Minutes - February 8, 2023 COW/Voting (ADA Compliant)
HOLLIDAYSBURG AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
MINUTES
The Hollidaysburg Area School Board met Wednesday, February 8, 2022, for a Committee of the Whole/Voting Meeting in the Senior High Library, 1510 N. Montgomery Street, Hollidaysburg. Dr. Sommer called the meeting to order at 7:02p.m. and opened the meeting with the pledge to the flag.
The board held a moment of silence for Brenda Baker, a long-time food service employee, who passed away February 5, 2023.
Roll call was taken by Mrs. Fiscus with nine members present. Attending were Dr. Sommer, President, Ms. Hartman, Vice-President, Ms. Frye, Mr. Snyder, Mr. Nichols, Mr. Brenneman, Mr. Stephens, Ms. Bilek and Ms. Costanza.
Also present were Dr. Gildea, Superintendent, Dr. Palazzi, Director of Curriculum, Mrs. Fiscus, Business Manager/Board Secretary, Mrs. Thomas, Director of Accounting Operations, Mr. Caldwell, Director of Human Resource/Transportation, Mr. Nihart, Director of Physical Plant, Mr. Arthur, Director of Technology, Mrs. Summerville, Data Management Administrator, Carl Beard, Sr., Solicitor, Mr. Hartline, Mr. Keagy, Mrs. Snyder, Mr. Madden, Mrs. Albarano, and Mr. Krott. Mrs. Koehle, Director of Special Education attended virtually.
Public Comment
Michael Rawlins, representing the Hollidaysburg Area Education Association, Trish Haight and Cory Hartman expressed their concerns regarding the Second Reading of Policy 321. Political Activities - NEW (Additional Review).
Student Representative Report
Per Board Policy 004.2-Student Representatives to the Board, Senior Representatives Regan Farringer and Riley Hensley and Junior Representatives Connor Owen and Jacob Ott presented their monthly report.
Committee Report
Dr. Sommer presented a report of the January, 2023 Greater Altoona Career and Technology Committee meeting.
Mrs. Fiscus, on behalf of Mr. Brenneman, presented a report of the January 25, 2023 Policy Committee meeting with recommendations.
Business Office Report / Mrs. Fiscus
Announcements: The board met in executive session Wednesday, February 8, 2023 at 6:00p.m. for personnel.
Meetings for March, 2023:
Athletic Committee
Wednesday, March 08, 2023
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Senior High Library
1510 N. Montgomery Street
Hollidaysburg PA 16648
Committee of the Whole/Voting
Wednesday, March 08, 2023
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Senior High Library
1510 N. Montgomery Street
Hollidaysburg PA 16648
All board meeting agendas are available for public viewing (3) days prior to each meeting date on BoardDocs. BoardDocs web address is https://www.boarddocs.com/pa/hasd/Board.nsf. Interested parties should enter the public site.
Per Board Policy 006 Meetings, on motion of Mr. Brenneman, seconded by Ms. Frye, the board approved the minutes of the January 11, 2023 COW/Voting and January 25, 2023 Policy Committee meetings. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes.
On motion of Mr. Snyder, seconded by Ms. Hartman, the board approved Financial Reports for January, 2023, items 1 through 7. The reports included Treasurer’s Report, List of Payments, Investment Portfolio, YTD Expenditures-Revenues, Budget Transfers, Food Service for July through December, 2022 and Senior High Student Store for December, 2022. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit 1
On motion of Ms. Hartman, seconded by Ms. Frye, Per Board Policy 006 Meetings, the board approved the following contracts/agreements:
Agreement with Peerstar, LLC. effective February 8, 2023 through February 7, 2024 to interact collaboratively to ensure services and interventions are provided to mutual consumers. No Cost
Exhibit 2
Care Coordination Agreement with CenClear effective February 8, 2023 through February 7, 2024 to develop and maintain a positive working relationship with providers for human service needs No Cost Exhibit 3
Memorandum of Understanding with Saint Francis University effective January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2024 for field experience and student teaching programs within the district No Cost Exhibit 4
Agreement with Alternative Community Resource Program (ACRP), effective February 8, 2023 through February 7, 2024 for developing and maintaining positive working relationships with agencies which service the human service needs of the community No Cost Exhibit 5
Contract with Dramatic Publishing effective March 20, 2023 through April 1, 2023 for royalty fees, director's script and playbooks for the SH production of Anne of Green Gables. Cost: $678.04 Exhibit 6
Agreement with Prismworks Technology, Inc. effective March 1, 2023 through February 28, 2024 for escalation support services for the VMware vSphere, Directory Services, and Server Virtualization Infrastructure Storage. Total Cost $18,600. ($1,550/month) Exhibit 7
Contract with Milwaukee Public Museum effective February 8, 2023 through February 7, 2073 for Planetarium Program Licenses (Dino-Soars!, A to Z Astronomy! and Space Aliens: Looking for Life in the Universe Cost: $3,750 Exhibit 8
License Agreement with GeoGraphics Imaging & Consulting effective February 8, 2023 through February 7, 2073 for Planetarium Licensee rights to "Firefall" for public presentations at the planetarium and copying of the DV onto a tape or hard drive for public presentation purposes only. Cost: District: $2,000; HASD Foundation: $2,000 Exhibit 9
Contract with Scholastic Book Fairs (Junior High), effective April 17, 2023 through April 21, 2023 for staff, students and parents to purchase books and educational products from Scholastic - No Cost Exhibit 10
Funding Agreement with Hollidaysburg Educational Service Agency effective February 8, 2023 to help fund the cost of school crossing guards a/k/a special school police Cost: Shared with HESA Exhibit 11
Agreement with Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania effective February 8, 2023 through February 7, 2027 for field experience and student teaching programs No Cost Exhibit 12
Agreement with FMX effective February 9, 2023 through June 30, 2023 for software for Physical Plant maintenance requests, preventative maintenance requests, and facility rental requests, as well as IT support ticket requests, inventory management and asset management software. This software is to replace multiple systems and software (some becoming end of life) being used by both the IT and Physical Plant departments Cost $6,300.50 (IT $1,875.00 and Physical Plant $4,425.50) Exhibit 13
The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes.
On motion of Mr. Snyder, seconded by Mr. Brenneman, the board authorized Autumn Fiscus, Business Manager, Stacey Thomas, Director of Accounting Operations and Ronald Sommer, Board President to be added to the First Summit Bank account to conduct business and sign any and all necessary documents on behalf of the school district. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes.
Ms. Bilek initiated a motion, seconded by Ms. Hartman, to accept the following:
Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center Financial Statements and Auditor's Report on Basic Financial Statements for Year Ended June 30, 2022 Exhibit 14
Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center Auditor's Report on Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards Compliance and Internal Control for Year Ended June 30, 2022 Exhibit 15
The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes.
Ms. Bilek initiated a motion, seconded by Ms. Hartman, to approve and execute the following Tax Assessment Appeals:
Settlement of the tax assessment appeal filed to Blair County Court of Common Pleas Docket No. 2021 GN 3383 at the assessed value of $26,800 for tax year 2022 and $24,700 for tax year 2023.
Settlement of the tax assessment appeal filed to Blair County Court of Common Pleas Docket No. 2021 GN 3384 at the assessed value of $369,800 for tax year 2022 and $340,800 for tax year 2023.
Settlement of the tax assessment appeal filed to Blair County Court of Common Pleas Docket No. 2021 GN 3385 at the assessed value of $4,962,400 for tax year 2022 and $4,573,700 for tax year 2023.
Settlement of the tax assessment appeal filed to Blair County Court of Common Pleas Docket No. 2021 GN 3386 at the assessed value of $498,700.
The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit 16
On motion of Mr. Breneman, seconded by Mr. Stephens, the board approved the following:
Per Board Policy 706.1 Disposal of Surplus Property/Textbooks/Supplies, the disposal of various obsolete equipment and books. Exhibit 17
Per Board Policy 702, Gifts, Grants and Donations, a grant from the Altoona Curve in the amount of $4,000 Exhibit 18
The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes.
Mrs. Fiscus and Mrs. Thomas presented the second budget presentation for 2023-2024 focusing on employee retirement costs and the district's long-range plan to fund retirement costs.
Superintendent’s Report / Dr. Gildea
On motion of Mr. Brenneman, seconded by Mr. Snyder, the board approved the district Emergency Operations Plan with board approved policy updates included with the plan. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes.
On motion of Ms. Frye, seconded by Mr. Snyder, Per Board Policy 124 Summer School, the board approved the 2023 Summer School Program. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit 19
On motion of Ms. Bilek, seconded by Mr. Hartman, the board approved 2023-2024 Assessment Options. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit 20
On motion of Ms. Hartman, seconded by Mr. Stephens, the board approved the 2023-2024 school calendar. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit 20
On motion of Ms. Frye, seconded by Ms. Hartman, the board approved the following Course Name Changes:
New Name Former Name
Foreign Language Exploration Exploratory Language and Cultures
CB Math 7 Academic Math 7
PH Pre-Algebra 7 Pre-Algebra 7
The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit 21
On motion of Mr. Brenneman, seconded by Ms. Frye, the board approved the following New Novels for Frankstown Elementary:
"Matilda"
"Mr. Poppers Penguins"
"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"
"Stone Fox"
"The Borrowers"
The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit 22
Ms. Costanza initiated a motion, seconded by Ms. Bilek, Per Board Policy 618, Student Activity Fund Control, to approve the following New Student Activity:
Hollidaysburg Area Chess Club - No. 79
Purpose: To provide support for the betterment of students' interests in chess and to advance students' analytical thinking skills. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit 23
On motion of Mr. Stephens, seconded by Mr. Snyder, the board approved Per Board Policies 230.1 Student Expenses for Conferences/Competitions and 121 Field Trips, the following field trip:
German Students/German Club to Washington, D.C.
Date: Friday, April 4, 2023
District Cost: $250 (Cost of Substitutes)
The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit 24
On motion of Ms. Frye, seconded by Mr. Stephens, the board approved personnel actions 1 through 60, dated 2/8/2023 REV 2/7/2023 at 2:38p.m. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit 25
President’s Report / Dr. Sommer
On motion of Ms. Hartman, seconded by Mr. Nichols, the board approved a Statement of Rights, Waiver of Hearing and Agreement in the case of student ID# ending in 74. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit 26
On motion of Mr. Brenneman, seconded by Mr. Nichols, the board approved a Memorandum of Understanding for Emergency Evacuation. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes.
Mr. Brenneman initiated a motion, seconded by Ms. Frye, to approve the first reading of the following policies:
Policy No. Name Status
Policy 200 Enrollment of Students REVISED
Policy 200-AR Entry/Reentry for Registered Students REVISED
Policy 202 Eligibility of Nonresident Students REVISED
Policy 204 Attendance REVISED
Policy 217 Graduation REVISED
Policy 217-AR Graduation NEW
Policy 217 - Attach. Diploma for WWII and Korean War Veterans REVISED
Policy 218-AR Student Discipline 2ND REVIEW
Policy 221 Dress and Grooming REVISED
Policy 227 Controlled Substances/Paraphernalia REVISED
Policy 227-Attach. Reasonable Suspicion - Drug Testing of Individual Students REVISED
Policy 227.1 Voluntary Drug and Alcohol Testing for Students REVISED
Policy 227.1 - Attach. #1 Student Consent Form REVIEW-NO CHANGES
Policy 227.1 - Attach. #2 Parent Consent Form REVIEW-NO CHANGES
Policy 227.1 - Attach. #3 Release and Hold Harmless Agreement REVIEW-NO CHANGES
Policy 227.1 - Attach. #4 Health/Medication History REVISED
Policy 233 Suspension and Expulsion REVISED
Policy 236.1 Threat Assessment REVISED
Policy 237 Electronic Devices 2ND REVIEW
Policy 251 Students Experiencing Homelessness, Foster Care and Other Educational Instability REVISED
Policy 255 Educational Stability for Children in Foster Care DELETING
Policy 805 Emergency Preparedness and Response REVISED
Policy 805-Attach. Safe2Say Something Procedures REVISED
Policy 805.2 School Security Personnel REVISED
Policy 808 Food Services REVISED
Policy 808 - AR Food Services REVISED
Policy 810 Transportation REVISED
Policy 903 Public Participation in Board Meetings REVISED
Policy 903 - AR Public Participation Guidelines REVISED
The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes.
On motion of Ms. Hartman, seconded by Ms. Frye, Per Board Policy 000 Board Policy/Procedure/Administrative Regulations, the board approved Policy 011 Principles for Governance and Leadership on a second reading. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes vote and zero no votes.
Per Board Policy 000 Board Policy/Procedure/Administrative Regulations, Policy 321 Political Activities - NEW (Additional Review) was presented for approval on a second reading.
Ms. Bilek initiated a motion, seconded by Ms. Costanza, to open the floor to discussion and possible changes to Policy 321. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes.
Ms. Bilek initiated a motion, seconded by Ms. Costanza for board members to publicly comment if they wanted to revisit the policy for additional changes. She clarified that a no vote would mean that the policy would be voted on as presented. The motion carried on a roll call vote with five yes votes and four no votes. Ms. Frye, Mr. Brenneman, Ms. Hartman and Dr. Sommer cast the dissenting votes.
Ms. Bilek led discussion on the individual changes she presented.
Ms. Hartman requested a clear definition of social political. When no clear definition was presented, Dr. Sommer approved the comments of two public participants. Dr. John Wells spoke about the meaning of the words advocacy, inclusion and exclusion and how he believes advocacy was the problem with the word social political. Ms. Bilek gave several examples of social political. Mr. Rawlins asked the board if any members had spoken with district educators or visited any classrooms and suggested that before a policy is enacted that they visit and speak with educators to see what is actually happening.
Ms. Bilek continued to review the individual changes with the majority of the board in favor of the changes.
Upon the conclusion of discussion on suggested changes, Mr. Snyder initiated a motion, seconded by Mr. Nichols, Per Board Policy 000 Board Policy/Procedure/Administrative Regulations, the board approved Policy 321 Political Activities – NEW (Additional Review) with amendments and changes made during discussion. The motion carried on a roll call vote with eight yes votes and one no vote. Ms. Hartman cast the dissenting vote.
There being no further business to be brought before the board, Dr. Sommer declared the meeting adjourned at 9:14p.m.
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Autumn Fiscus
Board Secretary