WSSD BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

Recognitions: Honorary mentions and winners of the winter holiday card competition were announced, with 200 submissions received. Recognition was also given to the Marching Band. Community Updates: The passing of Mr. Pantalone (spelling uncertain) was mentioned. Additionally, Fairview Firehall was highlighted for providing weekly Tuesday dinners and offering resources to those in need. Meeting Summary: The majority of the meeting was routine. Business items were grouped together and approved unanimously, with minimal commentary or discussion. Key Discussions: Substantial dialogue occurred during the presentations on the preliminary budget kickoff and full-day kindergarten. Public Comments: Positive feedback included compliments on the meeting’s preparedness and smooth flow, recognition of Thomas’s leadership over the past year, and congratulations to Brent and Davis as the new president and vice president. Concerns were raised about divisiveness, intimidation, and inappropriate conduct during meetings. Suggestions included revisiting the practice of reading electronic comments aloud, addressing transportation department challenges with creative solutions, and prioritizing students over political or religious considerations. Specific criticisms included perceived ties between Brent and the "Take Back Our School" movement, as well as concerns about prioritizing personal beliefs over student needs.

Reorganization Meeting Overview: Numerous electronic and in-person comments were submitted regarding the meeting. Board Leadership Elections: President: The nominees for board president were Kelly Brent and Brian Guistwhite. Six board members shared their perspectives on leadership, either in general or by comparing the nominees. The vote resulted in a 5-4 split, with Kelly Brent elected as the new president. Vice President: Mandy Davis was the sole nominee for vice president. There was no discussion, and the vote was unanimous in her favor. Public Comments: Suggestions for introducing scripture or Bible teachings in schools to promote moral codes and universal standards. Calls for board members to listen to all constituents, maintain humility, and keep an open mind, regardless of differing opinions. Criticism directed at the board majority for avoiding accountability in litigation and lawsuits, particularly when running on promises of fiscal responsibility and transparency. Concerns that experience among board members has led to increased debt and higher taxes. Some commenters expressed hope that the new board leadership would bring change, including dismantling the Department of Education and aligning with potential Supreme Court rulings. President’s Closing Remarks: Kelly Brent acknowledged the work of outgoing president Thomas and congratulated Mandy Davis on her nomination. She emphasized commitment to considering all perspectives and fostering inclusive deliberation among board members, with the shared goal of achieving excellence in education. Brent noted that committee assignments would be made in January and asked board members to submit their preferences beforehand.

All directors present, except for Pres. Thomas At the meeting, the school board voted unanimously to continue the mental health screening services for students in seventh through ninth grades. The board was passionately lobbied by members of the community over the past month to continue services, but there was a divide in support for changing to an opt-in process for student participation versus continuing the opt-out process. The opt-out model was again selected by the board. Most of the public comment at the beginning of the meeting favored the opt-out process. As one commenter put it, “Most parents do an excellent job raising their kids, but sometimes their kids need help but they don’t recognize it.” The screening program was initially paid for by a grant, which has ended. The cost of $7,500 to the school district will purchase a standard annual license, and fees for hosting and maintenance for the screenings by Maryland-based Medical Decision Logic, Inc. Prior to administering the screenings, a three-page letter will be provided to parents. The letter will outline parental rights, how to opt a student out, and detail the process for parents to review the screener questions in advance. The information gathered will be confidentially stored on computer software and will only be accessible by the school district. Mental health responses by district personnel will always involve a student’s family.

The most discussed issue of the meeting was the proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) to contract with Medical Decision Logic for mental health screenings of sixth- and ninth-grade students. Additionally, five revised board policies are open for public feedback. At the Thursday meeting, several members of public voiced support of the mental health assessment, while others expressed concerns about parental rights, what specifically is being asked in the screening/assessment, and how the data from these screenings will be stored and shared. Those concerns were also cited by board members Brent and Davis, who wanted clarification that there would not be any further intervention, evaluation or discussion without parental involvement. Ultimately, the board voted to table the vote to approve the MOU until a later meeting. Five Board Policies are up for review and revision, including 105.2 Review of Instructional Materials by Parents and Students; and 105.3 Exemptions from Instruction.The district website’s School Board pages include a section for Board Policies, with a subsection for Policies Pending Revision. Proposed new language for Policy 105.2 states, “The Board adopts this policy to ensure that parents/guardians and students have an opportunity to review instructional materials and have access to information about the curriculum, including academic standards to be achieved, instructional materials and assessment techniques.” Board Policy 105.3 is meant to ensure that parents/guardians have the right to have their children excused from specific instruction, and associated specific instructional materials, that conflicts with their religious beliefs. One of the many proposed revisions include a statement that “The provision for exemption from instruction on religious grounds does not include release of a student from a required course or academic standards. Requests for exemption on religious grounds shall be considered only for specific instruction, specific instructional materials, discrete lessons, or classroom activities.”

All board members in attendance While there were notable achievements and programs that were honored at the meeting, the agenda item that had everyone talking was the motion to appoint a special counsel and to approve an appeal of a recent direction by the state Office of Open Records related to the April 11 firing of the board’s long-time attorney and the hiring of a solicitor with little experience in education law. The conservative majority of the board that took office in December 2023 did not state what the cost would be or whether board insurance could pay for it. The motion passed 5-4, with those in favor including Board President Heidi Thomas, VP Kelly Brent, Mandy Davis, David Brinton and Brenda Cox. Long-time board member Brian Guistwhite, a self-described conservative, said of the appeal, “This is a risky proposition with taxpayer money, and I do not support it.” The matter began with the same board majority (the Majority) replacing the board solicitor at its April 11, 2024, meeting. Nine district residents sued the school district, the board and the five members of the Majority, alleging they violated the state Sunshine Act by secretly meeting in private to decide to fire and hire the solicitors in advance of the April 11 public meeting. One of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit also filed a Right to Know request with the state Office of Open Records (OOR) seeking documentation of the alleged illegal private meetings conducted on the Majority members’ private cell phones, emails and other means of communication. The OOR issued a determination that the school district must conduct a search of records of the cell phone records and other communications. The board voted at the Sept. 19 meeting to hire a special counsel to appeal that OOR determination. Minority board member Abigail Tierney, an attorney for the state Dept. of Education for 16 years, pegged the cost of the special counsel as at least $455 an hour and added that it is unlikely to be covered by insurance. She questioned whether the action was in the district’s best interest or in the Majority members’ best interests. She said turning over the cell phone and other records would cost board members little time and money. “Releasing the records would go a long way to restoring trust, and put an issue to bed in this community,” Tierney said. Board member Adam Trone said he could not in good conscience pass on what is estimated to be 5 digits (thousands of dollars) on to the taxpayers. During public comment at the start of the meeting, Dr. Samuel Andes said a decision to hire a special counsel goes beyond just the issues of costs and transparency. “It’s hypocritical for this board to spend taxpayer money to prevent the public from knowing what members of the board did secretly in contravention of the law of Pennsylvania,” Andes said.

Safety and unity were top of the mind at the September 12 school board meeting. Superintendent Dr. Todd Stoltz spoke about threats of violence against the middle schools made on September 11 on social media. He discussed what transpired and the collaboration with local law enforcement to identify a suspect, a student. Dr. Stoltz also stated that the decision to close the district is the responsibility of the superintendent. He said that such decisions are not made lightly, and that the district is appreciative of the public vigilance about the threats. Public comments included a submission by a student about the experience of being mocked for having disabilities and called on fellow students to be inclusive and understanding, rather than judgemental. Other comments regarding safety ran the gamut from anti-bullying and violence prevention measures, to metal detectors and placement of safety officers at elementary schools. Assistant Superintendent Mathew Gay said two of the middle schools are looking into anti-bullying presentations, with support from the Westshore Foundation. The school board was looking for ways to improve unity among its members through a board workshop or retreat with a focus on enhancing board operations. They were unable to come to a consensus on a format for the event, and voted down a $5,000 professionally provided workshop proposal, 5-4. The board did adopt Revised Board Policy 011: Principles for Governance & Leadership. All board policies are available on the district website under the School Board tab. Also on the busy agenda was a continued discussion of proposed site improvements and access enhancements at Red Land High School. The board has received a bid of almost $1.2 million, which would largely be paid for with a $1 million grant. Proposed expenditures for artificial turf on athletic fields are not part of the project.

West Shore School Board meeting Aug. 15 Among the many items the board approved at the August 15 meeting was an agreement to develop a Targeted Support and Improvement Plan (TSI) for Cedar Cliff High School. The school district will develop an improvement plan to be submitted to the state to address how it can raise performance in math and English language arts for students with disabilities, English language learners and Black students, and attendance for the English language learners. Board member Adam Trone said the administration has owned the problem, and “... we will do better.” The board also ratified a resolution agreement for a complaint received by the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights against the district alleging deficiencies with facilities pertaining to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. On July 24, the board entered into a rapid resolution process that provides the terms by which an investigation will take place and how the complaint will be resolved. Director of Student Services Dr. Nick Butt and West Shore social workers presented their work with the Homeless Education, Awareness,Resources, and Training (HEART) program. This program provides necessities and resources to roughly 130 students experiencing homelessness within the West Shore School District. Superintendent Dr. Todd Stoltz commended their efforts and thanked them for their service at the end of the presentation.

At the August 8, 2024 meeting, the West Shore school board discussed a variety of items germane to opening for the new school year, ranging from contracting paraprofessionals, a coordinator for state and federal programs, grant-funded emotional support services, literacy intervention programs for middle schools, and contracting for reviews of Individual Education Plans. The board also approved a memorandum of understanding with the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit for migrant student education. The new program will be paid for with state and federal money. The board had a longer discussion on the Targeted Support and Improvement Plan (TSI) for Cedar Cliff High School. The TSI assesses performance for sub-groups of students with learning challenges, such as disabilities and language barriers, and whether the school as a whole is at risk of being designated as a failing school. Measures include math and English language achievements, graduation rates, attendance, and many more. Cedar Cliff was identified as a TSI school in 2019, but the effort was put on hold during the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The updated TSI plan will be presented to the school board at the August 15 meeting, and if approved will be forwarded to the state Department of Education. The agenda for the August 15 meeting will also include a revised board policy on organizational structure, and site improvements for Red Land High School. The board’s policy committee will meet prior to the full board meeting.