001Good evening and uh welcome to the May 26, 2026 regular meeting of the Traiffan Easttown School Board. We'll begin as we always do with a salute to the flag. Thank you and welcome again. Regular schoolboard meetings are business meetings that are open to the public during which we provide several opportunities for public comment on items before the board. The first comment period is reserved for announced additional items and items on the consent agenda only. Additional public comment will be heard for the actions listed under the priority discussion and other actions under consideration. And the final comment near the end of the meeting is reserved for any matters of official concern, official action or deliberation which are or may be before the TEESD board of directors and which are not covered by other comment periods. Each
002public comment period is reserved for residents and taxpayers only. Additionally, the board will accept comments from sitting public officials for non- campaigning purposes and by agreement with the TEAA and Tenig, the board will accept comments from the union presidents. All comments should be directed to the board as a whole or to the presiding officer. No comments or questions should be directed to individual board members. All public comments and responses should be in the spirit of civil public discourse. Please be aware that intentionally disrupting a lawful meeting or the administration of a government function is a criminal offense in Pennsylvania. The school board values the opportunity to hear from the community in person and we appreciate your cooperation in advance. The next thing on our agenda are our students uh student reports. But before we hear
003from our students, on behalf of my fellow board members, I'd like to thank Maggie Neri for her work as a student representative. Maggie Maggie has been with us on the board for two years, first as a junior and then a senior. and she will be heading off to MIT in the fall and they don't know how lucky they are. Uh, lucky for us, lucky for us, Lucy will be staying with us and Lucy Salada has been on the board this year as a junior. She will be here next year as a senior and another member of the junior class will be joining us so that we will have two representatives next year as well. Maggie and Lucy, we're now ready for your reports. >> Thank you, Mrs. Teddy. Good evening, everyone. I hope everyone is
004enjoying the warm weather finally. I must admit, there's no finer way to enjoy it than in Kanosoga's very own atrium. We are entering the home stretch of the year, and spirits are up. Seniors in particular have been in the home stretch for quite a while. as this past month of May, they have been participating in their senior elective experience, a unique time period where seniors intern at a chosen location during the school day. Speaking not only for myself but for many others, I know seniors are making great use of this time getting hands-on experience in industry and creating the connections creating some cre connections and just relishing in this period of no school work. However, this elective experience comes to an end this Friday as next week holds some momentous events for seniors. First, Monday,
005June 1st at the Dales Abbey at 7 p.m. as senior reflections, which is a time where seniors can perform and speak in front of their class and serves as a final coming together or well reflection before the following night, graduation. In exactly one week on t Tuesday, June 2nd is graduation. It will be held out there teamer field 6 p.m. Gates open for graduation at 5:00 p.m. Now, switching gears from this busy but very exciting week for the class of 2026. It's important to mention that today, Kanosoga welcomed the class of 2030 into its halls as move up day for both TE and Valley Forge Middle Schools was today. Current eighth graders got a sneak peek of their stoming grounds for the next four years. Finally, two notable events occurring this week are junior and
006senior awards. On Thursday morning, KNOSOGA will hold their junior awards in the auditorium for select juniors and their families to attend. And likewise, Thursday evening at 7 p.m. in the auditorium, KNOSOGA will hold senior awards for seniors and their families to attend and celebrate all the amazing things that many seniors have accomplished in their Stoga careers. And so with that and with all my talk about seniors graduating and moving on, I must acknowledge very sadly that this is my last schoolboard meeting of my career as I too am a senior. Serving a schoolboard rep truly has been one of the most eyeopening and actually meaningful experiences of my life. Every month it has been a real privilege to witness the amazing students and faculty in the district who are recognized for really extraordinary things I
007could never have even imagined. I also get to learn about and hear from this board and this district right beside me. And I have grown very close to my board member best friend, Lucy. Lucy, you amaze me with your ability to fearlessly take on anything. Whether it be leading the junior classes president, speaking on the morning announcements every day in home room, dominating on the field hockey field, or just confidently giving the student report every month without stuttering. Literally on your first speech ever earlier this year, I was in awe of how your voice didn't waver once, which is no small feat considering it was your first time. I could not say the same about me. I could learn a thing or two from you on how you managed to do everything to the absolute
008best of your ability while maintaining such a selfless hilarious attitude. The board, let me tell you, is in great hands with Lucy Salada over here leading the next student report. I'm going to miss you. And to the board and to Dr. Micinger for electing me to this position, thank you so much for not only being welcome welcoming to me but encouraging me in everything. What I said about when I said this experience has been eye openening, it's been eye openening because I realized that while there are many reasons that the TE school district is so renowned, a large cause rests in our leaders right here and the care that you put into your roles. I'm not sure how many other school districts can say that their superintendent and other board members drive over an hour
009to support the girls basketball team in playoffs, but I can most definitely say that's true about our board. And I think that's what makes this community so special because we have leaders that care so deeply about creating not only a well-run district but a community that cheers it on each other on. Again, thank you board and Dr. Meinger for giving me this opportunity. You've inspired me to get more involved in the community and the work that you do truly does matter. I've cherished this time and this experience and it's been such an honor watching our community come together and celebrate each other once a month at these board meetings. So, with that, for the final time, I hope everyone has a great rest of their spring, an amazing summer, and I'll pass this one off
010to Lucy. Before I get into the sports report, I want to take a second to talk about Maggie. Maggie is such a huge part of the KNOSOGA community. She is literally involved in everything. Uh her presence will it will definitely be felt when her presence is gone. I have been lucky enough to grow up playing sports with Maggie. Almost every year I would scrimmage her basketball team and we would lose by over 50 points. And I actually fact checked that with my dad. He said just say over 50. It was definitely more. When I got the opportunity to be on the school board, first off, I was glad that Maggie would get to know me for something than other being than being a below average basketball player. But I didn't know what I got myself
011into. Maggie was so excited to tell me that being on the schoolboard is so much fun. And at first, I was skeptical because I didn't really think of how much fun a schoolboard meeting could be. But Maggie, I've had the best time laughing up here with you every month. I think we're the only two students in Kanosoga that debrief the meetings the next day. Maggie, you don't only show this passion towards the school board, but in everything you do. You are the kindest and hardest working person I have ever met. I'm glad I'm glad that you'll be with all of the schoolboard legacies in Boston. I will miss you so much next year and I'm sure that MIT won't be able to live up to the schoolboard meetings. Thank you for responding to every question
012I have ever had about sports, NHS, and babysitting jobs. The world is not ready for Maggie Ner. Thank you to the school board for giving me this opportunity and I cannot wait for next year. Let's give it up for Maggie. Thank you. Oh, and on to sports. And on to the sport report. So, Maggie will also be playing in the district championship game tomorrow at 7:30 for at Westchester East. Um, the track team had two girls competing in the state championship. And we had four boats qualify or we had four boats racing at nationals for rowing and tennis had a state runnerup in had a runner up for states, Ethan Sun. So, lots of success in the sports area. And then just a reminder that the fall sports meeting is tomorrow at 6 PM and
013that all fall sports start at on August 17th. That's all for me. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. Uh before we begin our student and staff highlights, I'd like to draw attention to the student artwork which is here behind us. Uh this artwork was supplied by Kanosoga High School for this evening's meeting. The artwork on display represents a selection from the Knesogga High School art 2 printmaking class. In this course, students explore the princes principles of color, pattern, composition, and design through a variety of printmaking techniques including found object relief in inalio and embossing. Each piece reflects the students experimentation, creativity, and growing understanding of both traditional processes and contemporary visual expression. So, we thank Konosoga for sending these over and we thank those of you who are here this evening for joining us.
014Now, I'd like to ask board members Maryanne Pachone and Dr. Henry Zinc to join Kanes Stoogga principal Dr. Amy Misinger in greeting students and staff during the highlight session of the board meeting. Our curriculum supervisor, Dr. John Maul, will be our reader for this evening. >> Good evening everybody and welcome. Before we get started, just a little bit of uh traffic directing. When I call your name, you and your family are invited to come on up. You'll uh come up on this side to Mr. Katali. Then you'll come across the front, shake hands with Dr. Zinc, Mrs. Fichone, Dr. Misinger, and then head on over to Mrs. Roy. She has a certificate for you to take home. Okay. Very good. Each month, the board of school directors invites TE students and staff members who have
015demonstrated outstanding achievement to attend the regular schoolboard meeting to be recognized for their efforts. The board invites parents and teachers to accompany their students this evening as the board recognizes them. Those who are unable to be here tonight will receive their certificates at their schools. Kanesoga High School's literary magazine recognized. The Folio has been selected from 456 student magazines to receive the rank of superior in the 2026 NCTTE recognizing excellence in art and literary magazines program. This program recognizes excellent literary magazines produced by students with the support of their teachers. The Folio's editors are Alise Gersil, Amy Lee, and Nami Muggler. And the faculty adviserss are Katie Wilson and Bridget McGuin. Knosoga High School students wins statewide pen dot challenge. Congratulations to Mia Cao, Daniel Loza, and Prrenit Aurora for winning the 2526 PennDOT Innovations
016Challenge. The judges were impressed with the ingenuity of the team's innovative solution to help PennDOT improve safety for work crews and road users through artificial intelligence. The team's faculty adviser is Karen Maul. Karen Molton. Yeah, that's his wife. No, it's the teacher. >> Knosogga High School students selected for PMEA groups. >> Congratulations to the Knosoga students who were selected to participate in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association Allstate Band, Choir, and Orchestra. All State Band, Colton Cinnamon on trumpet. All State Orchestra, James Spina, trombone. All State Choir. Sophie Aguilar, Declan McDonald, and Aries Serinsky. The faculty adviserss are Chris Nation, Nathan Sugarert, and Casey Gonzalez. Knosoga High School robotics teams excel in world championship. Kanosoga's robotics team 6121F was named a tournament finalist. an Amaze Award winner at the Eastern Pennsylvania State Championship. They then finished
017fourth place in their division at the VEX World Championships in St. Louis, Missouri. Team 6121B was tournament champion and excellence winner at the Eastern Pennsylvania State Championship and was awarded the create award at the VEX World Championship. The 6121F team captains are Jackson Corbett and Miranda Lee. And the 6121B team captains are Arian Gupta and Shinvas Vagwella. The faculty adviserss are Noah Austin and Gabe Walsh Shore. Knosoga High School students excel at DECA conference. DECA is a global nonprofit organization that prepares high school and college students for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. Earlier this year, 49 KNOSOGA students traveled to Atlanta for the DECA International Career Development Conference to compete in a variety of business related events against 26,000 students from around the world. During the trip, Konosoga Deca was presented with an
018award for being the largest chapter in Pennsylvania with over 440 members. Congratulations to the following students and their adviserss for their achievements. Zion Malik, second place, automotive services marketing. Asher Choy and Andrew Lou, sixth place, buying and merchandising team decisionmaking. Ashley Dub and Miranda Lee. Seventh place, hospitality services team decisionmaking. Ari Spielman and Andrew Jang, top 20 finalist, financial services team decisionmaking. Yashi Jane, top roleplay score, human resource management. Andrew Lee, top roleplay score, restaurant and food service management. Friashi Mishra top test score marketing management team decision-making and Kylen Jang top test score principles of hospitality and tourism. Knosoga's DECA faculty adviserss are Jeff Connor and Justin Beasley Turner. TE middle school students place at Delaware Valley Science Fair. TE middle school students Rajika Basu, Shishi Rajendran, and Verunda Johnny earned top honors at the
019Delaware Valley Science Fair after strong performances at the Chester County Science Research Competition. Verunda presented research examining how urban factors contribute to animal distress. While Shri received a special award for her engineering focused project, cookie chemistry, baking powder versus baking soda. Rajica placed first in engineering category for her project THEA tree health evaluation assistant a multi-ensor device designed to assess physiological stress in trees earned five special awards for creativity and innovation. She was invited for the second consecutive year to apply to the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge. The students were guided throughout the process by teacher Kristen Connelly. Middle school students excel at math competitions. The Valley Forge Middle School Math Counts team comprised of Julie Hong, George Jung, Lewis Ju, and Alexander How advanced to the state level competition and placed first all
020overall. Outside of the team competition, Valley Forge Middle School students Arnesh Bose and Aay Rajan along with the TE middle school students rooming I Rajika Basu and Adele he advanced to as individuals to the state math counts competition as part of the Chester County delegation. Middle school students also participated in the AMC math competition sponsored by the Mathematical Association of America. In the AMC8 competition, the following students earned commendations for scoring in the top 10% nationally. Seventh grader Alexander How and eighth graders Amay Rajan, George Jang from Valley Forge Middle School and eighth graders rooming I Rajika Basu and Adele He from TE Middle School. Three middle school students also earned scores on the 10th grade AMC exam that were high enough to garner invitations to the prestigious American Invitational Mathematics Examination. Congratulations to rooming
021I from TE Middle School and George Jang and Alexander How from Valley Forge Middle School. In addition, George Jung further distinguished himself on the AIM by qualifying for an invitation to the USA Junior Mathematical Olympiad. TE middle school teacher Lisa Sthower and Valley Forge Middle School teachers Margaret Cannon, Karen Fletcher, Craig Graten, and Michelle Hardy are the adviserss to the math competition teams. Congratulations to all our exceptional math leads. Congratulations to all of you for your outstanding efforts and we commend you for your accomplishments. Congratulations to everyone. It's just amazing every month to hear some of the things that our students do and we just have terrific students whose parents support them and and we are so happy for you and and very proud of all you've done. Uh at this point in our meeting,
022we often take a brief uh intermission, so to speak, uh to allow parents and students to leave if they would like to. Uh you are certainly welcome to stay for our business meeting. Uh we would be glad to have you do that. But if if you have other things this evening, especially at this busy time of year, please feel free to leave at this time. So we'll take just a five minute intermission. Okay, I think we're ready to continue our meeting. Uh there are no additional items for our agenda this evening. So we will move on to the next time uh the next thing which is public participate public participation from district residents and taxpayers regarding any items on the consent agenda only. If you would like to make a comment on the consent agenda,
023please line up. And when you come to the microphone, please state your name and township of residence. We'll end with the comment period with the last person in line. All public comments this evening will be limited limited to three minutes. Again, this comment period is limited to the consent agenda only. To help with the timing, please make sure your entire you make your entire comment and then the board will determine an appropriate response. Uh Dr. Goo Gusk has made us aware that there are some people here this evening who would like to comment on the TESD administrative assignments for 2627. So this would be the appropriate time in the meeting to do that and I want to be sure that everybody understands that we'll hear your comments before we vote on our consent agenda. Again,
024the comments are limited to district residents. Please state your name and township of residence and comments are limited to three minutes. >> Okay. >> Hi. Um, good evening. I'm Nancy Peters Faren and I'm a resident of Traiffan Township. Um, I am both a parent and a support staff member at Hillside Elementary School. And I want to speak tonight about principal Michelle Stavves and this meeting's planned approval of multiple administrative changes. Since Michelle took over Hillside in 2019, she has crafted a school environment where all students feel loved and supported. The staff and faculty are respected and valued, and the families feel heard and welcomed. Her leadership has had a profoundly positive impact on our school community in ways that go far beyond the great test scores and policies. She has built trust, inclusivity, and Hillside
025pride. Because of this, the Hillside faculty, staff, parents, and the students were saddened and surprised to hear about her reassignment to Devon Elementary. Change in leadership affects not only administration but also student morale, staff stability, and the overall culture of the school. Everyone knew that there would be roles to fill at Bear Hill Elementary, but many are wondering why the drastic shift of top administration roles at multiple other schools was necessary. I am asking the board to carefully consider the voices of the people most directly impacted by these changes, the students, the staff and faculty and the parents. In conclusion, I worry that the board has not thoroughly considered the unforeseen consequences that these decisions will have on our Hillside community and our district as a whole. Strong schools depend on strong relationships, trust, and
026leadership continuity. I hope the board will pause to reconsider these decisions or at the very least provide greater transparency about why these decisions were made. Thank you for your time. Uh, as long as there might be some other people with the same concern, if you would like to speak now, I think what the best way to handle this is to have everyone who'd like to make a comment on this topic come up first and second and third and so forth and then when everyone has finished, we'll uh respond. Does anyone else here this evening uh plan to make a comment about the this particular topic? Okay. Thank you. Uh certainly I Yes. >> Yes. if you wouldn't mind stating your name and your uh hi >> township of residents. >> Um Stephanie Hoben. I have
027an incoming kindergartener at Hillside. We all live on Cloverly Road. Um and many kids in our neighborhood are at Hillside and just here to support Nancy and the comments that she's made tonight in how she much more articulately put it than I have. So just on behalf of us in that row, thank you. >> Thank you. Hi, I'm Steven Dulles. I live in Trophan Township on Cloverly Road. Um, I have a first grader at Hillside and a fourth grader at Hillside. I kind of echo NY's comments around the fact that around the fact that there was about 4 days notice of administrative changes and that kind of uh didn't give anyone a chance to prepare or understand what the reasoning of the board would be for such a drastic shift when you knew that there
028was a school being built for years in advance. So it' be helpful to understand the transparency there. Thank you. >> Allison. >> Hi. How you doing? >> Uh my name is Brenda Cooper. Um I have two kids in school at Hillside. >> Which township? You're Tradiffan. >> Tradiffan. Mhm. And um my daughter's in kindergarten, my son's in third grade. They love it. They're absolutely just loving the school, which is amazing. Um, they love the principal, so we're, you know, pretty upset about her leaving. Um, but like they said, I'm here to support Nancy and everything that she has stated as well. >> Thank you. Um, hi. I'm Mariel Dearo and I'm also Traffan Township. Um, not Cloverly Road. Um, I have also a third grader and a kindergartener at Hillside. Um, and just to add
029on to what kind of everybody else has said, um, Michelle Stapes really is the heart of Hillside. Um, we I think all have kids who just absolutely love her. In addition to all of that, I have kids who are likely to um end up at Bear Hill Elementary. So, my additional concern about this changing um administration is that we'll see between this year and next year and the year after that three different principles in the next 3 years. Um I don't feel necessarily that like the um ease of transition for these kids who are making all these changes was taken into account when these decisions were made. Thank you. So we're all set there everyone. Thank you. Thank you so much for your comments. Uh, I I realize and I think all all of us
030realize how hard this is and how um difficult it is to think about uh not having Mrs. staves as the principal at Hillside because you've come to know her and love her and she is a remarkable principal and uh it's just not something that is easy to adjust to. Um I would say though that um the things that she's built I think in terms of relationships and a and very you know excellent relationships between parents and staff. Uh those things will be a legacy there in terms of the future. Uh but I I certainly hear your concern. Um, I would say that one thing you need to know is that Dr. Gusk um made this recommendation to the school board not without a great deal of thought and sort of implicit in his role as
031the superintendent is the job of looking at all of our schools, eight currently, nine soon. And when he does that, um, he works to make sure that he has a very, uh, a very well-trained and, um, strong administrative team. And, uh, he he looks at at the short term, but also the long term as well. And so although it was new to you, I know that he has been considering this for a long time or for for an amount of time, it wasn't something that was done quickly. I I think that's important to know. Um, I think that in the end, um, we want to be sure that all of our schools have strong leadership and that our district continues to, uh, to be the wonderful district that it is, but I think perhaps Dr.
032Gusk might have some things to to add to my comments. Thank you for providing me for the opportunity and I thank those of you who reached out to me directly and some of you I was able to speak to and others I would I would need to do that in in the future. Um I'd like to guess express first empathy and total agreement with everything you said about Mrs. Staves. She's a wonderful person. uh it's a testament to her that you are willing to come out and speak to her in about her in that way and also a testament to the strength of your community. Um, some context is we know that Bear Hill is opening in 2027 and from the uh top- down view, it's very exciting, right? It's a new school. We're going
033to have full day kindergarten in all of our schools, including Bear Hill. It's going to decompress the enrollment that we have at each of our existing five schools. It's going to finally end the hillside split where um you know after 30 plus years when students had to go from some of their friends after fourth grade see at the high school and have to spend their middle school years in a different school. But achieving there will cause some disruption to not just Bear Hill but all of our existing schools. And this is one step in terms of looking at the entire array of our administrative staff and where it lies across the district and having it in place one year ahead of time so that everyone has a chance to adjust to their new roles when
034the school opens. And unfortunately, there is more disruption to come in terms of probably the item of greatest interest is what students are attending what schools. And we've begun that process of identifying the parameters for that. Actually, we'll hear more about that later in the meeting about a subcommittee of parents working on those boundaries. Those will be announced in the fall. And I'm certain families will have strong feelings when they learn that um what school their child will be attending. It's also possible they'll be attending not just Bear Hill, but another existing elementary school that we have in our district to balance the remaining five. Our teaching staff of Bear Hill will come primarily from teachers at our current schools. So, we will need to pull teachers out of all five of our existing elementary
035schools. And some of them are very popular. And we can't pull, we're not going to pull all the popular teachers or all the most experienced teachers or all the ones from first grade. We're going to need a combination of teachers that most reflects that and that's going to create another level of disruption as we prepare for Bear Hill. I am confident that once we're settled in into the new school with those advantages, we'll be in a better place. And we haven't traveled down this road with a new school for over 60 years. But in a way, some of this is not new. We have reassigned principles in the past, even in the recent past. And we've reassigned teachers to different schools. And my experience in TE is that when this happens, it's natural to express
036loss about the people who will be missed, but then go forward with a new person to build upon the strong things that they have been left in place. I'm not at all surprised by your support for Michelle. Everywhere she's left in this district has had the same reaction. When she left the high school, people were upset. When she left the middle school, people were upset. When she left the central office because of the strong leader that she is. I've spent 36 years here. It's the only school district I've ever worked in. And I love TE to the core. And for the last 11 years as superintendent, I work with others, but ultimately make final recommendations about the strengths and needs of the schools, their teachers and students, and their leaders. And I engage with those
037leaders in conversations about their own future and the needs of their schools. And if I believe after all that a particular arrangement is the best for the whole, I can't not recommend it, even if it would be easier not to. And I'm not trying to convince you of anything or to challenge anything you've said. I I agree with it all. But I also believe the Hillside community, as strong as it is, as well as all of our schools, will continue to thrive for as long as we work together to achieve that. Thank you, Dr. Gusk. Uh, we have other items on our consent agenda this evening. Is there anyone else here tonight that would like to make a comment about another item on the consent agenda? Uh, seeing none, then the next item is the
038consent agenda. Although board action is required, it is generally unnecessary to hold discussion on these items with the consent of all members. They are therefore grouped and approval is given in one motion. In the event a board member wants to discuss any item, the board member will move it to an appropriate place on the agenda. A board member may vote nay or abstain with respect to a consent agenda item without the need of removing removing that item from the consent agenda. We have no uh requests to remove items this evening. So the action under consideration is that the board of school directors approves the recommendations on the consent agenda which begins on page eight of your papers this evening. Do I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Do I have a second? >> Second.
039All those in favor, please indicate by saying I. >> I. >> And those opposed by saying nay. The motion carries 9 to zero. Uh, our vice president, Mr. Hong, will now uh give us some information about gifts received by the district in the last month. >> Thank you, President Titi. One of the great pleasures of being vice president is accepting gifts from the school district uh to the school district and acknowledging the support and generosity of our community members. The board of school directors accepts with pleasure and appre appreciation a donation of two books to the Valley Forge Elementary School valued at $30 from Cherry Chen. Thank you. A thank you note will be sent from our board secretary. >> Thank you, Mr. Hong. Uh our priority discussion this evening is the approval of the
040high school class of Konis Stoga High School for 2026. Um it's a very happy priority discussion. The action under consideration is that the board of school directors approve all students who have met the requirements for graduation as the class of 2026 Kanes Stoogga High School as submitted by Dr. Amy Misinger, principal. and that the final list be included in the official records of this meeting this evening. Do I have a motion? >> Moved. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. Dr. Meinger, would you now present the class? >> I will certainly do that. It is my pleasure to be here this evening with you as our student reps represented so well. There is a lot of excitement at the Big C. The seniors are on internship but their excitement has been
041brewing for months now. So this is an exciting evening for me to come and present the class. So a little bit about the class for those um joining us tonight. We will be issuing seven 573 um diplomas and 13 certificates of attendance for a total of 586 students to be honored next week. So it has really been a pleasure. I want to thank all of you that have been here for many years on that journey and those that are just starting. I look forward to working with um you on future classes. I want to thank the staff and certainly um our teachers and administrators. Um particular thank you to Dr. Patrick Bole who is here this evening. He is the senior class assistant principal and he really shepherds them through their senior year and all
042the all of the things that happen along the way with our seniors. So a big thank you to him and for being here this evening as well. So, um, I look forward to seeing everybody hopefully on Tuesday evening next week. We'll be at 6 PM here on Teamer Field, weather permitting. There are no tickets needed. So, if you're interested in coming and joining, just come on over. The gates open at 5:00 pm as our students shared. So, I'm certainly happy to take any questions from the board, but I'm I'm very excited to present you with this year's class of 2026. Thank you, Dr. Mesinger. Do we have any board discussion on the topic? Dr. Missos. >> Yes. Um Dr. Meisinger, I just would love to know um what in particular about this class will you
043remember the most you think? I mean, first of all, congratulations on for the entire Knosoga High School staff and all the schools that bring the students up to that level and um help them to be awesome in the world um ready to be adults and contributing members of our society. um to my question if you don't mind a few comments. >> Absolutely. I'd be happy to and thank you for asking. So I think I've certainly seen an incredible amount of academic success with this class and many that come before. But if there was something that I would say distinguishes this class, um it really came to light for me at the senior prom because this class just had fun with each other in a way that I haven't seen in a really long time. They
044just um really they danced, they had fun, they were kids that night and it was there was just um really a bonding that you could feel that night that I would say um a kindness about them and a caring for each other that was really palpable for those of us that were there. And um they were there not just, you know, to come to prom, but really to be together and celebrate that moment with their peers. And I wish Maggie was here to hear me say that because it speaks to the just the character of so many of them as a class. So that's what I would walk away as principal. Certainly, you know, the accolades are wonderful, but just to see kind, you know, kids caring about each other in that way was really
045a neat experience for me. >> Thank you. >> Do we have any other comments? >> Yes, Miss Pion. >> Well, I especially appreciate uh the administration of Konos Stoa High School and again, as uh Dr. Mera says uh the schools that lead up to it uh in the performances and uh and how you nurture that talent uh and and sometimes for people who are shy may not appear to be shy but are shy but to bring forth that talent uh in a a spirit of just as you say uh kindness >> because it can be unkind at times especially when you're competing for a part in a play or uh first chair. at a uh you know instrumental performance. Uh so it's been uh gratifying to be on the board to see our students grow
046uh with the support of the administration and the family. So thank you. >> Thank you, Mrs. Joy. >> I think we're ready to turn to the public. Uh the board now invites members of the audience to comment on this item, the class of 2026. If you have comments or questions, please step to the microphone and identify yourself and your township of residents. Seeing none, are there any further comments from the board? All right, I think we're ready to vote. All those in favor of approving the class of 2026, uh, please indicate by saying I. >> I. >> And those opposed by saying nay. Motion carries 90. We look forward to Tuesday. The next item on our agenda will be committee and ambassador reports. We will begin with our policy committee and Miss While. >> Thank
047you, President TD. The policy committee had its last meeting of the year on May 5th of 2026. The f the following policies are on tonight's agenda on a second reading basis. Policy and regulation 3295 district initiated real estate tax assessment appeals. Revisions to the policy are based on recommendation by the district's tax appeal council. Policy and regulation 7070 reporting of theft or unlawful damage to district property. Revisions to the policy include filing a police report as determined appropriate by the superintendent or business manager or required by applicable law. The regulation was revised to clarify the reporting process and who needs to be involved and notified policy and regulation 8120 food and nutrition services. The policy was revised to comply with the recent state audit by not allowing adults to purchase food on credit or to
048create a negative balance. Revisions to the regulation went into effect after the April 20th, 2026 policy committee meeting. In addition, the following policies had no revisions, so they will be marked as reviewed and go into effect immediately along with revisions to their accompanying regulations. Policy and regulation 7090, sale or disposal of district property and equipment. Policy and regulations 7101, solicitation of donations to the district's general fund. Further details will be provided later in the meeting regarding policies listed on tonight's agenda for approval on a first reading basis. The policy committee meetings for the 26 2026 2027 school year will be determined at a later date and posted on the district website and we hope you will all come join us at a policy committee meeting next year. And that's my report. President Titi, thank you
049Miss While. Our next report is our finance committee and Todd Kentosk is our chair. >> Yes. Thank you, President TD. Our previous finance committee meeting was on May 11th. At the start of the meeting, Mr. Livergood reviewed our April financials. The April revenues included increase in the receipt of local revenues when compared to last year. Overall, revenues are higher by $5.8 8 million but down as a percentage of budget compared to last year. The main differences in the local revenue are real estate tax collection including delinquent collections. The total revenue as of April 2026 is almost 172.5 million. Expenditures and incumbrances show that instruction expenses are higher this year. Overall expenditures and incumbrances are $184,28,91053 approximately or 93.8% overall this year compared to last year which was at 92.8%. About 73% of the total budget
050has been expended as of the end of April, not including incumbrances. After our year-to- date financial reports, we had a discussion about property tax installment payments. In particular, uh a discussion about whether we should have three or four installment payments. Mr. Livergood presented a slide comparing the current real estate tax collection of three installment payments compared to four to four installment payment scenario. The presentation noted that the number of installment payers in our district in tax year 2025 was approximately 10% of taxpayers. After discussion about the pros and cons of three or or four payments, plus the equities associated with the timing of any change from three to four payments, the committee recommended that this discussion be continued to be studied at a future at future uh finance committee meetings and board meetings. So, no
051changes for this upcoming tax year. We then had a short discussion about the budget development and calendar uh where Mr. McDonald presented some updated budget and projection slides and an updated budget calendar through the end of June 2026. That budget calendar included and noted two more times for uh this board and the public to discuss our uh 2026 27 budget. Um I'm sorry with 20 yeah 2627 budget uh and those two more times would be at our next finance committee meeting which is on June 4th 2026 at the TEAO. All are welcome to attend that and then we will have uh another discussion at this meeting at our monthly board meeting on June 8th uh 2026 right here. So again, next uh finance committee meeting June 4th, 7 p.m. uh same usual place, TAO and
052all are welcome to attend. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Contosk. Our vice president, Mr. Hong, has our facilities report as the chair of that committee. >> Thank you, President TD. Our last facilities committee meeting of the year was held on May 12th. Uh we started off uh by reviewing our uh bid packages and construction report for the summer of 2026. Uh it included one change order totaling $1,59769 related to uh adjustments required to install new chair and platform lifts in Hillside Elementary School and New Eagle Elementary School. Uh next we turn to the athletic fields project update. Uh we had a summary of the project status and anticipated uh completion of punch list items. Very happy to report that most of the uh construction work has uh been completed and many and most of
053the fields are now in use including I just saw uh some tennis matches in our new tennis courts. Uh project photographs and videos were reviewed and are available on our uh uh school district website. Three pending change orders uh were also reviewed uh totaling uh $50,54922 um related to the connecting of drains from uh the buildings to our storm water management systems. Um those items were recommended by the committee to be placed on the consent agenda. Uh Bear Hill Elementary School update. Uh we were updated on the progress of the project. We also reviewed uh photographs and video which are also available on this uh school district website. Uh Dr. Seandera explained a change order for steel beams associated with work for the forthcoming um uh associated with the work forthcoming and presented the uh
054projected cost. Uh the committee agreed that when the final change order and details were received that it would be added to today's consent agenda. Uh they also explained options between owning and leasing uh fiber optic lines needed to supply uh Bear Hills uh internet service. Uh the work included uh owning the fiber was part of the uh school budget. However, no bids were received as of April 24th uh which was the bids closing. The committee agreed that leasing fiber was the prudent path forward given that there were no biders uh for the work that would allow us to maintain our own fiber network uh to the school. Uh next we had our 2027 summer infrastructure report and fee letter. We reviewed uh planned infrastructure and maintenance activities uh for the following summer. Uh the work
055total includes uh was4,416,646 which includes technology projects uh as well as uh construction projects. Uh the committee had additional opportunities to discuss the proposed projects as bid bid documents are developed and released and reviewed. A fee letter from Hegodorn Shaw's architect amounted to 300,000 320,850 uh as well as the completed estimated construction cost and two bid packages totaling 2,577 2,577,224. The fee letter for the design and development of the bid documents was placed on the consent agenda. Next, we reviewed our capital source and uses um which was updated as of April 14th, including budget figures, uh for the summer of 2027 projects. The last item on the agenda was a request from the Easttown Library. Dr. Gust summarized a request from the library for the expansion of their facilities and its proximity to district property.
056Amber Osborne, the executive director of the Easttown Library, presented some information about the library services and the committee indicated that there was interest in future discussions regarding this request. Uh we have no future meetings uh scheduled at this time. Uh our next meeting will be held in the fall and those will be posted on the school district website uh and announced with appropriate uh um and announced appropriately. Uh that concludes my report. President Titi, >> thank you. Um Dr. Hotinsky has our education report. >> Thank you, President Titi. The education committee meet met on May 14th. Um and we had two discussion items. middle school schedule review and uh highlights of the strategic plan. Um so first for the middle school schedule review, Mr. Mark Cataly, the director of assessment and accountability uh updated us
057on how things have been going. He reviewed the framework for uh improving best practices and a summary of modifications in this new year in the year's new middle school schedule um that was has been implemented. Modifications included adding a STEM special area course in or STEM special area courses in grades 5 through 8 to contribute to implementation of the STEALS standards, new state standards for science and engineering. Uh expansion of regular education supports and language arts, math, executive functioning and well-being during advisory period which allows students to receive these supports without missing regular class periods. And uh finally, family choice of extensions for additional art, music, and PE ex uh experiences during advisory. Mr. Cataly reviewed the numbers of students receiving supports during advisory and family choices for extensions and world languages. Uh we have
058robust participation uh in uh in art, music, and PE. Um we have lots of students who are uh receiving supports or regular education supports through advisory and world language participation uh is consistent with previous years. Mr. Kaldi uh talked about plans for next year when um we're continuing to provide the same options and choices for families um and similar information will be shared um and uh we're looking at possibly uh having course selection to happen a little bit earlier in the year uh to better provide for staffing. And then next we had a strategic plan update from Dr. Wendy Tol who's our director of curriculum instruction and professional learning. Uh Dr. Tol uh provided highlights. There are a lot of things uh that the school district accomplishes during the year. U the strategic plan has
059particular FOSAI that um that are um that we tend to focus on and uh so highlights that were presented included uh in the change strategy uh including uh revisiting the use of technology and devices at the elementary level. Um, just as a reminder, devices will be now staying at the school and not going home with the children. And also continuing to um evaluate the positive and negative effects of AI for both staff and students. For curriculum and growth, uh, curriculum growth and engagement, um, Dr. tool highlighted the development of a foundational we believe statement for the district's kindergarten program and the development of the full day kindergarten program which of course will open in fall of 2027 which will have a focus on play-based learning, inquirydriven instruction and project-based experiences. Uh for curriculum pathways um
060we discussed the cur curiositydriven pathways at Konosoga which are embedded in the new program of studies, the choice-based middle school extensions that I just uh talked about and the continued work on the Konosoga program of studies updating including new require graduation requirements uh for example financial literacy uh and then finally oh no not finally but in communication and partnerships um in the engagement strategy Dr. Dr. Tol highlighted the district's America 2 America 250 initiatives by uh Dr. Matt Sterenzac, our social studies curriculum supervisor. Uh community mural project and local history collaborations, communication strategies like the creation of the full day kindergarten website by Chris Connelly, our communication specialist, and the creation of a parent volunteer redistricting steering committee. uh for professional learning and collaboration. In faculty support, there was uh system redesign of professional learning
061uh revised teacher model and redesign of the alternative assessment structure. And then finally, uh in the area of sustainability, um Dr. Tol highlighted the new elementary school project with design considerations as aligned to modern instructional practices, community use, and future growth. Uh the committee was impressed. It was a very busy year this year and we provided positive feedback on the accomplishments on all fronts. We look forward to next year. Uh the meeting dates have not yet been planned but will be announced when they are available. Thank you. >> Thank you Dr. Hutinsky. Um Miss Pitchiona is our uh intermediate unit technical school representative and she's going to share a report from the Chester County Intermediate Unit. >> Thank you, President Titi. The Chester County School Authority met on May the 20th at the Technical College
062High School Brandy Wine campus. The school authority is a legal body that is the owner of all school buildings operated by the Chester County Intermediate Unit. The board can issue bonds, enter into contracts, solicit bids, etc. for school construction projects. We meet three times a year in January, May, and September. Project updates were presented for the child and career development centers at Great Valley and Coatsville, for the technical college high schools at Penox Bridge and Pickering, and for the Angle Education Center. Information reports were presented uh for a new barbering program to be launched at the Technical College High School Penox Bridge campus for the redevelop redevelopment assistance capital program for various building renovation projects. RACP is a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania grant program administered by the Office of the Budget for the Acquisition and Construction
063of Improvement Projects for uh the public school facilities improvement grant for upgrades at the TCHS Penox Bridge campus for the master facilities plan and for the refunding of the 2018 general obligation bonds. The next meeting will be uh on September the 16th. The location is to be announced for the uh intermediate unit. Uh the Chester County intermediate unit met on May 20th at the Technical College High School Brandy Wine campus. Program highlights include the recognition of the Skills USA winners. SkillsUSA is the workforce development organization for students through the SkillsUSA framework of personal skills, workplace skills and technical skills grounded in academics which is integrated into classroom curriculum. The um presentation was highlighted uh by the uh state competition winners at the TCH uh TCHS Brandy Wine campus. First place uh to Sophia Dickerson for
064cosmetology under 500 hours. Third place Matthew McClean for medical terminology at the TCHS Panox Bridge. first place Kyla Kudesh early childhood care and education and she advances to the Skills USA national competition in Atlanta in June 2026. Third place. Uh there are three third place winners for Ethan Price for action skills. Genevie Vaughn for job skill demonstration. Caleb Carter for restaurant services. TCHS Pickering. Second place for Declan Gubberalt automotive maintenance and light repair. Third place Carolyn Lobli for photography. and third place Walsh Hoffman and Pascal uh crime scene investigation team. The um also highlighted uh during the uh board meeting uh the learning and leadership solutions concierge service. Uh this service provided by CCIU aligns staff to serve as concierge with key internal and external partners to strengthen customer service and relationships. The concierge serves
065as a direct connector for each of the school districts. The concierge ensures that the districts have consistent access to support and a clear point of contact for their needs. The communications, marketing, and engagement team highlights uh countywide support commu community connection. This is a special events team providing opportunities for students to compete, participate, and grow outside the classroom throughout the year. And they host a wide variety of countywide events. The Chester County Communications Professional, Job Alike, meets monthly to discuss current issues, shares ideas, and develop collaborative solutions. And the countywide recruiting consortium pulls resources across 12 school districts to run a unified multi-channel recruitment campaign connecting prospective candidates in every school-based role in the region. The uh also the leadership development program, a personalized learning experience that combines mentorship, training, and cross-divisional exposure with goal-driven
066project-based and observational learning. Now this uh uh leadership program development uh has cohorts uh that the uh staff uh applies for and uh they uh have that opportunity to develop their program and the cohort of which they shared with board members receive a t-shirt CCIU on the CCIU on the back and on the front is a innovation uh grows tree highlighted with leaves and um light bulbs. So I thought that was very clever. Uh the communications and marketing team has a real uh handle on marketing innovation there. Okay, great. And so uh then the next is the CCIU innovation grants and this is an opportunity as I say uh to bring forth uh these ideas and improve those practices. Um, I attended the outstanding uh service awards ceremony on May 7th. The CCIU hosted its
067annual outstanding service awards at ths pickering recognizing retirees years of service milestones award recipients and the Annie Sullivan award honore and new hall of fame inductees. I will be the uh intermediate units uh Pennsylvania School Board Association delegate at the November uh meeting and uh that was approved by the board. The next IU board meeting will be June the 17th uh at 7:30 at the TCHS Brandywine campus. I'd also like to note that uh this evening uh the board received uh the uh intermediate units legislative quarterly report. I'll just make a comment of that during the uh announcement section. So, thank you very much. Uh that ends my report. Thank you. Uh we now turn to other actions under consideration. This is the policy section. Those are policies that are recommended for first reading. The
068action under consideration is that the board of school directors approves the following policies on a first reading basis as ready for adoption at the next regular meeting. Policy 5461 maintaining appropriate boundaries with students. Policy 6195 title one parent family engagement. Policy 7040 use of district facilities. Policy 7041, use of district facilities, specifically Teamer Field. And policy 7042, use of district facilities, specifically the Valley Forge Elementary School tennis courts. Do I have a motion? >> So move. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Miss While, uh, do you have information about these for us? >> Sure. Thank you, President TD. policy and regulation 5461 maintaining appropriate boundaries with students. The policy was revised to clarify the definition of adults as well as to include the definitions of electronic communication, legitimate educational reasons, and student
069that were in the regulation. The information from the section titled electronic and other communications between district adults and students was moved to the regulation. In addition, the regulation was further advised to revised, sorry, to include guidelines, limitations, and/or restrictions related to social media accounts and to emphasize that group messaging for sports and other activities needs to be approved by the parent or guardian and the principal in advance and must be used only when necessary. The regulation will go into effect upon adoption of the policy. Policy 6195, Title One, Parent Family Engagement. The policy was updated based on information regarding the state's audit as well as a definition for title one. The following policies were updated for clarification. In addition, Konesoga High School or CHS athletic complex was added to the title of number 7041. Rental
070fees, labor rates, and time availability were updated in the regulations. Policy and regulations 7040, use of district facilities. Policy and regulations 7041, use of district facilities, teamer field. Policy and regulation 7042, use of district facilities, the Valley Forge Elementary School tennis courts. The committee supported sending the policies to the board of direct board of school directors for a second reading at their meeting on June 8th, 2026. And that's the conclusion of my report. >> Thank you. Do we have any further board discussion on these particular policies? >> I just have an additional comment. Um, with respect to the first one, policy and regulation 5461, maintaining appropriate boundaries with students, drafting and observing that policy is at the heart of maintaining the safe educational environment that is so critical for all of our students. And as
071the chairman of the committee, I am grateful to Mr. Cataly for having this on the agenda and to him and Dr. Gusk and our solicitors for painstakingly working through the language of this policy and regulation to get to the point where its wording matches its mission. So I thank you on behalf of the committee. Thank you. Uh the board now invites members of the audience to comment to come to the microphone and comment if they would like to comment in any of these particular policies. Seeing none, are there any policy uh comments from the board that are further? All right. Um all those in favor of of u uh first reading please indicate by saying I >> I >> and those opposed by saying nay. The motion carries nine to one nine to zero sorry.
072Um residents and taxpayers are now invited uh to comment on any matter of concern, official action or deliberation which may or may not be before the board. They must come to the microphone when they make their comments and state their name and their county of residents. Township of residents. I'm sorry. We're all Chester County. Cindy Veraldi Tradition. In 1964, I was a new eighth grader at TE Middle School and I thought I was the hottest school ever on the third floor. Three adult children and one current eighth grader. We all agree. Last week, we had a three-day 95 degree heatwave. Philadelphia school system, they had 57 schools with heat issues. We have two middle schools that have heat exchangers and the capital plan has zero for air on uh number 28 for capital plant. I
073don't understand that the elementaryaries all have air conditioning and KNOS stoog always had air conditioning. So my years of going to facilities meeting I know the cost for both schools way over 20 million and I feel at least TE could do a heat survey. That's what we did when you had the elementary schools. you went and you put the thermometers in the classrooms. I hope both of these schools will have total air maybe in five years because my next grand will be in TE Middle and I don't want to hear about the temperature. Thank you all for being so nice. >> Thank you, Mrs. Vgulli. Um would you like to comment on that? Uh Mr. McConnell. >> Right. So several years ago um the board and the facilities committee took up air conditioning I think
074in elementaryaries and middle schools. We did studies on both of those. We did readings and at the time uh the decision was made to move forward with the elementary schools in uh not the middle schools. The middle schools do have conditioned air which is in some of those spaces and they do have um air conditioning in certain areas just not throughout the entire building. And just specifically for those who don't know the distinction, conditioned air removes the humidity from the air but does not cool it. Um, and then there are parts of the building that are in fact airond conditioned. It's not to say that that can't be a project taken up by the board or the facilities committee for for consideration at at at your pleasure. I understand though we all know different capital
075projects that have uh come forward in front of that uh consideration. Um, also the uh temperatures are monitored by uh our staff throughout the day, even when it gets hot, so that students if they're in a particular building that is hotter than expected or hotter than makes us comfortable, we can relocate them to other places. >> Thank you. Uh the are there any other comments this evening from the public about non-aggenda items? That uh seeing none, the public comment period for this evening is now closed. This is the point in the meeting when we make any announcements required by the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act. Our solicitor this evening is Mr. Ed Diazio, and he will make any required announcements. >> Thank you, President Titi. Good evening, everyone. There are three executive sessions to announce this evening.
076Uh the board met in executive session on April 7th, May 13th and May 26th uh 2026. The first executive session was for matters of personnel and the second two executive sessions were to discuss matters related to collective bargaining with the Trevor Easttown Education Association. Thank you. >> Thank you. I want to uh point out that we have two more meetings to discuss our uh budget. As Mr. Canoursick mentioned our finance meeting will be on June 4th. And then Monday, June 8th, we'll have our regular schoolboard meeting right here at Konesoga. And at that meeting, uh we will be voting on the budget. Uh then we have no meetings at this time scheduled for this summer. So the next meeting after that would not be until April 24th, 2026 right here at Konesoga. and we'd be
077ready to kick off the new year. Uh do we have any uh general announcements from board members? Uh Dr. Hotinsky. Uh thank you, Mrs. Titi. I'll give you a heads up. I have two. Uh first is that I'm the chair of the ad hoc redistricting committee and we have not met but I wanted to let people know that ad hoc redistricting committee set the parameters for the redistricting and that is going to be turned over to a steering committee composed of parents and guardians. We've talked about this for a while. The members were chose of the steering committee have been chosen uh on May 13th. they were randomly selected from over a hundred applicants. Um, and they were that was after their everyone's eligibility had been had been confirmed and Dr. Tol has now called
078all the the people who were selected for the committee to confirm their participation. So the redistricting steering committee will have 10 members, two from each elementary school. From Bowmont, Annne Alensor and Aaron Siki from Devon Carrie Treker and Rick Salazar. From Hillside, Matthew Margata and Joe Silvent from New Eagle, Kelly Lcalzo and Vincent Viscomi from Valley Forge, Cherry Chen and Lauren Wigel. So um we're very grateful for those 10 people for signing up and uh taking this on in service of their community. And then the second announcement is uh that I just like to acknowledge the passing of Miss Esther Long earlier this month at 101 years of age. Miss Long was a nurse and volunteer in the community and a beloved matriarch in her family. She was also the last known survivor of the
079Berwin school fight against segregation in the in our own school district in the 1930s in which African families African-American families waged a boycott rather than send their children to a separate school for black children. After two years of sacrifice, the parents and their advocates won that fight and laid the groundwork for future civil rights victories at the state and national level. Uh in 2023, the district held a commemoration in this very atrium uh to honor Miss Long and all the participants in the Berwin school fight and to acknowledge the harm of of the school fight. Then 98 years old, she graciously shared her history to inform the curriculum and visited with students, providing an invaluable living link to a history that seems like a long time ago. For example, I had the good fortune of
080attending a 100th birthday celebration at Hillside Elementary, and it was the experience of a lifetime to see these children practically vibrating with excitement to see this hundred-year-old woman come in and um to really be able to connect what they were learning about with a real person. We are fortunate that Miss Esther's legacy will live on in that curriculum of tran Tiffan Easttown School District. Those of us lucky to enough to work with her will miss her fierce personality and her humor and all of us are grateful for her many contributions. Thank you Dr. Hutinsky. Uh I I attended that birthday party as well and um Miss Esther was an amazing person who led an amazing life and she is her passing really we felt needed to be noted especially because she's part of our curriculum
081and that's such a rare thing to actually get to know the person that's part of your uh social studies curriculum at all levels now and and we thank her. Also, I do want to note that I think it's a real testimony to our community that over a hundred people volunteered to be part of that redistricting um parent steering committee and uh it just goes to I think the kind of engagement that uh we are very fortunate to have. So, um that committee will be getting to work soon and um we look forward to hearing from them. Are there other announcements? Uh, Miss Pichuni, >> thank you. I too uh attended the birthday party and it was lovely to see us all in, uh, Miss Long's favorite color of uh, lilac and lavender. Um, and it
082was very moving. Uh, I have a a legislative update uh, from our legislative review team from uh, for your information. Uh the Trump administration's uh fiscal year 2027 budget proposal requests 76.5 billion in discretionary funding for the US Department of Education. Key aspects of the proposal uh there's an overall cut a total reduction of 2.3 billion for the department of education. the mega grant which is uh uh make education great again grant. The plan proposes eliminating roughly 30 existing K through2 programs and um consolidating 17 programs into a single $2 billion block grant resulting in a net reduction for those programs. Title one and the IDA title one funding will be maintained at a $18.4 4 billion. While IDA state grants for special education would see an increase despite the elimination of some sub programs,
083higher education proposes a $2.7 billion cut to higher education, including a 3354 million reduction in grants for minority serving institutions. Uh the Pell Grant boost seeks a uh $10.5 billion increase for the PEL grant program, maintaining the maximum award at uh $7,395 to cover projected shortfalls. It is noted in a contextual information item that this is non-binding. The presidential budget request is a proposal that serves as a starting point for congressional negotiations. It is not binding and Congress must pass legislation to finalize the budget. Contact federal representative Chrissy Hulahan and federal state senators John Federman and Dave McCormack. Uh and in conjunction with that uh per the legislative uh quarterly report at the Chester County Intermediate Unit, the executive director Dr. George Fiori states, "While ongoing budget discussions at both the state and federal levels
084may create uncertainty, what remains certain is the impact these programs have every day, providing hands-on career training, academic support, and pathways to economic opportunity for students across Chester County. Together, these efforts touch thousands of lives, demonstrating how targeted investment and thoughtful partnerships translate into real lasting impact. Uh, I also have a couple of uh uh announcements uh about Devon Elementary School. Um, I attended the uh April 29th event uh autism awareness. Uh it was a bubble launch and uh it was a fundraiser for the um Eagles Foundation for Autism and uh Swoop was there which is the Eagle's mascot. It was a joy to see uh him uh or her uh take uh uh take the uh students under their wings and it was under its wings and um also uh the autism students uh
085with assistance uh were able to present uh their ideas for this program and for autism awareness. And this happens to be uh a month that I receive uh uh t-shirts. So, I bought as part of the fundraiser the Devon Elementary t-shirt and they raised over $7,000 for that foundation. And on the back it says Devon Elementary with some other insignas and it says autism awareness awareness month. I also attended the April 1st spring fair at Devon Elementary uh along with all the other uh goodies that the uh students could enjoy and eat. Um there was one particular uh program that uh they had pictures of the teachers when they were in elementary school and the students had to pick out and pick out which teacher belonged to which name. That was fun to watch. Uh
086and I also attended uh the uh May 15th circus arts event which was uh a program by the uh circus arts. Uh it's a um organization, a group that has lessons and they came in and taught the students tumbling and juggling and all kinds of circus arts and they encouraged adults to apply for a you know a lesson. Um, and my last announcement is that uh uh my visiting hour will resume uh I had that last one in May May 21st and it will begin again on October the 21st. That is the third Thursday of the month from 4:00 to 5:00 at Easttown Library. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Pition. You've been busy as your ambassador to Devon. Uh, is there any other announcement, Dr. Meros? >> Yes, thank you, President TDI. Um, I
087just have two comments briefly. First, I'd like to commend the work of the safety committee and the diversity committee, uh, since I've been on the board and attended all of their meetings. Um, if you don't know, both are district level committees that welcome important conversations and share information among administration, faculty, staff, board members, as well as students and families. I took part in both committees and saw how each one furthers the district's mission to promote equity, inclusion, and belonging as core values. All of which I value as a board member of the board and the tradition easttown community and perhaps somewhat of a foil to the legislative update that was mentioned earlier. Um, next school year, as always, community members are welcome to attend. Please note the district level committees are not livereamed or recorded.
088Thus, ple please feel free to attend in person. Secondly, I'd like to thank Dr. Stephanie Demming for her leadership as principal of Bumont Elementary School and for wel welcoming me as ambassador since I've been on the board this past school year. I greatly enjoyed my time visiting the school, meeting faculty and staff, and most of all, opportunities to observe and talk to the students. Next school year, wherever my ambassador assignment takes me, I'll look forward to similar opportunities to engage with the school community. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Zinc. >> On May 8th, I had the distinct privilege of attending the spring concert at New Eagle Elementary School. The theme of the concert was the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. I don't know if you've all heard, but it
089happened just down the road. The um concert band, Prelude on Encore Orchestras, and the Chorus all performed tunes out of the Great American Song Book and a wide range of tunes including Boot Scoot and Barn Dance, a bluegrass inspired tune, the Queen Rock anthem, We Will Rock You, and the and the and the and the Olympic fanfare that you may have recognized from NBC, which really got me in the mood for the upcoming uh patriotic celebrations. A huge thank you to Dr. Phillips and the entire staff at New Eagle Elementary School for welcoming in me and for just a a short slice of their day. I had a fantastic time. Thank you, President Titi. >> Thank you. >> All right, looks like we're all set with announcements. Uh, as is our practice, there is a
090list of our correspondences. Uh, these are the letters that the board received during the last month or since our last meeting. They appear on page 164 of your agenda. Do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved. >> Do I have a second? Second. All those in favor, please indicate by saying I. >> I. I. >> I. >> Those opposed by saying nay. And as Mr. Contosk would say, meeting adjourned and anyone wants to state, they can.