001Good evening everyone. I'd like to welcome you to the November work session meeting and we'll start with the pledge of >> allegiance. United States of America to the stands one for all. So, first on our agenda, >> I have an objection to raise before you read the agenda. Is that the uh and uh guess Mr. Summers could tell me uh the superintendent's non-consent item B is pretty detailed topic yet there is nothing online regarding the information and to vote on that uh is irresponsible robs me and everybody who wants to under the sunshine law robs everybody the ability to fully understand what the reorganization of the office of emergency management and safe schools would be. And this is uh Sunshine Act 712.1 public meeting in meaningful meaningful notice. >> Thank you. Uh your my recommendation
002is that the objection be noted for the minutes. Um certainly in terms of the Sunshine Act, there is is is no specific requirement uh relating to the the level of detail in a particular motion. I think there will be um obviously discussion when the when the that item arrives on the agenda, but it's also an item that has been uh discussed thoroughly at the district safe schools committee meeting. Uh I know Mr. Laneir was present at that very meeting where it was discussed. So certainly I think there's been uh enough detail uh provided in order for it to appear properly on the agenda tonight. Um and and you know there's no need. >> Do you believe that's meaningful? I I think I just stated that my recommendation is to proceed with uh the agenda as
003presented and that all requirements of the Sunshine Act have been met. Your but your objection should be noted for the minutes. Thank you. >> I'll send you a copy of it. >> Okay. First up on our agenda will be the audience of citizens. So I'll read the dis the um policy. This meeting is being videotaped for community ta uh cable channels and streamlined 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 asssure compliance with this requirement, it is essential that those planning to address the board state their name and municipality. Members of the audience are
004asked to limit their questions and comments to three minutes. As a reminder, the audience of citizens portion of the meeting is designed for residents and taxpayers of the district to provide comment and feedback on matters which may pardon me which are or may come before the board. It is not designated for debate or discussion with the board. Designed for debate or discussion with the board. When appropriate, individual school directors may choose to respond to public comments that have been made once the audience of citizens period has concluded or request that a member of the administration follow up with the speaker speakers after the meeting. And this is in reference to board policy 903. Is [snorts] there anyone that would like to make public comment this evening? Good evening. >> Uh Jason Lair Landdale. uh being
005I don't really know what the topic of reorganization of the emergency management safe school what that's all about because I've asked and I was told that I was going to be given some information regarding whether or not it was going to be uh unionized whether is it going to be sort of a civil like a traditional municipal police force or is this going to be separate from that and who is under who controls this police force and I I have a problem with an inside police force for Northbend. And there's been a lot of transparency issues that have come up in the past, but this is a jackpot I don't think that we can manage. I think it's going to uh lead to problems. I don't mind police being in the school. I think it
006would be a smarter move to actually uh pay for our local townships around here to have an officer in that school under their jurisdiction, not under the jurisdiction of the school, not under the jurisdiction of school board. My questions would be, you know, I live in Lansdale Burough. There is a civilian review board on officers. Is there going to be such a thing here at North Penn? I asked this question. Actually, I think it was online to to uh to Dr. Bower. I got nothing in Florida. No, no information. And this is why I objected to even having this. There's been zero information on how exactly this is going to be produced. It just says you guys are going to give uh administration all the slack they need to do whatever they want. And that
007doesn't seem right because what is it they want to do? Do you does anybody on the board know because that there's been a lot of sort of outward or you know a 25,000 foot look at maybe making doing this but we're not really sure. I've talked to Mr. Ran too not a lot of detail. So the fact that we're voting on to advance something that we don't even know what we're advancing is a problem and it needs to be slowed down and we need to discuss this in very much more detail much more detail and more people would I think would be here if they knew what exactly that you were trying to lay out and get done. So advancing something with this little bit of information is a wrong move. It's going to be
008problematic for for everybody. There's just going to be We need to know what it is that you're trying to do before you do it. Thank you. >> Would anyone le else like to make public comment this evening? >> May I have a point of clarity while someone while someone decides to come up on? No. Okay. >> Going to continue with public comment. Anyone else like to make public comment this evening? >> There was a young lady walking first. Thank you. Good evening. >> Good evening. My name is Melissa Rich. I live in Hatfield and I live and I am a junior at North Penn High School. I am here this evening to speak not only on my behalf, but also for the many students who are unaware of tonight's meeting. Given the seriousness of the
009topic, especially in light of recent incidents at North Penn High School, I believe that it is vital that the student body be informed and given the opportunity to voice their perspectives. Regardless of your stance on the matter, transparency and communication between the administration and student body are crucial. Decisions that directly affect student safety and well-being should not occur without the knowledge or input of those most affected. After sharing information about tonight's meeting with peers, many expressed concern and had questions that I could not answer. Of the roughly 160 students over the past two days that I had surveyed, 98% said that they were unaware. For that reason, I respectfully ask that you consider postponing the vote and allow time for a broader student awareness and involvement. This can be done through hosting anformational assembly or
010creating a student forum where questions can be addressed. Doing so would not only promote transparency but also demonstrate that the voices of students, the very individuals impacted by these decisions truly matter. Thank you for your time and consideration. >> Thank you. Would anyone else like to make public comment? Good evening. >> Good evening. My name is Carine Earl and um I've been a parent of North Penn School District for 22 years. Okay. And I do have some um it's Landelle. >> Thank you. >> So, here are a few comments that I would like for you guys to consider. We all share the same goal, keeping students safe, but putting more guns in our schools is not the way to do it. Every firearm campus introduces layers of risk. The risk an accident, a weapon being
011misplaced or misunderstanding escalating into tragedy. There's no solid evidence that arming officers prevent school shootings. What we do know is that accidents happen and even one mistake in a school full of children is one too many. Beyond the physical risk, there is emotional impact. When students walk into a building where they see armed officers, it changes how they feel about being there. Instead of focusing on learning, they start to focus feel anxiety or on edge. Schools should be places of trust, creativity, and belonging, not fear or intimidation. We if we truly want to make students feel secure, we should invest in relationships, not weapons. Then there's the question about how we're going to spend our resources. This proposal for 250,000 to start up plus another 60,000 over a course of 10 years, training, arment, and
012insurance officers is incredibly expensive. Those funds could do much more good if they were directed towards mental health counselors, peer mediation programs, and restoration practices to help these children. Finally, this decision will not affect all students equally. Research shows armed officers often contribute contribute to higher rates of disciplinary action for students of color and students with disability. That's statistics. We risk deepening those in inequalities if we make our schools feel like police stations instead of a learning environment. Our focus should be on inclusion and understanding on entrusting and building trust to students and their teachers and the individuals they work with every day and amongst their peers. Not fear. I'm asking those of you who has considered voting no and then moving forward with it. Okay? Versus moving forward with it. Let's vote no. All
013right. Have a good evening. >> Thank you. Would anyone else like to make public comment? Okay. Certainly. >> Good evening. My name is Rebel Casahon. I live in Hatfield, Pennsylvania. I serve as president of the Black Student Union and president of the Cultural Proficiency and Equity Student Ambassadors. But most importantly, I'm a student that walks the halls, sits in the classrooms and lunchrooms, and lives the everyday reality of Northman High School. In our survey of over 160 students in the high school, over 98% said that they did not know there was a vote going down right here, right now. They didn't know what questions were being asked. They were not informed of the scope of the proposal and they were not asked for their opinion. Yet, you were still preparing to vote on a policy
014that will change how safe students will feel when walking into school, how we interpret adults around, and how much trust we place in an institution meant to shape our futures. And yet, so many of us didn't even know this conversation was happening. If you move forward with this vote now without meaningful student participation, you'll be making the wrong decision about process and fairness, and you will be spreading the message that our opinion wasn't needed. It's not merely about right or wrong on the policy. This has nothing to do with saying yes or no to armed guards, but about legitimacy. What we are asking for is something far more fundamental. to be part of the conversation before the decisions made to have a meaningful student aware forum where we can ask our questions, raise real concerns,
015share lived experiences, and help shape what happens in the school we spend most of our hours walking in. Research shows that when students feel their voices matter, engagement, belonging, and trust increase. But when decisions are made about us and without us, we lose more than a seat at the table. We lose trust. We lose connection. We lose the opportunity to build school climate that reflects all of us. When student voices are sidelined, what you build might structurally work but culturally fail fail. You risk policy without buying. You risk safety without trust. All of us deserve a seat at this decision. Not because we oppose what you might decide, but because we will be the ones living in the classrooms. We will be the ones living the outcome. So tonight, I ask you to delay the
016vote. Allow a student centered community forum at a time where students can attend. Board members, your roles matter. You care about safety. You care about our learning. You care about our future. But the truth is that caring is not enough without partnership. We are asking to be partners. We are asking for a transparent process. We are asking for equity in decision-m. And equity requires participation. Inclusion requires presence. Safety requires trust. So, please grant us this delay. By opening this form and inviting us, you'll build more than policy. You'll build trust, community, and a school where we don't just feel safe, but also seen. Show students that we are valued, not just in mission statements, but in action. Please show that your commitment to equity and inclusion. >> Appreciate your comments. Would anyone else like to
017make public comment this evening? Good evening. >> Good evening, my distinguished colleagues. Wanda Lewis Campbell, McGomery Township. [sighs] I'm proud of your students to get up here and say what that young man said. You should be pr proud of the students that are coming out of this district. And it really hit me when he said we weren't even at the table. We wanted a partnership. Nobody consults students anymore. I know when I was on the board, we considered ourselves a student centered group of people. So that mean meant students were at the heart of learning. and hearing this young man's comments that really touched me. And as a community member, I'm here to speak against the proposal to arm officers in the schools. Bringing more guns into schools doesn't make our children safer. It increases
018risk. Even well-trained officers are human. You can have accidental discharges. Uh confusion can happen. And in the chaos of a real emergency, adding more firearms only adds danger. We also need to think about how this affects the school climate. Sort of like the woman before the young man talked about. Students learn best when they feel safe and supported and connected, not when they feel like they're in a militarized school zone. Um, I don't know about you, but as a parent, I've had to give my black son the talk about what happens when you encounter a police officer, be it in school or elsewhere. Fortunately, they never had to encounter that in schools. And a lot of times, the people on the side of um the bad side of a lot of this tend to be
019students of color. And I would hate to see any of them having to encounter a police officer and something coming up, maybe a gun put in their face, maybe they're being uh a receiving a citation about their behavior that should be handled by the school, not a school, not a police officer. And when we think about all the police departments within this community, if I'm not mistaken, I think there's at least three within two minutes of our schools. Why do we need a police department in the schools? I think we need more counselors, more therapists, more people concerned about the well-being of students. Everybody's talking about mental health well-being, not only on the school level, but in organized sports and everything place else. We're talking about the mental well-being of students. So if anything, those
020are the kind of people we need in schools, not people that are armed. I'm totally against that. I really would like you to reconsider it. And when we think about mass school shootings, who are the ones that get arrested? >> Thank you for your comments. Would anyone else like to make this stereotype neither? Thank you. >> Anyone else like to make public comment this evening? >> Okay. Good evening. >> Good evening. How are you? My name is Malachi Nesbbit. Um, and kind of what to piggyback what everyone else just said. >> Malachi, you got to say your municipality. >> Oh, I'm sorry. I live in Hatfield. I'm so sorry. >> No problem. >> Um, everything I have to say tonight already has been said. I think there needs to be more inclusion of the student
021members. I think there needs to be a better discussion on if there's anything else that we can do other than putting guns in schools from a I'm not a president of anything. I'm just a student and that doesn't mean I'm less than or more than anyone else. I'm a student who walks the halls every day. And when I think about the possibility of a gun being in my school, I don't feel safe. I think about the little children in my neighborhood and my people I consider siblings that I've known since they were in the womb and I think about their future in in the school thinking about if there's a gun that doesn't make me feel safe and I understand on your side. Well, you all need to make sure that we are safe. I
022understand that and I appreciate that. But a gun in any situation does not help a situation. It harms it. It makes us feel unsafe just having it be there. I'm unsafe with the thought that a a friend could have a bad day and get into a fight and a security guard with a gun. That could go left very quickly. Whether that was the intention or that's just what could happen. >> Um just asking for you guys to postpone it and just take student input into perspective in your in your decision because we have a voice. We know how to use it. We just need a little bit more help finding it. Thank you. That's all I have to say. >> Thank you for your comments. Anyone else this evening would like to make public comment?
023>> Okay. All right, we're'll continue with our agenda. So, I will turn it over to Dr. Bower. >> And first, Mr. Summers. >> Yes. Uh, thank you, Dr. Bower. Just like to announce that the board did meet in executive session on November 6th, 2025 for the purpose of discussing a matter of school safety and security. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Summers. And President McMerry, if it's okay with you, I will alter the agenda to do the consent items first. Um, and I will recommend items A through G, including budget transfers, assessment appeal settlements, assessment for PNC Bank, excuse me, assessment appeal settlements for Exit, assessment appeal settlements for Gwynmont Farms Development Corp. uh copy of assessment appeal settlements for Penn Bidco Incorporated, renewal of the copier contract with Frasier Company under a co-stars
024contract, and a request to advertise for an insurance broker RFP. >> Okay, thank you. May I please have a motion for items 4A through 4G? >> Second. >> Mr. Fusco first, Mrs. Ramage second. Any comments or questions? >> Hearing none, all in favor say I. >> I. There are no opposed. Motion passes. Thank you. >> Sure. Next, I recommend uh approval of the personnel items as per the attached. >> Okay. Please have a motion. >> So moved. >> There a second. >> Mrs. Stol and Mr. Fusco, are there any comments or questions? >> Okay. Hearing none. All in favor say I. >> I. >> There are no opposed. Thank you. A motion passes. Pardon me. >> No problem. Um I am going to skip item B just because that will have a presentation and conversation.
025So, we'll go back to that. Um, so item C is, hold on, we're loading. I recommend ratification approval for two contracts signed by Miss Tara Howser. Uh, one is Laura Parnum and number two is for trustees University of Pennsylvania belonging inquiry community membership and survey analysis. >> Okay. May I please have a motion? >> Second. >> Mr. Fusco and Mrs. Ramage. Any comments or questions? All right. Hearing none. All in favor say I. >> I. >> All righty. There are no opposed. Motion passes. Thank you. >> I recommend approval of the contracts as per those listed and copies are on file in the business office. >> Okay. May I please have a motion? >> Mr. Fusco. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Mrs. Stole. Any comments or questions regarding contracts? All righty. Hearing none.
026All in favor say I. >> I. >> There are no opposed. Motion passes. Thank you. And lastly, I recommend approval of student agreements as per those listed and copies are on file in the office of special education. >> Okay. May I please have a motion? >> Second. >> All right. Mr. Rash and Mr. Casa, any comments or questions? >> I do have a question. So, regarding student agreements, are there certain times of the year when these agreements are more frequent or larger in number versus other times of the year? >> Uh, Dr. Dr. Cougler, do you want to address or Dr. McKenna? I think Dr. Balden's here, too. If somebody wants to speak to it, you're welcome to. Go ahead, Dr. Cooper. >> Uh, good evening. Um, not necessarily, although I would say in the
027spring when we look to renew ones that are up for renewal or review, um, we could have slightly more at that time of year. >> All right. Thank you. I was just curious. Appreciate that. Any other comments or questions? Okay, hearing none. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any oppo? There are no opposed. Motion passes. Thank you. >> Okay. Uh, next, Mr. Ran, if you'd like to come to the podium. [snorts] So, next is recommend approval of the reorganization of the office of emergency management and safe schools. Uh, this was a topic that you heard this evening through some public comment. Uh it's something that has been discussed or shared um in executive sessions and with the board for a couple years now. Um and the board thought it was best if we
028brought it forward and had a public conversation about this. There was a presentation at the September safe schools committee meeting uh by myself and Mr. Ran and the safe schools committee moved it forward to a work session to have a conversation with the full board. Um that did not happen in October due to other agenda items and such. So we moved it to November to have the conversation. Now um during that presentation in September there were a couple questions asked by the committee members uh to provide more information. So Mr. Ran and team have worked to add some detail to that uh presentation but really providing the same uh presentation with additional information from September. Um, following that presentation, by the way, uh, there was an email that went out to all North Penn families
029with a link to the presentation itself. Um, so we have the additional slides for the presentation and then really just here to help facilitate a conversation among the board. Um, so Mr. Ran, if you could please go through uh, each of the slides, um, but spend particular time on the new things as well, but please cover all the material. Um I I'm guessing you're going to want to wait till the end to field all the questions and the discussion. Um and we'll go from there. >> Just a matter of procedure. So if there's a presentation and then we'll return to the item on the agenda >> for a motion. >> A typical is to have a motion and a second then we'll present um and then a a vote if there's a vote would happen
030at that point. >> So could we have a motion and a second before the presentation please? >> Might please have a motion. >> So moved. >> Mr. Kasa is there a second? >> Second. >> Mrs. Stole. >> Okay. >> All right. So now it's any comments or questions and we'll start with the presentation. All right. Understand. >> So Mr. Ran, make sure you turn your microphone on >> and take it away. >> Uh good evening board of directors. Uh so we will go through this presentation. Again, as Dr. Bower mentioned, uh some of this information will be uh repetitive from the uh work I'm sorry, the safe schools uh presentation. Uh so our objectives today is to present a comprehensive public safety model that would include uh school police officers and then obviously there is
031a recommend recommendation to the full board for a reorganization of the office of emergency management and safe schools to a department of public safety that would include school police officers. Uh so when we think about when we look at uh this is one of the newer slides when we think about uh comprehensive school safety um these are kind of seven layers that that we look at to uh do this holistically uh which is why we when we think about what public safety really is it's a lot of different layers uh to accomplishing uh one goal. So when we think about right our foundation letter we we heard a lot today about culture climate prevention you know things that we do today behavioral threat assessment staff's training anonymous tip reporting uh positive behavior supports all of
032those things from a foundational lens there's obviously a physical security lens right where we're think about access control uh badging uh secure doors surveillance system systems perimeter security security personnel right physical touch points that uh we either can see or touch uh through across the district. And then there's operations. How do we how do we function uh as an organization? So we have emergency plans to address uh all hazards plans at the building level and at the district level. And uh off of those plans, we conduct training and drilling and exercises uh to make sure that everyone understands their role and responsibility uh during the course of an emergency. Uh we rolled out uh Alice training at the student level that we talked about this year. Last year was at the staff level. Uh incident
033command uh which is at the the cabinet central office level is decisions that get made to support the the building and the the building leaders um and and decision making from responding to a particular type of incident. uh and in a crisis communication plan uh the information that we know uh as accurate as we possibly can in a timely manner and and share that out. And then obviously there's always that human component as we talk about uh comprehensive layers, right? There are things that we can do with technology, there's things that we can do with software, there's all kinds of things, but all of that really um marries together with humans, right? How do how do the humans work with that those technologies and pieces and plans and um so we you talk about partnerships
034and engaging folks uh and working with folks to to help facilitate conversations, education, tabletop exercises, uh security officers, uh school police officers, all those human component level layers that go into that process. Uh and I talked about about technology. So we look at uh alertis our mass notification system. Uh we use visitor management system to make sure that we are letting the proper people in our buildings and about the building to do the things they need to do. uh our our communication, our two-way radio systems to be able to communicate at the building level and also at the district level for everyday day-to-day operations, but also in the event of an emergency that there's uh capability to communicate uh across the organization uh so that we can support and and help out um the building
035leaders at that particular school. And then there's response and recovery layer, right? How do we we have an incident, what do we do to come out of that incident? How do we move forward from an incident? Um, again, that all works into how do we support folks who are involved directly or indirectly uh in a in a type of particular incident. And it certainly doesn't always have to be um a very tragic incident, right? It could be um something that would we would seem would be um routine um you know, such as AC traffic accidents or those type of things. Um how do we how do we recover and come out of those things? And then we continue to look at how do we improve? What are the things that we can do? What do
036we learn from either uh our own intel or event history? Uh what do we uh how do we learn from that? How do we uh build better policies, procedures, response plans and look at um things that we can acknowledge that we need to shift a different direction. Um and all of those things happen um in and through a lot of different ways. um and and all throughout the school year. Um, we're always looking at to how are we continuing to be competitive and move forward and stay on top of trends and and the things that are happening in in in the school of safety, public safety space and those things change daily um depending on what is happening where you are technology advancements. You know, we look at AI and the things that we can
037do with u cameras and equipment today that were uh only a dream uh you know just a mere maybe 5 10 years ago. Um but again connecting all these dots. This is a slide that has been seen before when we talk about police presence in our schools. Um so the slide with the uh um graph to the right uh is the number of times that we have asked police to come into the district to address a particular incident. Um and that is 143 times for the 2425 school year. To the left of that are four of our six municipalities of times that they have come through the building for various um whether it be an event, whether it be just a what we call a patrol check or a walkth through um to high five,
038shake kids hands or or maybe play kickball or basketball or those type of things. Um they're just coming through um throughout their their tour of duty. Um also this is the slide that was shared in the safe schools meeting. This is the current model that we how we handle things in the office of emergency management, safe schools, uh access control, emergency management, parking services, security, behavioral threat assessment, and always our collaboration with our uh law enforcement partners uh in the district. uh a public safety model would include all of those things. And then obviously the recommendation of uh school police officers um that would be able to handle the things that you know the calls the 143 times that we've reached out to our our local police department. Um we could take some of that
039off of them and to be able to handle some of those uh engagements ourselves uh internally. also providing that extra layer of protection for our staff and students. Um, and also be able to provide, you know, the the minor accidents that happen in a parking lot where a a police report is required uh because there's property damage that needs to go to insurance company. Uh, we would be able to address those as well. Um, so why a school police model versus a school resource officer model? We talked a bit about this in the committee meeting. Um, and it allows us to have consistency in the officer response and building relationships. Um, sometimes when you're just calling 911 to get a patrol officer, you you get whoever's available on the road. Um, there here in a
040school police model, you would have the same officer who is building relationships with staffs and students have become a part of the culture and climate of that building. Um, it also allows us to have immediate response to deal with incidents and investigations. It also allows us to keep that direct communication uh throughout the process of of an incident. Um and again, we have uh from a personnel standpoint, uh we ultimately have control of who those those individuals that would be hired uh to to um do this job. Uh some value again, this is another slide from the committee meeting. Um some value there again having officers uh on the grounds throughout the course of the day building those relationships uh with staff and students providing educational programming on a number of fronts. Uh again hopefully
041there to deter uh illegal or criminal or threatening activity for someone who may decide that they want to come and cause hurt and harm to our our staff or students. And again, having those relationships, being in the building every single day, having that deeper understanding and the knowledge of our students, I, you know, being in that building every day, shaking hands with kids and engaging with kids, uh, building that relationship, uh, as we move forward. Another slide from committee meeting where we talk about what is incorporating uh, school police officers look like. So there will be policies, procedures, administrative regulations, training and professional development, accountability, and then always a review of what are we doing, how are we doing it, and um how can we do it better. So, in order for the school district
042uh to have its own police officers, the district would need to petition the court of common please uh to ask the court to uh grant those individuals that the district approves the powers uh to function as school police officers. the court, the district will be asking the court to provide those officers with the power to um enforce and keep good order, issue citations, the power to affect arrest um and also enforce the both vehicle and crimes code uh and also the authority to possess a firearm while on duty. there is legislation that governs the requirements. Um, and so these requirements are completion of a police academy. Um, and also completion of the National Association of School Resource Officers basic training. Those two requirements. Um, the first requirement is the same requirement that every municipal police
043officer in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is required to attend. The for those who are not aware what NASRO, the National Association of School Resource Officers, uh that is a program that is specific to school-based police officers and what does law enforcement partnership and relationship look like in a educational environment. Um, and so it's more than just about enforcement of the law, but really about those building those relationships and what does the law enforcement officer in the educational environment get involved in and what does not and what the officer does not get involved in, right? And so we talk about uh how do we make sure that uh law enforcement are not getting involved in things that are truly administrative functions um and building that relationship and so that law enforcement understands the the school police
044officer or the SRO understands their lane and the administration understands so that we make sure that we don't have law enforcement officers get involved in things that are not law enforcement specific. Uh some things that will be standards uh should this move forward. uh deescalation training. Uh we're looking at training from the Lincoln Center. Uh special ed special education training uh within our our special education department. We have two outstanding uh directors in special education. And how does that uh work with the uh police officers? We work collaboratively today. Um but certainly that will be a a different uh level with uh school police officers and and what um what again what do we get involved in? what don't we get involved in? Obviously, mental health uh mental health is is very uh at the
045top of everyone's list of priorities and understanding. So, um I was fortunate enough to attend and become a mental health first responder. It really takes gives you an opportunity to look at how do you recognize um mental health uh crisis versus someone who uh may be uh unintentionally trying you where perception is that they're trying to attack the police officer. But how what some ways we can recognize that this is a mental health crisis versus a um person who is just being violating the law and becoming belligerent. Uh a psycho psychological evaluation uh to make sure that um we we have the most qualified and fit folks from the proper headsp space to do this type of work. Um there are legal update requirements that the state mandates that uh all officers must participate in.
046And then some of those topics include search and seizure, student rights, juvenile law, uh and they go through case study that that pertains to uh things that have happened typically for the most part is within the Commonwealth of PA. Sometimes there are things that have happened nationally. Uh and then certainly uh a requirement to maintain firearm proficiency and qualifications. Uh this is another new slide where we talk about the impact of SRO's. Um and you will find uh that there are research on there's research on both sides of the coin. Um and so here is some of the research uh in front of you. Read it at your pleasure. Um that speaks to um the uh how uh SRO's are impactful in a positive way. I'll pause a minute there and give you a couple
047more seconds to read through that. And here are some uh additional considerations where um research has found that SRO or school police officers or law enforcement in schools has had a negative impact. Um and I certainly do recognize that that is a a real uh concern. I I rec I understand that. Um I can tell you from my personal experience uh in this business that um this is not the first time where that has been a challenge but um we were able to not fall into the the negative of the impact of law enforcement uh in schools. Um my experience has been very positive. Um but I also know that that is not everybody's experience. So, I'll give you a couple more m seconds there to to read through um these uh so talking about
048how do we get here? What is a a progression look like? Uh so, we started at the Sorry folks, I feel like I'm talking my back to you. Um uh we started with the safe schools committee. Um and then come to uh a board meeting and that would be where we are today. Uh and then there would go to a policy committee meeting and there would policies would need to be drafted that govern how this process would look and work. Um and then that would get us to implementation. Um and so there uh those are kind of the steps that get you to um uh deployment uh within the school district. Uh so for those who may be asking um I recognize the steps but what does a timeline look like? Um there it is
049really there's no end of the end of the line like hard date. Um it's there are a lot of variables. So um policy um drafting the policy getting the policy approved petitioning the court getting the court approval. Um and so there are a lot of steps that that go into that. It could roughly take anywhere from four to five months um for all of those things to kind of align up. Um so here are a few uh student testimonies uh in reference to this conversation. Um and so uh Dr. Bower participates uh conducts a superintendent collaborative meeting uh with uh students of all grade levels across the district in each building. And this is some of what they had to say. This is some additional testimonials. This is um high school specific. Um, this is
050from the testimonial. You can read this while I'm kind of talking through it. This is from um, Superintendent Soldon Area School District who uh, they have their own school district police department. Uh, this is from the superintendent at Perk Valley. Uh, and this is from uh, Chief Troxo of Talminson Police Department. [snorts] So some ways that we would measure whether this uh whether the success of this is right, we would look at continue to review school discipline as we do today uh through the safe schools committee uh on a quarterly basis and then uh annually when we uh when I conduct my uh reporting out at the end of the school year uh incorporate school clim assignment survey for staff and students annually. Uh review the school police officers um annual review with the board
051as to not only um number of incidents that were happening, type of incidents and then obviously review of the program and continuing through the budgeting process. Um so those are some steps and ways we look at um measuring uh the success through the office of public safety. Uh so what does this look like from a monetary standpoint? The initial startup cost is approximately $250,000 and that would include include the uh purchasing the initial equipment um and resources for uh the selected officers at that point. And then um moving forward year-over-year for the five school district police officers uh that cost is uh 572 uh and that is uh for a stipens and the taxes of the stipens. Um I want to note from a for a budgetary standpoint this is not adding uh five additional
052headcount to the district. Um, so again going back to speaking about why a school police officer model works better than a school resource officer model, we would be transitioning five current employees who are already in our district, who have been in our district, who have built relationships with kids, who kids know them by name, they know kids by name. um they greet each other in the morning and and share stories and conversations um about all types of things both academic uh and and about life. Um so this would not be an additional five headcount um to the district. This would be choosing five people, five security officers uh who want to and apply for this position um and then we'll transition to that um school police officer. no additional headcount. And so here we are.
053>> So um thank you Brandon. Thank you for your presentation and thank you for adding the things that um you had some questions about at the safe schools committee meeting. There's a couple things I want to highlight before we open it up just for discussion. Um I think we did a better job collectively at the safe schools committee meeting giving the details. So that it was four at one at each of the secondary schools. So one current security officer being a sworn school police officer in each of the secondary schools. >> Correct. >> Right. So the high school, the three middle schools and then two roaming individuals, one of which would be you. Correct. >> So six people total, no new employees but different responsibilities for those employees. >> That is correct. >> Okay. And
054um there was a a question about like um partnership. I don't know if we can get that off of there, Jess. Um [snorts] the partnership with local municipalities. So this is not okay. Now we're responsible for everything. This is still we're still calling our local partners in an event that it is something that we cannot handle or something that we think would be best. Um is also my understanding that you would contact much like if if something is reported today in townson Chief Traxxa would call the county or the district attorney's office and say okay who handles this is it my jurisdiction your jurisdiction and they would decide. So there will still be things where Montgomery Township or upper or townson handles instead of us or they would come support us in those types of
055things. Correct. >> That is correct. Um and so um so it's noted that those relationships will not go away. Um so uh the the walk the number of walkthroughs that we saw so our local police department as Dr. Ber mentioned are not going to just say okay we're done with you guys. Um good luck have at it. Um there will still be much um collaboration and and networking and working with each other. Um and to the point about if there is a situation that we cannot handle to Dr. Ber's example, much like the local police department today, if there is a situation that they cannot handle, they call in the the the county. Um, and so we would call in that municipality um and we would work jointly or it would be they would take
056it all together or it may be the the local municipality and the county uh depending on the type of of incident that that we're uh dealing with. So I think the the last point I want to uh emphasize and then open it up for the conversation and ask questions um is a couple things. One, I recognize that on this board there are very strong feelings about this topic which I'm completely respectful of and I appreciate and I'm happy that we're having the conversation. I also want to recognize that this agenda item is not like the the start and end and if this is voted upon tonight and if it moves forward that it's just a done deal. It is authorizing the administration to move forward with some of the steps that Mr. Ran spoke to
057and Mr. Summers I may need to lean on you for your legal counsel but it's to start drafting policies, job descriptions, all of the things that we'd have to put into place. some of the feedback that you heard from students this evening and from uh community members very well noted having involvement from stakeholder groups in those what does this look like what doesn't it look like what could this or couldn't this be um so if it is something that the board would like for us to move forward with that's really what we're asking you this evening um it's not okay this is done and this starts it's the process for working towards that and each of those components would come before the board Um, so hold on a second, Mr. Ash. So, uh, with that,
058um, I think it's important to offer everybody up the opportunity to speak, ask questions, and take it away, >> President. We do have a motion on the floor, and we did hear >> information. So, who would like to speak first? Mr. I >> I I have a question for Dr. Bow on just what he said. Maybe it's goes to Mr. Summers. Uh, you just stated that you don't you can't move forward without a yes vote today. I I I I kind of thought you could do more research. I thought you could uh uh maybe talk to more students. Uh I thought you could do those kind of things without the without uh getting approval from us today. >> Yeah. So the request Mr. Mr. Summers, if you want to weigh in. The the recommendation tonight,
059Mr. Rash, is authorizing us to move forward with starting to take all of those steps. What that ends up looking like, um, some of the steps were outlined here this evening about drafting policies that outline some of the components that Mr. Ran had. We would have to draftus with our local police departments, job descriptions and what they would and wouldn't be required to do, uh, trainings. All of those things would have to be developed. So, we're really asking the board to have a conversation. Is this something we want to spend our time and effort in developing or is it not? So, right now we're asking to authorize us to move forward to get started. >> Would the board need to take any further I don't mean piece by piece policy. I mean like to to
060actually once we vote on this I want to be clear this is the first step in starting the SPO. I mean at that point the ball is rolling down a hill. the votes and the discussions that the board would be engaged in would be about the particulars of it, the policies that follow and improving budgets and whatnot, but it would not really be another discussion about amongst the board in a public setting with a public vote whether or not this is an idea we want to move forward with this. This would be the vote to do that. >> Yeah, just to expand on that, I I I agree. I think that the the vote tonight um the to the question that Mr. Rash posed of could the administration come to the policy committee for example
061and say here's a policy that would allow school police officers uh in our schools they certainly could. Um that is an an intensive effort in terms of making sure that that policy that's recommended is is well thought out and and researched. And I think the the primary point of the motion tonight is before that effort is expended and before um starting down that path because it is such an important decision wanting to know is there support from a majority of the board to move forward with those steps. Um Mr. Fusco to your your point I do think that the the policy for example would be a required component that would need board approval before implementing school police officers. So there certainly are votes that would o will occur if this moves forward um that would
062need to happen and need to pass in order for the initiative of having school police to move forward. The policy is one of those. Um but there's also personnel actions. You know, we have um school security guards and if those are in fact individuals that are recommended to be school police officers, that's a personnel action that would come before the board and need to be voted on. So not only the concept of school police being approved, the board will have the opportunity to approve the specific individuals who are being recommended by the administration for those roles or not. Um that's certainly the board's prerogative of whether to to support those efforts or not. So um I think it's it's because it's a significant effort and undertaking. Um that's the decision of of having it be
063be presented to the board to know is there support for the administration moving forward with these additional steps. Um but certainly there are additional opportunities in the future even if this is approved tonight to have additional conversations and and additional authority from the board would be needed. um speaking to for some of the public comment that was made tonight and wanting to hear. I think some students have been able to weigh in, some staff have been able to weigh in, but not everyone feeling like they have a voice. So, as typically a policy might be developed in a policy committee, Dr. B, do you have ideas or recommendations on how because this is such a sensitive topic and one where we do want to do it right? Um, knowing that there's research on both sides,
064if we want to do this and do this right, how do we do it in a way where we can garner the feedback, but we also keep some of the details, you know, like we have to preserve some integrity within the safety of our schools. We don't want to let every the community or any anyone know of all the details but we need to anyway find the ballots. Dr. B, I'll turn over to you. Do you have any idea? >> No, great question. Um, so some of the what Mr. Ran cited in his presentation where was that we do a superintendent collaborative and when it's at the elementary level it's myself, Mr. Ran, Dr. Waters, and then our elementary focused cabinet members. So it would be Dr. Kler, Dr. McKenna and so forth. Um, and
065the principal typically. So we have conversations uh one every two weeks at different schools. We have had that five of them so far this year and it is certainly not a representative sample of the entire student body. It's a focus group. So we've had this conversation and age level appropriate about school safety. Do you feel safe at school? What would make you feel safer? Certainly at elementary the conversation looks very different than the one we had Friday with 20 high school students um who were really really engaged. Um by the way I do not pick the students. they are provided as a cross-section of the school by the principal and I I have no say in who's in the group. The principles give us a group of students. Um so on Friday we had a
066conversation at North Penn High School. It was myself, Mr. Ran, Mr. Hassler, Dr. Waters, Dr. Nicholson, Dr. Balden. Um and and it was an hour and a half. Um it was a long conversation. Um and the kids had a lot of feedback, really good questions, really good suggestions. Um, and they really, honestly, they asked the question, should we come to the schoolboard meeting and speak? And I said, I don't think we're there yet, um, in in getting to the point of getting all of your feedback. It's really about, are we going to move forward and go down that path to get all of your input and those types of things. So, um, I do think it would have to be surveys. Um, it would have to be focus groups certainly beyond 20 students, what we
067met with Friday. But if if this is something you want us to spend the time and really dive into and and research and develop these policies with student input, staff input, I can tell you this of the people that I have spoken with, students and staff, really engaging, thoughtful questions, there is some hesitance. Um there has not been one person that I've spoken to who was a firm no. Um much like what you heard from some of the students tonight, like we want to be a part of the process. We want to know more. We want to provide our input. I'm not saying no right now. I want to engage more. So that's that's what we're hearing. So >> Mr. Casa, >> this is just the point of clarification. U earlier and I believe Dr.
068Bower, you addressed most of it. Uh it's ensuring that we're not I want to ensure that this motion isn't about jumping the gun to uh already preconceived notions. It's about the board and the community having input on what the administration what you are are actually recommending which is this model. But there's an very important component within that feedback loop for us to hear and process and decide what higher expectations if any. um what those standards should be in order to put that into policy or protocols or however it is that that those expectations will be decided. I just want to make sure that was my understanding is that it wasn't to cut off debate tonight, but this actually opens it up and and that's why I really thank those in the community who came out
069and spoke because it's very important and meaningful. But that this is the first step. Um I want to make sure I understand that correctly. That is completely aligns with my understanding and thinking here as well that this is the start of the conversation to actually >> put in all of that work Mr. Kasa start to devise the policies and the process and what it does look like. So it is not [clears throat] the end it's the start. I guess I'm trying to understand. >> Okay. >> Oh, I guess I was trying I'm trying to understand if this is the start of a conversation why we would be voting to m to actually put in place school police officers. If this is the start of a conversation, I'm hearing students import from important student groups saying,
070"I didn't even know this was happening." Um, and when I hear that the president of the Black Student Union didn't know this was happening, that's a problem. That should be a problem because when we look at our civil rights data, black students are more likely in this district to be overdisiplined. So, that should be something that we care about. And overdisiplined can then transfer to overcriminalized, which then can transfer the school to prison pipeline. We know all of this and that data doesn't change. There aren't two sides of the coin to that data. There's one side of the coin to that data. So again, I guess I'm asking the same question as my colleague here, which is all of those conversations need to be happening prior to us voting about a school police officer because
071once that ball starts rolling, it's rolling. And I hear students here tonight. The most compelling thing that I have heard is the student that spoke that very clearly said, "I don't have a voice. I heard a great sales pitch, but I did not hear what I heard from that student." And those conversations need to happen with our community, with their parents as well. The because we're the parents in that room, right? Because I know the conversation that Miss Lewis Campbell or Dr. um Wanda Lewis Campbell had with her son and I'm the only one on this board with a black son had with my child. I'm also the only one on this board who actually ran for school board as a result of something that happened in the schools in which my co child was
072profiled. So I know personally what can occur from this. So, I mean, obviously I'm against it, but I do think the conversations need to be happening before this board commits to a vote. And if we vote yes for this, anyone who does vote yes for this tonight is voting to that the students who spoke here tonight, their voices weren't important enough to hit the pause button and wait to hear them first. So, we can package it up all in a in a bow and make it seem like, well, we're going to vote tonight, but don't worry, there'll be time to talk about policy later. This is a critical important vote that I wish more parents knew about and I wish more community members knew about. [applause] >> And when I Mr. R, Mr. When I
073look when I look at this, I I I see a a a plan to implement a force. I don't see the big picture and I don't know if I can see the big picture. I'm not educated enough in security to know. Uh I would like input from there's a saying trust but verify. I don't see any verification in any of this process at all. We don't have outside organizations looking at the model that was presented to us. We don't have out we don't have a plan two years down the road once we implement this to have outside organizations looking at this. We don't have a plan for when something does happen with a weapon. God forbid that something happens with the weapon in the school. What we're going to do? Uh, do we put the
074are we going to put that guy the the person who used the weapon on administrative leave or or are we just going to let him in the school with a gun? Um, we've had lessons here in what happens when an incident happens in our school, how that excites our community. We should be prepared for that. We're not prepared for that with this model. Uh second of all there there are people in this organization who who who have uh who who um have been abused by police. There are people who come from countries in our in our uh in our schools who have been abused by military and police. Uh at this point in time, I haven't heard a plan on how we're going to protect those kids. Uh how are we going to do that?
075We we just we're just going to say, "Well, we're going to train the people or our police." So, when they see somebody, they're going to make a judgment call on the on the spot that this person, this person may have mental illness or maybe he's just kidding the police. That that doesn't work. I mean, I went to see the big picture. I don't see the big picture. I see an implementation plan. And if we go down this path, uh, we're gonna implement something that North Penn doesn't has hasn't thought about enough. So, I want to make a motion at this point in time to table this discussion until we get more answer and get more information. >> I will second that motion. >> Okay. So, there's been a motion to table this item, which is
076essentially to uh postpone it until a subsequent meeting of the board. There's been a second to that motion. Uh in the board is generally governed by Robert's rules of order. And under those rules, uh when there is a motion to table and a second, the board then conducts a vote on whether to table the item or whether to continue on with the discussion. Um and so at this point, I would recommend a a vote on the motion to table. Um and again what the impact of each individual board member's vote is a vote to the in the affirmative. A yes vote would table the motion and it would come up uh before a future meeting of the board. A no vote would be to uh allow discussion to continue at this time on whether to
077move forward with the motion that's on the table. >> So >> thank you Mr. >> Point of Clarification then. This motion means that those of us who haven't spoken or asked questions will not be able to speak or ask questioning this one. Correct. Not this one. Okay. So, we have a motion on the floor. We have a second. >> May I ask a clarifying question? >> May we discuss the motion to table briefly? >> That's at the the president's discretion. That is not under the rules. >> Do it. It's a very clear black and white motion. The discussion will continue with the previous one should this one pass. My only concern is that the process being the security process would be delayed as a result of the table if there's any implications as to [clears
078throat] how safe are you understand what I'm saying Dr. Bower. Are there consequences to tableabling the motion that are so negative that the uh impact would require us to rethink tableabling >> timeline wise? >> Okay with you if I answer >> that's >> no we're done. >> Okay. >> We're going to call this one. Um, I'm going to ask for a roll call on this one, please. Miss Todd. >> Uh, Mr. Roush. >> Uh, I vote we table it. >> Yay. >> I >> Mr. Fusco. >> I >> Mr. Casa. >> Nay, >> Miss Rednicking. >> I >> Dr. G >> I >> Miss Stole >> I >> Mr. McBain >> I >> Miss Ramik >> I >> Miss McMerry >> I >> Okay so the motion to table has passed 8 to1 uh and
079then uh so at this time the motion has been tabled to a future board meeting uh you can continue with uh the agenda as it's set forward tonight. I don't believe there's any other business but you can certainly ask Madam President I made a mistake >> on your vote. >> On my vote. >> Well, your your vote wouldn't make a difference. >> It [laughter] would be >> We did roll call. However, >> it would be seven to two. [laughter] >> Point of clarification because this is just to make ensure that I'm I understand where we're at. So transparently you know this is as Miss Stall said this has been uh a challenging discussion. This is not one that we have come to the table uh with uh pardon my French a halfass opinion on. Um
080however I guess to be clear that I want to keep discussing this. I want us >> No, no, no, not today. Not today. But to be clear, my vote is not saying just to be transparent to the community. Um I don't want anyone to believe and leave saying that Kumbi would have voted to not support the SPO. What made a difference is listening to the students >> and basically having the opportunity and giving them the opportunity, we need to figure out how to get more voices than the 20 we've spoken to. But also transparently if we get more voices and statistically those voices are asking for a different position then we should have continue the discussion. Correct? >> Okay. >> Yeah. Thank you Mrs. Renick. I I do want to say and offer my compliments
081to the board because um this is something that you have every right to discuss in private. The Sunshine Law allows the board to have a conversation about school safety behind closed doors. Um, you don't have to have it publicly, but you chose to have it publicly to start to engage the community. So, um, I recognize their very strong feelings about this. Uh, I will touch base with President Mc Merry and Vice President Ramich about next steps. Um, but I agree with your sentiments, Mrs. RDN. You are not saying this is done. This is a it's done tonight >> and the conversation will continue um and we will report back um we'll talk about what the vehicle will be for what will those next steps be with the student engagement which I believe is truly the
082will of the board. So >> can can I also just briefly just point out that come next month there are going to be three brand new directors that that would actually be responsible for overseeing this and I think it is probably important that their input be considered. the community just elected them to represent this community and is going to be an important voice added voices to this conversation. So, not only do I think it says something that the only students that came tonight to speak were students that came with concerns, um, but I think that there are other stakeholders as well that need to be rolled into this conversation. Thank you. >> And I I just also want to add too like I just I do want to thank our students so much for coming
083out this evening. Um, this has been a topic because Dr. Bower kind of opened the door. This is a topic that we can talk about in private and there have been, I think we counted over 20 touch points where this issue has come up. So, I want the community to know that this never would have been a decision that we would have taken lightly, that we would have made in um in a in a manner that just required a yes or a no. This is something that we have lost sleep over. Um, this is something that concerns us deeply and I think that now especi I'm so grateful for this level of engagement this evening. This is not something that we want to be about a yes or a no. This is about a process
084of considering laying out a thoughtful next step laying out plans and garnering input. This is not and and and doing that work together. So um I want to thank the students for coming out. I want you all to know that this is something that we care the safety of our students is something that we care more about than anything. So, and for all students. So, thank you. >> I'm going to say something. Mr. Rash, I'd like to speak for a minute. >> What I'd like to say is that um >> I do too appreciate the students that spoke out tonight. I think it identified for us the need to find additional methods for communication. I know that I did see this um article in the night prior. So I wonder about how many students don't
085see it. Um so that's a concern to me and the reason and again I will say I supported us moving forward with this and I will say that I did want to see this move forward candidly. Um, and the reason is because the people, the board members, whether they are supportive or not supportive, have engaged in this work for over a year and a half. And as Dr. Bower said, we have talked about this extensively. And I know there's folks in the community that say we are a unanimous board. We have group think. If you could only know this was not group think. And it was important to me that all of that knowledge base that has been discussed and you know vetted with this this group that will soon leave. I thought that starting
086it off with all of the safeguards such as taking it to policy, coming back to work session, taking it to safe schools, taking it to finance, taking it to personnel, and then bringing it back to work session would only build and help educate our new school board members elect. That was the intent of this. It was not to to disregard or dismiss any student. this board and I know the new board, the three folks that are coming in will absolutely challenge this administration to continue to do what they do so well um despite hearing from the community about not being transparent to the best of their ability. They've set the bar high and we will include students. So for me, I'm disappointed personally that this did not move forward with this group right here that
087has engaged really really honestly and sincerely and researched it for over a year and a half. Thank you, Mr. Rash. >> Just want to say I have deep respect for the administration. I have deep respect for the security staff at this school. I just and I believe everybody wants to what's best for the students on this board and I agree with all the sentiments that have been expressed here. Uh I I want this to move forward but what Ford is is not what I've what I see. I want to see something better and that's all. Thank you. >> Any other comments or questions? If not this um >> I have one comment. >> Just a minute please. Mr. Yeah, Mrs. Stole and then Mr. McBade and then Dr. G. >> So, yeah. So, I again
088just wanted to say thank you to the students for speaking up and um that you are what swayed me tonight. Um so, I hope that you guys will continue to participate in this process moving forward. Um because we want to make sure that your voices are heard and Mr. Dr. Ber, I know you're going to hate me for this, but like maybe there could be, you know, the [laughter] >> a forum on this. Um, I think that would be helpful for everybody to get everybody involved in the conversation. >> I think a great starting point would be to speak to the students about what it that process will look like. So, I'll work with some of the students who spoke tonight. We know them well because they're some of our board uh student reps and
089we'll update the board accordingly. >> Thank you. >> Yep. >> Mr. Mr. McBain, >> this is a a topic, as many have said, that weighs heavily upon us. Everybody in the community, whether you're elected to a title or not, the young man in the crowd that doesn't have a title is a true leader of this community by standing up and speaking his mind uh on camera, in front of his peers, and in front of uh the families. So, I want to thank him for that. Uh this gray area that we find ourselves in requires expertise like Mr. Ron and Mr. CASA in his field requires leadership like Dr. Bower requires an awful lot of voices all at the same time. That's why there's nine people voting. Um despite things not going how I thought they
090would go this evening, I'm still very glad to be part of a group that values hearing from everybody and leans on our experts. And I just want to say that I'm very uh emotional at the moment, but I'm very proud to be working with these people and I hope that we continue to do that to solve these very difficult issues that nobody else is going to solve for us. Thank you, >> Dr. G. Um while I understand and and I will that over the past year there have been many conversations as I see it many of the conversations have been about how we will implement this how we will sell this to the community and not really digging deep because if that's the case for a year and a half no students have heard about
091this many families have heard about this so clearly we have a lot of work to to do um moving forward to really think about whether this is even for our community. We shouldn't kind of be going through um moving towards this is we need to move the ball forward so that the new candidates have a training ground. This is about students and I hope we keep them at the center of this decision because arming officers changes the tone of a school. It replaces a sense of welcome and belonging with surveillance, control and fear. We need to be invested in investing in school psychologists, in school counselors, in mental health supports, in social workers, of which we have two, to support 13,000 kids. That is what we need to be investing in. This would cost us
092upwards of a million dollars over the course of the next 10 years.60 60,000 per year plus the 250,000 startup cost on the backs of taxpayers who already we are going to have to raise taxes because of the infrastructure issues that we have in the district. Every single dollar counts and all of those dollars should be put towards resources for educators who actually need the support in our schools. Teachers who need the support of school counselors, of school psychologists, of social workers. It's no uh coincidence that two of the three educators on this board oppose this. That's my piece. And I do want to apologize on behalf of the board for the students who were cut off this evening. Um that would not I I your voices matter. All of your voices matter. >> I just
093want to urge you guys because I will not be a part of the internal deliberations moving forward to please make the conversation more robust. In the year and a half we have discussed this, I have been struck with I'm not going to say that it was a sales job, but there has been a lack of conversation about the actual implications that would be concerning to a number of the people that came out tonight to express their thoughts on this. I do think the conversation needs to go deeper than it has been to date and so please make that a strong consideration moving forward, >> Mr. Casa. And then can we um can we unless there's something really compelling can we continue on and we still have a finish our agenda. >> Um what matters is
094that the community is having an educated informed dialogue that raises awareness. This isn't a zero sum game. the decision that's made when it's evidence-based, when it's part of listening to as many people as possible, getting that feedback and making a very difficult decision on a complex issue that I know whomever sits in these seats, whatever decisions are made, it's going to be for the North Pen community and what's right and what's the best. And sometimes when it's very complex, masking, the referendum, renovation decisions, this is another one of those issues that today nobody wins or loses. The community actually can go forth and have this conversation that is better informed. I want to thank everyone for being part of that process. What I love about this is I have no idea which way this is
095going. No matter how many people on the other side of that microphone say we do, this is what it's about. This is why you have representatives you elect. Um, thank you everyone for being a part of the process. >> Okay, we'll continue with our agenda. And what is next? >> The uh the next item is adjournment. [laughter] >> I'm sorry. Can we It's other business. Can I raise one item? Other business. >> Um, I just I want to give a shout out to the district-wide committee that is helping to organize the nights supporting nights food drive. Um, some of them are in the audience and I appreciate them very much. Each of our buildings within our district um have been sent a flyer and we're requesting donations of food items that will then be donated
096to Mana on Maine. Um this is something I think that can help to unite us and bring us together. So please I think for those who the school board and the ESC we are committing to donating holiday items and so I have some here that I will be dropping off in the back. Um, your students may be coming home with requests and it might be for cans of tuna fish and why do I have to donate just tuna fish? Um, what we've learned in our discussions with Mana is the need in our community is so great. The need even before the issue with withholding food stamps was in place, they were seeing a major uptick in the number of families coming. So there was a need. But when the food comes in, they also have
097a need for volunteers to sort. So if we can give whether it's a gift of a monetary gift or a gift in kind of food or our time, it is a community organization that is a great partner to the district and needs that help. But if we're only collecting one or two items from one school, we can drop those off in that way and it was less burdensome um for the district. So I really appreciate how it's been organized um how we're all coming together and we en encourage you all to support and contribute as well. Thank you. Thank you. I have a motion to adjurnn, please. >> So moved. >> Thank you. Um,