001Good evening and welcome to the June 9th, 2025 regular meeting of the Traiffan Easttown School Board. We'll begin as always with a salute to the flag. Regular school board 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 agenda items and items on the consent agenda only. Additional public comment will be heard for the actions listed under priority discussion. The final comment period during the end near the end of the meeting is reserved for all other matters of concern, official action or deliberation which are or may be before the TESD board of directors and which are not covered by the other comment periods. Each public comment period is reserved for residents and
002taxpayers. Additionally, the board will accept comments from sitting public officials for non-c campaigning purposes and by agreement with the tea 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. Also, please be aware that intentionally disrupting a lawful meeting or the administration of a government function is a criminal event in Pennsylvania. The school board values the opportunity to hear from the community in person and appreciates your cooperation in advance. Our first order of business is a report from our student representative, Maggie Nering. Thank you. Good evening everyone. Smaller crowd tonight, so I'll keep
003my report very short as to not waste too much of your time, but obviously with the school year winding down, spirits are high at Knosoga. And today was the last Monday for students, which is very exciting. I think I can speak on behalf of all students to say that we are very excited for the summer to begin um after yet another successful year. And so while school is coming to an end, there are still some exciting events happening around the school. Most notably, seniors just had their graduations and senior reflections last Monday and Tuesday. Senior reflections reflections is an event in which seniors share their talents with their class right before graduation. There are some great speeches and awesome musical performances and overall was just a very fun event. The following evening was graduation out
004on Teamer Field. The seniors could not have asked for better weather as they celebrated their final milestone as KNOSOGA students. Congratulations to all the graduates on a fantastic four years at Knosoga and we all wish them good luck next year. Finally, some Knosoga sports are still going strong. After advancing through the first two rounds of the state tournament, the girls lacrosse team plays in the state semi-final tomorrow at 400 p.m. at Westchester Henderson High School. We appreciate all the support and we will need it as we play a tough Springfield opponent. We hope to prove the statement, "It's hard to beat a good team three times true." And lastly, some crew teams qualify for nationals which occur later next week in Sarasota, Florida. So, good luck to them. And that's all from me and I
005hope everyone has a fantastic summer and hopefully come out to support the girls lacrosse team tomorrow at 4 p.m. Thank you. Thank you, Maggie. And congratulations on another successful year here at Konesoga. Okay, next item on our agenda is recognition of the 24 2024 2025 retirees is a a bittersweet uh event. So, but Dr. Anthony Stevenson will lead the recognition of the 202425 retirees. Dr. Stevenson, come out. Sure. Thank you, Mr. President. Um, we are the board. Um, on behalf of the board and members of the TE school district would like to recognize our retirees and congratulate and thank them for their service. Um, I will read the list of all retirees. Um we are fortunate to have some of them um here tonight. And if you are present when your name is called would
006you please come up so you can shake the superintendent and the president's hand. Um first of all we have Jeannie Braun who um 10 years of service. Sally Kentwell Knos Stoga High School. James Deiss Konesoga High School 22 years. Robert Kirkby, TE Middle School, 36 years. Deborah Kirkwood, TEAO, 19 years. Gregory Ma Malendr, the Knock, Seven, 17 years. Constance Marzani, Devon Elementary, 26 years. Katherine Matia, T Middle School, 25 years. Dr. Kevin Nurse, Knesoga High School, 25 years. Paul Pulse, Knesogga High School, years. Daniel Ryan, Konos Stoga High School, 18 years. Michael Wong, Valley Forge Elementary School, 35 years. Rosanna Zanker, Kanes Stoogga High School, 10 years. And Sandra Zimmerman, Valley Forge Middle School, 19 years. On behalf of the superintendent, board of trustees, um, TE community, we thank each of these individuals for their
007service. So now we usually have a a pause in the proceedings uh after we recognize the artwork. But as you can see, our our backdrop is a little less colorful today. Uh so we have no artwork, but uh we will still take a short pause uh to let folks who are just here for the recognitions part to uh exit. Okay, next item on the agenda is announcement of additional agenda items of which we have none. So then we will move on to the next item which on the agenda which is public participation from district residents and district taxpayers regarding any items on the consent agenda only. If you would like to make a comment on the consent agenda, please line up. When you come to the microphone, state your name and township of residence. We
008will end comment with the last person in line. All public comments this evening will be limited to three minutes. Again, this comment period is limited to consent agenda items only. To help with the timing, please make your entire comment and then the board will determine an appropriate response. Okay, seeing no comments, move on to the next agenda. Board action regarding amendment of agenda to include additional agenda items. We have none. So now we will move on to the consent 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 president will move it to an appropriate place on the agenda,
009a board member may vote nay or abstain with respect to a consent agenda item without the need for removing the item from the consent agenda. The action under consideration is that the board of school directors approves the following recommendations on the consent agenda as printed on page six of the agenda. Do I have a motion? So moved. Do I have a second? Second. We have a proper first and a second. So I will call for a vote. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Any oppose signify by saying nay. Eyes have it. 90. Okay. So now I would before we move on to our priority discussion, I'd like to draw attention to two items just approved on tonight's consent agenda. Mr. Matthew Diamond will begin work as an assistant principal at Valley Forge
010Middle School in July. And wh first, there Dr. Heather Carr will join our special education team as a supervisor beginning August [Music] 11th. Thank you both. We are very much looking forward to joining our administrative team. Okay. Now we will move on to our priority discussion adoption of the 202526 final budget. The action under consideration is that the board of school directors adopts the following resolution that pertains to the approval of the 2025 2026 final budget submitted by the district's administration. The text of the resolution can be found on page 176 of the agenda. Do I have a motion? So moved. Do I have a second? Second. We have a proper first and a second. So now I will ask Dr. Gusk and Mr. McDonald to provide further information prior to the discussion of the
011priority action item. Dr. Gusk. Thank you, Mr. President. It is my pleasure tonight to present with Mr. McDonald the 20 2526 final budget for your consideration. TESD will provide services for approximately 6845 students, which is the student enrollment as of today. We understand the resources need to continue our programs are considerable and we remain conscious of increasing costs. The delivery of outstanding educational services and outcomes is also community expectation. Re recent outcomes of our educational program include the district continuing to be strong in the area of standardized testing. In the fall of of 2024, Kanesoga High School led Pennsylvania with 51 National Merit semi-finalists, 68 National Merit commended students, three African-American scholars, and five National Hispanic Scholars. Additionally, in the spring, uh, 1115 Knosogga High School students completed 2,624 AP tests. This was in the
012spring of 24. And of all those exams, 92% had a score of three or better. Knosogga students scored well above the national average on the SATs with a mean score of 638 in evidence-based reading and writing and a mean score of 647 in math. This year, 12 students from Konosoga High School were selected to participate in the Pennsylvania All State Choir, All State Band, and All State Orchestra. These students advanced to the state competition after successfully qualifying at both the district and regional levels. Our dramatic performances remain unrivaled in music, musical, dramatic, and technical production. Our middle school students excelled in math competitions. TE Middle School and Valley Forge Middle School had top scores in math counts in PA math league, achieving several first and second place finishes. Additionally, many students ranked in the top
0135% nationally in the AMC math competition in grade eight. Two of Konosoga High School robotics teams represented Pennsylvania in the 2025 VEX Robotic World Championships in Dallas, Texas. Knosogga's team was awarded the World Championship Innovate Award. Two of our seventh graders from TE Middle School were invited to the Thermoffisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge after excelling in regional science competitions. Two of our athletic teams won district 1 championships, boys tennis and boys basketball. Girls field hockey and boys tennis won PIAA state championships. League champions include cross country, boys soccer, boys and girls swimming, girls softball, boys tennis, and as already discussed, the girls lacrosse team is currently in the varsity state semifinals playing tomorrow at Westchester Henderson at 4 p.m. This is just a selection of student achievements as there are too many to list comprehensively.
014TE school district and its eight schools consistently rank high nationally among public schools according to commercial publications. Tonight's final budget includes funds to support our high school enrollment that continues to be steady and will maintain the program that has contributed to our ongoing student success. Some items impacting this budget include pro professional staffing additions of three special education teachers, one mental health specialist, two school psychologists, eight STEM teachers, two reading specialist, one English language development teacher. We also have funds to support the ongoing athletic fields project and the renovation of the purchase office building for Bear Hill Elementary School. Bear Hill Elementary is scheduled to open in fall of 2027. The opening of the new school will introduce full day kindergarten to all of our elementary schools. Preparations are already underway with much more work
015needed. Tonight's budget includes revenues allocated to the capital fund to support the new school. The 2025-26 budget also includes funds to support a revised middle school schedule that will offer more structured supports for students in targeted need areas and more choices for students in art, music, and physical education. A new STEM special will be provided next year to all TESD students in grades K through 8. Delivering this educational program in 2526 will cost an anticipated 196,416,579 in expenditures. And Mr. McDonald will now provide a specific breakdown of the revenues and expenses. Thank you, Dr. Gusk. I'll start with our budget calendar where we have started the last couple meetings. Uh we're at the end of that process. We're following the state timeline to make sure we approve a final budget prior to June 30th since
016it's our last regular meeting of the school year. Uh we've had quite a few meetings along the way to talk about the budget. Uh they're listed here and we approved the proposed final budget back in April and it's laid on the table for the required amount of time according to the state timeline. We've advertised it and it's been in the business office for public inspection. These are some of the items listed on uh this particular slide that went into developing this uh budget for 2526. And Dr. Gusk mentioned a couple of them, but one of the things that we've been talking about both in finance and facilities is the capital funds transfer of 6 million. We're attempting to get to a level of a capital funds transfer that we believe is going to be approximately
017uh commensurate with the operational budget of Bear Hill Elementary when we open that in 2027. So, we're hoping that if we get to the level of capital funds transfer that we'll be able to take that expense that's currently in the budget when it gets to that number of 89 million and be able to use that in the operation of the new elementary school and not have to raise additional revenue. So, right now the act one index has been uh a little bit higher than it has been in recent years. So, uh, this board's committed to, uh, produce some additional revenue to try to make that happen. We did that in the year we're in currently, and we're going to be evaluating a tax increase, uh, this evening. They're going to support that in addition to
018all the programs and services that Dr. Gusk mentioned earlier. So, in summary, on this particular slide, you'll see that the untreated uh, budget has about a $9.9 million gap without any without any additional new revenue. the act one index at 4% in the middle column uh produces about 5.8 million and that takes the deficit operationally down to about four million. And then if you add in uh what we filed for as a special ed exception to the act one index that gives us some additional revenue close to about a million which takes us down to that $3.1 million deficit. Uh we can have a deficit when we approve a budget although we can't submit a deficit to the state. We fill that gap with fund balance and there is a slide in the packet uh
019tonight that explains what our fund balance amount is and what those breakdowns are. Budget in summary is on this particular slide. So uh the previous slide showed you kind of the anticipated spending or the operational spending that's on line five of this slide. In addition to that, we budget a reserve or contingency amount that's detailed at the bottom of this slide on lines 9, 10, and 11. So that $3 million gets added to the anticipated spending in addition to what I mentioned earlier, which was the filling of the deficit with fund balance. So that brings us to $196 million all expense uh item that you're going to be approving in the resolution tonight. So, that's the authorized spend that the district has available. The two amounts uh fund balance that are in the resolution, if
020you're looking at that number and wondering why it's 6 million, it's line six and it's line seven. So, those two lines added together make up the 6 million116 that's in the fund balance amount in the resolution uh in the packet. This particular slide shows you the breakdown of the tax increase at 4% for the index and the 66% for the special ed expenditure. Shows you the amount of revenue in column B. And then it also shows you the millage amount in column C. So in the budget resolution, you'll see the mills listed uh as that new rate on line seven. And then of course the difference between this year on line seven and the current year on line one is also represented in the resolution. In addition uh we have an increase in the property
021tax reduction allocation from the state which is uh the gaming revenue that comes from the state level and that is a direct reduction for any uh resident in the district that is homestead or farmstead eligible and has submitted that form to the county. So if they have done that, they will get a reduction as a direct assessment reduction in their taxes and that'll amount to about $344 each person that's eligible. Put this in uh the slide in just forformational purposes so you can see the difference uh in dollar amounts and all those tax rates and total revenue and then impact to an average homeowner in the district. This is the resolution that appears in your packet. I'm not going to read the entire resolution. Uh but the items in red are the ones that I
022mentioned earlier and are in this presentation. You have $190,299,975 of revenue. You have $6,116,67 in fund balance commitment to balance the budget. And then the authorized spending amount is that $196,416,579 as it appears in the resolution. In addition, I mentioned the tax rate that's in the bottom part of this resolution and you'll see the 29.6567 millage rate and the average assessment that that comes out to if you round it obviously that's the 2966 and then the increase of 1.3194 mills from the current tax rate. That's what appears in the resolution this evening. Thank you for clarifying that. In my opening remarks, the 196 million is the authorized spending and we anticipate it actually being $3 million less than that. 3 million of that is contingency spending. So anticipated is the 193 number and 196 is
023authorized. Thank you. Um I'm just going to quickly go over theformational slides and then I'll go back to the resolution slide for the discussion. Uh this is the um this slide shows you where we are in the current year as a projection. We've been talking about this in finance. Uh we're projecting at this point in column B. So the budgets in column A. We had budgeted a $1.6 million deficit. Right now we're trending in the black close to a million dollars. So, uh, that includes a capital funds transfer that's in this budget currently in the current year. So, uh, we talked about this in finance and we'll continue to talk about this as we go through, uh, until we present the audit in November. But we have we're now projected to have a little bit
024additional money that we can move to the capital fund, but that'll be a board determination when we get uh, back here in the fall. fund balance I mentioned earlier. Uh we do have a commitment of fund balance that's uh can be used for capital transfer. You see it on line two there. So we do have the ability to move fund balance as long as we stay under the authorized spending amount that we mentioned earlier. And then the property tax rent rebate program that we had in as a slide in every one of our finance committee meetings and board meetings asformational. There is a link on there. We do have some postings on our website. that program has changed a little bit this year. It's it's increased uh and it's also includes a larger group of
025folks this year. So, uh we encourage people that think they may be eligible for that to please investigate it a little further. So, that includes my uh per my formal presentation. I'll go back to this resolution and I'll stop there and certainly welcome questions. I'll now turn to the board and see if we have any questions or comments at this time. Yes, Miss Picion. Thank you. As I mentioned at the finance committee meeting, I find it necessary to approve this uh budget as presented uh due to the uncertainty of uh certainly the uh Trump administration's tariffs on our expenses and the Trump administration's uh defunding of educa public educational programming. Uh I know that the administration with board review will be uh stringently reviewing uh the expenses that we receive and I'm also um optimistic
026uh that we will continue to advocate for uh funding and increased funding if not level funding uh for our revenues both on the federal level and on the state level. So I intend to approve this budget. Thank you. Other comments? Yes, Dr. Hadinsky. Yes. So I'd like to thank Dr. Gusk and Mr. McDonald for their presentation. I think that was very clear and I'm comfortable moving forward with this budget. I know that we do ask for support from our community and that um our community has provided a lot of um support for us over the years. Um I feel comfortable because we've had a lot of um public engagement around the new elementary school. I think um the community has expressed its its you positive support for Bear Hill Elementary and the fact that we'll
027be having full day kindergarten. We will if not we would have been the last in Chester County to not have full day kindergarten. And I think um in terms of many things it's just time. Um historically, you know, we've fit a lot of improvements to the school over the past uh 10 years while I've been on the board. Um you know, we've tried to redistrict, you know, we've tried to we built on to the schools first and we simply have outgrown our elementary schools and this will give us the opportunity to have full day kindergarten as well. Uh so that's a big reason that I'm supporting it is um being able to be prepared for the opening of Bear Hill Elementary School. But um I also just want to remind people that um act one
028the act one index is an inflationary index that was put into place with the taxpayer relief act of 2006 and the increase the act one index that's put out every year is the maximum increase that a school district can levy without um without voter approval or PTE exceptions. And within that inflationary index that's provided for just normal inflationary costs um over time uh we have managed to give all the students computers or tablets. Um we put elementary air conditioning into place into all the schools which was long overdue. again it was time um we managed to build the classroom edition here in the atrium that came with it and uh we are doing the new fields project and um we will be building the new elementary school and scaling up to you know a whole
029new $9 million in the budget that we haven't had and we want to be able to do it all within the inflationary index that gives us the an amount of a taxing authority um so that we can afford it without having to go out to for voter approval. ble to sort of live within our means but still achieve some pretty remarkable things. So um I do think that the administration are great stewards of the funds and um moving forward you we can borrow money for facilities but for operating costs Mr. McDonald will tell you we cannot borrow and use our fund balance for operating costs we need to build that into the budget. So, I think we've got a good plan and um I appreciate the community support and um that you can stay with
030us as we get through this new elementary school opening which will benefit all of our students um and uh you know continue to do great things in te. Thank you, Dr. Any other comments at this time from the board? Yes, Miss Titi. Uh thank you, Mr. Consorsk I just I couldn't agree more uh with the comments that uh Dr. Hutinsky just made and as we all look forward to Bear Hill uh and the benefits that it will have for all of our our students because and families uh especially the our ability to offer full day kindergarten which will not just be at Bear Hill be at all six schools. And that's that's a really great thing that uh we would have done sooner I think if we had the room for it but we simply
031didn't have the room. Uh but I and we have some huge projects underway and we haven't built a school since the 60s. Uh and that certainly uh has an impact on our budget. But I also want to make mention of the fact that when we think about some of the new costs in our uh in this budget, many of these things are so that we can support our students. Well, there's reading support in a new reading specialist. There's English English language development teachers. There's a new mental health specialist. There new special ed teachers. And then there are eight STEM teachers. Those are teachers who are going to deliver a new state required uh curriculum steels curriculum which uh was we knew about this a couple years ago, but it goes into effect next year. And
032uh although we're not adding uh core teachers, we're adding many supports to the for the students because we feel that they need them and they deserve them. And thankfully in our community, we have been able to um to provide these things for a long time and we hope to always do that because that's what we're about. So, um I am in support of the budget and um look forward to seeing all these new programs and more supports go into place. Thank you, Miss Titi. Any other comments? Miss Odra? Yes. Thank you, President Korsk. um as we develop uh additional uh programs, full day kindergarten, the new elementary school, uh our capital projects, as well as maintenance uh of our buildings. Uh I know that the administration is going to continue to evaluate the most effective
033and uh cost-effective and efficient methods in order to continue to deliver excellence in education. Uh I am in support of the um budget as we uh begin to fund the operation of our uh sixth elementary school. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Odrain. Any other board comments at this time? Okay, seeing none, the board now invites members of the audience to comment on this item. If you have comments or questions, please step to the microphone and identify yourself. Don't look at right. Okay, seeing none, we'll go back to the board. Any additional comments from the board? All right. Well, I'll have a comment then at at this point. Um, I'm also in in support of the budget for all the reasons that have been articulated eloquently by my uh by my board colleagues. I I do
034want to mention uh in in the past we have approved budgets that have had gaps associated with them. Um and in the past those gaps have been closed uh and sometimes sufficiently I mean even on the other on the other end uh during the operating year in part due the administration's effort to hold down expenses during the actual operating year. If you notice and I'm sure that the public has noticed we have a bit of a larger budget gap this year than we have had years past. Um, it's also, as folks have noted, a critical time from a budget perspective due to the capital projects that we currently have in play and our efforts to ramp up our budget so that we can have sufficient amounts for operating our new Bear Hill Elementary School come
0352027. So, I just want to re-emphasize to the administration about the importance of doing what you've always done during the the school year to hold down expenses and to try and close that gap so that it uh we are able to continue along this path uh with respect to these projects and the new Bear Hill Elementary School. So with that, I will now turn to Mr. McDonald who will take a roll call vote. All right. I'm going to start with Mr. Hong. Yes. Dr. Hatinsky. Yes. Dr. Allen. Yes. Miss While. Yes. Miss Pichion. Yes. Dr. Singh. Yes. Miss Audraine. Yes. Vice President Titi. Yes. President Cantorsk. Yes. All right. Resolution passes 90. Thank you. That's great. We'll move on to the next priority discussion, which is the tax bill Homestead Farmstead exclusion. The action under
036consideration is that the board of school directors adopts the following resolution which pertains to the approval of the tax bill Homestead Farmstead exclusion for the 2025 2026 fiscal year. The text of the resolution can be found on page 190 of the agenda. Do I have a motion? So moved. Go ahead. Okay. Do I have a second? Second. Right. I have a proper first and a second. So I will ask Mr. McDonald to provide further information prior to the discussion of the priority action item. Mr. McDonald. Thank you, President Cantorsk. Don't have any slides for this particular resolution, but I did talk about it. Um I'll I'll I'll I did cover a little bit in the budget presentation. Uh so this is um what authorizes the payment or the reduction of taxes for anybody that's homestead
037or farmstead eligible in the county. There's a process of application that you make to the county. They review it and approve it. And if you get into that group of folks, which is listed in the resolution at uh 10,831 uh homestead and five approved farmsteads, if you're in that group of folks, uh the money that comes from the gaming revenue that was dispersed to the school districts in the state of Pennsylvania, uh we take that amount, that 3,726,000 that we received, and we divide it up equally among all those folks that are eligible and they all get the same reduction. So, it's an assessment reduction. And it's not and it equates to a dollar amount because that's the way we calculate taxes. It's mills times the assessed value. So that estimate is currently listed in
038this resolution at $3449. So that'll be the amount of reduction that everybody that's homestead elable eligible will receive after you approve this resolution. Thank you, Mr. McDonald. I will turn to the board and see if folks have any questions about this resolution. and Mr. McDonald's explanation. Yes, Dr. Hatinsky. I just wanted to reiterate that that people should be aware of the property tax rent rebate program that Mr. McDonald discussed and um and just to note that the income limit is $45,000 a year for homeowners and renters, but it does exclude half of Social Security income and benefits. So, I just want to make sure people are aware of that when considering whether they'd be eligible. And we do encourage everyone to apply for that who's eligible. And I would note uh last year that this
039amount um of the property tax, the rebate had um or the homestead um exemption had been flat for many years. Last year it went up considerably and this year went up again. So that does help mitigate the tax impact on our residents. Thank you, Dr. Tinsky. Yes, Miss Titi. Uh Mr. McDonald. I just thought if someone receives their tax bill and they don't have that reduction of $3449, it means they didn't apply for a homestead exclusion. What would be their process to to do that? Right. They can reach out to the county assessment office. They have those applications and I believe that you can even do them online. So, either they haven't completed one or hadn't been or aren't eligible, they wouldn't receive it. But they can do that right at the Chester County and
040it would go into effect for next year. It would be the following year, right? Thank you. Mhm. Thank you, Miss Titi. Do we have any other comments or questions from the board? Okay. So, now the board invites members of the audience to comment on this item. If you have comments or questions, please step to the microphone and identify yourself. Seeing none, I will go back to the board. Any additional comments or questions. Okay, I don't see any there. So, uh, question. Do we have to do a roll call vote or can we just do it? No, you can do a regular vote. All right, let's just do it. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Any oppose, signify by saying nay. All right, the eyes have it. 90. Thank you. Motion passes.
041Okay, the next item on our agenda will be the committee and ambassador reports. So, we will start with policy and Miss Susan Audrain. Thank you. Uh the policy committee has not met and we are currently uh establishing tenative dates for the policy committee meetings in the fall and so those will be advertised later. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Odrain. Next, we'll look at the to the diversity committee and our liazison, Dr. Robert Singh. Thank you. Uh the diversity committee has not met since the last board meeting and we will will resume meetings in the fall of 2025. Thank you, Dr. Singh. Next, report from the finance committee from the chair, Dr. Robera Hatinsky. Thank you. Uh our last meeting uh was just last week. Um but uh it's made been largely made redundant by the
042budget discussion. I will um we did talk about the um the financial reports. Um overall revenues are higher um this year than last by 8.35 million uh due mainly to real estate tax, real estate transfer tax and interim real estate tax. Um state revenue is higher by 1.6 million and federal revenue is lower. Um total revenue as of May 2025 is a little over 172.4 million and expenses are about $182 million. Um and so uh we moved forward uh those the minutes or the reports are on this agenda and as I said uh we just discussed the de the budget development which we just voted on. Um the meeting was pretty short and our meetings for this next year are still being scheduled but all are welcome and encouraged to attend. Thank you. Thank you
043Dr. Hatinsky. Next we'll get a report from the facil facilities committee and its chair Dr. Robert Singh. Thank you. The facilities committee has now met since the last board meeting. Uh we will be having a board meeting, a full board meeting in July to discuss some uh bids for the uh Bear Hill Elementary School that um will be uh received by then. Thank you, Dr. Singh. Next, we'll get a report from the education committee and Bisuti. The education committee has not met since uh we have last met, but we do have a our first meeting scheduled tenatively at this point for September 11th. Uh and of course we will put those on the district calendar and they'll be available for the community to see during the summer. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Titi. Next, we
044have the ad hoc legislative committee and Miss Maryanne Pition. Two items for your information. The state house of representatives passed House Bill 1500, cyber charter reform. This legislation would bring comprehensive cyber charter school reform specifically targeting funding and accountability of cyber charter schools. Second item, the state senate passed Senate Bill 686, destruction of right to know documents. This legislation would make the intentional destruction or alteration of records that are subject to a right to know request a felony of the third degree. That concludes my report. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Pition. Next, we'll turn to ad hoc public information and Dr. Yolanda Allen. Yes, the ad hoc public information committee has not met. We will resume meetings in the fall of 2025. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Allen. Now, we'll get a report from the
045intermediate unit technical school from Miss Maryanne Picion. Thank you. Uh the uh intermediate unit will meet next week, June the 18th, uh at the Brandy Wine campus. Uh there is also a request from the uh executive director, Dr. George Fiori. The US House of Representatives recently passed quote the big beautiful bill unquote which unfortunately eliminates all federal funding for the migrant education program. This program is vital providing essential educational and family support services to our migratory students and their families. Uh the program serves over 1,500 students during the school year. 1,400 in the summer and supporting over,00 families. Its comprehensive services including academic support, language instruction, health and nutrition assistance and housing resources have consistently proven successful in ensuring educational continuity and family stability. Uh the IU under uh Dr. Fiori is asking us to
046uh advocate uh via a letter uh that uh the team has developed outlining the urgent need for continued uh migrant education program funding and have provided a one-page summary highlighting the program's significant impact. Uh they've also given us a um document uh stating these uh services etc. Now um uh they've given us also a template of a letter and uh I intend to customize my letter with reference to the movie Nomad Land. Um I don't know whether you recall or have seen that movie uh 2021 best picture. Um Francis McDorman won the best actress and uh best director for Khloe Chu. She also got a nomination for her screenplay. And this uh tells you about not just of course Chester County is migratory and farm workers primarily but it also talks about those people that
047migrate or get in their vans and work at large distribution centers uh for seasonal work. So this is a an opportunity uh for th those families uh for their education of their children as they navigate through uh travel plan shall we say. So uh I will send this letter and support document to the board members. If uh members of the public wish uh to advocate on this program's behalf, uh please send me an email and I will send you the documents and the template letter. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Pition. And now we have a report from a new committee, our ad hoc redistricting committee and its chair, Dr. Robert Robera Robert. I I'll get this right if I can read. It's long day. Dr. Robera Hatinsky. Thank you. Thank you. It's only been 10
048years, Mr. No. So, the redist at H Hotrick redistricting committee met on uh May 28th. Um and so we had uh several members of the public there which was which was nice. Uh we are just at the beginning of the redistricting process. Um the school won't open until uh fall of 2027 is what we're uh we're presuming is the the proposed timeline at this point. So the um so we have a a lot of work to do before before then because it's the first school built in the in the district since the 60s. Um we're looking going to look at uh elementary enrollment and attendance boundaries across across the district. Uh so during uh the meeting we talked about what had been done in um in 2018 the last time uh we district we redistricted
049in order to uh make maximize the use of our existing elementary schools. Um during that effort we had a steering committee that included administrators, parents um and external consultants. And so the board decided that we were going to um or the board not the board the committee um ad hoc committee uh has decided to go forward with a similar structure um as a foundation for shaping the redistricting approach. We also uh so we outlined a sort of high level process using uh district committee um and then also we established a timeline. The proposed timeline will begin this summer when the administration will gather data for the ad hoc committee to look at. Um the ad the ad hoc committee will meet in the fall to determine parameters for that plan. um and a work plan
050for another committee, a steering committee um as we did the last time with uh composed of parents, administrators and external consultants um that will then do the work um to of the actual um looking at the boundaries. So um we haven't determined the exact composition of that committee, but that will that will be coming. So by spring of 2026 um we will have parameters um and um considerations that that work committee should use and then by spring of 2026 um we'll solicit and select um members for that committee. And then the redistricting plan is expected to be presented to the school board in late fall 26 or early 2027 followed by implementation of transition activities for uh students moving schools uh in the spring of 2027 and then the school would open in the fall.
051So our next steps um include um informing the board and the public which we have and also it's been in the blast so I hope uh everyone's aware. Um and we will have a series of meetings in the fall to uh consider and develop parameters um including legal and logistical considerations um and disturbing determining the composition and responsibilities of the steering committee. So um there will be more in the fall. We don't have those meetings scheduled but we are as I said at the beginning of a of a thorough process. So there's plenty of time for everyone to be engaged and we hope that you all will participate. Thank you. Thank you Dr. Dr.insky. Okay, that concludes our committee and ambassador reports. We have no other actions under consideration. So now comes time for public
052participation from district residents and district taxpayers regarding non-aggenda matters of concern, official action or deliberation which are or may be before the board. This is the time in short when residents and taxpayers may address the board on matters not included in the agenda. So, if you have a comment, please step up to the mic. Cindy Baldi, Traffic Township, your neighbor. At the last meeting, board meeting, I asked about uh getting two crossing guards said Old Lancaster and Howville Road. I didn't bring my terrible map. Uh, our regular crossing guard who's been there for years has been seriously ill. And two of the employees from the maintenance office have been taking turns covering AM and PM crossings. Last Thursday, Michelle, who's the secretary at the maintenance department, was cursed by an iate driver. I find that
053totally ignorant. All they're trying to do is get the kids across the street safely. So, I applaud your employees for their dedication because they're out there in the morning and the evening taking care of these kids. Uh, my second comment is our weather this week is going to be 89 and 90 on Wednesday and Thursday. And I remind the board that the two middle schools do not have total air conditioning. And I'd like you to study this and put it back on the capital plan because I think it's a necessary project with the weather that we seem to be having. Thank you. And I wish you all a great summer. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Foldi. And thank you for recognizing our uh employees. We are very thankful for for them to be able to
054provide that and all the other services sometimes seen and unseen um that we have that make this district run. So thank you and it's great that they get the recognition here at the board meeting as well. Do we have any other comments? Okay, seeing none, the public comment periods for this evening are now closed. There was no executive session prior to this meeting, so there are no announcements for our solicitor to make. Our future meetings, uh, as Dr. Singh alluded to, we have a meeting Thursday, July 10th, 2025. It's a regular board meeting, 7:30 p.m., but it will be at the TE Teao offices on West Valley Road. And as Dr. seeing mentioned that will be concerning uh facilities items and bids that we received related to Bear Hill and Elementary. After that, next meeting
055will be Monday, August 25th, 2025. After the summer is done, I don't want to think that far ahead. Uh 7:30 p.m. here at Konesoga High School in this room. We'll be back here. Now, I turn to the board to see if we have any general announcements. Yes, Miss Picion. Thank you. You have three items. Uh on the consent agenda on page uh 173 uh there is an item uh regarding a PSBA delegate assembly appointment where uh Mr. Hong and myself will attend uh this uh symposium uh in October and uh we are attending at our own expense. Um there'll be no cost to the school district although we'll be there on behalf of the school district. Uh the second item I was invited to um participate in a boy scout uh badge uh requirement uh
056group gathering I should say. uh the issue uh to obtain their uh citizenship in community uh badge was choose an issue that is important to the citizens of your community. Then do the following. Find out which branch of local government is responsible for this issue. Number two, uh with your counselors and parent or guardians approval, interview one person from the branch of government you identified in a requirement and then ask about this issue and how young people can help. And so there were two items that they uh discussed uh after I had given a uh brief uh overview of the school board, how it works, what it is responsible for, etc. And so they huddled their their patrol leaders huddled amongst themselves and then they uh two of the uh questions that they came up
057with was uh about personal devices specifically cell phones which I talked about mentioned our policy regarding uh cell phone device and then the second was the effect of President Trump's recommendation to dismantle the department of education. So, uh, and now for the third item and last, uh, my visiting hour at the Easttown Library, uh, on the third Thursday of the month from 4 to 5 will resume in September. Thank you. Thank you. Any other announcements from the board? Okay, seeing none, uh, we have, well, we have references to correspondence listed on page 191, but it appears we didn't receive any since the last meeting. So there you go. Uh and that comes to the best part of the meeting, the adjournment. So I will call for a motion to adjurnn. Do I have a first?
058So moved. So moved. If we have a first. Yes. So moved. Do I have a first? I I screwed that up. We have a motion. Do we have a first? First. Okay. Second. We have a second. We have a first and a second. I think confused. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. All those opposed, you can stay here. Eyes have it. Thanks very much. I think the next president I think for now