Meeting of the Derry Township School District
Board of Directors to order and announce that this meeting is being audio recorded.
Mr. Friends, Roll Call vote
Rock off.
Mr. Abel Here.
Dr. Cronin here. Is Drew. Here.
Mr. Stick.
Here. Is Mimi here. Dr. Shore Here.
Miss Sicker. Here.
Mr. Singer Here. Miss Stoner Here.
Nine present. Zero. Absent.
Please rise available and join me for the Pledge of Allegiance.
I pledge agents to the flag
of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands.
Why, under God, indivisible.
13 Justice.
May I have a motion to approve
the May 13, 2019 Board of Directors agenda?
So moved.
Hey, Maria, second and Donna,
is there any discussion?
Okay, This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor, say I II and all those opposed say no.
Okay. The that the agenda is approved.
Hey, tonight we have Mr.
Farrell here for a music department presentation.
Welcome.
Thank you.
Good evening.
And thank you for the opportunity to be here this evening to present
on behalf of the music department.
The invitation is certainly, certainly welcome and appreciate it.
So we have been recognized
this past spring again
as one of the best communities in music education across the country.
And that's a pretty big deal
considering all of
the school districts that are applying for this recognition.
We were one of 623
communities across the nation that earned this recognition.
Recognition, rather, which I think is is pretty special.
The organization that
supports
this recognition, the name Foundation.
You can read a little bit there about the name Foundation.
And now in its 20th year,
this is an award
that is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievements
in efforts to provide music, access and education to all students.
And to qualify for this
program, we had to fill out a pretty lengthy survey.
It took me about 3 hours, one Monday evening to actually put the data entry in,
let alone gather all of the things that we do here
in Derry Township that supports music
education here in our schools.
And this was verified through
the organization.
So it's my understanding that they called
and double checks to make sure that what I was saying
and put on the application was actually in fact true.
Slide about why music education matters.
This is pretty standard knowledge
at this point, particularly in this school district where a liberal arts
education is supported and has been supported
for many, many years, at least as far back as I've been here.
And this is your toe in the district for me,
very talented places, strong emphasis
on allowing students to find who they are, find their voices, if you will.
And that's true in the arts.
It's also true outside of the arts.
And you can see here some of the benefits
of being involved in music.
I won't necessarily read all of those to you.
The last one I would read to you because I think it's universal.
And this transcends not only the benefits that relate
exclusively to music department, but or being involved in the music department.
But it's also life skills, social benefits, conflict resolution,
teamwork skills, how to give and receive constructive criticism.
We not only teach students about the musical process,
pitches, rhythms, dynamics, etc., etc.
in our ensembles, we also teach them how to refine their skills as young adults.
And that's a secondary
thread, if you will,
in being involved in an ensemble, being involved on a team,
or you have to put your own needs aside sometimes for the betterment of others.
And that's a great lesson to learn at a very young age.
And we seem to think that that's working
for us here in our department in the district.
Some quotes from Mr.
McFarland are superintendents
who is one of our loudest and strongest advocates in the department,
and we continue to appreciate that year in and year out.
I'd like to just
focus on this last one just for a moment.
Obviously, you need the ingredients
to make a successful cake,
and that's most certainly true with
with the clientele that we have here in the school district.
The parental support that we have in the school district,
we have parents here tonight to be here to recognize
and celebrate this achievement from the music department.
But you need something to tie it together.
And what ties it together is the dedication
and the teamwork of our department and our staff.
And we have a great music department faculty that works tirelessly
for the benefit of our students here in this community.
And a lot of us have been together for many, many years,
and we're proud to have
a small part in the finalization or the making of that cake,
if you will.
This is an anonymous quote
from a Derry Township student who's involved in music.
And I think it's really powerful
because this quote reads to me
like it could have been said by anyone.
It could have been said by
your All-State Music
Ensemble participant who was going to go on and pursue
a career in life and music in some way, shape or form.
Or it could be the student who is experiencing music
for the first time and makes this realization
in a kindergarten general music class. Music
making music allows the world to see joy, and that's a pretty powerful statement.
There's a ton of ownership and understanding and self-reflection
in that particular statement.
And here's the best part why music education matters.
We have a bunch of
pictures in this collage.
I tried to get in as many over the next few slides highlighting
how active the department is in the community
and the benefits of that.
We've had ensembles, we've had two ensembles
at a Hershey Bears game or one of our elementary bands was there.
I was there with our Hershey middle school kids back in the fall.
We've got kids at a county choir festival elementary.
You've got kids learning how to work together at an elementary
general music class.
You, you know, middle school kids learning to play piano.
You can see the guitars in the background.
There's extensive curriculum
there on the middle school level for delving into those instruments.
Some other
photos of things that we've done this year.
This page features high school choirs and individual soloists
who are participating at an adjudication festival this past spring.
In particular,
this particular choir here,
our audition choir, earned a gold medal
at this particular festival for the ninth year in a row.
As we look into some of our instrumental ensembles in the high school.
We often bring in clinicians
from the collegiate level who come in to work with our kids.
We don't claim to think as a music faculty at Derry Township
that we know everything.
We like to think we know enough, but we're always pushing ourselves
professionally as well to be open minded to different techniques
and different approaches to engage students in learning.
And so fortunately for us,
we when we call folks to come in from the collegiate level,
they're always saying yes, because they enjoy coming to work
with Derry Township students because of how flexible they are
and how eager and interested and willing they are to learn.
A Did you know Paige
Curley We have eight and 5/8 music
faculty in this in this district that provides instruction
to nearly 2300 students during the school year
genre, music and ensembles.
That's a lot of kids.
So we feel pretty good that we're doing something right.
We all of us are doing something right and providing the right types
of opportunities for our kids to be successful.
You can see in the second bullet there that we have nearly
1250 students in ensembles, grades 4 to 12.
That's, I think, just about a third
of the entire school district's population,
which I think is pretty impressive.
Students in grades four
through 12th who are members of ensembles participated in 13 different
PME and AC, The Honor Musical festivals this school year.
That's a lot of
time outside of the school day for kids to be preparing music.
That is in addition to the music that they're learning in their ensembles.
That's a lot of nights and weekends that our interested kids are putting forth
that time and effort to have those additional accelerated experience.
And then the last slide or the last bullet in the slide, as I spoke to earlier,
we were one of 623 schools
nationwide to earn this recognition,
and we're really proud of that.
I'll speak with pride and passion and candor
as as I wrap this up.
As I said earlier, a lot of our colleagues,
a lot of my colleagues, including myself, have been here a long time.
We've invested a lot of our lives
into these kids in this school district.
And there's a reason why we get out of bed every morning.
We get out of bed. Actually, there are a few reasons.
One, it's our passion for working with young people in shaping them,
shaping their lives, not only musically, but as young adults, too.
It's our passion to work
in music education and share that wonderful
joy and gift of making music.
And for some, it's our lowest level, and for others it's on this level.
And that's okay.
It's something that they'll be able to do
potentially for the rest of their lives.
And there's there's huge significance in that.
And you can see all of my hard work and colleagues here
and and how appreciative I am of the commitment that they make
to our students here in the school district.
I leave you with
a quote that I had earlier on my presentation.
As you teach
a while.
Comments like this resonate more with you
because it allows you to really focus on what's most important
and what's most important isn't always the product.
It's the process.
It's the process of learning.
And that doesn't
just it's not exclusive to music,
it's the process of learning and understanding that learning
and the ownership, taking ownership and the independence that that allows you.
And what that does takes care of the product,
doesn't matter what it is, just takes care of the product.
Making music allows the world to see who I am.
That's pretty cool.
That's really pretty cool.
And again, I'd like to take this opportunity
to thank you for allowing me to come here this evening
and share a little bit of what we do every day. And
we continue to look for your support
moving forward as we go along.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Farrow, for coming out.
We're very proud of you
and our other music teachers, as well as our young musicians.
Thank you.
I just want to also echo that and say thank you and without dating either
one of us, I can say I was in high school
when you started with Derry Township,
and there looking at a faculty of eight
and 5/8 is close to 40% of you on that list
that you shared that have been here since I was a student in Hershey.
And I think that that is an incredible testament
to the quality and integrity of the program that you run.
And I have seen firsthand over all of these years, people
or students who just shine in life because of music.
So thank you for what you do.
I'd like to add over the
years, four years on school board, I've seen you, your students, perform.
I shadowed your class once
and I just I'm glad that you're here tonight
to have the opportunity to say to you that I've always been impressed by you.
When I hear your students sing, it is.
It's really.
It's kind of mind blowing that that those are those are students in our district.
And it makes me very proud.
And I'd like to thank you.
And I know I've said to my husband, because he's been with me at graduation,
I always say we are so lucky to have him.
So I'm happy to say this in public on record directly
to you, that I do feel that we are very, very lucky to have someone like you.
It's it's it's huge.
So thank you.
Thank you.
All right.
Thank you very much.
Thanks.
I'm off to the high school band concert.
Yes, please.
Okay.
Next we have a presentation, Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Architect.
Next steps. Mr. Friends.
Thank you, Ms.. Singer.
Today, we also have joining us with our architect firm, Warehouse.
Craig Campbell is here to answer any questions that you might have.
But earlier this week,
let me take a step back
as we went through the risk and voluntarily process
at the end of last school year.
And I got the reports during the school year.
There were a lot of things in those reports that meet different
construction areas.
And so when a project like that
arises, it's very difficult for us to turn to one general contractor
or one person and say, Can you help us plan this process?
Not only so we can
have it done as economically as possible, but there are a lot of school
code laws that we have to meet in terms of the purchasing requirements
and going through that process.
So what?
Because we have warehouse already with us
working on some other projects, we turned to them,
was able to provide warehouse
through the help of our solicitor and make sure everything was done legally
copies of the reports so they could look through and determine a cost structure.
For us
to take that next step to essentially pull planning documents together,
which is a very long process not to be glossed over,
but just trying to hit those high points of where we would be.
And so for us to take any of the initial steps were to put
not the initial steps, but to address a lot of the things that were done
in that report.
We have to have a plan to do so, a plan that can then be put into buildable
documents and put out on the street for us to actually get proposals
to start and complete that work.
There were two proposals provided to you.
One title, existing floor condition plans,
and the other one just safe and security upgrades.
I want to talk a little bit as well about the existing conditions for plans.
All of this proposals in here
or the the prices noted are for all district buildings.
It is district wide.
This is a campus wide process that we're going through.
And Craig can definitely speak to a little more detail.
But one of the things that is hampering kind of providing
this process is we don't have
up to date drawings, those types of things for the buildings.
So it is work that warehouse has noted they can undertake for us.
But the reason they provide any separate proposal is because the work
being done for those existing floor plans would not only be used
for the risk and vulnerability, but any projects we have moving forward.
The real intent of that part of the process is to get us
good usable drawings and provide them
and various we've talked about providing them in various formats
so that we can memorialize those here,
keep them on file, and ensure
everyone in administration knows where and how to access those.
So that should we have turnover in that department,
some of that work isn't lost and that's what we're finding ourselves
now, is taking on that project
specifically because all of these entail
all of our buildings and not just specific parts of them.
The need to have those existing floor plans
completed essentially before
the work is started for the the risk and vulnerability.
Craig, I don't know if you want to add
anything to to that portion of it.
All right.
I think you hit the main purpose of it.
I mean, just to give you a heads up,
I mean, you have eight essentially eight district buildings
currently that includes this facility which is comprised of three buildings.
Fortunately, we've we already have a good piece
of information for this building that we put together for the exterior.
We don't have anything interior.
So there would be some verification things that we need to do for this.
But that includes your elementary school, your s.e.c.
Your middle school, high school and the building maintenance and grounds building.
I mean,
the documents that we got is helpful, but it's not helpful
to proceed forward with really knowing what we have to work with.
These documents that we received are basically scanned
blueprints from dating back to 1965 and taking those pieces because there was
multiple different projects that happened over its life span
and kind of creating one that's current to what's actually there now.
That's the primary essence of what we're trying to do and help you guys
be able to have something better on record for your use for now and in the future.
And basically any project that we kind of touch from this point forward,
those things will be updated so that you have a current set of documents on hand.
Is there a a recent document of the floor plan, the high school, since we just did
the special education portion at the high school three years ago.
A secure word that would be
is only because that was only one portion of the high school.
The entire building was not was not serve it. No.
So they would have the information on what the updates were to that
very particular section.
And that's a little bit of what we're noting is we have pieces to this.
We don't have the entire picture and that's what we feel like.
We need to draw a line in the sand and get that picture
once again, not only for this project, but this is an investment
for the district to make for many years to come
and would impact any of our projects that that we
that we might endeavor into.
If you'll remember when we were going through
with not the current architect firm, but the one we were with prior,
when we were looking at this building, there was an estimation provided
of about $25,000 that it would cost for those floor level existing plans.
We never got through that process with that company.
So as Craig noted,
a large portion of that work's been done just with what we've done here so far,
not only with Warehouse but with our prior architectural firm.
But we did not follow through with that,
that entirety of pulling those those processes together.
So that's why there's still holes here but definitely would need this in, in
the other,
you know,
the elementary buildings, the middle school and the high school
specifically, given the amount of work that's going to be needed.
Therefore, for some of the risk and vulnerability issues.
Thank you.
I just want to make sure I'm understanding clearly the whole process.
I mean, we had the risk
and vulnerability assessment done, and so we identified things inside of that
that the board has committed to doing to improve the safety
of the schools.
And so the next step now is to get to the process of doing that.
We have rough estimate some things that we can
anticipate, a ballpark of where it's going to be.
But to get started for that, we have to this is where we start.
That is that. Is
this is the launch point
for being able to move into the phase of implementing these things
we have committed to in order to enhance the safety and security of our schools.
Yes. Okay.
Thank you.
I just want to summarize and make sure I wrapped it all up, that this is just.
I think the only thing that's a little bit different,
the actual floor plan discussion that we're having now, and that was that
approximate price for all district buildings
was not to exceed $175,000.
I asked specifically that this be presented differently
because I did not want this to be looked at as
we need to do this for safety and security.
We need to do the floor plans
for any major renovations or anything that we're doing moving, moving forward.
So everything you noted is correct.
So what we're trying to do is maximize
the study and the development of floor plans that we have right now
so that we don't have to keep recreating the wheel as we go down.
And in essence, it would save us money because we're going to have this already
prepared as we move into other projects and explore other things in years to come.
Yes. Thanks.
Along with the
previous questions, I'm not sure who asked it, but
some of the newer buildings or buildings that we have had construction done
recently, do we have any floor plans that we can use?
For example, the middle school was redone
the entire main level and portions of the bottom level.
The the obviously the UCC is new and
an elementary school had the first floor
change where the music room and everything is.
So there has to be some pieces that we already have.
The first.
Floor is complete like complete floors where we had so.
Not not pulling out the necessarily XY, but
so that the elementary school for one that's part of the problem is we know
updates have been done since I think we have a floor plan
from there that goes back to the mid eighties.
So we'll
we do have okay this was what was done here
but what else was updated, what else was changed?
And you can walk around right now and see that
what this says right here is not actually the way that it goes.
So this is just an undertaking to make sure that we're getting all of those
pulled together in one area
that we can access.
Because right now, even if we do have portions of it, it's in pieces.
And what we're looking for is an entire entirety for the building
and don't even just the middle school.
I mean, that where the old library was was a section.
The new main entrance was a section, but the whole floor was not.
Here's the whole floor.
And this is what's been changed.
But they just not real plans like we never had.
Well, there were if you remember, originally, there were phases
for the middle school of adding on wings and things at one point.
But as far as what was actually done, it was done like the old guy.
But I know he did it in pieces based on timing and needs.
But we saw floor plans.
I thought maybe I mean, they might not have been real
useful plans, but I remember seeing four drawings.
But I think that this gives us a consistent set
of plans, detailed floor plans for all of our buildings
that can be used in can and that we can trust our current and
reported the same way because
we've had different architects, because they've had different things.
This allows a conceptual, consistent look at all of our buildings.
Correct.
And we've also gone through the process of
Craig has started to look at things.
He will ask the buildings and grounds director
okay, some of the plans you have on this and and that's what we're noting
is what he's receiving scores, holes and it's not complete.
So there can be a process that they would have to go verify
the plans that we already gave them and then fill that back in,
which could be done on a time and materials basis.
What warehouse has done is identified.
Here's what it will cost to take care of this situation rather
than piecemeal ing it or approaching it every time you have a project.
This is more of
like that line in the sand to say
we're drawing this.
This is an investment not only for risk and vulnerability,
but every project that we will have a done work has been
done, will be given to us so that we can we can move forward in that.
So that conversation, what you noted, has already taken place.
This is noting that that information is not complete.
And there are two points to follow up sorry.
One is it's a shame that when we did it before that we didn't have this done
because we paid lots of money for lots of diagrams over the past
ten years, at least in my in my memory
and beyond.
And then number two,
out to another architect coming in in a couple of years
saying, well, we want to verify it ourselves
so I don't be paying more money to do a lot of the same things
that I've been seeing coming through
here up to here.
So and a lot of that will be up to us to make sure that we memorialize this
and put it in a way that that can be discussed.
And somebody can, from the district standpoint, can say, no,
I know we paid this.
I know we did this, we don't have that.
Hopefully one of the reasons we went through a process of identifying
an architect is so that we're not jumping around with that is either
so that we have consistent help that is looking at our buildings
the same way and eventually build the history
along with us so that so that this knowledge isn't lost.
The ten is not to give you another paper copy so it gets filed in the round
trash can because that's what happens
so that you have at least two different formats.
One will be at least in AutoCAD.
So anyone from that point on will be able to use that
plus a PDF so that even yourselves can at least use that
as a working document to plan and do whatever you would need to do.
So then I guess
you answered my question just to verify kind of what you were saying.
Anyone moving forward could use these plans.
Myself, but yeah. Right.
I'm not saying necessarily what it be, but just anyone.
If they, as Donna pointed out, they won't come and say, no, these are no good.
We have to do our own. Correct. Okay. Yeah.
Yeah.
I mean,
you at least have some documents that we're at least able to use
as opposed to us going out and measuring the whole building
because it you only want to talk about that.
This might put you on a defensive just a little bit.
I'm a big fan of Warehouse and I was on board
from day one and it was a mistake hiring Crabtree.
But we're back now, so I know that they came in and did a some type of study
in the old part.
And then Virginia Granada.
Granada, Right.
Wasn't it like some 3D scan or something?
Maria. That's what I know.
Did they talked about doing that, but that never came to fruition, correct.
Right. Okay.
That I was going to say, why can't you use that?
But never mind. Never got done before.
And I think we've also identified
that there have been several other things as we went through.
The process was great that we realized the integrity of the data
and the information that was provided to Warehouse
from what we paid for with Crabtree was not provided.
And so I think this allows us to make sure that we have
exactly what we need for all the things we know that are coming.
Yeah, I mean, even from the standpoint because I mean, we have a 3D camera,
so we'll say we go into this building, we're going to essentially scan
this room at least that will have photos of what's here.
Whatever we develop and put together, you guys are are going to receive.
So you have it for each building, especially with this one
because it's three.
So building A, building B and building C that we're in now,
you have the information, everything.
And I'd rather
have this now before we have to go to bid on all of these different things
and not have surprises
or things that are unexpected and unanticipated or, hey, well,
you know, the drawings that we had actually were a little bit different.
And now there's an increased cost.
This sets a baseline that we can feel a lot more confident
as we go to bid on these projects, that we're going to be able to anticipate
the costs associated with them and use it for a budget planning perspective
instead of having to spin our wheels and decide
left, right, or how do we change plans right now.
Just as a reminder, this is only the architectural floor plans.
We're not going in and surveying all the mechanical systems
that are in the buildings and new and we're ductwork and piping
and everything else is purely to make sure that we walk through the building.
Then these doors swing out, double doors, single door,
you know, those type things and fixture counts to make sure you
still have the same amount of fixtures so that you at least have a base plan
that we're working from.
Thank you.
And your notes extremely accurate Lindsay in noting that
those things can be done after the after projects started.
There will always be more expensive
when there are a change order or when they're a surprise versus
this is what you have to bid on and this is the best document you have.
Will should end up in less change orders and just a more planned out
project altogether.
If I'm getting ahead, just tell me.
But I was wondering if
I forget what I was going to ask you.
So I'm ahead of myself.
All right.
Any other questions?
Just on the floor.
Plan part, because we do still want to talk about the
than the proposal itself for the risk and vulnerability.
This is really kind of
planning,
designing the work that ends up in biddable documents
that allows us to take out to the street and gather real prices on.
Craig has broken the process
down into five sections
with with prices noted in those agreements.
We talked about this a little bit because some of the construction
and some of the phases that are at the very end, the cost
that a warehouse would incur and obviously pass along to us
will be dependent on what the project finally looks like.
So really what
we would be looking at intently are the items one and two,
the schematic design phase and the device design development phase
is what they would need approval to be working on as soon as possible.
Really, we're in
till we get the schematic drawings and approval for those first two phases
we can't move any further with.
With the project.
We had talked in various ways,
whether or not to approve this as an entire contract,
understanding that there'll be some reconciliation both ways.
If we end up putting more things in than we had
talked about to this point, that may cost us more money,
or if there's less in there, that may cost less.
But Warehouse and Craig wanted to make sure,
they were communicating the entirety of this process to us.
But what we would need to
move forward is an approval on the
the existing floor plan proposal
as well as at least items one two of the
of the building
safety and security upgrades from there and in
and just to add on, I mean in both the schematic phase,
once we get through that, there will we will have a budget estimate for that.
So we'll have a sense of what that project is at that point in time
so that
then the school district can determine,
well, do we want to pull some things out, How do we want to look at it?
So when we move in to the D.
D phase, it will have more detail and we will update that estimate again
so we can kind of see kind of where that everything falls.
Then at that point, then we can all decide as to
how we move forward with construction documents permitting and building
and construction based services.
If, you know, maybe it needs to get spanned out to to actually happen.
But that will be the process that we would kind of go through.
So at this point, that's why we're recommending to move
forward with one and two.
That way at least you guys will have an idea as to where those things fall.
So just to let everybody know,
one is schematic, phase two is design phase.
Then we would hear back from you and then wait
for construction document phase, them permitting bidding and contract
and then construction phase.
Correct.
The way that would technically happen, Kathy, is once we get through one end to
or not once, but close to the end of getting through one into, they'll come
back with another proposal essentially that would be for those other phases
and say this is based on the determination of what we heard.
And now that we've focused on this project in
what it's, you know, what you want to have done,
this is the price now for this phase three, four and five.
But you already had the prices listed for three, four and five.
That's what I'm noting.
If we approve that altogether, then we're locking those in.
If we're only approving one into, then that's all We're.
Going to go down three, four and five could go down.
They won't go. Up.
They may, depending on how we plan the project.
Get locked in now for a better rate or.
Well, it depends then in the end, how you proceed forward with construction.
If you end up looking at it as a phased approach, that's,
say, the elementary school,
depending on timing, because I think right now it was like February,
March was about the time if we were to proceed forward
with the whole package, to be able to issue
documents for permitting and bid.
But at that point,
you may not decide that you want to move forward with all the construction,
which then that changes the process of how we would move forward with that.
That's that's why
I think with with the way
that Mike's portraying this that that's
fair everyone that we relook at it
once we get to that point of ready to move to the construction documents
there were just a lot of things identified in that risk and vulnerability
report that they determined they may have to plan hours to to,
you know, to pull the plans together.
But we haven't been able part of the the the schematic design
phase is us all getting in a room together to really talk to say, well, that's
as a school district, we really don't want to do this
because of X and there may be very few things in there,
but there may be some of those where they said when we say, well,
maybe that changes, then because they have a little less time to plan
or maybe they said we set aside
this many hours to plan this, we said, no, we want to go this in.
And so that's why it may be more at the end of the at the end of the day.
But as Craig noted, that that's the way we felt fair
to everyone involved is to relook at that again,
if we approve the entire contract,
that gives Craig the authority to continue working through this and not
slow down that phase in any way.
As he noted, the original proposal, if we were to approve it altogether,
the goal would be to have it
start to be bid by February
if we were only going to approve this bits at a time.
He did note as well that that schedule may
have to be
changed a little bit depending on how long it takes us to make the next decisions.
And and that entire process, which was completely,
completely understandable from there. So
it could also potentially, if we were to look at doing
the whole thing right, looking at the whole thing right now,
we would have to take a much deeper look.
Still not knowing if the actual bids are going to come back inside of,
you know, that dollar figure.
But it would take us a lot longer to get the process started.
Correct.
We have to look at a lot more.
So by breaking it up, it allows us
because looking at it, the six weeks, six weeks, eight weeks,
eight weeks, I mean, we're looking at 11, 12 months to do this.
And I think.
Yeah,
I mean, it is that is one of the things I want to make sure I'm communicating
is that we can't we can't take one step further until something is approved.
So if there's apprehension about the entire process,
we can still do one and two and take the next step.
Total inaction or we're not doing anything on this
that does freeze us where we're at.
But if there's if there's understanding about how we're going to work with this
going forward, approval of the whole contract would be appropriate as well.
It just puts the reliance on us to make sure we're going through those
reconciliations, if you will, as we get to some of those other later phases.
In terms of what what was additional, what was in already included
type of thing as well.
So you're recommending one and two right now
because you're worried we're going to.
I may have missed I made.
Your recommendation that we do all of it because
nothing here is standing out to me as being anything different
than what we've already talked about and understand that we're moving forward
into based on the risk and vulnerabilities.
I'm sorry I didn't make that clear.
The administration would recommend full approval.
I was noting an option.
No, I was noting that that's an option.
I'm sorry. I could explain that a little bit better.
So you do recommend doing one and five right now and we move.
Forward, correct? Correct. Yes.
The only the only point I want to make is that
there is an ad service that's in there because we aren't sure
if that particular item will need to be looked at or not based on
the draft and the final assessment that was done,
it was unsure and it's a very costly.
So I've pulled that out as a separate line item.
Just that the $38,000 the highlighted Yes.
Yeah.
Well I mean I think we need to discuss but I think we've committed as a board
that we wanted a risk and vulnerability study of all of our buildings
and we wanted to commit this money to doing it.
And I don't think we want to take it into steps.
We wanted to go through the whole thing. So unless
and that's pretty much what we've been talking about for the last year.
Yeah, to me,
if anything, it's like, yeah, it's going to be another year until we get this.
I think like we've already talked about this.
Let's keep going because it's another year potentially until we're done.
Mike The amount that you set aside
for the upcoming year to cover
these these types of improvements,
is it going to be adequate?
Well, we'll find out.
That's part of what this process is for, Terry.
So, yes, we did account for that.
There would be architect fees as part of that.
We're using an assumption right now.
And I would I don't I don't even know if I would call it
an educated assumption that we've said it about two and a half million dollars.
That's what we need to go through this process to see how close,
how close that is.
And so, once again, having that information,
we can then, if I know, yes, we can make it work.
Whether or not the money we've had set aside is enough, I don't know. But
I hear you loud
and clear that this is a commitment and that's
so it will we'll make sure we figure out how how to make that happen.
And this figure here is inside of the scope of what we anticipated
and have the funds available for to proceed right now.
And Mike, we have already set aside the two and a half million for safe
and supportive schools for this year, but this might bleed into another budget.
So the. Set again or.
The way we've done it, because it's in the capital plan,
it really doesn't need to be identified by year
I it's to carve that portion of that those dollars out.
So as I'm planning and showing you information, I'll show you
that that you know, we've
we've already of this amount of money that we have in the capital plan.
We've already kind of agreed that two and one half of that will go
towards this project will also be able to show you
and we'll review that at the next Finance Committee meeting
how much in dollars we have left over.
That really just needs to be prioritized.
And once again, this being the highest priority,
I believe there's more than enough money to pay for the project.
I do qualify that by I'm not exactly sure how much it's going to cost
just by the extent of things that are there
and that it's just it's there are no packages.
You can't just turn and say to company X, come do this for us.
What does that?
This is a lot of different trades coming together
at the same time and working through this process,
which is also why we need to make sure we have somebody
with a great amount of knowledge playing quarterback for us during that process.
One of the ways I look at it is if we were building all new buildings today,
this stuff would be baked into it, right, with the current culture
and what's happening.
But we have older buildings and we're going to try to
and we have some things that we wanted to fix for a while now anyway,
with doors and cameras and security.
So we are trying to take these older buildings and make them right.
So I just think it's something that we've committed to do.
I mean,
it's something that we've heard from the community as well, that,
you know, it's important
and and has to do with the access and safety of our schools.
I mean, the hope is that as we get into each of these facilities
to look at that, a lot of the things will be
geared the same.
Maybe some of the hardware will be different
because of the different ages of certain doors
and certain things that have to happen there.
But that's kind of the intent.
I mean, the big caveat is the item
for that ad service because that looking at that,
that's like for construction wise, it's $250 a square foot
for the install of bullet glass,
bullet resistant. Glass.
We say that again, 200, what.
$50 A square, square foot.
Square foot for bulletproof glass.
Yes, but with the resistant film.
Then I want to dig into a little bit more
because I haven't particularly found that anywhere.
So there's there is impact resistant film,
not bullet resistant film.
As far as I know.
I've used the the bullet resistant glass
and frame system on local projects here.
So I know within the past year I know what the cost of that is per square foot.
It's very expensive.
And that's part of, you know, reading that report that was put together
to determine is that an action item that needs to happen?
And if it does, maybe it's certain areas that need to get looked at.
And is this something that within the scope of permitting
that was done to give you access to the risk
and vulnerability assessment that we can connect those things?
Because obviously inside of the risk
vulnerability assessment of any of the films
or those types of things were referenced, it's obviously something in that field
that they're familiar with because of those together.
And that's, you know, that's
something the report
says here is the manufacturer or vendor that you go to.
But I'm sure that.
Yeah, and there's a sense that we connect that and research to go through
some of the things we do know what has to happen,
but there's some things that there are new products, so it's a matter
of making sure what works best for the school district
economically and safety and security wise.
So so you said the baseline
drawings won't include mechanicals and
diagrams of electrical systems and so forth.
Is it possible when we get to the installation phase
that any of that a better
might be charging us as part of their work,
plotting the electrical or plotting the mechanicals?
Now, a lot of those type things happen
during the actual project design side from itself
because those particular engineers will have to come in and make sure,
you know, there's a very box that's above the ceiling here.
What's the age?
What's the you know, they have to assess those type things
and there's just too much of that
and not enough documentation to to be able to do that at the time.
So that would happen during a project.
Yeah, I got you. Yeah.
But we're going to they don't have the information ahead of time,
so we're going to have to pay for them to understand that.
Yeah. Yeah.
So I'm just trying to understand
then from the next step perspective of
this would be on our next
ask was that, is that the be your plan that you were going to present it tonight
and then we were going to move on it at the next agenda?
That's correct.
Just because that's our normal
or normal process was communicating with the board, right?
We usually do one step at a time.
Do we want to move it, to move on it tonight,
or do we want to keep with that same process?
Because you might want to digest some of this.
And I know Tricia left to the band concert, but she is coming back.
I'm okay to move on it tonight.
I'm talking about it forever tonight.
I mean,
I'm happy to make the motion to move that to new business to the.
Degree is it for tomorrow?
We have to we. Get it on the agenda. Is that to vote for tonight?
I might go with Wait.
We'd have to move to
edit amend the agenda
because it's not on the agenda.
I mean what what would the harm be in waiting two weeks?
I mean, Craig and I have talked about this.
It would really be us Warehouse is willing to move forward
with a verbal okay which we can give them tonight.
Yeah, but from my standpoint, if I give a verbal okay
then there is no discussion about the final approval.
So I would just put it
we don't actually have to act on it because we talked about that.
But if we're giving the verbal, okay,
the contract has to be.
Approved, amend the agenda and and handle it all at once.
I feel like putting a verbal okay and then putting two weeks between it
doesn't have to be posted to the property.
Well, technically
we present it to the public as well and then move the next agenda as well.
And then sometimes we might get feedback from the community of Right,
why are you doing this?
I think it might just be good due diligence to allow the community
to digest it and then give us feedback and then we've done it in two weeks. But.
But you're saying you're going to give a verbal to them and we're not?
No, no, no, no, I'm not.
I would think we could all agree to to either do that or not do that.
I wasn't going to go outside of if we all agree that I think
that it really probably just hearing some of the board members that the waiting
this additional two weeks is not going to to make or break this process.
It does not break the timeline
that was that was put in there
from that start.
So I think if there is any amount of apprehension on the side of a board member
that we should act on this at our next meeting,
because I don't want anybody to have regrets about making feeling
pressured into making a decision tonight that they're not comfortable with.
And I just think it should be posted to the public
because that's what we do with all our agenda items.
We we have them on there
so that people can review it and decide if they want to come and comment.
Or think about it.
Now, the one thing is this entire thing, because of the sensitive
nature of it, is not going, oh, it's not so right.
That's not going to be published in the public. Right.
So that's the opportunity.
Just from that standpoint, just have a stick.
That's not going to happen.
I understand that.
But just even what we've talked about, if someone I think I would prefer to allow
a us to follow this process, allow the public to hear about it
and the more vote on it in two weeks. And, you know,
we can hear feedback.
I think you're going to get a yes because we've committed to this
and this isn't we're just not going to change our mind in two weeks.
I mean, we've been talking about this for 12 months
and we've committed the money we want.
We want to do this. We want to upgrade our schools.
But I think I would like to hear if the community
wants to write into the board, talk to board members, what that's great,
but verbal okay is give me anxiety for not voting for voting.
Yeah. No, I'm just. Going down a road that's going to.
Believe me.
I'm not putting my name on something that I can't guarantee that will happen. So
but that's not fair to anybody and vote to have them do that.
When's the next meeting?
20 tape.
22. Tuesday after Memorial Day.
Okay. Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you very much.
Okay.
I would like to announce the board met in executive session prior
to this meeting to discuss matters of personal
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 come to the microphone
and state your name and address for the record
to provide other residents with an opportunity to speak.
Each speaker during the public comment portion is limited to 5 minutes of public
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 public comment portion of the meeting.
Speakers are asked to review the protocol for addressing the board,
which can be found at the sign in table prior to speaking.
Those wishing to present private concerns or questions need
follow up outside the board meeting
are asked to fill out a comment card which can be found at the podium.
Completed cards may be turned into members of the administration
to facilitate a reply.
Are there any citizens or taxpayers who would like to come forward
at this time on a matter related to the agenda?
Okay, go ahead.
And your name and address.
Yes. Hi. My name is Dr. Richard Mailman.
I live at 612 Open to Reform Road
in the Hummelstown mail area.
And I'm here to speak on behalf of the music department.
At my son's urging, my 11th grader, who's actually somewhere
playing his saxophone at this point in time, which I wanted to hear.
But he insists that I come here to address all of you.
I think that Mr.
Farrell's comments would be very mild compared to what my two boys, the other's
eighth grader, would say about the music program at Hershey High.
They have both thrived under it.
And I think it's I never had in ten years we've lived in
Derry Township, had them once say they don't want to go to school.
And I think a large part of that was the music program
as well as other things that are really excellent here.
I will also tell you that Mr.
Farrell told you all the reasons why the program excels and why I
there are so many students involved in it, but I can tell you an ancillary benefit.
My wife and I were recruited here almost 11 years ago,
and at the same time we had offers from five other places.
All those offers were actually better for us financially
and in terms of start up resources.
But the reason that we came here was in large was totally the school system
and this community and the music department was really a major part of it.
Both of our boys at that time were four and seven and they both played piano
and we saw the other opportunities that were here
and we thought that that was the most important thing that we could do.
What's the ancillary benefit to the community?
My wife and I have brought in more than $20 million of external research funds
in that ten year period that's created a lot of jobs and paid a lot of taxes.
So we've you know, we've tried to pay back to the community
as well as we can and what we've gotten from it.
And I will tell you, my 11 year old, my 11th grader, sorry,
was in the All-State Band.
He's the first chair, alto saxophone.
He's now going out for the Nationals.
My eighth grader was the only middle school student in this region
in his district who actually made the all district band that would have gone
to the All-State Band, except that he had to be a 10th grader to do that.
All of that is due to Mr.
Farrell, Mr. Miller,
to the whole music department.
So I can I couldn't say any more about how important
the school system is to, I think, the quality of life here,
how it keeps our kids out of trouble and doing constructive kinds of things
and how it's made an unbelievable difference to my family.
So I think that's about three and a half minutes and I'll stop right now.
I'd be glad to answer any questions if you have them.
Thank you, Dr. Mailman. I know your sons.
I get to watch them play and they're phenomenal musicians.
But so thank you for coming. Right.
Thank you all for the work you do.
Hello.
My name is Michelle Cassidy Tully, Clerk Road, Hershey, P.A.
And I'm also
here to speak about the music department and the benefit I feel it's had
just in my my, my family
and the families that I know they're also involved.
And specifically in that the choir, the way that it's organized,
I think it's important to
have the the cantabile program because it's built into the curriculum.
So it's actually one of the classes during the day.
And so I feel that it's important
to have that as as you would any type of honors program
because there were language just as if you don't use it, you lose it.
And so I think as you're as you're teaching young people language
kind of to get it into the long term memory,
I think with these musical skills that we're teaching people
at a younger age and also really just trying to
bring in such a high level of skill that you're looking at every day.
And when you have somebody like Mr.
Farrell, who has a willingness and a passion to teach that,
to not utilize that would really I think I'd really be a
not really fully servicing students.
I really do want to
expand their
experience with choir and singing in the first year.
My son is a sophomore now, but last year he tried out for Cantabile
and didn't make it, and
this year he did try out and made it.
And just to see the difference and looking at his striving
and wanting to work towards that, it's true
that that's one of the reasons why I think he looks forward to going to school,
you know, because it's just knowing that that's going to be part of his day
and and also just having the opportunity to have a separate choirs.
I recently went to hear a friend's
child sing at CD and
just seeing the difference in
resources available and having the student body
there and just the different emphasis that we put on music.
And it's there's just such a difference in between
just not having a choir, but having like an auditioned choir.
It's nice to have people that want to go out and learn a skill to sing.
But then there's also people that want to maybe have that
something that carry through after school, after high school.
And so it gives them another platform to have their skill set to compete
after high school and to go on and learn and to figure out what are they going to,
because that's what they're going to use.
And after after this, you know, this little decision also.
So I'm 30 now.
Thank you very much.
Thank you, Michel.
Yeah, we just wanted. To take it.
I get a sense that there's a feeling like something's being cut.
Yeah. We weren't sure exactly what we don't really have.
I'm not.
Sure where that came. From.
That's a rumor that's selected.
I mean. As Mr.
Pharrell said, we're so appreciative.
Our staff, do they have a lot of kids that they work with?
Absolutely.
But I'm not sure where.
They I guess for the topic of discussion, I guess I always had bits and pieces of
of information.
And I, too, was, you know, encouraged to come and just to support.
So I didn't know if that was funding.
Staff or anything.
I mean, the board and administration is very supportive
of our music program, so I'm not.
Sure. Where that came from, But.
I heard this same rumor today.
My son came home is 11th grade, told me that
Why are we combining the bands, combining the.
I said, that's not that's a rumor.
We are not doing that.
I mean, we.
Have some open positions, but we're.
Just so we need to.
And I said some of the positions
that which we often would not get, that is not the case.
I'm just saying. Yeah, right.
I'm just clarifying publicly what I think a little bit about that is this I think.
Mr. Woodbridge I think, for example, I think, you know, did such an amazing job.
But I think clearly, you know,
a lot of the work really deservedly so.
But thank you for coming.
We love having an audience.
So and I also think that it's great to be able to hear this feedback
and support for the program, too.
So this is not all or not
too cozy.
2339 Raleigh Road Hummelstown Okay, I can help answer some of those questions.
Okay.
Some of us parents have been concerned that the board
is going to come back with block schedules.
And in doing so,
if I'm correct, if you're thinking about doing block schedules for high schools,
isn't that going to cut back the chance
for these kids to be in some of these classes?
That's what we'd like to know, is at some point, are you guys revisiting
this whole block schedule and how is that going to affect
I know we're so focused on STEM, but we need to keep that in there
and keep steam because these programs are amazing.
I've been involved with this choir since my she's now a college student
her freshman year since she was a freshman here when we moved here in 2014.
And I can tell you, coming from Missouri,
it's a world of difference out here.
My kids have such a better education.
I'm very past about this.
And it's very upsetting because I don't want to see these programs get cut.
I don't want to see us go to a black adult.
I mean, I have all my kids in choir with Pharrell.
He's a hard teacher. Don't get me wrong.
Two of my girls, the ones in high school right now,
got EP last semester because they failed to turn something into him.
I said, Suck it up, buttercup This is what you get, you know?
And it's a lesson learned from him because they know he's a hard teacher.
But that's the way these teachers should be.
He is very compassionate.
My question is, eight in five teachers
for 2300 students, what are we doing about that?
When are we going to get into
I know you have three candidates for what's his name right now, Woodbridge.
And we've lost Woodbridge for whatever reason.
But what are we going to do about that?
Farrell is between two schools right now.
That's crazy.
I'm quiet, Mom.
I see what he does, and I take on a lot.
And thank God I have a great support group here because they help out a lot.
I do not want to see something too, where you say
next year, okay, well, we're going to move to block schedule
now if the class doesn't have 12 or 15 kids in it, we're going to cut it.
Boys noise increased double this year.
I think it was six before. Now it's 12.
Are we going to cut that?
What are those boys?
And let me tell you, I love those kids.
They are so awkward, but they are totally awesome group of guys.
And I know Patrick would attest to this too, because he's in choir.
Those guys, that is their group that their home
choir music orchestra scene, all these kids so passionate about it.
I pray to God we do not reduce anything.
We better not lose jobs.
And I want to know
that if you go to block schedule, we're still keeping all of these courses
and they can be readily available to these kids.
Because honestly, how in God's creation are you going to keep kids
attention beyond 40 minutes and we move to block?
I know this is supposed to be about the music department,
but I'm also saying this If we do block and music
gets cut out, you're taking away stuff, am I right?
Like, where are we going with extra teachers and stuff?
That's a big if you to fill out.
One of the forms that there
I would love to sit down with you and have a conversation,
but it's much more than okay now.
Thank you for right here. Thank you. Okay.
Are there any other.
Thank you.
Yeah.
Come on up.
Hi, I'm
Sally Copeland, and my dress is 43 Heal Me manner Drive in Hershey, and I'm here
in support of the middle school that has been proposed.
There are currently very few opportunities for middle school
kids to participate in theater.
The Hershey Area Playhouse is a wonderful place,
but if they've got a show there, they're usually maybe between 4 to 6 roles.
For kids that are of middle school age.
And those kids could come from other school districts.
So you might end up with maybe one or two spots.
For a Derry Township school student.
If the proposed
musical comes to fruition, it would provide an opportunity
for 25 to 30 Derry Township
students and I think a great thing about it
would be that there wouldn't be a cost prohibitive element in it.
It would be free to participate.
And so I think you might actually be able to include students that don't often
get to participate in activities like this, which I think would be great.
Laurie Miller Peterson came and spoke
before she is willing to be the director.
She's got 20 plus years experience in the theater community.
My kids have participated in four or five shows that she has directed.
She's enthusiastic, organized.
I mean, she just makes it such a great experience for them.
There are other local middle schools that do provide
opportunities for kids to do musicals.
Just not to our students.
So it's lower. Dauphin. Palmyra.
Central Dauphin, Cedar Manheim.
So I'm not even asking for any money.
We just want the
opportunity to have a middle school musical.
And thank you very much for everything that you do for our school.
Be glad to answer any questions if you do have them.
Thank you so much for coming. Thank you.
I hope you stay to hear the vote.
Thank you.
Anyone else want to come forward
about items related to the agenda?
All right. Thank you very much.
Standing committee report.
There's a curriculum council committee meeting today.
We had an informational update from the high school on the grading scale.
Update We have been talking about this at curriculum Council for the last year,
and they are going to be changing the grading scale for the incoming
freshmen of next year.
And it is they've done a lot of work and planning and research
on this topic, researching what other schools do, researching
what colleges, look at, how they view our transcripts.
And so we will be going for that particular
incoming freshman class, A-plus plus A and A-minus schedule.
They an
A-plus is a 97 to 100, and A is a 93 to a 96.99.
And an A-minus is a 90 to a 92.99%.
And then that will translate that report card
will report be reported as letter grades and not percentages anymore.
And then that would translate to a GPA that is a four point scale.
And the A-plus is a 4.33 and a is a 4.0.
And an A-minus is a 3.67.
We feel like this will be a better,
better represent our students when their transcripts are sent on
to four year institutions or whatever college they're going to.
So it is going to be a positive for our students.
This is the first time the grading scales been reexamined for a very long time.
So they did a lot of nice work on that.
We did discuss our curriculum goals for next year.
They are very similar to last year,
but they've we've added some depth to some of them
and did approve
for second read eight textbooks that we just got to do
discussed at the last curriculum textbook meeting.
But the textbooks are all in the hallway.
If you want to take a look at them.
They've been out there for the last month
and that concludes my report.
Okay.
There was a communications and community engagement
standing committee report today.
Ms.. Drew, do you have a report?
I do think you the communications of community
engagement committee met today for our last time for this school year.
We addressed some unfinished business related to goals
that we've been in progress on throughout the year.
One of those was regarding what originally was called
the Meet the School Board Director event and through conversation over the year,
over the course of the school year has evolved.
We've mentioned this in reports before, but what we're looking to do
is work with the board to have
tables or space
set up at different to school nights in the buildings,
to make ourselves available to parents
and community members and residents and provide an introduction.
If you will, of the board, the the chain of command process,
how things are raised to the board level, what the role and authority of the board
is to give a clear picture and hopefully drive awareness so that our,
you know, audience is a bit larger of folks
just wanting to be involved in informed going forward.
So that will complete one of the goals that we had for this year.
And then we're somewhat transitioning it into an extended goal for next year
as it relates to community awareness, because we recognize
that just by having these type of
information sessions, if you will at PTO night,
we're missing still a large portion of the population
of residents and taxpayers who do not have children in the district.
And we want to be mindful and be inclusive to all of them.
So we'll be using our goal going forward next year to address timing for that.
So we'll be working through what that looks like.
But it would be it's more not introduce not interacting
as any one individual, but more the board as a whole
and providing information on our role in the district.
We talked about committee goals for next year,
which include, as I just discussed about the meet,
you know, school board event,
taking a look at the distribution of materials
policy review in greater depth to be able to kind of dig into that
and make any possible recommendations for revision to the policy committee
and then continuing to take a look at different areas of the website.
Well, that's outside of our purview in that it falls into administration.
We've worked with Dan
over the course of the year to review areas of the website at each meeting
and make what I hope have what I think has been
some constructive, you know, suggestions on ways to better disseminate information.
We also
review the Citizen Advisor program materials and are now at a place
that today we reviewed it as a committee and voted to move it to the full board.
So I will be providing that for the next board meeting
to be able to review and hopefully receive approval
from the full board to implement and approve that document,
which will ultimately create a resource program guide
for citizen advisors as well as an orientation for them
to make sure that program is consistent across all committees
in the experience that Citizen Advisors have.
And then we updated
a we talked about the one various area of the website.
We also received an update from Diane regarding the zip slip software
that was introduced
at the end of last school year to the committee before being rolled out
to the district
and the discontinuation of that software
and that there will be
a new piloting of another piece in relation
to transportation and bus stops that will actually be rolled out early
and test mode to be able to get folks comfortable with it
before we get to bus
stop information time in the summer.
And that concludes my report.
Thank you very much.
Mr. Turgenev, Do you have a community correspondent's report?
I do, but we also have our student representatives here for you.
Sorry, I did not mean to skip you.
Student representatives.
Mr. Garcia. Mr. Mantia.
Good evening, Madam President.
Derry Township board members and public before the year's The Year wraps up
as students seem to take a breath
and look back on the past year and what we've been doing.
So as you know, last week was Teacher Appreciation Week.
So I'd just like to
thank all the teachers from all the students across the district,
what the wonderful job they've been doing this year,
sharing their knowledge, cultivating wisdom and concocting lessons
each day is a tireless and sometimes thankless effort.
So thank you to all the teachers Our school district will not be the same
without you.
So one example of this teacher is Mr.
Newell, who actually helped students with the passion environmental science
to compete in the environ.
And so there are five students left and Pataki Israel and be taught one week
here and Hogan and Nick Silvis who went to the regional competition in Britain
and they actually got first place.
It was a massive tax task that they had to take with different specialties.
So they did really well, got first place in the region
and they're going to Pittsburgh next week for the state competition.
Some congratulations are awarded
to are students across this again Levant Pataki.
He is a high school senior and he received the National Merit Scholarship,
which is one of the highest academic high school scholarships one can receive.
Also, congrats to Jordan Lewis, who, of course,
gave her a poetry presentation here a couple of weeks ago.
She plays 24th at Nationals Poetry out Loud, so we're incredibly proud of her.
And moving on to sports, the boys tennis
team won the district championships for the second time in a row.
I'm really happy about that.
So it adds to an impressive total of seven championships.
It was really exciting time to watch them play.
It was really nerve wracking at the championships,
but they did a really awesome job throughout the season.
They finished off with a record of 17 and one.
The only loss was to Dallastown, but they came back and beat
them in the championship
and they're not done yet
because continue on two states and tomorrow actually at the Racket Club.
Also, girls sports have been going super strong too.
The girls track team actually went undefeated this year
and they are the Keystone Division champions chips.
I know they beat Milton Hershey last week and that was super exciting for them.
They did a victory lap around the field.
Also, the girls lacrosse team are mid-penn champions for the second year in a row,
which is awesome.
Last year they're D2, I think,
and they moved to D3 this year and still are champions again.
They won 15 to 11 over Cumberland Valley, which is incredible.
And they will also be going on to states I think, this week too.
So good luck to them.
And as we heard about music education
in the past few weeks, there are a lot of concerts
happening throughout the district, throughout all ensembles
and all of the school's choir band and orchestra.
On the band at the high schools.
Ashley was performing just now, and the middle school
actually performed in Tomorrow, so be sure to check them out.
And along with those formal concerts,
the elementary choir had the opportunity to go down to the Harrisburg
Senators game and perform the national anthem there, which was really cool.
Over at the middle school, some teachers are actually doing
a really cool thing out there to help their students learn.
Mr. Saw he was an eighth grade and culture teacher
and he asked students to help raise money for breast cancer
by voting on which Civil War era beard he should support.
He also dyed his beard pink.
And I think in the end is now sporting a beard based off of Union
General Ambrose Burnside, which is a lot like sideburns.
And that is pretty cool. I think there's a picture somewhere
and the
students also raised over $2,500.
So that's incredible for the students to band together
and support also their learning and the community around them.
And just to answer your question from last week,
there are 22 days, 22 hours and about 30 minutes left until they graduate.
All right. Now,
so that means Patrick has how many more meetings until he speaks
to us in character from the musical one,
We're still waiting.
All right.
Well, thank you so much for your report,
especially We know it's just the final countdown.
Okay, Mr.
Trojan, do you have a community correspondent's report?
I have a very brief report.
During the month of April, we received three submissions via a constituent form.
They included a question regarding National Honor Society induction.
We had an inquiry regarding special education
services and the third submission was actually a sales solicitation.
Hey, thank you very much.
The listed items are on the proposed May
28th, 2019 of Directors agenda.
And just to make a note that is on a Tuesday
because Monday is the holiday.
Okay, some unfinished business. Mr.
Friends, do you have an update on the 322 field building renovations?
I do have a short update.
During one of our last meetings,
it was requested that we obtain
pricing through the Keystone purchasing network.
Keystone Network
provides various cooperative purchasing for the district,
but essentially anything purchased through the KPN network has met
all the bidding requirements of school code.
So we were asked and looked at
provided lobar construction
through KPN, the conceptual drawings
that Himmel associates had presented to us and
got a base bid of
essentially over $260,000
just for the building itself did not include any mechanicals in that.
One of the other things we were asked to look at is
what if what a prefab structure would cost?
And we obtained a price of approximately 147,000
and change for a prefab building that was wasn't
necessarily tied directly into the current structure that is there.
So based on these prices,
which were more than anticipated
for the construction part of it
specifically noted, since it's not
have all the AC requirements and anything else in the building.
But I think one thing we did find through this process is that the fabricated
building of $147,000
was no more economical than the freestanding building.
Based on the numbers that Hammill provided to us
for just the building itself without any of the mechanicals inside
it was
Hammill provided an approximate number of about $120,000.
So in the fact that the prefab was was above that
fairly considerably,
I think that at least provides that part of the answer that that just
there's no more economical than what we were looking at before.
I think what this really provides for us
is back to the process that the the best way for us
the most, the only way we have not provided
going forward is to actually send this out to bid to do that.
However, we would have to engage Hammel architects
for an additional amount of money to finish that process.
And that's what administratively
we would be recommending
at this point if we could get it
on the once again on our May 28th agenda
for approval, we can continue the process moving forward.
Once again, just a reminder that once we go through the biddable documents process,
those
documents are usable for us at point in time
if we decide not to go out to bid right away because we're waiting
on some other projects to get accomplished, that's fine as well.
Those biddable documents won't won't change
or would not be a waste of dollars, I guess putting it that way
if we should consider to move forward
with the renovation of the of the field
or the building there at the 3322 field.
Thanks.
Thank you. Mike, I just have a question.
I know in the document you sent us, it said that no money's been put out yet,
but we did pay $8,000 roughly for something
regarding the 322 field,
and I can't remember exactly what that was that it looked at.
That was to provide the conceptual drawings that reference
from Hamel Architects. Yes.
And I apologize if I missed that in there.
The intent was that was the only amount of money
through the last almost two years of discussing this.
That's the only dollars that we've spent.
Everything else has been done
through various resources and looking at it ways that we
did not have to spend money to go forward.
I think what this process has provided to us is
if the project would like to move forward,
we have to spend some additional dollars to get the billable documents.
Do we know what an estimate is
on the cost of billable documents?
He provided a cost
for the billable documents
and the bidding process.
It would be just a little under $16,000.
There was also a proposal in there that he would help through the
construction phase for
an additional
$7,812.
It would not be our proposal to approve that amount
because we don't know when this would go to construction,
but we would also obviously need the construction documents to
to take any additional
for this proposed project.
Hey, any other questions?
All right.
Thank you.
We have the consent agenda.
Next, The content agenda contains routinely adopted items
and items that normally do not require public deliberation on part of the board.
A board member may pull items which will be discussed and voted on separately.
May I have a motion to approve the consent
agenda items as listed second is Lindsey Emery.
Is there any discussion?
I just want to say in relation to the Middle School Musical Theater club that I am
appreciative of all of the time that Mrs.
Peterson and Mrs.
Copeland have taken to reach out to us about this
and thank them for their willingness to be involved.
And I'm excited to,
you know, hopefully I'm excited to give a vote of support for this and
I think that it'll be a really great opportunity
for our students to expand even more in the musical realm.
And I would offer that I would love to be able
to help outside of this in any way that I can, and that hopefully
the Children Foundation will be an area of help for them.
Any other discussion?
I just would concur.
I've had several parents reach out to me very excited about the prospect
of having this, and to me it was a no brainer.
And I'm just excited that the middle school kids
that have so much talent
have a have an avenue that we can all appreciate
and not have to travel far away to see them.
Okay.
Any other discussion?
Okay.
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor say I are opposed.
Say no to the consent agenda items passed
on to new business.
The board recommends the approval of the resolution
in support of Restore Pennsylvania, a 4.5 billion
infrastructure improvement plan.
May I have a motion to approve the resolution?
So move. Second, Lindsay and Maria.
Is there any discussion?
I have a I guess, an observation. I am
I have been struggling with whether or not
this is strictly within the purview of the board.
And I, I am not inclined to vote against it, not because I'm against the plan.
I think the plan has its merits.
I my concern
is that some of these resolutions, in my view, are going a little bit beyond
sort of the core function of public education within Derry Township,
and I will vote against it not because I'm against the bill
or because the plan,
but I would like my view as I would like to see these resolutions be reserved
for matters that directly impact public education right here within Derry.
And this seems a little too peripheral to me, and I like to have
the resolutions sort of maintain their significance.
So my concern is that if we if we're ready
to generous with them, though, the impact will be diluted over time. So
again, I'm not
touching the merits of the proposal, but I think it's beyond sort of the scope
of what would be our immediate focus as a board,
and that's why I would vote against this particular resolution.
John, I can completely appreciate your perspective on it.
And I and then you for sharing it.
I brought this forward.
It is not tied to any direct legislation, but that has yet been proposed.
The legislation is to is forthcoming
in reviewing the restored Pennsylvania initiative and looking at things
facing Derry Township and particularly our schools over the next few years.
Some of the things that stood out that this initiative would create
grant funds for
is what really resonated for me,
because when I look at the stormwater management, the flooding, the, you know,
improvement and renovations of older buildings and modernizing the facilities,
I think that as a school district, our facilities, we're going to be looking
at things over the course the next however many years. And
one of our
roles as school board directors in Derry Township is to try and,
you know provide modern facilities and,
you know, excellent academic experience for the students
while doing our best to control the impact on the taxpayers.
And so for me, because these this initiative is going to be providing
grant dollars that don't that will reduce the impact to taxpayers.
I feel that it's important to
to support that legislation because it would be something
that would come back to to help directly.
I think over the last several days, especially Friday afternoons,
rainstorm that the elementary school got caught in leaving the school
and seeing that at the end of one of our parking lots, the water was up to it.
And, you know,
we obviously have a lot of stormwater management issues and flooding issues,
and we've seen that with what happened with the SCC a number of years ago.
So we are not immune
to those issues and well, I believe
get to a point that we're going to need, you know, to do things to address it.
And I would rather have proactively supported
avenues and, and resources to be available for it
for when that time comes that we have to look at it.
Thank you.
I agree with John.
This is more
the purview of a political action committee rather than the school board.
I think we've been informed that of all the school districts in Pennsylvania,
we receive probably the second lowest mark of of all state revenues.
So to think that a substantial portion of anything is going to come to
a wealthy district, Derry Township is I think on a
is is speculative at best and again,
more the purview of the political action committee than than school board.
I respectfully disagree Dr. Shore.
And and take offense to the
implication that there is a
political connection to this our political action committee connection.
This is something that
I have brought forward to the board for consideration individually,
not of any political leanings.
And it is a bipartisan supported measure.
It is also a competitive grant process that has nothing to do with state
funding and the budget process, just so that that's clear
through another discussion.
I have a question.
What what is the ramification of
our board approval or disapproval?
What does it it's it's a resolution so it's there is us
it's just a it's a statement of support statement.
Okay.
I think this is one of those issues I, I completely see what John saying
and I totally hear it Lindsey saying and sometimes we get into these
gray areas at the board, you know, and I remember but past board,
we were taking a vote on something
and one of the board members is like, if it doesn't, if we're not paying
for like books and pencils, I'm not voting for it.
And I thought, well, there's so much more than just this
narrow view of what our school system is about.
And I think Lindsey brings up a really good point
that we often forget are the taxpayers that do contribute to the school
but don't have any any any children here and being cognizant of
of everybody's money that's coming in.
So I totally appreciate what John says that does not
in any way negative towards that.
But I do think that, you know, we can get into areas here
that aren't very black and white, and this seems to be one of them.
Any other discussion?
Just I just wondered, is the is the town to do we know if the township
is to take up a similar.
In addition to presenting it to the board.
I've also individually presented it to the Board
of Supervisors to ask for their consideration.
It is on their agenda for tomorrow evening.
And my just to refresh my memory, what
how many cents per dollar go to the district and how many go to the
township in terms of the tax dollars paid by their township citizens
roughly.
You mean how much state money comes to us? No.
For the most part, Terry, other than real estate taxes, everything's split 5050.
I would say our real estate taxes are about
ten times higher than than the township.
So because they obviously don't
get any of our real estate taxes and we don't receive any of theirs,
but all of their taxes are essentially split down the middle.
So maybe my recollection is about two thirds of every tax dollar
that I pay as a resident of Derry Township comes to the school district.
Property taxes. Yeah, for property taxes.
So. Okay. Thank you.
I just want
to say that I always appreciate this board because they're very devoted
to the school district and we can always respect disagree.
And that's why you can vote the way you want to vote because it's your vote.
So I'll call Mr. Friends.
You take a roll call vote, please.
Sure. Mr. Abell. No.
Dr. Cronan?
Yes. Ms.. Drew? Yes, Miss Tavistock?
Yes. Ms.. Memory? Yes.
Dr. Show? No.
Miss Looker?
Yes Mr. Singer?
Yes, Miss Stoner? Yes.
Seven. Yes. Tuna.
Okay. Thank you.
Next, we have the approval
of the SIU agreement for school AIDS Special Education Services.
Mr. McFarland.
Thank you.
The administration recommends the approval of the CAC agreement.
School aged special education services, from July one,
2019 through June 30th of 2020.
May I have a motion to approve the SIU
school Aid Special Education Services Agreement?
So moved.
Maria Second seconded by Lindsey.
Is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor say I was opposed.
Say no.
Okay. It's motion passes.
Approval of school based outpatient therapy agreement. Mr.
McFarland, The.
Administration recommends the board approve the school
based outpatient therapy agreement with Mazzetti and Sullivan Counseling.
May I have a motion to approve the agreement with Mazari and Sullivan?
Counseling? So moved.
Second, Maria and Donna, is there any discussion?
Yeah, I just had a question.
Are there any didn't appear to me
that there were any fees other than the insurance that
would be filed for for anyone receiving the services, is that correct?
That's correct.
We provide them space. Right.
Okay. Thank you.
And I just would like to add, I'm very happy to see this
coming to our school district.
Just extra services for the students if they need them.
Okay.
So we had a motion, a second discussion.
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor say I was opposed.
Say no. Okay.
The motion passes Approval of team athletics Physician agreement.
Mr. McFarland.
Thank you.
The administration recommends the board approved the four year team athletics
physician agreement with Penn State, Milton Hershey Medical Center.
May I have a motion to approve the team
Athletics Physician Agreement with Penn State Health?
Milton As Hershey Medical Center moved second.
Maria and Donna, is there any discussion?
You know, just curious.
Sad change in billing practices led from a reduction from around 11,000
a year to about 4500?
No, no change in the service
level whatsoever.
They've noted
this is an important part of what they do to be attached to our community.
They've made things change around to make sure definitely works for us.
So they're viewing as partly at least a community service, I would believe.
So with the change in the dollar value.
Thank you.
I just want to comment that I unfortunately
have had a lot of experience with using those physicians
on injuries that my children had, and they've been phenomenal.
After hours following on weekends.
And the fact that they're even paying last and they've been remarkable in just,
you know, limbs, sprains, concussions, everything
they do a great job.
So I'm very happy that we have them.
They are not happy that we had to use them.
But well, with seven kids, you're bound to use a doctor here and there.
Okay.
This is the standard voice vote.
All those in favor say I was opposed.
Say no to the motion carries.
May I have a motion
to approve the listed resignation?
So I moved
second on it.
Since he is there any discussion of Maria?
Oh, yeah, that was Maria.
I do it for my mom reluctantly.
I know. He's just.
That's a big loss for us.
Okay.
All those in favor, This is standard voice vote.
I was in favor.
Say, I was a personal say.
The motion carries
personnel, General. Mr. McFarland.
The administration recommends the approval of the listed personnel.
May I have a motion to approve personnel?
General Sale moved second.
Maria and Judy, is there any discussion
here?
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor say I and I was a personal care.
The motion carries a delegate reports.
I just wanted to
have you draw your attention to the attached
Dauphin County Technical School Performance report.
We, Judy and I were at the meeting last weekend.
We did review that.
That's their annual report they put together.
So it is an interesting read to see their test scores
and they score them on their standardized testing
and then the scores that they had to take for as a technical score as well.
And we are ranked pretty high.
We're in a close second to the first place school.
So it's an interesting read.
And Judy, do you want to add anything?
No, it's just really nicely laid out the way they've laid everything out.
So it's an easy read but it's really quite impressive. And
as Kathy mentioned, it's just by like a couple points
that the other school had a higher ranking and that school was lot smaller.
Dauphin County is a much bigger technical school
than the school that beat us by just a couple of points.
But yes, they're doing wonderful things there.
And this is a great report to summarize all that's going on and how well
they're performing.
Okay.
Thank you.
Board members, are there any board members who would like to give a report?
I have one.
Go ahead.
Oh, sorry, I didn't hear him.
I just wanted to thank pretty Mrs.
Pretty Ms..
Slack's class, first grade classroom for inviting us to the donut
social with their classes a couple of weeks ago.
If I could start every single morning
talking to these
amazing first graders and getting to have that
and chatting with them,
I don't think I could ever have a bad day.
And I really appreciate what they as faculty members
do for their students and to be so inclusive for us.
And I just wanted to
say thank you to them again, because that was just a fantastic morning.
I also want to say thank you to everyone
from the district administration and staff and board,
Derry Township Police Department,
the food services of the school district, and all of the other groups
that participated in Back to School Day last week.
It was a really cool morning to be able to help hand out the
flashing, you know, flashlights for the bikes and see all the kids
coming through and have the Nittany Lions and Koko the bear.
And there is maverick German Productions is doing a video.
So there's like a drone flying overhead.
And it was just a really cool morning
to see the community come together and have so many people
make time to be there and promote athletic activity and biking to school.
So and bike safety as well.
So thank you to everyone who participated in that. Hey
Mr. Steiner.
I want to echo both of those sentiments.
The first graders was amazing.
A few were to go, I'm sorry.
I hope they do it again because it was so everyone.
Yeah, it was just the cutest thing ever.
And I also wanted to apologize to Mr.
Ferrell for ducking out before the end of his presentation.
I'm all in on music, so much so that I didn't want to miss my son's
last spring performance at high school band, so excuse my
running out for that, but I'm glad I didn't get to miss it.
It was really good.
And then I also just wanted to note for
for parents, anybody that's listening to that and
thank the administrators for each building, for continuing
to have the BAT meetings,
the building advisory team, which
not everyone recognizes what that actually means,
but it's such a valuable forum. And,
you know, the administrators take so much time other day,
once a month to have this forum for parents to come and talk to.
And every time I go to, you know, whether it's elementary school,
the middle school at the high school, I always learn so much information
and I really especially want to recognize
the middle school that meetings the administrators there.
Mr. Valentin, he really takes it
like a step above and
uses the bat as like a forum to provide it to to get feedback
from parents, like actively seeks feedback from parents and then takes it
and actually does productive, meaningful things with the recommendation.
So we had there are concerns that were brought up at the very
first meeting in September and at the last bat meeting last week.
He said, Here are the concerns.
Here's what I did and here's how I addressed it.
And one of the things that he did was
worked with the eighth grade
parents, our eighth grade teachers, to sort of
take another look at the eighth grade awards
and to make that more meaningful for for all the students.
And I just want to say this.
I think this is so special that they did.
And this isn't even something that the parents asked for.
This is just something that they went above and beyond, which was
they're going to have every eighth grade teacher pick five students
and write a personalized note to them and leave it for them at the end
of the eighth grade awards on their desk. And I just think that's so special.
So even if you don't get an award, you'll get a personalized note
from the teacher before you leave the middle school.
So I just want to commend them for that
and thank them for for doing that for the students.
And then the last thing that I had was just
the PSA legislative platform proposal.
Time is nearing, so I apologize for not getting it out sooner.
The deadline is Friday, June 28th,
so I'll send the information about that out to everybody
so you can looking over and thinking about it.
If you want to submit anything, it's basically
to look at what the current
legislative priorities were for this year and we can, you know, vote.
It's a way for us to have a voice if we want to continue to support what
they've had or if we have any new ideas we want to propose.
So that will be coming out soon.
But if you want to start thinking about that, now is the time.
And let Lindsay or I know if you have anything
you want to talk with us about further because we will be submitting that. So
that's all right.
Thank you. Any other board member reports, if.
I might just a quickly moment in, I attended the township of Derry Parks
and Recreation Advisory Board Committee meeting on May 8th.
We had had an update on the community center.
We also heard about the fishing derby disc, Golf, some events in the township.
We also heard about the upcoming Memorial Day parade,
the art show and Culture Fest, which is this Saturday
and the resumption of the market downtown
along with the summer concert series.
That's it.
Thank thank you very much.
And the other board member reports.
I guess it's not a report, but I saw it.
Was it in the board briefing for somewhere?
It looks like the budget material that would be
have been prepared for the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Mike, is that when I was seeing somewhere, I just wanted make sure all board
members knew that that was available and they could maybe take a look at that.
Yeah, the motion was included as well as the
the outlines that I've been presenting to the Finance Committee.
So you can see how they correlate with each other.
But that will be on our May 28th agenda for approval
of that proposed final budget, which all that proposal approval does
is allows us to put it out for public inspection for 30 days
or for 20 days prior to final action.
At our last board meeting in June.
Thanks, Mike.
I mean,
Mr. McFarland, do you have a superintendent report or.
Decided next year?
I need to talk to the board reps before I prepare my report because they,
I echo the environment very much.
And just a reminder for when the last job with Joe
is coming up this Friday at 9:00 at the FCC, Mr.
Francis is actually going to give a brief budget presentation
for anybody that's that's there that may not come to a board meeting
That ends my report. Okay. Thank you.
Board Presidents Report.
I do not have a report tonight.
Recognition of citizens.
This is an opportunity for residents and taxpayers to address board on matters
related to the agenda or matters of district governance and governance,
not on the agenda.
Those who speak are asked to come to the microphone
and follow the same guidelines outlined in the initial public comment portion
of the meeting. Are there any residents and taxpayers
who would like to come forward at this time?
No. Thank you for
sitting here until almost 9:00.
The next public Board of Directors
meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 28th,
starting at 7:00 in the District Office Board of Directors meeting room.
May I have a motion to adjourn this meeting?
So move.
Second, Don and Maria, all those in favor, say II.
I was personal.
Okay. The meeting is adjourned at 851.