On the October 13th,
2020 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 also like to request that board members please state your name
when you are speaking.
Mrs. Adi, Roll call.
Mr. Trimble.
Here. Dr. Cronin. Here.
Mr.. You.
Mrs. Harris.
Here. Mrs. Manning. Here.
Dr. Shot here. Mrs. Seger.
Here. Mr. Singer.
Here. Mrs. Steiner.
Eight present. One absent.
And I would like to announce that Mrs.
Steiner is currently participating in the equity
summit for the Pennsylvania School Board Association this evening.
Please rise a table and join me for the Pledge of Allegiance.
My. My
mother and
my passion.
Your very strong.
May I have a motion to approve the October 13th Board of Directors agenda?
So, Lindsey Graham. Second. Miriam. Emmy.
Is there any discussion?
Hey, this is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor say.
I. Was opposed.
They now say the motion is approved.
Tonight, we would like to welcome our new student board representatives.
We have Peter Bartow, Carson,
PDC and Jordan Lewis as alternate.
So they are seated at the end of the table.
And we welcome you.
We love having our school board reps here.
They give us their report during the meeting.
So welcome.
And I came up to you earlier that if you have any questions
about the meeting afterward, please feel free to ask any one of us.
Thank you.
I would like to announce that the board met in executive session
prior to this meeting to discuss matters of personnel
recognition of citizens.
This is an opportunity for residents and taxpayers
to address the board on matters related to the agenda.
Those who speak if present, are asked to come to the microphone
and state your name and address for the record.
Those who are attending virtually are asked to raise your virtual hand
in order to be recognized, you must have your first
and last name typed into the livestream registration.
Once you've recognized and unmuted,
please state your name and address for the record
to provide other residents an opportunity to speak to each speaker
during the public
comment portion is limited to 5 minutes of speaking time once recognized
and limited
to one opportunity to address the board during each of the public comment periods.
If necessary, the board may set a maximum time
for the public comment portion of the meeting.
This portion of the board meeting is for comments.
The board is not a question and answer period.
Those wishing to prevent present private concerns or questions needing
follow up outside the board meeting
may go to the district website and submit a community correspondence.
Are there any citizens or taxpayers who would like to comment at this
time about agenda items?
Okay.
I do not see any virtual hands
and I don't see anybody coming to the microphone in person.
I just turned the page to standing committee meetings
and realized I was unable
to attend the curriculum council, so I do not have a report.
Donna, would you have a report for curriculum?
I'm sorry.
I didn't even see that.
Yeah.
So let me get my notes.
Put on my glasses and my notes.
It was a very it was a pretty quick meeting there where we talk
about the goals.
First of all, we met our
for new curriculum council, representative, citizen Advisors.
Okay.
And then we went over the three goals for the year.
The first goal is a curriculum update on the history in English.
ELA, I am sorry, I call it I still call it history in English.
Sorry Mr.
McFarland, to be ELA and social studies, whatever.
And in terms of the Act 48 professional development was one goal,
and the second goal is social studies
and ELA in terms of incorporating diversity awareness in the curriculum.
And then the third one was a third goal is a continuous update on the past,
the high school new grading policy, which I believe is
active for the current sophomore class, starting the sophomore class.
And then we had a presentation by Mrs.
Bean on the new health curriculum
and including
bringing trying to bring more reality to the health curriculum.
And we also the third
major thing we did was we approved a proposal to have
additional student representation like this one actually on curriculum council.
So we will have two students.
One soon will be from grade nine and ten, the other student from grade 11 and 12th.
It will be unless they are senior, they would have the option
to have a two year term and they would be we agreed they would be voting members
of the other the committee.
So that was I think it was pretty much everything.
Got it. Okay.
Thank you. I'm sorry to put your on this note.
Remember that
just for the record, Don, it was four new members or two new members.
We actually had, oh, two new members.
But the four there were four in total.
Sorry, two were new, but all four introduce themselves. Thank you.
Mrs. Memory.
Do you have a General Services meeting update?
I do.
We talked about the.
I was totally prepared. Okay.
The indoor air quality report.
We went over that extensively.
And then we also touched on the
the facility study
for the elementary school.
We talked extensively about the children.
So we just kind of re
hashed, I guess,
gave some updates, brought the citizen advisers
up to speed, listen to some things that they had to add.
It was a really
it was a really good meeting and it was a really healthy discussion.
I'm always very thankful for.
Our citizen advisors that take time out of their personal schedule to come.
And it also was very helpful having Michelle there to we needed copies
because people didn't have copies and I don't have to take notes anymore.
So she is a huge it's just a big bonus having somebody
there as a support for the meetings.
So thank you. I appreciate that.
But anyway, so
um, yeah, we have so much to talk about in general services and a lot of things.
So it, it, it was a lot, but it was good.
Okay.
Thank you.
Any questions about committee reports?
Okay. Mr.
Tredinnick, do you have a community correspondence report?
Thank you, Madam President.
Yes, I do.
After our previous record setting number
of correspondence, we've actually returned to normal in September.
Where we had a mere seven submissions v.r constituent contact form.
They include a question about the Keystone exams.
We had two questions related to enrollment.
We had notification of a donation that we received.
We had a question regarding the hazard.
We also received a question regarding about athletics.
And then finally we had a.
Submission related to use of the Granada property.
Okay. Thank you very much.
Student Representatives Report.
Mr. Bartow. Mr. Parisi and Ms..
Lewis, do you have a report
tonight?
We haven't had anything prepared. Okay.
You're under the impression that we would just introduce ourselves.
That'd be great.
Any specific questions?
We'd be happy to answer as we're able to.
That's what we're here for. Okay. That's.
I had told them that they would probably just introduce themselves tonight.
Okay, That would be great. Go ahead.
Well, I'm Peter Barto.
I'm a senior this year, and I'm very happy to be serving
as a senior representative.
Yeah.
Hi, my name is Participant AC.
Again, thank you for such
an incredible honor to be here in such a
for all that is
so vital to the community.
And I look forward to to
being a part of this committee. Okay.
Thank you.
And hi, I'm Jordan on the alternate, and I'm, again, just so honored to be here.
Thank you so much for having us tonight.
I am also a senior and I am just very excited to get started.
Right. Great.
Thank you and welcome.
If I could just add one of the things we met with these three.
Actually two of them last week here in the board room.
And then Peter, we talked to today
and with the way the board policy is right now, there's two and an alternate.
But the last couple of years we've had we've talked to all three of them
and just said, you know, you alternate that.
And so we really see all three as equals.
And so they're going to figure out how to do that.
And if all three want to come
and give part of the report, that's that's awesome, too.
So we're just excited to have all three of them with us.
Okay. Thank you.
The listed items are on the anticipated
October 26, 2020 Board of Directors Agenda
and there's no unfinished business
by the consent agenda contains routinely adopted items
and items that normally do not require Public deliberations on part of the board
may have a motion to approve the consent agenda items as listed.
So Merv, Donna Cronan, Maria and I.
Is there any discussion?
Okay. All those in favor say.
I was.
Opposed. Say no. Okay.
The consent agenda is approved. New business.
Elizabeth Town College Affiliation Agreement.
Mr. McFarland.
Thank you.
The administration recommends the board approve the affiliation agreement
with the Derry Township School District
and Elizabethtown College effective November 13th, 2020.
May I have a motion to approve the Elizabethtown College
Affiliation Agreement.
So I'm able to worry about me.
Second, Lindsay.
Drew, is there any discussion?
Okay.
All those in favor say I.
I suppose they know an agreement is approved.
Addition of department coordinators.
Mr. McFarland.
Thank you.
The administration recommends the board approve the addition of the essential arts
and gifted department coordinators as limited service contract positions.
As with other coordinator positions, the stipend will be $2,000 each.
May I have a motion to approve the addition of department coordinators?
So move to Miriam any second.
Donna Cronan Is there any discussion?
This is standard voiced.
All those in favor say I was opposed.
Say now. Okay, it's approved.
The board recommends the citizens advisors as listed.
May I have a motion to approve the listed citizen.
Advisors for a move?
Lindsey Drew second.
Maria Mimi Is there any discussion?
I would just like to thank everyone who applied.
This is always a really difficult decision because we have so many community
members who are invested in wanting to serve in this capacity.
And so I appreciate the time and effort of everyone who applied.
Being on the H.R.
committee.
I'm always blown away by the caliber of resumes that we receive.
It just blows my mind.
And that's very like Lindsey said, I just I can't believe that people, you know,
want to give their time.
It's it's it's just an incredible district that we live in.
And the other discussion.
All those in favor say.
I'm. Always opposed.
Say now it's approved event attendance.
Mr. McFarland.
Thank you for soccer, field hockey and volleyball.
The administration recommends the board approve the issuing of two adult passes
for each Hershey player and each visiting team player
for football, band and cheerleading.
The administration recommends the board approve the issuing of two adult passes
only for each senior member of the Hershey football team band and cheerleaders.
May I have a motion to approve event attendance?
So move.
Donna Cronan Second, Judy, I respect Kate.
Is there any discussion?
I would say I appreciative.
I am of Mr.
Governance and all the work that has to be done
to allow us to allow parents to to see their kids play this fall.
So thank you very much.
I know it's confusing
because we voted on something and then it changed.
And depending on what happens in state and federal courts, everything changes.
But this is where we are now.
So. Okay,
this is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor say I, I, I was opposed.
Say no.
Okay.
Event attendance is approved.
Revised Health and safety plan.
Mr. McFarland, thank you.
The administration recommends the board approve the Revised
Derry Township School District Health and Safety Plan for Athletics.
May I have a motion to approve the revised Health and Safety Plan for athletics?
So moved Marry me.
Second Kip Scholl. Is there any discussion?
I do see Mr.
Governance here.
Is there anything you wanted to add about this or.
No, that's. Okay.
And I can just highlight that the only real change in there
had to do in a section on facilities for yellow and green,
and that was due to the change in from the governor.
As far as event attendance.
And so the change basically takes it from the 25 to 50
and just says that each individual gamer practice shall adhere to the gathering.
Occupancy limits is permitted by law, which that then eliminates
the need to come back every time something changes with that
again.
Okay, all those in favor say aye.
I was opposed. Say now.
Hey, the plan is approved.
May I have a motion to approve the personnel resignations?
So moved Marami
second.
Donna Cronan.
Okay. Is there any discussion.
Really sad to be losing Joe Johnson
being lost?
Yeah.
Joe, I just think your leadership's been amazing. These.
Last few years that you've been I mean, you've dealt with some very
difficult situations, including the COBRA that we were in right now.
So I really.
Appreciated that and I will miss working with you.
And I think it's a.
Loss to the district and there's big shoes to fill for your.
But I'm happy for you for retirement and what the next steps will be in your life.
But sad to see you go.
Joe, congratulations and thank you for doing
an impossible job outstandingly.
And I just want to say I'm very jealous of your retirement.
But also I remember back and we both started in 2002 and you were
principal to my Tom, who I shouldn't say, but he's not going to be 28 years old.
But yes, we've we've enjoyed a lot,
not only as a school board member but as a parent.
And all I can say is
that you've always been so committed to the kids and you've always
been so respectful and caring and you know more than we can ask for
your role as a principal and superintendent and
and we're going to miss you, but best of luck to you.
Wait.
I didn't mean I, I, I, I didn't see your name on here, so I didn't saw.
You know, we are going to miss Joe Johnson.
Mr. Johnson.
I'm also going to Miss Gentleman. Garland.
I'm sorry.
I did not mean to say I didn't have to be there yet,
but I also just would like to add,
this is Lindsey Drew.
Just in general, when you look at these the personnel and resignations tonight,
it is very bittersweet to approve
the resignations that include, you know,
Joe Johnson from our custodial staff,
who has just been an amazing asset to this district.
And we congratulate him on his retirement.
But also Mr.
Ebert at the high school as he moves on.
And we congratulate him.
And then obviously, Mr.
McFarland, your leadership has been appreciated,
especially during this past year and probably the most
trying one of your professional career.
And you absolutely leave large shoes to fill.
I know that we are a better district for having had you here.
Our children are better for having
gone through this district under your leadership.
And as board members, we appreciate the partnership
and the things that we've learned.
And I know that I have personally and individually grown
in having the opportunity to have this professional relationship
with you and appreciate everything you've done and all of the things
that we'll do in the next eight months before you leave us.
Yeah.
And I would also like to thank Mr.
McFarland for his incredible commitment to the Derry Township
School District over his 19 year career here.
His retirement is very well-deserved.
After serving in public education for the past 33 years,
it has been a pleasure to work with Mr.
McFarland as board President over the last three years.
You will never meet a kinder man who leads by example.
He works hard, he keeps us organized,
and he puts our students and staff first.
Mr. McFarland has given this board
a tremendous gift that allows us to thoughtfully plan for his successor,
and the board will take the next few weeks
to organize our hiring process for this important position.
But we will have plenty of time to celebrate Mr.
McFarland and his retirement, as well as prepare for the challenges
ahead at our district.
I would
like to say something about Joe as well.
I know some of our meetings have have never been easy.
And thinking about executive session, the meetings where people don't
actually see us interact,
I mean, I can honestly say like you just know that you are just
steady and kind and we just the
the level of calmness that you bring and there's no drama and you really
just try to keep it all very professional like it has not gone unnoticed.
And we're very, very lucky to have served on this board
and basically have you train us how to be good school directors
and how to treat each other with respect, even when we really don't see eye to eye.
So I've learned a lot from you,
and I appreciate everything that you've given to the district.
Thank you.
So we're going to be
busy, Joe, but we know you're not done.
You're going to take your skills
and your commitment and your energy and your passion to to some new things.
And they'll be the beneficiaries of what we've been the beneficiaries of
for the many past years.
So congratulations there.
And let me echo those settlements.
You know, it's a tremendous, tremendous void among the board.
I will miss working with you professionally and personally.
I Joe, I find you to be a person of the highest integrity
who has always really kept the the student focus.
And that's, I think your legacy will be here
that you have not only articulated,
but you lived out the cocoa principles.
Okay.
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor say I.
I was.
Opposed. Say now.
Okay, the resignations are accepted
personnel.
General. Mr. McFarland.
The administration recommends
the approval of the listed personnel and recognition of any listed transfers.
May I have a motion
to approve the listed personnel in recognition of any transfers?
So moved. Maria Me second.
Lindsey Drew, is there any discussion?
Hey, all those in favor say I.
I suppose they know who has approved delegate reports.
Donna, do you have anything to add to the SBA report?
Yes. I want to add that I have now have secret
special double secret access to the insider report.
So I will start enlightening you with information
that only I as a delegate apparently gets.
So they'll hopefully be able to get more and more media than just summarizing
what we've all been getting.
Okay. Thank you.
A board member reports.
Are there any board members who would like to give a report?
All right.
Mr. McFarland, do you have a superintendents report course.
Sorry,
this may take a while.
Announcing my retirement this evening has been a decision.
A very mixed emotions.
As the superintendent of Derry Township School District, I have had the privilege
of working with a progressive and supportive Board of Education
quite a few over the past 19 years a knowledgeable,
highly professional, student centered administrative team
and a dedicated collaborative group of teachers and staff
who always have the best interests of students as their top priorities.
My experience in this district has been exceptional.
After a great deal of thoughtful prayer consideration, I have decided to close out
my 33 year career in education and retire on June 30th of 2021.
It is my hope and belief that the timing of this
will allow the board in the district enough time to recruit and select
the best possible candidate to lead the district well into the future.
And allow sufficient time for a seamless transition.
The tremendous level of district and community support
has been especially meaningful to me over my 19 year career.
Derry Township.
When I began here in January of 2022, I had no idea what lay ahead, nor
did I ever see myself in or aspire to the role of superintendent.
We as a school community have journey through many highs and lows
over the years,
but one thing that has continued to grow and develop over
those years is the commitment to doing whatever it takes to provide a safe,
secure, robust learning environment for all of our students.
There is a lot to be proud of as a community regarding
what is happening in this district from the establishment
of our cocoa principles to help guide and shape our culture
to a vision that ensures equitable learning opportunities for all students.
We have developed a district
that truly exemplifies that every individual in our system is valued
and that every individual
has gifts and talents that can be grown and allowed to flourish
so that every individual can positively contribute
to the global society and find excitement in learning and joy in life.
Over the years, we have partnered with our local community
in many ways to help support our students.
One example of this partnership is cocoa PACs
and the amazing work they do in supporting our students.
So that basic needs are met and optimal learning can occur.
We have developed a strong working relationship within our district
as well as with our families and community, which has only strengthened
the amazing educational opportunities afforded our students.
We worked to research and approve a healthier, more appropriate school
start time for students,
and we addressed the challenges of traditional school start times
and took the initiative to move to a later secondary start time to better align
with adolescent sleep patterns that may have gotten delayed for a year.
But it's not going away.
We instituted
full day kindergarten to help provide a robust, student
centered, foundational learning experience for our youngest learners that addresses
the needs of the whole child.
We have begun the work of taking a hard look at our systems, structures
and offerings to ensure that there are no barriers
for any student as they realize their passions and talents
within a public education system that can often be resistant to change.
The Derry Township Faculty, Staff, Administration and Board
has relentlessly pursued opportunities and approaches
that allow for individualization such as blended learning,
win advisory and flexible campus just to name a few.
The list could go on
and on, as there have been so many amazing accomplishments throughout the years.
I am truly honored to have had the opportunity
to lead this district for the last eight years
and grateful to be able to close out my career in Derry Township.
I will dearly missed the great relationships
and people
that I have come to know respect over the years.
In some small way.
I hope that during my time here
I've had a positive impact on our students or staff and community.
I look forward to continuing all the great work we started
and helping transition the district well for the years ahead.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve
Derry Township School District
in this community.
For the past 19 year.
Now let's get to work.
Okay.
Thank you so much
for President's report.
I don't have anything to report.
Recognition of citizens.
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 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 put your first
and last name type 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 it.
Speaker during the public comment portion
is limited to 5 minutes of speaking time once recognized and limited
to one opportunity to address the board during each of the public comment periods.
If necessary, we will set a maximum time for this portion, and
this portion of the meeting is for comments
to the board and it's not a question and answer session.
Those wishing to present private concerns or questions needing follow up can go
to the District Office website and submit a community correspondence report.
Are there any citizens or taxpayers
who would like to comment at this time?
Okay, I don't see any hands.
Is there anything else for the good of the order?
Madam President Kip Shire.
Several concerned citizens have forwarded to me with comment
the social media image of misery wearing the hat since silence
can be misinterpreted as approval, I'll comment on the referred image.
The expression of hatred and
vulgarity in this picture is reprehensible behavior for a school director,
and it is clear and convincing evidence the media is incapable of performing
the duties of school director in a nonpartizan manner.
This is resignation level behavior, and she should
resign from the board.
Is there anything else
for the good of the order?
I would just like to add that I to receive
multiple constituents reached out to me concerning this.
They were concerned over the inappropriate social media post and obviously
I'd rather be focused, laser focused on the needs of the district at this time.
But I was also a little bit dismayed at the apology that was provided to the board
really being thinly veiled over an excuse, because I know you know someone who's
who's
a knows the ways of the web tech industry.
It's no secret that social media is not the place for personal communications,
and everything posted should be assumed to be public forever.
And we hand our iPads over to our students throughout the district.
There's a clear expectation on responsible
technology use, including and especially social media use.
And we'd certainly expect
a board member to uphold and be held to a higher standard.
And I turned this over in.
The first thing on the street was understand the double edged sword of
sort of social media.
Boards can find themselves under intense scrutiny of school board members,
posts on public social media pages, and that when you can't say
something nice, don't say nothing at all applies doubly to social media.
So I just want to correct my express, my disappointment
that this that this has occurred. And
yeah.
Anything else for the good of the order.
The next Public Board of Directors meeting will be held October 26,
2020, starting at 7:00 in the District Office Board of Directors Room.
May I have a motion to adjourn this meeting?
So move to Miami.
Second, Don. Cronan.
All those in favor say aye. Aye.
I think all the personnel, the media is adjourned at 730.