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Board Meeting 9-8-2025

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Board Meeting 9-8-2025

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to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands 1 nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all excuse me present Federal program um I just wanted to report out our current enrollment status uh as of day 3 of school we have uh 1,836 students district-wide um this is down just a slight bit from 1848 about this time last year adjusted students in our numbers um we do realize in looking at our estimating Trends our local trends that the student enrollment across the country across the state are declining um 1836 now this does include 22 um fava students um in that total 18 of those students are full-time off-campus um Virtual Academy for our hybrid we do also have a number of virtual electives that we are offering we have 50 students um who are either engaged in halftime or full-time elective courses this year with an additional 35 coming and taking uh virtual courses in second semester so our virtual platform continues to grow and accommodate the virtual needs of our families and students um and our Cyber Charter numbers right now are sitting at 31 and do you wish to share that 21 of those will actually be or or Juniors and seniors so we're anticipating turnover in our Cyber Charter numbers as the students move on and graduate so um that is the step a moment numbers I also wish to share that our first Trade Day is coming up at the end of this month so for families at home September 26th is a day off of school um for those faculty members who attended our summer Institute um they will also enjoy a day off while we bring those who are unable to attend the summer Institute back in for a day professional learning we are excited to bring back the poverty simulation um to allow those persons the opportunity who missed experience that and then of course we'll have some we need you to wrap up our the sessions so super excited about that permission I have a question so I don't have an exact figure we'd have to look to see it does um the per student cost for a regular education student about wellish to 15,000 and double that for special education off the top of my head I do not but that is I can we can get that to the to the board to write down that and my my guest Paul Park we're talking 600,000 my guess the more reason that we perform at the state level if they can provide that um it would truly save us a lot of money absolutely thank you go ahead um I just I just want to yeah I just I just want to make a point that when you say it would save us a lot of money I just want the listeners at home to know that it's the tax there is absolutely good point on the left side on the agenda is the report lists from the student representative um Mr broth has presented his uh report for this this month in writing because he has some academic requirements that have him unable to attend this evening and I have a motion to recommend approval of the agenda for the regular can I can I make a double comments certain um so uh I want to make just a couple comments 1 just publicly we're still looking to hire a special ed teacher if anybody know knows anyone who's on the market please make sure that you send them our way so we still need to fill a special ed position I also want to have a uh discussion um start the discussions with the board we've had long understanding discussions about prek and this particular board for the most part this particular board has started 2 Pre-K classrooms 4 year old Pre-K classrooms in the past uh 4 years so there's still our community lots and lots of discussions about where do we go with Early Childhood programming do we add more prek what does that look like what does it look like in our community so in those discussions I've had with lots of folks around around the county there's definitely an interest in addressing the child care issue our reach really extends to 3 and 4 year olds birth the 2 is kind of out of our purview so I put together some White Pages which I've emailed to all of you just to understand the context of Early Childhood programming in our region so where I need what I need to know and we can just kind of talk about this freely there's we're not making any decisions tonight it just kind of want to generally understand where you want me to put my energy is do we want to look for opportunities to add additional prixe 4 year old and potentially 3 year old in uh starting as early as next uh fiscal year next academic and fiscal year understanding that every Pre-K classroom is about 180,000 dollars in Staffing we we've been looking at opportunities for space um there's without getting in the leads there are some opportunities for some free space that may require some Renovations there are some opportunities for some lease space that would require significant Renovations that we wouldn't be on the hook for renovations but we would be on hope for a lease I I really don't know that we want to talk specifics about facilities yet the the much bigger question is do to look at adding $80,000 to the bottom line for additional classrooms that becomes the the the first um kind of discussion point then we can talk about where we put them if we choose to stop so we know that there's there's importance in investing in early childhood education um the question becomes do we want to be a significant part of that solution as the board and taking that on and community supported free pre-k program so just want to open up the discussion now we'll come back to this over and over again but I've been putting a lot of energy in it and and I've been you know I just really kind of wanted to get the finger on the pulse of the board to say am I moving in the right direction or should should I slow my role I want to make sure I put in my energy work moms I like to comment the economic impact of not having 3K for adequate child care cost Pennsylvania in excess of 6 billion dollars a year so it's a huge economic impact so 180,000 I think it's the return on investment is I agree with you 100% And I I think it's extremely important that we look at and I know you didn't want to discuss buildings and things like that but I'm just going to put it out there to the public there's been significant investment made by community members into 2 buildings that aren't being used right now 1 being Sacred Heart and 1 appropriate song which I'm sure they would be more than happy as used because I know they're looking to utilize themselves and also I know you available but unfortunately it's a small space but those 2 buildings are definitely but as far as the development it it's extremely important for our community it'll be very helpful for young parents that is a very high cost and sounded the daycare don't deserve the money that they you know there's cost associated with that too but I think absolutely it deserves our promotion going forward thanks is there Federal state funding available to help us out with that so that's a great question that's a real tricky Wicked because most of the federal and state loan really State funding that is being geared towards Early Childhood had is Pre-K counts dollars the problem with Pre-K counts dollars and there's nothing wrong with pre accounts so I want to be I want to make sure that that doesn't get misunderstood however the Pre-K counts programs have economic qualifiers so what that means is you can't get into a Pre-K counts program unless you need a certain economic uh meet certain economic criteria why is this an issue well there's a real need for folks who are working even doing some families they still can't afford uh for-profit child care so but they may not meet the Pre-K counts economic qualifier so that's 1 issue the second issue is that there is a really strong body of research that indicates that the best learning opportunities for kids are in heterogeneous classrooms and basically what that means is next fancy word to say next classrooms the classrooms that have economic qualifiers by Design stratify those classrooms by socioeconomic status everybody in that room uh meets the same or similar economic metrics what benefits us or our benefit to the community is everybody who walks through the same door regardless of what your parents income or your Guardians income or I will have you yes so and and I make no like there's no secret I'm very passionate passionate about mixing those classrooms and providing that opportunity for all and we've seen that success across our district in our Pre-K classrooms um but yes we can benefit from those dollars maybe because they aren't guaranteed year after year you actually have to apply for the Pre-K counts dollars but again we would have to stratify our classrooms by those economic qualifying methods no no federal funding available so uh I'm no not not not really anything specific um outside of pre-K counts and have start both have different Federal funding streams that kind of flow through the state if I'm not mistaken I'm not an expert on it but I'm pretty pretty confident in that but nothing that would just allow us to start briefcase however I will say that there's a big local to push for pre-k classrooms I'm pretty confident we could get some support in half so the the stack will how how Foundation funded our last Pre-K classroom setup and the aide salary benefits for 1 year as a startup so that was that that was a huge success it was funded locally so there is there are local dollars um to do of substantive classrooms let's say we decided to do 1 more 4 year old classroom because we we essentially had a waiting list of over 20 kids which was that classroom this year so let's say we staff that 1 okay there's there's round finger 200,000 if we decided to experiment and try a 3 year old classroom there's another 200,000 and maybe we had 2 classrooms 2 3 0 classroom that would be 600,000 every time we have again that that would put us um another 200,000 forward I think we could give some local support I don't know that we would get a half million dollars and surely not a half million on a sustainable basis because we are a taxing body just becomes the trick right because we have to be super aware that we don't want to overtax the taxpayers that's our mechanism for getting additional funds outside of competitive grants and they're just really aren't grants for that so we we would have to I think we could get local support to launch them I don't know that we would get local support to continue now we we brought up cyber reform cyber reforms by some of the the proposed uh legislation that we've seen in the past would save us about a quarter million well there's there's an answer right um if based on the February 2022 or 23 lawsuits that was 1 if if the state were to close the gap based on the fair funding lawsuit well we we still based on the bipartisan um study we're looking to to that we're they need to invest about another 4 January in our in our district I mean we're not seeing that on the horizon but that's that's what the the VF uh um stated there you go there's your answer right um Eric brought the the community center I I think we could negotiate with box Township the potentially um work with the the community center dad classrooms in there um we have had conversations with some of the leadership at the at the church around sacred are the Sacred Heart uh third floor need to be redone that would be our bill we they might want us to help with the fundraising efforts that you know we would be investing in that but then there would be a lease so there would we would have to lease that space nice space classroom this elevator now already um and there are some other options but it still comes down regardless of facilities we're looking at as a district taking on $200,000 per classroom so I just again I think we can get some local support Jeff I don't to get things launched I don't know sustainably the the funding mechanisms through the through the state are are it's uh ready to learn grants that's probably the easiest mechanism if the state were to invest more dollars into the Running Room block grants we could use those for Pre-K Dimensions um but we're but we don't have a state budget so I mean we United States body right now so you know we don't know what that will look like long term but as with anything with that we have to we at least have to make positive progress forward without Maybe making money black and white decisions based on principle so I I you know I'm hearing too say Hey you know we we believe in early childhood Ed um so I'm I'm sending you too are saying hey you know maybe at least look at options continue to look at budget options grants I'll keep looking at Grants and the other discussion points so I I just want to remind our listeners that we we talked a lot about in our for example comprehensive plan we talk about standardized test scores and we look at areas here we're not doing as as well as some of our socioeconomic years we've gone so far as to changing our curricula we've added more math classes for middle schoolers um I I just want to say and I think I've is that it makes more sense to invest in the younger folks than it does the older folks and it's not that I'm trying to Short change the older folks but there is ample evidence in the peer review journals um lots of evidence showing that early childhood education works um you know I was reading some literature I kind of went off on some of the papers and 1 sort of struck me um there's concrete evidence I'm paraphrasing here uh that unplugged applications so means what that means is non-cyber schooling uh we're 1 step ahead considering the power of having concrete experiences we're basically these experiences showed that they improved children's conceptual learning skills and thinking so the earlier we can start to teach our kiddos in the area it's going to pay off not just you know economically but in so many other uh uh spheres of of living and we have of us education here with the rural Advantage I think we just need to Double Down I for 1 support thank you I definitely see a need for more in our area um um and I also feel that with a software and more it gives them a chance to please go teachers to collaborate with kindergarten first grade what are we looking for when these kids come in we got that they're not getting that from but we can work together to get these kiddos where they need to be so hopefully by the time they get to sixth grade seventh grade we can get some gifts of these scores up in the other to where they need to be you know the earlier we start smart these days they can they can get anything so you know the more we start training them now 3 4 thanks and I and I would Echo that especially I would just especially if we do it the right way and I applaud our Pre-K programming for learning really promoting learning through play so we're we're we're not asking our our 3 and 4 year olds to come in and just and learn math and sit and learn the ABCs it's truly learning through play and it's it's actually a beautiful thing it's really cool to watch when you know what you're looking for um and I think we have the power to do that I think we have I think we have the capacity hiring the right people we have a strong teacher contract 1 of the teacher turnover which allows us to maintain qualified personnel um I'm I'm sensing that there's an appetite around the to at least continue to explore options we're not making any commitments we're not signing on to any leads we're not looking at construction at the moment because honestly I don't I don't really we don't know what the budget next year will look like we don't know what the the state budget is right so I we're not trying to put the car before the horse and we're not committing to any huge increases in any when you say reform this is just I I don't want to keep putting energy into something unless I know that that the team here behind it it seems like you are so I'll continue those conversations and look for the best entry points to get the job done if that's fair and I would just like to add I think this run that spoke at 1 of the board and he said I don't look at it as a tax increase I looked at it as an investment in our community and I know many of the the leaders in the community say that there's many of the young families are leaving because we don't have high school or you know enough data there there are not I think ABC Daycare has their full capacity so even if 1 can afford it's not so I exploring the partner so what I'll do then is I will continue to have discussions and um start to refine some sort of path forward once we have more information so um right now again we just don't even know what the budgets they budget look like I'll continue to look for grant opportunities I'll continue to look for uh reasonable facilities um because we don't want to get into something we can't sustain right so we have to look at something it truly is long term and is going to to reach the broader um St Mary's Area School District community so that's all I have thank you Dr now let's go on with the agenda and recommend approval of the 2025 recommend approval of the minutes of the regular meeting 4 202 Mr Pride second all those in favor business procedures recommend approval of the payment bill general fund from 25 they will fund August 25 to say well why is 24 sponsors 2024 board checks September 25 capital reserve board checks September 25 second curtain is good all those in favor what procedures the recommend approval of the following the revised policy G State the statement 34 first reading for information only um this is not quite a promotion in your Scholastic Gathering conduct is for American procedures Educators conduct freedom of speech and non-school studies the Voting is only under G students state business affairs and per capita Tax Services recommend approval of the occupational millyz and per capita Tax Service agreements with the state Mary's Area School District number Incorporated to begin July 1st 2026 we have a model all those in favor uh Advanced Computers Solutions recommend approval of the contract for technology services to the same school district and Advanced Computer Solutions beginning with the 2627 score here we have a Mr second all those in favor special education services medical review and authorization recommend retroactive approval of the access this is relatively new um so just want to let all of you know this is going to allow us to move forward more effectively with medical so that's that's what this agreement is we really haven't done this at scale before and thanks to the support um of Dr May's we're we're moving forward um I mean we've done it but this is this is notification this second all those in favor vision and orientation Mobility Support Services emergency and Riverview I hear you support services during the 2526 jumping right there um our hearing and vision services we continue to advertise for a part-time hearing uh support teacher part-time Vision support teacher if there anybody in the area who would be interested in that please um reach out to us the services that outside contract have not yet had successful candidates available um for us uh Angels of Care Pediatric Home Health recommend approval of the agreement between the state and various School District native Healthcare Providers and services for the 2526 school year second second services of the educational services period between the St Louis area school district impairment Healthcare uh that is soaring high school for the 2526 school year the most new story Educational Services revive recommend approval of the revised Educational Services agreement news story but 2 5 2 school year that was previously board approved on May 12th we have a motion second second all those in favor all right uh black pass will investigate honestly recommend approval up to 1,500 in security consultation with black Castle investigation if I could pause you there Dr horn um this is we're going to have a need with um officer love its environment to have officer a lot of back in order to help us transition the new officer who is up for approval later on on in the agenda black Castle is Officer limit so we're we're bringing we're we're Contracting as him as a consultant to come in and help with the transition um with the with the new supervisor there's any questions so we're not we're not experienced I don't want anybody to think we're experiencing anything we are there any unusual safety things required investigation this is Officer 11 um and we're we're Contracting with them to come in uh to to support us in the transition we were a second wondering it's been a long day for all of us I think we need to vote I'm sorry all those in favor say Education Association new supplemental contract recommend approval on the final the following new smda supplemental contract he ran as on supervisor for the middle school grade 7 and 8 he ran his on his advisor High School in 9 to 12 we have second we Food Service sponsored sponsor recommend approval of the sponsor to sponsor agreement in the same district Child Services Incorporated beginning October 1st 25 until Mr Brian second second all those in favor I don't want Services agreement recommend approval of the agreement between the St Mary's Aristotle provide Title 1 reading in math instructional Services the St Mary's Catholic Elementary School 2526 school year motion carries uh recommended approval just kind of 1 Services agreement between the secondary Area School District and Senate for the 2526 Support Services uh organizations this is for information only the following support organizations have submitted necessary information from 2526 school year as required under policy 915 volleyball Transportation recommend approval of the following 757 North Jersey 449 Tobey Road first 922 Road St Mary's 1800 Bucktail Road 1149 Johnson John 85 West Teresa to 53 you wrote first 238 West Teresa Road St Mary's 4621 Tobey Road 1515 Buckfield Road 103 109 Wilson Road St Mary's 954 f Road I believe it was 285 uh West Teresa Road about 985 I don't know if that's important thank you this 1 tell me again on on West Teresa Road I believe that you said I may be wrong but I believe you said 985 it's 285 okay and just from trying to purposes this second second all those in favor of personnel we will take them all together 14 a 14 B 14 C 14 g 14 14 F 14 G 14 h Mrs all those in favor special I I want to make 1 public comment before we move to Executive session to discuss the uh Transportation contract um but caliber Contracting uh in the summer this is a graduate of the district and he who has a successful working company does a lot in our region actually in all over the United States um so they came in and volunteered their services to dig in our new uh we're going to allow us to move our powder metal press and they move all of our equipment in the metal working shot the Precision Machining shop which has allowed us to spread things out clear to clean things out um much much more um welcoming and accommodating for our precision machine students um and he did that free of charge so we'll of course be thanking him publicly later in the year um more officially but I I want to put that out there we're very blessed to have uh graduates who are getting back to our school district um that was a lot of work a lot of work and we simply couldn't have done it in a timely fashion without 1 more thing Dr morning to answer your question Mr Fish regarding the number of regular inverses special education students involved in cyber placement 65% of our enrollees are regular education and 35 5% that cyber or is that that's Cyber Charter yes all right thank you um shared the word executive session to discuss the fact that they should come to have a good night folks coming 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