001God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [clears throat] [snorts] >> Roll call. >> Mr. Estiper, >> absent. Mr. Alexander >> here. >> Mr. Yudsy >> here. >> Dr. Vik >> present. >> Mrs. Guyer >> here. >> Mr. Greyak >> here. >> Mrs. Moore >> here. >> Mr. Olsen >> here. >> Mr. Thomas >> here. >> Okay. Executive session. We met at 6:30 tonight in executive session. Talk personnel log and safety and security. [snorts] Citizens comment agenda items only. I'll ask if you're speaking during this, please state which agenda item you're addressing. >> Okay. Okay. Our next section is reports, superintendent's information. Absolutely. And uh it's a wonderful thing to look out in the crowd and see so many kids and so many parents here to talk about good stuff that's happening. So, um we've
002talked for months about how we're going to start uh start honoring our students and and the ones that are making great choice uh choices in our schools and we're going to start that now. So, uh we do understand that there is a uh fairly important high school basketball game going on right now. Um, so our goal is to get through the the high school, middle school, and then those uh those parents, those students can go ahead and head out uh as we then continue on with the elementary school and primary center students. So, at this time, board, would you um come with me and and go on uh off the stage and make a line? Miss Colbank, the floor is yours. Okay. Uh good evening. Um each year we give away two different SC um
003awards for each month. Um, one of them is called the Scotty Scholar. And to be nominated for the Scotty Scholar, it's only for students that are in grades 12. Um, the faculty and teachers have to make the nomination. Um, it consists of a committee with myself, assistant principal, guidance counselors, and selected teachers. Um, this award is based off of service, scholarship, and leadership. For the month of September, we have Megan Mihal, who's not with us tonight. Lily Guest who's also not with us tonight for October. November is Alyssa Hixon. [applause] You want them to stand on down through. Congratulations. December is Audrey Johnson who's probably at the musical tonight. And in January was Allison Stinette. [applause] Congratulations. The other award that we give out monthly is called the spirit of South Morland. It is recognized
004at one student per month from the high school, a senior class who embodies characteristics of service, pride, integrity, integrity, responsibility, ingenuity, and tenacity. For the month of September, we had Brady Butts, who's not with us this evening. Miley Street for October. [applause] Alexa Pandolo for November. [applause] Ty Warick who's on the basketball team for December. [applause] And Isabella Graia for January. [applause] I'm going to pass this over to Mr. Clue from the middle school. [applause] All right. I did not get the memo that this was supposed to be short. So, it every month at the middle school, we recognize uh students of the month, two from each grade level. Uh and these are students who represent certain character or pillars of character that we want to see in our students. In September, we recognize those
005students for responsibility, uh which is demonstrated through reliability, preparedness, organization, and commitment to following through on goals and expectations. So, I'm going to read these students names if they want to come up and then I have certificates for them. Okay. Rebecca Boschinski, go ahead. You can go ahead. [applause] Hold on a second. This is going to get real weird real quick. Here, Rebecca. All the board members. Jacob Wishard, [applause] Allison Cedar, [applause] Bruce Vance, [applause] Maddie Watkins, tonight [applause] and Kale Bretts. [applause] In October, we recognize students who exemplify kindness, which is shown seown, excuse me, shown through empathy, inclusiveness, encouragement, and treating others with patience and respect. Tonight we recognize Ava Wizki. Wiz help me. >> Wizki. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Za with us tonight. [applause] >> Different Ava. All right. I butchered a
006name and a poor girl's not here. Zayen Austin Ber also not with us tonight. Kalista Bryant. [applause] Silus Hixon. We got one, [clears throat] Josie Lac, [applause] and Kayn Bryant. All right. In November, we recognize students for creativity, which is reflected in their ability to think innovatively, express ideas, unique ways, and inspire others to approach learning with imagination. We recognize Olive Kramer, [applause] Bo Buts, Madison Gore, [applause] Orion Salum, [applause] Phoenix Nicholson, and Steven Nihinki. [applause] >> Thank you, Mr. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you. In December, we recognize students with the pillar of integrity, which is exemplified by being honest, trustworthy, and committed to doing the right thing even when no one is watching. We recognize Alli Payjack. [applause] Michael Dropic, [applause] Megan Vogle, [applause] Evan Leco, Eileena Hogan. There's [applause] Alina. welcome. And
007Caleb Hart. [applause] And finally, in January, we recognize students who exemplify accountability, which is demonstrated by taking ownership of responsibilities, meeting expectations consistently, and learning from mistakes without making excuses. We recognize Carrie Addis, [applause] Will Cavalier, handshake, Jenna Lawrence, >> [applause] >> Trip preach. [applause] >> I say it right. Trip. >> No. But I thought >> Price. Excuse me. Savannah Lewendowski. [applause] and Chase Krishnner. [applause] All right, I will turn it over to Mr. Croft from SCES. Thank you guys very much. [applause] from the high school and middle school. We'd love to have you, but you may exit at this time. Good evening. I'm uh Dan Croftchuck, the principal at South Morland Elementary. Uh good to see a lot of uh former students now have uh children in my in my new building. Um so
008that that means I've been here a long time. But I'd like to uh take an opportunity to talk about um we did not have um a program at SCES for a long time and I felt that it was necessary that we put into effect uh student of the month programming and we are uh really ex looking at three areas. We have the super Scotty student of the month um which is basically encompasses the characteristics as talked about by Mr. Mr. Clue at the middle school and later that Mr. Haichu will talk about at SPC. Uh we also want to recognize our super Scotty itinerants of the month that excel at our itinerant classes uh which if you're not familiar is physical education, music, art, STEM, computer and library. Uh we have a third category that
009we'll recognize and I will be bringing to the board in March, which is our Scotty standout. And those are students that uh have uh achieved something that's not necessarily uh categorized in one of those two uh pieces. And we're going to do that quarterly. And uh we have 48 students that are Scotty standouts that we'll recognize from the second quarter in March and then in April our third quarter May our final quarter. So I'd like to present first our January super Scotty student of the month is second grade Piper Bizar. If you're here come forward. [applause] We also had from second grade Jason Ruffner. If you're here, come forward. [applause] In third grade, we recognize Bentley Cecerio [applause] as well as Aspen Pearl. [applause] In fourth grade, we recognize Luca Balastrai. Come forward, Luca. [applause]
010And also in fourth grade we had Ally Lynn. [applause] Fifth grade, Audrina Welty. if you're here. [applause] Antiggan ban, [applause] our super Scotty itinerant students in second grade. Hudson Brown, [applause] Kevin Clayum. [applause] In third grade, we had Brooke Addis. [applause] Natha Wilson. [applause] What's that? [applause] Fourth grade. Cassidy shots. [applause] Ken Sarup, [applause] also a fourth grader in fifth grade. Olivia Hall [applause] and Byron Rabia. [applause] >> [applause] >> I want to congratulate my students. You make SCES an awesome place to work every day and I'm very proud to be your principal. Thank you. [applause] There you go. >> Good evening folks. Thank you all for being here. I echo the sentiments of my for former colleagues, principles at the various grade levels. So I am pleased to know that we have great representation
011of our students uh Super Scotty award winners. Thank you to the families and the students for coming out this evening. As the other principles have already said, at our building at SPC, our teachers introduce specific character traits throughout the school year. They give our students and teach our students about those character traits and provide examples of behaviors that embody those specific character traits such as responsibility, respect, caring, hard work and determination, citizenship, trustworthiness, and fairness. So, at this time, at this point in the school year, we have recognized a number of our students in kindergarten and first grade. those who embody and exemplify these character traits. So, it is my honor to be able to introduce to our school board and our central administration our kindergarten and first grade students for the month of September
012our super Scotty award winners for the character trait of responsibility are in kindergarten [snorts] Cecilia Alisantrino. CECILIA. [applause] >> Thank you. Also in kindergarten for September's character trait of responsibility, Rhett Olsen. [applause] CONGRATULATIONS in first grade September responsibility. Let's hear it for Xander Hyde [applause] Rat. >> Thank you. >> That's a great example of responsibility. Also in first grade, responsibility, Leila Gwyn. Let's hear it for Leila. [applause] Our super Scotties for October for the character trait of respect. Unable to be with us this evening. Picture night for dance. Myella Bole. Let's hear it for Myella [applause] in kindergarten also for respect in the month of October. Let's hear it for Grayson Ditler. Grayson [applause] Great job, Grayson. First grade for respect, [snorts] Presley Charles. Let's hear it for Presley. [applause] Congratulations. >> Also in first
013grade for respect, let's hear it for Maximus Lamb. MAXIMUS [applause] We combine November and December because they're short months with all of the holidays. So for the combined month of November and December, our character trait is compassion or caring. In kindergarten, let's hear it for Tessa Boon. [applause] All right, Tessa. Congratulations, sweetheart. Go ahead. Go ahead. [laughter] >> Also, >> I don't know where she gets that. [laughter] >> No idea. Uh, from November December, caring kindergarten. Let's hear it for Abby Drazinski. [applause] >> There's that smile. Love that smile. >> She's got her metal on. I love it. >> Moving on to first grade for caring and compassion. Let's hear it for Ava Elliot. [applause] High fives. >> Also in first grade for caring and compassion. Let's hear it for Marshall Maulhorn. MARSHALL. [applause] And
014finally for the month of January, our character trait of and so very important, hard work and determination from kindergarten. Let's hear it for Bo Banko. Where's Bo? [applause] Those metal. I love it. [laughter] You got this. Congratulations, buddy. I'll get one. >> [snorts] >> Also from kindergarten for hard work and determination. Let's hear it for Kaden Donaldson. [cheering] [applause] Hey, come this way. Give them high fives. Thank you. >> Shake our hand. >> Moving on to first grade. Hard work and determination. Let's hear it for Brody Rhodess. WHERE'S BRODY? >> [applause] >> HAVE A GOOD DAY. YOU GOT THIS. >> First grade hard work and determination. Let's hear it for Millie Sausnack. Where's Millie? [applause] >> Thank you all. say Christmas. Thank you. [applause] Daddy need that name again. I'm not kidding. >> Oh my
015god. >> Holy cow. [clears throat] It's >> only 30 minutes. That was good timing. >> That'll only It'll only be once, >> right? Right. >> That's funny. You look like that. Good idea. Do >> you want me to preface any changes with the report section or dispro? >> Dispro. No. >> Oh, uh, principles of governance. >> Yep. Bring it up again. Thought I was pulling this up. >> Come on. >> That was nice. >> That was enough to make any bad day go away. for for the record, that was one of the better things that happened on this stage. [laughter] Principles, once again, thank you. Uh this place cleared out pretty quick. But um once again, thank you. That's why we're here. That's what it's all about. The plan is continue this. Obviously, this will
016be the largest group because we've uh backlogged it for a couple months. Every now and then, uh we also plan on doing some staff recognition as well throughout this um just to you know, spread the love. So, um, only other thing I have from my report is I know last meeting we had, um, principles of principles of, uh, principles for government and leadership, um, that most of the board signed. I know Mr. Yudsi said, uh, bring it back out in case anybody else, um, is willing to go ahead and sign. >> Yeah. And just to remind everyone, you know, the the principles we're signing and pledging to are lead responsibly, act ethically, plan thoughtfully, evaluate continuously, communicate clearly, which I know is a a big one. Um advocate [clears throat] earnestly, and then govern effectively.
017So, if if anyone did not sign and wanted more time, um feel free. It it's up there and ready to be signed. So, I appreciate uh everyone else. I believe we have seven signatures. So, I appreciate everyone else that kind of dedicated to those principles. >> That's all I have. All right, student reports. >> Congratulations to the February Spirit Award winner, Reed Pard. Congratulations to the February Scholar Award winner, Logan Duca. A special shout out goes to Kira Bryson for her leadership in the helping launch Early Act this year. Early act serves as an elementary extension of interact and introduces younger students to service and leadership opportunities. Thanks to Kira's initiative and dedication to the program is off to a strong start with with over 30 fifth grader students already participating. Her work has helped
018build a foundation for continued students learn leadership and community involved in our district. Early Act and Interact students recently partnered to support Fischer's furry friends of PA. Through their efforts, Missixon was able to deliver a full cart of donated cat food and litter to the rescue. In addition, student help prepare and disrupt and visual mouse toys that each cat recently rescued from the boarding situation received something of its own. This project gave a students a meaningful opportunity to practice service leadership while supporting a local organization in need. Congratulations to the new National Honor Society inductees for the 2026. The following students have ex exceeded the examples of scholarship, leadership, service, and character. Students will be inducted during ceremony on Thursday, February 26th. From the class of 2026 is Audrey Miller and Alyssa Hixon. Class of
0192027, Ember Wear, Kelsey Ambrisco, Derek Barton, Alexis Leandowski, and Julia Ice. From the class of 2028, Aiden Watkins, Bryce Goodard, Luke Sinette, Noah Meyer, Tanner Baker, Kaylee Lightenhower, Connor Dylan, Jolene Lusty, Steven Sookski, Bailey Mains, Ava Hernandez, Madison Guyire, Elizabeth Dzinski, Abby Ratinour, Kaylee Grosski, Isabella Sloan, and Alex Clawson. Three swimmers have qualified for multiple events in the Whoopio swimming and diving finals on February 26 and 27 at Pit Trees Pool. Alison Stinette qualified in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 20 freestyle, 500 freestyle, 200 individual medley, 100 backstroke, 100 butterfly, and 100 breaststroke. Alison will compete in the 50 freestyle and 100 breaststrokes. Elizabeth Drazinski qualified in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle. Elizabeth will compete in the 100 freestyle. Independent swimmers are limited to only one entry per event. Daniel Bosado qualified in 200
020freestyle and 500 freestyle. Daniel will compete in both. >> Is it? >> All right. Awesome. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> As always, you are more than welcome to go to that basketball game. >> I'm good. >> Okay. [laughter] >> I'm good. [clears throat] >> All right. Uh solicitor's information. >> I have no report tonight, Mr. President. >> All right. business manager transport excuse me transportation director information >> this evening this evening I would like to um do an addendum presentation that we had to the meeting of the whole it is in regard to our debt service which was one of the questions that was asked of us during the meeting and um so we're going to begin the whenever we started out before we got had the bond of issue of 2025
021we had three loans We had 2021, 2021A, and general loan 2022. As you can see, um, with the 2021 series, that would have that is going to be paid off in the fiscal year of 2029. As you can see, I show you what the principal amount is, what the interest is, the gross debt service, the local effort, which is um the plan con funds that we get for that project. And um for next fiscal year, we'll get on this project 22,14754. The next one is series A of 2021. that will be paid off in 2027. Um, as you can see, the principal is $2,612,000. The interest is 24,814. The gross debt is 2.6 million. With the local effort, it's 1.9 million. And the plan con reduction is 693,000 for that loan. The next one is
022excuse me um series 2022. Um this one does not have any plan con funds allocated to it. So you basically will find your principal payments, your interest, your gross debt service and your local effort. As you can see there is nothing reflected in the plan con reduction. So what I did was I put all those three together so that you could see the impact per year. Um in the [snorts] in the first year as you can see the 2021 is 91292 21A is 2,630,000 2,630,000. Good lord Pam. Um gross debt service is 176,770. Your local effort is $2,190,1582. The plan con reduction is $716,338. So that like I said, keep in mind that was the debt that we started out prior to the bond issue in 2025. So now I'm going to show you uh
023what the bond issue of 2025 2025 looks like. As you can see when we go on to the next slide it goes the payments go from 2026 to 2036 is when we will be debtree. We start out with obviously because we did a wraparound um bond. We start out at a principal of $5,000. Our interest is 691. Gross debt is 6962444 which is and obviously there are no plan con funds for that. And as you can see that goes this slide goes through 2031. The next slide goes through 2036 and that shows us our local effort. The next slide is the one that is most telling I believe. Um you can see the wraparound. If you look in the yellow column, you can see the wraparound very clearly. It shows um our 2021 debt, our
0242021A debt. You will no longer see the 2022 debt because that was paid off in the refinancing of the 2025 bond. We were able to do that and save the district some funds. As you can see, the debt service um the gross debt service for 2026 was 91,292. 2021A gross debt service is $2,638,49.50 and the 2025 B bond issue is mostly um as you will see in the slide before is mostly interest. It is $696,244. The local effort now is 2,79,63326 from the local effort that we would have had prior to the 2025 bond. That would have been 2,190,50760 which is a variance of which is a increase of debt load of $519,12566 per for this fiscal year. The next one we're going to give you a snapshot of our debt service. This makes it
025fairly easy without looking at a bunch of numbers. As you can see, we go from the 2024 2425 fiscal year through the 20 the 20 35 36 school year. Um the high school will be 30 years since the renovation right after the 28 29 school year. You can see the end of the SPC roof which is the end of life after 203132. So, that kind of gives you an idea of what we have to plan for in the district because obviously uh with the 30 years since the renovation and the end of life for SPC, that'll um give you all something to look and and focus on and see what you what our next steps are going to be. >> So, so once again, each of these steps are pretty equal. >> Yes. as we
026go down because as you look at the slide before each of these dollar amounts were fairly equal as you go down through the years. Yes. That's why it's stepped down that way. >> Yes. And that's what is accomplished whenever you do a wraparound borrowing which gives you a basic flatline of your debt service per year. >> Okay. So then we have um what local tax effort how do we compare in the county as you can see in the in the graph we are number two in equalized mills in the country in the county >> that's actually tied for first >> it is sorry >> that is correct >> same value 13 >> that is correct equalized mills are a way to compare how much different school districts are asking people to pay in property taxes
027but they use the same rules because every town values it houses differently. It wouldn't be fair to compare their tax rates directly. So, the state recalculates the property values to look at them and make them all equal. Then, it looks at how much money each district collects. This helps everyone see which districts which districts are really taxing more or less in a fair way which we all use the same ruler in that type situation where everybody is brought back down. They make them all equal and then after that point then they look at our equalized meals. >> So our our county average for equalized meals is 16.6. >> Yes. Our equalized mills is 13.2. >> Correct. >> So we're below the county average in that. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Mr. President, I have a
028question. >> Yes, Dr. Fe. >> Um, one of the nice things that Pam Mandok did is she included in the agenda packet frequently asked questions about fund balance. >> Okay, that is actually something that I'll get into there. Dr. >> That's from the school business officials. >> Right. Right. Right. Right. It came from Pasbo, but I was going to say I was going to talk about that whenever we got down to the um policy where I'm asking you to transfer assigned fund balance to unassigned fund balance. >> Well, my question is not about that. >> Okay. >> This document, and I appreciate that, lists five kinds of fund balances. >> Correct. >> They run non-spendable, restricted, committed, assigned, and unassigned. In all my years, I've never seen anything but assigned and and and unassigned in
029South Morland. And I was looking at the restricted fund balance. Uh the non-spendable, I think, is just concrete things that can't be turned into cash. >> The non-spendable is basically um inventories of of things, >> right? You can't turn them into cash. >> Correct. But the restricted fund balance was a concern that I had and it said these funds are restricted to be spent for a specific purpose and the constraints on these amounts are externally imposed by creditors. >> Mhm. >> That would be the 30ome million dollar debt that we have. I've never seen the $3 million payment that we do that we owe on our um debt service which is we have to pay it. I mean, you can lay off teachers, you can lay off administrators, you can cut everything, but you can't
030not pay this bill. >> Correct. >> And I was wondering why that money has never been placed in the restricted fund balance. >> Because it is calculated whenever the B whenever the budget is is developed. It's put into the regular general fund budget. >> It's in a general fund. >> Yes. >> Pam, why is it not in the restricted fund balance? because we owe this money. And you know, I'm not going to live here forever and neither are you. But I want to know that South Morland has a procedure whereby this money is protected every year in a restricted fund balance to guarantee the payment on those loans. Well, basically like I like I stated a few moments earlier, it is always put into the general fund budget. It's not something that we allocate. Um,
031it's something that, um, to be honest with you, I have not seen any other school districts do. Um, like I said, we do have some for capital improvements, but uh we have everything in assigned fund balances, but I don't understand if we are absolutely obligated to take that amount of money and put it in a restricted fund balance and it should make your job easier because once that money's in there, you don't have to fool with it anymore. You just write the payments right out of that fund balance. And I am concerned looking down the I'm looking down the the future. I'm looking at the future and I don't understand why we don't have a procedure in our school district that guarantees that the money that is due on our 30ome million dollar loans is
032not put in a restricted fund balance and it can't be touched because you can't cut that. You can't look at that. You can't manipulate that. You can't use that money. >> Correct. But whenever the board approves the budget each fiscal year, those amounts for the bond and loan interest and principles are in there and that is how that money is designated to be spent. >> But you're not interested in putting it in a restricted fund that guarantees the payment on the debt. I'm looking down the road. I'm looking down. >> I understand that, Dr. Fe, but we don't I don't know if you're looking to put $30 million in an assigned fun. >> No. No. would do each year's payment. Each year's payment like 3,500 for this year, the next year, and so forth and
033so on. >> Quite honestly, it's the very same thing because whenever you vote on a budget, that's where those funds are allocated. >> Well, then there would be no reason not to put it in a restricted fund balance. This is what this is what the school Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials says. And I would be very comfortable as a board member knowing that that money is in a fund that cannot be touched. You cannot make this payment on this debt. We owe millions 30ome million dollars. The assigned fund balance can be changed without formal action and do not to be designated by the board. So an unassigned fund balances if it's in there, you can do anything you want with it. And you know, you're not going to be the business manager forever and
034I'm not going to be on this board forever, but it seems to me that we should be able to protect that money >> because it's so critical that we owe that huge debt. >> Pam, you don't pay our debt service out of our fund balance though, right? >> I do not. No, she does not pay out the general fund. >> It is paid out of the general fund budget >> and that's where [clears throat] it's allocated each year. >> That's where every district does it, right? >> Correct. >> But why would you not do that, Pam? I mean to to guarantee our future, our security of this that massive loan that we have. I mean they they they they recommend it. It is guaranteed whenever whenever it is placed into the general fund budget. That
035is where like I said every school district that I've ever been made aware of that's where they retain those funds. Miss Pam, when you're paying off these three loans, our payment this year is $3,500 and some thome,000 >> minus the plan con. I understand that. Minus the plan con. But I don't feel comfortable that it's guaranteed because if it's in the general fund, you can do anything you want with it. >> So correct me if I'm wrong, if I'm reading correctly, when we vote on the budget and set the budget, that legally sets that amount of funding aside for those payments. >> Absolutely. It would be the same as putting it in a restricted us voting basically restricts that money. >> Then why wouldn't you, John? Then why wouldn't you? To protect us. Why wouldn't
036you? >> Because quite honestly, it is our hope to pay it out of the general fund allocations and not have to pull it from the fund balance. >> It would be the restricted fund balance. It would be >> It doesn't matter, Dr. Fe, whether it's restricted or not. That would still be pulling it from your fund balance. What I want to do is keep it in the general fund and therefore keep it funded that way, not not pulling anything out of the fund balance. >> Pen, we talked about the assigned fund balance and the unassigned fund balance and you're lumping them together and saying that's our fund balance when in fact our unassigned fund balance is only 2 million. That's not even enough to make one payment on our loan. >> Not how it works.
037>> Pardon me? >> That's not how it works. >> Exactly. That's that's not how how that it works. Dr. Like I said, every district that I've ever seen keeps it in the general fund. We keep it in there so that that money is allocated. Uh we put in the certain amount for the principal, certain amount for the interest. The fund balance is basically um for example I will be asking you later to transfer money from the assigned fund balance into the unassigned fund balance because last year at the end of the fiscal year we came out and it with a hit to the fund balance of $200,000. So therefore, since the majority of that overage was attributable to cyber charter, that is why I'm asking you to move that from the assigned fund balance to
038the unassigned fund balance. But when you look at them all together, you do lump that amount and say that that is truly your fund balance. Just part of it is unassigned, part of it is assigned. >> Pam, I go on the record. I am saying that for the future as a school board member I believe that we should take the amount of money that belongs in the restricted fund balance and put it in there so that nobody can touch it and that is only to pay our contractual debts for those those loans that we have made. I'm looking down the road. I don't know what's going to happen in the future. Uh we don't know how how funding is going to go but that's the number one priority. It's like you live in a house.
039You make your house payment first. >> Exactly. or else you make your rent living there. That is correct. >> But it should be protected. I I think that money should >> Well, it is protected by your vote whenever you whenever you all ratify the budget. >> But Pam, if it's in the general fund balance, you can do anything you want with it. And it may not be you. Do you understand that? It may not. >> I understand that. I understand that, Dr. >> And we have a history of other things that have happened. >> I know that. >> And we need to protect that. And that's all I'm asking is that I think we should protect the money to pay our our debt. Thank you. Thank you. >> Anything else on your report? >> That
040would be all. >> All right. Uh reports of others. So as Dr. Boon said, uh the attachments on here basically summarize reports from CTC, WIU, PSBA liaison and committee as a whole. I know Dr. Fe would like to make a special recognition. So >> I certainly would. I want to report that the West Morland IU has not one, not two, not three, but four meetings this month. But there is something very very special that I wanted to talk about and it's an honor for the South Morland school district. There was a program done for professional development and one of the participates was Mr. James Clue. They call you Pete Mr. Clue and he gave a fab he has a fabulous presentation. This session is led by a school leader who has lived the work of
041teaching enhanced it through experience and continues to guide it every day. The participants explore how classroom management, questioning, and formative assessment come together to build and reflective build reflective discussion. And the session highlights how per how in in intentional moves can transform student behavior, deepen and deepen understanding and make learning come alive. The attendees will leave leave with a practical with practical strategies and a and a personalized engagement moves reference sheet to support meaningful and lasting classroom engagement and our middle school has been recognized for the best achievement in our school district and I want to acknowledge his work and I think it's a real honor that he has been chosen to give this program to the to all of the teachers in the West Morland intermediate unit. Thank you, John. >> I agree. [applause]
042>> Okay. Next section of schoolboard. All right. Meeting minutes. The board has asked to approve the following meeting minutes from January 20th, 2026. Discussion voting meeting. >> So moved. >> A second. I guess >> Mr. Graia and Mr. Olsson. A second. Discussion. >> All those in favor? I >> opposed. Okay, next section is policies. The board has asked to approve the following policies that have been posted for over 30 days. Broadcasting board meetings, academic standards, curriculum, intercolastic activities, and diabetes management. >> So do second >> discussion. >> I would like to make a u make a note that my vote is only for number 102 which is academic standards which is mandated. For that I vote. The others I do not. >> Understood. All right. All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. All right.
043>> So, just to clarify for the minutes, Dr. Fe, are you not voting on the the other policies or you're voting >> I'm voting no on the other policies >> mandated on. Okay. Uh number two, uh so one change on this one. Uh so the board has asked to post the following policies for 30 days. We are removing um policy 006. Sending that to committee to discuss at the next committee as a whole meeting. >> What are you removing? >> The first one 006 meetings. >> You're removing that one. >> Exemption from instruction. >> No, the meetings 006. >> Oh, the next one's 105.2. I'm sorry. I saw that. So, okay. >> I I need a motion and a second. >> I'll make a motion. >> Second. Discussion. >> All those in favor? >> I
044>> opposed. >> I will not vote for the only ones that I will vote for are 105.2, 204, 218.1, and I'm voting no against the rest of them. >> Understood. Okay. Next section is personnel. Board has asked to approve the personnel log from February 17th, 2026 as attached. All salaries are included and all clearances are current on file with the administration. >> All right. Discussion. >> All those in favor? >> I opposed. >> Musical staff and compensation. The board has asked to approve the following 2025 2026 staff for the Southland High School Musical. a motion. >> Second. >> All right. Discussion. >> All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. All right. ESY nurse rate. The board is asked to approve the following 2026 extended school year rate. Assistant nurse $4067 per hour. Some >>
045moved. Second. Okay. discussion. All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. Okay. Next section is education. >> Board has asked to approve the following student discipline agreement 2025-2026-03. >> So do second. >> Discussion. >> Why are you calling it redacted? >> Because it'll have the names redacted on it. Oh, okay. All right. I'm sorry. >> I'm going to pass on that because I have received conflicting information on that and because I don't really know everything, I'm just going to pass on that vote. >> Okay. Good. All right. All those in favor? I >> I >> opposed. >> School calendar. So there's an option A and B. I will need a motion for which option. The board has asked to approve the following option as 2026 2027 school calendar. >> I make the motion for option
046B. >> I'll second it. >> All right. So option B is on the table. discussion and I will say we verified with the CTC um it will not impact our students in a a negative way that extra week. So it's it's a bit of the best of both worlds I believe. So, right. All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. The board has asked to approve the following 2026 ex extended school year schedule as posted. >> So, do second >> discussion. All those in favor? I >> opposed. The board has asked to approve Michelle's Ampirini to escort the district student to the Music Education Association Region One Honors Course Concert February 19th through 21st, 2026 as attached. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Discussion. All those in favor? I >> I opposed. Next section is
047finance monthly financial report. Board has asked to approve the following monthly financial reports as attached. Treasures report general fund board summary report and fund accounting capital fund capital Giza and food service check summary listing. >> Some moved second >> discussion. >> Does this include the transfer of money from one fund balance to another? No. >> That is H3. Dr. Fe. That is >> that's two two items down. >> Oh, that's two items down. Thank you. >> Yes, ma'am. Mhm. All right. All those in favor? I >> opposed. Awarding of bids gasoline and diesel. The board has asked to consider the approval to award bids for gasoline and diesel for for the 2026 2027 school year per the school district's quantity request to Gresham Petroleum who the West Morland Intermediate Unit joint purchasing consortium for fuel
048as identified as the lowest responsible bidder meeting or equaling equaling specifications for gasoline 87 octane at a rate of $2 and some change per gallon and diesel at a fixed rate of $2.40 per gallon. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Discussion. >> How how long is that in effect, John? Because if prices go down, we're still stuck with this one, right? >> It is for the 26 27 fiscal year. Dr. Fe, >> it's for a whole year. >> That is correct. >> So if prices go down, we still have to pay that. >> Correct. >> That is correct. >> I thought in the past, Pam, correct me if I'm wrong, I thought we broke it down into months. Did we? We we did um several years ago, but um it is believed now just like
049we did this fiscal year, uh we kept it in in effect for an entire fiscal year and actually it was very beneficial for us to do so. >> Did it turn out to be the same whether we restricted the months or not? Did it I'm sorry. Run that by me. >> Well, what I'm saying is if you take a price for a year, okay, but if you break it down into three months, six months, nine months, and so forth, if those prices change, we still stay with the price we we did. >> That is correct. >> The year when we did that, did it make any difference? To be honest with you, I'd have to look at that. I cannot recall at this point. >> I just want to believe gas is going to go
050down to $1.79 a gallon. [laughter] That would be wonderful, but I I don't look for that to happen. >> Uhhuh. I mean, I I understand what you're doing. It's just that in the past, we have discussed this and we have felt that we didn't want to lock ourselves into that, lock ourselves in. >> Well, this actually goes through the consortium and all of the business uh talk about it and we've come to the conclusion that it's safe to do it for for >> Okay. And the price is 24.48. No, it's it's for gasoline it's 2 point it's $2 point 2.0. >> Yeah, roughly like 2.01 >> rounded >> $2 one. >> One cent per gallon. >> We should be very safe with that, shouldn't we? >> I believe so. Yes. >> Okay. I'm just talking
051about what we did in the past, you know, that I didn't know. >> It's $149. [laughter] >> Oh, if only. >> I'm okay with that. Thank you. Mhm. >> All right. All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. >> All right. The board has asked to approve the transfer of $213,46466 from the assigned fund balance cyber charter to the unassigned balance due to the spending level of cyber charter line item in the 2024 2025 fiscal year. This is permitted by the state. Please find the attached document from Pasbo. Need a motion? >> So do a >> second. Second. >> Okay. Discussion. Ma'am, >> do you mind explaining to me what you're doing? You're taking money from the assigned fund balance and you're moving it out of there. >> Correct. >> That it got moved in
052there in the first place. Well, I I'm taking it from the assigned fund balance, putting it in the unassigned fund balance because whenever we um had the audited financials, we hit the fund balance by $213,000 in the unassigned being that the majority being that the that that overage was attributable to cyber charter expenses for last fiscal year. Therefore, I [clears throat] thought instead of having it, I thought it was a better idea to to move it out of the assigned and put it into the unassigned, which you've referred to in the past as our savings account. So therefore, I was just making that more robust because of the expenditures that we incurred last fiscal year. Pam, I know I'm probably crazy, but I can remember when the auditor said we should take more money out
053of the unassigned fund balance and put it into the assigned budget so that we didn't exceed the percentage. >> I can tell you looking at next year's budget and looking at what the current unassigned levels would be, that is not a problem. >> Ma'am, what's the percentage the state recommends for fund balances? >> About 8%. >> Eight. Mhm. >> Is that assigned or unassigned or combined? >> No, that is unassigned. >> Unassigned for 8%. Well, we don't have that. >> We don't. And even with this, Dr. Fe, whenever we look at next year's budget, Yeah. >> it would only come in at I believe if I remember correctly when I checked it, 7.2%. >> So, we would be under the limit for the state. That is correct. See, I remember that state limit, Pam, being,
054you know, I'm not being difficult, but I remember that state limit, whatever it was, being an issue that we do not exceed that. >> That is correct. and they were moving the money from one place to another to make sure that we didn't expend it. >> Right. But like I said, being that um you know, we have we have spent last year $213,000 over what we had anticipated. >> Okay. >> And being that the majority of that was because we were hit with extraordinary cyber charter expenses to the tune of $2 million for last fiscal year. >> So we're going to get that that information from you in March. Is that correct? with revenue. >> I have to check with um with Mr. Turnley whether it's going to be either March or or April, one
055of the two. But you will be receiving that. Yes, he'll he Mr. Turning will come here to report to the board. Pam, we pay millions of dollars for that audit. I mean, tens of thousands of dollars, tens of thousands for I misspoke. Tens of thousands of dollars for that audit and and that's where we find out. But we don't find that out until later. >> Well, I've made you aware of it. Yeah. [clears throat] >> I just wasn't sure what the percentage was on the fund balance and whether it was assigned and unassigned and could be restricted to, you know, to >> Yeah. But like I said, all that all that it matters whenever you're doing the the budget and submitting it to the state, >> um it has to be 8% or lower in
056unassigned. Ma'am, the legislature did a study and they found out that school districts had be billions of dollars in the unassigned in the unassigned fund balances and they were telling them you're not getting any more money till you spend that. Remember when that happened? >> And honestly, I can tell you that um we are very regulated school districts. However, cyber charter is not. >> They do not play by the >> Right. Right. Right. They are not. Is there any movement on that? Um there was some change um to the PTE 363. We now are able to deduct some of the um buildings and grounds expenditures which we had not been able to. >> Oh, that could help. >> It definitely could >> because they don't have those. >> Uh some of them do. >> Oh,
057do they? Do they? I did not. >> They actually have um some some of the buildings. In fact, there's a very um opulent building in Harrisburg that is one of the cyber >> did not know that. Okay. >> Home offices. >> Okay. So, I understand the eight I didn't know that number of 8% and that's what I was concerned about. We have to make sure that we comply with that. >> Correct. >> All right. To the vote. All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. Next section is buildings, grounds, and security. >> Board is asked to approve and accept a donation in the amount of $4,699.88 88 cents to be allocated to the district's safety and security budget. >> I so move. >> Second >> discussion. All those in favor? >> I I >> opposed.
058Uh next section is athletics activities. No items for this month. And our la last section is closing exercises. >> Citizens comment. Anyone grab the list? >> [clears throat] >> Hi, good evening. My name is Jason. For those that don't know me, I am the administrative director in Central, but equally as important, I am a res of this. I'd like to strongly encourage you to continue our district as a change agent educational reform to give more students opportunities with our strategic partnerships within our districts and with CTE. In 2020 when I was hired in Central West there were 990 students about 70 of them were from there were minimal resources and services to provide for the students less than 500 industry based credentials were being earned in in the last six years I've been trusted and
059empowered to build one of the most powerful CTC's in the state of Pennsylvania and through my strong partnerships not only with our districts With our superintendent, we have achieved that. CWCTC boasts nearly,500 students. [clears throat] 125 plus of them come from South providing different opportunities. We have 19 different programs of study, different satellite programming, different CTE elective pathways, hundreds of different workbased learning experiences. We have driver's education for those that don't know how to drive. And we have thousands upon thousands of industry credentials now being earned. Fiscal responsibility. All of those industry credentials and postsecary credits being earned are paid for through grant funding that we have brought in as an admin team. Over the last years, we have accumulated 8.7 million of grant funding on top of the general fund budget that we for
060from our districts to be able to provide all of those opportunities for our students. CWCC also serves a very large population of students with disabilities, 504 plans, self-disclosed barriers uh to school and to employment. But we also offer a wide array of vocational rehabilitation. We started offering these services also to our districts for the students that don't attend. We've successfully completed coursework in [snorts] rehabilitation classes here at Southland among others within the last couple of months. So as a citizen of this community, I'd like to ask all of you if you truly know what the companion numbers, data sets, and associated costs for what is being provided by other around the county within Southwest entities like charter schools as well as the intervening. I strongly believe that that data won't even be comparable to what's
061happening in this. Lastly, I'd like to deliver a message, but I'm also fulfilling a right to know. It's from my contract that I believe is being questioned and compared to these other administrators from these other educational service providers. Again, I encourage each and every one of you board members to look at the companion data, ask for it because we provide it. We are very transparent and then you can decide individually who has the students and the community's best interest in mind. >> Right on Q. >> Thank you very much. Thank you. >> All right. Any other citizens comments, >> Mr. President? >> Yes, >> if I may. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you, sir, for all that you've done for the community. Appreciate it. >> All right. I need a motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >>
062All those in favor? I >> I [clears throat] >> thank you guys.