001Just one second. Public meeting to order. Would everyone please rise for a moment? Pledge of >> Allegiance. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. >> I'd like to thank everyone for coming this evening. Uh there's a log in the front. If you haven't done so, please sign in. If you have anything in particular you would like to bring to the board's attention, please also write that down. If at any time uh during the meeting you'd like to mention something on the agenda, item can raise your hand to be recognized. After normal business, there's also time for public comment where you can bring up additional uh issues. Uh this meeting is being recorded and
002I'd also announce there was an executive session conducted prior to the meeting to discuss personnel matters. In fact, we have a roll. >> Matthew Beck here. >> Aaron Angel here. Reva Hoffman here. Cecilia Hulk here. Jason Huck here. Jeremiah Light. >> Michael Salbury here. Daniel Whismer >> here. >> Laurel Ziggler here. Olivia Voss here. Lindsy Schmidt here. >> Thank you. First item business is the approval of minutes from our March 16th, 2026 school board meeting. Do we have a motion? >> Second. >> Any questions or comments on those meeting minutes? >> All right. Have a roll call, please. >> Matthew, >> yes. >> Aaron Angel, yes. >> Rea Hoffman, yes. >> Cecilia Holt, yes. Jeremiah Light >> abstain. >> Michael Salsbury, >> yes. >> Daniel Whismer, >> yes. >> Laurel Ziggler, >> yes. Jason C,
003>> yes. Motion carries. Uh, we can take agenda items four and five together. The treasures report A through I is listed out and the approval of bills for payment A through G. Uh, do we have a motion to approve uh both of those items? >> Senator Ziggler, second Pman. >> Any questions or comments? Roll call, please. >> Aaron Engel, yes. >> Rea Hoffman, >> yes. >> Cecilia Hall, >> yes. >> Jeremiah Light, >> yes. >> Michael Salsbury, >> yes. >> Daniel Whismer, >> yes. >> Laurel Ziggler, >> yes. >> Matthew Beignette, >> yes. >> And Jason C. >> Yes. Motion carries. And then we are to six, communications and reports. Mr. T. Uh this evening I'm happy to share that the report will all be handled by those who are doing the good work and
004exciting uh taking advantage of exciting opportunities uh throughout our school community. So I'm going to announce first those who are here to introduce some of our guests. Mr. Yepsuga, you are up first. >> Thank you very much. It's my pleasure to be here today. There's always so many wonderful things that many of our students and student athletes um are able to do and accomplish throughout the uh the school year. And you know, each each school year is divided up into three seasons. And uh we're here to recognize a student athlete from this past winter season for some amazing accomplishments. Um and this is about probably about the one-year anniversary of having her here last year for a very similar accomplishment. So I'd like to bring Haven Begley up here. and I'm going to take a
005minute or two to talk about her and what she has done. Haven is a swimmer here at Kutztown High School. Yes, a swimmer at a non-pool school, which makes her accomplishment even that much more impressive. Um, and just to give you kind of a little bit of backstory as far as her history goes with the district 3 and PIAA swim championships. And we know that since we are a non-pool school, uh Haven does not just do her swimming here for Kutztown. Um for what she is going to be recognized for, it takes a whole lot of work and dedication. Um she swims an immense number of hours, I believe, at Emac, correct? Um the Aquatic Club. Um so a lot of that training takes place before school, after school, all throughout the year. um and
006it has led her to be able to represent us at such an outstanding level. So going back to ninth grade in 22 23 at districts, it seems like her two main events at the district championship meet was 200 IM and the 100 breaststroke. Her freshman year, she placed ninth in the 200 IM and eighth place in the 100 breaststroke. her sophomore year in 23-24 at the district meet. She improved that uh meddling in fifth place in the 200 IM and then one and then third place also with a medal and 100 breaststroke last year in 2425 at the district 3 championships. She placed third in the 200 IM and was last year's district 3 champion in the 100 breaststroke. And she qualified for the PIAA championships in both events last year placing 23rd in the
007200 IM and 18th place in the 100 breaststroke. This year, just a few weeks ago, uh back at the end of February, it was a District Three Championships. In the 100 breaststroke, she was the returning champion. She silver medalled finishing in second place but then captured the district 3 championship in the 200 IM and again qualified for the PIAA championships in both of those events and she definitely improved her placing when she got up to Bucknell. in the 200 IM she finished in sixth place and in the 100 breaststroke finished in 12th place and recorded personal best times up at Fucknell in both those events. So the perfect time to swim her best times of her career were at the state swimming championships and along the way because of her accomplishments she was named the
008Pennsylvania High School Swimming Coaches Association 2A all state swimming and diving team honorable mention. So quite an accomplishment for Haven. She was the only member of our swim team here at Kutztown and she certainly represented us very well and we're so very proud of her. It was very interesting running into her mom up at Bucknell. If you've never been at their at their auditorium up there with the state championships going on, it is packed and I got in there and there was just a sea of people everywhere and I figured it could take me an hour to find it where you guys were. So, I just planted myself in one spot near the starting place and I figured at some point I'm going to find somebody and I found Haven's mom and shared a very
009funny moment, an interesting kind of emotional moment as far as when you were in the 200 IM the prelims and finished in eighth place and then lo and behold, we find out that there was a tie for that final eighth spot to get into the finals and Haven at the end of that session had to have a one-on-one swim off with that other swimmer. The only event going on at the time, just her and one other swimmer in the pool, all eyes on them. And Haven knocked it out of the park. She wanted it, she got it, and she qualified for finals and got that sixth place medal and earned all the recognition that she got. So, without further ado, congratulations to Haven. We have a nice plaque here, which Mr. Ashman helped out with
010with Mr. Hoffman. So, this was made in-house by Mr. Hoffman and Mr. Ashman, which are forgot what the name of it is. Your laser. Yep. So, very special thank you to them. But this is for you. A little bit of a keepsake from us to you just to kind of commemorate what you've done. Um, there will be a banner in the gymnasium uh for as long as Kutztown High School is around. Your name will be hanging in our gym recognizing your accomplishments. So, I'll get on that right away. And just save the date. We are going to have a special recognition at our first home football game this year. They'll be in front of Fleetwood. Um, so usually that brings a pretty good crowd. So we're going to invite you back again. Hopefully you're free.
011So special congratulations to Haven. >> Wait, I'm gonna interject meaning congratulations and I'm gonna ask you when did you start swimming? >> Oh no. a long time ago. >> History abs highlight, but I think it's incredible that, you know, we all are working to be better at something, right? You hope that we're all trying to be be your best at on the biggest stage in your high school, your senior year at the state championship is really just truly an incredible thing. So, congratulations to you. Not everybody has that opportunity to be their best on the biggest stage and that's that it's no matter what you're talking about, that's truly incredible. But in addition, you know, we're here celebrating Haven as a swimmer, but you know, National Honor Society, class officer, I have math league, choir,
012and debate. They all >> Oh, yeah. I am an athlete. Just kidding. >> Yeah. And not that has to be a comprehensive list, but we're not just talking about one specific skill, you know. So, congratulations on being an incredible incredible member of the school community and just a fantastic student. >> Thank you. >> So, couple other things. This is your senior banner that was hanging in our gym lobby. So, you can take that home with you. And while I have you, this is your varsity uh varsity pin for all your accomplishments this year. >> Thank you. >> Congratulations again. >> Next up, Mrs. Si. >> Hi, good evening. Thank you for having me here. Um, I've been an English teacher here for 26 years and I've never spoken at a schoolboard meeting. So, forgive if
013I'm a little nervous. I too am here to celebrate Haven and some others. Um, in addition to teaching language arts, I'm also fortunate enough to lead our debate team, which is truly my honor. Um, and uh, some members of debate are here tonight. Would you all stand? even if you're not speaking, if you could stand so everyone can see you. This is just a handful of members. I get a whole bunch of kids every year signing up to join our debate team. Um, and a few of them would like to share some of their experiences, their accomplishments. So, I'll let them do the talking because they're the ones skilled in that. And I think Elijah, you're going to speak for Yes. >> I have some notes here in Dallas. >> Elijah, anybody else who speaks
014if you could just introduce yourself. >> Yep. Yep. Um I'm Elijah Siker. I'm a junior here and I'm also the vice president of debate club. Um and I would like to say that from a student's perspective, um debate club seems to be one of the more well-known and I'd say more well- reggarded clubs at our school that I that's how I tend to hear it uh from my classmates. Um and I would like to say that in debate we greatly appreciate um all of the aid that the school board and all of the members of the school give us be it giving an extension on a lab or uh something of that nature or paying for the uh cost of going on a field trip like this because it can definitely be expensive and I
015just wanted to um give an appreciation uh for that. Um, and I'd like to say that it definitely pays off with many former debaters getting into high achieving schools and so forth. And I'd also like to say that I've definitely seen a strong change for the better um within my years of being in debate for from the perspective of students at other schools because I personally went to um Circle of Seasons Charter Public Charter School. Um and I know a lot of kids that went there as well. Uh they may go to Fleetwood or Northwestern. And when I was in freshman year, I heard some I didn't always hear positive comments about our debate team. But I will say that this year especially, pretty much every single comment that I've heard was positive and well-intentioned.
016And I was pretty excited to say that and I wanted to mention it here. Um, and I'd also like to say that uh because of this, it uh improves the perception of our school and helps all of our students that are in debate club. a pretty extensive and large club that is in all of the uh senior high school grades. Um and also I think that it definitely uh helps the local ecosystem. So I just wanted to phrase that. Thank you very much. My name is Anna. Um, I'm a B team rebuttalist on the debate team. And as you can see by the trophy I just placed in front of you all, we had a great season. We had an amazing comeback where we swept. So, we didn't lose one debate on the last of
017the regular season and got ourselves a second place trophy in the regular season. So debate is a very important club. It has so many more advantages than obviously just bragging in front of the school board about the trophy. The first thing is of course public speaking. It's an incredibly useful skill to have. For example, me being able to come up here and talk to all of you without stuttering over my words 500 times a minute. But there's more to debate than just the public speaking of being able to talk to all of you. There's lateral reading, which is the ability to take a source and then explore it in other tabs on the internet and find out is it credible or not? Who's the author? Who owns the company that we're researching and taking information
018from. There's also teamwork that goes into it because when we are at debate, especially as a rebuttalist, you have to work with your whole team to make a counterargument. It's not everyone has their own role and they don't talk to each other. We're under a time limit. we have to look at the other team's arguments and be able to make a counterpoint in that time frame under pressure. So being able to work as a team when you're under that kind of constraint is very important and it's a great life skill to have. The other thing is we're able to analyze a speech. We can take what people say, think about it, know what strengths they have, know what weaknesses they have, and be able to make a reply, which is extremely important because communication is
019a huge part of our world today. And then of course there's the other thing, friendship. It helps bridge the gap between underclassmen and upper class because there is sometimes there's bubbles of grades and they don't really mix with each other. But clubs like debate allow us to have upper classmen mentoring the underclassmen and building friendships across the grade helping to make our school even more cohesive. And then as the first speaker mentioned, it helps with higher education. We actually have a debater named Jocelyn who is going to Yale now and she gets to put debate on her college application. Of course, she did get it. And also, as Elijah mentioned, it helps make our school look good. We get to go to other schools, build friendships and relationships. So, in conclusion, debate is awesome. We
020also have an awesome head coach named Miss Satie who has guided us all through the seasons and should be excited to see debate grow. We instituted officers this year and we continue to move into the 26 27th season and we will foster new debaters and continue to be awesome. Thank you. >> Can I ask you a question before we start? would you mind describing just very quickly what the process is for the video? >> Okay. So, >> sorry to put you on the spot on that, but I think you know just because it's a structured event I think that providing that uh background helpful. >> So, we um start meetings around August or beginning of September. We'll get our resolve. I think this year we actually got it um last week or Yeah. We'll begin
021researching. We'll have our speeches I think this year and um this next year we'll start implementing more deadlines so we have it we have a speech done maybe mid-occtober so that way or October mid-Sepptember so we can um begin to go over and have mock mock debates and um go over with our teams like if we have overlapping points we make sure that we integrate the information that we have together so I have something in my speech and Bella has something in hers we can connect them and she can be like xyz speaker said this in their speech here's why it's right instead of what XYZ opposing speaker said. >> You want to hear more about like >> the day of the event? >> Yes. Could you just tell them give the school board an
022idea of like what the actual debate looks like? >> When we get there, we'll be seated in an auditorium and then we'll be taken to our room. We'll um sit down, the affirmative team goes first, they give their speech, and then the affirmative team gets questioned. So questioners will have a set list of questions that they can ask, and they'll also come up with questions on the spot. And as a speaker, you have to make sure that you know your information well enough that you can um give a comprehensive answer and it's detailed. It's concise because we only have two and a half minutes to answer the questions. And that repeats twice for the uh first speakers and then twice for your second speakers. Then after questioning, you'll have a five-minute recess where you go
023over all the notes that you get while you're listening to the speakers, while you're listening to the questioners. And then your rebalist will take all that information um he or she'll have a speech uh preset up and then they will go into the debate and remove parts of the speech that they already have insert new information and go up and give their five minute rebuttal. >> Thank you. I I just think that's helpful if no one's experienced that to hear it process. >> Manny, could you also add how many teams from like we we we have how many debates do we have going for each debate? Maybe eight. >> Eight. I think it's four and then two each. >> We have same topic for >> it's the same topic for each team. We'll have the
024two A teams and the two B teams and then we also take C and D teams along with us and those are usually freshman teams who get the experience without um having as much pressure on them. >> We'll start my own speech now. All right. Um as you heard, I'm Van Lucra. I'm a sophomore and I acted as a speaker on um the debate club speak team this year. This is my second year on the debate team and I have nothing but wonderful things to say about the experience and our adviser. Um from an academic standpoint, it has enhanced my critical thinking skills. As you can tell, I had to come up with an explanation of the debate process on the spot. Um but it's also help me to write this speech out and know
025what I want to say um without sounding too or going on in circles. Um I've also found that my communication skills are more refined. I'm giving you guys on eye contact right now and I'm trying not to stumble over my words. Um, but I'm also able to work together in a small group of people who have the same goal as me to win an argument and I'm very glad I can do that in a more formal and reserved manner. Uh, clearly we did win a lot of arguments as Bella said we won second place overall in the league this year. Um, and I think debate has a lot of benefits for the kids who join and for future children who want to foster their argumentative skills. And I'm excited to see where debate takes me
026and other debaters in the future. Thank you. Thank you. Congratulations on a very successful season. I think you know hearing all those diverse skills that you know we could apply across all disciplines in school and life. uh you know few I don't remember if it was two months ago we did have a public speaker who a community member who talked about how we teach students to evaluate sources and use them in a productive way and Bella you know very graphically shared some of that with us here just how the big group does um so again congratulations really exciting you get to travel all throughout the region and compete with different teams um and Bella I appreciate that you gave all of your teammates a little bit of credit for Joselon's acceptance into Yale fantastic >>
027also um I didn't mean to overlook Lindsay because she's also on our debate team but she's didn't >> I mostly joined debate because well my friends all did debate so I joined I know a lot of people joined because we go to Panera and Chick-fil-A after but >> I'm personally I'm not that good with public speaking because I get very nervous but I debates helped me a lot with that and it's helped me slow down my speech and people can like understand me more when gave a speech as a debate and I like being out in the city. >> I like being >> Thank you, Lindsay. Thank you, debate team. Thank you, Mr. S. Congratulations on a great great season. >> And our last group presenting this evening, uh, Mrs. Patton. >> Yeah, we're gonna
028have the kids start us off the race. We could line up. You want to line up or you want to leave Grace hanging out there by herself for a little while. Imagine you're a 12 or 13 year old kid stepping onto a bus a thousand times nicer than you've ever been on before. driving towards a big city in the middle of a school day. Over 20 hours, not including the work outside of class, has been spent preparing for this experience, researching, writing, practicing, and so so much more. Hi, my name is Grace Sraos and my friends and I are here to talk about talk all about this incredible experience the school board, the Randell Center, the middle school, and especially Miss Patton have provided us. Before we get into the experience, we have to talk
029about just how much preparation went into this. The amount of papers Miss Patton and all of the volunteers gave us started to weigh down my backpack a little bit more than usual. Now, I'm not saying that's a bad thing because it helped shape our script into what it is. We spent over a month planning, researching, and practicing mixed in with other small social studies lessons. Throughout the preparation process, we learned so many things about the case. We learned all about the witnesses, how to form direct questions, which are questions formed specifically to be asked at your own witness to further prove that your side is correct. We learned about cross-examination questions, which are yes or no questions formed specifically to undermine the opposing side's argument. We learned how to craft opening and closing statements, which
030are like bones, structures, or the outline of your entire argument. When we first stepped onto the bus, we were aruck. It was really nice. We spent almost two hours laughing and having a great time, but it could not go by any slower. The anticipation was killing all of us. When we finally arrived, we thought the bus was going to be the most impressive thing that we saw all day, but we were very, very wrong. The federal courthouse loomed above all of us as we realized just how small we are. We walked into the main room and entered security and then went into what went through what and they went through whatever we had brought. We were then marshaled into groups according to our period and brought to the ceremonial courtroom. We were given our rooms
031and judges and were taking up taken up to our courtrooms. We again were stunned with the sheer amount of beauty that the courtroom had to offer. We proceeded on with all the things we had to do and began our mock mock trial. After it was over, my group, period six, was lucky enough to get taken into the judge's shavers. Thank you, Judge Kernney. And I know I may be o overdoing this, but we were stunned by the sheer beauty of it all, especially the candy bar. We then left, ate lunch, and walked into Carpenters Hall, the place where the original robber robbery and trial took place, and we were able to experience all of the history firsthand from people who have dedicated their lives to preserving that wonderful piece of history. Overall, the mock trial
032was one of the best experiences of my life. And I'm sure I can speak for my friends, my class, and my grade when I say that this is an experience that every kid should have the chance to have. Thank you. >> Uh hello, my name is Caleb Vessing. I find it necessary that any young student should understand the sacrifices and that people went through to found America and that the papers that actually ended up founding America like the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, obviously the Declaration of Independence. Our opportunity to learn about this was before the mock trial. We had to use the Constitution, the Bill of Rights to find legal stands in the the mock trial. I also find it very fitting that the mock trial was conducted in the 250th anniversary of declaration
033of independence and founding of our country. We learned a lot about the bill of rights and the first 10 amendments that give everyone their rights and sorry and how we had to use this a lot to find obviously legal stands and actually in my thing we had to find we well I tried to use uh uh illegal search and seizure but that did not work at all. Uh thank you Hi, my name is Ajax David and um I participated in the court case I was period through. Um I've been going to school for a very long time and I've been on multiple field trips and I've learned about what happened in a courtroom and like how lockers and how trials work, but nothing was as authentic and as real as the experience that I experienced
034in that courtroom on that day. um instead of a textbook that we just searched through to try to find like random stuff or like just stuff about like how um you know the court of law worked, we actually got I along with other classmates got to meet real lawyers throughout the entire process. We got to write a script for our trial to really go through what occurred and we had an entire cross examination and we had a lot of parts for our scripts and we got to go to a courtroom in Philly. We got to go to the federal court, a place where people actually go for a profession almost every day. I really love the experience and it helped me understand what occurred in a courtroom that a white school has never done for
035me before. Hi, I'm Viviana Molina and I believe that it's important that we have this opportunity provided by the school to support our education, especially because this was an experience that not many people may ever get. An experience like this truly helped shake shape young students minds and this opportunity helped many people in our school to find their future career. Before this trip, I personally wasn't sure about what I wanted as my future. However, after this amazing opportunity, I and a few other classmates were able to gain a clear perspective of what interests us and what we may want to pursue in the future. This experience not only helped me, but it helped many of my classmates begin to think more seriously about their own future and consider new paths. This helped everyone in our
036grade to get a better better understanding of court and what a lawyer/ attorney may go through through the planning and the process. Though we may be students, we got a strong understanding of law, genuinely understanding and getting lessons from real life lawyers, helping us firsthand understand court and law. This isn't something that's exactly easy to learn from a textbook. And thanks to the lawyers, we got our own mini law school. Thanks to the Burks County Bar Association and the many lawyers who assisted us and took time out of their day to visit us and teach us and assist us on our work, students like me got a better understanding and a more deeper understanding of what some of our future careers may be. Opportunities like the one that we got are truly meaningful and beneficial.
037And as a student, this was truly changing to how I viewed my career as well as many other people. Hello, I'm Keegan Miller. During the process of the mock child, we learned several life skills such as collaboration, cooperation, problem solving, effective communication, critical thinking, and creativity. We needed to use collaboration and cooperation a lot to make sure that everyone's ideas got included into the final product. We also needed to use problem solving and critical thinking to work ourselves around any problems that we might have occurred during any phases of the mock trial. Effective communication was probably the most important skill we needed because if we couldn't effectively talk to each other, then we would have never been able to make the final product. Lastly, we needed to learn how to be creative. Everyone is at
038least a little creative, but not everyone can just spark creativity. During the mock trial process, we learned how to spark our own creativity. Whether it was a response from a witness that we needed to help us or if it was just an line that we added in on the fly, we learned lots of valuable life skills from this mock trial. Hello, I'm Avery Jük and I'm here to tell you how the mock trial field trip at the Rendale Center helps with the connection to a real world experience at school. First off, it has helped multiple students realize if they want to do law when they grow up. It has also helped give examples on what a jury might experience when you're an adult. For example, what you should look like or how you should act.
039Even if you are someone who doesn't find law interesting to do in later in life, knowing what to wear and how to act can help with any profession you plan on doing when you grow up. >> So, um this is from Gavin White. Um hi, Mrs. Patton. Um I seventh grade social studies. Um Gavin couldn't be with us but he said I had a great time at the Randelle Center uh mock trial and it was an important experience for me that helped me learn about our judicial system. Being part of the trial showed me the roles of judges, lawyers and juries and how they all have to work together to find the truth. It was a great learning experience because I practiced public or I practiced speaking and listening and I also learned to think
040more carefully. Overall, this experience taught me skills that I can use in school and in my life and I'm very glad to be part of it. Um, I would also just like to mention the vast number of people who were involved in this with all of the different partnerships and I just want to thank so much to the school board. Thank you so much um and the administration for supporting us. It just really means a lot. Really appreciate it. Um so here are all the names of all the people that helped. Um, I'd like to publicly thank Judge Marjgerie Randelle, Judge Mark Kernney, Judge Karen Marston, the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Burks County Bar Associ Association, the Annenburgg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania, Carpenters Hall, and the Randell Center for Civics and
041Civic Engagement. The seventh grade um team of teachers is absolutely amazing. Um, Mrs. Cara Kegress, Miss Katherine Angol, and Miss uh Mrs. Kristen Herring helped students craft and hone their arguments. Mrs. Jennifer Wyland reviewed the symptoms of yellow fever featured within the historical context of the criminal trial. We're lucky to have the support of Miss Keegan White, Mr. Ian Morland, Mr. Timothy Summer, Mrs. Carol Fairchild, Mrs. Sherry Alenbach, Mrs. Megan Hoffman, and Mrs. Nancy Diamond throughout the process. And we were lucky that Mr. Sean Lynch was able to attend the field trip with us with every seventh grader in the middle school. What was really special this year is that we were able to work with KSD alumni and alumni who are legal experts. These folks included KSD alumni and legal assistant Abigail Miller at
042the Cosaw Stout attorneys, assistant district attorney Claire Kaufman, former representative and district attorney Carl Mance, and former attorney and social studies teacher Amy Howard. We were also fortunate to work with local lawyers. We hosted assistant district attorney of Burks County, Nathaniel Grisbomb, and assistant district attorney of Burks County, Alyssa Hbert. Hillary Wexler from um who's a partner at Sweet Stevens Cats and Williams LLP. Criminal defense attorney Charles Deadco at Deadco um LLC. Alexander J. Eller at the law office of Alexander Eller. Attorney Tim Mills and Reading and William McGro. We're also indebted to Corey Walter with the Burks County Bar Association for partnering with us. I also want to thank the entire team of lawyers in Philadelphia who virtually met with us to refine our final arguments. Matthew Tom who is a judicial law clerk
043with the US Court of Appeals and Christine O Boyd who was a partner at Marin Marvel were both amazing during those icy and snowy days when traveling from Philadelphia to Kutztown seemed pretty dicey. There are so many people that were behind the scenes um at the federal courthouse that allowed for over 100 seventh graders to come to five courtrooms all at the same time to present which takes a lot of scheduling. We would like to thank Judge Mark Kernney, Judge Karen Marston, supervisor of court services, uh Fred Dre Dredding Jr. for setting up the court services, Floresa D. Myers, uh, associate professor of instruction at criminal justice department at Temple University, attorney Christy Degrad, attorney at law in Philadelphia, judicial law clerks for Jud Judge Marjgerie Randelle, Maline Bazer, and Elizabeth Crims. I also want
044to thank Michael Norris, who is executive director of Carpenters Hall for allowing students to tour the scene of the crime in Carpenters Hall. We would also like to publicly thank David Keller Chavasquez who is a retired director of pro bono services at the Pennsylvania Bar Association and Beth Specker who is the director of the Renzel Center for their expertise. Miss Specker really makes working with a criminal um trial seem very easy and not daunting at all for seventh grade social studies teacher. Um she is an absolute delight to work with. Um so thanks so much to the Rendell Center for giving us this life-changing experience. Civics is really alive and well in uh seventh grade social studies at KZtown Area Middle School. We're very excited to celebrate the 25th with um the town 200 so
045250th with a town and the kids wanted me to tell you that their scripts were about 26 pages long and many of them had them memorized. So yeah, thank you for coming this evening to share with us. Thank you, Mrs. Patton. I think you know the story we talked last year when students the first time students had this opportunity that uh I believe the story you you attended a conference met um folks from the Randell Center. They shared this opportunity and this all happens at no cost to the district because it is it is funded through the Randell Center through some donors that they have to have this incredible experience on on apparently some pretty fantastic buses. So that's uh I think I think it was Ajax used the word authentic and a couple times
046we heard real world right like whether it is debate or it is the opportunity to attend the Randell Center to really have these authentic learning experiences practicing and honing and using these skills on a big stage much like Haiten did with her her swimming is really just incredible is the best version of education there is. So thank you for making that possible and thank you for sharing with us tonight. I want to say too, like it blows my mind that you guys are seventh graders. Like if >> they're not really seventh graders anymore. They're so much closer to being eighth graders. >> That that's that's it. That's the difference. When I was in seventh grade, I was not anywhere near where you guys are now. Like you are amazing. And just being able to stand
047up here and talk to us all is great. Like I I get so teeyed because I'm so proud of all the Miss Savior, I think your debate team might keep getting better, right? >> Yeah, I think so. Now, >> I'll see you guys in a year and a half. >> Well, that is our that is my report from C. Thank you. I agree. I agree. Um you will you will see from your high school uh classmates that you are welcome to leave after pediat you can but we we never find a room if you decide to leave. Thank you. you. All right. Well, we can move into >> B is the student representative report. >> Can we jump to committee reports first? >> We can. >> That's it because you want to give Cayla a
048chance to get >> Yes. Very good. So the board committee reports uh starting with BC TC >> is not able to attend and no idea what happened but the briefs are in there. I'm sorry. >> Thank you. Um PCI couple things that are some Goodtown related items. The Annie Sullivan Awards were held on April 8th and Lorie Chris was nominated for KZtown. So, I just wanted to recognize her for her outstanding work. 20 March 26th, KZtown competed at the academic challenge and Daniel Boon won, but um my understanding it was very close. KZtown was overtime. Um >> that was the conclusion that a great season had a fantastic year or undefeated in some stretch. >> Yeah. And then there was uh March 27th the annual legislative round table which pretty sure I saw Mr. Tim
049Chatton's with the rest of the the Burks superintendent and legislators. And then uh the only other item was June 5th the BCIU board elections are due. If anybody's planning I'm encouraging you to vote in those. And that was that was emailed April 13th. We all have that will conclude my report. All right. Thank you, Mr. Next is the extracurricular facilities committee. Mr. Yeah. Uh under extracurricular, we were notified by Mr. Yapsuga that for anyone would like to dissolve the girls varsity volleyball cooperative that we currently have. did tell us that under PIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA guidelines we can only do that in odd number of years >> without penalty to both schools. So we would probably start that process next year and it would be approved in the fall of 27 and then for we would have our
050own team in 28 29 >> and they just because the numbers have just grown for both schools so we can both support a team and that's more opport two teams is more opportunity. >> Yeah. He said there was 35 on the team this year, 14 was from Kutztown. So it's we got enough numbers for both schools >> and I don't remember the exact numbers but we have good numbers strong numbers at the middle school. So it projects you know um then under the facilities we were shown the uh schematics for the cougar cart courtyard at KES. Um those are going to be sent out for bid. Uh do we have a timeline on when we're going to get those? I don't think so. Not yet. Uh, the Ed Foundation is paying for a good portion
051of that. We just have to wait and see where the bids come in at. >> Yeah, thank the ED education foundation has raised a significant amount of money. They believe they're very much closing in on the $140,000 goal for that project. I believe they're going to be very close to it. We did ask the committee um that we will be asking the board or the district to plan to fund up to an amount of approximately $50,000 from the construction fund that we can use just mostly because costs have increased since they started the the campaign and a lot of that would go into installation. So we hope that it ends up much below that but that would be appreciated I think from district foundation builders. Uh we've also discussed paving a few spots behind the
052middle school. There are currently grass areas that are now turned into mud because some of the teachers are parking back there because we lost parking due to the buses. That is on tonight's agenda for consideration. Then Richard also went over bunch of miscellaneous projects just as anformational heads up. Some are projects we can hold off, some are that we're going to have to start seriously considering. Um that's my report. Next is the PSBA. >> All right. Thank you. Um a reminder that advocacy day is coming up on May 4th. And so that's the opportunity that PSBA arranges for many um school directors to meet with legislators and um express the things that are most important to your district. and they are focusing on relief from costly mandates, uh, school funding and the impact of budget
053impasses and delays. Um, and support for infrastructure needs. Um, and so if you're interested in participating in that in Harrisburg, the last day to register is April 24th, which is this Friday. Um, and then also just a reminder for any newly elected or reelected um school board directors if you haven't completed your required school director training you time is running out they only have a few more inerson ones and then of course you can do it online as well >> thank you just PSBA related or related to what have shared our advocacy day for past other superintendent groups is actually May 5th so I'll be there the following day for advocacy and PSBA did not notify us recently They host what is called board docs which all of our board policies it's the website our
054our policies are hosted on changing products so that will change on July one should be a seamless transition other than just the functionality of clicking around web browser uh it'll it will be hosted on a link on our website should be no change to the public other than the way it looks but for us on the back end >> Mr. Wson curriculum >> thank you Mr. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend, but I would be able to that. >> Sure. Um, first on the agenda this evening is the elementary language arts curriculum proposal, arts and letters. Um, that presentation we received first last Monday evening and that was followed by dial continued dialogue surrounding policy 004 membership and policy 005 organization. Do you'd like to add anything to the curriculum proposal? >> Uh, so arts
055and letters. We had two pilots this year in grades two and four at elementary school and have been partnering with some local districts who are also using the new curriculum but meets the structured literacy requirements that the state has implemented and also um provides extremely engaging opportunities to engage with uh texts. And we've seen strong results, great interest from our students and a lot of support from the teachers who are piloting it and those who are visiting the classrooms. Uh so the pilot it's uh this on the agenda this evening we're looking for the curriculum materials for grades one through five and there's also some professional development costs. Why although uh it's you know it's built into the budget for next year we're trying to get ahead of it a little bit with ordering so
056that we can get professional develop development before it leaves so we have some professional development time at the end of the school year so we'll be able to start PD then rather than August whenever >> thank you and now we can move to the student representative reports >> I can't really compare to what that was earlier But um sorry, we um have been preparing for our choir concerts are coming up. We have that week of the arts and so that's all about uh band the one day, choir the next. I know FFA has a big day that day. Um and then that Friday is our prom. So preparing for that, everyone's getting excited. And then last week we had our steamroller festival which was a huge hit. I was there for a while. It was
057pretty fun. Um and then you guys want to um uh new club FBA, future business leaders of America. We went to the state leadership conference. They went to a regional leadership conference a couple months back and if you got a certain placement, you qualified for states. And a couple of us went qualified for states. So we went and competed. And then our officers at the club went as me members at large. And they just came with us. They hung out with us. It was a really really cool experience, very professional experience. Um, I competed in website design. Um, I got fourth in the state for prelims and then I got 15th in the state for finals. I'm not really sure how many people were in my event, but I placed 15 in the state. And
058then Abby Adam and Elliot Johnson got sixth in the state for social media social media strategies and they had to present on how or to help teens file their taxes. their presentation was amazing and my website was a student online student learning center um just to like help kids like who can't go into person just learn online and yeah it was a really cool experience made a lot of friends we got to hang out it was it was just a really cool experience and I it was at the Hershey Lodge I really hope we can go back next year so >> that's that's excellent awesome so glad to hear that the audience is extra So good. Congratulations. And we also have sort of in an informal role uh Caleb Essex here who just presented before
059and has just two board meetings in a row. After the last board meeting, Caleb had reached out. He said, you know, we have our our student representatives uh representing the senior class and junior class and the high school as a whole. Uh would the board be interested in having a middle school rep? Uh and I explained that, you know, policy calls for the high school representatives and trial basis. Caleb is welcome to join us and represent the middle school. And it's appropriate in his comments related to their seventh grade uh visit to the federal courthouse, he talked, you know, about his love of the social sciences, about his civic, his sense of civic duty, and he is one who is, you know, volunteering his time, wanting to participate here. So, Caleb, we're welcoming Caleb for
060the rest of the year as a as the middle school representative, maybe into the future. Um and uh Caleb, you know, you're as a student rep, you know, your uh senior high classmates here just did a great job presenting some of the things going on. Sometimes there's not much reports. Sometimes there is and you can comment on things that are happening at the board meeting. So we like to w do you have anything you want to share? >> I mean like events that are upcoming. >> It's up to you. Anything you know that's it's really open to you. Anything you want to share and you don't have to. You can say you're just happy to be here and you know Mr. Tim chat is the best superintendent Pennsylvania. Say whatever you wish to say. Um
061and uh or you know just observe and if if there's something you like to comment on just let us know and we'll make available. You don't have there's no pressure to say anything. >> Uh the only really thing I have to say you are right. You are a pretty nice superintendent. That's >> far below the standardized average. >> Yes. I'll take it. Thank you. I don't know if we're going to have another board meeting before, but on May 5th, we're going to have our concert band uh concert >> concert part of the showcase. We're at the showcase all week. We're really excited. Thank Thank you, Caleb. And welcome. >> Thank you, K. >> Seven then is public comment on the agenda items. I don't believe we have >> I don't I don't think we do.
062That was just about the resolutions. So, we can move into new business. Starting with a personnel is the recommendation of the administration that the board of school directors approve the following personnel items one through five are listed there. Do we have a motion? >> Second Sigler. >> Questions or comments? >> Okay. Roll call to approve personnel, please. >> Hoffman. >> Yes. >> Cecilia Holtz. Yes. >> Jeremiah Light. >> Yes. Michael Salsbury, >> yes. >> Daniel Whisper, >> yes. >> Laurel Ziggler, >> yes. >> Matthew Beignette, >> yes. >> Aaron Engel, >> yes. >> Jason Cuff, >> yes. Motion carries. Personnel is approved pending receipt of all mandated productions. B is arts and letters curriculum materials. It is the recommendation of the curriculum committee that the board of school directors approve the purchase of arts and
063letters curriculum materials from great minds at a cost of $58,726 for the attached. We have a motion. So being >> second questions or comments and gave a good rundown of this minutes ago. Roll call, please. >> Cecilia Holt, yes. >> Jeremiah Light, >> yes. >> Michael Salbury, >> yes. >> Daniel Whismer, >> yes. >> Laurel Ziggler, yes. >> Matthew Beck, >> yes. >> Aaron Angel, yes. >> Reba Hoffman, yes. >> Jason Cup, >> yes. Motion carries. C is the Kan area middle school rear parking spaces. It is the recommendation of the facilities committee that the board of school directors approve the addition of parking spaces at the rear of the scent area middle school by full paving at a cost of $15,95. >> So move late >> second. >> Uh questions or comments on that?
064>> Roll call, please. >> Jeremiah Light, yes. >> Michael Salsbury, yes. >> Daniel Whismer, yes. >> Laurel Ziggler, >> yes. >> Matthew, yes. >> Aaron Engel, yes. >> Reoffman, yes. >> Cecilia, yes. Jason Cook. >> Yes. Motion carries. D is the conference request. Is recommendation of the administration that the board of school directors approve the following conference requests. A through C are listed. Uh there we have a motion. I believe we can take all all together. Any objections? Do we have a motion to approve A through C? >> Any questions or comments? Call please. Michael Salsbury. >> Yes. >> Daniel Whismer, >> yes. >> Laurel Ziggler, >> yes. >> Matthew Beia, >> yes. >> Aaron Angel, >> yes. >> Rea Hoffman, yes. >> Cecilia Light. >> I Cecilia Hulk. >> Yes. >> Jeremiah Light. >>
065Jason, >> yes. Motion carries. >> It is the special education plan. It is the recommendation of the curriculum committee that the board of school directors approve the special education plan for years 2026 through 2029. Per the attached. We have a motion to approve special education. Second any questions or comments there? Just like to thank Mrs. Eller, uh, Mrs. Burgerer, team of teachers, uh, think some that Mrs. Hoffman and Mrs. Angel participated on the committee, just everyone who who dedicated some time to be a part of the special education plan process. We're excited to see this plan approved. We have another. Thank you. >> Roll call, please. >> Daniel Whismer. Yes. >> Laurel Ziggler. >> Yes. >> Matthew Beckett. >> Yes. >> Aaron Engel. >> Yes. >> Rea Hoffman. >> Yes. >> Cecilia Hall. >> Yes.
066>> Jeremiah Light. >> Yes. >> Michael Salsbury. >> Yes. >> Jason C. >> Yes. F is the administration and support staff holiday calendar. It's the recommendation of the administration that the board of school directors approve the 2026 2027 administration support staff holiday schedule per the attached. We motion. Second. Coffman. questions or comments there. Establishes the staff holiday calendar that follows up from the school calendar. >> Thank you. Laur, please. >> Laurel Ziggler, >> yes. >> Matthew Beette, >> yes. >> Erin Angel, yes. >> Rea Hoffman, yes. >> Cecilia Hol, yes. >> Jeremiah Light, >> yes. >> Michael Salsbury, >> yes. >> Daniel Whisper, yes. >> Jason Huff, >> yes. Motion carries. G is the administrator contracts. I believe we can take both of these together. We'll note that there's um you know I'll read these
067out because the agenda's not listed correctly. It is recommendation of the administration that the board of school directors approve the agreements with the following administrators administrators currently attached. A is Edward L. Meyers assistant superintendent July 1st through June 30th 2028. He is Elizabeth Anne Segman, business administrator for July 1st, 2026 to June 30th of 2030. We have a motion to approve. >> So move Ziggler >> second. Questions or comments? Just excited to have obviously are key members of this team and of the school district and we are grateful for your team service here. Excited for this recommendation. >> Thank you. Appreciate it. Thank you. Uh, roll call, please. >> Matthew, yes. >> Aaron Engel, yes. Rea Hoffman, yes. >> Cecilia Hull, yes. >> Jeremiah Light, yes. >> Michael Salsbury, yes. >> Daniel Whismer, yes. >>
068Laurel Ziggler, >> yes. Jason C, >> yes. Motion carries. >> H is employee vision insurance. It is recommendation of the administration that the board of school directors approve the agreement with Capital Blue Cross to provide vision insurance for district employees for the 2026 2027 school year at no rate increase. We have a motion. Second >> questions or comments there? Roll call, please. >> Aaron Angel, >> yes. >> Reva Hoffman, >> yes. >> Cecilia Hulk, >> yes. >> Jeremiah Light, >> yes. >> Michael Salsbury, >> yes. >> Daniel Whismer, >> yes. >> Laurel Ziggler, >> yes. >> Matthew Pia, >> yes. >> And Jason, >> yes. I is a donation. It is the recommendation of the administration that the board of school director is accept with gratitude. a donation from AD Lumber Goodson Incorporated in the
069amount of $75 to the Goodson area school district athletic department. We have a motion to accept the donation. So move by second. >> Thank you David Lumber. This is just a general donation Mr. Absugo. There's uh any story from local members. >> Okay. Excellent. That's awesome. Thank you anymore. Uh, we have a roll call to accept that. >> Rea Hoffman, yes. >> Cecilia Holt, >> yes. >> Jeremiah Light, >> yes. >> Michael Salsbury, >> yes. >> Daniel Whismer, >> yes. >> Laurel Ziggler, >> yes. >> Matthew Pñena, >> yes. >> Aaron Angel, >> yes. >> Jason C, >> yes. Motion carries. J is introduction of new business by board members for any new business for this evening. Nine is public comment on non-aggenda items, which again, I don't think anybody signed up. Uh 10 is
070theformational items. They're listed there A throughF for you to review. 11 is upcoming public meetings and informative dates. Next Monday, April 27th, we have our budget and finance committee meeting here, no in the middle school at 700 p.m. uh in middle school comments. May 4th is the policy and curriculum committee meeting. 6 o'clock here in the high school library, followed by the facilities and extracurricular committee meeting at 7. And then May 11th is our monthly school school board meeting again back here in the library at 7 pm. With that, I'd be looking for a motion to adjurnn. So move light. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. I. >> We're journ. state.