21 meeting of the
Derry Township School District Board of Directors to order
and announce that this meeting is being live streamed and audio recorded.
This meeting is being conducted both in-person
and virtually limiting our in-person attendance to ensure the ability
to social distance during the COVID 19 pandemic.
I'd like to request
that the board members this evening please state your name when speaking.
This is a roll call. Please.
Mr. Abel. Here.
Dr. Cronan.
Here, Ms.. Drew.
Here this is Have her stick near Mrs.
Many here. Dr. Shaw. Here.
Mrs. Secker here.
Mr. Singer.
You're Mrs. Steiner here.
Nine present. Zero absent.
Thank you.
Would you all please rise if you are able and join me
for the Pledge of Allegiance?
I pledge allegiance to the Y for America
and to the Republic which stands one nation,
indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all.
Approval of Board of Directors Agenda.
May I have a motion to approve the April 12, 2001 Board of Directors agenda?
So we have Danzy Drew second. Maria Mimi.
Is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor, please signify by saying I think one opposed
motion carries information and proposals.
President Communications.
I would like to announce that the board met in executive session prior
to this meeting to discuss consultation with Attorney
or other professional advisors.
Moving on to item to be
recognition of citizens 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 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 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 during follow up
outside of the board meeting may go to the district website
and submit a community correspondence report
as we've done for the past couple of meetings.
We will limit this portion of the agenda to 45 minutes
and then the other public portion to 45 minutes.
And I want to ask
potential speakers to try to avoid repetition.
So one of the speakers, before you have covered the topic,
we ask that you would yield your time to or to another speaker in the queue.
So having said that, are there any residents or taxpayers
who would like to comment at this time here in the room?
And I do see a hand here in the room, So we'll start with you,
ma'am.
This is a mass
this is under 5 minutes, but I'll keep a timer here.
Thank you.
Lori Peterson, 190, Jacob's
Creek Drive in Hershey.
In the words of Lady Macbeth,
what's done cannot be undone.
So now we must look ahead.
We have heard a lot of talk regarding reopening
schools in August, but we have yet to hear a plan.
There is. We hope we want.
We wish.
But it's my favorite children's playwright, Susan Zeder wrote,
You can wish in one hand and spit
in the other and see which gets full first.
The time for wishing is over.
It's time to start spitting.
In other words, it's time to take action.
We, the taxpayers, residents and parents of Derry Township.
What a solid plan to get our kids back in a full time
face to face learning environment.
How is it that if we can't get to the three foot
distancing recommendation in April, will we possibly have that three foot
distancing four months later using the exact same buildings and rooms?
Isn't that the definition of insanity,
doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result
if spacing truly is the issue, there is a solution.
The Granada Avenue building where we are right now,
where the district offices reside, was once a fully equipped middle school.
It should be used as a school once again to make more room in the elementary
and middle school buildings where it seems we have the most overcrowding issue.
We should turn the Granada Avenue buildings into grade five and six,
thereby freeing up many classrooms in the elementary and middle school buildings.
Yes, we know it's been partially renovated into offices.
If that's a problem, perhaps we can trade and the administration can work from home
as the children have done for a year and a half now,
and the kids can utilize this space as classrooms.
Surely none of the administration would mind being put out a little
in the name of cultivating an extraordinary learning environment
for every child every day.
I know the unused part needs refurbishment.
You have four months.
We had two weeks to prepare our homes to be schoolhouses,
not to mention adjusting or quitting our jobs, acquiring
child care.
But we did what was needed to make sure our kids
were able to get what they needed.
All we ask is that you do the same.
It was done in 2011 for the equal work.
It can and should be done now.
Yes, smaller class sizes means hiring more teachers.
You announced over $4 million
in federal taxpayer funded relief to assist our school
calculating the average PTSD teacher salary plus benefits.
You could hire 26 additional teachers for only $2 million.
That leaves over 2 million to fix up the Granada Avenue building.
Are you worried about technology upgrades in the Bernard Avenue classrooms?
Don't be.
Our kids all just learned on iPads at home.
And heck, when Canvas or Seesaw went down, they lost hours of learning.
So maybe relying on high tech education isn't all it's cracked up to be anyway.
Blackboard in chalk, paper and pencil and solid face to face instruction
are ultimately the tools that our students need to succeed.
I am here as a mom,
but I also work for the district.
Every district employee was given
the opportunity to be vaccinated if they wanted to be.
We even had priority on the single dose vaccine.
I got mine in early March, so why do the goalposts
keep moving then with reopening masks?
Check, Vaccines check is distancing the final piece of the puzzle.
If so, make this happen.
If not, what is it?
Who is pulling the strings?
Kids are hurting.
Lonely.
Science has said depression in kids is rising to crisis levels.
Formerly successful students are falling behind or failing.
You sit here tonight in a position of power over our children's
futures, and with great power comes great response ability.
So here is my plan
Utilize the empty virtual classrooms as additional space for in-person students.
Reopen the district office building as a school for grades five and six.
Hire new teachers to accommodate smaller class sizes.
Our town is growing.
The school must grow with it
and finally get all of the children who want to be back in school.
Back in school from day one for the 2021
22 school year, we no longer want to here will try, as perhaps
the wisest teacher in the galaxy said, Try
not do or do not.
There is no try.
Thank you. Thank you.
Is there anyone else here?
I don't see anyone else here in the room to evening.
So we will go to the virtual format and she offers that his hands raise there.
Mr. President, there is one hand raise
Christian lease
and you are have been given permission to speak,
please on your make
Sorry.
We hit the race hand button by accident.
No problem.
We have one more hand,
Mr. Edward Brooks.
Okay.
You have been unmuted.
Mr. Brooks?
Yeah. Hello?
Do you hear me?
Yes, we can.
A little bit of
a little bit of feedback there, but give us your name and address, please.
Yep. My name is Ed Brooks.
I live at 1740 East Caracas.
I have a child in elementary to middle school and one in high school.
I really am hard pressed
to top the previous speaker, but I agree 100%.
I want to hear solutions
to the problems of how we get back to 100% in school by 2021.
For all who are willing, obviously, for those who don't feel comfortable yet,
aren't able to get the vaccine or whatever other
circumstances they may
be in, there should probably be a virtual option for them.
But I want to hear how we're getting forward, not what the obstacles are.
Restaurants figure this out a year ago, right?
Like, if there is a will, there's a way.
If we need to put up tents, if we need to figure
out more rented spaces, if we need to hire teachers,
I want to hear the plans on how we get back
and what measures are being taken and what's needed.
If it's extra money, then let's look into that and identify how we can get it.
You have a large, concerned parenting population.
I have seen in all four of my children
different degrees of problems of distance learning.
I have one child who has gone from happy to depressed.
All of them have
their own problems with this and it hasn't been a good year academically.
I've seen the struggle, I've seen their grades fall, I've seen their motivation.
Sadly, my elementary school kid who loves school now hates it.
You can't bring himself to focus in his own home
when he's distracted by his siblings, his dog to a Zoom class.
This just has to stop.
We need a way forward and we need a plan forward.
And that's all I'm looking to hear from the school board
and we're willing to support whatever it takes,
but we need to figure that out.
Thank you for the slots that have been opened up.
I do want to acknowledge the school board and the school opening up for day
in-person learning for many students in the past couple of weeks.
I do appreciate that and I'm hoping that we can together
find a way forward to do this. But
frankly,
I'm discouraged by how often problems are cited
without any eye towards solutions, and I think we can all do better at that.
Thank you.
Thank you, sir.
And the other virtual hands?
Yes, Mr. President.
There is an additional hand.
Laura Gifford, you are now immediate.
Okay.
Go ahead, ma'am.
This is Laura Gifford, 960 Sandhill Road.
I have spoken a few times and I just wanted to add some more insights to this.
It is my belief that our community should be able to trust our schools
to do everything they can for our children and these students.
We should be able to trust that our administration and elected board
members put our students needs above all else.
It was said in the first discussion that the mission of the district
is a community, cultivating an extraordinary
learning environment for every child, every day.
The mission of the school board states
that you are being charged with acting as the general agents
for the people of the district in the manner of public education.
You are charged with being aware of concerns
and desires of the whole community
regarding the quality and performance of the school system.
Knowing this, our
community feels as they can no longer trust our district leadership.
In 10 minutes of online research, I was able to locate the following
on October six, 2020, Central Dauphin School District
approved for full K-8 five return, stating that higher density of students
will mean that it is unlikely
that there will be six feet of social distance at all times.
But the district is taking measures to distance the maximum
extent possible and they returned in a video
from the lower Dauphin superintendent dated 1027 2020.
They were working for the full fight K through five return in November,
acknowledging that they too
wouldn't be able to maintain full distance at all times.
And in addition, students returning full time would possibly have to change
teachers or even elementary buildings to accommodate
both districts also signed and have posted their attestation forms.
None of the obstacles and excuses
we keep being presented are unique to Derry Township.
Our neighbors have faced the same challenges
and have had leadership that have stepped up and made it possible
to do their true and essential function and open their schools.
Both districts let the parents decide
what was best for their kids and their families.
It appears a Derry Township feels that those decisions
can be made by a handful of people behind closed doors,
despite the fact that it affects 3500 students
and tens of thousands of parents, families and community members.
So have we failed to collaborate with our neighboring districts?
Do we lack all self-awareness and think we are completely unique,
or are there other factors that we are not being told
and it is being discussed behind those closed doors?
Are we overcrowded and understaffed?
Does our administration not want to do this work?
From my personal experience, my daughter's second grade
class has 12 students in both the AM and PM Sessions.
State requirements only allow for up to 20 students in that grade level,
with one full time teacher, preferably with 17 maximum students.
So the school can't bring this class together even without COVID precautions
because they have overcrowded their classroom.
At the last meeting, our administration publicly stated that students
struggling mentally or emotionally would be considered for full return.
When I reached out to the elementary school staff, I was told
that this was only applicable for grades six through 12.
So why are we ignoring over half of the student population,
arguably the half that needs in-person more than anyone else,
and who was prioritized at all other districts?
The options I was offered instead
were counseling for my children for additional schoolwork,
neither of which are solutions for young children
in need of actual school socialization and offerings.
We have to ask that our administration actually address these questions today.
We also ask that everyone in that room step back and consider
if you are fulfilling the missions you pledged
to by being part of this administration and our school board.
My fifth grade teacher, who is still there, Mr.
Kieffer, always taught us,
if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.
So to our administration, if you are not creating an extraordinary
learning environment for every child, every day, you are part of the problem.
And for our school board, if you are not representing the public
and community in their views, you are not fulfilling your mission either.
And we need to do better for our students and you need to do better for
your community. Thank you.
Thank you, ma'am.
Any other virtual hands?
No, Mr. President.
There are no virtual hands.
Moving on.
Standing Committee report.
The Curriculum Council met today.
Dr. Cronan, do you have a report?
I do indeed. Thank you.
So we had a discussion, a new business
and an old business item, and I'll try to be brief on each one.
The discussion was a clarification on the new human sexuality curriculum
for the elementary
and secondary programs regarding the elementary program.
We want to make it clear that we are not using
the Advocacy for Youth program, but instead we're using what's called
kids health, and that's for grades two through five.
And that is a program that our curriculum, our teachers are picking out
appropriate aspects of that program, including safety, such fire
safety, such as drop and roll, bike safety and helmet use, nutrition, etc.
And the secondary program is
actually available and being reviewed and by the community.
The binders are available and that includes
crisis resources as well as less male oriented content.
And that will be going to the board for a vote
on a new business.
We talked about PD credits for sports.
It's been talked about for a while.
How can folks who are involved in a lot of school sports get credit for that?
In in the past we've had senior
senior figures to be called senior is that I think it's now called Apex,
which is now I just lost that stood for
but anyway it's phased program
where for students who
either for scheduling conflicts guidance will recommend them
for apex alternative is Ed thank you and it was going to come to me
or for students who
have music classes or labs or whatever and they can't fit a gym class in.
So guidance always had this in their back
pocket to say, Hey, we can put you in Apex.
Alternative is Ed so that you had that you're freed up.
Dr. Smith presented to us that Apex that they were poised
to roll that out to the to to a greater population
rather than put in a whole new policy
of how to get credits for participating in team sports, for example.
So what students would be able to do is use their outside
outside physical activities
such as dance gymnastics or their varsity sports at the high school
and they would have to have a three log in a minimum of 3 hours
per week in their logs, as well as journals.
There would be some live class
needing some fitness components, planning a fitness routines.
This year there were about 83 students involved in APEX
through guidance counselor recommendation, but Mr.
Dr. Smith and his team would be poised to roll that out to 11th and 12th graders,
realizing that there is some important components
of his ed that freshman sophomores would be it would benefit in the live
life setting.
So the the plan is that he will get information out to students
as soon as he's able
given that there are other priorities right now,
including getting kids back to four days live.
And he will he wants to assess the interest,
let students know what the date expectations would be for next year
since they've already done their scheduling.
This would be an add on to allow students who are having not only problems with
scheduling conflicts, but those who are involved in significant
out of school activities
or I'm sorry, after school activities that involve physical vigor,
that they could actually get credit for it and not have to take gym.
And then the old business was going back to the elementary health class.
The new elementary health class will have will go to full board approval.
And our next meeting is on May 10th.
Did I get that right, Stacy?
I wanted to ask for clarification.
I think we.
Already voted and approved on the secondary health curriculum that's done.
I think the binders of any one of anyone to see that, Right.
That's what it is. Thank you.
The binders are available to see
what's been approved, but the elementary will be approved.
So it's the elementary form. Thank you.
My fellow.
Yes, that's correct. And this is just a sign.
I just wanted to clarify to that.
The advocates for youth program that was approved for the secondary level
just utilizes a very tiny fraction of that curriculum to enhance
the curriculum that was already in place and that that is available
for parents to come and view if they choose to at the district office.
But thank you.
Thank you.
Dr. Cronan Community Correspondence Report Mr.
Turek, do you have a report?
I do, Mr. President.
During the month of March, we received 18
community correspondence submissions.
They included an employment inquiry.
We had three questions regarding the school calendar.
We had five submissions that were related to curriculum
and the remainder were all focused on COVID 19.
Right.
Thank you, sir.
Moving on to the student representatives report, Mr.
Padayachee and Ms..
Lewis, do you have a report this evening?
Yes, we do.
I'd like to start with
saying that our the walk for clean water,
arranged by the Key Club on Sunday
raised just over $15,000 for the THIRST project, helping to provide
underprivileged communities with clean water.
I'd also like to
notify about the Jessie White Talent show.
So members from both Hershey High School and Milton Hershey
have been working on a virtual talent show with different acts
by both students from both schools as well as art showcases.
The tentative date for the YouTube premiere of that show
is April 30th.
I'd like to make mention of Hershey
Triumph, the Music Honor Society.
They will be participating in their annual
training event on April 24th, which is a collaborative concert featuring
students from the Hershey Kumara and Middletown chapters of of the Triumph.
Yeah.
You think government
is preparing for for model, which will be held on
April 15th through April 18th.
Model is a virtual convention
where schools across
Pennsylvania come together and where elected students
work to pretty much create a mock government.
This Saturday, Science Olympiad is competing
in their state competition.
This year is obviously a virtual event
with only testing questions.
The usual building hands on aspect is scraps.
Unfortunately for this year, and largely more so for the community,
I'd like to make mention of the the senior event.
So on May 7th there will be a senior food truck dinner.
Prom will be held at the historic acres
of Hershey on May 12th, open to seniors.
The senior awards will be on May 19th.
And lastly, graduation will be on May 26th with a live stream
so that people not attending the the ceremony can can still watch.
And the venue for that event is still pending.
If there are any questions, I'd be more than happy to to answer them.
But that concludes my report.
Anything else
from our student representatives?
That should be a thank you.
All right. Thank you.
Anticipated agenda items for the next Board of Directors
meetings has been listed under Section F.
The musicians want to unfinished
Business, the district operating schedule during the COVID pandemic.
Dr. Winslow.
Thank you. Mr. Abel.
I just wanted to give you an update since our last meeting.
I'll just start with the middle school.
They've been working diligently
to bring as many students back as possible
in less than a month or about a month.
They are back to nearly 20%
of students across the grade levels being five days a week
or four days a week, I'm sorry, four or five days a week.
So right now we have total
in-person in sixth grade,
195 students, 199 students in seventh grade, 198
in eighth grade for a total of 592 students,
in-person
with 108 of those being four or five days a week.
And at the high school, nearly
actually at this point, everybody except for 75 students will be joining us
later this week who wanted to come back four days a week is back.
So we have 75 more students later this week that were virtual.
And then everybody who has requested
or wanted to be back at the high school will be back.
So we have
one eight days.
We have 136 hybrid students, 351 four day
students and 24 five day students on B days.
We have 129 hybrid students, 351 four day students, and 24 or five day students.
And so those four
day students will have 75 students added to them a little later this week.
I think Thursday is the date they were aiming for.
So we've been able to bring quite a few students back based on space
and availability and working through schedules.
Dr. Winslow, the student, have a I just have a question
for the middle school of those who requested and would like to be back,
how many had to be denied?
I don't know that.
How many had to be denied?
To tell you the truth, I know that Mr.
Valentin has been working with families that if there is not capacity
in their current classroom, they are able to come at least half the day.
So they're working a lot of kind of out-of-the-box
thinking with with families and trying to collaborate with them to do that.
Mrs. Dyker and I have the question.
You said for the middle school, 20%, nearly 20% or at four days a week?
Yes, four or five.
And how many are hybrid?
What percent are hybrid Still dead just two days a week?
I don't have the numbers, but I have the number.
So what percent of the high school are able to be back four days a week now?
Seems like a lot.
I know. 200.
What about 200? Started back today, which I think is fabulous.
Yeah, about 214 came back today and we still have
535 students that are virtual at the high school.
So by choice, no guests. Okay.
Yes, Yes.
Not because we've made them stay virtual, but that's by choice.
So just under
half the students at the high school have stayed virtual,
while the rest are either hybrid or four days a week.
Dr. Winslow In the information
that we were provided in the board, very few outlets.
Well, first of all, thank you to the administration
and to the buildings for
being able to to bring so many students
back over the last few weeks.
In looking at the numbers that were provided.
It appears that the hybrid families that were offered
full day return at the high, the four day return at the high school,
only 45% of those hybrid families
accepted to come back for the full time.
Four day instruction.
Based on the surveys that we had received,
69% of the hybrid students who responded to the survey
indicated that they wanted to return for
full time or full day instruction if that were to be offered.
Is the is there any information you can share on, you know, reasons why?
I mean, I'm not a high school parent,
so I didn't see that survey and what information was there.
But it seems like there's a significantly lower
number of students returning to a four day full time instruction
than what we would have anticipated given the survey results.
So there were several families who, when contacted to come back that they were
able to come back,
thought that they were
just filling out an interest survey, didn't necessarily know that
that was a well, we're going to invite you back.
And then upon greater reflection,
some decided that they just would prefer to stay virtual,
since that's where they were.
So once the opportunity was presented, then they had an opportunity
to think about it
and what was best for their family if they wanted to disrupt their schedules.
And several, many, many did come back for four days a week, but several decided
that they wanted to just stay where they were for the remainder of the year.
So with those numbers
being so much lower than anticipated
for their return, is there
any thought for the middle school of doing the entire survey?
You know, similar to that? I'm just curious.
I know seniors are actually our our highest virtual number, like we have
the lowest number of seniors as a class
in any grade in-person instruction.
But and they have all been invited back. Now.
But for the middle school,
are we able to see that just because, you know, with having 20%
in, you know, we're able to go to a higher number
if if that trend is going to follow?
So with staying with the three feet as much as possible,
social distancing at the middle school,
the majority of classrooms, there are some that are a little bit larger,
but the majority of classrooms can hold about 15 kids at the high school.
The majority of classrooms can hold about 20 kids.
So they had more room to expand.
Okay. Correct.
And with the levels of independence at the high school
that are a little different than middle school, if a classroom
exceeds 20 students, we do have a system set up at this point
so that the overflow students can rotate out
different students each day into the library.
So let's say, for example, your English class has 23 students in it.
Three of those students each day during English
would rotate out into the library and zoom into class in order to maintain
that distancing at the middle school, that same structure.
This is not necessarily exist
now at the middle school.
I do have my percentages.
I apologize when you ask me that. This Tavistock.
I didn't have the right page pull up.
So sixth grade is 27% that have stayed virtual.
Seventh grade is 31% and eighth grade is 27%.
With seventh grade being at 31%, there's still a little more space in seventh grade
than there are in the other two grades.
Should there be anyone you know looking to to seek that?
So this is Judy Harris again.
So can that message be relayed to parents that maybe seventh graders
who are still interested in coming back, that they can work on that
and maybe others who still would like to come back, even looking at spaces
such as the auditorium or the library or so to be able to use.
I don't
I don't want to get into extra spaces because then that means extra faculty
and we don't necessarily have the people to monitor those spaces.
But I mean, like
if a certain classroom can only hold, you said maybe 15, but maybe there's 20.
That whole classroom with that teacher, could they move to a different space?
Not enough teacher.
Dr. Cronin had this idea when she met with Mr.
McFarland, and this is me and myself and
when when you say
there is a I don't want to say that's impossible.
What I will say is that that invites a level of complexity
and inequity that is difficult to work through.
So if I if I say Mr.
Chisels classroom can have 30 students in the LGA,
but that's the only one.
So only social studies kids can have more than where do
the English students, the math students and the science students go when they're
so when they go to those teachers, where do they go?
So there's there's only space enough
for like one or two teachers to do something like that,
which does not accommodate a whole entire team.
So we've been trying to be very creative with
if you can at least get in for a half day, either in the morning or the afternoon
and even rearranging schedules.
So staying on the same team.
But perhaps, you know, if it's English and science
that you're struggling with the most, you have the same team, same teacher,
but you move your English and science to the morning
so that you are in in the mornings, four days a week.
Then your parents
come and get you twice a week at lunch time to take you home.
So because there's not enough room in those other classes on the opposite day
and doing that model, do you feel that you're going to be able to accommodate
everybody who would like to come back then in some?
I don't think we can get quite everybody back at the middle school,
but I think we're working really hard to get as many in as we can.
And the counselors have been doing a phenomenal job of working with families
to figure it out through this whole entire time.
I think not that I want to base our success only on complaints,
but we've had the least number of complaints about the the middle school.
They started trying to bring students back as many as possible, right
as soon as we came back from our virtual shutdown after the holidays.
So they've been they've been working on this for quite a while
and and have been able to bring back quite a few students.
I was in the middle school, actually.
I was in all three buildings on Friday,
and there are very few classrooms that are not at capacity.
And it would be great if you could just let the seventh graders know that.
As you mentioned, if there is more room, if more could come back.
And I'd just be curious to know, once you have
it worked out, how many were not able to.
Who would have liked to?
I can I can talk to Mr.
Valentine about those numbers and get them to you.
And this is Don Krohn.
I just want to throw out there for folks
who are listening in case they're not sure.
I mean, I think it's been great that the high school
has been able to accommodate everyone,
but I want you know, it's important to note that a lot of that is because
a significant number of seniors and juniors
especially have chosen to stay virtual If they're playing on a sports team.
So it's really allowed for all those who want to come back live, to come back live
because so many
have chosen to play virtual so that they don't get impacted on their sport,
whether that's the right reason or not, it's allowed space for everybody else.
So I'm glad that that's that that's happened.
But that's also why the high school has been able to accommodate
not only that increase in size of the rooms,
but because of the number of athletes that have stayed virtual.
The students have a stick.
Again, just one other question.
So planning for the fall,
I don't know
if maybe at the next board meetings, if we could have just some kind of
briefing of maybe just issues that are need to be addressed
and just some kind of report of how they're going to be addressed in the fall.
I know one of the biggest barriers is lunch
lunch for the elementary school kids and how that's going to work out.
And just some I think the community would really like to know.
I mean, the summer's going to go by fast.
And just
so some things that you've decided upon, some guidelines, whether it's really
so when you look at what our plans are for next board meeting myself, Dr.
Smith, Mr. Valentine and Mrs.
Funk will be giving a full presentation on our preliminary fall plans.
I hesitate to say anything is written in
stone, and I want to make sure that that's.
But preliminarily, what what our plans are.
So we've been working diligently on that and we'll have a full presentation for you
at the next board meeting.
Dr. Windsor, this is Lindsay.
You're obviously with some of the comments that have been received
and some of the things that we've heard in the community.
There is a lot of trepidation as to whether you know what's going to happen.
Everything that that we're hearing and it's been mentioned
at the last few board meetings, is that the plan
is to going back full time, in-person with a full virtual option.
So I guess I want to stress that part of it and understanding
that there's a trust factor that, you know, if families or community members
feel that has been eroded, that they're just saying that doesn't come.
But but nothing is that we can't make guarantees
given the circumstances we're in.
But looking at the vaccination rates and I think, you know,
there were several of us, including myself, at the last meeting, that said,
even if everything's the same then than it is now,
I would be comfortable with being back
full time, open, in-person in the fall, because we would have the time to plan.
And I didn't feel that we had the the time to do that
for the remainder of this school year.
So just to make sure it's out there.
Derry Township School District for the fall of 2021,
unless something else is stated, is planning a full time
in-person return for all students who want to be in-person.
Thank you.
Anything else from Dr.
Winslow? Anything else?
Any other questions from the board members?
All right. Yes.
That moves us up
to item number four consent agenda items.
The consent agenda contains routinely adopted items and items
that normally do not require public deliberations on the part of the board.
A board member may pool items which will
then be discussed and voted on separately.
May I have a motion to approve the consent agenda items as listed?
So move to Maria. Me. Is there a second?
Second?
Donna Cronan.
Is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor signify by saying I anyone opposed.
Motion carries
that moves on to new business.
Item number five, a approval
of presenter contract.
Dr. Winslow.
Thank you.
The administration recommends the board approval as a presenter contract
with the YWCA.
Lancaster for the 2021 2022 summer.
May I have a motion to approve the list to present her contract?
So move to Happy sticker.
Second, Lindsay Drew.
Is there any discussion?
This is Tricia Steiner.
I just want to publicly thank Adam Hosey for giving us the friends
and family discount and publicly remark about how amazing he is.
I've been in professional developments with him
personally, and he's just wonderful.
And I'm so happy that he's continuing to work with the district.
I'm thrilled to partner with them.
And a further discussion.
Is the standard voice vote.
All those in favor signify by saying.
I i. One oppose motion carries
an approval of the Capital Area Intermediate Unit
2021 2022 General operating Budget.
Dr. Winslow The Administration recommends the approval of the 2021
2022 Capital Area Mini Intermediate Unit General Operating Budget.
Derry Township School District's contribution to the general
operating budget is $52,458.55.
May I have a motion to approve the 2021 2022
Capital Area Intermediate Unit General Operating Budget.
So move Tricia sign.
Our second Cathy sticker.
Is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor signify by saying I, I only one opposed
motion carries.
Moving on to the approval of the revised
2021 2022 school calendar.
Dr. Winslow.
The administration recommends
the approval of the revised 2021 2022 school calendar.
Now have a motion to approve the Revised 2021 2022 school calendar.
So move.
Nancy Drew second.
Maria Mimi Is there any discussion? Dr.
So could you just explain what the change is for?
Absolutely.
I made the teachers work one
extra day when I was creating calendar.
I had to add in an extra day off in March.
So that would be it.
That would look exactly like it does this year with that three day
spring break time. So thank you. Thank you.
Any further discussion?
If not, this is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor signify by saying.
I. Oppose motion carries.
Moving on to item D personnel resignations.
May I have a motion to approve the listed personnel resignations?
So moved Maria Mimi Second Lindsey Drew.
Is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor signify by saying I anyone opposed
Motion carries personnel.
General Dr. Winslow.
Administration recommends the approval of the following appointments
and recognition of the following transfers.
They have a motion
to approve the list of personnel and recognition of any list of transfers.
So moved Kathy Zwicker Second, Donna Cronan.
Is there any discussion?
If not, this is standard voice vote, though
All those in favor signify by saying I want opposed
motion carries delegate reports
or any delegate reports this evening.
If not, on to special reports.
Board members report.
Are there any board members who would like to give a report this time?
Go ahead.
Further. Yeah, this is Donna Cronan.
I don't know if this is a report,
but it's a request and I'm not sure how to go about doing it.
I just heard of this recently
that the because we as a board earlier in the year
canceled or blanket canceled all school field trips due to COVID, rightfully
so wanted to find out how could we readdress
the the senior trip to Hershey Park
was under that umbrella of field trips rather than senior activities.
And a lot of individuals are wondering, how can we get that reinstated?
What would be the process there?
John Starr Dr.
Winslow Yeah, well, I think the class advisors
would need to bring us the field trip request.
Oh, that would be. Is this okay? Perfect.
So it doesn't have to be like reversing the previous decision
could just be come up as a new it could come and it wasn't perfect
and you could consider how you wanted to move forward.
Excellent.
I will let the folks that asked me that.
No, thank you.
Mr. Ball. This is Lindsey Drew.
I just wanted to make a note and say thank you
to Jason Refsnyder for the work that he has done
tirelessly behind the scenes and helping our staff be vaccinated.
And it has not been
an easy road and things have been moving all the time.
But he did a really incredible job partnering with the Hershey Pharmacy
and making sure that those that wanted to be vaccinated could.
And so I just I wanted to publicly then come
because that is work that has just been tremendous behind the scenes.
And I feel that he deserves that praise.
And to all of the staff who will be receiving their second shot
in the coming weeks that did not receive the first
two. You know, good luck and congratulations on getting that.
And I hope that the side effects are not too great for them.
And then also, I just wanted to congratulate
one of our school nurses, Tracy Dawson, who was named
as one of the 2021 Central Penn Business Journal health care hero nurses.
She Tracy is a fantastic
school nurse and, you know, very important part of this district.
And I just wanted to congratulate her on being recognized for her service.
Thank you, Ms.. Drew.
And the other board member reports this evening,
superintendent for Dr. Winslow and Mr.
Macfarlane Jobs Act. Do you have a superintendent's report?
I do.
The students took some of it and Lindsay just took some of it.
Sorry I missed that.
I will not steal your son.
It's all good.
I did want to congratulate the wife for clean water students.
I did not get to participate this year. I usually do.
But I did see them walking on Sunday when I was over here at the office.
That was.
It was great to see that they had participation
and was very happy about Tracy Dawson's recognition.
She is she's an excellent member of our staff.
The other piece that I had is that we do have
three elementary fifth graders
under the tutelage of Brian Blaize and Natasha Walser,
who entered the Capital Area Intermediate Units Next Challenge.
And the students conceptualized and designed a blueprint and development
workbook for an Infinity washer.
The closed loop washing
machine recycles its own water, requiring just ten gallons over its lifetime,
and they presented their project via video conference to a panel of judges,
and they are now advancing to the state level competition later this year.
And those students are Kevin Bennett and Ananya,
please forgive me.
Joseph.
It, I believe and Evelyn found
so very, very exciting and very happy for their teachers and for those students.
It's it's really great that even under these kinds of circumstances,
with education being a little weird, that our students are still achieving
at high levels and winning at local competitions.
So it's very exciting.
Thank you.
Item that takes up that item eight Recognition Board Present report.
I have it on this evening.
Recognition of Citizens. Item number eight.
This is an opportunity for residents and taxpayers to address the board on
matters related to the agenda or matters of district governance, not on the agenda.
Those who speak are asked to follow the same guidelines
outlined at the initial public comment portion of our meeting.
Are there any residents and or taxpayers I'd like to comment at this time?
And a virtual hands.
There is one virtual hand, Mr.
President. Angela Weaver. Okay.
You are unmuted.
Are there?
Angela Weaver 1778
Like everybody else, I certainly appreciate all the work
that got into or that went into getting so many kids back to school,
whether they wanted to or they were able to.
You know, many of these kids weren't able to because of sports
and things like that.
Or maybe their families just kind of had enough.
I was curious
if there's a know number of the number of families who have unenrolled
or moved out of the district, and I wondered if that data was available.
I Know a few families myself personally, and I was sad to see them go.
And then another question I had was for
I know this isn't a question answer, simply a comment.
So Lindsay or Ms..
Drew, when you were talking about being as hopeful as we can be at this point
with reopening full time in the fall I was curious about the comment
that was made in parallel with that about now that vaccinations are underway.
And I was curious if this board
or the majority of this board is going to be pushing for mandatory vaccines
for the fall in order to comply with that hope for in-person
fill in time or full, full time in-person learning in the fall.
And I think if those discussions
are being had, the community needs to know immediately.
And then my final thought with with regard to the immunity,
the community was brought up a few times about some of the mistrust
that has been happening between the community and the board.
And I think that lies not just because of the inactions of the board,
but what it took for the board to actually
start make actions to do these actions.
It took, you know,
nearly like a public shaming in order to call a lot of these things to light.
And on many occasions, many of the excuses that were cited, the attestation,
the volleyball net and the gym classrooms, you know, busing, cafeteria,
you know, all those things turned out to never actually really be true.
And so I think it's, you know, it's paramount that moving forward
that we're very transparent with all issues that are being brought up
that may or may not prevent reopening in the fall.
And as a parent of five students here in the district,
it's paramount that we know these and that we know this information
because families need a plan and they have every right to know
what's being put on the table in order for our rights as taxpayers to be fulfilled.
And if this district can't do it,
you know, families families need to be aware of that.
I believe that Derry Township is the best school district in the area,
and I'm proud to be here.
And I hope that, you know, moving forward and finding a way to do that,
that we come out of this much stronger and and solid.
Thank you.
Any other virtual hands?
I see none at this time, Mr. President.
There's one.
Right. Donna?
Hey. You ever.
Now I'm muted.
So I'm free.
I'm sorry. Did you get that up?
My name is Donna Cooper at 693 Locust Street.
Hummelstown.
First of all, I'd like to thank the few board members that have been trying
to look at alternatives to get in our kids back to school in-person setting.
This year, we chose to live in Derry Township and we pay the higher taxes
because of the school's reputation.
And shame on me for not getting involved earlier and for trusting,
assuming the school board would be making the best decisions for my kids
in these tough situations like the pandemic.
As previous people
people have mentioned there, there isn't a plan B and communicate it.
And as of now it seems like we should be somewhat
normal school year moving forward with all the vaccinations.
But as this pandemic has shown us in the past 14 months,
conditions are constantly changing and throwing us curveballs.
I wanted to remind everyone that actually what actually happened last year,
July 17th, the plans were to return to an in-person school with a virtual option.
It wasn't until August 4th that we were informed
that these plans were no longer an option and the school had to switch to hybrid.
The first day of school, a half of a million of the middle school
and high school kids were able to attend school.
Then, due to lack of planning, we went several more weeks without cameras.
Even in our schools where our kids were asynchronous for weeks,
which is basically equivalent to a free day.
Our neighboring schools had the OWL program, our cameras
up and running on the first day of school.
They were able to adapt and adjust their plans as needed
to support their students and provide as much in-person as possible.
Not only did they have the cameras on day one,
they had rules and standards in place that the students followed.
They mandated the
use of the videos feature and the students were expected to use them.
Our kids aren't using the video feature
where they might be listening on their headphones.
They are also surfing the web, gaming or eating or during the classes.
There's no excuse for no videos.
If there are concerns about a home like inequities, mandates,
a white background screen for all students,
I guarantee you that all of our issues that prevented us from reopening
could have been overcome with some additional effort and desire to do so.
The district and board should be reminded that they were voted
in to represent the community and not their own agendas.
If over 50% of the community wanted to come back in-person,
they should be taking that into consideration on all their decisions.
I was always proud to say that my kids go to Hershey.
I'm appalled and disappointed in the lack of direction and action this year.
Our school should have been the leaders the one other schools looked up to.
Instead, we sat on the guy on the sidelines,
letting the pandemic take its toll on our kids education and mental health,
dividing our community and destroying the trust in our school.
We can do better. We have to do better.
We'd like to I'd like to make sure that there's a plan, a planning team
that will meet more than a few times, and we'll make sure that our
are getting the education attention they need and deserve.
We need a backup plan for the just in case scenarios
that are bound to happen back to school is to be five days a week.
We cannot have any more wasted Wednesdays
I reckon, and recommend that you overstaffed our schools
by hiring a few extra temporary employees to get us through next year.
The longer we wait to hire, the smaller the pool gets as
we are already behind other schools that are hiring.
Now we have the extra funding with no more excuses.
I'd also like to hear what the school has planned for
how they're handling the learning loss from this year, as we are obviously a lot
less than we are our current neighbors, neighboring schools and the like.
And this school planning to address the teacher student ratio,
especially with the Hershey development with the at 900 homes.
Thank you.
I'm on any other virtual hands.
Yes, Mr. President. There's an additional hand.
John Miller, you are unmuted.
Hello.
This is John Miller from 329 Cocoa Avenue.
Thank you, everybody, for your time this evening.
I just wanted to
say here, you know, looking forward, it's springtime.
We've said what we had to say in the past.
And now that we understand the position of of the individuals on the school board,
I think we have to and this is coming from a nonpartisan standpoint.
I'm a registered independent, so I don't have a horse.
The race.
I would just urge people to, you know,
the school board elections are not for on the horizon.
So the research candidates appropriately and take a look and see if they,
you know, exhibit the type of leadership that we expect.
You know, we need to
we need to not just worry about getting back.
And we got to think about and some of the other folks
have mentioned, you know, the the learning challenges
that our kids are going to face is this is a hole that we're in.
You know, the school board right now is is talking about climbing out of the hole
and they're rolling around the surface covered in mud.
You know, I'm trying to blast off the bottom of that hole and I want my
children and their future to be bright and expand their consciousness.
I don't want them to be shackled by the closed mindedness
that some have exhibited here.
Okay.
Please, please, everybody,
take a look at the candidates that are running for the school board.
We're looking towards the future.
Our are counting on it.
And for those school board members
that are reasonable, that can
go through a process of logic
and reason and realize that,
you know, this is generally speaking, it's been a statistical pandemic.
Okay?
There are deaths. The virus is real.
Take a look at flu figures from last year.
I'm not saying
it's not real. It is real.
But look at the flu statistics.
They're nonexistent.
You know, we just had
those states, Texas, for instance, they've gone maskless
and we expected a large spike in COVID down there.
And Foushee, when he was asked why he didn't have an answer for it.
And part of that is, is that masking in South?
She actually wrote a paper in 2008, look it up.
And it was the number one cause of death
in the 1917 1918 flu pandemic was bacteria
caused
pneumonia from dirty masks.
And it's just something to think about here.
It's a data point.
Plot it in your quest
of logic and reason and you'll get the answer.
So thank you.
Thank you, sir.
Any other virtual hands?
Yes, Mr. President.
There is an additional hand.
Janet Trautman, you are now a newly.
You can identify yourself by name and address.
Please
unmute
Janet Trautman 124 Maple Avenue.
I just wanted to add a positive comment and
we by personal choice
for our family have an I have an elementary student.
We also have two students,
other students in our household.
My daughter is fully virtual and I just wanted to add that
I respect everyone's opinion, but we've been very happy
with the teachers and my daughter's had a positive experience.
So while I respect everyone else's opinion, I have nothing negative to say.
I just wanted to add a positive comment
for everyone to hear as well.
She's done well. We're very lucky.
I do understand everyone else's opinions,
but I just thought it would be nice to hear
a lighter side as well.
Thank you.
And the other, a virtual hands.
There are no additional virtual hands at this time.
Virtual hands. All right.
Is there anything else for the good of the order, Mr. Eva?
I just wanted to address one of my readers comments
because I don't want there to become
misinformation or rumors to develop.
The school district is not mandating vaccines for our employees.
That has not been the case.
It is not anything I, as a board member have ever heard of.
Anyone who wanted one was offered.
Anyone who didn't want one was able to opt out of that and
anything further.
If not, the next public board of Directors
meetings will be held April 26, 2021, starting at 7:00 PM.
Please refer to the District website for the locations as the meeting draws near.
May have a motion to adjourn this meeting. Some
so moved Maria Miami second.
Lindsey Drew. Is there any discussion?
All in favor signify by saying I anyone opposed
motion carries Meeting adjourned at 8:04 p.m..