Thank you.
Okay, thank you for having me tonight. I'm here to give an update. On the elementary school project.
So if we go ahead and first just review the agenda. Last board update I get, gave last month we talked a little bit about some visioning exercises that we did with the administration.
We did another visioning exercise with the students and teachers. I want to review that with you. We've also been talking to the administration about.
Having some building tours of some. Other elementary schools that we've worked on that we feel are appropriate and have Similar scope or similar design elements, that you're looking for with your vision.
So we actually had a tour of a school a couple of weeks ago. So I want to review that with few and we're also in preparation of.
Putting together a community. The event at the end of October and wanted just to review with you.
The why and the way and the where. So the first thing is the this vision and exercise that we did.
This we call this a visual listening exercise. And it's just another way that. We can talk to the building users to understand what the district's vision and goals are.
So the way that we do this exercise is we get a group of students together. We get a group of teachers together.
We meet with both of them separate. When we did this, we did it on a Friday afternoon.
We had about 10 or 12 in each group. And what we'll do is we'll put up a series of images.
I believe that we had around 40 images. Of school work that we've done or some other published school work.
And we want to get a response from each group. That we asked them to we give them some dots some stickers.
We ask them, place a green sticker on something that you feel is pertinent to your vision. Of what a school should look like or a school in Derry Township and then put a red sticker on something that you feel that is not a appropriate to your vision.
And some of these things could just be how students are grouped together. Could be a something as similar as just the aesthetics, the color scheme, some of the materials.
It could be something like the the amount of windows or the color scheme or excuse me the furniture the availability of the furniture as far as like the different type of furniture or the amount of it.
And once they've gone through that exercise of putting the stickers on these images, then we sit and we talk about it.
So we have some engaging conversation with the students. Hear back from the teachers and then after we go through each group what we do is we try to see where the.
Similarities and the differences are between the 2 groups. And then with that information. We can take it back to when we're putting a design together so that we can use that information as.
We're going to establish some guiding principles or some paradigms with your design that we want to keep in mind as we're developing this project.
So go to the next slide. So what you'll see. On the left hand, those 8 images.
These were. The students and then on the right. It's the teachers.
So they were shared the exact same images. For the students, it was the red and green for this for the teachers we used blue and yellow, yellow meaning it aligns with your vision, blue, it doesn't.
So just kind of really quickly go just through some of the similarities in the differences that we saw. I will note that
Your students were very insightful that some of the comments that they had or in regards to mental health. Ada compliance.
Being supervised. And it's, also nice to see that. Even though the teachers that were a part of this group.
See these students every day, some of the comments that they heard back from the from from the students they thought were wonderful and how insightful and engaging they were.
So it was that this process. We really value it. We think it's important to helping understands not just from the administration and the school board but we're also hearing from the building users and we're getting perspectives of the teachers.
And the students. So just a couple of things on on this page you'll see on the bottom left hand corner all those green dots and then you'll see on the teachers on the bottom left hand of that page.
There's the blue.so this was a school that we designed that had this reading tree in the library.
Visually it's stunning. Students, they love the imagery of it. But they also quite knew that.
That's a lot of independence and freedom to give a student to go in that space and be alone because it's not large enough for an adult.
And then you'll see that the teachers had a ton of blue dots on it. So again, this is where, what are the similarities and what, what are the differences between the 2 groups and then you know we want to discuss that with the administration.
So if you go to the next slide.
If you look at the on the students. In the second column, the second one from the top.
And then you'll also see on the. On the the teacher the teachers this was a space that both groups loved and this is like a maker maker space.
It's a flexible space that has a series of classrooms. That surrounded. These were like creative art type classrooms.
The students love the natural daylight, the design, the flexible seating and the different seating arrangements.
Teachers, some of the teachers actually had been to this school had very similar opinions of it. I'll also kind of note on this one you'll see on the top left hand corner of the students.
This, this is a school that has a lot of glass in the corridors and the students recognize this is way too much glass that has this fish bowl effect.
Teachers recognize the same thing. So students, it's very insightful again that they're worried about safety and supervision.
They understand the need for natural daylight and having some of those views into classrooms, but at the same time, at what point does it become a security risk?
On this one, I'm just gonna comment on the students. You'll see the last one, the bottom one on that second column.
This is. See this is like a tiered seating arrangement. Students were. Hello, lot of positive comments about.
Just that flexibility of the options of sitting in a seating and a seating arrangement like this. They loved the lighting.
They loved the subdued colors that it wasn't vibrant primary colors that can be loud, that they like this color palette.
And so that was something that we thought was, That was pretty, good feedback from them.
That's like for relaxed space, not a classroom. Now, conversely, on the top left hand corner, this is also a similar.
Flexible space for students outside of a classroom where they felt that that seating looked uncomfortable. So think that they recognized.
That they like these types of areas in the building for them to sit and maybe have individual time. Small grouping of learners.
Maybe even have a teacher sit with them, but. They were very observing as to Does that look comfortable to sit in this chair in this space as opposed to some others?
Then on this one, you'll see for the students. The top one in the second column.
This is a school lobby that has a rock climbing wall in the lobby. Now the students recognize this is not practical.
However, they like the idea of having some type of focused activity or calming activity in the school. So that they recognize that.
You're in your seats all day. Yes, you kind of need to blow off a little bit of that steam.
Does the school have some type of interactive design within it? That we can use that as some type of calming activity for them.
So it was a wonderful experience. We always look forward to doing this. We always love hearing back.
From the students. Your students, I believe, were all in fifth grade. So.
We, we will also set up some additional meetings. With the teachers moving forward, but this was a good first pass to hear back from the teachers as well.
So the first tour that we did. Is Solomon Sauce Cohen Elementary School.
This is located in the school district of Philadelphia. If you recall from our interview, we highlighted this project because we feel there are a lot of similarities with your project.
And this project that. You'll see has some information on there as far as when we did the design, 2017, 2018.
This opened up in November of 21 so it's been open for about 2 2 years. It's very similar in size.
But what's also Go to the next slide, Sarah. Was also very similar as They had 2 separate buildings.
You'll see the building over on the right hand of the property. That was a kindergarten pre K.
Early childhood school. Then the elementary is separated from that. It's an older vintage, it's sprawling, this was the site that the school had to be built on.
So how do you build the new school while the existing school is in operation? And then how do you tie in?
The new addition to the early K kindergarten center.
So this is just a rendering. Of our design solution. You'll see in red the outline of the existing footprint during construction those wings That are in the footprint of the new building were demolished.
Through modulars and moving students around within the school, it allowed for construction of the new school, then you can see that number 2 on the on that site plan and that's the existing school that was to remain.
And some of the challenges were how do you create a separate parent and bus drop off and a plaza entrance to bring the students and visitors into the school and you can see that that's what that diagonal plaza that's going to the top left hand corner that is that separation of the bus drop off which is the one to the north and then the parent drop off and the visitor parking to the to the east.
The school district because this is an urban setting the school district did want some type of presence on the street.
So you'll see that, excuse me, you'll see that bar of the academic wing that faces that.
The the street to the south and there's the the playground for both the kindergarten or in the elementary school kids.
In the back, which is the number 5 on that plan. So the next slide, this is just kind of shows an arrow of aerial view of the construction.
So you can see that in the foreground, that is the existing school with, some of those wings demolished to allow for construction of the new elementary school.
And so these are just some of the views of the school. We were there. Were there for a few hours in the morning, the building principal took us on the tour.
We also had the opportunity to speak to some faculty. We're also there during the school day so that we can see how kids move through the spaces.
The next meeting that we had with the administration and even after the tour, we got some feedback, heard some things that they liked about it.
Things that they didn't like about it. One of the things that we want the administration to understand is what's good for one district doesn't mean that that's good for you.
So we want to make sure that we're designing to what you want. And feel that this is a really good opportunity to get some of that feedback.
From the administration so that they can see, well, yeah, these are some aspects of this school that we would like to incorporate into our design.
However, these are some other aspects that we don't feel are valuable to our district.
So then on October 26 we're gonna have in a community engagement meeting starts at 6 PM.
At the elementary school. So this meeting is to. Provide your citizens with an opportunity to hear back what some of the deficiencies.
Of the school and some of the challenges. That the existing architecture is creating. In having you.
Providing, excuse me, giving difficulty to the teachers to deliver the curriculum. So there are certain things with the curriculum that.
Teachers are making the best out of it. So those learning spaces don't lend themselves. To your program into that curriculum.
So we're gonna review just the timeline of all the studies that you've done over the years.
I think that we found a study from 2,014. That's how far back. You've been looking at this project.
So this just isn't something that happened. You've been considering this project. For almost 10 years.
So we're going to review that, then we're going to go over some of the deficiencies that have been noted in those studies and ones that we've been discussing with the administration as far as those deficiencies of the educational program of spaces some of the building system deficiencies and some of the site deficiencies and the challenges.
We will also provide citizens an opportunity to ask questions and then we will follow up. Where we'll lead them through some tours of the schools so they can see those spaces firsthand.
So one of the things, I also left with you before we go into the next steps is just this project.
Status summary. And these are just kind of. Some of the tasks that we want to do through this pro this programming phase.
Some of this stuff was presented to you at the last board presentation on Dr. Withams and enrollment projections and where that 5 year average is and with a 25 per classroom capacity.
Based upon some of the educational program discussions that we've been having with the administration. What that capacity would look like.
Then you'll see that we've gone through some of the visioning exercises. We have some additional building tours that we're currently scheduling.
And then some of the other items that are kind of ongoing will be upcoming in the in the next few months as I mentioned we've been looking at the educational program and reviewing it with the.
We're gonna continue to develop that. Once that's complete, we'll move into the development of educational specifications, which is looking at.
All of the spaces that you need in designing the building from inside out. And then after that, we'll put the conceptual design at a cost estimate together.
So when we look at those milestones or those events, this is just kind of a timeline, as far as what we'll be doing, each month.
So. So, workshops starting in November to help develop a little bit more of the educational specifications and then in January starting to put a conceptual design together.
And then in. February start to. Refine that design into a schematic.
Any questions?
This is Kathy Sicer. I have a couple questions. I noticed, there were solar panels on that new elementary school.
Will we be it look like that? Will we be considering that? So this building was a Lead, is it is Leeds certified.
So the the implementation of the solar panels was to help it achieve that LEED certification. That decision has not been made.
But that was the reasoning for the solar panels on that school. So I think that that would be an interesting, a new to explore for sure with a new build like that.
And also the I thought it was interesting that students picked out the safety and security aspect with those glass rooms.
You know, and we've been through the assessment of our district with safety and security after all the school shootings and looked at our existing buildings.
How much do you thought you put into a new build? With safety and security and in the culture we live in right now with potential shootings happening.
A ton. And I think we did review this over our, during our interview. We have, multiple staff that are certified with Septed, which is crime prevention through environmental design.
We feel that it's just. Good architecture to begin with. So we do keep that in mind.
And when we get into more of the nuances of the design, we can talk about why we feel that this helps with safety and security as far as first responders, bullying, things like that.
We do want to make sure that we talk to the district about what their action plans are or if they want to change their action plans.
There'll be a lot of discussions about not just passive safety and security design to make sure that you have sight lines and establish like territorial reinforcements within the site.
But also implementation of card access, intrusion detection, fire alarm. Security cameras, locking doors, yeah.
Fire alarm, security cameras, locking doors, yeah. And then if, the district, anytime a district has a school We always wanna bring them into the discussions as well.
And then we we will also talk to law enforcement and. Yeah, requests like a cursor review of the plans and just kind of talk about.
Yeah. Some of the safety and security design implications that we've incorporated and just get their feedback on it.
And we've even talked in the past about not bulletproof glass, but like a resistance type where you put in certain areas.
Sure, we've done designs of all of that and it's always what's best for the district and what your comfort level is.
We've done things from bulletproof glass at the front of schools. We've done where there's been a safety film to help.
Hold the glass together or a laminated glass that still a little bit stronger than, than your typical glass around the, the entry vestibules and the, the reception area of the main entrance of the school.
Yeah. And I'm glad you're doing tours. I think that's important. We've talked about that in the past to open up the elementary school so that the community can walk around and see it firsthand and not just have a presentation.
So I think that's going to be very important. And then I know that this might be, a little off but Also, and I will cause I won't be on the board after December, so I do would like the future board to consider.
What are we gonna do with the Grenada building and if will you tie all that? Cause you're gonna be working on schematic design in February.
So I think those are all important discussions. Not that we're going to put any students here, but if we would be moving district offices over into the new building for some.
And then doing something with this building that's completely different. Yeah. The next building tour is an elementary school that has a district administration that was built with it.
So those will be discussions. Will. Be having with the administration if the admin office is to be included in the.
In that schematic design. Yep. This is Lindsay Cook. I have a question.
Is there going to be in community engagement farther in the process. Well, for example, like the in the winter when it comes to conceptual design and things like.
Kind of seeing getting feedback. We're getting the feedback and showing what the current state of the building is in the why to this project, but then will there be engagement events when it gets more to what this is going to look like and why you may be recommending a certain way to a certain design.
So the timing and the amount of the community engagement. Is whatever your comfort level is. Okay. If.
If you have a building that is new construction. Or in addition that exceeds 20%. Of the existing structure by public school code law.
You are required to have an Act 34 hearing. To share the information with the public on the need of the project.
What are the details of the design and how you're financing it? So that will be something that we will have to do, but then.
It's typically more towards the end of the design. Of the project. But we have talked to the administration about, yes, we can have multiple community engagements that aren't required by public school code law but if you just want to share this information as far as, okay, this is this is the need.
This is the need for the project, but now here's some. Design a design solution that is being proposed and said this conceptual or schematic level and this is what we're going to be moving forward with.
Okay, because I was thinking of Cathy's question about when we had toured back I think last December the middle school out in Lancaster I forget what dish.
Manheim Township. I had questions about that build as it relates to school safety because to me it just looked like it wasn't that there were aspects of it where we you'd have large group of students together and it really wasn't until someone explained it to me there that I could see how safe it really was.
And how the layout and certain things that they had in the building really landed itself to keeping the students safe.
So I would see that down the road when there is a design that might look different than what we're used to that that's going to be an important part of this.
Like, well, how if we have a lot of open spaces and if we have a lot of windows and glass like how are we gonna keep our students safe in that school so that I think that that could come through some sort of community.
So I can talk to the design of that. Middle school because I was the architect for it. And the district we did hire.
8 third party consultant. That are retired state troopers. That for the state police they used to do.
The threat. And risk assessment for, the state police. So there's experts in. This passive school design and all the strategies for safety and security.
And they put a report together for the school based upon our proposed plan and you know say this is where we kind of align with our ideas maybe these are some suggestions that we would have to change it and
They had based upon our design. They had very few suggestions on things to change from it.
Good, thank you. Any other questions from board members? Hi, Justin.
Quick question. I don't know how you determine when a new build is started. Used to be a shovel in the dirt whatever but in in Philadelphia there from the time construction was started till completion how long did it take?
It's tough to say because that Yeah, construction was occurring over COVID. So there were some delays.
Sorry, I believe it was between 2 to 3 years from shovels in the ground until they occupied it.
Okay, yeah, thank you. And thank you very much for the presentation. We really appreciate it. You're welcome.
Thank you.
And moving on to item 2 B, President communications, I'd like to announce the board met an executive session.
Prior to this meeting to discuss informational items. Matters of personnel. And consultation with attorney. And other professional advisors.
Moving on to agenda item 2, C, recognition of citizens. This is an opportunity for residents and taxpayers to address the board on matters related to the agenda.
So citizens wishing to speak. If in person should complete and turn in a registration form to the board secretary, Mrs. Aging.
Registration forms can be found on the side and table adjacent to the boardroom entrance 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.
Raise your virtual hand. For recognition. Once recognized or unmuted, it is only necessary that you identify yourself by providing your full name.
This is a reminder of the public comment is not a forum for personal attacks, antagonistic behavior.
Or harassment. Please be advised that you are accountable for any legal ramifications and liability that results from statements that misrepresent the truth.
To fame individuals or disclose personal information that is not a public concern. 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 limited to one opportunity to address the board during each of the public comment periods. Necessary the board may set a maximum time for the public comment portion of any meeting.
I was going to ask Mr. Rizzo, but to keep time, but since he is participating electronically, I was wondering if Our vice president, Lindsay Cock, could do that.
Please keep time. And with that, I'd ask, Mrs. A, are there any residents or taxpayers in the room who would like to comment at this time?
Welcome, Jennifer. So I'm speaking in regards to the agenda item of the climate study that, the district is having done.
And I think that's really.
Am I okay to speak? I think you are. So that was double checking to make sure it was on today's agenda.
That's all. Okay. You're good. So I think it's really a wonderful thing that we do a climate study and I know there's a lot of awareness about, you know, race and ethnicity.
And we have a lot of different religions. We have a very diverse district. There's another type of diversity sometimes I think people sometimes overlook or maybe they're not aware of that and that's neurodiversity.
And I have a son with autism and I have a son who is neurotypical in the district.
And. Is just another thing that I think we should consider when we're thinking of our climate is these students or often get labeled as special education, which is really.
An enormous umbrella that can be all different types of kids. So, I mean. I would like to see more acceptance and our climate for our students who, you know, have neuro diversity or they're in the special education programs.
So I just want to share personal experience from my own family. So last year my second grader came home at the very beginning of the year.
He was all excited. He's like, Mom, I made this new friend and we're gonna have a great party but we know we gotta have some roles we're not gonna have any girls invited.
Okay, and we're not gonna have any kids with special needs invited. And my other kid is standing literally right there and he is like, well, I guess I can't come then.
I mean, in my younger son, this is Not these are not exclusionary things that are coming from me.
I sent him to kindergarten in first grade and at the start of the second grade year, he's coming home and saying, I want to have a party and I don't want any special needs.
Kids around me. And you know that's Difficult. And I just feel like, you know, we've got respect, responsibility and safety in the elementary school.
You know, when we think about our climate. I would also like to include acceptance in that. Cause we do have a lot of diversity.
And we should, you know, make everybody feel like they're welcome. And they have a place of belonging.
And you know, my younger son, he's doing really well here in Hershey. He's Does all the sports and I'm really thankful for so many people who donate their time to coach the sports and he's made friends he gets invited to birthday parties.
It's doing great. And then I have this other kid who's never been invited to a birthday party who I ask him, do you want to have a birthday party?
Why would I do that? I don't have any friends. And I'm like, you have a point.
And I know I try, talk to another parent, you know, we move here in third grade. So we haven't been here from kindergarten, but I ask this other parent, you know, some very basic question about schools and she's like well I don't know any other parents so she's been and had kid in school from kindergarten through fifth grade.
And our kids are so isolated she's never met any other parent. Like. And you know, I just.
Like I said before, I would like to see more acceptance and whenever we think of. Our climate and our culture that you know we think of
Yeah, like we're othering these kids. They don't want to be other. Nobody wants to be other.
And they're not othered and but they shouldn't be others and like my kid his favorite thing to do is to go to museums.
And like read things and museums that's his favorite activity. Like he and he has hard time learning here So I mean, I just feel like.
I'd like to see more inclusion and acceptance. Thank you very much.
This is AG and anyone else?
No, not at this time. Mr. Nicholson, is there anyone online wishing to comment?
Not at this time. Okay, thank you very much, Will. Move on then to agenda item 2D.
Ms. Carpell, do you have a community correspondence report? Yes, I do. For the month of September, the district received a community correspondence submissions.
Comments and questions from this month include 2 questions about the 2024 25 calendar. A request for a form or request for records.
2 questions about a previous board presentation, a question about board meeting an agenda item and a question about school bus pick up times.
That's all I have. Okay, thank you very much.
Agenda item 2 east standing committee meeting report. The athletics and activities committee met today. Dr.
Cook, do you have a report? I do, yes. So to start we discussed surveys that we had actually discussed last fall at our athletics meeting.
We, Mr. Montodoro had created surveys and members of the committee gave some feedback.
They were finalized in the spring. And so the surveys will begin this year and they will go out after false sports conclude.
And the surveys will be anonymous and they will be for the parents of the athlete so we encourage all parents to fill out these surveys so that Mr. Montodoro can use the feedback.
We also discussed varsity jackets. So This year there is a company that will be coming into the school on an evening.
And fitting students for varsity jackets if anybody is interested in doing so. So there will be an advertisement that comes out.
Regarding that event shortly. So that they can be fitted and ordered if a student chooses to do so in time for the holidays, hopefully.
Also then for some new business, Minister Montadoro gave a fall sports recap and in short our fall sports season is incredibly successful.
There are lots of playoffs in the future. He also briefly mentioned the Hall of Fame that was last Friday that was a wonderful ceremony at the country.
He quickly touched on homecoming, which is October, the twentieth. Which will also be senior night. We didn't spend some time discussing.
Coaching search challenges that is not just a dairy township problem. It is a state problem.
The number of teachers who coach has declined over the past couple of years and it's just difficult to find people available to make early afternoon practices and have that kind of time commitment.
So, they're doing everything they can to continue to find coaching searches. Especially at the middle school, I think was where we had the most need.
And so that was more just an update. Also the, winter sports family ID.
So that internet internet based program family ID to sign up for winter sports is available and so I guess we've been using that platform for the last couple of years to sign up for winter sports so that is available now for parents to do so.
Lastly, we had a concession stand up date. There has been a delay with the concession stand.
The existing stand will be moved on Friday. There is no demolition date yet due to permits. The absolute earliest that could occur is Monday the 20 third but that is unknown but the plan is still that this concession stand will be done by spring sports.
And so that is. The recap and we do not have another meeting scheduled this school year.
Any board members have questions for Dr. Cook?
Okay, thank you very much. We'll move on to agenda item 2 F student representatives report. Representatives Sod, Colerasi, and Bartow, do you have a report?
Yes, we do. This is Natalie Colerasi and I'll speak about the district and the high school.
The Derry Township School District is holding a community resource fair on Thursday, October, the nineteenth. The event will focus on the community resources available to students with disabilities.
All are welcome to attend, it will be held from 4 to 6 PM. In the middle school LGI.
Our district celebrated custodian and maintenance appreciation day on October second. Thank you. To our District of Sodial maintenance staff for all that you do.
The Hershey High School ethnical fame inducted 5 new members on October sixth.
Members are as follows David Nolan, Katie Nolan, Laurie Spriker, Chris Bickle, and Katherine Crawl.
All new members displayed outstanding athletic performances throughout their high school and collegiate careers. DTSD freshman Armon Kazi has been named to this year's junior innovators top 300 a stem competition for middle school students the thermo Fisher scientific junior innovators challenge aims to identify top stem talent.
Armand was among thousands of middle schoolers. Thousands of middle school students nominated for the competition.
Lastly, Hershey High School recognized 10 students for September, Trojan 10. The Trojan 10 commend students for exemplary actions.
Students recognized or followed. Noah Chetland, Claire Dalto, Logan Richards, Antony Sepulveda, Caleb Tinsley, Nina Lice, Grant later, Alexander Coseris, Tulsi Patel, and Tyler Lucas.
All right, hi, I'm Lucy Barto. We have a lot to talk about on the high school so that's going to be our main focus tonight.
We also had 10 students who were announced as committed for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
So congratulations to Matt Cow, Edward Lisca, Bryant Lou, Yon Way Lou.
Cameloni, Nagar, Jean, Alexander Petula, she's Assad, No off Sarawani, Madias Vandaloo, and Marcus Winger.
The Hershey Girls tennis finished their regular season with a record of 13 one. So we would say great season to those girls.
Hershey Cross Country boys and girls finish their regular seasons with undefeated records making them both Keystone Division champions.
And Hershey High School, Minithon is hosting their annual fall fest at the high school on Friday October thirteenth from 5 30 to 7 30.
They'll have a fun night of trick or treating, pumpkin painting, crafts, and more.
And boys soccer won their pink out game against Waynesboro 6 0 on Thursday October fifth.
I have some more information about the high school. A boys golf computed in the district 3 team championship on Friday and were named district champs.
Congrats to all who competed and good luck in states and individual rounds. The annual homecoming court has been selected by the student body.
Each student on the court will have the opportunity to be escorted down the field during halftime of the homecoming game while a short biography of them is read.
The court is as follows. Ben Campos, Colgudman, Bernardo Jimenez, Joey Osley, Ayman Callahan, Noah Sawani.
Priyanka Nambiyar, Lucy Barteau, Katie Bartel, Emma Burke, Karl Cronin, Laura Nucinski.
A queen will be crowned at the homecoming game on October twentieth and the king will be chosen at the dance.
Our homecoming theme this year has been unveiled to be the Atlantic City. Boardwalk turn of the century.
This theme was chosen to honor one of Milton Hershey's favorite places to go with his wife.
Homecoming will happen on Saturday, October 20 first at the high school from 7 to 10 tickets will be on sale during all lunches next week.
Thank you for your report. Anybody have any questions? This is Lindsey True. I want to say congratulations to all of the students who have just had a lot of exciting accomplishments lately, but since you're here in the room, Masad, congratulations on being a commended student for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
That's a really wonderful accomplishment.
Anyone else? I'm just curious. Natalie, the criteria for the, they called the Trojan 10.
What is there? You might have mentioned that maybe I just didn't hear it. Is there a criteria to determine who how they get identified?
Each teacher is able to nominate up to 2 students and the student doesn't have to be it.
To celebrate like specific moments so if in their class that teacher recognizes that they're going above or beyond or they're really on task or doing their assignments and they can be nominated to spot like them in that area so it tries to get a lot of kids that maybe not not always be recognized to be recognized and something that they did well.
Oh, that's great. Thank you. Hmm. Okay, well thank you again.
It's a great report.
Moving on to agenda item 2 G. The listed items are on the anticipated October 20 third, 2,023.
Board of Directors meeting agenda. They appear up there on the screen. Thank you.
And item 3, there is no one finished business. Brings us to agenda item for 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. May I have a motion to approve the consent agenda items as listed.
So moved, Kathy Sicker. Second, Lindsey Drew. Is there any discussion?
Hearing none, this is a standard voice voice vote. All those in favor, please say aye.
Bye.
Aye. Any opposed? Hey, the motion passes. Thank you.
That brings us to
Do business? Agenda item. 5 A, the board recommends the citizen advisors as listed. May have a motion to approve the citizen, the listed citizen advisors.
So move, Is there any discussion? Mr. Singer, this is Lindsey Drew. I just wanted to remind folks first to say thank you to the citizen advisors who applied and are being appointed this evening but also just a reminder that there are still 4 openings for citizen advisors to on the communications and community engagement committee one on finance committee and one on general services and the application and form to fill out are on the
district website and was put out to all parents and email and on social media as well. And those applications are due by midnight on Friday the thirteenth.
Thank you for sharing that. Anybody else? So there's still time to apply to be a citizen advisor.
This is a standard voice vote. All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Close no.
Alright.
The motion passes. Brings us to agenda item 5 B. Approval of the parameters resolution to issue general obligations bonds, Dr.
Winslow. The administration recommends the board approve the Derry Township School District resolution to issue general obligation bonds, series of 2,023 to finance various capital projects as determined by the school district.
I have a motion to approve the parameters resolution to issue general obligation bonds. D, moved, Kathy's sicker.
Second, Lindsey. Is there any discussion?
Yes, Mr. Singer, can you hear me?
Yes.
Okay, this is Mike Rizzo. I do.
Well, barely.
Barely. That
Let me turn them up there.
That better.
Yes.
So, I wanted to talk today and, just thank Ms. Purcell and her team along with Dr.
Winslow on providing us with this opportunity. To review and vote on the potential for gaining a general obligation bond to allow the money that we will potentially be spending.
To help work in our favor with the favorable interest rates that we currently have. Also would like to thank the teams from Raymond James and also our financial advisors on helping us come to the conclusion and sitting through the multiple.
Meetings that we had to really vet out the questions that all of the board members had regarding. The conditions in terms of this bond.
I really feel as, the treasurer for. The district that this is a positive move. Knowing that we will have some level of spending.
Within the next 3 years and potentially slightly beyond that. And I look forward to this school. Plans and the opportunity.
To look at what we can do to improve the conditions at the school on a on a day-to-day basis as we try and provide benefit to the students within our district.
So with that said, I will be voting yes for moving forward with the general obligations bond. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Rizzo. We know you're away busy with work, so we greatly appreciate your taking the time to making the time to join us and share your thoughts.
Any other discussion? Mr. Singer, this is Lindsey Drew. In reflection over the last few weeks as we've been moving through the process on this one it's been great to hear from a lot of community members just in conversation when I've been, you know, at other community members, just in conversation, to hear from a lot of community members, just in conversation when I've been, you know, at other events and that type of thing that people are engaged and listening and wanting to
learn. And it really made me think through as we went through this process. I, as a board member for 6 years have been through the bond to find bond financing before.
I have been through the bond, bond financing before. I have personal experience in banking and borrowing.
I've been on the bond, bond financing before. I have personal experience in banking and borrowing.
I've been on the finance committee since we brought it understanding of a lot of the budget items as a result of all of those things.
So I recognize that at times it can be more difficult for. Us to remember maybe what it's like outside.
Of the world we live in as board members and while we've talked about this through 2 different finance committee meetings, several different board meetings.
For folks, you know, when they pick up and want to become informed and understand, it can be difficult.
And so I just wanted to review a couple of the things that I think are really important. I'm going to ask Mr. Virginiai and Mrs. Purcell to please interject if I get any of this wrong, but I think it's important to summarize and recap for the community.
When it's all in one place and doesn't have to, people don't have to go on a hunting expedition to find all the information.
I also recognize that sometimes conversation that we're having at the finance committee meeting level, the questions that we ask here, the informational workshops that we do, those conversations are very fluid and when things are brought to board members for the first time and we ask questions, it's usually in the aftermath when I go back and I either re-listen or review the notes that things make a different level of sense
to me. But unfortunately there's not that microphone and those things to be clarified. So I know that some of the questions we've asked over the last 5 or 6 weeks have led to questions from community members.
If they We're not privy to other conversations. One of those being talking about the net proceeds of this and the way that works.
We asked some questions at the September eleventh board meeting about the net. Benefit of doing this transaction in that moment when we were discussing it.
I was looking at it from a balancing a checkbook or ledger perspective and not looking at both of the both the financing opportunity as well as the investment opportunity as 2 separate streams for which they really are.
I was combined them. So I want to make that distinction because I think that's important, going forward to make sure that we're all having the same conversation and understanding because there's gonna be a lot more of these conversations to come as we move through this project.
But why are we doing this now? Why am I supporting it? Mr. Bedelli brought to us at the end of August.
This opportunity to the finance committee. Because they're. We're in a situation of positive arbitrage and what is that it's borrowing at a tax exempt rate and then investing those proceeds or being able to invest those proceeds at a higher taxable rate.
Typically, in there are regulations in place that are set up to prevent abuse of those funds for tax exempt organizations.
There's something called an arbitrage rebate. That means the profit that's earned from positive arbitrage environments must be paid back to the federal government.
So if you're borrowing and then investing at a higher rate. As a tax exempt public finance organization.
You typically would have to give those funds back. School districts have an exception there to that rule. Where they're not subject to the rebate requirements.
For up to 15 million dollars a bond issue. When it's used for construction planning purposes. Or for construction.
So we're in the situation right now. Where we know that there will be construction or capital projects, whether it be for an elementary school.
Or for other capital needs on our campus over the next couple of years. Which means that we qualify for the exception to be able to keep interest earnings.
In this positive arbitrage environment. So for our picture, when you look at the 2 separate items. We began planning to build capacity in our budget through tax revenue.
Or increased debt service knowing that this project was coming. With the tax increase. And millage increase that took place for the 2324 school year budget that we voted on.
We generated an additional $750,000 in revenue. Than we had in the prior budget. That money is already in the bank and is a line item in our general fund that is currently earning interest.
As funds in the bank. Had we not begun to build that capacity, we wouldn't have. Those funds there.
So when we're doing this financing it makes me comfortable to be able to do it because we will have a debt service payment.
Of around $312,000 in May of 2,024 that we already have the money in the bank for because we began the planning process already.
Even if we were to do no additional financing and everything stopped, the money that we have already increased in our revenue covers the debt service payments on this bond amount beginning with next year's budget as well.
So even if we do nothing else. We know that the payment for this debt service is covered through our general fund tax revenue cash flow.
The other component of this that I think is important is that we'll have this, 15 million dollar bond in the bank for a set period of time.
To be able to earn the interest that is currently higher than it's ever been. We've done bond financing before.
Savings rates were a lot lower. We weren't having this benefit. So this is a positive for the district.
And then finally We don't do this day today. But we have people who do. And so in addition to the administration's recommendation and Raymond James, bringing all of the information and experience there.
We also have PFM as our finance advisor who has fiduciary responsibility and obligation to the district.
This project and this financing opportunity has received their knot of approval and recommendation and that is a very important key fact, factor for me.
So. For all of those things that I wanted to have on the record. I will be voting in support of this and I do believe it is a sound business.
Opportunity for the district as we move forward for whatever the future holds. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Anyone else have any comments questions?
This is Lindsey Cuck and I just kind of wanted to reiterate something that Lindsey Drew had said because We're still really early in the process of talking about a potential, new build and I think to some it seemed like this was solidifying as a board.
That we were going to have a new build but I know from my tour I had toured the elementary school back last December.
And with the feasibility studies and I think this information at the community engagement event will be. More prevalent to the community, but there are great needs in that building.
So we're regardless of how the school pans out and what it might look like and how we might get there, we're going to need the money to do something with the infrastructure of the elementary school.
There's just a lot of need there. So I don't think that by any means we're solidifying something with a new build preemptively because we know that there are needs that are going to have to be met.
Within the next 5 years for the elementary school.
Thank you, Dr. Cook. Anyone else?
Okay, this will be a roll call vote. Mrs. A, please call the roll. Mr. Bannett?
Yes. Mr. Yes. Dr. Cook?
Yes.
Yes. Mr. Mrs. Sicker? Yes. Mr. Singer?
Yes. 6, yes. Thank you very much. Motion passes.
Moving on to item 5 C, casting votes for Pennsylvania School Boards Association officers for 2,024.
If it is okay with everyone and I'll consult with our solicitor here, if need be. I'd like to put all of these.
Unopposed positions in one motion. As a standard voice vote. This is what we have done in the past.
I just didn't know whether we would need to. Take a vote or on to enable the board to do this in one motion like that.
No, I don't think we need to have a separate motion. I think we can do it by a voice vote.
But if anyone in discussion wishes to pull one of the items and have the individual vote separately we can. Okay, thank you.
With that in mind then. May I have a motion to elect the following? For president elect one year term, Allison Mathis.
Or vice president one year term, Sabrina Backer. 2,024 to 2,026 PSPA treasure which is the 3 year term for Karen Beck Pooley.
SPA insurance trustees. There are 2 of them each with the term ending December 30 first 2,026, they being Mary Ann Neil and Michael.
That's an editor. Did I have a motion to elect those officers to the Pennsylvania School Board Association?
Second, Lindsey Cook.
Bye.
Hey, this is the standard voice vote. On paper, please say aye. Any opposed? No.
Thank you. The motion passes. Item 5 D, personnel resignations, Dr. Winslow.
The administration recommends the approval of the personnel resignations. Now I have a motion to approve the personnel resignations.
So move, Lindsey, Drew. Second, Lindsay Kup. Is there any discussion?
Bye.
Is the standard voice vote? All those in favor please say aye. Motion carries. Thank you.
Agenda item 5 E personnel general Dr. Winslow administration recommends the approval of the list of personnel and recognition of any listed transfers.
Now have a motion to approve the listed personnel and recognition of any listed transfers.
So moved, Lindsey Cook. Second, Lindsey, true. Is there any discussion?
This is a standard voice out. All those in favor please say aye. Aye. Any opposed?
Alright.
No. The motion carries. Item 6, delegate reports the capital area intermediate unit report is attached.
Talk to Cook, do you have anything to add? No, not at this time. Thank you.
Okay, thank you. Chend item 7, special reports. Are there any board members who would like to give a report?
Okay, after Winslow, do you have a superintendents report? I do, thank you.
Yesterday was our faculty conference day, so while the Kids were enjoying a day at home. The teachers were enjoying a day of learning.
We had multiple presenters, most of them from our own staff, but a few outside folks as well.
Who facilitated learning opportunities for the teaching staff. It's always a great day and I am always incredibly impressed by the willingness of our staff members to share their knowledge and expertise with their peers.
It was a really great morning and I want to thank Dr. Schumann and Mrs. Landry for pulling that day off as well as Mrs. Kunder for all the work that she does behind the scenes.
It's a lot of work to make that day happen. This morning was a 2 h late start at the high school.
Well, all 3 buildings. We do use the late starts as also additional staff development time.
At the high school lower life instructors presented on student mental health and at the elementary Michelle Nutter from the Attorney General's office presented on our implicit bias.
Both of these sessions address needs that we have as a district as well as begin to fulfill our Act.
55 requirements. And Dr. Schumann was reading a lot about act or chapter 49 today.
That made him very happy. So those professional development obligations that we have. We're gonna rotate through the buildings for the next 2 years, with this different sessions that we'll be offering.
The different sessions that we'll be offering and they further our sessions that we will be offering and they further our learning as well as meet our.
And they further our learning as well as meet our Act. 55 obligations. And this morning the middle school worked on refining their midday meeting plans, which is a part of our SEO comprehensive plan initiative.
I also wanted to remind everyone that we are having a community night on Thursday, October, the 20 sixth at 60'clock.
To learn more about why we are looking at an elementary facility project. Crabtree, we'll give a presentation followed by question and answer.
And then we will offer tours of the 2 5 building. We do ask that community members please register on our website if you plan to attend as this will help us to plan appropriately for the chores.
And we are very much looking forward to that opportunity to talking with everyone and showing both what we are proud of and and why we think that we need to make some.
Some changes for our very, very old building. But our maintenance staff works very, very hard to keep functioning.
That's all I have. Thank you. Okay, thank you very much, Dr. Winslow.
Agenda item 7 C board president report there was a couple things I wanted to just share first of all we received a Letter from a former student rep to the board.
Whose name you may all recognize, Olivia Forrester. I guess I'm giving away a surprise, but by at the end of the year, student reps are awarded a small, but by at the end of the year, student reps are awarded small scholarships in honor of their service.
And Miss Forrester received one last year and she's sent us a note. It said thank you so much for selecting me to become a recipient.
Of this amazing scholarship. I hope to make you all proud and can you continue to be an honored representative of your values as I attend the University of Pittsburgh for the next 4 years, your generosity will stay with me.
Thank you, Olivia Foster. And she sent a letter to ESS. Which is an acronym or maybe just the name of a company.
That, provides substitute teachers to educational institutions and we are a client of ESS and ESS.
Underwrites the cost of these scholarships for the student reps of the board. So she was thanking them and us.
So I wanted to share that with the board. And just secondly, very quickly, I had.
Communicated with the board several times last couple of weeks about opportunity to participate in the Pennsylvania School Boards Advocacy Day which was on Wednesday October fourth.
They were seeking to advocate on 2 specific issues. One was on the modernization of the cyber charter school law.
And. They've been talking about that. I think pretty much ever since.
Myself and those who are going on 8 years of service have been on the board. But there's actually a piece of legislation that's come through the House.
Is waiting to be taken up by the Senate. Chances of whether it will or not is. Probably unknown, but probably a long shot.
So that is one thing they, gathered together. School board members and superintendents from across the state to come join them for an in person lobbying day.
And also some some virtual lobbying. I met with Representative Mahafi. Obviously our district representative.
He is, a supporter of of the modernization of the cyber shorter school law.
Really which calls for additional accountability transparency. And and and a level level level playing field for the funds that leave a district when a student goes to our charter.
Or cyber school. It's not about eliminating choice. It's about trying to create more of an even playing field.
On those issues of transparency. And accountability and and funding. I also met with a representative of Senator Desanto.
I based on the conversation with the representative. I did not get the feeling that the senator will be jumping.
Out of the seat to support this. Legislation. But is open to conversation and dialogue on it.
So at any rate, hopefully at some point. This bill will make it to the Senate. And, Bill.
There will be some kind of compromise. And I just wanted to briefly mention I think it's pretty much.
Understood it's been shared previously. That for this past, academic year, 2223, we had approximately 92 students.
Attending cyber charter school at a cost of 1 5 to 1 6 million. Modernizing the law would not eliminate.
Those costs but might might bring them down. And when a student at present when the student leaves the district.
As a general education student, $16,700 follows them. And they leave as a special education student.
It's 34,000. So one of the things the legislation hopes to address is is working on the level of funding that follows the students that that funding be in accordance with the actual costs of providing the charter or cyber school education.
The second, item that we we're. Meeting about was just modernizing.
The.
Legal notice requirements that schools are required to abide by. There's quite a complex set of rules regarding sending out notices for meetings and resolutions and things of that nature, all important to keep the public involved.
But as the law reads now, you pretty much have to use print newspaper and you know that's in this day and age.
That's kind of. Slow and and It's not so, it's costly, but it's slow when you have to.
Change and and you know make decisions and you know in a more rapid basis so at any rate That piece of legislation deals with.
Providing more options to school districts on how they can satisfy those legal requirements for legal notices. That was authorized by Senator Desanto.
So that obviously is a piece of legislation that that he would support as our representative. I just wanted to share that.
It was an interesting visit. We had some.
Number of school board representatives were there and as well as superintendents and the I enjoyed representing our district at at the event.
That's all I have. That brings us to.
Hi, item number 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.
Those who speak or ask to follow the same guidelines outlined at the initial public comment portion of the meeting.
I will ask. Board vice president. Dr. Cook to please keep time.
This is age, are there any residents or taxpayers in the room who have registered? To comment at this time.
Yes, Jennifer Sloppy would like to speak again. Thank you. Welcome. Hi, thank you for giving me so much time tonight.
I didn't plan to speak the second time, but I just wanted to share my experience about the charter schools.
Because I move here from a district where 40% of their students were in charter schools at the time. And you can imagine what that does to your budget and you know I had to make that difficult to put my kids in charter school because it was the best thing for them.
So what I would like to say to the district about this is you can't control what happens in Harrisburg legislator like maybe they'll do something and maybe they won't then maybe it'll take 10 more years you don't know but what you do have control over is trying to retain your students trying to, you know.
If your family's having a hard time, you have an opportunity to work with that family so that they don't go to the charter school.
And, you know, speaking from my own. School district I used to be in, their special education.
Funding at that time was $40,000. I just hear you say $35,000. Both of these numbers are actually quite high for the state.
And So how that I mean, I'm not expert in this, but that's based on how much money you're spending per special education student.
And one of the complaints that my former district had was we're sending all this money and it was a huge amount of money to the charter schools for special education and they're not using it for special education.
They're doing other things with it. And that's not fair. And that's part of the funding argument.
But what I say from a parent is, you know, the charter school was doing so much better job at the special education.
You know, they treated us parents with respect and our kids were more included. And what I will say from my experiences, the more expensive your special education department is.
That doesn't mean it's good. Like. If you can get everybody to buy in a little bit so that the students are part of the inclusion, all the teachers are part of the inclusion, then you can really bring the costs down a lot.
So the most expensive special ed departments, in my opinion, are doing often like the worst jobs because also one of the most expensive things you can do with a student is send them to an outside placement.
And that's, you know. Very expensive for the taxpayer and maybe sometimes it's in the best interest of the child, but sometimes it's not.
So I just, because you bring up the charter school, I just want to share what I, what I have lived through.
The decisions we parents have to make, like we had to put kindergarteners on the bus at 6 30 in the morning.
And then they wouldn't get home until 50'clock. Like that was a decision a lot of families made this is better than my public school so I don't know, I kind of went.
But if you want to know a family experience of why you go to charter school, like, I don't know if anybody cares.
But thank you. Okay, thank you very much. Mrs. AG, anyone else?
No, not at this time.
Okay, Mr. Nicholson, anyone online? Not at this time. Is there anything else for the good of the order?
We actually have one clarification about the Trojan 10. Sorry, I just wanted to make sure we got this right because it is important to our school.
So each month students teachers may nominate up 2 students to receive the award. The students are then recognized for their character, kindness, positive attitude and contributions to the school.
Their photos along with the reason they were nominated are added to a Trojan 10 bulletin board that's across in the guidance office and the students receive a certificate in a small gift bag with donations from food services and the Trojan training post along with the Hershey water bottle and her she kisses.
And this is actually its fourth year of Trojan 10. It was started by Dr. Grab.
And Mr. Bogus and Mrs. Fisher to celebrate positive role models. That's great.
Thank you so much. Updating. Anything else from anybody?
Okay, we're up to adjournment the next public border directors meeting will be held Monday October 20 third 2,023 starting at 7 p.
M. Please refer to the district website to register for virtual attendance as the meeting draws near. I have a motion to adjourn this meeting. So move, Lindsey.
Second, Kathy Sicker. All in favor say aye. Aye. And the opposed no.
Bye.
Okay