many others really want this ASL 3 in the course selection now so we can take it during our senior year. Thank you for your time. [applause] >> Hello, my name is Madison Bose. I'm currently in the middle of my second ASL class. When I first signed up, I thought it was Sorry, I thought I was just learning another sign. I'm sorry. Learning another language. What I didn't realize was that I was stepping into into an entirely new world. A world that has completely changed how I see communication, inclusion, and connection. Last year, my mom and I went to the store to pick up a few things. When we check when we reached the checkout, I noticed the cashier had a clear implant. He spoke beautiful English, but I could see he had to focus carefully
020on our faces to understand us. He had to work harder just to communicate. So I signed to him. The look on his face completely changed. He was surprised, shocked even that someone knew the language that he spoke. In that moment, something powerful happened. The barrier between us disappeared. What could have been a simple transaction became a meaningful human connection. That's the power of ASL. I also teach my aunt new signs I learned in class. Now, when we're far apart or it's too loud to hear each other, we sign. What started as something new became something practical, useful, and even fun. She has encouraged me to take ASL for a while, so I'm glad I was able to get into it. It is also very useful for me because I work at a retirement home and
021this language has come in great use when working with gyatrics who are deaf or even hearing impaired. I would just like to say one last thing to Miss Amelius who is watching from home. Thank you so much Miss Amelius for teaching me such an amazing language. I also want to thank her for teaching me new signs on the side when we have conversations. Taking this language has really helped me open a new world that I never knew was there. I really love this class and I do hope we get that ASL 3 so I can keep going with my learning experience. Thank you. Bonire. My name is Lena Martin and I'm a junior here at North Penn. I started learning French back at Penfield in 8th grade in Madame Clancy's class. Now I'm in French
0224 and Madam Burner is my teacher and I plan on taking AP French next year. I'm also part of French club and I'm also on the French club cabinet. I would not be standing here today without my French teachers. Madame Clancy taught me the basic French and inspired me to continue on and Madam Burner helped me build my confidence and challenge myself. I initially wanted to take French because of ballet. I've been dancing for almost 13 years and I chose to take French to better understand like the meaning of the terms and the steps that we do. Ballet terms are in French and hearing the language outside the classroom helps me remind that helps remind me that French isn't just a language. It's part of art, culture and movement. One of the most meaningful parts
023of my experience has been having a French pen pal. My pen pal and I have so much in common and I would not have known that that without learning the language and the culture. Through our letters, I realized that even though we live in totally different countries, our interests in daily lives are very similar. That understanding comes from studying culture alongside the language. In the future, I hope to travel and study abroad during college. I want to experience a new culture firsthand. I know that the education and understanding of French that I'm learning at Northpen has provided me with the inspiration and confidence to do so. Merci or [laughter] [applause] [snorts] Good evening members of the North Pan Board of Education. My name is Hayden Kochansky and I am a sophomore at Northman High School.
024I am currently enrolled in Spanish 2 along with my friend Joel who will also be speaking tonight. Some students feel that certain classes don't always connect to real life, but Spanish 2 truly does for me. It builds on what we learned in Spanish one and helps us grow more confident speaking and understanding the language in real conversations. We move just beyond memorizing vocabulary and begin using it in meaningful ways. My teacher, Mrs. Honitis, creates a classroom environment that is both engaging and effective. Some days we review through interactive games like Gim Kit and Quizlet, and other days we practice conversations with classmates or complete activities that reinforce what we're learning. Either way, no two classes feel the same. This variety keeps us involved and helps the material stick in our minds. Spanish 2 also prepares
025us for the future. I hope to travel someday and knowing Spanish will allow me to communicate directly with people instead of being reliant on a translation app. With over 600 million Spanish speakers worldwide, being bilingual opens the door for new opportunities and stronger connections for whatever career I choose to pursue in the future. Overall, Spanish 2 is one of the most practical and enjoyable classes I am taking this year. Thank you for your time. Good evening. My name is Joel Zachariah and I'm a sophomore who is taking Spanish 2 currently. I would like to share why Spanish 2 is valuable to me. I genuinely look forward to this class because it is interactive and engaging. We don't just memorize u memorize vocabulary. We actually use the language through speaking, listening and group work which makes
026learning meaningful. Furthermore, the world language teachers are very kind, respectful and understanding and they create a comfortable and safe environment where students feel confident to participate and learn from their mistakes. In addition, I enjoy this class and its focus on authentic culture. We learn we learn about traditions, daily life, and values of Spanish-sp speakaking countries. As an Indian-American, learning another culture is especially meaningful to me because I can connect to different values within family, communities, and traditions. These cultural connections help me understand the language on a deeper level and appreciate similarities and differences interculturally. The world language teachers make a huge and positive impact by broadening our world views. Spanish too is also useful beyond the classroom. I plan to major in either business or engineering where communication and collaboration are valuable skills. Knowing Spanish
027will surely open doors to more opportunities to practice these skills and provide a strong provide a communicative foundation in my future career. Overall, Spanish 2 builds language skills, cultural awareness, and confidence, making it a class that truly benefits students now and in the future. Thank you for your time. [applause] Okay, I'd now like to invite the students and Mrs. Atkus up. Um, and we'll do shaking of hands. Um I want to just thank all of you all so much for coming out and for the parents behind you and others who are supporting um these students. It means so much to have the parent student engagement um in the audience and to be able to see this in action. I also want to say that I could see from my fellow board members as I'm looking
028over to the side that we were all like there were things in your comments that we all related to in some way or another. So why I chose to study a language in high school or Nico I'm sorry you really did say that studying a foreign language in a classroom is so difficult and it was one of my greatest challenges but the ski so I got that when you said that that it is hard and it's not always something that comes easy or that we're successful at but that act of engaging. So those of you who shared your authentic engagement with a native speaker and the connection that it formed, those are some of the most important and valuable skills and I'm so glad that you all shared those. Those are experiences that I've been
029able to have that have informed my career and what I do, but have also just what make life worth living, right? This is the the connection and the engagement um that is just so valuable. So we really do appreciate you coming out. We would like to be able to shake your hands um and connect with each of you um and thank you for coming. Any other board member would like to say anything before Yes. >> Yes, please. I I couldn't I can't resist. So, I I also I speak another language and so I know um I can really appreciate and I'm really thankful for those who didn't have to learn another language that are choosing to learn another language. which I think that's just uh so giving of you and you're thinking about it from
030the other perspective and I completely also appreciate I think I'm not sure I think you all said it in some form or the other about going somewhere and being able to communicate in the other person's language is in my experience there's nothing that breaks barriers like that. So to to you all and thank you for teaching me thank you. So now I have that memorized. Um and I think thank you you know orato orato okay gracias orada uh donash that's like the first thing I learn in any language and uh and it's it's uh whenever I use my thank you in another language um it totally transforms the engagement. So, I I too am very grateful to your educators that have taken the time to make this so pleasurable for you. I was looking when
031you said Latin was coming up, I thought she was going to speak in Latin. I was worried for a second, [laughter] but I would have been thrilled to to hear that as well. But I thank all the educators that have made this a pleasurable uh experience for the students and I and I really do thank the students for coming to share their experiences with us. So, I'd like to welcome Mrs. Adiss, um, Nico, Evan, Anna, Zoe, Madison, Lena, Hayden, and Joel up. And we'll do, um, shaking. We'll we'd love to just engage with you. And I understand Zoe, I just want to thank you for your advocacy. We understand that you have a petition. Um, and we are very grateful for your your advocacy on that matter. So, thank you. [applause] Follow [laughter] >> [laughter]
032[snorts] >> I'm We'll get we can get it back. >> Tell her I'll get it back to her. >> So, I do want to thank everyone for coming out. I think um we've all had a very tough winter. We're all um feeling a little bit of spring fever, but bringing the warmth of students in has certainly helped um helped us. So, thank you all so much for coming. So we will move on um to the audience of citizens and the statement has already been read. So are there any members of our community desiring to be heard? Anyone would like to make public comment. [snorts] >> All right, seeing none, we'll move on. No, I'm just kidding, Mr. Le. [laughter] I I actually leaned over Mr. Laneir and said to Mrs. Ramage, "He's in the lobby.
033We have to wait." So, come on up. >> I didn't see him in the I saw him come in. I didn't see him in the lobby. I thought Jason, I thought you might have gone home. So, the podium is is is yours. >> So, I thought maybe >> No problem for people who uh or family members. >> Uh Jason, Landdale, PA. Um, I sent you all an email just now regarding the information I wanted to share just so that you can see it because it's small text, kind of hard to read. Um, and I kind of I'll get into it, but it's uh, you know, it's feel it's a little bit heated. Uh, in any event, uh, last couple meetings I've been talking about sort of the I guess I would I view it as
034looking at the data as the the unequivocal failure of the the education and equity. And I'm not saying that because I'm I'm worried about uh who you're hiring or anything. What I'm talking about is the actual data that shows up in two different ways. One is regarding the violence in the middle schools primarily and uh the Keystone proficiency exams. And so I I stopped and I went back and I looked at what the the initial equity uh uh call was for, what the what the the policy was going to entail. And what the goal was was to increase staff knowledge and skills. Uh reducing achievement gap was one of the the the number one call of of doing the equity uh uh education equity. The second one was increase diversity in higher courses and reduce
035reduced disproportionality. Now I can't speak to the dis uh reducing disproportionality because that data is not available. But what I can see is how poorly the the proficiencies are. And and just for reference, and I don't know if you can call them up, but in 2015, so it's a sort of a different larger data set, the kids that were proficient, the historically underperforming kids were at a 90 or 70 76% proficiency rate. And today, all that dem everyone that would be in that demographic is much further below that. And I know some of this is COVID and I kind of did some reading on that and it's you get about 10 points for the the COVID gap, but we're talking 20, 30, and 40 points below what they were in what kids were in 2015.
036And this isn't regarding the kids that were doing well in 2015. there were they were the the un non-historically underperforming kids were a 97 proficiency in math 97 in um in biology as well and 98 in in uh literature and they're all much below that. So I don't see that there is this has done done the intended goal which was to benefit students overall and especially kids that were were falling down behind for any reason. And when you look at the the the violence involved at the at the middle school, my goodness, that is just we we are at several times what the county is and several times what the state is. And this is just last year. And and and what's even more alarming is the the the suspension rate on those kids. Like
037kids that are bad. I know about that. Trust me, I know about that. And and they should be suspended, but they're not being. our suspension rate is at the county average while our violence is many times higher. And I'll leave it there. If you need any other that information, let me know and I'll I'm more than happy to send to you. Thank you. >> See if there's any other cover. >> Okay. Any other person desiring to be heard? Anyone else looking to make public comment this evening? >> Okay. I'm going to turn it over to Dr. Bower just to follow up. >> Yeah, I'd be happy um to address some of Mr. Laneir's comments. I did mention when he asked a question about the violence rate on the state website uh couple months ago. I
038had indicated uh I understand he shared the data with me. He and I talked about it and I said that we would get back at a uh safe school committee meeting. We have unpacked the issue there. Um he is correct that some of those dashboards say that those rates are higher in North Penn than others and we have been able to identify the fact that it is a mapping issue with our discipline reporting. So things are coded in certain ways that they get mapped to being violent. Um drawing on a bathroom wall for example was mapped to um a misdemeanor for graffiti. That's just an example. So we will unpack it at the safe schools committee meeting when we do the next discipline dashboard update. Um but we've changed the system and hopefully it'll be
039better reflected. So when Mr. says that our suspension rates are the same, but our violence rate on that dashboard is is much higher. He is correct. However, the violence rate is misrepresented and we will explain that in greater detail at the safe schools committee. So, the infractions are logged properly. They were mapped to a state code improperly, but I'll provide more detail at a future meeting. >> And can that information be when it like cor it's I'm I'm assuming that you're making the corrections moving forward. >> Correct. anything to clarify the data looking back, >> right? And so our dashboard itself will look the exact same as it always has because we have categorized things in um you know all the codes that were lined up and how many infractions by school, by grade, all
040those things. Um what was happening on the back end with the data extract up to PTE was not mapped properly. So that's the issue. Our data dashboard is still accurate and what we report is accurate. The mapping's not. Um that's been corrected now moving forward. So, we'll be able to address that. But he he raises I don't always agree with some of the points that Mr. Laneir raises. He raises a good point here and it has helped us become better as a result. So, >> okay. And before we move on um to the approval of minutes, I do also want to note that I do believe that um Co-Chiba is um present but um joining virtually. Do we want to test to see? >> Yes, I have been in touch with Mr. Chiba and he
041asked if he's allowed to weigh in on votes which of course you can. So Mr. Chiba just to practice here. All those in favor >> I >> beautifully done. You did well. Okay. >> Appreciate the uh yeah I'm under the weather so I thought I would keep my germs to myself this >> we appreciate that. So we're ready to go Mrs. Ramage. >> Okay. Great. Do I have a motion and a second to approve the minutes from the January 22nd action meeting? >> So moved. Second >> motion by Mr. Rash, seconded by Mrs. Rdnick. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. So we'll move on now to our committee reports. And the committee reports for finance, safe schools, education, curriculum, and instruction policy and facilities and operation were all
042meetings that were held and recorded um and their um updates are in board docs. So, we will skip those reports and move on to the North Montco Technical Career Center. >> Uh, it's a little uh it's a little long today, but we were very busy this past month. So, uh we the draft in North Monco Technical Career Center budget for next school year was reviewed. There will be a motion in March to approve the budget. The act 93 administrators agreement was reviewed. North Monco comprehensive plan. The plan has been reworked this year. It's out on North Monco's website. Uh please take a look at it. It's very informative. It's very forwardlooking. It's very creative. Uh it's a a very good read but very long read. >> [laughter] >> Uh and it's open for public comment
043for 28 days. Uh they we held the North Pen uh Skills USA District competition and the medal winners from North Penn or uh Jasmine Chowway. Yeah. You want to do that? >> Sure. Um I'll try to rattle these off. Apologies for any misprononunciations. Uh, we had Jasmine Char, Anna Chimalleski, Matthew Connelly, Andrew Evans, Devon Hammond, Osman Sayed, Aiden Bole, Logan Zulada, Maline Kio, uh, Sarah Lopez, Columna, Joseph Martin, Gabriel May, Martina Metri, Vincenzo Paggleanti, I've met Vinnie, he's an awesome kid, Alam, Alicia, Derek Bushy, Doug Servy, Thomas Judge, Fadia Malak, Kelly Maguire, Grace McKay, Olivia Nuen, MZ Rayad, Jaden Stewart, and Tyler Tyler Voyek. And our first place winners will move on to State Skills USA competition in Hershey on April 8th through April 10th. Uh, Sylvie Rockalante Manufacturing Group donated $8,500 to the machine
044manufacturing and engineering program. They have been a very generous champion for this program. Uh, the our open house was held uh and over 12,000 1,200 perspective students and their families attended the open house. um students came to help out and uh show the parents and students around our facilities. The board accepted the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquishy grant in the amount of $75,000 to support the installation of electronic door badge wipes access system to enhance building security at North Monco. Last year, we were awarded a grant to purchase two EV charging stations. Those two stations were installed and wired by electrical students. The electrical students and the auto tech students will use them to train and to maintain. Uh our next meeting is on March 18th at 7 p.m. Thank you. >> Thank you,
045Mr. Rash. And I will provide the update from the MCIU um board meeting. So, we met on February 19th. Um, we welcomed six new board members and we had the privilege of hearing presentations from the PE preK counts program where we talked about eligibility qualifications for attending and districts that hold CA classrooms throughout the county. I'm grateful for those classroom spaces that we have within the North Penn school district. >> [snorts] >> Um we also heard a presentation from the technology services um team and the contracts that they provide and award to and partner with um to help ensure um supports for our districts. Um we highlighted and approved personnel reports. Um we received various um department updates um and also learned about upcoming um ReadAcross America um activities. Um the board was also recognized
046as part of um school board appreciation month. Um and I just want to say that for that month they invited um schoolboard members to the um the to visit the um envision program which is the transition um for transition students. So these are students um in the special ed program who are then 18 to 21 and they participate in career readiness training. So I got to see students who are um participating in a manufacturing um and engineering um uh horiculture, child care, um and a few others. And I was able to then be interviewed um about board service by those students. Some of them were North Penn. Their questions were spo so spot-on. One of them asked me the question of how many emails do I receive in a day and do I really read
047them? Um I really appreciated her honesty. She followed it up with what what was my favorite fruit? Um and so we talked about how we were going to make a fruit salad. Um it was really one of the just an incredible experience. Um they also are now learning screen pressing and they can make t-shirts and so the student um that the North Pen student who interviewed me also then made a t-shirt for me. So it is it is something that I treasure and I'm very grateful for. Okay. The MCIU board will then meet again in um next month. So, I'll move on to the North Penn Educational Foundation. The foundation did not meet in January. However, we are gearing up for our annual online auction, which will be held May 5th through the 11th. Local
048businesses are being asked to donate items or services for this popular fundraiser that brings in more than $10,000 a year to fund innovative programs in North Penn schools. For more information about the auction or the educational foundation, please contact Christine Leoski at the ESC. And I am putting my fellow schoolboard directors on warning that I will be reaching out um for ideas on a board contribution to the online act auction. So I'll be looking for creative um ideas and and recommendations there. Okay. Next report is legislative and I believe I'll turn it over to Mr. McBain. >> Yep. The legislative committee did not meet in the past month and so we have no report this evening. Thank you. >> Okay. Next up is the solicitor's report >> and I also have no report this evening.
049Thank you. >> Okay. I guess that's moves us to the superintendent report and I recommend the items listed in the consent agenda, namely items A through O, which are contracts, student travel, gifts to the district, student agreements, the Adidas rainbow lettering agreement, approval to advertise for bids, the MCIU budget, the extended child care rate, extended school care childcare rates, excuse me, selection of the new insurance broker, tax leans, and then uh items K through O are assessment appeals. Okay. And just a reminder to our community that these were items that were all discussed in committee first. >> Yes. >> So, do I have a motion and a second for the items as listed in the consent items portion of the >> So, moved. >> Okay. Motion by Mrs. Coin and I believe it was okay.
050And a second by Mr. McBain. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. >> Okay. Thank you. Moving on to the non-consent agenda. I recommend approval uh for a first read the policies listed and after we get a motion in a second, I'll expand upon one of them. >> Okay. Do I have a motion and a second? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Motion by Mrs. Rnik, second by Mr. McBain, and then we will pause for an update. >> Yes. So um as per typical we had a policy committee meeting last month where we went through these four policies that are listed um through that conversation policy 218.1 there was a question raised I believe by chairman Mr. Rash about um so there are notifications in accordance with act 44
051we went through that again in the committee structure but Mr. asked, "Could there be an explicit notification to families? Not only do we need to notify if a student has a weapon on school campus, but if a weapon is ever drawn by law enforcement. Obviously, we've had conversations about SPOS's, but there's many we uh cited through that presentation process that there's over 600 visits to our schools and walkthroughs. And if a weapon was ever drawn, would we notify um the community as well?" I think I responded in that moment to Mr. Rash that I've been here in North Penn for 11 years. a weapon has not been drawn, but I can imagine in the event that one is drawn, we would certainly communicate that to our families. Nonetheless, um it is important to codify that
052expectation. So, you'll notice that at the bottom of page two, uh Mr. Summers and I work together and we added the language that the superintendent or designate shall also ensure notification consistent with the pro provisions set forth above in the event that the district becomes aware of an incident in which a weapon is drawn by law enforcement or school security personnel on school property at a school sponsored activity or on a conveyance providing transportation to or from school a school or a school sponsored activity. So that's a change from when we um discuss this at the policy committee. So I just wanted to call that out for our directors just to highlight there was a change since then. This is the first read. So since we hadn't gone to a first read yet, we made
053that change. So tonight's the first read, next month would be adoption. So that's all [snorts] >> and this is just a point of clarification. When a policy goes for first read, it gets goes from committee to the full board. It goes back to policy or it goes back to the board for the second. It comes back. Okay. So wasn't sure if so that so it will go back for a final vote. Um [clears throat] so this is yeah next month. >> Correct. >> Okay. Any com other comments or questions? >> Mr. Tio. >> Uh yes. I just want to take a moment to uh appreciate uh the chairman's work on this but also uh Mr. Summer's work on ensuring that these policies uh adhere to state law to governing uh any legislative uh edicts that
054come down from Harrisburg. Uh it certainly keeps the district in line and ensures that we are in compliance. Uh and I know it's difficult to juggle all those different sources of requirements on us, Mr. Summers. So really appreciate the work that you're doing on that, but also preparing the board uh and all those memos around what the changes are, why the requirements are being made, and what value it has to the district. Uh this is these are these are codifying the work in the district, and that's really valuable to us. And so uh really thanks thank you to you and your colleagues for the work that you're doing on the policy front. >> Thank you. Really appreciate that. >> I had a question or more of a comment, but um I I understand that some
055of that the the policy surrounding weapons was regarding you know the act 44 and the changes that came out with notifying um family about weapons on campus. Um, I just wanted to to clarify that even though that the change of the 24-hour notice and that time frame, even though it wasn't in policy, my experience with my children in school was that that was what was adhered to. So, even if it is codifying it now, I I understand that that is something that has been a standard for North Penn for quite some time. >> Yes, beautifully said, Mrs. Coin. um typically well under the 24-hour window. Um so when Act 44 came out, I do think some school districts were shocked. Um it is the standard here in North Penn. There's no bones about it when
056a there is a weapon and it is usually a mistake. It is usually that a child had something in their backpack that they didn't remember they forgot was in there from camping or they took their brother's bag, that kind of a thing. It's a little younger students, but in no matter what the reason is, we still communicate it just to be as transparent as possible. So, >> and appreciate the district's effort on that as well. And thank you for noting that, Mrs. Coin. Okay, so we have a motion and a second on the table. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion carries. Thank you all. >> Next, I recommend approval of the personnel items as per the attached. Do I have a motion and a second to approve personnel?
057>> Motion by Mr. Mc Mr. Bell. >> Second by Mrs. Reddick. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed. Motion carries. >> Okay. Next, Mrs. Ramich, I'm going to combine items C and D. They are both uh change orders. One is for big pack bid pack one. The other is for bid pack two. Uh the first item is um a recommended change order totaling in the amount of $9,32. Um both of the this is for pen builders and um the change order does not increase the contract amount to the vendor, nor does it increase the overall construction budget. That's the case for both of these change orders. Mr. Slaughter outlined both of them in the FNO meeting last month. So recommending items C and D, two change orders. highly recommend watching that
058meeting if you would like greater detail on those items. Do I have a motion and a second? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Motion by Mr. Kaiser, seconded by Mr. Bell. Um any comments or questions? >> Just a quick note, this was my first FNO meeting. So the first time that I got to walk through some of the change orders and the process uh that Mr. Slaughter is taking us through. the precision of the presentation, the pre the precision of the numbers and the clarity with which it was communicated was commendable. So I just want to give my gratitude to the whole team for the clarity of this. It's making sure that we're putting the dollars in the right places and making sure that this project is staying right on track. So really well done.
059>> Thank you, Mr. Bell. I appreciate that feedback. Okay, we have a motion and a second. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. >> Okay. Next, I recommend a resolution approval to submit an application to the PA Department of Community and Economic Development Public Schools Facility Improvement Program Grant submission as per the attached resolution. Uh this is for roofs in the school district um and to the sum of $5 million. So, uh Mr. Slaughter and his team put together the application and we're we're hopeful to receive at least some award. Okay. Do I have a motion and a second? >> Motion by Mrs. Coin, second by Mr. Bell. Any comments or questions? Um, and apologies if this was already covered. Um, appreciate looking you reviewing opportunities for grants. Um, and
060I know that the comprehensive plan kind of outlines priorities in which school buildings are focused on and different projects. Um for myself, for my own knowledge, it is there a reason why certain schools were chosen for for roofs only? Is that part of the way the way this grant works? >> So this grant uh revolves around uh different aspects of uh the physical plant and uh infrastructure of the buildings. Uh we partnered with TMCO roofing to develop a list of worstase uh roof projects and most of these are at the end of their warranty or out of warranty and are currently issues. The list was generated from our capital list. So these were already identified on the list for replacement. Uh so we submitted those to uh for this grant. >> Thank you. Okay, we
061have a motion and a second. Any um all those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion carries. >> So, Mr. Slaughter, uh Mrs. Ramish just leaned over and congratulations. You're going to sit up here next month. You just deserve a seat at the I'm just kidding. [laughter] You You deserve a seat at the table. We call you to the podium every month. >> That was not the face I was expecting. [laughter] It's a shortcut for you. It means yes, we appreciate you always being here to a answer the questions because anyway and you always come with the right answers and the right level of detail and um we really appreciate you. So we'd love for you to have a seat at the table and it would it would shorten the walk
062to the podium. [laughter] >> All right. Next, I recommend approval of community education program fee schedule for their summer camps. >> Do I have a motion and a second? >> Second. >> Motion by Mr. Mr. McBain, seconded by Mr. Rash. Any comments or questions? >> Just a shout out to come out for these programs in the summer. My my daughters have been enjoying them for many years. Uh particularly on the band and the choir side now that we are offering the choir. It's spectacular. So, please uh come out and enjoy it during the summers. >> Perfect. Thank you. And I know my grandsons uh take put part in the baseball program every summer for the past three or four years. So they enjoy that. Also, >> as someone whose children do not live in the
063North Penn school district and participate in camps elsewhere, I can tell you there aren't many camps at these prices either. So [laughter] I just did my taxes for the year and I paid a lot more than this for camps. So, [laughter] >> um I appreciate my fellow board members. Um [clears throat] Google reviews, you can go online and list them and then we can get them. Yeah. Anyway, but thank you for your the resounding support for these um efforts and and sharing that feedback. Okay. I believe we have a motion and a second on the floor. All those in favor say I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion carries. And lastly, I recommend approval of the SNS general equipment bid award to the lowest responsible biders as follows. Douglas Equipment $2,49922 and Singer Equipment $110,42645 for
064a grand total of $112,92567. Um for to as a reminder to the full board and for those who are new to the process, we actually have been talking about spending down uh the fund balance in the SNS department, which is an enterprise fund by replacing equipment each year. So this is just a continuation of part of that process. [snorts] >> Perfect. Thank you. Do I have a motion and a second? >> So moved. >> Motion by Mrs. Rnick, seconded by Mr. Kaiser. Any comments or questions? A quick question on that. I fully in favor of all of these different pieces of equipment that they're critical to make sure that our kids are getting the right food at the right time. Is there a preventative maintenance strategy in place to manage that sort of draw down
065against the fund balance? >> Absolutely. So, um, Ms. Green is probably one of the best food service directors I've seen in many, many districts. Um, and she has a a very well-laidout plan. She works with several different um consultants that come in for different parts of her line. So, she is like they they work through, you know, how to speed things up, how what what we could what equipment. It's just not a one for one replacement either. It's also what can we do to improve our efficiency and that kind of thing. Um and like we said, she does have a very nice and a very healthy fund balance that we can't use anywhere else by law. um it has to be used on um food service equipment and food service uh um stuff, you know
066what I mean? Um products and whatnot. So, you know, we're Yes, she does have a prevented maintenance program. >> Wonderful. >> I'm a little sleepy. I apologize. >> It's a great answer. Thank you. >> Yep. >> Okay, we have a motion and a second on the floor. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. >> Okay, thank you, Mrs. Ramich. On to Mrs. Hower. >> Thank you. Um I have the treasures report which we reviewed at the uh finance committee meeting a couple weeks ago. >> Okay. Do I have a motion and a second to approve the treasures report? >> So moved. Second. >> Motion by Mr. Rash, seconded by Mrs. Rdnick. Any comments or questions? Seeing none, all those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion
067carries. >> 8B is the ratification of dispersements for the month of January in the amount of 32,224,240.75 cents. Do I have a motion and a second to approve the ratification of dispersements for January? >> Motion by Mr. Bell. >> Second by Mrs. Rnik. Any comments or questions? >> All in favor say I. >> I. Any opposed? >> Motion carries. >> Um item 8 C is the monthly budgetary transfers for the month of January 2026. Um in reviewing the budgetary transfers, most of these are very low dollar items moving back and forth. A lot of them within the same category just for different items than was originally expected. Okay. Do I have a motion to approve budget transfers? >> Motion by Mrs. Coin. Second by Mr. Kaiser. Any comments or questions? Seeing none, all in favor
068say I. I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. Um and then the last is just theformational financial reports for the year for the month, excuse me. Um for the month of December. >> Great. And those do not need to be voted on. Correct. >> Correct. Correct. Okay. >> Informational [snorts] only. Perfect. Okay. Okay, moving on to other business. Any anyone else have any items they'd like to raise, Mr. Tio? >> Uh, yeah. I'd like to just take a moment to recognize that we, um, observed President's Day on Monday, uh, which was great. Um, but then also, um, we had another day off on Tuesday, which was interesting and nice and an interesting use of our calendar. Uh this year we got to observe uh the Lunar New Year for the first time I believe
069if I'm not mistaken in North Penn School District. Uh and uh I was going to say something tonight about the value of belonging and ensuring inclusivity. uh but I don't think I could top what our students did today uh for for sure because I heard the connection to understanding different cultures uh around connections to career uh understanding one's culture but also understanding other cultures and when we think about ensuring belonging uh in our school system you know being able to recognize uh uh different traditions and customs and other faiths which I know my students and my students Sorry, my kids uh experience on the regular. Um although I do help them with their home. Yeah. Um but I also want to recognize that uh having the day off uh and being able to observe a
070holiday like that is not the only way that the school district is ensuring belonging. Uh if it were, it would be it would fall far short. And we also know that the calendar work is is a really challenging part of of the work. And Dr. waters went through lengthy explanation in our recent ECI meeting to look at the district calendar. And so u you know it happened that this is possible. If if it can happen, it's understandable uh as well for future years. But it's not the only way that North Penn is ensuring belonging. You see it every time you walk into one of our schools and in the hallways and the curriculum and that kids are feeling belonging and understanding difference and understanding other faith traditions and customs. And certainly we see that in
071all aspects of our curriculum which our young people certainly demonstrated this this uh this evening. And so really just want to uh appreciate the district for making this kind of move uh but not just in this one individual day but also in the mission that we have as a school district and it shows up in all aspects of the work that we do. And uh Mr. Chiba and I were able to see that in Montgomery Elementary uh at the end of January. Uh we saw Dr. Kim and I was profiled uh with the dance troop. Um and I really want to call this out too is that it wasn't just a performance as entertaining as it was. Uh it was quite educational and I certainly learned something uh probably much to my mother's sugarin uh
072around some of the customs around Lunar New Year. Uh but really appreciate that the school district is doing that. So with that appreciation to the district team for being able to do that and recognizing that when possible that's great that it can happen. Um and we know how challenging it can be managing that particular calendar. Uh so really thank you for the work on that Dr. Waters. >> Thank you Dr. Tio. I appreciate um those comments and that sentiment. Um, and for all of our students, I I think there's an extension of that effort with our um our equity work. And you know, the our students may have the day off and some of our students may be celebrating that holiday, but there are also opportunities that the district puts forward to help us learn.
073So even though so my I love the conversations that we've had at home when we said, "Hey, we didn't have school today. Why didn't you have school? What was happening?" and then we get to learn about what what might be happening on that day and and connecting. So the background work and the lessons that are happening is also something that's truly a gift to our community. So appreciate that. >> So um so yes, we have lots lots of holidays and things happening this weekend. So that yes, do you want to Oh, okay. Okay. Um and I think in honor of any other business Okay. um in honor of our foreign language students and me practicing a little bit of a foreign language that I learned when I learned how to celebrate what the meaning of
074celebrating the lunar new year was. I'm going to wish our Vietnamese students a happy new year by saying chukmongoy. Um and I will call our meeting call for um an adjournment. A motion and a second. >> So moved. >> Okay, meeting is adjourned.