001Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Prior to tonight's public meeting, the board met in executive session to discuss information and strategy related to contractual or labor relations matters and a personnel matter. Mrs. Anusk, will you please call the role? >> Mrs. Cooper, >> here. >> Miss Dad, >> here. >> Miss Finley, >> here. >> Mr. Frank. >> Mr. Good >> here. >> Mr. Hamilton, >> here. >> Dr. Hasselhorn >> here. >> Mrs. Lynch >> here. >> Miss Zitch >> here. >> Eight members present. Mr. Frank absent. >> Thank you. Dr. Railjack, could you please introduce all of our wonderful guests? >> It
002is very exciting for me to introduce our guests. Uh this evening, I'm actually going to first introduce Fox Chapel Area High School lead principal, Dr. Michael Hower. And he is going to introduce some of the guests here, the high school students who were named the 2026 National Merit Semi Finalists and commended students. So Dr. hour. >> Okay, thank you everybody. This is an exciting exciting night to be able to recognize some of our students. I'm just going to give some uh quick background, you know, here for the recognition that they are given. You know, approximately 1.3 million 1.3 million juniors take the the PSAT and they're automatically entered into the National Merit Scholarship Program. But here's what's in interesting about it. There is only 34,000 students who are actually commended and only 16,000 that you
003know that advanced to become semi- finalists. And we have a bunch of them uh here at Fox Chapel Area High School. The semi-finalists represent just 1% or less than 1% of everybody who's taken the exam. And the commended students, they scored in the top 5% of those who have taken the exam. So, I would like to be actually to recognize our commended students first. And if you would indulge me, I actually would like to be able to read all of their names because some also just trickled in. But I think it's important that actually we recognize, you know, all of the students that have met that achievement. Uh, first one is Maren Aric. Please come on forward. [Applause] You can stay up here please if you don't mind. Armen Aborzi. I don't think I saw
004mom is here for I love it. Tobias Conklin, Greta Ernner, Leila Gola, Charles Hall, Nora Kelly, Steven Lee, James Mangis, Max Maloki, [Music] [Applause] August Mirwald, [Music] [Applause] Dana Mullen, Zara Oskaya, Zachary Rubin, Joshua Shaw, Joseph Shin, Congratulations [Music] [Applause] and Ian Wellman. Congratulations to all of our commended students we have here. [Applause] We had 17 of them. 17 commended students here. And then for our semi finalists, remember what I said, these are the top 1% and the students who have taken the PSAT as juniors. And we have 10 of them. First, I'd like to recognize Michael Castello. think of some Riley Hemingray, Alan Jang, Eloise Johnson, Yana Kubini, Joanna Lee. I saw Joanna, [Music] [Applause] Gavin Lynch, [Music] [Applause] [Music] Rodrigo Silva, Yash Tahilani [Music] [Applause] and Helen Zoo. [Music] All of these 10
005students that we have, all right, they will now compete for nearly 6,930 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million. So, good luck to all of you and congratulations. Thank you. [Applause] Thank you very much, Dr. Hower, and congratulations to all of our students, and thank you also to all of their families for their hard work as well. That concludes all of our guests this evening. >> Thank you. Our Fox Leadership Council, we have Michael D. Demenico and Logan Rap. >> Good evening. Thank you for having me. Very nice to be here. My name is Michael Dun Manico, student body president, and tonight I have the esteemed honor of presenting one of our diversity representatives. Please welcome Logan Rob. >> Hello. Um, this is my first time reading. Uh, hello members of the board. My name
006is Logan Rap. I'm a junior and the Radica Hay leaison for the diversity council. Today I'm going to be giving a brief overview of the rad hate summit on September 15th which the diversity council attended. The event reinforced the idea that hate and discrimination is not going to go away on its own and the first major step is combating its awareness. Let me give it a brief overview of the event. The red hate summit is the most comprehensive anti-hate conference in the world. has many sections to it and the student summit is what Fox Chapel students have attended for the past three years. This summit is a great way to exchange ideas and information with other schools from the area as well as hear from individuals that have personally lived through discrimination and targeted violence
007such as survivors and family members of the ones tragically lost tree of life shooting in 2018. Each year the eradica hate summit expands in terms of both student count and schools. This year I had over 30 schools attend, bringing hundreds of students from all across Western Pennsylvania. Quite a few activities happen at the summit, including the discussion of how to identify hate, a working lunch where we exchange ideas and concepts, and various booths and tables to collect resources. This event also supplied the school with a $1,000 grant that we used to further combat bigotry. This money goes towards anything from helping fund club activities and field trips to assisting with the multicultural month and night later this year. Furthermore, a variety of topics are covered from online hate to bias to hate historically. This all
008acts to further the goal of ending discrimination and leaving violence in the past. I thank you once again for granting me this opportunity. If you have any questions about the summit or diversity council in general, please feel free to ask. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Any questions? >> How big is the council? I actually don't know how large of a body that is. >> Uh it's made up of the individual clubs and then the leadership has I believe four to five students. >> Okay. Outstanding. Thank you. >> Thank you both. Thank you. [Music] >> Dr. Rejack, could we have your superintendence report? >> Absolutely. Uh for the superintendence report this evening, we have a lens on learning and I'd like to introduce Dorseyville Middle School's program principal, Dr. Laura Miller. Uh Dr. Miller is
009here to introduce two teachers who will talk about the newly created student recognition team at Dorseyville Middle School. The group and the program were created as a result of the feedback from the association for middle level education or the schools to watch program school representatives. Uh from that feedback, the school representatives developed the student recognition program to acknowledge student excellence in academics, the arts, and athletics. So, Dr. Miller, >> good evening everyone. It's a pleasure to be here tonight to share with you all of the work happening at Dorseyville Middle School. I'm thrilled to introduce two dedicated teachers who have been leading a new vital initiative, Emily Grahowski and Dave Snyder. Over the past year, as we absorbed feedback from the Association for Middle Level Education and the Schools to Watch program, one area of
010focus became clear. We should develop a more systematic and robust way to recognize the outstanding work our students are doing. Emily and Dave have been a driving force behind the creation of our new student recognition team. This team was developed to ensure we are formally acknowledging and celebrating excellence across academics, the arts, and athletics. It truly represents our commitment to the middle level concept of honoring the whole child. They're here this evening to share the exciting details of the student recognition team and all of the outstanding work that is already happening in making the difference in the culture at Dorseyville Middle School. Please welcome Emily and Dave. [Applause] Thank you. As Dr. Miller has already stated, whenever we were up for review for schools to watch and schools of distinction, we found that as we
011tried to pull together our information for how we were recognizing our students, we felt we were doing a a nice job, but it soon became very clear that we could be doing a better job. Um, we started to take a look at the programs that we had in place and as we attended various conferences, we had an opportunity to see how some other schools were approaching recognition, especially within the mid-level educational system. And we were happy to find that there were some other ways that we could go ahead and take care of that. One of the schools that presented at the conference, I think it was two years ago, uh they focused on the three A's of academics, attitude, I'm sorry, the four A, academics, um attitude, arts, and uh athletics. And we decided to
012sort of round that out with a few others. Uh just looking at general acknowledgement for students as well as just announcements and to help to help keep students engaged in what's happening in the school. At the middle school, we already had honor role. It is something that we do every quarter and we recognize over 400 students each quarter. Uh those are students that are receiving honors, high honors, and 4.0. Uh they are posted onto a large bulletin board in our lobby for all students to see. They're issued a digital and paper copies of a certificate. Um those are emailed home and the students are given a hard copy to take as well. Student of the month is a program that we've had for a long time in our building. Um, starting two years ago, we
013revamped it to better focus on uh, PBIS and make it so that it was attached to uh, being prompt, prepared, productive, and uh, what's the other one? Polite. Thank you. Um, we made sure it was going along those lines. Uh we made it so that they are receiving a personalized letter of recognition, a window clinging pencil, custom laser engraved plaque. They also get a letter from Senator Lindseay Williams. Their office is kind enough to provide us with that. And so over 80 students each school year are recognized using those PBIS protocols. Two years ago as well, we incorporated the golden ticket program. This one happens at the end of the school year. Every teacher is able to nominate one student that they have witnessed throughout this course of the school year that they believe exemplifies
014what it means to be an amazing student at Dorsil Middle School. It can be on many different grounds, you know, and one of our favorites are just showing the final one on the slide there where it says show significant improvements in academics, behavior, and citizenship. It's not some simply somebody who's always been amazing. It can be somebody who's learned how to be more amazing throughout the course of the year. Uh for that one, they get a number of things. Uh they do get a a wooden ticket that basically shows that they received it, but they also end up with a lunchon, pizza, ice cream, VIP access to the inflatables course during field events day. Uh this one is one where it's it's always very difficult because there's always a lot of students we would like
015to give it to, but you only get to have one. and and so that makes it a little bit a little bit hard for kids sometimes to understand that there's only so many kids that can be recognized, but it's one that the kids really enjoy receiving. >> Yes. So, um, after speaking with some of our music teachers and some of our art teachers, um, this actually came up last year and we wanted to recognize some of our students who are involved in the orchestra, band, and chorus. And along with that, we wanted to recognize some of our outstanding artists because we got a little feedback from some of the teachers and they felt that um, their students needed recognized and in our building, we could have stepped up our game with that. So, our art
016teachers and our music teachers will nominate one student from each assigned grade level. Um, music teachers rotate by discipline, band, orchestra, choir, um, a sixth, seventh, and eighth grader. And then the student photos and writeups are featured on a poster display, digital signage, and a letter and comments and congratulations are emailed to the parents. So, recognizing athletics, um, in our gymnasium, you'll see these posters. So, we felt we could step up our game as well when recognizing the different student athletes in our building. They did a lot of or they dedicate a lot of time to their sport and um they did a lot dedicate a lot of time to school. So, this encourages school spirit and again celebrates that passion that these students have and um it's been really fun. The students have really
017enjoyed going into the gymnasium, seeing their team and um acknowledging the other sports. So, our featured boxes wall. Um, this is something that we came up with this year. So, this highlights excellent athletes. So, coaches are asked to nominate one of their athletes who is a leader on the field, maybe an academic leader. And so, every 10 days a new athlete is recognized. So over 20 students and their photos and writeups provided to us by the coaches are um displayed on our wall and digital signage and a letter with comments to the congratulations to the parents is also sent. And this is another way that we recognize those athletes that are true leaders on the field and academic leaders in the classroom. When we were trying to figure out what we wanted to do for
018featured foxes, we did not want to limit it to only athletes. Uh we do have a number of weeks in between seasons where we felt as though there was an opportunity to recognize any of the number of many students in our building that are really good at a lot of other things. Uh so our first two we have their posters here. They haven't even actually been posted in the school yet. Uh but we have one student who traveled to the Netherlands and he presented his uh 3D model of a piano that he designed in a software application called Blender uh to attendees of the conference which was really amazing. And recently I just 3D printed all the keys for that piano that's going to be turned into his costume for Halloween. And uh the other
019uh nominated person uh they were presenting at a film festival in Ohio a film that they created with their mother over the course of the last four years. So, and they did receive first place in the short film division for theirs. So, they'll be our first two non-athletic featured boxes that will be up on display this year. Notes of appreciation is something that we did a number of years ago. We we kind of fell away from it. It's an opportunity for students to show how much they appreciate and how grateful they are for people in their lives around them. whether those are students or other adults, cafeteria workers, teachers, anybody really that they've they've had exposure to within our school environment over the past number of years. Uh there's Google form that they fill out.
020It dumps all of their their gratitude into a large spreadsheet that we look over, make sure things are school appropriate, and then we issue emails out with a little note that looks like this. Uh that is delivered to the teachers in the building, the students in the building that they feel appreciative uh for their actions towards them, I believe. >> Yes. So um this idea actually um we came up with after a PD last year. So there have been an influx of students who are learning English as a second language and to acknowledge those students and um bring their culture to a spotlight. We created this signage. So it's a mosaic of cultures and it just acknowledges students who come from different countries. And in the spotlight, that's where our students in the cafeteria can
021read a little bit of information about those different cultures. That's updated um that'll be updated quarterly, but um the monthly c I'm sorry, monthly, but the monthly country um spotlight and that just has information for students to read to gain a better understanding of their peers around them and acknowledging all of the extras. So um to start there are different tournaments that we'll do at um DMS to celebrate students and um just creating those. >> Yeah. >> So I I am poised and fortunate to work in the maker space in our building. So I have the opportunity to help create a number of things for those. Uh but one of the tasks that we were given within the job description of student recognition and engagement was working with the different groups and organizations within the
022building. um anytime that they are doing their best to make sure that students are being recognized for their efforts. So um over the course of the past couple of years, you know, there has been the PBIS team sponsored a 3v3 basketball tournament. Uh there's a couple of different classes that have competitions that go on. One of my favorites is the uh 7th grade does a math madness one um right around uh PSSA time to help make sure that students are prepared. So the winning seventh grade team gets a trophy they get to keep in their room and it moves from one room to the other. uh all depending on who wins. Um and then just recently the PTO had asked if I could create them uh bridges for a cookie display that they're going to
023have at our fall social. So uh we try very hard to make sure that we make things for those groups whenever they need them so that they can uh share what they're doing with others. We also put a new announcement board down by the cafeteria um in the Foxite uh that's meant to rotate all depending on what's up what's happening at that particular time of year. Uh we do have the signups for each of the athletic seasons will go up there as well as any clubs or organizations that are recently starting to get up and moving at that point in time. Uh we also put the signage for the family and consumer science sales. We put those on those uh on that board so that they're able to see that the final images that you
024saw sliding through there. We also maintain the digital signage in the building just making sure students are aware as to what's going on, what's happening. Uh we also post things for our diversity committee. Uh this was one of the slides that was uh just up yesterday for Hispanic Heritage History Month. So we run a number of items on the digital signage so that people are aware of what's going on. So that's it. We we realize that it was a lot. So thank you for listening, but we really do think it's important that our students are recognized and all the ways uh that they contribute to our school community. Thank you. >> Thank you. [Applause] And I want to thank our educators and uh the teams that worked with the uh AMLE and the schools to
025watch application, the Apple distinguished schools application as well. And I also want to thank the building leaders uh Dr. Miller and Mr. Naw House for their leadership. Uh the middle school is really a joyful place and uh they've really been focused on that sense of belonging as well as helping students to understand what makes them special, what they enjoy and to celebrate that in the others in the building. And so it really is a fun place to be and it really is a a carefully thought out uh way to be able to address the needs of middle-level learners and to make sure that uh the that the the school is attun attuned to the needs that each individual child has but also to help them to find their place in the world and be recognized
026for it. So thank you. >> Thank you for your presentation. >> Mr. Jeff Fray solicitor's report. >> No report. Okay. Could I have a motion to approve the minutes of the combined agenda study session and regular business meeting dated September 8th, 2025? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Thank you. Any questions, comments, corrections on the minutes? Mrs. Anus, will you please call the role? >> Mrs. Cooper, >> yes. >> Miss Dad, >> yes. >> Miss Finley, >> yes. >> Mr. Frank, >> Mr. Good. >> Yes. >> Mr. Hamilton, >> yes. >> Dr. Hasselhorn, >> yes. >> Mrs. Lynch, >> yes. >> Miss Zitch, >> yes. >> Motion carries. Thank you. It's time for our first public comment period. We don't have anyone signed up. Okay. Under old business, our committee reports. Mrs. Cooper, could you
027give us the academic committee report? >> Sure. The board academic committee will meet on October 14th, that's tomorrow, at 6 PM in the staff development room on the lower level of the district office. Committee will receive an update on the K through5 English language arts committee work and this year's program pilot. The committee will also receive a data update on the district's pre kindergarten program and the tier three reading intervention program spire. What is the Shears program or pilot? Sorry. >> I think we're going to hear about the the K through five one that they've been looking at the last few years. I believe that's what we're getting an update on. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Any other questions on the academic committee? >> Okay. Um, Miss Finley, could you read the governance committee report,
028please? The board governance committee met on October 7th, 2025. The committee reviewed policy 006 meetings, specifically the listed order of business for board meetings. The committee changed student council representative to Fox leader council representative as well as added board committee reports under old business. The committee also reviewed four policies from the 100s and two policies from the 900s. >> Thank you. Any questions? All right. Projects and planning, Miss Zitch. >> Uh, yes. The board projects and planning committee will meet on October 21st, that is a week from Tuesday, at 6 PM in the staff development room here at the high school at the lower level of the district office. Excuse me, it feels like the same building. Um, during the meeting, the committee will be updated on current districtwide projects, the 202425 annual financial report
029summary, and the district's multi-phase capital project plan. Um, as a teaser, we did discuss um two different uh playground improvements that are a part of that plan. um one at Hartwood and one at Fairview. So, I'd encourage you to reach out to the committee members to discuss that. >> Thank you. Any questions? >> Okay, let's move on to new business. Mrs. Lynch, the facilities and transportation report. Uh yes, I am moving on two items. Number one, additional school bus drivers for the 2526 school year. ratify hiring the additional ABC Transit Incorporated drivers from the attached list effective for the 2526 school year. All required licensing, clearances, and all other essential employment requirements for school bus operators under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania have been verified. And number two, change orders for Hartwood Elementary
030School's HVAC program. Approve change orders GC00001 at a cost of $14,974. GC00002 at a cost of $2384. GC00003 at a cost of $43,87. GC00004 at a cost of $16,179. PC00002 at a cost of $1,851. PC00003 at a cost of $4,653. and HC00002 at a cost of $42,397 as attached for the Hartwood Elementary School Hback Project. These were reviewed and recommended by the Fox Chapel Area School Authority. I move on these two items. >> Second. >> Thank you. Any questions or comments on these items? I thought we had a great discussion about them last week, but um I'll just say again that um the board has discussed at length all of these change orders and um as has the authority board um box authority board. And so I will just say I won't speak for the
031board, but I'll say that um all of these were warranted um well argued um justified over the life of the project and reflect um the interests of our building safety and community. Any other questions or comments? >> Okay. Mrs. Anus, will you please call the role? >> Miss Dad, >> yes. >> Miss Finley, >> yes. >> Mr. Good, >> yes. >> Mr. Hamilton, >> yes. >> Dr. Hasselborn, >> yes. >> Mrs. Lynch, >> yes. >> Miss Zitch, >> yes. >> Mrs. Cooper, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you. Mr. Hamilton, could you please read the finance report? >> Yes. So item one is fund dispersements from uh fund 10 in the amount of 10,800 or 684,2940. Uh item two is dispersements from capital reserve fund dispersements from 31 in the amount of $661,539.86. Item
032three is the finance report for August 2075 is acknowledged and filed for audit as attached. And item four are the budget transfers for 2025 2026 are approved as attached. I move on all four items. >> Second. >> Thank you. Any questions or comments on these items? >> Mrs. Anus, will you please call the role? >> Miss Finley? >> Yes. >> Mr. Good. >> Yes. >> Mr. Hamilton? >> Yes. >> Dr. Hasselborn? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Lynch? >> Yes. >> Miss Zitch? >> Yes. Mrs. Cooper, >> yes. >> Miss Dad, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> Okay. Mrs. Cooper, will you please read the instruction report? >> Sure. I'll be moving on. Four items. The first one is to ratify the college partnership agreement as attached between the school district and Cat Hill University for the
033period of July 1st 25 through June 3028. Um, and authorize and execute the agreement. This is a continued partnership. Number two is to ratify the sitebased academic services agreement as attached between the district and Wesley family services for sitebased education services and academic programs. Um this is for the period of July 125 through June 3028. This is a new agreement. Number three is to ratify the master services agreement as attached between the school district and MGT impact solutions LLC to provide title one services to Christ the divine teacher academy for eligible title one students residing within the school district for the 2526 school year. This is a new agreement and number four is to approve stipulated adjudications as presented. Move on those four items. >> Second. >> Thank you. Any questions or comments on those
034items? >> Okay. Mrs. Anusigley, please call the role. >> Mr. Good. >> Yes. >> Mr. Hamilton, >> yes. >> Dr. Hasselhorn, >> yes. >> Mrs. Lynch, >> yes. >> Miss Sitch, >> yes. >> Mrs. Cooper, >> yes. >> Miss Dad, >> yes. >> Miss Finley, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you. Uh, legislation and policy report. Dr. Hasselhorn, could you read that for us? >> Sure. I will be moving on three items. One, policies revised first reading. Approve the first reading of the following revised policies as attached. Number 234, pregnant parenting married students. Number 247, hazing. Number 252, dating violence. Number 317, conduct disciplinary procedures. Number 317.1, educator misconduct. Number 320, freedom of speech by employees. That's a name change only. Number 626, Federal Fiscal Compliance. Number 626.1, travel reimbursement, federal programs. Number 914,
035relations with intermediate unit. Number 917, parental family involvement. Item number two, policy retired. Approve retiring the following policy as attached. Number 919, district school report cards. This policy is no longer necessary based on the Pennsylvania Department of Education's role in developing and issuing the future ready PA index for measuring school performance. And number three, board operations guidelines revised. Approve the following revised board operations guidelines as attached. Number 003, BOG0, statement of financial interest. Number 003 BOG3, filing a board vacancy. I move on those three items. second. >> Thank you. Any questions or comments on those items? >> Um, oh no. Yes, >> sorry, I lost myself a minute. Um, I I did want to bring up uh the board operating guidelines for filling a board vacancy, >> which I know um it wasn't substantively changed.
036Um but I guess um as it as it relates to future work of the board and maybe this is me asking the board for some input on directing this committee in the future. I spoke with a number of other um sitting boards uh members from districts adjacent nearby ours who found that um the good faith replacement of um a vacant or the good faith placement of a of a new person in one of these vacant seats really requires a multimemeating step. Um, something that a lot of boards do for expediency is they interview candidates in the room, they discuss and deliberate, they nominate, and they vote and put in place someone um through a nomination process on that board for a two-year term or some indef, you know, some shorter term. Um, but what that
037does is it limits public input. It can reduce the public awareness of that appointment. um it can allow for like a failure to provide oversight or considerations that may be provided through other members of the community um or through um discovery. And so um I just would I just was curious if our board might consider a policy change to the board vacancy policy that would make that um sort of that would compel us to do that over multiple meetings instead of all in one. We've got we've had a lovely time appointing members >> just writing this down before I forget. So >> um and it doesn't it's not something we need to deliberate here but um I would be I guess maybe what I'm asking for is whether there is an interest by this board
038to pursue a policy change um in committee. >> I am certainly interested I have felt that the process and I've been through I think twice uh a bit rushed uh like and um didn't leave any a lot of room for us to then you hear after hearing from the candidates who interview to have a little time to say to think about that other than the 15 minutes or whatever we have we decide to deliberate in the back in private um so actually do we do in private public do it public >> yeah it is all public right but you have to do it right there and so you like it's um it's not so I'd be interested in that I think one of the concerns has always been there's a statutory very tight time frame
039we have to 30 days right and you have to post interview get give people reasonable time to apply then interview and then vote on it within 30 days. So I'm not sure how much flexibility we have for two I guess the boards have figured it out though. So >> Mr. to phrase the 30 days. It says in this operating guideline if the board fails to act does that mean just the just the beginning of the process in the 30 days is sufficient or you have to complete the process in the 30 days >> if not appointed within that time any eligible res >> right yeah I understand that happened when a board was calling in another district and they couldn't come to consent they couldn't come to a majority decision and so it was sent
040to the court common police for >> which we don't want. >> No, certainly we don't want I and I'm not advocating that that's the route we go. I think the question the idea of even it being sort of setting a special voting meeting that is still public within five days or seven days or even two days um just to allow for that sort of public hearing of a notification of nominees to the to the public right and to us followed by a vote with any distance between them I think is productive. >> Mr. Def Fray. If somebody wanted to table a vote and then schedule another meeting within the 30 days, is that allowable under the current operating guidelines? >> Allowable? Yes. 30day, >> Right. But if on day 25 we have our meeting and
041someone says, "I want to table this." And we all say, "Let's meet before the 30-day deadline." And we set a time, that would be an acceptable >> legally notice of another time for notice. You have to have >> Are there any other regulations we would need to be aware of if we change this process? >> No. I mean, the primary concern is the 30-day deadline. And then, as I think Cooper raised, you also have to concerned about. >> Yeah. >> And that's seven days the >> amount of time that you have to have in order to appropriately notice a meeting. Is it seven days? >> You think so? That's what it's >> advertise to date. Post cassette, we can only advertise two days, Thursday and Sunday. >> So, I need two days prior to either
042of those days. >> And that's part of I was thinking if we if we codify it, right, those meetings get scheduled. We have a vacancy and we say, "Here's when the discussion meeting is going to be. Here's what when the voting meeting is going to be much like what we do here without without sort of I don't want a board to be in a position to be to sort of have a force vote just because they didn't have the time to consider it. >> But if we didn't need the time, we'd be stuck with the two meetings no matter what. >> That's true. And what do we have to have in person for a forum for these meetings? I mean >> five. So I just want to quantify all of this process because if it
043happens during a month where we can't all meet and be here and then we've set ourselves up for failure later on >> because gosh forbid it happened during the month of July >> I mean I think we'd still be in that position in the month of July right um potentially but >> but I'm just saying that it's harder at that point because then you're taking into account vacations and whatnot because I think A lot of people end up taking the vacation here in July because they don't have to worry about meetings. >> In the case of a board that couldn't that the board that couldn't agree >> the board that was matched they yeah they the the court of common please was asked to to judge I think that was Shaylor right >> because there
044was no hope of ever agreeing. >> Yeah. And that was a horrible tragedy. I mean, someone did someone passed and so there was >> no notice. It was sudden. It was urgent that they fill it as it always is, but um I think that made it particularly challenging. >> So, we passing this tonight and asking the committee to consider an alternative future update. >> Yeah. >> It's open to a deeper conversation. >> Great. Thank you for considering it. I'd say my initial response would be like not really, but I'd be open to hearing things. I would have a lot of concerns of it turning into small pockets of loud people. >> Yeah. >> The I mean, I don't know. I >> the deliberation, you know, >> if we're allowing time and you said to get
045community input and some other things like >> I mean, I don't think we I don't think we would ever solicit community input on an appointment. I think like in so far as >> you'll get it. >> You will. >> I mean, we get it anyway. >> Well, there would be public. >> We get it. We do. We get it. You don't get it in between the time of the people speaking and voting. >> Yeah. You guys are texting up here. >> No, no. I think part of the Yeah, but I think like part of the part of the concern I'm trying to address is that um is one that I've I've, you know, learned about in other communities. Again, this isn't something that I've experienced here, but where it's it feels and looks and smells
046like a a a board picks their favorite person who they think will agree with them, even against community disscent. And so, like what I as a representative leg legislative body, I think what we want to do is encourage um a process that just has a little bit more transparency and time um for community input. I think that's I think that's valuable, but >> I think it's worth looking at. I just don't think I just will be surprised if there's enough time in the process to actually make it >> manageable. >> Interesting. >> No, no. And I and I mean I would think it would be on us to be a part of our communities enough that if it comes up, we're able to quickly speak with people and have those relationships. And then also us
047as representatives of our community making wise representative choices. Another question. I can't remember and I don't think that we do. We don't advertise who the applica who are the applicants. We do >> I think it's on the agenda. >> Okay. So like if so if the agenda >> community had concerns about someone, they would have had the names. They would have had the opportunity to sort of get in touch with us. That all exists already in the process. >> Okay. Yeah. >> And and they and they do that for sure. I received >> Sure. I received messages >> and I I mean I as somebody who's two of us up here who has been appointed I mean I certainly don't think I was the crowd favorite you >> I was not part of yours I
048watched yours before I interviewed but >> is there room even to discuss the rest of the process if if this is going back for discussion maybe the questions can be altered I don't know if it's allowable to give board members the ability to ask questions >> that aren't on that sheet That's all part of the policy, >> right? So, that would be a second a separate motion to send this back to committee. >> Oh, okay. So, we want to pass it and just say >> as an activate. It could be in the same category as what you're asking for. when it goes back to the committee, they could consider if you have particular I think I would say if you have particular suggestions of questions or things that you think might be worthwhile, you could
049send it to that committee and they could look at it as they're looking at >> this other portion of that operating guideline. There's nothing to say those things can't both happen. >> Yeah, we don't need a motion to to unless we're sending it back to comm. We're going to approve this and then just ask >> I wouldn't send it back. >> That's what I'm suggesting. Exactly. Okay. Okay, great. Thank you. >> I thought Amy said it. >> Somebody seconded it. >> I did. >> Vanessa second. >> Any other questions or comments on the policies? Okay. Mrs. Anus, will you please call the role? >> Mr. Hamilton? >> Yes. >> Dr. Hasselhorn? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Lynch? Yes, >> Miss Zitch. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Cooper. >> Yes, >> Miss Dad. >> Yes, >> Miss Finley.
050>> Yes, >> Mr. Good. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> All right. Uh, Miss Zitch, could you please read the personnel report? >> Yes, I can. I am moving on the following items. Item one, resignation administration, the resignation of Kimberly N. Polish, business manager of the Fox Chapel Area School District due to personal reasons, effective December 10th, 2025. B, educational support, the resignation of Mia A. Carino, personal care assistant at Dorseyville Middle School due to personal reasons. The resignation of Christine M. Harper, 12-month building secretary at O'Hara Elementary School due to personal reasons. The resignation of Shelley A. Satollah, instructional assistant at Fairview Elementary School due to personal reasons. C. Custodial maintenance, the resignation of Charles I. Milan, 10-month 8 hour per day custodian at Kur Elementary School due to personal reasons. For supplemental contracts,
051athletic, the resignation of Dominica Delaney, basketball girls high school, JB head due to personal reasons. The resignation of James Hastings, faculty manager, high school, 39% due to personal reasons. The resignation of James Hastings, faculty manager, high school, 7% partial salary. Volleyball boys middle school assistant due to personal reasons. Resignation of Caitlyn Paul, volleyball boys middle school assistant, 93% due to personal reasons. The resignation of Brendan Erso, basketball girls middle school assistant, 30% due to personal reasons. Supplemental contract non-athletic. The resignation of Elizabeth A. Scholes band orchestra trip healthcare 50% due to personal reasons. Item two, appointments, educational support. Cassidy M. Minton is approved as the library media clerk at Fox Chapel Area High School. Prem Pathol Primal, sorry, I had it last week. Primalatha is ratified as a personal care assistant at Kerr Elementary School.
052Katherine S. Vapetic is approved as a 10-month building secretary at Fox Chapel High School. And B, custodial maintenance. James T. Bernick is approved as a 10-month 8 hour per day custodian custodial employee at Curl Elementary School for a probationary period. David G. Whiteitman is approved as a 10-month 8 hour per day custodial employee at O'Hara Elementary School for a probationary period. Ganesca Velasquez Ramirez is approved as a 10-month 8 hour per day custodial employee at Fox Chapel area high school for a probationary period. Food services Christine Pepper is approved as a permanent part-time food services employee at O'Hara Elementary School cafeteria. Nicole Warner is approved as a permanent part-time food services employee at the Fox Chapel area high school cafeteria. Supplemental contracts athletic. The following athletic supplemental contracts are ratified effective September 1st. Jason Braun,
053wrestling middle school high middle school assistant. Matthew Harris, swimming high school first assistant. Angela Tasari, basketball girls high school JB head. Supplemental contracts non-athletic. The following non-athletic supplemental contracts, bless you, are ratified. Joshua Brian Branker, overnight camp counselor. Brienne Klouse, Wendy Donaldson, Marine Johnson, Joshua Mariana um and Matthew Mlac are all um approved for supplemental contracts for overnight camp counselor. The following non-athletic supplemental contracts are ratified. Susan Johnson, bus monitor number one, O'Hara Elementary School. Susan Johnson, bus monitor number six, O'Hara Elementary, and Timothy Capo Allen, bus monitor number three at O'Hara Elementary School. For leave, professional Kayla M. Noa, computer literacy teacher at O'Hara Elementary School is approved for child rearing and adoption leave. Change of status food services. Deborah L. Thompson, a permanent part-time food services employee in the Fox Chapel area school
054cafeteria is ratified as a full-time food services worker in Fox Chapel High School cafeteria. Purchase of service agreement. Um item five, athletics operation coordinator. The services agreement for an athletics operation coordinator between the Fox Chapel area high school and um uh sorry, excuse uh area school district and John J. McGee PhD is approved effective on October 14th. This is a new agreement for a sick student worker athletic. Michael Dmenico is ratified as a student athletic worker. A correction um educational support Megan G Snee previously previously approved as a personal care assistant at Hartwood Elementary School is salary with salary set based on the salary scale for instructional assistance is ratified as a personal care assistant at Hartwood Elementary School with a salary set based on the starting wage for personal care assistance. All relevant contracts,
055effective dates, starting salaries, and other compensation information is as indicated in each agenda. I move on these seven items. >> Second. >> Any questions or comments on these items? Okay. Mrs. Anus, will you please call the role? >> Dr. Hasselhorn, >> yes. >> Mrs. Lynch, >> yes. >> Miss Zitch, >> yes. >> Mrs. Cooper, >> yes. >> Miss Dad, >> yes. >> Miss Finley, >> yes. Mr. Good. >> Yes. >> Mr. Hamilton, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you. Mr. Good, could you please read the operations and cooperative services report? >> Yes. I have four items. The first is to approve um approve the district's comprehensive emergency management plan. This multi-hazard plan replaces the basic emergency plan and is in compliance with state and federal emergency guidelines under the federal emergency management agency, the
056National Incident Management System, and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. This plan must be approved annually. Number two, ratify the agreements related to cyber security services as presented. Number three, ratify the Fox Chapel School District safety incentive program for the period October 1st, 2025 through May 31st, 2026 for district employees at an estimated cost of $8,000 is attached. Number four, accept the donation of items listed below from an anonymous donor to DMS uh a bass stand and uh stand stool uh to the high school bands uh amplifier, subwoofer, monitors, speaker stands, rack, mixer, mic amp, keyboard, monitor, controller, and patch cables. I move on those items. >> Second. >> Thank you. Any questions or comments on these items? I'd just like to thank the anonymous donor for this wonderful set of audio equipment. >> Any other
057comments? >> Okay. Mrs. Enus musically, please call the role. >> Mrs. Lynch, >> yes. >> Miss Zitch, >> yes. >> Mrs. Cooper, >> yes. >> Miss Dad, >> yes. >> Miss Finley, >> yes. >> Mr. Good, >> yes. >> Mr. Hamilton, >> yes. >> Dr. Hasselborn, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you. It's time for our second public comment period. We do not have anyone signed up. It's now time for our Fox Chapel Educators Association. Mrs. Mackin, >> thank you. Okay, board comments. Mr. Hamilton. >> Um I thought I'd just comment briefly on the um whoopyole. Um the controversy over how some of our games have ended, but I also happen to look at all the scores of the last week of the teams and the number of of team of games that were
058actually competitive. That means like they weren't more than 21 points apart at the end was like less than half. Most of the games were over 21 points difference. Many of the games were in the range of 40 or 50 to something in the low z anywhere from zero to like 10 points for the other team. So there is a problem. Uh and I and I again this is a persistent problem across the league that the the way it's set up isn't isn't competitive isn't realistic about what uh which which schools are in in this incomparable ranges of competitiveness and that's going to be due to lots of factors but I'm I'm happy to hear I haven't seen any the plan but I'm happy to hear that the superintendent and the athletic director are working on
059and hope promoting an alternative and I think the safety and well-being, mental and physical well-being of uh of our competitors and our students. Uh that that is really important to consider uh an alternative way to doing that. So, thank you guys for uh for taking that on because I know it's um been an I didn't realize how big an issue it was until I I looked at what's happening and um in other schools as well as just ours. So, thanks. >> Thank you, Dr. Hasselhorn. >> Yeah. Thank you also for your leadership on that. I know it's not an easy position to take in Western Pennsylvania, but it seems to me like the right one. Um, that being said, homecoming was fantastic. So, it does show the power of of our community to value all
060the things that go into a sports program and what it means for a community. Um, even if the scoreboard doesn't look the way we want it to. >> Thank you, Mrs. Lynch. >> Um, I attended homecoming as well. I want to big shout out to our football players, our cheerleaders, and our band. But I also wanted to note anyone out there who knows the Plum Band. Uh the Fox Chapel band waited till the end of the game to go out and do their performance and the Sans had cleared out quite a bit and uh the Plum band stopped and waited and uh supported the other band on the on the field. And so it was just a very nice moment of sort of camaraderie and support between um different groups. And so I just thought
061I would note um that they were they were very impressive and I was glad they did it. >> Thank you for pointing that out. Uh Miss Finley, >> I just want to give a congratulations to all the students we recognized tonight and last week on all the accomplishments both sports and academia wise. I also wanted to congratulate the middle school on their efforts to make uh Dorseyville a community because a lot of kids get lost in the shuffle going from a small school of 300 to a large school of over a thousand and any way we can manage to not lose a student in the midst is important. So I want to congratulate the school on all their efforts to make sure we have a community there. Thank you. >> Thank you Mr. Good. >>
062Yes, homecoming was uh the fair was very fun. Uh or the carnival was very fun and the the game as well and u my children enjoyed the dance. Um so that's always wonderful to see. Um I want to thank all of the visitors today. Congratulations to all the students and um yes the the the presentation about the middle school uh the presentation about the middle school was uh very interesting and and I I love all of the recognition of of of all the students and everything they do there. So that's that's a fantastic initiative there. Um that's it. >> Thank you, Miss Zitch. Uh yeah, I I just want to thank uh Mr. Hamilton for bringing up the uh repeal discussion. I think that's something that's relevant to a lot of the members of our
063community. And again, um thank you to our administration for leading the um leading the discussion on that. I really do appreciate that. Um I will also thank our state legislators who seem to have passed a budget almost >> right >> isn't it like on its way? >> Anyone kind of they've halfway thought about it. >> Yeah, that true leadership. It doesn't sound like quite I know I I know we had something that I thought was promising, but um >> that is real leadership. We have schools that are are furowing employees that cannot function without that. Um and I just would like to encourage everyone to speak with your state legislature about that process. Um I will also say please vote. Um there are a lot of things that as school directors we do that are
064influenced heavily by our courts um including the actions that come out of our district and the ones that come into our district from the nation um from our federal government and our state government. Those courts are critical um and this vote really really matters um and enables us to do our job as your representative um legislative body for your school district. So please vote um it will be on November 4th, the Tuesday, first Tuesday of the month. um and your vote really matters both sides of the ballot. If you've already got your ballot, please turn it over um and vote. I won't tell you how to vote. That's not my job here today. But if you have um all of your members of the board are very civically active and can provide insight into that
065if you'd like. Um and then lastly, I understand we have a blood donation opportunity coming up. Is that is that correct? What day? >> Wednesday. Excellent. Um I hope to see some of you there. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mrs. Cooper. >> Yes. Um October is dyslexia awareness month. So I did want to bring it up. Um this is a learning disability that impacts up to 20% um of people. It's characterized um primarily affecting reading, spelling, and writing. Um it does make a big difference um in how these students are um taught to read. Um the district has made some steps. We'll hear about some tomorrow um how that's how that's going. But um if there's one thing a school district should do, it should be teach kids to read. So I just want to
066bring up it's awareness month. However, I read recently and it really resonated with me in general. I don't think awareness is issue. I think it's an action issue. Um I think people are well aware. So that's all I want to say. >> Thank you. Could I have a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Thank you. All in favor? >> I. Meeting adjourned. I thought we did have a budget. I'm embarrassed. I thought it was