3021.
We have a very
short list of
attorneys.
Michael,
let's take that from the top.
I like to call the January 21st, 2021
meeting of the Derry Township School District Board of Directors
to order and announce that this meeting is being live streamed and audio recorded.
The 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 the board members to please state your name when speaking.
Those are attending virtually.
Mrs. Agee, would you please do the roll call?
Yes, Mr. Abel.
Present.
Dr. Cronan. Here,
Ms.. Drew.
Here.
This is have respect your
Mrs. Many.
Dr. Shore.
Here.
Mrs. Secor here.
Mr. Singer.
You're Mrs.
Steiner here.
Nine present, zero absent.
Thank you.
Please rise if you are able and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.
I pledge allegiance.
To the flag of the United States of America,
for which it stands.
One nation, under God, indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all.
May I have a motion
to approve the January 25, 2001 Board of Directors agenda?
So moved.
Is there any.
Discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All in favor signify by. Saying I.
Any opposed motion carries
shoot shoot us of the month recognition.
Mr. McFarland.
Thank you, Mr. President.
We have our Students of the.
Month, as we've been. Doing.
Via a video.
The students a month for
this month are Katie Copeland and Kaden Curzon.
Um, so Dr.
Winslow is going to show the videos. Enjoy them.
Oh, hello.
My name is Kitty
Copeland's time right now in honor to be genuine student of the month,
I would like to thank my parents for encouraging me to be my best,
my teachers, for expanding my knowledge into the Hershey
Rotary Club, for offering me this incredible opportunity.
I'm involved in our National Honor Society Club,
which is a group that provides materials for shelters during the pandemic.
The school's internship program, HCI Students Against Destructive Decisions,
The random Hi nice club, young Democrats and the school's theater program
where I play roles such as Hope, Heartwarming and Having ghosts.
Emily Wells In our Town, I was Meineke and the Addams Family
and Tonya and Anastasia.
I'm also very involved in the Hershey Area Playhouse.
I participate in some of their production, take their theater academy classes,
and I'm a student teacher for the classes given to younger students.
Additionally, I've been a teacher's assistant to Ms..
Dunlop over in the elementary school, and every year I participate
in my favorite in the Cocoa Carter Hunger fundraising dinner,
which raises money to give hungry children in our school district.
When I'm not performing at a show or during my school year,
I love to make videos and pictures and even try my hand at podcasting.
So I'll be doing the combined nature of communications and media
and screen studies when I attend Northeastern University in the fall.
I'm not so sure which profession I want to do yet.
So you might see me on TV,
hear me on the radio, or I could be working behind the scenes.
And even though English and communication
go hand in hand, one of my favorite subjects is not.
This year I'm teaching accounting three.
I'm fortunate that I learned about finances over the past three years
because I know it will come in handy when I'm looking for a job.
But I would not be here if it wasn't for the support of my family,
my friends and teachers.
Hershey is filled with so many wonderful people and I'm honored
to be recognized as a January student of the Month.
Thank you.
Thank you for selecting me.
I'd also like to thank my.
Parents and all my teachers.
Their use here,
my academic achievements would not have been possible
without their help and support.
A little bit about myself.
I could travel cycling.
All throughout high school.
In the past few years, I assisted in National Honor Society.
I've also maintained distinguished Honor over all my years here.
At the high school.
And earlier this year I was recognized as a tremendous student
for the Natural Merit. Scholarship.
Of all the service activities and projects I've done in my career decision
whether these are individual honors, this idea that is.
Helping other students learn and succeed is something that I really enjoy doing.
It also will grow as a person and it's something
I hope to be able to continue doing in the future.
I'm currently undecided about which college I will attend,
but I plan on majoring in mechanical engineering.
Thank you once again for your support. When you bring this on.
Well,
thank you both and a hearty congratulations to both of those students.
It's just really very encouraging to hear
all the great work that our students are doing
here.
Person I would like to announce that the board met
in executive session prior to this meeting to discuss matters of personnel,
labor relations and arbitrations,
purchase or lease of real estate
and consultation with attorney or other professional advisors.
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 or 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 period.
If necessary, the board set a maximum
time for the public comment portion of the meeting.
This portion of the board meeting is for comments on the board
and is not the question and answer period.
Those wishing to present private concerns
or questions meeting form 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?
Mr. SWIGER.
Do we have any hands?
Mr. President, I see no hands at this time.
Okay. Thank you.
All right.
Standing committee report.
The Finance Committee I know met this afternoon. Ms..
Drew, Do you have a report?
Yes. Thank you, Mr. President.
The Finance Committee met today and the first stop on our agenda
was the audit presentation by Matt Wilson from Boyer and Ritter.
He reviewed the audit of the school district for the 2019
2020 year and
presented no material weaknesses
or significant issues in those findings
just for background purposes.
We have the audits done on an annual basis as required by federal law
because of some of the federal funds
we receive, because we have bonds issued and outstanding
for the requirements
of the Pennsylvania Department of Education and for the community trust
to make sure that the checks and balances and internal controls are all in place.
So the audit overall was something that
but I believe the Finance Committee was very happy with Mr.
Friends and the Business Office continue to do a great job in managing the
tasks of the of the business office and
we recognize that this year
probably will look a little bit better from an audit presentation
from the numbers materially inside of it than we will next year.
But we have
total confidence and faith in Mr.
Friends that from an audit perspective and the way that funds are managed,
that that will continue to be something that we can be very proud of
and that also contributes to our high bond rating that we have enjoyed
during various financing opportunities.
We also reviewed the
revenue and expenditures
in relation to the budget so far through the end of December.
Overall, our
sorry, I just last increase our
real estate taxes
to date through December 31st have come in
approximately $264,000
under budget,
and that is because of a refund of $374,000
in taxes to the Hershey company associated with the West Plant.
There is about 200 acres on that property and part of that was determined
to be agricultural only through an appeal to the tax assessment.
Had that refund not come into play,
we would have been actually ahead of budget on revenue.
So overall, our real estate tax collection is holding
steady.
We also noted that with the penalty waiver
period from last year, there was no real material change.
Obviously, one of the biggest things that we see in budget
actuals versus projection is the amusement tax.
We're anticipating being $840,000 below budget
on collection of amusement tax, also payment in lieu of taxes.
Our pilots will be close to $500,000 because we will not be receiving
any pilot payment for the giant center for this fiscal year.
Overall, though, we
feel that, you know,
minus those several areas, things are holding steady.
Revenue from taxes is holding steady and earned income tax,
which was a very big unknown,
is positive.
On the expense side, one of the biggest things to note is that we currently are
about $1,000,000 over budget in the 500 level,
which relates to services that attributes to a $500,000
increase in payments to cyber charter schools,
which was not projected in the budget
and certainly will have an impact.
There's also been the pandemic related expenses of close to $475,000.
Overall, we're looking at a we had budgeted
for a deficit of $1.8 million.
We're now projected to be at a deficit
of $2.5 million.
And looking ahead to the next budget year,
we are projecting a $4.8 million deficit for that.
While that is nothing new for the district
to have been operating at these deficit numbers.
I do think that for this current year, we will be able to utilize
our fund balance to make up for that deficit and to hold on for that.
Looking ahead for next year, we also have various opportunities.
There's some additional stimulus dollars and expense cuts
that have been asked of the various departments.
So we'll continue to move through the budget process.
But there are significant options and it is not as dire
as we would have anticipated it would be.
So that concludes my report.
Thank you. Mr..
Any questions?
Obviously that's audio reportage of any would like to listen
to that particularly the the report of our current state of affairs.
We encourage you to do that.
Good.
So student representatives report Mr.
Bardo and Ms.. Lewis, you have a report?
We do.
And we are finding that this time around we are in a little bit of a dry
patch as far as activities in the high school.
So we made sure to reach out to the other schools, including the S.E.C.
Elementary School and middle school.
So what we came up with was that the SCC has been doing really well.
They made a continuous schedule throughout their transition
and so they said the students and teachers are adjusting real smoothly.
Is not much has changed throughout
the international fair at the elementary school has been canceled.
So we made sure to ask about that as that's always been a staple
in Hershey students experience.
And then finally, we reached out to the middle school
and talked about potential minutes on plan.
And they did note that it's in the works.
However, there's more to come on that and they will speak directly about that.
Hopefully soon in the future.
Or. Or we can hear you
try your
your volume button at the top of your computer.
You have one.
Family now out. Yes.
Can you turn it up a little bit?
That's the farthest it'll go.
That's great. Perfect. Sorry about that.
Between January 18th and the 22nd,
student Council hosted a donation drive for the organization downtown Daily
Bread in order to collect items in order to help out
during these colder months.
And then finally, we were just talking with Mr.
Smith and various other high school advisors,
and they've been able to pull off a lot through the seniors.
This year.
So right now some things that are in the works are senior pictures.
They also sent out that we're ordering caps and gowns and just the typical events
like the picking of senior superlatives and the yearbook are all getting ready
so that there's hopefully some normalcy to the senior year for seniors.
And then also, as we move closer to graduation, there's going to be
a lot of scholarship opportunities posted to the counseling site.
So trying to keep continuous with what can be held online
and the regular traditions that the seniors get to enjoy.
And that's all we
prepared for you guys.
Well, thank you so much to both of you.
Any questions for our student representatives?
I appreciate I appreciate your report.
Anticipated
Agenda Items The Next board of directors meeting.
The listed items are there as anticipated for the February
eight, 2021 Board of Directors meeting agenda.
There is no unfinished business
that takes us down 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 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.
Cathy Seger.
Is there a second one? Teacher. Thank you.
Is there any discussion?
This will be a standard voice vote.
All in favor.
Signify by saying I only opposed
motion.
Kerns.
Thank you.
So that will take us now into new business,
which would be Act one budget resolution.
Mr. Macfarlane. Thank you.
The administration recommends
the board approved a resolution to limit the increase of real estate taxes
for the 2021 2022 fiscal year to no more than 3%.
May I have a motion to approve the Act one budget resolution, please.
So move.
Lindsey drew second. Kathy Schechter, thank you.
Is there any discussion?
I just want to clarify that this is just accepting
that we will stay within the resolution index or within the parameters
of the index set by the state for what we are able to increase taxes for?
This is not indicative of an anticipated tax increase
and should not be perceived or construed as that.
Thank you. Mr..
Any other discussion?
This is a standard voice vote on favor.
Signify by saying I any opposed
motion carries change, order, safety and security project.
Mr. McFarland.
Thank you.
The administration recommends the board approve ECI construction change orders
one, two and four in the amounts of $5,294, $6,310
and $38,057, respectively, for the Safety and Security Project.
Thank you, Mr. McFarland.
I have a motion to approve the Change Order Safety and Security Project.
Of Kathy Seger.
Is there a second? Second, Kip?
Thank you.
Is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote on favor.
Signify by saying I by any opposed
motion carries
and we're on to the appointment of the superintendent.
The H.R.
recommends the board approval to appoint Dr.
Stacy Winslow as superintendent of Derry Township School
District for a term beginning July one, 2021.
May I have a motion to approve the appointment of Superintendent.
Lindsay Drew second? Kathy.
Is there any discussion?
I have a question.
The What is this?
This seems.
Somewhat. Vague to me.
It says for a term.
Could we define that better?
A term as I understand it could be
like three years, four years or five years?
I think. So.
I'm just inquiring as to what is meant
by the word term.
Well, I'd.
Call upon Mr.
Z, but I you know, if we if we wanted to amend it,
it would be adopt for the term beginning July one, 2021
through June 30th, 2026.
Now, if. That would address your concern.
I do not.
I believe that it would.
Can I can I interrupt real quickly?
So and Esser Mr.
Sanders. QUESTION So there are two motions that are before you.
One is, is you're absolutely right.
It doesn't establish the term.
It's not it's not supposed to.
You're appointing.
And then you're going to have a separate motion that appoints for.
A specified. Term.
The term under this motion would have to be within the years
that you identify which are allowable under the school code,
but it's purposefully drafted that way so that it doesn't address.
The term because that other motion does address the term.
Does that help?
It does.
But would it be appropriate then to just and it at the end of the school
district, period,
I'd like to vote yes for this,
but as it's presently constructed,
I'm not going to be able to.
So, Mr.
Singer, would you expect to a motion to amend
the motion to read?
The committee recommends the board's approval to appoint Dr.
Stacy Winslow as superintendent of Derry Township School District
for a position beginning July 1st, 2021.
No position instead of term so that it is not a.
O position as a position.
Be going on.
Yeah, I would. Okay.
So moved.
Is there a second?
Second Cronan?
Okay.
So I'm sorry, Mr.
Cronin, I didn't hear.
I. Just a second.
While you're doing second. Okay, great.
We have a motion to amend.
That's the the the pending motion as outlined.
And may we?
I'm sorry, there's been a motion second.
So let's all.
Is there any discussion on that motion to amend?
Okay, let's have a that.
You want to read it again.
Lindsay.
So I have moved and it has been seconded
to amend the motion on the table to be
The committee recommends the board's approval to appoint Dr.
Stacy Winslow as superintendent of Derry Township School District
in a position beginning July 1st, 2021.
A motion has been made at has been seconded discussion.
Is there any discussion?
Okay, so that's the current motion before the board.
I would like this to be done by way of a roll call vote.
I would just like to make one point of discussion before we vote on this.
To say that as a school board director, I feel that one of our greatest
responsibility is lie in the hiring and management of the superintendent.
During a time with so much change, it could feel completely
overwhelming to experience the change of a superintendent
in addition to the many other challenges that the district faces.
So to have the opportunity to promote an existing trusted member
within our district administration team to this position
is one that I do not take for granted and I'm deeply grateful for.
It's been an absolute honor to work with Dr.
Winslow in her current capacity
over the past several years, As I've been on the board
through that experience working with her, I found her to be an effective leader
with an extensive knowledge of public education.
But more importantly,
she consistently demonstrates not only a passion for what she does,
but genuine compassion, compassion and investment in our students.
I have absolute confidence in her ability as the next leader of our district,
and I'm thrilled to be able
to affirmatively vote for her appointment as our next superintendent.
I also would like to
say that I'm very pleased that we are able to hire such a qualified
and competent internal applicant as Dr.
Winslow. Mr.
Macfarlane does have big shoes to fill, but I'm confident that Dr.
Winslow will step right into that position and keep the momentum moving forward.
So I'm very pleased to be voting yes on the next two
items on the agenda.
Any other discussion on the pending motion?
This is just a minor.
I also want to congratulate Dr.
Winslow and this position, and I'm really excited
to have her step into this position as superintendent.
I think that the school is really lucky to have her.
The district is lucky to have her.
And I'm just thrilled to see where she will take us.
Thank
any other discussion.
All right.
This will be a roll call vote.
Mrs. Agee?
Yes, Mr.
Abel? Yes.
Dr. Cronin? Yes.
Ms.. Drew?
Yes. Mrs.
Haverstock?
Yes. Mrs.
Nanny class.
Dr. Shaw. Yes.
Mrs. Sicker.
Yes, Mr.
Singer.
Mrs. Steiner. Yes.
Yes. 920.
Thank you.
So the item on the agenda
is the superintendent contract.
The h.r.
Committee recognized for real quick use.
It voted on a motion to amend.
Can you vote on on the motion as amended now as well, please.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Zinn.
So I think that we amended the motion and we should do another vote
and opportunity to discuss the motion as amended.
So is there any discussion on the current motion as amended?
So let me do a roll call vote on the
amended motion.
That's before the Board.
Thank you, Mr. Singh.
A roll call vote, Mrs. Agee.
Yes, Dr.
Cronan. Yes.
Mr. Drew?
Yes. Mrs. Harris.
Yes. Mrs.
Manny.
Aftershock. Yes.
Mrs. Secor?
Yes. Mr.
Singer? Yes.
Mrs. Steiner? Yes.
Mr. Abel?
Yes. 920.
Thank you.
So that moves us on to the next item on the agenda,
which is the superintendent contract.
The committee recommends the board's approval
and execution of the attached proposed contract between Dr.
Stacy Winslow, a superintendent of the Dairy Township School District
and the board of school directors for the term July 20, 2021,
through June 3rd, June 30th, 2026.
May I have a motion to approve the superintendent contract?
So move Nancy Drew second. Kathy Sticker.
Is there any discussion on this particular item,
Mr. President, regarding the term of the contract,
the fundamental argument for a five year term of a contract
as opposed to a three year term is not logical.
Additionally, the five year term provides less safeguard
for the taxpayers in the very unlikely event does not work out.
And it is finally, it's contrary to our current standard. Mr.
MacFarland, who has proven
excellence in the position, only has a four year contract.
So consequently, because the argument for a five year contract
as opposed to a three year term is not logical, it does not provide
optimum safeguard for the taxpayers and is contrary to our own standard.
Good decision
making requires me to vote against the five year term of the contract.
Thank you, Dr. Sharp.
Anyone else? I'd like to comment
after Dr.
Shaw's comment.
Three years versus five years.
I went into this situation thinking it's going to be a three year contract,
but I lost my train of thought.
I'm going with the five year because Dr.
Winslow has proven herself to be such a valuable asset to the district.
We know her.
We know her reputation.
If we were hiring outside, a three year would have been a no brainer.
But because we have Dr.
Winslow coming from the inside,
I'm comfortable with the five years.
So the longer we have her, the baton.
Any other discussion for my board members?
I just want to follow up to my previous comments and reaffirm my support for Dr.
Winslow as our superintendent and for this contract for her appointment
as co-chair of the H.R. committee.
I have been deeply involved in this process
of negotiating this contract with Dr.
Winslow through countless hours of work throughout the process
with my fellow board colleagues, Dr.
Winslow, and additional research above and beyond.
I'm proud of the contract that we have before the board tonight.
I completely understand some of my fellow board members positions
on being uncomfortable with the term length and similar to Mrs.
Memory. I would also
say that if not, given Dr.
Winslow's proven record of service and performance, which completely
establishes the standard for that, that
that I also would not be comfortable with a five year.
I also want to just note that school code provides for several term
length options to allow school districts the opportunity to
enter into a contract that they feel works best
for their vision and plan for their school district.
And I don't feel the president has been set due to differing circumstances
that were limited to,
you know, individuals at the time that those contracts were done.
My vote tonight is evidence of my complete confidence and trust that I have in Dr.
Winslow in being able to perform this contract length.
And therefore I'm comfortable with all terms of the contract
and feel that it is mutually beneficial for both the district as well as Dr.
Winslow, and poses no risk for the district long term.
Thank you.
Yeah, I would just.
This is Cathy Seger.
I would just like to echo my support
in the last motion and also my support of the five year contract.
I did not go into this knowing
which we have the option to do a three, four, or five.
And I was convinced after our Human Resources Committee
had the ability to discuss the plans and what Dr.
Winslow brings to the
the school district.
I don't agree with Dr.
Shaw when you say that it's not a good idea for the taxpayers.
I think it is good during this time that we're giving the district
some consistency through the next two.
I mean,
this year we're running up into a budget, a budget deficit next year as well.
So it will take some time for us to get through the COVID 19
pandemic and see it through to the other side.
So I feel confident that a five year contract is a good idea.
So I will be voting in favor of it.
And I don't agree that this has any reflection whatsoever on Mr.
McFarland's previous contract, because this is well within our rights
to work with an individual person who we see fit
to negotiate a three or four or five year contract.
And it just so happens that there are those of us who feel confident in
a five year, but it does not reflect upon Mr.
McFarland. In the past service he has gone to the district.
Any other discussions?
I as co-chair of the h.r.
I want to really echo some of the sentiments that before i think, as Ms..
Sikka said, the next year or two will be very important ones for the for
the school district as we deal with sort of the epidemic and our budget situation.
So i have the mindset that a five year gives Dr.
Winslow a full and fair opportunity
to really fulfill her function and live up to what
I think is a lot of potential that we have with her as a candidate.
So I will be voting for
the five year contract.
John.
Yes, Thank you, Mr.
Chairman.
I would prefer a shorter contract
as a starting point, essentially for the same reasons that Dr.
Shaw enumerated.
So I will be voting no on this motion
because I don't support the five year contract.
But I want to say that I support the appointment of Dr.
Winslow strongly.
And as it is evident that our contract will be approved,
I wholeheartedly support her.
The superintendent.
Thank you, Mr.
Singer.
Anyone else
for discussion?
I also will be voting
no for the contract, but it is no reflection on good job.
I think you can do for this position.
I will also support you 100% in that role.
I just feel as though, although Dr.
Winslow has served in many capacities,
this is a new position, a role as a superintendent is new for her
and that a three year contract is more warranted for that.
I also don't I agree with what Jeff said, and I also don't think it's good practice
to tie the hands of the future board by having a five year contract.
And if something were to happen, it would burden the taxpayers
to have to end the contract sooner if it was less than five years.
And that's just
a lot of money to put on them during a time when budgets are tight.
So for me, I just am not able to do that.
But it is no reflection on the job that I think you will do.
I think you'll be able to fulfill your function.
I think you could do that in a three year contract
and would continue with your goals after that renew contract.
So I will be voting no just for the period of the contract.
Thank you, Mrs. Harris.
Anyone else?
All right.
There's been a motion this made.
It's been seconded.
Is there any further discussion?
If not, we will do a roll call vote and ZG.
Of course. Mr..
Yes, Mrs.
Harris.
No, Mrs.
Manny. Address
Dr. Shaw? No.
Mrs. Sikka?
Yes, Mr.
Singer? No.
Mrs. Steiner. Yes.
Mr. Abel. Yes.
Dr. Cronan? Yes.
Let's do it. Six. Yes.
Three now.
So the motion carries.
Congratulations, Dr.
Winslow.
May I have a motion
to approve the personnel resignations removed?
Maria Mumy.
Is there a second? Second? Lindsay Graham.
Is there any discussion?
There's a senior voice vote on today.
Signify by saying I.
How do you want to post
personnel, General?
Mr. McFarland.
Thank you.
The administration recommends
the approval of enlisted personnel and recognition of any transfers
may have a motion to approve the list in personnel
and recognition of any listed transfers.
So smooth.
Kathy Singer.
As Is there a second Second? Donna Cronan.
Thank you.
Is there any discussion
that's a standard voice vote.
All in favor signify by saying I.
I want to post.
Motion carries
the Dauphin County Tax Collection report has been attached by Dr.
Shaw. Dr..
Do you have anything got
nothing to add to what is attached?
Thank you, sir.
Are there any board members who would like to give a report?
Mr. President, I just wanted to add on.
I forgot to say it before when we got confused with the motions,
but I wanted to thank Mr.
McFarland for the work that he's done over the past few years and succession
planning that I think really enabled the board to see Dr.
Winslow as such a great candidate for our next superintendent.
So I appreciate that the forward action
and forethought that you had in
all of that planning that's gone into it.
I know that over the next few months, you will work closely with her
and we really appreciate it.
Thank you.
Many other board member reports. I just want to echo that.
I also want to thank Mr.
for all the work that she did
on this committee and working to negotiate this contract.
She really provided the board with a lot of information and updates.
And so I just want to thank them for her thorough and consistent work.
Anyone else?
Yeah, I just have a this isn't I don't know if this qualifies as
border Point, but I do want to bring up the situation
that is unfolding currently.
Is sorry is that the obviously school was going
to be possibly delayed or virtual tomorrow now it's virtual
and there's a huge impact on the juniors
this year who were not able to take the PSAT test in the fall.
And the makeup date is tomorrow.
If they don't take it tomorrow, they have no opportunity at all.
Wanted to find out if there's any way the school could allow the PSAT
students come in, even though it's a virtual day,
because this will have an impact on their ability to be National merit.
Finalists.
Semifinalists commend it, which has a huge impact on their college applications.
I've been getting texts and emails for the past 2 hours of Stuart
that parents are just very, very upset at at losing this opportunity.
If there's anything at all the school could do, I implore you
to consider that these kids have lost so many different aspects of potential
for their college applications.
These juniors are going to be really hurting
if they're not able to be in the overall mix of of the PSAT.
Thank you, Dr. Dr. Cronin.
Dr. Smith and I talk early this morning
about that and they did reach out
to the two T's
and unfortunately they are not flexible in their timing.
So I haven't had a chance to to follow up with Dr.
Smith at all
since we had to make that decision in the midst in between board meetings.
But what we'll see we can do, unfortunately.
Hopefully we can get some flexibility from the order.
Anyway that those students would be able to come in for the test,
even though it's a virtual day, because they weren't
they weren't going to be participating in the school anyway.
This is something that's outside of the school day, per se.
I can't wait because I don't know what
what the roads are going to look like, what the weather's going to be.
But I have to talk to Dr. Smith on that, too.
But we will follow up.
Okay. Thank you. So much.
I feel when I order breaks for these students, another stressor.
I agree.
Thank you. Dr..
And anything else for a board member report
mission? Mr..
Do you have the superintendent's report?
I do. Mr.
President, first, I want to congratulate Dr. Winslow.
I had the privilege of working with her in several capacities as middle school
principal and most recently as assistant superintendent.
I couldn't
you know, when I announced my retirement, I did so early because I was very,
very concerned about the continuation of all the great work we have going.
And I couldn't be happier with the board's decision to nominate Dr.
Winslow.
She has done a fantastic job here.
She is a great colleague.
She's a great champion of public education and everything
we're doing here in the district.
And I know that she will take this district forward to the next level.
And I'm just excited for what lies ahead.
And I will do everything I can to support her and
make sure that she's ready to step right in and run full speed.
So thank you.
Congratulations, Stacey.
Turning a little bit differently here,
as you know, or you may know,
the federal government in there as their funding provided
additional funding to school districts for the pandemic related
expenses.
So I have a statement.
It's a little long, but it's important that it be read.
So as everyone knows, the COVID 19 pandemic has created many challenges
for public schools and education in general over the past 11 months.
While public schools and public school educators have done an amazing job
in adjusting, pivoting and doing everything possible
to ensure the academic, physical, social and emotional well-being of all students.
This hasn't been possible without significant costs,
both human capital and fiscal capital.
Over the past 11 months.
There have been two grants made available through the Coronavirus
Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act,
Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Fund Relief Fund.
These grants have been provided to help schools offset the monumental costs
associated with restructuring, learning environments and modalities
to meet the academic needs.
Students now and moving forward and ensuring physical spaces are following
all health and safety measures to ensure students and staff safety when present.
To that end, this most recent allocation will provide Derry Township schools
with around $2 million, for which we are extremely grateful
as it helps to offset the almost $4.5 million deficit.
As Ms..
Drew spoke of caused by the pandemic
and the associated lost revenue and additional costs,
While we are extremely grateful for this assistance,
the public needs to be fully aware of the inappropriate and unethical distribution
of funding across schools, particularly cyber charter schools as an example.
While Derry Township School District is receiving 1.9 million
with this funding, Commonwealth Connections is receiving 13 million
PR Cyber 10.5 million, a gora cyber 9 million.
In total cyber charters are receiving over $49
million of this most recent funding.
While we're not saying that any school should not receive
adequate financial assistance based on true need, it does
raise serious questions as to the need of these cyber schools.
Obviously, cyber schools were already fully established
to provide virtual learning and at least for several,
have stopped any in-person learning opportunities during the pandemic.
So it begs the question, why do they need ten plus million dollars
for when they aren't needing to make any adjustments to their learning modalities
and don't have physical buildings or have students in those buildings at this time
that they would have to ensure health and safety measures for them?
While we know they have seen large increases enrollment in enrollment
due to the pandemic, it is crucial for everyone to realize that
with each student they add, they also receive significant
funding stream from the home school district of every single student
known as the Charter school tuition payments in Derry Township.
That tuition payment is over $13,000 for a regular ED student
and over $26,000 for a student receiving special education services.
Regardless of what
it actually costs to educate the student in a virtual environment
when which in many cases is nowhere close to that.
While our budgeted expenditures
for cyber cyber charter tuition this year was $1,000,
we are on track to spend over 1.5 million in cyber charter tuition,
almost the amount we were receiving in the second round of grant funding.
Even if increased enrollments have caused cyber charter
to hire additional teachers, it is important for everyone to realize
that any added personnel costs in cyber charter schools are offset
by our taxpayer dollars from our school district.
So increased personnel costs certainly aren't a factor
in needing additional federal or state grant dollars.
This emergency funding through these grants is significant in these times,
and it is disheartening to see that while we are getting help and moneys,
there is great disparity between what the cyber charters are receiving
and what brick and mortar schools receive, even though the costs and efforts
that these funds are to offset appear to be greatly skewed
to the brick and mortar schools, our community and all communities
need to be aware of this huge discrepancy and inequity due to outdated,
ineffective charter school
funding mechanisms and demand from our state and federal legislators.
The changes we've made to ensure fair funding for all schools and all students.
I encourage everyone to investigate this misuse and misallocation of public funds
and demand change to the funding formulas for cyber charter schools.
It is way overdue, and this most recent egregious misappropriation of funding
is just another glaring example of the huge issue negatively
affecting public education in our state and across our nation.
I have sent an email with similar information to Senator Disanto
and Representative Happy, and I have yet to receive responses, but hopefully will.
But I encourage everyone to please reach out to your legislators, legislators
at the state and federal level and demand changes to cyber charter funding.
It is totally unfair.
I am not saying I'm not.
I'm open to choice for parents and families.
But it needs to be fair and it needs to be fair, fairly funded.
So with that, let
I have one more thing,
and this is a much more pleasant note as I share it.
Last meeting, January is school director recognition and I, again,
on behalf of the entire school community, just express
my sincere and deep appreciation for each and every one of you.
The countless hours, the countless time, the passion, the dedication,
the energy you give is so much appreciated, and it's
evidenced by what our students are doing, even during this pandemic time.
And I so appreciate that.
What I wanted to do tonight on we have the district
is have a little token of our appreciation for you.
I have to read this.
I wrote this
and I'll get all lost.
What I what I have for you is a spiral paperweight.
And of
course, there has to be significance in that spiral.
And this is the work you do as a school board director.
The spiral starts at the center.
Our vision, our mission, our purpose and what guides everything that we do.
And it spirals outward, essentially forever.
While each of you will have a set period of time
in the history and future of Derry Township School District,
just like the Spiral, your impact on guiding the work
toward the vision, the mission and the purpose will go on forever.
Sort of like the step you took tonight to to hire Dr.
Winslow.
So I thank you again for giving yourself and your time,
your energy and talents to serve our school community
and made a small token Be a reminder of the part
you're playing in the legacy of Barry Township School District
and the appreciation that every one of us has for each and every one of you.
So thank you. And congratulation.
Thank you. Thank you so.
Thank
you for my.
To. Do.
And Dr.
Cronin, yours is here, so we'll make sure you get your token.
And thank you, Mr.
McFarlane, for that for that report on on
any number of fronts. I
you know, as for a board, I consider
an honor and privilege to serve with with all with all nine of you.
And I appreciate all the thoughtful and respectful dialog that we have.
I want to add my congratulations to Dr.
Winslow this evening for your appointment.
I think we're all looking forward to working with
you are going forward day patients.
You know, we also look back and tremendous gratitude to you, Mr.
McFarland, for all the good work that you have done for the district.
We're fortunate
that we have a period here where we'll be able to work on transition.
We have several months to run to ensure a smooth transition as possible,
but I'm sure that we will we will take advantage of these coming months.
And I do want to thank the fellow
committee members for all the work that they've done, and particularly Mr.
for her countless hours in bringing this to fruition.
So that concludes my presentence report.
Recognition of Citizen.
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
that would like to comment at this time?
We have three hands, Mr.
Swiger.
Yes, I see.
Terry Martin.
Okay.
If the citizen are,
please identify themselves.
Yes, it's Terry Martin.
And your address, please.
1203 Quinn, Hollywood, Hummelstown, Pennsylvania.
Great.
I'm just following up on
what Donna Cronan had expressed earlier.
I have a junior
who is planning to take the PSAT tomorrow, and I just learned that there
being canceled because of the school being switched to virtual.
And I'm just asking that that be given reconsideration.
This is really important to these juniors is their only opportunity to take
the PSAT is to qualify for a merit scholarship. And
if the decision can be put off
until the morning to see if the roads are at least passable
and if the parents are willing to bring the kids in.
I just think this is a very important thing to just
not to make the decision when there has been no bad weather yet
and we don't even know what the roads are going to be like in the morning.
Thank you.
Any other citizens that we see, Mr.
Swiger?
Yes, we have. Mom to Vermont.
Okay.
Please proceed and identify yourself
by name and address.
Hi, this is Mom to Vermont at 1115.
Stony Run Road, Hummelstown
17036.
And yes.
Actually, again, it's the same thing.
I have a junior to watch, as Mrs.
Martin said, and Ms..
Cronan had said, this is very, very important for them.
And again, the weather has not even shown what's going to happen tomorrow.
And it's very it would be very unfair for the kids
if they don't get the opportunity to take this test.
And that is the last opportunity.
The October one was postponed and obviously for understandable reasons,
but this will be the last time they can take it.
Thank you.
And the other citizens.
Finally, we have Monica, Yvonne, Dominic.
Sure.
Yes, hi.
I had a couple of questions like
the are the basics of the new superintendent's
contract on your website and specifically, you know, the salary
and what the increases in salary will be from year to year.
The contract was actually attached to the agenda
that that should be publicly accessible.
Okay.
And then,
Mr. McFarland, would I be able
to get a copy of your statement regarding the charter schools?
Absolutely. Monica, email it to you.
Okay, great.
And the only other thing I wanted to kind of remind all the board members
that when you were talking,
if you could let us who are on Zoom, let us know who you are,
because I
was not always sure I recognize the voices.
Yes. And thank you for that reminder.
I will do a better job kind of keeping that in line, mindful people are a.
Part of this, although I know when some of them did identify themselves.
But, you know, there were a few that I was not sure was talking.
Fair enough. Okay. That's all I have.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. President.
There's no more. He is raised.
Thank you, Mr. Swiger.
Is there anything else for the go to order this evening? Mr.
President, I just wanted to say thank you to Mr.
McFarland for his very passionate statement on charter schools.
The SBA
in their legislative platform, has identified
meaningful charter school reform as the top legislative priority
for the 2122 session, and is something that I personally, as a school board
director and spent a lot of time researching and understanding.
And I could not agree with your statements and comments more.
And I thank you for always being such a passionate advocate for public education.
Thank you.
Anyone else?
Okay.
The next public Board of Directors meeting will be held
February eight, 12 and 21, starting at 7 p.m.
The location is to be determined.
May I have a motion to adjourn this meeting, please?
Kathy Secker Second, Maryam and I.
Thank you all in favor signify by saying. I.
Opposed the
motion carries.
This meeting is included at 8:00.