He called the August 27th, 2018 meeting of the Derry Township School District
Board of Directors to order and announce that this meeting is being audio recorded.
Tonight, I would like to welcome our 2018 2019 student representatives. Mr.
MCFARLAND.
Sure.
Well, we just like to welcome we have Patrick Gervasi.
We have advisory minds here and we have Carly Carrasco.
Welcome. We're so glad to have you guys.
And I guess Patrick and Ivy, you'll be our normal
are our full time board reps and Carla, you'll be our alternate.
We're just thankful that you all could be here tonight.
So when it gets this student rep, I know you met with Mr.
Smith, and you're going to share a little bit about yourselves with us, aren't you?
Well, welcome.
Welcome to your senior year. Yeah.
First day of your last year.
Congratulations,
Mr. McFarland.
Roll call.
Mr. Able. Present.
Dr. Cronin.
Present, Mr. Drew.
Present is. Have a stick.
Here. Ms.. Mimi Here.
Dr. Shah. Here.
Mr. Liquor.
Here, Mr. Singer. Here. Mr. TONER. Here.
Nine presents are absent.
And that was Mr. Friend.
Please rise if you're able, and join me for the Pledge of Allegiance.
I pledge.
Allegiance to the flag of the United States of.
America.
And to the republic for which it stands one nation,
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all.
May I have a motion
to approve the August 27th Board of Directors agenda?
So moved Maria, seconded by Donna.
Is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor say aye.
I All those opposed say no.
Okay. The motion carries.
I would like to announce the board met in executive session prior to this meeting
to discuss matters of personnel agency business, if conducted in public,
would violate a lawful privilege or lead to disclosure of financial information.
And we will also be meeting in post exac as well after this meeting.
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 speaking time once recognized
and limited
to one opportunity to address the board during each of the public comment periods.
If necessary, the board may set a maximum time
for the public comment portion of any 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 needed follow up
outside the board meeting
are asked to fill out a comment card, which means down at the podium completed
cards may be turned into members of the administration to facilitate a reply.
Are there any taxpayers or citizens who would like to come forward at this time?
Okay,
none.
Student representatives report.
Yeah.
See a red light there? Your guess? Yeah.
So, hi, my name's Patrick Vasey, and I think us
three are just going to share a little bit about ourselves tonight.
So I'm a senior here at Hershey High School,
and I have lived in the Hershey community almost my entire life.
Some of the school activities I'm involved in our cross-country student council.
We're in Max, the Kindness Club
and the plays and musicals we put on the auditorium in my spare time.
I'm also fond of writing screenplays and playing a lot of Fortnite.
I would like to thank you for letting me be a part of the school board,
and I'm looking forward to this coming year.
Thank you.
Hi, I'm a monkey.
I'm also a senior at Hershey and I've lived here for six years and
I can't really believe that it's my last year.
But in school I participate in the marching band and I also play
tennis in the spring for the high school, for the clubs that I'm involved in.
I'm involved in Science Olympiad model, U.N.
and I'm also a part of a numerous honor societies at the school.
And I'd like to thank you all for this opportunity
and having me as a student body representative.
Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you. I'd be.
Hello?
Oh, my. God.
Hello. I'm Cali Carrasco.
I'm going to be a senior this year
and I've been living here for almost eight years now.
Some of the clubs and activities
I'm involved in is the Hershey High School's swimming diving team.
The Trojan Track team, and a lot of community service throughout the school.
And I just want to thank you all again for letting me be here tonight.
And that's all.
Thank you very much for introducing yourselves.
You have a sister, don't you?
Yeah, I can see the resemblance.
Yeah. Yeah.
And Cali, you are a senior.
You're not going to be a senior today.
You are a senior. Started.
I also was going to add I was my son always asked me things
about meetings and we were talking about how students join.
And when I was explaining to them, you know what I'd heard about each of you,
I received a jump because apparently we're in celebrity company.
Be as Captain Hook. Okay.
From you know, Sam is now a student rep there so.
You can get a signature at the end.
If my third graders ever here, he will absolutely be doing that.
All right. We look forward to having you
the listed items other on the proposed September
10th, 2018, Board of directors meeting agenda.
Mr. Friends, would you like to review
the list of contracts with us under unfinished business?
Sure. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
One of my goals for
for last year, it's something that's ongoing,
but something we're trying to increase our bench strength,
essentially ensuring that if if I'm not here to be able to
to do the job,
that someone would be able to step in and assume some of those responsibilities.
So one of the first things I pulled together
was a summary of contracts.
And this was really helpful from the standpoint
of the it's not open for me
thinking
it would give that some time.
One of the things when you come into a district
as a business manager, you know that the school has many contracts
and sometimes it's
hard to find out beginning and dates.
We always obviously use these contracts as well to determine when we get a bill.
Have we been billed correctly to go back?
So to that end,
pulling this list together and it's the intent that this will be
an ongoing updated essentially after each school board meeting.
If contracts had been approved, this list would be approved or updated
to reflect that and to have that one stop shop for someone
entering my position or anybody else to take a look and say, Where are we at?
Who do you contract with for your electricity?
For other things?
I would be able to find that information here.
I highlighted some of the contracts that
either would have expired that we were working on
as of June 30th of 2018, or that may expire
either at the end or sometime during this school year.
Once again, just to note
what we'll be doing for renewal process,
some of these are very,
you know, for the example of the SIU
Internet agreement that we have something that we've
usually always used the IU for our Internet
to grab, that it is the most economical way to get that service,
but not something we would normally go out and shop around because the IU
is purchasing that on behalf of all of the districts that they serve.
And obviously they can get a better price than if just dairy Township went.
So it may not be something that we necessarily we'll go out on our own
to either look at our RFP or the such, but wanted to provide this information
to the school board members as well.
I think for for some of you who we haven't been through four school year cycle yet,
might get to see
some of the things that that do come up that we're dealing with during the year
and really providing this for the board members
to let me know how this might be useful to us as we move forward
in certain ways is if there's something the board members like
to get more information on, it'd be easier for me to to go through this list
and focus down on those things and provide it.
That's all I have in terms of presentation on any questions.
Like I have with regard to annual ARM panel maintenance
and inspection, I note that there's three vendors currently being used.
Is there an opportunity to consolidate that service to one vendor and say money?
One thing that we looked at earlier this year
and this will help me actually update some of these forms.
So the Charter systems group,
while they do provide a they come through
and really just check smoke alarms and provide our monitoring system.
The others actually provide more of that, that service of an ongoing
availability if we have issues but also that that ongoing check.
So some of these agreements for service agreements are just
so that we have a specific vendor that we can pick up the phone and call
rather than doing some research of who's the best to do this
because in certain times you don't have that ability to work through that.
So to your note, though, where we can look to see if there are any services
or any companies that provide those services at a lesser cost.
Thank you. Mike.
Know what prompted my question was that for the vendors there were different
buildings designated and that's what prompted the question.
Mike, I just had a
quick question and this might be one we've already renewed number ten.
The one for
and I know this is just kind of a look back to close out the 2018 school year.
And and as we proceed into the 2019, we'll have a new one.
So it makes sense to have this close out one for number ten.
I can't remember if we renewed that one.
The airborne contamination, one or.
So we have.
We have not renewed that contract and that's not something that we have.
I think we went through and I'd have to look up why
we exactly approved that contract at the beginning
to go through that process.
But it's not something we would ongoing.
We have a company that would come in and test for that.
I think this was just a special.
That's why I.
Thought one off that we agreed to for that one.
And then just two more questions.
With 73 and 74, do you see those are ones
that will probably renew, but I think actually 74 maybe were
that might be with a different one
line, 73 and 74 special education
and their abilities.
So the Special Education Agreement
is a consortium agreement that there are the six districts that are named in it.
Get together to talk about that.
I know that that has been something that was
we were involved in that process when some of the changes happened here.
I anticipate that they're just going to roll that contract over
because we did a lot of that work in terms of changing it before
to get it to work out.
So it will be something that that is coming forth and renewed.
But we have to wait for that group to work it out, to bring it forward,
which we are part of, which is one of the six
and the other one the our abilities. Yes,
that is the reason that's done year by year
is because it is necessarily a service.
And if we can find something better.
However, there aren't a ton of companies or places
that that provide those services educationally.
So for the most part we would stay with them.
But we do look for ourselves that ability,
if something else comes up, something better we might find next year.
That's why we only have one year this year.
Okay, Thank you.
I have a quick question.
Line number 12 are the the iPads,
what is the lifespan of them or do we get new ones every year?
How does how does.
That that was a three year lease and last year was the year one of that.
Gotcha.
We get back up to there.
So I think that has the ends in 2020.
Yeah.
So that just kind of ends with our lease payment.
The way it's worked out right now is those
all those devices at the end at least would go back to Apple.
However, there's usually a mechanism towards the end of the lease
where they may say, Hey, if you sign a new lease earlier, it'll be this.
And then they give us a credit for what may be left
or what the iPads may be worth
from that process.
But with the lease we have right now, we would just turn them back over
and start a new lease for the lease.
Helps us if anything goes wrong at any of them, we just get a new one.
We don't have to worry about
damage or.
We do know the lease.
So if we damaged something they would have to order a new one
and we would have to pay additional dollars for that.
Damaged justice function if there was some malfunction.
That's once again, unless there's very limited
things that are covered under a warranty.
So for the most part,
we're fixing some of those machines, although we do have AppleCare on them.
So a lot of them are being okay.
So forget about the three years.
Yeah, that was part of the lease actually, at that first time.
I just want to thank you for doing this, Mike.
This is very, very helpful to have a snapshot of all these contracts.
And I know that took a lot of work and effort, so thank you for doing.
It to be very helpful for for my position as well to to continue
to have this updated, but also then to to really turn have something to turn over
as well as other will Joe will have a copy of this.
So it's not like it's something that will just reside
in the business manager's office.
We want to make sure that it stays available.
For the number 81, the true edge, the management guidance services
that cover all.
Like that's part of all. That.
That's my executive coach coaching.
Okay.
So when it's up to 20 or up to 10 hours, that's
whenever correct of what is Yes.
Say for ten. Hours.
No, no, no.
We pay for services used.
So that is one we would monitor for that up to 10 hours
per month that we wouldn't pay for when we haven't received anywhere
close to 10 hours per month since I've been working here.
But if we would, that's where we used this country, you know, to go back
and say, well, this is all we're allowed to pay or given the authority to pay.
So we would have to bring that to the board for another discussion
if something else were to occur.
I think this is really helpful. Mike. Thank you.
Mike.
Just a couple of questions just now.
Just ask this one as an example.
Number 22 Clean team.
It indicates the price is per agreement
for both the finance Committee and I think the General Services Committee.
It would be helpful if this could be a document
that encapsulates everything so we don't have to ask you
an additional question or try to get additional information.
So if there's an amount, it would be good to just be able to put it in there.
If you have it for the.
Yeah, I think what I'll what I'll do, Terry, is to go back
and definitely provide that information.
One of the things I was trying to do was was make this kind of a snapshot.
So if I couldn't fit it theoretically in a cell,
I'll go back and
looked at some of those because they may have a laundry list
of what we're paying, depending on what service.
And so I probably will just stick a companion document and say,
you know, C attached.
So it's all the same file, but I would like to keep this kind of
one stop, please, if I can't put that explanation in there.
But I will go back to all of those that note per agreement
or don't have an amount and provide that information.
And one way or the other.
And just in on that one, for example, it says in one place
it says month, a month, and then another says
it's renewed annually.
So I wasn't sure
year to year,
it says in one source, and then it says month to month. So
the other thing
which we have talked and we haven't gone any further with it
yet, but with General Services possibly looking at rebidding opening up bids
with some of these.
So this will be extremely helpful with regard to that.
And so thanks again
for trying to gather, you.
Know, the questions.
Thank you.
Okay.
Moving on to other unfinished business for this one.
We're going to have a motion to remove it from the table
and then we'll have discussion. So let's first.
May I have a motion to remove the Child
Evangelism Fellowship of Dauphin County, Inc.
Request off the table.
So moved Santa and Maria.
Mr. Friends is the standard voice vote.
All those in favor say I am right.
All those opposed say no.
Okay,
so this was in regard to the Good News Club.
We had tabled the issue a few minutes ago and now it's back on the table.
It was already motioned prior
so we can start our discussion and then have a vote on this.
So I'd like to open up the floor for discussion regarding the Good News
Club facility request.
Yes. And I think I'm the one that initially tabled this.
So I,
I think I speak for all the board that we've given this a lot of thought.
And in terms of where I started with
this was on the safety and welfare of our students.
And as we sit on a school board, that's always our first starting point.
At the same time, I know we live in a constitutional democracy
and have to be mindful of the laws as well as the First Amendment.
So this, this, this to me was more than just trying to avoid a loss.
He was trying to maintain fidelity to the First Amendment.
And the First Amendment, in my mind, speaks of values, of freedom, of religion,
as well as freedom from religion.
We know we have a policy already
on the books in this district,
and we have to be consistent with that policy.
In my mind, as we request these as we review these requests and as they come in.
So it seems to me that's fundamental that the students
under certain circumstances have a right to gather
on the school grounds under the circumstances
that they need to follow under school policy.
And as I understand the law, you know,
we cannot make that decision based on the content
of a given group.
So in my mind, we're left with making a decision tonight
on what we know, what this board has in front of it.
And we've heard from a variety of citizens, I think
over the past several meetings, I think we all found to be
very, very helpful to see this issue in its totality
and having having heard all of that and having,
you know, given us some very serious thought,
I am going to vote to approve this request.
I think I see no reason not to.
And that was the thought process that got me that decision.
I have I tend to get people the benefit of doubt,
so I have every reason to believe that this will go forward
in a way consistent with our policy and to the benefit of our students.
Thank you.
I'd like to say something. Okay.
Just going off of what John said, I feel that.
As a board member with this particular club,
whether any of us personally agree
with it or not, our hands are tied.
We can't get into picking and choosing
what clubs we can and can't allow, because then
we would have to look at every every club, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, brownies, like.
So that's not really our job.
And I think my.
What my point that I want to make
tonight is a public service announcement to every parent
that you need to make yourself well aware of what activities and.
Clubs that your children are attending.
Because we can only do so much
to address everybody that came and spoke and had shared some.
Very disturbing facts.
I don't know whether they're true or not.
If one of them is true, it's.
Incredibly disturbing,
but I don't know.
I have no personal experience with the club.
But I would like to emphasize encouraging parents that it's ultimately
your decision.
What activities.
And after school things that your children.
Are a part of.
And I would say that this should be on everybody's.
Radar based on the information that was brought forward,
because as a board,
this club will be.
Approved because of the.
Rules that we have to follow.
Thank you.
I also just. Want to say
what I will say will echo for a lot, but for my own individual vote
and voice that this hasn't been an easy decision to make.
But I do really appreciate it.
All of the Derry Township residents who came forth
either in the public comment portion of the meeting
or through using the Community
Feedback Forum to voice their support or their opposition.
As a board member, it's really invaluable to me
to be able to hear from the community whenever possible.
And so I appreciate that.
While I'm concerned by information I have read about some of the experiences
others have had with this club and things that are well documented
across the
country, and also the propensity for pursuing immediate
legal action against public schools who deny fee waivers
while being backed by a well-funded special interest group.
That that appears to be a pattern here.
This is a situation where I feel like I must set aside any personal feelings
to the positive or negative and vote in a manner that upholds
any legal precedent set by the Supreme Court ruling in 2001,
as well as respects our First Amendment rights.
I also to kind of echo what Maria said with anything that relates
to our students, encourage
parents and students both to remember that if they see something
which appears inappropriate while on school grounds or elsewhere
during school hours or outside of them, that they should always see something
and that we have policies in place
to set parameters for which groups and organizations are permitted
to use school facilities and under what best practice circumstances.
We should give consideration to the waiver of fees.
In this case, the requesting group,
the Child Evangelical Fellowship of Dauphin County,
has fulfilled all of the requirements to warrant their request
and therefore are in good faith and conscious.
I cannot not approve it.
Thank you.
I have a statement that I prepared.
Public schools are secular government institutions
that service the needs of students and families of different faiths,
languages, cultures and experiences.
Our school community encompasses Muslim, Buddhist, Jewish, Hindu, Sikh,
and many different Christian students across a wide
spectrum as well.
But okay.
Sorry. From the start of our
we have a lot of students.
We have we have a lot of different students from different religions,
including many secular students and families that are non-religious
and I'm sure many others as well that I didn't mention, because there's
approximately 4300 religions currently in the world today in America.
It's this diversity that allows us all to be free.
Freedom to believe or not believe in whatever god or gods that we want.
And freedom from the tyranny of any one religion to rule over us all.
The framers of the Constitution thought this principle of religious diversity
was so crucial and the absence of it so dangerous that they enshrined it
into the very first class
and the very First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States,
that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.
There are a lot of
churches, mosques and temples in our area for people to freely choose from,
and our public schools shouldn't be one of them.
For more than 50 years, the U.S.
judicial system was consistent in matters pertaining to religion in public schools.
Justice Frankfurter in a 1948 landmark case, explained that any activity
which, quote, sharpens the consciousness of religious differences, causes
precisely the consequences against which the Constitution was directed
when it prohibited the government common to all from becoming embroiled,
however innocently.
And the destructive religious conflicts of which the history
of even this country records some dark pages.
That wall of separation in public schools started to crack in 1981,
first at a state university, then at the high school level in 1990,
with the expansion of the Equal Access Act,
which led us to the 2001 Milford case
allowing good news club to access all public schools.
These cases argued for free speech, claiming that religious activity
is just moral and character development from a particular viewpoint,
eviscerating the establishment Clause.
Justice Souter, one of the three dissenters in the 2001
case, argued, quote, It is beyond question that good News Corp.
intends to use the public school premises not for the mere discussion of a subject
from a particular Christian
point of view, but for an evangelical service of worship,
calling children to commit themselves in an act of Christian conversion.
The majority avoids this reality
only by resorting to the bland and general characterized notion of good news.
This activity as, quote,
teaching of morals and character from a religious standpoint.
If the majority's standpoint ignores reality, as it surely does,
then today's haunting may be understood only in equally generic terms.
Otherwise, indeed, this case would stand for the remarkable proposition
that any public school open for civic meetings must be opened for use
as a church, synagogue or mosque.
Having a
Christian Bible club seems like no big deal to a lot of people.
But how would everyone react if there was an Islamic Quran club
or a Jewish Torah club or a Jainism club
or an afterschool Satan club?
Having any religious club in our public schools
undermines democracy and works against our own mission,
stated in policy to, quote, develop intellectual curiosity, critical thinking,
problem solving abilities and esthetic appreciation.
We expect our teachers and administrators
to behave and teach in a certain way to remain neutral
while guiding students through their own critical thought process.
But the Supreme Court has allowed an outside international group
with deep pockets and political power to bully their way in
without having to follow any of the same rules
and our policy.
136 Recognition of religious beliefs and customs.
It states that, quote, It shall be the duty of the teachers
of the school system to maintain a climate of neutrality
within the classes at all times, and to be particularly alert
to the need for a sympathetic appreciation of the different religious backgrounds
and orientation of the students, of the classes and of the district.
Likewise, our policy 119 controversial issues stance quote
The teacher shall permit the expression of the opinions of others and encourage
students to examine, analyze and evaluate
all available information about such topics and materials
so that each may form his or her own opinions.
Teachers at all times shall strive to promote tolerance
of the opinions of others
and of the right of individuals to form and hold differing opinions, end quote,
with a
quote Consciousness of our children sharpened to religious differences.
I hope we can all remember and maintain the spirit of these policies
within our diverse school community.
Allowing the good news club in the public schools purposely confuses children
by blurring the lines of authority between the professional teacher
in the classroom and the good news club volunteer in the multipurpose room.
Public school buildings are built to educate,
not indoctrinate, to teach, not preach.
I am all for the objective teaching of religious from a historical,
geographical, anthropological and cultural context
to better understand our role as global citizens.
But that is not the mission of the Good News Club.
As a public official, I took an oath to uphold the Constitution
of the United States, and this is something that I cannot justify.
I encourage parents to go online
to the Child Evangelism Fellowship website and read their statement of faith.
You can also watch the training videos of the lessons
by going on the website to the store
under the catalog and curriculum, where you can click on the individual lessons.
I will take you to view the demonstrations.
Thank you.
Kathy Anderson. Yeah, go ahead.
I want to thank the community and the Good News Club
for their input information they provided and the patients
while the board addressed questions and concerns from the community.
After receiving all the information and clarification on the items of concern,
I'll be voting in support of the Good News Club meetings.
Our research was with the concerns that people presented
was clarified that the lessons taught focus on God's love, helping and serving
others in need, including the students and overbearing the parents.
Things that I think align and or complement our Coco principles
in the eight school districts that already have a good news club in Dauphin County.
None expressed concern or reported acts of bullying by members
who attended, which was a concern that was brought forth from the community.
Actually, one of the principals stated the goal of the club was only positive
things to children who attended and topics included good moral conduct
and healthy decision making, topics
beneficial to all students regardless of their religious backgrounds.
This is not a mandatory club.
Parental permission is required for a child to attend this club.
Based on all the information that we gathered,
I believe the good news Club does not pose a threat
to our mission of Coco principles or to the students,
and does have the constitutional right to hold the meetings in our district.
Thank you.
Thank.
Go ahead, Donna.
Yes. I don't have a prepared statement,
but there are a couple of things that I that I have a personal concern.
One, I think it's important for any organization that we give approval
to use our space that they do not in any way
try to align themselves to make it appear as if it's a condoned club,
whether that be the Girl Scouts, the soccer club, or the good news club.
So I think we need to do due diligence to make sure that any of their
advertisements and communications that they provide clearly delineate that
because the ones that I saw I personally found were misleading
and parents get so much paperwork that is very easy to assume something
that's at the school is condoned by the school.
Secondly, I agree with everything that
Maria and and Lindsay stated about.
We really need to make sure
parents do due diligence for anything that they are registering their kids for.
They are ultimately responsible.
And we put our faith that they know what they're getting into
and that they really need to be on top of things.
And then thirdly, as a as a taxpaying member of the district,
I take very seriously the our facilities, the money that our
that we ask our taxpayers to give our residents.
And I personally
was surprise and hope that when I reviewed the policy that I didn't miss this.
But clearly I may have that.
I wish that I hope in the future that we can review the policy committee,
can review the policy on facilities and really focus on the school
being used for Derry Township groups and and and residents,
because the Good News club is in Harrisburg and there are many,
many spaces that they could use that would not be taking our space.
So I think that's something that I think is important for us.
And then lastly, I just want to thank John for his legal perspective,
because I think that that helps me and probably a lot of us with this.
Thank you.
I also have a prepared statement.
So my thoughts are in order.
First of all, I would like to thank this board
for taking the time to understand the laws surrounding this facility.
Request.
And my comments reflect my own opinions and views.
While I do not endorse mixing religious teachings and public school systems,
I will be voting to allow the Good News Club to come in after hours with a waiver
at our school.
After much careful thought and research, I have no choice but to vote yes.
Since their request is covered under a Supreme Court ruling
and their national organization and those who support it
often are known to sue school districts.
I think that many people who work for the Good News
Club at the local level are good, warm hearted people.
But the fact is that this is a sponsored by a national organization
with millions of dollars
that would rather us teach biblical law than science and facts.
Also, this organization does not believe in
same sex marriage or transgender rights.
I believe in the separation of church and state.
And there are few concerns when a religion comes into a public school.
Young children can't concern discern between this being a school
sponsored activity or being taught by those outside of the school.
Also, it creates an environment in which one religious view enjoys
the exclusive benefit of delivering its teachings to the children,
and it promotes
the understanding that their religion is endorsed by the school
or otherwise has special privilege within the community.
I want the community to understand that my vote is not an endorsement
of the Good News Club.
And the Good news club is not endorsed by our school district.
We are a public school system.
We welcome diversity.
We teach science and facts, and we can't allow one faith to have preference
while we are teaching coco principles and the concept of be kind in the future.
I wish that Bible studies such as like this would utilize in many churches
all over our community that have spaces that they could use.
Does anyone else have any answers?
And one thing for clarification?
In some of the information we provided, it was discussed with the permission slip
that the Good News Club would provide the school
district with those forms to be distributed.
I just wanted to make sure we stayed on record that no fliers will be
handed out on behalf of the Good News Club from the District so as not to imply.
Endorsement, correct? Correct.
More on the website. Correct.
And thank you, Donna, for that comment.
I should make clear I was speaking as a board member, not as a
the board solicitor in that respect, but I appreciate the shout out.
Thank you.
Does anyone who has had
are we able to see the flier before it goes out?
I'll get a copy of the final flier.
It won't go out through us. Right, Exactly.
Thank you.
Is there any further discussion?
We do have the standard letter.
Okay, Mr.
Friend, a roll call Vote, please.
We are down.
He said that there was a previous motion.
The second.
It's been removed from the table, so that we.
Knew that was.
And I don't. We can do you.
Know it was.
John when you table that issue.
Did you do it after the motion was approved and seconded?
That's what I thought.
So there is a motion on the floor.
Now, that's why we're in discussion.
All right,
Mr. Abel. Yes.
Let's
figure out which one.
Hello?
Hello. My.
Hello.
I'm on. Hello.
So here's my life now.
Hello,
Helen? Yep.
Yep. Hello.
Testing.
Hello. Time
tested this test? Yes.
Yes. Test?
Yeah.
All right.
Sorry about that technical difficulty.
Thanks for your patience, Wally.
Don't touch anything.
Okay. Dr.
Cronan? Yes.
Miss Drew?
Yes. Miss Hammerschmidt?
Yes, Miss Mary? Yes.
Dr. Shaw?
Yes, Miss Looker? Yes.
Mr. Singer?
Yes, Miss Stoner? No.
Yes. One.
No motion passes.
Thank you.
Okay. Consent agenda.
Adoption of items of routine nature and those that normally do not require public
deliberations on the part of the governing board.
A board member may pull items which will be then discussed
and voted on separately.
May I have a motion to approve the consent agenda items as listed?
So mute.
Second, Lyndsey and Donna, is there any discussions?
Okay.
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor say I.
All those opposed say no.
Okay.
This consent agenda passes
on to new business.
Okay.
Approval of service agreement with Capital Area Intermediate Union title to a mr.
McFarland. Thank you.
The administration recommends the board
approve the title to a nonpublic school instructional Service agreement
with the Capital Area Intermediate Unit for the 2018 2019 school year.
May I have a motion to approve the Capital Area Intermediate Union
Unit title to a agreement so moved?
Second, Maria and Lindsey, is there any discussion?
I just want to say again that this is something that we have no control over
because it says nonpublic.
So that can be confusing if someone in the community is looking at the contract.
Because we are a public school.
But this is something under Title.
Two that is already set that we participate in and have to approve.
Right? We have to provide right.
Then I just want to clarify that because it says nonpublic
and it can be confusing thinking, well, for a public school,
why are we even dealing with this once it's not in our control.
These are federal funds, right?
Any other discussion?
Okay.
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor say I mean, all those opposed say no.
Say the motion carries approval of service agreement
with Capital Area Intermediate Unit, Title one.
Mr. McFarland.
Thank you.
The administration recommends the board
approve the Title one Nonpublic School Instructional Service Agreement.
May have.
The Capital Area Intermediate Unit for the 2018 2019 school year.
May I have a motion to approve the service agreement with the Capital Area
Intermediate Unit Title one so moved Second,
Maria and KIPP, is there any discussion?
Kate is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor say I II all those opposed say no
in the motion carries
Approval of Service Agreement with River Rock Academy, Inc..
Mr. McFarland.
Thank you.
The administration recommends the board approve the Act 48 program
Agreement for services with River Rock Academy, Inc.
for the 2018 2019 school year. In May.
I have a motion to approve the River Rock Service Agreement for the 2018 2019
School Year So moved Second, Lindsay and Donna, is there any discussion?
I just wanted to clarify something.
This is just if we use the service, correct?
Correct. Okay.
And currently we don't.
We'll just it's just if it comes up during the year, it's
kind of to cover the whole school years, Correct.
We have to have it in place because we need it.
Okay.
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor say I why all those opposed say no
in a motion carries
approval of contract agreement with river rock.
That's two different. One.
Approval of contract agreement with River Rock Academy, Inc..
Mr. McFarland.
Thank you.
The administration recommends the board approve the contract
for purchase of student services with River Rock Academy, Inc.
for the 2018 2019 school year.
May I have a motion to approve the contract agreement
with River Rock Academy, Inc.
for the 2018 2019 school Year?
So moved
second, Don and Maria, is there any discussion?
Okay, this is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor say I. All right.
All those opposed say no.
The motion carries approval of school based out
patient therapy agreement, Team care, behavioral health.
Mr. McFarland.
Thank you.
The administration recommends the letter of agreement
between Derry Township School District and Teen Care Behavioral Health
for the purposes of school based outpatient therapy
for students enrolled in the district.
May I have a motion to approve school based Outpatient Therapy agreement?
Team Care, Behavioral Health So moved.
Second, Maria and Lindsay, is there any discussion?
I just want to call to the attention
for the record for parents that are listening to take the time
to read and understand the service that's offered at the district?
Because I think a lot of times
in the
community and social media and all that we hear a lot about, well,
we share the school should offer this and the school should offer that.
And I think that this is a really great opportunity that we have to
bring in outside care and offer it from the school location
so that students can receive services that they need.
Yeah, thank you for highlighting that
this is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor say I and all those opposed say no.
Okay.
Approval of food Service Safety and Sanitation Program agreement.
Mr. McFarland.
Thank you.
The administration recommends the board
approve the Food Service Safety and Sanitation Program Service
three year agreement with Food Safety Solutions as attached.
May I have a motion to approve Food Service Safety
and Sanitation Program Service three year agreement So moved.
Second, Maria and Lindsay, is there any discussion?
Okay, this is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor say I and all those opposed say no.
Here the motion carries.
May I have a motion to approve the listed resignations?
So second,
Donna and Maria, is there any discussion?
I just want to make a comment.
I'm very sad to Mel Hawn's name on here.
She had my my oldest son, who's now 24, when he was in middle school,
and she now has my youngest daughter 12 years later.
And I'm going to miss her.
So we'll.
Well, thanks.
Thanks for her service.
I thank you.
It's the standard voice vote.
All those in favor say I.
I know those opposed.
See, now, here the motion carries
personnel.
General. Mr. McFarland.
Thank you.
The administration recommends the approval of the listed personnel.
May I have a motion to approve personnel, General?
So moved. Second, Donna and Maria.
Is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice vote.
All those in favor say I, I and all those opposed say no.
Okay. The motion carries delegate reports.
Mr. Singer, do you have a Dauphin County Technical School report?
Yeah. Just briefly.
A couple of items
were discussed and decisions were made at this past Wednesday's meeting.
A new assistant director was offered a position to begin
October 16, 2018, to replace retiring person.
The new assistant director's name is Frank
Mimi. Many
think he might have worked as a special education teacher in this district.
One point Not sure.
Do you recall that name? John I do not.
So that would have been before my time.
Okay.
Secondly,
although no date has been set, it appears this will be
the last school year of the director of the Dauphin County Technical School.
She hasn't
announced the particular retirement date,
but is expected to retire this the school year.
And thirdly, there is a organizational chart,
recently approved organizational chart for the Dauphin County Technical School.
For anyone who's interested in seeing seeing it, it was in the board brief.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr.
Singer.
Mrs. Mimi, do you have a case to report?
Linda attached it.
Okay.
Special reports.
Are there any board members who would like to give a report?
I would, please.
I just wanted to update from the SBA perspective.
In June, Tricia and I brought forward a PSB
platform proposal for the 2018 2019
or I'm sorry for the 2019 year platform
for advocacy on behalf of PSB.
We were both invited to participate in that committee
that would review all the information and make recommendations to go forward
to the SBA conference to be approved.
And we were both unable to attend.
But we received word this week
and the board did receive a copy of the letter,
but just for the public since we voted on it in public,
I'm very pleased with the outcome and I'm happy to report
that all of the recommendations that we made for inclusion in the SBA
2019 platform were accepted with the exception of the first core
legislative principle recommendation regarding diversity.
So I'm disappointed that that was not taken into account
in any matter.
All other material recommendations were included,
and the only time in which they reference in the letter that it was not included
was because they felt that the language we provided in a different part of the
of the proposal, or that other school districts also brought forward
the same idea that the idea was captured appropriately.
So all of those
items will be moving on to so full vote
at PSB A's annual conference.
I thank you as anyone else have our report.
Okay. Mr.
McFarland, do you have a superintendents report?
I do.
Thank you.
First, I just want to say we had a great opening with the staff
last Monday and at your seats I gave you a magnet
which all staff members received one as well
and I encourage you to do the same as place at some place
and then each month move it because we know how it is
when something is placed at the same place all the time, you can forget about it.
But as we've been focusing on the cocoa principles for the last several years,
looking at community, looking at opportunity,
this year it is about ownership and owning it.
And so the seven characteristics of ownership which you have there,
those are the things that we are committing to as a staff this year.
And in my blog, I also encouraged our students to own it.
So if you haven't read it, see what it means to own it on your part.
As students.
Then last Wednesday we had
our very first inaugural Bridge day and Mr.
Tredinnick has a collage up there.
Just some highlights.
It was a risk.
We weren't sure how it was going to go.
I don't think from anybody's perspective it could have gone any better.
It was a huge success overall.
The middle school we had 179 out of 253/6 graders show up.
That was 71%.
Remember, this is all voluntary, too.
And at the high school with our freshman
class, we had 237 of 288.
82% of the students showed up.
We had the upperclassmen. Kudos to you.
We had 150 plus upperclassmen come to help support
their underclassmen and had folders for them.
Pens. They were everywhere.
You couldn't walk 25 feet and not have somebody to help, you know where to go.
They were there to help with lockers, which was a big thing
for the freshmen and the sixth graders, which gave them a lot of confidence.
Today all the staff were engaged in really develop those crucial relationships.
That opportunity
to see the freshman homeroom teacher is getting to know their kids.
And then in the sixth grade doing some really fun
team building, get to know you type activities with the kids.
They also got a good breakfast of a donut and some juice, and it's great.
They were delicious.
So it
really made today super smooth for our newest sixth and ninth graders.
So I think some of you were there, weren't you?
It was great to have the band and the cheerleaders were there.
You can see them in the morning welcoming the kids off the busses.
So it was a fantastic day.
And today we welcome all of our students back across the district.
I will say it was very hot and very humid, but it was a great day.
We have 3458 students this year, which is actually 73 students
more than we had last year on the first day of school,
our first day of full day kindergarten went better than I think
we could have ever anticipated.
And the kids did a great job.
We were all there helping out at lunch today,
opening sirup containers and and helping them.
But I was impressed with how independent our kindergartners were.
A lot of them were good at opening things.
And no, they didn't need help.
They were they were all good.
They were a little tired coming out at the end of the day.
But I think the teachers were as well.
And we have a short video just to recap our opening day,
since I know you weren't able to
be there today, but it was fantastic to welcome everybody back.
Dr. Shore, you might
recognize that young ladies.
So it was a fantastic day.
Just to quickly update you, you know, we had the waiver
option for parents for kindergarten.
At this point, we have 12 families that have opted for the waiver.
So out of 227
kindergartners, I think 12th have opted for that.
And we only had, I think one kindergartner fall asleep today,
at least while they were at school.
I'm pretty sure they all fell asleep quickly when they got home.
And finally, I'm really excited to share an upcoming musical collaboration
featuring the Hershey High School choirs and the Hershey Symphony
as part of their holiday spectacular on December 8th at the Hershey Theater.
And if that news is an exciting enough, these performances will be conducted
by our very own Greg Woodbridge and Joe Farrell.
Concerts are scheduled for 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
on December 8th and tickets are now on sale to the public.
If you just go to W-w-what Hershey Symphony Dawg
or call the Hershey Theater box Office.
So that ends my report.
Thank you for your report.
So I just want to add a lot of positive feedback about your bridge day
and in the community that I've been hearing
and the other thing that I received a lot of positive feedback was this sneak peek.
They were saying how much they
really appreciated being able to go around and actually walk to their classes
and see where each class was before opening day.
And I think that happened at the middle school.
So they're hoping that those two things stay for five years in some regrets
by older students.
That said, we never got that bridge too.
But that's true.
That will not be going away.
And I want to note Jerry's appearance at the Ben and Tim five k.
I want to ask him, is time that Sarah and Tricia
and I believe the cheerleaders and the marching band were both there and
it's a great community event.
So did you guys run as well? I know he ran.
He ran.
I'm sure they did better than I know.
All right.
Thank you. A board presidents report.
I would like to welcome everyone back to a new school year,
including our students, teachers, administrators and school board directors,
coaches, support staff, and all those who make our school district run smoothly
every day.
It is always refreshing to start new again.
And I know parents and guardians
are craving a structured schedule by this time in the summer.
And you know I'm speaking for myself.
There are four board members.
There is a CBA leadership conference October 17th through 19th.
So you just want to let Mr.
McFarlane know if you want to go to that.
Did you get these in the mail at your house?
Okay.
So there's details in here about the conference.
And do you have a deadline for when we need to register?
I can check online. I don't have it. Okay.
Oh, the official deadline is September 17th.
Is that in Harrisburg or Hershey?
Hershey. The Hershey Lodge.
Okay.
Recognition of citizens.
This is an opportunity for residents and taxpayers to address the board on
matters related to the agenda or matters of district governance, not on the agenda.
Those who speak are asked to come to the microphone
and follow the same guidelines outlined at the initial public comment
portion of the meeting.
Are there any residents and or taxpayers who would like to come forward
at this time?
Hello,
Patsy Gilbert 740 Brook Drive in Hershey.
Just a couple of things I wanted to touch on.
One of the things when we.
Were going through one of the contracts.
Earlier,
you mentioned that their abilities and how it's a year to year
in case something better comes along.
I know that it's not like this is up or anything and you're
talking about renewing their contracts at this point or anything.
But just something to keep in mind.
When you renew contracts with your special education
students year to year, sometimes it's always good to look at
maybe a three year contract.
So you didn't get the best deal that way,
only because it directly affects our students, our special ed students.
And those students aren't always the greatest, which means you see
one person one year, the next year looking at a different
have that a different answer than a different speech therapist.
Sometimes if you're working with the same person
three years in and out, it can make a huge difference in their development.
So just something to think about when you're looking at those contracts.
Again, I also just wanted to say that the Special Education
Parent Advisory Council for Derry Township will begin their meetings again
for the school year on September six at Cafe and Cocoa, 7 p.m.
It's just for special education parents within our district 730.
It's open to everyone.
I believe we have Kirsten, director of Special Ed joining us this this time around.
And I also just wanted to point out that some of the special ed students
within our district did participate in the oh two challenge this past weekend,
which was held during Bennington Day.
It's a 1.5 mile fitness obstacle course
that, you know, they they all completed and it was it was a big deal for them.
They all got little medals at the end.
So while some people were running five kids, they were
they were doing 1.5 miles, a very strenuous activity as well.
So if you look on the website or actually be on Facebook page for
overcoming obstacles, you'll see some of those kids there.
Thank you.
The next public board of directors meeting will be held September 10th,
starting at 7:00 in the District Office Board of Directors meeting.
May I have a motion to adjourn this meeting to post Exac summer?
Second, Lindsay and Donna, all those in favor say I
ii held as a oppose say no
case motion carries.
We are adjourned at 807.