I'd like
to call the July 12, 2021 special meeting of the Derry Township
School District Board of School Directors to order and announce that
this meeting is being livestreamed and and audio recorded.
This meeting is being conducted both in-person and virtually, and
I would like to request that board members please state your name when speaking.
Mrs. AG Roll call, please.
Mr. Abel. Here.
Dr. Cronin. Here.
Mr. Room here.
Mrs. Harris.
Stick here.
Mrs. Manning Here.
Dr. Shaw.
Mrs. Seger Here.
Mr. Singer. Here.
Seven present.
One absent, one virtual.
Thank you.
Please rise if you are able, and join me for the Pledge of Allegiance
to America.
And one nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all.
May I please have a motion to approve
the July 12, 2021 Board of Directors agenda?
Some moves. Kathy Seger.
Second. Miriam Amie. Is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor say I oppose. I.
I would like to announce that the board met in executive session prior
to the start of this meeting to discuss and consult on legal matters
with Council
recognition of citizens 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 raise your virtual hand.
In order to be recognized, you must first have your first
and last name typed into the livestream registration.
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.
If necessary, the board may set a maximum time
for the public comment portion of any meeting.
This portion of the board meeting is for comments to the board
and not a question and answer period.
Those wishing to present private concerns or questions needing
follow up outside of the board
meeting may go to the district website and submit a community correspondence.
Before we start, I just want to note for the record that Dr.
Schott is now present for the meeting.
Are there any residents or taxpayers who would like to comment
related to agenda items at this time?
Yes, go ahead.
Hi, Brian.
Good. 850 Store for Church Road.
Good evening.
As I stand before this board, it is impossible not to address that.
It is a very one sided board and it has been for quite some time.
This is a sentiment that was once unnoticed,
but is being widely recognized by the people living in this district.
And the community members in this district
are diverse, not only in their backgrounds but also in their beliefs.
It is not representative of the entire district and those who live
and or have children here to continue operating the way that you have been.
There is a large population of people
on the other side of the aisle who deserve representation as well
and do not deserve to have their concerns cast aside without further discussion.
Tonight, you have the choice to vote for a temporary board member.
Among those are two candidates who are very much invested
in the school district and are active in their community.
Those two candidates are Cat English and Michael DAVIES.
Either of them would provide rational and respectful discussion
to challenging talk topics and represent those without a voice on the school board.
The school board should not be filling this position
with another crony who is going to go along with the status quo.
The selection of such a candidate
will be a clear message to the people of this district
that their voice does not matter and dissenting
opinion will not be tolerated under this dictatorship.
Thank you.
Is there anyone else who would like to provide
public comment at this time, either virtually or in person?
Yes, go ahead.
Thank you.
Hi. Good evening.
Melissa Kaminski, 1518 Brookline Drive, Hummelstown.
Thank you.
First, I would like to thank our school board
directors for your service both to our district and to our community
and for the opportunity to speak in front of you all tonight.
Second, in regard to tonight's vote to fill the vacancy,
I would like to remind each of you of your obligations to our district.
Parents and taxpayers outlined in the board Operations
Guideline Policies 005 Principles for Governance and Leadership.
Policy Numbers.
Number four specifically to act ethically.
Never use the position for improper benefit to self or others
and to avoid actual
or perceived conflicts of interest.
Lastly, I respectfully request when you are considering which applicant
to vote into this vitally important position,
you will make the decision based on a spirit of community.
Not to further a specific political agenda.
You have our full attention.
Okay, we got it.
Each one of you has the opportunity tonight to show your commitment
to unify our community and restore Trojan pride and trust in a time when a large
majority of us feel that these principles have been lost or in fact, forgotten.
Again, please act ethically.
Never use the position to benefit yourself or others,
and please act to avoid any actual or perceived conflict of interest.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
There
anyone else for public comment at this time?
Is there anyone virtually.
Madam President, I see no hands at this time.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I will now move on to unfinished business.
And that is for the school board vacancy.
Applicants.
Each of the eight prospective
appointees will now be asked in alphabetical order by last name to briefly
introduce themselves to the board and list their relevant qualifications
and the reason for their interest in serving on the school board.
Each applicant
will have a maximum of 3 minutes and I will ask Board Treasurer, Mrs.
Seger to please keep time as each individual begins.
First we have
Melinda Cram.
Good evening, Derry Township.
Thank you for allowing me to introduce myself this evening.
My name is Melinda Curran and I'm currently a candidate running
for Derry Township School Director in this year's November election.
My husband and I were born and raised about an hour from here in Pennsylvania.
As young adults,
we moved around the country several times for military and professional reasons.
Finally, settling in Derry Township in the summer of 2014,
our oldest child, Alaina, began kindergarten in the fall of 2016,
and I've been involved with the district in various roles ever since.
Our youngest child, Emmerson, is very excited to join
his sister at school this fall as a kindergartner.
Professionally, I have a bachelor's degree in elementary education
from the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, where I graduated with honors.
I've spent over a decade teaching and working in K-12 schools
throughout our country.
Most of that time was spent teaching third or fourth grades
in Phenix, Arizona, and Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
After several years at home for my children were young.
I worked in Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania, as a family involvement coordinator in a K-12 school.
I've been a citizen advisor to the school board for the past three years,
serving on the Communication and Community
Engagement and Curriculum Council committees.
I've also served as a room parent several times
for my daughter and plan to do so for my son as well.
Additionally, I volunteer throughout my career and with my own children
as a Girl Scout leader and coach for various sports teams.
I'm deeply passionate about education and strongly believe that a quality public
education can make all the difference in the futures of our children
as we enter the upcoming years, and especially the 2021, 20, 22 school year.
We face many challenges as we continue to tackle COVID and the impacts
it has had on our students, staff and community.
We will need to address the educational, social and emotional
needs of many students that haven't been in school in over a year
and also those that have struggled with the format
with many differing and sometimes sometimes opposing viewpoints
in our community.
The district has its work cut out to accommodate the needs of everyone.
As someone with experience in several schools, different schools
and districts, knowledge of the educational best practices
and with young children in Derry Township School District,
I have a unique perspective and vested interest
in creating the best outcomes for our students, and I believe
my knowledge and skills will be an asset to the board.
To the board.
I appreciate you considering me for this position and to our community
should I be appointed?
I look forward to serving you and earning your trust as a board member.
Thank you.
Next, we have Michael DAVIES.
Good evening.
Thank you, directors.
My name is Mike DAVIES.
I grew up in central Pennsylvania.
About 10 minutes from here.
I return to the area last May.
And when my wife and I were deciding where to live, we decided to add Derry
Township schools because of the reputation behind the schools.
Sadly, over the last year we have seen Derry Township lack of foresight
and divergent thinking and become no longer visionary leaders in the area.
I say this because over the fall, winter and spring
we saw almost every surrounding school district
go back to a full in-person learning model at all grade levels.
I understand Derry Township has some unique obstacles to overcome
with the one campus model,
but that being said,
there was no attempt at elementary kids being back
in full person learning because of the lunchroom area.
This is proof that our board
needs a critical thinking member that is willing to think outside the box
because of the lack of critical thinking and problem solving skills of this board.
With not getting the elementary school children back into full person learning,
my son,
who was a kindergartner,
fell behind mass delay
in his social interactions
and he struggled mightily to get back
because he had to do his support classes on an iPad and not in-person.
I applied for this open
director position because I want to be that visionary.
I want to help think outside the box,
especially with the issues that labor force
as a district is upcoming school year.
I may not have the fancy degrees that a lot of you have worked very hard
for in your lifetime, but I do bring a unique set of skills
to offer as part of this board of directors.
I am in the director of a.
Finance department.
For now six years in the auto industry on a daily basis
that requires me to forecast budgets, review and compose financial reports
and have exceptional people and problem solving skills.
I have the ability to get into a room, sit down and figure out
a solution to the problem, which is exactly what this board needs.
In the last year of decision
making has been my testament to that fact.
Thank you for your consideration.
Thank you, Mr.
Davis.
Next up is Catherine English.
I'm sorry.
Do I start or do you, sir? Okay. I'm sorry.
Thank you all for this opportunity this evening to introduce myself.
My name is Catherine English.
I'm at 545 Hill Church Road
with my two kids are seventh ninth grader Derry Township, and my husband.
We've lived here since 2012.
I was born and raised in central P.A.
to offer you a little insight.
I'm the daughter of an environmental engineer, retired Colonel,
and the daughter of a woman that came to America from Panama
in the seventies, putting herself through Penn State to become a teacher.
They spent their life in service to neighbors community and country.
An example I've tried to honor and emulate throughout my life.
I've spent my career advocating
for my community, education, clients, employees and local businesses,
and a variety of personal and professional contacts.
I've been blessed to be part of the growth and success of three local businesses
afforded me a variety of opportunities to lead and create
through 20 years of demonstrated success and extensive management experience
to include but not limited to community organization, legal litigation,
human resources, risk management operations, contract reviews, I'm sorry,
Contract creations review and negotiations and conflict mitigation and resolution.
I facilitated training, education
and create a curriculum in communities for clients and organizations.
I have strong communication and ethical back and a strong ethics background,
and I'm an analytical and independent thinker with strong problem solving skills
driven by a desire to build connections with people.
I have had a business consultancy for the past three and a half years.
I've also served with such charitable organizations as the MSC Society
since 2008.
The Italian Lodge, Women's Auxiliary, Bellevue Park Community Grounds
and Social Committee, creating a children's
Committee for Activities and Curriculum.
I serve 4 to 8 associations serving on their legal
and legislative committee and professional development committees.
I'm also a new member of the Derry Township Pandemic Committee.
I am also the owner of Rock Heritage Farm of Hershey.
Actively working with the community to mitigate food waste and educate about
regenerative farming and its potential to mitigate climate change.
I believe my diverse skillset and perspective
would complement the dynamic attributes and talents of the current board.
I also genuinely enjoy working with people, building
connections and turning challenges into opportunities with the team.
My goal is to humbly
and wholeheartedly serve support and to ensure that diverse perspectives
are included, represented, respected and valued in any endeavor I pursue.
I fell in love with the foundation and ideals of Derry Township in 2012,
led by Milton Hershey
that served his community and his lifetime and many generations to come.
I believe any member of the school board should be a caretaker
and servant of the district and its constituents,
ensuring that the mission of the school
is successfully discharged with regards to fiscal responsibility,
excellence in education and adherence to the cocoa principles.
Regardless of who you choose, I greatly appreciate your time and commit
the time, commitment and service you all have offered to the community.
Gratitude and blessings to all of you.
Thank you for the opportunity to apply.
Thank you.
Next, we have Tom Hollaback,
Mr. Hollaback Now present.
Okay, we'll
move on to Lindsay Cook.
Hi, my name is Lindsay Cook.
Thank you for having me here this evening.
I'm excited about this opportunity because I think I bring a unique position
to make a positive impact in our school district.
I am an alumna of Derry Township School District.
I am a mother of three young children, one of whom will enter kindergarten
this year and also an educator myself.
As an alumna and as a parent.
I have a deep connection and genuine interest in our school district.
As an educator, I am very familiar
with the day to day operations of classrooms and schools.
I'm really from a variety of perspectives.
I am an early childhood and special education professor at Lebanon
Valley College.
My work really immerses me daily in all components of education, everything
from policies and laws to curriculum instruction, data and assessment.
I have a bachelor's degree in education, and I taught at public school
for five years before becoming a reading specialist.
I have a master's degree in reading, writing and literacy,
and a doctorate degree from Drexel University in Educational
Leadership Leadership with a focus on policy.
I do believe that that provided a wonderful foundation,
that doctorate work in educational policy that is really
that could be really beneficial
to bring to the board, especially during these challenging times.
Research is also a really critical component of my work
at Lebanon Valley College.
My my current research interest, which I have published and presented
at nationally, revolve around the home learning environment
and the impact that parent involvement has on our young children,
especially their early literacy and language skills.
I've had numerous opportunities with my students at Lebanon Valley College
to work with the community and to distribute quality and accessible
resources to parents in surrounding communities
to ensure that all children are given that solid foundation of learning.
I think that that really highlights the importance
of a shared partnership between schools and communities.
I think my expertise in teaching and learning
would make me a valuable member of this board.
I will strive to make sure that our school system has
what it needs to prepare our students for this changing world.
Education for All Children is my top priority.
I will focus on student achievement and ensure that every deliberation
and decision and action is in the best interest of all students.
I think this year, similar to last year, will bring with it
some really challenging times and tough decisions.
And I,
I think that there's going to be more diverse needs for our students
this year than in years past. Definitely.
And that for some students, many students may face learning loss.
For some students, that may be significant.
So I would like to use my skill set to join the conversation
around student achievement and learning and trying
to make an impact on the decision making for their educational experiences.
Thank you for your time.
Thank you very much.
Next, we have Michael Rizzo.
Excuse me.
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.
I stand before you tonight to introduce myself
as candidate for the Derry Township School Board.
My name is Mike Rizzo.
I live at 2279 Common Way in Hummelstown.
And I've been an 18 year resident in Derry Township.
I'm a father of two sons
and have developed a who have developed
academically and emotionally through the Derry Township curriculum.
They have since graduated to secondary education
programs and proper and being properly
prepared through this curriculum.
During those 16 years, my wife and I had many
had been active in many Derry Township activities, both in the classroom
and also extracurricular, especially on the athletic fields.
I feel that these experiences have provided me
with the understanding of the Derry Township academic processes
and how the problem was run to Variety's level of preparation for the
for the students to move on in their lives.
In regards to my business qualification,
I have 30 years of quality assurance and manufacturing experience
working for the Hershey Company
almost 20 years ago, as have been leading high efficiency teams,
both from a salary perspective and also from a union perspective.
So my experiences as a leader have afforded me
the opportunity to engage individuals at all levels of the supply chain,
providing perspectives on individual needs, support and problem solving.
All right.
Understanding these needs from individual groups
and really helps me to pinpoint where
we have to look and define
and gather in our data for analysis.
Okay.
Making these decisions based on facts and not emotion allows me
to help provide solutions for even the toughest
of situations, along with leading high performing teams.
I have additional skills as far as men or as far as management
that I think could lend itself to the school board
and the additional committees that are supported by the school board.
You know, I have experience with annual
goal setting and vision
or looking at the human resources sources side of the business,
also review and execution of the annual budget process.
So one one part of my job
was to run a 200 person department manufacturing 24 seven
and providing the budgetary needs for that department.
In addition to that, I also was very involved
in design and execution of capital projects
that had taken me through many places
in the United States and elsewhere.
Why? For the school board?
What am I looking to to provide to you
and to the community as parents in Derry Township?
You know, we I know a lot of people have 3 minutes, about 3 minutes.
Or 3 minutes.
Oh, sorry about that.
So I apologize for that.
But again, in closing, I guess I feel strongly that
I offer experienced leadership decision making skills that will assist
the students, staff and administration to drive academic excellence.
Okay. Thank you. Sorry about that.
And think I'm just.
Next, we have John Sheppard.
Thank you.
My name is John Sheppard.
I live at 243. Clark Road in Hershey.
I graduated from Hershey High School in 1977.
If I can go back and remember those days, I was a four year Letterman and swimming.
Swimming.
I was four years in marching band,
four years and in in the orchestra band, four years in chorus.
I was a rotary steward of the month and I received the band leadership Award.
So that was interesting to go back and think about that.
I graduated the top five in my senior class.
I went to Penn State and I graduated in 1981 with a B.S.
degree in finance and a minor in real estate.
I was a four year
swimmer.
I also play water polo.
I was on the Glee club and I was a foreign exchange student
in Cologne, Germany, for one one year.
I also graduated in 1992 from Drexel,
from Drexel University, and I got a master's degree in finance.
I was a real estate lender in Philadelphia for ten years.
And then I came back in 1989 and started a company called Shepherd
and Sun Builders with my father was a custom home builder,
and I'm the president and the owner of that business in 19.
In 2012, I started Fairhaven Management, and that's a construction
management and land development company here in Hershey.
I'm also the president and owner of that company.
I'm married.
I have six kids.
They age from 32 to 13.
My one son just graduated from Hershey, and I have a daughter
that will be a senior, a son that will be a freshman
and another daughter that will be an eighth grader,
except for the
four years in college and nine years in Philadelphia.
I lived in Hershey.
I coached sports.
I volunteered on field trips, you name it.
I've done it all for 30 years.
I've known hundreds of school board members,
teachers, administrators, coaches, employees of Derry Township.
And in fact, in this room I had my sixth grade science class.
I attended fifth through ninth grade in this building.
I hate to say that I'm an old guy.
Why do I want this job?
Well, my house is filled with kids all the time.
My wife and I have invested our entire lives in young people,
raising and educating, responsible, caring, caring
kids has been the single most important goals of our lives.
That doesn't include just my children, but includes their friends
and all the kids here at Derry Township.
I am not politically motivated in any way.
I voted. I voted here in Derry Township.
For 44 years I've been both a Republican and a Democrat.
I always get to know the candidate and I vote whoever I think is honest
and has integrity.
I think you guys do a fantastic job.
It's very difficult to be in the education business.
I can tell you that I visited
20 schools colleges over the last two or four over the last three years
from some of the top school colleges in the country.
And it's not uncommon to hear that when.
You're at 3 minutes.
Thanks a lot for your time.
Thank you.
Okay. Our
last prospective appointee this evening is Sean
for the evening
and a thank you for having me here.
I'm a university investor position and my four daughters
all went to Hershey School and they received a great deduction.
They participate in school sports and they did all these trials, science
fair and all other school activities.
And this is not.
They are very successful.
And they tried to find the kid to go to school and they made great friends.
And they are very successful in their
careers, in their own fields now.
And now I I'm very thankful to Derry Township, a school district.
And I think, you know what?
Now I want to be part of another great US education system.
I want us to prepare our children for a better and a brighter future.
That's why I'm really interested to donate.
Jessica As I said, I have four girls went to Hershey School.
I know the district well and I love the school as well.
And I
another reason I'm qualified to candidate
is with diversity, equity and inclusion, you know,
because of my origin, of my vision is the timeframe.
And I, I was born in China and raised in China,
but I lived in Detroit country for 23 years.
In the past 23 years.
I developed
a mix of our Chinese education system
with our education system.
I think I kind of bring unique perspective for our
district.
Second is my financial management skills.
I'm 19 years.
I work for the state.
I work and are responsible
for all our financial management.
I went through all the times and the better times for the better times.
I managed to with the layers, to do better,
and I think I can utilize scale
applied my skill set to this district.
We can use a limited budget but hope to get a better outcome.
Are supervisory
experience.
I have the Banking Supervisory
Supervisor Operations Class of 2014.
Currently I work a fire Department of Revenue
and I'm much better than other community
for divvying up the budget and
I manage up
billions of dollars for my department.
I know as a Department of the Roman, you know, you're all career minutes.
We collect the tax money
and so I will use it wisely.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Okay.
I will now provide the optional opportunity
for each of the current board members to ask a question
for each one of the candidates to respond to.
Candidates will have a maximum of one minute to respond, and they will
rotate the order of candidates response alphabetically with each question
so that no one has to continually go first.
Mr. Abel, we will start with you and Mrs.
Curran. You will be first.
Thank you, Madam President.
I have just a quick question.
I know one of the things that was on the questionnaire was
what role does the board members play with respect to the administration?
So my question for each of you is how do you distinguish
between matters that belong in front of the board
versus matters that belong with the administration?
How would you differentiate between board and administration?
Okay.
So it's my understanding that the Pennsylvania School Board
Association sets guidelines forth according to that or to follow.
And I believe the main roles of the board
are to plan and create policy and evaluate that policy.
So those would be the guidelines that I would follow with
what's what decisions are coming forth toward the board.
I think it's important to also consult the administration and the teachers
and the people that are working in the schools on a day to day basis.
But ultimately,
I think as far as the board is concerned, as far as the board is concerned,
we would have to follow those guidelines
set forth by the School Board Association.
Thank you, Mr.
Davis.
The difference between the two comes down
to how it's written in the state code, but
when it comes to the board of directors relationship with the administrators,
it really should be a helping, it should be a support.
It should be the really the foundation to what
they're doing on a day to day basis with the teachers.
The school administration portion, but also the board of directors
should be a voice board for the community and really bringing the whole community
behind it when it goes, when it comes to matters at hand
or making decisions on policy and curriculum.
Thank you,
Ms.. English.
Are the disparity between the board.
Oh, I'm sorry. Go ahead. Oh, sorry.
The disparity between the board and the admin is outlined in your bylaws
and rules and regulations, so I would follow those guidelines
and work carefully because the board does apply to the admin as well.
So I hope that makes sense.
Sorry about the jump start then.
Thank you.
Miss Cook.
I think it's imperative
that the bylaws and guidelines for the role of the board are followed.
I also do strongly believe in the collaborative effort
between the Board of Directors
and the administration, as well as teachers and support staff.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr.
Rizzo.
I agree.
Following the guidelines based upon the rules
set forth by the school board administration is is is paramount,
and the administration is there to run the day to day operations.
They're there to mentor the staff and make sure that the students are safe.
The school board is there to provide direction for the
the administration when they need assistance
and help them through some of the the more difficult times.
So we're there to mentor and provide guidance
when the administration needs that that support.
So that is how I would handle that situation.
Thank you.
Mr. Shepherd.
I think the bylaws need to be followed, but this past year is a perfect,
perfect example of COVID, not in the bylaws.
So I think you could you could explain that that
that the administration has in touch with the students and the teachers
and the faculty and should know the needs of the children.
I think the board's role is to challenge that and ask questions and to find out
if they have thought the process
through from both the taxpayer and from the community's perspective
at that point.
And I think there's a cooperation between the district school board
and the administration to come to the best decision for children.
We're all in this together.
Thank you.
Thank you, Ms.. Wong,
as a board member, we shall of follow
the guidelines closely and
leave the daily operating to the group,
to the admin staff and and us.
But we also need to set up a policy
for the staff to follow.
Thank you.
Dr. Cronan, your
turn for question.
Yeah, I actually do not have any questions.
I I'm impressed with all of your
experiences and your passion and
I wish we could have all of you.
But there's another election coming up.
Thank you, Mrs.
Hoover.
Stick.
Yes. Thank you, Madam President.
What is the best way to address differences of opinion on the board
or between the board and the administration?
We'll start with Mr.
DAVIES for the please.
When you have difference of opinion, his really comes down to what
the basis of America really is,
which is getting together, putting your heads together
as leaders in the community, and figuring out a solution
on a day to day
basis or a meeting to meeting basis of a board.
You go through different agendas.
You go through different things that are
in front of you from the administration and from the community.
And that is where the discussion needs to be made.
During a school board meeting,
figure out what the your constituents are saying.
Figure out what the administration needs from the board
and from the community and put a plan in action,
not just talk about it, not just sit
our hands and figure out, well, we'll do that six months from now.
We'll do that three months from now,
but figure out a plan and be able to put it in action effectively.
That's truly what I think.
I can help deal with everything that I bring to the table.
Thank you. Thank you.
This is English.
Hi. I've
spent my entire career negotiating and mitigating problems,
and I always believe that the best course of action is really hearing both sides
and playing devil's advocate and trying to be empathetic to each side
to find a amicable solution that works for all parties involved.
It's something I don't get emotional about as more of a research mission
to figure out the best solution with everybody in mind.
Thanks.
Thank you,
Mrs. Cook.
I think being open minded
is going to be a huge quality for this candidate.
I also believe that as a board member, you're in a wonderful position
to use data to really drive your decision making.
And so using data and facts and evaluating that information,
having conversations with administration, with the community,
let's use that information to drive our decision
making so that we can support the policies that we create
and the initiatives that we create with numbers.
And I think that that's a helpful way to bridge the gap when differing
when there are differing opinions. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Rizzo.
So being science
based in my in my schooling, I am very much
using data and facts to help with my decision making.
I try to keep emotion out of that decision and make sure
that I have those clear directives as which way we want to move forward.
Understanding where you want to go
in, in deciding and planning out how you need to get there.
The other piece of that is looking at your resources
and understanding who you need to help or who you need to bring in
to help you with those decisions.
Do I need to students, do I need to parents?
Do I need additional staff members to come in and explain their situations?
That is how I logically move through those types of situations.
Again, to keep the emotions from getting in the way.
Thank you. Thank you,
Mr. Shepherd.
I think you first
have to ask a question of what's best for the kids.
But for all negotiations
there, there has to.
There has to be an expression of your opinion and in a way that's
not in a hate language or it's not in ways that are going to offend somebody.
The second thing is the best part is to listen.
Listen to what other people have to say.
I think the best part is to ask yourself your own questions.
Where is your own opinion coming from and why do you think the way that you do
and and is your opinion based on your ego?
Is your opinion based upon any prejudices?
And is there something that you can correct?
I think that empathy is always the best tool for negotiation
if you're trying to push your own agenda.
There's something reason that there's
some reason why you need to do that and you need to look at yourself.
That's my answer.
Thank you.
This is one
first communication that is of the key word.
Bring all the points to the table and discuss.
Second, what is the best interest of our students, our teachers?
And third, what is the best?
How can we spend taxpayer money wisely?
I think about it with my three key.
Thank you.
Thank you,
guys.
It's hard to go after everyone
because they pretty much spend a lot of what I was going to say.
But yeah, I think it's natural for us to all have differences of opinion.
I think it's important to find common ground,
listen
to each other and look at what the problem is and figure out
what what, what the goal is that we're working towards.
And I think it's likely that all sides are going to have to compromise
on a lot of different problems.
So I think we all have to be willing to give and take a little bit.
But yeah, communication, empathy, listening and compromise.
Thank you.
This is me.
It's your turn for a question.
Thank you, everybody, for coming.
I know it's not easy.
I know it's very nerve wracking.
And I do agree with Donna.
Having any one of you up here would be a definitely a benefit to us.
My question is more on the emotional side,
because the way that this
this goes in the format that we have it, everything
kind of seems like it's very in a box and it's pretty black and white.
But when you come in here, it's it's just not.
So I have a question.
And because I've struggled with this this last year
and my
basic question is and I don't think Mr.
Rizzo has any children in the district, but I think you can
put yourself there and answer it.
How do you
how do you perceive are your thoughts on and you don't have to answer it directly
or just give your thoughts on putting your own child's needs aside?
Because that's a big part of what we do here.
So if you know something's going to adversely affect your child,
but you're trying to make a decision
as to how to serve 500
employees and 3400 children,
including your own.
But when you make decisions, you cannot come from it
from the perspective of what is best for my child.
So I guess that's my question.
When you're a school board director,
you're going to make a decision that your neighbors aren't going to be happy about
because that's happened.
They will call you and they're mad and you're
still looking at them in the street and people at the grocery store.
And it's really very difficult.
But I guess that's my question
and that's something that I want everybody to think about.
How are you going to keep in perspective?
It's easy to say, I'm here for every child every day,
but when it really comes down to it,
it is probably one of the hardest things that we we have we have to do.
So how do you plan on trying handle that,
especially when some decisions really aren't the best for one child,
but might be the best for the the team in total?
And it's really not a direct question,
but I would like to hear everybody's kind of thoughts on that.
Thank you, Mrs. Miami.
Mrs. English, we'll start with you this time.
Please.
That's a really great, great question.
I think
whoever
assigns takes on this role has to resolve themselves
that they're here for the betterment of the community at large.
And I think a lot of that is putting your
your personal feelings aside and working for what's best for
for a variety of kids and all kinds of different dynamics.
I didn't mention this, but I'm a jurisprudence
major and I have my bar Association paralegal certificate as well.
I've been representing clients and employers
for the last since 2006 and at Magisterial District Court level,
and that's something I've gotten very good at,
putting my personal feelings aside and just looking at facts and what's
best for whomever I'm representing and the best outcome
and compromise to achieve the overall goal.
I think we also can't expect that every decision that you guys make
or this entity make would serve every individual child.
But the aim is certainly to do what's best
from an educational perspective, from a values perspective.
You're at one minute at large things.
Thank you, Mrs..
Thank you.
That is a great question and I appreciate that you bring that
to our attention as prospective candidates.
I think in my professional life as a professor,
one of the greatest things I get to do is work with our future teachers.
Every day I get to teach them and observe them and evaluate them
and so I get to spend a lot of time in different classrooms.
I think that's a perspective that I could really bring with me.
I'm used to focusing on the facts and the research and the information and
and taking personal feelings out of decisions and really focusing
on the good of the children and through the lens of future teachers.
That's really thinking about what is best, what do I need
to provide to you so that you will be the best teacher that you can be.
So I think that some some of my professional experiences in that role
will help me put my personal feelings aside from the the best for my own
children's interests and really look at the school, the children as a whole.
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Rizzo.
Yes. Mr..
Many Alma is one of the reasons
I did run for school board in the past was because I don't think I could have taken
that emotional piece out of my decision making at the time.
I don't have children in a district right now.
I don't have an agenda.
I just want to be able to contribute
to the board in the district and the constituents within the district
and provide the correct decisions moving forward for all.
Thank you. Thank you.
Mr. Sheppard.
I'm a parent of six kids,
and this past year they're all different.
They all handle COVID differently, I mean, dramatically differently.
And so, you know, as a family, you have to make decisions for
what's best for the family.
And some sometimes those decisions impact other kids in my own family
differently than the other ones.
So I think this is not it's not a science question.
Now, you can't say, well, look at the statistics
and this is how we're going to make the answer.
Sometimes you have to make decision more than once.
You know, sometimes you have to have a backup plan.
Sometimes you have to you need to go back and and see already
if we make those decisions, we're going to have some fallback.
We're going to have to see if there's something that we did here.
We need to have some way to help those who are going to be negatively impacted
by their decision.
That's what you do as a parent.
Again, it always comes down to the fact
that you have to make the decision that's best for everyone,
even though that decision is going to have different impacts on everyone.
So it's tough.
Thank you.
This is one
I have four daughters with their way to school.
They work very they will go to school nights
and sometimes they complain at home.
Oh, that's the class. It's so easy. I said.
It is not.
It's not challenge.
I said, You know what it's about Everyday
life, sleep.
And the teacher can only focus
on the Bay Area
and it's kind of a difficult to focus on the appeal.
Okay, so that's how I explained that to my daughter.
So I think if I'm selected, I will get to in the same put our personal interests
aside by the put to the community and put in the majority of the students.
The interest on that on top,
just so that as I explained it to my children.
Thank you,
Mrs. Curran.
I think this is a really good question.
So thank you.
I think that sometimes most important to remember
that sometimes personal sacrifices for the greater good,
I think this year has been
going through the pandemic has been a great example.
I think in my family
we would if if, you know, we had to make a decision here
that affected my family, my children negatively, I think I'd have to use it as
as a teaching moment and say, you know, sometimes we go through hard stuff.
Sometimes life doesn't always work out the way we want to
and just kind of use that, use that lesson.
But I think as board members, we have to focus
on the big population in the district and what's going to be
give the most benefit to the most students.
Thank you.
And Mr.
Davis.
Great
example of this is back in 2020 when COVID originally hit
and there was all the unknowns out there, Was it the best interest
of the children to shut down completely with their learning?
Probably not.
But for their health and safety we had to because we didn't know anything.
Moving forward, though, you have to look at all the facts behind it.
I've got two kids that will be in the elementary school
this year, have a first grader and a kindergartner.
If I had made a decision that didn't go against what I believe was
their goodwill really, I'm a wise guy.
Why are we doing this?
What are the facts behind it? What's the process?
What's behind it?
But if that was truly the best case for the full school district
and everything behind it, then we have to make that decision.
And that's what we do, that that's what we would do as a board of directors.
Thank you. Thank you,
Kate.
Next, four questions.
Is Dr.
Shah.
Thank you, Madam President.
The district truly is very fortunate
to have such an impressive group of folks
seeking this position.
And sincerely, for those of you who are not appointed tonight,
please, please, please run for election in two years.
Given that
this is supposed to be a nonpartisan position, please give an example.
When you've set aside your personal ideology and politics,
when acting in a public manner
matter.
Did you repeat that question, sir?
Sure.
Given that the position of school director
is to be a nonpartisan position, please give an example.
When you've set aside your personal politics, your personal ideology,
when acting in a public manner.
Thank you, Dr.
Shah. We'll start with Mrs. Cook for this one, please.
Thank you.
That's a great question.
I think that I look at my professional experiences for that question.
I present nationally at conferences, and oftentimes
I get opportunities to collaborate with educators across the world.
Just recently, I was able to zoom with teachers
in China and Chicago, and it was just a wonderful experience.
And I think that what I really take from that is I need to put
we all have different beliefs, and COVID especially affected
the people that I was teaching in so many different ways.
So we really put aside a lot of our personal and even political
differences to make the best out of the time that we had together
and just really use that opportunity as to what it was.
And it was wonderful. So thank you. Thank you,
Mr. ISM.
So really, for me, from a political perspective,
I really I'm pretty much straight down the middle in each election.
I may be registered as a Republican, but I've voted Democratic many, many times.
When I look at the situation coming in to the school board,
I was very challenged being having to select to be a Republican,
because quite honestly, I just want to be able to serve
the district and do the best thing for the children.
So for me, it has nothing to do with politics.
It has everything to do with with getting and helping this district
maintain its
the academic prowess that it has.
So thank you.
Thank you, Mr.
Sheppard.
So the question was personal experience.
I'm a land developer.
I stood in front of Derry Township many, many times and asked for things that then
people would stand behind me and say that it's it's not good for the community. So
I have to change my plans.
That's just how it goes.
And it cost me money.
And it's just how the process works.
You you have to always when you're working in the public environment,
you have to always completely remove yourself from the equation
because you cannot answer a question or service a need.
If you always have your own perspective and your own needs first.
So if you remove your needs completely,
then it becomes an open discussion and it becomes that the
the best way to solve the problem from a public perspective.
I've done that multiple times and it's painful.
It's just how goes.
Thank you.
This is one
for me.
It's easy to put a political
opinion aside, but to focus are people
focus so still being focused?
And basically I always say
compromise is not a dirty word.
A lot of times if what you want to accomplish
is something some goals, you have to compromise and
what is the basis
for the skill that that would be the most important
subject? Sex.
Thank you.
This comes
I think that when we
when we put our children first, politics has nothing to do with it.
I taught in schools for over a decade.
Politics never came into my classroom strategy.
I don't think it's taught here either.
At these tables, when we look at, you know, data and research
and we base our decisions off of, you know, what the experts in education
are telling us, then it has nothing to do with politics
as it has everything to do with what what our experts are telling us to do.
And I think that's what's most important, is making sure that our kids
are at the center of our focus.
Thank you, Mr.
Davis.
The question is answered by I was for the most of my life
a registered independent until recently, until I could vote for the primaries.
I didn't change my political affiliation,
but I always hold and I told the guys
that I've trained and the managers that I work with on a daily basis.
We have business meetings, not conversations.
So we bring facts to the table.
We bring
and we bring actual reports.
We don't sit here and talk hypotheticals.
We don't sit here and talk about what if, what if here
we simply make the decision by the facts.
If those facts lead you one way or another, that's the way you go.
You can't put a political party behind it or an idealist behind it.
You simply have to lead.
You where the facts are taking you. Thank you.
Thank you.
And Mrs.
English,
I'm sorry.
I think I have a little bit of an advantage with this one
I've done for a company of 400 plus.
Talk about putting your politics aside.
I mean, there's absolute adherence to company policy and procedures
at that point and trying to make the best decisions for the company.
From a legal perspective, I've had to adhere to law.
Contract mitigation, risk mitigation to whatever is best
for whatever client I'm serving or compromise we're looking to achieve.
So that's a pretty easy one for me.
But I can also parrot what Mr. DAVIES said.
I've been a political independent most of my life, looking at content
and values over party, so it's a pretty easy one for me.
Thank you. Thank you.
This is sicker.
I just wanted to thank each of you
for coming and putting your time and energy into this appointment position.
I enjoyed reading the questions that you submitted online to all of us.
We got those today to review and your resumes
and I enjoyed listening to my fellow colleagues questions.
I do not have any questions at this time, but I would encourage you
all to apply to be any one person will get through tonight.
Anyone who doesn't make it to apply to be a citizen advisor
on any one of our school board committees.
The applications will open in September and we usually need to solicit advisors
on every committee and you serve a two year appointment
and then we do
have another election in two years where we should have five seats come open.
So thank you.
Thank you, Mr.
Singer.
I just want to thank everyone for coming.
Appreciate the time and effort you put into it.
I don't have any questions.
Thank you.
I think I'm last.
We went all the way around, right?
Trying to keep track of the alphabetical orders of the candidates
for the school board directors.
Just to echo what everyone else's that I want to say.
Thank you.
I have sat where all of you as applicants have sat before.
I interviewed for a vacancy and was not selected
and then went on to run that year in in the election.
So I know exactly what it goes into.
And I know that whether you're just getting up for public comment
or you're applying for this vacancy, that it takes a lot to be able to get up
and say the things that matter to you and be able to deliver that
in a professional and articulate way when there's often
so many things behind it for you that are really personal.
So thank you first and foremost for doing that.
I do genuinely believe that all of you would bring qualifications to this role
that would be beneficial for the students
and that would represent a portion of the district.
And I think that one of the most important things is to have a diverse board,
you know, of beliefs and perspectives and experience to bring, you know, that
that forward.
So my question is kind of coupling on to
Mrs. Mammies and Dr.
Shaw is one of the things that I think is sometimes the most challenging
when you serve on a school board is it's the most personal office
and closest to home for so many people.
You're making decisions not
that just
impact perhaps your own children, but other people's children.
And as parents, as a mom, that's where
we're most protective and we're most defensive.
So one of the hardest things
sometimes can be is the
realization that people will make have perceptions,
draw conclusions based off of
what they see occur in a meeting without really knowing a lot of the things
behind it or your own personal opinion or experience, or whether or not
you're separating out what is best for the whole versus
what would be best for your own child, or even what your personally sacrificing
for yourself.
Sometimes when serving,
there's often there's also often misunderstandings
about where the board lies in in the way that they do.
It's a very hot buzzword often, you know, for people to say, Oh,
that's political or that's partizan when you really break it down
based on this current board, we've never fallen on party lines
that I can recall.
And, you know, I genuinely don't believe that we have operated in that way
because what we're doing for the students
is what's best for the kids, and that's not political.
So my question would be,
how do you envision being able
to, when approached in the community or by,
you know, certain groups who want to push something forward,
Where do you respect the role
that you have as a board member
maintaining confidentiality,
respecting the majority?
Because what happens on a board, there's nine people individually,
but the majority vote
is what carries forward
and having to be able to to move forward from that.
How would you personally view being able to separate that
from your personal lives versus your role as a school board director?
And we will start with Mr.
Rizzo for that one.
Okay.
So in my current role, I work at a large manufacturing facility
and we I am part of the leadership team there and have very access
to some very critical, sensitive data on people's lives.
So one of the things that, you know, is very challenging is being able to manage
the questions that come at you, especially when people are very are
tied in and sensitive to the issues
at hand, especially when they're working seven days a week, 12 hours a day.
It gets very, very tense sometimes.
But you've got to be able to listen to the information that they're providing you
and then calmly walk them through that situation
and truly get to the reason or the concerns that they have.
Sometimes the emotion takes over and they tend to really go
after you hard in a very, you know, not very polite way.
You've just got to understand what their issues are
so that you can break it down and and calmly working through that scenario.
Sometimes you can have the answers there if you're allowed to share.
Other times it may be information
that you're not allowed to share based upon the sensitive nature.
So that is how I approach most of those situations.
Okay. Thank you, Mr. Shepard.
Oh, it's a good question.
I think that most people just want to be heard
and somebody walks up to me in the grocery store and they say
something, something, something.
I think the most important thing is a lesson for something else to say.
Now you're you're one of nine votes, you know, so you can't sway nine votes.
You know, you're one vote of nine.
So I would think that the response oftentimes would be, look, I'm happy
to enrich up to say,
and I'll pass on any information that I think is valuable to the school district.
I'm only one of nine votes.
So I think that, you know, again, when when you work in the community
and I get that a lot, the most important thing is that
people just want to be heard and they want to be part of the decision.
But they they just mostly want to talk about their feelings.
Thank you.
This is one
if my neighbor or my friend to talk about something,
they want the school district to do something for them first.
I would think if I had to represent to most of the last students,
you feel the most of it.
Hey, it represents motorcycle gangs.
Yes, I would bring that to the board
and that we all would discuss and I would have voted for it.
If you suggested to a very small group, I would say
no, just a like a as I said previously for my giving a
for my own case, I said that, you know, it's a bell shaped
so only the majority can be heard and can be served.
Thanks. Thank you.
This is current,
I think as a representative of the community, it's important.
Make sure that when you do have
constituents and
community, community members and parents or whoever it may be
that has a hard time or has a gripe
or some complaint that you listen to them
and make sure that that you hear what they have to say.
Try and find what their reasons are behind it.
I think it's important to build relationships with people,
especially if they don't agree with you,
because it may give you a different perspective
and help you understand different
pockets of the community might be coming from.
And I think it's also important
to make sure that as board members, we don't take it personally
because really the people out
in the community just want the same thing that we want,
which is what's best for their kids.
Thank you, Mr.
DAVIES.
If it
comes to personal information, I handle being a finance director,
multiple pieces of personal information on a daily basis, and there are some times
where you have to keep that right all the time.
You have to keep personal information out of it.
But when it comes to a somebody from the community approaching,
somebody from the board, you really have to look at different way.
They are approaching you.
Whether they want wanting to talk about
it is something they can submit through a community forum.
Is it something where maybe it hasn't been discussed by the board yet
or is it something they want to voice their opinion?
You as a member of the board,
you really have to be a soundboard for the community because you're elected.
Right?
And every elected official, whether it be local level,
like US state or even on the national level,
we're a soundboard for our constituents and that's what we have to take to heart.
We need to listen.
We need to figure out what they are
needing and if it's a specific need, if it's a specific specific
topic, you bring that to the school board and you understand why.
Thank you. Thank you.
This is English.
Again, I
hate to go back to my personal experience every time, but as far as conflict,
you can't be in a more contentious situation than H.R.
or in litigation.
It's something I I've learned to embrace conflict.
I don't see it as a negative.
I think it's a
it can be an extreme positive if you have that kind of outlook on things.
I mean, you're willing to listen to all parties involved.
As far as confidentiality, again, that's something
I've had to maintain throughout my career, whether it's medical records
for personnel, whether it's legal information, contract
information, or pending litigation or discovery
or anything of that matter, I'm bound to that ethical obligation.
But as far as being open to constituents questions,
that's something I would embrace and encourage them to get involved
or how I could help or certainly be there to listen to their concerns
when obviously feasible.
Thanks.
Thank you.
And finally, Mrs.
Cook,
I think my work in special education has me well informed
as to confidentiality, and I very much respect the privacy of
children and their families.
And that is something that I would bring with me to the board.
Furthermore, I would always do my duty, due diligence to listen.
I agree that people do want to be heard.
There are a lot of strong feelings
and as you had mentioned, when it has to do with your children,
your neighbors, children, your friends, children in their best interests,
people want their opinions heard.
And I will always do my due diligence to listen and gather the information.
Thank you. Thank you.
Okay, that concludes
the question and answer portion of this process.
So thank you again to all of you.
And I would also just echo what other board members.
But Mrs.
Decker did a great job of laying that out about the citizen advisor process.
If you're not selected this evening, please do apply to be part of it.
It's a great way.
Become more
involved and we could use your perspectives and experience.
So we will now move into the election
process and I will open and accept nominations for the vacant position
of the interim school director for a term serving through November
30th, 2021.
I'll begin.
I once again, I would be honored to serve with all of you.
I won't be around beyond two years, but as has been stated
many times, we have several community service, community citizen, citizen,
citizen advisor opportunities that you would all be amazing at.
And I really encourage them. We all do.
The community, the students, the district all be very well-served with all of you.
So thank you very much.
I liked it.
A lot of you said nonpartisan because that is so incredibly important
about the board.
And I think Miss Kaminski mentioned
mentioned the spirit of community, and that really rang a bell with me.
I think that
in the sense that the community has already spoken in the
in the primary election, there actually is already a candidate
that both parties have have elected and will be on the board in five months.
So I really believe that the the community, the board and the students
would be best served by my I would like to nominate Mike Rizzo
because he would have a chance to be on board it now
and gives him five months in advance before he begins his
most likely begins his service in December,
because he is on both ballots in both both parties in a nonpartizan way.
The community has spoken.
So I'm deferring to the community, having spoken at this point,
but would certainly love to have
worked with all of you from a nomination in a very long winded way.
As for Mike Rizzo, thank you, Dr. Brennan.
Are there any other nominations?
Madam President, I would like to nominate Melinda Carrion
for the position of interim school Director through November 30th, 2021.
Thank you.
Ms.. Sick, Are there any other nominations?
This is John Edwards.
I'd like to nominate Lindsey.
And how do you pronounce your name as a cook?
Sorry, it's pronounced.
Cut. Cut.
Okay. I'm sorry.
I was mispronouncing your name that whole time.
Okay.
Are there any other nominations
hearing there?
May I have a motion to close the nominations, please?
So I'll move to Kathy Secor. Second.
Miriam.
Amie, is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor, please say I am.
Whoa, whoa.
What are we voting on with the candidates?
Closing the official closing.
Okay. Sorry,
I was in favor.
Please say I any opposed?
Are there any board members with three people nominated?
Are there any board members who would like to ask
any additional question for the three nominated candidates?
Hearing None.
We will now proceed to a roll call vote.
If board members, when you are called
on, please state the name of the candidate that you wish to vote for.
As a reminder, a candidate must receive a majority of votes in order to be elected,
which would be a total of five here this evening.
If no candidate receives a majority number of votes,
then the top two vote getters will proceed to another round of vote voting
until one receives the majority number of votes needed.
Mrs. Aggie roll, please.
Mr. Able Lindsey, Coach Cox.
Dr. KERNAN, Mike Rizzo.
Ms.. Drew.
Melinda.
Corinne.
Mrs. Tavistock.
Mike Rizzo.
Mrs. Many.
Mike Rizzo.
Dr. Shaw.
Mike Rizzo.
Mrs. Dicker.
Melinda Korean.
Mr. Singer.
Lindsey. Cut.
Mr. Rizzo has four.
Mrs. Karen has two and this cook has two.
Susie When there's not two,
we will have to vote again
to try to determine the top two, because there are two,
four, two and two
zero. Call, please.
Excuse me.
Voting in all three again.
Yes, we have to determine the top two in order to be able
to move to a majority vote.
And if somebody got five this round, does that,
would that that would be the majority needed to appoint.
Okay.
Gotcha.
Aren't the top two the two with the four.
There is one candidate with four, one with two and one with two.
You need a majority of five.
So in order to determine the top two.
Got to meet that. Sorry.
Dr. KERNAN.
Mike Rizzo.
Mr. Melinda.
Karen.
Mrs. Harris.
Check.
Mike Rizzo.
Mrs.. MANY.
Mike Rizzo.
Dr. Shaw. Mike Rizzo.
Mrs. Melinda.
Karen. Mr. Singer.
Melinda. Karen.
Mr. Abel.
Lindsey.
Coach.
Mr. Rizzo has four.
Ms.. Karen has three. Ms..
Sorry has one.
Thank You
We will now move forward with a vote for the top two vote getters.
Mrs. Kirk Thank you and for being part of this process.
Board members Mrs.
AJI will now do a roll call vote
with Mr.
Rizzo and Mrs.
Karen as the two candidates,
whoever would receive five votes
will proceed as the elected board member.
If, in the event of a tie we will continue to revote the ZG Ms..
Drew.
Melinda. Karen.
Mrs. Harris.
Mike Rizzo. Mrs. Manning.
Mike Rizzo. Dr. Shaw.
Mike Rizzo.
Mrs. Sekhar. Melinda. Karen.
Mr. Singer. Melinda. Karen.
Mr. Abel.
Mike Rizzo.
Dr. Karen and Mike Rizzo
for fourth
I three
Sorry.
One three, five three.
Oh, it's my
Thank you,
Mr. Rizzo.
Congratulations.
You have received the majority number of votes,
and I would invite the Honorable Judge Terry joined us, and so I would ask
for you to please join him at the podium to take your oath of office.
Congratulations. And Mrs. Crann.
Thank you.
May I just say that
it's an honor to always be called on to do this.
And I know some of you have heard me say this before, but
we have the finest school district anywhere,
regardless of some disappointments that some may have,
we have the finest school district.
And the proof of the pudding is that my son, Vincent,
who graduated in 2008 from Hershey High School,
still speaks of three teachers who were his mentors
and who he loves, and that's Coach Yingst.
Coach Walser and his first grade
teacher, the beloved Vonnie Lazard. And
when you have a young man, it's about to be 32.
Still talking about middle school grade school and high school teachers.
I think that says it all right.
We're very, very fortunate
to have the teachers and administration that we have in this school district,
and I'm very proud to be part of this community.
Mr. IZZO Sure.
Things your right hand would be sworn.
You swear
that you will support, obey and defend.
Repeat after me and I solemnly swear.
I solemnly swear that I will support, obey and defend.
I will support, obey and defend
the Constitution of the United States of America.
The Constitution
of the United States of America and the Constitution of this Commonwealth
and the Constitution of this Commonwealth.
And that I will perform my duties and I will perform my duties
as a school director, as a school director with Fidelity.
With fidelity.
So help me God. So help me. Congratulations.
Justification
for having the district.
I've given what. I
said. Mr..
Congratulations. Welcome to the board of it.
Going to join us for the rest of the meeting.
You're now sworn in
and thank you once again to all of the candidates.
We really appreciate your time this evening,
your preparation and your thoughtfulness and your responses.
I hope to see many of you back.
It continued meetings and applying for citizen advisor
positions and in future elections.
Congratulations, Mr. Rizzo.
Welcome to the board.
Okay.
We will now proceed to recognition as citizens.
This is an opportunity for residents and taxpayers to address
the board on matters related to the agenda
or matters of district governance that are not on the agenda.
Those who speak are asked to follow the same guidelines that were outlined
excuse me,
at the initial public comment portion of this meeting.
Are there any residents or taxpayers who would like to comment at this time?
I will start with those who are here in attendance in the audience
and then move to virtual.
Okay, I see none here in person.
Are there any residents or taxpayers participating
virtually who would like to speak at this time?
Madam President,
I see no hands at this time.
I see one.
Yes, we actually do see a hand.
Christy Parker.
Thank you, Mrs. Parker.
You are now permitted to speak.
Please go ahead and state your name and address for the record.
And Mrs. Seger, please. Time.
Hi. Are you able to hear me?
Yes, thank you. Hi.
My name is Christy Parker.
I live at 167 South Hanover Street.
Hummelstown.
I really just wanted to make sure to pop my head in,
because I just want to make sure that I'm present and available for all of these.
All of these meetings.
I do want to say thank you to everyone.
I'm really excited about the fact that it seems like, you know, Mr.
Roso seems like someone that that everyone is very happy with.
And I think that that's exciting.
I also just want to remind everyone of the things that we've all been
talking about, the masks and also just about having our kids come back to school.
I also just wanted to draw your attention and just remind you all of
just what I talked about at the last meeting, which was just about,
you know, the things that we're talking about as far as equity
and just about different writers and people that are part of the curriculum.
And so I just wanted to just bring your attention again to I'm Dr.
Thomas Sole.
I'm hoping that that that this is someone that,
you know,
I think that kids could really learn a lot
from someone like him, especially with the economic background.
And, you know, he's a much older gentleman.
You know, he's an African-American.
He's just a very well-rounded, very intelligent and very kind man.
And so
I just, you know, just wanted to make sure that we're thinking about that stuff.
And the last thing that I did want to also,
I was listening to all the questions.
And, you know, one of the things that I thought about was,
you know, there's a lot of talk about, you know,
loving people, caring about people, you know, who we love, how we love them.
And, you know, one of the things that I think if I can explain it well is that,
you know, as parents, I don't think
I've ever met a single parent that doesn't think of their child.
They do everything.
I think that that is the greatest expression of love,
is to treat other people with your own kids in mind.
I do understand the idea of wanting to be, you know, we don't want to be partial.
We want to be careful.
And, you know, we don't want to drive our own agendas.
But I do think that the idea of caring for your own child
and wanting your own child to be safe and to be secure and to learn,
you know, well-rounded things, I think is very important.
And so I just want to, again, you know, express the idea,
if you guys are talking specifically about
making sure that you're
not being reactive to things that happen.
You know, again, as I stated last time, there are lots of social media posts
that are very reactive, that are very partizan,
that the reactions to the partizan posts are very personal.
And so I just would ask again that we think about those things, that
these are not just words that people are living them out.
So I just, I think that it's important that we recognize that, that we wouldn't
want to be espousing ideas that we don't actually live by.
So I just would again, ask,
you know, a personal question to anybody who has things that are available
for other people to read that are not kind or loving or forthright,
you know, of other people and their children as well.
So I just thank you all.
And again, you know, just so we can highlight other readers,
some other writers, I should say, that we can help to cultivate a more diverse,
I don't know, ideology.
I don't think that it needs to be all just
about equity.
It should be about just equality, equality, the law.
So thank you all so much. So much.
Thank you
to anyone else who would like to participate in public comment
at this time.
Okay.
Is there anything else for the good of the order?
The next public Board of Directors meeting will be held on July
26, 2021, at 7:00 pm here in the District Office Board of Directors Room.
Please refer to the District website for details on virtual participation
by the public as the date draws closer.
May I please have a motion to adjourn this meeting?
So moves Maria Me second.
Donna Cronin.
All those in favor say hi.
Hi. Hi. Any oppose?
The meeting is adjourned at 8:29 p.m..