I'd like to call the September 13, 2021 meeting of the Derry Township School
District Board of Directors
to order and announce that this meeting is being live streamed and audio recorded.
This meeting is being conducted both in-person and virtually,
and I'd like to request
four board members to please state your name when speaking. Mrs.
AG could you please zero call Mr.
Abel here, Dr. Cranham Here.
Ms.. Drew Here.
Mrs. Haverstock here. Mrs. Manny here.
Mr. Rizzo.
Here.
Dr. Shaw.
Here.
Mrs. Secor here.
Mr. Singer. Here.
Nine present. Zero. Absent. Thank you.
Please rise if you are able and join me for the Pledge of Allegiance
to fly.
And for which stands
one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty
and justice for all.
May I please have a motion
to approve the September 13, 2021 Board of Directors agenda?
So move to marry me.
Second, Donna Cronan, is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor, please say I any opposed?
This evening's agenda is approved.
I would like to announce that the board met in executive session
prior to this meeting to discuss legal matters, matters of personnel
contracts, in consultation with attorney or other professional advisors.
This is in recognition of citizen for agenda items.
This is an opportunity for residents
and taxpayers to address the board on matters related to the agenda.
Those who speak, if present, are asked to come to the microphone
and state your name and address for the record.
Those who are attending virtually are asked to please raise your virtual hand.
In order to be recognized,
you must have registered individually with your first and last name.
Once recognized and unmuted, please state your name and address for the record
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.
I will ask our board treasurer, Mrs.
Sicard, to please keep time.
If necessary, the board may set a maximum time for the public comment
portion of any meeting or conclude the public comment portion at its discretion.
This portion of the board
meeting is for comments to the board and is not a question and answer period.
Those wishing to present private concerns or questions needing follow up
outside of the board meeting
may please go to the district website and submit a community correspondence.
Are there any residents or taxpayers who would like to comment at this time?
Virtual attendance or attendees?
I would ask that you please raise your virtual hands
and with three members in the audience, I will see if there's
anyone in the audience who would like to speak first, please.
Seeing none.
We will go to virtual attendees.
If there is anyone who would like to participate in public comment at this time.
I do not see any virtual hands raise correct?
Mr. Swigert That's correct.
Okay.
Then we will end the first public comment period
for agenda items and move on to standing committee meeting reports.
First up, the Curriculum Council met today.
Dr. Cronan, do you have a curriculum report, please?
No, I actually didn't take notes.
Stacey, did you? My bad.
It was very quick.
I can.
I can just go by memory.
It's okay. I've got it.
My apologies.
You've spoiled me because you always do it so good.
Um, we.
We were doing an introduction of Dr. Shuman.
Welcome back to Curriculum Council.
Our first meeting of the year.
I reviewed procedures for Curriculum Council as a subcommittee.
It does operate somewhat differently than other board subcommittees, and that
all members of curriculum council are voting members.
We also reviewed
the draft learning loss plan and the board members in particular
gave some really important feedback on that plan.
And then we had one speaker, which I'm always happy
with at Curriculum Council, who spoke to us in regards to
Italian-American history and specific
histories in the local area.
I just want to add that we curriculum
Council referred the learning loss plan
and as our funding to the next Finance Committee meeting.
So I will talk to Mr.
Friends about putting that on our agenda. Thank you.
I'll address that at Cabinet this week. Also.
Thank you.
The Policy committee also met today, Dr.
Shah to have a policy report.
I do.
The policy Committee
approved a new policy required
by statute, a threat assessment policy, and then several
policies were in need of revision because of the new policy.
Those policies are going to be referred to the board.
And that really is about it was all a motion was based on this.
The new threat assessment policy.
That's all.
Thank you, Dr.
Shah.
Community Correspondence support.
Ms.. Karpel, do you have a Community Correspondents report, please?
I do. Thank you.
For the month of August, the District received 316 community
correspondence submissions.
The vast majority of those were related to COVID 19 mitigation, including masking
others, included three technical questions, four questions
on snack time at the elementary school and Early Childhood Center.
Positive feedback about the Meet the Trojan event.
Two Back to school questions five Comments about staff Development.
Four comments regarding Curriculum.
Seven Students Schedule and report card Questions.
Four questions about registration.
Two questions about virtual options.
A question about athletics.
A comment about the school board meeting.
One question about the pandemic team meeting.
Two comments about social media and a question about a staff member.
And that's it.
Thank you.
The listed items are on the anticipated September
27, 2021 Board of Directors Meeting Agenda
Consent Agenda Items.
The Consent agenda contains routinely adopted items and items
that normally do not require public deliberations on the part of the board.
A board member may pull out 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 Secker second.
Maria.
Mimi Is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor please say I think any oppose
the consent agenda is approved.
Moving on to new business.
The first item is the approval of the Fenimore Consulting Presenter contract.
Dr. Winslow, please.
The administration recommends the board
approve the presenter contract contract with Fenimore Consulting.
May I please have a motion to approve the listed presenter contract?
So move to Miriam any second.
Kathy Singer Is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor, please say I any a post
contract is approved.
Next item is change orders with ECI. Dr.
Winslow, the administration recommends the board approve, change orders six,
eight, nine and ten for the Safety and Security project
and the total amount of $35,340.
Thank you.
May I please have a motion to approve the change orders With ECI
so moved Miami second.
Donna Cronan, is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor, please say I, I any opposed
and it was approved.
Next item is the assessment appeal.
The proposed stipulation agreement. Dr.
Winslow, the administration recommends the board approve the attached
stipulation agreement as it relates to the assessed value for property.
Parcel number 20 4-8029004.
Thank you.
May I please have a motion
to approve the assessment appeal and the proposed affiliation agreement.
So move to marry me.
Second,
is there any discussion
just for the purpose of clarification and for public knowledge?
This is an assessment appeal and stipulation agreement
similar to what was discussed by the board at one of our last meetings
regarding a property owner who had appealed their assessed value
due to pandemic conditions as a business.
And this is to approve as one of the taxing entities
that has been recommended by the Dauphin County
Commission on on Taxes.
There is no other discussion
or questions then will go ahead and do a standard voice vote.
So all those in favor, please say I, I any opposed
it is approved.
The next item is the title one Nonpublic School Instructional Service Agreement.
Dr. Winslow.
The administration recommends the board approve the title one
Nonpublic School Instructional Service Agreement as listed.
Thank you. May I please have a motion to approve the title?
One Nonpublic School Instructional Service Agreement is listed, so move.
Donna Cronan Second Maria Mimi, Is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor, please say I I any opposed.
Next item is personnel resignations.
Dr. Winslow,
The administration recommends the approval of the personnel resignations.
Thank you.
May I please have a motion to approve personnel resignations sell moved
Kathy sicker second Maria Mimi
And as we move into discussion,
I feel I would be remiss to not congratulate Mr.
Swaggart on his upcoming retirement.
Thank you for your service to the district.
Thank you for leading us through the technology
craziness that has been the last year and a half.
You have always been valued, but truly
more than ever and you will be missed.
And we wish you the best in your retirement.
Thank you.
I appreciate that. Thanks.
Thank you for all you've done.
I would just like to add this is Kathy Cigaret.
My appreciation as we started the pandemic and I was board president and you
came in to help us with the livestreaming which is brand new and the webinar.
So it was very much appreciated.
I didn't know you as well, but got to know you more.
So thank you for everything and good luck in you,
in your future and everything that you do.
Great. Thank you. Thanks.
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor, please say hi.
Any opposed
as it proved?
Personnel General Dr.
Winslow, 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 listed personnel and recognition of any listed transfers?
So move Donna Cronan,
Second Cabin Figure.
Is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor, please say hi.
Any opposed personnel?
General is approved.
Moving on to delegate reports.
The SIU report is attached.
Mr. Abel, do you have anything to add? I do not.
Thank you.
Board members.
Are there any board members who would like to give a report?
Seeing none. Dr.
Winslow, do you have a superintendents report? I do.
Many.
Thank you.
Tonight we are very excited to have finished
the first Monday of our first five day week of school.
We were happy to get through all four days last week.
The first week was not exactly what we anticipated, but definitely
appreciated the community's understanding as we navigated
Hurricane Ida.
Just thrilled with the work our teachers are doing,
had the opportunity last week to go to multiple sporting events.
Our kids are doing a phenomenal job.
It's great to see them out on the fields again.
It's great to have spectators, so very, very happy
with the start that we're having of the for the school year.
I did want to let everybody know that we do have the
COVID dashboard available again on the website.
Ms.. Karpel started posting that on Friday of last week
and we will continue to do that on a weekly basis to keep everybody informed.
I too wish to thank Mr.
Swiger.
I was very sad
when he came to my office to let me know that he was going to be retiring, though
I am very happy for him to get to start this next phase of his life.
He and the tech department have been.
There's just no words for the value that they've added
to what we've been able to do in the last year
through through all of this.
And their support has just been amazing.
And I cannot singing his praises highly enough
and his leadership in the department is outstanding.
He is a phenomenal professional
and and his support has been very much appreciated simultaneously.
I am excited to welcome Felicia, whose name
I can never say hopefully out of my mouth, but it sounds great in my head.
I feel I know you're online.
I promise I will practice it and get it better.
Very excited to have him joining
the administrative team as a as the new director of technology.
I think he's going to do a wonderful job while he has big shoes to fill
and no pun intended.
I do believe he is also going to be Mr.
Swiger, its neighbor, So he will have lots of opportunity
to get advice and mentorship as he comes into the role.
So with both happy and sad changes,
as we reorganized the technology department
and I believe that's all I have for this evening,
do you mind if I jump in?
Is Donna Cronin,
because she said something reminded me I just wanted to
I was at the feel like a game on Saturday, the tournament,
and it was so refreshing to see Stacy and her husband
come up on a Saturday afternoon as if she's not at the school enough
to support the girls field hockey team and also just to say how wonderful it is
to see all of the kids on all of the fields
and supporting each other comedy, the events they're wearing,
they're they're wearing masks when they need to.
But at the events, they've been very supportive.
And it's such a such a joy after last year when kids couldn't support each other
at athletic events or other activities to see such a vibrant community.
And it's only been two short weeks.
It's just been just fabulous.
And I'm really looking forward to a wonderful
homecoming weekend for all of our students.
I'm sorry to throw that in there. Thank you.
Board Presidents Report.
I have a couple of things for the public
that the application for Citizen Advisory is for the board.
Standing Committees was published today.
The link on the district website is there, and I believe it is through
September 26th that will be collecting those applications.
So if you are interested in serving as a citizen advisor on board
standing committees, please be sure to check out that link.
Also, I just want to say thank you
to the buildings and administrators for back to school night.
I participated in the middle school virtual back to school night
and just want to commend the middle school administration for how organized
it was with jumping around from Zoom link to Zoom link.
You know, in between that it was really just smooth.
And I think the teachers just did a really amazing job at preparing
for that and providing presentations and updates.
And as a parent,
it was just a really cool opportunity to go through.
And so kind of in the world where we're living now and watching
the way that technology can
has kind of forced us into that.
You know, it doesn't replace that that personal contact,
but it certainly was extremely efficient and effective
and just really appreciate it speaking from a parent perspective.
So thank you for that.
And then just the reminder of the homecoming game and the cocoa
bean, which are happening, and one in the same is here
this Friday night at the Hersheypark Stadium at 7 p.m.
with the parade before that. Correct.
So fun.
Neat to have cocoa bean and homecoming at the same time.
So just jump in since the student reps aren't here.
It is.
We usually hear from them for the things that are going on.
It is
Spirit week.
So if your students are leaving the house for the high school
dressed a little goofy, they're allowed.
So tomorrow is tacky tourist day.
So that should be fun. Nice.
Thank you.
But just overall, I think as a board we've kind of launched that.
It's just been a really great transition back.
Thank you once again to to the entire administrative
and professional staff, the teacher team
and everyone else who makes the district work on a day to day basis
from food services and bus drivers, maintenance and buildings and grounds.
Your commitment to this district has been on full display
as we've gone through this and we're just very much
value and appreciate you.
So we will now
move into our final recognition of citizens, period.
This is an opportunity
for residents and taxpayers to address the board on matters related to the agenda
or matters related to district governance, which 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.
As a reminder, if necessary, the board may set a maximum time
for the public comment portion of any meeting
or conclude the public comment portion at its discretion.
This portion of the board meeting
is for comments to the board and is not a question and answer period.
Are there any residents or taxpayers who would like to comment
at this time, whether in person or virtually
everyone here in the audience,
Lori Peterson,
Wendy Jacobs Creek Drive, Hershey.
When the August 12th special meeting to add the indoor
mask policy to the health and safety plan was over,
What many of us heard was, I am altering the deal.
Pray I don't alter it any further.
At that meeting, there were many parents who expressed concern
about all day mask wearing for their child.
But Dr.
Winslow, as can be heard
in the recording between the three hour, eight minute and 45, second
and three hour, ten minute and 32nd timestamps assured parents and taxpayers
that students would get ample mask breaks and outdoor time to breathe fresh air.
At Snicker Peak on August 25th, I asked my middle schoolers
teachers about their plans for outdoor mask free time.
None of them seemed to know
anything about it, and none had any intention of implementing it.
I sent a community correspondence form addressing this
the following day and have yet to receive a response.
I suppose my answer has been indeed, rather than word as my middle schooler
has not gone outside at all at all since the start of school
and the weather has been gorgeous.
If this is team wide, at least one third of students in that
grade are once again victims of broken promises from the school.
And sadly, this has extended to other teams and grades as well.
Parents and students talk.
Some teachers have taken their students outside and to them
I offer a huge thank you for doing right by your students.
But unfortunately, my my child sits in a very humid classroom
with a mask on and none of the fresh air
that was assured to him he would have a month ago.
At that lengthy meeting, numerous people spoke
about how doctors wear masks all day so kids can to,
first of all, really isn't that a rather intellectually dishonest comparison?
And secondly, some of the most common surgeries are nowhere near 7 hours long.
In fact, an average app and Dr.
Me an hour, a C section is 45 minutes a hemorrhoid Artemis is between 30
and 60 minutes and the tonsillectomy is 20 to 30 minutes.
Now, I know we all love to reference the CDC and American
Academy of Pediatrics in our reasoning for universal masking.
So what do they have to say about being outdoor ers and getting fresh air?
Not forced
if parents don't want their kids to remove their masks?
Absolutely no one is insisting upon that.
The CDC says spending
time outdoors can improve overall health and wellness
time outdoors may also promote
mental health and stress reduction.
Experts say getting outdoors has both physical
and mental health benefits, including boosting mood,
preventing anxiety and contributing to a healthy immune system.
All good things, I would think, especially during this time.
And finally, the American Academy of Pediatrics
says, quote, School policies should be guided
by supporting the overall health
and well-being of all children,
adolescents, their families and their communities.
This focus on overall health and well-being includes addressing their
behavioral and mental health needs
and what we just learned from the CDC.
Spending time outdoors can indeed improve their health and overall well-being.
Again, no one
wants to force anyone else's kid to get fresh air
by removing their mask outdoors, but most of us
want our kids to get outside to have the mask break option.
These first seven days of school were gorgeous, and my child
and hundreds of others sat masked up in stuffy classrooms.
If outdoor mask breaks aren't freely given to these students,
as promised, perhaps a new mandate or health and safety plan.
Again, addendum is in order one that requires outdoor breaks.
Whether this student chooses to remove their mask or not,
I implore you, in the words of Ronald Reagan,
there are no easy answers, but there are simple answers.
We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.
Thank you.
Is there anyone else in person who would like to participate
in public comment or any virtual who would like to raise their hand?
We have an in-person.
Good evening.
My name is Christie Parker.
I was here one other time.
My address is 167 South Hanover Street Hummelstown
17936.
The reason for my visit today is
I do want to just say one thing about what Laurie said.
I used to work at a hospital and when I was going into different rooms,
if you had an airborne room, there was notification on the outside
of the door and if I went into a room with a surgical mask,
I could have been written up and fired for that.
Surgical masks are not enough to contain and to give us a barrier for the airborne.
I mean, that's something that everybody should be able to look up.
If I, you know, uneducated, if I can figure that out,
everybody should be able to.
I, I am an advocate of the mask simply because I feel like
if something that we can all do,
I'm not an advocate of the vaccine and I would rather pick my battles
and just kind of go with the mask for right now.
But I do know that it doesn't work.
The other things
that I did want to just talk to you guys about was
the last time I was here.
I spoke about CRT and I was told that there is no CRT here.
I was told that nothing like it, that, you know, I had provided
a resource for the Heritage Foundation and told you guys exactly what it said.
I told you what are the things that you look for?
So that you can prove that there is CRT?
And so I was someone shared with me
a part of I guess it's part of the part of the curriculum
that had information in there about words like equity.
Equity is a big a big one.
I just want to say to you that
as far as I understand, CRT is a theory that is taught in law school.
It's not to be taught in schools.
And so I just want to share two examples for you guys and to daughters.
One is in college right now at ABC.
Okay, Both of my daughters work at a company here within Hershey.
They're great workers, are great girls.
I am half black.
My dad, my dad was black, my mom is white.
So to look at our girls, their skin is maybe a little bit lighter than mine.
Blond hair, very pretty, light eyes.
So my oldest daughter made a comment about the marketing.
So there was a marketing that the marketing was changed.
So instead of it being, I guess it was a white family, I'm not sure what it was,
but all of the marketing was changed specifically to a black family
and my daughter, because we try to advocate for both.
We try not to be for everybody because that's what equality is all about.
So my daughter said to a coworker, she said, You know why?
Why are they only why do they only have one race?
Why is this you know, why is this marketing on everything?
And her coworker actually called her racist.
I mean, I was just like, I don't understand that.
That's within her.
She that stuff comes from it comes from you guys.
It comes from from from what kids are learning, meaning what they're learning.
It comes from what they're learning.
It comes from where they're growing up. Their parents.
It comes from friends.
It comes from influences.
And so, you know, that is something that is really it's really discouraging to me.
Another thing is there is a teacher here within Derry Township
who is friends with a teacher
at my daughter's college, and this one teacher specifically told my daughter
that we no longer call black and brown people we know.
We no longer call black people, Black people, we call them people of color.
I, for one, am like, What is that about?
She was also told that we no longer capitalized white.
We only capitalized black.
And one of the teachers that our teacher here is friends with.
And like some of these, you know, really I would say offensive
and radical and racist or at least discriminatory opinions.
I find that absolutely deplorable.
It is it is repulsive to me.
I grew up in a nice neighborhood my whole life.
My dad was a was an engineer at IBM.
He was black.
He did that right out of the school.
He didn't go to college, you know, and he died of a cerebral hemorrhage.
If he knew that my daughters were being talked to like that, I think it would just
I can't even imagine what he would do as a black man.
You know, it just you know, I just implore you guys
to please think and stop and slow this stuff down.
I understand that it's coming from the very, very top,
but courage has to be the most important virtue.
You have to dig deep and just get the courage to speak up.
And then the very last thing is, I just want to share one other thing
I actually thought to myself before I came here.
Should I wear my hair curl?
Do I need to stop and throw my hair so that I look presentable
so they at least think I have an education?
And then I thought, no, I'll wear my hair curly
because maybe my voice will count out more.
That is terrible.
I should not have to feel that way this time
and this community, she has meant so much to so many people.
It's a pillar in deciding this area.
So I just want to again, please, please, please, please.
If you are meeting people, here's my second.
If you are meeting people and you are looking at them and you notice
that they're minority and you feel bad for them, that is discrimination.
It is discrimination.
Have the courage to please think about that and recognize that about yourselves.
Thank you.
Is there anyone
else who would like to provide public comment in person or online?
If online, please go ahead and raise your virtual hand at this time.
Madam
President, I see in her hands at this time
getting here.
I just give it one
quick
second, because our technology
sometimes is frustrating.
Okay.
I see none.
And so we will close that public comment portion.
Is there anything else for the good of the order?
Okay.
The next public board of directors meeting will be held on Monday, September 27th,
2021, beginning at 7:00 pm here in the District Office Board of Directors Room.
For those who wish to participate virtually,
please refer to the District website to register.
As the meeting draws closer.
May I please have a motion to adjourn this meeting?
So move to Miami.
Second, Donna Cronin, all those in favor,
please say I opposed.
This meeting is adjourned at 7:37 p.m..