001[Music] All right. All right. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. We'd like to call to order the Monday, June 9th, 2025 committee of the whole of the Penmanor School District. The next scheduled meeting of the Penmanor School Board will be held on Monday, June 23rd, 2025 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 safe schools report, board director replacement procedures, personnel, student matter, and superintendent evaluation as detailed above. Mrs. Rhodess, may we have a roll call, please? Sure. Mr. Mr. Beats here. Mr. Her here. Mr. Lombardo here. Mr. Strad here. Mr. Swigert here. Miss Wart here. Mrs. Matsiger is absent. Dr. Fullerton here. Seven board members present. Thank you. I would love to
002entertain a motion to approve the minutes of the committee of the whole of May 19th. So move. Thank you, Mr. Beaks. A second. Second. Thank you, Mr. Lombardo. Any further comment or question? All those in favor? Seven affirmative. Uh board development opportunities and reports. Does anybody have a board report? Mr. Straw? Yes. Thank you. Uh first of all, I attended the uh Will Street campus uh certificate and award ceremony for the CTC. That was May 27th at the Calvary Church. And I do have the programs in that. I didn't hear exact count, but I'm just looking at the list here and it seems to me very very close to 400 uh students that participated in that and it was jammed and the parents and family members were there. It was it was a great event
003as it always is. So, I'll pass this around everybody. And then also we had our May meeting May 22nd at the Mount Joy campus. And couple Pen Manor students were students of the month for May. Uh one being Chris Hubs who is at the Mount Joy campus senior in the uh welding technology program and he uh is apparently a fantastic learner and worker. is currently out with high steel on co-op and that's where he'll be uh working after completion and he'll go right apparently right into what's called field work which is project work. It's probably the highest paid type of welding work that you can do. So he's been very successful and we continue no doubt to be successful. Second is Payton Anglers uh lacrosse guy in Pen Manor. basketball. Yeah. And there was some
004connections, Jerry. There was a photo or something that included you at some point with very good friends with my Yeah. Okay. So, uh he's in the introduction to construction program at Will Street, planning next year to go into electrical uh construction. So, uh he's being very successful and and no doubt will continue to be a success. Uh the other uh point that I wanted to make is that our uh co-op earnings uh for the year now have exceeded 1.2 million for the students. So uh it's a tremendous uh achievement. I think it was the numbers were around 250 students maybe that are out on co-op. So, uh that uh you know, unfortunately in some of the in some of the courses the they're mostly out in co-op and the few that are there are getting
005almost oneonone or one on limited number of instruction. So, that's good too. So, uh that's that's really all I have. I'll send out the uh the minutes from the May meeting as soon as they're completed and available. Oh, sure. Any questions for Mr. job. Thank you, Miss Hort. Yes, the Lancaster County Academy met on uh May 28th for our joint operating committee. At our previous meeting, I had mentioned to you that there were three Lancaster County Academy students that were chosen to be a part of the uh experience live con conference at Rocklitz. There were 360 students that attended from various counties including Lancaster County. So, we were glad to have students be a part of that. I'm going to just send this around in case you didn't see it. The two photos in the
006Lancaster newspaper uh throughout the day, they saw various demonstrations and you'll see that the two that are that made the newspaper were the uh special effects pyro tech de uh demonstration and rigging demonstration. So, we were real excited to have a couple of our students be a part of that. Uh, we also had graduation on uh the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. There were a total of with our January and our May graduations, we've had two 21 students that graduated. Uh, couple of the highlights for the graduation. Of course, we had two students from the academy that were graduating that spoke. And I always marvel, you know, we had one of the Penman Manner students uh that spoke in January. I just marveled that these were students that were strug struggling to graduate from from
007high school and here they are up on a stage speaking to a crowd of people and I think that's very commendable. Um we also had as a guest speaker a 2008 Lancaster County uh academy graduate who is currently a teacher. So that was a real good example for the other students to have her be a part of uh the ceremony. Uh also we approved our East Campus contract with Crossroads in Mount Joy. Um no significant changes there in the contract. They continue to give us the space for free and they've just continued to be a wonderful partner for our students. Additionally, we signed a 2-year contract with Park City uh for our um east campus and that will begin July 1st. So, we have the move to move from Hack. A lot of positives there.
008We had about,00 square feet at Hack. We will have 3,300 at Park City. So, we will triple the amount of uh footage that we will have. We don't necessarily need it all at this point, but it's exciting to know that we have that space and and yet we aren't paying $157 per square foot. We'll be paying 43 cents per square foot. So, we have a significant savings and we're real excited about that. Uh our previous contract with Hack, it was an automatic 3% increase every year. We do not have an increase next year in this two-year contract with Park City. Um, additionally at hack they would end on May 9th and we would have to pay $300 a day any additional days we wanted to use after that for security. Again, that's not the case
009at Park City. So, we have a lot of advantages moving uh back to Park City. However, the crew, uh, our our director and some of the staff and some of the students are going to be doing painting and a lot of work just to to make it look nicer. We've also were reaching out and I I talked to Dr. Gail and Mr. Fory about any furniture or paint or anything that we can donate. We're looking from for donations of tables and desks and whatnot from the various districts. So anyway, a lot of exciting things happening at the academy. That's wonderful, Miss Wart. Any questions for Mrs. Wart? Any other board reports? Normally, I would pass it on to Mrs. Napsinger to do board opportunities. There's only two, nothing we need to talk about today cuz
010it's things in August and then the trip to the water park. So, you know, we'll catch up with board opportunities next time. So, that brings us to uh item one. Um not a not a good item for us. Uh uh the Pen Manor community, the Pen Manor School Board um lost what what I'll deem a legend on May 25th in the passing of uh Mr. Wardell Jackson, affectionately known as Dell. Um, very nice touch to put the green bucket out tonight. Um, this the significance of that is Dell would always bring something to the board meeting, a salsa, jam, something he would make. Um, and then pick a name out of the bucket. uh and give that gift with uh sincere generosity to uh one of us here on the board. Um you don't replace
011a man like Dell Jackson and his guidance not only as a teacher but a coach um served the members of this board very well over over the years and the questions that he would ask and the PSBA report that he took so so uh seriously in in providing the information. I think it was you Dr. Gil said he would get so upset cuz they wouldn't appoint him to the sports piece of of that organization. Um probably because they didn't want to know the right answers, you know. Um but that will be missed and uh if you will indulge us we as a board would like to recognize him tonight. So Dr. G. Yeah. Uh thank you Dr. Forson. I think it's just one of those moments that uh words don't do it justice. You know
012I've often times thought about that. One of the common statements that we share to a person is uh at this time, you know, people who are going through this is is sorry for your loss. And I can't explain any better way. I mean, it certainly is a loss uh that we've no longer have Dell as part of our community. Uh Dell was a middle school math teacher for 30 30 years, at least close to 30 years, if not more than 30 years, which just tells you something special about him if you can teach middle school for 30 years, but let alone middle school math. And I just thought about the countless individuals that he impacted uh through that time period. But then uh in all of his years of coaching uh we all know he
013was what I used to refer to as a basketball junkie. He was a gym rat. Loved in the gym. Uh even as he started to his health started to decline. Probably still his favorite place was to be in the gym. Um probably shouldn't have been there but I or some of you or even his wife weren't going to keep him out of the gym. Um, Dell was Dell was a special guy in my visits to him over the last several months. Uh, always had information to share with me. I think that was one of Dell's special abilities was he could talk to anybody and make a meaningful impact and could certainly uh give you different perspectives all at the same time while still making life fun like he tried to do with with our little
014raffles here. uh he will be missed uh in more ways than I think we can even consider and it really is truly a a loss for not just the people around this table but I think for Penman community. Uh so uh it's it's a it's a tough time. We certainly are keeping u and encourage all of us to keep his family in your thoughts and prayers. uh his obituary was in the paper yesterday. If you didn't see it, obviously obituary probably could have been a a full edition of the Lancaster newspaper that to accurately describe him. Uh but there will be a celebration of life on June 24th, I believe, in the afternoon. 28th, sorry, 28 uh 28th at Media Heights uh golf club. So, there is a card here. I'll pass this around that
015we received from uh PSBA. Uh and I think we can all, you know, recognize that that Dell will be missed in more ways than we can even begin to think about now. just comment that I've heard from uh individuals both that are part of the staff here, teachers or other Penman Manner family members who and I didn't realize the impact he had on so many people as a coach at Pen Mana that he was not a good coach but he was a better mentor were uh young people and and just people expressed their incredible relationship they had with with them. So and he carried over that coaching to to the board and to the you know to the uh teaching staff instructors. So one of a kind and will definitely be greatly missed. Yeah, Dell
016was my coach 30 39 years ago and uh I would always harass him that he played this freshman over me. This guy named Aaron Dread played over me and I think the final stats were I had about eight points in my career and Aaron had like 2,000 or something. It's probably out there on the wall somewhere. So, I I blame Dell for that. [Music] But he was uh you know, one of the really special things about Dell is when we hang out sometimes afterwards, everybody has a story to tell, but Dell's a listener. He'd sit back with just beaming smile looking at you and thinking that you're the most fascinating person he's ever seen. That that's just what you felt like kind of, you know, he wasn't he wasn't trying to top your story. He
017just was enjoying the moments of man, I'll miss him. He was a man of many talents. Not only was he a good a great teacher and board director, he was willing to listen. Um many times I visited as his house and he would give me a tour of his garden. He was a had a great green thumb. We know dill I almost said Dell pickles dill pickles that he would bring in and jam and honey. Even just a month ago, he had gotten a new set of bees. Um um just a year and a half ago, my one daughter from Long Island came down and brought a friend. He spent two days with us working on stained glass and refused to take a thing for it, a penny. And he apparently does it for uh
018their neighbors that are homeschoolers. Just the word giving would be a very a very accurate synonym for Dell. How long was uh Dell retired? Eight years. I think Dell in a month does more than what some of us do in in a year. He's always active. Um he was uh it was it was fun to have him come on to the board because I was started on the board while he was still the association president and uh Dell didn't feel the same way about things until he got on the other side of the table. And even then, he was a champion for teachers and more importantly, he was a champion for students. And that's what that's what I'll take away from from my experience with Dell. In addition to all the things that he did,
019all of the things he was like a you hear the phrase jack of all trades, master of none. I think Dell was a master of them all. Um, no matter what he set himself out to be. So, um, you know, Fred blames Dell for only scoring eight points. If you just would have listened a little more, you might have scored 10, right? Anybody administration, anybody want to else want to share? I think for me um like like you miss sport I had the opportunity to spend some time with D at his homestead and um the amount of produce and product that I left his home with that day um was wonderful. I know had did not have to buy any garlic for a good I think all of the winter months and we cook with
020a lot of garlic. So he is he he definitely was a giver and loved to share his joy of all things with anyone who also wanted to listen. And so, um, I I really cherished how he worked to bring all of the people, um, you know, as we sit around this table, how he brought us all together to come to his house and to, you know, um, visit and and just be, um, together with him. So, I I enjoyed getting to know him a little bit as a a board director and a friend. I'll be missed. In addition to his green thumb and stainless glass, he was an avid outdoorsman and he invited uh me up to his cabin uh where we spent the weekend fishing a couple of times and uh caught more smallmouth
021bass on the Sesuana with Dylan. uh I have uh with anyone else and uh whenever I had a good fishing story I was always excited to bring it to him because I know he would appreciate it and do the same. So great man. Well, thank you everybody. Um, I don't know how to segue into superintendent goals with all with all due respect or the budget or with anything else. Um, it's just not as you know. Do you want to talk about the process? Yeah. So, um to fulfill a board vacancy, the process is really up to the board as long as um everything is done in public. The board can decide the process. You have 30 days to fulfill the vacancy um in which uh we are going to take part in the process of
022appointing uh the individual to uh fill Dell's term until December. Um there will have to be some uh somebody an individual placed on the ballot that will run in the November election. that will fulfill uh Dell's remaining two years on his term from December of 2025 until November of 2027. So, the board will be appointing that individual on June 23rd and having them sworn in uh the same evening. So, that is the process that we're going to undertake to fill our vacancy. Okay. So, we will move on to item two. So, tonight I just want to capture some of the things that have taken place, but then also share uh the proposed goals that we are looking at for the upcoming school year. I do want to express my appreciation to the board uh that
023throughout the course of this year uh instead of on a quarterly basis almost on a monthly basis uh we've been sharing our progress uh in terms of working towards our goals uh we've made some progress in all of them uh some have been what I would consider fulfilled others uh you will see that continue to evolve into ongoing responsibilities or andor uh new goals for the upcoming coming year. So, as we talk, you know, our our mission, and I think this is more apparent than ever, uh we will continue to work uh collaboratively across our community to help our students uh define and achieve their academic and life goals. It certainly was nice on uh last Wednesday at the commencement ceremony to see students on their way to doing this. Uh so our first goal
024was an academic goal. Looking at the secondary schedule, uh we really gave a primary focus to things here at the high school and opportunities for how we can best meet and offer and enhance our offerings uh for our students at the secondary level, most specifically here at the high school. uh as you heard throughout the year uh all levels, but uh it played out extremely well here at the high school with our unlocking new opportunities was our theme. Providing students with those opportunities to not only learn in the classroom but outside the classroom andor having different events or people come into the classroom to add to those. I was very pleased with how our teachers responded and some of the different opportunities that they did give to our students this year uh at the high
025school. Uh I think we saw all of these but throughout the different aspects uh you know especially accentuating the aspect of field trips uh you know a lot of learning that took place outside of the classroom this year uh for all of our students. But as the high school continued uh with their with their acronym of comet, as we heard the other night, uh really taking this to the next level, and we will be looking at uh refining and bringing to the board uh in the fall, some additional classes that will be offered really as a half credit, meaning that there'll be a marking period class and that students will have the opportunity to expand uh what they are taking place in our facility goal. Uh we continue to look at uh with long range
026plan uh with uh Larado's help from Crabtree as well as some of our engineers. We continue to look at our needs. Uh thank you to the facility committee for their work. Uh in cases we did really make an option uh or we've hold we've held off on making an option about what the Fisher Farm is until we have a declaration of that. and we did uh come to the conclusion that we wouldn't explore solar fields and as we look at options of what we're going to be doing I think both of those decisions are very prudent. We do continue to work on the timeline as uh Mrs. Napsinger shared out at the retreat. Uh we do have some developments that the facility committee uh has worked on and has recommended to the board. Uh we're
027really beginning to look at a new uh school, new middle school at the at the existing site of Hambrite and Manor Middle School and then that'll give us the opportunity to look at further what we do with Central Matter Estman and Leort. We will have that continue to work on that throughout the course of uh the summer and working with the facilities committee. Our budget goal five-year financial guide uh continue to look at this as we know this is very important uh I am very pleased that we did reach an agreement with the association uh that really takes care of uh providing a competitive salary and benefits uh that will go into effect at the end of uh this coming school year for the 2627 school year to the 2829 school year. So, it's a
028three-year agreement. Continue to look at the baseline and as we've looked at in terms of some projections, this is what we've been talking about and including some of this information with the uh proposed numbers that we'll be discussing here in a little bit. So, progress uh lot of work still to be done. I think in some of these areas uh is a refinement of what we've been talking about and do appreciate the efforts of those who have either served on a committee or have uh given us insights into some of the different aspects of what we need to consider both from our facilities as well as our uh budget ongoing responsibilities. you know, continue to work for our staff, continue to uh be in the community and working with our stakeholders and communication uh to
029really provide those uh avenues for people to hear about what we are doing in the district. Terms of 25 26 goals, these are proposed goals that I shared with the board at our retreat on Friday. Uh number one is to look at our attendance and uh really develop a strategic plan uh that we will be addressing some of our chronic absenteeism. I think we all agree it's very important for students to be here but we also need to make sure that uh when we have this plan in place that we are addressing not only them getting to school but I think some surrounding uh needs that some of our students do have. Second proposed goal is to again look at a three-year strategic financial guide. Uh with the contract being in place, I think we
030have that agreement that we can build off of and as we continue to gain uh clarity on our construction projects that are going on, uh we'll continue to move in this direction. And then also uh because of some of the uh either changes to facilities or changes to uh our buildings, we need to look at the impact that that will not only have on uh the facility itself, but the students who are attending, where they're coming from, the needs for our teachers, and the resources that will be needed to work with them. And then the the final goal as uh as was proposed by the board uh continue to uh and really working with our local, state and federal leaders uh to share the challenges and successes of the district and then to also gain
031insight about what they are doing at the different levels both locally, state and federal governments so that we can determine the impact that it would have on the district. So Dr. forton. Those are the proposed goals. Uh we have those to be approved in July and I, you know, any questions or changes that need to be made. Uh we have some time certainly open to uh suggestions and feedback in addition to what I've already received. Any questions for Dr. Gail? we we have some time to uh you know reflect on the proposed goals. Um our meeting is until July 21 for approval. So if we could uh share any comments, feedback, suggestions with Dr. Gail by, you know, July 1. So there's time for review and editing if necessary. Okay. Thank you, Dr. G. Mr.
032Fory, we're certainly expecting some good news tonight. So, good evening. We are uh late the final budget discussion prior to uh the next meeting approval of our budget 42526. Um a couple updates, a couple information items that we have here at the state. So obviously the budget is the primary financial driver to support our mission and and what that looks like. And so we really have worked to understand how do we help our students succeed? And so we'll look at what that means from a fiscal standpoint. Uh so last meeting uh the proposed final budget was approved by the board. Um if you remember we did uh had a $750,000 emergency um plan as part of that. Uh that's an expense line item that doesn't have a corresponding revenue. So um although the budget appears
033unbalanced and balanced in our planned expenses and planned revenues. So since the last meeting uh went through revalidated took a look at things uh we got an update on our assessments as of the end of May. Um and so two things sort of drove a little bit of change. Uh we have tonight our final IU13 special education uh costs. Um and we also do have a little bit of growth in the tax base. So there's about an $82,000 difference from the numbers that you saw um two weeks ago to the numbers that at this point I would present in two weeks. Like I said, there were some other smaller things here and there. Uh but those were the two big drivers. one on the revenue side and then one on the expense side. Just as
034a reminder, um as we've talked previously, uh really have had and have the opportunity through this budget to really uh set ourselves up well for the future. Um we have u just over $2 million uh basically an entire tax increase going towards that future construction. Uh additionally we are currently nearly depleted on our capital reserve due to the finishing of the high school a few years ago and so there's an opportunity to restore some of the capital reserve funding. And if you remember um that capital reserve funding uh 750,000 of that is contingent upon the state budget approval. Um, as long as we get somewhere close to what the governor has forecasted, then we'll have that. If it doesn't, then we'll look and see where we are at that point in time. Uh, the proposed
035final budget did have a 3.5% tax increase that was approved. Uh, so you can see that would be the new millillage. Um, as we've talked about it, it does uh allow us to put uh 2.115 million towards future projects. And if you remember, we talked about it the median taxpayer will see about a $90 a year increase. And that is an off that includes the offset from the increased farms at homestead, which will be uh action in the next meeting as well. So the recommendations out of the budget discussion further discussion this evening is to place the final budget resolution, the tax levy resolution and the farmstead homestead exclusion resolutions for the agenda in two weeks uh for final approval work. questions. I have a question. What if what if it's four to four? Uh
036then we'll either take another vote or we have another on the 23rd we should have the ninth member seated before we get to this point. Okay. And we ask this question every year, Dan. Correct me if I'm wrong. Um, tonight's the night that we need to make a change. If we want to make a change, correct? We can't make a change on the 23rd. As you remember in the proposed final budget, what I do with the numbers I currently have, we upload them into the state website. It generates a PDF and that PDF is what will be attached to that resolution. So if it gets voted down, we'll have another meeting. Any further questions for Mr. Fory? So this uh current budget um has three positions, two tours. And when we first started this six,
037seven weeks ago, several meetings ago, he had come with a 3% with four positions with us. I know we capital reserves future projects. Now if we're reducing it by two positions, what would a 3.25 look like? The proposed final budget only had three of those. The board decided few months ago that they would only support three. Correct. So we had three positions, right? What would be the 3.25 as opposed to 3.5? With regard to are you saying 3.25 tax increase tax increase as opposed to 3.5. He had come to us with four possessions at a three um said about going about 3.5. I'd like to see what a 3.25 Yeah. Can you go back to your slide? It has the expenses. Keep going. Uh, one more. Oh, I'm sorry. The the one with the graph.
038So, where that money has been keep going forward. Thank you. Now we got it to work right there. So again, what would what would change would be the amount that we would be putting towards future building, right? And what would that amount be is what I'm asking. So what's a half a percent of revenue? If we increase tax by half, a half of a percent is 300 quarter% be $150,000. So instead of 2.115 minus 3 would be about 18 1.8. 8 million into the budget for future building construction andor dropping the capital reserve. Some of that money that we had first talked about as Mr. Bory mentioned there have been refinement of costs or expenditures with the IU. uh some other numbers that we've got and we've been running this long with our cap reserve
039at 500. Right. Correct. Previous previous to the payout of the $3.3 million to close the high school just before I got here we were running about 4 million in capital reserve. Now we have less than 100,000 in capital and what and what exactly is the risk? Um, if we have a large expenditure or large planned activities that we talked about, we will either have to draw it out of the general fund or not do it or the contingency of 750. Right. Right. That would be drawing it out of the general fund. So, but we've already allocated that there and that's different than the 750 for the cap reserve. Correct. This 750 is saying that the Senate doesn't pass the governor's budget. Okay. Thank you. Any other questions for Mr. Ford? Okay, I need a motion
040to place this on the agenda for June 23rd. So moved. Thank you, Mr. Swagert. Second. Second. Thank you. Any further comment or question? I'd like to amend it to a 3.25 tax increase. as opposed to the 3.5. Does anybody else feel similarly? I know. I don't I I think, you know, $150,000, we're starting to split hairs a little bit. And I don't know what the cost of a middle school is or what the plans would be for that kind of cost. But I know what it'll cost to build it today isn't what it's going to cost when we start to build it or renovate or whatever. And that would be my my concern. Also, we know that we're going to have to build at least one new school. And I think it's very unfair if
041we hike the taxes. As I've said before, we had to do that one year when we were building for the high school. And I I personally think it's more fair to do it gradually than to hit the taxpayers hard and heavy um all at once when we know that we're going to have to build at least one more school. And as I was thinking about this throughout this process, it's really important that the school district uh strikes while the iron's hot with regard to um the act one index that we actually have breathing room this year that we can um use the act one index to set aside money for future projects. In the coming years, the act one index will come will come down. We know that because the high inflation COVID years are
042rolling off the calculations. And so in the upcoming 3 to five years, the school district, the school board um may be in a bind or a predicament where the available act one index will only cover um our mandated increases in salaries, benefits, etc. and we won't have room um to increase revenues for our planned um construction costs in the near future. And so I was thinking about this year, you know, that was really my philosophy going into this and why I think three and a half is the right move for us at this point. I feel the same way. I think it's a good time to add a little extra toward those future expenses that we know are coming and without creating a huge hardship on our taxpayers. Well, correct me if I'm wrong. When
043we did the high school, we could we could expand that act one through exceptions. We can't do that now. Right. Potentially, and I'd have to go run the numbers, potentially you could, the only exception that really is still valid to us is escalating the special ed cost. Um, and my argument always is if you have escalating special cost, then you have escalating special costs that you need that revenue for, not right, to be able to offset some other places, right? So, I I don't I don't want to see us handcuff ourselves. Um, I don't like I don't like three and a half any more than anybody else, but um I think it's necessary planning for the future. So, there was no formal motion to change it to There's a formal motion. There was no second.
044There was a second. Oh, no. He said he wanted Oh, that's right. So, there was no second to that. Does anybody want to second Matt's Matt's amendment to make it 3.25? Seeing none. So the original motion is a 3.5% increase as outlined on the the slide. The millage rate would be 19.0286. We have a motion and a second on that. All those in favor. Six opposed. One opposed. Okay. Mr. Fory, capital Reserve Plan. Yes. Continuing on. So, we looked at this I think uh last meeting. Just wanted toh provide an update and then we'll look at actions for the meeting our next meeting as well. So right now I'm looking at primarily our capital reserve items for this summer. Um we discussed the first six I think two weeks ago. Uh one of the things
045that I added with uh with the main instructor is the seventh one. Uh we have two large mowers that we use uh throughout the district and mowing we accomplish. Uh one of those is a 2008 mower. Um and I'm sure that the best is wood, but our goal is that that mower makes it through this mowing season. Um but to replace that at the end of the mowing season, we need to order shortly. It's about four month lead time and then in November there is a price escalation to that mower. So um we to add that to the plan so that we were there or available for for next spring and summer. Um so the recommendation this evening as we talked about before is transferring the uh million dollars from the general fund to capital
046reserve. Um that's due to the money that we received above and beyond our planned state funding in the current year. Uh so we will end the year with a positive uh balance and then also looking at approving those summer projects on the June 23rd agenda. Okay. Any questions about this plan? And I I have a couple, but I'll certainly defer to the board. And yeah, I think uh last meeting I think is this last asked about have we looked at leasing? Yes. So I did uh follow up with the leasing. Uh one of the challenges with leasing is so for instance if you lease the handicap van um the price is the same now you pay interest on that throughout the time of the lease and and depending on how the lease works. There's options
047at the end of the lease the vehicle gets turned over to the lease if um that's one option. If you wanted to keep it, then usually the lease payments are higher. And so unless we were moving our refresh cycle, if you remember, most of these are uh I think 15y old vehicles. Um unless we wanted to go to a 5year or 7year refresh. Um it doesn't make sense to lease because you would never lease something for 15 years. And so unless we are turning over and spending more to have a newer fleet, the leasing doesn't work out financially. Plus, you have to pay the interest on the, you know, on the vehicle over that time as well, even with maintenance costs and upkeep and everything. Well, most of the leases you do offer routine maintenance.
048I'm not talking about routine. I'm talking about year whatever five. I think if we were closer to a fiveyear sixyear turnover yes but when you start you know we're we're we are depreciating that van for 15 years versus what we'd have to pay. I mean it that the handicap ban was almost $2,000 a month in lease costs. The other part is that you'd have to work that into your general operating fund versus any type of travel. and talking to the individuals, I think if you're if you have a shorter life or if you just don't have the money to purchase the vehicle, then you pay an extra to Are all seven of these proposed items what I'll call high priority? Yes. whe they are either 15y old vehicles that are in need of significant repair
049to keep moving uh or uh the as we talked about before the roof repair on echelon I significant according to that roof that is leaking it's two layers of roof and we are getting water damage every time it rains The parking deck is part of a a commitment that got made as an agreement and I think construction here at the high school construction was done. So what about the white boards? What are the what does Martikville have now? Chalkboards. Chalkboards. Are we are we buying the you know out of the school catalog whiteboard the whole thing to put up there or we buying the like the insert that you can glue on? So what we're doing is it it is construction grade but they will take the the framing off the chalkboard. Pull the chalkboard
050down and put a white board in that place framing back up so it will look like it was originally a whiteboard. Not just like sticking a whiteboard over top of them. Okay. Mower really cost 96,000. It actually cost 121,000 because we got a coarse discount. It's 96. It's a 12T 12T width on that. Huh? So, yes, if you would like one, Dr. Cost. Yeah, let me let me write a check. $121,000 m. What are we mowing? Can we buy gravel for less than that? Just spread our com. Have we ever thought about uh I'm sure it would be more but we contract out the elementaryaries. One of the big things here has been from a from an athletic usage standpoint. Um there are days probably here in the spring that we were mowing twice a
051week with short competitions over a pound of field as well as in the fall. Whereas if you're contract mowing, you're you're dependent upon somebody else's schedule to say, "Well, can you do that?" Okay. Again, it's a very similar practice to what I've seen in the past. You contract out the outline schools, but your athletic fields and associated usually. Okay. That's what in total cost 76 I'm about 350 give or take. 362. Any other questions? I would entertain a motion to place the capital reserve uh recommendation on the June 23rd voting agenda. So move. Thank you, Mr. Shaw second. Second. Thank you, Mr. Slider. Any further comment or question? Yeah, I have a comment. Uh I do appreciate how we we use things 18 years or or whatever, you know, rather than come to us after
052eight years, say it's time for a new one. So, uh even though it's nobody likes to spend a ton of money, it's just a fact of life. So, thank you. The maintenance team does a good job of really trying to keep things running as long as we can. How long have you had the mower? Since 2008. 2008. I don't think I've ever owned a push mower that long, let alone that kind of mower. So, okay, we have a motion. We have a second. All those in favor? Seven affirmative votes. Okay. And one more just highlight that will come. We We do it in the second June meeting each year. I just wanted to to give you a heads up on what's coming. Uh we'll have an action item to commit fund balance. Um so I
053just wanted to show you make sure that there wasn't any changes or feedback that you had, but at this point with that million dollars going into the capital reserve fund, I think we should be pretty close to a balanced budget at this point. So my recommendation is is the commitment that we made in November would be recommitted essentially in June. It looks like the following, right? We had a million dollars towards capital reserve potentially a million dollar towards healthcare expenses and then $14 million that could be used in future planning. just as an understanding of the differences that this million dollars that committed to capital reserve isn't physically transferred. So the board could two weeks from now they could 6 months from now say we don't want it committed there anymore. Um once you move
054it to capital you have to use it for a capital expense. So that's this is sort of laying out what would the intent be. So my recommendation in two weeks is that we don't change anything. give you a highlight. Any questions? I'll add. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Fory. I do want to make a uh very quick comment. I appreciate that you put all of your presentations together in one. That That was nice that we could just I figured I'd save it all time. Yeah, I I appreciate that. It's the little things. It's the little things. Anything else for the committee of the whole? If not, I will adjourn the committee of the whole and I will call to order the school board voting meeting for Monday, June 9th, 2025. I'd like us all at
055the moment of silence uh to think of Dell and and his family and all of the folks that Dell has touched. 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. The next scheduled meeting of the Pen Manor School Board will be held on Monday, June 23rd, 2025 following the committee of the whole meeting. An executive session was held prior to the committee of the whole meeting for the purpose of discussing safe schools report or director replacement procedures, personnel, student matter, and superintendent evaluation as detailed on the committee of the whole agenda. Mrs. Rose, may we have a roll call, please? Sure. Mr. Beaks here. Mr. Her here. Mr. Lombardo here. Mr.
056Stro here. Mr. Swiger here. Ms. Worth here. Mrs. Natiger is absent. Dr. Fullerton here. Seven board members present. At each of our voting meetings, we offer our citizens two opportunities to uh speak. At this time, we will ask for any comments on voting agenda items only. Do we have any citizens comments on voting agenda items? Well, good evening, Miss Bacon. You know the rules. You know, if we do make that podium any taller, you know, the only people that are going to see it, that's cuz it's on the wheel. Oh, forgot to take that. Um, so I was debating whether this one was relevant to tonight's voting agenda. Um, we'll let you know, but can you state your name or municipality for the record? Leah Bacon, Manor Township. Um, I did see that on the
057agenda this evening is contract with the architects. So, um, this is related to that. Um I as the school uh proceeds with the development of plans uh for the architects and the and as they proceed with the facilities committee meetings. Um, I just wanted to urge the board and anyone working on the facilities committee or with the architects to please um give a little extra consideration to the model that I know you've been looking at uh a bit now, which is repurposing the design of Hambrite Elementary uh and seeing what where we can go from there. Uh I think that the basic design of the wings that have uh different school grade levels stacked on top of each other and and and in a shape of an E to allow space between uh may be
058a good overall design. But I have heard um some feedback and I'm sure I'm not hearing as much feedback as the people who are working in the building are um able to hear feedback about some of the limitations people have found in the existing hambrite. So, um, amongst the things that I've heard is that the some of the classrooms are too small, um, even when it was built new, and maybe that's somewhat because we've been working at over capacity at times, but, um, that'll probably continue to be the case, um, as we try to build out our capacity. Um, so we might want to consider enlarging those schools. I've heard some things about outlets not being in the right places. I've heard some things about there's no openable windows on the second floor and that
059causes poses some safety concerns. So, um I I like the idea that the school could save money by using a model that they perpetuate, but I want to make sure that you guys think about uh modifications that might need to be made to that model. So, thank you. Thank you. Any other comments on voting agenda items? Seeing none, be happy to take a motion to approve the minutes of our voting meeting on May 19th. So move. Thank you. Second. Is that a second? Thank you very much. Any further comment or question? All those in favor? Seven affirmative votes. Very good. Dr. Gail, superintendent report. So, uh, first like to thank and congratulate, uh, Mr. Eevee and the high school administrative team for their, uh, fine work last Wednesday during our commencement ceremony, uh, for all
060the work that went into that and to provide an excellent night for our graduates, the class of 2025, as well as our parents and our staff that was there. I do also want to congratulate all the members of the class of 200 or yeah 200 two 2025 uh we had 441 graduates uh received their diploma. Not all participated but uh total number was 441. Um also would like to share uh some good news from our athletic director Mr. TSI. He will be here at our next board meeting to give an overall review of the entire year. But uh last week at the athletic director's meeting for the LL league uh Pen Manor was voted by the athletic directors as the overall sportsmanship award winner for the entire league for the 24-25 season. Uh so that's
061the entirety. Uh in the spring I had mentioned I think at the last meeting that five of our seven spring teams had received the athletic or the sportsmanship award but this is in its entirety. uh very proud of our our athletes uh and our coaches uh for winning this award. I think it shows that we are doing things in the right way. We're not always perfect. Uh there are some really good things that are happening both behind the scenes on the field and uh as we interact with others in in the district in other districts. So uh the best news that I can share with everyone is that today was our first Monday of summer vacation. Uh and uh even though uh some of us were here, uh we did have some teachers that were
062already starting their inservice days for next year. So schools aren't quiet yet. Uh but we continue to work through uh these next couple weeks. And on Thursday, our administrative team, all of our principles, assistant principles, supervisors, uh we will be having our retreat. Uh, and we will be attending four different locations as I shared uh at our board retreat last week and then spending the afternoon here at the high school uh focusing in on our goals for next year. That's all I have. Thank you. Okay. Any questions for Dr. I have a comment. I know we typically recognize teams when they go to the states or beyond. Um, is there any way that we can do special recognition when they win the sportsmanship? I know you can't have five teams come in here at once
063and some people have already graduated so they would no longer be a part of the team, but is it possible that we could have maybe two teams come at a time or whatever and recognize them? We can ask I'll I'll talk to Mr. Tossy about that. Maybe we can get some representatives at our next meeting. Even even the captains or any anybody that from the teams that would want to come. That's just going above and beyond just winning. And he did share that we'll receive a banner that we'll be able to hang in the gym for the sport for the overall win. Yep. Okay. Um let's review our agenda. Item two, A through C. Do we have anybody that wants to go with Mr. Lombardo to the water park for bail. I I did have
064to bail. My I'm so sorry, but my one granddaughter's birthday is that day. Oh, take her to the water park. That's perfect. This that was for the Well, we'll see. I did. Be put it differently. This is not a reflection of who you are. I'll be okay. Goodness. Anthony, you'll take one for the team. Well, this work. I'd like to pull 2B and pull 2 C individually or together individually. Okay. Thank you. Item three, A through H. Any comment or question? on item 4 A through H. Any questions? Okay, going back up to 2A. Do I have a motion to approve? So moved. Thank you. A second. Second. Thank you. Any further comment or question? I just want a picture attorney in um his armies. No, at the water park. I would I would hope
065Tony goes nowhere near the water park. All those in favor? Is that an affirmative? Oh, I All right. He's still affirmative. I was going to vote no. I wouldn't have blamed you. Oh, I wish they would just go back to having it virtually. Yeah, it's a shame. Yeah, it is. Um, uh, it's a it's an important conference and a lot of board members work. So, to just take off that kind of time if you know, even if it was a weekend or something would be a little bit better, but um, they'll get it one day. 2B. May I have a motion to approve the job description for student engagement facilitator? So move. Thank you. A second. Second. Thank you. Any comment or question? Just would like to thank Dr. Gail and his team for getting
066the information requested and um and providing all that information. Thank you. And I really appreciated the discussion that we had on this at the retreat. Uh obviously there was some concern about another position. Uh but obviously we want to reach out to those students that that we want to encourage to graduate. But one of the things that was really pointed out at the retreat concerning this, we're always looking for ways to support the teachers. And it was pointed out that one of the things that they struggle with a lot is trying to help students that have missed a day or two and then trying to help them catch up so that they can get caught up with the rest rest of the the students in the class and that that puts in significant effort and
067angst for the teachers. So we're not helping only the students here but I think it's a very very supportive position for the teachers. I just want to say I agree with all of that. However, I just just to make my feelings known um at this juncture, I just don't financially for me um I feel that it's something maybe we could look at a little more prior to doing it. So, that that's my only I'm not saying we don't need this. I'm not saying I I just think there are other u entities that are tasked with this type of thing. Um enough that with what we're facing development wise with having almost being forced to build additional schools and things like that that we h absolutely have to do by law. Um at this point I
068just think it's smarter if we just held off on this specific position at this time. And it is unfortunate, Mr. Lombardo, that and this isn't a criticism, you had no way that you could go to the retreat because I think there were several of us that were borderline or agreeing with you in that position. But I think our discussion on on Friday was very beneficial to help the majority of us realize that that it is and and that's unfortunate that you were not there for that. Yeah. And that's I mean I wish I was, but Yes. And and you couldn't be, right? But I think it was the discussion was such that it opened our eyes and I think we felt a whole lot better after that. Uh believing that it is because none of
069us wants to be adding positions when we know that we have buildings ahead of us. For sure. Sure. Just just the fact that I wasn't there and I didn't personally hear it. Right. Handicaps you in that respect in your judgment. Yeah. Uh straight up I was I'm one of the ones that was really pushing against it. Um I do after, you know, after getting the information, after having it, uh, you know, right, I I've heard enough that I'm at the position to give it a shot to support it at this time because I've heard enough where it can it can be a benefit and we can evaluate it after after a year or two. Yeah. Okay. Any other discussion on 2B? All right. All those in favor? Six affirmative votes? Opposed? One against. Okay. And
0702 C the learning facilitator. And before I ask for a motion, I would like to amend the job description to 190 days per year with up to 10 additional days as needed as needed. approved annually from the by the board or as needed through the year admin description generally speaking and I don't I don't know we you usually come to the board for that or or not schools I've been at it's been discretion of the administration to use those 10 days the board is saying that we will support it up to 10 10 days 10 additional so that would be my amending of the job description. You need a second. I'll second that. Thank you. Any further comment or question? Just just to remind everybody, the original job description was written for 209 days. So,
071seeing no other question or comment, all those in favor? Seven affirmative votes. Thank you. Item three, A through It should be A through K. I'm sorry. There's two H's, Mrs. Roads. Yes, I know. Not if you hit refresh. [Laughter] So, item three, A through K. Any comment or question? Do I have a motion? A second. Second. Not any comment or question. Okay. All those in favor? Seven. Affirmative votes. And item four A through H. May I have a motion? So moved. Thank you. A second. Second. Any further comment or question? All those in favor? Seven affirmative votes. Okay. We have now reached the second opportunity for our citizens to comment on any district business. Do we have any citizen any further citizen comment? Name and municipality, please. My name is Jodie Staer and I live
072in Mardik Township at the bottom of the district. Um, it was fantastic to hear all of you talk so kindly about Dell Jackson. I know that I have a lot of friends who had a very personal relationship with him and he cared a lot about this district and he cared a lot about education and he cared a lot about teachers. So, I would like to make a plea to the board that as you consider finding someone to replace someone that has the character of Dell Jackson and cares just as much about teachers, the teachers here at Penn Manor as he did and to care about education as much as he did and not just find somebody to fill his spot. So, that's my plea. Thank you. Thank you. Leah Bacon Manor Township. Um, I also
073just wanted to say a few words about Dell. Um, I only had the opportunity to know Dell through his involvement with the board and yet, um, I felt very fortunate to do so. um he over the the few years that I've been watching things here and discussing um items with people after board meetings uh I began to get to know Dell and he was so kind and um and very reflective person, very willing to engage um so fun to have conversation with. Um, we discussed library items, we discussed sporting events and facilities, we discussed u many things before and after school board meetings. And um, I could tell too from his time during schoolboard meetings um, how hard he worked at schoolboard business with the PSBA connection with the committees he was on. Um, and
074so and and the good questions that he asked. So, I I think he will be very hard to replace and um I'm going to miss him. Thank you. Any other citizens comments? Any other comments from the board? Not too with it being so lost with Dell's passing. However, we still have a lot of buildings and facilities, too. And he was the chair of the facilities committee. So, I you know, not to be disrespectful of of the timing of his passing, we do need to unfortunately consider replacing Dell in that committee. So I'd like to if we can for the 23rd have someone and policy leaison. Yeah. And the policy liaison and PSBA as well. Yeah. So, um, yeah, as part of my duties as president, I I'll appoint folks to take del and then do
075we have to vote on it as a PSBA li leaison or no? So, we'll just we'll just appoint Miss Word to that position. [Music] Well, you have retired. You don't have anything else going on, right? I'll get you to that. I'll get you her I'll get her there one way or the other. Um so yeah, we'll have that ready for the 23rd. Dr. Fullerton, I I did want to just address the board and the public. Um it's been brought to my attention several times. Uh I've been approached about why I abstained from the budget vote uh last meeting. And the reason is um so I sustained injuries and disabilities from my combat service in Iraq and under Pennsylvania law this year I am tax exempt. So I have like a moral and ethical um opposition
076to voting on anything that would tax the citizens. So, um, where applicable and appropriate, um, for final vote purposes, anything pertaining to that will be a no or an extension, just so everybody is aware of that, cuz I've been approached several times. And if you if anybody does want to ask me questions about it, I'll I'll be glad to answer them. Thank you, Mr. Lombardo. On that note, meeting adjourned. Everybody enjoy their next two weeks. I won't see