[0:21] Will you do a roll call, please?

[0:23] Yes, Mr. Christiansen. Miss Headly here. Mrs.. Janacek. Mr.. McGregor. Mr.. Mr. Scalzo here, miss Sarah here. Miss Turner and Miss Feis here.

[0:42] Eight present or seven present to absent.

[0:47] I do want to announce that we had executive session for personnel, other legal matters and to receive information.

[0:55] And now we're going to have a presentation by Miss Sarah.

[1:05] Hey. Good evening everybody.

[1:10] All right, so we just started off like. It's just simple, quick.

[1:19] I thought you set me up, Chris.

[1:24] Uh, just started off the, um, the presentation with a quick little slide of everything that's going on. Everybody obviously knows the school's in session. Kids are in school. Uh, that's a good thing. And, uh, we knew the LG. I was the last to be done. Um, today we did stick up the, the last set of panels. Uh, if you see in that in the left corner, far corner there were removed, there's not panels in there. Those are all installed right now. Unfortunately, the ones that are in the top corner, they sent one out. That was it was designed to go. So they're gonna have to switch one panel. Um, they are installed and everything, but they're going to have to replace it because it doesn't go in sequence with looking like a leaf. It was a, it was two of the same ones, unfortunately, and catch it at the very last one. So like I said, that's it. Everything's going good. And then this is this is everybody else's headache. I'm sure the playground for 3 to 5. Um, I'm going to drop the ball on this one because I just found this one out to Kevin. Didn't want to call you. Um, they were supposed to start tomorrow. They're not coming till Thursday now. So, uh, but he did say, uh, I did tell him that it has to be done for Monday. Kids need to be on there by Monday. So he said, unless it's storms and everything where they're not going to be able to have kids present, I mean, people present to work and all that, uh, in the storm with the weather, uh, because it makes it the rubber rise. Um, that's the only thing that's going to stop them.

[2:54] So we know what the weather outlook is for Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

[2:59] Yeah. Yeah. So, Kim, we got it. Hopefully because this guy Kevin, he's he's in for it. He knows what's coming if it doesn't happen.

[3:12] So I mean, Thursday does not look good.

[3:16] Yeah. It's only 30% right now. All right.

[3:19] Okay.

[3:20] It's only.

[3:20] 3,030%. Because I thought earlier in the day it was higher than that.

[3:23] Some of it's staging, they have to bring the chemicals in.

[3:26] Yeah.

[3:26] So, um, if they double up and he's bringing his best crew. I've had multiple conversations with Kevin. Um, and he has assured me that it would be done. Um, and I'm going to renew my trust in Kevin and give him a chance.

[3:41] How long does it take to cure?

[3:42] 24 hours.

[3:43] It's 24 hours on the. So there's a base coat and then there's a top coat. Each one's. Well, the base coat could go in. You need. They need 1218 hours. So even once the base goes down, by the time they're ready to do the topcoat, there's more than enough time because they'll start where they started at, and they're not doing it all in one time. Okay. Um, so the biggest portion is the top coat.

[4:04] All right.

[4:05] But I mean, that's really, it was a real short, sweet slide because I mean, we're there, we're almost wrapped up and we're almost done. So once we get everything wrapped up in the lgi, uh, obviously we're doing a little bit more with the audio enhancement. We got to wait for the curtain to come in and everything, and then we'll be out of the Lgi tomorrow. We go, we are going in and cleaning up. A lot of teachers have been complaining about the hot water. It's not even complaining because it's a it's a fact. I went down myself. I verified on multiple sinks. Uh, so the plumbers are coming in. We're coming in tomorrow, 6:00 to start changing all the temperatures down and everything. And hopefully within the next I'll say two weeks, we'll be handing over to school completely where it's fully your guys. Other than that, we're just going and doing some odds and ends every day fixing tile, fixing a leak, everything. Um, I understand people have been dealing with like, you know, there's been a leak here. There's, this has happened. And unfortunately, no one occupied the school for three years. And now that there's 2000 people in there, things are going to happen. And it's what's happening. And, uh, everybody just kind of needs to grin and bear with it for about a month. Let, let all the, let all the quirks get worked out. And so every day they get less and less and they're small, you know what I mean? A stain here or, you know, the sink isn't properly shutting off and all that. Those are those are only small complaints and those are good ones. So other than that, there's nothing really to discuss more on on the school unless somebody else has something they want to ask or.

[5:41] Well, thank you for all of your hard work.

[5:44] I mean, it's not it was a team effort. It was everybody. It wasn't just one person. It wouldn't have been done without the right people there. Honestly, like it was a team effort. I wish everybody could come in here and hear the appreciation from it. Like everybody that worked in it, there was a lot of people that that put in the time for it over time and came in early, stayed late and everything. Those are the guys that really deserve the appreciation, honestly.

[6:09] Well, it's it's beautiful. It's really, really beautiful.

[6:12] So it is I like, I was just telling Dan, you know, this handsome guy right here was one of the architects on it. And, uh, there's been talks about the school getting, uh, going up for awards and everything. And it makes me proud to know that I was a part of it and got a chance to work with, you know, the district, uh, the architect, the jaw. I worked with them multiple times and great people. And, uh, and unfortunately, my kids are in this school too, so it works out right.

[6:43] Bernie, before you conclude, Dan, maybe you can share with the board the difference between the landscaping of what's called No Mow and Meadow mix, because there are a lot of questions that I'm receiving that we need to cut the grass, we need to cut the grass. So if you can just just touch on that for a minute so they understand. Sure.

[7:05] So there's, there's some portions of the school that are designed to have manicured landscaping, forage grass or lower and flowers and things like that. There are other areas where we designed it to be more meadow like. Um, this is good for ecology. It helps, uh, critters that help the plants. It helps, uh, all of the, the living things on your site live better and in the whole environment. Um, that meadow like grass will grow to a particular height and then it'll lay itself down. Um, it will not continue to grow and there is nothing invasive. And the the the material on that surface is designed to look like a meadow. Um, some people think that looks like unmowed grass. Now, there are other portions of the site that um recon, I should say there are significant portions of the site that are incomplete. Um, and we just had a conversation today to, to approach recon and say, okay, let's get a schedule for when things are going to be planted. That's mostly inside, like the medians, uh, adjacent to the roads. So there's a lot of site work that still needs addressed. And we're not being ignorant of that. But along the hillside slope, that should look like a meadow. It's like a park, right?

[8:40] Yeah. It's intentional. So and we have a plan. The no mow grass. We will actually mow three four times a year just to knock it down so that it looks kept. But people have been questioning like, are you going to mow that grass? Uh, no, that that is intended, that was intentional because it has different seasonal wildflowers in it. And there are some others where it's just grass and it's meant to be that way. So, um, I know this because the municipality calls me and reminds me when our grass gets too high at certain locations. I hope they don't call me because I'm going to say this is a no mow grass and, uh, we'll go from there.

[9:19] Well, and it's a, it's a common seed. You see it on the side of the highway. It's, it's not something somebody came up with.

[9:27] Thank you. Dan.

[9:27] Sure.

[9:31] Thank you.

[9:34] Okay.

[9:38] Um, we'll have public comments on agenda items, but I did want to mention that all individuals wishing to participate in an open board meeting are requested to register their intent with the board Secretary. And one day. Are we doing that? One day in advance. Okay. And request to participate shall include name the topic and the group affiliation. If applicable. Public comments will be accepted. I lost it. Um, wait, I lost my sorry. I lost my spot at the committee in regular meetings. Each commenter is required to state their name. Please be reminded that public comments at the beginning of each meeting are reserved for agenda items only. Public comments about non-agenda items, as well as agenda items can be shared at the end of the meetings. This is board policy. 006.3 and it limits each public comment to two minutes in duration, and we ask that the public bear this in mind. The district will reserve its right to limit public comments that exceed two minutes. Individuals shall wait to be recognized by the proceeding officer before commenting. Must direct all comments to the proceeding officer. Presiding Officer oh my God, I'm a mess and sorry. Um and must preface their comments with an announcement of their name and group affiliation if applicable. The public comment session at the beginning of the meeting shall be limited to not more than 30 minutes. The second public comment period shall be limited to not more than 30 minutes.

[11:09] This is long, so I'm going to I'm going to stop there. So anyway, um public comments on agenda items. Oh okay. All right.

[11:22] I'm so sorry. Okay. Um, the Academic Growth and Achievement Committee. Mr. Scalzo, did you want to take that?

[11:32] All right. Under academic growth and achievement, we have one item professional development. The Board of School Directors approves the administration's recommendation to approve the following professional development doctor Matthew Patterson, the New Superintendents Academy in Harrisburg, PA on September 16th through the 17th, 2026, November 5th through the sixth, 2026 and January 28th through the 29th 2027. The estimated total cost is $2,673.46,

[12:03] and I recommend we put this on the consent agenda.

[12:09] Okay.

[12:13] That's all.

[12:14] Okay.

[12:16] All right. Miss Genesic, will you take personnel committee?

[12:21] Sure. Personnel. Tonight we have four items.

[12:27] We have acceptance of resignations. And there are two positions on there. Change of assignment and there are two positions there. Appointment of personnel and there are six positions there. And approval of curriculum facilitator. For this school year. There are two positions there. Does anybody have any questions? Discussion.

[12:58] I have one regarding facilitators. Were these positions. I believe one of them was split at one time. Is that just going to be done by one person now?

[13:08] Yes.

[13:09] Okay.

[13:12] And the other one is new because I thought there was somebody on the agenda before. So did that change also? I know the one retired.

[13:21] Mhm. So with those positions, one is no longer doing it because of the course load they have. So the other facilitator is taking the sole role where they were previously splitting it for the other one. That was a switch that happened based on a retirement we did not previously post. So we wanted to put that individual on there. They have already started their work. Appoint them as new facilitator.

[13:48] Thank you for the clarification.

[13:52] Any other questions? I would like to move all four items under Personnel Committee to the consent agenda.

[14:01] Okay. Mr. Murdoch, will you take facilities and operations?

[14:05] Yes, ma'am. There's one item. Excuse me.

[14:11] Uh, adoption of the resolution number 8-2026,

[14:16] which will be the donation of Ben Franklin Elementary School and George Washington Elementary School to the municipality of Bethel Park. Um, we have two documents in front of us. One was the agreement from 62723.

[14:32] Originally with the municipality in regards to these buildings. And the other one is the resolution I just mentioned. There's no discussion. I would move these items to the consent agenda or this item to the consent agenda.

[14:49] Okay. Miss Turner, will you take the Finance Committee?

[14:55] Sure. Um, one first one is approval of financial report. The second one is approval of monthly invoices and payroll. Number three is payment for the new element. New K to five elementary school project. Fourth one is approval of student services contracts. And the fifth one is the approval of a new comprehensive services agreement for 2627.

[15:20] Any questions? Concerns.

[15:26] I move all five to the consent agenda.

[15:28] Okay. Mr. Kerr, will you take other?

[15:32] Sure.

[15:33] For other. We have three items today. Uh, approval of separation agreement and approval of a student agreement and adoption of resolution. Um, for e-signature authorization for our superintendent. Are there any questions?

[15:50] I ask that they be moved to the consent.

[15:55] Okay. Are there any public comments? And I'm not going to reread. Just state your name and um.

[16:07] All right.

[16:08] Um.

[16:10] Hi, I'm Ramona Stanley, um, resident, Bethel Park. Um, I have a child in the new elementary center. And I am very grateful. And I'm very appreciative of the new elementary center. It is beautiful. Um, however, I am disappointed on the first day with the media coverage. Uh, so on the first day, there were multiple local news cameras that were in the school while the students were in the school. Um, as well as Bethel Park Media that was there. Uh, I was very disappointed, uh, to find out an hour or two after school started that there was a photo of my child posted to social media. I have signed the agreement for the media release as a she is not to be publicly put out there. Um, so I did call the school within five minutes of getting to the right person. Uh, the issue was corrected. Um, however, I do want to inform the school board that, uh, this social media policy or sorry, the media policy is not being followed as written and agreed to by the caregivers. Um, additionally, with the one of the, the TV news crews that went out. Uh, they did show identifiable information. So they had.

[17:30] Faces of the students with the room numbers and the teacher's name on there. Um that was identified to the school and to the news media. They did remove the video of that one. There was another news media one that was on there that was much more tasteful, that did not have any children involved in it. Um, so I believe that was done much more nicely, but I request going forward, uh, that we are much better about having students identities out there. I appreciate your time. Thank you.

[18:13] Any other any board comments?

[18:18] I just have one. I was wondering if we could get an update on the bus app for dismissal. Um, if there's anything to update on that.

[18:29] Are you asking about the pick me up versus the bus boss or the pick me? So bus boss, um, controls both our routing and has features that are cellular in nature that will give GPS location. Um, not an exact, but an estimate better than a geofenced, which is what we had with our former bus where um, it has improved. I know um our IT department through Mr. Sloan have worked to improve whatever the glitch was. Um, but we are continuing to monitor that. Um, we've had quite a few days of success with that the past couple of days. So we're, we're in a good place right now.

[19:19] Great. Thank you.

[19:23] I have a couple of updates. One of them is from the Parks and Rec Advisory Board. Um.

[19:31] There are some changes, um, that all coaches need clearances and they must talk with the Parks and Rec director about that. So anybody anymore that is doing Parks and Rec, no matter what it is, has to have all of their clearances and it has to be turned in. It's something that they have done in the past. But I guess people were saying, why have my volunteer badge for here? So they are making them all go through the process through the rec department. Um, the other thing is the um, elementary school gala with the Bethel Park Education Foundation is this Sunday the 20th. Please note the times. The times on the ticket are incorrect. The time is 4 to 7 p.m.. Um, it should be an amazing evening for the community to see the, school, have some fun adventures with the Adventure Pass and exploring the school and great activities that are available if you do attend. Um, so we hope to see you there, but that should be a great evening. Thank you.

[20:39] Anybody else?

[20:43] Okay. Motion to adjourn. All in favor? Okay.

School Board Committee Meeting 9-15-26

Transcript