DTSD Webinars: Good evening. Like to call the September 20 fifth, 2,023 meeting of the Dairy Township School District Board of Directors to order and announce that this meeting is being live, streamed, and audio recorded.
DTSD Webinars: This meeting is being conducted both in person and virtually like to request for Board members to please state your name when speaking.
DTSD Webinars: This is Ag. Roll call, please, Mr. Bennett, present
DTSD Webinars: Dr. Cronin here, Mr. Here, Dr. Cuff, here, Mrs. Many here, Mr. Rizzo. Here, Mr. Schmidt, here, Mrs. Sicker, here, Mr. Singer, here are absent.
DTSD Webinars: Please rise, if you're able, and join me for the pledge of allegiance.
DTSD Webinars: See the Black States of America.
DTSD Webinars: Hmm.
DTSD Webinars: May have a motion to approve. The September 20 fifth, 2,023 Board of directors, agenda. So moved Maria mummy. Second Lindsey Drew.
DTSD Webinars: is there any discussion?
DTSD Webinars: This is a standard voice. Vote all those in favor, please say aye, aye, any opposed? No.
DTSD Webinars: thank you. The motion carries
DTSD Webinars: agenda. Item 2. Informational and proposals
DTSD Webinars: 2. A President. Communications
DTSD Webinars: pledge to announce the board met an executive session prior to this meeting to discuss various informational items. I'd also like to announce that the Board met on Wednesday, September twentieth.
DTSD Webinars: for a work session on financial matters. Specifically, we had a workshop on an investment. Opportunity to earn interest proceeds for use towards new capital projects.
Moving on to item 2 B recognition of citizens. This is an opportunity for residents and taxpayers to address the Board on matters related to the agenda.
DTSD Webinars: Citizens wishing to speak if in person, should complete and turn in a registration form to the Board secretary, Mrs. Ag.
Registration forms can be found on the signing table adjacent to the boardroom entrance.
DTSD Webinars: When your name is announced, come to the microphone. If online, you must have registered individually with your full name and address to be recognized.
DTSD Webinars: raise your virtual hand for recognition. Once recognized or unmuted.
DTSD Webinars: it is only necessary that you identify yourself by providing your full name.
DTSD Webinars: This is a reminder that public comment is not a forum for personal attacks, antagonistic behavior, or harassment.
DTSD Webinars: Please be advised that you are accountable for any legal ramifications and liability that result from statements that misrepresent the truth.
defame individuals, or disclose personal information that is not of public concern.
DTSD Webinars: To provide other residents with an opportunity to speak. Each speaker during the public comment portion is limited to 5 min of speaking time once recognized.
and living into one opportunity to address the Board during each of the public comment periods.
DTSD Webinars: if necessary, the Board may set a maximum time for the public comment portion of any meeting. I'll ask board treasurer, Mister Rizzo, to please keep time.
DTSD Webinars: Mrs. Ag. Are there any residents or taxpayers in the room who have registered to comment at this time.
DTSD Webinars: There is Kevin Stover.
DTSD Webinars: Good evening. My name's Kevin Stover. I'm a proud resident of Dairy Township. I would like to thank the School Board and Administration in attendance for your service to Dairy Township School district.
DTSD Webinars: This is my first Hershey School Board meeting. I believe my time limit, as, as mentioned, was 5 min to speak for those who know me that could be a challenge.
DTSD Webinars: I promise to keep this brief
earlier today, I believe the School Board meeting agenda
DTSD Webinars: earlier today I reviewed the School Board meeting agenda and there was a listing for tonight that stood out. So I would like to comment and ask a few questions.
Yeah.
DTSD Webinars: I have a school district job posting here from July 20 fifth.
DTSD Webinars: where the Hershey school needs a school counselor. High school needs a school counselor for the 2324 school year.
DTSD Webinars: School counselors are vital to post secondary and career planning development. Ultimately they are coaching students to future career and
DTSD Webinars: economic success, and have to be flexible with coaching and counselling. The diverse student body at Dairy township school district, working individually with each one of them is so important as they establish a plan and take the path to achieve their future goals. I have recently had 2 of my own kids come through Hershey, and at times they were without a high school counselor.
DTSD Webinars: and there were challenges getting them ready for college.
DTSD Webinars: Last week I was approached by a senior in need of a college letter.
DTSD Webinars: Tonight's agenda agenda, mentions the hiring of a high school counselor on January twelfth.
DTSD Webinars: 2024.
DTSD Webinars: My question is, what is the plan to accommodate the Hershey High School students during the next 105 days?
DTSD Webinars: The reason for asking this would be a gap in support, especially for college-bound seniors.
Would the Gap period of time allow for a long-term substitute?
I hope you
DTSD Webinars: review these questions and and my comments tonight, and
DTSD Webinars: think about the direction where that the district is going. With this position and positions coming forward. Thank you so much for your time, and have a good evening.
DTSD Webinars: Thank you, Mr. Stover.
DTSD Webinars: Mrs. Agu. Is there anyone else in the room who
registered to comment?
DTSD Webinars: Not at this time. Okay, thank you.
DTSD Webinars: Jared, do we have anyone online?
Not at this time?
DTSD Webinars: Okay, thank you.
DTSD Webinars: We'll move on to agenda. Item 2 C standing committee reports the communications and Finance standing committees met today.
DTSD Webinars: Mr. Schmidt, do you have a reporter?
I do have a report through the purchase report?
DTSD Webinars: Oh, yes. Communication. Oh, that report. Yes. We met with communications today. And
DTSD Webinars: the district really needs to thank Miss Carpel for successfully launching our new website design navigation for this website has been, pretty very successful for for the feedback of students and staff. I know myself, I find it very easy to move around. So if you haven't taken a look at it and kind of played around with it, I really encourage you to do that.
DTSD Webinars: If any parents out there find that they're having trouble navigating it.
DTSD Webinars: you may contact Miss Carpel email her. She'd be happy to help you with any issues you are having.
DTSD Webinars: Miss Carpel also introduced us to Emma Burke, who will be her intern for this year, and she has already been a very big help to her and the website.
DTSD Webinars: finally, Miss Carpel will be working on the
DTSD Webinars: elementary school project and incorporating that into the website as well, using kind of giving us timelines. Faqs, that kind of thing for the community
to understand what it is we're doing and where we are going with it.
DTSD Webinars: And we also mentioned that there will be, everyone can kind of look out for information for a tour on October 20 sixth of the elementary facility which Dr. Winslow will get a little more specific and elaborate more on on her report.
DTSD Webinars: But overall, I think a big thank you for our new website.
DTSD Webinars: Thank you, Mr. Schmidt.
DTSD Webinars: can I add something to that?
DTSD Webinars: we. I realized today that this was my last community. communications committee meeting, and I think for all of us who are coming off the Board, that we would recognize how far Sarah has brought our district in terms of the website and communications and all that she's done. And I've had many conversations with her over the years, and I know that the kids are in your heart, and that's where you work from. And I think she's just done a fantastic job and has really elevated our district to another level over these last couple of years. So I wanna thank you for that.
DTSD Webinars: So thank you for sharing that anybody else have anything to add
DTSD Webinars: congratulations. Ms. Carpel did a great job.
DTSD Webinars: Okay, Mr. Rizzo, do you have a finance report?
DTSD Webinars: I do have a finance committee report this evening. First off we did get an update on the concession stand and where that build is sits right now. From as Purcell the updated start date is 1016. So October sixteenth. That will be about 2, 2 weeks from where we expected it to be. There was some issues with timing on
DTSD Webinars: calendar days versus business days, and it pushed out 2 weeks. So they've reset to the the timing, and 1016 is the date to begin. There will be reaching out to the Booster Clubs if they haven't already on the timing, just to make sure that all the Booster clubs are aware of what's happening here in the fall timeframe, and the concession facilities will be open during the time of of the the upgrades, and will be re rotated
DTSD Webinars: with the back to the field along that fence line, and the reason for that is to maintain the power to the facility. If we take it over to the other field towards the baseball field. It the power
DTSD Webinars: a supply does not reach to that that length, so it will be. There will be functional and and and we'll be able to use during the the games that are being played. In addition, temporary restrooms will be provided for the the constituents at the at the games and for any of the students.
DTSD Webinars: The second, the second point of discussion was bond resolution. So out of the finance committee, we provided the recommendation voted recommendation for the consideration of the Full Board to approve
DTSD Webinars: the resolution to proceed with issuance of the 15 million Dollar General Obligation fund. So I won't go into all the details of of what you know where all the details came from that I'll leave that up to discussion but we had that on Wednesday, I think, and asking questions of
DTSD Webinars: the the gentleman that we're here to help us with the the financial perspective of taking that bond out so. But the Finance Committee does recommend the approval of that bond.
DTSD Webinars: The next point of of discussion was the 2024, 2025 budget timeline. Ms. Purcell just received the Pd recommendation for act one index. And that index right now, currently as it stands, is 5.3.
DTSD Webinars: So it's significantly higher even over last year. So what we will, as he starts to formulate the budget
DTSD Webinars: for 2024 and 2025 later this year, December, January, when things start to settle down from the overall state budget, you know, national budget. We'll have a better understanding of of where things fall from the you know the grants and things from our
DTSD Webinars: financial revenue coming in and understand where that that act one index would be going forward in 2024 25 Miss Purcell
DTSD Webinars: out of the gates generally thinks that we will not be going above the 5.3% active index, because it's it's pretty high for this this school district. But I don't wanna land on that and make a firm commitment here until she has had a chance to look at the the full budget.
DTSD Webinars: We will, as it comes out in 2024. Towards the end of the year December, January, it will come to the Board for the full resolution to accept the act one index, or in in any. For some reason it would go over that. Then we would vote to to go above that and do the paperwork. But I don't think that's
DTSD Webinars: going to be necessary. We'll wait and see
DTSD Webinars: and then we talked about the Dolphin County Grant, the $250,000 from Dolphin County originally that was earmarked for the Memorial field and soft Opel field,
DTSD Webinars: repaving, resurfacing and also water management right now, that's going back to the Conservation agency because of the largeness of the the impact from that
DTSD Webinars: that build. So it's going to delay the resurfacing of those 2 facilities in the the fixing memorial field, which I believe are tentatively earmarked for spring of 2024 to begin. I think we talked about that at the last General Services Fund again. That's still tentative, based upon the outcomes of these discussions. Well, with the conservation agency.
DTSD Webinars: Now, what has happened, though with those funding from the Dauphin County, though, is that they were reappropriated with
DTSD Webinars: approval by Dauphin County to other field other field needs and upgrades across the district. Both baseball softball boys and girls sports so that will that that money will be spent. There is an ask for 2 that'll be coming to the full board for 25,000 to move some of the funding from the general fund
DTSD Webinars: to the capital fund to help pay for some of that engineering work that was that was predating the the actual work to be done.
DTSD Webinars: And then the last point of discussion Miss Purcell is putting together a a recommendation to move to a new accounting software the accounting software today that you're using. It does not provide them with all of the necessary activities that they need to do from a Pennsylvania perspective. It's really a national accounting rules type of accounting software.
DTSD Webinars: The good news is the accounting software that we're currently using is about $50,000 annually, plus an additional 7 that we need to do some upgrades. And the accounting software that you're talking about going to is only about $5,000 annually. Am I? Am I correct? On it? Was that
DTSD Webinars: oh, 35 sorry. 35,000. I wrote that down incorrectly. So it will be a savings and give them better functionality in the accounting
DTSD Webinars: team. So right now, one of the the comments was, We can't do electronic
DTSD Webinars: purchase orders. Everything has to be done on paper. So this would allow some of the ease of the department to be able to move those things forward quicker without having to do it all by paper. So it's a cost savings and will improve productivity as we go forward.
DTSD Webinars: and that's all I have.
Thank you very much, Mr. Rizzo.
DTSD Webinars: Does anybody have any questions or any member of the committee have anything to add, I have a quick question. Is the act one index at 5? Is that an estimate
DTSD Webinars: projection for the 2425 school year? Or is that set in stone. That's what the act one index is going to be that's set in stone. So the index act one index is 5.3. That's that's what we get. What's not set in stone yet is the actual timeline until the
DTSD Webinars: Until Harrisburg sets the date of the primary election. Then the rest. All the other reporting dates that we have to follow will, fault will be able to be set because everything's
DTSD Webinars: counted days off of that primary election.
DTSD Webinars: But if we this is ergonomic, but
DTSD Webinars: if for some reason just answer your question.
DTSD Webinars: we could request to go higher like
DTSD Webinars: we we could, the the what the exception that we'd be allowed probably to go higher, and I did not do. The calculation would be for the increase in special education funding. So it it looks at what we spent
DTSD Webinars: over the last, what? What are in actual increased expenses are. And then you can increase your
DTSD Webinars: tax. Increase that 5.3% could increase by some
DTSD Webinars: part of a percent
DTSD Webinars: if we chose to do that, otherwise we would opt out and just stick within the 5.3, and that's what Mr. Rizzo was talking about. And that's usually somewhere in that December January timeframe that we would basically.
DTSD Webinars: as a board, you know, as a Board Finance committee, we would say, we will
act within Act One. You know. We will land within Act one and not go over 5.3.
DTSD Webinars: It's very high. This is the highest it's been. I think it's projected next year to go up just a little bit more, and then it'll start coming down again.
DTSD Webinars: That is very. I saw a lot like we do not get in any extra, but they. There are a lot of schools in the State that get an adjusted act one, I'm saying, rates at 8, 7
DTSD Webinars: lot of local districts, and it's all based on the aid values in your, in your community that we don't qualify. So again, we stay with Act One, which is by point 3
DTSD Webinars: any other questions.
DTSD Webinars: I have a question I don't understand what you were saying about the 250,000
DTSD Webinars: grant that we got, and then the concerns like, I didn't understand that whole thing
DTSD Webinars: this. So for the 250,000 grant they. They earmarked the money, and they wanted it to be used towards the you know, the fields, the softball fields and memorial field, so baseball and softball and the the district has had earmarked it to resurface the the
DTSD Webinars: the areas so that we could one. We use it for a drop, or the parents use it for a drop off to add safety in 2, to move water away from the baseball field dugout so that we can
DTSD Webinars: take that and swell that away better, and then actually put in macadambed
DTSD Webinars: surfaces for those fields instead of having stone and or mud.
DTSD Webinars: So the
DTSD Webinars: with the Conservative Conservation Agency.
DTSD Webinars: because of the size of the project, it falls into a different bucket. So we we were going to do them in one at a time, thinking that might satisfy what the need was, and it's really about wastewater management.
DTSD Webinars: and how and what you're doing to the environment.
DTSD Webinars: But they said, No, they have to be grouped together. But what happens is it comes with us. Another level set of
DTSD Webinars: approvals to to make sure that everything is done correctly. And
DTSD Webinars: it's storm. It's storm water management, not wastewater management.
DTSD Webinars: We don't know yet, so they might want us to do them combined, we might still be able to do them in 2 phases, but it might not matter, as far as what they're going to require from us.
DTSD Webinars: So so basic
DTSD Webinars: conservation authority.
DTSD Webinars: Okay.
DTSD Webinars: I haven't heard them mention before. That's fine. It was new to me, too. This is not the township correct. This is the conservation authority correct.
DTSD Webinars: So we're just basically using that money for the
DTSD Webinars: just moving it ahead for the concession stand correct. And then we'll
DTSD Webinars: come back and do what we were going to do anyway. So yes, it's not necessarily moving it ahead, and is meeting the timelines of when that money needs to be spent. Yeah. So it's just moving the money. We hope the parking lots would be done a lot sooner. But
DTSD Webinars: we keep running into kind of different. So it was ultimately, this is the future. So it was ultimately brought to finance today, because there's there'll be like a reallocation, because the Board will need to authorize a transfer from the general fund at our October tenth meeting, and it's really just moving things around because of the terms of the Grant process in order to be able to do that, we're kind of swapping things out
DTSD Webinars: to meet the timeline
DTSD Webinars: and then pay for it pay for the resurfacing
DTSD Webinars: outside of the Grant process
since the
DTSD Webinars: timing of being able to get it done. Okay, I got it. Thank you.
DTSD Webinars: This is Terry Sandra. Just. I understand what you said and what Dr. Winslow said. Is it
DTSD Webinars: expected that we'll still be able to use the full $250,000.
DTSD Webinars: Okay.
DTSD Webinars: Great. Yeah. That is, thank you.
DTSD Webinars: Any other questions before we move on. I just also wanted to comment. If anyone wants to see the breakdown of that on our agenda. There is an attachment from when we talked about it in finance today that shows the changes and line item allocations.
DTSD Webinars: Okay, thank you.
DTSD Webinars: Okay, that brings us to item, 2D student representatives report representatives Barto, Kolarasi and Saud. Do you have a report?
DTSD Webinars: Second? Yes, my name is Natalie Kolarasi, and I'll be speaking about our High School
DTSD Webinars: congratulations to our boys football team who won the eightieth annual coco bean game against Milton Hershey on Saturday in the rain, with a score of 33 to 22.
DTSD Webinars: On September sixteenth our marching band traveled to Philadelphia to play Mr. Bright side with the Temple Diamond Band during their halftime show
DTSD Webinars: our fall play clue has been cast, and will take place at Hershey High School on November seventeenth and eighteenth at 7 PM.
DTSD Webinars: Hershey girls Soccer team defeated Mifflin County on Thursday with a score of 7 0. They're playing right now against Mechanicsburg. So good luck to our girls.
DTSD Webinars: Minethon held a tidy night on Friday, September 20, s, for 5 to 7 PM. To raise awareness for childhood cancer in the Hershey community.
DTSD Webinars: My name is Jasad, and I'll be speaking more about the High school.
DTSD Webinars: So 8 Hhs seniors were recognized as national merit semifinalists. On Friday to September 20 s. The students are as follows, Angelina Berg, Ashley, Boo, Lauren, Kim, Selena, Lynn, Janhoil Priyanka, Nambiar.
DTSD Webinars: Michael Parks and Grace Wang Congratulations, to the winners. juniors and seniors who are accepted into National Honor Society will be inducted in a formal so ceremony tomorrow.
DTSD Webinars: and at the Hershey Middle School. The school library served up a special tasting menu for students, which included a variety of book genres from thrilling mysteries to Memores.
DTSD Webinars: Good evening. I'm Lucy Barto, and I'll talk quickly about the elementary school. The first graders attended their their annual field trip to Strikes Orchard, where they got to learn more about apple production. The importance of bees, and got a glimpse into the apple cider making process. At the end of the trip they each got to pick out their own apple from an apple tree.
DTSD Webinars: A fifth grade class participated in a book buddies, Pbs reward and went down to read with a first grade class. It's always great to see the school community coming together for different rewards like this.
DTSD Webinars: And on September fifteenth it was international dot day which the first grade students got to participate in by transforming a single dot on their paper into their own imaginative creations. Experiences like this resigned to help build these students creativity and imagination. Thank you.
Thank you very much.
DTSD Webinars: Moving on to agenda. Item 2. E. Recognition of new extracurricular activity or school clubs. Dr. Winslow.
DTSD Webinars: in compliance with policy, 1, 22 extracurricular activities. The listed additions of the high school student clubs are recognized.
DTSD Webinars: Skincare Awareness Club.
DTSD Webinars: Thank you.
DTSD Webinars: The listed items.
DTSD Webinars: This is agenda. Item 2, F. The listed items are on the anticipated October tenth, 2,023 board of directors meeting agenda.
DTSD Webinars: Terry, can I have a question? I just have a quick question. I'm just donna cronan
DTSD Webinars: just to dot the eyes and cross the t's should we get a do we need? And a memorandum of agreement or anything. If this Skincare Club is going to be sponsored by an outside group, just do we need? I don't know. May not
DTSD Webinars: like, if Lorielle's gonna be sponsoring them. I don't think so. Okay, it just helps to bring in speakers and stuff like that. Okay, I saw the word sponsorship. But I just wanna make sure. Okay, thank you.
The listed items are up on the screen
DTSD Webinars: with the October tenth, 2,023. Meeting brings us to item, agenda. Item number 3,
DTSD Webinars: unfinished business. elementary facility. Dr. Winslow. Thank you, Mr. Singer.
DTSD Webinars: Since my last update we had the first visual listening exercise. That Crabtree robot led at the elementary school. This was done in 2 parts. The first was a group of fourth and fifth grade students, and the second were teachers that are members of faculty council.
DTSD Webinars: Each group had the opportunity to review photos of schools. They were posted up on the walls and to identify in anything in the image at all, not the whole image itself, but anything in the image that resonated for them, that they liked, or anything that they disliked.
DTSD Webinars: and it was really fun watching, especially the students, but also the teachers, and listening to their conversation while they did that
DTSD Webinars: afterwards, when they were finished, each group had the opportunity to debrief and discuss what they identified, and why.
among the students there were really insightful discussions about what causes them. Stress
DTSD Webinars: which I thought was really interesting. Very crowded spaces. Noise when they had a need for quiet, were some of the things that they mentioned. They were also really thoughtful in their comments about things that they liked.
DTSD Webinars: while also recognizing the need for adult supervision. So there was a picture of a hallway with a climbing wall in it.
DTSD Webinars: And the kids were like, that's so cool. And they were like, but is that a good idea? That is also my question, and there was also another one where there was a library with a tree and a tree house and super cool, and I loved it, and the kids loved it. Everybody liked it. But then, when they had their discussion, they were talking about how the treehouse space itself is small
DTSD Webinars: and clearly a grownup couldn't be in there, so not wouldn't necessarily have eyes on the kids at all times. So they were like, we're not sure if that's really a good idea, because kids will wanna fight over that space to be in there and without adult supervision, maybe conflict could arise that wouldn't. It was awesome listening to kids like kind of play out all these scenarios. And one kiddo also went so far as to imagine that maybe you'd be given time.
DTSD Webinars: And but then, as your timer was running down, somebody might be standing outside the door, being like 30, 2928, and that would be very stressful. While you were trying to finish up your your book in your last 30 s. That was very cute listening to them. They had a lot of great insights that Crabtree will bring in their next presentation. They'll summarize everything and show you pictures of that event. And then the teachers
DTSD Webinars: also had some wonderful discussion, and I had a lot of discussion about wanting consistency of space, while also recognizing that what is appropriate for K. And one is not necessarily appropriate for 4 and 5, and vice versa. So.
DTSD Webinars: while wanting
DTSD Webinars: some similarities, like everybody, wants some flexible learning spaces and some spaces for large group learning also understanding that maybe there could be some independent spaces for fourth and fifth graders that you wouldn't necessarily
DTSD Webinars: have a positive outcome with kindergarten and first grade so that was also really great discussion. And I look forward to more of those visual listening exercises. So that was really neat. We've also identified our first community engagement event. This will be Thursday, October 20 sixth. At 6 Pm.
DTSD Webinars: We will begin in the elementary Npr. With a presentation by Crabtree Warbaugh. Really on the why like, why? Why does this building need to be looked at? And and why have we embarked on this process
DTSD Webinars: that will be followed by question and answer session, probably around 30 min of question and answer, and then we'll offer small group tours of the 2 through 5 building so that we can show people
DTSD Webinars: what what we see and and what are some of the things that we we run into, and why this building is at end of life. we will post a link for registration to attend that event on the website. Just so we can plan appropriately to have enough
DTSD Webinars: folks identified as tour guides, and so we can plan. But as long as it's a community member who shows up, I don't think we would turn anybody away that evening, even if they didn't register just to help us plan. So you can look for that link soon on the website, and we'll also be doing some advertising in the newspaper for that.
DTSD Webinars: so that folks across the community, not just parents and families, will will be able to see it and come.
DTSD Webinars: I feel like there was one. Another thing I wanted to share with that. And I
DTSD Webinars: that's that'll be doing that. Anybody have any questions for Dr. Winslow.
DTSD Webinars: Thank you very much. Thank you very much.
DTSD Webinars: Moving on to item number 4.
DTSD Webinars: The consent agenda contains routinely adopted items and items that normally do not require public deliberations on the part of the board.
A board member may pull items which will then be discussed and voted on separately.
DTSD Webinars: May I have a motion to approve the consent. Agenda items as listed so moved Lindsay Kupp. second Lindsey Drew.
Is there any discussion?
DTSD Webinars: This is a standard voice. Vote all in favor, please say, aye, aye, any opposed? No. thank you. The consent. Consent. Agenda
DTSD Webinars: passes.
DTSD Webinars: Item, 5. New business
DTSD Webinars: acceptance of gift. Hershey High School golf boosters Club. Doctor Winslow. The Administration recommends accepting the gift of a donation check to support the golf team. Now have a motion to accept the gift of the donation check to support the golf team. So moved Mariam. Emmy, second Dona Cronin. Is there any discussion?
DTSD Webinars: This is a standard voice. Vote all those in favor, please say aye, aye, any opposed? No.
DTSD Webinars: thank you. The motion passes.
DTSD Webinars: Agenda. Item 5. B.
DTSD Webinars: General obligation. Bond resolution. Dr. Winslow. The Administration recommends the approval of the resolution to work with the district's financing team to proceed with the issuance of general obligation bonds for capital projects.
DTSD Webinars: I have a motion to approve the general obligation. Bond resolution. So moved Mariamame Ami second Kathy sicker.
DTSD Webinars: Is there any discussion? And let me just say, before we start discussion, that this will be a roll call vote just wanted to make that as an Fyi before we start. But any discussion.
DTSD Webinars: Mr. Singer, this is Lindsay Drew. I just wanted to comment, because I think this is a big item for us as a board to to vote on this evening and make sure that
DTSD Webinars: we state for the record that this is a continuation of conversations that have now happened at 2 finance committee meetings at the last Board meeting, and also at a financial workshop for the Board that was informational, not for deliberation purposes last week, and that I know
DTSD Webinars: most board members have, including myself, have spent a lot of time kind of diving into this and making sure we really understand it. So I will be voting in support of this this evening and think that it is a wise investment and first step. When I looked at our
DTSD Webinars: interest income. One of the biggest reason for doing this is the opportunity to earn interest revenue. Given the the differential right now in the interest rate environment that we can actually invest at a higher rate than what will pay for this new money, and it generates around $62,000 a month in
DTSD Webinars: interest revenue. When you look at our August 2023, treasure report that we approved tonight, in August of 2023, the district earned $52,527 in investment interest earnings. So you'll when you look at that on the big picture.
DTSD Webinars: It's almost doubling. Our anticipated investment revenue. So when we're looking at the long term need, I think that that's an important aspect. To be able to generate that interest and take advantage of of the interest rate environment. The other part was, we had asked a lot of questions in
DTSD Webinars: previous meetings and discussions regarding debt service and the way that that would be represented.
DTSD Webinars: after going through all the information, and I thank the finance team from PFM. And and Mr. Verdell from Raymond James. The the debt service for this current year
DTSD Webinars: will be covered by a transfer from the capital reserve fund. So the the work that we've already done in building capacity for increasing the debt service long term for this project.
DTSD Webinars: Having done that we have the funds currently in this budget, as well as for the next to be able to take on this additional debt service. So I think that that's an important component for public to understand is that this is really just moving
DTSD Webinars: in the next step for for our long-term planning.
DTSD Webinars: Thank you, mister. Anyone else have anything you'd like to say.
DTSD Webinars: Yeah, this is Mike Rizzo and II echo. What Miss Drew was was a was alluding to. So I think it. Also, I just wanna remind the public. And I did so in the Finance committee that
DTSD Webinars: you know, when we started down this path of the elementary school. You know we are recommending looking at a full school, but if for some reason we get a new board in, and they choose not to approve. Going to a new build, we still have to improve the infrastructure of the elementary school, and that that costs coming out of the previous architect, which is our lps
DTSD Webinars: or rpl, get rlps. Excuse me. There, there, initial assessment was in the neighborhood of 40 to 50 million dollars to just do the infrastructure for the school.
DTSD Webinars: So
DTSD Webinars: I know it seems like we may be getting a little ahead of ourselves. But actually, I think within 3 years we will be able to utilize that 15 million dollars. And while it's sitting in the, you know, in a bond or in our
DTSD Webinars: in our possession will provide us with some income coming in, which I think will be beneficial to the the taxpayers, and I do appreciate the gentleman that came in and explained, you know, to the board, and really listen to what we had to say as far as questions, and then provided those answers appropriately, and really helped me kind of formulate my thought, and I will also be voting to approve for the bond going forward.
DTSD Webinars: Thank you, Mr. Rozo. I did want to say, too. I appreciated the extra dive into the details this last week, because I was able to see that we are going to make money on this originally, when we got the presentation, and I was looking at when our payment was due, I thought it was more like a wash.
DTSD Webinars: but I don't believe it is now, after finding out that our first payment isn't due until May of next year, so the money sits, and every month. It makes the 62, or 67,000 a month, and then the next payment is not due to the end of next year. So when you look at the payment schedule, it's it's it's harder to add it up.
DTSD Webinars: It's easier to see the income and the money we're gonna be making on this this investment opportunity.
DTSD Webinars: And I also wanted to. Just I said this in finance when Mr. Rizzo said what he said, I won't be on the board when the future board makes a decision to to do a new build to elementary school. But I really do hope that the community and the board, embrace a new school, and not put
DTSD Webinars: 50 million dollars into the old building and not take the opportunity to to really
DTSD Webinars: create a new learning space through for K. Through 5 in this district, because just dumping money into that old building with the way it's set up, I think, would be a waste of taxpayer money. So I do hope that we are just setting the foundation to future investing toward a brand new elementary school build.
DTSD Webinars: Thank you. Thank you, Mrs. Sicker. Anyone else?
DTSD Webinars: Yeah, this is Lindsey cook. I also wanted to appreciate. I wanted to thank you, everybody for all of the information cause. It was very helpful getting all the information and
DTSD Webinars: to Mr. Rizzo's point, I think it's important that because we are still so early in the phase of a potential rebuild. I think it's important to know that we're going to have to do something.
DTSD Webinars: not a ton ton of money that we're making. It is still a positive cash flow. So I'm also in support of the bond and just appreciate the information that we got to make this decision. I just I think it shows that we're putting a lot of work into appropriate long-term planning for this project. However, it's gonna span out.
DTSD Webinars: Mr. Singer, this is Lindsay drew again. If I can also just add to for point of clarification for anyone listening tonight, our vote is authorizing the finance team to move forward with working with the Administration on preparing the documents
DTSD Webinars: at the October tenth meeting is when we will be voting to approve a parameters. Resolution, which is ultimately the vehicle by which we go to market and and work with the finance team on securing those bonds and going through the entire transaction. So tonight's vote is not committing the district to anything. It's
DTSD Webinars: other than moving on to the next step, and even once the parameters resolution would be approved by the Board on October tenth. That will still outline very specifically what the terms and conditions are, so that Board members can feel confident when we vote on October tenth, that of what would take place and transpire in that next phase. Once that was approved.
DTSD Webinars: Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Cluck, thank you for that.
DTSD Webinars: Miss Drew. Anybody else have anything they'd like to say.
DTSD Webinars: Mr. Singer, it's Stacy Winslow. I just want to thank the entire Board for the time and energy that you've put into understanding and diving deeply into this opportunity. It's a lot to take in, and I don't know if everyone understands just how much time, both as a group and as individuals. You have spent
DTSD Webinars: working to understand this and and prepare the district for success, as we embark on whatever the project is that ends up being in front of us.
But there, there was a lot of time, a lot of energy, a lot of phone calls, a lot of
DTSD Webinars: digging into information, and I really appreciate the questions that were asked and the time that you all spent on this. Thank you.
DTSD Webinars: Thank you, Dr. Winslow. Anything else?
DTSD Webinars: This is Terry Singer. I just wanted to say, I'll I'll be supporting this motion as well. We we. We have capital needs for which we will need these funds.
DTSD Webinars: We are situated in in a way that we'll be able to pay the debt without any impact on our normal operations
DTSD Webinars: whatsoever.
It
DTSD Webinars: it. It is not anticipated that it would have any effect on our triple, a bond rating which enables us to borrow money at at the best possible rates.
DTSD Webinars: And also there's the fact that there'll be some nice interest income coming which our financial finance team said, doesn't come along very often.
DTSD Webinars: The
DTSD Webinars: so that's great, too. It sounds like it's gonna be in the vicinity of of a 1.2 million dollar
range somewhere in there.
DTSD Webinars: and and and we are situated financially to again
DTSD Webinars: pay this debt. If we if we move forward as Mr. Said, on October tenth
DTSD Webinars: without affecting the operations of the school district. In in any way.
DTSD Webinars: And I want to thank the Administration for their initiative and and thank our our finance team, PFM. And Raymond James for for their guidance. And now it's
DTSD Webinars: as we proceeded with this. unless anybody else has anything they'd like to say
DTSD Webinars: it's Miss Ag. Would you please do a roll call? Vote
DTSD Webinars: Mr. Bennett? Yes. Dr. Carin. Yes. Ms. Drew. Yes. Dr. Cook. Yes. this is many. Yes. Mr. Rizzo. Yes.
DTSD Webinars: Mr. Schmidt. Yes, Mrs. Sticker. Yes, Mr. Singer. Yes.
DTSD Webinars: 9 approved.
DTSD Webinars: Thank you. The motion is approved.
DTSD Webinars: Moving on to item 5 C personnel resignations. Dr. Winslow.
DTSD Webinars: the Administration recommends the approval of the personnel resignations.
DTSD Webinars: May I have a motion to approve the personnel resignations so moved Maria Mammy.
DTSD Webinars: Second living tuck. Is there any discussion?
DTSD Webinars: This is a standard voice. Vote all those in favor, please say aye, aye, any opposed? No.
the motion passes
moving on to agenda. Item 5 d. Personnel. General
DTSD Webinars: Dr. Winslow. The Administration recommends the approval of the listed personnel and recognition of any listed transfers
DTSD Webinars: may have a motion to approve the listed personnel and recognition of any listed transfers. So moved Kathy Sicker, second Maria. Mammy, is there any discussion? Yes, I actually would like to make a comment, obviously the appointment. There's only one appointment here which I will be voting yes, for, but there are a number of transfers which are just to make it clear they're not voting issues. They're just for
DTSD Webinars: information. Only I just wanted to comment that personally, I am disappointed that the high School is going to go for about 3 or from last Friday, when Mrs. Doyle had her last day until January twelfth, when the new High School counselor goes, there will be approximately, I don't know. 300, just under 300 students, probably a quarter of which are seniors applying to colleges
DTSD Webinars: who will not have their own counselor will be referred to another counselor for the Re. Further burdening those counselors, and as a as a parent of a senior, knowing a lot of high school seniors who are going through the application process. II would love to see the High School
DTSD Webinars: hire a temporary person to fill those that time period so that we don't have a gap, and we don't convert in the other counselors who are in high mode for college recommendations, etc. So that's that's just my comment. And I also agree with Dr. Cronin. Thinking about this. And just also the needs
DTSD Webinars: all of our students. Post Covid, I think we need to take that into consideration and to be down. One counselor can be a lot. So I would also like to see an interim counselor
DTSD Webinars: put in for those 3 months.
DTSD Webinars: Hey? Thank you, Mr. Schmidt. This is Kathy sicker. I
DTSD Webinars: think that you have a valid point. But I was thinking about this, you know. I remember when my son was a senior, and to nobody's fault, his guidance counselor was on maternity leave.
DTSD Webinars: and there are often, you know, paternity or maternity leaves that are left covered by other staff
DTSD Webinars: all across the district in multiple different jobs. So I think if you're gonna suggest this, you would be suggesting that we hire an intim person all the time when there's a leave it, and that would be a huge expense to the budget. So I think that would be a consideration we'd have to make, because we always have people going on leaves, even medical leaves. We have often might have 2 assistants covering a principal position on a medical leave or so. I'm just saying that
DTSD Webinars: this has happened a lot in our district over the years I was
DTSD Webinars: my son will had the counselor, who was out on the maternity leave Senior year, and he was covered by other counselors.
DTSD Webinars: Yes, you know I understand that we want everything covered all the time, but I don't think it's as easy as just just go hire somebody for 3 months like these, you know. If if it. If the students are being covered and the list is being distributed to the other existing people, then that's the workload that they've accepted to do. And they're gonna cover it.
DTSD Webinars: And it's not that. It's it's something that's been done in the past as well.
DTSD Webinars: That's just I. I'm sorry, donna credit. I'm only familiar with maternity leaves that have been covered because my students, my kids, have had several interim substitute teachers and counselors for maternity leave in fact, there's there's there's people in positions right now covering maternity leaves
DTSD Webinars: that are temporary like. There's a middle school counsel right now, covering a maternity leave. So I'm not familiar with counselors, not being filled for maternity. That may have happened that one time I'm not familiar with it, but I don't think it's optimal for counselor just to take take on a more
DTSD Webinars: more of a burden when that's an important position. But just you know, it's a different opinion. II think our school can do better to our student by our students to not have gaps in counselors.
DTSD Webinars: anybody else any other discussion?
DTSD Webinars: Okay, thank you. This is a standard voice. Vote all in favor, please say, aye, aye, any opposed? No.
DTSD Webinars: okay. The motion passes. Thank you.
DTSD Webinars: Moving on to agenda. Item 6. Delegate reports
DTSD Webinars: the Pennsylvania School Boards Association Report is attached. Dr. Cono, do you have anything we'd like to add just that. There's some more information about the Advocacy day that you remind us about. And there's also a direct link to register.
DTSD Webinars: Great. Thank you, Dr. Cronin.
DTSD Webinars: Item, 7 special reports. Are there any board members who would like to give a report.
DTSD Webinars: Okay. we will move on to
DTSD Webinars: Dr. Winslow. Do you have a superintendent's report? I do.
DTSD Webinars: And, as usual, the students
DTSD Webinars: said all the fun good things, but I did want to. Just add a little bit as the students reported, the cocoa bean game was very exciting win for our High school team, and of course I'm thrilled that the trophy is staying on our side of Homestead
DTSD Webinars: and not going back to the other side. So that is very exciting. But the thing that I really want to share is how proud I am of our kids. It was absolutely miserable. The weather was cold, it was rainy.
DTSD Webinars: Our our team played hard, our cheerleaders cheered the whole entire time. Our band members played and sang in the stands because the woodwinds weren't allowed to have all their instruments out, and I did tell them if they get them out. I'm not buying them new ones, and they get ruined. They played on the field with Melon Hershey's band. It was just really one of those events that
DTSD Webinars: I don't know if I was dreading anything more on Saturday going out to the rainy football game. But within 5 min of being there I was like, this is awesome, and I'm so glad we're here. And just so proud of the way the kids represented themselves and our school it was. It was really awesome, and it'll be an event that they remember for a long time. So it it was great.
DTSD Webinars: and we have the trophy just
DTSD Webinars: that's all. Thank you.
DTSD Webinars: Thank you. Dr. Winslow
brings us to item 7 C. Board President's report. I do not have a report.
Agenda. Item, 8. 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.
DTSD Webinars: Those who speak are asked to follow the same guidelines outlined at the initial public comment portion of our meeting. I'll ask board treasurer, Mr. Rizzo, to please keep time. Mrs. Ag. Are there any residents in the room, or taxpayers who have registered to comment at this time?
DTSD Webinars: Not at this time.
Okay, thank you.
DTSD Webinars: Jared. Is there anybody virtually, who would like to participate?
Not at this time.
Okay.
Is there anything else for the good of the order.
DTSD Webinars: Mr. Singer? This is Lindsay Drew, just tacking on to Dr. Windsor's comments about being proud of that one of the the students, and just the cocoa bean in the rain, and all those things I
DTSD Webinars: was following along with a lot of the high schools. Social media accounts on Saturday, watching the the various coverage from the cocoa bean. I was not there in the rain. And
DTSD Webinars: it was not lost on me also the staff members that that put so much time and effort into it, and who set the example for our students in that, seeing even just the way our band and our cheerleaders work so well together, seeing how over the course of the last couple of weeks. We talked about the band going to Temple a week or 2 ago, and then, this past weekend being there in the rain.
DTSD Webinars: And when you think about people like Brandon, Butterba and all the marching band, staff that are out there doing those things every single weekend. And when they're working with our students all week long, I think it's just really a special
DTSD Webinars: special component and takes special people to do that. So just wanted to thank them for the dedication to the students, because I think that they make a really big impact on these students and hope. That the students really can embrace those opportunities that they have, and and the leaders that are there in place from the staff position. Cause. I think that's one of the things that make our district great.
Thank you, Mr. Anybody else.
DTSD Webinars: Okay, we'll move on to agenda. Item 9. Adjournment. The next Public Board of Directors. Meeting will be held Tuesday, October tenth, 2,023, beginning at 7 PM.
DTSD Webinars: Please refer to the district website to register for virtual attendance. As the meeting draws closer. May I have a motion to adjourn this meeting? So moved Lindsay Carr. Second Maria Mummy all in favor, please say, aye, aye.
anybody opposed no
DTSD Webinars: meeting adjourned. Thank you.