001Second. Thank you. Any questions? Hearing none. All those in favor of closing nominations, please signify by saying I. >> No. And so ordered. So once again, the secretary will cast the ballot. Uh okay. Uh set board meetings and committee meetings. We have a list here and and I want to say something to the board and and I'm taking full responsibility for this. uh several years ago I I wanted to involve people and I increased the committee load to eight committees to the chagrin of some and so everyone could be a committee chairman and a vice chairman. Uh I've since then heard that some people were not comfortable in that position. So what I'm asking you at this point if you would please contact me in the next few days before the next meeting and let
002me know a are you interested in being a chairperson? If so, what committee would you like to chair? Uh, I will do that by CDR and then alphabetical order should there be two on the same date. And and we'll kind of work through it and and see where we are. I don't I don't want to put anyone in the position that they're not comfortable with. And and I may have done that before and I apologize if I did that. So, uh, at this time I would like to approve the meetings as presented realizing that that might change slightly at at our next meeting. So, is there a motion to approve the committee meetings and times? >> So, move. >> Is there a second? >> I'll second it. >> Thank you. >> Any questions? >> Hearing
003none, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppos? No. As stipulated, section 407 of the Pennsylvania School Code of 1949 is amended, all board meetings will be conducted according to the rules and regulations approved in Northern Lehigh School Board policy number 06 per attachment. Uh just a couple of quick announcement. I think I should probably do it now while we're in this meeting. Uh I talked about the committee meetings. Uh we now have a two-year vacancy and and uh I would ask the administration to advertise that the tradition has been and I even got this wrong. The last day of school before the meeting will be actually the 19th. So February, excuse me, >> January December 19th. Yeah, excuse me. Uh will be the last day if someone wants to apply
004for that position. 3:00 that day. I'm sure our good friend Mr. your honor will uh will mention that. Thank you, sir. Uh and and I want to say this, it's like I'm not sure how we got to drawing names out of a hat, etc., etc. The law, the official rules, and the policy says anyone can apply for the job provided they're a citizen of Northern Lee High School District. We can accept people's letter of intent as an interest and and we can vet those people. We are under no obligation to vote on those people technically to win a seat and you don't even have to quote apply. Kick me if I'm wrong here. A a person needs to be nominated by a sitting member of the board. They don't need a second because it's a
005nomination and then they need five yes votes from members of the board and they are elected. So, if they apply, we'll certainly vet them and that's not going to hurt you, but you don't have to apply and and that's the way we're going to do it. I think that's the law and and uh if I if I >> the board can set the process by which they want to fill a vacancy. So, they can um nominate from the floor. Um you can go through an interview process. Everything needs to um occur publicly in terms of the interview, in terms of any deliberation and in terms of casting a vote for um the particular candidate >> has to be all done in public. Absolutely. I agree with that. Yeah. So, any questions on that? Okay. Uh
006another thing I've had some people wondering why we're sitting where we're sitting and there's some important things come up between meetings. You guys got to understand that. and and they're saying how comes I'm here and I'm there why aren't we in alphabetical order and it's quite simple you know it's like Mr. Kern left Mr. Van Norman took his place he took his seat and we've been juggling around so uh starting at our next committee meeting we're going to go back to an alphabetical system and and everybody's going to sit according to their name uh you can you can stay Mr. Stoker, that's you. You've earned that chair over the years. So, uh, >> uh, so you'll see that at the next committee meeting and of course the next, uh, regularly scheduled public meeting. >> Uh,
007anything else for the good of the group at this point? >> No. Hearing none. Is there a motion to adjourn? >> So move. >> Second. >> Did we get one second? >> All those in favor of journeying, please signify by saying I. Hi. >> Both. Nope. And we're finished with that one. >> Sorry, you lost. >> Um before we start the next meeting, I would just like to I would just like to thank uh Mr. Chrisman uh for his service to the school board, service to the community. Um Mr. Chrisman has been here and has seen a lot of challenges that Northern Lehigh School District has faced over the years and he has been an integral player in providing guidance to administration and to our employees and working through those challenges. Um so I do
008appreciate everything that you have done for us. Um I do hope I get to still get to see you around at school events um and in the community. And again, just thank you for your service. >> Yep. Uh thank you guys, you know, for welcoming me in. Uh it's been a interesting four years. It's been very knowledgeable. Um thank you to the general public for entrusting to vote me in four years ago. Um definitely an eye opening experience. I encourage everyone to try it at least once. Um good luck to the two new guys, lady. >> Have fun. >> Thank you, Mr. T. We appreciate your service. and uh he's our co guy. He came on as a result of co had some great ideas. Unfortunately, the governor and the president disagreed with him. I
009agreed with Chad, but uh thank you Chad for your time. >> I would also like to acknowledge and thank Mrs. Rhonda France for her service to the school board. She was not able to be here this evening and also most recently uh Mr. Ryan Van Nororman for um coming in to finish a term uh which was now vacant again. So, we'll be advertising to that firm. So, um it takes a lot to be a school board member, dedicate your time, uh and service to our students, our employees, and to the community. And I and I, um really do appreciate everything that they've done for us. Thank you, Mr. Green. Thank you. So, uh we'll now have the regular school board meeting. I'd like to call that to order. Uh please read the civility and decorum
010at the top of the agenda. Hope we can stay with that. Uh we will not do another pledge of allegiance so you don't have to worry about that. At this time no I would like roll call of the new members. >> Miss Bilby >> here. >> Mr. Pedorchro >> here. >> Miss Susach present. Miss Culp >> here. Miss Snder >> here. >> Mr. Weber >> here. >> Miss Williams. Mr. Green >> here. >> We have a quorum. >> Thank you. Public comments. Do you have anything? Uh >> uh we do have one community member, Mr. Hun Hunicker, >> I'm sorry. Um, who has signed up to speak on taxes. Uh, not on the agenda, but Mr. Green, I'll default to you if you want to do it now or at the end of the agenda.
011>> It it it's your call, sir. If you'd like to do it now, you can. Or you can >> Well, I just had a little discrepancy on my tax situation and tried to straighten it out and it just wasn't getting done. So, this was my next route of taking care of it. But uh half my taxes were paid. Half my taxes were insufficient funds in my checking account due to buying bad math. My wife does our stuff. She took care of it. Send half our taxes in. Was paid on time. My check then at Nef's Bank. I went straightened it out with them. Got the cash. Took it right over to the township. Told me to take it to the tax lady. Took it over to her cash soon as I could. First time she
012was there, she couldn't. She said she couldn't take the money that there was a penalty, which I understand there's a 10% penalty if you don't pay your taxes on time, which we tried, but it was my error. So, I'm standing up for that. It was wrong. I straighten it out with the bank. Anyway, the $2,700 my wife paid, the check was cash. My check wasn't I had took the cash, have it can seem to get that straight. They want 10% on the whole $5,400. But have to check used people have that was cash. And this is Mickey Mouse. I don't want to take up your time, so I'll try to do it as quick as possible. So when I tried to straighten out the money, got cash, went over, paid, tried to pay it as
013soon as I could. They couldn't do it because they couldn't take a partial, they said. But they took a partial cuz they took half the money of the first check. Now they want to charge me 10% on the whole 54 $5,400. They told me, "Oh, well, we'll send the other check back." Well, the other check never came back. I was just going to let it go. I've been enslaving to my whole life. If it's a matter of$500 some dollars that they're beating me down with, which seems like it's happening, I was going to pay it. But at least they were going to send the other half of the money back that they had for a month and a half, two months. And I don't want to be an idiot about it. But now I'm basically
014paying 20% on money I wanted to pay right away, but I came in with cash. >> And they're doing their jobs. very nice people doing their jobs, but they were this is how it is. It's that way. >> When when you went to pay with the cash, was it before or after the deadline >> when the tax was due? >> We paid when I got the first notice back from Nef's bank that it was insignific uh protection with them. They understood and apologized. Didn't charge me anything because I've been dealing with Nest Bank. So, got the cash and took it over as soon as humanly possible to pay that and then we go from there. Well, they didn't want the money. I'm just trying to get this simple situation. I'll pay the 10% on my
015screw up with the checking account that I owe. But the half of the money, the other half that we paid for is paid for, never sent back. And when I called and talked to the one lady, she said, "Well, we'll send it back." So, I'm thinking, "Well, that's how you play games." And I mean, not games, but that's how you operate. Want to send the money back? I'll wait 2 months and then write you the check, but then I'm getting charged $550 instead of the $270 that I feel is fair to me. That's all. >> I I would defer to the solicitor, but I I I believe the law says you have to pay the whole thing by the time or it doesn't count. And and other words, if you paid half of it, you
016don't get credit for half or anything. You have to pay. >> That's the part that's common sense. It doesn't make sense. If you use cash to check >> and take it basically, my half my taxes are paid. That you have the money. He never sent the check back that he said he were going to. So that, you know, half my taxes were paid on time. >> That That's an issue. That's an issue with you and the tax collector. I don't know how or what happened there. I'm just saying from from school district's point of view. I think the taxes have to be paid in full with uh you know, a check that's at least postmarked by that date. If it's not paid in full or you pay the wrong amount or whatever, it it unfortunately
017it doesn't count. I I don't like it, but I think that's the law. Yeah. In terms of um the tax collector can't accept partial payments. So if one of your checks >> took partial payments, >> if one of your checks bounced and the other one went through, that other check that went through should be returned to you. >> And that's what isn't >> that check is on tonight's boarded list of bills for approval. Once it's approved this evening, it'll be mailed out tomorrow. >> Okay. Sherry, I was talking to you then. >> Mhm. >> I was going to let it slide and just figure it's the donation to Slington High School. It's on It's on tonight. You're going to get it tomorrow morning. Well, it'll be mailed tomorrow once the list of bills are approved
018this evening. >> Okay. So then what you did you said you were going to do and this is how it's operating. >> Correct. It needs for 40 years and this seemed like a total storm the way it's just trying to be taken care of. Okay. >> I'm doing simple math that I learned down the road. >> So sorry for your time and aggravation, but that's the thing. Now I'm paying 10% on the whole deal even though you had the money till well you still have till the checks cash >> and that's according to the law and according to case law out there so >> okay >> that's not discretionary >> I don't know the law I'm just going by what I see as being you know >> fairness our apologies hope next time you can
019get it all paid and pay it early save >> with the bad man >> and a little heads up when you go on social security, they deduct $200 off the check before you turn 65. So that might screw up your accounts a little bit. That's what happened in my case. >> Good night everyone. >> Good night. >> Okay, I think that's the only comment we have at this point in time. So let's uh move into special board reports. Let's >> do minutes first. >> Yes, let's do the minutes first from last. >> Oh, let's do the minutes, too. Should we approve the minutes? Motion to approve the minutes. >> Thank you. Second. >> Second. >> Any additions or corrections? >> Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. No.
020>> And so ordered. Now, Miss Susach, >> thank you, >> Miss too much to report. We did have our uh November board meeting uh for the CLIU. Um, we opened our newest building which is on Schoolhouse Lane. Um, it houses our ALASS and our LCA program. Um, ALASS being our center-based uh, intensive academic and behavior groups. A lot of those are serviced um, for the, for instance, the Southern Lehigh, Salisbury, those types of areas. Um and then the LCA program which is students mainly with autism getting smaller class sizes. That building opened up um just off right off of Route 78 down towards the prominade when you got off there. Um great new building. It's very collaborative now with those two groups coming together and kind of helping each other and and learning so many
021different things. So um we're really excited to have that building opened. It's brand new. It's modern. The kids are enjoying it and loving it and um really respecting that building, seeing that it's uh all updated and ready to go. So, um hope to get down to see that building shortly. Uh shortly, we will also start to see our general operating budget um that every school district needs to vote on. Um the IU board operating budget is 1% of the whole IU budget. So it's a very small number. Um as our board would vote on it as a whole. The other side of it is pay services. So if our students go there certain things there's service fees for those but the actual operating budget is what our district and our board would need to vote
022on. Um, as of right now, we are uh no planned for increases for the district. Um, we will see that vote come in January. That was presented to all of the superintendent of the Lehi and Carbon school districts. Um, so hopefully that'll come out shortly um for you all to see. And uh again, as we did here, uh we also celebrated American Education Week November 17th to 21st. Um, so we just wanted to say thank you again to our staff both here at our own buildings as well as the IU buildings for helping children learn and making that their mission to do that. Uh, we have a meeting in two weeks uh for our December meeting and be able to report out on that. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh, next Mr. Nora. >> Thank
023you. We did not have a meeting in November. We usually just have a committee of the whole meeting in which we go over our audit as well as our calendar. Uh we do we did approve some things and we did have a resignation for our director of facility and we have re we have now hired Dr. Derek Rogers. It's interesting to have a PhD as our facilities director but uh he's highly qualified and I think he's going to be do a great job. We also are having had a resignation for retirement in our student service and we're we have filled that with a new director. We did our first presentation for our 2526 budget. The timeline is as follows. The JOC will adopt a tenative budget in January and then it will go on to
024the districts and so forth until all districts have then either approved or not approved the budget. We also had one of the largest and most successful open houses this year and uh I I compliments to everyone who was uh in charge of doing that and and who were there particularly our students who came out to help and so forth as well as our faculty. Our next meeting will be our reorganization meeting and our general meeting on December 10th. Thank you. >> Thank you Gary Mer. >> Thank you. Uh at the college we also are doing our budget. Uh once again we're going to hold the entire district shares uh where they were. Uh that's based on your representation for the last several years. Northern Lehi's separation or number of people has dropped. So our number
025has gone down. This year unfortunately or fortunately we're sending more people there. So it looks like our number is going to go up a little bit preliminarily. uh $4,000 more, something like that, for the year is where it looks. It's not final, but I it's pretty close to that. Uh the state once again was very generous with us. They gave us nothing this year. So, uh keep that in mind when you start voting on your uh your budgets. And that's all I have. Committee report center meeting. There was nothing held in December. Okay. Tada. I can't help but do that. I'm sorry. >> Good evening everyone. It's great to see everyone again. We hope you all had a great Thanksgiving break. Um, tonight we'll be discussing events that are going on in December. So, Keystone
026prep sessions have begun and are going extremely well. Students who are taking the Keystone exams in January will will have attended anywhere from four to seven sessions prior to their exam. The Keystone exams will take place when we return from winter break. So the sessions will be the 7th, 8th, and 9th of January. As a reminder, non-Esters will have an asynchronous virtual day at home. Testers for both WIDA and Keystones will report to the building normal time. The German club will be attending Chris Kindle at the Art Quest Center at the Steel Stacks. They will be volunteering their time from 2:30 to 8 on Friday the 12th, so this Friday. And then our student council is holding their 12 spirit days, which leads us up to winter break. The spirit day started on the 3rd
027with Polar Express Day which was PJ day and it'll end on the 19th with 12th the night before Christmas which is also a PJ day. Some of the days consist of Grinch day wear green Christmas vacation wear beach/ Hawaiian and Santa soup day wear red. At the end of the spirit days faculty and staff will vote on who they think exemplified each day each spirit day. The winners will receive a free Northern Lehigh t-shirt. Our band and choir department will be holding its winter concert on December 16th at 7:00 p.m. It'll be held in the high school auditorium. There will be an inservice day on Friday, December 12th. And then our winter breaks break starts on the 22nd and it goes all the way up until the 2nd of January. That's all I have for
028tonight. And then here is Maddie with sports and more events. Hello. So during the month of December, student council does a lot for the community and our school. We help run Toys for Tots, which we partner with the middle school on, as well as um doing adopt a child. Uh we also have my favorite day of the year, which is elementary a day over at Peters, which will be December 16th. Basically, it's where we just go over and help teachers prepare for the holidays and just get to spend time with the kids. Information sessions for EHP animal science and future educator will be held this week and the application process will saw shortly after. College college visits are still underway and this week students will have the chance to visit Elsite El Tri seed. Winter
029sports are also quickly underway. Boys basketball team will be with a one toone record at their Hamburg kipoff tournament losing to Lee Heitton in their second game. The current record is 2 to1 after their impressive win against Pomadan. and I highly recommend going and finding the dunk that Kellum Bower did during that game. It was a great experience to be there. Um, girls basketball currently has a record of 0 to2. Boys wrestling has a record of 0 to1 and the newly established Men Lehigh girls wrestling team competed in their first match and beat Southern Lehigh 35 to30 last Wednesday and have a current record of 1 to zero. Thank you. >> You saved the best for last. >> Thank you. Any questions for the ladies? >> Comment. >> I want to see that video that
030you >> It's It's all over social social media. Just look up um Paul and Dunk and you'll probably find it. >> Thank you both very much. As always, great job. I hope you both have a wonderful winter break and you are of course um not required to stay for the rest of the meeting. >> Have a great night. >> Take care. >> Tony, anything from the solicit this evening? >> I do. I have good news. Um so the Pennsylvania Supreme Court finally ruled on the Coleman versus Parkland School District case. Um that was the case uh to determine whether or not there were three or four exceptions. um to the the uh board's ability to um add to the agenda uh more than 24 hours before any regular board meeting. And the Supreme Court uh
031ruled that there are four exceptions, not the three that the uh below court uh ruled on. So, uh, you can amend an agenda more than 24 hours in advance of the meeting for any, uh, real or potential emergency involving clear and present danger to life or property. Uh, for business arising within 24 hours prior to the meeting, uh, if it's dimminimous and it doesn't involve spending money or entering into a contract, uh, business arising during the meeting with those same qualifications, and then by a majority vote of any board members present at the meeting. Um, so that really does expand your ability to um address situations that weren't able to get onto the agenda. >> Just a quick question that that number four, and I read it, I think maybe it was in your your
032updates that you send out. >> So number four basically says anything that comes up, it doesn't have to meet the criteria of any of the first three. >> Correct. >> So if we decide we want to put something on the agenda that night, we can. And there are absolutely no restrictions. That doesn't have to be money, doesn't have to be anything. >> Correct. You are >> forget the first three, you got the fourth one. >> Correct. Which is really your catchall. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, >> and there are certain the same requirements as to when you do that that need still need to be followed. You have to post the new agenda within 24 hours, etc., etc. But, so that's good news. I think good good decision. >> Yes. Thank you. >> Where are we?
033We're down to Dr. Stoker. >> Thank you, Mr. Green. Uh just an announcement that our annual data presentation will be coming up in early 2026. >> Thank you. That's the kind of report I like when the Eagles are playing, you know. >> Uh Mrs. Molto, anything from you tonight? >> Eagles are playing. >> That's even better. That's even better. Uh superintendent Dr. Link. >> Uh thank you, Mr. Green. I have some really wonderful news to share going into the holiday season. Uh again this year, uh a very um strong school district partner, the Lehigh Valley Educators Credit Union, has decided to step up and support the school district's effort to support any of our students and families that may be experiencing uh meal insecurity. I'm so happy to share again this year that the Lehigh
034Valley Educators Credit Union is donating $10,000 uh to the Northern Lehigh School District Backpack Buddies program. Uh that will fund the program for nearly the entire year. Um so when you have, you know, local businesses, local community partners, uh that see the value in helping children and helping their families, you're you're in a pretty good place. And they've done this every year, I believe. Seven, eight, nine years. >> Seven, eight, nine years. Uh, so we're very fortunate uh to be able to work with the Lehigh Valley Educators Credit Union and I believe um so Mr. Honor, this is like your time. You ready? Um I believe Mr. Fedorcha and Mrs. Molotores, who are both school district representatives to um the credit board >> on the uh credit union board are presenting us with a very
035large check monetarily and physically. in the middle. >> And we we do this to all nine school districts. So, uh, thanks to our members of the credit union who help support this. >> Thank you both so much. And please share our appreciation with the rest of the board. I tried cashing this for you but >> So you have the real one. >> So I do have a real one for you. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> So then I'm going to continue to share some more uh wonderful news. Uh late last week, we received an anonymous an anonymous donate donor donated another check in support of the Backpack Buddies program in the amount of $1,000. Uh so again, very very generous. Uh this is an individual person that has said, I you know, I believe
036in this program so much uh that I'm going to donate $1,000. Uh so to that person out there, I'll look at the TV camera for this. Thank you so much for supporting our students and their families to make sure that they are um not struggling with meal security, especially through the winter months and through the holiday season. And then I have one additional one that's not actually printed on the agenda. This is hot off the press. Came in late uh Friday last week. Um Mr. Dennis Schultis, who is a a community resident, a community member. Uh he works closely with the first responders out in Washington Township. uh he donated three wheelchairs to the school district uh to go into our uh nurse offices across across uh our four buildings. Um so now uh we'll
037have more than one uh wheelchair in each school building. Um again, just very generous. He he called me um and just said, "Hey, you know, Dr. Link, I'd like to donate these. Uh they're brand new or near brand new." Um, and the first place he thought of was uh the nurses in Northern Lee High School District. So, Mr. Schulty, thank you for your generosity as well. And that concludes my report, sir. >> Thank you, sir. Any questions for Dr. Lake? No. Okay. Hearing none. Uh, we did have an executive session at uh 6:20 this evening. We had what? Discipline, legal. I guess those were personnel. Yeah, those were the three things. So, >> thank you. Speaking of personnel, uh we have some personnel items. Uh a down to boy, we go to page four here.
038Uh looks like A to N. Is there a motion to approve those items? >> Mr. Dorsia, thank you. There second. >> I'll second. >> Thank you. Any questions on the personnel items hearing? None. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> Those opposed? No. And so ordered. Got a bunch of policies there. Is there a motion to approve the policies? >> Motion. Second. >> Second. >> Is that done? >> Thank you. >> Uh any questions on the policy? I think we reviewed all of them at the committee meetings. Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> Those opposed? No. >> And so orders. We have one conference. Is there a motion to approve the conference? >> So second >> motion and second. Questions on the conference hearing? None. All those in
039favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Possed up. >> And so ordered. I have nothing under curriculum instruction. Anybody have any old business? Nope. Uh new new business. Uh we have two items under new business. There a motion to approve those items. >> Yes, Mr. Forge. >> I think we have a motion by Mr. Forge. Second up here. Thank you. I didn't hear who that was, but if you got it. Okay. Thank you. >> Questions on the new business items? >> Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppos? No. And so ordered. We have ABCD and E under financial. Looking for a motion for financial. >> So move. >> Second. >> Motion in a second. Any financial questions? >> Were you? No, I was just saying who did
040it. >> Oh, I thought I thought you said she had a question. Thank you. >> Uh, if there are no questions, all those in favor signify by saying I >> opposed. No. And so ordered. Uh, legal approve the expulsion of student as listed. >> Second. >> Thank you. We cannot have discussion on that. So all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. opposed. No. And so ordered. I personally have nothing. >> Is there any correspondence? >> What's that? >> Any correspondence? >> Correspondence. That's what I saying. I have none. No. Couple of information items. Any guests that would like to be heard? I don't see any. >> Mr. Green. >> Yes, sir. Uh, if I could uh just ask a moment to uh point out that on the Northern Lehigh website, there's a
041new button for the nor newly formed Northern Lehigh uh alumni association. So, if anybody on the board or anybody in the community would like to is either a past student of Northern Lehi or a past employee, uh we are now up to 240 uh alumni who have signed up in the past month and we're looking for more people. >> Thank you. >> Uh okay. I understand not everyone has turned in their superintendent's evaluation for the year. Uh >> mid year. >> What's that? >> Midyear. Okay. Uh if you would please take care of that. Uh we also requested that the leaving members fill that out. So I would ask if at all possible that we could let their uh emails etc remain live for a period of time until we're done with this. Even though
042they're not on the board, I don't think that should violate any regulations. Uh, we actually gave them access for this one particular item >> for that one. They have access for that item. Can I can I text them or or email them to give them heck? >> Uh, that's up to your discretion, sir. >> No, but it'll work in the system. >> Yeah, they have to ask that. >> So, anyway, if you would please do that, we would appreciate it and uh we'll we'll take a look at what the agendas look like in the in the upcoming months to see when we can have that. uh be it at the committee meeting, after the committee meeting or after the regular meeting depending on what the agendas would be. Okay. Any other business today? >> Move
043to adjourn. >> Thank you, Gary. Second. >> No second. >> I have a second. >> Oh, we got a second. Okay. >> You have to speak up on this left side. I don't know. >> Uh all those in favor journ signify by saying I. >> I. No. >> And we're done.