I'd like to call the June 28, 2021 meeting of the Derry Township
District 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 the board members please state your name when speaking Mrs.
Agee. Roll call, Mr. Abel.
Here.
Dr. CRONON, Here is true Here.
This is our first year.
This is many here, Dr. Shore.
Here.
Here, Mr. Singer.
Here, Mr. Steiner. Here.
Nine present.
Zero. Absent.
Thank you.
Please rise.
If you were able and join me for the Pledge of Allegiance.
America
says my nation
is strong.
May I have a motion to approve
the June 28th, 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 say I opposed.
The agenda is approved.
I would like to announce that the board met in executive session
prior to this meeting to discuss matters of personnel, purchase
or lease of real estate information and consultation with attorney.
We will also be meeting in post executive session immediately
following this meeting.
I'd also like to announce that as required by Act
44, the Board was
the Board received a Safe Schools report in executive session
this evening from
Lisa miller, our Safe and Supportive
Schools Director
Recognition of Citizens.
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 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 is 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.
Are there any residents or taxpayers who would like to comment at this time?
I'll start with those here in the audience
seeing none.
Mr. Swiger I would entertain any
Madam.
Madam President, at this time.
I see Corey and Seacrest.
Okay,
Miss Secrets,
you may now unmute and you are welcome to speak.
Okay, I the last meeting I had asked this question
about whether you were
going to teach
critical race theory at the schools this year.
I have tried to contact the superintendent
and a couple of a couple of times,
and we haven't been able to connect.
But and I understand this is not a question and answer, period.
My comment is, again, that critical race theory
is a very divisive Marxist
claim, evil racist curriculum.
And I strongly oppose as a taxpayer,
you're having any connection with that curriculum?
You can call me secrets.
I apologize for interrupting you.
There are no items on the agenda
this evening that relate to what you're speaking about at the moment.
So I ask that you please
provide this comment at the second public comment portion.
Okay. I will do that.
Thank you.
Mr. Swiger, are there any other hindrance at this time?
Madam President, I see no other hands.
Thank you.
Standing Committee meeting report.
The Finance Committee met today.
Mrs. Secretary of of Finance Report.
I do thank you.
We went over the new process.
Since I am the new treasurer, I'm also the new chair of the Finance Committee.
We reviewed our four annual goals for the next school year in detail
and provided a timely timeline to the Committee on updates.
We'll get quarterly updates on Milton Hershey Trust and the Food Services
budget, and by quarterly updates we mean after the quarter ends the next month.
So when the third quarter ends, we'll get an update in October
for the other two
standing goals the long term capital planning and monitor
current and future revenue expenses, including pandemic related grant funding
and 2223 budget projections.
We will be reviewing them monthly at our meetings.
We did go over some in
some detail on what long term capital planning means for the Finance Committee,
and these are the larger projects that we will need
over the next two, three, five, ten years at the school district
and how the Finance Committee can identify how to pay for them in the future.
We have some good discussion on the differences
between the General Services Committee and the Finance Committee.
We feel that the General Services Committee
is more like the project management committee of the district.
So once the funds
have already been budgeted or approved, they are the General Services Committee,
but the Finance Committee can handle them
before the money has been allotted or approved for the project.
And I think that will give us some direction on how to handle committees
for this next year.
We did review under new business
the 2020, 2021 revenue and expense projections
and as anticipate anticipated, we had mineralized any issues due to COVID
with all the various strategic planning we did related to the budget
over the last year, we had been reviewing
those initiatives over the last year with the Finance Committee.
So I would encourage anybody to go to the audio
recording to listen to those details.
Thank you.
Does anyone have any questions for me?
Okay. Thank you.
Thank you. Mr. Seger.
The items listed on the screen are on the anticipated
July 26, 2021 Board of Directors Meeting Agenda.
There is no unfinished business this evening,
so we'll move on to consent agenda.
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 items which will then be discussed and voted on separately.
May I have a motion to approve the consent agenda items as listed so moved?
Maria Mimi second.
Cathy Singer Is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor say I opposed
the consent agenda as approved
new business approval of Affiliation agreement.
Dr. Windsor.
The Administration recommends the Board approve the Affiliation Agreement
with Derry Township School District and Penn State.
Harrisburg, effective June 28, 2021.
Thank you.
May I have a motion to approve the affiliation agreement with Penn State?
Harrisburg So moved Maria May 2nd.
Donna Cronan Is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor say hi.
Any opposed
motion passes,
approval of school physician of record.
Dr. Winslow.
The administration recommends the approval of the agreement with Dr.
Denise Duhon to serve as the school district's
physician of record for the 2021 2022 school year.
Thank you.
May I please have a motion to approve the school position of record
for the 2122 agreement?
So move.
Donna Cronan Second.
Maria Mimi, is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor, please say hi.
Any opposed
motion passes,
adoption of final budget
and tax resolutions for the 2122 school year? Dr.
Winslow The administration recommends the adoption of the final budget
and tax resolution for the 2021 2022 school year as listed.
Thank you.
May I please have a motion to adopt the final budget
and tax resolution for the 2021 2022 school year?
So move to Kathy Segar second.
Maria Mimi,
is there any discussion?
I would just like to thank everyone for the work and Mr.
Friend and
say that this has been a really challenging budget year
and I'm really happy to see that we were able to deliver a budget
that does not contain a tax increase for next year.
No other discussion.
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor, please.
May I ask any opposed?
The budget is passed.
Next item is the approval of the listed presenter contract agreement.
Dr. Winslow.
The administration recommends the board approve the present year contract
with Marcia Nel for a one day workshop on August 4th, 2021.
On incorporating play into the curriculum.
A fee of $1,794 will be paid upon completion of the workshop.
Thank you.
May I please have a motion to approve the listed presenter contract?
So move to Maria May 2nd.
Cathy Zucker Is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor, please say I
opposed motion passes
concurrent Enrollment Agreement.
Dr. Winslow.
The administration recommends the approval of the concurrent enrollment agreement
with Elizabethtown College
to offer concurrent enrollment course options through the college.
Thank you.
May I have a motion
to approve the concurrent agreement with Elizabethtown University?
So move. Maria Mimi
Second Cathy sticker.
Is there any discussion?
I did want the board to know that I do teach part time down there,
but I don't see that as a conflict council would agree, but
just let folks know I do teach other than an adjunct capacity.
Thanks, Mr. Mitchell. I do agree. Thank you.
Is there any other discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor, please say I am not opposed.
Next item is the Blackboard Inc.
agreement. Dr.
Winslow, The administration recommends the approval of the three year
agreement with Blackboard Inc.
for Web content management and mass notification services.
The system is compatible with the new Student Information System
synergy and will allow the district to see an annual savings.
Thank you.
May I have a motion to approve the agreement with Blackboard Inc.?
So move more a
second.
Terry Singer
Is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor, please say hi.
Any opposed
motion passes,
requests for tax collection services proposals?
Dr. Winslow.
The administration recommends the board approve the request proposals
for tax collections, tax collection services.
Thank you.
May I please have a motion
to approve this request for proposals for tax collection services?
So moved Kathy Seger second.
Maria.
Mimi, Is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor, please say I any opposed
motion passes
request for proposals for employee benefit Insurance broker.
Please talk to Winslow.
The administration recommends the board approve a request
for proposals for employee benefit insurance broker services.
Thank you.
May I please have a motion to approve the request
for proposals for employee benefit and insurance broker services?
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
question passes
approval of the 2122 capital plan.
Dr. Winslow.
The administration recommends the board approve the 2021 2022 Capital Plan
may receive a motion to approve the 2021 2022 Capital Plan.
Now move to Kathy Sicker second, Maria Mimi,
Thank you.
Is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor, please say I i any opposed
motion passes.
The board of directors recommends the approval of the 2021
2022 Board of Directors meeting date is listed.
May I please have a motion to approve?
So move.
Maria. Mimi
second.
Kathy Singer.
Is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor, please say I any opposed
The meeting dates are approved
approval of the Ameriprise Financial. Dr.
Winslow,
The administration recommends the board approve a measure of high Ameriprise
Financial to be added to the district's approved 403b vendor list.
Thank you.
May I please have a motion to approve the addition
of Ameriprise Financial to the District approved for three B vendor list
so moved Kathy sicker second Maria Mimi
Is there any discussion?
This is standard voice vote.
All those in favor, please say all right.
Any opposed
motion passes?
Grenada. Jim Lee's approval. Dr. Winslow.
The administration recommends the board approve the lease for Penn State.
Milton s Hershey Medical Center
for Use of a portion of the Grenada Gym facility for COVID 19 testing.
Thank you.
May I please have a motion to approve
the Grenada gym lease with Penn State Milton Hershey Medical Center?
So move Maria Mimi
second.
Terrie Singer is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor, please.
They are any opposed
leases approved?
May I please have a motion to approve
the revised 2021 committee delegate assignments?
So moved Maria Mimi
second.
Donna Cronan Is there any discussion?
Yes. The students have respect
for the Dauphin County Technical School.
Tricia was the alternate, so I don't know if we need to appoint another alternate
in her place.
Thank you.
Unless you want to commute from Ohio,
I would love to.
I love the Dauphin County Technical School.
It is a wonderful board we are approving this for
or we are officially accepting Tricia's resignation
for presenting this once we have updates for that process.
Well, next will approve the revised committee assignments.
Just want to make sure. Thank you.
Is there any other discussion?
And Mrs.
Hover said, just for clarification, we're doing this now retroactive approval
to June 17th because it updated and increased
the board member representation on the pandemic team.
Right.
That's why we couldn't wait to to do it
for next time.
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor, please say I'm any opposed.
Okay.
May I please have a motion to approve the reinstatement of board policy?
006.1 Allowing members to attend board meetings
through electronic communications under extraordinary circumstances.
So moved
on. Second.
Cathy Sager. I'm sorry.
So move.
Maria Mimi Is there any discussion?
This is a standard.
I'm sorry, this is a roll call. Vote, please.
Mrs. A.G..
Mr. Abel Yes.
Dr. Cronan.
Yes, Miss True. Yes.
This is our respect.
Yes, Mrs. Manny. Yes. Dr..
Yes. This a sticker?
Yes. Mr. Singer? Yes.
Mrs. Steiner? Yes.
Nine zero. Yes. Thank you, Mr.
Personnel.
Resignations. Dr. Winslow.
The administration recommends the approval of the list of personnel
and recognition of any list of transfers since resignations.
Sorry.
17. Mr..
The administration recommends the approval of the personnel resignations.
Thank you.
May I have a motion to approve personnel resignations?
So move.
Maria Mimi Second.
Donna Cronan Is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor, please say I, I any opposed?
Those are approved.
Thank you,
Personnel.
General Dr.
Windsor again, administration recommends the approval
of the list of personnel and recognition of any of those two transfers.
Thank you.
May I please have a motion
to approve the listed personnel and recognition of any listed transfers?
So move.
Donna Cronan I get Maria.
Mimi, Is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor, please say I, I any opposed
personnel.
General is approved.
Board member a resignation.
May I please have a motion to accept a letter of resignation for Mrs.
Tricia Steiner effective June 28, 2021.
So moved to Steiner
Second.
Tanika Crew,
is there any discussion?
I just want to thank
everyone in the district here in this room
and everyone in the extended community
who supported me the last three and a half years, serving on this board,
serving in this capacity as a school director for Derry Township,
and also working on multiple projects and different roles
within the Pennsylvania School Board Association has truly
been one of the greatest honors and experiences of my lifetime,
representing and centering the diverse voices of our students has taught me
so much, and I will carry that with me and to the next chapter of my life.
I will.
Miss Derry Township.
You've made a big mark on me, and I hope I've made a little bit of a mark on you.
And I just want to thank you all and thank you for the gorgeous flowers
and the gifts.
And I will miss you.
Tricia I also just wanted to thank you for your service.
It's been a pleasure serving with you.
You're a very hard worker dedicated
to the board in the district and you're a very caring person.
So thank you for everything.
And we will miss you.
And good luck in Ohio.
I just want to echo that and say thank you
for your dedication as a
representative with working in so many capacities
with the SBA and also SEIU,
just to name a few.
And the policy chair work that you've done, it's really been an honor
and pleasure to serve with you, and we will certainly miss you and Ohio
has certainly, you know, taken a really great asset from us.
So good luck. And then. Q
I just like to chime in.
Tricia, you know how I feel about you.
I have a lot of respect for you,
but I think maybe you know what the public doesn't know.
And I'd just like to make a point to say
whether anybody really agrees with Tricia Stein or not.
She is one of the hardest working school board members.
What do you do the hundreds of hours behind the scenes that she has
put in time away from her family, your dedication to the school district?
Again, whether people agree with you or not, you have given your heart and soul.
And I think you can leave here being very, very proud of the work that you've done.
So I admire you and respect you for everything that you brought to us.
Thank you, Tricia.
And I feel as a child, I feel the same way.
I mean, obviously we've differed from time to time,
but it's always been done in a respectful way
to the the utmost respect for your dedication to the work.
I always viewed you as sort of like the beacon on the shore.
So when we were kind of going through rough times, you were always out
there as the light that that caused us all to really
the most sort of important part of what it is to serve on this board.
And I, I we're going to miss you.
Thank you so much.
I'll just add in.
I know I spoke with you individually
and I've told you on several occasions how much I appreciate your perspective.
And I would like to share that in public as well
and wish you the best of luck and have a great time out there
with Judy.
However, Haverstock, I must say, Tricia, you are one of the most dedicated people
I have ever met to what you believe in the causes.
And you have what Maria account, what Maria said.
You have put in countless hours
to the committees that you've been on and just the board itself.
And I really know your passion.
We haven't agreed on some topics, but I have a lot of respect
for your work ethic as far as how much time
you and your dedication to public education.
So I wish you the best in Ohio.
You all thank you, Tricia, for your service and best wishes
to you and your family and all your future endeavors.
And this is Terry Singer.
Thank you, Treasure for everything.
We're going to miss you and all the best to you.
I think that's all right.
All right. For this one.
We do need to have a roll call.
Mrs. Agee, would you please do that for us?
Dr. Cronin?
Yes. Mr.. Yes.
Yes. Mrs. Manny? Yes.
Dr. Shaw. Yes.
Mr. Seger?
Yes. Mr. Singer. Yes.
Mr. Steiner. Yes.
Mr. Abel? Yes.
Nine zero. Yes.
Thank you.
Mrs. Steiner.
Delegate reports The SEIU report is attached.
Mr. Abel, do you have anything to add?
No, I don't, Madam President. Thank you.
PSP, the PSP Liaison Report is attached as well.
Dr. Cronin, would you like to add anything?
Yeah.
I just wanna highlight a couple points because it's all here for you to read,
but one of the major things that has been done was that the Senate
deferred action on the charter bill by the SBA felt that it was not the best.
There was a flawed charter reform.
So it's going back.
So more input certainly can be provided.
And then the other one that I want to point out is that the
there is a public comment period that is open
for proposed the proposed new state science standards.
And really that's, I think, the two highlights.
Thank you, Dr. Cronan,
Board member reports.
Are there any board members who would like to give a report now?
Dr. Winslow, Do you have a superintendents report?
I do.
I would also like to thank Mr.
Steiner for her service.
For the times that we've gotten to work together.
We've been on several committees together.
Your service to Curriculum Council.
It was an honor to give your son his diploma.
So we will.
We will miss you.
And Ohio's getting a great person.
So thank you.
I also want to share that
we had our first pandemic team meeting on Thursday at 4 p.m..
We had an excellent discussion,
a wonderful turnout of lots of different stakeholders.
I'm very appreciative of the time
that folks are putting in to be part of that team.
We did not make any final decisions on the 24th.
There was a discussion period
to work through the different elements of the health and safety plan.
There is new guidance coming out that we are expecting on
July 2nd that will be shared with the pandemic team.
That will help us to know if we need to meetings in July or just one
and depending on what that guidance is.
But we do have at least two more scheduled, one for July
and one for August and one on hold for earlier in July.
Minutes are going to be posted.
Actually, they are posted right now
on the district website under our fall COVID 19 heading.
So anybody who's interested in going in and looking at those minutes,
they are available as well as the template for the health and safety plan.
Thank you.
Thank you, Dr.
Winslow, for board President's report.
I would just like to announce that the Derry Township School Board,
the Derry Township Board of School Directors, will hold a special public
meeting on Monday, July 12th, 2021, at 7:00
pm here at the District Office for the purpose
of appointing a school board director to fill the term vacated by Mrs.
Steiner this evening,
that that term will
be through December of 2021, which is the completion of Mrs.
Steiner's term.
Any resident who is interested in applying for consideration of this appointment
should look for an announcement coming this week via
the District website and other information channels
with instructions and deadlines for submitting that application
and letter of interest and resuming, and that those individuals
should be prepared to attend the July 12th Board meeting
to be able to interview with the board
for the appointment that will take place that evening.
We are now
at 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 of district governance that were not on the agenda this evening.
Those who speak are asked to follow the same guidelines
that were outlined at the initial public comment portion of our meeting.
Are there any residents or taxpayers who would like to comment at this time?
I will start with our in-person audience
and open that up to anyone who would like to make any comment at this time.
Okay.
Just a reminder for those on Zoom as well as in person to please
be sure to state your name and address for the record before you begin.
Hello, my name is John Miller.
Good night. Good.
Yes, thank you.
Go to John Miller, 329 Cocoa Avenue.
Just want to say thank you for everything that you did.
I didn't necessarily agree with you every decision you made,
but I do respect your knowledge and dedication to public education.
So for that, I thank you and respect you for that.
So I have a quick question.
I was on vacation over the last
meeting.
It's my understanding that there's a hockey rink
being constructed
and that there was a photograph taken
of our superintendent and board member, Mr.
Singer, at this project.
So I haven't heard anything officially about it.
I'm just a little confused why we haven't.
I know this is in question and answer, but, um.
Yeah,
I just don't understand how we can have a project
that's not referenced anywhere to just answer.
We discussed it at the last General Services meeting,
so you can go back and listen to the meetings.
Okay.
From that meeting, you'll maybe it'll answer some of your questions.
And so I know there was there was a lot of back and forth
as far as whether the superintendent could
allow such a project to occur.
My question is,
how about some of the
related items?
There was no contract in place.
Was that from a legal aspect, liability?
I understand that there is a case
in Philadelphia, I think in the last year or two where
the school District of Philadelphia was liable for no padding on the back
of a concrete wall behind the basketball net, to the point being
that assets can carry liability with them for the districts
if reckless or careless behavior has occurred.
That's my saying.
I don't know.
I'm not aware. I don't know. It's how I read it.
So as a taxpayer, that's concerning to me because
we're potentially exposed
from a liability standpoint in addition to that.
From what I've gathered on the Internet that Joy Sports Foundation
has hockey, a hockey rink stored somewhere.
Boards? I don't know.
Somewhere on the district property.
At the same time, we spent $300,000 to store desks.
I just don't understand.
I don't understand how that's possible
with no explanation.
I mean,
I am familiar with the location
that the rink apparently is going to get built.
I'm also questioning
why we have a photograph here.
It's an unauthorized rink.
We have
our superintendent and school board member
and several of their staff without masks on.
It was on June 1st.
So I have an eight year old.
And if that red dump truck wasn't there, you would have seen her in the distance.
And, I don't know.
80 degree heat with a mask on
trying to be a kid.
But we allow our leadership here to take a photo
op to an illicit project with our masks on.
That's hypocrisy.
And it needs to be addressed.
It's unacceptable.
If we need a hockey rink, the the need drives the projects, not free boards.
The need of the constituents and the taxpayers.
That's the outcome of the project.
Not we got free boards.
Where can we find a flat spot on Derry Township? So
we are looking for answers.
I haven't heard anything, so maybe I did listen to the meeting
and it didn't come close to addressing the concerns I have.
So I'd like some additional discussion on that if possible, please.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miller.
I do want to provide for a point of clarification,
because some of the things that you're stating as fact are not fact.
That $300,000 was not spent on the storage of jets.
And I would invite you to review some of the Finance Committee meetings.
So considerable amount.
There was there was it was not $300,000.
I'd be happy to discuss with you
after the meeting and you can feel free to contact me.
So if we spent $1 in dust storms, I mean, we can still store hockey balls for free.
I'm providing this information to you
because I feel like I don't want to just ignore you.
And you're saying things that can become,
you know, perceived.
You're trying to say that nothing you had on it was I'm telling you
right now that there are hockey boards stored in district property somewhere.
Thank you. In this building.
Thank you.
I don't know.
Is there anyone else who would like to provide public comment
at this time?
Yes, go ahead.
Thank you.
Amanda Book 458 Stop Church Road.
Do I have permission to start?
Yes, go ahead. Thank you. Thank you so much.
Thank you to the board for showing up tonight.
While I appreciate your time, I no longer have confidence in my school board.
We, the community, have witnessed division hate, disrespect
among yourselves, which has led to dysfunctional schools.
This district is messing with our cubs, and we've had it unmask our children.
There is no need to mask them in the upcoming years.
If a person is bothered by germs, they should not be working out of school.
The bacteria you are forcing on our kids face
and the lack of fresh air daily, it's appalling.
Unmasking is very important to my family.
Kids need to learn and use facial expressions.
The mental damage that you have chosen to do to
our district will affect these kids for years to come.
Our kids are socially suffering.
Just check with the kids in your neighborhood.
You don't make the health decisions for our kids.
We do not you.
My kids will breathe freely this coming school year.
Unfortunately, and may no longer be in Derry Township.
I have listened for months via Zoom.
It's clear that you have your own agenda and you're not listening to other opinions
in your community.
At this time, I'm going to address my district's kids
and their parents, regardless of whatever side of COVID you fall.
I know you are stressed, you are lonely, you are confused.
You feel forgotten.
You are angry.
Your life has been flipped inside out and filled with
unnecessary stress from this board to the kids.
We see you.
We mourn for what has been taken away from you all in the name of health,
which is really our district's way to get more money off the government.
We are fighting for you to be back in school with hands on learning.
We want you to be able to pick up your friends, fall in classroom supplies
without getting yelled at.
We want you to use lockers and talk between classes.
We want you to eat lunch closely with your friends.
We are fighting for you to be maskless year round.
Your faces need to be seen.
Your voices need to be clearly understood.
The board needs to start making health decisions for you.
Your guardians know you best.
You are allowed to have different opinions than your teachers.
I know you have seen a lot of dark sides to your school and even your home life.
Please don't stop dreaming.
This is the United States of America.
The world needs you, all of you.
Especially your unique heart.
Your spark and your humor.
You have so much to teach and share with us adults.
You guys are world changers.
You are what makes America great.
If you're
willing to work hard for what you want, you can really become and have anything.
To the parents in this district who are losing sleep
over this chapter, we see you.
You are a great parent.
Bad parents don't show up or tune in to board meetings.
You have done so many hard things.
Please keep going.
Your kids and the district need you to the families of police officers.
You are loved and we support your family.
We thank you for your family service and sacrifice.
You are a rare gift to our district.
You are not forgotten.
I want to close with a community challenge for us to put our phones away
for a few hours every day and to turn off this television.
Eat dinner together, break out old fashioned board games, cook together.
Keep building your immune systems.
Go outside in the sun,
drink water, take vitamins, and do not isolate yourself from the world.
We need each other.
Hershey is stronger together.
Our district has been hit hard this year.
So what can you do when you or your children have?
Are having anxious, lonely, or even angry feelings?
Try a change of scenery.
Eat something your tastebuds like.
Listen to music or sound that you like.
Touch something cold physically talk to someone journal
using old fashioned paper or your notes app.
Use all of your sentence senses.
Do not be afraid to seek professional help.
Make yourself stronger for what this world is throwing at you.
And remember this district. It needs you.
Derry Township. We need community.
We need to celebrate together.
We are all great.
After all, the world comes to visit us.
We are Hershey, Pennsylvania.
And it's time to take action now to put our families,
our neighborhoods and our schools back together.
It's time for this district to put our children first.
Isn't what Milton Hershey would have done.
Thank you. Thank you, Miss Burke.
Is there anyone else here in the audience who would like to provide a
public comment at this time?
That evening,
my name is Kathy Burrows.
I want to I live at 163 high point drive in Hummelstown
and I just reviewed your notes from the pandemic meeting the other day.
And I just I just have a brief comment.
Maybe you can you can
comment on it.
I'm just wondering what exactly you were looking for in terms of direction
from the Pennsylvania Department of Education in July regarding
masking in the fall.
I'm just wondering what else you're looking for.
We just most parents in this district just simply want to know
if masks are going to be optional in the fall.
That's it.
You could comment on that.
Thank you.
Is there anyone else in the audience who would like to provide public comment?
Mr. Specter, is there anyone on site?
Oh, I'm sorry.
Make sure
sorry.
Hello, everyone.
I'm very nervous.
I've never been to an actual board meeting, so it's nice to see all of you.
I don't recognize all of you,
but most of you I have recognized from from social media.
So I'd like to just state that first.
My address is 167 South Hanover Street, Hummelstown.
I have two daughters.
I think I shared that the first time that I spoke up here.
I was looking through the agenda that you guys had posted early today.
And then when I went back to look at again, I wasn't able to find it.
So it's kind of I don't know if that was just my mistake
or if it was something that happened online.
I'm not really sure what happened, but that was not available to me anymore.
But I'm just through talking with some of the parents.
One of the things that I did want to address, a couple of things
that I wanted to address is the the talking in the focusing on equity,
I'd be curious how you would all individually define the word equity.
I think that we all have the opportunity for equality
under the law, equality of opportunity.
So equity is about equality of outcome.
And I'd like to know how many of you would be willing to come into the homes
of the children and families
who are not going to be able to have all the tools they need to be able
to reach these goals that you guys are proposing under these agendas?
I think,
you know, not to be not to be a smarter to be rude, but,
you know,
I think that as I look around, I wouldn't I wouldn't want to be rude and say that
none of you are biracial, but
it seems that most of you are Caucasian, I would assume,
and I would assume that, you know, when we're talking about things
like critical race theory,
you guys have assured us that you're not teaching that.
But I have an article from the Heritage Fund,
the Heritage Foundation, that will express an idea of how we can detect
if if critical race theory is being used in equity as one of the main
the main things.
So one of the things that I was taught
that I was that was shared with me is that you guys are trying to get a book
where I guess you've got it already got it approved by Ibram X Kendi.
And I just, you know, as a might as a half minority, I just would
like to express that it was that I read that he actually used the term the phrase
we need to use discrimination in order to fight discrimination.
And as, as I understand, I think the Constitution protects us against that.
I think that, as
I mentioned the last meeting, that's a violation of the civil rights.
And I think that that's something that should be thought about and talked about.
I have two authors here, and I'd also like to bring your attention to
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
I think that he's someone who all the kids could learn from.
He has an incredible story.
There's a great documentary that was actually taken offline
and off of Amazon during Black History Month.
So that's that's pretty interesting.
That's part of history. That's something you guys could teach.
So he's someone who I think is extremely impactful, loving, kind, conservative.
So he's not someone that most people would champion.
Another person is Dr.
Thomas Soul.
He's I think in his 1980s or nineties.
He's an incredible and incredible writer.
He's an economist, He's wonderful.
There are so many lectures on YouTube from him.
He's he's absolutely incredible.
The things that he talks about, a racial disparities and how they're not true
systematic racism.
Like, you know, these are things we're not really able to talk about,
you know, because they're uncomfortable conversations.
Another one is is a book watch, a book by Shelby Steele.
He has a brother, Eli Steele.
They just did a documentary called I think it's called What Killed Michael Brown.
You know, the conversations about that are also tense and they're hard.
And and I you know, I would also echo I don't know you, Mr.
Steiner, but I did see on your social media
that you seem to be a very big champion of Black Lives Matter.
And I'm not discounting that. I agree.
I think it's always commendable
anyone who is determined and you stick to your your stuff.
But I would like to say as a minority, I think that most people do not echo
what BlackLivesMatter stands for,
and they do stand for dismantling of the nuclear family.
And I think the last thing that I oh, I just want to also to read
very quickly this thing from the Heritage Foundation.
Just take me one one second.
I'm it says, how do I identify critical race theory?
It goes through all sorts of things.
Heritage Foundation is is a very conservative, wonderful outlet.
I would I would encourage and challenge all of you to take the time
to look into conservative views.
My definition of conservatism is conservatism is about,
you know, what I hold dear to myself
is what I teach my kids and what it's what I want for everyone else.
I think that liberal views and other views tend to you want to
champion what you want for others, but you don't do it for yourself.
So I think that's the difference, in my opinion, between being conservative
and then and then the other the other things.
But one of the things that it talks about I'm sorry, my mouth is so long.
I'm 20 seconds, last minute, a five minute time.
It says equity, replace it. So this is one of the markers.
Equity replaces equality.
Equity sounds like equality, but under critical race theory,
it has become it's its functional opposite.
Equality means equal treatment of all Americans.
Under the law, CRT is equity demands, race based discrimination.
Your 5 minutes and I have like ten more seconds to finish.
We finish what you're saying right now.
It's just this little part because systematic racism has produced
disparities between the races and because the system
will only deepen these disparities by rewarding the wrong criteria.
Government must treat individual Americans unequally
according to skin color, to forcibly produce equal outcomes.
Advocating equity over equality is part of critical race theory.
Thank you, Miss Parker.
Thank you very much. And you'll see me.
I'm coming out every single time.
Is there anyone else in the audience
who would like to provide public comment at this time?
Is there anyone on Zoom
or participating virtually with their hand raised?
Madam President, we see one hand at this time, Corey and see Chris.
Thank you, Chris.
Please go ahead.
Thank you.
I was glad to hear the previous speaker.
I applaud her.
I, I just agree with everything she says.
And evidently you are not teaching critical race theory.
I commend for that.
If that is true, if that is not true,
a lot of parents will be standing up against it
because it should not be allowed in any school in this country.
Thank you very much.
Thank you. Mr.
Chris, could you just provide your address for the record, please?
I'm sorry.
1940 Beer Run, Drive, Hummelstown.
Thank you.
Madam President, we have Michelle DAVIES.
Thank you. Ms.. DAVIES. You man. Go ahead.
Michelle DAVIES,
1524 Church Road, Hershey.
Now, I want you to imagine yourself in kindergarten.
What did you want to be when you grow up?
A Dr.
Bowyer, former firefighter, astronaut.
The possibilities are endless.
Then you get to middle school and of hit and your life is just topsy turvy
and you're just trying to find yourself and fit it.
Then you get to high school and you really start
figuring out who you are and what goals you have.
Do you want to go to college?
What college?
What degree can you even use that degree in what you want to do when you grow up?
Now imagine as you make your way through school,
you are told you have white privilege and you need to apologize for it.
You are automatically put in an oppressed category because of your race.
You are told you are a racist for thinking or voting Republican.
You are taught to despise your American heritage.
You are told that you will not have the same opportunities
to achieve your goals as others because of your skin color.
This is
what critical race theory teaches our children.
It creates division instead of unity.
Hate instead of love and discrimination instead of acceptance.
If you were told these things by a teacher in school
and you were just ostracized for disagreeing, what effect
would that have on your elementary, middle school
and high school paths?
Would it be a positive impact or would it hinder
your ability to achieve all you can as an individual?
What does it do to the school culture as a whole?
All of a sudden, the school culture would shift
and instead of community you have division and discrimination.
This is what critical race theory does to a school culture.
It destroys it.
The description of equity and inclusion
from the Department of Education is this.
To do their best, students must feel safe at school.
A healthy and environment, and help students thrive.
And every student, regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender
identity, or expression should be provided the opportunity to learn.
Free from discrimination, fear or harassment.
Does this sound
like a line to anything critical race theory teaches?
Do you think that all of our students feel safe at school
regardless of their race, background or beliefs?
I would like to see Derry Township School District
take a stand against critical race theory ideology, root it out.
Do not hide it in the name of equity, diversity and inclusivity.
Train your teachers against it.
Build a school culture that builds up
all students, all backgrounds and all races.
Build a school culture that promotes community and a sense of belonging.
Teach our kids to be proud of the area we live in.
We're more than just hersheypark.
And to love our country.
Now my next topic.
I have to say that I'm extremely frustrated by the lack of transparency
on where our district stands and masking our children.
I spoke on this
topic at the last board meeting on June 14th
and noted that the deadline for choosing virtual was the next day at midnight
and we as parents didn't have the full information
that we needed to make an informed decision.
Now, mandatory or mask
optional was a big factor for that decision.
As can be read from the comments on the mask update post
on the DHS Facebook Facebook page,
which was posted
2 hours before the deadline.
Many parents I talked to about the deadline
had already passed before the update came out.
Both sides of the fence wanted answers.
So my question is, are we following the science?
The science says that our youngest learners are the lowest risk for COVID,
but to keep them elementary students less,
we are increasing the risk of exposure to alarmingly dangerous pathogens.
A recent report on a study on mask wearing by 6 to 11 year olds
found 11 pathogens.
I'm going to read the common names
because I don't want to stand over the scientific 90 seconds.
Pneumonia, Tuberculosis.
Meningitis. Sepsis.
Keratitis Granuloma tells us amoebic encephalitis and the list goes on
or sometimes jokes about kids being petri dishes for germs.
But what's the mess on their faces?
They're breathing through a warm, moist, veritable petri dish
by the end of the day.
They were born for 5 to 8 hours and they were clean before they put them on.
Thank you.
Thank you, Ms..
DAVIES.
Is there anyone else who would like to participate
in public comment at this time?
Mr. Speaker, no.
Seeing none.
AM President, I see no hands at this time.
Thank you.
The next public Board of Directors meeting
will be held on July 26, 2021, starting at 7 p.m.
and our special meeting, public meeting
will be held on Monday, July 12th, 2021, at 7 p.m.
here in the District Office.
Please refer to the District website for the look of the That doesn't apply.
The location will be here in the district office at Granada Avenue.
Members of Emotion.
Is there anything for the good of the order?
Please have a motion to adjourn this meeting.
So move to Kathy Secker Second, Donna Cronin.
Any discussion?
I just want to add because I forgot to say it again.
We'll be adjourning to post executive session.
All those in favor say I am any opposed.
The meeting is adjourned at 7:57 p.m..