001Call this meeting to order. Would everyone please rise for a moment? 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 uh to thank everyone for coming this evening. Uh there's a log in the front. If you haven't done so, please sign in. 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'd like to mention something on an agenda item, please raise your hand or you're recognized. After the normal business, there's also time for public comment where you can bring up additional issues. This meeting is being recorded. We'll also announce there was an
002executive session conducted prior to the meeting to discuss personnel matters. With that, Mr. Hus roll call, please. Aaron Angel here. Michael Hes here. Rea Hoffman here. Cecilia Hol here. Jason Cup here. Jeremiah Light here. Dennis J. Dishes here. Daniel Whismer here. Laurel Ziggler. Lucas Hoffman here. Joselyn Denbomb. Thank you, Mr. Rice. Uh, the first item on the agenda is the approval of minutes. Uh, we have both we have A and B there. Uh, A is April the April 21st, 2025 school board meeting and B is April 28th, 2025 budget and finance committee meeting. Do we have a motion to approve of those meeting minutes? Second. Any questions or comments on those? Mr. Aaron Angel. Yes. Michael Hes. Yes. Rea Hoffman. Yes. Cecilia Holt. Yes. Jeremiah Light. Yes. Danny C. Bishious. Yes. Daniel Whismer. Yes. Laurel.
003Oh, sorry. Jason C. Yes. Motion carries. Forest. Communications and reports. Mr. Til Chatton. Superintendent report. Yeah. Thank you. A few items to share. Good news. It is a busy time of the year here in school as it's May. Um just think it is it feels like every day two days pass when you hit May in the school year but it's a very exciting time. Um first I would like to congratulate Josh Bridges and Miranda Gant Antonio. Last week I was fortunate to attend a recognition ceremony at KZtown University. Josh and Miranda were recognized as members of the inaugural class of the Kutztown University Early College Academy. Um this year was the early college academy for education where during their senior year they were able to earn 12 credits um in the college of education at
004Kutztown University using that high school time. It's an exciting ceremony with 38 students who uh completed the program in year one. In year two, also excited for year two, there's an expansion of the program to include the early college academy for general studies for students who are not interested in education but want to attend university and earn up to 12 credits um during their senior year in general studies across different disciplines. So, congratulations to Josh and Miranda. It's an exciting was an exciting opportunity. They took advantage of it and the trailblazers. We are we right now anticipate having up to five students in the early college academy next year at KZtown University. So congratulations to both Josh, Miranda, and their families. Next up, uh it's Kutztown softball. Every year this time of the year, we
005are celebrating just a fantastic team in Kutztown softball. They are the Burks County Athletic Association Division 3 champions, 11 and0 in league play, 17-3 overall. The BCIA quarterfinals are Saturday, May 10th. Time and place will be confirmed. Looks like Lions Field time and and location will be confirmed later today, this evening, I believe. Um the quarterfinals listed. the quarterfinals listed at 519 at Kutztown Park on May 19. Um, pardon that. The last week, Brianna Voucher uh earned her 300th career strikeout versus Randy W taking the DK for the photograph. There's been quite a few pictures like that all by DK with that group of seniors. Um, we just reload, but this class just had, you know, it's a little bit of a larger class going through softball. They've played in a lot of high stakes
006games and they've played behind a lot of strikeouts by Brandon. So, congratulations to her and congratulations to the team. Looking forward to a deep run both in counties, districts, states. Also, the high school track team and individuals continue to um have a successful season there. We have pictures of both teams, but this week at the Shainer meet in Y missing, Clara Engel placed first in the triple jump. Jimmy Underuffler third place in the triple jump and Riley Dernstein first place in Javelin. Just some fantastic individual performances. Uh many other great performance for those three stood out first, second or third places. They are preparing for counties coming up this week and also expecting to see some success in the districts and states from from the track team. Congratulations to all. And uh last but not
007least, just this is um nationally it is uh teacher appreciation week, staff appreciation week here in Kutztown and we are just grateful for the time, talent and dedication of our staff who work with teachers every day. Um we spend a lot of time here uh working with the board working you know through the business operation the governance operation of schools but the magic that happens every day in our classrooms in our halls and in our schools with the individuals who work with our students that's what we do this for and uh grateful to all of our teachers and staff for their dedication. Yes. Thank you to all you all. Thank you. Thank you Christian. Uh, student representative report. Um, I'm not sure I have anything for tonight. Um, oh yeah, there there's a lot happening.
008There's not like a specific thing. I mean, prom's happening this Friday. Um, everybody's looking forward to that, of course. Um, the track season pretty much just ended for most of the students. Uh, you are going to districts and counties. Um, and yeah, it's just this week's going to be pretty hectic. We have AP tests coming up. I know tomorrow there's quite a few. Uh, so yeah, end of year coming up, so it's just getting pretty busy, but that's that's basically it. Thank you. Less than a month left. How many days are left? I don't even know. Maybe two weeks. Haven't started counting down yet. Yeah, it's three weeks for seniors and really four weeks for Thank you, Mr. Five is public comment on agenda items. Greg Ashelman. Thank you. Uh Greg Ashelman and Preston Ashelman.
009Uh we represent Ashman Transportation. Um we've been your transportation provider for the last 15 years. Um and I just want to thank you for that opportunity. U on behalf of myself, my family, and all of our staff and all of our drivers. Um I understand what the recommendation is of the administration is to end our relationship and go with other transportation provider. Uh I'm disappointed that we can work something out. Um I but again I thank you all um for we've come to you um it's been a rough couple years with co and everything. You supported us and you um you have supported all of our employees. U I guess that's what I got to say. Thank you. Thank you. Appreciate it. Dr. Myers, is there anyone online? Not for an agenda item. Then we
010can move into new business. First item listed as a personnel. It is the recommendation of the administration that the board of school directors approve the following personnel items. Uh one through eight are listed there. Do we have a motion? Coffman second. Motion will be second. Do you have any questions or comments? Mr. We have a roll call, please. Michael Hes, yes. Rea Hoffman, yes. Cecilia Holt, yes. Jeremiah Light, yes. Dennis Dishes, yes. Daniel Wisner, yes. Aaron Angel, yes. Jason, yes. Motion carries. All personnel is approved. Defending receipt of all mandated credentials. Item B is the KDA collective bargaining agreement. It is a recommendation of the administration that the board of school directors approve the two-year contract with the Kudson area teachers association effective July 1st, 2025 through June 30th, 2027 for the attached. Do we
011have a motion? So move second. Motion a second. Do we have any questions or comments on the uh collective bargaining agreement? All right. Um I'll just say I appreciate uh the time that the Kada negotiations team put into the negotiation and the collaboration and just the work towards a resolution um is beneficial um to the school district as well as I hope to teachers you. So I appreciate your time. Thank you. And likewise, sometime it's difficult conversations sometimes from different perspectives, but we appreciate you willing to continue having those conversations and find something that's mutually beneficial. [Music] Thank Mr. Roll call, please. Rea Hoffman, yes. Cecilia Hull, yes. Jeremiah Light, yes. Dennis Dishes, yes. Daniel Whismer, yes. Aaron Angel, yes. Michael Hess, yes. Jason Cup, yes. Motion cars. I just I just want to also
012extend you know as a part of that uh negotiations I had the great fortune to spend a lot of time you know in our meetings with both sides um and just grateful to everyone involved for the collaborative approach to you know finding a resolution that both honors and reflects the respect and gratitude for the teachers in this community you know while also understanding the circumstances and budgetary challenges that we have here in Quztown right now. um just being in that room again being in the room to have those conversations I leave with just an unbelievable amount of gratitude and admiration and trust for the leadership groups of both parties and that's uh feels good to be a part of a team like that when you know when it works out. So thank you to everyone
013involved. Thank you Christian. Okay then item C is policy maintenance. It is recommendation of the policy and curriculum committee that the board of school directors approve the second reading and adoption of the following policies. uh A through G are listed there. I think that we can take them all together. Does anybody have unless somebody has an issue with that? Okay, then um I'd be looking for a motion A through G. I move second. All right, we have a motion in a second. Does anybody have any questions or comments? Cecilia Holt? Yes. Jeremiah Light? Yes. Disguises? Yes. Daniel Whismer. Yes. Sorry, I figured it. Aaron Angel. Yes. Michael Hass. Yes. Hoffman. Yes. Jason Cup. Yes. Motion carries. D is the River Rock Services Agreement. It is the recommendation of the administration that the board of school
014directors approve the contract for purchase secondary student services and elementary services with River Rock Academy for the 2025 2026 school year further attached. So move second. Motion second. Any questions or comments? Roll call, please. Jeremiah. Yes. Dennis, yes. Daniel Whismer, yes. Aaron Angel, yes. Michael Hes, yes. Rea Hoffman, yes. Cecilia Holt, yes. Jason, yes. Motion carries. E, is the River Rock alternative education agreement. It is a recommendation of the administration that the board of school directors approve the alternative education for disruptive youth act 48 program agreement for services with River Rock Academy LLC per the attached. Do we have a motion? So second question to you any questions or comments on that one? All right, you can you're already down. All right, then we'll talk, please. Dennis Udishious. Yes. Daniel Whismer, yes. Aaron Engel, yes.
015Michael Hes, yes. Rea Hoffman, yes. Cecilia Hulk, yes. Jeremiah Lake. Yes. Jason, yes. Motion carries. F is the new story services agreement. It is the recommendation of the administration that the board of school directors approved a tuition agreement with new story schools in accordance with the schedule A rate sheet attached. Do we have a motion? Second. Motion second. Do we have any questions or comments on the new story agreement? Just referencing D through F. These are all standard agreements for you know it's times we have students in the district who need services beyond what we can offer within our buildings either at all or within a reasonable amount of efficiency for students for the number of students that we might have. So these are agreements with long tight partners river and new school to meet
016the the needs of good questions. All right then roll please Daniel Wisner. Yes. Aaron Angel. Yes. Michael Hes. Yes. Reba Hoffman. Yes. Cecilia Hull. Yes. Jeremiah Light. Yes. Dennisy Dishes. Yes. Jason Cut. Yes. Carries. G is the IMR digital records. It is the recommendation of the administration that the board of school directors approve the quote from IMR digital for electronic special education student records conversion for the attached. Do we have a motion? I'll move to second. Right. Any questions or comments? Roll call, please. Aaron Angel, yes. Michael S, yes. Rea Hoffman, yes. Cecilia Holt, yes. Jeremiah Light, yes. Dennis Dishes, yes. Daniel Whismer, yes. Jason C, yes. Motion carries. H is the sale of van. The administration requests approval to sell via municip van number 16 a 2011 GMC 3500 Savannah van with an excess
017of 26,000 mi to the highest bidder. This van was replaced with the current year purchase of van 24 for daily transportation of students. Do we have a motion? So move second. Any questions or comments? Mr. Full publish. Michael Hes. Yes. Hoffman. Yes. Cecilia Holt. Yes. Jeremiah Light. Yes. Dennis. Dishes. Yes. Daniel Whismer. Yes. Aaron Angel. Yes. Jason C. Yes. Motion carries. Next, we have the Frasier agreement. It is the recommendation of the administration that the board of school directors approve the 5-year lease agreement with Frraasier for district-wide managed print services. leased multi-function devices and printing technologies. The new lease is $28,812.20 per year, which represents a $19980 yearly deduction in the cost. Do we have a motion? Second, we have any questions or comments on the furniture agreement? we're able to reduce the cost slightly
018just by evaluating use in the district. Um you know then with our move of the administration of the middle school we're able to reduce the devices after living through appreciate Mr. Hoffman's work and doing that evaluation. Excellent Hawkman. Yes. Cecilia. Yes. Jeremiah Light. Yes. Dennis Udishious. Yes. Daniel Whisper. Yes. Aaron Angel. Yes. Michael Pes. Yes. Jason Cup. Yes. Motion carries. J is the BCIU transportation contract. It is the recommendation of the administration that the board of school directors approve the 5-year contract with the Berke County Intermediate Unit for transportation services effective July 1st, 2025 through June 30th, 2030 for the attached. Do we have a motion? So move. Second. Do we have questions or comments on the BCIU transportation? Just like you know Mr. Ashman's point. Um thank you. You know Ashman has been a
019great partner for us in providing safe caring transportation for our students for the last 15 years. Um you know we with the contract up you know do an evaluation of all available options you know for the sake of our budgetary needs and um the way this will worked out and that BCIU was able to offer us a more competitive cost but I'm grateful for Mr. Ash himself and and the time of the drivers taking care of this. Thank you Christian and again thank you Mr. ression that we all reiterate that say with gratitude. We'll be around for a while. Very good. Mr. House, roll call, please. Cecilia Hall, yes. Jeremiah White, yes. Disious, yes. Daniel Whismer, yes. Aaron Angel, yes. Michael Hes, yes. Rea Hoffman, yes. Jason C, yes. Motion carries. Okay. is the debt
020restructuring resolved. The board of school directors of the Clutztown Area School District hereby approves the adoption of the attached resolution authoring the issuance of one or more series of general obligation bonds and notes in the maximum aggregate principal amount of not to exceed uh 23 million to finance various projects of the school district. and B the execution and delivery of uh one a bond and note purchase agreement from Raymond James and Associates Incorporated for the purchase of the bonds and notes on the terms and conditions established in the resolution. Two, an addendum to such bond and note purchase proposal which will be delivered by Raymond James and Associates appropriated upon the final pricing of each series of bonds and notes. and three such other agreements, certificates, instruments, and documents necessary in connection with the issuance
021of the bonds index subject to the review and approval of such agreements, certificates, instruments, and documents by bond council to the school district. Do we have a motion? I'll move second. Motion second. Do we have any questions or comments? This was a planned restructure going back to um late summer, early fall when this fall is initially was initiated. Um looking at the timelines, this allows us to drop our debt service payment in the short term without extending the life of the debt any further. Um this debt, all of our debt, they say this debt, it's really a series of restructures that go back many, many, many years. um it extends out to 204 before this approval restructure or after this this restructure. Um again, this switch was just part of the plan where essentially allowing
022the district to have up to $15 million for some of the work that we know is necessary over the next few years uh for our capital infrastructure. The first of which 4.7 million was approved recently. to do HVAC upgrades the middle school this summer. Great. Thank you. Any other questions or comments? All right, hearing nothing else on the roll call, please. Mr. Jeremiah Light, yes. Dennis Dishes, yes. Daniel Whismer, yes. Aaron Angel, yes. Michael Hes, yes. Rea Hoffman, yes. Cecilia Hulk, yes. Jason C, yes. Motion carries. And then L is cyber charter reform resolution. It is the recommendation of the administration that the board of school directors adopt the cyber charter funding reform resolution supporting the establishment of a statewide cyber charter school tuition rate for the attached. Do we have a motion? So move
023second. Pass. Motion and second. Any questions or comments on the cyber charter reform resolution? Topic we we discuss very frequently. Um the it's over 20 years that the same structure for cyber charter funding has been in place in Pennsylvania and the well charter school funding pardon me has been in place in Pennsylvania. But the rise of of cyber charters and the excessive cost to the district when one of our residents decides to send their child there. We're seeing these cyber charter schools build up massive fund balances um where you know the cost the cost of the district outweighs what they're spending on the child. So bringing some a common sense reform is a he priority for us in public education for cyber charter costs. This resolution would then be sent to our legislators to the
024reser reform looking to set a citywide rate at approximate well not to exceed $10,000 as the base for regular education. If that rate were to be set, it would save the district um projected $520ome, thousand dollars in 2526 and that would be an annual savings which is just a massive impact to our budget. Again, that is really just going into the fund balances. Very good. Um, in addition, I'll say, you know, if this is adopted, it will be posted on the website along with some additional information um that can be copy and pasted into a form letter and sent to legislators by by any of our residents. Thank you. Any other comments by members? Mr. Roll call, please. Dennis, yes. Daniel Whismer, yes. Aaron Angel, yes. Michael Hes, yes. Rea Hoffman, yes. Cecilia Holt, yes.
025Jeremiah Light, yes. Jason C, yes. Motion carries. M is introduction of new business by board by board members. Does any board members have new business this evening? Okay. Seven is public comment on non-aggenda items. Have nobody signed up here. Dr. is pastor's online. Pastor Ritter Pastor Ritter, you're currently muted on your end. Thank Thank you. I saw that. It was a unusual location. All right. Thank you. They move it on you every time. Just just to make Thank you. Um I want to just speak for a few moments. We residents of the Kutztown Area School District have an important decision to make on May 20th, primary election day. It is to vote yes or no on a proposition that will be on the ballot to raise our property taxes 10.63% for the 2025 2026 school
026year. It is a decision that has fallen to us as taxpayers not because of a spend happy administration but because of the failure of a board majority over the last three budget years to raise taxes at least somewhat in those years. In addition, a tax court decision significantly reducing the assessment of the major employer in the district and other surrounding districts worsened the failure of the board to govern with some foresight. because I will not be in town on election day. I have already cast my vote and am willing to admit and share that I have voted yes um and encourage fellow um citizens to also vote yes because a no vote will have serious repercussions for our children. First, it will force our district to lay off staff for faculty and largening class sizes
027and reducing educational offerings currently available to children in our district's care. Second, it will reduce the academic achievement levels for many of our students because there will be less staff or faculty to assist them when they have a problem of one kind or another. Third, it will only kick the proverbial can down the road like the current and past board sought to do by failing to enact reasonable tax increases when they could have. You can pay me now or you can pay me later is a saying that holds all too true. It will ensure that a district that has perennially rated academically among the highest in our county and region will descend into a time of mediocrity. Not because of our administration, faculty, quality of our staff or students, but because we, the taxpayers, failed
028to step up when it mattered the most and do the hard and right thing by voting to raise our property taxes. As some of you may know, uh I was a former member of our school board until December 1st, 2023 and sat on two of those boards that um should have raised taxes but did not. Um the majority chose not to. Um in addition to many factors, not the faculty or anything else as far as salaries because we've not been overpaying anybody. um prices, inflation, all of that have caused us to come to a very difficult time in the life of our district along with the fact that our student population no longer is decreasing. Unfortunately, a majority of the board disagreed with those of us who felt a tax increase was needed um in
029two previous um budget cycles. And last year, the individuals who made the decision did not raise the taxes the full amount they could have. On May 20th, primary election day, we, the electors of the Kutztown Area School District, will have the opportunity to correct their shortsightedness. Don't neglect your chance to care for the children entrusted to our school district and do the hard thing. Vote yes on the proposition to raise our property taxes 6 10.63%. 63%. The future of our district's children and of our various communities lie in the balance. Thank you very much. Thank you, Dr. Ritter. Thank you for your comments, Dr. Ritter. Just want to share um Wednesday this week we will post and send out in our link on our social media update numbers related to uh figures related to the
030referendum and um associated tax increases if there are is not this referendum is not passed similar to what we've provided at recent budget finance committee meetings. Um but as you know you know we can follow board agendas and anytime any series of approvals uh can have a significant impact on that. So there's some will be some updated numbers even from last Monday's meeting that we will share as our formal communication in advance the district's final and formal communication in advance of the election day. Thank you Christian. And and again, I mean, I'd like to thank the teachers association again for putting us in a position that I it is my opinion that we'll be able to balance uh the budget without incurring a 10.6% tax increase. Um then uh number eight isformational items. Um okay.
031Is is there any reason that the board did not choose or the administration chose not to have any town hall meetings on times other than Monday evenings around this matter? Uh I mean we didn't we had a request last year just to make it clear that um the rules of the budget and finance committee meeting are regularly a town hall where we will uh question and answer to the extent possible. Um, honestly, we didn't have any requests to hold them at different on different evenings. Um, we certainly, you know, could have and that's something to consider into the future. That's just, as you know, that's our meeting night that everybody has on their calendar and we stuck to it. So, it it didn't come through as a request from anyone. We just we did want
032to honor the idea that all of our budget and finance committee meetings are what we consider a town hall style, which basically just means we forego some of the public comment requirements or procedures of a board meeting and we'll do a question response in real time for the best possible. I my concern is just that for something as serious as this, it would have been nice to have an option of another night or two because some of us do have obligations on Monday evenings. Thank you. All right, then eight is in uh Dr. Anybody else online? There is not. All right. Thank you. Eight isformational items. They're listed there A through G. Nine, we have upcoming public meetings and informative dates. Uh May 12th, we have the policy and curriculum committee meeting at 6 PM
033in the high school and by Zoom, followed by the facilities and extracurricular committee meeting at 7 o'clock here in the high school and by Zoom. Wednesday, May 21st, we'll have our next uh school board monthly meeting that was rescheduled for Monday. Uh at 7:30 here in the high school and by Zoom. And then May 27th, uh Tuesday, we will have our budget finance committee meeting. Uh that's Tuesday. That's after Memorial Day. Yes, I guess Tuesday after Memorial Day. That's at 7:00 in the middle school commons and by Zoom. Um, with that, I'd be looking for a motion for a German