001to order. Please 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, liberty and justice for all. Mrs. Music, will you please call the role? >> Mrs. Cooper >> here. >> Miss Dad >> here. >> Miss Finley >> here. >> Mr. Frank >> here. >> Mr. Good >> here. >> Mr. Hamilton >> here. >> Dr. Hasselborn >> here. >> Mrs. Lynch >> here. >> Miss Sitch >> here. >> Nine members present. >> Thank you. Prior to tonight's meeting, the board met in executive session to review and discuss matters related to school safety that if conducted in public would be reasonably likely to impair the effectiveness of the safety or security measure or jeopardize
002the safety and security of a resource infrastructure or information storage system. The board also discussed information and strategy related to contractual or labor relation matters. Dr. Reljack, could you introduce our guest tonight? >> Sure. It is my pleasure to introduce Fox Chapel Area High School program principal, Dr. Nicole Smith, who is here to introduce a high school student who earned a prestigious national scholarship. And the other student who also won a national scholarship was unable to attend this evening. and we're so glad to be able to honor one. >> Dr. Smith. >> Good evening. Thank you all for having me. It is my great pleasure to introduce a young student who is the winner of the prestigious college scholarship. Um this scholarship provides a full ride presidential scholarship to any university or college that is
003accredited. It covers all of her tuition, room and board and expenses. Uh there were 5,000 applicants across the country. This is one of five students to earn this award. And uh Yulani uh earned this award because she maintains exemplary academic performance. She exhibits an interest in public policy and she has an appreciation of the values of President Kulage that President Kulage himself championed. Yolani is the vice president and president-elect of the technology student association or TSA. She is the uh participates in the high school speech and debate club, director of speech and co-president of the science fair club. She has a an interest and conducts research in opthalmologic bi microbiology at the UPMC vision institute under Dr. Robert Shanks. She has written multiple articles for numerous econ numerous economic think tanks in public health and
004runs e-commerce uh an e-commerce company that she has onboarded vendors from across the country and abroad. It is my pleasure to introduce the very prestigious Ulani Kubini. [Music] Well, congratulations on your scholarship and it is my pleasure to present you with a certificate. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> The other student that we would like to recognize, although she couldn't make it, is Victoria Fendler. Victoria has been honored by the United Nations Association of the USA and Interview Technologies as part of the 2024 2025 National Community Service Awards. I will make sure that she gets her award um in the office. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> We are so proud of both of you and uh congratulations for not only earning such a wonderful and prestigious scholarship but for
005your work. We're glad to have you as our student. That concludes our guest today. >> All right. Thank you and congratulations. Uh we're we're all very proud of you and know you're going to do great things in the future. I can't wait to hear what your future plans will be. And next up we have our Fox Leadership Council Student Reps. We have Michael D. Dominico, Ross Kale, and Dylan Kle. Thank you. Good evening. I'm Michael D. Domico, student body president this year. With me tonight is our treasur and secretary, Dylan and Ross Gay. Dylan Ross. Our vice president, Hope Carick, is playing soccer right now, so we hope they win. Uh we're very excited for this new year and all the events our Fox Leadership Council has planned. This year started off strong. We had
006a great meeting with Dr. Howard to discuss our goals for the FLC leadership. Currently, all of our clubs and activities are working on renewing for the upcoming school year. Last year, we had 75 active clubs. Our diversity council will be attending the eradicate hate conference next week. Our wellness council has a wellness Wednesday moment during the morning announcements as well as the posting shreps tips on their Instagram. Student engagement team is planning our major event homecoming by choosing a dance theme and spirit week. Our community outreach is having the food drive competition for Second Harvest upcoming this Monday. And we have our first blood drive of the season. We earned a $1,250 scholarship for one student who donated at every drive. As we look forward to the school year, different clubs and leaders and FLC
007leaders will be sharing at each board meeting to keep you updated on our year. >> Thank you. Right. [Music] [Applause] Dr. Rousjack, could you give us your superintendence report, please? >> Sure. For the superintendence report, I am going to once again call upon high school program principal Dr. Nicole Smith, and she's going to talk about the school's newly implemented positive behavior interventions and supports or PBIS program, the FCA way, which stresses the importance of students being focused, caring, and accountable. So, Dr. Smith, I will turn it over to you. >> Thank you. I am lucky enough tonight to introduce uh a young man from our student body who created a video for you all. So, I'm going to introduce him first and let him show you his video before we talk a little bit about
008how this came about. So, it's my pleasure to introduce Aiden Ducker. [Applause] >> Good evening. My name is Aiden Ducker and I'm a junior here at the high school. Over the past week and a half, I have had the opportunity to create a video introducing a new initiative at our school called the FCA Way. Through my work, experience program in the communications department, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to make this video, which would have never happened without the guidance and support of Jill Leonard and Mr. Ryan Develin in the video production studio. Through meeting with students, educators, and administrators, I've gotten to see the FCA from every perspective. I've seen how positive change can impact every level of a school both inside and outside the classroom on most importantly how it has affected
009the education and impact of our students. There is a saying don't think of an elephant. The moment you hear that the first thing that comes to your mind is an elephant. The point is when we only focus on what not to do we end up often reinforcing it. The FCA way is designed to flip that mindset. Rather than waiting for students to make mistakes and then reacting with consequences, the FCA way proact proactively recognizes and rewards positive behavior while keeping students accountable for their actions. What makes it even more meaningful is that that it was created with input from both teachers and students. So, it reflects the values of our school community from the people that the program affects the most. As a student, I can already feel the difference. It creates a more positive
010and supportive environment where doing the right thing is noticed and celebrated. On behalf of students, I want to thank you for your support of the SCA. This initiative represents more than a set of rules. It's a step towards building a culture where character and positive choices are encouraged every day. Thank you. While we're working on that, I will just say that um our uh PBIS programs or positive behavioral interventions and supports exist actually in all of our schools. The high school is the last school to implement this year. Um, and it's been a steady stream of that. Every schools looks a little bit different because it's uh created and some of the things that are it um are done at the schools are done by a group and a community in the school to make
011the decisions. And our goal with having that is to instill that culture from K through 12 uh for what we expect in our schools and to make what the expectations are overt so that it's not hidden from anyone as well as something then that we can celebrate as we see things going. So we're really pleased. I know that the high school has been working very hard on um creating their version of uh PBIS through the FCA way. Still no work, no volume, huh? >> It's okay. While they work on that, we're definitely going to show the video, but while they work on that, I'll explain a little bit about how we got here. Um, so you have two things in front of you. uh you have kind of a handout that explains what PBIS is,
012goes over the the kind of core values and then the FCA way matrix where a group of teachers about 20 teachers and about five to six students in the spring did some training. Um we thought about you know the elementary uses respect, responsibility and integrity as their core behavioral expectations. The middle school moved on to prepared, prompt, productive and polite the four Ps. and we really considered whether we wanted to go back to respect, responsibility, and integrity as the students had been familiar with or whether we wanted to push this forward. Uh I'm a big slogan person. So, uh my parameters for the students and the teachers was it had to be connected to Fox Chapel. So, the FCA way was born. It took us a very long time to come up with three expectations
013that started with FCNA that everybody could agree on, but I think we landed in a really great place because everyone can connect to the behaviors or the habits of being focused, caring, and accountable. And so through that group of 20 faculty members and five students, um we the FCA way was born. We came up with a matrix of what it looks like to be focused, caring, and accountable in different areas of the school. And we tried to be mindful of the difference between high school and elementary school. Um, a lot of times when people hear PBIS and high school, they'll say, well, you know, aren't those kids too old for that? And the reality is is that the prefrontal cortex is not fully developed until you're 25. So, they are not in fact too old
014for it. They do need to be reminded um regularly about what, you know, expected behaviors are. And um, it really does focus um, I don't think I could have said it better than Aiden said it. It really flips the narrative. Instead of focusing on what students are doing wrong, focusing on what they're doing right and what those expectations are. The other thing that you have in front of you is a pamphlet that we're going to give out at openhouse so you all can pick a different session or, you know, I know you're going to have your own table. Um, it does have a QR code that has the matrix for all parents and then talks about being focused, caring, and accountable. Um, there are ways to recognize students for meeting expectations. This month we're running
015an initiative on being on time. So focusing on accountability and students are getting FCA way points in their QRT if they're here on time and the grade level with the most points at the end of the month will get a special breakfast. So those are kind of the things that we're working on right now and how this came about. It was about four days of training with the AIOU with different groups of people. the principles had a training um the core team had a training and then we worked with what kind of recognition systems and things we wanted to roll out. So it is just getting started um and it is not necessarily something new but it is a way to enhance the excellence that's already expected here at the high school um and really
016frame it in a way where everybody's using the same language and expecting things in that way the SCA way if you will. Now, I I do have one complaint about the video before you see it. I said to Aiden, "Can you use AI and make me look like Sander Bulock?" And he said, "Who is that?" >> So, I'm gonna get over that. And I'm still going to be proud of Aiden for making the video. just doesn't seem to want to connect tonight. What we may have to do is is celebrate this in another way or try it and and see if we can uh figure out how to get it to play with sound. For those of you that are seeing it at home, you may not be able to see it because it's not
017playing with sound, unfortunately. I'm kind of impressed with the aerial view though, Aiden, at the beginning. So, >> it is a really amazing video. I'll see if I can get my phone to connect and if I can play it from my phone. I do have it on there and we'll see if we can do that. If you guys want to move on, I'll >> I'll be sure to interrupt you if we can get that. Just wave at us. >> Thank you, Aiden. >> Thank you. >> Other than uh talking a little bit about the work that our high school is doing and really all of our schools are doing with PBIS. I just want to thank everybody for a great start to the school year. Um we had a successful start to the school year.
018I know we were delayed a few days at Hartwood, but they also have started. Um we have um seen a lot of smiling faces, a lot of excitement and um I appreciate all of the work that our students, our staff, our families, our educators, our administrators, our custodians, um our bus drivers, everybody has done to make this a successful start to the school year. Um people seemed very excited and and thrilled to be back. So, >> all right. Thank you, Mr. Jafrey. Is there a solicitor's report? >> No report. >> Okay. Um, could I have a motion to approve the minutes of the combined agenda study session and regular business meeting from August 11th? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any questions or corrections in for the minutes? >> Mrs. Anus, will you please call
019the roles? >> Mrs. Cooper, >> yes. Miss Dad, >> yes. Yes. Miss Finley, >> yes. >> Mr. Frank, >> yes. >> 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 do not have anyone signed up, so we will uh move on to uh old business. We're now adding committee reports under old business. Uh we will start with Mrs. Cooper with an academic committee report. >> Sure. The academic committee will meet on September 9th uh which is tomorrow at 6 p.m. in the lower level of the district administrative offices. The agenda includes an update on high school English information on the secondary novel vetting and selection process
020and discussion about collecting perceptual data. Be there. >> All right. I'm looking forward to it. >> What is perceptual death? >> You have to go. >> Okay. >> Surveys feedback onions about climate or environment >> like perceptions of >> those things that you perceive the data on that. And again, I am glad I'm not the only one that asked that question. >> Yeah. >> You're now the third. Thank you, >> Mr. Frank. The governance committee report. >> Thank you. The governance committee met on September 3rd, 2025 to review two board operating guidelines and also 11 district policies. The majority of the recommended changes in policy were recommended by PSBA and they were due to the interpretation of language. For example, several policy subsections were titled Title 9 Sexual Harassment and other discrimination. These subsections are
021now titled discrimination/h harassment policy 9/19 district/school report cards was recommended for retirement based on the PTE's development and also issuing of the future ready PA index for measuring school performance. The next governance committee meeting will be held on October 7th, 2025 at 6 PM in the administrative offices professional development room. Thank you. >> Thank you. I'm gonna pause us because I think we have sound for our video now. >> I sent my dad saw that. [Music] whole world saw. My dad called me daddy for >> I didn't >> We didn't see it. >> There it is. environment. >> There we go. [Laughter] Thank you. >> We appreciate all the effort to try to get it to work. >> It looks like a great video. >> Yes. >> Okay. Um, projects and planning committee report. Miss
022Zitch. >> Yes. The projects and planning committee meeting uh will be on September 15th. That's a week from today at 6 PM in the lower level of the district administrative offices. Though the agenda is still being finalized, um it will include an update on district facility projects and their funding, including the new geo bond, the multi-phase capital improvement plan, and how that's being informed by the cyclone energy report we received in last month's meeting. Um but as ever, all committees are um expecting input from the public and our agendas are shaped by your input. So, please reach out. Thank you. All right. To new business, facilities and transportation. Mrs. Lynch. >> Authorization to request proposals. Fox Chapo Area High School Sports Lighting Replacement Project. Our first item, authorize the administration to request proposals from vendors
023approved by government purchasing cooperatives for the Fox Shop area high school sports lighting replacement project. And number two, authorization advertise for bids Fox Chapel Area High School tennis court renovations project. Authorize the advertisement for bids for the Fox Chapel Area High School tennis court renovations project. I move on these two items. >> Second. >> Thank you. Any questions or comments? Um I I think sometimes uh we forget that we know the story of how this came to be because of the flow between committee and conversations with um Dr. Beljack. But for the community, can you contextualize a little bit why we need these new projects >> and why alternatives did not come into fruition? >> Sure. When uh when the board approved uh the consultant to work with it, we also had talked with that.
024So to refresh people's memory, the uh high school sport lights in that those are the lights that are in the stadium are at their end of life. In fact, the light bulbs will only be made for I think one or two more years and there's a uh one of the polls also had some structural issues and we took that down and so this is the replacement of those stadium lights so that we can have fully functioning modern lights. They will be LED lights. They will use less energy and provide a better quality of light. Um the second one is for the high school tennis court renovations project. Uh the tennis court has developed a crack. It's had a crack for multiple years, but the crack continues to grow. And um it's not as simple as
025just resurfacing this time because it's been resurfaced so many times. We're going to have to actually replace the whole surface and so dig it out and and uh do some remedial work underneath and then uh resurface the tennis courts. And so, um, these two are are big projects that we have known about for many years, uh, two or three years that these were on the way. Um, they just now are here. And so, they were part of, uh, the board's approved budget for the 2526 school year. And, um, we are ready to move forward with trying to to take the next step for them. The hard part about these two is that they have to be timed for a specific season. Um the tennis court needs to be in certain temperature to be able to
026cure and obviously can't use uh replace lights in a stadium when it's being used for a lot of athletics. So >> So our expected timeline for the community to see these projects come to fruition might be generally around >> well it certainly it will depend on if what the you know what the information is that we get back on the projects. Uh we're tenatively hoping to begin the lighting project in the stadium uh at the end of October or beginning of November as soon as the fall sports seasons are over and uh the tennis courts would be probably next spring and summer because of the temperature that's necessary to cure them. But we need to line up the um vendors and the work bid now uh the people that are going to bid on that
027now because it's a very time-specific short season for their workload. Any other questions? >> Okay, we'll vote and then I think the video we're gonna try one more time. >> Okay, we're gonna try again. All right, Mrs. News, will you please call the role? >> Miss Dad, >> yes. >> Miss Finley, >> yes. >> Mr. Frank, >> yes. >> Mr. Good, >> yes. >> Mr. Hamilton, >> yes. >> Dr. Hasselborn, >> yes. >> Mrs. Lynch, >> yes. >> Miss Zitch, >> yes. Mrs. Cooper, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you. Hi, I'm Dr. Howard, principal here at Fox Chapel Area High School. I want to take a moment to introduce you to the FCA Way. The FCA Way is our schoolwide initiative designed to take our positive and inclusive environment to the next level.
028This initiative is built on three core expectations. Being focused, caring, and accountable. These values will continue to guide how we learn, how we treat one another, and how we grow as a school community. >> The FCA Way serves as the final stage in a coordinated K to2 framework for fostering student growth and development. As educators, we value the knowledge and skills that students accumulate throughout their school experience. But we also are committed to prioritizing the dispositions that our students develop. dispositions, meaning the habits that individuals must draw upon in order to effectively navigate novel, complex, and/or uncertain situations. The FCI way has really helped our school feel more positive and welcoming. It keeps things more organized and makes it easier for everyone to know what's expected. Our teachers use it by encouraging good choices, keeping
029routines clear, and helping us stay on track every day. >> Our goal is to encourage and celebrate positive habits. When students show they are focused, caring, and accountable, we want to recognize those choices. This approach builds a stronger, more unified, and more empowering school culture. The FCA way is connected to schoolwide PBIS, positive behavioral interventions and supports, which is a framework that focuses on teaching, modeling, and acknowledging positive student habits rather than only punishing student mistakes. >> My name is Mr. Pnitz, and I'm a teacher in the science department at the high school. I was part of the initial group of educators and students who set out to encourage positive behavior in and around the classroom. Since then, the FCA Way has had a significant impact in my classroom by helping students stay focused on
030their learning while also supporting their personal growth. The FCA way has promoted a more positive and integrated classroom culture, and I look forward to seeing its continued impact on our students. By using the FCA way, we're solving challenges like inconsistent expectations, wavering student engagement, and unpredictable motivation. But most importantly, we're establishing routines that help students grow into focused, caring, and accountable adults. >> So, you've learned that FCA Way is more than just a set of expectations. It is a part of our culture, one that's built on focus, care, and accountability. Together, we will continue to build on the great traditions of our school community and ensure our school is a place where every student cultivates the skills needed for lifelong success. That is the FCA way. [Music] >> That was certainly worth waiting for. That
031was a great video. So, thank you. >> Thank you for taking the time. I really want to make sure you guys really well done. >> Good job. Thank you. >> All right. Mr. Hamilton, could you read the finance report, please? >> Yes. Under finance, we have six items tonight. Dispersements, general fund dispersements from fund 10 in the amount of $10,215,63156. Item two is capital reserve fund dispersements from fund 31 in the amount of $1,28,964.18. Item three is the finance report financial report for July 2025 is acknowledged and filed for audit is attached. Item four, new bank account. Approve the establishing a new bank account for the general obligation bond 2025 fund 33 with the Pennsylvania local government investment trust effective September 2025. There's no cost to establish this account. Item five, district auditor services approve
032retaining host expedited mutil and wood LLP to perform agreed upon additional audit and consulting services at a cost not to exceed $5,000. Item six, Power School Group LLC agreement, E Finance Plus Software. Approved the agreement as attached between Fox Chapel Area School District and Power School Group LLC for East Finance Plus Software for the period January 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2027 at a cost of $65,261.96. This is a renewal of services. I move to approve all six items. >> Second. >> Thank you. Any questions or comments on these items? Mrs. Music, will you please call the role? >> Miss Finley? >> Yes. >> Mr. Friend? >> Yes. >> Mr. Good? >> Yes. >> Mr. Hamilton? >> Yes. >> Dr. Hasselborn? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Lynch? >> Yes. >> Miss Zitch? >> Yes. >> Mrs.
033Cooper? >> Yes. >> Miss Dad? >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you. Mrs. Cooper, will you read the instruction report, please? Yes. >> All right. The first item I'll be moving on is to ratify the agreement as attached between the school district and Power School Group LLC for SIS hosting SIS hosting SSL certificate and SIS maintenance and support for the period of August 132 through June 30th 27 2027 at a cost of $90,555.76. This is renewal of services. Number two is to ratify the agreement um with P school Group LLC for enrollment registration for the period of August 132 through June 3027 at a cost of $42,286.99. Also a renewal number three is to ratify the agreement with Power Group Power School Group LLC for e-lect forms SAS for the period of August 13
03425 through June 3027 at a cost of 4 848.94 also a renewal. Number four is to ratify an agreement with P school Group LLC for Schooly LMS subscription for the period August 13 25 through June 30 27 at a cost of 29,42849. This is a renewal of services number five. Um also with P school LLC um for oh I couldn't pronounce this word last year either. Navian software. >> Yes. >> All right. For the middle school and high school for the period of August 1325 through June 30th 27 at a cost of $24,471 uh2. This is a renewal. Number six um is with J Bistown um contract junior achievement of Western Pennsylvania for fourth grade students to participate in the JA Bistown for the 2526 school year at an estimated cost of $9,000. Um this
035is a renewal of contracts. Number seven is to approve the agreement with the Ottabon Society of Western PA to provide the kindergarten through grade 4 environmental education program for the 2526 school year at a cost of 34,855. This is a renewal services number eight um is also with the Ottabon Society of Western PA to provide grade five environmental education program for the 2526 school year at a cost of $91,850 a renewal of services. Number nine um is with Camp Alagany, Inc. for lodging, meals, meeting spaces for the fifth grade environmental education program for the fall of 2026. dates are to be determined and this is a renewal of services. I move on those nine items. >> Second. >> Thank you. Any questions or comments on these items? >> Our our power school I was just
036doing some napkin math. Our power school commitment annually is about a quarter of a million dollars. the through I mean it's it's it's an extraordinary amount of money to one vendor even though I realize that that vendor represents the consolidation of multiple vendors who formally were independent >> some of these are not annual contracts they're 18month or two-year contracts >> Amy just called that yeah in that case I mean even half that's kind of remarkable >> yeah um do we do we seek alternatives to power school um at the point of renewal or is it one of those things where there's this sort of organizational inertia associated with adopting those technologies. >> No, there are uh obviously always opportunities to replace your student information system. All student information systems have various additional add-ons depending on
037what your needs are. Um P school has been this district student information system for a while. There are only a few that exist. Um and and uh at this point in time, we're very pleased with them. Uh they seem to have done uh with the with what we can do in the system. Um, we've had other things that we aren't pleased with, but um, at the same time, we're not necessarily looking to replace the student information system based on um, the users feedback at this point. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions? I just wanted to highlight our continued investment in I think some of the best programs we have at the elementary level that BisTown and the Ottabon um K through five culminating with the Camp Alagini experience. It's something that I think we
038just should be really proud of as a board and as a community for supporting that. >> Increasingly as I talk to friends and family in other districts, these things are being cut because they just don't make the cut um when it's budget time. So I think something that we should really feel really proud of investing in. >> Excellent point. I agree. >> Agreed. Yeah. Yeah. >> Any other comments? >> Mrs. Anusk, will you please call the role? >> Mr. Frank, >> yes. >> Mr. Good, >> yes. >> Mr. Hamilton, >> yes. >> Dr. Hasselorn, >> yes. >> Mrs. Lynch, >> yes. >> Miss Sitch, >> yes. >> Mrs. Cooper, >> yes. >> Miss Dad, >> yes. >> Miss Finley, >> yes. Motion carries. >> Thank you, Mr. Frank. Legislation and policy. >> No action is
039requested tonight. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Zitch. Personnel. >> Yes. I'm moving on the following items. Item one, resignations. Administration, the resignation of Jonathan T. No house, principal at Dorsyville Middle School due to retirement is effective um July 1st, 2026. Supplemental contracts athletic, the resignation of Kelly Ela Gibson, basketball girls high school JB head due to personal reasons. The resation of Anthony Ittri, baseball middle school due to personal reasons. Resignation of Isabella Legghazi Regazi field hockey middle school uh due to personal reasons for supplemental contracts non-athletic. The resignation of Adam E. Danielson, bus monitor number three, elementary O'Hara due to personal reasons. The resignation of Carly L. Hackett, overnight camp counselor due to personal reasons. Item number two, appointment school police officer Scott K. Slaggel is approved pending report approval as a school police
040officer for the Fox Chapel Area School District. effective date to be determined. Um, for educational support, Megan G. Sne is approved as a personal care assistant at Hartwood Elementary School, effective September 15th. Lori S. Pavella is approved as an instructional assistant at O'Hara Elementary School. Supplemental contracts athletic following athletic contracts are ratified. Ian Ablen Abenelp, excuse me, wrestling middle school head. Bailey Bonet, swimming high school head. Dominica Delaney, basketball girls high school JB head. Kelly Ela Gibson, basketball girls high school first assistant. Michael Hower, flag football girls high school first assistant. Jason Jablon, basketball girls program development assistant. Shay McAffrey, failed hockey middle school assistant 30%. And Deborah Wely, flag football girls high school second assistant. For supplemental contracts non-athletic and non-athletic supplemental contracts for 2526 school year are ratified and approved as attached. Item
041number three, professional leave. Jacqueline J. Garcia, school nurse at O'Hara Elementary School, is approved for childbearing adoption leave. For lead replacements professional, Kelly M. Bersma is ratified as the first semester leave replacement math teacher at Fox Chapel Area High School due to the educational satical of Melissa Oberst. Zachary M. Lammansky is ratified as a one-year leave replacement math teacher at Fox Chapel Area High School due to the child adoption leave of Kayla Derry. Emma M. Stanavic is ratified as a one-year leave replacement elementary teacher at Hartwood Elementary School due to increased enrollment. Item number five, Change of status educational support. Cara El Prara Catrara, excuse me, personal care assistant at Hartwood Elementary School is ratified as instructional assistant at Dorseyville Middle School. Diana Run, 10-month building secretary at Fox Chapel High School is ratified as
042a 12-month building secretary at Fox Chapel High School. And Autumn L. Williams, personal care assistant at Harwood Elementary School, is ratified as an instructional assistant at Kerr Elementary School. Item six, employment agreement. Following employment agreement is approved as presented effective date depending upon release from recurrent employment duties for school psychologist Miranda N. Schwarz. Item seven, salary crossover. We will be ratifying the crossovers on the salary scale for the professional employees listed below for the 2526 school term based on verification of additional credits earned. That's um Brian Branker, Joshua, Dickinson, Amelia, Katona, Bailey, Meet Ra, Rachel, excuse me, Norman, Lindsay, plans, Tracy, Helmets, Alexander, Pontiel, Julia, and Steen, Anna. Item eight, effective date correction. Joshua D. Mariana, previously approved with an effective date September 5th, is ratified for an effective date August 13th of this year.
043Item nine, volunteer athletic. The following athletic volunteers ratified, Kimberly Eckle Cross Country High School. I move on these nine items. Second. >> Thank you. Any questions or comments on the personnel >> for um one-year leave replacements? Those are typically um filled with educators we view as sort of the same level or experience as any of our other positions. Is that correct? >> They're the the anybody that goes through and is recommended as a leave placement has gone through the whole interview process. um and uh that that the site team has recommended as well. >> Okay. Thank you. Any other questions? >> Mrs. Anus, will you please call the role? >> Mr. Good. >> Yes. >> Mr. Hamilton, >> yes. >> Dr. Hasselhorn, >> yes. >> Mrs. Lynch, >> yes. >> Miss Zitch, >> yes. >>
044Mrs. Cooper, >> yes. >> Miss Dad, >> yes. >> Miss Finley, >> yes. >> Mr. Frank, >> yes. >> Motion carries. Thank you. Mr. Good, will you please read operations and cooperative services? >> Yes. Number one, Omnigo Software LLC agreement. Ratify the agreement is attached between the Fox Chapel Area School District and Omniggo Software LLC to provide a records management system to the district school police officers effective June 15, 2025 through June 14th, 2026 at a cost of $10,17522. This is a renewal of services. Number two, Mobile Communication Service, Inc. Mobile Agreements. Approve the agreements as presented between the Fox Chappelle area school district and mobilecom for the purchase and installation of safety and security equipment effective se September 8th, 2025 at a cost of $13,925. These are new agreements. I move on those two
045items. >> Second. >> Thank you. Any questions or comments? The Omnigo software agreement that software does not integrate with our existing power school management system. Is that correct? >> Correct. It is separated. >> Perfect. Thank you. >> Mrs. News, 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, >> yes. >> Mr. Frank, >> yes. >> Mr. Good, >> yes. >> Motion carries. Thank you. Mr. Frank, will you read letter G for us? >> Yes. I would like to move that we approve the slate of candidates for the PSBA 2026 officer elections and authorize the board secretary to electronically cast a vote on behalf of the
046board of school directors. PSBA leadership positions are president-elect Holly Arnold from the Tonkanic Area School District for vice president Matt Venoi from Sharon City School District from Western's own representative. It's a two-year term. We have to choose one, Eric Meredith or Antonio Paris. So, I'll delete I'll delete that from the motion and then we'll we'll come back to that one. Uh PSBA insurance treasures three-year term. we have to choose two. And Robera M. Marcus and Kathy K. Swope are the only two candidates for those two positions. So, I'm I'll move for uh everyone except for the western zone representative. >> Oh, you'll move on all >> move for all of them except for that >> second. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Um, would anyone like to discuss any of this? >> I'm excited to see
047a contested race for PSBA PSBA leadership. I think that represents a stronger representative democracy. >> Yes. Okay. Okay. All right. All right. Shall we vote on the motion? >> Dr. Hasselhorn, >> yes. >> Mrs. Lynch, >> yes. Miss Zitch, >> yes. >> Mrs. Cooper, >> yes. >> Miss Dad, >> yes. >> Miss Finley, >> yes. >> Mr. Frank, >> yes. >> Mr. Good, >> yes. >> Mr. Hamilton, >> yes. >> Motion carries. Thank you. I would like to uh put forward Antonio Paris as the candidate for the Western Zone representative. >> For sake of discussion, I'll second that. >> Thank you. Um, I don't know if any of you were able to watch the videos that we were sent by PSBA for the two candidates and um, in my opinion, I felt this Antonio Paris
048was the stronger candidate. Um, and he's also right across the river from us in Riverview. Um, does I don't know if anyone else was able to watch the videos, has anything they would like to add on these candidates. >> I'll say that I I know that Antonio Paris has served in good standing with his district and is well respected by many members of his community. >> Okay, thank you. Good to know. >> There there was also some uh text available as well that I I did review that. So, um yeah, and in my opinion, that's that sounds like a fine choice. >> Okay. I I read the written documents or the written uh >> slate they said. >> Yes. Frank Duns. Yes. Thank you. Um and and I thought he was a good candidate. >>
049Yeah. >> Okay. Agreed. >> All right. So, we should vote on on him. >> Well, did he move Did you were just talking about it? Did anybody move? >> I thought you need to make a motion. >> I made a motion and Mr. Frank seconded it. >> Yep. >> So, um shall we vote on the motion? Mrs. This is to vote for Antonio Paris. >> Correct. >> Uh, Mrs. Lynch, >> yes. >> Miss Zitch, >> yes. >> Mrs. Cooper, >> yes. >> Miss Dad, >> yes. >> Miss Finley, >> yes. >> Mr. Frank, >> yes. >> Mr. Good, >> yes. >> Mr. Hamilton, >> yes. >> Dr. Hasselhorn, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you. It is time for our second public comment period. And I assume no one's on it. No. Okay. Thank
050you. Fox Chapel Educators Association, Mrs. Mackin. >> Fast meeting tonight. Um, good evening. We just wanted to take a moment to express our thanks to the members of the school board and district office that gave your time to help the teachers at Hartwood get ready to open the building. They were extremely appreciative of all of your efforts. So, thank you. and the year is off to a great start. Have a good night. >> Thank you. Board comments, Mr. Frank. >> Uh it was a busy summer for the administration and the board and various citizen advisory groups who worked with with the board advising on financing, bond resources, building and grounds issues, and other areas that are essential to the district. Their expertise is a big key to our success because the members of these groups
051are experts in their fields. As members of our community, they also have the district's best interest in mind. We thank the members of those groups. There were multiple public school authority meetings detailing how many of the facilities have immediate needs, and just two examples are the electrical system at Fairview, which is 75 years old, and that the boilers and chillers at several of our buildings are well past their useful lifespan. and repair parts are unavailable. Additionally, there were public meetings presented by the National Cyclone Energy Engineering Group evaluating the condition, immediate needs, and potential costs that could impact four of our older buildings. Their detailed 61page report is quite interesting and alarming. These meetings were all open to the public and open for questions. the public discussion on multiple occasions and the recommendations of the
052re resource advisory who are financial experts from our community on how to best fund immediate building needs in this advantageous bond market with our double A+ rating were informative. Board members both past and present take great pride in our schools and our students and staff realizing we always have areas to improve. We recognize that partnering with parents and residents and seeking expert opinions will always make our district stronger. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Finley. >> Welcome back to school, everyone. Um, please make sure to wash your hands. My kids have already been home three days, one with stomach bugs and then some sort of virus. So, stay clean. Lots of hand sanitizer. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mrs. Lynch. >> Um, I just wanted to say it was a pleasure to work with the
053Hartwood teachers and have the opportunity to come alongside them as they started their year in um an expected way and uh we were happy to to do that and to be where there. Um, I will say that I'm hopeful that as we move forward with all of the um, capital funding conversations that we've been having that we start to sort of consider this capital building conversation as a more integrated part of our budget um, and really plan for it being that I think we have six buildings that are going to continuously need repair for ever. And I think it would be smart of us to consider this a more um continuous process. And so um I'm just going to encourage that we view it that way and that we plan for it that way. >>
054Thank you, Dr. Hasselhorn. >> Yes, I too um appreciated the opportunity to help out a little bit at Hartwood. Um it felt like a drop in the bucket though when when you saw the scope of work that was happening there and I was really impressed at how um positive the vibe was there despite a lot of stuff going on that could easily frustrate most people. Um also um I'm still like aruck overana accomplishment. Um I I just am amazed every time I hear our our student accomplishments. It's like, oh, and another one's doing this, another one's doing that. So So again, um congratulations to her and her family and and all of the folks behind the scenes who I'm sure had an instrumental role in helping her get where she is today. >> Thank you,
055Mr. Hamilton. Uh last week I had the opportunity to attend the Kerr uh PTO night uh um activity night and that was a great um opportunity and I was really thankful for all the parents uh who who came and and who helped organize that activity. And um I also uh wanted to I was reflecting after the comments about Camp Alagany that it was 20 years ago that my daughter first attended camp my oldest daughter first attended Camp Alagghany and what an amazing experience that was and then that my my other two daughters the younger daughters went through it as well and they still to this day uh have conversations about what they did or their their experience. It's their shared common identifier of their experience and one of their key experiences at Fox Chapel schools.
056I know that's true for a lot of kids that that was definitely is a memorable tradition and as well as an educational experience and I'm sure uh many others have had parent child because it's been going on for quite a long time and it's still a very valuable experience. So, I'm glad that generations of school boards will continue to support it and fund it and that the teachers continue to support it and attend because I know that uh three days can be a challenge with a lot of kids away from home, some of them for the first time. So, thank you to everybody who makes that possible. >> Thank you, Mrs. Cooper. >> No comment. Miss Zitch, >> I'll just echo um the how impressed I am at our Koolage scholar. It's really extraordinary. um
057she absolutely deserves that honor and it's exceptional to have um a scholar in our district of that caliber. Um I would say um to the teachers at Harwood showed an incredible amount of resilience and enthusiasm. It's a hard thing to look a school year in the eye with less than 24 hours in your classroom and they were not just there getting it done. They were there getting it done and they were relishing in it. They were absolutely thrilled. Um and every family member I spoke to entered Hartwood on that Tuesday um spoke of an outstanding successful opening. So congratulations. Um, I will also um encourage everyone to lean on any state representative or senator. You know, the 70 days overdue budget is inexcusable and unprofessional and it affects every district and public school entity and
058public entity you interact with in the state of Pennsylvania. Um, so uh let's all cross our fingers for um a complete and resolved budget. >> Thank you, Mr. Good. >> No comment. Thanks. >> All right. I agree with Miss Zitch. let's uh get the state to get that budget done for us and all the other school districts uh in our commonwealth. And um I was sorry I missed helping at Hartwood. Mr. Frank and I helped set it up and then I had a family emergency and couldn't attend. So, um I was happy to hear how well everything went and uh hope the Hartwood teachers are feeling more settled in and that I've heard everything's going really well over there. So, I'm uh happy for that and glad that we've gotten the school year started off
059well. All right. Um could I have a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> meeting adjourned.