I'd like to call the June 13,
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 conducted both in-person and virtually, and
I would like to request four board members to please state your name when speaking.
I would also like to thank those in the audience and participating
for your patience.
As I know we're getting started a few minutes late this evening.
Mrs.. E.g. Can I have a roll call please?
Mr. BENNETT.
President. Dr. CRONIN.
Mr. President.
Dr. COOK. Here.
Mrs.. Many Here.
Mr. RIZZO. Here.
Mr. SCHMIDT. Here, Mrs. Decker.
Here, Mr. Singer. Here.
A present. One absent. Thank you.
Please rise if you are able, and join me for the Pledge of Allegiance.
Allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.
One nation under God and indivisible, with liberty
and justice for all.
May I please have a motion to approve
the June 13, 2022 Board of Directors meeting Agenda.
So moved Maria me. Second, Mike Rizzo.
Is there any discussion?
This is standard voice vote.
All those in favor, please say I.
Think. Any opposed
agenda is.
Approved.
By President Communications
on behalf of the Derry Township School.
On behalf of the Derry Township Board of School Directors.
Our hearts are with the families and the entire community of you all day.
Texas, who suffered unspeakable devastation at Rob
Elementary School on Tuesday, May 23rd.
I would like to ask the board and everyone present, both in person
and virtually this evening to please join me in a moment of silence
in honor of the victims and their families.
Thank you.
As school board directors,
our first instincts are always to protect the children in our schools.
We must also protect our teachers and staff who dedicate their lives
to nurturing and educating future generations.
Schools are meant to be safe
havens for learning, for growth and for joy.
Families send their children
to school each day, expecting that they will be nurtured and safe.
Educators go to work with the expectation that they, too, will be safe
and supported to fulfill their passion of teaching each student in their care.
The care and stewardship of our children is our
and our society's most important role.
We have received questions from community members
asking about our safety measures and what they, too, can do to help.
Each year, our district invests in a wide array of safety and security measures,
including secure entrances, visitor management systems, communication systems,
threat assessment teams and staffing protocols
and procedures for school safety and management.
We engage an outside firm on a scheduled basis
to conduct a risk and vulnerability assessment for our district,
and we have implemented the suggested ways to improve.
We are currently continuing
the implementation of security upgrades to our building entrances and other safety
enhancements in addition to the ones already completed across the district.
We also work closely with the Derry Township Police Department,
County and Region Regional Emergency Management,
and we are fortunate to have Derry Township police officer Becky
Kessler, who was recently honored as law enforcement
officer of the Year for 2021 as our district school resource officer.
Physical security
is paramount, but so is emotional security.
We've invested in proven prevention strategies, including behavior
interventions, school climate counseling, substance abuse and mental health.
There will always be more that we can do,
and we are committed to continuing this work.
However, even our best efforts won't be enough.
When a child can turn 18, walk into a store and walk out
moments later with a weapon capable of causing such mass devastation.
Violence caused by firearms must stop.
School security measures are one step, but another crucial step is better,
smarter, stronger laws.
As we continue our efforts, we call upon our state and federal leaders
to come together and pass common sense legislation
that will help protect our communities from gun violence.
This also includes effective,
affordable and accessible mental health supports for those in need.
This is beyond urgent, and we've lost too many lives to gunfire.
We can do better for our children, our staff, and our community.
And collectively,
we must work together in support of their safety and overall well-being.
Thank you.
I would also like to
announce that the board met in executive session this evening prior
to this meeting to discuss information and matters of personnel.
Moving on
to recognition of citizens 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 are 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 that may result from statements misrepresenting the truth,
defaming individuals,
or disclosing 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 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 will ask board Treasurer, Mrs.
Seger, to please keep time.
Are there any residents or taxpayers who would like to comment at this time?
I begin with those in the audience.
Mr. Miller.
Hello, John Miller.
329 Cocoa Avenue.
So looks like
the tax increase.
That's a it's a is what it is.
I'm looking into
more creative solutions into the future
with regard to funding, with regard to
attracting students to our schools.
I don't know
the details on this, but I did talk to a gentleman.
He's a school board president in northern Pennsylvania, a colleague.
And he he said that they were able to
get funding to do technical programs
and attract students from other schools.
So, for example, he said our senior graduation,
the board, that they're going to present and put all the
the names up there were kids that program that.
And he said it was
basically hands on learning.
I don't know if there's something we can do like that here.
For example, the
sinkhole that occurred, you know,
I'm a little biased, but I think that's a great learning opportunity
for science classes get out
and actually work with the engineers that are
doing geophysics or whatever they're doing out there.
That would be a wonderful opportunity.
Real quick, I just want to see some more options
for the future with I'm looking at our liabilities in the future.
It's not sustainable.
So some what if scenarios,
maybe we try this, maybe we just I don't know.
All I'm saying is the the, the liabilities long term, it's just not sustainable.
It's not and it's not going to work out good for for anybody.
So anyway, one more thing with a tax increase that I didn't hear
this talked about anywhere except I found it on the Internet.
There was an auditor General report
or something with $65,000
worth of missed funding that the district did not get.
I don't know if that's if it's the same know the
school district.
I know there's more than one.
Derry Township, I think went out
on your way to Pittsburgh, but
I didn't hear that mentioned anywhere.
So fiscal responsibility,
following up with and making sure that you're getting that 65,000.
And I understand we are going to be reimbursed back, but
it leaves a bad taste
when you're raising taxes and inflation is killing everybody.
And then we leave 65,000 on the table
for the 20% of our school district
that's having trouble paying their bills under poverty.
That's that's tough.
That's a tough pill to swallow.
So thank you.
Thank you.
Is there anyone else in the audience
who would like to participate in public comment?
Citizens Minsky.
Walters.
Alinsky. 62 Boxwood Drive.
First, I'd like to say that it's great to see everyone's smiling face today.
I really appreciate that.
I've been gone.
My my son's been doing basketball for coach basketball, so I have been able
to meet these attorneys meetings as much as I would have liked to.
I think that there are a lot of compelling reasons to raise the property tax.
Number one, first, first and foremost with the inflation.
If you provide the same amount of services
and with the value of those dollars has gone down,
then you obviously need more dollars to provide the same number of services.
I think that's perfectly logical and perfectly reasonable.
However, I think that the
the counter to that is and I have obviously haven't done this analysis
because I don't have the data that you have access to.
But what what services are we are
we providing that might not be necessary.
What some what waste is there as I'm sure that there some waste.
I mean no organization is is perfect.
Is there any waste out there that that can't be eliminated
where dollars can be repurposed and I would urge you to consider those things.
I certainly don't speak for the entire community, but
I'm quite confident that I speak for a sizable plurality
of the of the community that really has lost
trust and confidence and a good number of the people here.
I will say with with exception Mr.
Bennett and Schmidt, I did not vote for either one of you.
However, I you've earned my trust and confidence
with the way that you've conducted yourself in this board.
And I thank you for that.
Dr. Cock, obviously, I'm obviously not familiar
with with you at all, and I have every bit of trust and confidence in you,
and I think that you're going to do great and and what a wonderful things.
However, the remaining six of you I'm sorry, during during this school year
of you've lost my trust and confidence.
And I am sure that there are many, many people in this community
that feel the same way.
So before you raise property taxes,
I think the first thing that you need to do is regain our trust and confidence.
And I think that one way that you can do that is by looking at the budget,
where is there waste, where are there things that can be repurposed
so that we do not have to raise the taxes on on this community?
And there are obviously, you know, that there are many people in this community
who are struggling.
So I'd urge you to to consider that first.
And I thank you for your time and consideration.
Thank you.
Mr. DAVIES Now,
okay,
we will now open up to any virtual attendees.
If you would like to raise your virtual hand to participate.
Kevin Ferguson, you have been given permission to speak.
Please state your name and address for the record.
Good evening, Kevin Ferguson
1338 Quail Hollow Road.
I want to thank you for your comments before the meeting began.
Addressing the recent
school shootings, because that is
a great importance to me and probably,
as you are aware with knowledge,
a lot of the parents
and I'm glad that you are reviewing this.
That's what I wanted to ensure that since this happened,
that the administration and the board
were going over your security protocol to make sure that
is as best as it can be and,
you know,
we're living in some very crazy times right now.
And these these acts are completely random in location.
And certainly Hershey is is not immune from one of these attacks.
When I was at high school, there,
we didn't even have lockers on locks on our lockers.
But things are so crazy now
that I think that
it's really time to consider
that we have an armed individual
in each one of the school buildings
having one resource officer.
I don't see how that really would mitigate
somebody walking around the hallways
with a gun.
Laws are certainly important and it's a good step to take.
But laws will not stop a criminal
willing to harm somebody.
So when you do these reviews
and you speak to the professionals
so they can give you the best security protocol that you can get.
I encourage you to
please consider I think it's time to consider
having a professional trained, armed
individual in each one of our schools.
I thank you for the time.
Thank you, Mr.
Ferguson.
Is there anyone else who would like to participate in public comment
virtually at this time?
If so, please raise your virtual hand.
Casey, No additional hands raised.
We'll move on to standing committee meeting reports, the curriculum
Counsel and communications and Community Engagement committees met today. Mr.
Bennett sitting in his chair.
Wood Do you have a curriculum report for us, please?
I do.
So three books were presented for first read per the eighth grade English class.
That was the bear with the eaves orbiting Jupiter and the Bronx Masquerade.
All three of those
been approved for the first grade, and they will go on to the 30 day review.
The other topics were second
grade for books that had already been at the curriculum committee.
Those were for the middle school as well,
coming their fugitive Wednesday,
what they call enemy and drums, girls and dangerous pies.
Those were also approved and moved on to the second reading.
And then the next meeting will be in August.
Thank you,
Mrs. Memory, I understand that you are the new chair
of the Communications Committee, and you have.
A report for us, please.
That's correct. Yes, we.
Sarah basically ran the meeting,
but she talked about the community engagement goals,
which was a very robust conversation around that.
Anybody's interested.
I'd encourage you to go
listen to the meeting as it was recorded and then a questionnaire.
She she is working on a questionnaire regarding preferred
means of communication with families.
So basically just trying to gather a lot of information.
And the world that we live in today where there are so many different ways
of people wanting to have information brought into them.
Mrs. Schmidt
had mentioned, you know, she prefers paper,
which was a really good point because we're
all thinking about technology and how to push out information that way.
So it was a good representation of just that little bit that we talked about it.
So it'll be interesting to see how the survey comes back and how we develop it.
But as always, I appreciate Ms.
compels
Curiosity as to what the needs of this district are.
So anyway, we had a great, great conversation.
It was it was very long. We talked about one call.
Now how are moving to a different platform,
how she's looking for a better way to communicate
situations that are going on in a district.
So thank you.
Thank you.
Ms.. Capell
Do you have a community correspondence support for.
Us, please?
I do.
Thank you.
For the month of May,
the district received 20 community correspondence submissions.
Comments and questions for this month
included four notes of recommendation for the Special School Board election.
One question about this
A school procedure, a question about virtual options.
A question about athletics for comments about the tax increase, a question
about enrollment.
One safety question and a question about meal plan, money and that's all I have.
Thank you. Thank you.
Recognition of a Club Change.
Dr. Renslow.
The listed high school student club name change is recognized.
Limited service contract is associated with this club.
The club currently has a student
activity account that will be updated to reflect the name change over time.
Sports is being renamed. Play it Forward.
Thank you, Dr. Winslow.
The items that are listed
are on the anticipated June 27th, 2022
Board of Directors meeting Agenda.
Moving on to Unfinished Business Pandemic Update Dr.
Winslow, could you please provide an update
following the pandemic team meeting?
Absolutely.
Thank you.
Just for a little background, it is part of our requirements
to update the health and safety plan every six months.
As you know, the pandemic team was very active,
especially the beginning part of this year, and very helpful
in creating our initial health and safety plans,
as well as multiple revisions along the way.
So this was our six month revision time.
We do have to meet every six months until September 20, 24 to review.
The health and safety plan does not mean
that there have to be revisions every time.
But we do have to meet and and talk about it.
So very few changes to make.
Just changing some language
as opposed to strongly encouraged.
Masks are optional
but not required in all Derry Township School district buildings.
We know that there are a lot of students and families
who still have health considerations and are far more comfortable wearing masks
and want to make sure that they know that it's okay
to do that when they come back to school in the fall.
And another piece of information we've received
very little actually no
information or guidance from the state at this point,
either from the Department of Health nor from the Department of Education,
other than the last date for the summer that we needed to report
district COVID numbers was Friday the ninth,
10th.
Sorry, I'm losing track of time.
Friday was the last date that we had to report
COVID numbers, so we will not be reporting them over the summer
to the state.
It is always possible that
I would say not probable at this point that we could return
to a mask required learning environment.
But I see that as a possibility,
not a probability.
Most of the rest of this remains the same students, staff and educators
who are in close contact with a positive case
and are not experiencing symptoms of COVID 19 will not be subject to restriction
from school or school activities regardless of vaccination status.
We will not be quarantined Any close contacts of students and staff
who test positive for COVID 19 or experiencing symptoms of COVID 19
will be required to isolate for ten days regardless of vaccination status.
As long as tests are available, students and staff can choose to participate
in test return by testing negative on day five or later.
We will not be testing students during the summer months,
but if we do have a staff member that comes in with with symptoms,
we would provide that opportunity as long as we have tests.
We did make it clear in our discussions
with the pandemic team that the the testing program exists
because we had an opportunity for free tests.
We do not see ourselves ever
going to a space where we would be purchasing tests for that purpose.
And contact tracing will
not occur during any period of optional masking.
Looking forward, if this health and safety plan is approved,
it would be posted on the website on June 28, 2022.
So it would be in your the next Board brief with its updates
for you to vote on the agenda on June 27th.
We shared that the state is not requiring
that districts report COVID 19 cases throughout the summer months,
and during that time, at least for the summer,
the district will remove the COVID dashboard
and will not be updating district case numbers.
And so when I I'm referring to the dashboard,
I mean, that block of COVID stuff on the front page will still have the graphs
and stuff up there where they left off for people who want to look at them.
We'll still have the pandemic teen minutes.
We'll have all of that information on the website.
It just won't be.
The. Firm center thing that people see when they go to our website,
at least over the summer.
We'll revisit it in the fall.
Look, what's appropriate
on the pandemic team is a valuable asset to the district, and per.
Regulations.
We will continue to meet every six months to review the health and safety plan.
Like I said, we have not received anything from the state
other than that we don't have to report numbers over the summer.
I'm very hopeful that we will receive something before school starts
and if that data or information guidance requires it,
we'll pull the pandemic team together and make any additional adjustments.
If the past two years are any indicator, I would expect that information
a week after we're in school,
because that's the way it's gone.
But otherwise, I don't I don't anticipate any any changes over the summer time.
And we have fulfilled our obligation with a six month review.
Does anybody have any questions?
Okay.
Thank you.
Thank you. Dr. MENSAH.
So just to confirm, that will.
Be on the June 27th. Agenda for.
Approval. Okay. Thank you.
Moving on to consent agenda
excuse me, The consent agenda contains routinely adopted items and items
that normally do not require public deliberation on the part of the board
board member maple items which will then be discussed and voted on separately.
Ma'am, please have a motion to approve the consent agenda items as listed.
So move to marry me. Second, Cathy Zwicker.
Is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor, please say I oppose.
Say no.
The consent agenda is approved.
Moving on to new business approval of the Cocoa Pact's Memorandum of Understanding.
Please, Dr. Windsor.
The administration recommends the approval of Cocoa Pact's
Memorandum of Understanding to permit the packs
to use the school district facilities for their assistance program
and food rescue efforts to memorialize the relationship between the parties.
Thank you.
May I please have a motion to approve the Cocoa Pact's Memorandum of Understanding?
So moves Miami.
Second like Brazil?
Is there any discussion?
I would just like to note that since the last time
the board has voted on anything related to cocoa pacts,
I have taken on a role as a high level volunteer director
and also have a business relationship with the organization.
While I don't feel that it poses a true conflict of interest
out of an abundance of caution, I am going to abstain from this vote this evening.
Does that mean it's a roll call vote?
Mrs. EDI No or no.
Okay.
This will be a standard voice vote with my abstention.
All those in favor, please say I oppose.
Say no
motion passes, seven zero
Adoption of the final budget
and Tax Resolution 2020 to 2023.
Dr. Winslow.
The administration recommends the adoption of the final budget and tax resolution
for 2020 to 2023 as attached.
Thank you.
May I please have a motion to adopt the final budget and tax resolution
for 2022 to 2023 school year.
So move to carry Zika.
I get Miami.
Thank you.
Moving on to discussion.
I will start this evening
on behalf of Dr.
Cronin, who is not here. This evening.
I do have a statement that she provided to me to read this evening
from Dr.
Cronan, Although disappointed that I cannot participate in tonight's
meeting via Zoom despite being out of town on vacation with my family.
I do appreciate Mr.
Drew reading my statement regarding the 2022 2023 budget
that is being voted on this evening.
While I understand the need to balance the budget
and the previously standard process to do so, involving increasing school
real estate taxes up to the Act one index,
I believe we are currently in a state of affairs within our country
as well as local community, which warrants a different approach.
I appreciate the Finance Committee's efforts and understand
the historical significance of allocating $1 million to the capital budget.
I believe, however, that the suggestion to increase taxes to lessen the index
and balancing the budget by creative means is critical at this juncture.
I therefore support other board member and community suggestions
to only increase taxes by 2.4% and decreasing next year's contribution
to the capital budget accordingly to still allow for a balanced budget.
This would allow our communities, taxpayers
as well as the local economy to further adjust to the impact of COVID
without increasing the hardship many are still facing.
Although I am not part of tonight's vote, I respectfully disagree with the motion
to approve the 2223 budget as written with a 3.4% tax increase.
Thank you. And again, that is on behalf of Dr. Cronin.
Is there any other discussion?
Yes, this is Eric Schmitt,
along with what I agree with Dr.
Cronin.
In this time of inflation and post COVID,
I also don't support a 3.4%.
Another area of concern is that we have discussed
that we are allocating Esser funds for teacher salaries and compensation,
and we also, which is obviously not sustainable,
but we don't have a resolution for where
that's going to come from when that is
finished.
We said we'll figure it out then.
I'm not comfortable with that. So.
Thank you.
Is there any other discussion?
This is Lindsey Cook.
So when I stood up here in May at the appointment process,
I and asked if I would support a budget increase
if that's what the committee deemed necessary, I said I would support it
and I fully intend to stand by that tonight.
But I don't want to I want to acknowledge
all of the really significant points that have been brought up
about the long term and making sure that the choices
we're making now are sustainable in the future.
I recognize that this is necessary and that our surrounding
districts did this either this past year or this current year.
We do need
to recognize the burden that this will cause many families
and just make sure that moving forward, we're doing our due diligence
so that this isn't something we need to do again.
To this extent.
Thank you, Dr.
Cook. I'll also add just from my comment
and being on the Finance Committee that I think
if you listen to Finance Committee meetings from the beginning
of the year forward, this was something that we knew was coming.
And I have been somewhat vocal opponent of it throughout
the entire process, just recognizing the financial impact that it takes.
However, as we move forward and move through the budget process,
there's a large part of our budget that is outside of easy board
control to reduce without having great significant impact
to student services and the education that we provide.
It was
a very I believe it was the right decision last year
to not raise taxes in the time since I've been on the board.
We've raised taxes only for the purpose of implementing full day kindergarten
and actually were able to come in
and reduce the amount that had been projected for that.
I commend the business office for the continued work
that is done collaboratively with all areas of the district
to really, you know, keep a stronghold on expenses.
And this isn't a position that we want to be in.
But I feel that for the financial stability
and the fiscal responsibility for the district, that while inflation
is affecting all of us and we don't do this lightly, as Dr.
Cook said, you know, I recognize and hear the concerns,
but we need to have
a budget that allows us to know that the bills can be paid,
that the lights can stay on, that supplies can be replenished,
and that there is a continuity of education
to be delivered to the students in our district that we serve.
And so for that, I will be voting in
support of tonight's budget.
But don't want it to at all be construed
as something that we arrived at or that I personally arrived at lightly.
Because as a taxpayer myself, it's it's hard.
There are a number of things
that I do think that we can take a look at in the future.
Some of the increases that led to
the budget numbers for this year were unexpected.
When health insurance increases
12% while we are when we are
very far into the budget planning process, there's not a lot that we can do.
Fortunately, the Esser funds are there to minimize that.
But we have a lot of areas that are coming back,
but it's not something that we can leave to chance.
So I mentioned this at the last meeting that when we approved
the preliminary budget, but for individuals who are
on a fixed income or senior citizens, there is a property
tax rebate and rent rebate that is available.
I would encourage folks to please
look into that if it's something that has not been utilized.
There's an opportunity to really offset some of the impact for that.
I would ask for a consideration of having that link placed on the website.
I know I've spoken at Derry Township meetings before and asked that
they placed it on their website, so it is on the Tax Office's website
on Derry Township board now, but that is something that's there.
But I know that we're not alone in this struggle.
All other area districts
are feeling the stress and raising their taxes as well.
And if they're not raising taxes this year, it's because they did it last year.
And if we had had a crystal ball last year,
maybe we would have been able to split it a little bit.
But things felt very dire last year as well.
And so I stand by, you know, where we've come from.
But there's certainly a lot of work to do in the future.
And I look forward
to working with this board and the business office and administration
to doing that with the least amount of taxpayer
impact.
There's no other.
This is Cathy Decker.
I would hope that the board
would support this final budget and tax resolution tonight.
Some of the conversation that's come up in the last month or two I think
does disservice to the work that was done two and a half years
prior to not do tax increases to get us through the pandemic.
And the district is feeling the effect of inflation as well.
Our supply costs have gone up.
We have bargained contracts with our employees.
And during the pandemic, our 93 employees took 0% for two years
so that we could balance the budget back when we were going through the pandemic.
So and we did a lot of things back then to not raise it.
So it's not that we want to do this.
It's that I feel like we have to maintain what we have
unless the taxpayers and parents want us to cut services.
And that's not the feeling I get from everybody.
And some of the ideas that have been thrown around
in the last two months that have disregarded what we've planning
is don't do the the transfer to the capital fund.
But already with that million dollar capital fund,
that our capital fund will be short next year.
So we are doing things to make sure that our buildings are maintained
the way they are now are programs remain the way they are now.
Our children get the services that they have now, our teachers
get the salaries,
and then other things have gone up that are outside of our control.
Like Miss Drew with the health care costs. So
and we've I just
it doesn't seem fair to me the focus on the last two months.
You should really go back and listen to the last two and a half years
to see how we got to this.
And I guess don't
it's it's a difficult decision to have to do this,
but we worked hard not to do it before and now we have to do it now.
And there is somewhat of a cliff coming.
There's kind of always a cliff coming that we managed to work through.
If you look long term at the budget
because we do have some esser funds that will run out.
But I am confident that we can work
through that with our new business manager and the finance committee
and with the people who
really studied the budget and understand it.
So I do hope the board passes this budget and tax resolution,
because if you don't at this late stage in the game
where we need to send it to the state by June
30th, it's a little past our deadline
and our work in progress that's been worked up to this point.
I mean, for you to vote no tonight
when we need to pass a budget by June 30th,
it just seems short sighted in the process that where we've come up to this point
and the things that we need to maintain this district,
unless you want us to cut things
that nobody
wants to cut, things we want to maintain what we have.
However, again, two months ago there were questions about this, but
it was
like the Finance Committee was taking it personally.
And, you know, we we know you work hard.
Everybody works hard.
We very much appreciate that.
I very much appreciate what
Miss Purcell has has put together and shown us.
And that is that has nothing to do with it.
But also, since the last two years, times
have change economically and we need to recognize that.
And maybe that is that this year we don't put
as much back into the capital fund, you know, But these were
these are also things that we could have talked about along the way.
And had different discussions.
But, you know, it just felt presented.
And then if we didn't agree, then that was the end of it.
So I'm just saying that I, I don't agree fully with it.
I think maybe a 2.4% this year
see where everything falls out and next year,
you know, possibility of going up 1%
is feasible, but kind of slowly taking it up,
I think would be in the best interest for the community.
Is there any further discussion?
Mrs. Eagle asked for a.
Roll call Vote, please.
Mr.. BENNETT. No.
Mr.. Yes,
Dr. Carson. Yes.
Mrs.. MANY Yes.
Mr.. RIZZO. Yes.
Mr.. SCHMITT.
No, This is sicker. Yes.
Mr. Singer. Yes,
It's. Six.
Yes, two now.
Thank you.
Okay.
The budget is passed.
Moving on to approval of Homestead and Farmstead exclusion. Dr.
Winslow The administration recommends the approval
of the homestead and farmstead exclusion as attached.
Thank you.
May I please have a motion to approve the homestead
and farmstead exclusion as attached?
So moves Miriam.
Second, Mike Rizzo.
Is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor, please say. I.
Any opposed, say no
groups.
Next item is the approval of the annual tax levy resolution.
Dr. Windsor.
The administration recommends the board approve the annual tax levy resolution.
Thank you.
May I please have a motion to approve the tax?
The annual tax levy resolution as attached.
So moved without. Me.
Second, Microsoft.
There any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor, please say.
I. Oppose.
Say no motion passes,
approval of the resolution for budget transfers and the GSP 54 compliance.
Dr. Windsor.
The administration recommends the board approve the resolution resolution
for budget transfers and a SB 54 compliance as attached.
Thank you.
May I please have a motion to approve the resolution for budget transfers
and GSP 54 compliance as attached.
So moved Maria by me.
Second, Mike Rizzo.
Is there any discussion?
It's a standard voice vote.
All those in favor, please say I see no
item. It's approved
at 93.
Compensation and
excuse me Benefit Program Amendment.
Dr. Winslow.
The administration and the Human Resources Committee recommends the board accept
and execute the proposed amendment to the 20 2024
Act 93 Compensation and Benefits Program.
Thank you.
May I please have a motion to approve
the Act 93 Compensation and Benefit Program Amendment.
So moved Maria May.
Second. Mike Grizzle.
Is there any discussion?
It's a standard voice vote.
All those in favor, please say I need personnel
motion passes.
May I please have a motion to approve the revised
2021 2022 Committee Delegate assignments.
So moved Maria Mimi.
Second. Mike Rizzo.
Is there any discussion?
This is standard voice vote.
All those in favor, please say I hi.
Any oppose say no
payments approved personnel resignations.
Dr. Winslow.
The administration recommends the approval of the personnel resignations.
Does anyone have any items
they would like to separate from the items listed prior to a motion?
I would like to make
a motion or suggestion to Paul Regis
bar Irwin's resignation out and make his effective
date to be determined as opposed to the date that's listed
only the second on that, I do.
So the motion on the floor is to approve
personal resignations as amended to remove Regis
Byron.
Okay.
So we will first.
Follow the motion.
Or can I please a motion to approve the resignation.
Of Regis.
Barwin with an effective date to be determined.
Okay. So that I'm so moved.
I know it's just second on Zika.
Okay. Is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor, please say. I.
Any opposed say no.
Now we'll do personnel resignations as amended.
Dr. Winslow.
The administration recommends the approval of the personnel resignations
as amended.
Thank you.
May I please have a motion to approve personal resignations as amended?
So moved. Maria Mimi, Second Lindsay Clerk.
Is there any discussion?
This is standard voice vote.
All those in favor, please say I. I.
Any oppose.
Say no
personnel.
General Dr. Winslow.
The administration recommends
the approval of the list of personnel and recognition of any list of transfers.
Thank you.
May I please have a motion to approve
the listed personnel and recognition of any listed transfers?
So moved.
Rabbi May 2nd. Erika Schmidt.
Is there any discussion?
This is standard voice vote.
All those in favor, please say I any oppose?
Say no
personnel General is approved.
That can include new business items.
Moving on to delegate reports.
The SIU report is attached.
Mrs. Schmidt, do you have anything to add?
No, nothing to add. Thank you.
The SBA report is also attached.
Board member reports.
Are there any board members who would like to give a report?
Yes, I would think this is Lindsay Cup
coming out of our communications meeting earlier tonight.
I wanted to share an effort in the S.E.C.
regarding parent and children communication
and give a quick shout out to Ms..
Stine, the assistant principal of K and one many people I'm sure don't know.
But she makes weekly videos with information geared towards
the incoming kindergarten class and their parents.
These videos are full of fun and informative information,
including things like saying your name clearly and pictures of what
the bathroom looks like, pictures of the cafeteria
reminding children to navigate the zippers and the buttons on their clothing
and and even holding a pencil.
So we're very lucky to have in this district school administrators
who really do go above and beyond like that.
And I think this really is a great example of that.
Thank you.
Are there any other board member reports,
Dr. Windsor, do you have a superintendents report?
I just have a brief report.
We have wrapped up the school year.
It's very exciting.
We had a wonderful graduation ceremony on Wednesday.
The last teacher day was on Thursday.
It was very nice to have our end of year celebration with the faculty,
with everybody in the same room.
And I always love last day of saying goodbye to the students and the
I don't know if everybody in the neighborhoods
like all the busses honking, but we like it
and waving goodbye to the kids as they leave for the summer.
And on Friday, we did have Dr.
Shuman was running around the like crazy as we had a whole bunch of people starting
their summer curriculum, work in lots of different departments and buildings.
So there was a lot already going on with that. And
we are looking forward to a summer of planning.
And thinking.
And and getting ready for for the
for the new school year, while also looking forward
to see a little bit of a break.
So we thank everybody for entrusting
their children with us for one more year.
Thanks Dr.
Renzo for board President's report.
I just had a couple of things I wanted to highlight
following the last meeting of the board.
For those that aren't aware, we have an adopted building program
that three members of the board represent.
Each one of the buildings high school, middle school and elementary,
and Dr.
Cook and Mr.
Rizzo and I are assigned to the high school.
And so we had the opportunity this year to, as the adopt a building wraps
for the high school to participate in the senior walk
and for those who are not familiar with the senior market
is where the seniors wear their caps and gowns and start in the building
at the high school and walk through the hallways,
amongst other peers and fellow students
to see the staff, and then they make their way across the district.
It was
just such a really I've seen the photos and videos on social media before,
but to get to kind of be at the end of the line there
with Dr.
Cockett and walking and experiencing that, it was really incredible
because not only were we watching the students process
kind of their K-12 experience or however long they were with the district,
we also had the opportunity
to walk the entire district and through all of our buildings,
which is something that doesn't happen really often.
And it was so incredible to see the interactions,
the visitors getting to the elementary school
and seeing the elementary teachers
and the way they engaged all of the youngest students
with signs and posters and clapping and cheering. And
I felt like it just really
set this incredible tone for leading into the week of graduation
for our students, but also really reinforced a sense of community amongst
all of the buildings so that we didn't just feel like individual buildings,
but the Derry Township School District community as a whole
and then going through to graduation this past Wednesday
was just a great experience.
I want to extend a thank you to
Ms.. Schmidt, the high school principal. Ms..
Wade, Mrs.
Ogle and Mr.
McKinney are the senior class advisors
and everyone who comes together to make that graduation happen.
It is so apparent being there from rehearsal through that evening
to see how much goes into it,
and it was just really flawlessly executed
and everyone had a, you know, a period to really have a great experience.
And it represented kind of the culmination of the work that this board does.
And I really walked away from that evening being proud
to be part of Derry Township School District.
I'm always proud as an alumni, but as a parent,
as a school board director and as a resident and taxpayer.
It reinforced why Derry Township School
District is one of the top high school or top school districts in Pennsylvania.
And why we stand out and why we shine and why it matters.
So on that note, also, just thank you to the teachers
as we wrap up this last year, everyone who impacts building
any any of our students in the building, all the staff from teachers
and parents and aides and administrators and cafeteria
employees and our custodial staff, the bus drivers.
It has been a really hard two years. And
my hope is that as we start
the next school year at the end of August, that it is a fresh take.
But I don't want to leave that behind without saying thank you
for what they have done.
These last two years to to be there for our students
and getting to see so many of those faces on that senior walk really reinforced
that while we may have had some setbacks and some struggles,
we still brought our best.
Forward. For the students and that matters.
So thank you publicly to all of them
and to everyone that puts that time in day in and day out.
It's not often recognized enough,
but it is never underappreciated.
So thank you.
Okay.
Moving into our final recognition of citizens,
this is 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 this evening.
Those who speak are asked to follow the same guidelines
outlined at the initial public comment portion of our meeting.
I will ask Board Treasurer, Mrs.
Sikka, to again, please keep the time.
Are there any residents or taxpayers who would like to comment at this time?
I once again start with those in person.
Mr. Miller.
Hello again.
John Miller 329 Cocoa Avenue
I agree with your sentiments about the school district here, Ms..
Drew. And I also wanted to mention
we have a eight year old who just finished third grade,
and as parents, we couldn't be happier with everything
to do with the staff in the elementary school, everything from
fun science projects to little critters that they have in their class,
she grew so much this year
despite the road bump of COVID
and that kind of Segways.
My thought into how we frame COVID,
the mysterious set of symptoms.
I hear some board members referring to
in present tense and some in past tense.
I think we need to come together as a group,
particularly in light of the fact that the State
has not given us direction, clear
direction historically, and it looks like they're taking it up again.
And it just leaves honestly, it leaves the board, the administration,
and then kids at the end of the day and teachers obviously
in a bad position.
So I you know,
I understand that it's not
just as easy as saying that, you know, we're just going to move on from this.
But what is the cost
to our operations?
I mean, I think taking the funds, you know, that's that's a quote unquote
impact of COVID because it devalued our dollars and now we're here.
So it's kind of like we're we're doing this ebb and flow of
putting things off till,
you know, the future like capital budgets.
But then we're looking at
assets and everything that we have that need that attention.
So again, creative solutions, real quick,
I talked to a
gentleman who's a school board president in another district.
He was telling me that they were able to get solar panels
and they did a solar project where I believe
there was a third party investor involves I don't know the details of it,
but basically, obviously with the way
our accounting standards are, we can't
use assets the way a private business can.
But I believe that they had some kind of public private partnership of some sort
and that I think the building next to us
just imagine the possibilities of of a partnership there for the community.
I think it would be wonderful to have somebody adopt that building or a group
or some some committee or something to have a vision for that building.
Anyway Thank you. Thank you.
Anyone else from the in-person audience, Mr.
DAVIES?
Good evening, Mike DAVIES 1524 Church Run.
I want to publicly thank Dr.
Wenzel for the meeting that we had
a couple of weeks ago, And the purpose of that meeting
was to take a look at why students left the district
over the last year and a between Tobin and everything else
and kind of the efforts to bring that back.
My family did receive the emails that are on the survey,
so I would please encourage parents out there that are listening
or would read the minutes that they fill that survey out
if their kids are not currently attending Derry Township so that the Finance
Committee can get a better picture of what to budget for the tuition line
in the coming years as that expense went up greatly.
But also, please, I urge the Board and administration
to make sure you look in the mirror and making sure you're doing everything
possible to bring every kid that is in this district back,
because that is
200 and some thousand dollars that we increased this year,
that we could have maybe only increased taxes
2.9% instead of the full 3.4.
If that were not the case.
And I know there's a lot of factors that roll into that number
when it comes to COVID, whether it was the masks optional
or whether it was the max mandatory in the beginning of the year.
But please,
let's try to get that number down so next year
we can go in with a positive number as we try to put together
the budget for the Esser funding dropping off after next year.
Because we all talk about the cliff coming.
I understand there's ways around it, but let's try to keep those taxes
from having to increase over these next two years, especially with
right now inflation being almost 9% within our country.
So thank you. Thank you.
Anyone else in the audience?
Okay.
We'll move to virtual participants.
If you would like to raise your virtual hand for public comment,
please do so at this time.
Since.
I do not see any hands raised
from our virtual participants.
So we will move on to is there anything else
for the good of the order?
Okay.
Our next public Board of Directors meeting will be held on June
27th, 2022, beginning at 7:00 pm.
Please refer to the District website for the link
to register for virtual attendance as the meeting draws closer,
please have a motion to adjourn this meeting.
So move to Maria. Mimi
second Mike Rizzo.
All those in favor say. I.
Any opposed say no.
The meeting is adjourned at 808.
Have a great evening.