I'd like to call
the July 14th, 2020 special meeting of the Derry Township School District
Board of Directors to order and announce that this meeting is being recorded.
The purpose of this special meeting will be for the Derry Township School Book
School District Board of Directors to vote on the 2020
2021 revised school calendar.
This Zoom webinar meeting is being held to the cohort
due to the COVID 19 global pandemic.
Board members and administrators, our panelists and the public are attendees.
Attendees will have audio enabled during the public comment
portions of this meeting.
Mr. Friend, Roll Call.
Mr. Abel. Dear
Dr. Cronin.
Ms.. Drew, here
is our state here.
Ms.. MAMIE.
Miss Mamie
looks like she doesn't have audio enabled.
I'll come back.
Dr. Shah here.
Mercieca Here.
Mr. Singer.
Here.
Is Steiner.
Here?
Joe, do you know if you can control Maria has audio?
Hold on a second.
Let me.
Bring.
I only see a video
icon up there for her.
I don't see the audio.
I'm not sure why.
Well,
her computer is spinning, I believe. I
so I, I do believe Maria is here.
I think she's. Present.
Yes, she's present, but her computer is spinning, so
we'll just continue on.
A present.
One absent.
Okay.
Thank you.
Please rise, if able, and join me
for the Pledge of Allegiance.
And the United States of America
to where it stands.
One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all.
Okay.
A 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 their 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 period is limited to 5 minutes
of speaking time,
and the
maximum portion of the comment period will be 30 minutes.
Those wishing to present private concerns or questions they need
follow up outside of this board meeting may go to the district
website and submit a community correspondence.
Are there any taxpayers or citizens who would like to speak at this time?
Please raise your hand.
Looking at the attendees, I don't see any hands come up.
I know you're probably looking as well, Mr. McFarland.
I do not either.
Okay.
I don't see any hands being raised.
May I have a motion to approve
the July 14th, 2020 Board of Directors Agenda Summit?
Lyndsey drew.
Second.
Terri Singer. Okay.
Is there any discussion?
Okay, this is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor say I.
And. All those opposed.
Say now.
Okay, the agenda is approved.
Derry Township School District Revised 2020 2021 Calendar.
Mr. McFarland.
Thank you.
The administration recommends the board approve the Derry Township
School District, Revised 2020 2021
school calendar.
May I have a motion to approve?
The Derry Township School District Revised 2020 2021
Calendar
so move.
Terry Singer.
Second.
Tricia Steiner
Is there any discussion?
Mr. McFarland, Can you just give an overview
of the change to the calendar, given how many attendees
we have on the line and what the implications are?
Absolutely. Thank you.
So that the changes to the calendar
are that school was originally supposed
to start for students on August 24th.
That start date will now be the 31st
a week later, so it's the Monday prior to Labor Day.
Those five days, the 24th through the 28th
will be utilized for teacher in-service
for the
reasons noted in the letter that went home to parents
to prepare everyone for
training on social emotional learning and addressing
those needs in the classroom, as well as preparing for online teaching.
If you remember what we did in the spring was emergency distance learning.
It was not true online teaching.
And so we need to make sure that
we have a an option for families
that cannot or choose not to return to school face to face in the fall.
And also in the event we need to be flexible and ready to pivot
as necessary as
things may change as related to COVID 19.
Those are at 80 days, which will count for student days
so that there is no change to the end of the the year school calendar.
And that's really
the the significant difference
in the calendar.
Thank you.
Broken I'm in a school board meeting.
It's okay.
Just let.
Are there any other board members who would like to
just have some more discussion about this?
Madam President, I would like to
comment and add to the public discussion.
I think this is a difficult decision.
Obviously, this is going to create
disruption among families
that are going to have to kind of
react where they were planning on
having their students go to school on that earlier days. So
the decision, I think, for myself is not being made
without regard to that disruptive impact.
If I do think on balance
that this is the appropriate vote,
this is the appropriate way for the school district to move,
it will allow us to be better equipped and more fully equipped
to handle the whole range of options that the school district needs to have.
So it is not optimal.
I think I think we all recognize that.
But when you balance it out, at least in my mind, this seems to me the
the proper approach.
It's not ideal, but I
think we're doing the best with what we're up against, in my opinion.
Thank you.
Any other board members want to comment?
I just wanted to ask Mr.
Macfarlane to to just to go over how the
the staff teacher training and and
obligations and what's in their contracts for working days
and over the summer and all that as to why we can't do this over the summer.
Sure.
Thank you.
So that the as you know student year is 180 days.
Teachers have a contract of 190 days,
new teachers, 193 days.
Those ten days are
in-service training days.
And one of those days is during the summer.
And teachers this summer, it's called a trade Day.
Teachers this summer will be
getting some
initial basic social emotional learning training.
They'll also have the option of looking at vertical articulation, as we know.
With everything that's happened, we need to ensure that
everybody is ready for and planning for
our kids.
Not necessarily coming back
at the same academic levels as they normally would in a school year.
So understanding a little bit of what learning might have happened
the year prior that they might have to fill in for,
there's also, excuse me,
a classroom preparation day is one of those days
the teachers come in before the school year to get their classroom set up
and everything ready for the start of the year.
Then there are
several days throughout the year.
One is in October.
One is in January.
That January is a teacher work day between semesters.
Then there is a trade day in
April and a few other days throughout the year of in-service days.
So that makes up the other ten days
of of their contract.
So they're all built in already.
And that's why some of this work could not happen,
did not happen over the summer.
Does that answer your question, Mr.
Steiner?
Yes. Thank you.
And what's the contract to your start?
So when is the beginning date and when's the end date?
Know.
So those date or those dates
are built into this coming year, or were they from the prior year?
So it's a thank you.
It's a July one to June 30th. Right.
Thank you.
Or any other board
members have any comments?
I would just ask Joe, obviously, I echo
the comments from Mr.
Abell that I think the administrator, Ashton and everyone are doing
the best that they can.
This is a very difficult situation.
I know for me as an elementary parent, you just know that switch
by even just a week certain
certainly adds another layer of complications to this.
So I am definitely
don't come to this lightly,
but I want to thank everyone that's working so hard.
So if you're able, can you just provide you know, obviously
there's been so many conversations and stuff in
in the community and we'll be getting to the other plans
as it relates to school reopening as we
go further into July and everything's ironed out.
But from the perspective of the teachers,
can you share some insight as to the conversations or,
you know, any discussions or surveys
that's taken place with teachers to make sure that they feel,
you know, adequately prepared and that this will address
their needs to be able to deliver learning to students.
Sure. Thank you.
And I want to go back to and say to Mrs.
Steiner's question with with the contract, obviously we our teachers are fantastic
and they're all working all summer on their own content and everything.
But we need these days
so that we have
all teachers so that we can deliver all them.
The message consistently across the board.
I don't want anybody to think that our teachers are not doing anything
this summer because they are working extremely hard
on their their own content and courses.
But to your question, Mrs.
Drew, we did send a teacher survey out
July 1st
around a lot of the health and safety type
questions, some similar to what we had shared with parents as well,
just to get their their initial feedback and input.
With regard to mask wearing, which now is a moot point
because we're all wearing masks anyway,
sanitizing hand sanitizing
classrooms, sanitizing of equipment,
things like that.
I also met with the Association
President Day just to talk through some other things.
We have the pandemic team.
We have a nurse school nurse and association president on that
as we're developing that.
So that's been our communication to date and obviously talking
with individuals with individual circumstances.
Okay. Thank you.
I fully trust the
you know, that the administration is doing everything that they can.
I would just ask that we make sure, you know, across the district
to remain open to communication and make sure that everyone feels
that they are up to speed and have as much information as possible
so that we can be sure that our teachers feel equipped and ready
to be able to handle all the challenges that will come with this next school year.
Yes. Thank you.
I do just want to say to that, as difficult as this
decision is to push the school year back when everybody's so anxious to get started
that I really appreciate and admire
the dedication of the administration and the teachers to devote a full week
to making sure that we do virtual learning.
If we have to go
that far, go that route in some form or another
as robust as possible, and recognizing that what we did
previously wasn't the best circumstances and and we weren't prepared for it
and making sure that our teachers all have sort of
like a psychological and mental health toolkit
that they're able to be trained for and utilize.
That was every single student, not just the students that are on the radar.
We're making sure that we're equipping
all of our students with those emotional skillset and tools
that they need to identify their anxiety and talk about it.
And so I really appreciate that.
And I think that's going to be really huge and and a primary focal point
for looking ahead for the school year.
So I think that spending a whole week getting our teachers up to speed on
that as a primary focus is a really great thing.
So thank you.
And I just wanted to add
that I do I will be voting yes to this decision.
I know that it is probably upsetting that the students will be delayed by one week,
but I do support the decision to give the teachers extra training
when we all have all of them together at one time.
We are preparing for a school year that's going to look different.
And I think with this extra week,
what we're doing is we're not going to be doing what we did
in March by just pulling the plug and then kind of
doing things quickly.
And without advanced planning.
This way, we're going to have plans in place and some training in place.
I do teach online, so 100% of my classes
at Hack are online, have been online for many years,
and there is a lot of learning to take online teaching.
It's not just taking a live classroom and throwing it on the Internet.
So it does take some advanced planning in a lot of the times.
I work all summer to build my curriculum just so that it rules out effectively.
So then I'm available for anything that comes up as it
comes up.
So, you know, there is some advanced planning that needs to be done
and I think that this week will be helpful for that for our teachers and
and the students as well when they come back.
And I want to acknowledge the board's support over the years
because we're positioned well to support our teachers
even ongoing in the we have a cadre of instructional coaches
which many districts don't, that are there to support teachers ongoing.
And, you know,
this was not a decision that we came to easily to even bring this.
We were for the longest time looking to start school on the 24th
and get our kids back because we all want them,
you know, we want to get back to teaching our kids.
But we also feel like while our teachers are doing
everything they can to shift and adjust and make plans,
we really need those days for consistency of of what we're doing
so that there is more consistency in platform and consistency
and in content across grade levels and subjects.
And so system Weekly were prepared.
So it was a it was a difficult decision, but I appreciate to that
the board's support over the years to position as well
to do this.
Are there any other board members
who would like to comment?
Okay, this is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor say I, I
and all those opposed say no.
Okay.
The calendar revision is approved.
It's on to 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 raise their virtual hand and once to
and unmuted, please state your name and address for the record,
if you had private concerns or questions, you can fill out
a community correspondence on our district website.
Are there any taxpayers or or citizens who would like to speak at this time?
I do.
I see one,
Madam President.
Okay.
Ms.. Wallace, you may go ahead.
Hi. Yes, give me my name and address first.
Yes, we do. Please.
Rebecca Wallace, 221 East Arriba Avenue.
Okay, go ahead.
So in regards to this plan and I really commend you
for all the hard work you're doing in trying to figure out
what to do in the unknown.
Um, does this mean.
As of now.
August 31st, school resumes as usual, or will there
be further announcements in regard to how school will look like in the fall?
That's a great question.
More details will be coming out later this week and then the board will be
taking a look at our health and safety
reopening plan at their July 27th meeting.
What we are currently
looking at is a face to face reopen, but also having an online option
available for families
who either can't or don't feel comfortable sending their children back.
The face to face would obviously be taking
into account the health and safety measures
to the extent feasible or what are mandated.
For example, the masks are now a mandate, so
all students and staff will have to wear masks.
Does that help?
Yes. No, I was I was curious about
that health and safety plans and when that would come out, too.
So thank you.
Yes, that was very, very helpful for my question.
Sure.
Does anyone else have public comment?
Ms.. Davis, you may go ahead.
Please state your name and address. For the record.
Hi, Michelle DAVIES.
1524 Church Road, Hershey.
So my understanding from what
this was just talked to
you guys about is that
July 27th is kind of the date
that we'll get a final
idea of what school is going to look like.
That will be the health and safety plans of what
that will look like as we'll have information in it.
And that will be a public document.
So that will be okay.
As far as the cleaning protocols, the
mask requirements, things like that.
I won't necessarily get into like the continuity of education
or the instructional pieces specifically, but it'll be more
that health and safety aspect.
Okay.
Mr. MACFARLANE.
But you anticipate us in approving the
back to school plan August 10th.
Is that correct? That's sort of what we're looking at.
But it it'll be before school starts. Yes.
Okay. Yes.
Mr.. Uh, let me see here.
Mr. Tobin.
You may go ahead.
Are you trying to unmute Michelle Davis
because you guys.
Mr. Roman, AQR unmuted.
You may go ahead. Hi.
Is that me?
Okay. It is my.
Yeah, I understand that you'll be revealing
some of your other plans for the year.
But one question I had was the teachers.
Are they going to be have to instruct both online and face to face students
kind of at the same time of, you know, some of the students
or some parents don't want their students to go back to school.
How is that going to work?
So those are all things that we're still working through.
Monica Okay.
All right.
And have you talked about what happens if you know
somebody in the classroom does become
infected with COVID?
We have talked about that.
That will be in the health and safety plan, But we're following
CDC, Department of Health guidance on that.
Okay.
So basically, you should look July 27th for,
you know, further information on how you'll be handling it.
I'm also wondering, you know, how you handle students
who refuse to wear masks or whose parents don't want them to wear masks.
I know here in Lebanon County, that seems to be coming up quite a bit.
Well, and again, that's at that point.
At this point, that's a mandate.
So that's an expectation.
We do have an online option or we will have an online option
for families that can't or are uncomfortable.
Okay.
All right.
Well, I guess I guess that's it for now.
I'll, you know, take a look at what you come up with on July 27th, then.
Sure.
Probably have more questions then.
So are there any other
members of the audience who would like to speak?
I would like to mention
that the next public board of directors meeting is July 27th
and it will not be held via Zoom webinar.
We will be back at the district office with masks and social
distancing protocols in place.
Is there anything else
for the good of the order from the board?
Okay.
The next Public Board of Directors meeting will be held July 27, 2020,
starting at 7:00 in the District office Board of Directors Room.
May I have a motion to adjourn this meeting?
Lindsay drew,
I can't.
Trisha Steiner.
All those in favor say I.
I mean, all those opposed.
Say, now
the meeting is adjourned at 528.
Thank you.
Thank you. $0.09.