001All good. I'd >> like to call this meeting to order. Would everyone please rise for a moment of silence? 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, with liberty and justice for all. Like to thank everyone for coming this evening. 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 during the meeting you would like to mention public on an agenda item, please raise your hand to be recognized. After normal business, there's also time for public comment where you can bring up additional issues. This meeting is being recorded.
002There was also an executive session conducted prior to the meeting to discuss personnel matters. Mr. Hus, we have a roll call, please. >> Aaron ankle >> here. >> Michael Hes here. Rita Hoffman >> here. >> Cecilia P >> here. >> Jason Cup >> here. >> Jeremiah here. Dennis Dishes >> here. Daniel Whismer >> here. Laurel Ziggler >> here. >> Olivia Boss, Lindsay Schmeck >> here. >> Thank you. Uh, approval of minutes is the first item on the agenda. So, I'd be looking for a motion to approve the minutes from our October 6, 2025 school board meeting. Pass. Second. Any questions or comments? M. Wolf, please. >> Aaron Angel. >> Yes. >> Michael Hes. Yes. Rea Hoffman. >> Yes. >> Cecilia, >> yes. >> Jeremiah Light, >> yes. Dennis Fishes, >> yes. >> Daniel Whismer, >>
003yes. >> Laura Ziggler, >> yes. >> Jason Cuck, >> yes. Motion carries. >> We can take items four and five. The treasury report A through I and the approval of bills for payment A through G with one motion. So, I'd like motion to approve both the treasures report and the bills for payment. >> So, second >> questions or comments there? Mr. for household clips. >> Michael Hess, yes. Rea Huffman, >> yes. >> Cecilia Hull, >> yes. >> Jeremiah Light, >> yes. >> Dennis Dishes, >> yes. >> Daniel Whismer, >> yes. >> Laurel Ziggler, >> yes. >> Aaron Angel, >> yes. >> Jason C, >> yes. Motion carries. And then we are into the superintendent report. Mr. Happy to share a few items for our superintendent report for October 20th, 2025. Cross country, the boys and
004girls cross country teams both compete at the BCIAA championships 1014 at Kate University. Daniel Kelly meddled by placing uh in 14th place out of 115 runners in Burks County. Lena Kley and Zoe Voluone also qualified for districts among the 2A girls placing 11th and 9th. See their times there 22 minutes and 22 seconds, 22 minutes and 13 seconds. and also Owen McFarland and Egan Su also qualify for the District Three Championship meet this Saturday at Big Spring in addition to Daniel Lena and Zoe. They're going to be down at Big Spring on October 25th. So, congratulations to both teams on a successful season and best of best luck to our runners heading down to Big Spring. the first grade agriculture education unit at Klitztown Elementary School. A second grader last week, second grader Wyatt Keller
005and family brought two of their cows to KES to share with first graders as part of their egg unit. First graders there with Mrs. Moyer are learning the difference between beef and dairy cows and the importance of agriculture in our community. It's a special treat for our Foots Elementary School students. the I know coming up this coming Friday um is the event at Greenwood Elementary School where I think last year Mr. Pile kiss. So that's not exactly what happened last week at KBS, but we'll also have some egg education at Greenwood here over the next few weeks and I hope Mr. P gets the kiss fall fest their fall festival. just a series of senior nights. Uh way too many to read all the names, but on Friday night was the largest of our senior
006nights uh before the football game, including first our seniors from the marching band and their parents. Next up, we have the football football team, seniors and their parents. Also recognized for the cheerleader, senior cheerleaders and their parents. And then uh finally, we had also golf. The golf seniors and their parents recognized Friday night before the game. So, congratulations to all seniors for successful fall seasons and getting the opportunity to celebrate senior night with their families on a beautiful Friday night. Last week, I had the great fortune to attend the Burks Business Education to Ease. There should be one E. um the the 2025 BBEC business education summit that is the second annual where the BBEC brings together educators and business leaders to discuss trends in industry and business and also recognized some students. Our student
007Ryland Shel was recognized for her internship at the Ktown Animal and Bird Hospital hospital with Dr. McMahon McMahon pardon me. Um, Ronald wants to be a zoo veterinarian, still determining where she's going to study, but uh is having a great experience. She spends about half her day over at the Pan Animal and Bird Hospital and has had many interesting experiences um thanks to that opportunity over her internship. So, congratulations to Ryland for being recognized. Thank you to BBC for a fantastic day. And last and and certainly not least, we want this is looking ahead. Um our girls tennis is statebound. According to our coaches, this is the first time that we KZtown girls team is heading to states. So they've had a fantastic season. You know, a great season in in tennis requires um leadership
008at the top of the order and depth throughout. That's that's what our girls have experienced. So, that is tomorrow at 1:00. They will be playing um at the Central PA Tennis Center in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Anything else you'd like to share about that? >> Uh no. Um yeah, I know we're up against the District 4 champion >> Danville. District four champ uh champion Danville. So, I'm sure >> football. >> Okay. How many teams? >> 16 total. >> 16. Yep. you know, so definitely as a district four champion, it'll be a challenge, but we'll have presents the challenge throughout the year. Congratulations and good luck. That's the super we thank you. So, we can go into board committee reports. BCTC soft lot of good stuff happening like always at BTC. They are having their open houses next
009week. Um, I would really love it if we could send out an email to our students letting reminding them about those open houses. I don't think I've seen one yet. Um, they've increased their work based programs. So, that's really exciting stuff. They have 88 kids out now um doing pretty much just going to work instead of of going to school, which is really exciting. Um they're having their um NA their my gosh what's the NTHS the honor society their technical honor society ceremony next week so a lot of our kids there maybe not a lot but there's a couple of our kids from the town you know >> yeah I got put off I think um I think we had in the last superintendent report we had a list students I think >> I'll be
010recognized as always Pretty cool thing to see. We got a bunch of kids placing in the um at the only fair. So, >> all right. Thank you. >> We have eight students. >> Eight students will be entering the National Technical Honor. >> Excellent. I do know I did see a mailer though from that is I'd like to see one from >> course thank you >> DCIU >> thank you Mr. Um there is uh just some information that I thought was worth passing along. Um the IU shared a couple communication letters, draft letters that I passed along to the rest of the board. Just lost it. Um to the Senate and House representatives regarding the state budget and pass. Um I I found out for the first time just how heavily the IU was impacted. um
011because they have uh $125,000 interest payments per month at this point when uh having to cover the the loans in order to keep their their operations going. So, they're impacted a lot more than we are. Um communication included. October 27th, 28th, and 29th was the date. Um that was one that was looked at with hope because both the House and the Senate are in session. Um but the latest communication as far as a possible expectation for that to pass is December. Um officially the act one index or puts down is 3.5%. I think that's it for BCIU. >> Thank you. >> Um we as uh superintendent through doc with Dr. Atkins leadership will be down in Harrisburg next when this when the House and Senate are in session. So hopefully we get some good opportunity
012in facetime with our local legislators who are always very open to conversation um you know about just how important as we've shared here in Kutztown. the way our school district is funded, the budget impact has has minimal impact, but the intermediate units are almost entirely federally or state funded and um it's really really negative. >> Thank you, M. Next, we can go to the PSBA. >> Okay. Thanks. Um we had a quarterly liaison meeting on the 9th. Um, and they talked a lot about the trainings and the workshops that they have both for individual board members and boards as a whole if they want to do any sort of professional development. Um, and then they talked a lot about legislation that they're pushing for to mitigate effects of the budget impass um such as low
013interest loans um really pushing that 990 hours versus the 108 days. talk somewhat first um districts that are really heavily impacted having the option to go virtual to save money running their buildings and things like that. Um and then they also talked about pushing for a state cell ban but giving local control on how that would beed. Um and then they were saying at this point for cyber charter reform that looks more like there will be changes to the formula but not the flat rate. So the formula um there's a a form that we complete annually. It's the PTE 336 >> 363. I may rehearse those numbers. Um we're we we submit to the state our expenditures and our enrollment and um it currently is applied the numbers that are sent from every school district
014are currently applied equally to brick and mortar charters and cyber charters when determining the tuition rate. So what the current negotiations are in Harrisburg are adjusting the 363 so that there's a difference between cyber charter and brick and mortar charter to try to adjust for costs that cyber charters don't incur inherently because they are cyber program. So, um, while that is, you know, any movement on cyber charter reform is good news, a flat rate would certainly be more beneficial to school districts, more predictable, but also I'm not anticipating a change to 363 to see some of the as large of benefit to us as we've talked about throughout the closure process. We were looking at, you know, 400 $500,000 potentially in reduced expenses. I don't think a 363 change is going to get exact numbers.
015We don't really know, but I I don't think that's going to happen. That's the direction. >> And they just emphasized that, you know, keeping in touch with your legislators and sharing actual stories of how any of these issues are impacting your district a lot. That's it. >> Thank you, Miss Shar. um works tax collection >> should have a meeting and review their financials um and discuss whether collections and success with their collection processes. So it's excellent. >> Thank you. >> And then we can go to the extracurricular and facilities committee. Mr. L. >> Thank you. Um, in facilities, we talked about again the track cleaning and repainting of the the lines. Uh, it has last time it was done was 10 years ago. And if anybody's been at any football or soccer games, you can
016see how dirty the track is and how paint the lines are becoming now. Uh, the quote given is 46,500 to clean and repaint the track. Uh, but we did also talk about potentially doing it ourselves with the turf tank. That is possibly. >> It's not, it wasn't a no. We'll say, I'm not going to say we we know we can do it yet, but there's more conversations to be had that there are some new programs and products in terms might be. So, Richard's that's good news, but there will be some costs associated. So um then we talked about and sent to the full board for tonight the purchase of a maintenance utility vehicle or was a gator. Um the last few years Kevin Conrad has been graciously giving using his own personal one and with
017him retiring now the maintenance program no longer has one. Um the upside is we're getting a uh a spray system for it for weed control and also for brine application in the parking lot and sidewalks. Um then we also talked about again the senior parking spaces. Uh have we had any interest in that since >> there's some interest. I think the deadline was just extended until Thursday. Original deadline was today. I think extended Thursday. So there's been some interest. >> We know how many students. >> I I'd heard seven and then I heard four. So I don't know which one of those numbers was accurate. I heard concern was the location of his box. That was the feedback I was hearing that a lot of the students were not as interested because of the >>
018still some bugs to work out I guess for next year. >> Um and then uh under extracurricular we were given um the fall sports update. Some sports have ended, some are still going on as Mr. some chat and said about tonight and then um a new club is presented Dungeons and Dragons. Uh it has zero cost to the district and that's also on tonight's agenda for approval. And that concludes my report. Thank you. >> And then uh Mr. Whismer policy and curriculum. >> Thank you. Um we had kind of a somewhat of a continuation from discussions that started in the community forum that was held a couple weeks ago that Mr. Chhattan organized um which surrounded cell phone use and looks like we're moving towards uh cleaning that policy up and I think we're going
019to have some conversations in the near future on that what that's going to look like what those changes are going to be and there's also some policy maintenance items that are on the agenda for tonight includes my report. Thank you. And then next we have the student representative report Jennings. Okay, good enough. That brings us to public comment on agenda items. >> Dr. Myers, is there anyone online? >> No, there is. >> Is there anyone signed up? Okay, thank you. Then we can move right into new business. Start with a personnel. It is the recommendation of the administration that the board of school directors approve the following personnel items. One through four are listed. Do we have a motion? >> So move right. >> Second hold. >> Any questions or comments? Mr. Holman, >> yes.
020>> Cecilia Holt, >> yes. >> Jeremiah, >> yes. >> Dennis Dishes, >> yes. >> Daniel Whismer, >> yes. >> Laurel Ziggler, >> yes. >> Aaron Angel, >> yes. >> Michael Pess, yes. Jason got Yes. All personnel are approved pending receipt of all mandated credentials. >> And I would just like to say we have two individuals uh leaving the district there Majio for her years service to the music program. Um just invaluable resource and teacher to our students. So wish her wish her the best in kind of next stage of life. Um and Mrs. Heather Olrich as the building secretary up at Quit Center Middle School, you know, really has just an unbelievable wealth of knowledge, an incredible amount of patience and um the source of just about anything you might possibly need in that middle
021school. Zolich, uh she has been, you know, such such a great value to the middle school, but happy for her again coming next thing. All positive people leaving makes us sad but all for good reasons. It's great to think. >> Very good. Thank you. We can move to B policy maintenance. So we can take unless there's any objection. We take one through four together. And it is the recommendation of the policy and curriculum committee that the board of school directors approve the following policy for first reading. One through four listed there. Do we have a motion? >> So moveman. Any questions or comments? >> Roll call, please. >> Cecilia, >> yes. >> Jeremiah Lake, >> yes. >> Dennis Udishious, >> yes. >> Daniel Whismer, >> yes. >> Laurel Ziggler, >> yes. >> Aaron Angel, >>
022yes. >> Michael Hex, >> yes. Rea Hoffman, >> yes. >> Jason C, >> yes. Motion carries. C is bilingual speech language services. Is the recommendation of the administration of the board of school directors approve the agreement with Stephanie Ruiz, independent contractor for bilingual speech and language services for the 2025 2026 school year for the attached. Do we have a motion? >> So second any questions or comments? >> Is this a normal rate for this kind of work? Um and what are the credentials that are needed for this kind of work and did we shop around for a better rate? I >> mean this is within the range of rates uh that you know it's there's a it's a high demand. Um and the alternative services that we have there are some I don't know how
023you want to call them less personal services that we can use at times or or some we'll say uh translation services don't need that personal touch but we find that having um these individuals available when we do need that personal touch it's worth that value. We only use translation services, right? I don't want to put a number. I don't know how many times a year we do, but it's it's a relatively small number because we're fortunate to have some translators within the building that will help with, you know, sort of the average parent meeting, whether some of our staff are bilingual. So, um I don't know, and I'm looking at Dr. Myers. I'm not sure if we had shopped around specifically, but we this is a trusted source for, you know, some of those more
024personal meetings that are necessary. >> Yes. And actually we probably all use this for services. So those types of meetings try those things. Um so this this contract most likely it's one of those things we have a like a menu of options at times and what's approachable to the situation. Similar to what we do with nursing, we if we have a contract with GHR, we use that service. So there's another option to save a little bit of money transl. Any other questions or comments? Mr. House, please. >> Jeremiah Lake, >> yes. >> Dennis Bishious, >> yes. >> Daniel Whismer, >> yes. >> Laurel Ziggler, >> yes. >> Aaron Angel, >> yes. >> Michael Hes, >> yes. Rea, >> yes. >> Cecilia, >> yes. >> Jason C, >> yes. Motion carries. D is travel accident insurance.
025It is the recommendation of the administration that the board of school directors approve the purchase of 24-hour AD and D travel accident insurance effective January 1st, 2026 through December 31st, 2026 from the Pennsylvania School Board Association Insurance Trust partnered with the Credential Insurance Company of America for the following employees at an annual cost of $32 per person. The employees are listed there for your review. I'd be looking for a motion to approve the travel accident. Second pass. >> Questions or comments? >> Mr. House, please. >> Dennis Dishes, >> yes. >> Daniel Whismer, >> yes. >> Laurel Ziggler, >> yes. >> Darren Angle, >> yes. >> Michael Hes, yes. Rea Hoffman, >> yes. >> Cecilia Hall, >> yes. >> Jeremiah Light, >> yes. >> Jason Cuck, >> yes. >> E is maintenance utility vehicle. It is
026the recommendation of the facilities committee that the board of school board of directors approve the purchase of the John Deere Gator from Deer Country Farm and Lawn at a cost of 19,375.91 further attached. We have a motion. >> So move second questions or comments Mr. Hold. >> Daniel Wisner, >> yes. >> Laura Ziggler, >> yes. >> Aaron Angler, >> yes. >> Michael Hesa Hoffman, >> yes. Cecilia Hul, >> yes. >> Jeremiah Lake, >> yes. >> Dennis Udishious, >> yes. >> Jason C, >> yes. Carries. F is Dungeons and Dragons Club. It is the recommendation of the extracurricular committee that the board of school directors approve the creation of the Dungeons and Dragons Club for students in grades 6 through 12th at no cost to the district. Do we have a motion? Second, >> questions or
027comments? Mr. Copus >> Laurel Ziggler. >> Yes. >> Aaron Angel. >> Yes. >> Michael Hesa Hoffman. >> Yes. >> Cecilia Hall. >> Yes. >> Jeremiah like >> yes. >> Dennis Judicious. >> Yes. >> Daniel Whismer. >> Yes. >> Jason K. >> Yes. Motion carries. >> Congratulations. Did you have a good amount of bit of interest? >> Yeah. I I I I was concerned about like the sort of camp during like the during like the early days of D and D where people thought that was demonic. >> Oh well, I hope you enjoy it. the CLS and you get as well >> because that would have been a problem because like >> there's a I shared in the committee meeting there's a right on 61 South now outside of Oringsburg somebody's building a brand new facility
028catered towards uh D and D people playing it. Are you familiar with it at all? >> We have not heard of it yet. Yeah, I don't think it's open yet, but uh it's under construction and that's that's the the market they're shooting for. >> Yeah, we've also got some um support being offered by some of the local businesses uh for this. >> Awesome. >> And uh I've been getting as I've been putting the word out, uh we have been getting a lot of interest. Uh I think there's uh this is going to be a positive outlet for uh a lot of the kids that are drawn towards this uh more than some of the other than many extracurricular activities. So we thank you for the >> very good point. >> Thanks for bringing it forward.
029>> Uh G is the KASD education foundation mini grant donations. It is recommendation of the administration that the board of school directors approve the donations for the KASD education foundation for teacher mini grants for the attached. Do we have a motion >> move? >> Second. Leslie, >> any questions or comments? Just want to thank the education foundation for their continued support and for offering this outlet for teachers to um innovate in their classrooms. And also just side note, the Education Foundation hosted a really nice 25th anniversary event on Saturday evening up at CJ Hummel celebrating 25 years of supporting Ktown Area School District students. Thank you to the leaders, current and uh past leaders of the education foundation. >> Yes, they do excellent work. Thank you very much. Um and we'd be looking for a
030roll call. Mr. >> Aaron Angel, >> yes. >> Michael Hes, yes. Hoffman, >> yes. >> Cecilia Holt, >> yes. >> Jeremiah Light, >> yes. >> Dennis Dishes, >> yes. >> Daniel Wrath, >> yes. >> Laurel Ziggler, >> yes. >> Jason Cut, >> yes. Motion carries. H is employee agreement. It is the recommendation of the administration that the board of school directors ratify the employee agreement with employee 1953. We have a motion. >> So move second. >> Any comments on the employee agreement? Mr. Hus. >> Michael H. Yes. Rita Hoffman. >> Yes. >> Cecilia Hul. >> Yes. >> Jeremiah Lake. >> Yes. >> Dennis Dishes. >> Yes. >> Daniel Whismer. >> Yes. >> Laurel Ziggler. >> Yes. >> Aaron Angel. Yes. >> Jason cut. >> Yes. Motion carries. >> I is introduction of new business by
031board members. Are there any board members with new business this evening? >> Okay. Then nine is public comment on non-aggenda items signed up. Dr. Myers. >> No, there is none. >> Okay. 10formational items are listed there. um 11 upcoming public meetings and dates. On November 3rd is our next workshop meeting at 7:30 here in the high school library and by Zoom. The 10th we have the policy and curriculum uh meeting followed by the facilities uh and extracurricular uh meeting 6 o'clock and 7 o'clock here in the library and by Zoom. And then our next monthly meeting is November 17th at 7:30 here in the high school and by Zoom. Without looking for a motion to adjourn. So,