I'd like to call the August 24th,
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.
In keeping with Pennsylvania's recent COVID
19 mitigation efforts, calling for limits of the numbers
of participants at indoor gatherings, this meeting is being conducted
both in-person and virtually limiting our in-person
attendance to 25 or less.
Mrs. Agee Rollcall, please.
Mr. Able. Here.
Dr. Cronan Here.
Ms.. Drew Here.
Mr. Sabra, Stick here.
This is many here. Dr. Shore Here.
Mrs. Singer Here.
Mr. Singer.
Here. Mr.. Mrs. Steiner here.
Nine present. Zero Absence absent.
Please rise, if able, and join me for the Pledge
of Allegiance.
And that's why
God is strong.
May I have a motion to approve
the August 24th, 2020 Board of Directors agenda?
So move Lindsay to the route.
Second, Maria me proceed to the room.
Is there any discussion?
Okay.
All those in favor say I, I.
All those opposed say no.
Okay. The agenda for tonight is approved.
I would like to announce that the board met in executive session
prior to this meeting to discuss matters of personnel, purchase or lease of
real estate in consultation with attorney or other professional advisors.
And we will be meeting in post exact following this meeting.
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.
For those attending, virtually,
we ask that you raise your virtual hand.
Once recognized and unmuted, please state your name and address
for the record to provide other residents an opportunity to speak.
Each speaker
during the public comment portion is limited to 5 minutes of speaking time.
Once recognized and limited to one opportunity to address
the board during each of the public comment periods.
If necessary, the board may set a maximum time
for the public comment portion of the meeting.
This portion of the board meeting
is for comments to the board and not a question and answer period.
Those wishing to present private concerns or questions in follow up
outside of 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?
I'm just
I don't see anyone in the audience except for Mr.
Governor, and he's not getting up.
And then there's some attendees online and I don't see any hands.
Okay.
The Finance Committee met today.
Media Do you have a finance report? I do.
Madam President, thank you.
The Finance Committee met for the first time this year, this
fiscal year today, too.
And we touched upon a few things and unfinished business.
We discussed the
review of the Milton Hershey Trust account in follow up
from a report provided by PFM in a meeting from Fulton Financial.
Where we ended with that is
that we will not go forward with the RFP.
We are not recommending going forward with the RFP process at this time, given
all of the various components that have to do with our ability to even do so.
But we will continue to closely monitor
and the board is or the committee is now aware
of our ability to access additional funds from that trust account.
Should it be necessary at long term.
We also did a review
of current revenue to look at the different line
items of revenue from the local resources to state funding and highlighted
that of the
$48 million in revenue from local sources,
about 76% of that total budget.
I'm sorry, the 40 it's about 76% of the total budget
that comes from local sources.
Approximately 40 million or so of that is stable and guaranteed.
It comes from the property tax line items.
About $8.4 million is dependent upon the local economy performance.
So, for example, the amusement tax revenue in which
we've typically budgeted for about $1,000,000 this year,
we are anticipating only receiving about 100,000 of that.
We also updated
regarding the giant center pilot payment and Mrs.
Sacker. Mr.
Friends and I participated virtually
on the ICA call for the township last week
in which 18 are presented to
the CDA and reviewed the
anticipated shortfalls in
hotel tax revenue,
which would leave funds unavailable for the pilot payment.
We are continuing to look into that and receive some more information.
But the the I guess
long and short of it is we're not anticipating receiving
the pilot payment for this year as well as next year,
which will
eliminate some of the revenue that we had already projected
on the state side.
We as of right now,
that back does seem stable.
So really, we were just going through these revenue items to have a better
understanding for the Finance Committee members of how revenue is generated
and how we receive revenue so that as we continue to move through
this next period of time, that we understand
the impact that each area has on the overall budget.
We also reviewed expenses that were COVID
related up till now, and there has been approximately
$596,000 in expenses that have already been incurred.
That's for purchase of technology.
The the
sitting of the can 95 masks for the employees,
you know, cleaning supply and whatnot
and anticipate for about another 190,000 to be incurred through contracts
over the school year which includes, you know anything from the h-back
you know train all of those different
contracts, the moving and storage of materials
and whatnot.
So that totals approximately
786, 787,000
that will be incurred for COVID 19 expenses.
We have received grant allocations from the state through the CARES Act
and other grant funding sources totaling $706,000.
So that has offset the significant portion of those costs,
leaving a net impact of about 80,000 thus far.
We do anticipate
ongoing cost for transport
to increase transportation needs
and we'll continue to monitor
the overall net impact that we expect to see have happened
with the Budget on a monthly basis going forward for the Finance Committee.
Everything else was moved until the next meeting
and unless anyone from the Finance Committee has anything to share.
That concludes my report.
Okay.
Thank you.
The listed items are on the anticipated
September 14th Board of Directors agenda.
There's no unfinished business.
The consent agenda contains routinely item adopted items and items
that normally do not require public deliberations on the part of the board's.
A board member may put items which will then be discussed and voted on separately,
may have a motion to approve the consent agenda items as listed.
So consider second.
Maria Mumy, Is there any discussion?
I would just like to say thank you to Mr.
McFarland for the work of the Administration.
The Harrisburg YMCA User Facilities request is on here.
I fully recognize that after the last meeting
when we kind of made that plea to you of
could you please reach out to the Y or, you know, or one of these others, that,
that that was an X and it was a long shot and that it was, you know, going to place
even more work on this administration with everything else going on.
You have gone above and beyond to be able to do this.
And I hope that it all works out.
But I'm very grateful
as a parent and as a school board member
for the work to make sure that we do everything
we can to have a child care before and after and during program.
For this, we are sitting here very much.
I really, really deeply appreciate it.
Is there any other
discussion for the consent agenda?
Thank you.
This is a standard advice note.
All those in favor say I, I, I was supposed to know the agenda.
Set consent agenda passes
and then moving on to new business
approval of the 80 a memorandum of understanding.
Mr. McFarland.
Thank you.
The administration recommends the approval of the Hershey Education
Association Memorandum of Understanding for Planning time.
May I have a motion to approve the 88
Memorandum of Understanding
So moved Maria Mommie Second.
Donna Cronan Is there any discussion?
Okay.
This is a standard voice vote.
Others in favor say I was a policy. No
case passes acceptance of guest gift.
Mr. McFarland.
The administration recommends accepting the gift workshops for the Hershey
High School coaches and athletes by the Georgia Sports Foundation.
May I have a motion to accept the gift?
So, my friends, your second Maria.
Mimi Okay. Is there any discussion?
I just wanted to thank Mr.
Singer and the Georgia Sports Foundation for bringing this type of education
to our coaches and athletic program to help us build
a climate of anti-racism.
I do want to say a few things. Okay.
Thank you. Okay.
Next few minutes, I'll be speaking as chairman of the Joy Sports Foundation,
which is a local nonprofit that fosters fun and youth
athletics, as well as personal development and youth athletics.
First, I want to thank Scott Governor,
our athletic director, as well as the Derry
Township administration, for welcoming and embracing the partnership.
Also would like to thank the Positive Coaching
Alliance, which is our partner in this, for their willingness to explore
and execute what is a nontraditional agreement for them.
And of course, I want to
thank the Georgia Sports Foundation board, of which
John Abell is as a member
for their support in approving the contract,
having conducted about 3500 workshops
across the country over the past 20 years, the Positive Coaching
Alliance has established itself as a national leader in coach,
athlete and sports and sports parent training.
Georgia Sports Foundation has been working
with them for about three years in the community.
Hershey High School, through the Derry Township School
District, has been working with them for a couple of years, and there's
also a rec organization in town that's been working with them as well.
So there are known entity, they've been around,
they've been working within the community for several years.
PCA has come out very strongly in condemning
inequality and racism in all of its forms and manifestations
and is committed to be a force for reconciliation
through collaborative actions with coaches and athletes.
As part of this renewal, they'll bring workshops to address these issues,
and these
sessions will be intended to unlock the power of sports
to battle racism and social justice.
Piqué believes, as Nelson Mandela does,
that sports has the power to transform lives and unify communities.
When done right, it has the power to heal, to tear down barriers,
to teach us the skills necessary for more inclusive teams, more inclusive
skills, schools and more inclusive
futures futures that value diversity
and assure that mutual trust and belonging are felt by all
through this
20 $350 contract.
The Positive Coaching Lives will deliver three workshops
for Hershey high school coaches and athletes.
One will be for coaches, two will be for student athletes.
Virtual delivery is expected
and probably anticipated
sometime in the late fall, depending on what schedule works.
Words from the high school.
The workshops will
continue to reflect positive coaching lives, better athletes, better people,
philosophy and integrate diversity, equity and inclusion
and anti-racism education and content into their workshop curriculum.
Our coaches have a platform to teach their athletes
that they have innate value and dignity that are neither defined or limited
by their race, color, creed, gender, sexual orientation or resources.
And our student need students need inspiration and guidance.
Our coaches can play an intentional and active role
in ending bigotry and hatred.
One additional exciting feature about this partnership
is that one of our board members, Katie McComb,
will be serving as a liaison and a partner working with Mr.
Governance in the high school and the district to try to engage
the recreational community of family of athletes
and to
involve them in these sessions to the maximum extent possible
so that the partnership can have maximum impact in the community.
With that, I'll thank you for your time
and look forward to working with the District on this.
Mr. Governor, is that why you're here?
All right. Did you want to say anything?
Are you just.
Yeah. I'll be quick. Okay.
I can't thank the Joy Sports enough for their contribution.
We've been partnering up for the actually last three years,
and we also incorporated.
Incorporated with our recreational programs.
So we try to have the same system that we're doing at the high school,
filter down to the recreational programs, too.
So we're talking about the same terminology.
We're trying to get the same message to our student athletes
and it's been a great relationship.
The Joy Sports has been kind enough to feed us
and past venues and we've had a man and I've had him.
I've done a year where I've done just coaches, I've done a year,
I've just done kids, and then we've done another year.
We've mix it up and our relationship has been fantastic
and surprised me is also a positive coach
coaching a member and she's come and spoke to our kids numerous times as well.
So we've had a really, really positive relationship
and other schools have started coming on board as a result of the model
that we've been doing with Joy Sports at Hershey High School.
So it's been a very good relationship,
but I can't thank you guys enough for this.
And Terry, I can't thank you enough for going forward with this.
So it's our pleasure.
Scott Yeah, Well, thanks for coming tonight.
I appreciate it. Thank you very much.
I knew I had to be somebody for you guys and so.
Well, we appreciate it. Yeah.
You know, you can watch us on live now.
Yeah. It's not the. Same as being alive.
All right. Thank you. Guys. All right. Thanks, Scott.
All right.
Well, thank you, Mr. Singer.
So we'll take a vote now.
All those in favor say I. II.
All those opposed say now.
Okay, The gift is accepted.
Approval of mail machine lease.
Mr. McFarland.
The administration recommends the board approve the five year lease agreement
with Pitney Bowes effective September 1st, 2020,
at a cost of $6,917.76 per year.
May I have a motion to approve the mail lease agreement?
So moved.
Maria Me second, Lindsay Drew, Is there any discussion?
Okay.
All those in favor say I.
I as opposed to now.
Okay.
It's approved
Title one non
Public School Instructional Service Agreement.
Mr. McFarland.
The administration recommends the board
approve the title one Nonpublic School Instructional Service Agreement as listed.
May I have a motion to approve the title one Nonpublic School
Instructional Service Agreement as listed so moved on Cronan
Maria me
Is there any discussion?
Okay, this is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor say I, I, I was opposed.
Say no.
Okay, it's approved
approval of the service agreement with River Rock Academy, Inc.. Mr.
McFarland.
The administration recommends the board approve the appropriate program
agreement for services with River Rock Academy, Inc.
for the 2020 2021 school year.
May I have a motion to approve the River Rec Service Agreement
for the 2020 2021 school year?
So move.
Lindsay Drew second.
Donna Cronan, is there any discussion?
You know, I just had a question.
I didn't understand the fractions
related to dollars that were listed in the
in the agreement,
what seemed to cost a lot more than one.
I wasn't I just didn't understand the
the pricing,
wondered if somebody could explain it.
I don't have that answer for you right now.
Okay, that's fine. Just
I care how I can explain that.
Okay.
Yeah.
Since they're the pricing is based on how many students are.
Enrolled in a particular class.
So if they only have one student for the eight slots, of course
that slots in it costs a lot more
because they still have expenses that they need to meet.
So the more students that are in the class,
the less expensive it is for the sending districts.
Okay. Okay. Gotcha. Thank you.
Thank you.
Okay.
All those in favor say I.
I was opposed.
Say no kids approved
approval
of the contract agreement with River Rec Academy, Inc..
Mr. McFarland, Thank you.
The administration recommends the board approved the contract
for purchase of student services with River Rock Academy, Inc.
for the 2020 2021 school year.
May I have a motion to approve the River Rap Academy, Inc.
Contract Agreement. Some teacher.
Maria Maumee
Is there any discussion?
All those in favor say aye? Aye.
All those are personnel.
Okay.
It's approved.
May I have a motion
to approve personnel resignations?
So move.
Nancy Drew second. Donna Cronan,
any discussion?
Okay, There's a standard voice vote.
All those in favor say hi.
Are those opposed? Say no. Okay.
Their resignations are approved.
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 and recognition of any listed transfers?
So move. Donna Cronan
Second Maria Manny, Is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor say aye. Aye.
All those opposed say no.
Okay. Personnel has approved
delegate reports.
The PSB report is attached.
Dr. Cronan, do you have anything you would like to add?
I just wanted to highlight some of the
primary headlines that are in this and all the links are
are available, but it's pretty much everything that we're facing right now.
So it's additional information.
On the 6.1 national news.
Dr. Fauci, School should be outdoors as much as possible.
An article on that, I had the House panel approving a bill
letting schools decide whether or not they want to hold their own sports.
Number three, schools
reopening plans could change multiple times prior to the first day.
Fourth articles on social distancing.
No substitute for mask wearing in schools.
Fifth point Black history instruction gets new emphasis in many states.
And then finally,
federal appeals court backs transgender students on school restroom use.
So does a number of pertinent topics to us.
Okay. Thank you. Special Report.
Are there any board members who would like to give a report?
I would just like to add
I was able to volunteer
with cocoa parks last week for their back to school event
and I just went to see them give to that organization
for what they provide So many students heading back.
I know that the increase, the need has increased greatly over the past
few months, and that was just a very uplifting, you know, a great day.
It was, well, socially distanced, all that.
But also it would be remiss to not acknowledge
the number of staff and teachers who were on site to be able to help.
And knowing that that when you think about the fact that it's,
you know, the last week of summer with all of the craziness going on,
to see that many staff that show up to be there
in a volunteer capacity is just really meaningful
and a great example of the dedication of our employees to our students.
So it's been to say thank you.
I think it's really easy to forget
when you can the luxury of just taking your child to Staples
and letting them buy notebooks and pens and pencils,
and you just go about your daily life.
And I appreciate you bringing that up.
But it is just it's incredibly heartwarming and just imagining that,
you know, little kids so excited to get new stuff
to go to school and in situations where they don't have it.
So I'm glad that you mentioned it and I'd like to thank them as well.
And really that has just expanded so much.
I mean, it was clothing, It was, you know, COVID related supplies
for going back and the stuff in the bags, plus,
you know, all these other things, haircuts, certificates.
It was just a very comprehensive approach for for the students
that needed the most. And it was inspiring.
And the other board members, like you give our report.
Okay. Mr.
McFarland, you the superintendent report?
I do. Briefly.
I just want to thank click Lewis and the Trojan Foundation
for their generous donation. They
provided the funds to supply all students
and staff of the Hershey Water bottle this year.
So that will be coming
and we also are putting in touchless water bottle
filling stations in every building so that they'll be able to use those
to make sure that their water throughout the day
because the other fountains will be shut off.
Just an update.
The elementary virtual learner
material pick up day was last week and it went very well.
About 90% of the families were able to pick up the materials in that day,
and we had around 400 or so families that needed to pick up.
So that was that was good.
Secondary virtual learner material pickup days are this Thursday and Friday,
and specific information is being sent by the buildings to to those families.
Okay. That ends my report. Thank you.
I do not have a report.
Recognition of citizens.
This is another opportunity for residents and taxpayers to address the board
on matters related to the agenda or matters of district governance.
It's not on the agenda.
We just ask that you come to the microphone with your name and address.
If you're online virtually, if you would just raise your hand
at this time and we will unmute you.
So we would expect to just see something next to their name, right?
We would, yeah.
Okay.
I don't see any hands.
Is there anything else for the good of the order.
The explanation of the good is yes, thank you.
At your seats, a couple of guests.
First is the face mask.
These were provided by the district to every staff member and every board member.
So to show our treasured pride.
And then there are two pens there.
One is the key, which was if you had a chance to to view the opening day.
Welcome back.
Message. That's part of it.
We're all a key to students education, all students education.
The other one is a pen of redwoods and a little bit of the story behind that.
But as a team,
we're just like the redwoods where the roots of a redwood
are the tree strong because the roots intertwine and they support one another.
So the significance of that is that as a team,
we need to be doing that for each other in a time
when things are very tense and stressful, the winds are blowing hard
to be able to support one another to accomplish our mission as a district.
Thank you. Thank you.
Thanks for the. Question, Terry, because I think I know. Yes.
Listen, I want to say that, you know, obviously,
you always put a lot of effort into those opening addresses.
And I thought that this year was exceptional.
So I appreciate the work that you put into that
and had the right message for our for our folks.
Thank you.
I agree.
Thank you.
The next public board of directors meeting will be held September
14th, 2020, starting at 7:00 in the District Board of Directors room.
May I have a motion to adjourn this meeting to post exec
Assembly of Lindsey Drew second.
Donna Cronan Okay, all those in favor say I.
I lost Pacino.
Here we are adjourned at 738.