Here, Mrs. Sicker here, Mr. Singer, yeah. 8. Present. One. Absent.
Okay, thank you. Please rise. If you're able to join me for the pledge of allegiance
2 to 5. The United States of America, and to the Republic.
So we should stand one nation with liberty, and just as well
Thank you.
Onto, item, one d. Approval. Approval of Board of Directors.
Agenda, I have a motion to approve. The January 20, third, 2,023, Board of Directors agenda. So moved, Lindsey drew second. Maria Mammy is the ready discussion
This is a standard voice voice. Vote all in favor. Say aye, opposed, nay, the motion carries.
Thank you. And so item number 2, information and proposals.
First is students of the month. Recognition. Chris Smith, Ms. Schmidt.
Good evening, school board, directors, administration students, family members and community members.
It is an honor and a privilege to again stand before you as the principal of Hershey High School, and recognize our January students of the months on behalf of the students and the staff at the High School.
I would like to thank the School Board for taking the time to recognize some of the most incredibly talented students.
We will all have the opportunity to engage with. I would also like to thank the Rotary Club, who we actually today got to celebrate the students at a beautiful luncheon, and I know that all of us enjoy the opportunity to step outside of the cafeteria and have a lovely catered lunch
So thank you to the rotary it continues to be amazing to hear all of the accomplishments of our students, and these 2 that I'm going to introduce tonight continue to impress the high School staff as well as myself and the rotary.
So it is my honor and privilege to introduce our first student of the month, Rachel Lindsay
Hello! Everyone.
I would like to thank
I also want to get through
Appreciate.
I'm also a violinist. It also is closer orchestra than routine.
Orchestral festival
Yeah, school. Recognition. Obviously. , yes, truly, above all, continuing to give back to the community I was president of math honor, society.
I work to create opportunities for soon to receive free math today. And I take great joy.
Metro students, that your high school really approved I also put take in planning donor drives for those need throughout the Central Pennsylvania as best as an upcoming.
This year in particular, I've been volunteering at the Hershey medieval center, where I get the chance to convers an olderly.
Zoom company. During their hospital space, however, my favorite service project has always been through the science for all of these past 4 years, as I've corroborated the monthly program at the Hershey Public Library, where we provide satisfaction activities and lessons for elementary school students I always enjoy seeing
About the way that the heart works, for the reasons behind the weather.
Unfortunately we were unable to hold in person sessions.
A few years ago, but at the time I was excited to contribute to some
Website, we were still able to provide India demonstrations and ex experiment instructions.
That students could watch for. No, in fact, we get the chance to connect with parent other school teachers into their lessons, their students during size class.
To me. However, we can then the chant is arise.
We can always find creative solutions to bring our communities back together.
After graduation, I'm trying to attend the University of Pennsylvania in order to study Hampstead and eventually become a position through my studies.
Theitions, working with role plans of scientific research, developing and improving medical technologies, increasing kind of accessibility.
I would also like to continue to contribute to a culture of serving our community. You're on high school, thank you.
Would you like me to wait? Okay, now, my pleasure and honor to introduce our second student of the month Reginald, or, as we like to call him, Reggie Chen
Oh, my! I'm a senior at Fisher High School, and I'm one of the January students at home.
A little bit about what I do outside the classroom.
2 clubs that have been particularly meaningful to me.
Besides as follow the people there, and have during those clubs this middle school a bit ago, also did some research on the site for some exposure which is fun.
Who is that? Back to my community? I'm in a few service clubs like National Iron Society and Math Owner Society and over the summer I do a lot of math, mainly, though it's through striking type Pondo, which has been a pretty big part of my life having joined it since fourth
Grade, now teaching it in high school. It's a great feeling to teach the younger generations all I know about the Marshal art and guide them into being confident, respectful young adults who are very proud.
After I graduated I plan to go to college. A mechanical, or by my junior.
I'm not sure exactly where yet, but I think would be fun to go somewhere very different from her.
She to be able to experience good things, thanks to my parents for shipping me here?
I'm here today, and I'm proud to represent the amazing.
Thank you.
Thank you. Congratulations. Rachel and Reggie, and thank you.
Ms. Schmidt for presenting them this evening.
Moving on to item 2 B. Presentation 2223, calendar, 2223.
Calendar Presentation. Dr. Winslow. Thank you.
It is the 2,324 calendar, and I was asked by the board to do the presentation, which I think is an excellent idea.
Before making final decisions about approving the calendar.
As we all know this past year, we started school a week earlier.
Than what has been done in the past and a lot of that was driven.
Well, all of it was driven by our graduation date, and looking ahead to 2324.
As I sought a graduation date in a venue that will adequately hold our families, allow our staff to participate, and so forth.
Still looking at the giant center. For that we are looking at.
May the 20 ninth for graduation. So the last day of school for seniors would be May the 20, ninth, the last day of school for underclassmen.
Anybody in grades K. Through 11 would be May 30 first, so we would be done with the school year by the end of May.
That does again drive the rest of the calendar, and there's not a whole lot of space for Wiggle room in the calendar to move things around.
There are, we are bound by contract for teacher days we are bound by school code for student days, and then, of course, we wanna make sure that there are holidays that are recognized and so forth in between.
So what I do. Once I have a graduation date and venue is back map to the beginning of the school year, and August the 20 first would be the first day of school for students with a May 20 ninth graduation we would do like we did this year.
And come back with a five-day week, and I think that's a really important piece that we learned.
It was, a students had a much better time adjusting when they had 5 days to practice and and not 4 days, and with that interruption, and then we do have
In most months, not every month, but in most months we do have 2 h, late starts, and we have had some questions this year about our two-hour late starts.
I think part of that is because we weren't really doing them during the pandemic, and so wanted to explain what they are and why we do them.
Those are staff in service hours. So the staff comes in at the regular time and spends 2 h in in service in learning.
During those that that period of time, many, many years ago, I think maybe 2,013, 2,014, we used to do early dismissal days and there was feedback at the time that most families have a two-hour late start plan for weather anyhow, and that the 2 h delay
Schedule would be easier than an early dismissal schedule so we move to the 2 h.
Delay, schedule, a side effect of that is that we do get more productivity out of the staff in the morning.
Than in the afternoon, just because everybody's more awake and and isn't transitioning from whatever it happened during that day.
So it is a really good learning time, but it had originally occurred from community feedback, and I'm not sure if if people remembered that happening, and why or what those 2 h were for, because they do fall usually after a long weekend just trying to, transition for students but it's not
Trans it's not done just to transition more easily.
It's it's just to to provide in service time.
The other thing that is a little different on our calendar.
This year, and then next year is, I did have a group of students who met with me in the spring of 2,021.
So it was even prior to me, actually officially becoming superintendent.
But it was known that I was going to be superintendent, and they asked specifically for some additional holidays to be added to the calendar, and I said that I would do that when and where possible.
Some of the holidays are floating holidays, so sometimes it's possible, and sometimes it's not.
Sometimes they, those holidays fall on weekends, and sometimes they fall during the week.
So this past year for the 2223 school year, and planning ahead for 2324.
We do have young Coupor on the calendar, and for next year that would be September 20, fifth.
We also have eat, and April that would be April tenth, which would be a day off for students, and would be an act 80 day for teachers.
So it would be an in service day for staff
I'm trying to see if there are other pieces that we might have questions about.
The 11 is the end of the second marking period. January eleventh.
I apologize. So the twelfth would be. The teacher workday.
That is a contract day that we must provide for teachers. You.
The administration is not allowed to bother teachers on that, hey?
It is strictly for them to get what needs to be done in their rooms.
And that is part of their their contract, and then the other request that we had had was for Martin Luther King Day, to actually be a day off, not an in-service day, and the great thing there is that staff are able to work with students for volunteer opportunities because that is a day
Of service, and so that that is exciting, and I got a lot of feedback from Staff this year about.
Volunteer opportunities that they were able to participate in having that as an actual day off we would continue because we're approved for Fid days for 5 years.
I'm sorry. 3 years, 5 days, 3 years, so we would continue with fit days next year, with having one snow makeup day.
On March the 20, seventh, and then any additional days would be at the end of the year if they were needed. But hopefully they'd be.
I'll take care of through flexible instruction days, and I believe those are the highlights.
Are there questions, this is Lindsey Cup, a Dr. Winslow.
Can you share? Why, the seniors? Because we had talked about this, if graduation is May the 20 ninth, why, that can't just be the last day for seniors, and then everybody else could continue on.
Yeah, we would be fine by the State for that cause we would not be meeting our school code regulations for hours or days. Thank you.
Any other questions, any other questions for talk to Winslow.
This is Lindsay. True, I want to add that I think creating this calendar is never a situation that makes everyone happy, and I don't envy the position of the Administration to put it together.
From being, from personal experience, and some things that you know I've heard in the community.
I know that there have been challenges with with starting that week earlier in August for folks, whether it be from childcare perspective.
Some local business owners who really rely on some of our student workforce in the town because of tourism and those types of things.
One thing I also wanted to highlight and I don't know that there's anything that could ever be done about it.
But I I feel compelled to to share. Is, there is a very long time from early December through the month of January.
I think that presents a challenge for parents that especially for working parents.
When we have multiple 4 day weeks and then a 2 h, you know delayed.
Start I'll share, you know my own experience. It's hard, you know, right before Martin Luther King Day we have the Friday off before that.
Then Martin Luther King day off, and then a 2 h delayed.
Start rolling into the New Year. I I just have really, personally, and and from community members heard that that.
Can be very difficult. So I think that there is considerations, you know, in that regard.
Whenever possible, to maybe try and spread those out. Child care can be a lot more difficult to arrange that time of year.
You know some people like it because they're traveling, but that's just some feedback that I've heard rather consistently.
Also ending a lot earlier in June that many activities and camps don't start until later in June for older children who for parents who are working full time, you know, and rely on those for daytime activities for their students ending school at the end of may would
Provide, you know, few additional extra weeks of of having to find coverage
Thank you. This is Lindsey Cook, and I appreciate the you explaining the reasoning that drives these decisions, because I think it's an important that everybody knows.
I just wanted to say that I'm hopeful. In the future we can work to find a determine a more long term plan for graduation.
So that at this time of year each year we don't have to be debating between a week start.
I think the flip-flopping is really difficult for parents planning camps or planning vacations as well as the potential of having a long summer.
If one year we end early and then potentially start later in August, like we used to.
So I'm hoping that have, as we kind of move on, knowing that this might be our situation and that the giant center is our preference for graduation, that we work to maybe develop a long-term plan with them.
So we have a consistent week. So it's it's not so up in the air each year. Thank you.
I would agree with that. It has been since founders call closed down for reconstruction, and then the pandemic.
It's just. It hasn't been the study given that it used to be, it would be nice to get back there absolutely agree
Any other discussion.
So then, just for clarification. Dr. Winslow, will you be putting this forward on the next board agenda for approval?
So it. There were community members that wanted to provide feedback on that they would have time to submit that for the board, and and Administration to hear prior to the next meeting. Absolutely.
Thank you. Okay, thank you. Anything further. Before we move on
Okay. We'll move on to item 2 C. President, communications.
I'd like to announce. The Board met in executive session prior to this meeting to discuss informational items, consultation with attorney or other professional advisors, and I'd like to inform that we will also be returning to executive session for post
Executive session because we have didn't finish up all the work that we we're discussing in our earlier executive session
Item, 2D. Recognition of citizens, 4 items on the agenda.
This is an opportunity for residents and taxpayers to address the Board on matters related to the agenda.
Citizens, wishing to speak should come to the microphone to erase their virtual hand.
If attending virtually, you must have registered individually with your first name, last name and address to be recognized, once recognized or unmuted.
Please state your full name for the record. This is a reminder that public comment is not a forum for personal attacks and ticket.
Antagonistic behavior or harassment. Please be advised that you are a accountable for any legal legal ramifications and liability that results from statements that misrepresent the truth.
The fame, individuals, or disclose personal information that is not of public concern, to provide other residents with an opportunity to speak.
Each speaker during the public comment portion is limited to 5 min of speaking during each of the public comment periods.
If necessary, the board may set a maximum time for the public comment.
Portion of any meeting, I will ask board treasurer, Mrs.
Sicker to please keep time. Are there any residents or taxpayers who would like to comment at this time
Good evening. Oh, my Molly! 24! Well, you think I know our address?
2472 Raleigh Road, Homestown.
What I'm gonna be discussing today is gonna be a little bit brief cause.
I think it's already been achieved first, I'd like to thank the Board for giving you this opportunity to speak the matter.
I'm gonna be talking about. Hmm! Mandated that I come in person, and it was regarding the school calendar that was presented earlier.
I'm I'm addressing the Board as a member of the Muslim community.
We have a very rapidly growing Muslim community, and a dairy town school district, and a handful of us are actually chiming in virtually it's regarding Muslim religious holidays.
Last year, we have actually 2, 2 holidays, major holidays and and for the slum faith, one of them is 8 to 5, and it's usually after fasting a whole month of Ramadan it's our equivalent to Christmas or Hanukkah.
There are other religions, but I'm giving comparisons of those because they're all of Abrahamic faith and they have many similarities.
The other one is at the top, and it's our equivalent of Easter or young Kapur.
Last year I either first coincided with the Pssas.
At that time my my fourth grader, who is academically at dance, and leavinggrained into the importance of education, she was perplexed
About either taking her exams. Our celebrating date, while religious holidays are considered as excuse absences, and you might even argue that the Psas are optional and themselves.
And there's also window. I don't know if it's actually 2 or 3 weeks for students to sit for them, but for for my academically inclined daughter she was torn about going to school, for her exams versus celebrating imagine having a child having to decide between celebrating
Christmas and I'm giving examples of Christmas because it's majority may be celebrating Christmas versus taking their exams.
This is, there's many examples. There's actually a children's book called Mirrors Photo picture Day.
And here Amira had to choose between celebrating aid or making it for her class picture with her most favorite teacher.
The examples go on and on.
When I was growing up we just had a ticket.
They off, and it was never acknowledged.
But I'm so happy that there are many school districts in in Pennsylvania that are now acknowledging that 8 holiday and I'm I'm very thankful that the School Board allows us to celebrate and embrace one of the beauties and strengths of our school
District. It's the diversity of our student Board
Allowing school days to be equitable for each student, regardless of the religion and including them all, allow them to celebrate, as each one of them is cherished and valued.
Thank you all for your time. Thank you. Thank you.
Do we have any other citizens president in the room who would like to speak
Do we have any? Virtually yes, there is one virtual hand raised.
Raffay you have been given permission to speak.
Just please teach your name and address for the record
Hi! My name is Raphael. Nasser. Address is 1150.
Chadwick, Circle, Hummelstown.
I'm a class of 2,017 Hershey High school graduate, and actually a former School Board representative, a student School Board representative.
I'm speaking today for very similar reasons. As a prior speaker, I just like to thank the Board for including Eve as a holiday.
You know this is such an important thing for students that it's not only for logistical reasons, such as scheduling around tests, then these sorts of things.
But I feel like you know even me. Personally, I really gathered a lot of my identity when I was in high school, and you know the school district taking a strong stance and allowing us to, to, you know, have E off as a holiday makes us stronger, in our identity and just as people in general so
You know right now, you know I'm a I'm still local.
I'm a current medical student at Penn State College of Medicine, and a lot of my success.
I tribute to Hershey High School and I appreciate Hershey High School taking a strong stance on making E.
The schoolwide holiday, and I hope to continue building.
You know those relationships in terms of the priorities.
Religion, and and Muslims with Hershey, High School, and Dairy Township in general.
So thank you so much. And yeah, that's all.
Thank you very much.
Do we have anyone else this trial, or virtually we do.
We have another speaker I've may not say even incredibly, but she's here.
You've been given permission to speak.
Please state your name and address for the record
Yes, good evening, everybody. My name is Shazia Hafiz, and 3 9 6 Townhouse, Hershey, PA.
And I would like to echo Dr. Homima and Raphael's words here, speaking on behalf of the entire Muslim community in Hershey and Hummel State.
I really really appreciate the School Board members and Dr.
Winslow, taking this really progressive, and a and a positive initiative towards right, recognizing our holiday, especially if we don't fit there, which kind of like is similar to Hanukkah and Christmas, and it it absolutely means a lot to the students, and the families, especially in
The past, when the students had to, they would be debating, and families would have to decide whether the children have have to go to school, especially the older children.
The high schoolers and the middle schoolers, when they would have to explain it out to the teachers and the other administration as to why they're taking off or if there would be any tests coming or falling on the day of Eve.
But having this holiday on the district calendar is going to really make the entire community very, very happy and much so for the students.
I'm sure they would be very happy to hear that.
So thank you so much from the entire Muslim community of Hershey.
Would like to thank Dr. Winslow and the board.
Thank you.
Thank you very much. There's one additional speaker, Manna.
You have been given permission to to speak. Please state your name, and
Hello! My name is Lena Morsey. I live about 1537 East Chocolate Avenue.
Hershey. I'm currently Class 2024 and I am a Muslim student, and I think it's important to have this day off, because it's it's nice to teach my peers about my religion and break those stereotypes because when I talk to
Them, they, and they learn so much about my religion, and it's such like a a fast growing religion throughout the world that everyone needs to know about it.
And the important holidays growing up. I've always been thankful for winter break, but not being able to celebrate my own holiday, made me feel a little excluded, and having to take the day off and make up work when I come back made me feel like behind a little bit and I
Have siblings, and the other schools at their township, and watching them grow up and learn about and teach.
Their peers about it. Really, it makes me
Excited, for, like the future generations. And I'm just really excited for this opportunity to speak with you.
Thank you.
Well, thank you very much for joining us and sharing your feelings.
Another another additional speaker, Armand, you have been given permission to speak.
Please stay your name, and not just for the record
Okay. Hello. My name is Irman Atmud, and I live at 8, 3, 9, fond Lane Humilstone, and I'm also a student at Hershey.
I'm gonna graduate in this year. Actually. So it's cool.
But I just wanted to like, I guess I guess. Echo some some of the things that other people have said, especially the student from previous speaker.
So I actually like used to live overseas for a few years, and it uses like a huge part of like our culture.
And like again my identity, so like over there, I was like an entire like 3 days off.
And yeah, it was like huge festivals happen really important to us.
But when I, fit back over here it's it's kind of like disheartening to see that, like such an important religious festival wasn't just like recognized, or if it was recognized, it wasn't like giving us proper recognition as very important religious festival.
So I really appreciate you guys taking out the time to like, put down the schedule and like a acknowledging us.
And yeah, that's about it. Thank you.
Thank you. Another additional speaker, a Zen. You think, even been given permission to speak.
Please state your name, and Andres for the record
Hello! My name is Azim. Ha Fees, and I live at 3, 9, 6.
Townhouse hair, shape. So I just wanted to quickly say, Thank you to the school board and Dr.
Winso for recognizing it as a holiday. I'm currently a student at Hershey High School, and many Muslim students, including myself, have found it difficult in the past to choose between school and I religion, and I think that recognizing it is a great step into helping ease Muslim
students, like if they're worried about missing work or any classes.
And I think it's really nice. So thank you.
Thank you very much.
At this time there are no hands raised. Okay, anyone else in the room
They will conclude our first comment period and move on to agenda.
Item to E. Standing committee reports the general services and finance committees met today. Mr.
Reido, do you have a general services? Report? Yes, so the General General Services Committee met today for the first time in 2023 up on the agenda, for the day was a pretty heavy schedule from the 2 they talked about 4 different subjects.
The first one was a high school retention area. They did give us an update that there are 6 individual sync, whole locations that are currently need in need of repair.
And they're getting ready to put that out for bid.
So they are working on that on that. At at this time.
The second thing was the the restoration of the basin area itself.
Over time. What would they? What they were talking about is the erosion from storm runoff on the on the different slopes that go into the retention area, and in the buildup of materials, and silk in that area, and they feel that they're at a at a point where they just need to rest
Restore the storage capacity of that basin, so they have that recommendation out.
They also realize that some of the the design of the basin itself doesn't currently meet what the design specifications have provided for.
There's multitudes of reasons for that occurring.
Some of it was, you know, as they explained, that even though you build to a design specification, you're not always 100% on that specification based upon what was happening.
And one thing that they don't have, though, is an as built specification with the dairy Township Supervisor.
So that is also part of the the the bid to go out into to well, first of all, to talk to dairy township supervisors, and the planning area, to to understand where they need to be from a specification and then start working on a bid for the restoration of the basin area as
well, second, the second option. There was the software.
Second bullet point with a softball field. They did have a final completed plan there's 64 spaces on a macadam surface for the softball field, which is right next to the the 2 minor fields.
There one for little league, and one for softball.
The new plan with those spaces will be will save about 2,900 square feet of impervious improvement to our to our area that goes back to our calculation for that type of us surface.
So that's a that's a win for the school district.
We did set a motion, and approved a motion today to move forward to the next steps with review, with Dolphin County in in getting their buy in once they're done, and have the answers there then they'll come back to general services in the Board for full communications same thing with
memorial field that that project there was designed to put the one area that is a stone area back in the macadam that'll give us 17, added parking spots with macadam.
And what? What? That, even with that design we will be coming back with another 1,800 square feet of impaired, impervious improvement, and we also, with the same.
Oh! And with the Memorial field it's also to correct storm water runoff and to swale the water away from the Memorial field and the dug as a memorial field and take it out to the right field.
Drainage system, that is, that is currently in place. So this will guide the water to where it needs to be.
Keep it out of areas where it doesn't need to be and provide additional parking.
This this also had a motion to move forward to the next steps, and taking it off county for communications and and approval, and it will come back to the Board in general studies.
The first thing they need to talk about was a traffic study, that they're working on.
They did not have a recommendation at this time. They're still studying what options they have for the school district, and they will be coming back to general services at a later date, and in the one thing we had with an update from Ms.
Purcell was the insurance claim for the train heating system that failed in 2,022 that came back at about a $94,000 repair.
Any insurance will cover that claim, with exception of a deductible.
So I have. Thank you very much, Mr. Rizzo.
Does anybody have any questions?
Just wanted to add very briefly the one of their first orders of business was to elect a new chairperson, and Mike was re-elected.
The chairperson for general services. So yeah, forgot to mention it.
Thank you.
Mrs. Sicker, do you have a finance report? I do thank you.
We had a robust finance committee today we had a quarterly update from the Milton Hershey Trust Fund by Fulton Financial Advisors.
The trust ended at 45 million. At the end of 22.
That is certainly down from its highest. It did better than what what was set for the index down 12.7 8, and it was set of an at an index of minus 14.
It has done positively 5 out of the last 6 years, though we had an important presentation from Raymond James.
Public Finance by Lou Verdelli and Ryan Brockman.
They presented us options on what it looks like for us to go to bond in the future for a potential new build for an elementary school.
He would. They went over some facts right now we are continuing our triple a bond rating which we just got recertified.
December the sixth, which is excellent news.
It's the highest possible bond reading you can get, and there's only 10 out of 500 school districts in the State that hold the this high rating.
Our existing debt service is right. Now. About 17.8 million, with a rapid repayment schedule that service will be paid off by 21, and I'll go into some details about that in a minute.
We have a borrowing capacity of up to almost 21 million.
Right now, if we need to, and I'll talk a little bit more about that in a minute.
There are some key points to remember when we do go out to bond, and for the future projects that we might need for the district, that we should consider additional millage increases built into the budget in advance of any large scale project and then deposit those unused funds into a capital project fund well before
We would consider, you know, building. We have to spend 85% of the money within 3 years of going to bond.
And it takes 60 to 90 days to complete a transaction.
So in preparation for potential going to bond some day.
We looked over a example, construction, draw, schedule from another school district.
They're building a 123 million dollar building right now, and we were able to look in an Excel spreadsheet of the details of that and kind of go over some options of how do you go out to bond for 123 million dollars so when we
do a potentially go out at some point for a large amount of money.
We could go out in a variety of ways, and it all depends on the market what the bond market looks like, and potentially what the savings looks like.
This district, for example, is going out into parts of that 123 million.
So right now they're they did it a preliminary 10 million dollar draw in the very initial stage, and then they're going to do another 30 million dollar bond.
So they're not taking it all out at once, and then another good option that if you do do that you take that money and put it into a savings account and depending on how the savings are looking, you could even get 4%, while it's sitting.
There, and then you pay your bills every month while you hold on to that money and savings.
There's a lot of considerations. Once we we draw the money right now.
Our outstanding debt payment from our operating expenses is about 4 million a year.
The bond rates were at 3.5. They've dropped down to 2.1 2 right now, which is 1.2% less, which is good bond rates.
Right now, if you look at the scale of what they've been for like the last 15 years.
We looked at 2 different potential options just for the future, because we do need to be thinking about our budget for next year.
If we did, no millage impact, no tax increase whatsoever, and we tried to keep our debt service right at 4 million we could bond finance 51 million, and that would be a 30 year financing no tax increase and and not increasing our debt service and we could get 51 we
Don't believe that we believe that the potential construction is more than that.
So we looked at another scenario, and I just want to preface this to say that none of these numbers are set in stone.
These are just numbers for us to kind of. Think about the future, and it doesn't.
These, these numbers also do not factor in natural potential growth of the budget.
Any extra investigations we would be doing at operating expenses and looking at budgets.
But if you did go out for a 100 million dollar bond, for example, and you took it out for 30 years, which would be a payoff in 22,055, that would increase our debt service to 6.9 million, so we would somehow need to make up a difference.
From our current 4 million to another almost 7 million every year.
So we didn't make up that 3 million. Well, how do you do that?
So we looked at some potential options on how you do that?
What you would have to do is you'd have to consider a millage increase over 4 years, which would mean somewhat of a planning process for the Board to think ahead in order to afford something like this.
It would look like a point 3 6 5 millage increase, which would potentially look like a 1.9 one year tax increase next year, a 1.8%. The next year 1.8% the next year 1.7% and the next year 1.6% so what these numbers do for us is give us a
good idea of what we need to build into the budget for at least next year.
Knowing what we have coming down the road. So you know the Finance committee did not make any firm decisions, but it was just an excellent deep dive into the numbers, and some some ideas that we need to consider for future planning and what a future board needs to look at as well on how do you afford
A large building project. Does anyone have any questions for me about that?
Mrs. Sicker. This is Lindsay Drew. I just wanted to clarify from one part of your earlier early report our borrowing capacity is 121 million, not 21 million yes, it's in 121 million did I say that wrong.
Said 210000000000, sorry about that.
Any other what! I'm not finished. Oh, I'm sorry.
I just wanted to know if you had any questions about bond refinancing
Wake up. We have an audit report, audit update.
We will have a audit report, and our February finance meeting and the audit closed at close to productions, and we had a food service update.
They ended up in the black, and we had a charter school tuition update that that is slightly under and cause we were able to bring some students back that concludes my report.
Thank you very much, Mrs. Sicker. That was an excellent, very comprehensive, thorough report, much appreciated.
Does anyone else have any questions of Mrs. Sicker before we move on
Okay. We'll move on to item 2 F student representatives report representatives as these Forester or Patel.
Do you have a report? We do. Okay, this is Disha Patel.
Thank you. We just finished the first week of our second market period last week with a long 4 day weekend with Martin Luther King, Junior Day, the elementary school just hosted a community fun night on January the nineteenth, with over 1,000 people attending for a night of games
Crafts, reading to dogs, dancing and STEM activities.
Hershey also hosted all 3 Dcm.
Dcm. Ea. County Orchestra concerts on Saturday, January the 20 first, especially with the help with the Hershey High School orchestras and 12 Hershey High School Band students were chosen for the Lvc.
Honors band, and the concert was also Saturday, January 20.
First, okay. This is Olivia Forester, the high school competition to your team will compete at States on the 20 seventh of January, and possibility of on the second round, on the 28 they have National starting on the tenth of February and the team is still
Fundraising. If you want information, it's on the cheers.
Social, media, Hershey, High School, youth and government will be attending their pre-election convention on Saturday, February the fourth, an eighth grade team, Nova Star participated in a community service project students assembled 500 craft kits to donate to gateway
smiles which provides the bags, is miles to hospitalized children in over 70 hospitals.
A hi! Everyone representative? Is he here? So the High school counseling office goes to the senior scholarship zoom on January the eighteenth, which discussed local and national scholarships for seniors as a senior I did join for a little bit and
It was very informative. Also there was a practical assessment exploration system lab Open House. It was on January the twentieth.
Unless and it allowed students to practice job skills and a lab at the district office can regard registration.
Had a meeting, and it opens with sorry the kindergarten registration.
There is a kindergarten registration meeting on February first from 6 to 7 Pm.
The science for all club at the high school is hosting an event featuring science experiments like chroma to month, chromat
Come with tomography. Yes, right. It's a it's a long word, but it's for students.
On Wednesday, January 20, fifth, from 4 to 5
Okay, thank you very much. Anything else. Thank you. Moving on to Item Twog anticipated agenda items for the next board of directors meeting the listed items are on the anticipated February thirteenth, 2,023 board of directors.
Meeting, agenda and I think they're going to be put up on the screen today.
Maybe
There we go. So those are the listed items on the anticipated February thirteenth, 2,023 port directors meeting agenda
Item number 3, unfinished business. We have no unfinished business.
Item number 4, consent, agenda items the consent agenda contains routinely adopted items and items that normally do not require public deliberation on the part of the Board.
A board member may pull items which will then be discussed in voter on separately, may I have a motion to approve the consent?
Agenda items as listed so moved to Kathy's paper.
Second, Marie, I'm is there any discussion
I have a this is Eric Schmidt. A quick question, like the cheerleading trip to Disney.
Is, was that all covered with fundraising
That's really awesome.
Okay, thank you. I was just curious.
Any other questions there. There. There were private people that contributed to that as well
What'd you say?
Any other discussion, I had a question just about the use of facilities, request the Leader Center for active life just to clarify for using that for the pickle ball.
Is that because they're unable to use the Recreation Center
I do not know why they made the request other than I know.
They like using Granada. Jim. Okay, I I could add, just from observation from being there, that that pickle bowl is also played in the gymnasium at the Rec.
Center during certain hours. So they do have it there as well.
So to be able to offer it for seniors there, using gridana.
It's such a it's so. Yeah, I'm sure they don't have the capacity.
And now they're not outside. Yeah, it's so
Thank you. I was just curious. Any other questions. Yeah, this is a standard voice.
Vote all in favor, say, aye, any opposed?
No motion, carries
Onto item, 5, a
Approval of revised. Dairy times of School District Healthy Safety Plan revised Health and Safety Plan. Dr.
Winslow the Administration recommends the approval of the Revised Health and Safety Plan, guidance and template, and just to be clear, the revision is just a change of date.
Nothing else has been changed in it.
They have a motion to approve the revised health and safety plan, guidance, and template. So moved Lindsey, Trim, second, Maria Mammy, so ready to
This is a standard voice phone all in favor. Say, aye, opposed. No
Or opposed, nay, anybody opposed. Okay, motion passes.
Item 5. B. Accelerated budget opt out, resolution, accelerated budget opt that resolution. Dr.
Winslow. Administration recommends the Board approved the resolution to limit the increase of real estate taxes for the 2,023, 2,024 fiscal year do no more than the act one index of 4.1% I have a motion to approve the accelerated
Budget opt-out resolution for 2,02324.
So bluntly drew a second more. Emmy, is there any discussion
We're gonna make this a roll call. Vote this Ag, could you call the role? Please
Mr. Bennett. Yes, that is true. Yes, Dr. Krak.
Yes, this is many. Yes, Mr. Roso. Yes, Mr. Schmidt.
Yes, this is sicker. Yes, Mr. Singer, yes, 8, approved
Thank you. Moving on to item Fivec, care, solace service agreement.
Here, call, service, agreement, care callous service agreement. Dr.
Winslow, Administer, recommends the approval of the care, solace, Service agreement may have a motion to approve the care, solace, service, Agreement.
Any discussion. This is Lindsey chair. I was just like to say Thank you to Dr.
Winslow and the Administration for bringing this service for a relatively low budget impact in comparison to many of the contracts this is going to provide a really great opportunity for students and families in our district to be able to help maneuver and navigate access to mental health
Care and I think it's something you know, that's incredibly important.
And I know that there are a lot of students and their family members who do not seek or have their mental health needs fulfilled, because it can be rather cumbersome to to find a provider find out if your insurance will work and go through all of that and this process will provide a
Warm handoff to be able to navigate all of that, and it really starts the process of treating mental health care as true.
Health, care, so grateful that this is something that all district students, staff and families will be able to access.
So thank you. Thank you. Mr. Yeah. Another. I agree with Mr.
This is fantastic. Just a couple questions. Who will be the like contact coordinator for this, like in the what would be calendars?
Or it could be a variety of people so generally school counselors are going to be the people who know first and foremost, that a family might be seeking services could also be through the sap team which is hip for us.
The student assistance program. It could be through principle, it could.
There's a variety of ways that that it could work, and then we'll have a person from care Solis, that's our regional coordinator that we'll work with families.
Okay, and then, and that's just so. People know we have some outpatient therapies currently.
But what are some of the reasons? Either? They're not like people are not taking advantage of them, or we packed like, there's a couple of different things that happen.
One is that you may have noticed there's a lot of waiting right now to get services which can be very frustrating for families, and can be hard to keep following up with, and so care solus will do all of that footwork for a family sometimes families also just are very private about this sort of thing.
So there will be an online like a website link where that'll be linked on to our website where families they don't have to talk to anybody at school, but they can go on and request services through care.
Solis as long as their student is one of our our kiddos.
So lots of ways to access services that way. And then, with the the services that we offer, like like our mobile therapy pieces that would still be something that would be available for families.
If if that was something that was coordinated with with that it it can be difficult, with different insurances.
And that's the other thing that cares less will work with is whatever families insurance is will make sure that they find a provider that will match that as well.
That help? Yeah, definitely. Thank you. Can I just piggyback off of that?
So this is something that parents can access without ever having to go through the school. Correct?
Okay, you're great. Yeah, thank you. And just to clarify, it's really kind of like a concierge.
So, if you feel that your child, you know, if there's been conversations, whether with the school or just at home, that your child may need to be connected with any type of therapy counseling services going through care solus will allow to find a partner that's gonna help navigate find your provider who
accepts your insurance, and would have the scheduling availability absolutely.
Thanks. They'll also do a follow-up just to make sure that it's a good fit, and if it's not a good fit
That's great. Thank you. Thank you for all those clarifying questions.
I think it helped give a better definition to to the service any any other questions.
If this is a standard voice, vote all in favor by any opposed motion, carries item item 5 d.
Personnel resignations. Dr. Winslow, the Administration recommends the approval of the list of personnel and recognition of any listed transfers.
Sorry I read the wrong way. Administration recommends the approval.
The personnel resignations. I have a motion to approve the personnel resignations so moved Lindsey, Cock, second, Marian.
Emmy, this is standard voice voice. Vote all in favor. Say, aye, any opposed
Motion. Carries item 5. E. Personnel, general personal. General, Dr.
Winslow. Try again the Administration. Recommends the approval of the listed personnel, and recognition of any list of training they have a motion to approve the listed personnel and recognition of any listed transfers so moved Maria Emmy secondly, any discussion this is a standard
Voice, vote all in favor, say, aye, any opposed motion carries
Rock to item number 6. Delegate reports there are no delegate reports attached to the agenda.
Does anyone here want to present a delicate report? Okay, moving on to Item 7,
Board Member reports, those special reports. 7. A is board member reports.
Are there any Board members who would like to give a report?
This is Lindsay. True, I would just like to thank the Hershey elementary Pto.
For leaving us something at our desk tonight for School Board appreciation month, who who lapsed it for him the Hershey elementary. Pto. Oh, okay. I was wondering.
Thank you for putting that out this is Lindsey Cockin.
I just wanted to say that I attended community night last week and it was great.
And there were so many people there, it was so well organized.
I know it took a lot of time and a lot of volunteers, but I kind of heard the same sentiments that I know. Dr.
Winslow. You heard that it was just so nice being in the buildings and having families coming in, seeing the classrooms kind of going to the different specials rooms to do activities and things, so thank you to everybody who was involved in putting that together because it looked like it was a lot of
Work.
Any other board members like to give a report
Hey? Item, 7. B superintendents report. I do have a report.
Thank you. It is School Board recognition month. So our board members put in countless hours working to support and provide an outstanding education for our students, and we are very, very grateful for everything that you do for us last week members did receive t-shirts from the district as a as a thank you for
Their service, and I completely forgot to say anything about it at the meeting, but I think everybody that Mr. Got to take their T-shirt homes, so hers is here for her to get and there are also cupcakes that were part of your dinner. Tonight.
I don't know if anybody noticed them, but Mrs. Aging made sure that they had little. Thank you.
Sticks on them so we do thank you very much for everything that that you're doing for us.
We are going to have a slight change in procedure at our February thirteenth meeting.
It's been our practice to have anyone commenting during Citizens comments, portion of the meeting to state their address.
You with an eye on privacy, and making sure that people are saved.
We're going to be changing that practice and asking that when you register on zoom that you just add your address in because we store our, we want people who live in the community to be speaking, and if you are in person, there'll be a card for you to fill out and Mrs.
Eg. Or Ms. Carpel will help with with that, as people get used to that new system, you'll still state your name when you speak, but you will not speak your address anymore.
Just because we don't really want that out on the Internet.
We don't want to continue doing that Saturday was the DC.
Ma County Orchestra Concert. It was hosted at Hershey Middle School, and it was an outstanding event.
The kids I don't know if you've ever heard an elementary orchestra concert it.
It can not be. Maybe, your favorite thing to hear. This was like listening to other disk high school orchestras cause our high school orchestra sounds professional, but so so I had to intended to only stay for the elementary and middle school portion.
They were so good, I had to stay for the high school portion because I needed to hear what they were going to sound like.
It was really phenomenal, and Mr. Butterbaugh, Mr.
Ryan, Booterba, and Mrs. Michelle Kisner did a great job with the logistics of of hosting that event.
Mr. Scott Harmon is our head cook at the Ecc.
And he will be honored as the Lions Club educator of the year.
On Tuesday night, absolutely delighted for him to get this award.
He does a phenomenal job with students in the cafeteria, and often does special projects like, where did the genre Breadman go with our kindergarten classes?
So just a just a great educator, and in ways that people don't all often think about people being educators.
So very excited for him and Pbs. Community night can't say enough.
It was amazing. I know it's been mentioned a couple of times.
I got there at 6 15, and was, I was. They were using counters to see how many people are coming in, and I was number 841 of the doorway that I came in.
There were that I've never seen our parking lots that full since I've been here.
I think I don't think we've ever had that great of a turnout for an event.
It was fabulous, and talked to many parents and people were just so happy to have a school event.
That was fun, and and that they got to participate in with their kids.
And it was. It was wonderful. So really, really amazing job.
And that was led by Mrs. Chico. So I want to make sure that she is acknowledged for that, and the Pvis team a group of teachers who just came together and over 30 Staff volunteered to make the evening run and then Mrs.
Phoebe Miller and Mr. Grudai. God love them!
We're out in the drizzling, cold, directing traffic through through most of the event.
So everybody chipped it, and it was. It was great. And then my very last thing this evening is I did just get word that the boys wrestling one this evening.
I husband was representing us over at that gain or at that match.
It's not really game with wrestling. Sorry I can send that wrong but they won 49 to 20, so that was awesome, and that concludes my report thank you, Dr. Winslow.
What does Pbis stand for
Positive behavior, intervention and supports. Thank you very much.
Hey? Moving on to item 7 C. Board. President, report. I do not have a report which brings us to the second public comment period.
This is on any item, whether it was on the agenda or not.
This is an opportunity for residents and taxpayers to address the Board on matters related to the agenda, or matters of district governance, not on the agenda.
Those who speak arrest to file the same guidelines outlined to the initial public comment.
Portion of the meeting. I will ask for treasurer, Mrs.
Sicker to please keep time. Are there any residents or taxpayers who would like to comment at this time
Anyone in the room
Mr. Iila. Anyone virtually at this time there are no virtual hands raised
Okay.
Anything else for the good of the order.
If not, hey, take a motion.
Or adjournment. The next public board of Directors meeting will be held on February thirteenth, 2,023, starting at 70'clock.
Please reach the district website to register for virtual attendance.
As the meeting draws closer, may have a motion to adjourn.
This meeting, so moved Maria Mabi, Second Lindsey cock all in favor.
Hi! Anyone opposed. Thank you. The meeting is convened at
8, 7,