001to call this meeting to order. Everyone to rise for a moment of silence of allegiance 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. >> With that, I'd like to thank everyone for coming tonight. There is a log in the back. If you haven't done so, would you please sign in? If you have anything in particular that you'd like to bring to the board's attention, please also write that down. If at any time during the meeting you would like to mention something on an agenda item, please raise your hand to be recognized. After the normal business, there is also time for public comment where you can bring up additional issues. When speaking publicly, please speak directly into
002the microphone. This meeting is being recorded. There was an executive session conducted prior to the meeting to discuss personnel matters. With that with that roll call. Matthew Beiac >> here. >> Aaron Engel here. Reba Hoffman >> here. Cecilia Hol >> here. Jeremiah Light >> here. >> Michael Salbury >> here. >> Daniel Whiskner >> here. >> Laurel Ziggler here. Olivia Voss. >> Lindseay >> here. >> Thank you. Okay, that brings us to the approval of minutes for the January 19th board meeting. Do I have a motion? >> That's it. >> Call, please. >> Matthew, >> yes. >> Aaron Angel, >> yes. >> Reba Hoffman, >> yes. >> Jeremiah Light, >> yes. >> Michael Salbury, >> yes. >> Daniel Whismer, >> yes. >> Laurel Ziggler, >> yes. Cecilia hold here or yes, sorry. Um, >> all right.
003Item number four, treasurers report. Um, if I could have a motion to approve A through I. >> So moveberry second. >> Roll call, please. Aaron Angel. >> Yes. Reba Huffman. Yes, >> Jeremiah Light. >> Yes, >> Michael Salsbury. >> Yes, >> Daniel Whismer. >> Yes, >> Laurel Ziggler. >> Yes, >> Matthew Bignyek. >> Yes, >> Cecilia Holt. >> Yes. That brings us to item number five, approval of bills for payment. Looking for a motion for number five item items A through G. So, move second. Oh, sorry. Roll call, please. Um, Reba Hoffman, >> yes. >> Jeremiah Light, >> yes. >> Michael Salsbury, >> yes. >> Daniel Whismer, >> yes. >> Laurel Ziggler, >> yes. >> Matthew Beignette, >> yes. >> Aaron Angel, yes. >> Rea Hoffman, >> Cecilia Hull, >> yes. >> Passes. I guess
004I should be saying that. All the motions so far have passed. Um, number six is communications and reports. So, first up is superintendent report. Mr. Tench, >> thank you very much. We have a few things to share today superintendent report. >> It's an exciting time as we sort of transition between various types of seasons. Um first up uh we have boys wrestling. The boys wrestling uh wrestlers who participated in sectionals are shown and listed here. Congratulations to all those who were successful. We have Zayn Cherry in fifth place 145. Isaac Wood fifth place at 152 and Tyler Skola fifth place at 160. Um they all qualified for districts and also Royce Kitner and John Andrews placed seventh and eighth. um just missing that opportunity uh concluding for for some and for others continuing on what's
005been a successful season for wrestling uh for both the boys and the girls. Congratulations to coach Mike and the whole team for for a great season. Girls wrestling um you know we have continued success in the girls wrestling program. Emily Ber was first place at sectionals. Cassia Sherry was third place and AJ Blank also third place all qualifying. You'll see AJ and Cassie both uh reach the 40 career wins mark which is the current standard with within the girls program. Um and uh congratulations to them all. The girls program is really really strong. Um and credit to these three young ladies for kind of leading that charge. I had the opportunity a couple weeks ago to um join the youth night uh matches here uh where we had both the boys and girls programs from
006the middle school through the high school participating and I just have to say there's a great culture around the wrestling program right now. A lot of really good energy. I think you know there a lot of factors that go into that. Um I think first and foremost is the uh the girls program success just kind of you know reading a full comprehensive uh level of success there. I think the coaching staff has created a culture of expectations and we just have a lot of you know many of our programs the reality too is we just have a lot of great families behind the programs that kind of boost up those events. Uh so it really was a a beautiful night here that went on I started three or four four o'clock maybe and went on
007right through the night. Um excited about where the wrestling program is and where it's going in future years. girls basketball. The high school girls basketball team lost a really tough game last week at Oolie Valley. Um for our girls, that concludes their season in the district three playoffs. They finished the season with a 14-10 overall record, second place in Burks Division 4. Qualified for the BCIA playoffs for the first time since 2011, which is fantastic. And they qualified for district three playoffs for the first time since 2012. So I mean that's just a a long stretch. So, we didn't have the opportunity to participate in either districts or the Burks counties. Uh, so congratulations to coach and her team. There's a strong group of seniors that are kind of walking out the door this year.
008Um, you know, but some underassman are ready to continue where they left off. Uh, again, you know, talking about programs, they're in a great place. I think, um, this group of of athletes have kind of worked hard together over the years in various sports, but basketball as well, but coach Blissco just has them ready to compete every night. Um I said it to her even on a tough night the way Burks is set up you know you're going to you're going up in the first round against a large Wilson school you know um when the when the small school gets a chance to kind of punch into that weight it's great other times it's just a hard night. Um but even in those losses I received I wasn't able to be there that day and
009received multiple text messages from friends kind of in that community just so impressed with our girls and our coaching and the way they represented themselves and competed you know for the entire game. you know, even when when the score started piling up. So, I mean, that speaks volumes about the program, you know, in addition to the success and really given Oie a run for it three times this year with some very close games. So, congratulations to our girls, congratulations to coach and excited to see where the program continues to go in future years. the boys program as well. Um, you know, had an opportunity to compete in districts. Uh, went over to Antidum last week as well, I think on Tuesday night. Uh, and competed uh really really gave Antum a game for a while.
010Um, the boys finished their season at 8 and 15 and qualified for the district 3 playoffs for the first time since uh 2022. Uh, for the combination of girls, the first time since 2009 that both the boys and girls teams qualified for district three playoffs in the same season. So again, um, Coach Kevin Foley returning to Kutztown after almost 20 years. Um, just did a fantastic job with this group this year kind of along with the rest of his staff getting them to compete on a nightly basis and and get a district playoff game. So congratulations to the coach. Again, really excited to see what they do in the future. Haven Feley in the swim championships. Um, Haven competed in the BCIAA championships and placed third uh in the 100 breaststroke and first in the
011double A competitors, 10th place overall in the 50 freestyle, but was again first in of any of the double A competitors. And then this past weekend at District 3 Championships at Cumberland Valley, third place in the in the 100 breaststroke, which again was first in 2A, and 10th place in the 53 style, was again first in 2A. Um, Hayden has just put together a fantastic career swimming here in KZtown throughout both Burks and Districts. Congratulations to Haven on that success. And the music notes, there are many and they are frequent and some faces you'll see more than once. Um, first wishing good luck to Elliot Johnson. Um, pardon me, this is wishing him good luck. I use these graphics because Mrs. Hess and Mrs. Multi do such a great job putting together. Um Elliot um
012participated this uh weekend in the PME vibe chorus. Uh it's a remarkable honor to have an opportunity to compete there. Congratulations to Elliot on his success and performance. Congratulations to our Burks all-star jazz musicians representing the high school at Burks Jazz Fest. Those included were Reed Justices, Mary H, and Deon Ralph. All got to perform on that stage uh represent Goodstown in the jazz festival as well. Uh that 2026 Burk Peter County Band and Chorus. Congratulations to two nth graders who who were successful in their events. Carrie Bosler Blindman clarinet first chair and Alicia I'm gonna make a mistake trying to pronounce her last name pardon me right now but she was first in the bass clarinet and this was her first time competing in any musical event um and placed first so congratulations to
013both Carrie and two more that just fit on another slide again there is Elliot um he's going to states um he auditioned to qualify states. Congratulations on this impressive accomplishment. And we have really proud of these three talented individuals representing the high school at PMA District 10 Band Festival on Saturday on Saturday uh February March 7th. Um Terry Bosler, Wman, Vincent illustrations to Anna and Vincent for uh qualifying for the regionals. So just success all over the place in music. Um whether it's Mrs. Sunday or Mr. Sherk, it feels like we have a email every day. When you see these students in the hallway, please congratulate them. Just incredible performance of our music program. Uh the final one for for me today, we posted this, but I wanted to call it out here as well.
014We've talked a bit about our senior seminar class uh that's that is happening for our seniors who have not met their graduate readiness requirement elsewhere. Um huge shout out to Mrs. Westgate uh Mrs. Howard and Mrs. Sunday who are teaching those classes and really building these experiences for students as they go. Um this past week we had two great experiences. The first one was mock interviews were held here in the library. I want to thank those folks uh here from uh were donated their time to do the interviews u from Fleetwood Bank, Leah Ross who actually couldn't make that day because of illness but she had committed to the time and appreciate that. Um she's our branch manager here in Kuttown at Fleetwood Bank. Um Thomas Bendetti who's the vice president over at Fleetwood Bank.
015U Rich Pinsk from Strategic Education Inc. Valerie Rutherford who was a parent here in the district from East Penn. Uh Dr. Phil Cavalier came for our morning session to do some interviews and uh Mr. Greg who's the president and CEO of Omega. Um all just great community partners whether it's their organization or the individuals or both and our students had a I thought a very valuable experience were able to get I also participate in interviews as well but students were able to get direct feedback um right on the spot just a little bit about interviewing technique um you know so many of them most of them did a great great job. I've had two folks on that that board right there said I would hire them now when they compare the people that they're interviewing
016um you know in their their professional roles um you know little bits of like confidence here and there and like how I talked I think every student that I've had the opportunity to interview said as much as like maybe adults we don't recognize this or acknowledge it all the time managing the busy life of a high school student is one of the most complicated schedules you're ever going to experience in your life if you're involved in a lot of things. if you have a job and you're in sports and you're in music and you're in high school with seven, you know, periods a day and it's a really like being able to and if you're doing it at a high level, being able to communicate the way that that will impact what a work schedule
017looks like and the commitment I think you know it's I don't think our students give themselves enough credit when it comes to that and I don't know if they do sometimes. So, um some of that coaching but again thank you to all their time. We also then had first commonwealth credit union came in on Friday in the library here and did a for all seniors we were able to participate in what they call the financial reality fair. So the students lined up. They were uh given professions with a salary. They had to get housing and um get through a car entertainment and food and then at the end makes some there was a a wheel they could spin for some good or bad luck items that could occur. And then at the end they got
018to sit down with an adviser and kind of review how they did and what kind of money they had left at the end of the uh at the end of the experience. Our students as always were just incredible. They were engaged. They were excited. They were having fun with their friends while being serious about it. Um First Commonwealth sent 20 volunteers to help put this on which was just incredible dedication by their organizations want to help young people. They will do it annually. They have a version for the middle school we may look at. Um and uh they were just so impressed with our kids as well. You know, I had these adults coming in from the outside were just so impressed with our the young adults that we have here in this building. Um
019you know, they said we told them what happened when they started. They said they have rarely or never have entire groups that are that engaged and take it seriously, you know, and and had fun while they were doing it and and which was is a part of it. So, um thank you and congratulations to our kids. Thank you to First Commonwealth for providing that experience. And thank you, too. I want to throw one out to Aaron Fenmacher who is a parent here in the district who um she contacted me to extend this opportunity to contact the person. Thank you to Aaron as well for for that contact because I think it work really well if something will continue. >> That's our good news for the season. >> Great. Thank you. Um you're on here again
020for the school calendar. still >> and but congratulations to all of those students for their amazing achievements and much appreciation to the volunteers who help provide those opportunities for our so it's that time of the year to look at the school calendar for the 2627 school year. Um this is how we hand this is generally how we've handled it the last few years is um we put out a sketch of one calendar. We see if there's any kind of feedback at least from the board of if there's other calendars I'd like us to look at. We talk about them a little bit then next meeting we vote. Um so looking at the school calendar looked at for the first is what we call draft day. Uh the first version looks at a first school day
021of August 25th that is starting in that Tuesday block where we have in recent years. um sort of our what has become our traditional schedule um you know with the Friday um September Friday off combination. Um what really gets more interesting is kind of when you get to December. This Christmas falls on a Friday this year. So that sort of changes the way you know we look at that traditionally. Um so the first draft day looks at um full day you know on 22nd but then off 23rd uh through returning on the 4th because January 1st falls on a Friday. Um the we have an early Easter next year you know so looking at that Easter break of Wednesday through Monday. This year we had this 20 uh 52 26 and 24th 25. I think
022we looked at that a little bit differently. some feedback from staff and families was just enjoying well not enjoying not having the Monday off I think right because for the folks that travel they enjoy having the money off but feedback was didn't like the other version I guess um the um you know we did look at putting a flex day which is that you know we have a professional development days that teachers and administrators kind of work on throughout the year and then as long as the you know the uh goals have been achieved then you know actually staff will be there that looked at that in April just because if you take notice with that early Easter, it could be a long April to May. Um so that's that was one change. And then
023um as we have on our agenda this evening approving the graduation date for 2026, I think with some of the flexibility and some change language with the way we report days and hours to the state. Now my recommendation is we just set a graduation date when we set the calendar and we can do our work on the backside and adjust if we need to. Um the number, you know, I got an email from a 12th grader today and I think I appreciated it was like, "Hey, we just want to know when is it?" I said, "What's on the agenda tonight? Um but I think if families know ahead of time, they could plan it. We have a couple uh senior families here. I think they would appreciated knowing earlier." Just with some of those changes
024in PD recently, I think we could just adopt it and adjust going forward. That's true of both calendars. I usually start by saying this. I think school calendars are very important, but I also think that there are varieties that work for different people. I don't think there's a right answer or a wrong answer. Um there's just different qualities or factors that are come down to preference and across a district of any size, even our size, you know, you're going to you're going to find a lot of different opinions and um I think they're all good. They're all valid. It's just picking a calendar and we kind of go from there. So that was the first version. The second version um you know looks at same start dates. Um you'll see sort of a prioritization of
025four day weekends sometimes when we have those opportunities. Um even if it's uh you know a three-day for staff sometimes a four day for a family. Um and uh I think the only other like real change without going day by day is like the sticking with that week leading up to Easter versus the um the other version version A that looked at sort of Wednesday to Tuesday. Um >> isn't it? No, >> Monday, Tuesday. >> It's Easter on the 21st, >> on the 28th. >> Easter's on the 28th. >> Oh, yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yep. So, Easter is either Yeah. Either 29th being off the day after Easter on the draft day, um, or being here at school on the 29th, which is the day after Easter, which again, I said we've done the last
026couple years. I say a lot of people who expressed that they didn't like it, but those who expressed anything didn't love it. But that's kind of the way things go with that. So, um, yeah, no perfect answer. The second date with the additional kind of four days, it does move the last date for students to June 9th versus looking at June 2nd in the first version. There's from here we can either have comments in the discussion or if the board is happy with these being the two versions that are placed on the March event agenda, just vote. That's possible, too. Either ways, either way works for us. >> Start us off. Okay. You're like, "Yeah, I um I was talking to administrators and I asked how having the two weeks off in December impacted. Um
027and if it was really a big impact on the students like coming back like were they like and administrator said it wasn't as bad as she thought it they thought it just gave away." Um she said now she did notice with the teachers they came back way more refreshed having two weeks off it was like um and I don't know as a parent if it's easier for them to get child care um for the whole week if they would have the whole week off what is easier to a parent. I personally would love to see us just have those two whole weeks regardless of where Christmas lands. Um I understand that it's on a Friday. So um that and another reason being the um the Disney trip comes back that Sunday. >> Y >> and
028I know we can't put it make a schedule just because of the Disney kids, but they do come back at like 2:00 in the morning and they're expected to go to school the next day. So that would be the 21st that you would have a big chunk of parents well teachers, students coming backeyed from their travels. So, if we could just I would love to get rid of like to just make it two weeks um at Christmas and get rid of some of these other like random like you had said that Mondays are hard because you have to find child care for that one Monday like as a parent. That's and I truly would hate to be in school until the 10th of June. I don't love that one. So, those are my two thoughts.
029I do remember the last time the Disney trip was we did give a lot of leeway to >> the kids and staff coming back. My simple answer to that is I know I know we like it is common tradition that because it probably somebody at one point said you need to be there the next day like having kids who are just traveled for whatever you know I I don't know >> 12 hours and didn't sleep I don't know I would not say this is a hardline I think that our staff would would have put a lot of that and not um make it a high hard academic data It couldn't be made up for those students specifically if there was an adjustment between but still point. We have staff on those trips. We have families
030who >> I think they asked them to come in at like 10 something. So they can come in late too. >> Try to be nice. >> I definitely am in favor of the first version just because of the end of the school year. That's the only thing that I think is something that I feel strongly about. But the other thing is for consideration with transportation with BCTC. I mean I it's probably not always able to be perfect. We never match up perfectly with BCTC and no matter if we are in school or not, we always run transportation from the building and we've had historically great attendance on those days. Um you that was a first video and um President's Day BCTC was open and then there was some weather they then delayed. So I got
031you know made a call even though we had no school because when we delay that's the that's one of my things when you call a delay that that just bother you sometimes is that BCTC kids don't get school um because they don't go in time but then they got them back. Um so we we've just always we've had good attendance. I mean, it has not been a problem if every given doesn't match up perfectly. Um, and we run the transportation. >> I like Reba's suggestions. I like that nice chunk of time off for the holidays and I would hate for that to impact the end of school pushing that back. I think um two the three things that I typically look at and coming from a you know two parent working family um you know
032I am extremely sensitive to you know most parents are relying on a standard school day schedule and so I am generally um averse to half days. I don't think that they're academically um you know that beneficial for students and I think that they're quite disruptive for for parents. So I think you know even I I do lean towards some elements of you know the version two um you know and again whether it's a three or a 4 day weekend like I I I don't so much care. I think more importantly to me is if we're going to, you know, let's let's not do a half day. Let's either do a full day on a Friday and get the full credit and or that the half days start becoming um challenging from my view. I do
033think that the two weeks off was really nice. I think it's healthy and refreshing for kids and adults to have kind of some time away. Um, and I also think that that spring break, that full week over spring break, um, you know, letting families travel if they like to with, you know, the the two weekends plus that full week important as well. Um, you know, again, just a different viewpoint. you know, when you have two two family uh or two parents working, you know, whether school ends on, you know, the first week or the second week in June for me is is not really a consideration, right? I mean, >> it's a it's a different dynamic for some families. So, um again, I I think there's nice elements to both. Um, but I do leaning
034towards the the full weeks and the full days off and minimizing half days. When we were having our special ed special education plan, >> special education plan meetings, we were talking about those half days that like they they want more time to collaborate with each other. And and I was thinking those half days that we have half day, if we just make it a full day for students, get rid of our half days for students, but have the teachers still come in and give them that half day that they would have had with students to collaborate and be more do more of the, you know, with time to spend with the special that they will get rid of that for parents. I mean, I think what I'm hearing basically is there's like this an in
035between version too, right? Like that, you know, and um yeah, that's the case, we can we can draft a in between version from some of that feedback, put them on the agenda and somebody makes a motion, we vote. >> Fair enough. >> Then we'll bring it back. Uh Can I ask you a question? Do we know the PSA schedule for that far ahead? >> We did look at it. Um I don't have it in front of me, but we looked at it to consider that with the with the principal. So we did >> because it is hard having an entire week of Easter because there's all some learning loss when you have consistent a consistent break. I believe the um I'm pretty certain that ELA testing is the first testing and if the window opens
036on the 26th so we have that right now we have the 23rd of Friday as the flex day we would come back on the 26th and then test start testing on the 27th I think is what we're looking at >> right after break >> uh not break this is it's April because um it's a month after break it's just one day off because it's April not okay the early Easter that's next year >> because the early Yeah. Yeah. >> All right. >> So, we felt like one day wasn't going to, you know, be that much of a problem and we would have a day back on Thursday. So, >> look at it. >> Can I ask what what are the the two half days in March that Thursday and Friday? Yeah, they're they're primarily um
037designed for the end of the second trimester at the elementary schools and they do conference they're conference dates and we have conferences at the at the middle school and high school level but there that it's that time period is chosen because that's after the end of third trimester in second trimester pardon me in the elementary that's why the time period >> could those be get rid of a half day conference and make that whole day a school day and then the next day an off day all day conference >> as a working parent trying to schedule is >> and and I know in the past like trying to get those evening appointments was horrendous sometimes. >> Yeah. So what actually happens there even though we listed on here in this version um the elementary staff
038typically stays like a long day on the Thursday. So like have kids half a day and then have an afternoon conferences and an evening of conferences and then um the kids the half day and then go home like because that's just proven to be better for the parents than you know so we have some of those evenings. Um yeah, I mean it's just if we potentially we can make it a full day, but it you know or not really. I think that does it does start to chip away at that opportunity without getting really funky about it. we just shift to all evening conferences and then like teachers then need a break like just take that whole Friday off and is there >> um I mean >> I don't know I'm trying >> we could
039have we'd have we could have evening conferences everywhere and then Friday would either be a day off for students and just conferences in the morning or it would be you know students go home half day and then teachers go home half day, staff go home half day, too. I mean, those those are options. Um, I will want to play a little bit with um kind of instructional hours at that point. If we start, you know, picking apart, I think it would still be fine. But I could take a look at that and send some feedback to what that would look like. >> Be curious what other districts do though. >> Yeah. >> I think they're more in line with the half days. And >> they are. Yeah. Yeah. I I mean we we appreciate think
040it's valuable to do the evenings you know that long that one long day with variety of schedule but the tradition is most schools are doing those half days um it's how we got it but there's a lot of conversation about school calendars it's happening and you know as I talked about with the graduation dates like we have more flexibility you know we have a committee at just of superintendents but at BCIU that's meeting to talk about different calendar iterations looking into the future so trying to find sometimes like We we have we do everything as a district with the transportation. So like in this example, it's the fourth and fifth coming up for us next week. It's like fifth and the sixth. And in the high school, there's not as many conferences of course as
041there is in the elementary school. And in the middle school, there's not as many, but because of the teaming struct structure like a conference takes up a whole team most of the time. So you have majority of staff involved. The question, you know, do we kind of differentiate some level? Uh it just gets transportation to it. I mean, I think some other options to look at, especially if you try to move towards the the two week December break, you know, making the January weekend not just full day on Friday and then just Monday off, you know, could be a good option there. Um I think the you know for those um the three half days before Thanksgiving as well could certainly be reinvisioned you know in addition to be maybe two full days and then
042you know maybe that is a half day on Wednesday um before Thanksgiving you know something like that as well. So, um, yeah, >> we'll take all of those thoughts and kind of put them into, you know, at least another version and share some feedback on those pieces related specifically the conference days um, and options to approve on March. Okay, >> thank you. Okay, that brings us to the student representative report, Lindsay. >> All right. >> Okay. And board committee reports. Uh we'll start with extracurricular facilities. >> Uh thank you. Um during our meeting, we went uh facilities. We talked about uh realigning the waste collection area and possibly putting up a fence, but after hearing what the price tag of that was, we decided to not move forward with that one. Uh again, we talked
043about the marquee at the high school here. uh we kind of came to a consensus that it might not be worth even fixing that one or replacing it and maybe looking at moving a marquee down to the elementary school at some point in time where it's more visible. Uh under extracurricular we were given the winter postseason update which Mr. Tim Chat went over a lot of that tonight as well too. And then we were given a brief synopsis of the south fall uh field up at the park. Um looking at different avenues of getting it revitalized and in better shape than what it currently is right now. So that's just given some information at that point right now. So and that report thank you. Uh policy and curriculum. >> Yeah. Um there are three items
044that go over all of them are listed in new business tonight. So under item A, it's the proposed 2627 high school course of studies. Uh we had some discussion on some clarifying language which we all received a little followup on that as far as some dual enrollment. And then on the acceleration process, we're basically looking at creating a framework to it could be force acceleration and it could be great acceleration. It's just trying to formalize that. Um, and that's in the process of happening. And there was some board feedback. And then there was also the participation of that uh the post high school plans. They're looking to get a look at a small group of participating students to to kind of look at career readiness planning. Yeah, that's the Burks Business Education Coalition, which is
045an organization that um brings together um business partners throughout Burks County and then provides opportunities for students uh to do some type of career exploration or postgraduate exploration and um always wondering are is BBCSA we would I said on the board there, you know, are we targeting the right areas? Are we using the resources in the right way? So the determination was let's do a little research project. So we we'll have a couple students from the high school and the middle school participating in that research project. I'll be reaching out to small number of families each level to see if they're willing to have their child participated here over the next probably two days. Um and they'll go and sit with some students from a few of our neighboring school districts um throughout the county
046and participate in a um kind of group study. So it's an opportunity to get better and then that concludes my report. >> All right. Thank you. Uh Burks TCC I think there's no um next is BCTC rebutt I realized my very detailed notes in my other works. So I don't have my own words to express what they did what they're up to but the the minutes and all the briefs are in the the language sphere. So people want to know what we talk about that I don't share. So you're always doing great stuff though. Great. >> All right. BCIU Dan. >> There were a couple things that were not worthy. First one, Nancy Burker was she is a KZtown school bus driver here and working with the BCIU and she was recognized as employee of
047the month and I don't know her personally but hearing the high caliber not just person but employee that she is I was definitely impressed with. and uh when she addressed the board, she she said that she expressed it was hard for her to to hear all these nice things because she just really feels like she's just doing her job. And it really, you know, resonated with me. So, I I really want to thank and recognize Nancy. And then they are starting a therapy dog program, which I think everybody just always loves. Invest that around too. It's a golden doodle, but there are opportunities for participating school districts to to have the therapy dog into the building. So, I thought that was great. And then uh oh, this is the I think I shared this last
048year, but this particular to the new board members. I don't know. This was new to me when I first sat on the board. And this is I guess what Christian is good friends with all this state mandates that the districts need to comply with. And then the IU breaks it down into a little checklist. So I do want to send that around just in case anybody's interested probably looking at just a checklist really. But then that was that's it. That concludes my report. >> Thank you. mandates booklet just grows every year and it is I would say always um you know from a legislative standpoint with great intentions but sometimes great intentions the impact not recognizing and you know it some comes down to um there's topics that we are required to have all staff
049members trained on right and some of those are so very important but two it'll it'll pass legislation will say two hours of training annually five hours of training every three years and it's like before you know it there's like hours upon hours upon hours. What we advocate for as a group in that regard is that we ask you know so the state gives us standards right and then we as educational experts get to decide with approval from the board of like a plan of how we're going to deliver those standards how we're going to meet those needs. Can't mandates be the same way. you know say these are things you need to address in your professional health topics and then have us present a plan to do that over x number of years that ensures
050everybody gets that training. Um we feel like we could do that with uh you know better fidelity and higher quality then when it's so many hours it you know it uh reduces the quality to some extent sometimes because it has to get done and uh we always we always get responses from our legislators understand where we're coming from. It's just hard to get things back sometimes and especially when the topics are definitely important topics. There's no doubt about it. So that's just it kind of it also has things like in the Mandy just some um you know requirements that we have uh you know in there is like one that's up the legislative review now at least somebody's proposing changes the requirements to post in a newspaper 24 hours in advance to board meeting. We
051all need to know we need to post in advance of board meeting with newspapers as they close every day, right? Like it's just getting hard to make that relevant to the local communities where there's other places including our websites and distribution lists that way more relevant than the newspaper. But just examples of all kinds of fun stuff that's in Okay. So, PSBA, that's me. Um, we had a liaison quarterly meeting at the end of January. Um, and one of the things that they were talking about a fair amount is just reminding everybody about the opportunities for learning, professional development, engagement, advocacy, all of which are detailed in the opportunities presented on the PSBA website. Um, they also talked about cell phone ban legislation moving forward. um and that they are overall supportive of that but
052with maintaining local control over how that's managed and implemented. Um, they talked a little bit about cyber charter funding and expressed that they believe it's unlikely that there will be much push for additional changes this budget season because we're already so late into it. So, but to expect um to revisit it in 27 or 28 with hopefully more movement that favors districts like ours. Um then they talked about two things that I don't know um if you or Ed has anything to say about these kind of new partnerships. they they really were just on a surface level introducing them to us. So I don't have a lot of information on them. Um but the one is what they're calling PSBA health services which is a partnership partnership with Marathon Health. I guess has these sites
053where um it's in addition to whatever health insurance that we have, but it's supposed to help people get seen more quickly um and you know, focus on preventive care. Um, so it's it's a partnership with with these folks and there's a woman at PSBA who can give a lot more information on it, but it's supposed to help districts manage their bud budgets more effectively, but I don't really understand how that >> happens. I don't know. That's the first I've heard about it. So, I will look I'll reach out to the SBA and find out more. >> Sure. Yeah, I think it's a particular name. Um, and then the other one, this is more Dr. Myers, is this connected PA. Have you heard about that, um, that's a partnership with Diamond Communications. It claims no upfront
054cost, so I don't know what happens with that, but um, it's supposed to identify opportunities to improve connectivity and that sort of thing. >> I'm not aware of that one. talk to Mr. Holland to see if he has any information. It came across his desk. >> Yeah. So, that was that was really the first I had heard of them and it's just brand new, but I don't know. I mean, they're they've created these partnerships with the idea that it can help districts. So, perhaps it's a good idea. >> Um, all right. And that concludes my report and concludes committee reports. So that means we can move to public comment on agenda items. >> There's no comments on agenda items. >> Okay. Then we can move along to number eight new business. And on there um
055we have one through eight personnel. Uh does anybody have any objection to taking those all together? All right. It is the recommendation of the administration that the board of school directors approve personnel items 1 through eight. Do I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Ziggler. >> Secondly, >> roll call, please. >> Jeremiah Light. >> Yes. >> Michael Salisbury. >> Yes. >> Daniel Whitmer. >> Yes. >> Laurel Ziggler. >> Yes. >> Matthew Bigny. >> Yes. >> Aaron Angel. >> Reeba Hoffman. >> Yes. Cecilia. >> Yes. Motion passes. >> Just all personnel are approved pending receipt of all mandated credentials. >> Yeah. And I wanted to take a moment. We do have two retirements on there um for uh teaching staff. First retirement of Lori Chris was a learning school teacher here at the high school.
056This is Lor's 35th year in public education. And Lori is just an incredible leader and human being to work with our students here every day. Um she is going to be missed. Um and uh you know it's just she's just a pleasure to work with in every possible way and have spent a lot of time just talking to her about what you know her thoughts on changes in education over this over the last you know this 10 or 15 years and where she feels there's areas where we we are great and we need to be better right like um so I just appreciate her leadership and uh her thoughtfulness in those conversations that she always shows to her students um and other the other retiree is Kathy Mohler. Kathy Muller for 30 years. Um Kathy
057is an instrumental teacher, music teacher at the elementary level. You know, um if you asked our secondary music teachers and we talked about all this success that we have like define success at the secondary level, it starts with Kathy, right? She is such a foundational person in building the program. um and you know has such an incredible way of being encouraging and accountable at the same time for students. I think that's you know it's a true gift when you can do that and really um inspire kids to just be better, work hard and be dedicated to music. She'll be sorely missed in that music department as well. I bet she will be teaching music to some to kids in this district still in some way after retirement, but just not as a formally as a
058part of her her daily schedule necessarily. So, congratulations to both Lori and Cat. You know, welld deserved retirements very much. >> Indeed, fixtures here. >> All right. Did anyone else want to say anything about those significant or take it on? Okay, that brings us to item B, policy maintenance. Um, is everyone okay if we take these policies all together? All right. Then it is the recommendation of the policy and curriculum committee that the board of school directors approve the following policies for second meeting and adoption and they are policy 918 105.276 2761 122 16204 218.1man second wiz any questions or comments none please Michael Salsbury >> yes >> Daniel Wisner >> yes >> Laurel Ziggler >> yes Matthew Bignyette >> yes >> ankle yes Hoffman Yes, >> Jeremiah Light. >> Yes, >> Cecilia. Passes. >>
059Uh, item C, the 2026 summer school programs. It is the recommendation of the administration that the board of school directors approve the summer programs for 2026 for the attached. Do I have a motion? >> Second, Cman. >> All right. Questions or comment? just summer programs, you know, is then detailed in the attachment, but just to identify what those are. Um, one is extended school year. That is um a program for students with learning disabilities to demonstrate need in retention or recruitment over the summer. So, we offer learning opportunities for six weeks there. Um, if program is required, we get to determine the structure of it. This has we run it as a six week program for a long time. Um, another component of that is just summer school, kind of traditional summer school for students
060who don't pass classes at the high school and middle school. And then the last component is our town's own pause literacy camp. Um, pause literacy camp changed a little bit recent years um because of some change to our partnership university, but that is a district commitment to offering literacy instruction to up to a hundred students that are identified and um invited throughout the summer. It's just a great program. Um we were fortunate to have some of our dedicated staff come in for those mornings again over about approximately six week period. Mrs. Austin is what's that? >> It's about five weeks. >> Fiveweek program. Um and uh say Mrs. Austin she shared comments because she's led it and played an instrumental role at times over the years including last week. Um so >> credit for some
061>> so we it's a great opportunity for for our students um elementary students to stay connected with literacy skills of this >> Daniel Whistler. >> Yes. >> Laurel Ziggler. Yes. >> Matthew Vigny. >> Yes. >> Aaron Angel. Yes. >> Reba Hoffman. Yes. Jeremiah Light. >> Yes. Michael Salsbury. >> Yes. >> Cecilia Hull. >> Yes. Motion passes. All right. Item D, elementary middle school acceleration guidelines and procedures. It is the recommendation of the policy and curriculum committee that the board of school directors approve the following elementary middle school acceleration guidelines and procedures as listed. I have a motion. >> Whismer secondly. All right. Questions or comments on this slide? >> This is for any kid that a parent feels like their kid can do this. It's not just for the gifted program kids. >> That's correct.
062Yes. Yep. >> Warl Ziggler. >> Yes. >> Matthew Beignette. >> Yes. >> Aaron Angel. Yes. >> Rea Hoffman. Yes. Jeremiah. Yes. >> Michael Salsbury. >> Yes. >> Daniel Whisper. >> Yes. >> And Cecilia Holt. >> Yes. Motion passes. Item E, VBEC, student research projects. It is the recommendation of the policy and curriculum committee that the board of school directors approve the following student research project. The career readiness research project that Dan talked to us about from policy and curriculum. I have a motion, please. second comments or questions. >> All right, roll call, please. >> Matthew Bey, >> yes. >> Aaron Engel, >> yes. >> Reba Hoffman, >> yes. >> Jeremiah Light, >> yes. >> Michael Salbury, >> yes. >> Daniel Whismer, >> yes. >> Laurel Ziggler, >> yes. >> Cecilia Holt, >> yes. >> Motion
063passes. Item F, donation. It is the recommendation of the administration that the board of school directors accept with gratitude a donation from Maryanne Lieberman in the amount of $5,000 to the Kutztown all schools musical activity account. I have a motion please. So move Ziggler >> second comments or questions. >> Thank you. This is a you know incredible uh donation. So thank you to Mr. Lieberman. Uh the all schools and musical activities is simply for the musical program for drama. Just we'll go to great news. >> Thank you. I have a roll call, please. Aaron Angel, yes. >> Ruba Hoffman, yes. >> Jeremiah Light, yes. >> Michael Salsbury, >> yes. >> Daniel Whismer, >> yes. >> Laurel Ziggler, yes. >> Matthew Beck, >> yes. >> Celia Holtz, >> yes. Motion passes. And again, many thanks, Mary.
064Um item G, preK child care contingency agreements. It is the recommendation of the administration that the board of school directors approve the emergency contingency plans between Shanaker Daycare Center, St. John's Daycare, and Ptown Area School District for the attached. May I have a motion, please? So move be second comments discussion. >> These are annual approvals um with our friends and partners at Sha Ker and St. John's that if for their emergency planning if they were to be their facilities were be shut down for any emergency that we would work with them to try to house their students and their programs temporarily. may have a roll call, please. Viva Hoffman, yes. >> Jeremiah Light, yes. >> Michael Salsbury, >> yes. >> Daniel Whisperer, >> yes. >> Laurel Ziggler, >> yes. >> Matthew Bea, >> yes. >>
065Aaron Angel, >> yes. >> Cecilia Hull, >> yes. Motion passes. Letter H, graduation date. It is the recommendation of the administration of the board of school directors approved May 28th, 2026 as the graduation date for the class of 2026 with a rain date of May 29th, 2026. May I have a motion, please? >> So second question here. Jeremiah Light, >> yes. >> Michael Salsbury, >> yes. >> Daniel Whismer, yes. >> Laurel Ziggler, >> yes. >> Matthew Bey, >> yes. >> Aaron Angel, >> yes. >> Reba Hoffman, >> yes. >> Cecilia Holt, >> yes. Measure passes. >> Letter I, 2026 27 Pittstown Area High School program of studies. It is the recommendation of the curriculum committee that the board of school directors approve the 2026 needs >> yep >> adjustments there. Um anyway um we are
066to approve the 2026 27 Pittstown area high school program of studies per the attach. I have a motion. So move >> second with >> all right comments, questions, discussion. >> Um I appreciate the clarification document that was put together by Dr. Clicker um regarding the dual credit. Um, so there was a list in there of equivalencies for AP courses and rack courses. And um, so does that mean that any of those AP courses can count as dual credit? So any I mean any AP course will align with a similar rack course or curriculum standard. The factor that varies sometimes is rack also has a standard for what the teacher qualifications are and sometimes their qualification is so specific in what the teacher's master's degree is in that it won't count. that's that's when we run
067into a barrier that's but then there are times where through experience over a few years they'll work with us on those so there there's some of that's outside of our control and that's where anytime an AP is not also eligible to be rack it's because the teacher might have a master's degree in just education versus in specific content sometimes they require maybe they always require it initially but there's times where we're able to demonstrate a history of expertise that they don't accept. I think a better way to put it. >> Okay. Thank anything else on that item. All right. Seeing none. Michael Salsbury, >> yes. >> Daniel Whisperer, >> yes. >> Laurel Ziggler, >> yes. >> Matthew Pñena, >> yes. >> Aaron Angel, >> yes. >> Reba Hoffman, >> yes. >> Jeremiah Light, >> yes.
068>> Cecilia Holton, >> yes. Motion passes. Item J, conference request. It is the recommendation of the administration that the board of school directors approve the conference request for employer number 1992 to attend the QBS safety care trainer conference at March 11th through the 13th, 2026 running PA at a total cost of $3,125.13. May I have a motion, please? So moving coffin discussion questions. >> Yeah, this this two components to it. Uh the safety care trainer conference would certify another one of our teachers to be it's a train the trainer model. So they would be able to do some trainings internally for the QBS safety care program. QBS safety care. There's two major main components to it. first part is just deescalation strategies of being able to recognize where students are getting escalated and also some
069strategies to prevent that from happening. Um and then there's a second component about safely uh maintain maintaining a safe environment when a student might be acting out physically. Um I want to bring up is that you know I would like to thank Ree and Aaron have both been participating on that special education planning uh committee team and it comes up in a lot of the feedback of like basically that we can never have too many people trained in safety care because the deescalation strategies are just good strategies for I've made the point it becomes a joke at some point is like that should be a part of getting your driver's license to prevent road like it's really just good they're good strategies just for recognizing when people are getting escalated and how to one maintain
070composure and then help them maintain theirs. So, um it's we are thankful for employee number 1992 for being willing to participate in the trainer in the train a trainer. >> All right, thanks for that information. Any questions? All right, may I have a roll call, please? Daniel Wismouth, >> yes. >> Laurel Ziggler, yes. >> Matthew Beignette, >> yes. >> Aaron Angel, yes. >> Reba Hoffman, >> yes. >> Jeremiah Light, >> yes. >> Michael Salsbury, >> yes. Cecilia hold. >> Yes. Motion passes. Letter K. Does anyone have any objection to taking these three field trips together? All right. Field trip requests. It is the recommendation of the administration that the board of school directors approves the following outofstate field trip requests and they are the FFA national convention, the rightful team trip and the K ahs
071program Orlando trip. Uh, may I have a motion? >> So, angle >> second discussion, questions. >> All right. Roll call, please, please. >> Laurel Ziggler, >> yes. >> Matthew Bey, >> yes. >> Aaron Angel, >> yes. >> Reba Hoffman, >> yes. >> Jeremiah Light, >> yes. >> Michael Salsbury, >> yes. >> Daniel Whismer, >> yes. >> Cecilia Holton, >> yes. Motion passes. Letter L, BCIU mandated services budget 2026 to 2027. It is the recommendation of the administration that the board of school directors authorize the expenditures of Burks County intermediate units mandated services budget for the 202627 school year at a district cost of 29,22851 as set forth herein. This proposed proposed budget reflects a 3.0 increase 3.0% increase from the previous year. May I have a motion? >> I will second session questions. the uh
072you know just the organization in Pennsylvania having the intermediate units that bring together for us the county some some areas it's it's more than one county there are some mandated services that the state requires that to provide for us and then you know we we work with you on this is that part of the question you >> nothing further we can have a roll call >> Matthew Yes. >> Aaron Engel. Yes. >> Reeba Hoffman. Yes. Jeremiah Light. >> Yes. >> Michael Salsbury. >> Yes. >> Daniel Whisper. >> Yes. >> Laurel Ziggler. >> Yes. Cecilia Holt. >> Yes. Motion passes. >> That brings us to item nine on the agenda. Introduction of new business by board members. >> Yeah. One thing. Um we were uh well, it's pending yet, but we've been reviewing or going to
073review the policy that governs membership. Um, I was wondering if we'd be able to add to that. I don't know if it would be at the same time or not, but also um looking at uh the policy and it's escaping right now, but it's the one that governs the voting at the curriculum level or the um committee level rather. I think the language probably cleaned up a little bit. >> You chair that committee pretty sure I can add it to the agenda. >> We'll add it to the agenda. >> Great. Thank you. >> Anything else? Uh yeah, I'd just like to bring up uh possibly sending out an invitation to all our local supervisors, council members to attend one of our two upcoming budget meetings just to see for them to see how our process
074of putting a budget together and how some of their decisions make an impact on our budget. So I think to have that invitation sent out to all of them. Absolutely. >> Thanks. Anything else? All right, that brings us to number 10, public comment on non-aggenda items. And we have Diana Rzutski here who has signed up. You were missing me one. >> Well, tonight I'm almost feeling guilty here. Not everything you're taking taken care of already, but it's just something that's been in my heart for years, especially since September, and that is making critical thinking part of our goals. You're falling because it was Dr. Fiori years ago where he opened it up and he made a mistake asking the audience what we would like to see in goals and critical thinking was brought up and
075one board member said well how do you do that and is it philosophy and it's not I mean there are programs for it but it's more a very simple attitude you know it's it's asking questions it's teaching kids to distinguish opinions from fact. It is uh teaching kids to evaluate sources. And I think that's really been uh very important right now. You've got AI, you've got this internet, and you have no idea if this stuff is real and sort of starting that process. And it it can be even with elementary kids, you know, age appropriate of course, but starting to instead of avoiding all these scary issues, started addressing them on a if you start addressing them on factual um age appropriate level, I think it helps. you know, when we see when I saw
076what happened in Quaker Town uh this last week, I kept thinking that these young people are getting some misinformation. And I kept thinking they probably don't have that many outlets or haven't discussed more proper outlets for this than to run through town and bash up cars. And I I really feel like that if it's part of our culture that we listen respectfully and our teachers, we have a policy in place about controversial subjects that you need to bring up both sides. And I think our teachers need to be more trained in this. And I'm gonna say I smiled more because last two Fridays ago, we had a we did have an inservice day in the afternoon and the entire secondary staff the entire secondary staff spent a good chunk of that time collaborating on how
077they build critical thinking skills in their curriculum which I thought you know so that was um you know a great opportunity for them for about half the time maybe a little more than half the time we were together that afternoon. Um you know and it's uh Mrs. Gruber is sort of when I look at the elementary students, I think there's tons of examples of where we work on those skills. You can never have too much. I think we both agreed on that. Um, specifically to digital literacy, Mrs. Guber spends, you know, is an expert on working with students on evaluating good sources. Um, I think the larger issue for people today that is not just students, it's adults too. It's it's it is >> you know corporations, algorithms, right? like at some point the only
078information you receive is something that's targeted to you. That's just that's what these products are doing. I think that you know so that that no matter what it is um it could be specifically that I only consume you know standup comedy in social media then that's all I would receive for x amount of time right it doesn't have to be a issue of you know that has sides necessarily so the the powerful nature of algorithmic direct attention to you as a target you being everybody right is so it almost gets to a point where you're not evaluating different sources you're only receiving one stream of whatever it might be, you know, and a lot of kids, we have a lot of kids where that's just sports. Okay. Well, that's, you know, that's fine, of course,
079but as soon as it starts veering into other topics, it gets really challenging for them to discern one thing for another. So, >> exactly. >> Yeah. >> But, you know, like one of the shocking things that I had, I don't want to take up your time too much of your time. Um, but I'm talking to a friend of mine who's had this discussion with her son and he was this man is a West Point bread and he's working in, you know, defense contracting and all this sort of stuff. And yet he gets his news sources from Tik Tok. I mean, seriously, >> I think I think it's the number one source of news in the country right now. >> That's ridiculous. This is such a slanted platform and you know not to have you know
080we pulled the plug six years ago on all this stuff you know and I get you know granted I'm more interested in in um there are certain sources that I trust and so most of mine comes through direct internet stuff and I I listen to FMZ and you know the local sources but I I think especially we have to address it early like um one of the things I've had to survive with some of my my friends that have different political views is yes I understand that this is my opinion and even when they're little kids you know you could have a little um um third grader coming in my mom says Trump's a Nazi well you know the teacher can say, "Yeah, well that that is an opinion and there are people who have
081different opinions and then move on." But it's the validating that different opinions. I mean, we just saw in the last year Charlie Kirk murder because people didn't like what he said. And I think that coming up is what ingrains someone not to automatically believe what they hear. I just I'll share I'll reach out and I'll share some of the um resources and lessons that we do use just with students to try to discern even young students about discerning the digital uh their digital literacy skills and being able to identify those sources. Just for your frame of reference, it was hard. I >> I would love that. But one of the things I'll share that concerned me was a couple years ago when we had this climate uh book controversy, I heard people saying, "But it's
082not controversy. there's just one view. Well, no, there's not. There's a lot of science in other areas. And this is things like this. And this was aimed at seventh graders, you know, uh, sixth, seventh, eighth graders. Um, that's my concern is I don't think, you know, one program here or one program here is going to do it. It's it's a culture of questioning um acknowledging other sources that kind of thing. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> All right, that moves us to 11formational items that are listed here included with the packet. Um item 12 is our upcoming public meetings. Uh so next week on March 2nd we have budget and finance at 7:00 that will be in the middle school. Um and then March 9th we have both policy and curriculum and
083facilities and extracurricular which are at 6 and 7 respectively here in the high school library. And then March 16th is next month's board meeting at 7 o'clock here in the high school. And with that, I will a motion to adjurnn. >> Second.