Minutes 2020-04-20

YORK SUBURBAN SCHOOL BOARD
REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING
APRIL 20, 2020 – 7:00 PM

Due to health and safety reasons, a virtual meeting format will be utilized.

M I N U T E S
(approved on May 18, 2020)

Picture of the Week

General Business
Call to Order – Mr. Posenau, Board President
1. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
  Mr. Posenau called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
2. Roll Call
  Members present – Ellen Freireich, John Posenau, Richard Robinson (technical difficulties existed during 7:33-7:40), James Sanders, Steve Scalet, Lois Ann Schroeder, Joel Sears, Steven Sullivan, Michael Thoman, Sophia Guyer (Student Representative)
  
  Members not present – none, all present
3. A reminder to please silence your cell phone during the meeting.
  Mr. Posenau reported above.
4. Public Comment. Place your comments at the Public Comment Form link found on this page. 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. One public comment was shared.
5. Discussion and Action on Board Minutes. Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Monthly Meeting of March 27, 2020. [Approval as submitted/corrected]
  The minutes were approved as submitted.
Treasurer’s Report – Mr. Sears
Consent Agenda: [Would any Board member like any of these items considered separately or are there any questions on any of these items? If not, the chair moves approval of the below-mentioned items; Roll Call Vote]

Motion, Sears, Second, Robinson; Approval. Roll Call Vote, all present, yes. Motion carried 9-0.
Approval of Financial Reports as of March 31, 2020 [File for audit]
1. Treasurer’s Report (All Funds)
2. General Fund Revenue Report
3. General Fund Expenditure Report
4. Summary Reports – Capital Project, Capital Reserve, Food Service
5. Check Summary Reports – General Fund, Food Service, Capital Project
6. Student Activity Account Summary
7. Budget Transfers
Board President’s Report – Mr. Posenau
Mr. Posenau led a board discussion about how to contend financially with the COVID-19 pandemic. Serious short-term and long-term decisions will need to be made. The discussion included the following items: possible hiring freeze, salary freeze, and staff reduction, no tax increase, structural issues existed before COVID-19, concern for the education of students, by law the budget needs to balance, increase of tax delinquencies, staff working very hard in a new environment, and decisions at the state and federal levels.
Superintendent’s Report – Dr. Williams
1. Superintendent’s Report
  Dr. Williams reviewed above.
2. The Administration recommends the Board approve use of Act 80 days for the following five (5) days:
  – Wednesday, March 25, 2020 for grades K through 12
  – Thursday, March 26, 2020 for grades K through 12
  – Friday, March 27, 2020 for grades K through 12
  – Monday, March 30, 2020 for grades K through 5
  – Tuesday, March 31, 2020 for grades K through 5
  The Administration further recommends that the Board approve up to an additional seven (7) Act 80 days, to be scheduled in a manner at the Administration’s discretion. All such Act 80 days are intended to account for the initial ten (10) day period of school closure and will be utilized for qualifying Act 80 activities with professional staff, subject to PDE guidance and applicable law. [Motion; Discussion; Roll Call Vote]
  
  Mr. Posenau reviewed.
  
  Motion, Schroeder, Second, Scalet; Approval. Roll Call Vote, all present, yes. Motion carried 9-0.
3. Reports from Administrators
  Dr. Gulley, IR Elementary Principal, provided a summary of a report on Elementary Forward Learning Structure
  
  Dr. Ellis, HS Principal, provided an overview of the Forward Learning model, planning for various April and May activities, and seniors wanting to come together as a class for one last time possibly in the summer, during homecoming in the fall, or at the December concert.
  
  Mr. Robinson experienced technical difficulties and was not available from 7:33 to 7:40 PM.
Business Office Report – Mrs. Ciaciulli
1. The Administration recommends the Board approve the agreement with Wellspan Family Medicine-Plymouth Road Medical Group with Drs. Wilson and Seydel, as our primary physicians for consultation, supervision of protocols, and required school physical examinations (excluding sports physicals) at a consultation fee of $500 per year. The individual physical examination fee is $15 per student. [Motion; Discussion; Roll Call Vote]
  Mrs. Ciaciulli reported above.
  
  Motion, Schroeder, Second, Freireich; Approval.
  
  A discussion continued about how many times was this service was used previously and the Administration will report back after research.
  
  Roll Call Vote, all present, yes. Motion carried 8-0.
2. The Administration recommends the Board award the East York and Indian Rock Elementary Flooring projects to ECI Construction for the total sum of $192,500 to be funded out of the 2019-2020 Capital Projects Fund. [Motion; Discussion; Roll Call Vote]
  Mrs. Ciaciulli reported above.
  
  Motion, Freireich, Second, Schroeder; Approval.
  
  Roll Call Vote, all present, yes. Motion carried 8-0.
3. The Administration recommends the Board approve alternate No. 1: to provide resilient tile flooring and vinyl base in Library 116 at East York Elementary to be performed by ECI Construction for the total sum of $22,000. [Motion; Discussion; Roll Call Vote]
  Mrs. Ciaciulli reported above.
  
  Motion, Freireich, Second, Sears; Approval.
  
  Roll Call Vote, all present, yes. Motion carried 8-0.
4. The Administration recommends the Board approve the agreement with Ruppert Detective Agency LLP, effective August 15, 2020, for uniformed/unarmed officers at an hourly rate of $19.50 as needed for events. This price is the same as last year’s agreement. [Motion; Discussion; Roll Call Vote]
  Mrs. Ciaciulli reported above.
  
  Motion, Schroeder, Second, Sears; Approval. Roll Call Vote, all present, yes. Motion carried 8-0.
5. The Administration recommends the Board approve the renewal contract for Whitson’s School Nutrition Corp as the Food Service Management Company for the 2020-21 fiscal year. [Motion; Discussion; Roll Call Vote]
  Mrs. Ciaciulli reported above.
  
  Motion, Freireich, Second, Sears; Approval. Roll Call Vote, all present, yes. Motion carried 8-0.
6. The Administration recommends the Board approve the food service budget for the 2020-2021 fiscal year. [Motion; Discussion; Roll Call Vote]
  Mrs. Ciaciulli reported above.
  
  Motion, Sears, Second, Schroeder; Approval. Roll Call Vote, all present, yes. Motion carried 8-0.
7. Informational
  1. 2019-2020 YTD Budget
    Mrs. Ciaciulli reported above.
  2. Mr. Robinson’s connection was restored.
  3. 2020-2021 Proposed Final Budget
    Mrs. Ciaciulli reported above.
    
    A discussion continued about the budget process. If the proposed final budget is approved this evening, it will be advertised and posted for 30 days. Continued budget discussions will take place at the May 13 Property and Finance Committee meeting, the May 18 Board Meeting, and the June 15 Board meeting. The final budget is scheduled to be approved on June 15.
8. The Administration recommends the Board approve the 2020-2021 Proposed Final General Fund Budget in the amount of $63,034,472 as presented. [Motion; Discussion; Roll Call Vote]
  Mrs. Ciaciulli reported above. Motion, Schroeder, Second, Robinson; Approval. Roll Call Vote, all present, yes. motion carried 9-0.
9. The Board approves the resolution authorizing the Administration to advertise and publicly display the Board’s intentions of adopting the 2020-2021 Final General Fund Budget at a Regular Board Meeting scheduled on June 15, 2020. [Motion; Discussion; Roll Call Vote]
  Mrs. Ciaciulli reported above.
  
  Motion, Sullivan, Second, Sears; Approval. Roll Call Vote, all present yes. Motion carried 9-0.
Student Board Representative Report – Sophia Guyer
- - Miss Guyer provided an athletic report. The York Suburban Education Foundation’s student-run Impact Foundation has mobilized an extended effort to provide food to York Suburban families in need. The Field Hockey team created a video about the pandemic and how to stay healthy at this time. Student Council elections were recently held and congratulations were extended to Maddison Perring as President, Brooke Sargen as Vice-President, Leon Bellenbaum as Secretary, and Alex Gleba as Treasurer. Carly Bowen will be the new School Board Representative.
Committee Reports – Mr. Posenau
1. Committee Meeting Schedule
  Mr. Posenau reported above.
2. Academic Standards and Curriculum Committee Report – Mr. Scalet
  1. The minutes of November 13 are provided.
    A summary of the April 6 meeting was given and the next meeting will be held on May 20.
  2. Item recommended for approval on May 18:
    The committee recommends Board approval of the proposal for adoption of a new 6th to 8th grade English Language Arts textbook and electronic equivalents for the 2020-21 school year.
    
    Mr. Scalet reported above.
  3. Board members with current YS students were asked to provide their feedback on the Forward Learning process. Comments included communication levels have been very good and responsive, students learning much about good electronic habits, both students and faculty are adapting very well, teachers have stepped up to do the best of things, continuing to work out ways for improvement, and kudos to YS!
3. Personnel Committee Report – Mr. Robinson
  Consent Agenda: [You have before you the Personnel Report which includes employment and volunteer. Would any Board member like any of these items considered separately or are there any questions on any of these items? If not, the chair moves approval of the below-mentioned items; Roll Call Vote]
  
  A request was shared to separate employment and volunteers for voting.
  
  The education and work background of the recommendation for the payroll position was provided.
  
  Motion, Robinson, Second, Schroeder; Approval of employment items.
  
  A discussion took place about possibly postponing until the next meeting the two items under employment. The Administration reported the business office is stretched very thin without the payroll position and replacing the ESL Teacher that is retiring is necessary due to the number of students.
  
  Roll Call Vote, all present, yes. Motion carried 9-0.
  
  Motion, Robinson, Second, Schroeder; Approval of volunteer. Roll Call Vote, all present, yes. Motion carried 9-0.
  1. 1. Employment
      1. Recommend the employment of Bonnie-Ellen Martin, Payroll & Benefits Accountant, at an hourly rate of $24.10, effective May 1, 2020, pending receipt and acceptance of final employment documents.
      2. Recommend the transfer of Carol Brillhart-Friemuth, from Substitute Aide to ESL Teacher, at Master+15, Step 1 rate of $71,525, effective at the start of the 2020-21 school year.
    2. Recommend the approval of the following volunteers, effective April 21, 2020.
      
      Brooke Miller
4. Property & Finance Committee Report – Mr. Sears
  1. The minutes of March 11 are provided.
    Mr. Sears reported above. A summary of the April 8 committee meeting was provided. The next meeting is scheduled for May 13 at 5:00 PM. The time may change for this meeting.
  2. The Property and Finance Committee recommends the Board approve the repair of the High School Natatorium pool filter to be funded out of the 2019-2020 Capital Projects Fund. [Motion; Discussion; Roll Call Vote]
    Mr. Sears reported above and added this is a $40,000 item for repair not replacement.
    
    Motion, Sears, Second, Freireich; Approval. Roll Call Vote, all present yes. Motion carried 9-0.
  3. Item recommended for approval on May 18:
    The Property and Finance Committee recommends the Board appoint PFM Financial Advisors LLC to serve as the District’s Independent Municipal Advisor.
    
    Mr. Sears reported above.
    
    A discussion continued. This action would be considered best practice. It is over $100 and should be voted on by the Board. It will be required for the next bond issuance and is a new type of advisor.
5. Additional Committee Reports
Legislative Update – Mr. Robinson
House Bill 974 (an amendment to freeze local school property taxes) was tabled. PA School Boards Association urged school board members to contact Representatives to assist in this action. An attempt will probably be made again with this legislation.
Lincoln Intermediate Unit Report
1. The “…by Dawn’s Early Light”, highlights of the LIU Board meeting of April 7, is provided.
  Mrs. Freireich reported above.
2. LIU Joint Operating Authority Report – Mrs. Freireich
  No report
York Adams Academy Report – Mrs. Freireich
A Board meeting is scheduled April 21 to review how graduation will be handled and several staffing issues for next year.
York Adams Tax Bureau Report – Mrs. Ciaciulli
No report
York County School of Technology Report – Mrs. Schroeder
A Board meeting is scheduled April 23. The construction of the new gym facility has resumed and is ongoing.
Additional Information
Upcoming Events
Recognition of Visitors
Board Meeting Schedule
Mr. Posenau reported above.
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. One public comment was shared.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:27 PM.

/s/ Kathy Ciaciulli, PCSBA, M.Ed.
Board Secretary

Link to Meeting Recording

Posted in SB-Agenda