06/04/26 RTM School Board Work Session Meeting

001Good evening. Welcome to the June work session of the Rose Tree Media School Board. The school board holds monthly work sessions to carry out its responsibilities in public as dictated by the sunshine law. At these meetings, the board standing committees conduct the work of the board through discussion with administration. We welcome the public to these meetings and depending on the length of the agenda may be able to entertain public comment. If we're not able to address comments, we encourage emails to either committee chairs or the administration. As a reminder to where our conversation should focus, the students are the center of the RTMSD learning community. Our mission states that all students will reach their intellectual, emotional, social, and physical potential in a safe environment that celebrates diversity, individual talents and efforts and promotes collaboration, caring,

002respect, and leadership. Students will be wellprepared to create meaningful and productive lives in the global society. And so we will begin with presentations. First up is an update on the K to1 center. Dr. Malash. >> Thank you, Dr. Napson Williams. Uh I'm excited for this evening's presentation. Um as usual, we have our team from ICS and the Shrader Group. Here with us tonight is Phil Solomon, who's going to kick us off. Also on the team, Yanni Vardinotus, uh Matt Kelly, and then Jennifer Grafton from the Shrader Group. So, um Phil, I'm gonna turn it right over. I think you're gonna go ahead and share >> your screen. I got to send a request. And don't forget tonight is graduation eve. All the penrest seniors are home pressing their gowns getting ready. What's up? >> It's

003exciting. It's always a little bit lag. I'm sorry. >> Not my first. >> All right. I'm sorry. >> You just perfect. >> Look at that. >> Okay. I like it. >> Well, thank you for having us back. Sorry, it's a little bit delayed. Um, brief update. We're going to use the same format as we have uh in the past. Just a quick quick background and then just kind of an update on each of the items. Tonight we have a budget update and a schedule update um just to kind of give a give the board where where we're at. So with that, I'll get started. So last um last time around we had submitted land development. There was a hiccup there with the environmental impact assessment that has been submitted. Um everything's good with the township.

004They've given us the date. They've accepted everything. Uh I'll talk a little bit more about that in a second. Um, couple other things about the traffic impact study and then, you know, we were just we were still on track for the 29 opening. Quick update on the building. We haven't moved the the design forward. We've been in kind of design and land development. So, we're kind of at that spot now where we go from design development to construction development or construction documents. And we'll talk about that in a minute. But just a quick refresher, here's the building. This is what we're working towards. A couple different views. You've seen these before. Uh just a quick update on the athletics. Um this is the the print that was submitted with land development. The orientations of the

005fields is correct for both softball and baseball. Uh the field has been moved over I believe 40 feet. That gives you a little bit more buffer with the neighbors. It also gives the district the option to work out an easement with uh the church or PMR um if you so choose. uh but you're in a position to do so now. Uh so a couple different benefits from moving the fields. Uh as I mentioned the orientation is correct and this is the the latest print >> and and Phil that also increases the buffer >> correct >> between the fields and our neighbors on Vanir. >> Yeah. And this this area here where you are adjacent to some neighbors. So it does give a little bit extra buffer and there will also be plantings and such as

006well along that line. Uh I know that this is an engineered print so it's a little tricky to see but you can see the realigned road uh here. It's got contours basin etc. Um the easier print to see this is what was submitted with land development. The easier print is kind of what it will look like after. So we have kind of the reconnected road here and then you can see all the buffering and then how the building lays out. Phil, can we I know because we spent time talking about this and and I know that that Yanni spent quite a bit of time. Just highlight everything that's that's colored in there green. So, can you talk about what that >> Yeah. So, when I say buffering, those are trees and there's going to be

007quite a few trees on the property. They're located strategically obviously uh to, you know, to to kind of give you some some distance between the neighbors and give them some privacy, etc. And you can see they kind of line the the property uh all the way around. And then there's interior trees as well for shade and other purposes, landscaping, etc. So, it is uh you know, you'll see this more developed as we move forward, but that gives you an idea of where the buffers would go. And yes, Yanni did cover color those in. Um little bit of budget update. So, when we met last not last, but last time we had the budget was uh schematic design. We are in design development. we remain on budget. So, you know, we're still operating under the budget

008as we discussed um and we have it broken out. There is a little bit that I wanted to to note here. So, you know, we're on budget and that's good. Uh there are headwinds in the market in general. I mean, obviously you read the paper, but inflationary pressure from elevated oil prices due to a number of factors. uh inflationary pressure due to tariffs and then there's also some some market pressure that we've seen emerging over the last two years kind of started when so when we do when we bid you have general mechanical electrical plumbing we initially started seeing electrical go higher compared to what we used to and that's continued it is our theory and you know when you spend billions of dollars on data centers it's crowding out some labor so we do

009see inflationary pressure for some of those things So, uh, regardless of those things, we would have done what's called a value engineering step just as part of the construction document process. So, that's where you go through, you look at all the different things within the building, you look and determine if there's any, um, less costly way to do something or you give yourself optionality. So when we looked at the budgeting uh and I looked at this inflationary pressure, although we're we're on budget at kind of a 3% standard inflation, we ran some models at 4% and some models at 5%. If you're in kind of the worst case scenario at 5%, the the project would be over budget. So instead of, you know, instead of hoping for the best, what you do is you plan

010for the worst. So that's what the value engineering step will be. So, we're going to spend a couple months going through and looking to see if there's areas in the building that we could make adult or just uh make less expensive in general if it if it makes sense. >> Phil, just define for everybody adult. >> Um, yes. Sorry. So, uh there are like scope line items. Let's just say your roofing was going to be metal and we said, okay, an an acceptable alternate to that would be builtup or some other roofing material. So on the bid form for the contractors to bid, there would be a place to say it's a million dollars less for this alternate and then it's up to the district. Whether you accept that or not is completely the board's

011choice. So what will happen is you'll see in the bid documents after construction, you know, when the construction documents are ready, there'll be a bid form. There'll be a lot of these alternates that the biders will put together in all the different trades. We will come back. We we'll we'll sort all that information, tell you who's low, and then tell you what happens with these alternates. And then it's up to the board to determine whether they're worth it or not. The process we'll be going through for the next two months is kind of silting through, sifting through these and making sure they make sense. Like anything that affects education probably doesn't make sense, but something that doesn't and you know is reasonable could. And then after our work is done, we'll have a handful of

012these um you know totaling to probably million to$2 million worth of uh optionality for the district to look at. So that's and you know these are just things that we're seeing we want to prepare for. This step would have been here regardless. So just a little bit about the the process. We we've been in this process for a couple weeks already. Uh we're are coming together with workshops and then we're going to go through this development phase where the whole team administration mechanical electrical plumbing all the designers get together and look at different ways to save money and then we go through this process I call it kind of juice worth the squeeze it's like you know is that something that we should look at further we'll distill out the things that make the most

013sense and then we'll bring those forward ultimately bringing all that information back to the board for your September work meeting um we will have our work done in August And I just want to make sure I understood something you said in relation to all of this. >> Okay. Okay. Is um that you said that we're on budget 3%. Assuming 3% inflation assuming assuming we have 4% inflation still on budget. assuming 5% inflation that is when we begin to go over budget and hence looking at all of this in general we should be doing it anyway but looking at this is another good reason too so that way should we get to that 5% inflation planning for the worst there are things that we can make sure we can bring ourselves back to budget is that

014correct >> that's exactly correct I think that's my feedback um yeah and it's it's good practice regardless and yeah we don't want to hope for a good bid day because there's a lot that goes into there's kind contractors. There's there's world events and all that stuff. So prudent thing is to plan for a bad one and you know surprise to the good that's great. I ask this process of choosing alternatives that might be a little less expensive. Is there a role for the administration in you know helping to guide? Yeah. Well, we could actually settle for something here or there. It's not just you guys doing >> it's 100% collaborative. So this when I say the team I mean the team administrative Mr. Nolan >> sorry >> the whole team. So, you know, evaluating educationally,

015maintenance, energy, like all those different things come into this so that we we do only focus on things that make sense. And that's Yeah. So, it it is certainly not us. It's us in collaboration with with the rest of the teams for this. And >> just to be a polyiana, there could be a by the time we build the road, oil prices could have come down by then, etc. Correct. tariffs could go away and oil prices could >> and that's what I would hope, right? I mean, we'd all hope. Um, but we just plan in case they don't, you know, and oil prices are tricky because oil, when you think of what what happens is there's plastic materials, there's a lot of asphalt, there's all those kind of things and it's it it doesn't immediately

016show up. It's a lag. So, you might see six months later it starts to show up in your material cost. It starts to show up. Now, there's shipping. and others. It just has this way that it kind of infiltrates everything and it pushes the in the inflationary forces get pushed up and unfortunately in construction it seems to be magnified like with COVID and things like that. It was magnified in the construction trades for whatever reason. >> It seems like the prices go up immediately when oil prices go up per barrel, but there's a lag in when they come down, which I get. Um but we're not planning on constructing the road for another year. >> No. And that's the thing. So, you know, unfortunately, we have to use our crystal ball a little bit. Um

017you know, and you you use the best information that you have, which is what's available today, but you also use your gut, which is I see these things or we see these things and we know that they do impact. So, >> no, I I agreed that we should be um planning for the worst case, but >> I don't want um everybody to think it is a done deal. The worst case is a done deal. >> Yeah. And and it it won't work like that anyway because let's just say it is the best case, right? None of those things come true and you're a couple million dollars under budget. Some of those um tougher adults that you maybe would prefer not take, you take at that point. So that you know that's kind of like the

018calculus on the way. >> Question. >> Do you also look at the demographics that may change in another year? like if if you know families have to move out of the district or I know the la I don't know the last time you looked at kind of ran the numbers but do you look at that again as we get closer to deadlines to see if any of that is >> some of the demographic numbers >> families we expect to to come into the district and >> yeah so that was part of the whole sizing um of the building, you're always going to be looking at that as you go to see you size it with a little bit of headroom, all these all these kind of things so that you can absorb bubbles and and

019troughs and everything. If there was something substantial, I think we would we would be evaluating that if we didn't need as many classrooms, have a good handle on what we need, but we're always checking against that and that that's ongoing too kind of on an annual basis as well. >> I feel like um we had talked about That's me. >> Sorry. Um, we had talked about electrical panels being something we're going to plan for now but not install. Is that still the plan? >> Yeah. So, what it will be will be solar ready. Um, which means that the Yeah, the electrical panels could accept. So, so that you don't have to go rework a bunch of things. You know, hopefully there are some grants that can come out and solar panels are starting to come

020down and power output is starting to come up at some point. That makes just total economic sense. Um, so yeah, you definitely they'll be planned for. Yes. >> She said the roof is can accept them as well. So that's correct. Yeah. >> Consider the solar solar panel garage parking lots that are cropping up in a lot of places. >> It's up to you. I mean um it although that is a good technology it is quite expensive. Um usually you'll see those go in if you can get a grant for it and to go for the grants you're usually not looking at a grant until you have a building that they say oh that will go there. They usually don't give you a grant when you're designing unfortunately. Um so I think you're being prudent in

021terms of like that's where we want to get to. Um so let's make sure we don't have to rework anything. >> I know that we're like at budget and you don't want to adding things so that we look out of budget. I would still like to know generally what that cost would be as we're making these evaluations along the line just just to keep it in there as a a tag for us so we know. >> Yeah, we can give you some information on that as well. >> All right. That's usually just me when some two of them are on. I don't know. So, I'm just >> You want to trade me? >> Seems right. >> Yeah, I think that one like was super gain something something was happening there. It's got some distortion. Um,

022as we've moved the uh moved the design forward for the realigned road, uh we get a better sense for what the costs and everything else are. So, we're able to actually budget the costs. We know what the off-site improvements are going to be, and we've been able to further that a little longer. We do have the number. It's about $3.7 million. We do also have the grants that we are turn also have the grants that we are looking to help supplement the road. Yeah. You know what? >> So, um, the next grant will be I think she down a little bit. Yeah. The next grant will >> I I can speak loud. Is it okay if Okay. So, the next grant we're we're going to be submitting the next grant in July. Um, and these

023grants are not like exclusive. You can use them both together. And if you get them both, we can use them both. There are some extra stipulations for how you do that, but um it's not mutually exclusive, I guess, is the way to put it. So, >> for this grant, these grants, >> sure. >> Um just a general idea on roughly how much these grants would be worth, >> right? And then also, but also then the likelihood of us getting something like this. >> I know you can't predict. there's no crystal ball but I know in general you can have an idea of oh generally there's a good possibility this is not a possibility this whatever it is you so whatever your professional expertise >> so can I get a a better answer for that I

024I have been told that it's good because you're furthering the public good >> with this but I don't know what that means I don't know if that's like a 75% chance or that means it's 50% more likely so let me see if I can get some more information on that >> and and Susan that's a a guy Martino question from TPD. >> Yeah, TPD is it does a lot more of this. Um, >> this is their field and they're the ones that we are working with in terms of the completion of the grant applications. Um, the anecdotal was that it was positive, gave some examples of other projects along around the Commonwealth, you know, that have benefited from the grants, but we can get a more concrete. We feel positive about it, which is why

025we're pursuing the the time and the effort that goes into it. Um, but he can probably give us a better >> Yeah. >> area. And then the other thing about that is that if we got the full amount of what we're asking for with the two requests, we'd get much more than the project cost. >> Yeah. You can't go over the project. >> That's not going to happen, right? >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You I mean that is the limit is you cannot fund more than what you're doing. >> So it's going to be some sort of some kind of sharing >> some sort of sharing of those two. Okay. >> Yeah. You know, and fingers crossed that we get them both. And personally, I would think the pendot they should give you uh money. You're

026doing the project for them. So, >> and remember when we when we submitted the grant application, we received written support from our um elected state elected state officials um provided letter support um from the our reps and state senator uh and we also received letter support from Delaware County about the value of doing this road project and what that would mean for this area. So, we've got really nice support u from the area in the submission. Um, so yeah, this the second one will go in in July with the revised numbers in it. And again, they're additive. Uh, schedulewise, I mean, we filled in all the schedule pieces. Uh, we're we're targeting the ACT 34 hearing in December. Um, we're essentially through design. Sorry, I should start at the top. Schematic design. We are uh

027finished that. You know, we're already finished with that design development. We are through that. We are getting into construction uh documents. So we have a couple different um dates up here. Obviously the act 34 hearing is going to be in December. CDs will be done CDs as construction documents will be done Marchish timeline with permitting. Permitting is going to overlap uh with bidding a little bit because we will have all the information we need to finalize design. Permits will follow. So we will have provided all the comments and everything else back. Then you have a bid date uh proposing in March ending in April. So that's your actual bid time and then awards in May of 27. Construction from July to August. Um it's not all one project at once. So there is an opportunity

028for us to get the athletic fields done a little earlier. So maybe January of 29. It's super dependent on what they will let us do land development wise and then even from then you'll only be able to access those fields from the high school area because you'll have a constru active construction zone south of that which shouldn't be a problem. I'm just letting you know that you won't have a throughway in a you know construction area. Uh we have movein targeted that's going to be in alignment with your standard movein for teachers and everything else. will have it done prior to that so that the standard process can be used next steps. So, uh we should get township initial comments uh 1 of July. We have opportunity to respond and then we'll be in front

029of Middletown Township Planning Commission July 14th. Uh I believe that's going to be Penn State Brandywine. Yeah. Yeah. The Middletown's planning that at Penn State Brandy Wine. We'll confir confirm the room um as it gets closer. They didn't have a room confirmation yet. >> That's the planning commission which is different from the council. >> Correct. That's the planning commission. It is not Middletown Township Council. >> And are we the one on July one? Is that at the town council meeting? >> That's just them getting comments to us. So the the only >> written response. Yeah. This is just >> there's a council meeting scheduled that day. >> Yeah. That's not for us though. Yeah. Different. That just happens to be the same day. So our when we'll be in front of them will be the

03014th. These other things are just >> the 14th is a different organization. >> Different body. Yeah. >> Part of the same organization. Part of the Middletown Township government, >> but at some point the council will have to consider this. >> They will. Yes. >> Commission recommends to the council. >> Sorry. And this, you know, again, this is a very uh condensed looking schedule. We have a very expanded one that's got all the different steps and detail in it. But yeah, this is this is the organization that work through the land development, then goes to uh to your another body for actual approval. The team has a giant Gant chart that goes through which is just way too much detail for we are. These are the big picture items about what we're going to be doing

031and where we are as opposed to what the work is going on behind the scenes with them. >> The meeting is at the township building at what time? >> It's Penn State Brandy Wine. >> Oh, okay. >> Yeah. >> 7 p.m. >> Yeah, I was I don't know what the time is. >> And Shel, we will advertise. Barbara will be putting stuff out as soon as we have confirmation of the room. We will start to put out that it's going to be July 14th after because I confirmed either yesterday afternoon or this morning um that we are set for there and it's going to be at Brandy Wine. Um but we'll start to advertise that and once we get the room we will adjust what we are pushing out to folks so folks are aware

032because we want people to be aware of it about where it's going to be. >> Yeah. And the district will notify any adjoining property owner >> that this meeting is taking place by certified mail. So that way they are aware. >> Yes. Um we're still moving with the obviously the traffic study. So we we're supposed to get comments back from them on July 2nd. We will always get comments back. It's kind of an iterative process. Um and then from those you start to prepare what's called the highway occupancy permit. So that's the permit that allows you to connect to the road and get all of that work done. Were they on uh 352 and Vanlier yesterday doing more assessments or is that somebody else doing an assessment? >> Yeah, not us. >> Okay. >> Maybe

033maybe it's the church. >> Oh, >> but there was someone out there yesterday. >> Could very well be. >> All of a sudden, this mic works. So whatever you did, um just a couple other key points. Uh value engineering process ongoing through the summer. So we'll be back to you with more information on that. Um and then DCEED grant is this July. Uh this coming July that is the other grant for the realigned road. And as we have information during the summer, right, if we know after the meeting on the 14th if there's a follow-up what that next formal step is going to be, whether it's Middletown Township Council or planning discussion, again, same thing, we will advertise that through our normal channels, uh, as we do within the district, I expect that on the

034at the legislative meeting on the 27th of August, which is that last Thursday in August, that I'll provide an update during my comments. Um, and then the team will be back on Thursday, September the 10th will be our next work session in here and it'll be be comfortable because it's going to be a larger presentation in terms of what goes on just because everything that's happened during the course of the summer to catch up on publicly. >> All right. Are there more questions from the board? Okay, >> thank you. >> Great. Thank you. Mrs. Considian, am I? We're going to move into the next presentation. It It appears from me. Oh, >> I do. because we are sharing the same thing. >> I'm I'm like that does not seem like my uh I don't feel

035like I was doing that. So, um Dr. Napson Williams, our next presentation very excited. Let me get to where the phone is. um purposeful progress toward goal completion. So, we talk a lot about our goals as a school district. Um discussion takes place during the course of the summer and into the fall. U publicly, we do some updates during the course of the year. This is going to be a a broad overview for the board um and publicly just about where we are right now uh the first Thursday in June. So purposeful progress toward goal completion, bringing the pieces together. This is >> that's a flourish. We were in a meeting tonight. It kept flourishing during a discussion. >> I know. Yes. And you know that it's not it loses something when it's not on

036camera, but still uh bringing the pieces together. Uh thank you to to Mrs. Considine and the CNI team set up the format for the presentation. Uh so thanks to the team uh for what they did uh and just members of of cabinet will be going through this this evening. So we broke it down into just separate sections, three separate sections based on the the large areas of our goals and then the highlights uh of what those topics are. So the first is to continue to improve student achievement at all grade levels for all students, the things we looked at instructional model, the instructional coaching model, full day K and the elementary progress report. So Mrs. Considine is going to start us off. >> All right. So, thank you. Um before I start this um slide,

037I do just want to mention >> um the tasks that you're going to see the progress towards these goals. This was a a great undertaking by the department, student services, curriculum and instruction um while I was a principal. So, I do just want to shout out to my team because I feel like we had a lot of night meetings and a lot of conversations that went on on weekends and they really kept the ball rolling. So, I do have to really give them so much credit as I um learned to be a principal and um did lunch and recess duty and all the wonderful things I got to do. So, um here we go. Our instructional model and professional development. Um where we began was obviously expanding our CNI department. Um and we've talked about

038this so often. Um Mr. Dockerty was a party of one for a very long time. Um and then we were two. Um and now we've certainly expanded to a much larger department. Um and then recently um you voted on my title change as director of curriculum and instruction and we've brought technology back into curriculum and instruction. So, we're even a larger department. So, that's kind of the beginning of of moving this work forward. Um, and then as we kind of committed to long-term planning, Bill took the administrative staff through two years really of um, John Hadtie's research on visible learning. And then from that, we were able to really focus on effective instruction, what it looks like in the classroom. We were able to define that as an administrative group, bring in the coaches, talk

039about what we wanted to see in the classroom and from that um work then design our pillarction assessment and classroom culture and climate. Um and we build our flex back in. So this is really an opportunity where our teachers um take take on the responsibility of their own professional growth. What are their interests? They design those um and they present to their colleagues. So, that's been a wonderful opportunity to bring back into the district. It had been missing for for several years. So, that's kind of where we are right now. Where are we going? And you'll recognize this from the strategic plan. Um those of you especially that were on that team, um our goal is to continue this long-term planning anchored in effective instruction. um visible learning and our four pillars. So everything we're

040asking staff to do comes back to that anchor. Um so we've got we've made such improvements this year. Um we've always had great PD. Um but really being able to bring our teachers into the process. Um we have a professional development council that's been around now for several years. Um, so we're kind of following those steps of the strategic plan as we move forward. Our next piece in CNI um I'm not going to spend a lot of time on because our wonderful coaches were here last week, last month um like last week to um present to you. So I'm just going to talk about where we're going. Right. So we're moving into that second year partnership with our current um inductees. This year we had quite a big group. Um we're going to start offering

041um our coaches as part of the differentiated option for our teachers. So when they are in their um cycles of supervision and evaluation, they can select to work on different topics with a coach. Um so that will be new next year. We're going to um continue to offer ongoing support for our coaching team. Um we starting next year will have no outside coaches. We've been working with Teaching Learning Succeeding. It's a company that um has been in our district now for for a few years. So, next year they'll support our coaches, but the coaches now will take on full responsibility for working with our teachers. >> Could I just ask a quick question just because I want to learn? Could you tell me what some of the topics they might the the educators might choose

042from are? >> My gosh, they're >> I know there's probably Yeah, but I'm just curious. Well, for example, we're going to any first grade teacher and in our supervision evaluation, there's whether you're in a observation year, whether you're in a year where you're working collaboratively with a team on a topic or whether you're working independently, it depends. So, next year we're offering all our first grade teachers um the opportunity to work with our coach on the phonics piece of our new CKLA program. Um, so just looking at the data from year one, talking about um kind of our scope and sequence, how that's worked, um, what do we expect to get to in the coming year because now it'll be year two. Um, and just the um, science of reading research behind what we're doing.

043Um, so that's one example. >> Well, we're hoping that it will be in one of those four pillars, right? So, taking a deeper look at their curriculum, um, perfecting their craft with instructional strategies, um, it could be in instructional technology, a variety of different things. >> Yeah, I just I'll jump in real quick. One of the things that they typically like is when there's um sometimes in the past it's been uh cahooted, like an online tool that helps, right? So like those were the ones that were most popular when it was sort of like one tool, one strategy that you know teachers really feel like they want to walk away with something tangible to then apply like the next day. But typically in the past a lot of those little tech tools to enhance their

044instruction or gamify a lesson or increase engagement, those have been the things that they gravitate to at the high school level. There's also been K to2 a lot of work with Katie Corzanowski in particular with differentiation strategies to help with inclusion >> and these would be long term. So these the teachers have a year right to work on these and and and meet. So um any other question? No I think we're good about coaching. Um another task that we took on um was to think about what our school day kindergarten would look like. Um and really from we started just at the imaginary time of the same time our kids come now, right? So 8:40 we imagined it that way. Um we developed a committee and a very diverse committee. It was wonderful to see

045the amount of upper elementary. We even had a middle school teacher interested who came. We had a lot of administrators, special ed teachers, um counselors. I think every um piece of our staff was represented somehow in this committee. So it was a it was not just our curriculum or not just our curriculum supervisors and kindergarten teachers who came out. Um that committee started um and really it was we started with just what are your questions about what this could look like because we have been half day right forever. Um then we had some site visits that were um organized and our committee kind of voted on which ones they were going to participate in. Um we allowed our committee to come back um talk about what that schedule would look like, give us feedback. Um

046and we do have and Dr. Malashsh and uh Mr. Dne would be talking about that whether that's in July or in September. We do have a proposed schedule that came out of all that work. So they were able to take that process to its completion. Dr. Mberry ran that process. Um and as in year two, we're really going to start to look at what are those resources now that we need. So if we're moving math instruction from a a two and a half hour day, right now that what we're looking we have a full 60 minutes or more. Um what what resources would we need? What training would we need? We have a full block now for ELA. What will that look like? Um, so we're going to start talking about those resources. What will

047Encore teachers need? Because they've never except for our librarians had the kindergarten students in front of them. So that's a great opportunity for professional development and links into what uh Mr. Arison said about how are we working with our encore teachers um with inclusion. So this was a great opportunity to kind of take that whole process to completion. Um our progress report the same way. So Tina Loveland Smith ran this um elementary progress report revision as you know um we were in need of this right and um so we started really with surveying our families what they liked about our current progress report what information they felt they they got from it and what were they still missing after looking at our progress report. So that kind of started the conversation with the committee. And

048again, we had a very diverse group of um teachers and administrators that came quite a few times during the year to participate in this conversation um research. We looked at lots of different standardbased progress reports um from various school districts, various states even. Um we even looked at Dr. Malash's old school district. Um so we really we started with a purpose statement and we grounded this in this is a document for families. um not for um because sometimes teachers get wrapped up in oh what if what if a school another school or another this person needs to see it or it was for families and it was about communicating growth strengths and continued areas to improve according to grade level standards. So that was really important to set that purpose statement and that statement will

049be on every progress report. Um we we talked about parent language. Um we had several drafts that went in front of our coordinators. Then the coordinators took them to their grade levels. Um we brought them back to the committee and so forth. So on May 19th was our kind of the final meeting of the minds with the elementary group. Um and then we've already been collaborating with John Reid who takes it through our um kind of power school system to see if hey when we once we can we create what we what our vision is. Um so that whole process came to a very successful completion we have our document and again whether that's in July or September. Um the next piece is really professional development for our teachers. How do our assessments, how do

050how we measure, how is that going to then be reflected in the new progress report, um what is the communication to the families because that's going to be very important. and student services um has been working closely with us to make sure whether that's um the progress report they receive and other progress reports whether it's on their IEP or GIP or reading specialist all of those additional pieces of communication how they all fit together. Um so we're excited. It's going to be a year-long process for communication with families and our teachers. Um, but we're excited to get that rolling in September of 2026. CNI will be um, and maybe student services. I haven't talked to Dan about that, but we will be at all back to school nights doing little mini presentations for parents before

051they head into their classrooms just to get a jump on this is what your progress report is going to look like this year and walk them through this throughout the the first several months of school. >> Um, the you mentioned the and like the progress reports that parents get every marking period. Are you saying it's going to be incorporated into the same document or there still be separate? >> It'll be a separate document. >> Um, and then as far as like the grading, the EES, the memes, the gone, they're gone. >> They're gone. >> Okay. >> We'll explain all of that when you get the document. Yep. >> Very good. Thank you. >> Um, real quick question. Um, do you have have you had the opportunity to share test the draft with parents? I know

052you said it's it's geared for parents. Have you had the opportunity to share the draft with parents to get their feedback before on a wide basis? >> Okay, good. Because I just saw drafts shared with teachers for feedback, but I didn't it didn't say drafts shared with parents for feedback. Okay, thanks. >> Um, can you talk about the the time commitment? I know you mentioned a lot of committees and a lot of >> diverse people being on these committees. I think it's important just to acknowledge the time commitment that it has taken and will take. >> Absolutely. Um we had, you know, it's after school, right? We are not pulling teachers from their instruction. So, it's teachers who, you know, have given up time with their families and rearranged childcare pickup and all sorts of

053things to be able to participate. and maybe they attended once or maybe they stayed with us for the entire process whether that was the progress report or the kindergarten center or our professional development committee that's another opportunity where we're asking folks to come out and participate um and I know a lot of teachers um it's a frustration right I even myself as a younger person with kids it's a frustration you want to participate in these opportunities but you might not be able to so that's why we try to bring this back at all times times to our coordinators, to the principles, so that everyone has the opportunity to participate in some way and have their voice heard. But you're right, it is it's a commitment after work. >> And and Teresa, and you're talking about

054dozens and dozens and dozens of people. This is not just there's six people that got together to go through. It's you know, the the goal is for it to be comprehensive. Um and especially when you're talking to educators about something that they are passionate about, that passion comes out intensely. There are some very strong thoughts and ideas and it's such a great discussion. You know, we saw and you heard about a little bit of it even with the strategic planning committee and and you know, Jackie sat on that representing the board, but just the folks that were involved in that, the passion and what what do words mean and where does it go? But yes, u incredible involvement because it's meaningful to them because it impacts their day-to-day and ultimately impacts the children. You know,

055the greatest resource that we have is going to be the human resource, the staff that we have in the district. There's no question about that. We could not be where we are in terms of the revision and the development of any of this without the support and participation of our of our staff. All right. So, thank you, Mrs. Considity. You have one more. I know in in this one, we're just going to transition to the second goal area, though. And you can catch your breath, right? Take a breath. Uh second piece is provide supportive and inclusive spaces for students and staff that are responsive to individual needs. Uh the C curriculum, the student services audit survey, uh crisis response teams, and Mrs. Considine, I believe you have the first slide in this one for the

056social emotional. >> Yes. Um so I'll kind of start where we are. I think we are aware of of where we started with our Emery curriculum. um staff taking that on at the building level to modify. Um we did have teacher training back in 2021. So where we are right now, we needed a vertical alignment because we didn't we had the same lessons reoccurring for multiple grade levels at the elementary. So that was our first stop. Um Dr. Mberry worked um very closely with Dr. Kunrot to have our UBD documents updated um so that we had some alignment what they were learning with each grade level. We also identified times that were the same in every building K5 um in all our four buildings where we stopped and focused on this instruction. um our C

057encore teachers in our two buildings were then able to extend on those core lessons that every child got with some different opportunities. Um at the middle school we moved away from the advisory lessons that weren't really having the impact that we had hoped um to the one book one school. So we worked with their administration um actually Dr. Leighton and Dr. Mberry work very closely together. They're identifying that book with the staff. Um and then it's a it's a whole school experience. Um where are we moving? We need to continue um that consistency through now to the high school level. Um we have built that at the um elementary. Um and then we'd like to see a a project built where our students can really apply what they've learned and that would be the measure

058to see how they've how they've grown in their learning through the year. So that's our next steps. I um my older son graduated from a school where they did a capstone project. It was amazing. It was it was really great. I would um the community members would go and listen to the Did you have this also? Uh we would they would have I mean hundreds of community members would go and listen to these capstone projects and it was great. It was a really wonderful moment for the kids. I'm excited to see what happens with that. I will say Hillary, we do that at the school where I teach. Um, and >> don't say that. >> No, no, it is I mean we don't have hundreds and I think our children are grateful because that is

059can be fraught but it is a really positive experience. I just wanted to make sure for the culminating capstone projects you're thinking high school culmination or mini projects or not sure. >> We're not sure right what they will look like. That's kind of our next step and we're going to involve teachers in that conversation because they're de delivering the instruction. So >> is there a time a time a general time frame for kind of that next step? There is not >> but I will be talking with my >> that's part of our that's part of our summer discussion right >> when and the the one book this summer for the middle school is new kid by Jerry Craft which if you have not read phenomenal piece let me know I have a at least one

060copy in my office I'm happy to share I do think Christa did a great job with the first few slides she wants to take this one. We can let her continue on. But um we we spent a good amount of time introduce yourself. Uh for those that are listening online, uh this is Dana Arison, uh director of student services. Um for for we spent a good bit of time in April talking about where we began and where we are in terms of the audit and review of all of our programs. So tonight I really want to focus the the time that we have talking on this slide of of where where we are hoping to go. When we talk about expanding our internal programming if I break that down at from a K to2 level

061at the elementary level we have worked really hard all three supervisors in collaboration with our special education teachers to look at students who need direct instruction in areas of need so that we can close those gap areas. So, we want to look at very intense interventions that are going to be uh ambitious and meaningful in in the goal and hoping that we're able to close the gap. And an example of that would have been a few months ago, the board had approved a contract for a Wilson certified teacher. So, it's providing that direct instruction at a very intense level with the the idea of trying to close the gap to remediate and and be able to move forward. Another area that we are expanding next year and I'm really excited to talk about this and

062want to publicly thank the work of all of our psychologists but particularly Dr. Jackie Levy who is uh the psychologist that the board approved in October along with Dr. Orin. Um our transition to early intervention has from early intervention to school age services has oftentimes gone almost up until the week before school starts. Uh we're finishing the meetings with all of our families over the next week or so. So families will have an idea of what we are proposing before the summer starts. Um our teachers have an idea of what next year could look like. And one of the things that we are expanding, we also were able to learn more about the the children who are going to be with us. Um we're going to have an extended day experience for some of our

063our most complex learners um in in the fall, which is really exciting to do. the children who are qualifying for that all qualify for that through an evaluation. So it is that based on a demonstrated need. It's coming through the early intervention process and then the evaluation that Dr. Levy did. Um and then we'll be able to expand their uh related services into the part of the day that is not regular education. So right now our students are there for that two and a half hour day. they're missing a good bit of that regular education time because they're being pulled out for say speech or for occupational therapy. Knowing that we were a knowing the students and knowing them early on, we were then able to collaborate with transportation, collaborate with our related service folks.

064We have a meeting next week at India Lane to talk more about it. But I'm really excited about that that extended day experience for for our students who need it the most. Um, at the middle school, Jen Marvel has done a tremendous amount of work in getting us ready for our emotional support uh, continuum to to really jump into full gear now that we'll have that teacher in place and she'll continue that work into the high school as well. Um, we also have a new teacher coming in to the life skills program, right? So, Dr. Dr. Orin's going to work with that new teacher and anytime we bring a new staff member in that gives us the opportunity for reflection on how we can refine some of the practices that that we are doing in

065each of our programs. So I'm excited about that. And then at the high school expan what the expansion certainly looking at year two of the block and what at the achievement center looks like. We're going to study that emotional support like we did this year at the ele at the middle school level so that we're ready to then roll that forward into the high school next year. And then we're also opening up adapted science and social studies courses for our students who maybe don't need the complexity or the high level of service at at a life skills classroom but aren't necessarily ready to go on to a four-year college yet. So there's that that group of students in the middle who maybe are still needing a little bit more support but want access to the

066regular curriculum will be able to do it not in a modified way but in just an adapted way. It's a class that will be taught by a special education teacher. will be able to look at the reading needs and the math needs of the students. So, all of their core instruction is happening with the general education curriculum. They'll still be taking the Keystones and they'll be on a pathway to to go to college or community college if they want to do that. It's just going to look a little bit different. So, we're excited about that. Um, in terms of the tiered supports, we talked about the work that Lauren Dailyy Clark has been doing in collaboration with CNI um for uh Amplify CKLA and you know students who need a little bit more at a

067tier one level, maybe even a little bit more than that at a tier 2 level and then maybe at that tier three level that type of Wilson instruction that we just talked about. But we really wanted to make sure that that ma matched and was consistent across all four of our buildings. So, that was something that was really, really important to us and we'll be able to roll that out with full fidelity in the fall. I'm really excited about the virtual offering. Since I talked to the board in April, we already have two families that have committed to come back to RTMSD programming for next year. That amounts to about $90,000 in revenue that not revenue, sorry, Dr. Scott, wrong word, in funding that we can reallocate to programs. Right? So, when we're talking about

068two students, that was $90,000 that now comes back to programs that we're able to use to help more than two students with within our program. And we do have some meetings set up with other families to be able to talk about some opportunities as well. So, I'm really excited about that. And then that last bullet of of considering >> So, sorry, can you pause for one? >> Absolutely. >> I was trying to find a good break in >> I I get on a roll and so >> that was great. Um, and I just want to make sure for anyone listening and for me as well that we're clear when you say 95,000, how did you come to that figure? >> It's a great Yeah, great great question. So, um, the charter the cyber charter cost

069that we pay is approximately $45,000 per student if the child has an IEP. It's about $15,000 if the student does not have an IEP. In this case, it was two students with an IEP. and and we have to pay that. We are obligated to pay it, right? Because if a family chooses to partake in cyber charter, assuming they don't have an IEP, we have to pay that $15,000 per child. And if they do, you said it was, excuse me, my my numbers were wrong. What was it again, the numbers? >> It's just under 15,000 for a child without an IEP and just under 45,000 for a child with an IEP. >> Okay. And those are the numbers we are obligated to pay if they choose. So because we had two children with IEPs who chose

070to remain with us rather than going to a PA um cyber charter school, we saved the district $90,000. >> Correct. Correct. So we get a monthly bill from the cyber charters based on enrollment and instead of paying the cyber charters, we'll be able to keep keep that money within our programs in the district. Yes. >> Also have a quality and meaningful education which is even more exciting. >> Absolutely. Yes. Absolutely. Um that last bullet in terms of professional development, we have an incredible staff in in in our district and what we want to do is continue to give the staff the resources so that we can continue to help them be impactful with their instruction. So we want to empower our staff so that the instruction continues to be impactful and the way we do

071that is with that continuous professional development that Christa has been talking about as well. And with that, I'm gonna pass it to Bill unless there are other questions related the special education >> talk you have the bullet about um reduced litigation expenses you have that quantified that's happened already it >> it has so when I compare what we have spent last year to this year uh absolutely cons I can say with you know conservatively 60% that we have reduced those litigation costs I I would say by July I'll be able to give you an even better number um but again we're able to reallocate that money to put it into the program programs because our programs they they do cost money to have successful meaningful programs. Um but to not be spending it in those

072variable litigation pieces is something that we're going to continue to strive to do. >> Yep. >> I have a question. Um Miss Constine said that about the tours of the K1 centers and the new building. Has there been any discussion um with the new building and the linking learning to life wing? I'll call it um what the program may look like. Are there any discussions about any changes that might happen with the availability of that new space and what that might look like? >> We at the beginning stages of looking at what that program can look like. You know, we have approximately 15 students who participate in that program. It's changing that home base of where the students will be. The students will still be out in the community. They will still spend time in

073our other four elementary schools doing the coffee carts or some of the other uh projects that they're doing within the four schools. This will just be a new home base that is currently at Penrest High School. And yes, we will 100% be looking at how we can then continue to enhance that program as well. Are there other schools that have a similar setup where they have this new and improved um home base and that you can look at for guidance on how to use the space effectively? >> Absolutely. Yes. Uh one of the things we did this year with our with our elementary team is we we went and we looked at different programs of low incidence classrooms to try to get some ideas. We're intending to do that next year as well at the

074high school and then we'll continue to fold that. It's been a really good collaboration with districts in the county where we're all able to just kind of learn from each other and learn things that have worked well and and areas that didn't, you know, thought it was a great idea but in in reality it didn't work. But yes, that is part of our plan. Carlen, absolutely. Carlen, just to add on to what Dan was saying, you know, the the opportunity to design something specifically for the population of children that are going to experience is huge as opposed to the forced conversion of an antiquated classroom at a high school that's tucked in behind something else that used to be an observation room or a sewing room. You know what I mean? Um, the other piece

075with with the design of what it will be is the adaptability of the spaces, right? Because as we look at it, right, when we welcome the children, so think about this. When we welcome that first kindergarten class, as they walk through the door on the first day of school in late summer, because fall doesn't start till the middle of September, so it's going to be late summer, right? So what whenever the first I don't know, we haven't we have to talk about that. Whenever the first day of school is >> when we when we welcome those children, right, the kindergarteners who will be there, they're going to be the Penrest High School class of 2042. All right, the Penrest High School class of 2042. And and we're expecting the functionality of that building for kindergarten,

076first grade, and linking learning to life is going to extend well beyond 2042. the needs in a program whether it's full day K or first grade or in the linking learning to life which I would put up against any other specialized program not just in our county but in this area for what we are able to offer to have it to be able to adapt and to meet the needs of the children who are here and not just their needs while they're here but the world that they are going to enter remember our responsibility as a school district is to prepare children for the world they are walking into the world that I walked into in the8s looked dramatic radically different was much brighter, I think, at the time. The music was definitely better, right?

077Um, but it was a different, you know, it was a different world. So, that's one of the things that that this offers in terms of what goes through, you know, Dan's ability and and the team, you know, Christa talked about it in curriculum. built, you know, I'm sure at some point we'll talk about it with his peers, Bob Salino and HR, you know, Barbara, you know, in communications as they meet with their job like peers from not just our county, but Chester County, Montgomery County, uh, it expands the knowledge and the opportunity, right? We always ask that same question. What knowledge is of most worth, right? We keep pushing that question to meet the needs of the kids that are here. All right, Bill Dockerty, sorry. >> Okay. Hi everyone. I'm Bill Dockerty, assistant superintendent

078and um so I'm here to just present briefly overview again of achievement wellness and connections. So part of what we did this year obviously with achievement we always look at our student achievement data annually which you will see in the fall. Um and again as always this year we sent out surveys uh by annually for the for this year and we did a fall and a spring survey. We sent three surveys out. Um a belonging survey, academic challenge and school culture and also a family engagement survey. So across the board, just as we've seen in the p past, we had very um positive results. And the results from fall to spring were very similar. Um on the belonging survey, it was very strong connections. students reported very strong connections with adults, right? They feel like

079teachers notice when they're good at something. They also commented that um they feel as though there's at least one adult that they can go to. Those were the strongest responses. The lower responses, which were still in the positive range, were really um peer connections. And we saw that last time as well where, you know, high school kids, middle school kids say that, you know, we're not sure if our peers really notice when we're good at something, right? Or we don't really get feedback from our peers that is positive all the time. Those things. But again, the good thing is, right? Surprise, surprise, right? But >> shocked you get any positive feedback from >> But the good thing is is, you know, on a fivepoint scale, those results were threes and fours. We just didn't get

080fives there. So it's really the relative um growth in that in that particular area. Um family engagement survey again it was very positive um in terms of engagement the um actually they which I was very pleased to see there was um positive results when asked about cultural diversity. I think that parents are noticing the efforts that are being made and um when Dr. Malash talks about um at some point shares with you some of the activities that have happened in the schools this year. Many of them have been um focused on um the cultural diversity in our schools. So um I was very pleased to see that and again like the relative area of growth for the family surveys was really around again what we talk about is just having more participation, right? um getting

081those families in that maybe traditionally haven't been. Um we have high levels of engagement for a particular, you know, we know who they are, right? The parents that show up for everything and it's just always it's what we know already is just again expanding that circle of of engagement. So I will meet with the principles who have we will be meeting and breaking down this data specifically and then creating action plans for the upcoming school year as well. So, I'm excited to do that work with those principles over the summer. Um, we also, um, where we are, we are also, >> what was the, uh, response? What was the response like the percentage of families that responded to, >> um, percentage of families? We had, I have to check again, I believe it was about

082250 responses for family engagement. That's one of the pieces that we need to talk about as a group um with the principles is how to increase the response rates. All right. And some of that is the timing of it, right? Some I feel like some schools will send out in particular I'm just going to keep going as if there as if everyone's paying attention. >> It's fine. The issue the issues in the room. It's the it's the proje >> projecting issues. So, um, but that's definitely part of the focus of the conversation next year is how to increase the response rates. Um, especially at the high school, especially in the springtime. Um, this year, the high school did send out a lot of, uh, Mr. Roth really surveys his staff, students, and parents quite often.

083This year, more than usual because of block scheduling. He was really getting feedback throughout the year. So, I suspect that that may have had an impact. Maybe there was a little survey fatigue in the spring. I'm not sure, but um but that's certainly something that we want to look at. And also, we especially with the families, we want to make sure that um you know, we're getting their responses. So, we have to figure out a way to make sure that um they're getting the communication, they understand that we're using the information, that we care about it. Um, so that's, you know, that's one of, uh, the primary, um, discussion points for the summer. Um, also, um, we are, as we review all of our programs, we will be, um, we're continuing to examine our crisis

084response teams, um, within our schools. Um, and that again is work that is ongoing. And yeah, and you know, I have to say over the past two years, the work that we've done collectively as a group, as uh Christa said just a few minutes ago, you know, we've done work over the last two summers of this big picture work, whether it be comprehensive planning and strategic planning, but really defining what achievement means to us, um our mission and vision statement, our new strategic plan. So everything is really um coming into alignment. So what I really appreciate about the work is the focus that we've been able to provide and continue to provide in our work. It's really easy to layer on something new every year, right? There's always something new that comes out. I don't

085we don't really prescribe to that. We know what good teaching and learning is. We just have to focus on it, articulate it really well, identify it, replicate it, those good things. So, um, again, we really have, uh, I think a good very, um, good focus in this district right now, especially with the adoption of our, um, strategic plan. So, we look forward to moving forward. >> All right. Thank you, Bill. The third area, provide physical spaces, material resources, and appropriate staffing. Um, and this is again, we have spent a lot of time talking about much of this stuff uh, in this area. um the K1 center design, the athletic fields, community forums, and family engagement. So, development and design in the K1 center. This is up because this is one of our areas of focus

086during the year. Really, I'm not going to go through this because this has been presented more to the board during this year than probably any other single topic, right? But it does address where we are goal-wise. U some of the highlights that the team hit on earlier, the athletic field redevelopment. Um again this has been ongoing discussion within the district and within the the community. We spent time in 2425 doing comprehensive audit. Uh we bought brought in Hugh from ELA sport came in. We had a big community forum had discussion got a lot of input um discussions with the board you know made some determinations about where we were going to move forward projects that are underway right now. Uh when you all pulled up out front, you saw lots of dirt and earth has

087been moved right across from the parking lot on the field here at Springton Lake. Um they are well underway for the installation um of the new synthetic field and the and the syn synthetic track, the all weather track that will be here. Um which great discussion, great work. We're very excited about it. Uh over at the high school, the field, which is a little bit of a different job, the replacement of the synthetic turf field uh in the Lewis Scott Stadium also is on schedule. They did great work getting that started and that is progressing. Uh one of the things we really have not spent as much time talking about again and then you heard Phil talk about the the new synthetic complex at the high school um is we still have a lot of

088green grass, right? Natural turf that is there. Um, one of the things that Mike Nolan and his team uh the guys that work on the the the grounds uh and with our facilities uh we have a great new foreman and Ronnie Shortall uh this year who took over and we have not probably we probably at some point should do a little focus with the board just about what the team does and who they are and what the leadership is. Um but uh guys who are so incredibly dedicated and committed to here, who are from here and around here and and you know that they breathe what goes on in Rose Media, but about how they can enhance um the playing fields, the natural surface playing fields. What does that mean? Because again, that's an ongoing

089process. As Hugh told us a year ago and and we will probably forever talk about um the biggest challenge with with natural grass fields is overuse, right? all of our fields are overused because all of our fields are used throughout the year. They're all used six to seven days a week between schools and the the community use. Um so to talk about what does that mean? So when they are overused then what can we do to maintain and to enhance right natural grass fields come along with challenges. Uh and it doesn't matter whether it's rotary media, you know, if you if you watch on uh television, college level, pro level, you have natural grass, you know, unless you are rolling and even when you are rolling entire football fields out of a stadium and back

090in, wear and tear happens, right? It just is is the reality of it. So um so some some great progress and again um I said we at some point we'll bring Mike and the leadership of of the team in um just so you can hear about some of the specifics of what they were are doing. You know maybe it's something Barbara that we can collect with Mike during the summer just some of what that looks like. You know I know they we do updates in the end of the summer about the work that the guys did but maybe a little focus on um fields. So we're continuing to go through that process. Uh the next piece, community forums and family engagement. Um this is certainly an area of focus uh within the district, especially at

091each of the six schools. Um the big community forum or community piece we did this year uh was with the access and opportunity committee when we did the special meeting in in April. Um you know, which uh we had discussion in in here in the library. uh and that ongoing discussion which will continue to develop uh into the fall. Uh we've seen an increase in the number of engagement opportunities at each of the schools. One of the big community ones took place u was about online safety online safety mob here at the middle school >> right that they did the pre-air bill right uh Eric Puchcci right set with one of his parents which was attended in person and online we had a great response uh of people being involved uh again hearing from the

092needs of the community meeting the needs uh and being able to provide that um but but great work we'll have again additional discussion during the course of this summer what additional steps right engagement how we get people engaged is it's the the age old question that's not a new one in education. How do we have parents and and kids to come out and to be involved? Uh but we continue to have the discussion. How do we get into the right space? Have information that's accessible and available. How much do we put online? How long is it that we put online that Barbara will tell you about? What are people watching? Uh and what does that look like? Uh and how do we continue to get the feedback from folks? Um so ongoing discussions to move

093forward and then just finally area right next steps. So what does that mean for us as a group for the board as a body? Um we will send out you know so each of these areas each of the different specific goal areas that fits underneath right the district goals you will receive uh as a board the backup information. Ultimately, we will publish that, you know, in the community after it's been um seen by the board and the board has gone through and asked the questions and we look at the next goal development. We will post that information online um as we adopt the new goals. So, that occurred during the month of July. Uh we will we have not set yet we will look to to set a board retreat uh for discussion on goal

094development. Um and then if we all works out, we would look for adoption of of 26 27 goals um you know at the August 27th board meeting and if not then we look for the board to adopt them in September on the 24th of September. So little bit of a different process and what they will look like. Again remember we've been working towards this over the last couple of years. the work that Andy and Bill did with the strategic plan informed where we are and what's going to guide us over the over those five years that will then feed into what the goals are. Moving away from short-ended and short term what's it look like for 10 months, but those ongoing how do we measure the status and how do we talk about what the

095success is and what still needs to be done, right? Because checking just checking goals off to say we checked a box and that and that's done does not do us any good. So, I'm excited about it. Uh, and I appreciate the the board's indulgence of us going through and having the discussion tonight. This is Constantine. I'm going to come off of share. Next up, we have finance and operation. Was there any other questions? Oh, we're good. Okay. And we have uh I think we'll start with capital projects. We have Dennis Seini and Mike Nolan here. >> The dynamic duo is making their way to the table. Mr. Cini and Mr. Nolan are here with us both this evening. >> Good evening everyone. >> Okay, capital projects. So, we're about uh 12 days away from our

096two and a half month marathon to finish these capital projects for the summer, which is typical. Um we do have a lot of them. Um let me go through quickly the skylight, the media, everything is in all the materials there. So, that'll be starting on the 16th. Um, also too part of that, and I'll talk about that later, the front canopy roofing is going to be replaced, but I'll discuss that in a minute. Um, Springton, as you outside Springton Lake is going on. All right, that's due by the 25th. That'll be a tight project, but we we can get that done. Penrest is also in progress. That's a little easier since we're only replacing turf and resurfacing the track. That's scheduled for August 7th. Springton Lake cafeteria is complete. The outside work is done. The

097the HBAC upgrades at media in Indian Lane. We've been doing night work up until now. And starting on the 16th again, we'll be doing full-time day work. That'll be the big course really. That was very close last summer, but I think we got a jump on it by being able to do night work for the last month or so. capital projects. Again, they'll start on June 16th. >> I'm sorry. >> Yes. The 2026, the uh the Tankress Dwing toilet room. Uh, we got four science rooms for this summer. I think there's four left after that. The fire alarm system. We are working at night here on the fire alarm now. And then there's a couple. >> Yeah, that is a noise you guys heard. >> That I think that's what it was. >> And we

098got >> They said they were going to take a break. I said, "No, go to another part of the building. >> Keep moving. >> Just somewhere else." And we got four units um at Glenwood to replace that again all all this summer. Next any questions on our capital project? >> I just want to make sure my memory is clear and thank you always for walking us through this. Um it's almost amazed about the amount of work that goes on and night work too. I applaud. But um uh the Glenwood HVAC that wraps up all of our HVAC work, right? >> Glenwood and Rose Tree. >> Okay, that's what I want to make sure. Glenwood and Rose Tree. Then they will >> Rose Tree Elementary. >> Elementary. Correct. >> The the the HVC HVAC units at

099Glenwood are separate from the project that was done last summer. >> Correct. >> These are these are different. These are the are rooftop >> units. Four units that >> Yes. a large group room and also the cafeteria. Um, yeah, they, uh, they were operating good, you know, two years ago. Um, but they use the old refrigerant. So, um, they came out with a new refrigerant where it's either you can't get it or it's very expensive to get. So, if those units start acting up, they'd be really hard to to repair. So >> yeah, those were old units for certain sections of Glenwood that were air conditioning, the basement level and the large group room. >> Okay, question. >> Anything else? Next, we have a bid award for uh the new kitchen serving line at Rose

100Tree Elementary. We had four bids submitted. They were all very close. The budget was $100,000. Low bidder was Culinary Depot at $78,000. And we've worked with them before, so they're a good contractor. Here you can see the bid tab how close the numbers were. >> And now it'll be two and now it'll be two serving lines. So currently it's one serving line. So now they're, you know, it's it's going to work a lot better. They're going to cut come in one door on two lines and then exit out and pay as they come out. So they're going to more time >> and more opportunity for breakfast because they have the traditional serving line there for breakfast. Excellent. Thank you. >> Special thanks to Jenny Lee, right? He's got her Jenny Lee and Heather Hogan >>

101who combine on the request and the plan and all that kind of thing. there. You know, you've seen the two of them as they prevented presented on it. >> That's me. Uh we just have a couple uh couple more annual contracts to go over. Um that just came through last week. So, we have environmental controls. Um that's that's one that we uh renew it each year. um CM3. Um that was just to go back what Hillary brought up last meeting that that was just a 4% increase. And then uh the next one is Proasis. They do our water treatment for our um heating and cooling systems. That was a five uh 5% increase. Um and then we have one more. That's Martin Dley Industrial Power. They service our generators. um costs uh stay the same

102as last year. >> Thank you for sharing. >> No problem. >> My question about that maintenance, maybe I missed it last time, was this is just for the uh Springton HVAC equipment. Is there some other >> Oh, so CM3 does Spring because it's a proprietary system. So they're very familiar with that system and that's why they do that system. We use Johnson Controls for um most other buildings. >> Gotcha. >> Um So when that system was installed, uh you know, I wasn't here when it was installed, but it's it's they uh that's that's who works best on that system. >> Gotcha. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> All the schools were different, right, until the elementary school project for the HVAC harmonized everything because all six different schools had different control. >> They had different

103control systems. Correct. um CM3 they don't so Lake here is now Johnson Controls on the control side of things on the computer side but the chiller itself that's what's maintenance by CM3 the actual physical equipment so if we have air conditioning go down or something like that or it needs a recharge of refrigerant we would call CM3 for the school I one change order for you. It's a change order for the canopy replacement, the canopy roof structure placement at um media. LJ Paleoa is the contractor for the skylight because the skylight structure and the canopy were done at the same time. They're the same structure. So the roof of the canopy which was done when the skylight was done in 19 91 I believe. Yes. 9192. So, those panels are actually translucent panels, but over

104the years they've yellowed, they've cracked. We can't even clean them because once you climb up there, they're so brittle. So, we're replacing it. No more translucent panels. It'll be a solid roof, metal roof, and it'll have a linear sopet ceiling similar to Rose Tree Elementary's entrance canopy. It'll be very similar to that. And for the board, if you remember last year during one of those terrible storms with the winds, we took significant damage uh to the panels. So the discussions that took place were well, we could just fix that part and it would look >> right like it was fixed or do it the right way. Again, >> we're going to be continuing to use media elementary school for many, many years. that building is going to outlast all of us the way that it's

105constructed. So, doing it the appropriate way, doing it correctly. The fact that we have a contractor who is doing the other part of the project to do the the skylight, uh, again, which we've talked about for three years. I'm sure you've talked about it longer. Um, does make it much cleaner. And then the overall piece, it'll all be done and done at the same time. >> So, it won't be the arc anymore. >> It It's an arc. >> Oh, it's an arc. It's just that they won't be see-through translucent panels. >> Underneath would be flat. >> Under underneath will be flat, >> not the top, >> but the roof will be still arked as it is now. >> In fact, we we actually went back to the manufacturer who made that skylight and his price

106to replace just those panels was over a quarter of a million dollars. >> So, it was more expensive. >> Yes. >> Correct. Right. So, we found a different alternative that would be much nicer and And more aesthetically pleasing cover any of this at all from the tree falling on it. >> No. So at the time that it happened, we were looking at the panel replacing the panel. So we didn't run this through insurance because it was last year. >> Yeah. Last year >> with the >> Yeah. >> all the other things that happened last year with insurance >> and we thought we were just going to do the panel. Yes. I just got to say that question >> on behalf of my wife who comments on that canopy every time she pulls up to meet

107elementary. Thank you. She's now going to need to find something else to tell me about. >> Appreciate that. >> I'm excited. Maybe I'll hear about something inside the school. >> All right. Thank you. Thank you. >> We have a few more items under finance and operation. >> Uh yes. So we have the approvals. um just the end of the year the normal the budgetary transfers accounting close authorization to pay the bill list since we don't have another meeting until August and approvals of our banking depositories which are the same banks that we normally approve. The next is a little I know we have this conversation all the time but we have to designate a newspaper. Delaware County Times is the required general circulation newspaper for um our public notifications. >> They are looking at maybe

108getting rid of that. >> Do you know that? No. >> Yeah, that's in the in the talks. So, cross your fingers. Right. >> Right. It might be easier next year. >> You did you did mention that. >> Yes, >> you did. Trying to get that because there's a lot of schools in central Pennsylvania their only newspaper is weekly newspaper. So anytime they need to announce anything, it gets really delayed for them. Okay. Um next we have the tuition rates which the um PTE the office of controller they calculate and certify the rates around May of each year. we approve those rates which normally apply to like the Elwin when we build the districts for LWIN um because Elwin is we're a host district for Elwin. So those are the rates that we use for that.

109So we approve those at each at June each year. >> Is is that calculated specifically for Rose Media School District? >> They yes they calculate them for every school district >> separately. So we have a different rate than other. It's not a statewide thing. >> Correct. >> Right. Okay. >> And what are there any types of costs that we have that are excluded from that calculation >> or do you know I mean I'm just >> I'm not really sure how they we can look it up. I can look up what they what is all included in their formula, but I don't know the top of my >> Yeah. So, if a student went K through 10 here and then their family moved out of district and they wanted their kid to stay here 11 and

11012, would they would they be able to pay that tuition and let their kid finish here or is that tuition only for placement? >> I would have to look look at the policy again. I don't believe that in our current policy that we just as a broad brush take on tuition students. Um I believe the policy right now reflects that have to live within the Rose Street Media School District. There are caveats for children who start senior year and may move. Um you know that there's a courtesy to allow that but I don't believe Bill do you I don't believe there's anything in the policy to allow us to take that on if we have somebody where where it would come up more often. Chel is if we find that there is somebody that has

111been sending their child to school here. we don't live and they don't live here and we pursue that piece, then that rate would be used in terms of um compensating the district for the education that was provided. He He's never built the total number of hours that he could have. I mean, this year might be close because we had so many projects last summer and we'll have so many this summer as well. um Atlas, that's a transportation contract. We are in the process of sending it to um Kyle's office for them to review. We will probably have another transportation contract on before next week. We didn't receive the um copy of the paperwork. power school, a digital cont, excuse me, digital signature contract, uh, which would be for IEPs and 504s. Change orders. Again, this

112is procedural. So, since we don't meet, this gives me approval to um approve any change orders up to $50,000. any above that at first I would reach out to the chair of finance and operations Jackie and then go out to the full board for any change orders above that amount fixed assets as we go again through the process just approving the sale and removal of any age fixed assets use of facilities on Sundays I continually have researched this one and I'm not I'm not positive we ever approved anything on a Sunday for use of facilities for Sunday because the >> the one that we always think about is actually in the buildings on Saturday, but we approve it every year just in case. Um, >> we did it >> was a very long time ago.

113We used to have media elementary open on Sundays for a church. >> Okay. So, this gets approved. Um, >> so can I interrupt you for that? >> Sure. >> So, do we just first read We just discussed first time. >> Gotcha. >> Yeah. Hopefully we won't ever have to talk about that again. >> Okay. >> Budgetary. Budgetary transfers. We have two. We have one for technology which is needed for the payment to IU13 and one I'm guessing Ben Weaver High School. >> Yes. Orchestra. >> Okay. For a conference for Ben Weaver. So everything will be on the agenda next week for approval. We have our budgetary comparison reports. Just showing you our May year to date. Um, yeah. >> Could you look at the other one? >> The other. Okay. >> Could you talk about

114it? So the it's a we show the comparison for our expenses and revenues for we're comparing the same time last year to this time this year. Um, so right now we have expended $118,286,869 and we have we see revenue. >> Whoops. I'm sorry. I'm looking at the wrong one. >> Yes. Sorry. Repeat. Um, the blue revenue 118 million. The red is our expenses. 110 293 and we have encumbrances of the 10,867. So we are still you know we still have at least we have the month of June and then also we do have expenses that will come in in July and August which we call period 13 which will be any invoices that were for this school year that we don't receive until later in the summer months. And just comparing it to last year,

115revenue is higher. So we did receive more revenue last year and also the expenditures were also >> higher. >> Yes. I'm like I like them when it's So the 2425 blocks, those were a snapshot of what you showed us last May, not reality. They they were the snapshot of May in 2425. >> Yes. So these are the >> finished. >> Correct. It's May. So the same point. Yes. >> up to the end of May. >> May. >> Yes. >> So fiscal year. >> Not how. >> So fiscal year through May 31st. >> Right. But not how it ended. >> Not how the fiscal year ended. >> Ended just >> right. And as as Vanessa's going through, Jackie, so for me to understand because she goes through and I ask her and Heather to go through

116many times to explain it to me. >> Um, we have June that we'll look at and then there's a final period after June, right? The fiscal year ends in June. We still have vendors that will be getting bills from different places, could be private schools, could be charter, whatever that are going to come in in July, right? So then you have that additional 13th period to go through as well. Yeah, that's this is is the apples to apples of literally what has gone out, what we've paid. The red, the green is what's encumbered, which means that that money has already been identified and committed to pay a bill. And then the blue is um what's come in. >> So period 13 gets charged back to this fiscal year. >> Yes, correct. >> Period 13 gets

117charged to the fiscal year that just ended, right? >> Each year, >> right? And why 13? because there's 12 months, right? So that's the 13th period to go through. >> So the incumbrances are all committed expenses or are some of them budgeted expenses that may or may not >> come to fruition? >> The incumbrances are committed, but some of them may not come to fruition. >> Okay. Because I asked because we did not use that much of the fund balance last year. We didn't use $4 million or so. This the fund balance if you look at last year in at May 31st, you know. >> Well, the fund balance would not have come into question this early. >> Correct. I'm just saying the picture it shows this right now is that last year at this

118juncture with one month to go, we would have been projecting a $4 million utilization of the fund balance based on the fact that we have $123 million in committed expenses and $119 million in revenue. >> Okay. So, some of those incumbrances must not have come to fruition. since we did not use $4 million. So that's why I'm saying that because I don't want us to automatically think right now we're going to be using $3 million of our fund balance because some of those $10.8 million worth of encumbrances again may not come to fruition and we may not have to use three million just like we did not have to use four million last year. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> And there is still more revenue to be >> correct. There's one more month. Yes. And

119even there is some revenue that we also get in the summer that also becomes part of period 13 and gets applied to this. >> It's never ending. >> It just it looks like we are running in we're going to be running towards that. That's why I wanted to talk about it. >> Yes. >> Is it possible to get a projection of where we would be at the end of June since we know I mean we know what contracts we have. We know what salaries and wages and >> so the yes and no not one that we would be comfortable sharing publicly because it's crystal ballish right there there's supposition there's this is where we've been this is what we think um but to put that out there we wouldn't put it out yet until we

120had more factual information uh to go through just because it it just it's crystal ballish >> Joe where the year end came out at the end of last last year because that would show. >> No. So, um we could go back, right? >> We ultimately we show it just not yet because of where we you know what I mean. >> Yeah. No, I meant of last year's budget so that you can see at the end of May last year it looked like we were running a $4 million deficit, but at the end we did not. And we used I think we used a small portion of our fund balance last year, but it was nowhere close to $4 million. >> We did not use any >> We made a transfer to the capital reserve account

121last year. >> Um so to show something different than the audit which shows how we ended June. No, >> it's it's not comparatively it's just not showing it's not data that would be authentic to do, right? It's it's just >> you might as well show the budget, >> right? Like that's what you would end up showing us. >> Yes. >> There's just too much There's just too much confusion about how people look. for this year. I was saying last year so you could see where they were at the end of last year's budget versus May to get some comfort. >> We have the the end of last year stuff is available online that that for sure is available because it ultimately gets posted. You're just saying for next time to have another chart May from

12226, I guess, and see what it actually >> No, I mean, but >> yeah, but just see where it actually ended from 26. >> If that makes sense. >> We just need to have discuss the public knows that >> it's just it's a way point, right? I mean, this is a a stop on where we are. It's not the end. >> That's like the point of the meeting. That's why I asked the question. >> Yeah. >> So, at the >> I I know it's a way point, but we're having the discussion. If anybody goes and psulls these documents up, they may not understand that it's not a done deal and that there's a whole lot more to come. Sorry, not to beat a dead horse, and I am definitely me beating a dead horse, but

123Shelley, I think what it sounds like to me, and please correct me if I'm wrong, is that you just want it would be nice to have a notation added of like even an asterisk clarification. We ended up spending X amount at the end of that. So that way it can be very clear like this is just as the data is everywhere, but just having it there, >> correct? >> A one little sheet so that for ease of understanding. >> Yes. Okay. So uh just a statement of where we ended up June of 25. >> Yeah, just a note to see like this is as of May but as of June we ended up you know not being in the deficit. We we you know just so people know that that could be the same expectation

124for this year and not you know gawk thinking we're >> but not June period 13. Yeah. >> Right. Well, when it's Yeah. When it's final, all of 13 is rolled back. >> I mean, it goes along with the whole of we budget for worst case. >> The worst case doesn't always come to fruition. But this as a standalone chart could cause some angst in people looking like we are spending $3 million more than we're taking in. Maybe just the actual on top of 24 25 on top on on top of those bars. It's just an actual number or something like how is this easily information given the easiest without overly complicating things >> that it's not the fiscal year end numbers. So we can >> we can come up with a couple and just we'll

125develop a couple put some visuals to this. >> Honestly, I don't think we should add any more numbers >> to this to this. >> You could take away the encumbrances >> and that would be fine. >> I'm like >> I'm sorry. >> You could take away the encumbrances. >> Well, at one point we didn't have encumbrances and and it was requested that we add encumbrances. Yes. because it's >> we'll let how about you you figure out the best way and we'll try it out. >> So my department in consultation with the finance and operations director will come up with something I mean chairman we'll come up with something. >> Okay. >> I like how you worded that. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> All right. Is there anything else from the board? All right.

126We have something from the community. And let me just say again I I have to repeat what your question or comment. So just keep that in mind. The question about putting up the budget comparison report because some of the information Okay, I'm scrolling down to show where the revenue is, where that information that everyone was just talking about wanted is right there. So, um, >> I'm sorry. >> Yeah. This is Okay. All right. So, we we did say that our finance and operations chair and Dr. Scott would do a little fix or whatever for next time. Okay. All right, are we good? >> All right. Um, we have policies for discussion. Thank you, Dr. Naps. So, we had a a great policy committee meeting on the 26th of May. Uh, it was unique for May

127because it was a Tuesday as opposed to our Monday. The 25th was Memorial Day. That's why we're together on the Tuesday. Um, we talked about a number of different things uh on there. up for first read. What we have included u policy 916 volunteers policy 705 facilities and workplace safety policy 707 use of school facilities. Uh we're listening this month as a first read. Uh Mrs. Betcher has been working on some of the uh changes and adjustments that we talked about at that meeting and we're working on a recommendation for um the cost for the use of school facilities with the short turnaround that's still in honestly in development. I expect that we will have out um she has a couple of drafts that are ready to go uh and she's done great work with

128them. I expect we'll have them out for the board to look at the beginning of next week. Um, so that way as we come through in the first read and then before the second read, which will not be until the 27th of August, we'll also have a second policy committee on that Monday evening, which is the 24th of August. So we can everybody can see changes and see all that information that's been there. We'll do it a little bit differently because we'll have what's going to be on for second read on the 27th. There'll be no policies read, no second read on the 6th of August, right? So it won't be until the end of the month. So we will have one more additional policy committee meeting to be able to have that discussion and

129we will introduce review these and then introduce any new ones to start us off for the fall. And the we had a number of uh folks at the meeting who participated in discussion if they would like to make any comments or build you were there >> Dr. S you were >> no I just I just wanted to point out that Dr. S did a lot of work at that last meeting with the volunteer policy. So, we appreciate that. >> Yes, he did. >> Joe, I thought we talked about at that meeting actually doing the second read and approval on August 7th for some and forgive me because I don't remember which ones, but we thought it was important >> the facilities >> to have it in place ahead of time. >> Yes, you're right. We

130did and we can >> the will of the will of the >> 7th is so close to this new early beginning of school day. >> We thought it prudent to make sure we had the approval beginning of time school year. >> Right. Right. Thank >> we could do we could do all of it if people are comfortable when we send the stuff out. If people don't have questions and people are comfortable with it listing them is fine. It's just another action for the board to take that evening. >> It was I I remember having a conversation about the volunteers one because it was going to be all in all the information that goes out to the parents at the very beginning of the year about all of their different >> certifications that they have to

131get in order to be able to volunteer in the school. >> Yes. So 705 707 916 >> 916 Yeah, was the one that was really Let's get that one in so that they can >> Absolutely. as long as people are comfortable with it >> for us to to list it on there is very clean and easy. Um, so we'll send out make sure everybody gets a copy of that so they can see it. Like I said, next week have some time to look at it. Carlen and I will touch base in July just to see if there's anything else, get a feel. Um, yeah, listing on the agenda. In fact, I can have Gail move it to the August 7th now so that it sits as a placeholder. Thank you for bringing that up. Very

132good. All right. Are we good with uh the policies? All right. Moving on. Education and wellness, Mr. Arensson. >> Yes. Thank you, Dr. Napsson Williams. Letters A and letter B are contracts for uh services that are provided by Cades for one of our students. They are listed in two different letters. That is simply because that is how Cades bills. uh one is with tuition and one is for the related services for the student. Caves is a an outof district approved private school uh for students with a complex level of disability. Uh George Kther's Memorial School works with students with multiple disabilities. >> We will fix that. Letter C is information for the board. Um we the wellness committee uh had our annual meeting on Tuesday, May 19th. Uh Jenny Lee continues, as we heard in

133May at at the work session to do incredible work um with our food services department. Um I am really excited to start this work. We're going to start in the summer with our principles because we do our trienal assessment um using the the the state assessment tool and and report uh template. Uh we'll start with our principles over the summer and then uh there's work uh there's suggested work that we're going to collaborate with our PT PTGS to be able to solicit more family input into the plan um next year. And if we start that with our principles through the summer as they're doing their planning for the year, we'll work that into the PTG schedule so that we'll have plenty of time throughout the school year to be able to to work through that

134tool. And letter D is either Bill or Christa >> questions. These Yeah, the the two overnight field trips are listed on here are annual events that take place Okay, I think we're good. Thank you. All right, moving on to human resources. Dr. Saladino. >> I just like to be ready. >> He's ready. He's there. He is on deck. >> Good evening everyone. So, as I mentioned uh at our last meeting, uh we are very busy, very active. That continues to be the case in human resources as the rest of the district is trying to close out this school year, but we are looking ahead to next school year um and doing a lot of planning. So, we do have an additional retirement of one of our longstanding bus drivers, Dorman Ackley, is retiring after 31

135years of service. Uh so, that will be on the agenda. Uh we do have a couple of resignations listed on the agenda. I will point out that uh one of them is uh rescending the appointment of a teacher that you approved uh at a couple of meetings ago. Uh a teacher that we were hiring who was employed in another school district uh at the time uh that school district did not have a position for her. Uh but she notified us this week that she is going to stay uh in that district. Um, and so we are in the process of we have reposted the position and we have reopened the search for a social studies teacher at Penrest High School. We continue to have um appointments of new teachers. So we have one on the

136agenda right now, French teacher for Penrest High School requiring. I anticipate by the time we have uh our board meeting next week, we will have three additional uh positions on the agenda. Uh just to kind of give you some context, we in total had about 22 uh professional vacancies. Um, with what I expect you will have for your review and approval by the time you meet next week, we will have filled 17 out of those 22 positions. And in full transparency, the five that are left, some of them are positions that are now open because of transfers that we've moved someone from one position into another, thereby opening up their position, having to post it, having to wait the uh required amount of time. So, we actually were a little bit further ahead. Um, and

137now because we've done a couple of transfers, uh, it has opened up some additional positions, but we are we are in very good shape, particularly as I think about where we were at this time last year. So, uh, continue to get some really great candidates and as I said, we'll have a few more for your consideration next week. Um, I talked a little bit about transfer. So, if you click down to E and F, Dr. Scott. Uh so we are moving uh one of our elementary facility uh for person into uh the high school position that was vacant due to Mr. Ragny's retirement. Uh therefore that has created an opening where we have posted and are now trying to fill that elementary position. Uh and if you click down to F u we have two

138staff members that we are transferring into new roles. I'm really excited about the first one. Uh we have a par profofessional who has been working in our schools the last two years. Did her student teaching in uh at India Lane Elementary School this year. Uh and we have hired her or we are recommending uh to hire her for a special education teacher position at Indian Lane. And so that really is I think an example of how we are trying to grow our own and support our staff. Uh so we're really excited to to uh present that to you for your consideration. And we are also transferring uh at uh the teachers request, Mrs. Wasserman, uh into the gifted education position here at Springton Lake, thereby opening up that math spot. So we have recently posted

139a sixth grade uh math position. So again, really just trying to move some folks around to maximize their skills, give folks some new opportunities that they are interested in. Uh and we are continuing to then backfill uh those positions. >> Excuse me. If the the gifted teacher is that's something he's done before or certified in or >> So prior to coming to Springton Lake, uh the teacher had experience working with students in that type of a setting. uh working with students with uh GIEs. Uh since they have come to Spring Lake, Mrs. Wasserman has been exclusively teaching math. Pennsylvania does not have a specific certification for gifted education. So, uh we were looking for someone that had a background in mathematics because we would really like to provide additional enrichment particularly in the area of

140mathematics. That's something that we've been talking about for the last couple of years in our district. something that I think our parents continue to ask for. And so, Mrs. Wasserman, we really feel like it's just a great combination of her prior experience and then her time here at Springton Lake understanding and knowing our math curriculum and math program. She is really well suited for that role. The only other thing that is not on the agenda, uh we are working to finalize a memorandum of understanding with our uh custodial and transportation group that I hope to have uh for your consideration next week. And it it is another opportunity where we're clarifying some language in the collective bargaining agreement that is not as clear as we would like. Um and so we're hoping to have that

141finalized for your consideration. Any questions about human resources items? >> Thank you. >> All right, we are finished with our agenda. Uh, Penrest High School graduation is tomorrow at 10:30. Be there early and have a good night.