I like to call the October 11,
2022 meeting of the Derry Township School District Board of Directors to order
and announce that this meeting is being livestreamed and audio recorded.
This meeting is being conducted both in-person and virtually,
and I would ask that board members please state your name when speaking.
Mrs.. E.g. Roll call, please. Mr. Bennett.
President.
Dr. Cronin.
Dear Mr.. You Hear.
Hear.
This is many here. Mr. RIZZO. Here.
This is Schmidt. Here.
Mrs. Singer.
Here. Mr. Singer. Here.
Nine present.
Thank you.
Please rise if you're able, and join me for the Pledge of Allegiance.
For. United.
States of.
America and to the public. Relations.
One nation under God
and all.
Please have a motion
to approve the October 11, 2022 Board of Directors meeting agenda.
So moved Grammy.
Second Mike Rizzo. Is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor, please say I oppose say no.
Anything agenda is approved.
I would like to announce that the board did not meet in executive session today.
So we will go right into our first recognition of citizens
portion of the meeting for specifically for agenda items.
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
or raise their virtual hand if attending virtually.
You must have registered individually with your first and last name
in order to be recognized.
Once recognized at the podium or unmuted, please state your full name and address
for the record.
This is a reminder that public comment is not a forum
for personal attacks, antagonistic behavior or harassment.
Please be advised that you are accountable for any legal ramifications
and liability which may result from statements
misrepresenting the truth, defaming individuals
or disclosing personal information, not of public concern
to provide other residents with an opportunity to speak.
Each speaker during a public comment portion
is limited to 5 minutes of speaking time once recognized and limited
to one opportunity to address the board 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'll ask Board Treasurer, Mrs.
Decker to please keep time.
Are there any residents or taxpayers who would like to comment
on agenda related items at this time?
I don't see anyone here in the audience,
so I would welcome anyone who is
attending virtually to please raise your hand
at this time
seeing none.
I will close the first public comment period
and we'll move on to standing committee meeting reports.
The Curriculum Council was canceled for today, but Athletics and Activities
Committee did meet at 5 p.m.
where Dr. Cooke was elected as the new committee chair.
Dr. Cooke, do you have a report for us?
I do, yes.
So we met for the first time in quite a while today.
We welcomed our two new citizen advisors and then Mr.
Monteiro gave us an athletic overview.
Just opened with a lot of the
motley with a lot of our sports teams
and the Keystone Division champions we had in a couple of our sports recently.
We discussed intramural activities and what this could potentially look like,
what we might be able to offer ways to increase student engagement
through this route.
And we're going to continue to explore some of those ideas.
Mr. Monk Doro also filled us in with staffing,
and he relayed that staffing is getting harder.
But we're lucky at this moment that we have
all of our positions filled for winter, and spring is also looking good.
Let's see.
Oh, we do have a Thursday night football game. This
this season because we discussed
some problems with not problems, but
it's difficult to get officials right now.
So he had shared that the MID-PENN conference
is taking several steps to try and boost interest in officiating.
And we had a discussion of what that could look like and how we can get
interest and information out to the community.
And having a Thursday night football game this season was one of the ways
that we were handling the official shortage.
We discussed advertising and the process to get anything
that's going to be approved for the content and advertisements
and what that could look like for the future.
We also reviewed a parent athletic survey
that the committee is going to take a look at and give some feedback for that.
We hope to be able to get out soon to parents
who had children participating in sports at both the middle school and high school.
Mr. Matador
is also looking at revising the athletic handbook and so we're
also we have some copies of that, and we're going to also read through that
and give him some feedback on what that can look like.
But really just strengthening the information that we have.
So part a part for coaches, a part for students,
so everybody really knows what's expected of them.
And I believe that is it.
We meet again March 13th.
I would just like to add this, Donna
Cronan, my appreciation for Lindsey for stepping up to chair the committee
and and having a very robust agenda is very, very good meeting.
Thank you.
Ms.. Karp, how do you have a community correspondence report?
I do. Thank you. Okay.
So the for the month of September,
the district received six community correspondence submissions.
The comments and questions for this month included three requests for records.
One comment about registration information,
comment regarding the recognition of citizen portion on.
Our September 12th meeting and a question about curriculum.
And that's it. Thank you. Thanks.
Moving on to student
representatives reports Representatives Aziz Forster and Patel.
Do you have a report for us this evening?
My gosh. Um.
I'm disappointed, by the way.
It's just reiterating that there'll be a PTA meeting
this Thursday, October 13th at 930 for the elementary building.
The annual Peatos Book Fair will be Friday, October 14th
to Friday, October 21st.
And then with that, the elementary school PTO book,
their family Night will be October 18th at 530.
And then the track and the Trojan Buddies track and field Day
that was originally supposed to be this Thursday is now postponed to October 31st.
The homecoming pep rally is during the school day this Friday, October 14th,
and the football game that same evening will start at 7 p.m..
Okay.
This is Olivia Forester at that homecoming game.
Hershey Youth
cheerleading will be joining varsity cheerleaders during the first quarter.
The Hershey High School homecoming dance
is occurring October 15th from 7 to 10 p.m.
and the school cafeteria.
The band and orchestra is performing their first concert at 7:30 p.m.
in the auditorium on October 18th.
Also, some student groups are participating
in the hallway break that will be occurring on October 19th.
Hi everyone.
My name is.
Today's Honors is the fall fest from Anytown will be next Friday,
October 31st from 530 to 730 at the high school.
More information coming soon from our lovely president.
Also, our high school cheerleaders such as Olivia Forester
will be cheering at the Navy game in Annapolis on October 22nd.
The freshman pageant night hosted by the school counselors is
at 6 p.m. on Zoom.
There's still not a date set yet, and end of the first marking period
is looming October 28th.
Also, the Trojan 20 is a band and orchestra
competition that lasts all October between all the schools in the district.
So that's pretty exciting.
Thank you and I appreciate you covering all of the buildings.
It's great to hear all the things going on.
The items that are listed on the screen are on the anticipated
October 24th, 2022 Board of Directors meeting agenda,
and there was no unfinished business for this evening.
So we'll move right into consent agenda which 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 and voted on separately.
May I please have a motion to approve the consent agenda items as listed?
So move to Kathy, Chika Maria. Mimi.
Is there any discussion?
Yeah.
I'd like to pull one of the textbooks up for discussion, please.
Sure.
Which?
The Bronx Masquerade.
Okay,
so then I have a go.
Correct me if I'm doing a strong motion to approve the consent agenda items
as amended to remove the specific item under four C Bronx Masquerade.
All other items will be contained.
For completely one.
Look at it. For the whole textbook. Okay.
So then motion to approve the consent agenda
as amended to pull out item for C.
Are you going to do a roll call? Vote for that?
No, not for you.
We're just doing consent agenda without item for C right now,
and then we'll vote on item for C individually.
Got it.
So I'll need a motion to approve as amended.
I make that motion.
Second.
Second. Erica Schmitt.
Thank you.
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor, please say I.
Any oppose, say no consent agenda as a whole.
Minus for C is approved.
Well, then do item for C separately,
which is approval of textbooks.
I will need a motion to approve
the following textbooks for
use in the 2022 2023 school year.
The title Bronx Masquerade.
The title Metro Thieves and Title Orbiting Jupiter.
These textbooks are reviewed and approved to the June 13th 2022 Curriculum Council
meeting and funding for the recommendation is included in the 2022
2023 budget.
Please have a motion to approve item four C.
So move to Kathy Sticker second.
Miriam. Amie, Is there any discussion?
I just have just one question.
You said for C four.
I'm not seeing any letters and numbers.
It was for C in the consent agenda.
So for B is request of use.
Request reads the school facilities for C is approval of textbooks.
Yeah.
Over here. Yep.
I don't see any letters and numbers that's on.
It's. It's like it's.
Going after my script. Were the letters.
Okay, so
section four consent agenda items C Oh, I'm sorry.
That's. Okay. Thank you.
And this is Don Krohn.
I just want to make sure I recall this correctly, that these books
were being approved for inclusion
in a list of potential read aloud books.
They weren't they're not necessarily a book that will be assigned
and read is just part of a library.
Is that right?
I want to make sure I get that there are three read aloud books
that they would like to be able to choose from,
So they would not be doing all three every year, but these would be three
that could be potentially read aloud to the classes.
And is this in addition to previously approved read aloud boxers
this what they're saying they just want these three to be options
for the show though these are these are in addition in it's
there's a pretty substantial library of read along books of transcript. Yes
so to the question
I do this is Erica Schmidt
so I thought we pulled that one out to discuss.
But are we discussing all three of these?
So currently, the way that they're set up in the agenda
is that they are all three under one item for approval of textbooks.
So we removed it from content agenda and are now doing it as a standalone item.
But the item as agenda ized is all three.
And we can't pull one out anymore because we could.
Motion to amend, correct.
You can't pull one item out of consent.
Student Yes, that's just not the way it is on the agenda.
But excuse me. You do that.
We have to make
the whole item of textbooks within the agenda.
Item of textbooks they're all voted on is yes or no.
So we have to change the agenda item if we wanted to.
Further.
It's an iterative process, right?
Yeah.
I don't know that we're that far along yet because I'm not sure what the questions
or the issues are, but if you wanted to just separate that,
it would have to be a separate item.
So you would have to amend that. Oh, I thought.
We did that.
Okay, now you. Just hold it. Yeah.
So we just pulled it.
We pulled it from consent to address it separately,
then moved the item as a whole so that we could discuss it.
If you wanted to pull just one of those out,
then you would make a motion to amend this item
to separate
one of the books.
Okay, So I will make a motion to separate the Bronx Tale from the other
two books and
so I can be discussed.
Bronx Tales. Not on here, Bronx Guys.
I apologize.
It's a movie dated myself, I think Bronx Masquerade.
So there's a motion on the floor to separate the item approval of textbooks
to make the Bronx Masquerade a motion,
to make it a standalone separate item.
So we'll vote.
So we would vote on the motion as amended for Marathon and orbiting Jupiter,
and then of a standalone item, vote for Bronx Masquerade.
Which
so, you know.
So motion on the floor
is to make Bronx Masquerade a separate standing item.
Procedural is
it's like
testing antacids.
It's yes, it's just rewording basically what we're doing now.
So strike the motion on the floor if if that's agreeable.
Correct me if I'm wrong. Mr. Bennett, your
vote on this
for the masquerade, correct?
You wanted that, correct.
So I make a motion to remove the Bronx Masquerade from the other.
That motion was that against the motion?
A second and a vote to amend.
Mr. Bennett, would you like
to make a motion to amend this item to remove Bronx Masquerade?
Yes, I'd like to make that motion.
Is there a second to that motion?
Second. Erica Schmidt.
All those in favor to amend the item
as discussed? Say I.
I any opposed say no. No,
or I'm sorry, Mrs.
A.J., could you actually do a roll call for that, please?
Mr. Bennett? Yes.
Dr. KERNAN? Yes.
Ms.. Drew? Yes.
Dr. Cook? Yes.
Mrs. Manning? No.
Mr. Rizzo. Yes.
Mr. Schmidt. Yes.
Mrs. Sicker. Now,
Mr. Singer. Yes.
Seven. Yes.
Two now.
So the motion to separate the item on the floor
to remove Bronx Masquerade is approved 7 to 2.
We will now, I will now have a motion to approve the
item approval of textbooks with Morosi
and orbiting Jupiter as amended.
So moved Lindsey Cup second.
Donna Cronan.
Is there any discussion?
This is you
could you roll call Vote this again, please?
Dr. Burnham. Yes.
That's true. Yes.
Dr. Cook.
Yes, This is many. Yes.
Mr. Rizzo. Yes.
Mr. Schmidt. Yes.
Mrs. Seger? Yes.
Mr. Singer. Yes.
Mr. Bennett.
Yes. Nine. Yes.
So the item, as amended with those two books, is approved.
Is there a motion to.
Approve your agenda at.
Is there a motion to amend the agenda to add an item
to approve Bronx Masquerade as an agenda item.
So moved on a crime second Lindsay Cup?
Is there any discussion?
All those in
favor say I, I and the oppose say no.
The agenda is amended to include
the item Bronx Masquerade as a standalone item,
which we will do at the end of new business.
Moving on to new business,
first item, the board recommends the citizen advisors as listed.
May I please have a motion to approve So moved.
Maria Me.
Second, Donna Cronan.
Is there any discussion?
Yes, I'm just going to I just want to make a statement
just to say that I will be voting no for this just because I don't agree
with the process of application utilization.
And that's it. Very simply.
Thank you.
Is there any other discussion?
This is Erica Schmidt.
Is there like.
A are.
We allowed to discuss why. That you.
Felt that it was not
me? I'm on the committee and as a whole,
we the majority approved the list, as it were, standing.
So as part of that approval, but as an individual board member
in this forum, I didn't agree with the process of application utilization.
I also don't want to know. It's h.r.
It's just i want to get into it.
I you know, i'm i'm used to it in a work environment.
You're looking at applications and filling things based on applications.
And i didn't feel that that was 100% followed, so I just didn't
I won't be approving it.
Okay. Just my own personal feeling.
Sorry.
There.
Any other.
Discussions, but.
It was zero copies.
Mr.. Yes.
Dr.. COOK. Yes.
This is Mimi. Yes.
Mr.. RIZZO. Yes.
Mr.. SCHMITT No.
It's a sticker. Yes.
Mr. Singer. Yes.
Mr. Bennett. Yes.
Dr. Corona. No.
To oppose seven. Yes.
Thank you.
Personnel Resignations.
Dr. Winslow.
Administration recommends.
Sorry, the approval of the personnel resignations.
Thank you.
May I please have a motion to approve personnel resignations?
So moved. Maria Me.
Second. Donna Cronan.
Is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor, please say I any oppose, say no
Personnel resignations as approved personnel.
General Dr. Windsor, the.
Administration recommends
the approval of the list of personnel and recognition of any listed transfers.
Thank you.
May I please have a motion
to approve the list of personnel and recognition of any listed transfers?
So moved. Kathy Second. Second. Maria. Mimi.
Is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor say I any oppose, Say no
impasses moving onto the new five D,
which will be approval of the textbook Bronx Masquerade.
The administration recommends the approval of the following textbook
for the use in 2020 to 2023 school year.
As previously discussed, Franks Masquerade may have a motion to approve this item.
Some of Kathy Secor Second.
Maria Mimi, Is there any discussion?
Yes. Robert Bennett So after
reading a majority of
this book, one, there is a tale of the 18 kids that, you know,
poetry and the one that I feel concerning for a read
along, read aloud application in the library.
Fine kids get the book out. I'm not trying to ban books.
I know that's the thing that you talk about that's on my agenda here.
The problem I have is one involves a sexual assault.
So she's it's a domestic violence and sexual assault.
This this girl subjected to and she goes to school the next day with the guy
and trying to hide her bruises and not tell anybody what happened.
That's kind of a footnote version of what it is.
So for the school to have this read aloud to every single kid,
it's not really the appropriate way
to have a sexual assault or domestic violence be handled like
from a parental perspective, that is not how I want my daughter
to handle that or whoever to handle a sexual assault, domestic violence.
So to have that read where it's kind of like ignored and they try and hide it
and they'll tell anybody, I think that sends
kind of the wrong message to eighth graders on it.
This happens to you.
This is a viable option because I don't think we should be
endorsing that approach to a victim of either domestic or sexual assault.
So to have it read aloud ever since eighth
grader is an option, I don't think it's appropriate.
As we say, there's many other books to pick from.
So, you know, to have just got put on so air on the side of caution,
I say this book should not be an option for eighth grade.
Read aloud in the library. Want to get it out? Great.
Thank you, Mr.
Bennett.
One of our student representatives
has a hand raise, so invite them to participate.
Is this working?
Okay. Can you just state your name before you tweet?
Well, to make just a little closer. So I.
Am. Well, I'm pleased, honestly,
personally, having read the book, when I was in eighth grade,
I felt like Bronx Masquerade great was a book
that we should have in our curriculum because it provides
a different perspective from the one that we have in Hershey.
Because at the end, the name Hershey is a small community and
obviously there's different.
Obviously, Hershey isn't perfect, but it's by far a well-off community.
And the Bronx Masquerade.
A Bronx masquerade
basically gives a different perspective on community and how there's different
troubles in the community and how kids can learn and grow from them.
Obviously, you know, you don't want to trigger
anyone who's had a sexual assault passed or something happened to them,
but in my opinion, I think it's good to
for students to broaden their horizons because Hershey's kind of a bubble
and we need to
do an instance to basically explore and find out that the world isn't perfect.
In my opinion. I
think you.
Donna Cronin, I'm just speaking from the hip here
because I really value both of those opinions.
And I when I came in, I usually don't have the idea of,
of banning books at all, but I guess is one of a relative utilization.
And I think it's important to know what.
But when you said Faizan in terms of letting kids
be exposed to things, but what I'm thinking in my head is
you're a very mature
writer, is my guest.
The topic in general for middle school, I'm
starting to think maybe.
Bob. Bob's comments
in terms of a read aloud exposure to everyone, not by trained
domestic violence people may not be the best idea.
I'm not against it.
In the library and I certainly think would be a great high school
book for a more mature audience.
So just in hearing both those two conflicting
viewpoints, I realize this is not an easy answer,
but I think I
am leaning towards not having it as a read along or read aloud for everyone,
but to have it available
and certainly make sure that students know and reinforce.
And then any time they are coming up with any type of curriculum,
if it's chosen books to read that there are
guidance counselors or whatever that are at least more trained
in dealing with whatever issues they have
with any content that they're dealing with.
So this isn't a straight
a straight, simple, straightforward
issue for me, but I think I'm leaning towards
Bob's comments but very respectful of citizens input.
Thank you both.
I would like to recognize that in the entire history of me being on this board,
we have never had a student representative speak out for something like that.
So I give you absolutely a ton of credit for doing that.
Thank you very much.
I think the most valuable opinion
at this table is one of a student that is actually hands on read.
It has their finger on the pulse.
And I can't tell you how much I appreciate you doing that. Thank you.
Thank you.
I will come and also thank you for both opinions.
I think that it's a, you know, important conversation.
It was part of the curriculum council meeting
the first time that this book was discussed and had heard Mr.
Bennett's feeling, you know, on this.
And we had a pretty robust dialog
in curriculum at that time as well,
and had the English department
teachers there, you know, as part of the discussion for
for who would actually be participating with the students.
I really I respect where Mr.
Bennett's coming from, from the parent perspective.
And you know what
exposure you know, you would want for for your children to hear.
I think I take a little bit of a different
approach on that, which I shared in Curriculum Council that as a victim
of sexual assault while being a Hershey High School student personally,
I had never had any
exposure in school to what to do with that,
what to where to go, how to talk to a guidance counselor,
how to talk to my parents, how to tell my friends
having to hide the bruises and deal with
that as as an individual at a very young age was
something that takes a long time to to recover from.
So from that perspective, I am encouraged
to see discussions like that happening because
it's something that's very real and
looking at when for me personally, I went through that,
I wouldn't hearing it any later wouldn't have been enough for me to have heard
it, understood or potentially, you know, taken it upon myself to to learn more.
So I do support this being in here,
you know, while respecting that parents
have individual, you know, feelings about things for their students.
But I think that, you know, our teachers do do a good job at making sure
if they're sensitive content, to deliver that in a way
that is most appropriate for the age of the students hearing it.
And that, you know, they would help to facilitate
any additional conversation that needed to happen.
And this is Robert Bennett.
Just to be clear,
stop the sexual assault, domestic violence content that I think is inappropriate.
It's it's the way it is handled in the story,
presenting the message that you hide your bruises, you do that.
So somebody that's in that situation takes that is that's an option good option
B, doing so without having to knowing what the discussion is
or is not in the class.
You know, somebody could walk out saying,
thinking that that is an appropriate response
when you're a victim of domestic or sexual assault.
So it's not the content I'm concerned about,
it's the message it's sending on how to deal with that if it happens. So
maybe if that discussion would happen
with an appropriate ending to the story, if you will,
then I probably would not sit here having the issue with this.
The fact that this the story in itself ends with an issue
not appropriately ended from I think anybody's perspective like is
anybody thinks that's an appropriate way to deal with sexual or domestic assault.
I encourage you to stand up, say that's where you'd want it handled.
So maybe I'm maybe I'm wrong and that's somebody in here thinks that
that's the way it should be handled.
Then I stand corrected.
But I think if.
You read the book, start to finish.
Most of it. I mean, I,
I read eight out of 18.
I probably at 13 or 14 of I did not read it from start to finish.
Because when we are talking about the transgender book and you pulled
out the part about. The
it. Was something to do with the police officer and then.
We actually pulled out the chapter and read the whole.
Thing the way that you would interpret it and what. You took out.
I mean, with all due respect.
It was a completely different spin on that particular.
So having not read the book touched front to back.
I mean, I don't really
you're not an expert on the subject like you didn't read the book.
So I'm just kind of wondering.
You know, how do you.
Make a decision for
hundreds of students?
But, I mean, if it's your opinion and if there is a parent
that doesn't like the book, I know that if if a parent would say,
could you please pull my child out of that class
while they're reading it, we would certainly respect that.
But I think to make a blanket statement for all kids,
I just think it's a it's far.
And I'm hearing what you're saying.
This is Lindsay true, Mr.
Bennett, about that It could present the wrong suggestion, you know, of approach.
And, you know, I don't think that that's invalid.
I do think that having those conversations is important
because it can open to dialog of how you should
or, you know, be a conversation piece or have someone ask about that.
I think that our students and the professionals,
the academic professionals who recommend these books and and deliver this content,
you know, would be sensitive to that.
This is Lindsay Kirk.
I think regardless of how much of the book
you read, I think you raise a very good point as far as we have
parents sometimes who are concerned about the specific content in a book.
I was
reassured during the curriculum council meeting the way that the teachers,
when they presented the text, shared that they often work in grade level groups
and also closely with the guidance counselor to address some of these issues.
I found that that was reassuring because I think as we get to eighth grade
in that 14 and up age range, there's a lot of really complex texts
with really difficult content that's being shared.
So to see that they were being proactive in how to handle
those discussions, I was assured by that
I will support keeping this book mostly for that reason.
I pay a lot of attention when looking at books like this of the age
appropriateness of it, and I did find that again, while it does
cover very difficult topics, it is written for an eighth grade and up audience.
So I'd like to put the faith in our teachers to work
closely, work with the guidance counselors
and be able to if this is a book that's chosen.
And the other thing they did say is they use their best judgment
when they do read these books aloud with their class
to see kind of what's the best fit for the age group. But
I just I
think that books like this with these complex topics offer
a lot of great critical literacy opportunities that I want
our students to have and diverse reading material, as you mentioned.
So but I very much understands the concern and I value your opinion
as far as the difficult topic and the way the way that that topic
is handled in the text. Thank you, Dr. Kirk.
Ms.. For sir, you had your hand raised and then Mr.
President.
Okay, this is Olivia Forester.
I will say that in eighth grade there is many people
with different opinions, and I think that reading a book
of this caliber with these types of difficult
topics and it, if read or read aloud, will allow
those people with different opinions to have discussions.
And I think that
it's better to read it as a group so people can understand the correct ways
to deal with sexual assault and who we can go to and
kind of figure out the correct way to deal with that.
And also in a lot of families, it isn't open
communication and people aren't available to speak as hopefully mostly
hopefully you guys would agree that should be
open communication about sexual assault, but that isn't the case for most people.
So I think reading this book would be a age appropriate way
to bring that into conversation without making it inappropriate.
Thank you. Ms.. First.
Mr.. These businesses.
Mr. BENNETT, when you mentioned the part about how,
you know, the girl didn't speak up, the woman didn't speak up
after being sexually assaulted, I think the book is not meant to
show something that's meant it's meant to show reality.
And the reality is that sexual assault is something which is not easy to recover
from, and it's not something which is easy to speak out about.
And the problems are personal problems are very difficult to get over.
I think the book is meant to show that reality.
So and my question in turn is what grade do you think would be reasonable
to show that?
Because in my opinion, sexual assault is a topic which
no matter your
age, it's still a difficult conversation to have.
And I think the benefit of, you know, showing the book to age baiters
is that they learn from a young age
that the world is not perfect and that outside of Hershey,
things aren't as pleasant as it. Seems.
To us.
Once again, to be clear, it's not the actual content of sexual assault
that I'm opposed to, So it's not the age at like eighth grade
is inappropriate to deal with sexual assault.
That is not my concern.
It's it's the tale that's picked.
There's probably several other
tales of sexual assault that end in a more appropriate fashion.
It's the way the situation resolves itself.
If you if you read that at the end,
she ends up sitting in the back of the classroom
and says, Well, I'm not gonna let that happen again.
So it's the way it ends.
It's actual message of how to deal with sexual assault is the issue
I have, not the actual content.
They can discuss that content. It's the way it's handled.
So you're putting a lot of faith in the fact that a some student that is
sexually assaulted is not taking this, is that that's a way to do business.
So that that is my concern.
It's not the actual topic that makes sense.
This is Cathy Zwicker.
I am in favor of keeping this book because I was part
of the curriculum committee, and I feel the same way as Dr.
Cook that we were reassured that since it's a read aloud book,
one of the reasons they bring this book forward is so that they can
discuss things that aren't normally maybe happening in Hershey.
And I think what's missing in this conversation is the fact
that survivors of sexual assault are unfortunately often silent.
So even if she didn't handle it the way I mean, you're a police officer,
so obviously you would want it reported and taken through the legal system.
But what we know is that there is a there's
an unfortunate silence around being a survivor of sexual assault.
And so while she didn't handle it appropriately through the legal matters
that you would want perhaps a family member of yours to go through,
she another female or male or survivor would say, I'm not alone.
This happened. This happens to other people.
I think when people keep it inside and keep it to themselves,
and then there may be a conversation that sparks up around this.
And I know that you all some I did not read the book, but you also mentioned
there was a glorification of gun violence in this book as well.
And maybe the the are getting exposed
to things that they wouldn't readily be exposed to at Derry Township.
But it's
it gives me hope to hear the actual students
who were in these classes talk about it, because it's my hope that this opened
the conversation in somebody's worldview so that they don't stay silent.
It's not teaching maybe a young woman to stay silent.
It's teaching her that, Oh my gosh, this happens to other people,
and maybe I should actually do the opposite
of what this character did because I'm not alone.
It happens to other people
and I don't know if that's
because it maybe not be literally taken like this.
It's it's not like a guidebook of this is what you do.
Cover your bruises and stay silent.
It's actually like, oh, this stuff happens out in the world.
I shouldn't stay silent. It happened to other people.
There's other people like me.
So that would be my hope.
And so I am in approval of keeping this textbook, this book.
And I said, I appreciate your comments.
You know, it's good that could happen.
But we also have the opposite go where somebody takes that as I shouldn't
speak up.
So we're like, a could happen either way.
And I am more in favor of erring on the not being present.
This is Eric Schmidt. I am
you know, as a woman I want
I would want our female population just to know that they are not alone 100%.
And so, again, I agree this content is not a problem.
But what I do worry about is
our teachers are not psychologists, our teachers are not psychiatrists.
That is a very specifically trained job.
It is for us to open up that kind of discussion.
It, which is great.
But at the same time, you know,
that's a lot of pressure for them to have to really get into that content.
They are not necessarily trained the way they should be
in those kind of topics.
I mean, they can do, you know, like talk about it.
But really, I mean,
how deep can they go?
So that would be a concern.
This is Lindsey Drew.
I think that speaks to Dr.
Cook's point
about the conversation with the teachers who brought it forward for recommendation.
You know, they're the ones who will be reading aloud.
They're the ones that would, you know, need to gauge whether or not
they felt equipped to be able to handle conversations that would arise from it.
And they expressed that they have
appropriate plans in place to be able to provide the supports
and engage the the other professionals in the district as needed.
Well, you would hope so.
This is Donna Cronan.
I love this this course.
I just really appreciate getting everyone's perspective because this is,
like I said, rarely we have things that are,
you know, straightforward when it comes to how we handle things with students.
I know we have
literacy coaches and we have the guidance counselors,
so I don't say I'm assuming, but we do have the resources to make sure
I'm not going to say we're assuming this will happen,
but can we make sure that in content like this, this situation
as well as others, that the literacy coaches are on board
and bringing in and guidance counselors
so that the teachers just like the literate,
the literature literacy coaches are supposed to do, are actually
training the teachers on this content and how to deal with it, even
even as it includes what you're not capable of saying, like
when you're not certified to say and how to just share.
Well, this is where you would go in this sense,
because not a teacher is not a psychologist.
It would be to say in these situations, this is what you would do.
And just make sure that it is it is truly an edge
of a controlled educational environment so we don't have to worry about chance
and that it really do.
We do get the benefits that were all that were all cited
of this conversation without the negative aspect
that Bob is citing, which is very possible happening.
But we can prevent that by knowing in advance and letting the
the literacy coaches know this is a concern.
Can we train the teachers to try to avoid that pitfalls
that make sense in terms of,
you know, I mean, that's what literacy coaches are for,
to make sure the teachers can handle the content.
Not exactly.
Okay. But all right.
Instructional coaches do help with that.
That's what that piece literacy is like learning to students.
I'm sorry. Yeah.
So the instructional coaches are absolutely able to help with that.
I would also, you know, the great majority
of our teachers have master's degrees
and many of them in their content areas and when you are an English teacher,
a big part of what you are trained in is selecting appropriate literature
for particular age groups and how to handle difficult topics.
It's a major part of their training.
It's a major part of something that they review on a regular basis.
It is not something that is just taken for granted because any complex literature
is going to have complex topics.
So it's it's a major part of their educational training.
Thank you.
And I want to thank you
for bringing this up,
because this type of this type of conversation is really critical,
you know, throughout the district.
So I appreciate him bringing that forward.
And I also don't want you to be disturbed, not having read the whole
the whole book is obviously not everyone has read it cover to cover.
We're all voting on it.
But thank you for
for reading it in the detail that you have to bring that forward to us.
This is Terry Singer.
I wasn't here for the curriculum discussion.
I appreciate what has been said about it
and the reassurance that it offered for a few of the board members.
I'm just trying to understand how reading a read aloud book activity works.
I'm assuming, and I love this one, I want to test it so
if I'm wrong I can be corrected that they read
and I would imagine they read paragraphs chapter.
They don't read the whole book.
They read a little bit all the time and then there's facilitated discussion.
I would assume,
especially when they come across topics
that they know are going to jolt people.
So I'm assuming that this particular topic
of how you deal with a sexual assault would never go unaddressed.
I mean, there's going to be a stop around there
and one or more students, I would imagine, would say, Well, that's crazy, though.
Of course you would report it or not.
A student would say,
No, you don't want to do that because then you're
stuck in a legal system and then this, this and this.
Who knows what, you know.
But I'm assuming that it would be rare if ever
in a read.
Aloud.
Discussion that's read
a read aloud book where it's facilitated discussion
that there would ever be silence around a paragraph like that.
Is that fair? That is absolutely fair.
And one of the parts of that discussion would be who are your trusted adults?
Who could you go to if you can't tell somebody at home who can you go to here?
Where can you go for help?
And how do you find those connections?
And it's it's not about solving those problems or trying to,
you know, fix a very complex problem for a student
because that is outside of a teacher's expertise.
It is instead, how do we connect with the people who can help us.
So it would be virtually,
almost 100% unlikely
that the students in that read aloud facilitated
discussions situation would ever have the period end.
With the best way to do it is not to report. It.
Correct? Correct.
If if you were getting
to that spot in the class period, you would not address that piece
until the next day when you had plenty of time to talk about it. Right.
But you would never go.
Sounds like never go addressed. No.
I mean, it's almost like it's calling out for.
Correct? Correct.
And this is not a quote.
And plus, Maria stated that, which is I'm sure is true,
that if there was a situation where a parent didn't
want their student to participate, they can be withdrawn.
Absolutely. That is always the case. Absolutely.
And it's my understanding that the students do not receive
copies of these read aloud texts. Is that correct?
I think there was just like several on for approval.
That's correct.
Of this.
Robert Brown Just and that's all well and good and I appreciate that.
But having my daughter just gone through this exact
same thing is how this book was initially brought to my attention.
Those discussions didn't happen to the point
where she came home and didn't get any of that out of that.
So I am I'm not saying that I wasn't there.
I don't know what the discussion looked like.
I can only unpack it when my eighth grader comes home.
And now just not at all what she took from it.
That is not she did not get that out of that.
So having just lived that experience, that didn't happen in that particular case.
So that's why I'm not super reassured by that,
because I just had that experience not happen.
But this is getting sicker.
Did you then have a conversation about what
what would have been the best way to handle that situation?
We did.
And if if it weren't for this book, would that have happened to your
eighth grade daughter in your house at that time when she was 14?
Well, my house, probably the best example for that kind of thing.
But we we've we've had discussions in the Bennett household about that kind
of things in the past. But
we reiterated some things after she came home.
I mean, I think that's kind of the point of having literature
like this in the school system is while it's uncomfortable,
your daughter is in a great situation where she came out
and talked about it and you talked about how you would like her to handle it.
I mean, I think that's fantastic that as a father, you had a conversation
with daughter where maybe now maybe you talk about this stuff more often.
But I don't know.
I just think it opened up a conversation that was important to have.
And then what about, though, this is Erica Schmidt.
Those all those students who don't have those kind of
open communications with their families and they did not get out of it.
What we had hoped they would get out of it, just like Mr.
Bennett said his daughter didn't.
And then there's no one to talk about it with.
So it's just it's yes,
I mean, in an ideal world, that is exactly how we want this to end.
But in reality, that is not what happens in everybody's house all the time.
So it is important when we review this stuff
that we have to take into consideration.
Everyone. One.
I hear you're saying I think that that goes back to what Dr.
Winslow's saying, though, about that.
You know, when this is being done as a read aloud, that this
the conversation would be there.
But with Mr.
Bennett said, was it read aloud? Right.
It was already.
That's what I'm just saying.
Like, yes, you're right.
That is what that is what we want.
That is how it should be.
But in what he just said, and fortunately in that situation.
Right.
She was able to and so that, you know, is absolutely
a great testament to that relationship and conversation because
I don't think that it's common
or, you know, easily occurred.
I know for me it wouldn't have been.
And I guess that's where I'm going to err on the side of.
I would rather see the chance of the conversation
happening and students being able to discuss it then than not,
because then there's really no exposure to those types of things.
And my lived experience is that it probably would have been beneficial.
So this is Donna Cronin.
So this is another comment for you, Stacey.
So given the dialog that we have here, the robust dialog,
I, I don't know which I mean, I do know the eighth grade English teachers.
I'm not sure if anyone were listening,
but I would certainly encourage them
to listen to the dialog so they're aware of the concerns,
so that they go to the nth degree to make sure it doesn't happen again.
What would Barb's daughter experienced?
So the importance of our discussion once again is is fabulous.
Thank you. That's an excellent point.
Is there any other
discussion before we call this first.
I just have Olivia Forester.
I just have a quick thing to say.
I would just say
that I would rather have the possibility of a discussion occurring,
even if it's not just with the parents.
I think if you make it clear that there's always the guidance counselors, go
to other coaches and parents,
just adults in general that make the options known
and that possibility is clear, then I would rather have that
than just not be discussed because that's when you get situations
like the ones that occur on the books, that that's when you get the silence
after having sexual assault or things that go
across your boundaries is when you think there's no option.
And I think if we make the options known, even if they don't personally
want to discuss fully because it's not in everyone's comfort zone,
then that's better for our students in general.
Thank you.
Is there any other discussion before we ask for a.
Roll call. Vote for Mrs.
and Mrs. e.g.
Roll call, please. Dr. Keck? Yes?
This is Manny.
Yes, Mr. Rizzo?
Yes, Mrs.
Schmidt?
No. Mrs.
Sicker.
Yes, Mr.
Singer? Yes.
Mr. Bennett? No.
Dr. Cronan. Yes.
Mr.. Yes.
So I won't approve to opposed.
Thank you everyone for that dialog.
That concludes our new business for this evening.
And there are no delegate reports attached.
Does any board member have a delegate report to share?
Are there any board members
who would like to have a board member report this evening?
Not so much to report.
I'd just like to thank the student representative for speaking up.
I haven't been here a long time, but this is kind of the first time
where they engage in the conversation as well.
Joe I appreciate that and keep doing it.
This is Terry Singer.
I just wanted to mention that the Hall of Fame is having its
annual luncheon this Friday,
October 14th at 11 a.m.
It begins at the Country Club Ballroom.
They'll be, I guess, installing of five
qualifying athletes.
And a lot of a
lot of the students come as well.
I think they bring over a lot of the captains
and leaders of the athletic teams
and the act and some of the activities that bring them.
It's it's a great, great event if you haven't been.
It's this Friday, October
14th at 11, and I'm sure you could get tickets from
from Mike's office, the athletic office.
And Donna Cronin.
I just want to add that it is senior night for the boys soccer team.
They're playing lower dolphin right down the road.
So if we get out soon, we can ball.
I can't believe Erica's even here. She's missing her son play.
I'm just in my arms.
So hopefully any of you that can go to the game, we need to beat day.
So thank. You.
This is Lindsay Cook.
I just wanted to say, and I don't want to take.
Anything from your superintendent's report, but
I was able to attend this morning
the minute to win it at the SCC and the elementary school,
which was a result of them getting X amount of Hershey passes
up into a certain point.
And it was so wonderful having all of these parents in the building
and other teachers and administrators who are helping out to run these games.
It was all part of their positive behavior incentive.
And it was just it was wonderful.
It was wonderfully ran off.
I knew exactly who did everything.
I wish I could say and give them credit for it because they did a great job.
The kids had a great time
and it was the very first time they've done it and it was a
well-oiled machine, so it was great and the kids had a great time.
Dr. NZEI And Superintendent
Manley did.
I was going to talk
about the PBS minute to win it because Dr.
Snyder, myself and Dr.
Cook were all there, as well as many other parent volunteers.
It was really, really fun.
My I think Dr.
Cox was the puff balls right there.
We did have pom pom and the beaded bracelets with one hand, and Dr.
Rice did the scoopers and I did the cups, which I know sounds crazy.
And I think all of that was there too.
I did just for the Boy Scouts.
Awesome business manager, White for PBS.
That's amazing.
So that is.
It was all organized by Mr.
Chicco and it was phenomenal.
And what we've been really striving for with our positive behavior, interventions
and supports is that we don't have external material rewards,
but instead experiential rewards that are more internally motivating.
And the kids had a ball playing games and having the visitors in the classroom.
And it was a really wonderful experience.
We had a great time,
so really happy to see
that growth in our PBIS.
And I was also going to mention the Hall of Fame
induction is on Friday, So that's always a fun and exciting event.
And obviously Friday is also homecoming come out for the homecoming game.
It's going to be a lot of fun and wonderful and it's always great
to have the support out.
It's it's such a great
event to see.
And I love I love that.
And when the kids sing the alma mater, it's just great.
It makes my heart big.
That's my report.
Thank you, Dr.
Windsor for board president report.
I didn't have one, but
I do want to tag on to the other comments and thank our student
representatives for participate in this dialog and conversation tonight.
I was fortunate to be part of the committee as board President.
When you were interviewed and selected last
spring, late spring. And
what you demonstrated this evening
was exactly why you stood out as applicants for this role
and your leadership was on full display tonight.
And so I hope, in reflection on participating with this board meeting,
that this is one that stays with you and that you feel empowered
to continue using your voice and participating in civil discourse.
It's important and it's something that you'll need
in life constantly as you go on.
And so thank you for really embracing this role.
And I also would just like to thank the board.
I think we've had a number of conversations over the last I forget
there was one
not that long ago that after the meeting ended,
we kind of I walked away and was like, wow, We just
I was really proud of of all nine of us together.
And tonight's another one of those that that we're able
to have these conversations.
And though we disagree, everyone is hearing one another and responding.
So I know that's not always the case, but tonight it really mattered.
And I want to thank everyone for showing up for that.
So with that concludes my report.
And we'll move into recognition of citizens for the opportunity
for residents and taxpayers to address the board on matters related to the agenda
or matters of district governance that were not on the agenda.
Those who speak are asked to follow the same guidelines outlined
at the initial public comment portion of our meeting, and I'll once again ask
Mrs. Sikka, our board Treasurer, to keep time.
Are there any residents or taxpayers who would like to comment at this time?
I'll open it up to anyone in the audience that's here,
and then I will invite individuals online.
I see one hand raised so far.
Colby You can Colby, Hollinger,
you can talk to.
Good evening, everyone.
Colby Hollinger, 1361 Church Road, Hershey.
I just want to say I appreciate the robust conversation around the importance
of reviewing the curriculum and the books that are being presented to our children.
There are some great points made all around.
My only displeasure with the conversation comes around criticism of board
members, opinions based on whether or not the full text was read.
There was a voice dissent on whether a member's opinion
was, quote, expert due to not reading the full text.
But when an opinion was given that aligned with the same thought process,
even though it was stated that the text was not read at all,
there was no voice dissent about that opinion.
I just ask that we continue
to look and listen to everyone's view from their life perspective,
and that diversity is what makes this community great,
whether you agree with their opinion or not. Thank you.
Thank you.
Mr. Hollinger.
Is there anyone else who would like to participate in public comment?
I see no additional hands raised.
Is there anything else for the good of the order?
The next Public Board of Directors
meeting will be held on October 24th, 2022, beginning at 7:00 PM.
Please refer to the District website to register
for virtual attendance as the meeting draws closer.
May I please have a motion to adjourn the meeting?
So move to Maria. Me second Lindsay Clerk.
All those in favor say I say no.
Giving in to adjourn at 7:59 p.m..
Thank you and have a great night.