Agenda 2024-04-29
York Suburban Board Of School Directors
Regular Monthly Meeting
April 29, 2024 – 7 p.m.
Location: York Suburban High School Cafeteria
A G E N D A
- General Business
- Call to Order – Mrs. Schroeder, Board President
- Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
- Roll Call
- A reminder to please silence your cell phones during the meeting.
- Public Comments
- 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.
- Discussion and Action on Board Minutes
- Approval of the minutes from the planning committee meeting conducted on April 8, 2024. [Approval as submitted/corrected]
- Call to Order – Mrs. Schroeder, Board President
- Treasurer’s Report – Mr. Desai
- 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]
- Approval of the March 2024 Financial Reports. [File for audit]
- 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]
- Board President’s Report – Mrs. Schroeder
- Student Board Representative Report – Sophia Scalet
- Superintendent’s Report – Dr. Krauser
- Focus Topics
- Project Planning and Design Update – Mr. Seth Wentz of Crabtree, Rohrbaugh, & Associates.
- Recommend the Board Approve a Resolution to allow the administration to pursue grant funding for $1,711,500 through the Public School Facility Improvement Grant (Department of Community and Economic Development – DCED) for roof replacement and drainage improvement at Valley View Elementary School. This requires a 25% match from local funds ($570,500.00) which would come from Capital Reserve. This is a competitive grant. [Roll Call Vote]
- Donations
- York Educational Federal Credit Union (FCU) donated $250 to the High School TSA.
- The following donations were made to the High School Student Council for Mini-Thon.
- Donald and Ann Rumbaugh made a $50 donation.
- Ellen Freireich made a $125 donation.
- The following policy revisions are being presented for a first read. They will be presented for a second read on May 28, 2024, with the intent that there will be a vote to adopt these policy revisions during the meeting on June 24, 2024.
- Policy 808 – Food Services
- Policy 903 – Public Comment in Board Meetings
- Focus Topics
- Business Office Report – Mrs. Ciaciulli
- Consent Agenda: You have before you the Business Office Report. Would any Board member like any of these items considered separately or are there any questions on any of these items? If not, I ask that a motion be made to approve the below-mentioned items. [Motion; Discussion; Roll Call Vote]
- The Administration recommends that the Board approve the Real Property Tax Exemption Certificate for parcel #48-000-05-0074.00-00000, which has a face amount of $3,870.08, under the Pennsylvania State Veterans’ Commission for Real Estate Tax Exemption effective February 7, 2024.
- The Administration recommends Board approval of the Real Property Tax Exemption Certificate for parcel #46-000-01-0242.00-00000 under the Pennsylvania State Veterans’ Commission for Real Estate Tax Exemption effective 2019, with a face amount of $3,478.37.
- The Administration recommends the Board approve the Business Associate Agreement with Family First Health Corporation effective 9/1/2024 through 6/1/2025, to provide state-mandated dental screenings for grades Kindergarten, Third, and Seventh at the cost of $375 per session. Services will include preventative dental services for all grades at no cost to the district.
- The Administration recommends the Board approve the Agreement for Professional Services with WellSpan EMS, LLC to provide curriculum and technical support for the district’s Emergency Medical Technician and Fire Services: Pathways to First Responder & Healthcare Certifications course for the 2024-2025 school year. The total cost will be $800 per student and will be funded through Grants and the Curriculum and Instruction Budget.
- The Administration recommends the Board approve the 3 year term service agreement contract with Taylor Publishing Company dba Balfour for the Middle School yearbooks beginning the 2024-25 school year.
- The Administration recommends the Board approve the Estimate with Smart Futures to purchase a career planning and portfolio platform for students in grade 6-12 aligned with the Pennsylvania’s Academic Standards for Career Education for the 2024-25 school year.
- The Administration recommends the Board approve the 60 month lease with Higher Information Group (JGF Funding, LLC, Lessor) at a monthly rate of $1,879.17 beginning August 1, 2024. This lease represents a 33% reduction in print and copying costs for the district. The anticipated savings over the 60 months is $224,356.00.
- The Administration recommends the Board approve three amendments to the Professional Services Agreements with Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates.
- Add 3704: Add CRA3704- York Suburban Intermediate School to the terms and conditions of the Intermediate School (3704) Prime Agreement. The fee will be a lump sum fee based on 5.5% of the final cost of the work (Defined in Section 6.1 of the Prime Agreement) approved by the Owner at the time of submission of release of bid.
- 3704 Geotech: Supplemental geotechnical engineering services as outlined in the attached Geo-Technology Associates, Inc. proposal dated December 12, 2023. The compensation adjustment as stipulated in Articles 4 and 11 of the Prime Agreement:
Lump sum $14,000
10% markup $1,400
Total Fee $15,400
- 3704 Civil: Supplemental Civil engineering services as outlined in the attached K&W Proposal No. P23116 dated December 14, 2023. The compensation adjustment as stipulated in Articles 4 and 11 of the Prime Agreement:
Lump sum $248,695
10% markup $24,870
Total Fee $273,565
- The Administration recommends the Board approve the amendment to the Professional Services Agreements with Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates to include the supplemental traffic impact study. [Motion; Discussion; Roll Call Vote]
Lump sum $38,930
10% markup $ 3,893
Total Fee $42,823
- Informational
- Consent Agenda: You have before you the Business Office Report. Would any Board member like any of these items considered separately or are there any questions on any of these items? If not, I ask that a motion be made to approve the below-mentioned items. [Motion; Discussion; Roll Call Vote]
- Academic Standards & Curriculum Committee Report – Dr. Sullivan
- Communications Committee Report – Mrs. Freireich
- Personnel Committee Report – Mr. Robinson
- Consent Agenda: You have before you the Personnel Report. 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]
- Employment
- Recommend the board approve Ian Petrillo, Science Teacher, at York Suburban Middle School for the 2024-2025 school year with an annual salary of $76,170, which represents Masters, step 2, of the YSEA negotiated agreement. This offer is contingent upon successful completion of new hire paperwork.
- Recommend the board approve Andrew Moore, Science Teacher, at York Suburban High School for the 2024-2025 school year with an annual salary of $65,670, which represents Bachelors, step 2, of the YSEA negotiated agreement. This offer is contingent upon successful completion of new hire paperwork.
- Recommend the board approve Corey Neiderer, Paraprofessional (ILS), at York Suburban Middle School for the 2023-2024 school year at $13.80 per hour, as represented in the YSESPA agreement. This offer is contingent upon successful completion of new hire paperwork.
- Recommend the board approve Emma Leik, Autistic Support Teacher, at Valley View Elementary for the 2024-2025 school year with an annual salary of $64,670, which represents Bachelors, step 1, of the YSEA negotiated agreement. This offer is contingent upon successful completion of new hire paperwork.
- Recommend the board approve Rhonda Fourhman, Director of Communications and Community Relations at York Suburban School District, for the 2023-2024 school year with an annual salary of $111,393, in accordance with the Act 93 Administrative Compensation and Retention Plan. This offer is contingent upon successful completion of new hire paperwork.
- Resignations
- Recommend the board accept the rescinded offer of employment from Nakeba Ferguson, Paraprofessional at York Suburban High School, for the 2023-2024 school year.
- Recommend the board accept the resignation of Amy Scerbo, Middle School Girls Basketball Head Coach, effective March 25, 2024.
- Recommend the board accept the resignation of Brooke Sargen, Middle School Girls Assistant Coach #1, effective at the end of the 2023-2024 season.
- Recommend the board accept the resignation of Elizabeth Pappion, Teacher at Yorkshire Elementary School, effective at the end of the 2023-2024 school year.
- Retirements
- Recommend the board accept the retirement of Ronald Herman, Head Boys Cross Country Coach at York Suburban High School, effective at the end of the 2023-2024 season. Ronald has dedicated 36 years of service to York Suburban School District.
- Extracurricular
- Recommend the board approve the appointment of Andrew Shorb, Head Boys Cross Country Coach at York Suburban High School for the 2024-2025 season, with an annual salary of $5,406 (paid out in two installments), as represented in the YSEA negotiated agreement.
- Recommend the board approve Alex Hinderer, Assistant Boys Soccer Coach#1 at York Suburban Middle School for the 2023-2024 spring season, with an annual salary of $1,500, in accordance with the YSEA bargaining agreement. This offer is contingent upon successful completion of new hire paperwork.
- Substitutes
- Oona Johnson
- Shawn Mooney
- Gavin Grove
- Randi Payne
- Volunteers
- Katelyn Gable
- Employment
- Consent Agenda: You have before you the Personnel Report. 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]
- Property & Finance Committee Report – Mr. Desai
- Consent Agenda: The following Property and Finance Committee recommendations are presented to the Board for consideration. [Motion; Discussion; Roll Call Vote]
- 2024-25 Final Budget Adoption
- Resolution authorizing the Administration to advertise and publicly display the Board’s intentions of adopting the 2024-25 Final General Fund Budget at the Regular Board Meeting scheduled for May 28, 2024.
- The Proposed Final General Fund Budget for 2024-25 includes all allocations for planned expenditures of $73,233,243, including a proposed tax increase of 3.5%.
- Budgetary reserve of $200,000 for unanticipated expenses in the 2024-25 General Fund Budget.
- School Photography Services
- Recommends that the board accept the proposals from Colleen & Co. for photography services for grades K-11 and Mike Inkrote Photography for senior and event photos.
- 2024-25 Final Budget Adoption
- Consent Agenda: The following Property and Finance Committee recommendations are presented to the Board for consideration. [Motion; Discussion; Roll Call Vote]
- Lincoln Intermediate Unit Report – Mrs. Freireich
- The highlights are presented from the LIU Special Board Meeting held on April 17, 2024.
- LIU Joint Operating Authority Report
- York Adams Academy Report – Mrs. Freireich
- Legislative Update – Mr. Robinson
- York Adams Tax Bureau Report – Mrs. Ciaciulli
- York County School of Technology Report – Mrs. Schroeder
- Recognition of Visitors
- Upcoming Events
- Board Meeting & Committee Meeting Schedules
- Public Comments
- 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.
- Board Comments / Recognitions
- Adjournment
Mr. Sanders, can you help me understand what your point is? You lament about non-communication and encourage our neighbors to freak out about not communicating, then complain when they hire someone to take on that task. Bruh. I appreciate you asking questions, however, it feels disingenuous.
For a group SO concerned with this building project (YS concerned citizens / teachers not buildings), I find it appalling that 75-80% of the people complaining during public comment got up and left in the middle of Dr. Krauser’s and Mr. Wentz’s presentations. This is what they ASKED for. They wanted information and it was clearly presented to them, and they just LEFT. As one woman so accusingly stated in her comments, “this speaks volumes about who they are!”
My family and I are here to voice our support for the new school projects, fully knowing the cost moving forward. It’s a drop in the bucket to make sure my neighborhood kids get a best-in-the-nation education.
THANK YOU ^_^
Speaking out for suburban school district nurses. I do not think anyone has any idea how busy the nurse is. Especially in the middle school. We average 50-65 students daily and have to constantly monitor blood glucose numbers on an iPad for 6 diabetics. Our phone never stops with parents calling. Students are required to make smart passes and wait for acceptance so the nurse can triage the large amount of “business.” Staff are aware of the protocol but consistanly send students without passes or call to enquire why that students pass has not been accepted yet. The nurses screen every single student for one or more required things every year: vision, hearing, height, weight, and scoliosis checks. Countless hours are spent contacting guardians on MANY occasions, for missing manditory physicals , immunizations, screening referrals, scoliosis. Setting up and then assisting with physical and dental checks done at the school. Endless mandatory reports and forms coming in and going out. We have 2 thirty minute times where we are not to see students to try to catch up on the behind the scenes paperwork, but NO ONE honors that time. Staff consistently send students for non emergency reasons during those Cleary posted times. That also happens during our lunch. Rarely does the nurse get lunch unless they can leave the building because if they know you are still there during posted lunch time, they will continue to send students and blow up the phone. Worst thing is that we legitimately do not feel we have any Staff support. The middle school will say and do things to keep the parent happy even when it means throwing the nurse under the bus , even if the nurse is doing EXACTLY what they are supposed to do. I do not exaggerate when I tell you we are kucky to get to use the bathroom in out office due to the non stop traffic and calls. This is the single most challenging nursing position we could ever hold you have to be a detective a counselor and a day care worker. Most districts have a full time RN and LPN in each school. There is a reason for that! So much of what the nurse has to do is so the district gets money for these tasks being completed. So nurses work at home and through lunch trying to get it complete, or face the Rath of the higher ups for lost funds. It is impossible in the middle school to get everything completed with one nurse. There are much sicker students in schools with much more serious conditions that need to be focused on, but cannot be do to the amount of work and nonsense happening. I seriously and sincerely hope you would rethink only one nurse in that office. I feel like as long as it does not change, you will never keep someone in the position. And unfortunately, that will be half the problem. You need someone there who has been there long enough to get to KNOW the students, which helps to figure out what illness is real and which is avoidance. Believe me when I say school nursing is NOT what anyone thinks. Parents try to use us as there students primary doctor. Some staff do as well. I had a rude awakening going into the position. The school nurse of yester year is gone. Please talk to your nurse in the school. Especially the middle school. Spend some time in the office and you will be shocked by the craziness that goes on there EVERY DAY! Nowhere else in the medical field is the ration of patients to medical staff 500:1 !!!! I came in through agency and would love to stay. But apparently, even though you could not find a full time LPN other than me, I was not given the opportunity. I wish the next person, if one can ever be found, more luck and more support than what we receive at this time. Again, I can not stress enough, YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW SERIOUSLY OVER BURDENED THAT NURSE OFFICE HAS BEEN!
My name is Andrew Ruth and I am a 2002 graduate of York Suburban who attended Indian Rock Elementary.
The purpose of this post is to highlight the impact of a current board decision to open a new intermediate school that would consolidate the East York Elementary and Indian Rock Elementary schools.
On March 22nd, 2024, my wife and I were extended an invitation to tour the Indian Rock Elementary School. Less than a month later, on Friday, April 12th, 2024, my wife and I attended that tour led by the principal, Dr. Gulley. During this 2-hour window, he provided a very informative tour of the existing facilities and the infrastructure upgrades required to continue running an effective learning environment. During our tour, we discussed previous attempts to address these facility upgrades and that at points they were slated to be funded. However, today we can see those upgrades never came to fruition, raising the question, what caused previous boards to re-prioritize that funding, leaving the school in the state that it is today?
Another topic of conversation that came up during this tour was the prioritization of additional funding received from leasing 2 large, modernized classrooms to LIU over offering those facilities to existing children enrolled in the school district. Again, I raise the question, why are current Suburban children who need additional learning support in makeshift overcrowded classrooms being over-looked and under-valued for the pursuit of additional funding?
While the plan to build this new consolidated intermediate school may address some of the concerns raised above there are other fiscal considerations that should be taken into account to address both short- and long-term solutions. While prior boards may have valued additional funding over the much-needed upgrades to school facilities, I encourage the current board to exercise fiscal responsibility by continuing to invest into existing facilities instead of trying to increase taxes and force construction of a new building.
My wife and I would like to thank Dr. Gulley for his time during the tour and all the time he has dedicated to serving the York Suburban School District. We were saddened to hear of Dr. Gulley’s retirement from Indian Rock, however, we wish him the best of luck as he continues his educational career. Indian Rock Elementary is a great community with a wonderful teaching staff and under the robust leadership of Dr. Gulley a thriving educational institution that we, as parents, hope will continue.
I do not see why the High School up grad can not be done first, then the Intermediate School, I am on SSI and the increase rarely is above 3%, my pension from my past employment never increases, my medical insurance, dental, and pharmaceutical go up each year more than my SSI and my County and Springettsbury Twp taxes go up each year.
Bottom line I can not afford higher school property taxes on top of every thing included in the cost of the living.
Buildings DO NOT improve academic out comes.
I do not understand why both $45 million projects need to be done simultaneously. Why can’t the upgrade to the High School be done first, meaning only needing half of the proposed tax increase. When that’s finished, the yearly taxes have already been raised to proceed with the Intermediate School. I personally do not see any need for a new school to replace the two existing schools. The elementary school I attended in the 60s is still being used by the Dallastown school district. I don’t see that a new building will add any educational value to the students. Also the Board needs to verify that the online calculator for construction costs also includes yearly administrative costs. If not, then the Board needs to be honest with the Public and create a calculator with both construction and administrative increases shown together.
Buildings do not educate students, teachers do. Would’nt it better to be sure that students are feed so that they are capable of focusing enough to learn. Do you know that 38.70 percent of students in the York Suburban school district qualify for free or reduced lunch? I think the better expenditure of available funds would be to make the needed repairs to buildings that were known to be needed ten years ago and make sure all are adequately fed.
Also, do you really think school age children will actually pay attention to what is occurring in a classroom when they can window gaze at what they consider to be the far more interesting activity occurring outside?