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Board Meeting Agenda/Minutes November 4, 2019
All attachments in pdf
November 4, 2019 Regular Board Meeting Agenda
Panorama Village Administrative Center
Meeting Room A - 7:00 p.m.
240 Villa Crest Drive
State College, PA 16801
- CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
- COMMUNICATIONS
- PUBLIC COMMENT
Each individual will be limited to comments of three (3) minutes as time permits for items on this agenda or related to Board business. - ROUTINE APPROVALS
A motion to approve the Routine Approval Listing as presented.- Out-of-State/Overnight Student Travel (attachment IV-A)
- Regular Board Meeting Minutes 10-21-2019 (attachment IV-B)
- Finance and Audit Committee Meeting Minutes 10-21-2019 (attachment IV-C)
- Culture, Climate, and Learning Committee Meeting Minutes 10-23-2019 (attachment IV-D)
- Policy Development Committee Meeting Minutes 10-24-2019 (attachment IV-E)
- Annual Service Contracts, Miscellaneous Projects and Supplies for Technology Department (attachment IV-F)
- Annual Service Contracts, Miscellaneous Projects, and Equipment for the Physical Plant Department (attachment IV-G)
- Quarterly Donations Summary for 2019-2020 Academic Year (attachment IV-H)
- 2019-2020 Budget Amendment (attachment IV-I)
- Annual Club/Activities Advisors and Student Treasurers (attachment IV-J)
- Extension of AccuWeather, Inc. SkyGuard Snow Warning Service (attachment IV-K)
- Agreement with Jostens for Delta High School Yearbook for 2019-2020 Academic Year (attachment IV-L)
- 2019-2020 Winter Athletic Officials (attachment IV-M)
- Purchase of Wrestling Mat (attachment IV-N)
- Human Resource Recommendations (attachment IV-O)
- ACTION ITEMS
- A motion to approve revisions to Policies 103, Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual and/or Gender-Based Harassment, and Related Inappropriate Conduct - School and Classroom Practices, and 104, Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual and/or Gender-Based Harassment, and Related Inappropriate Conduct - Employment Practices (attachment V-A)
- A motion to approve revisions to Policy 249 Bullying (attachment V-B)
- A motion to approve agreement with Colonial Press for Printing Management Services (attachment V-C)
- A motion to approve agreement with Standing Stone Security (attachment V-D)
- A motion to approve affiliation agreement with Penn State for Food Service Nutrition Intern (attachment V-E)
- A motion to accept the District Goals and Priorities for 2019-2020 as presented (attachment V-F)
- A motion to approve lease for the use of Penn State’s Multi-Sport Facility for indoor boys and girls track meets (attachment V-G)
- A motion to approve Elementary Project Change Orders (attachment V-H)
- A motion to approve High School Project Change Orders (attachment V-I)
- A motion to approve Elementary Playground Project Change Orders (attachment V-J)
NOTE: Information/Discussion Item VI-A1 will be presented prior to V-J motion to approve
- INFORMATION/DISCUSSION
- District Goal Category: Facilities and Grounds
- Playground Update (attachment VI-A1)
- District Goal Category: Fiscal Stewardship
- Solar Power Working Group Cost Sharing Agreement (attachment VI-B1)
- Solar Power Working Group Cost Sharing Agreement (attachment VI-B1)
- District Goal Category: Facilities and Grounds
- BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS/MEETINGS
- Committee Meeting Reports
- Solar Power Working Group
- Culture, Climate and Learning Committee
- Policy Development Committee
- Upcoming Committee Meetings
- Joint Facilities and Grounds/Policy Development Committee, November 7, 11:30 a.m., PV Mtg Rm A
- Culture, Climate and Learning Committee, November 11, 12:00 p.m., PV Mtg Rm A
- Finance and Audit Committee, November 14, 11:45 a.m., PV Mtg Rm A
- Culture, Climate and Learning Committee, November 19, 10:00 a.m., PV Mtg Rm A
- Communication Committee, November 19, 11:30 a.m., PV Mtg Rm A
- Committee Meeting Reports
- FUTURE AGENDA PLANNING
- November 18, 2019 Regular Meeting
Action Items
MD&A Review
2020-2021 School Calendar
2020-2021 New Course Proposals - Career and Technical Education Course, Supply Chain 3
Board Committee Assignments
Sponsorship Agreements - December 2, 2019 Reorganization and Regular Meeting
Action Items
Info/Discussion - December 16, 2019 Regular Meeting
Action Items
Approve Playground Designs
Info/Discussion
- November 18, 2019 Regular Meeting
- ADJOURNMENT
APPROVED
November 4, 2019 Regular Board Meeting Agenda
Panorama Village Administrative Center
Meeting Room A - 7:00 p.m.
240 Villa Crest Drive
State College, PA 16801
- CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Ms. Concepcion called the State College Area School District Board of School Directors regular meeting to order at 7:08 p.m. She welcomed all those attending and those viewing from home. She advised the Board held an executive session on October 21 regarding personnel and prior to this meeting on personnel and school security. With the agenda before them, Ms. Concepcion asked board members for any changes. Ms. Zydney asked for agenda item IV-F to be pulled from routine approvals. Ms. Concepcion noted item IV-F would be the first item under action.
A copy of all materials distributed to board members for discussion and/or action is included with the official minutes, unless otherwise indicated.
Board Members Present: Amy Bader, Lori Bedell, Gretchen Brandt, Amber Concepcion, Dan Duffy, David Hutchinson, Jim Leous, Laurel Zydney
Board Members Absent: Scott Fozard
Board Secretary: Lynn Tressler
Student Representative: Auden Yurman
Solicitor: Scott Etter
Superintendent: Robert O’Donnell
District Personnel: Allison Becker, Vernon Bock, Marianne Bowers, Randy Brown, Samantha Corza, Meredith Henderson, Veronica Iacobozzo, Jonathan Klingeman, Mary Lou Manhart, Nabil Mark, Georgina Motter, Linda Pierce, Ed Poprik, Chris Rosenblum, Eugene Ruocchio, Will Stout
Guests: - COMMUNICATIONS
Dr. O’Donnell welcomed the English faculty to the meeting. He congratulated the Girls’ Cross Country Team for placing second at the PIAA Championships. The team finished just 15 points behind repeat champion North Allegheny--State High’s best showing in 25 years at states. Congratulations are also in order for the district’s Community Education Extended Learning Program for being recognized in the State College Magazine “Best of State College” issue. CEEL received the silver award for “Best Place for After School Activities.” Dr. O’Donnell expressed his pride in the excellent learning and play experiences that Community Education Coordinator Shannon Messick and her staff of site supervisors provide our students. Dr. O’Donnell also noted that the Mount Nittany Middle School and Mount Nittany Elementary School are collaborating on a clothing drive. Students and faculty will accept donations of clothes, shoes, coats, toys and other items at Mount Nittany Middle on Friday, November 8 and Saturday, November 9. Last year, the event donated almost 1,500 pounds of clothing. Dr. O’Donnell also reminded everyone that Tuesday, November 5 is Election Day. - PUBLIC COMMENT
Ms. Concepcion noted each individual would be limited to comments of three minutes as time permits for items on this agenda or related to Board business. There were no public comments. - ROUTINE APPROVALS
A motion to approve the Routine Approval Listing as presented.- Out-of-State/Overnight Student Travel
- Regular Board Meeting Minutes 10-21-2019
- Finance and Audit Committee Meeting Minutes 10-21-2019
- Culture, Climate, and Learning Committee Meeting Minutes 10-23-2019
- Policy Development Committee Meeting Minutes 10-24-2019
- Annual Service Contracts, Miscellaneous Projects, and Equipment for the Physical Plant Department
- Quarterly Donations Summary for 2019-2020 Academic Year
- 2019-2020 Budget Amendment
- Annual Club/Activities Advisors and Student Treasurers
- Extension of AccuWeather, Inc. SkyGuard Snow Warning Service
- Agreement with Jostens for Delta High School Yearbook for 2019-2020 Academic Year
- 2019-2020 Winter Athletic Officials
- Purchase of Wrestling Mat
- Human Resource Recommendations
A motion to approve the Routine Approvals as presented. Dr. Duffy moved and Mr. Leous seconded to approve the motion. There was no discussion. With the motion moved and seconded above, all board members present voted aye on a roll call vote. (Mr. Fozard was absent.) The motion passed unanimously.
- ACTION ITEMS
- APPROVE THE ANNUAL SERVICE CONTRACTS, MISCELLANEOUS PROJECTS AND SUPPLIES FOR TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT
A motion to approve the annual service contracts, miscellaneous projects and supplies for the Technology Department. Ms. Laurel Zydney asked that this item be pulled from information and moved to action. She inquired about the Short Story Dispenser through Short Edition Inc. in an amount not to exceed $10,180.00. Mr. Brown advised that funding is for the purchase of equipment and the first year’s license which was secured through the SCASD Education Foundation and grant funds. After the first year, My Mental Health Matters student club has agreed to pay for the monthly licensing fee. It will be housed primarily in the high school library, but will be shared with libraries district-wide. Ms. Bedell moved and Dr. Duffy seconded to approve the motion. With the motion moved and seconded above, all board members present voted aye on a roll call vote. (Mr. Fozard was absent.) The motion passed unanimously. - APPROVE REVISIONS TO POLICIES 103 AND 104
A motion to approve revisions to Policies 103, Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual and/or Gender-Based Harassment, and Related Inappropriate Conduct - School and Classroom Practices, and 104, Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual and/or Gender-Based Harassment, and Related Inappropriate Conduct - Employment Practices as presented. Ms. Bedell moved and Dr. Duffy seconded to approve the motion. There was no discussion. With the motion moved and seconded above, all board members present voted aye on a roll call vote. (Mr. Fozard was absent.) The motion passed unanimously. - APPROVE REVISIONS TO POLICY 249 BULLYING
A motion to approve revisions to Policy 249 Bullying. Ms. Bedell moved and Dr. Duffy seconded to approve the motion. There was no discussion. With the motion moved and seconded above, all board members present voted aye on a roll call vote. (Mr. Fozard was absent.) The motion passed unanimously. - APPROVE AGREEMENT WITH COLONIAL PRESS
A motion to approve agreement with Colonial Press for Printing Management Services. Dr. Duffy moved and Mr. Leous seconded to approve the motion. There was no discussion. With the motion moved and seconded above, all board members present voted aye on a roll call vote. (Mr. Fozard was absent.) The motion passed unanimously. - APPROVE AGREEMENT WITH STANDING STONE SECURITY
A motion to approve agreement with Standing Stone Security. Ms. Bedell moved and Mr. Leous seconded to approve the motion. There was no discussion. With the motion moved and seconded above, all board members present voted aye on a roll call vote. (Mr. Fozard was absent.) The motion passed unanimously. - APPROVE AFFILIATION AGREEMENT WITH PENN STATE FOR FOOD SERVICE NUTRITION INTERN
A motion to approve affiliation agreement with Penn State for Food Service Nutrition Intern. Dr. Duffy moved and Ms. Bedell seconded to approve the motion. There was no discussion. With the motion moved and seconded above, all board members present voted aye on a roll call vote. (Mr. Fozard was absent.) The motion passed unanimously. - ACCEPT THE DISTRICT GOALS AND PRIORITIES FOR 2019-2020
A motion to accept the District Goals and Priorities for 2019-2020 as presented. Dr. Duffy moved and Mr. Leous seconded to approve the motion. Ms. Zydney expressed interest in seeing goals that are measurable. Many of them go unchanged year after year. Dr. O’Donnell noted that he will be spending time this year on the measures and benchmarks that carry out the strategic plan. The qualitative aspects of the strategic plan could be shorter, but the district is doing those per Board approval. Dr. O’Donnell suggested that we invest in what we said we are going to measure in the strategic plan. If the Board wants to make different measures, the administration will do what the Board asks. Ms. Concepcion noted that the goal areas have been fairly consistent over time, with equity and inclusivity added in recent years. Many of the goals underneath the large goal priority areas are granular. Some of them require Board action and some do not. It is up to the administration to communicate to the Board how they will be spending their time over the coming year and for the Board to put its stamp of approval on how they are prioritizing their work as well as aligning it to how the board agendas are planned. Ms. Bader added that this is the first year discussions included committee work and what their priority tasks would be for the year. It was a valuable exercise so the Board does not get stuck in the weeds on things that are not relevant to governance and that are more related to managing the day-to-day operations. Ms. Concepcion and Ms. Bader reviewed the process in which the goals were established. The Board spent two work sessions providing feedback while ranking and prioritizing each area. It was a collaborative effort between the administrative team and Board to have a conversation on how the priorities align with the strategic goals. Dr. Duffy noted that while some things are not measured, there are a fair amount of priorities that are. Ms. Concepcion indicated this task list improves transparency between the district, board, and the public at large. Some are multi-year items, but the process at which we arrived at this document is a shared one.
Dr. O’Donnell shared that he has been participating in a two-year class with the National Institute for School Leadership. They do a lot of national research and benchmarking that utilize components in education that impact student learning. These are highly trained teachers that focus on embedding professional learning within their workday. Dr. O’Donnell noted the district is in the process of supporting teachers in this manner. The other focus is a quality curriculum that is updated, aligned and research-based. Every one of the district’s curriculum processes that the Board has been asked to change has had a research component where those teams have utilized being in a University community and have brought in researchers on the teams to assess what is most up-to-date. These are two long-term change processes that are being utilized on what is most impactful for our students.
With the motion moved and seconded above, seven board members present voted aye, one voted nay (Ms. Zydney) on a roll call vote. (Mr. Fozard was absent.) The motion passed 7 to 1. - APPROVE LEASE FOR THE USE OF PENN STATE’S MULTI-SPORT FACILITY
A motion to approve lease for the use of Penn State’s Multi-Sport Facility for indoor boys and girls track meets. Mr. Leous moved and Dr. Duffy seconded to approve the motion. There was no discussion. With the motion moved and seconded above, all board members present voted aye on a roll call vote. (Mr. Fozard was absent.) The motion passed unanimously. - APPROVE ELEMENTARY PROJECT CHANGE ORDERS
A motion to approve Elementary Project Change Orders. Ms Bedell moved and Dr. Duffy seconded to approve the motion. There was no discussion. With the motion moved and seconded above, all board members present voted aye on a roll call vote. (Mr. Fozard was absent.) The motion passed unanimously. - APPROVE HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT CHANGE ORDERS
A motion to approve High School Project Change Orders. Ms. Bedell moved and Mr. Leous seconded to approve the motion. Ms. Concepcion inquired about the change order for the fence at the high school. Mr. Poprik advised that the chain link fence was installed at the beginning of the project along the O’Bryan Lane drive, between the High School and Executive House Apartments. This fence was slated to be replaced with black fence similar to the fence along Westerly Parkway; however, based on the location and condition of the existing chain link fence, the district requested a credit to keep the existing fence and delete the new fence. With the motion moved and seconded above, all board members present voted aye on a roll call vote. (Mr. Fozard was absent.) The motion passed unanimously. - APPROVE ELEMENTARY PLAYGROUND PROJECT CHANGE ORDERS
A motion to approve Elementary Playground Project Change Orders. Information/ Discussion Item VI-A1 will be presented prior to Action Item VI-K. Dr. Duffy moved and Ms. Bedell seconded to approve the motion. Discussion is noted in the playground update below. With the motion moved and seconded above, all board members present voted aye on a roll call vote. (Mr. Fozard was absent.) The motion passed unanimously.
- APPROVE THE ANNUAL SERVICE CONTRACTS, MISCELLANEOUS PROJECTS AND SUPPLIES FOR TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT
- INFORMATION/DISCUSSION
- District Goal Category: Facilities and Grounds - Playground Update
Dr. O’Donnell introduced this item and praised the administrative team for the time they spent on this update for the Board. At the beginning of this process, the Board was involved in the development of the RFP. As the district worked through the year with concerns, it utilized the principals to help identify what items would be included in the proposals. Phase 1 will serve the three elementary schools. At the end of Phase 1, the administrative team will evaluate the process with the Board before moving to Phase 2.
Mr. Vernon Bock, Mr. Randy Brown and Mr. Ed Poprik proceeded with an update on the elementary playground initiatives. Mr. Bock noted the administration is recommending three final playground schematic designs for Corl Street, Radio Park, and Spring Creek that have a mix of nature-based play options and traditional equipment. Each design includes a focus on accessibility and opportunities for students to swing, slide and climb. This recommendation comes to the Board after a year and a half of research, community engagement, and planning to present the best possible playground designs for all students. The administration’s recommendation includes a timeline that supports initial construction to begin in May 2020. Per the current schedule, this will allow for playground completion prior to the beginning of the 2020 academic year. Itemized cost estimates were included in the agenda and contain a list of equipment for each location as well as a summary of the estimated costs. Also included was a list comparing the play options and equipment proposed in each site plan. The schematic designs will be presented as final designs (design development documents) for Board approval at the December meeting. The climbing dome has been a topic of discussion and will be removed from these three sites. Swing installations are scheduled to occur this week--there were unforeseen circumstances with the vendor. Mr. Brown noted that we were not aware of delays until after the last board meeting update. Board members thanked the team for their diligence and attention to detail with the schools, principals, and families. We had a lot of participation from families and community members. The detail of the memo is very impressive and encouraging and achieves the goals that we were hoping for and attend to the desires of parents and staff. They noted this was a collaborative effort of all of the stakeholders involved in the process. One board member noted that she has been researching other districts who have been trying to do this very thing and took solace in the fact that we went through growing pains as did other districts. Ms. Zydney raised several concerns regarding the reuse of equipment; the embankment slides; cone spinner substitute; the type of wood being used, its duration, and warranty; accessibility and the wood fiber/mulch being used; maintenance costs; the two ADA accessible pads and boulders that were removed; and, increasing the budget cap from $250,000. Ms. Zydney also felt that the process is a misrepresentation of what we have been discussing.
Dr. O’Donnell reiterated his support of the team and feels they have done a tremendous job. The iterations of each plan are reasonable and are a compromise between nature play and traditional play. Ms. Concepcion felt that it was unfair to say that other board members have not asked questions when they have spent numerous hours combing through plans. The final iterations were based on a master plan that was voted on and accepted as a board.
Ms. Concepcion called for a break at 8:23 p.m.
Ms. Concepcion reconvened the meeting at 8:31 p.m. - District Goal Category: Fiscal Stewardship - Solar Power Working Group Cost Sharing Agreement
Mr. Randy Brown, Ms. Gretchen Brandt, and Mr. Jim Leous provided an update on the Solar Power Working Group cost sharing agreement. A copy of the updated agreement was included with the agenda in red-line and final form. Previous Board comments related to the cost sharing agreement were reviewed with a subgroup of the working group which provided clarity to the purpose and timeline for completion. Mr. Brown reviewed a list of the responses to the suggested revisions. A draft of the agreement will be distributed to the working group representatives at their November meeting.
- District Goal Category: Facilities and Grounds - Playground Update
- BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS/MEETINGS
- Committee Meeting Reports
- Solar Power Working Group - Ms. Brandt noted that at the last microgroup meeting, they came up with the criteria for the RFQ that will go before the full working group for reviewing/editing.
- Culture, Climate and Learning Committee - Dr. Duffy advised that CCL reviewed the Delta middle level configuration and enrollment process as discussed at this evening’s meeting.
- Policy Development Committee - Ms. Bedell noted that work continues on Policy 908 and the nepotism policy is underway.
- Upcoming Committee Meetings
- Joint Facilities and Grounds/Policy Development Committee, November 7, 11:30 a.m., PV Mtg Rm A
- Culture, Climate and Learning Committee, November 11, 12:00 p.m., PV Mtg Rm A
- Finance and Audit Committee, November 14, 11:45 a.m., PV Mtg IT Conference Rm
- Culture, Climate and Learning Committee, November 19, 10:00 a.m., PV Mtg Rm A
- Communication Committee, November 19, 11:30 a.m., PV Mtg Rm A
- Committee Meeting Reports
- FUTURE AGENDA PLANNING
Ms. Concepcion reviewed a list of agenda items that would be addressed at future meetings. She would like board members to start thinking about board committee assignments for discussion at the November 18 meeting. - ADJOURNMENT
Ms. Bedell moved and Dr. Duffy seconded to adjourn the meeting. With the motion moved and seconded, all board members present voted aye with a voice vote. (Scott Fozard was absent.) Ms. Concepcion adjourned the State College Area School District Board of School Directors regular meeting at 8:45 p.m.
Submitted by,
Lynn Tressler
Board Secretary