Just where.
It started.
Okay. Thank you.
I'd like to call the December 14, 2020 meeting of the Derry Township School
District Board of Directors
to order and announce that this meeting is being recorded.
This zoom weather zoom webinar meeting is being held
due to the COVID 19 global pandemic.
I'd like to request the board members to please state your name when speaking.
This is e.g. roll call, please.
Mr. Abel.
Here, Dr. Cronin.
Here, Mr.
Guru, you're Mrs. Harper.
Stick here, Mrs. Mammy.
Here, Dr. Shah.
Here. Mrs. Secker.
Here, Mr.
Singer. Dear
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 flag of the United States of.
America.
And to the. Republic for which it is.
One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty, liberty and justice for all.
Thank you.
May I have a motion to approve the December 14, 2020
Board of Directors agenda?
So moved Kathy Sicker.
Easier.
Is there any discussion?
This is standard voice vote.
All in favor, please say I.
Am. Opposed.
Okay.
The motion carries.
This evening we have an update
from PFM to be presented by our colleagues there.
So let them introduce themselves and turn the
meeting over to the phone folks.
Brad Yeah, thanks.
Mr. Able Right.
Brad Remick with PFM, How are you all doing this evening?
I know Luber Deli's on the other line as well, dialed in and I think Mr.
McCarty is with us as well.
So the three of us all handle the discussion for the board.
The I wanted to update you.
We've been working with the Finance Committee really over September, October
and November at looking at potentially refinancing
some of the districts and indebtedness
to be able to create some savings in the next couple of budget years
due to
some of the, you know, difficulties and struggles we're all facing,
you know, with the current environment in this virtual environment.
So we worked with Mike and then the committee
to go over a couple different structures and some samples, and we think we have
a couple of things for you for the board's consideration this evening.
On the next page is an interest rate charge.
I think the committee
has been tired of seeing my chart, but nonetheless I included each time.
But it just serves as a reminder to let you know that as we're looking
at refinancing and restructuring
some debt, we're in a very favorable interest rate environment.
The bottom chart, if we can just scroll a little bit up, gives you
an idea of where interest rates have been for the last couple of years.
And also on the charts up above give you some historical perspective.
And we're really near all time lows in terms of where we've seen municipal rates,
you know, as we've gone over the last couple of years on that bottom chart.
For those of you that haven't seen this in a while, you'll note
a rather sharp uptick in that.
No, I'm sorry, that March timeframe and that as you can
well imagine, was really due to the whole pandemic.
That was we were all spurred upon us here in that March timeframe.
But really, as time has gone on in the last month or two or the month
or two following things settle down and we're back to a very attractive rates
that we were experiencing prior to the pandemic
that we really kind of saw in March.
So this serves as a reminder that as we look at
refinancing the market and interest rates are very attractive to be doing.
So the next page is what we refer to as our debt summary,
or it lists basically all the indebtedness for the school district
that we currently have outstanding lines them up by bond issue
by fiscal year and then totals them on the right hand side.
If you look at column ten, you'll notice that right now
the budget supports about $4.8 million of debt service, which includes
your share of the biotech debt that's shown in column nine.
So that includes all that.
So that's about what we're facing right now in terms of indebtedness.
We've highlighted in yellow the four issues that we're contemplating
refinancing all or a portion of the 12
the fifteens we're going to do entirely
if you decide to move forward, the 15 A's, we just need to do a little bit of
and part of the 19 phase as well would be affected by this
if the board wants to move forward with the transaction.
So those are what we're looking at right now.
The next page, next couple of pages
are the results of a bank loan RFP that we went out with
when we sent out an RFP.
I don't know about 20 or 25 banks were solicited and we got proposals
back for the two pieces that are shown on that page.
The we did have to have two pieces of a transaction.
One piece could be done on a tax exempt basis
and one had to be done on a taxable basis
in order to do the proper restructuring that the portion of the 2019
A's that we needed to refinance needed to be done taxable.
So there was really kind of two sets of rates that we needed.
The banks to quote us on.
The when we
shared with the committee the JPMorgan proposal,
they indicated that they would have to refresh it on the day of the meeting.
The numbers in the RFP, you'll see the results have
a reflective of what they gave us this morning.
And so we've updated those as well as updated the FNB rate.
They gave us a refresh rate a week or two ago
and then we came in a little bit better.
The JPMorgan rates actually went up just a slight bit from what the committee saw
from on November 23rd, just before the Thanksgiving break.
So really, as we had we zone in on this and I think our discussions
with the committee were really twofold, and that was to consider two
main proposals, one from JPMorgan,
JPMorgan submitted some proposals.
They were the lowest interest rate proposals that we we.
You froze up their initial running.
I've lost audio.
I can't I can't hear the presentation right now.
Okay. That's frozen right now.
So I don't know if we give him a second, see if he comes back
right now.
Mr. Rahman, you're still.
From what one When I'm in, if I get in trouble.
It looks like he got out.
He'll come back in. Maybe try again.
Yeah.
Let us all just pause for a moment here
and allow him to reconnect.
Okay?
I think I'm back in now. Yes.
Thank you, Mr. Rahman. Yeah.
Sorry about that.
Too many devices in this house for using my bandwidth here.
So anyway,
so those were the two main differences.
FNB did have some additional costs for the council, which is why
if you look at this page, you'll notice that the par amount of the loan for FNB
would be slightly higher than the JPMorgan proposal.
And what we try to do here for the board was really kind of line these two up
so you could see the difference is if if you were to go
with the JPMorgan proposal which had the lower rate but
the lack of flexibility of prepayment.
And then in the red you'll see the FNB proposal that does permit the
the prepayment ability.
As you can imagine, if you look at the
cost, I'll call it, of restructuring the debt, you'll notice
that the cost to do the FNB proposal over the life is slightly higher.
The column, the total of column seven shows
the cost of about 360,000,
whereas in the blue it's just shy of 300,000.
That would be the differences in the numbers.
We also put on a present value basis what that difference is.
And the difference is just less than $25,000.
That would give you the.
But if you decided to go with FNB and preserve your flexibility to prepay.
Before I do get on to open up for some other thoughts or discussions,
I did want to show you the effect of the refinancing in either option.
If you were to go on that page.
That's a good page, which gives a little bit more detail on
breaking out the proposal there with JPMorgan.
You'll notice that in the in the 2020 and 2021 year,
if you look at the green column
when compared to the night last fiscal year 1920,
you see your debt service drops from 4.8 million again including boat tech
to about 3.8 million, creating about $1,000,000
of relief in the current budget year.
We then see a next budget year, the 2122 budget
you would experience, you wouldn't be 4.8, you'd be just shy of 4 million
and then it would level out at that number for the next many years
to create that ongoing relief for your budget.
Obviously, when creating that relief, we are extending the debt
and the debt has been pushed out rather than really going away.
Absent the boat tech in 2026,
we're going to still have some debt payments in 27 and 28.
We still have them.
We still go ahead.
Okay. Yeah, I can still hear you.
Okay, great.
And the
next page basically shows some more detail related to
if the RFP proposal was the one that was entertained by the board.
So it's pretty close.
It's really just a matter now to discuss the priorities
for the district in terms of preserving that flexibility for prepayment ability.
The one thing I
do want to make sure to point out that if we do the loan with JPMorgan,
those are the payments you're going to make
and they're basically not going to change.
Obviously, the FNB could change
if it was desire to do a prepayment, you would pay less
or if you were able to refinance for a lower rate in the future,
which seems hard to believe that could happen.
But nonetheless, you would have that ability or right
to do that if you decide to go that way.
I know I've done a lot of talking and I don't know if Mike,
you had any other things or ideas or thought you wanted to share
there with the
board or those really that were on the finance Committee.
As Brad noted, we've been working at this
refinancing for for a while for a couple of months.
And with the goal of providing budget relief in terms of the debt,
our yearly debt payments,
one thing that we did go through in this process
and we ended up with a bank loan, but we did look at going to market
as we normally would, and issuing bonds for this refinancing.
And the committee determined that the best route
would be to go for the bank financing.
The bond financing had a couple of issues.
One being there would be some time for that to occur.
And so there was some risk with the interest rate, the interest rates
for these these bank loans are being locked in.
Obviously, if we were to go to market, they are what they are.
In addition, the fees associated with issuing bonds
are about $75,000 more than been going through the bank process.
So just wanted to note there that
why we're looking at bank
loans is because the committee determined that that was the best options.
And so now we're as Brad noted, we're really looking at the difference
between First National Bank and Jp morgan
in terms of their their proposals.
Just have a question.
Are we allowed to ask questions? Yes, Yes.
Thank you, Miss.
Everything is this is actually would be the time to to ask questions
if there's an agenda item later on.
But this is really a chance for board members to gather information and
ask whatever questions they might have.
So please, please proceed.
I just wanted Mike's opinion between the two,
if he had any thoughts of what
you know, what his take was.
Sure.
First of all, as he noted this,
we really went out on this endeavor to just save our yearly
or save in our yearly debt financing or debt payments.
And so both of these transactions accomplish that.
So I want to thank Brad and his team for for bringing all this information forward.
And Brad shared earlier
noted the comment that really the difference is the color ability
or non color ability of the bonds to refinance them in a later time.
There's a difference of just a little over
$60,000 between the two deals.
And when I look at
the known outlook or when I
think of those things or those things that may happen that would necessitate
having to refinance these again over the next six years,
I don't feel that there's too many risks there.
So for me, I see the Jp morgan
offer as the best because it has the least cost
associated over the life difference was only $60,000.
And that being noted, Mrs.
Farber stick that's through the lens of assuming things get back to normal.
You know, one of the things that
if we were to go with FNB that keeps multiple options open
and while I don't necessarily feel that the price to pay is worth keeping
those options open, I can fully see why anyone would recommend and support that
as as that would also, you
know, should things get not get better from a financial standpoint
over the next 5 to 6 years, this would keep options open.
But like I said, I see that as so minimal that the
I would choose the Jp morgan transaction.
Thinking that's what
I'm I do have a question and Brad,
you and your whole team thank you so much for putting all this together.
I know this has been a multiphase process that we've been a part of
and we always throw that.
Take a look at the bank loan
loop at you.
So thank you for always being willing to be flexible and explain it in such
great detail so that we can really consume and understand.
Relative to what Mike said regarding the flexibility, one of the things
that has always seemed more desirable is that ability to restructure
or wrap things up, understanding that the interest rate environment is
is probably not going to be more favorable at any time.
But JPMorgan did provide options that would allow
for the ability to call the notes after certain times.
Mike, Is there anything there that would, you know, just saying
three years from now, which was the least amount of relief we were looking for
with such an insignificant difference in the
in the rates on callable after three years
or after four years that we wouldn't take that
just so that we would have the flexibility because as you mentioned,
one of the things that really was holding me up on the bonds
because the rates were so similar other than the cost was the ability
that the funds are not callable and that there will be
no way to get relief should it be necessary.
I think that's a great,
great point, Lindsay. And,
you know, with the the
on the taxable side,
bringing that JPMorgan's rate essentially for that two year or so
essentially equates it with the FNB rate that's callable at any time.
So I equate those
you know,
if we were looking at any of that, then that would have to be FNB to go with if
if the call ability because it was there and the rates are essentially the same,
it really goes to the tax, the taxable portion of the
of the
of the transaction where that comes in and you know that
being the smallest portion of the transaction at $1,000,000.
Yes there would be little
if there was the availability
to pay for that additional rate, that would still be lower
than the taxable rate that FNB has offered and still be a very viable transaction
and still provide the same the same information there.
I didn't take a look at exactly what that cost rate would be,
but it looks like just kind of a quick take.
The three basis
points is probably about a $30,000 difference.
Then in terms of what that costs would be to pay
for that availability to
cash it in after that 2 to 3 years.
Okay.
I, I didn't recall it being that high four
basis point,
but if you're comfortable with it, then that's really the biggest part.
One other question is just the need for the paying agent with Jp morgan.
Obviously, JP morgan's not charging a bank fee
compared to FNB, but they are acquiring a paying agent.
Is that an annual
cost to be incurred or is that one time?
Not now that
I don't want to.
If I can answer that,
we have to have a paying
agent under the Debt Act that controls what we can do here
and Jp morgan just won't it won't do that.
So commonly when we do a direct placement with the bank,
whoever the bank is, as the purchaser will act as a paying agent.
And I'm I would fully anticipate that FNB would act
as their own paying agent, and the fee apparently would be nothing.
So if you select
Jp morgan, then we will, I would assume, go to M.A.
Bank, which is your normal and has been for years
paying agent for all their outstanding issues.
Mike I can't tell them exactly what that cost per year,
but I'm sure it's over $1,000.
It currently
we're about about $780 that we pay
for paying agent arrangements for Per issue.
Yes, Per. Issue. Right.
So, so for this one,
they may look at this as
two issues is what I'm going.
So you can just double that.
So you're going to be about 1500 bucks a year.
But Brad, is the cost for the paying agent factored into the
to this, the 60,000, $61,000 difference?
Yeah.
I mean.
It is not fact.
But it's still relatively insignificant.
If my saying it's only one seven, it's not going to it's not going to change it.
Now it would be there would be some, to your point,
1500 dollars a year for the six or seven years of the loan.
So it's not totally, totally negligible, but
it doesn't make it the same
or even I'll call it or break even.
Thank you.
Mr. Abel, can I ask a question?
And this is Kathy Zika.
It looks to me that Jp morgan is the better choice here.
How do we go about picking them now in the rest of this meeting?
How do we
what was the plan for that?
Brad?
You want me to
chime in?
Certainly.
No objection.
The resolution was set up specifically
after reviewing this with the Finance Committee,
with the thought that you were, in fact, going to select one of these two banks.
So unlike the resolutions you've done in the past,
this resolution specifically acknowledges receipt of a bank
proposal, identifies that proposer as the purchaser,
and then accepts that proposal.
So when you adopt or make a motion
to adopt this resolution,
it should also include which bank proposal you're accepting
and then by adopting the
resolution, you will be accepting that proposal.
And then when it's in your minutes and when we file with the state
for approval, it will have attached to it
performs original RFP requests from the banks,
the successful or winning bid bank response that came back
along with the other documents that go up to this to the state,
is that
okay?
So when the president asks for a motion, he'll just add
one of the two banks in and get a vote on that.
You could do it that way. Yes.
Okay.
That will have to be clarified at that point
of the resolution later on the agenda to to
to reflect
to whose it was, who ultimately is the bank
that we would be we would be choosing.
So if there's anyone else I'd like to weigh in or,
you know,
have questions,
I guess more and more of this would be more for questions
at this time.
So I.
Mr. McCarty
would you suggest the resolution actually,
as proposed, actually name a bank then?
Yes. Okay. All right.
So, Mr.
McFarland, my suggestion is based on Mr.
Francis recommendation that it would be JPMorgan Chase
and we have a bank within the resolution.
Would you be prepared to
read the resolution that way?
Mr. MACFARLANE.
Well, yes, I will work on that. Yes. Please.
Thank you.
So we'll have a bank and then we can discuss that
with that bank within the resolution.
That's my suggestion to move forward on this.
And then the board can discuss
that decision as they deem appropriate
for that motion.
Presuming that motion is
made and seconded.
Thank you, Mrs.
Seger, for that for my question.
Any other questions?
All right.
That will that will conclude that item of the agenda.
And I will move. On.
Now to President communications.
I would like to announce that the board met in the executive session
prior to this meeting to discuss matters of personnel
as well as agency business which conducted in public would violate
a lawful privilege or alleged disclosure of confidential information,
or also like to know that the board, through the Human Resources Committee,
is happy to share that they are currently in contract discussions with Dr.
Stacy Winslow or current assistant to the Superintendent
for Curriculum, Counsel and Instruction
regarding her appointment as the next Superintendent
of Derry Township School District.
The committee anticipates Doctors, Winkler's appointment
and proposed contract to be presented for full board consideration
at a January 2021 public board meeting.
This appointment would become effective July one, 2021.
Now Recognition of Citizens.
This is an opportunity for residents and taxpayers to address
the board on matters related to the agenda.
Those who speak are asked to raise your virtual hand.
In order to be recognized.
You must have first
your first and last name tied into the live stream 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 five comments of speaking time.
Once recognized and limited to an opportunity to address
the board during each of the public comment periods.
If necessary, the board may set a maximum of time
for the public comment portion of any meeting.
The 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 regarding follow up
outside the board meeting may go to the district website
and submit a community correspondence.
Are there any members
of the public who would like to speak at this time
on matters related to the agenda?
Mr. Swiger.
Do we do we see anyone there with their hands raised?
Yeah, I don't I don't see anybody.
Thank you.
Anyone on.
The. Okay, so
we will move on to standing committee report.
The Curriculum Council committee met today.
Mr. Speaker, do you have a report?
Yes. Thank you, Mr. Abel.
We had two presentation today at Curriculum Council.
We had two students, Hannah Goma and Maria Gaye.
There's present there.
The work they've done on equity.
They created a 30 minute video on student equity,
which is composed of student voices in Derry Township.
And they they were able to tell us about their work that they've been working
on since this summer and show us the trailer video.
But I would encourage all board members to go and watch the full video.
We can send out the link for that.
And it was there is a link in the curriculum Council agenda.
Also, Dr.
Winslow reported on her district's equity
audit that she got
information from the Pennsylvania School Board Association on doing it.
We've done the audit, given the questionnaire to teachers
and administrators,
and she's come up with three priority areas for the district right now.
One is to continue the development of the equity policy.
The second priority is administrative training
so that there's a lot of self awareness and training of all staff.
And the third priority is academic access and tracking.
So looking at the data in our school to ensure equity,
we do have an administrative equity team that was formed in 2019
that will be working on this action plan and forming subcommittees.
So it's very exciting that we're moving forward with this issue
that the board cares very much about.
There was also
an approval of a first read for a new textbook for a high school
English class, and the textbook is called Just Mercy
A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson.
And it is also a movie some of you might have seen
that's relatively new, but it's a great book
and that will move on to a second read
for any board members who were not in attendance,
I would encourage you to listen to the audio of the meeting.
This report I gave you was very brief.
There was a lot of great information and we did spend a lot of time
with the two students who were there and listening to them and talking to them.
So I highly encourage you to listen to the audio.
Thank you.
Thank you. Ms..
Second, I was able to attend as well, and I would concur that
it's probably worth a listen because it was just a lot
of valuable information within that with enough committee reports.
So thank you.
Mr. Tredinnick.
Do you have a community correspondent's report?
Thank you, Mr. President.
I do. Indeed have a report.
Because during the month of November 2020, we received
13 submissions via the district's community Correspondence one
These included four requests for various district forms.
We had a solicitation.
We also received an inquiry.
Regarding statewide. School board advocacy.
We received a question regarding the use of school
excuse me, a question regarding school photos
and inquiry regarding the use of school property.
Then we also had five submissions that were related to pandemic response.
Thank you.
Student Representatives Report,
Mr. Barroso or Mr.
PDC and a report from the students.
Yes. So we have prepared a report for you guys.
We wanted to just start out by mentioning
we've made a little bit of progress towards hopefully finalizing
a survey that we would send out to the student body directly.
It's in its final stages before we can get it approved.
And by doing that, we will be able to gauge direct student opinions about
things like how they're doing and how they're responding
to current changes in the school environment.
And that would give us a little more material to present to you
and things that we would like to discuss as a group.
Yeah, we just want to.
Just a quick reminder
that the fall play will be streaming there, there, there, fall
play a Christmas Carol again this Friday, in case you missed it.
Tickets are available
on the website and just wanted to in case you missed it
and you want to watch it this Friday, December 18th.
And also, as we've been virtual here, we've been receiving
a lot of notifications about District and Mid-penn All-Stars
for the sports that we were able to hold throughout the fall.
So I was just going to read off a bunch of names here, the people
in their respective sports.
So for volleyball, Ann Colter, Matty Gidding, Gracie Singleton
and Mallory Gillespie all are in district all star status.
In golf.
There were Sophia Stalybridge Boys Soccer had Jake Fisher, Ben Zimmer and Andrew
Chmura, Girls Soccer had Isabella Simon, Sheila Hasler and Kathryn Martin.
And in field hockey that Ashley Arnold Kylie walk,
Anthony Nelson, Claire Olmsted and Greece Ellery.
So as you can see, Hershey Sports did fantastic and took a really
great advantage of what we were able to provide in terms of competition.
And I think that was a really cool thing to see.
And then as we discussed clubs or you think government club
that usually has about a hundred or even more participants.
So a really big number of our student body,
they ran for state level elections
this past two weeks and actually 100% of all the students
that ran for state level positions were elected.
So again, just more Excellency in terms of Hershey students
and what they're doing with their extracurriculars.
We have a lot of a fundraiser
and drives if you want to if you want to get involved
through through the high school clubs,
for example, the mini Fun Club is this week.
They titled Push Week two to get as many people to sign up
on donor drive as possible to celebrate the event. They
the school is holding a spirit week with no competitions
for costumes or outfits such as, you know, dresses, a teacher
outfit or it's an all gray outfit and dynamic duo.
Or you dress as
a, do you know, a famous duo from a TV show or pop culture?
Pop culture, in addition to two raffles and other competitions
in preparation for Mini Thorne.
In addition, the mini Fun Club to help fundraise for for four Diamonds
are holding a Duck Donuts fund through through the members of the club.
They are selling quark cards as they're which is
entitles you to a dozen donuts
and they are being sold for 2020 bucks apiece.
Our our new COVID care club
are holding a series of drives this month, starting with this
Friday, December 18th, from about 230 to 330 or four.
The time is tentative, but they're teaming up with the Young
Democrats Club to hold a a drive at the school for
COVID essential items
such as masks, hand sanitizer, gloves,
toiletries, anything that could help
people in need affected by this pandemic.
Additionally, they regularly post headlines and information
regarding procedures and safety on their on their Instagram page.
Their username is covert action.
In case you are curious.
And finally,
they are holding a hand drive.
Hopefully next next Monday again at the school
after work and school hours
for the Bethesda Mission in Harrisburg.
So that
they can get a
nice Christmas meal as well.
And finally, our Key club are doing a series of online
fundraisers through all month long
through members of the Key Club. They
they are holding a fundraiser for leukemia and lymphoma since society.
So if you know any members and would like to donate,
please do. And
for them they are
holding a a free race fundraiser,
which means that free rice is a online
application that
you answer you answer a series of questions
about different subjects like math and English.
And each question, right helps benefit
people in
need of a food and in developing nations. So
those two are the the fundraisers
that that Key club are
have in progress right now.
So if you have any questions, we'd be more than happy to answer.
Otherwise, I'd just like to say that it's nice to see faces
we don't usually get to on the other side of the table.
If anything,
I'm sure we would all be like to be in person.
But just an upside.
Thank you so much.
Anything else from our students?
They were two excellent reports.
Thank thank you both.
We will be on to the through the agenda.
The next thing is the attestation form.
Former school board
president Cathy Sicker and Superintendent Joseph McFarlane
signed and submitted the state required attestation
form ensuring implementation of mitigation efforts
attesting that the Derry Township School District will have all or
some of our students within our district receiving in-person instruction
when determined, safe and appropriate on a local level,
and that we have read the updated order of the Secretary Pennsylvania Department
of Health requiring universal face coverings and affirm that we are complying
and will continue to comply with and enforce the updated orders
to satisfy this attestation was submitted to and accepted by the Pennsylvania
Department of Education on Monday, November 30th, 2020.
This document is also well datable on our district website,
the COVID 19 Update and Information section of the website,
and it's also on your screen at the current time.
So thank you for showing that.
Moving on to the anticipated items
for the next board of directors meeting,
the listed
items are on the anticipated January 11, 2021, Board of Directors
Meeting Agenda.
So we are now up to unfinished business.
There is one item there
athletic practices slash competition.
Mr. McFarlane, would you like to give a report in this category?
Yes, thank you, Mr. President.
As you remember from our last meeting
in November, we had originally planned to have our winter
sports teams begin practice December 1st practicing
until this board meeting.
And then the plan was at this board meeting, the board to take formal action
as to the status of winter sports.
In the interim, the state, the governor
put a pause on extracurricular activities,
any sports, any practices.
So right at this time, our our winter sports
teams are paused with no practices, no in-person practices.
And there are no competitions until at least January 4th.
The order is up January 4th.
So at that time, practices would begin
according to regulations.
Athletes must have 15 days of practice
in prior to any competitions.
Our teams were able to get ten days of practice in
before the order to pause
sports and extracurriculars.
That means that our teams will come back on January 4th to practice
and would practice from January 4th to eighth
at that time, competitions will begin.
However, we are not going to start competitions until at least January 12th,
because then at the January 11th board meeting, the board could take action on
winter sports moving forward past January 11.
So the earliest we would begin a competition would be January 12th.
If the board approves competitions to
to continue for winter sports.
So I'll take any questions
if the board has any.
Any questions for Mr.
McFarland. I appreciate that update.
You know, given given the recent governors order that
we kind of know where we are now,
what would potentially lies ahead.
All right.
Thank you.
So we will move on to consent agenda items, please.
Item number four on the agenda.
The consent agenda contains routinely about that items and items
that normally do not require public deliberation 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 Zika.
Second.
Second. Donna Cronan.
Thank you. Is there any discussion
this is a state or voice vote on favor signify by saying I.
I and.
He opposed.
Okay.
Thank you.
Moving on to the items of new business, Mr.
McFarland.
Thank you.
The administration recommends the board approve the Derry Township Tax Collection
Association budget for 2021 with district
contribution of $149,040.
Thank you.
May I have a motion
to approve the Derry Township Tax Collection Association budget?
So moved Maria Mimi
sat on occasion.
Seconded by Dr. Cronan.
Thank you. Is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All in favor, say I.
Am. And most
okay,
so we're now up to the approval of the debt
relief resolution.
Mr. McFarland.
Have you been able to include language that would include the idea
that the the bank would be JPMorgan Chase? Yes.
Thank you, Mr.
French and Mr. McCarthy worked on that.
The administration recommends the board adopt the resolution
accepting the purchase proposal of JPMorgan
and authorizing the sale and issuance of the note and bonds to JPMorgan
pursuant to the terms of the resolution. This
okay, may have a motion
to approve the debt relief resolution as articulated.
So through Second Cathy thicker spring.
Is there any discussion from the board?
I guess, Mr.
President, I just did want to add into something
from the conversation from Finance Committee that we appreciated
the input and time and effort from one of our citizen advisors
to bring up some information about JPMorgan Chase and history
relative to events in their past of predecessors
as it related to use of slavery as loan collateral.
I think that it's an important thing to address that we have done
our homework and recognize
that important part of history and use that to be able to
to learn and grow and
and make that part of our decision making process.
And also just to appreciate the voice of a citizen advisor
for bringing that contribution to the Finance Committee,
because it's not something that would have otherwise been there.
So I feel I would be remiss if I did not include that and thank Mr.
Anderson for his contributions and assure him and the Finance Committee
that we did spend a lot of time doing due diligence on
and that I feel comfortable proceeding with the vote at this time.
Thank you, Ms..
Drew.
Anyone else from the board?
Yeah, John, I just wanted to
thank Lindsey Drew for her
leadership on this.
This whole discussion, particularly in
considering banks as a.
Source for.
Our financing.
And just really appreciate the diligence and expertise that
Ms.. Drew is brought to the table on this.
And also, I'd like to thank,
as Lindsay did, our
team and and also Mike French for
all the work that has been done on this.
I just wanted to make a note of that.
Thank you.
Thank you, sir.
And and I want to go to settlements. But,
Ms.. Drew, for her, for all the hard work you did on this and and the PFM team,
anything else from the board?
Okay, This is a roll call vote.
Mrs. Agee, would you please call the roll.
Or Mr. Able? Yes.
Dr. Cronan?
Yes, Mr.
Drew. Yes.
Mrs. Harris. Respect. Yes.
Mrs.. Many Yes.
Dr. Shore. Yes.
Mrs. Sikka? Yes.
Mr. Singer? Yes.
That's minor. Yes.
Nine. Yes.
Nothing to zero.
Thank you to the motion passes
making our way through new business,
we have a special sick leave resolution.
Mr. McFarlane.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
The administration recommends the board approved the special sick
leave resolution.
Do I have a motion
to approve the sick leave?
The special Sick leave Status resolution.
So moved Maria Me second.
Cathy Sicker. Is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote all in favor signify by saying I.
I I anyone opposed the motion carries.
Mr. McFarland,
could you move on to the next item
on the agenda, which is the change order approval?
Yes. The administration recommends the board approved change order
number three for ECI construction in the amount of $2,239.
I have a motion to approve
the change order ECI Constructions.
So move. Keep your.
Second. Maria. Me
any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All in favor.
Signify by saying I, I 91 opposed motion carries.
Okay. Next item.
Mr. Macfarlane
seeking bids on the elementary chiller installation.
Thank you.
The administration recommends the board approve the seeking of bids
for the elementary school chiller.
May have a motion to approve
seeking bids for the elementary school chiller.
And that should be the installation of the chiller.
I'm sorry. Thank you.
Thank you.
So low temperature.
Jerry made the motion and Dr.
Cronin on second.
Thank you, Mr.
Singer and Dr.
Cronan, is there any discussion?
It's a standard voice vote.
All in favor.
Signify by saying I, I anyone opposed.
Motion carries
the I have a motion to approve
the listed personnel resignations.
And the second Kathy sticker.
So any discussion
this is a standard voice vote on favor signify by saying I
i anyone opposed
motion carries.
Mr. Macfarlane
The next item on the agenda Administration.
Recommends the approval of the listed personnel
and recognition of any listed transfers.
Now I have a motion to approve the list of personnel
and recognition of any listed transfers.
So worry about.
Can she just.
Is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote all in favor.
Signify by saying I, i anyone opposed.
You know motion carries delegate reports.
The PSP PSB, a report is attached.
Harper Cronan do You have anything you'd like to add?
No. As listed.
Thank you. Thank you.
Mr. McFarland.
Do you have a superintendence report this evening?
You have a.
Very brief one.
Mr. President, first I want to congratulate
middle school music teacher and band instructor Rich Miller on being selected
for the 2020 Central Pennsylvania Music Educator of Note Award.
He will receive his award at the second annual Central Pennsylvania
Music Awards and Hall of Fame induction ceremony this coming March.
And just to let everyone know, the pandemic team did meet on December 9th.
We discussed the
CDC and Pennsylvania Department of Health quarantine revisions.
We discussed contact tracing, reviewed our decision making process,
discussed mass testing, and also looked at and discussed
the website dashboard that is on our our homepage.
And also, I just want to wish everyone a very happy holiday
since this is the last time we'll be together before the new Year.
And I hope everyone has a safe and restful time.
Thank you.
Word processing for very brief.
I'll just pick up on what Mr.
McFarland said.
This is our last meeting of 2020.
I wish everyone a happy and safe and healthy holiday season.
Time to spend with your loved ones, friends and family.
Be it virtual or otherwise.
And we will be back here ready to plow ahead into the into the new year.
And I wish everyone all the best for 2021.
Recognition of citizens.
This is an opportunity for residents and taxpayers to address
the board on matters related to the agenda for 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
required to we see any hands raised? Yes.
Ms.. Dobnak has her hand raised.
Okay,
Monica, you can go ahead and
go ahead and talk.
Okay. Yeah.
No, just had a question at the beginning.
Mr. Abel mentioned bringing a Stacy Winslow up as I guess,
the candidate for superintendent in January.
Is this going to be a vote at that time
or what is the process
of council?
My understanding is that that would be that would be a vote
that the board, the full board would have to vote on, correct?
That's correct, Mr. President. Okay.
And that would be January 11.
So you mentioned just January meeting.
I think I think we anticipate that there will be an obviously
an agenda out ahead of time that will make that clear.
Okay.
Were there any other candidates considered
council?
Is that something we will
be in a position to comment on?
Mr. Abel, Miss Winslow was or Dr.
Winslow.
Excuse me, Was the candidate interviewed by the board at this point?
She was only candidate interviewed.
Okay.
All right.
Well, hopefully that will make a smooth transition then, when Mr.
McFarland leaves.
Thank you.
Any other questions
or comments, I should say, from the
from the public?
Okay.
Is there anything else for the good of the all this evening?
The next public board of Directors meeting will be held
on January 11, 2021, starting at 7:00 pm.
The location is to be determined.
They have a motion to adjourn this meeting.
So move to Kathy Secker.
Second, Miriam, Amie.
All in favor signify by saying I.
I i. I.
We going into post exac.
Yeah. I'm sorry.
Then before we conclude by way of adjournment, the
I will announce that the board will meet and post exact this evening.
Thank you, Dr. Scholl.
So do I hear a second on that adjournment?
Seth Grant.
Miriam
All. In favor signify by saying I I.
Again. Anyone opposed?
Okay. Meeting is adjourned.
Thank you. Good evening. My.