Minutes 2017-01-09

York Suburban School District

Prior to the Board Meeting

January 9, 2017 – 6:00 PM

Provard Education Center

1. State of the District Presentation

2. Budget Status Presentation

The above presentations took place prior to the Planning Committee Meeting.

YORK SUBURBAN SCHOOL BOARD
PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING
JANUARY 9, 2017 - 7:00 PM
PROVARD EDUCATION CENTER

M I N U T E S
(approved on January 23, 2017)

General Business

Call to Order - Ms. Leopold-Sharp
1. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
  Ms. Leopold-Sharp called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
2. Roll Call
  Members present – Emily Bates, Scott Eden, Ellen Freireich, Lynne Leopold-Sharp, John Posenau, Richard Robinson, Lois Ann Schroeder, Cathy Shaffer, Michael Thoman, Peyton Stuart (Student Representative)
  
  Members not present – none
3. Public Comment. All comments and questions will be addressed to the President. Board and staff members will not normally respond to comments or questions during the meeting unless recognized by the President for this purpose. Comments will be limited, at the discretion of the President, to five minutes or less.
  An opportunity was provided for public comment. There was none at this time.
Board President’s Report - Ms. Leopold-Sharp
Ms. Leopold-Sharp reported no report this evening.
Superintendent’s Report - Dr. Merkle
1. District Affiliated Report – YS Dollars for Scholars – Karen Evans, Vice-President, will provide a report on the work of this organization.
  Dr. Merkle reported above and noted Stephanie Sullivan, YS DFS President was unable to attend this evening’s meeting. Karen Evans, YS DFS Vice-President was introduced.
  
  Karen Evans reported YS DFS was founded in 1988. The board currently has 13 volunteers and new members are welcome at any time. DFS’s monies that fund scholarships to students are managed through the York County Community Foundation. To date, scholarships have been awarded to 118 students. Renewable scholarships allow support to students over their four years in college. Parents of senior students are contacted to inform them of this scholarship opportunity. All applications are processed electronically. YS DFS is one of the quieter fund raising organizations in the District with reliance on the contributions from staff with direct contributions and contributions in honor of retriees and revenue from the Battle of the Buildings event.
  
  Dr. Merkle reported YS DFS provides an outstanding financial support to our students and extended thanks and appreciation for the efforts of the board.
2. 2017-18 Calendar DRAFT
  Dr. Merkle review above.
  
  A discussion continued and points were – it was decided to schedule a two hour early dismissal rather than a two hour delay for professional development, teachers felt raced to complete their work because they were greeting students at the end of two hours, with the early dismissal option teachers will be able to complete their work without feeling the pressure of student arrivals; Board members requested a printed copy of the calendar in their portfolios at the next meeting.
  
  Dr. Merkle concluded the discussion stating action on the proposed calendar will take place in two weeks.
3. The Administration will be recommending Board approval of a mid-year graduation for a student who successfully met all the requirements of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the York Suburban School District during her first semester of full-time concurrent enrollment at the Pennsylvania State University – York Campus.
  Dr. Merkle reported above.
4. The Administration will be recommending Board approval of the renaming of the French Society to the French Club.
  Dr. Merkle reported above.
Business Office Report - Ms. Mason
1. Items being recommended for approval on January 23
  1. The Administration recommends Board approval of the IRS Mileage Reimbursement Rate of $.535 per mile for the 2017 calendar year. The rate for the 2016 calendar year was $.54.
    Ms. Mason reported above.
  2. The Administration recommends Board approval of the closing of the National English Honor Society, National French Honor Society, National German Honor Society and National Spanish Honor Society Student Activity Accounts to be consolidated into the National Honor Society. Consolidating these accounts into one is the premise that the Honor Societies will work collectively when fundraising. This will also increase the number of students participating in given efforts while not having the students participating in multiple fundraisers across the various organizations.
    Ms. Mason reported above.
    
    A discussion continued and the point was – National Art Honor Society does have a number of fundraising activities that have a different fit than the other groups.
  3. The Administration submits the proposed 2017-18 York County School of Technology Budget for consideration and approval.
    Ms. Mason reported above.
  4. The Administration recommends Board approval of the three year Agreement with Cummins Power Systems, LLC for District wide preventive maintenance services for back-up generators at a total cost of $14,271.
    Ms. Mason reported above.
2. Informational Items
  Donation of $261.84 from York Suburban Middle School PSO for Frank Theater field trip.
  
  Ms. Mason reported above.
Student Board Representative Report - Peyton Stuart
Mr. Stuart reported Marking Period 3 began today which means new classes for some students and also the potential for ineligibility for winter sports student athletes. A winter athletic update was provided. Student Council is sponsoring a Snowcoming/Diamond Dance (SnoCo Dance) later this month, fundraising is starting for the late February Mini-Thon, Quiz Bowl had a match today and the Science Olympiad Team is preparing for a March Competition. Several students are working with Dr. Ellis In the early planning phase for the formation of a National Math Honor Society.
Committee Reports - Ms. Leopold-Sharp
1. Finance Committee - Mr. Posenau
  The minutes of November 22 are provided.
  
  Mr. Posenau reported above.
2. Policy Review Committee - Mr. Thoman
  The Policy Review Committee will be recommending approval of the following policy revisions.
  1. 007 Policy Manual Access
  2. 304 Employment of District Staff
  3. 305 Employment of Substitutes
  4. 306 Employment of Summer School Staff
  5. 317 Conduct/Disciplinary Procedures
  6. 317.1 Educator Misconduct (New)
  7. 827 Conflict of Interest
    
    Mr. Thoman reported above and asked for any discussion on policy revisions. There was no discussion at this time.
3. Additional Committee Reports/Announcements
  Ms. Leopold-Sharp asked for other announcements.
  
  Ms. Shaffer announced the So You Want to Be a School Board Member program is scheduled on January 24 at Valley View Elementary School at 7:00 PM. The York County community has been invited to attend if they are interested in running for school director or learning more about it.
Lincoln Intermediate Unit – Mr. Robinson
The LIU …by Dawn’s Early Light Board Meeting Highlights of January 3 is provided.

Mr. Robinson reported above.
York Adams Academy - Mrs. Freireich
Mrs. Freireich reported 12 students from YS are currently attending YAA, which is the full quota. The YAA winter graduation is scheduled on January 24 at 7:00 PM.
York County School of Technology - Mrs. Schroeder
Mrs. Schroeder reported there was no December meeting and the next meeting is later in January.

A discussion took place about the YCST 2017-18 Proposed Budget and the points were – YCST has worked very hard to keep an increase as minimal as possible and support of the budget is suggested; over the last three years, the number of YS students going to YCST has gone down slightly, the Administration noted that 50 students was our peak and enrollment fluctuates, there has been a significant increase in achievment and a real concerted effort to increase the rigor of the academics at YCST; recently, AP classes have been added and more rigor in the science department has occurred; middle school and high school students do hear about the YCST opportunity available to them; this year, the District has one part-time student at YCST with the afternoon at YCST.
Board Meeting and Committee Schedule
Ms. Leopold-Sharp reported above.
Comments and/or Questions from the Public. All comments and questions will be addressed to the President. Board and staff members will not normally respond to comments or questions during the meeting unless recognized by the President for this purpose. Comments will be limited, at the discretion of the President, to five minutes or less.
An opportunity was provided for public comment. There was none at this time.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 7:31 PM.

There will be an opportunity for public comment at the end of each report.

An Executive Session was held following the meeting.

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