001Just going to do an audio check. Can you hear me? I hear you. Can you hear me? Yep. Perfect. Thanks. Thank you. All right. Good evening. I'd like to call the board meeting on Monday, June 23rd, today to order. Um, if we could please stand for the pledge of allegiance. 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
002time 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 meeting, 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. Okay. Mrs. Schmidt, could we have a roll call, please? Tonight in person, we have Mr. Dr. Lackey, Dr. Wright, Mrs. Deerdorf, Mr. Jackson, Mrs. Westwood, Dr. Chararma. On Zoom, we have
003Mrs. Weine Garden, and Mrs. Goldsmith. Absent this evening is Mrs. Herman's. Thank you. Are there any announcements? I don't have any at this time. Thank you. Okay, I have one. Um, I'd like to take a moment to share on behalf of the Springford Board of School Directors. As we look ahead to the future of our district, the board remains committed to transparency, trust, and the highest standards of professionalism. With that in mind, I want to provide a quick update on where we are in the search for both an interim superintendent and ultimately a permanent replacement. The candidate who is scheduled to be appointed this evening let us know that he's chosen to pursue another opportunity and will not be joining spring forward. While this was an unexpected change, we respect his decision and wish him
004the very best. That said, our commitment to finding the right leadership for our district hasn't changed. We're continuing to work to identify a highly qualified interim superintendent, and at the same time, we're preparing to begin a thorough and thoughtful search for our next permanent superintendent. As part of that process, there will be opportunities in the new school year for the Springford community to share your thoughts and ideas. We truly look forward to hearing what's most important to you as we move into this next chapter for spring forward. Which brings us to public to be heard on agenda items only. If anyone would like to speak, you can approach the podium and just let us know your name and um township or burrow that you live in. Okay, seeing none, we will continue through our agenda.
005We have no presentations tonight, no action items, which will take us right to board and committee reports. And I'll hand it to Mr. Jackson for property. No report. Okay. Then uh next we'll go to the MCIU with Dr. Wright. Thank you. Um our meeting is tomorrow or Wednesday this Wednesday. So I have no report at this time. Miss Wine Garden, are you giving the Western Center update? I can. Okay, great. Thank you. Fantastic. Thank you everyone. Uh the joint operating committee uh met on June 2nd at 7 p.m. Excuse me. We started the meeting with um Mr. Living Good reviewing the student survey results and there were not any ma major changes from the previous year's results and it reflects that the students are still satisfied with the education they are receiving. They also presented
006the staff survey results and Mr. Living good is following up with any of the unsatisfactory results um because that's how he learns how to make improvements and overall everything looked very good. There's some discussion on uh how we can improve the actual survey itself. So that's um moving forward. Um Mr. Living good reviewed his final report of his yearly goals. He covered the year's accomplishments, then moved on to the goals and expansion in the capital reserve. Um, next year's goals are to establish the capital reserve. Now, you've heard us talk about that quite a few times over the last year. So, hopefully that will uh move on next year. Uh, exploring adult education programs and then planning for what an expansion could look like. Um again that's just uh uh conceptual at this point. Uh
007then we went into our reports. U we received a pre-apprenticeship for the electrical program. So that's the first of hopefully many in the future. Um it's associated with the universal academy and it's it's a very exciting opportunity for our students uh to when they graduate they will have an apprenticeship under their belts. Uh Mr. McInness and Mr. Bartholomew visited Penn College which is now offering dual enrollment this year and uh Mr. Living good was nominated and elected to represent the Eastern Skills USA region. He was also elected to the executive board at the PACTA representing CTE. Um he's also asked to speak at the ACT conference in Nashville. And interestingly, I thought this was pretty cool. The topic he's going to cover is how AI will be used in grant writing to unlock grants. you
008know that uh the Western Tech Center is does get a lot of grant money and this is fantastic that he's able to spread that word. Um new student orientation took place at the end of May and u Mr. Robinson commented that it was really great to see students who visited in sixth and seventh grades who are now starting their journey at the tech center in high school. So it's pretty cool. uh they had the senior recognition and awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 25th, and there was over $14,000 in awards and many kids were recognized. So, that was uh very exciting. And let's see, sorry, I'm reading off of a very small screen. Um we reviewed several policies and trying to jump. Apologize. There's a I apologize for the delay. Um there's an important piece in
009here that seems to be missing from my nose. Well, I'll come back to that in a minute. Um we had another meeting on June 17th. Uh it was a very quick short meeting 5:00 pm via Zoom and in this meeting we uh we the board approved the administration's recommendations for salaries for the 2526 school year. So I think that concludes my update. Okay. Thank you very much. Any questions for Mrs. Wearten? Seeing none, we will move to legislative committee with Mrs. Westwood. Good evening, the legislative committee met on June 4th at 6 PM via Zoom here. Um we were joined by Senator Maria Colette for the first half of our meeting as well as Tom Holoid from her office. Um the senator shared that the state budget negotiations are ongoing. However, given the federal funding
010uncertainty, she explained that there is a reluctance to make commitments at this time. She predicted that the budget finalization will be delayed until the federal budget is clear, possibly into September. So, provide more updates as we have them. Um, the senator confirmed that House Bill 1500, I'll circle back to that in a moment about what that is, was passed by the House earlier that day and she would support it in the Senate. She explained that vouchers are part of the conversation regarding the budget. Her take was that the goal was not to pass anything that would take money away from public schools. The group discussed the usage of Arizona as an example as a cautionary tale with a senator confirming it does support um provide support for the argument against vouchers not noting the structural
011deficits that have developed in just a short period of time in the state of Arizona. The group discussed needed funds for facilities improvements with the senator with a strong request to not make the funding competitive as we don't want schools to be in a position they're fighting against one another for resources. Um, additionally, and this was something that I brought up with the senator and she assured me that other districts are facing the same thing, the group discussed the challenges of tax equity supplements that boards are dealing with regarding tax increases. So, circling back to the many conversations we've had about reductions in revenue from commercial real estate, um, there are other districts um, throughout the Commonwealth that they're alo having a hard time with us. Um, so she shared that that had come up
012um, with some of the other senators, so we will continue to engage her among other lawmakers on that topic. Um, finally, early intervention was briefly mentioned with the need to support the supplemental budget request that's currently included in the state budget proposal. Um, after the senator left, the group discussed House Bill 1500, which is a cyber charter reform bill. I'll just really briefly um talk about that. Um, but first on the federal side, the group discussed the need to get an answer on. So, I know that that has been brought up at this table as well. I believe we're still waiting a decision. I'm looking at Mark, but um, yes, I thought so. So, we'll share more when we know it. Um the next meeting will be at the MCU on October 1st, 2025. And
013really quick, I'll give like some context on House Bill 1500. So um as I mentioned this past, the House in early June, it amends the public school code to make updates to the charter school law as it relates to cyber charter schools. You can read more about this online, but some very quick highlights. It establishes a cyber charter school funding and policy council um with a variety of different the council would have a variety of different powers and duties um including developing recommendations related to how cyber charter schools are funded including process amounts and restrictions developing recommendations for policies impacting cyber charter schools standards for truency and attendant policies and holding public hearings and receiving information from experts and interested parties. Um I won't get into the goal of the council but essentially this is
014um further legislation as we talk through cyber charter school funding reform and policy recommendation. So we will share more updates as we have them. Any questions? No. Okay. Moving on to uh Spring City American Legion. Do PSBA. Oh, sure. We can do PSBA with Miss Goldmith. Hi. No new update with PSBI beyond the fact that we are electing the delegates this evening. Awesome. Thank you. Any questions from Miss Goldsmith? Okay. Thanks, David. Thank you. Spring City American Legion baseball met on Thursday, May 22nd. There's just two items I want to bring back to the board. Uh the first is that the Legion is still looking into replacing the padding at the top of the outfield walls. Um, and just a reminder that the Legion is hosting a regional tournament from July 18th to the 22nd
015at Ram Stadium. Next meeting will be July I'm sorry, this Thursday, June 26th. That concludes my update. Thank you. Thanks. Any questions? No. Okay. Mr. Vizo, superintendence report. Thank you. Just a couple of quick announcements. First of all, we are excited to announce once again the 27th annual Blue and Gold Scholarship golf outing hosted by the Springford Educational Foundation. Over the past 25 years, proceeds have enabled the foundation to support a variety of programs benefiting our students and our community. Additionally, and of significant importance is that the contributions also help the foundation to award scholarships to our graduating seniors. This year's event will be held on Monday, August 4th at the Bellwood Country Club. uh 11:30 to 12:45 is registration and a box lunch. Uh rever review of rules at 12:45 and then a start
016at 1:00 and there will be a 5:30ish uh buffet dinner. So hopefully you sign up and you can attend that. That'll be a great day for everybody. And again, that's Monday, August 4th. Uh next, I'd like to just announce we have two retirees on the agenda. Um Angie Fusco, uh 26 years of service as an IIA at Oaks. Uh she has also worked at the fifth sixth grade center and the seventh grade center. uh Pat Young 16 years of service as an IA at the senior high school and has also worked at Upper Providence and the eighth grade center as well. Uh combined these two retirees have dedicated 42 years of service to our spring forward community and we are thankful for that time. Yeah. And my last announcement, I had something written I'm not
017going to read. I'm just going to simply say um I've really enjoyed my time over the last six years. It has been one of the more challenging times in public education, one of the most divisive times of public education. And I'm very proud of our community. I'm proud of our school board, our our our administrative team, our association, our staff, our students, and our parents for working together to come through um a very challenging time and and be on top. Spring forward is a special place filled with special people. And I count myself blessed to have been able to be with you and lead this district over the last four and a half years. So, thank you. I wish you all the best. And I'll still be in the community if you need anything. Thank
018you so much, Mr. Rizzo. I know I I can speak on behalf of all of us in saying um you know, we really value your leadership and support of us over your tenure um and wish you all of the best. So, thank you. Can I I'd also like to take that that time to um Bob um you know, Mr. Jackson and I were here when you were originally brought in um to be the superintendent. though you are, you know, we've worked closely with you for a long time and um watched you lead this district and I'm very proud of the work that you have done and really feel that you have were a great hire and a great asset to our district and I applaud you for moving on to this next stage in your
019your career and your life and I wish you nothing but the best. So, thank you. In the spirit of well wishes, I have we hired Mr. Rizzo during co so I would like to put a positive spin on that. I apologize Bob. It has been a pleasure to work with you. Um as I said you were hired during co it was not the easiest time for this community for this board or even for this country. So I I applaud you for sticking with us. Not sure that I would have going through all everything we went through there. you know, the the name calling, the death threats, all the other craziness that came along with that. But I applaud you for being here. I wish you well in your future endeavors, and you're always welcome to
020come back. Thank you. I do have a special note sent from international waters in the air above on the way to Korea. Uh from Mrs. determines. Um, dear Bob, as I reflect on the last four years serving on the board and in the past three as president, I want to take a moment to sincerely thank you. Your leadership and deep knowledge of the district have been invaluable. But it's your willingness to serve as a mentor to me that I'm most grateful for. You have been someone I could lean on, whether to understand process, weigh a difficult decision, or figure out how to navigate the often unpredictable and sometimes messy dynamics of this role. Your insight has helped me grow, not just as a board member, but as a leader. We both know that in this
021work, you're often damned if you do and damned if you don't. There's no shortage of personalities and opinions on how things should run. But through it all, you have bled with heart, integrity, and even managed to throw a laugh or two along the way. That's no small feat. One of the things that has struck me the most during our time working together, especially since announcing your retirement, is witnessing firsthand how you engage with our students. It's genuinely heartwarming. Whether at banquetss, the Special Olympics, concerts, or other countless events, it's in those quiet moments of interaction that it's clear. Being superintendent was never a job to you. You led for the right reasons, and it shows. While I realize this is not your last day, I feel guilty not being there in person to share these
022thoughts directly with you at our last regular public meeting. I know there's still a lot of work to be done between now and August, and I have no doubt you'll leave Springford in a strong position. Frankly, it's already clear you've left it better than it was when you arrived. That's obvious. I look forward to catching up upon my return. Be well, Bob. Yes, be well. And thank you for everything. Warmly, Erica. I thought she was on vacation. Okay. So, moving on to our solicitor's report. Mr. I have no uh formal report this evening, but uh Bob, it's been a professional pleasure working with you when you were in this chair a number of years ago and obviously during during the the last four and a half years. So, best of luck with everything. Okay, we're
023going to move into our voting portion of the meeting. Um, I am going to ask that everybody make sure after they cast their vote to mute so that I can go to Zoom um, and clearly hear everybody without the feedback for their votes. Um, and then we're kind of hoping that Karen will go first with her vote and then Heidi just for clarity and accounting purposes. Um so we'll start um in section six minutes. Um do I have a motion? So move. Second. Second. Questions and discussion. All those in favor? I I I I I Okay, so that motion passes 8 Z. Moving on to section seven, personnel. Do I have a motion? So moved. Second. Second questions and discussion. Um, can we separate H? Okay, so A through A through Tus minus H. Okay.
024So, do I have a motion on personnel sections A through T minus H? So moved. Second. Second questions and discussion. Right. All those in favor say I. I. I. I. I. I I Any opposed? Okay, that motion passes 80. So now we'll do personnel item H. Do I have a motion? So moved. Do I have a second? Second. Questions and discussion? Yes. I pulled this one out because it is my understanding that the accounting manager financial reporting and analysis job description change changes this position so that it is an administrative position and therefore um is like creating a new position and I want to make sure before I vote on this if that is the case or not. Mr. Rizzo, do you have information on it because I know Mr. Frink's not here or maybe
025Mrs. Mr. Frink is on Zoom. It's a restructuring but Mr. Frink can you speak to that? Uh yes I can. Um the um the yeah the position actually is a redesign. So I had I had placed this uh in the memo I think twice uh over uh May and June. Um the position is not an administrative position. It is still a staff support position if that was the question. So, um I did read the report the the memo and I was not able to attend the finance meeting, but in that um I believe that it said that it was an administrative position that um you were getting rid of the child accounting position and restructuring this to become like creating a new position that was an administrative position. Uh no, it is not administrative position.
026his administrative support position. It is not in act 93. I think that's what your question is. Okay. Thank you. So it's not in act 93. What about how much is this position going to cost us additional money at this time that we are when we're looking at the new budget? Um I think there was a difference in salary for the position. That might be lease's position. Um might be better to answer. I'm not sure. Actually I can answer that uh question as well. um as was stated in the memo um the restructuring itself overall which would mean um the creation of this position, the elimination of the other position which was the child accounting position which should not be confused with financial accounting. Um the net impact of that and after everybody moves around would
027be an increase of approximately $27,000 uh which is inclusive of all uh benefits and retirement. if it's at all helpful. It's a 0.02% budget impact. And we talked about this um previously, but Mr. Frink, you can um re-emphasize if you'd like. The other reason that was brought up in the memo is also for succession planning, which I do think is very important, especially for critical senior roles that we have in our accounting department. That's correct. So, this is not a new position. This is a revision of an existing position with additional cost included based on additional duties and responsibilities. There's definitely I'm sorry there's definitely increase in duties and responsibilities with position um as was described again in the memo. Um again as I stated it too it is also a uh an elimination of
028a position which was a full-time child accounting position which allows this will allow the staff to you know take on um greater responsibility um especially in the over the years since Mrs. David and Eiser and I have been here, you know, approximately 40% increase in our budget um and uh a lot more uh financial reporting and and you know uh requirements that are required by the state, by the feds, um by the auditors for new pronouncements and those types of things. If it's if it's at all helpful to those of you to refresh your memory, the specific um responsibilities of the position are to oversee the accounting floor, manage financial reporting, train department staff, field staff on business processes, assist in managing financial and state audits, and learn the budgeting forecasting process, as well as
029assisting Mr. Frink on strategic initiatives as directed. Right. Thank you. Yes, I did I did read all of the job description in the memo and I did read about the secession planning too and and um and I do believe that that's that's very important though I know I do know that um you know we had recently um well I'm concerned about secession across the board. So I also worry about that with um Dr. G's position too because you know she has no directors under her at this time and I and I hope hopefully we are looking at that also when we are considering our finances about how we're spreading how we're working on the secession plans too. Um I'm concerned about any kind of re reassessing or re rearranging organizing within the the finance department
030particularly I really think that um I would be I'm going to be you know more comfortable waiting until we have a new superintendent in place to kind of take a a look at our finances and look at how our districts run. We are just now we're just you know basically signed a budget that was 1.14% over um the act one index um and we're you know told that we are in financial straits this position is an additional cost and I'm concerned if this additional cost was built into the district before we even had an idea to hear about it and vote on it built into the budget I'm sorry for the coming year before we even had a time to discuss it and vote on it and you know because I I don't like to
031think that anything new any new positions or anything like that are built into the budget. So you know I just this is one of the reasons I'm I'm just bringing this up personally. I'd like to wait and see what our new superintendent wants to do as far as reorganizing secession plans. Um hopefully Mr. Frink you are not going anywhere soon because we you know value you here. Um, so anyway, that um I don't know what that means. Um, but that and if we could separate it out from the other two or I guess at this point it's a matter of voting for um personally for not approving of those positions. So that's my my viewpoint. I appreciate your perspective. I think the other way that I look at this is we have people at more
032senior levels doing more junior level work which is more expensive for the district and is using more of their time. I also worry about having only one person or a small number of people trained on our forecasting and budgeting process. So there is an added cost of $27,000 holistically. Mr. Frink can confirm whether or not it was baked in the budget, but as he mentioned, this was brought forward in May and in June, so that was brought prior to us voting on the budget. So was a consideration. But Mr. Frink, can you confirm about the inclusion in this year's in this upcoming year's budget or not, please? it was not included in this year's in this coming budget. Um and the reason why it was not included because prior times we had done that and
033frankly uh it came back uh as uh or how to say it um uh not favorable to do it that way. So that would be an addition to our budget. So, of 02% correct. But if I may add, I think Dr. Wright brought up a really good point. Um, until we have the new person in place, um, we should, you know, hold on making those decisions because if it will be hard to reverse anything if that new person decides to go a different route. Um, you know, succession plan is important for everyone. uh knowledge that every individual holds is very important for this district. So I believe that we should revisit this um when we have that person and take that guidance holistically to see how we want to move forward. Thank you. So does
034that mean we're going to hold on all our summer hiring then also this this is a change a position change it's not on just a hiring. Just just a question. Do we see a risk in waiting too long because we are worried about succession and uh we don't know when the new superintendent will be hired, when they'll start. So, I'm I'm I'm asking, you know, for this I've been at this table for plus or minus 10 years and I've seen and heard everything regarding hiring personnel, not hiring personnel. Um, this district in my world will now consider a steel building. The infrastructure here is in place. If this person is not hired, it is not going to impact this district from an operational perspective. From where I sit, um, if you do select this person,
035I don't think it's going to impact this district from an operational perspective. It really comes down to it's a it's a financial issue. And Dr. Wright brought it up. It wasn't part of the original budget. It's being brought up now and I think that's where it should land. Thank you. Any other questions and discussion? Um I I do want to note again that something um that we had talked about was as a board giving direction to administration on how to continue to move forward. And I know that we're still working on that step. Um, but I would give pause to continue um, to do this without having that overall conversation and direction given and I'll hand it over to you. Yeah, I would just simply say this. Um, Mr. Frink has done a fantastic job
036um from the time he came in here prior to my time here to get the district where it needs to be to have a good um forecasting, have a good projecting model in place. Um he has advised um the district well in terms of how to move forward. He's very conservative in his approach and spending of funds. If he's recommending a retooling of his department after analyzing the way that it is operated and as he had mentioned a 40% increase in the budget, I don't know that a new it's just my opinion. I'm on my way out. I don't know that a new superintendent um is going to necessarily weigh in on that. They're probably most likely going to defer to him um in terms of how to best let um to to um to
037get business done in the business office. So, I mean, for me, obviously, we're going to keep doing what we do. Uh but Mr. Frink has been tasked with being as efficient as possible in terms of how the business side of a school district runs. This is this is one of the outpourings of that of that work. So, um I support the work. I support what he's trying to do there and I do think it will help the district. Um, and I will say too that what you know in our preliminary conversations um about moving forward with our superintendent next steps, we agreed as a group that we want to ensure that that is as seamless as possible and that business keeps going. Um, we have big decisions to make and and a school to run
038over then next year. So again, I just give pause if we're going to continue this this route. Any other questions and discussion on personnel item H. Okay. All those in favor say I. I. I. Any opposed? No. No. No. No. So that motion fails. 35. Moving on to finance. Hold on. I lost my spot. Yep. Moving on to finance section 8. Do I have a motion? So moved. Second. Second. Questions and discussion. All those in favor say I. I. I. I. I. Any opposed? Okay. All items under finance pass 80. Moving on to section 9 property. Do I have a motion? So moved. Second. Second. Questions and discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. I. I. I. Any opposed. Okay. So, all of the property items pass 80. Moving on to section 12.
039Other business. Do I have a motion? Oh, I skipped something. Nine. Oh, sorry. Back to item 10, programming and curriculum. Do I have a motion? So moved. Second. Second. Questions and discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. I. I I any opposed? Okay. So, programming and curriculum passes 80. Moving on to section 11, conferences and workshops. Do I have a motion? So move. Second. Questions and discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. I I Any opposed? Oh, section 12 passes. 8 Z. Moving on. No, section 11. Moving on to section 12. Right. Other business. Did I get lost? No, I'm still here. Okay. Um, section 12. Other business. Do I have a motion? So moved. Second. Second questions and discussion. All those in favor say I. I. I. I. I. Any
040opposed? All items under other business. Section 12 pass 80. Moving to section 13formational items. Do I need to talk about the delegate assembly? Just need to verify there are no other um interested board members in attending. Right now we have um Miss Westwood and Miss Hermans that are interested. We can we can take up to three. Anybody else? No. Okay. Um so do I have a motion? So moved. So moved. Okay. Justformational. So sounds good. I'm new at this. It's only my second time. All right. Section 14, board comment. I have a comment. Um we're in an interesting time with this um transition. Um with we have summer coming. We have potentially at some point soon hopefully an interim superintendent and then a broader search for superintendent. A thought that I have for this board
041and this is a general comment and not specifically necessarily related to what we just discussed with Mr. Fin proposal is as a reminder using that I'll use it just as an example actually because it's illustrative when we have a proposal that's presented in May in June in the board memo twice discussed at the finance committee two times I think it's very helpful for our administrative team if there are questions concerns or reservations about a recommendation to not surprise our administrative team at a voting meeting. Nothing was said last week at the working session. Nothing was opposed in either finance committee meeting or in prior discussions. So I completely respect everyone's opinion and wanting to do maybe something different with a proposal. But I personally as one board member do not think it is fair to
042put our administrators in a spot where they are surprised. And this is not the first time that this has happened because this happened to Dr. Hilt very recently as well. And I don't think it's professional or appropriate. Thank you. I would take my first shot at that. Mr. Westwood, the board has the right to ask a question any damn time he wants to. They're not tied to a time frame until that motion is put forth at the table. I can appreciate your position on that, but that is to say that the administration wasn't given direction because it was not voted upon yet. And I go back to my 10 years of being here. Every board does everything differently. I don't know if this it's an issue of being unprofessional or not. Not not from where
043I sit. The board has a right to ask questions at the finance to go home, take a nap, come back the next day, ask another question. There is no parameter that you have to ask a question within a given time frame until you're at the board table. And I think the the board has the right to do that. To say otherwise is to say we're we're rubber stamping something. And that's something I don't do. My position on this after being finance chair for six years. Um it's a question that came up from a financial perspective back to where we are in these times. and it's additional cost and the board has the right or board members have the right to question that cost today, tomorrow, anytime before the final vote. Thank you. True. And I
044respect your opinion as well, but I'm just curious how much money was actually already voted on outside of those items tonight. I think it was above $27,000. I know, Mr. Westwood. But, and you guys have heard me say this, what we do is easy. That is why you can be 18 to 72 to sit in this position. It is a yes or no. It is a five or four. It is simple mathematics. And you could apply that premise to everything we do in the district from a cost perspective. This is an individual that we will have to buckle our belt buckle and adjust. It is not going to impact this district from where I sit from an operational perspective. It's it's a position that was revised, which means we've done this work before and it
045didn't impact the district. You know, in six months I'm off the board. It can be brought back up again. But to sit here and say that the board did not ask questions and they have to ask questions within that time frame is just fundamentally unfair. You and another point on that is that as part of the curriculum committee which is the only committee that I am a part of every dollar that we approve ask for approval at the board table has been previously approved as part of the budget. Nothing in the curriculum is above and beyond the budget. So when you say that the when you say that this there are other things in this budget that are above and beyond maybe that's something that we need to put into our agenda where the funding
046is coming from for each of these things. Okay. So then if there's other money there that is outside above and beyond the budget that we just approved the 5.14% that was 1.14% above the referendum exception then I would like to know as a board member what we are voting on that goes above and beyond that. So maybe I need to take a closer look at the agenda. Then I do want to clarify when you log into board docs there's three different tabs of how you want to view the agenda. I don't know it's the middle tab. I'm not off the top of my mind. I don't know what it says, but for every item it says where it's being funded from. My last comment, and I promise this, but Mr. Frink, I'm saying this for
047your benefit. Um, the impact to the district, and this was stated in the memo, is there are multiple employees on a regular basis taking work home and working extra hours. The burnout to our staff is my concern, and I personally, again, one person's opinion, feel the $27,000 is worth that. I think it's important that our staff is working a balanced hours and has a work life balance and time to actually be with their families at home and not having to constantly take work home. That's all. Any other comments on that? I I did want to say one thing. Um that of course the nothing that happened tonight was wrong or incorrect. Um, I agree. What I was not talking and Oh, Heidi once has a comment. Okay. Um, nothing was done incorrect. You have the
048right to vote and ask questions whenever you want to. Um, I do think it is unfair um to the administration and to our staff to to have a surprise like this when it was mentioned um so many times as Teresa already mentioned where there were opportunities to kind of work it out and then you get to the vote. Um so I do think that that's unfortunate. Um but I will hand it to Mrs. Gold Smith to give comment. And just to reiterate, I also agree that we don't want to be surprising admin and that they need direction. I absolutely 100% believe in that. But then that falls up to us to give and I will speak only for me, but I know I have been very vocal about wanting to do that sooner rather than
049later. So I do agree that we need to give guidance, but that falls on us to do. And the sooner we're able to do that, I think alleviates a lot of the issues. Thank you. Mr. Rizzo, did you want to add something? I just last time we were in this situation, I spoke up and I maybe hit a button a little too hard. I'm going to try not to do that, but my question is this. We spent a lot of time talking about the accounting manager financial reporting and analysis piece. did not talk about the other two job descriptions and I just I would like anybody on my team to be able to speak to the impact of not approving those tonight because all three didn't pass. Can somebody speak to that from my team
050so the board is aware? I can speak to the educational system specialist position. This was simply a renaming of a position that exists. No impact on the budget. We just wanted to modernize the job description and more align the title of the position with the work that is completed. So this was just a formalized renaming of a job that already exists. Well, maybe those positions should have been itemized separately and and I could fault that on on the way that I wrote the motion. So that that one's on me for sure. Um there was a somebody did mention separating them out at some point, but it didn't gain any traction. Uh, and the other position, sure. The lead um custodian position would take effect. We would like in September when Mrs. Whitmore resigns, retires, um,
051we would split out her position to be an HVAC controller and then a lead custodian. It would be costneutral. Um, we do have a custodial position that is open that we would look to refill with the lead custodian. Uh, thank you both for that information. Mr. Do we want to approve the other two? Because we could introduce a an action item that's it would be a unique action item. So it can be introduced by anybody. Um and we would just need public comment on it. And to me it's a dimminimous action which would allow for the agenda to have this voted on. Um so I would be okay under the circumstances if if somebody wanted to introduce an action item for those other two and there was support for it. We we could approve that
052tonight. I will introduce an action item to support that. So what do I say? Does she just take a vote? First and a second. Second. If there's further discussion by the board on that, but then we need to do public comment on that as well. Any board discussion about the new motion? the educational system specialist and the lead custodian job descriptions. Correct. Would anyone from the public like to come up and talk about that change? Seeing none. Okay. So, now we vote. Okay. All those in favor say I. I. I. I. I. I. Any opposed? It passes 80. Correct. Do I have to clarify specifically item H the position for ex instructional assistant? I don't have it in front of me. Item of everything. The job description. The job descriptions were approved for educational system
053specialist and lead custodian. Correct. The minutes will reflect that. Thank you. Thank you. Any other board comment? Yeah, I have a comment. Thank you. Um I had noticed that um we are in the new course catalog. It says that we are no longer paying for the first AP test as we have historically done. I have um asked the curriculum chair if we can bring that back for discussion at the curriculum meeting. Not necessarily saying that we need to we should be paying for that as much as it should be something that is discussed kind of publicly in my opinion. uh because it does impact um our um US News and World Report which impacts our real estate property potentially, but also in the way that it is written now in the course catalog, we are
054no longer paying for the way I believe from what I saw that we are not paying for any of the tests unless someone you know it says like you know if you have financial need to please make them aware, approach Um, I think that there is consideration that should be given to maybe wording that a little bit more strongly so that and and maybe considering any of our students that are on free and reduced lunch whether we want to um pay for any of that um their tuition or the their tests, their exams. So, um I just wanted to say publicly that um I am I've asked that we bring this back for further discussion at the curriculum table. It is not apparently a board decision whether we charge or we pay for that first
055test or not. I did do a little research. Some districts still do. Um some pay for part of it, some pay for the second test. But I do think that it is um something that the board and the um the community should be made aware of. I think actually we'll find some people that are kind of caught off guard by it to have multiple children who take multiple tests. So um I just wanted to put that out there. It's not just my comment. Thank you. I have a couple of things, Madame Vice President, that concerns me with this board tonight. What happened is the same thing that happened with -ate and you guys know how I feel about that. It's a pretty basic concept that a vote was put forth, a vote was taken and
056then there was conversation and bantering back and forth because the vote was not appreciated. Same thing happened tonight. There was discussion regarding the position in finance. a vote was taken and then we're bantering back and forth when it should be the will of the board and when the will of the board speaks that should be the final conclusion of that item. I hope going forward that this ceases to exist because it will create division. It will create unnecessary contention within a board. Um it's something that concerns me. I haven't seen in the time that I've been on the board. So, that is something I hope we can all work through at the will of the board when a vote is taken. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Jackson, for your opinion. Um, I think the one
057other thing just circling back to Dr. Wright's comment that is an interesting um point around the AP exam. I am curious if that would be an unbudgeted curriculum expense if passed. Touche. Any other board comment? Mr. Rotherm Miller, are there any? Just just one comment. I I believe it's not personal uh to say things, you know. I feel like uh things are getting personal. Uh so it shouldn't be the case. Um I respect everyone's opinions and and their creative thinking. Uh but um I believe everyone have places to go. So let's just not stretch it out. Thank you. Any hands raised on Zoom? No. Okay. So now we will move on to item 15, public to be heard. Per per board policy 903. Uh there's an opportunity for the community to comment publicly. Each community
058member will have up to three minutes in which to address the board. Um, just before speaking, please state your name and township of residence. Hey guys, Kathy Morris Reuters. Um, I just wanted to say while Mr. Sanville has thankfully declined the position of superintendent. I really don't feel that he should have been considered even in the first place. We all know he resigned um at his previous school, Unionville Chads Ford, under some pretty troubling circumstances. Currently named in a federal civil rights lawsuit. The fact that this board considered moving forward with a candidate carrying that level of legal and ethical back baggage is deeply alarming. It's either a lack of due diligence or worse a willful disregard for the values that our community expect in its leaders. The community deserves transparency. We deserve leadership that
059reflects our values. The consideration of Mr. Sandville has further eroded the public trust in this board. We deserve better. Our teachers deserve better and our students definitely deserve better. Anthony Frigo, 10003 Main Street, Lynfield, Pennsylvania. I do support what the young lady in front of me just said. That being said, I understand that you need a candidate for superintendent. I'm offering my services for that. Um, I'll briefly go over my credentials. I am a certified public accountant. I've been so for 38 years. I'm also an attorney. I've been an attorney for 25 years. Um, I believe that that qualifies me to run this school district. I've run multi-million dollar companies for um interim CEO searches and whatnot. Also, I was looking over the budget and it seems to me that 5.1% increase is a little
060excessive. Um, I didn't haven't had a chance to analyze it entirely, but that seems awfully high for one year. Okay. And it's an increase that will never go away. Uh, also if you do not uh accept my uh candidacy for superintendent, I will remind the voters that I am available as a right-in candidate in November. I don't have any party affiliations. I'm not a Republican. I'm not a Democrat. I subscribe to Common Sense. Thank you very much. Any other public comment? My name is Ryan Ice. I live at 300 North Lick Road. Um, I haven't addressed the Springfield School Board in a long time. The reason why is because I moved my kids to Coventry Christian. I did that because in the turmoil after the pandemic, I made a decision as a parent that my
061goals for my kids no longer aligned with how Springfield was being run. when my daughter came home and said she holds it in all day and won't go into the bathrooms at Springfield because of the vaping, because of the fights, and I I really didn't feel like I could trust you guys to not let a boy in the girls' bathroom. Honestly, she went to Coventry. When my son told me about the things that were being discussed openly in class, and he would come home upset, not because of my standards, because of his standards, I moved him to Coventry Christian. I'm not asking for your pity. I'm not asking for anything. I made that decision. I'm the parent. I'm responsible. I'm asking you guys to just show a little bit of compassion in making that very
062difficult decision. I basically annihilated my chances of a decent retirement. Financially, it'll set me back forever. I won't I won't hit any of my retirement goals. And I don't have any regrets. These are my kids. It's job number one. And I'm ask not asking for a pity or an apology. I made that decision. I'm responsible for it. But every time you guys raise taxes, it's like chipping away. It's like you guys are like throwing buckets of water into a sinking ship. You guys have to understand I'm working nine 10 hours a day every day. Today was a hot day, right? I work in the electric utility industry. I worked very hard just like you guys. I haven't been here to talk here because I took a step away from Springfield. I didn't want to, but
063our our our paths parted and I thought, you know what? I'll take that responsibility. I'll make that decision and I won't have to be a part of this system that that really doesn't seem to want my family to be a part of it anymore. But when you guys just keep raising taxes, like like it's like this is coming back to haunt me. This was not the agreement, right? I I I spoke up. I I I asked you guys to make changes. Apparently, I was in the minority, right? You know, I voted for people. They didn't win. It's okay. It's a democratic process, right? But you have to understand something. Schools like CCS just doubled in size and they doubled in size again and they doubled in size again. Why? Because there are waves of refugee
064families who can no longer sustain the mental and academic health of their children in public schools. And so you you go into CCS. Thank you, Mr. Nice. Thank you. Any other public comment? Well, I forgot my board comment, so I apologize. I would be remiss um not to mention um especially with everything that tonight's meeting required with Zoom um capabilities for uh participation from our board members. Um, but over the weekend, some very exciting things happened for our spring for uh, communications department. Um, NBC Universal saw Mr. Rothermill's footage from the Crossing Guard retirement story, and they were so impressed with his work uh, that they requested to use a video on Saturday's segment on NBC Nightly News. Um, it aired at 6:30 on Saturday um, with Joseé Diaz Ballard. Um, and you know, it's
065important to bring this up because it's a it's a very huge accomplishment um, for our team, and we often celebrate our state and national recognitions, but a request coming directly from NBC Universal to use our footage rather than a local affiliate is a significant accomplishment. Um, it's a clear testament to Andrew's talent and the high quality of work coming from our district. Um, on behalf of Erin Crew and all of the board, uh, we're so proud to see your efforts being recognized on a national stage and look forward, um, I didn't get to see it Saturday night, so I look forward to getting to see the link. So, thank you. Okay, so I have a motion to adjourn. So moved. [Music]