5/18/26 School Board Meeting

001You are good. >> Fantastic. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I'd like to call to order the Monday, May 18th committee of the whole meeting for the Penmanor School District School Board directors. The next scheduled meeting of the Pen Manor School Board will be held on Monday, June 8th, 2026 at 7 p.m. in the large group instruction room of Penmanor High School. An executive session was held prior to the committee of the whole meeting for the purpose of discussing personnel and student matters as detailed above. Mrs. Rhodess, may we have a roll call, please? >> Sure. >> Mr. Beaks >> here. >> Mr. Her >> here. >> Mrs. Hope >> here. >> Mrs. Kek >> here. >> Mr. Lombardo >> here. >> Mr. Warfl >> here. >> Ms. Wart >> here. >> Mrs. Napsiger here. >>

002Dr. Fullerton >> here. >> Nine board members present. I would love to entertain a motion to approve the minutes of the May 4th committee of the whole meeting. >> So moved. >> Thank you. A second. >> Second. >> Thank you very much. Any further comment or question? >> All those in favor? >> Nine affirmative votes. >> Do we have any board development opportunities and reports? >> Seeing none, Mrs. Napsinger, our opportunities today. >> Sure. can tell it's the end of the school year. Um, so this Thursday, May 21st, we will have senior recognition night in the auditorium and then the big night of the year, uh, commencement on Wednesday, June 3rd. For those of you who are not at executive session, there is a blue folder at your place with instructions from Mr. Eie. Um,

003pay attention or face those consequences on graduation night. So, um, and that'll that's a wrap for the school year. >> Great. Thank you. We have now made it to item one and this is a student recognition. Dr. Gail. >> Yeah. Thank you, Dr. Forson. Uh, it's my pleasure tonight uh [clears throat] to recognize not a stranger to us. We've had this young man here before. Uh, but we are able to recognize tonight uh Matthew Palm Mary. Matthew, why don't you come on up here while I talk about you? Uh, but this is a special young man. Uh, sadly, he's going to be leaving us here in a couple couple of weeks, right, as he graduates. But tonight, we're recognizing Matthew uh for his accomplishments in the All State Chorus Festival. Uh, essentially what happened, Matthew

004would be considered, he's a state champ. He's a state champ because of what he did. Uh but uh what was it? April in April or >> I think so. Yeah. >> Yeah. Some you know it's all a blur of senior year. You pro I'm glad you're even here today. Uh but Matthew represented Pen Manor at the All State Festival. Uh again this is an opportunity for him to work with students uh that have qualified for this level of competition from across the state. And Matthew uh did a final re audition and in that he was determined as the number one bass one voice part. And what's truly remarkable about it, not only is he a state champ, but all along the way at district chorus, regional chorus, and then finally at all state chorus, he

005has placed number one in his voice part. So he would be like district champ, [clears throat] regional champ, and then all and then state champion. So, uh, it's truly been a pleasure to see Matthew in many different ways. Uh, he's performed the national anthem at number of different events. Uh, and even in some cases, he was invited to do that. Uh, in some cases, I had to twist his arm a little bit to represent Pen Manor. But I think the highlight for me seeing Matthew was this past Wednesday during the high school concert. He and three of his friends performed like the the barberh shop quartet in between set changes and things and it was great to see Matthew be able to display his talents but then also some of his humor which I think

006is probably really dry. Right, Mrs. Simoitz? Uh but congratulations to Matthew. Uh Matthew's parents, Jeff and Amy are here tonight. So thank you for giving us a quality young man. Uh we really appreciate him. And Mr. Simwoods, thank you for the work that you have done, not only with Matthew, but all of our students uh here throughout the program, but I know when Mrs. Simits and I talked about Matthew coming, she wanted I said, "You don't have to come. You know, you got your own family." She's like, "No, no, I want to be here." Because of uh how Matthew has performed and the time that she has invested in into him. We truly appreciate that. So, Matthew, uh congratulations. And I do just want to mention this in the email that Mrs. Simwood shared with

007the staff telling everybody that Matthew was all state. She put this in there and I thought this was really true and and really gives an impression of who Matthew is. Mr. Simmons wrote, "Those that have taught Matthew know his meticulous work ethic. He has trained incredibly hard all school year for these competitive festivals and please congratulate him on his accomplishments." And I think that first part where she talks about his meticulous work ethic is something that we all want to see in students because we know the value and how how taking something like performance and music that type of work ethic translates into so many different areas and and I think that's truly uh an indication of who Matthew is. So congratulations Matthew. I'm going to ask Mrs. Nassinger. We have a board proclamation. Uh

008she's going to read this for you. and Mr. Beaks. >> Well, Mr. Beaks is going to read and Mrs. Navser is going to present >> one way or another. All right. Sorry about that. It's >> okay. So, recognizing and commending Matthew Palari for his outstanding achievement in vocal musical per performance. Whereas, Matthew Formari Pali was named to the 2020 26 All-State course as a base one through his vocal all-state edition auditions. whereas the student has distinguished himself as a fine musician and student in our school district. Be it therefore resolved that Pen Manor School Board unanimously adopts this resolution honoring the above named student. And be it further resolved that Pen Manor School District extends best wishes for continued success as a as a distinguished musician. [applause] >> [applause] >> Can I just say a

009few words? So, Matthew, you probably don't know this, but I knew you from when you were wee little young man running around. And um just want to say that this was such an honor to be able to read that proclamation for you and to just wish you the best wishes in your career out of Penn Manor. And I I know you're going to go far. I know your family very well and you're just a very distinguished young man and it makes being a comet a great day. So, thank you so much for that, for all your hard work. >> You sat down too fast because [clears throat] I got one follow-up question. So, come on back up. [laughter] So, you are graduating [clears throat] soon, right? Yes. >> Okay. I hope so. >> Yeah, I

010hope so. What What What's your plans for next year? >> I'm going to go to Messiah University to study history >> and hopefully do what? >> Go to law school. All right. Great. Congratulations, M. >> Thank you. >> Dr. Gale. Would it be inappropriate to ask him to just give us a little snippet of an example? Would you be willing to do that, Matthew? >> Matthew, run. Run, Matthew. >> Just a little a little one. Part of your audition piece or even [clears throat] part of the national anthem or something? >> I'm sorry. >> No, you can't do part of the national. >> That's true. That's true. You can't. Maybe the whole national anthem. >> The whole thing. We're not putting you on the spot, Matthew, but yes, we are. >> This is >> I

011would love to hear him sing this. >> He's He's [applause] >> Oh my gosh. >> Poor kid. [clears throat] >> I'll sing of the national anthem. >> Okay. Or the whole thing. [laughter] >> Okay. Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light, what so proudly [singing] we held at the twilight last gleaming, who brought stripes and bright stars [singing] through the perilous fight for the ramparts we [singing] watched were so gallently streaming and the [singing] rockets red glare. The bombs bursting [singing] in air gave proof [singing] through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say [singing] does that star spangled B yet wave [singing] for the land of the free and the home [singing] of the brave. [applause] >> I'm sorry. That was good. >> Thank you, Matthew. Greatly appreciate that.

012>> Thank you, Miss Work. >> Well, if he wasn't graduating with honors, he is now. >> That's right. [clears throat] >> Anything else? Do you want him to sing? >> Can you dance? Do [laughter] you have any other talents? >> He We have to pay for the second one. >> Seeing none, we'll move to item two. and for our staff recognition. Dr. Gail, >> so throughout the course of the year, uh there are certain emails that I send out that in some cases I don't want a response to. And unfortunately, one of those emails that I send where I'm hoping no one responds to, but this year some people did, is the email that I tell people, here's the deadline to tell us when you're going to retire, if you're going to retire. And this

013year, unfortunately, some responded back to me. Uh, but yet at the same time, and so this is like a bittersweet moment, uh, where we get to recognize folks that have been part of our district. Um, I asked Cindy as she was keeping track of who our retirees are and the different folks, she calculated the number of years. So, at the end of this school year, we have individuals that are retiring and there have been 3906 years. Got got to remember that 166 because that's important to somebody's retirement. years of service to the Penman School District from these individuals. And tonight we have some of them who are here tonight uh that we want to recognize and just express our appreciation for the work that they have done uh in the district in multiple capacities. Some

014just in one spot, others in different places throughout the uh throughout the district. Uh we'll go alphabetically uh and we'll start with Jill Albert. Come on forward, Jill. [applause] So, so Jill is retiring after serving Penman for 26.75 years. You don't want to round that up to be 27, huh? >> Yeah. >> Okay. [clears throat] But really, for those of us who know Jill, uh, it's actually been more or less a lifetime. Uh, Jill's one of our penman alum in the district office and there's many times that she feels reminds me of that as she tells me different stories of what happened and different things and how she never got in trouble. >> [laughter] >> Um but you know yet we still uh enjoy having Jill. Jill serves as our receptionist in the district office

015as well as assistant to our special ed and gifted gifted department. Uh I will say this, we always know when someone's coming into the office because Jill is the one who greets them and I love to hear how she welcomes them in into the office. And then sometimes there's the comments afterwards that we don't hear, [clears throat] but we know that Jill is the face of Pen Manor when she comes in. We appreciate all the work that Jill does. She certainly keeps the office, the district office on her toes and definitely will be missed next year. So Jill, congratulations. >> [clears throat] >> We have for each of our retirees, we have uh the lifetime pass to Pen Manor events. >> Long time. >> Yeah. Yeah. We hope you can use it a long time.

016A proclamation from the school board and then the coveted coveted vent blanket. So, >> thank you Joel. Congratulations. [applause] >> [applause] >> There's a theme here from central office and our next retiree is Judy Duke. Judy tried to leave us in January, but just keep bringing her back. [applause] Judy again, 22 and a half years working for the district, but total number of years in pen matter, >> A lot. We'll just leave it at that. Even the accountant, we'll just let her say a lot. Uh but Judy's a a PM maner alum. Uh for all the years working in the business office, as we know, when that audit comes through, it's not who the CFO is. It's the work that Judy has done that has kept us in compliance and doing everything everything well. Uh,

017it always was little it was a little nerve-wracking for me when I would walk past Judy's office because on her desk she had all these papers and that just makes me nervous to begin with that there's like things on on a desk. But we Judy knew where everything was and she kept meticulous records and has really uh put us as a district in a great place on the business side of things. So Judy, congratulations. I know you've enjoying retirement for a little while. Uh, but we also know we can rely on you for help in many different ways. So, congratulations, Judy. [applause] And then another one uh that I'm kind of disappointed that she is retiring uh is Sue Frolic. Come on, Sue. >> [applause] >> It says here that Sue has 21 years working

018with the district, but Sue has many other years because Sue has two roles. One is with Eshbach where she drives kids to and from school. And then she parks her bus at Ashelman and serves as an aid in the building. And I know from talking with Dr. Cox and Dr. for me. Sue does many, many things that aren't within her job description or what she's supposed Well, I shouldn't say it that way. She does everything she's supposed to. She just does a lot more, too. And it's always been appreciated. Uh, and there's been times when I found Sue part of our custodial crew, uh, out on the playground, probably if we if [clears throat and snorts] I had been there at the right time, she was probably in the cafeteria doing something. Sue just does

019a lot of things that we greatly appreciate that has allowed us to to do things in the district and at Echelman as well as getting and she Sue was sharing that she has been driving middle school students to and from school for her for her career. So there's a whole another level of doing things. So congratulations Sue. >> Thank you. [applause] >> Sorry. Congratulations. >> Uh [sighs] now we move into our professional staff and uh these next couple ones are a little hard uh because not only have they made an impact on the district, but for some of these folks, they've also made a direct impact on me and my family. So, first want to start with Deb Drexel. >> [applause] >> Deb is retiring after 27 and a half years uh in the district,

020but many more. >> Yeah, just a couple. 31. >> Just 31. Just a couple. >> Uh but uh Deb has been first grade teacher at Peekway Elementary. uh her teammate left her last year, but Deb was kind enough to stick around for one more year to break in a new first grade teacher, and has done a phenomenal job. I told Deb earlier that uh she is a great assistant to Mrs. Marsh, our principal. When we talk with Mrs. Marsh, she's always referring to, "Well, Deb told me this. Deb told me this. Deb said it's okay, so we're going to do this." Uh but for really uh for I met Deb uh really when our boys were going through Pekquay and then also her husband Carl I don't know if he had the honor or we've

021definitely benefited uh Carl coached one of our sons uh in baseball and I think that was his aha moment that I just can't show up. I actually got to do things for this. >> But Deb and Carl, the Drexels, they've been a significant part to our district for a long period of time. and Deb, we will certainly miss you. We know you're not going far because all the grandchildren that live in the district are going to be around, so you'll have to be at games or something or whatever. So, uh, but congratulations, Deb. [applause] >> Deb will definitely get her money's worth out of that uh, retirement card. >> Uh, next one. Uh, Kelly Gra, our Hambrite fourth grade teacher. [applause] Kelly has been part of the district for 33.77 years. See, those point something

022something years mean something to some of us. Uh, but Kelly has been a a consistent part of Hambrite Elementary School. uh major factor in what has happened there uh with the staff and with the students. Greatly appreciate Kelly's work. I actually first met Kelly sitting in the bleachers at Comet Field when our sons were playing baseball together and you know it's hard when you're in those roles as a parent and I just always looked at Kelly and she just kind of sat there real calm, real collective and I'm thinking how can you be so calm? How can you be so even keel? And then I saw her in her fourth grade class and I was like, "Okay, baseball game's actually pretty mild compared to a fourth grade class." But Kelly, thank you for your years

023of service. Thank you for the impact that you've made uh in many, many different ways here at Penn Manor. [applause] And this is one that I got an email many times, three years prior actually, since I've been superintendent four years. And then there was always the nice follow-up email saying, I'm going to resend my retire. It didn't happen this year. And I was kind of like, uhoh, what's going on? But Barb Havstick, our fifth grade teacher at Pekquay, come on Barb, has decided [applause] has decided to retire. I think we were all kind of waiting like is it this year? Is it next year? Is it which year is it going to be? Barb has been part of Pen Manor for 39 and a half years. Uh 12 of those as an aid and then

02427 and a half as a teacher in the district and many many more years as a parent as well. So Barb, truly appreciate your presence in the district. Uh you have been an inspiration to a lot of us. uh when we feel like man I don't know how many more times I can do this and then we always think well Barb keeps doing it so I guess we should keep doing it but congratulations Barb and thank you for everything that you've done again another one had experience of experiencing Barb as a parent uh well I think you only had one of ours thankfully for you oh gez still teaching after all those but thank you for all that you did uh continue to do in the district >> [applause] >> Now an interesting thing of

025our retirees and I didn't calc actually I counted this up between our retirees and our distinguished employ or our outstanding employee. We have 26 kids of those folks who have gone through pen manor. So I think that's really uh special that not only have these folks given to the district as part as employees but also had their families born raised in in some cases multiple generations uh within the district. So thank you for doing that. Our other retiree and I mentioned this before who's double dipping tonight. He's also our outstanding secondary educator is Dave. [applause] One of the hardest transitions that I had to make when I was high school principal is to stop referring to this guy as trainer Dave and start calling him Mr. Uh because Dave uh served as our athletic trainer

026here for 14 years. Uh, and I think it was actually a couple years before that when we were pulling Dave in, but he was working for somebody else. And then we had the bright idea, let's bring this guy on as a full-time employee. Dave made that transition 17 years ago from trainer Dave to Mr. and has been teaching health and fizzed here at the high school. I always appreciated Dave. uh for one thing he helped me through some ailments and just you know he he started to break in the the following the trainers after him and they would say yeah you're just getting old like this is your diagnosis OLD so stop doing those things but Dave has served in many different ways uh what I think I I truly value about Dave uh this

027is probably his worst experience of 31 years of standing here being recognized >> truly a humble person uh truly goes about his business does not want attention. And that's the hard part with Dave because he does so many things so well. You love to call attention to him. You love to have him talk, share him different things. But we've been fortunate for the last couple years Dave has served as the fizzed department coordinator. and his leadership not only for here at the high school but throughout the district has been very influential and very impacting on our department our PE department as they've looked at curricular changes as well as just going about and doing things differently which is a big factor as to why Dave is also not only retiring but he's also selected as

028our outstanding secondary educator. Uh Dave has been a significant person here at the high school. Uh he his presence will be missed in many different ways. Uh there were many times you'd find Dave serving in not only the capacity of phys as the trainer, he was like the AD, he would be the game manager, all different types of things, but then as it transitioned into his teaching role, served in many different things uh security at at graduation and all different things. So Dave truly appreciate uh the sacrifices that you've made, the time that you have given to the district and the impact that you've had over the 31 years. And while you're retiring, it's also a great way to say thank you and congratulations as also being our outstanding secondary educator. But Dave, congratulations. [applause]

029>> Get a new pair of sneakers or something. Our other outstanding educator is Danielle Gwyn. Uh Danielle, come on forward, please. [applause] Danielle is a fourth grade teacher at Leort. Uh and she has served the district since 20 2008. And she's been teaching fourth grade since 2008. Moved in and has just stayed there. And I and I was trying to figure this out. Uh, and I can't I didn't do the math and I I won't try to do it in my head, but as you figure from 2008, Danielle's been teaching fourth grade. That's a lot of fourth graders to see, but it's a lot of fourth graders that she has impacted, got them not just ready for fourth grade and in fourth grade, but then to go from fifth grade, sixth grade, and on forward.

030Uh, I know that Danielle's impact in Letor goes well beyond just her classroom. uh she and her grade level buddy [clears throat] have really li I'm sorry >> my partner >> your partner Liz Binkley have done a fantastic job of setting the culture and leading the culture at not only Letor but across the district uh very b we are all very bene we are yeah I'll get this out here we are benefiting greatly from her work not just in the classroom but as she has really worked on curriculum has worked on the uh some of the professional development sessions that we've been able to have and just her sharing her her strategies, the things that work. Uh it's truly been a blessing for us. And when we were deciding who was going to be the

031outstanding elementary educator, as you can imagine, there's many people that could have been chosen. Uh but just the impact that Danielle that that Danielle has in the classroom but then also across the district is what is what separated her and allowed her to be chosen for this. So congratulations. We're very pleased and grateful for all that you are doing in the district. So, please. [applause] And then our outstanding employee is Deb Gerlock, our cafeteria manager at Letor Elementary. [applause] >> [applause] >> You know, I was trying to think like how do I introduce how do I tell about Deb? And really just reminded me of of one of the greatest quotes that I ever heard from a baseball player after a game. He said, "Let's eat." [laughter] And that's all I could think of, Deb.

032Like, every time I see it, it's like, "Let's eat." Uh, but it it's it's always a pleasure [laughter] to not just all the time, but you know, all right. 99% of the time, even when her husband would come to the A meetings, Deb would always send along a nice homemade snack. So, all of us who attend those, see, there's a benefit to being part of that, right, Mr. Beaks? You get that homemade snack from Mrs. Gerlock. And then I've always wondered like if I responded to Deb's email about meals are ready, would you prepare me something? >> Sure. >> All right, I'm in now. Uh but Dev is our cafeteria manager at Leort and we've all been there. We've seen the work, the effort that she does just to feed the kids and the staff.

033But it's not just providing them with food. It's probably the best decorated cafeteria serving line. The themes are are fantastic and from what I've seen across the district, some folks have tried to take Deb's lead. they're following along well, but Deb truly has done a lot of things for the district. Uh she has served the district for 26 years in some capacity. Uh but we know that it's much more than that. Uh she takes to heart making sure that our students and our staff are truly meet having their basic needs, meals provided for them. And she does it all with great joy. And she does it with a smile. and she does it in a way that I probably should show up at Leard Elementary for breakfast or lunch more often. So, thank you, Deb,

034and congratulations. [applause] Uh what a great group. Uh in in a lot of ways, there are several others that we could be recognizing that are also retiring that weren't able to make it tonight. Uh but what a tremendous group of people. Uh what a tremendous group of educators. What a tremendous group of staff that supports us and what a tremendous impact these folks have made on Penn Manor. And I think for that reason um tonight is just one of those special times. Uh but it's also a very bittersweet time because we know these folks for some of them this is the last time that they'll be able to be recognized here. So thank you very much all of our retirees. Thank you for your time, your commitment, and to Dave, Danielle, and Deb, congratulations for

035all the work that you do. Welld deserving of the recognition. So, thank you very much, Dr. Forson. >> Thank you, Dr. Gail. [applause] They they tell us uh when we run for school board that it's only two meetings a month. It's will be easy and nothing ever goes wrong. They lied. It's night like it's nights like these that we get to celebrate the very best of the best in our district. We get to celebrate those who are starting a new page in the story and those who are only reach scratching the surface of the talent that they have. Thank you for spending a few moments and sharing with us whether it was 39 years or 27 years. Pen Manor in our community is better because you were in it and you worked for our district.

036So, thank you very much. And with that, please leave before Mrs. Word has anybody else sing tonight. [laughter] >> That was wonderful. >> It was wonderful. >> It was. Yes, it was. [clears throat] And when he walked in here, that wasn't on his bingo card. >> And Mrs. Bacon, that will expect you to sing your comments tonight. Right. >> I don't know. I feel like we got a song. Now it's time for somebody to dance. >> Right. Right. >> That felt like a mic drop moment. Like, all right, meeting's over >> with that. Right. With that, we have to now hear our superintendent goal report. >> Dr. Gail, Dr. Egan, good luck. >> Yeah. >> And uh >> here we have it. >> We messed that process or the the the order of the agenda.

037We probably should have started with those recognitions and then let us let Mr. Fory follow that, but we'll we'll try to do something here. Uh but tonight uh going to [snorts] wrap up our uh things that we've been working on throughout the course of this year. Uh one of the goals that we set was to really take a look at our uh absenteeism and how do we address some of those things not only this year but in years coming. Uh I want to thank Dr. Dr. Egan and a number of administrators as well as our teachers and counselors and social workers across the district. Uh this year, this was one of those uh kind of joint effort uh to really take a look at how can we improve uh our attendance rate because we all

038know if a student's not in school, they're missing out on a lot. Uh and in some cases, it's hard to catch them up. Uh but we we really truly need students here and this has been one of those topics that I think for the last couple of years across the nation across the state but even here at Pen Manor we've been talking about our absenteeism. So I'm going to ask Dr. Egan to really walk through the efforts that he and his group have worked on and some of the things that we are uh have achieved but also some of the things that we're going to be putting into place. Dr. Egan. >> Thank you Dr. [cough] So [clears throat] this past year [snorts] myself along with a number of administrators uh social workers our student

039engagement facilitator worked on u couple [clears throat] things that I'll outline here tonight. But we first wanted to just really understand our policy and align our practices between the the 10 different buildings. And >> [clears throat] >> um we have policy 204 our attendance policy. Uh just a couple of highlights. It's a it's a very length long policy. Um I'm pairing it down to three main main pieces here. Um [clears throat] just a reminder that our compulsory school age for students is 6 to 18. Uh one of the things that we tightened up this year was uh the verification of absences that we [clears throat] we need in order for an absence to be excused, we need a written excuse within within three days. Now, parents are able to uh have excused absences up up

040to 10 excused absences per school year um [clears throat] before a uh physician's note is required. And then uh for the sake of all of us speaking the same term terms, uh students are considered truent once they've accumulated three or more unexcused absences and habitually truent when they've accumulated six or more. Uh, and that's new newer terms coming out of a PA code that was updated a couple of years ago. So, we we [clears throat] account for attendance through u through taking attendance each morning much like we did uh when when we were all all in school. Uh when when students aren't in school and listed as absent, a call is sent out to to families and then principles do run weekly reports uh just to make sure uh that students are on pace and

041and if not uh then that triggers uh the a pathway uh that uh will we're outlining here. uh by PA code and our policy. We when a student accumulates three or more three unlawful days, we have the school district has 10 days to submit a letter to the parent notifying them that uh their student is now considered truent. Once they uh as I shared earlier, once they hit six unlawful days, then they're considered habitually truent. uh when when a student hits seven unlawful days, that that triggers uh what we call a student attendance improvement conference. Um [clears throat] and then uh when they reach 10 excused days, a physician's note is required um in order to be excused. So we have the student attendance uh conference and in in many cases the it the conference

042is typically held with the uh guidance counselor, school administrator, parents, children uh to develop a plan to to try to help a student attend school because as Dr. Gail said when when when they're not in school, they're not learning uh what we need them to. But then [clears throat] if truency persists beyond uh what what we would expect uh then then the district basically has two options. One is to reach out to children and youth uh to uh have them look into the matter or issue a a citation with uh our our local magistrate. Uh and and those are really the only steps that we have in place. Now we're going to talk about uh what what we're hoping to do next year uh here shortly. But here's a breakdown of our attendance rates. And

043we're comparing uh the attendance rates of this school year. Now, this was up to the third marking period, the end of the third marking period compared to last year. So, the top bar uh under each category is the current year uh and the the gray bar below it is uh the previous year. So you can see in almost uh f first and foremost when when we look at just the overall attendance rate so this is just on any on the average day at in our [clears throat] elementary schools 95.8 of the students are there uh presently uh middle school uh 94.3 94.1 and then the high school 93.6 Many districts would love these percentages. This the fact that we have uh our students uh showing up just shows their commitment, families commitments uh to to

044the district. Uh and and happy to report that we have made some progress uh in improving those attendance rates. But uh re really like life does happen. Kids get sick, families go on trips and we acknowledge that. We certainly do not want to penalize uh families for that. But uh the fact that uh we have the attendance rates that we do is a real testament to uh the the community's investment in in what we do in pattern. So when when we compare uh last year to this year again this is through the third marking period uh se 7,070 absences uh were reduced. Uh so that's that's 7,070 less absences by the end of the third marking period this past year compared to the year before that. Uh that's that's uh about 1.3 uh absences um

045per student that that have been reduced uh which uh is is uh pretty pretty impressive. And then the uh cases of that the habitually truent cases being reduced by 35 uh is pretty significant. The these are the the cases that take uh pretty considerable amount of resources of the administration of school counselors uh as well as teachers to help students get caught up in things. And the fact that that's been reduced uh that significantly uh through the third mark period is is pretty good uh is is notable. But but I [clears throat] did receive updated information today. Uh so this was the end of the third marking period. Now as the school year goes on, it's a lot easier for the the longer we are in the school year, the uh easier it is for

046students to be categorized as habitually because it's, you know, they're in school longer and they can accumulate. Um but as of today, we are down 112 uh habitually truent students. uh compared to this time last year. So that that's that's a pretty significant reduction. Uh the this is the total number of truency habitually truent cases. So it's not individualized. Uh like we didn't compare the list of students who were habitually truent last year to the list of of students who were habitually truent this year. We really do do not currently have a mechanism to do that efficiently. uh we'd literally have to go line by line to uh determine uh that number. But uh the fact that 100 112 uh less habitually truent students at this point in the fourth marking period uh again is

047a testimony to to our community. So I just want to shift gears now to talk about what we're going to be doing uh this year and uh and beyond. [clears throat] So we currently issue letters to families. This is current at 3 days, at 7 days and 11 days. That has been a tradition, a practice that we've done for at least 27 years. Uh may maybe longer. What? Sorry. When when >> Yeah, [laughter] that was great. uh when when the PA code was updated a couple of years ago, uh we we still maintain the the 37 and 11. So next year, uh we are looking to maintain the 3-day letter. Uh but then when a student identifies when a student reaches the uh six unlawful days, uh we will be issuing a six-day letter. And

048then when they've exhausted their 10 excused days, uh we will be issuing a 10-day letter just to align our practices uh with the definitions in the code and policy. Another piece uh that we're looking at uh is that we we really aside from from the plan and elements in the in a uh student attendance improvement plan that we we do not have a lot of teeth outside of issuing a citation or calling call calling children youth, which is hard. It's a big deal when when you're when you're issuing a citation or or reaching out to children youth. uh that's that's that strains the relationship between the school and and the family. So one of the things that uh we are looking to add this year is prior to uh reaching out to children youth or

049the magistrate is what we're calling a truency diversion program. So this would be the step in between the a plan and uh reaching out to uh the magistrate or or children and youth. Uh so we would be asking families if truency persists if if student was still struggling to get the schools get to school we would ask them to attend what we're calling a a truency diversion program which would take place uh we haven't ironed out all of the details as to when either on a Saturday morning or uh a week night at after you know some some evening where uh part of a school team our student engagement facilitator social workers uh would attend uh along with the the families as a mandatory step. Uh and the hope would be to further understand why

050a student is is habitually truent, provide them with some resources and uh focus really on what do we need to do to engage them uh rather rather than penalize them. We'll say that uh Judge Keller, our local magistrate, is very supportive of the step and uh is looking to be included in some way uh for this program uh to take place. Uh Aleno, I know a couple of districts, specifically Alano uh currently provides something to like this effect. Uh [clears throat] we are also looking to expand some of the support of our uh student engagement facilitator. Uh she's currently working uh primarily at the high school. Uh but we'd be looking to uh expand her role to one of our middle schools and one of our elementary schools just to act as a consultant uh

051to help make sure that we're aligning our practices uh K through 12 because we found that early intervention is is a key. Uh but just a bit more about our student engagement facilitator. right now she primarily works at the at the high school. Uh but she does she does when when a student is identified as habitually truent, first thing she does is she reaches out to our social workers and and asks, "Have you been working with this family?" And if so, then she gets the information uh that she needs uh to continue a student improvement plan or um or whatever other steps uh they feel is necessary. Uh but she also maintains a case load, a special education case load uh for students who are attending Herbrook uh for from from the district. She also

052manages all of our act 158 graduation requirements. So a couple of years ago, the state required us to uh students to meet certain thresholds uh in order to graduate. Uh so she makes sure that they are on pathways to success. She also maintains all of our act one plans. Act one is a newer uh legislation as well uh where if students have experienced what they call educational instability uh that uh we cannot penalize them for this particularly around students who are experiencing homelessness and we develop a plan then to help them make sure that they can graduate. uh she uh develops a plan along with uh the guidance counselors uh to make sure we can try to get the student to graduate with their cohort uh and not be penalized uh due to experiencing homelessness.

053So, [clears throat] she really uh provides management to the the new legislation for high schools that that didn't exist five years ago. uh she's done a great job with uh with supporting and and re uh rekindling isn't the right word, but uh strengthening our relationship with Judge Keller uh and uh has really um m had a positive impact uh because if she were not doing uh the the thing the legislative uh new legislative elements that I mentioned uh that would be pulling a building administrator uh to do those those items which would pull them from helping to manage and run uh a building. So to [clears throat] wrap this up uh for next year and and uh the year after we are we're looking to uh continue to strengthen our relationship with uh with Judge

054Keller. Uh he's he's been a great asset this year and look forward to continue to work with him. Uh as I mentioned, we'd be looking to uh standardize our uh parent notifications for students who are truent. Uh then we'll we're going to continue to monitor this the we we do have access to uh some some high level data that um that we'll continue to uh make adjustments as we see fit. Uh and and finally just uh looking to uh start the truent develop and start the truency diversion program. >> Any questions for Dr. Egan or Dr. Gail? >> I guess I have a question on the um the new program. I mean, if parents aren't making sure their kids get on the bus in the morning, are they going to come on a Saturday to

055meet with us? Like, I'm not trying, but like, yeah, >> practically speaking, great question. And should we be inconveniencing [clears throat] our staff? I know our goal is to be here for our students, but should the oness not be on the parent to take a day off from whatever their life is to invest in their own children and put the oness back on the parent who is [clears throat] ultimately responsible for that child, not the oness on the educators who are already there during the time that they're supposed to be like. >> Yeah, that's great feedback. something >> that's certainly >> something that I think is worth talking about. >> I appreciate that. >> Yeah, >> you look like you want to say something. >> I do. I'm trying to figure out the best way

056to say it. >> That's good reflection. Yeah, >> it's rare for me. I understand. Yes. So, thank you. some of the questions that I may have may enter into student specific items. So, I'm trying to formulate in my head, should we go into an executive session or what to do because I have some questions that just may not be appropriate in a I know it's public form, but >> dealing with some specific >> data and information. I would >> well if you my recommendation is if you have doubt we can certainly discuss in executive session and then certainly if it's not we can open up discussion at the next meeting so you can put it on record. >> I' I'd like to do that. >> Okay. >> I'd prefer to do that if we can.

057>> And and I wanted to just respond to Miss Navar's comment. certainly uh you know it's that catch 22. You try to put a program in place [clears throat] as a I don't want to call it a one-sizefits-all, but you try to encapture it. And we we all know that we do have families out there that unfortunately have to work prior to the school day and and to support their family and and so s you know you can make that case that might be a bigger hardship for them to come in during the day or take a day off of work. But your point is very valid because it's a one of those age-old questions that we as educators have not figured out and you know this is a problem as Dr. Gail said across

058the country. Um and as soon as someone figures out the the answer they will be the next big thing in [clears throat] consulting across uh educational platforms. But um but your point is very well made. Uh it's tough because you are >> you know asking folks to come in on a on a Saturday but for some families that might be the the best option to try to solve a uh difficult question. >> There is a solution. >> Come to school and your mom and dad won't have to take off work. >> Well, that is true. Uh I was just wondering um like I saw the the drop in numbers especially the habitual um I think 35 if >> what's that down from like like that's a great number but like what what are we at

059now with I was just curious what the total is. >> So I could I don't have from the end of the third marking period but I do have today. >> Sure. So uh the number of habitually truent students as of this time last year, so the 166th day of school last year was 693 students. >> Okay. See, see just a I had no idea like what we were even looking at. That's why I was curious. >> So So that's you know >> that's a lot. So we're down to five. >> That's two of our smaller buildings plus, right? um to a class and a half almost uh and and we're down 112 from from that 693 today. >> The the improvements are great. I I just I would have never guessed it was that high.

060That's why I wanted to ask. >> So, also remember like a student having six unexcused this time like now, like just getting it now isn't as much of a concern as students who have six unlawful absences by the end of the first semester. We want kids here every day, but like six now versus six a couple months from now is is different. >> At what point and and this it might be case by case and I have no idea. Uh at what point does that affect like their school year? like the the I don't know if I'm asking this right like at what point how many absences before like the school year is a wash or it just doesn't count or >> it it becomes problematic when when they start getting over 20 and and

061sadly now fortunately this is a a fraction of that number. Sadly, we do have some families that have far exceeded that, but not many, fortunately. Any other questions or comments? Dr. Gail, Dr. Egan, thank you very much. We appreciate your work uh and all of the the work that goes on throughout the district um to address this So, let's move to item number four. [clears throat] And with that, [snorts] we'll call it the semi- main event of the evening. Dr. >> Okay. Take a look at the budget. Um, where we are in the budget process for next year, obviously focused around being able to meet our mission and how do we fund and and achieve that. Couple meetings ago, we sort of laid out this timeline to look uh where we are tonight. Uh on

062the agenda is the proposed final budget. Um that means that we have at least a month until the final budget is in place and then we have another discussion meeting with any final questions uh in the first meeting in June. So those are all laid out. They're timelines that exist uh due to the legal process through PTE. Um and you'll see the proposed final budget that's attached to the agenda this evening is in that form uh that you upload into the state software. So um expenses are up uh because I made the adjustment from the discussion last time of the 4% tax increase and so you'll see the corresponding increase to expenses and revenues. Um, I did add some numbers to look at it, but essentially we're in the same position. The only thing that

063really shifted a little bit is uh the dark blue sliver above the 6 million. That's the transfer to reserves. Uh, that went from I think 1.4 uh to 2% because we've added more that we are using then for future projects. the rest of the pie remains the same that we looked at uh in the past meeting. Couple things just to sort of look at comparison uh based on some of the questions that we received. So we are uh the 54th largest school district in the state of Pennsylvania, fourth largest in the IU. Um so we're right on that uh top 10% when you look across the state. So the data and this data is from 2324. I think the 2425 data comes out next month. Lags quite a bit till you get everything everybody reporting

064into the state. Uh so as of that time we spent $18,175 per student. Uh this is the 33rd lowest in the state and it's the lowest in the IU. Um, so if we look at the average in the IU, we spend $4,441 less than the average across the IU. So that's [clears throat] all the districts in Lancaster, Lebanon counties. Um, if you took our budget to average, so if we said, "Okay, well, we have our 5200 or so students multiplied by the 4,442, that means that we have a $23.3 million reduction to the average. Um, our studenttoteer ratio is uh the highest in the IU as well. uh 21st highest in the state. Uh you can see that we have 16 students per teacher. The IU average is 13.4 students per teacher and the state

065average is 13.7. So just shows where we are, how we've done things, where where we've been um and in comparison to to where some of our neighbors are. Dan, before you move on, do you have Sorry. Do you have the numbers for the other two school districts that are that are growing to see where they're at to teacher per or students per teacher? >> Yeah, our our growth has been higher than the other two, but I have Yes. >> Okay. I'd like to know what they would be then, please. Yeah, I have them across the whole IU if you >> Yeah. Okay. >> I think it's comparable data. I think that would be helpful. >> Yeah. I mean, again, schools that are shrinking are be interesting to see what the other two growing schools are.

066>> Yeah, they're both higher than us, but I can pull that data >> as as we talk. I think this is an important factor. You know, I asked Dan to give us some numbers. you know, where how do we compare, where are we? Um because in essence, what we're trying to do is not say, well, this district, we're not comparing ourselves so that we can meet the Joneses. We want to compare ourselves so that we know how how we continue to function. And that's been an important part, I think, for those of us who have been part of the district for a long time. We've been we've become accustomed to doing a lot with in some cases very little and some of our cost savings as we've been talking and you know reflecting on some

067of the questions that have been asked these are baked in to use Charlie's term baked in to our budget. They're part of how we functioned for quite a while and that's where some of the numbers have derived from and have been able to come from. Uh and as we were talking about this, what are some of our cost savings? And uh the first one that we really looked at was what are we doing in terms of cost savings in regards to our curriculum? And this isn't an exhaustive list of cost savings. But when we've looked at how do we compare, how are we doing things, what is it that we're doing, one hallmark of what we do here is we utilize our teachers. We utilize the gifts that they have, the abilities that they have,

068the knowledge that they have, and really work to allow them to create the curriculum that is aligned with the state standards, but in terms of developing not only how they teach, but what they are teaching. And Dr. Egan, if you want to just expand a little bit more as we looked at terms of cost savings in these areas. >> [clears throat] >> So we we have explored purchased programs for curriculum uh particularly uh the most recent one uh was uh elementary uh ELA and uh received received a quote uh for um close to $700,000 for one year of materials and programming. And um and then like a three-year deal was like 1 4 million million dollars uh for that's just elementary ELA. If [clears throat] we were to uh and in in doing some research

069with some other local of some surrounding districts, uh they they spend approximately $1.2 million per year per subject. So, uh, it's it's it it's not one point one to two million per subject every year, but typically they go on a on a rotating cycle uh where one year it's ELA, the other year it's math, the other year science uh and and so on. Uh, that we we currently do not spend we we spend uh a fraction of that uh to develop develop curriculum. As as Dr. Gail said, we we do rely on our teachers uh to help us craft curriculum. [clears throat] Uh and then uh and and then also develop some of the materials that that are required. Uh the last time that we bought te textbooks, I think was for our AP government

070uh class uh because the that aligned with our uh with the requirements, the AP requirements. Um but we we have not purchased textbooks. We we do there there are times where we have to buy some things. Um but um literally talking millions of [clears throat] dollars uh to that that we currently do not spend uh to deliver instruction. Uh but then uh with with we we we have a similar practice with our professional development. We we [clears throat] really rely on the expertise of uh our teachers uh and staff to uh deliver uh our professional learning. Um it not sure if anyone's been on the market for uh presenters uh lately, but uh you're talking5 to $10,000 per day uh per presenter. And and when when we have a staff of nearly 400 teachers, um

071you you multiply that but you know you take basically a good professional development session has u approximately 25 to 50 uh 50 people in in the session. Um then you have the follow-up sessions and and things and and so um the fact that we we spend a fraction of of of that [snorts] with our in-house there there are some times where we have to bring in experts uh to help us with particular items uh but we tried to do that very sparingly. Another area that we looked at in terms of where are we where are we really cognizant of the money we spend um is in our operations and >> no comment about the bills this month. >> Thank you. [laughter] See that one second the electric went off. We saved money. >> $10,000. [laughter]

072>> Okay. >> Did Did our stream get cut, Keith? >> No, we were we were live in the dark. >> Of course you do, Charlie. [laughter] >> Oh, they're not seeing anything. They can hear us, though. >> All right. You made your point. Dr. [laughter] won't save money. >> No more examples. >> That was pretty good. >> Water. >> That was very unplanned. >> I'm going to say the hot weather's getting us. >> But one of one of the areas and and [clears throat] this is a truly a credit to Charlie is in our IT, our technology. I think we all recognize with the cost of technology today, this could be an expensive part of our program, but it's an essential part. And I've asked Charlie to kind of just real quickly touch on some

073of the things that he and his team do that are behind the scenes, but yet other places spend considerable amount of money. And Charlie has in here a slide uh and it has some ideas that are behind it. But then also he references the open schoolhouse. For those of you who have been around, you'll remember Charlie is a published author >> and that's his book where he goes into great detail. So if you if you want a a good read for the summer, the open schoolhouse. So I'm trying to get you a couple couple bucks in. >> Actually, I dropped a copy of the board information folder. So [laughter] get it for free. So this was Thanks. That was so cost savings through free and open source software under student programs. I wrote at length

074about in that book to document the practices that we've been doing for now 25 years to provide high quality educational technology opportunities for students and to do it through the whole branch of software that is free and open source. Free [clears throat] and open source software is software that has a license that permits anybody to examine the code to crack it open to look inside and to essentially do with it as they please. It is unlike a software license that you would have Windows for example where Microsoft exclusively controls that code and we do not have the ability to make modifications. So we use we have used open source software extensively as a way to cut costs but also to make better systems. It is frankly it is a harder pathway because DIY means that

075while we are not necessarily [clears throat] paying a vendor that puts the burden of implementing those software practices on the personnel uh that are using that that are using that software. So it is a harder path in some ways but it does generate cost savings. You know putting the slide it's it's really it varies from year to year as to what we are cost avoiding for open source. 200 to $300,000 a year is a modest estimate of what we save by not buying commercial licenses and by going to DIY. Some of our other practices have included we have a long-standing partnership with Sapphire software which is both our student information system but also our grade book and many other of the administrative functions teacher uh grade portal for parents. We've had a long-standing partnership with

076with this company from the beginning. We were a beta design district. Um again, we [snorts] it was DIY means our staff or IT or teachers were putting work into developing the software to really writing the special education module. And in exchange as being a beta design customer with Sapphire, we enjoy cost savings. We are a beta partner. one of the few partner districts across the country with Google and uh we rely on Google versus Microsoft infrastructure and that carries an incredible or that that affords us an incredible amount of cost savings. You've heard me talk before about which is the federal program that produces more cost savings for our network infrastructure. We talked recently about the copier contract. We aggressively negotiated that to bring cost down. I aggressively negotiate any contract that we have to

077try to cost down. And finally, the other item that I put in the slide that unfortunately folks on the stream can't see that actually won't be important. But um the other piece is recently you heard me speak about extending areas of the onetoone uh student program, extending the replacement cycle from four years to five. And in doing that, that's going to save us about $200,000. Um any given year, we're saving about a million dollars off the cost. That's say it's a million dollars off our tax [clears throat] 50% of the overall basically it's a 50% discount [clears throat] >> but I think it's a credit to Charlie and to his team in some of the ways that we do work with providing important uh piece of piece of uh equipment for our students to learn

078teachers to teach but we do it in in a very cost-effective way. And then one of the things that as Dan and I were talking about it also is our consortium uh the way we work with districts across the IU and working towards uh saving money because we're part of a consortium. Uh I will I will have Dan share a little bit about this, but one thing uh that we are really benefiting from is our consortium and working with uh our fuel supplier for transportation. Uh Dan has actually locked in our fuel rates up through next year. >> Halfway through next year. >> I'm sorry. >> Halfway through next year. >> Next year like 27 or [snorts] Yeah, 27 2027. So we participate in a number of consortiums uh with regard to electric purchase, natural

079gas purchase, fuel purchase. We use a broker um and are [snorts] in a pretty good spot now because we bought a third of our diesel fuel for next year in November. >> Yay. >> Um >> good work. >> Yeah, I should have bought all of it in November, but >> we'll see. Hope it'll come down soon. Um also the healthcare, uh we've talked about it before. If you remember, we look back over the trend, you know, we've seen about a 2% increase annually for the last 10 years. Uh the industry norm is anywhere from 6 to 10. Um and so literally that's millions of dollars uh of savings in not growing with the norms. Um we are in an insurance pool uh not only on our healthcare side but also on our property casually. And

080so all of those things come together give us a better buying power. um the ability when a member has a bad year, we can absorb it and and knowing that everyone's going to have a bad year at some point in time. And how does that come together? So, you know, conservatively it's a million plus dollars. Depending on the bad year, it could be multiple millions of dollars that we're saving by that pulled approach uh and those savings that are there. >> So, we we bring up we we discuss those here as part of this, you know, when we're looking at our expenses. Yes, we realize 123 million almost 123 and a half, you know, that's a lot of money, but yet when we're educating the number we are with the number of staff that we

081do have, uh, these are some of the cost savings that we really look at. And as we've gone through the budget line by line throughout the year, you know, we we've kind of moved some money, but then we've also had to really challenge Dan to say, "All right, when we cut this or if we even try to keep it flat, what does it mean we're not going to be spending, let alone raising some areas?" So, uh, we continue to look at that and I know that's a concern, uh, that we really strive to make sure we're being very cognizant of as we develop the budget. >> So, just to answer Mr. Beak's question. >> Okay. So, um, Manheim Township has one and a half less students per teacher. So, what does that mean? And that

082means to get to the same point, we would need another 41 teachers. Hempfield has 1 and 3/4 less, which we would need 50 teachers to get to the same average. The next district in the IU, we would need 15 teachers to get to the next lowest. Um, >> are those the other two districts that are currently growing in the IU? >> They are growing less than we are. Yes, >> they're growing less than we are, but they're the it's >> Hefield Hefield and Okay, >> so >> are the three growing districts everybody else is declining. [clears throat] Okay, I just want to make sure I'm understanding the data. Sorry, Eric. >> I I was going to try to wait till the end, but we came back to this slide. This is 2324 data, >> meaning

083our budget and our enrollment. Correct. >> Correct. In last year, we had pretty much flat enrollment. The last three years, enrollment's been pretty flat, but yet we've increased the budget 3.5% last year. Now, 4% is going to be proposed for this year. What is that number? What is the average pen spend per student in 2425? And is it fair to ask, could you project for us at a future meeting what that average spend per student will be [clears throat] 2627 and 2728 as it and I guess my suspicion is we've added about $800 per student last year with enrollment being flat and we're about to add about a,000 per student this year and we still haven't layered on is it about $8 million in additional debt service when we do our building projects, right? That

084that number it looks great in 2324, but it's about to change pretty dynamically, isn't it? >> Well, we'll get to the debt service late later here, but it Yeah, it's only about we'll we'll look at the number then. um it it's going up and I can pull it out because some things get pulled out because it's a statewide statistic. So I could look at that for the next meeting but recognize everybody else's has gone up too. So when you look at the trend line over the last 15 years we have been the lowest that entire time >> even though as everything >> I'm concerned more about the future. >> Yeah. I'll get let me let me go to a slide to talk about the debt service and then we'll see it. It's not eight it's

085about three million that we need to close on the debt service. >> Okay. So we look at the revenue side, right? Um matches basically matches the expenses at this point in time. Um same thing we've seen before. You can see as as we mentioned previously about half of it comes in from those real estate taxes. Um you can see that the after the real estate taxes then of the next couple categories you have basic education the peasers and FICA reimbursement the ready to learn and the special ed. So those uh make up four of the next five slices of the pie is our state funding uh with just the wage tax in between there. So looking at the future projects um looking at the 4% tax increase um that we have in the proposed final

086budget this evening, it does provide uh 1.5% tax increase or $900,000 towards that future bond capacity. um you know what what does this do as we try to look at things right so we look at total expenditures obviously 27 28 28 29 we're trying to to uh project um we've talked about in the past some of the assumptions that come on into there uh one of the things just to be aware of when you look at that um the deficits that are shown at this point in time the model has nothing in in it with regard to ready tolearn increases in those years. Um the lawsuit would say it would keep this going up $2.7 million. We'll see. Um and then it's a very modest 1% increase to basic ed and a 4% increase to

087special ed, which probably works in the last couple years. Um so those are the projections that are in there just to sort of see what does it look like? How does the how does that project through? Um, we talked about this with regard to what does it look like to that increase where goes towards the projects. Obviously, the 4% falls between the three and a half and the five. Um, I thought I had it. I guess it's not in there. I have it. So, we'll have a combined So, next year in the budget, we have $10.5 million that are going towards bond payments, an additional 1.6 going to the debt service. Right. So, So that puts us a little over 12 million. The ultimate goal is to get to 15. So we're still three million

088short of that that goal for the bond capacity. >> And by 2030, the ultimate goal is 16 million. Did you say? >> No, 15 million [clears throat] >> by 2030. >> No, it goes out six years. >> Okay. till we've got time. >> All right. >> Well, I still would be interested in seeing I mean I think we have our enrollment numbers for this year this year, right? 2526. So we can tell what our average spend per student is in the 25 26. >> Yeah, we can get that. We won't be able to get it for other districts, but we can get it for Pen Manor. Other questions? >> Come on, Mr. Beaks. You've been too quiet. [cough] I wanted to express some appreciation um on seeing areas like we've been asking for a while

089about seeing cuts and like where we're saving and you did that tonight so I really appreciate that. Um I had done my director training this past weekend and um the person that was covering finance was talking about how uh where he is um CFO they have been hit super hard multiple years with health and health care. So um I feel like we're doing really well in how like that specific area is significant for us. Um, so thank you. >> Any other questions? Okay, thank you Mr. Fory. Dr. Gail, appreciate that. And we'll move on to item five. It's that time of the year, >> the exciting time of the year to see which three board members wish to attend the PSBA delegate assembly. >> We have three new board members. I feel like it's an

090exciting adventure. >> I I think that's the way that they should learn uh to do that. >> Baptism by fire. >> Uh it is Saturday, November 7th at 9:00. Um, ladies and gentlemen, I know this is on YouTube, so it will be on on uh video for a year. It is not the most exciting thing that you'll ever do. Um, but it does uh there is a platform for PSBA. It's an opportunity for uh representation from Pen Manor in those discussions to either advance items forward or to uh stop them from being moved on. So it is at 9:00. Generally speaking, it's a 3 or 4 hour exercise. About 3 hours >> in person only this year. >> Yeah, it is in person only. Uh, but we do need to submit our names by June

09119th, 2026. >> You really You should mention where it's going to be held. >> It's at Cumberland Valley School District, which is about a 45 minute to an hour drive from here. >> And I'll just add that many of the votes are not close, but there sometimes are some important ones that can be pretty close. So, so a a vote here and there can matter. It sure can. Do we have any takers? >> This is outstanding. >> Well, you sold it so well. But >> I'm being completely serious. I've done it for three years. It is riveting. >> It It's It What? >> It's riveting. >> Yeah, that's a ter on it. >> Um >> Oh, thank you. You're not helping. Part of part of uh part of the hallmark that puts me on this

092board is my honesty and transparency. And I'd be lying to you if I said it was anything other than what I said it was. >> Miss work. >> Well, I'll just say it depends on who's representing the other school districts, too, because every now and then you'll get one board director from a district that kind of tries to dominate. So, hopefully that won't happen for those of you who are going in November. Put Miss Wart's name down. Sounds like a winner. [laughter] >> I've I've paid my dues. >> You can put me down. >> We have till when? June June 19th. >> Well, we have to vote on it. >> We have to vote on it on June 8th. >> It's our next meeting. >> So, just come prepared by the 8th. >> That's being

093placed. >> Well, we have to place it on the agenda. We need names. >> So, my name's down for sure. >> Yep. We need two more. >> I can go. It's fine. >> Miss Kek. Wonderful. >> We'll pick a name out of a hat. >> Don't forget you need an alternative as well. >> Oh, look at that. >> Mrs. Kek is just a ray of >> She said we need an alternate. >> Chicago. >> Oh, yeah. >> So, Mrs. Wart, >> okay, >> you'll be the alternate. >> I'll go. >> You'll go. >> I guess we only have two people and you need three, right? I'll be the alternate. >> But remember that. >> Remember that. We'll remember your sacrifice. >> I'm going to say like this needs to be dually noted and the other

094folks get next year. >> That's correct. >> There you go. >> So, we have myself uh Mrs. Kek, Miss Wart with Mrs. Napsinger as an alternate. May I have a motion to approve? >> So moved. >> He didn't weigh in on that one. [laughter] >> Do we have a second? So we will remember that next year. Mr. Lombarda. >> We have a second. Any further comment or question? >> All those in favor. >> Oh, and we have to vote. [laughter] >> Yeah, we vote. >> Dr. You need to put your hand up. >> N affirmative. >> Nine affirmative >> with lots of enthusiasm. >> Yes. Yes. >> Um >> it's like hurting cats in the street today. >> Something that's something. Boy, I feel I might have a cold that day. I don't know. >>

095Maybe we need Maybe we need three alternatives on your desk. >> I'm kidding. I will be there. >> Anything else? Uh for the good of the committee of the whole ending on that kind of a note, huh? >> All right. Seeing none, I'll call to order our Monday, May 18th, Penman Banner School District School Board Director's voting agenda meeting. Would you please join me in a moment of silence and the flag salute? >> Thank you. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> [cough] >> The next scheduled meeting of the Pen Manor School Board will be held on Monday, June 8th, 2026 following the committee of the whole meeting. An executive

096session was held prior to the committee of the whole meeting for the purpose of discussing personnel and student matters as detailed on the committee of the whole agenda. Mrs. Rhodess, may we have a roll call, please? >> Or Mr. Beaks >> here. >> Mr. Her >> here. >> Mrs. Hope >> here. >> Mrs. Ke here, Mr. Lombardo >> here. >> Mr. Warl >> here, >> Miss Wart >> here, >> Mrs. Navsiger >> here, Dr. Fullerton >> here, >> nine board members present. >> Thank you, Mrs. Rhodess. Seemed to be a lot more people in the room when we were doing that than when we're asking for delegates, don't you think? [clears throat] >> Mhm. >> Yeah, I know. Mhm. >> Thanks. >> At each of our board meetings, we offer our citizens two opportunities to

097comment, and we have reached the first time for those comments pertaining to actions on the board voting agenda only. Do we have any citizens that wish to comment? Seeing none, may I have a motion to approve the minutes of our voting agenda from May 4th? >> So moved. >> Thank you. A second. >> Second. >> Thank you. Any further comment or question? All those in favor? >> Nine affirmative votes. >> Thank you, Mrs. Rhodess. Dr. Gail, superintendent report. >> Thank you, Dr. Forson. Uh tonight, uh this isn't new news to the district, but it is something that I want to make sure that we do talk about uh during one of our meetings. and that I am excited to share that Eliza Becker, our fifth grade teacher at Echelman, has been selected as one of

098the 12 finalists for the Pennsylvania 2027 teacher of the year award. Uh for those of you who have interacted with Eliza, you know that she's not only a quality educator, but is a really humble person >> and this process is really testing her comfort level. Uh when she received the news, I was able to go into the classroom and share it with her students. They were extremely excited, but Eliza tried to play it off like it was just something that happens to everybody. I did tell her that we will be celebrating this long and high. Uh so we look forward to having Eliza at one of our board me board meetings in the future so we can recognize her. Uh she will continue through the process. There are several more steps that she needs to

099do. uh and the teacher of the year will be announced at the SAS Institute that's held in December. So, we have a little bit of time uh till we find out, but it certainly is a it is a um quite an accomplishment and a nice recognition for Eliza regardless of how the final decision is made. And just an interesting part, uh this Eliza is our third teacher that has made it either to as a finalist or as we know, Mrs. Raph was selected as the teacher of the year for Pennsylvania in our district since 2019. Uh Liza is a great teacher. Uh her students are fully engaged from start of the day to the end of the day and we appreciate all that she does not only at across the district. Uh as we mentioned

100and Mrs. Nassinger referred to, there are many activities taking place throughout our schools to wrap up the school year. Uh it's hard to believe that we are in that final stretch of days uh for the 2526 school year and we do look forward to celebrating everything with graduation on the on the 3rd of June. >> One thing that we do need to discuss and to determine is a date for our end of year beginning of the year retreat. >> Uh in the past we've done this either on a Saturday, we've done it as a full day, we've done it in the evenings. Uh so if you have a preference of [snorts] method or uh dates if you could send me those uh we can start to get that together Dr. Ford and Miss Nassinger and

101I will put that together so we can come up with a retreat date. >> What month are you sorry you might >> June sometime in June. >> So the it's weekend like Saturday day. >> We've done it on a Saturday we've done it during the day. We've done it in the evening. Kind of done it in many different ways. So kind of get a gauge for uh preference of things. >> We've we've looked at Saturdays in the past because we have had it during the week and for some of us that are you know working during the day it's difficult to to take that time off or can be difficult to take that time off. Um we've also tried to do it during an evening uh on a time like this um that we generally

102have for um reserved. So uh again, you know, I know vacations occur in June or things of that nature. if you prefer to be on a Saturday, if you prefer it to be a whole day, a half day uh type of format, we've done that as well where we've had professional development as a board or we've just talked about uh what I'll call burning issues that each of us have. Um so, uh please share any and all thoughts uh with Dr. Gail and you know, we'll come up with uh a suitable a suitable day of of activity. Anything else, Dr. G? >> That's all I have there for. >> Any other questions for Dr. Gam? [snorts] >> Seeing none, Mr. Fory treasure, where'd he go? >> Well, he's right there. >> On the air. >>

103Yeah, we'll just talk faster. >> I'll talk faster. >> Yep. >> Mr. Foy, let's pay our bills. >> Dr. Egan was going to try and do the treasur's report. He was looking for it. So, our treasur's report for April 2026 uh balance sheet as of April 30th 2026 totals total assets of 44,9,68 uh22 and there are uh April bills awaiting ratification this evening. >> Thank you, Mr. Ford. May I have a motion to pay our bills? >> I hear a move and a second. >> Second. >> Thank you very much. Any further comment or question? All those in favor? >> Nine affirmative votes. >> Thank you. Let us review our school board uh voting agenda. Item two, A and B. Any further or any comment or question? Item three, A through G. I just have

104a question. >> Yes. >> And just hear me out. Uh in looking at C, right, >> the PSBA all access package. >> The thing we all love. >> Uhhuh. >> What if we weren't a part of that? >> It's a great question >> because I'm looking at the list here and I get it. There are some things that they do, but we also have a solicitor. Um I mean I see like administrative regulations, that sort of thing. Is it possible to to go with this without them? >> Uh I share with Dr. Fullton that this is a conversation that's been across the IU. Uh and it's something that as superintendants we're going to talk about in the upcoming school year. Um my recommendation is that we consider or keep it for 2627 school year but

105as we as a as a group of school districts uh consider that for the 2728 school year. Uh there are things obviously the policies and the administrative rights that are very helpful. Um but at the same time I I think it's something that u we should consider and talk about. And kind of a followup to that, it this advertisement they sent it says full or all access package. Is there another package or is that the only option available? >> That's pretty much it. >> That's really random advertising on their part. >> I guess my question is is if there's I understand we want to talk to other superintendent, but it's not like it's a group package or anything. I you know there's other opportunities to talk as I can save money and advocate and as

106far as any of the policies that they recommend I mean they're public records anyway so if they recommend it why can't we just utilize that another school accepts it that becomes part of the public record. >> I don't have an answer for you. >> Mrs. Rhodess, could could we confirm if the board policy software package is part of that all access pass? >> It is. It is. >> So, >> that was going to be my question. The only thing that we have ever used that's extra is the admin rags and we added that a couple of years ago. >> Mrs. roads. If we eliminated the package today, that means we would lose access to the board policy documentation platform. Is that accurate? >> That is accurate. Yes. >> Yeah. So, we'd have to find out

107what that would cost, >> which would be more than $20,000. >> I don't I don't have an I can't give you an answer for that. I'd have to do an analysis to figure out what it would cost to either purchase, buy, or build something to replicate that. I' I've never looked at it, so I I don't have an answer. >> Is Is this something that we have to approve this evening? >> Um, it needs to be paid by July 1, I believe. >> Can we for it to continue? >> July 15th. So, >> would it And I hear I hear >> But it'll turn off on July 15th. >> Sure. Well, >> I mean, I'm just putting that out there as a person who works with them like they will be off the website and

108the public will not be able to access them. Can I make a suggestion that this is something that we explore for next year that we look at other options since we're short on time and we're going we're going to have >> it's not only the policies but and I have to I have to go back and look at school code and you know part of that exploration is with the the training that as board members are required to do >> there's yeah there's things that we do >> I'm questioning myself but I'm also somewhat certain that in order for that training to happen, it has to be through a certified process and we as a district we don't have that certification. We may have to work to get that but that that's part of that's

109part of the aspect. I think we have what two more meetings be three more meetings before July. >> Yeah, >> three meetings. I mean, is it something that we could just table till next meeting to give ourselves just a little bit? I don't want to put any more work or pressure on Miss Roads, but um >> yeah, because I will freak out if I have to do [laughter] all those. >> I I absolutely >> Well, I I mean, yeah, all those all those policies like the public couldn't access or anything. >> Well, they'll access our policies. They wouldn't be able to access PS. >> Okay. But our No art through on PS. >> Yeah. That whole platform goes away. >> Their platform that we use. >> Oh, >> I do like what Dr. Gail said

110[clears throat] like the IU because >> we're being held hostage. >> Many times though, you can create regional >> things as opposed to a state thing and it's cheaper and if a couple schools get together and have their own thing, >> it's generally cheaper. I think we're kind of locked in at this point for the at least the next year. >> Yeah. And for an example, like when we when there is a policy that comes out and you we ask the solicitor to look at it, they're looking at it across all of the the districts that use that same solicitor and then they'll they'll give us guidance on that and then they take it and if there's 10 [clears throat] districts, they split it by 10 or whatever cost would be. >> So that's what

111that's what that's been part of our conversation. you know, isn't something that we can look at, but >> it's $21,000 and we can we spend >> that's >> more money on >> where a lot of >> other things that we could save >> turning on that. >> Okay. >> So, we're leaving it and [clears throat] exploring for next year. Is that the conclusion of our conversation? >> Someone can can pull it and we can vote on it separately if you if you so desire. >> Um I I hear Dr. Gail's recommendation. And I I for some reason wasn't thinking that our pol our I recognized we used their policy service but our policies lived here but they live there and >> uh that's just silly. >> They're their policies. We're just allowed to use them.

112>> Oh, >> we pay rent. >> Oh, >> I mean they [clears throat] are our policies, right? what I'm saying to them. >> I could download each and every policy. Don't call me for anything else, but >> there there could be there could be more to that. I just >> just to help us understand. We haven't done an analysis on this. >> So, it could quite possibly be that $20,000 is a bargain. >> I can't answer that question for you today, and I don't know that I could do that for you in a month and a half without devoting resources. I would I would love for you to take the time that you need to do that analysis if you would please. >> And sorry, Miss Rhodess, if we caused you any unnecessary anxiousness. [laughter]

113>> I was just going to suggest you could be the helper that comes in. >> Add that to your two meetings a month, Mr. >> Beaks. Yeah. Right. All right. Does anybody have an appetite to rem to vote on see different or separately here? >> No. Okay, then we'll just leave it. We'll move forward with that recommendation. Item 4, A through I. Any comments or questions? Seeing none, go back to item two. May I have a motion to approve item 2 A and B? >> So moved. >> Thank you. And a second. >> Second. >> Thank you. Any further comment or question? Seeing [clears throat] none, all those in favor? >> Nine affirmative votes. >> Okay. Item three, we have a motion to approve A through G. >> So moved. >> Thank you. A second.

114>> Second. >> Thank you. Any further comment or question? All those in favor. >> Nine affirmative votes >> and item four A through I. >> So move. >> Thank you, Miss Wart. Second. >> Second. Thank you. Any further comment or question? All those in favor? >> Nine affirmative votes. >> All right. At this time, we have reached the second opportunity for citizens to make comments, and they can be on any piece of district business. Do we have any citizens that wish to make a comment this evening? Yes, please. If you would please state your name and your municipality. We do limit comments to five minutes. to say you guys' meetings are really really long [laughter] in comparison to ours. My name is Missy Fallon. I'm in Manor Township um resident. I just was coming today.

115Um I know you guys had heard from Brandon Conrad, the developer that is looking to develop behind John Hers and the Kending and Whitmer Farm. Um, I don't know how much you guys have looked into it individually. Um, as far as that developer, um, they've only been in business for 5 years as a whole. Only one of them outside of that was a developer that did industrial um, development. The rest of them had different uh, jobs from that side. They've only completed one project since their conception um which is just a 72 town home community in Willis Street. I don't know if you've looked at their management company is based out of New Jersey. So it's not a local um management company that is overseeing that. I know their biggest piece is that they plan

116on making part of this a 55 plus community. Um there is a lot of caveats to that. Are they willing to put a deed restriction on the land that requires it to remain 55 plus or are they just doing kind of like Hi is doing from the standpoint of saying okay we're going to do 55 plus unless the market changes in that time frame and then they could change it to whatever they so choose um without that deed restriction. Um if you look at some of the other communities that they're currently working on now, um one is called the ponds. I think it's in Switer Township, but I forget now. But it's the ponds and they're doing an um 55 plus community. So 20% of those homes do not have to have somebody that's 55

117and older in them. So if you take into consideration what they're saying as far as they're 55 plus the single family detached they're saying 101 townhouse is 96 and apartments 192 come to 389 units of 55 plus. If you just take that as the 80% that leaves 78 homes that could be under 55. So adding that with the other 140, you're still looking at 218 homes that could potentially have children in them that are coming to the schools. Um, my other thing would be as far as moving Ashelman, I went to Ashelman. Um, and I walked to Ashelman. I lived on George Street. It took forever. It was an awful walk. Whatever I lived and I know [laughter] that the restrictions have not gotten any lighter when it comes to the safety of the kids.

118We had to walk down Landis Avenue and go up her and all that to avoid George Street and Manor Avenue because of them being a more um heavily traveled road. If you move the school to somewhere else that requires those kids to walk, they are going to be walking that main road. They're going to have to go down Sherzer, which doesn't have sidewalks. Um, I don't see from the busing standpoint how you would be saving um any money because either you're going to need to bus those students um to the school somewhere along the line. There's going to be more buses that are going to be needed regardless. Um so I would just say to do your own due diligence and for each of you to really look into this company. Are you willing to

119bank a land swap for a five-year company? If that company doesn't have the backing, they get individual investors. So that's how they fund their projects is through individual investors. If they go bankrupt, what happens to your land swap? What happens to that school? Are you further in the hole because of that? So, while obviously I was not a fan of the high development in the least, at least they were a company that's in our school area and are here in this community. I would also point out that there were many of you in this room that came to the Matter Township um supervisors meeting probably like a year ago and expressed your concerns on on Thank you. Any other citizens comments this evening? Anything else for the good of the board? Seeing none, I hope

120everybody has a happy Memorial Day and enjoys their weekend. And remember, tomorrow is election day. Please get out and vote. Thank you very much and we'll see you in two weeks.