January 2023

Board Meeting - January 12

The Board met in regular session on Thursday, January 12, with President Guistwhite presiding.
 
The National Anthem was performed by Nicholas Duvall and Sophia Langan, eighth grade orchestra students attending Crossroads Middle School, under the direction of Mrs. Mary Lyle-Lepley.
 
Communications
School Director Recognition Month
In honor of School Director Recognition Month, Dr. Stoltz thanked the Board for their volunteer service throughout the year and presented each Board member with tokens of the District's appreciation.

Administrative Council Recognition
Prior to winter break, five Red Land High School students and a teacher stopped on their way into school to help Noah Weaver who was having a medical emergency. During the meeting, Noah, Dr. Stoltz and the Board recognized Mrs. Amy Snyder, Faith Murray, Ava Ferrufino, Kathy Bui, Chelsea Carpenter, and Isabella Sadler, for the compassion and skills they demonstrated through their actions that morning to ensure their friend was safe.

Superintendent's Report - Health and Safety Plan
Dr. Stoltz provided a short update on the status of active cases in our schools and shared proposed revisions to the Health and Safety Plan. Click here to view his presentation.   

Recognition by the Board
West Shore Marching Band & Color Guard
This year our West Shore Marching Band & Color Guard brought home third place at the USBands Pennsylvania State Championship and fifth place at the USBands Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships. The Board recognized Mr. Robert Starrett, Mr. George Clements, and student representatives from the WSMB on their incredible season.

2022 District Holiday Card Recognition
On behalf of the Board, Mrs. Fourhman recognized the District's 2022 Holiday Card Contest winners. Madeline Hodge, Junior at Cedar Cliff High School, was honored for her digital illustration, and Kayleigh Hart, Senior at Cedar Cliff High School, for her winning holiday verse.

Board Shout Outs
Mr. Stoltenburg recognized Mr. Matt Wensel, Principal at Fishing Creek Elementary, for bringing holiday cheer to families and staff at Fishing Creek, Red Land, and the Administration Center prior to the holiday break when he appeared as an accordion playing elf.

Mrs. Moyer shared that Keaton Manley, a Senior attending Cedar Cliff High School and Cumberland Perry Area CTC, was recognized as the Mechanicsburg North Rotary Club Student of the Month.
 
Dr. Stoltz shared the following shout outs:
  • Our District was well represented at the CCMEA County Band Festival. Forty students from our middle and high school band program traveled to Messiah University to perform with their peers from area schools.
  • Chloe Flower, the pianist who performed at the Golden Globes, is a West Shore graduate and member of Cedar Cliff High School's Class of 2000. While a student here she was known as Chloe Won.
  • West Shore has several students who received honors at the PA Farm Show. Congratulations to Red Land High School Juniors Chase Cornman, Madison Derrickson, and Logan Maurer, and to Cedar Cliff High School Sophomores Chad Pilachowski and Kaihri Rice. These students are all enrolled in Cumberland Perry Area CTC's Horticulture and Landscaping Program.
  • Cedar Cliff hosted a Clothing Swap in January. Dr. Stoltz thanked Kristin Myers, Kelly Guistwhite and other members of the staff at Cedar Cliff and Highland who organized the event.

Opportunity for Student and Public Comments
Business Items
No students addressed the Board. For a list of in person public comments discussed, please refer to the Board minutes which will be approved at the February 16, Board Meeting.
 
Business Items
Personnel 
The Board approved all personnel items as presented.

Proposed Contract: PAREAP
PAREAP.net is an online educator recruitment and management system that is widely used throughout the state to search, find, and manage qualified teaching applicants. The Board approved a service contract with PAREAP from January 13 through June 30, 2023 for online application services.
 
Addendum to Agreement: Substitute Teacher Service
In May 2022, the District renewed its contract with the Substitute Teacher Service (STS). The Board approved a revised contract of service with the STS to increase the daily sub rate from $125/day to $150/day, and the building sub rate from $150/day to $170/day. 
 
2023-2024 Cumberland Perry Area Career Technical Center Operating Budget
The 2023-2024 Cumberland Perry Area CTC's Operating Budget has been approved by its Joint Operating Committee. Based on our average student enrollment over the previous five years, the District's estimated cost will be $1,745,539 and the tuition payment will increase by $126,997. The Board approved the proposed operating budget as presented.
 
Contract for Services: Approved Private School 
In certain circumstances, the District may contract with other programs and schools to provide educational services for students whose needs cannot be met in the District's regular classrooms. The Board approved a contract for one student to attend The Camphill School, Inc. for the remainder of the current school year. 
 
Old Trail Intermediate: Site Change Order #2
CH&N Site incurred costs that were not included in the bid as a result of the required design changes. The Board approved Site Change Order #2 in the amount of $184,044.87.
 
Ethnic Studies Curriculum and Instructional Resource Adoption
The Board approved the curriculum and resources for Ethnic Studies as presented.
 
Health & Safety Plan Update
In 2021, the District developed a Health and Safety Plan for the safe reopening of schools as required by the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act. Periodically, the Board has authorized revisions to the plan and most recently approved discontinuation of the thresholds and online COVID-19 tracker.

Information Items
2023-2024 General Fund Budget
Mrs. Boone shared preliminary budget projections for 2023-2024 with the Board. This presentation, and others made to the Board during the budget development process, can be found on the Business Office website.

Opportunity for Student and Public Comments
General Items
No students addressed the Board. A public comment received electronically was shared with Board members prior to the start of the meeting. For a list of in person and electronic participants and topics discussed, please refer to the Board minutes which will be approved at the February 16, Board Meeting.

Board Meeting - January 19

The Board met in regular session on Thursday, January 19, with President Guistwhite presiding.

Cedar Cliff High School’s JROTC Color Guard presented the colors for the evening. JROTC members included Freshmen William Kollas and Nicholas Toto, Sophomore Andrew Snavely, and Junior Austin Snavely. 

Recognition by the Board
I'm Fine Project
District Middle School Art Teachers Ms. Jennifer Thompson, Mrs. Jordan Bashore, and Ms. Jillian Galle, were joined by eighth grade students from Crossroads (Maggie Buss, Cayla Reigle, and Kayla Siler) and New Cumberland (Addison Groff, Sarah Krol, and Talulah MacDonald) to share their personal experience participating in the "I'm Fine" project creating ceramic masks.

National Anthem
Under the direction of Mrs. Ashley Weidler, the National Anthem was sung by Abigail Flowers, Calleigh Gorham, Samuel Herbert, and Chloe Wixon from Allen Middle School.
 
Opportunity for Student and Public Comments
Business Items
No public comments were received.

Minutes
The minutes of the meetings held on December 8, 2022, and December 15, 2022, were approved.
 
Treasurer’s Report
The Board filed the Treasurer’s Report for the month ending December 31, 2022, showing invested and available funds of $67,075,901.28.

Communications
Legal Update
Dr. Stoltz indicated the latest legal update from the solicitor’s office was available for Board members. 

Student Discipline
The Board approved the student disciplinary case as presented.

Board Reports
Mrs. Tierney highlighted the Board’s recent visit to Washington Heights Elementary. She shared that staff are making "50 Good Calls Home" to recognize student accomplishments.

Mr. F. Kambic indicated the Finance Committee report would be shared later in the meeting.

Mrs. Crocenzi shared that she attended a budget presentation by York Adams Academy.

Mr. C. Kambic provided an overview of the District Advisory Council and Curriculum Committee meetings held earlier in the month.

Mrs. Moyer highlighted the Board's visit to Fairview Elementary and shared she attended the school as a student. She recognized Mr. Glantz and the District's Buildings and Grounds Department for their assistance in providing stairs to help a student meet their IEP goals.

Mr. Guistwhite invited the community to attend the annual Clothing Swap hosted by Cedar Cliff High School which was being held the week of January 17.


Recognition by the Board
Student Reports
Cedar Cliff High Senior Madisyn “Cassie” Tanner-Jones and Red Land Senior Grace Michelsen shared their experiences at their respective high schools and their future plans.

Board Shout Outs
Mrs. Crocenzi gave a shout out to several District employees whose retirements were recently approved.
 
Business Items
Bills for Approval
The Board approved bills for the period December 16, 2022, through January 11, 2023, listing checks which totalled $3,246,205.75.

Refunds
The Board approved one refund in the amount of $16,532.12.
 
Personnel & Budgetary Transfers
The Board approved all personnel items and budgetary transfers as presented.
 
Exoneration of Real Estate Taxes
The Board granted exoneration of school taxes for $2,063.55 to an individual eligible for a Veterans Affairs Real Estate Tax Exemption.
 
2023-2024 Budget Resolution 
By January 2023, all school districts must either adopt a resolution indicating that the school district will not raise property taxes by more than its inflation index for 2023-2024 or prepare a preliminary budget and make it available for public inspection. The Board chose to adopt a resolution indicating it will not raise property taxes by more than the 4.7% adjusted index for 2023-2024.
 
Industrial Appraisal Company Services
The Board approved a contract with Industrial Appraisal Company to provide appraisal services for the District.
 
Cedar Cliff High School Baseball Trip
The Board approved a trip for the Cedar Cliff High School baseball team to North Carolina from Thursday, March 16, through Sunday, March 19, 2023.
 
ACIS Educational Tours
The Board approved the use of ACIS Educational Tours to provide travel services to Greece and Italy from June 7, through June 16, 2023.
 
Staff Attendance at Professional Meetings
The Board approved requests for staff attendance at professional meetings as presented.
 
Extension to Contract for Transportation Services
The Board approved a one-year extension of the current contract for Transportation Services with First Student, Inc.
 
Contract for Alternative Education Program-Capital Academy of Harrisburg
The District placed students at the Capital Academy of Harrisburg last year and wishes to continue contracting for the 2022-2023 school year. Additionally, the District would like to purchase two guaranteed AEDY slots and three guaranteed special education slots, to include transportation through the end of March 2023. The Board approved continuing to contract with the Capital Academy of Harrisburg for the 2022-2023 school year as presented.

Information Items
Committee Reports
The Curriculum, Feasibility, and Finance Committee Reports were shared with the Board. Click here to view related files.

English Grades 9-12 Instructional Resource Adoption for 2023-2024
The English Department is in the research and adoption phase of the Instructional Design Cycle. Dr. Whye provided an overview of the textbook adoption process and timeline for High School English Language Arts for the 2023-2024 school year.

2023-2024 Calendar
Dr. Stoltz shared a proposed 2023-2024 calendar with Monday, August 28, 2023, set as the start date for students. As it has done in the past, the District will be seeking feedback from students, parents and staff relative to the calendar.

High School Seven Period Pilot
Dr. Jones provided an overview of the District's recommendation to utilize a seven period instructional day at both high schools next school year. The change in schedule would include a one-hour block of time in the middle of the day (Power Hour), for students to participate in a variety of activity options. Click here to view Dr. Jones' presentation with notes.

Opportunity for Student and Public Comments
General Items
No students addressed the Board. For a list of in person public comments discussed, please refer to the Board minutes which will be approved at the February 16, Board Meeting.
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