001Good evening. I'd like to call the Tuesday, February 17th, Springford Area School District work session to order. Please rise for the pledge. >> Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The Springford Board of School Directors believes the community has the right to bring before the board issues and concerns they may have about items on the agenda or about items in general which affect the district or their children. Because of this belief and philosophy, the board will schedule a time at the beginning and conclusion of every meeting to have an opportunity for community members to share their concerns with the board. At the start of the
002meeting, members from the public may comment on agenda items only. The school board will move through the meeting agenda. Then at the end, when prompted, there will be a time for public comment. This meeting is being filmed to be broadcast on community cable channels and online. Individuals intending to make public comments should be aware that they are being filmed. Speakers will be asked to state their name in the area in which you reside before your comment. >> Good evening everyone. Thanks for being with us today. Mrs. Schmidt, could we please have a roll call? Mrs. >> Yes. Sorry. Um, in person we have Mrs. Deardorf, Mrs. Herman's, Mr. Lackey, Dr. Wright, Mrs. Westwood. Online we have Dr. Chararma, and not present, we have Mrs. Goldsmith, Mrs. Yut, and Mrs. Weine Garden. >> I do believe
003Mrs. Y may be trying to get on Zoom at some point. Um, so if you can just keep an eye out for her. Thank you. I do have one announcement. Um, just a little update regarding the agenda. It for announcements. It says that we held an executive session tonight. Uh, that is actually left over from last month. We did not have an exec session tonight. Um, but I will announce we are scheduling one for next week. Uh, regarding personnel and legal. Um, Dr. Scanland, do you have any announcements? >> Just a couple of things. Uh first of all uh this is a very busy holiday season for for many people and tonight is the first night of Ramadan. So for those celebrating Ramadan, we wish you all well. Uh tomorrow begins Ash Wednesday for those
004uh celebrating uh the Lenton season getting ready for Easter and also uh this evening is the Lunar New Year and we had some activities taking place in school today to celebrate uh that uh some of the cultures and uh things associated with Lunar New Year. So, however people celebrate, we wish everybody well and and uh healthy and and and happy season. >> Happy New Year. >> Awesome. Thank you. So, moving into section two, public to be heard. Is there any public that would like to speak on agenda items tonight? Seeing none, uh we will move into presentations. So, welcome uh Mr. Dave Living from the Western Center. There we go. All right. Good evening. Uh for everyone that's here tonight, um my name is Dave Living Good. I'm the administr executive director at the Western
005Center. Uh I'm starting my fifth year there. So if there's new board members, um I'm senior. Nice to meet you and hopefully see you on Thursday night. Uh I'm here today tonight to talk about the budget. Um, but first off, I want to give some highlights what's been going on at the Western Center. Uh, this year is our highest number of kids going to the Skills USA competition. Uh, we have 28 students going to compete at the state level. Um, we only won eight of those district competitions, but we have some large teams that are going to compete. So, that is a good thing. Um, our applications are out right now. They go to March 15th. Currently, we're sitting at 331 applications. That is a lot being this far out. We we're probably to set
006a record for number of applications coming to us. Uh Springford right now at the middle school has 82 of those applications and at the high school there's 51. So, 133 total for spring forward with applications. Now, a lot more fun stuff, but I'll cover that on Thursday night if you're attending. It is a non-working meeting. Um, but I do have to give a speech, they told me. So, I will talk a little bit that night. With that being said, I'm going to present the budget um to you and talk about how how this process works. Uh, we start this process in October. We ask our staff for their ask or needs. uh and then we sit the business manager and myself sit and talk about uh what is actually needed versus wants. Then we go
007into you know looking at the fiveyear history of the budgets and then also the ADMs and I'll get more into the ADM here in a minute. Um and looking to projected changes of health care cost so on so forth. So, here's the real number, right? And I I said I'm gonna go fast because this is pretty easy for Springford. You guys are going down. So, you're saving a little bit of money. Um, not a lot, but you are going down by 1.84%. Okay. The reason it's going down is that Upper Perks membership on that 5-year average went up. So, we saw this coming over the last couple years that Upper Perk was sending more students. So, they overtook the majority of students in the building. Uh, so your numbers drawn down. Um, nothing a part
008of what Springford's doing or Upper Park's doing. It's just sometimes how it happens. Um, this year we see a large population of Potchgrove students applying. Uh, so that's why the five-year average is important to determine this number. Overall, the budget is a 5.56% increase from last year, but to the districts only 3.3%. That's because of the subsidy receive, grant money we receive, federal dollars we receive. So, that's why there's that difference there. So, this is your 5-year average calculation. um spring and I can't really see right now but you're at 112.13 on your 5-year average. So you have 35% of that share of students at the Western Center over that course of the five years. I'm going to skip some slides because I have another slide that sort of puts it all together for you
009guys to to fully look at. All right. So, your ADM down at the bottom, it it is calculated. This was changed several years ago to a fiveyear versus three-year. Uh your overall contribution to the Western Center next year would be 2,566,466. That's your overall payment to us. Any questions so far? Okay, I'm going to skip ahead to this chart. So, this is our five-year look at the ADMs and the dollar values that have been paid to the Western Center. Um, as you can see, if you look at the our our other partner schools, Upper Perk kept creeping up while spring forward was going down a little bit. So, that swing just happened last year. So, we're up at Perks paying $200,000 next year plus. You guys are going down with the with the allocation uh
010for what you have to owe us. Okay. Questions with that? I know I'm going fast. Easy budget. Um >> I have an easy question. >> Okay. >> It was at the bottom of one of the slides, but I don't know if everybody said ADM. Yep. >> Knew it was coming. All right. The number of let me try to explain this the easy way. The kids in session for that day over the course of the year, right? So absenteeism and all that goes into part of this that fiveyear average. Does that make sense? Okay. >> I'm sorry I forgot about the microphone. um just because some of the numbers are a little hard to read. So the so the ADM can you just briefly explain how you come up with the contribution amount again? >> Yeah,
011so it's in our articles of agreement. That's how we're governed. Uh that it's a five-year average. So we take those numbers through the five years and that percentage then is the percent of your ADM. Now, here's the highlights. Here's why it's small, but here's why it's so important. Next year, we really focused on adding two instructors. Those two instructors are carpentry and our health health cluster in Intro to Med. Currently today standing we have 49 applications for intro to medical careers which feeds into our dental healthc care and sports medicine program. The other ask is for carpentry teacher. Right now we have 23 kids asking for that program. We can only take 10 as it stands. There is a real need. These two programs have space available to add the teachers without adding anything else,
012just the teacher, obviously some supplies because that's a lot more kids. But outside of that, that's the real ask. Our healthc care costs went up by 9%. Projected it might go more. Um, but we really wanted to focus on getting in instructors in to get more students in. Right now we're on a feasibility study cycle um with GKO GKO looking at what we can do better or down the road do we have to expand? Do we have to do something else at the Western Center because the demand for career and technical education is up where college is down? We don't know that GKO is doing that work for us and I will have a report in May hopefully. So that's the budget. Not hard. Say yes to kids, right? Um, questions. >> Just one other
013one on the third bullet. So, I know we've heard a lot about Skills USA. Am I Am I right in assuming it's a two-part question? Am I right in assuming that's one of the the big national um competitions that you would reference here? >> Yeah. So, great question. So, the national competitions are Skills USA. So, we have three clubs. Skills USA HOSA, which I'm remissed to say we do have the HOSA state president this year who is a spring for senior. Uh she cannot be here tonight, but uh she is with us. So that's another national competition. And then FCCLA. So this year, Skills USA is in Atlanta and it's actually in early June. So if those kids go, they might miss graduation, but that's up to them. Uh that's because there's this thing called
014the World Cup happening down in Atlanta. >> Yeah. And just to add, could maybe could you go a little bit into that? So I know you mentioned that this was a big year for it, but like what are what is the purpose of a Skills USA versus a HOSA because I know that that was some of the questions. >> Okay. Was that part two? >> I was it sort of part two. Part two was a bit of that. I'm familiar with Skills USA. the other two like a little bit but it was more so like I'd love to hear just a little bit about your perspective on the benefits to the students um going to some of those national competitions. >> Yeah, 100%. So the the benefit is competing against the best of the best
015across all the states. So in P in particular Skills USA they only take the first place winner from our district level to go to states and only the first place winner for the states to go to nationals. So if you're representing PA at the national level, you're the best in that skill. Skills USA and Compton is all of our trades, right? Where HOSA is more the health occupation trades. Uh and FCCLA is more the family consumer science trades. Um so I would say the benefit I I'll give a brief story, two stories, sorry. So let's take Maddie Johnson, Springford student. She is the host of state president this year. She was a state officer last year and a second time state officer this year. From the time she's been in ninth grade to now, taking
016that leadership role on has grown her tenfold for what she could become in the future and take those skill sets to be a leader within her college wherever she does in the workplace. So it's really that network. Uh the second one I'll talk about just happened this year in culinary. The the young lady when she was there um her first two years she was always in the counselor's office. Always something was going on. Well, this year was her first year competing as a senior and she got third place in that competition. She did not have a breakdown. She was prepared. She was ready to go and she aced it. even though she didn't win that her placing third and being able to do that competition without a a a mental breakdown was a success. So
017the building those confidence in those kids and those skills that we know they can do is the huge benefit for the national competitions. Any other questions? All right. Hopefully I see you guys Thursday night. non- workinging meeting. Uh please >> since you're referencing Thursday night multiple times just for the community, do you mind sharing with them what's happening Thursday? >> Yes, I can. So uh I forgot you guys are online uh and live. So Thursday night we have the special honor have Disha Drier who is President Obama's social secretary uh for for two for four years there. So she's been able to work with our students um on creating a state dinner. This state dinner is her dream of her to take. We're the first one she's done and she wants to take this across
018the country. Uh so through our connection with the culinary teacher and her, she chose us to have this. We are making it pre PA preferred. So everything is sourced locally here in Pennsylvania. Um this is the first time the kids will actually have a a plated meal, time plates, time busing, everything will be like a state dinner. Uh, not only Dish is coming, we have the number one cheese mongler in the world and the national champion cheese mongler coming. I didn't know it was such a thing until this event, but they're the best cheese people. Uh, so a lot of people came into this. It was a great idea. Our culinary chefs had uh we have representatives from the department of egg coming, representatives from um department of a coming. Then also 20 out of
01927 board members for all of our our districts combined are coming and five politicians and many more. So about 50 people in total. It's going to be a fun night. Um please bring an appetite. The the kids are working hard on this event. With that thank you. >> Thank you Mr. Living Good. We will see you on Thursday. Uh moving on to section four action items. We have one action item tonight which is item 4A which is kind of a carryover from last month's voting meeting um with the approval of Dr. Burkhart. This is uh to approve his e signature uh so that he can approve federal and state grants any and all contracts agreements grants or licenses within the Pennsylvania Department of Education which would be effective April 1st. Do I have a motion?
020>> So moved. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Questions and discussion. >> Uh I will defer. >> I guess all those in favor say I. >> I. >> Dr. Chararma, what is your vote? >> I. [snorts] >> Any opposed? So that motion carries 6. Moving on to agenda item five, board and committee reports. Uh first we'll start with our student rep report. Good evening everyone. Happy February. This year has been blowing by so fast. I cannot believe that we're more than halfway into the school year. Um, this is our February student rep report. So, looking into the past events, quarter 2 ended on January 21st. Um, we had our indoor winter guard show on January 31st. Report cards were posted on Skyward for all students to see at 400 p.m. on February
0214th for their midyear transcripts or second marking per second marking period grades. Uh, Springford hosted the VEX Robotics Home event on February 7th where we had over 60 plus Brambot students um, competing at that competition. And then we had the Capital Plan community forum update on February 11th as well as an inservice day uh, for President's Day on February 16th, which was yesterday. So, I hope everybody had an enjoyable long weekend. And now I'll pass it over to Jason for our future events. >> Hello everybody. For our future events, uh we have the class of 2028 FPC parent presentation on February 18th and a few music events. We have a spring forward musical gold card showing on February 26th. Uh the spring for uh the spring for spring musical night showing on February 27th, the
022spring musical matinea on and night showing on February 28th, as well as SAT testing on March 14th, and college and career affair for high school students on March 18th. Um, and as a reminder, just for everybody in the community to continue reading the weekly update for districtwide news and for all students, just just continue to keep up with your weekly assignments. Thank you all so much. >> Thank you both. You know, Dr. Scan just said it's a busy season, and it definitely is. Um, and I I know a board fan favorite meeting is when we do get the musical preview, so I believe that that will be next week. Um so definitely looking forward to that. Thank you guys for your update. Uh so next uh we'll move on to extracurricular Dr. Chararma. >> Mrs.
023Dorf, uh I would like to present my updates next week when I'm in person. >> Okay. Thank Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Um and then next we'll move on to policy with Mrs. Herman's. >> Hello. uh policy met on February 9th in the district office. Uh I am not normally chair and nor do I give out these reports. Uh but I was subbing uh as the chair. Mrs. uh Goldmith was on Zoom, Mrs. Wearten was in person and uh happy to report that all nine board members were in attendance for this committee meeting. So that was awesome. Uh as for the business, we had old business. Um we discussed policy 113.3 screening and evaluation for students with disabilities. This policy was discussed and is recommended for first read. You'll see that on
024the agenda. We have policy 218.1 which is our weapons policy which was also discussed and is on the agenda for first read. We have policy 718 service animals which has been a conversation of topic for the last couple of policy meetings. So it was discussed but is recommended for further revisions with legal prior to coming to the board for first read. So we'll be talking about this likely again next month. Um 823 administering nlloxxen uh we discussed that it is on the agenda for first read and then we also handled some new business which was co-curricular and extracurricular activities. It was discussed and uh the policy is being recommended to be checked uh just double check to remove any redundancies from legal and then first read if there is no additional substantial changes. I'm going
025to ask Miss Dr. Murray is that on I didn't see that specifically. So it's not. So in this case this was written prior to that. It is not on for first read. So we'll be likely coming back to policy next month. Um policy 123 intercolastic athletics. Um it is going to legal and then first read I'm looking at Dr. I want to pull it back over here to see if it actually made it to first read from legal. It is as you're actually looking that up as well. Um we do have 823 is on here for first read. I I misspoke. I apologize. >> Um student records no recommended changes at this time. So the policy is just going to be updated for the review date that won't come forward for a first or second
026read. And lastly, district social media policy which is recommended for legal review and then first read. Other than that, our next meeting is come join us every first Monday. Uh, excuse me, I'm gonna say second Monday in, uh, of the month, 6 p.m. District office questions. >> Okay. >> Thank you, Mrs. Herman's. Uh, moving to curriculum and technology with Dr. Wright. >> Thank you very much. Curriculum and technology committee met on February 9th at the district office. uh technology. Dr. Hill provided information about the annual renewal of the Trust Eed apps for um apps one tech edtech membership. So that was just a renewal there. You will see that on the agenda. Um under curriculum, Dr. Murray and Dr. Scanland provided information and led a discussion regarding the proposed 2026 2027 school calendar. You'll also
027see on tonight's agenda under other business that that discussion will continue this evening. Uh and then it is the time of year in which we are looking to renew um the um curricular resources for many of the programs. Um we do this annually and we have a perpetual calendar. So these um are on the agenda the costs for these other additional textbooks and things but they are expected and budgeted costs. So um Dr. Dr. Reinheimer provided information regarding the recommended AP psychology resources um and provided also information regarding the recommended AP macroeconomics and microeconomics resources. Dr. Ryheimr also provided information regarding the recommended honors biology resource. Dr. Guardi provided information regarding the recommended personal finance resource and information regarding the recommended AP computer science principles resource. Dr. Dr. Gardi also provided information regarding CPR training
028for the health and physical education teachers and options for world language courses including potentially ASL and other offerings through Montgomery uh virtual programs the MCIU and a um memorandum of understanding andou is being developed and will be brought to the school board for approval. Dr. Guardi also provided information regarding summer band camp for elementary age students. So once again, we'll be offering that this summer. So our next meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 9th at 7 p.m. in the district office conference room. >> Are there any questions for Dr. Wright? Okay, moving next to finance with Mrs. Westwood. >> Good evening. The finance committee met on Tuesday, February 10th in the district office. Uh we discussed a few things. Ongoing business, our executive monthly reports, these numbers are all through January 31st, 2026. For cash,
029we have 129 29 million cash on hand. Prior month was 138 million. For revenues, our local revenues are looking good. Um our state revenues are where we'd expect them given the late PA budget approval. for expenditures. Um, excitingly perhaps we were under budget in medical. Um, special education expenses are currently lower than planned. A special thank you to Dr. G and her staff um for continuing to work there. Uh, favorable impact from the cyber charter changes in the school code as well. For assessments, um, they are slowing. We've only had about $190,000 since the last meeting pri and November, I guess this was. Um the owners of the Providence Town Center 7 have appealed their assessment. Um the district is engaging with council and an appraiser to value the property. The possible tax impact um
030annually is $435,000 per year of loss revenue. Transfer taxes, we're at 72% of the goal achieved for the year. Um we're pacing at 3 million for the year versus our budgeted $2.5 million for earned income tax. Um, we're 50% of the goal achieved year to date, which is about $400,000 where we were this time last year, and we're pacing to approximately 15.2 to 15.5 for the year versus the 14.75 million that was budgeted. Um, more on self-funded health insurance. January was a good month for us. Claims were below average and below the monthly spend. We're currently pacing at break even to about 250k under the budget for the year. Food service is going strong. We've served 440,000 meals year to date, which is similar to this time last year. Product and labor costs have increased
031at a faster clip. Um revenue is up about 1%, but labor is up 6.5%. Cost of goods and services and supplies is up 3% year-over-year. Uh we had a budget update for 2627. We looked at the static items, meaning the items that don't change, and then the open items. So for static items, we have 197.72 million which was discussed which is roughly 89.5% of our prelim budget. There's some other considerations unknown and open items. Those will continue to be discussed over the coming months as we get closer to voting on the budget. Uh we reviewed the financial results for 2425 and also our related audit opinion in last month's meeting, this month's meeting. Um Mr. Dr. Frink reviewed the 2425 financial results. Um, for revenues, we were at 828K over plan, which is pretty pretty
032close to where we budgeted. Reviewed expenses. Health benefits exceeded plan as previously discussed throughout the year. Special EB was under budget due to bringing programs back in the district and fewer than expected moveins. Property service expenses were down in custody and repair and maintenance. Um, overall 2425 had a net surplus of 621K, which is pretty close. It's 030% of the budget. Um I know this update is getting long, so I'll try to we just talked about a lot. Um um we also reviewed the results of the 2425 financial audit performed by MAI. This is on our business office website too if you'd like to look at the letter or the financial statements. Um for financial statements, unqualified opinion, uh the single audit for federal programs, also an unqualified opinion. Um unqualified opinion for those of
033us that are close to this is a good thing. Um so that is a good review. internal controls, no significant deficiency or material weaknesses were identified and the audited financial statements are, as I mentioned, available on our website. Um, lastly, new and other business, the PA 2627 proposed budget is out. Um, basic ed subsidy is 7% a year. Um, year increase is uh for Jim, these numbers are for springboard, white, they're 106k. Um, the year increase is 106k for springford. So, not not very large. special ed subsidy 4% increase year over um prior year of 150k and then the ready tole learn increase of 50k per year. Nothing for discussion for tonight or next week to vote on for the meeting and our next um meeting will be March 10th um at 6 p.m. in
034the district office. Thank you Mrs. Westwood. Are there any questions? Uh this question just kind of for clarification andformational purposes. So, we did adopt the prelim the proposed preliminary budget in November. What do you know? Do either of you know off the top of your head what that next benchmark is for us? >> We uh the board adopted the proposed preliminary budget in January. So, next up will be uh we're applying for referendum exceptions now, which I had mentioned last year would probably be very small. Um and in April we'll we'll be we'll continue as Mrs. Westwood said going through the details in the budget uh as we progress in the next coming you know in March and in the April finance committee meetings we will I will present the proposed final budget uh midappril
035at probably at the work session which at that point we will likely adopt it uh and then there's still some work to be done with the goal of adopting the final final final budget at the end of May. Thank you very much and thanks for the clarification. I see it was 120 and I drew a box around it so that's why I saw another one. So, thank you for that. Oh, yep. Dr. Ra, >> hi. Just want clarification. So, the um we're looking at potentially this year with the audits. Um I'm sorry, I have to think about what I'm trying to say here. So the money from the Providence Town Center and the other ones this year is nowhere near as impactful as it was last year. Right. The amount of money was for potentially
036it's at 400,000. >> It's a if if I'm thinking of what you're referring to was a different property. So there was a property last year that was 3.5 million that Mr. Fink brought up that cleared this year. Mr. Frink this year's budget. Correct. The 3.5. >> Yeah, that's correct. That would that would have been the the what was formerly I guess the Fizer property down on Arc Colola Road was the large appeal. This one is the actual shopping center that's across >> routes. Right. Right. So, and I know we have reassessments that are done all all the time right at that point. But we don't foresee any other large ones this year any larger than that one this year. And >> I don't we don't see I don't see anything in the pipeline. Um and
037and assessments for this year have been filed already. So, we would know by now. Um, but I don't see any anything major like that. Again, this is the this is the big one that's there right now. There are some smaller ones, but nothing like this one. >> If this um reassessment goes through, um is that money then do we owe owe back? Do we have to return money? >> That would that would come down to h how it's negotiated uh with our attorney with with Mr. Fitzgerald's office uh and the uh the taxpayer >> and and generally when you have a taxpayer taxpayers will pay under protest obviously the the current rate that that money by by statute has to be essentially escrowed. So we will develop a budget with that money still in escrow
038and to the extent that we prevail more substantially then that money would come back to us. If if it was less then it would be escrow to be returned to the taxpayer. All >> right. Thank you very much. Any other questions for Mrs. Westwood? >> No, but I will uh maybe just recognize Mrs. Westwood because I think one thing that was missing from her report is some of the conversation that she has been doing behind the scenes to work with our state legislators on this exact issue in terms of the impact of commercial real estate assessments on school districts. So, I know she's been working very closely with Joe Webster and and some of the other state legislators, and I just want to commend her um because I know she won't toot her own horn
039here when she gives out her report, but uh we did have conversation about that at the finance table, and um I'm I'm glad that she's taking initiative on that. >> Okay. Thank you. And then uh on to property with Mr. Lackey. >> Thank you. Property met on Tuesday, February 10th for maintenance and operations. The HVAC team worked with JCI to address district-wide control issues and completed filter changes at flex on the heat pumps. At the 9th grade center wood shop, the dust collector was repaired. A vestable door at Royers Ford Elementary was adjusted to adhere to ensure proper closure and security. Hot water was restored in the kitchen at Brook Elementary. A roof leak at UP was repaired. A frozen sprinkler line at the district office was repaired after breaking due to cold weather. Kitchen
040equipment no longer needed at the high school and nth grade center was relocated for storage. And ground crews have continued snow removal and salting as needed, cleared turf and track areas in preparation for spring and are adjusting field preparation timelines slightly due to the recent weather conditions. Uh I just want to recognize Mr. Pelgrren and the entire facilities team for the consistent work they do behind the scenes to to keep our building safe, operational, and ready for students and staff each day. for safety, security, and preparedness. Uh I'm sorry, for the the uh safety, security, and preparedness. School police have investigated more than 370 incident reports since late August and continued active monitoring across the district. The team engaged in ongoing professional development, including active shooter training, taser instructor certification, defensive tactics level two instructor
041certification, FBI targeted violence training, updated threat assessment, uh training for administrators, and the high school team. Preparation has begun for the 2627 Act 55 mandatory staff training session. The district was awarded over $23,000 through the MCIU BGA grant to support communications equipment upgrades and an additional PCC safety and mental health grant application has been submitted for consideration for over $250,000. Student reporting systems remain active with safe to say and light speeded tips reviewed and addressed properly. Uh, and I also want to acknowledge Chief Boyer's team for their continued professionalism and steady work in supporting the safety of our students and staff across the district. Their leadership and coordination are deeply appreciated. We meet again on March 10th. And that concludes my report. >> Thank you, Mr. Lackey. I think uh Mrs. Westwood was going to
042lead us in a in a round of applause for uh for the snow removal. We we recognize the immense work that your your team has uh put out for that and the safety of our properties and how much we value that. We got precious cargo and they work terribly hard, lots of hours to get that completed for us and so it's so appreciated. And if everybody could please do a collective no snow dance. Uh I think there's something forecasted on Sunday. So I think everybody is over it. So, uh, wear your hat backwards, your pajamas inside out, flush ice down the toilet, whatever the usual stuff is to bring it on. We're not doing that on Sunday. So, uh, thank you guys very much. We will move to MCIU update. >> I had a question.
043>> Oh, sorry. Go ahead. >> So, Dr. Thank you very much. Um, Mr. Lackey, there are a number of things on the agenda tonight that we're looking at for approval for next week um, under property. Was there an opportunity to discuss the purchase of some of these items because they are um coming out of capital reserve and I don't know whether there were part of a renewal schedule or planned or if they were sudden things that we needed unexpectedly that come up. So >> Mr. Pelg you take this one. >> So so the items that are uh on for board approval are items for replacement of existing equipment. The equipment has exceeded its life expectancy. We're having issues with trying to get uh the vehicle, the one vehicle inspected. It's uh rusted. The inspection agency
044said they can no longer inspect that. So, the replacement truck is for that vehicle. And then the UTV is a replacement of a John Deere UTV. >> So, so these are replacements of materials and I'm, you know, or equipment. And I'm wondering if do we have a plan um in this you know they're coming out of Capitol reserve. Is this something that um we you know when we know when as I mean obviously we knew this was coming it wasn't like something died unexpectedly. Is that part of our planning and maybe this is a Mr. Frink question or do is it just as they come up? Um >> now all of these items are included in the uh 20-year capital plan. >> I'm sorry I couldn't hear you. All of the items on this list
045are included in our long-term capital plan, 20-year plan. >> Okay. So, this was these were things just like we do with the textbooks. We knew that these are are equipment that we knew we needed to place. So, but it's coming out of capital reserve. Is that how it we do the replacement of equipment or or should it be coming out of a a different a specific budget? >> No, for for property type things. That's what the capital reserve fund is for. So, we put money in the capital reserve fund each year, uh, which typically is included in the facilities budget, um, a kind of a set amount, kind of a an average amount over the next 20 years. Um, and then as items come due, repaving or whatever it might be, those big nuts, those
046big numbers that come through, we have the money set aside and we continue to put uh more money away each year for those types of items. roofs, parking lots, uh trucks and equipment, all of those types of things. >> Okay. Thank you. So, it's part of the facilities budget that comes out of the capital reserve. >> Yes, correct. >> Right. Thank you very much for taking the time to clarify that for me. >> And if I may add a comment. >> Any other questions about property? >> Okay, back to Dr. Wright for the MCIU update. >> This is Theodor. >> Yeah. So so busy with my questions there that all right with the MCIU. So we had our January meeting and I apologize I don't have the date that we had it. Um it was
047Wednesday. My goodness was the last Wednesday two weeks ago. So I apologize for it. So I can get that for you if you need it. that the MCIU welcomed six new board members from Colonial, Upper Dublin, Lower Marian, Haber Horscham, Solderton, and Springfield Township. There were two presentations. One was from preK counts. Talked about eligibility qualifications for attending the districts that hold classrooms throughout the county, enrollment benefits for those that attend. Um, they also shared ReadAcross America will be celebrated out of our buildings on the week of March 2nd. Um and the office of technology services provided an overview of the contracts that are brought to the board for approval as well as a brief summary of some of the services provided. Um Dr. Speaker, our executive director um talked about thanked the board members
048for board appreciation month and shared some moments. Um the you'll notice that here we'll it will show up for us here. The 2627 district membership budget was approved representing the cost of providing membership services to the districts. And that's I think all that is relevant here for us here. Our next meeting is um next Wednesday, February 25th at uh 6:45 at the MCIU in the boardroom there. Thank you. Any questions for Dr. Wright? Okay, moving next to the assistant superintendent report. Oh. >> Oh, okay. Dr. Chararma, you have a question. >> Yeah, I was just going to make a comment regarding Dr. Wright's previous question. um the the uh the refresh of the pickup truck and the um the ATV. Uh both vehicles were heavily used in our last snowstorm and given the condition of
049those current vehicles, um they're not really sustainable, especially not on that thick layer of ice. Um so just want to share that that if we do get some snow, which we are all praying for, we will not. uh vehicles like this will really help our crew to maintain safety and do their job properly. So the approval of these items will be uh it will be valuable for our employees to do their job safely. >> Uh thank you Dr. Shmer. I apologize if I didn't see that you had a question when we were still on that topic. So thank you. >> No worries. Thank you. So, on to the assistant superintendence report with uh we'll start with Dr. G. >> Thank you. Good evening. I'd first like to recognize some of our school counselors and psychologists
050for my update. During the first two weeks of February, 9th, 10th, and 11th grade counselors collectively met with a total of 1,182 students. These meetings included academic planning, course selection, and individualized student support. So, I'd like to acknowledge the secondary counselors for all their hard work. Secondly, in the area of school psychology, Christine Bradley, our school psychologist at Oaks Elementary, recently attended a workshop entitled mental health first aid youth for youth at Patan. She earned her certification and will be sharing key takeaways and resources from the training at their February psychology meeting. Karina Clark from Brooke and Ashley Nastazi at the 56 Center have been spearheading an initiative to revamp the district's gifted evaluation process. Their work is focused on the following areas: universal screenings, multiple criteria identification, gifted re-evaluation criteria and gifted rubric. So
051stay tuned for more information on that. Moving into the next topic is on the Western Center. We are so proud of our talented Western Montgomery Career and Technical Center students for showcasing their skills, creativity, and leadership at the recent skills USA. From welding to machining to graphic design and health sciences, our Golden Rams represented Springford with excellence and determination. Huge congratulations to all participants and a special shout out to the following winners who brought home medals. First, Anya Castner, 10th grade, culinary gold. Sienna Lady Ariana Powell Powell, 11th grade and 12th grade. Welding do they did the open and closing ceremonies and both brought home gold. Lincoln White, 12th grade, precision machining, brought home gold. Maddie Mishach, 10th grade, health sciences for the health science knowledge bowl, brought home gold. Christian Hensel, 12th grade, prec
052precision machining, CNC technician, silver. Penny Herman's, 10th grade, commercial art, t-shirt design, silver. And finally, Ariana Shoemaker, 11th grade, automotive technology, automotive repair and maintenance, brought home the bronze. So, I'd like to acknowledge our eight students that brought home medals for this um skills event and congratulate them on their tremendous accomplishment. >> And finally, >> can I ask you a question? Do we tend to bring them in for a formal appreciation? Has that been done in the past as as we do for some of the other competitions? >> We have not, but we can certainly explore that. I would love to do that. >> Absolutely. That would be great. Mhm. Okay, moving on to my final update in the area of the arts. April 10th, 1912, the RMS Titanic sets out from London on her
053maiden voyage across the Atlantic. Build as the largest floating object in the world, the Titanic is already big news. April 15th, 1912, Titanic: The Unsinkable Ship sinks, killing over 1500 men, women, and children. In a stunning chamber musical as massive as the ocean liner that shares its name, Yes and Stones musical Titanic tells the stories of people on on board, the legendary steamer, and the men who got them there. spanning all classes workers in the boiler room to first class attendants from the poorest passengers who scraped together their their life savings to purchase third class tickets to America to some of the wealthiest men of the Victorian age including John Jacob Aster and Benjamin Guggenheim. Marsen and Peter Stone's musical tells the tragic story with a compassionate book, intelligent lyrics, and sore soaring melodies. Full
054of memorable characters based on the real men and women on the ship, Titanic is a powerful, complex look at the making of a tragedy. So, we are here to announce, well, we've already announced it, that the um spring musical will be on February 27th at 700 p.m. That's a Friday. And on Saturday, there is two shows, February 28th, 1:00 and 7 o'clock PM. All take place in the Springford Auditorium, and we're looking forward to seeing a lot of people there to see the Titanic. That is the end of my report. >> Good evening. Yesterday was a busy day in the district despite students being off of school. We offered a variety of professional learning sessions from practical strategies to support diverse learners for our instructional assistance to sessions for our math teachers on analyzing and
055responding to growth data using our new math program I Ready. One notable session that was offered was pertaining to the new web content accessibility guidelines or WCAG. This session was designed to prepare staff to meet the April 2026 WCAG accessibility mandate by ensuring that digital materials are accessible to all users. Participate participants learned practical strategies for creating accessible documents, presentations, and online content, including proper use of headings, alt text, color, contrast, and accessible documents. I'd like to thank the communications team, Aaron Krue and Andrew Rothl for their extensive work and professional growth that they're doing to help ensure compliance with digital communication and to the staff for approaching these new mandates with open minds as we learn and work through this mandate together. I'd now like to shift gears for a minute and discuss artificial
056intelligence. The support to support student privacy and maintain focus focused learning environments. I'd like to remind families and students that students may not wear wearable AI devices, including smart glasses like metagasses at school. This includes smart glasses that use prescriptive lenses. Students should wear standard non-digital frames during the duration of school if vision correction is needed. Families are asked to ensure these devices remain at home. Thank you for your partnership as we continue to navigate emerging technology and prioritize student safeties. And finally, the Springford Area School District is hosting a teacher job fair for the 262 27th school year. Available positions include elementary teachers, secondary teachers, special education teachers, special area teachers, and more. Interested applicants are encouraged to attend on March 4th, and please visit springfor.net to register. Thank you to the entire HR
057department for all of their efforts in organizing this. And that's the end of my report. >> Thank you both very much. Are there any questions from the board? Okay. Okay. Next, we will move on to review items for our voting meeting next week. >> Oh, I'm so sorry, Mr. Fitzgerald. >> No problem. No, it's okay. Um, just just very briefly. Um, and this is one of my favorite parts of the of the position. Uh, over the next few weeks, I'll be um accompanying Dr. Birkhart down to the court of common please in Norristown for his uh swearing in to become officially uh the next superintendent of schools. While we um the board approved his commission uh three and a half weeks ago um this is a process that is required by the department of education.
058We usually um bring him down to Judge Rothstein's chambers uh former partner at Fox Rothschild. It's always good to stay on Judge Rothstein's good side. So, we'll we'll have a nice introduction and and hopefully be ready to go for April 1st. >> Thank you very much. Okay. So, now moving on to items for our voting meeting. So, starting with section six, minutes A and B. Are there any questions or comments? Okay. Section seven, uh, personnel A through D. Any questions or comments? under personnel on D, the curriculum facilitators for math and science. Are those new positions or can talk a little bit about those um positions? >> Dr. Wright, that is not a new position. Um someone had taken a different position, so that vacancy was open. So that person is replacing the other vacated
059person. >> Thank you. Any other questions for personnel? Okay, next we will take finance sections A through M. I mean if there's any questions or discussion Okay. Next, section nine, programming and curriculum, sections A through J. Uh, any questions? Next, section 10, conferences and workshops, sections A through C. Any questions or comments? Wrong one. Section 11, uh, property. There's just one item or A through F. Any questions or comments? Is Is it A through D? Oh, hold on. Online. I'm looking at the agenda online. It says A through D. Is it different on the paper? It is. Okay. Oh, I'm sorry. I was one step ahead of you. I was on other business. Apologies. A through F for property and then other business is A through D. Okay. So, any questions about property A through
060F. Okay. on to 12 other business A through D. >> D uh Dr. Scan. >> Sure. Yeah. Uh item D is the calendar. We had some discussion uh at the as Dr. Rice said at the uh curriculum meeting uh this month. There were a couple of questions that came up about um our half days. This calendar would begin school on August 24th. it would end school on June 3rd. Uh and there are five early dismissal days in the calendar next year that is being proposed and recommended. Uh one is the last day of school on June 3rd. Uh two of them are tied to long weekends. One is I believe to uh the spring break weekend, one is tied to uh President's Day weekend. Uh and those are for professional development time for for our
061classroom teachers. There are two other days, one in January I believe and one in April that are midweek uh and again those are uh we months where we do not have professional development time allocated for our teachers and we are trying to do uh shorter um PD time and more frequent uh opportunities. uh as part of this uh the question came up about on those days how would we uh how would we navigate the half-day kindergarten program and uh if you don't have half day this this isn't a problem but we don't we're not there yet. So if you for half day, we would treat them uh much like we do a delayed opening where we do a delayed opening. We bring students in, we we split the shift, they're in for about an hour
062and a half. Uh then they go home. So our AM kindergarten uh on those days would come in from 9 in the morning and dismiss at 10:25. Uh the buses would go out and then pick up the PM students, they would come in at 11:35 and dismiss at 1:00 uh for the for the elementary dismissals. So that's how we would we would navigate the uh the kindergarten half day kindergarten program. Uh also the question came what what would happen for the people who are using the aftercare program. Dr. Murray reached out to our afterare provider and uh they would they would uh staff up at 1:00 when that uh dismissal takes place. Uh they said they would offer that at no charge to their uh to the people who were using the program. The other
063piece that they're looking into is for for parents who may need just those five days for for the afterare program. They are looking at a schedule and a fee for service for just those five days and they'll get that out. So, uh we did get some responses uh to those questions. They were really good really good questions that uh I think we were able to tease that out for next year. >> Can I make a comment slashquest? I know that we've heard from some others in the community around the concern with starting earlier. And I say earlier because Labor Day is late this year. So in actuality, if I'm not mistaken, we proposing to start the 24th, but this year we started the 25th as an example. Like I know there were some concerns raised,
064for example, about like football and like starting at the time. Can you speak at all to like to some of that and how you thought how we thought about the calendar creation in that regard? Yeah, there and the football practice. They're doing uh two practices a day during those those weeks. They would they would come in early. They're coming in early anyhow. So, they would come in before school. Our staff that uh is that are part of our teaching staff obviously are not going to be able to hold practice from 8:00 to 3:00. Then they would do their second shift after 3:00 uh for for those practices. >> Dr. Wright, did you have questions? >> No, that's okay. Thank you. It was a very good discussion though. I I do I do want to say
065that and thank you for coming back with so many um this is really good information and must um help some of the parents alleviate some of that concern um for the scheduling. Thank you. >> Yeah, and I was just going to echo what Dr. Wright said. um you know we started having this conversation in mid January and you know you came to the board we know that we don't routinely uh approve the calendar in January but you came to the board a month earlier to have to start having discussions and to get initial thoughts and you know I think you heard our concerns and did a good job in terms of balancing what you heard at that meeting the work session in January and coming up with something that works for our staff um and
066you know the educational needs needs that uh this educational opportunity that this will bring to them. Um I also want to say thank you to Dr. Wright uh and really the entire board because the entire board much like policy was in attendance for curriculum and so if the conversation seemed light today it's because we had such great conversation and thank you Dr. Wright uh for making sure that everyone's voices were heard in that meeting. Um I think there were some very strong opinions. If you want to hear it, go pull up the recording of the curriculum and technology meeting from February and you'll see where people stand. >> Thank you. Oh, go ahead. Sorry, Dr. Scanlet. I appreciate that you addressed the one part of my question, but we didn't address the part around the
067earlier start date. Can you just speak to that briefly because it it truly is one day earlier than this year, but I think there's the perception because of the way Labor Day falls, like how did we get to that date? Yeah, the I guess the question is I mean this this year we started the fourth Monday of August. Next year we are starting the fourth Monday of August and because Labor Day is is later that uh that comes two weeks prior to Labor Day. Uh there are some other districts in the area starting that week uh and I think people are trying to uh to frontload some of the instructional days because of all the state testing that takes place because of some of the advanced placement courses that take place in May. uh and
068and when you have days in August versus a couple days in the second week or third week of June, uh those are much better instructional days at the front end. So, I think you're going to see this pattern continue uh with with public schools as you're as you're starting to see that. But we started the fourth Monday of August. This is also the fourth Monday of August. It's just Labor Day moves. Yep. >> Okay. Um, next section 13, there's anformational item about tenure. Um, and then moving on to section 14, board comment. Does anybody have comment tonight? I do have a comment. Just want to say a couple of thank yous. Um, this has been a busy month for the board. Uh, a couple of just a lot of unique opportunities to to interact with
069our administration. So, first of which, I want to uh recognize Mr. Ionelli, Mr. Eland, and really all the volunteers, administrators that were out there. Um, I had the opportunity to uh volunteer as a judge for the VEX Robotics Competition, which is just so inspiring and amazing to see what these kids are able to um brainstorm, design, build, and then ultimately um test at at the event that we held uh on February 7th. So, I know a lot of effort goes into that and I just wanted to say thank you for allowing the opportunity to be a volunteer and be a fly in the wall. And um I won't lie, it was a little intimidating. You know, I took honors physics, but it did not prepare me at all to uh interview these students. They're on
070another level. So, congratulations to everyone that was participating in that. Um the second thank you I wanted to give out was to our administrators. So, over the last couple of weeks, we've had the opportunity to take board tours of the buildings. Um, and I'll be very candid. I shared this with uh Dr. Wright and Mrs. uh Deerorf prior to the start of this meeting. You know, when I first uh saw the board tours on the agenda, I was just thinking that this was routine. Like, you know, we have a new board member on board, so we routinely offer the tours. And um I really was just kind of expecting like a very informal walkth through and I can say that um I got so many insights um meeting with the administrators at the various buildings
071not just to have them showcase what's going on but also to talk about the importance of some of the programs some of the action items that might be coming down the pike. um you know looking at how the programs in for example the 9th grade center filter into some of the programs that we've approved at the high school and then talking to some of the staff for example the 567 building about you know how the capital plan might impact the spacing needs down the road and what that might look like from a um facility standpoint or maybe even a personnel standpoint as we think about reorganizing the middle school and then special education you know visiting up and attending some of those classes. So, um I I found I was I shouldn't say I'm surprised,
072but like I realized that these boards are not just for the new, it's for everybody. There was so much value in doing that. So, I just want to thank all the administrators and teachers that allowed us into their classrooms. Um and then lastly, uh I want to on the same note thank Mr. Ianelli for inviting the board to I know that many of you also attended some of the um class presentations that he routinely does where he showcases um I think to use his words he lets the students loose in terms of creating um a design a a game in his AP consumer uh AP computer science class and he uh every year has allowed the board to come in and watch these presentations to see you know how the students again took this from
073initial design and concept to um application and imple you know implementation and I was just so absolutely impressed with um the one day and I only got to observe three of them but again just really time worthwhile and so I want to thank you for uh inviting us so thank you to everyone that was a lot of thanks but it was a busy month was there any other board comment I had something that I was going to email but Miss Herman's inspired me just to do it here since uh the people um you know are are here and I can look at you and say it um my daughter is getting tier three MTSS services this year um and if you asked me last year I would have no idea what that meant we hear
074about it we learn it but until you're actually kind of living that experience um you know as a board member if you're there's so many things like Mrs. Herman mentioned that we are here supporting and approving and um but until you have that experience seeing it firsthand or or it being your family member, uh you don't really have that firsthand experience and it it could bring me to tears now to talk about those meetings and how many people are around a table talking about my daughter and what is awesome about her, what she needs to work on and all the things that so many people are doing um for her and to support her. And it's it's it's a beautiful process and um I just really really appreciate everybody at Brooke and everybody in the
075district doing that. I think as parents we don't know as much about that process since it is newer. Um and to always think like oh my kid needs help. We got to get that evaluation and then that struggle between the whole evaluation process. Um, but this MTSS process for us has been beautiful and it's so appreciated and my daughter is thriving and um, I just really want to send the biggest thank you um, to everybody involved. So, thank you for that. Okay, so with that being said, we'll move to public comment. Is there any public comment tonight? Okay, seeing none, do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved. >> Second.