Minutes 2012-02-13

YORK SUBURBAN SCHOOL BOARD
SPECIAL BOARD MEETING FOLLOWED BY PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING
FEBRUARY 13, 2012 – 7:30 PM
HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA

SPECIAL BOARD MEETING
MINUTES
(approved February 27, 2012)

Call to Order – Mr. DeHaas
1. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
  Mr. DeHaas called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
2. Roll Call
  Members present – Emily Bates, Jennifer Clancy, John DeHaas, Bill Kirk, Lynne Leopold-Sharp, Lois Ann Schroeder, Joel Sears, Cathy Shaffer, Michael Hogg (Student Representative)
  Members not present – Roger Miller
Facilities Committee Report – Ms. Leopold-Sharp
1. Bid Award – High School/Education Center Cooling Tower. The administration recommends the bid for the High School/Education Center Cooling Tower to Frey Lutz in the amount of $123,300. [Motion and Vote]
  Ms. Leopold-Sharp reported above information and added there have been issues with this piece of equipment and it was decided to replace it rather continuing to repair it.
  Mr. Younkin added the funds for this project will come from Capital Projects Fund.
  Motiion, Leopold-Sharp, Second, Bates; Approval for the bid for the High School/Education Center Cooling Tower go to Frey Lutz in the amount of $123,300. Roll Call Vote, all present, yes. Motion carried 8-0.
Personnel Committee Report – Mrs. Shaffer
1. Consent Agenda: You have before you the Personnel Report which includes employment, requests for leave of absence and retirements. 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; second; vote.
  Motion, Shaffer, Second, Bates, and unanimously approved (8-0); Approval of the Consent Agenda on the Personnel Committee Report.
  Mrs. Shaffer reported a total number of 90 years of service are documented for the retiring teachers and a combined 160 years of service for all retiring personnel this evening. Thanks is extended to each one of the retirees for the their loyalty and time spent at York Suburban School District.
  
  Mr. Younkin commented that Joan Klinke has been with the district since 1980 as Coordinator of Food Services and has served the district very well. Mrs. Klinke is one of the best directors I have had the privilege of working with at a school district. He thanked Joan for her years of service to the district.
2. Employment
  1. Recommend the employment of Betty Arnold as a Lunchroom Aide at East York Elementary School at the hourly rate of $10.49, effective January 31, 2012.
3. Requests for Leave of Absence
  1. Recommend the Board approve the request of Holly Davis, Art Teacher at the High School, for an intermittent family medical leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act starting February 8, 2012.
  2. Recommend the Board approve the request of Nancy Figdore, Food Service Employee at the High School, for an unpaid leave of absence from March 19, 2012 through approximately March 23, 2012.
  3. Recommend the Board approve the request of Amy Mason, 4th Grade Teacher at East York Elementary School, for a family medical leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act starting January 31, 2012 through approximately February 21, 2012.
4. Retirements
  1. Recommend Board approval of the retirement of Lynnea Bobb, Emotional Support Teacher at the High School, effective at the end of the 2011-2012 school year. Mrs. Bobb is retiring after having served 31 years in education and 4 with York Suburban School District.
  2. Recommend Board approval of the retirement of Lisa Lawmaster Hess, Guidance Counselor at East York Elementary School and Yorkshire Elementary School, effective at the end of the 2011-2012 school year. Mrs. Hess is retiring after having served 27 years in education and 19 with York Suburban School District.
  3. Recommend Board approval of the retirement of Joan Klinke, Coordinator of Food Services for the district, effective July 15, 2012. Mrs. Klinke is retiring after having served 32 years with York Suburban School District.
  4. Recommend Board approval of the retirement of Alice Lomax, Teaching Assistant at the Valley View Elementary School, effective at the end of the 2011-2012 school year. Mrs. Lomax is retiring after having served 11 years with York Suburban School District.
  5. Recommend Board approval of the retirement of Pamela Rehm, Secretary to the Director of Student Services at the Education Center, effective June 30, 2012. Mrs. Rehm is retiring after having served 27 years with York Suburban School District.
  6. Recommend Board approval of the retirement of Debra Weidman, English Teacher at the Middle School, effective at the end of the 2011-2012 school year. Mrs. Weidman is retiring after having served 32 years in education, all with York Suburban School District. Approval of this retirement includes simultaneous approval of the administrative recommendation to waive Mrs. Weidman’s obligation to return to service for one year following this year’s sabbatical leave. This recommendation is based on documented medical needs.
Superintendent’s Report – Dr. Orban
1. Adjudication Re: Student No. 202785. Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent and based on the Student Disciplinary Hearing conducted by Dr. Michele Merkle, as the Board appointed hearing officer, the administration recommends the Board accept the Adjudication for immediate expulsion of Student No. 202785 for a violation of School Board Policy and the Code of Student Conduct as more fully set forth in the Adjudication. [Motion and Vote]
  Motion, Clancy, Second, Leopold-Sharp; Approval of the Adjudication for immediate expulsion of Student No. 202785 for a violation of School Board Policy and the Code of Student Conduct as more fully set forth in the Adjudication. Roll Call Vote, all present, yes. Motion carried 8-0.
Adjournment – Mr. DeHaas
Mr. DeHaas adjourned the Special Board Meeting.

PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING
MINUTES
(pending approval on February 27, 2012)

Call to Order – Mr. DeHaas
Mr. DeHaas called to order the Planning Committee Meeting.
Board President’s Report – Mr. DeHaas
No report
Superintendent’s Report – Dr. Orban
1. High School Table Tennis Club Recommendation Discussion
  Dr. Orban highlighted the above information and stated that Mr. Guerin is in attendance this evening to answer any questions from Board members.
Committee Reports
1. Academic Standards and Curriculum Committee Report – Mrs. Clancy
  1. The annual Academic Standards and Curriculum Committee meeting is February 15 from 6:30-8:00 PM in high school room 121/123.
    Mrs. Clancy reported above information and also stated the topics being covered are district-wide assessment, PA common core and new course offerings.
  2. Proposed Middle School Schedule for 2012-2013 Discussion– Dr. Maloney, Mrs. Gross, Mr. Krauser
    Dr. Maloney reported the main purpose for proposing a new Middle School schedule is to get more instructional time for students; allowing for transition from elementary to Middle School then to High School; program changes allows for increased core instructional time; math 40 to 82 minutes; health will be taught in 7th grade, something we have been trying to do for several years; full year of world language in 8th grade, maintaining all three languages; computer mastery skills will be moved to 6th grade. Mrs. Gross and Mr. Krauser will provide detailed schedules for each grade level.
    
    Mr. Krauser explained the 6th grade schedule.
    
    A discussion continued. Points of the discussion included – new proposal includes social studies and science would be one semester each instead of being separated in quarters; current schedule has students in 80 minute blocks in language arts, the 80 minutes are not just lecture, teachers embed a variety of classroom strategies to support that time for the students.
    
    Mrs. Gross explained the 7th grade schedule.
    
    A discussion continued. Points of the discussion included – for one year, computer would be in 7th grade, following that first year, physical education, health and unified arts would be part of selection.
    
    Mrs. Gross and Mr. Krauser explained the 8th grade schedule.
    
    A discussion continued. Points of the discussion included – there will be no change in collaboration for teachers; will there be enough time to fit in all students in the unified classes in 2013-14?; the administration is very confident in the fact that students will be ready to pass all computer competencies in the 6th grade, compared to the current 9th grade, due to the computer learning elementary students are currently receiving; currently world language instruction in 7th and 8th grade have 48-50 minute blocks of time and English and math have 40 minute blocks of time; what effect does increasing the day length by ten minutes have on transportation, are buses still able to run the same way they currently run?; not having world language in 7th grade is a concern as this has previously distinguished York Suburban School District from other districts, how will that impact the community?; students will continue to receive one year of world language and increase their math instruction time; disagree with this philosophy of taking away world language from younger aged students, agree with assessment of math, teaching a language to younger students has been proven to be effective and not offering language until 8th grade is not something I philosophically agree with, would like to see another option to keep 7th grade world language and increase math; share concern about world language, offering students a piece of the language in 7th grade and then another piece in 8th grade provides the students of that age a little bit longer to understand the process, second concern is world language programs took it on the chin last year budget-wise and now we are sort-of slamming it again, the world language department has always excelled, many students from York Suburban end up majoring or minoring in a foreign langauge at college, that is one of the unique things about York Suburban, more information is needed to understand this schedule.
    
    Dr. Merkle provided additional information. It is important to know that at the current time, world language in 7th grade has more instructional time than in math, science or social studies.  That is a concern and the administration does share a sense of loss of not being able to recommend to you world language in 7th grade. It has been extremely valuable and successful, we believe in it and wish we could do it all.  If we had additional time, we would be including it. It is hard to justify in this era that there are more minutes of instruction time for world language than in math, science and social studies. A point of pride and distinction in the district has been that we offer world language in 7th grade. There is a greater need at the high school for math remediation because of some fundamentals that our students are struggling with at the earlier levels.   The math instruction at the middle level is outstanding, we simply need more time.  French and German teacher to student ratio remains the smallest in the district for any content area and Spanish remains the same as other core content areas. We will still offer 5 year world language program with this proposed schedule.
    
    A discussion continued. Points of the discussion included – the current 7th grade and 8th grade world language program is a more enriched program, offering cultural kinds of content; other options considered other than world language for next year was not moving health, non-incorporating the computer instruction and included the reduction or elimination of unified arts in lieu of the increased math time; absolute advocate for world language in 7th grade and understand the change needed for increased math time, concern for students that are high achievers in math and also the students that are more inclined towards humanities or social sciences; the 80 minute block in 6th grade has been successful and this would build from that and elementary levels have extended math blocks too; asked administration for the differences in completing first year of world language in 9th grade versus 7th and 8th grade.
    
    Mr. Hogg, Student Representative, has spoken with many students over the past few weeks and the students are opposed to the idea of elimination of world language in 7th grade.
    
    Mrs. Clancy concluded the committee report by thanking the administration for recognizing the need to increase the time in math instruction and it is a difficult task to decide which way to go.
    
    Dr. Orban stated exact details will be available in the budget information and discussion this evening and weeks to come and we will have the opportunity to answer the questions.
    
    An opportunity was provided for public comment.
    
    Matthew Smith, 20 S. Findley Street – in this proposal, two minutes in between classes at the middle school should be increased
    
    Jennifer Nesbitt, 198 Summit Drive – Could the current world language time be reduced and the math time be increased as an option?
    
    Sarah Reinecker, 1101 Farquar Drive – Along with earlier comment, what is specific about 80 minutes for the length of time? Could both language arts and math be adjusted? Math trends and math scoring trends, when were we getting increasingly nervous about our math numbers?
    
    Sarah Perkins, 253 Verdan Drive North – Everyday Math program has missing concepts and does not prepare students  for Algebra and Trigonometry.
    
    Georgia Valero, 1349 Hillcroft Lane – I thought we were trying to embrace world languages in the district with Hobhatton and IB Academy for students to learn a language at an early age. Reducing 7th grade world language seems to be counter-productive. Having a five-year world language program is a good thing for students in college placement.
    
    Kathy Penzolla, 151 Summit Drive – Unified arts in 7th grade is an important part of the day for some students and some students need a challenge and could perhaps be offered world language in 7th grade instead of unified arts.
    
    David Hogg, 1125 Wyndsong Drive – There are two elephants in the room – Everyday Math program and 7th grade world language and PRIDE
2. Communications Committee Report – Mrs. Schroeder
  1. The minutes of the January 9 meeting are provided.
    Mrs. Schroeder reported above information.
  2. The next Communications Committee meeting is scheduled March 2 at 6:00 PM. ((March 5))
    Mrs. Schroeder reported above information.
3. Facilities Committee Report – Ms. Leopold-Sharp
  1. The next Facilities Committee meeting is scheduled March 21 at 5:30 PM at Valley View staff development room.
    Ms. Leopold-Sharp reported the first Facilities Committee meeting of the year was held on February 1 and reported the above information. Mr. Kirk asked the committee about consolidating elementary buildings. The committee asked the administration to prepare information for March 5 Planning Committee meeting and the discussion will begin on consolidating elementary buildings.
4. Finance Committee Report – Mr. Miller
  1. The minutes of January 4 are provided.
    Mr. Younkin reported above information.
  2. Request for Proposal – Food Service Management Company Discussion. The administration is requesting permission to do a RFP for a Food Service Management Company contract for 2012-13.
    2010-11 & 2011-12 Lunch Pricing
    PDE RFP Checklist
    
    Mr. Younkin reported that starting last June at the Administrative Team Retreat, the administration started a budget review and looked at various programs that could be operated in a different format. In September, a number of committees were formed to examine different areas of the budget in the Operating Fund and also at the possiblity of contracting with a service company for food service. The committee looked at a program review with three food service management companies, received two reviews and the reviews indicated the school district could save from $75,000 to $100,000 per year by contracting with a food service management company throughout the school district. The next step would be to move with a formal RFP process which is developed by PDE and information has been provided for this process and highlighted the information. With regard to school districts in the county with management companies, there are four school districts, Dallastown, South Eastern, Southern and York City School Districts. There is one school district that currently has a RFP out and another school district is considering RFP process. Some of the challenges we have encountered in the food service department – last year, the food service operations lost $50,000 and this year, we are projected to be about $70,000 deficit of expenditures over revenue. We have long-term employee benefits much like we have in the operating fund, retirement commitments through PSERs, as well as medical insurance costs are slated to increase. Much like the operating fund, the costs of food to the implementation of the Healthy Hungry Kids Act is estimated to add an additional 8 cents per meal or a $7200 increase. We also have federal compliance and local wellness initiatives that we need to be wary of over the next few years. The operating budget is totally separate from the food service fund. The food service fund is totally self-sufficient, right now the district does not provide any direct revenue.  Projecting out, the food service fund budget will soon exceed its revenues unless we increase the prices to our students and parents to a point where participation would suffer and revenue would decrease. We are facing several challenges for the next several years and the administration suggests now is the time to be looking at possibly contracting out to a private firm.
    
    A discussion continued. Points of the discussion include – the timeline will be adjusted to state a decision to be made rather than a decision was made; each district has pertinent information and districts may not be able to work together with another district per the PDE strict guidelines with the RFP process, more information will available at the next meeting; it is important to look at more than just the costs and savings with an outside provider, other areas would include taste of food, increase in price, trending data with those districts that have already switched, large increase or decrease in participants purchasing food, would district personnel be losing their positions as a result of switching to an outside provider, approximately 1/4 of the student body qualifies for free or reduced lunches and good food is important for success in the classroom; the food service budget did not used to be self sufficient, last year when our expenditures exceeded revenues, there was an adequate fund balance in the food service budget to handle short-term deficit, there are 33 food service employees.
    
    A time was provided for public comment?
    
    Nancy Geesey, 2975 Springwood Road – I worked at Dallastown, lost my job when the food service management company was hired and I came to York Suburban. My son attends Dallastown and the lunch prices did not change, the amount of food was decreased, a la carte prices were increased, more money is spent on extra things and students are paying $6 to $8 a day.  Many students are packing their lunch because they do not like the food and also the increased expense.
    
    Kim Mitchell, 85 Bridlewood Way – I have two children in the district. Eliminating senior open lunch could help increase food purchases. What is the difference in allocations and why are we looking at outsourcing?
    
    Cathy Fornoff, 1131 Southern Road – I am a member of the district food service staff. What I am hearing from the Dallastown employees who stayed with the outsource company is people are coming in and doing that job only, waiting for something better to come along, they are not trained on sanitation procedures, they dislike the type of food being served due to quality, parents are complaining about the prices because their children are opting to buy a la carte items, students are unhappy and their voices were not heard.  Please talk to the people that have been affected.
  3. The next Finance Committee meeting is scheduled February 29 at 5:30 PM at Valley View staff development room.
    Mr. DeHaas reported above information.
5. Legislative Policy Committee – Mrs. Clancy
  1. Legislative Breakfast Discussion
    Mrs. Clancy shared as most board members know, we met over continental breakfast last May with our legislators. It was valuable time spent and an exercise in futility. We were able to share information important to the district, yet they informed us that they were in the vast minority on issues such as addressing the funding formula that would never be done. Dr. Orban and I wondered if board members like to schedule another breakfast in the May timeframe with our legislators.
    
    A discussion continued. Points of the discussion included – yes, two brand new board members and that would be a good way for local introduction to the legislators; two other board members supported the breakfast; yes and an opportunity to benchmark some things that are being said and see if there is progress from one breakfast to the next; our legislators did not ban together to prevent a vote on the usage tax for natural gas drilling as they said they were going to in hopes of driving a solution for growing school districts, it is disappointing since that is what their strategy was and they failed miserably in executing that strategy; two other board members agreed to schedule a breakfast.
    
    Mrs. Clancy, as Board PSBA Liason, reported this week Governor Corbett released his state budget plan for 2012-13. The budget provided $9.05 billion for K-12 education, that was of the $27.14 billion proposed budget. The largest proposed increase in education budget over last year was pension allocations, $916 million, an increase of $315.8 million or 53% for school employees’ retirement costs, no funding for the current Accountability Block Grant program, representing a loss of about $94 million to districts and the biggest change is the creation of a new $6.51 billion student achievement block grant and the grant consolidates the former basic education funding, pupil transportation, non-public and charter school pupil transportation and school employees’ social security line item into one block grant.
    
    Mr. Sears commented the $916 million for pension compares to almost the same amount of dollars for Special Eduction. In the context of what we’re trying to accomplish in public education in Pennsylvania, the pension issue is crowding out something that is as important as Special Education. The pressures are enormous on the state budget. We will face the same pressure here.
    
    A time was provided for public comment.
    
    Ralph Felter, 1491 Turnberry Court – Any information following a meeting with legislators or any other legislative information that could be put on the district website would be appreciated by the voters for clarity.
    
    Jennifer Nesbitt, 198 Summitt Drive – I take issue with the apparent equation of comparing special education budgets with pension expenditures. It is about keeping promises.
6. Personnel Committee Report – Mrs. Shaffer
  1. The next Personnel Committee meeting is scheduled May 17 at 2:00 PM.
    Mrs. Shaffer reported above information and the Personnel Committee did meet this afternoon.
7. Policy Review Committee Report – Ms. Bates
  1. The minutes of January 10 are provided.
    Ms. Bates reported above information.
  2. The next Policy Review Committee meeting is scheduled February 16 at 3:45 PM.
    Ms. Bates reported above information. This is an additional meeting to original schedule.
8. Lincoln Intermediate Unit Report – Mr. Sears
  1. Proposed 2012-13 General Operating Budget and Resolution Discussion
    Mr. Sears highlighted above information and reported the district’s portion to the operating budget is approximately a $27 increase from last year.
    
    Mr. Sears asked Mr. Younkin about the special education part, is that driven by student usage?
    
    Mr. Younkin replied yes, that is driven by student usage and it totals about $2.5 million.
  2. LIU Early Retirement Incentive
    Mr. Sears reported the LIU has approved and is the process of implementing an early retirement incentive, last year the incentive was accepted by 43 people. The amount of savings varies with each individual employee.
9. York Area Tax Bureau Report – Mr. Sears
  No report
10. York County School of Technology – Mrs. Schroeder
  1. Proposed 2012-13 Budget Discussion
    Mrs. Schroeder reported that she did attend her first YCST Joint Operating Board meeting. All Board members are invited to attend an Orientation Meeting/Joint Operating meeting on March 22.
    
    Dr. Orban reported the Superintendents meet together and work with YCST for increase in budget and our increase will be 1.7%, which is our index.
    
    Mrs. Schroeder reported the Board will be voting on February 27 on the YCST proposed 2012-13 budget.
    
    Dr. Orban reported that it is necessary to have two-thirds or ten of the participating schools to adopt the budget.
    
    Mr. DeHaas announced the Board will take a ten minute recess.
11. Business Office Report – Mr. Younkin
  1. 2012-13 Budget Development. The administration will provide an update on the FY2012-13 budget development.
    
    General Fund Budget Summary for Prior Years, Current and Budget Year
    
    2012-13 Proposed Student Achievement Education Block Grant (Basic Education Subsidy)
    
    FY 2012-13 Proposed Budget Changes
    
    Mr. Younkin highlighted above information.
    
    Dr. Orban highlighted the proposed budget changes.
    
    A discussion continued. Points of the discussion included – approximately eight elementary students are being brought back from emotional support placement; for verbage and terms, the term budget adjustments will be revised to reflect budget additions or reductions; the page numbers listed on proposed budget changes refers to back-up materials that will be available later; further information will be available in the future with regard to the $100,000 reduction in the middle school schedule; the revenue from local sources is based on a 1.7% increase in real estate property tax; the proposed reductions are not included on the first attachment, “General Budget Fund Summary…”
    
    Mr. DeHaas concluded the discussion and stated the Board will wait until after the February regular meeting and the March planning committee meeting to see if additional budget meetings will be scheduled.
12. Comments and/or Questions from the Public
  Mr. DeHaas noted that Board members appreciates the teachers on the negotiations team, many were in attendance this evening, for their hard work to make all this happen.
13. Adjournment
  Mr. DeHaas adjourned the meeting at 9:44 PM.

THERE WILL BE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE MEETING.

An Executive Session was held immediately following the meeting.

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