001YouTube. All right. All our internet connections are great tonight. Miss Rdnik, the meeting is yours. Everything's live. The meeting is yours. >> Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Gilmore. Can you all hear me? Well, >> sound great. >> All right. Good evening, everyone. Uh, tonight's our regulator regularly scheduled committee meeting. Uh, 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 ensure compliance with this requirement, it is essential that those planning to address the board state their name and municipality. Uh, members of the audience are asked to limit their questions and comments to three minutes. Okay. >> Mrs. Redneck. Kumbi, we usually do that. Um, >> we do that, >> but it's okay. You can start with
002the pledge and then >> I [laughter] started I'm going to go with the pledge. Thank you. Well, it's it's what's on my um Okay, got it. So, um this is my one and a half time doing this. So, I ask for some grace and patience. All right. So, we're going to do the pledge of allegiance, right? >> Yes. >> Okay. So, let's do the pledge of allegiance. Okay, good. So, 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. And I'm back. All right. Do we have we have minutes of the last meeting. So I want to recommend approval of the minutes of the October 27th policy committee meeting. >> Second. >> Meeting
003minutes approved. I'm going to >> Sorry, Mrs. Ren. You need to take a vote. You had a motion and a second. >> Oh, okay. >> Everybody. >> All right. Thank you. Thank you. I love it. Good. All those in favor I. >> All right. Anyone opposed? Nope. All right. We can move on then. I think this is when I hand over to Dr. Waters. >> Yes. >> Okay. Excellent. >> All right. Thank you. You're doing a great job. [laughter] All right. So, um, happy Monday everyone. Tonight, um, we are just recommending one policy this evening. Um, and that is policy 122.1, which is non-school sponsored student groups. And so I'm going to ask Mr. Summers to uh give you an overview of that policy. >> Thank you, Dr. Waters, and good evening everyone. Um, so
004tonight's policy proposal 122.1 is a new policy. Um, that is not a policy number uh that the district currently has. It is a PSBA recommended policy. And um one thing you'll notice is it's a 0.1. So it's a 122.1 which we tend to see um policies that are are utilize that numbering system when they are really kind of additional details um about a certain policy area. So policy 122 is co-curricular and extracurricular activities. And really what this policy 122.1 which is titled non-school sponsored student groups um is about is a a portion of of policy 122 that says that the district will adhere to the equal access act. Um, the Equal Access Act is a law that was passed um in the 1980s and designed to ensure that student groups meeting on campus um are
005not discriminated against, that there are equal opportunities. Initially it was um really uh heavily focused on student religious groups having the same rights as other groups to meet um and and has gone on to also be influential in in a variety of student groups having the right to meet on campus. So, um that policy, uh essentially just says exactly that, that when the district opens up a space for students to have meeting opportunities that um students regardless of the political um background of their group or the religious nature of their group that they'll have an equal opportunity as as all other student groups to meet and and uh engage in discussion and and activities. So um and it also call this uh proposed policy also calls upon the superintendent or designate to identify what are
006those spaces within our schools that um we have available for students to meet um and you know that we can impose reasonable requirements on students who who wish to um utilize those opportunities in developing uh or reviewing this policy with the administration. I will say one thing that um was discussed is that this policy might not be uh as utilized in North Penn as perhaps some other districts. And and one reason for that is just how many student organizations already exist as recognized student groups that um for many students, whatever their area of interest is, whatever their u group that they maybe identify with or or are interested in learning more about, there are those groups oftentimes already exist. Um and so those are are school district recognized groups that already have access to the
007same opportunities as other students. So, um, that might be different from some other school districts where maybe there aren't, uh, as many established clubs and organizations, um, at the secondary level. So, I I think that this policy, it's important, it should be adopted, but it might not come into play quite as often as it might in some other places where there are non-school uh, organi non-school sponsored student groups trying to meet. But in the event that there's a student group that, you know, there isn't an organized club uh at the at the middle school or high school level, for example, and they're interested in in maybe talking about trying to get a club together, this policy would say that they'll be treated just the same as any other students and won't be discriminated against in
008any way. Um the only I think other important thing to note about this policy is it does say that if there is a uh substantial disruption caused by a particular student group meeting. The district can take steps to um limit that disruption and you know perhaps not allow a group to meet but it would need be need to be that that group you know was really causing a substantial problem. not just that people might disagree with what the students who are participating in that group have to say or what they believe, but that they're really disrupting the operations of the district's educational program and that would be um a rare thing to have happen. So, um with that, if there are any uh questions, happy to answer them. Um but that pretty much summarizes the
009policy for this evening. Um Mrs. stole. >> So, uh, this maybe is for Dr. Bower since he used to be the high school principal. How many outside groups do we have? Like, was it 85 or so, wasn't it? Or was it more? >> So, um, we don't have many outside groups. >> Oh, okay. So, there's Okay. >> actual clubs that are school sanctioned, they go through a process. They have to apply. They have an adviser. You're right around. I think the the last time I checked the number was about 80. >> Okay. >> It might be more now because there's always new clubs coming on. >> Gotcha. Thank you. >> But this this policy is specific to student groups, right? Yeah. >> Yeah. So, this would be if a group of students decided to create
010an organization that was not school sanctioned, >> right? Um, so let's say you, me, Dr. Waters, and Mrs. Stole decided we wanted to create a um a Cheeit club just because that was my uh afternoon snack today. And um we have just an appreciation for CheezIts and we want to have a club. Um the school, you know, the principal and the inter club council might say, you know, that's not a a school club that we're going to sanction and pay an advisor. Um, but if they wanted to use the school facilities that would this also would govern that. >> Okay. >> Got that. >> Yeah, that that that makes sense. Sorry, Mrs. Dole, you were going to say >> No, that does make sense now. I was kind of confused, but no, thanks for the
011clarification. I appreciate it. >> Yeah, hence the second paragraph in the second page, it says a district employee may be assigned. So, it's not a requirement because of the difference between if it's school sanctioned or not. Okay, great. Um, any additional questions, Mrs. Stole? All right. So, now, Mr. Somas, do I move What do I do with >> Yep. Um, if you'd like to ask for a motion to move the uh proposed policy 122.1 forward to uh either work session or an action meeting. >> Okay. So I recommend approval to move policy 122.1 the non-school sponsor student groups to the board action meeting for a first reading. All in favor >> I have to move. So I have to say so moved and then you [laughter] >> next time just say can I have a
012motion? You don't have to read the All right. Uh can I have a motion? A move. >> Second. And then >> any further discussion? >> All in favor? >> I. >> Okay. I so complicated with two of us on. [laughter] >> Motion passes then. Excellent. Thank you. All right. So, do I um I have to reread the public comment >> statement. check if there's any student rep report tonight. >> Oh, that's true. Do we have any student rep reports? We do have two student reps with us tonight. Thank you for joining us. >> Hi. Yeah, sorry, I don't have a report, but I did have a quick question about the policy. Um, it would it be like limited to religious and cultural clubs or does it apply to kind of anything? Because I know Dr.
013Bower, you mentioned like a Cheeit club as an example. So, does it kind of apply to all fields? >> It it would. Um, and so it actually says in the uh opening paragraph that regardless of the religious, political, philosophical, or other content of the speech um being made. So, um historically um groups that had certain political or religious views were maybe the more likely to have trouble with um schools recognizing them or permitting them to act. But it does apply regardless of uh the content. So whatever the subject is that students would be interested in, it would apply to them. Good question. >> Thank you. >> Yes, it is indeed. Okay. So with no student report, um I can go to public comments. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> And Mr. Do we have anyone that
014again, right? >> No, I think the reading of the statement was fine at the beginning. Yeah, we do have one resident who has their hand up. >> Okay. >> So, I'm going to enable their microphone. So, Mr. Laneir, uh, your microphone is enabled. When you're ready to begin, please state your name and municipality for the record and begin your comments, please. >> Uh, Jason Laneir Landdale. Um, looking at the this policy and I was thinking to myself, [clears throat] if you have an outside group, let me back up. I know groups that are sponsored by the school if they have advisors or outside advisors if that's such a thing that those individuals those sponsor or uh the adults involved need to be need to have background checks. So if they're nonsponsored events with adults involved
015are there also background checks required? sort of I guess this is sort of just the I I know this is sort of tangential to the policy you're talking about now, but it seems to be maybe more dovetailed with it than than tangential I should say. So, if you guys could uh please sort of review that procedure or or what it is that you do. Uh and that's my only question. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Laneir. Anyone have a response to that? If not, we'll >> Yeah, I can uh certainly just share my perspective and then Mr. Summers, if you have anything to add. I know that um the the law requires that if we have an adult who is going to be um responsible for the care and well-being of students or a regularly
016scheduled visit to our schools, then we have clearances completed. Um so they can't work with kids or be in a regularly scheduled um proximity of children unless we have all the proper protocols otherwise they would have to be accompanied by someone who does a school official whether it be a teacher staff member administrator. So um Mr. Laneir's question was if it's an outside student organization non-school sponsored um would we require them their advisor if they're from outside of the school to um have clearances? So, the answer to that is definitely yes. But I can't really think of Mr. Summers, you're going to prove me wrong, but I can't really think of an outside organization that we would just allow an adult to come into the school and advise. Um, that would be more like a
017facility rental. Um, so this is more a a student if students are gathering to talk about a common interest and that's why it says we may assign an adult. So we may say, you know what, Mr. Summers, math teacher or assistant principal, we want you to go supervise that meeting. Um, so it is not a situation I I can't imagine that we would allow an outside advisor unless they are renting the facility to come in and advise the club. Mr. Summers, anything to add there? It's a unique uh situation that Mr. Lir asked about. >> Yeah, it's it's a good question. um that certainly we know that employees of the school district and independent contractors of the school district are required to have background checks. The so the issue is really um would this individual
018constitute a volunteer which is the other category of individuals that are required to have uh appropriate clearances and the definition of of who is a volunteer generally means that you are supporting a school program or activity which you would think would certainly cover our school sponsored activities. Um but I agree with Dr. B that I think we would likely view even an adviser for an outside group as as being a district volunteer if it's someone who would be having routine interaction with um children and um uh you know be be uh working with them on a regular basis. Um it certainly the policy does speak to um that these groups could have visitors come in. So, if there's someone from the local community who is uh interested in in the same topic as them, they
019could invite a visitor. uh and that might not meet the definition of a volunteer and might not be someone who would need a clearance. But certainly if the event were being held um in a school, my understanding is that individuals who are coming into our schools, while they might not necessarily have background checks, um they are subject to screening uh through um a system that looks for um certain types of offenses, the the Raptor system that you know would would um potentially serve as a a risk factor. So, um, there'd be some level of screening even just for visitors coming into our buildings. >> Excellent. Thank you both for that. Um, then that makes sense to me. Let's see any additional topics, Dr. Waters. >> No, thank not I'm saying no, thank you. No, there's
020[laughter] not. >> All right. Excellent. Okay. So with that, I believe that my next step is to move just to state that we're moving the policy to uh first readed action meeting. All right. Excellent. And with that, the next policy meeting will be in 2026. Um the dates will be posted on the district's website. If there is nothing else, I believe we can adjourn this meeting. All right. The meeting has been adjourned then. Thank you everybody.