BOARD NOTES: March 2021

Student Spotlight: Student of the Quarter

BOARD PRESENTATIONS

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Presentation

COMMITTEE UPDATES

Curriculum and Technology Committee

The Curriculum and Technology Committee met on Tuesday, March 2 at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom and in-person. Dr. Kelly Murray, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, provided an update on the new regulations pertaining to state-wide testing (Keystone and PSSA). Dr. Murray indicated that additional PSSA information would be sent to families from their sending schools. Catie Gardy, K–12 Curriculum Supervisor, shared updates regarding the K-12 Library Curriculum Review. Dr. Rochlin, K–12 Curriculum Supervisor, shared an overview of the Cyber Learning Program. She will be working with Ms. Crew, Mr. Fink, and Mr. Rizzo to advertise and grow the program in the 2021-2022 school year.

 

Bob Catalano, Director of Technology, shared an update regarding refresh items, NAC and Firewall. He also shared status update on the evaluation and usage of the temporary technology employees.

 

Community Relations Committee

The Community Relations Committee met on Tuesday, March 2 at 7:30 p.m. on Zoom and in-person. Erin Crew, Director of Communications, Marketing, and Media provided a brief update from the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee. The EDI Community subcommittee is moving forward and working with RCTV on plans for the Spring Multicultural Virtual Field Trip. This is the first step in a multi-year community event. The EDI Professional Development subcommittee hosted several employee-based focus groups in the fall, and is offering more opportunities this spring. Ms. Crew also provided an Antigen Test Update. She has been working on Test Administrator Training Video and Documents and Test Taker Training Video and Documents. The Pilot Group launched March 8 and 9 and the full Rollout started March 15. Finally, Ms. Crew and Mr. Fink have been researching trademark options for the Spring-Ford logos. Additional information will be shared in the coming months.

 

Andrew Rothermel, Manager of Communications Media, provided an extensive update from the TV Studio. He recapped recent videos including Black History Month highlights, and upcoming projects. He also discussed the Theater Project, in which his team filmed three versions of the Spring Musical. Mr. Rothermel discussed the Mobile TV Studio for Schools project. The 8th Grade Center, Spring City, and Oaks all have been outfitted with Mobile TV Studios, and 5/6 Grade, Limerick, Royersford and Upper Providence are scheduled for updates this spring.

 

Property Committee

The Property Committee met on Tuesday, March 9 at 7:30 p.m. on Zoom and in-person. Bob Hunter, Director of Operations and Planning, provided many project updates including:

Bard Building (Royersford Library) Update: Barry Isett and Associates provided engineered construction documents for the shoring of the compromised concrete structural floor joists. The shoring plan consists of three different options and along with estimated construction costs for each. Needs for next meeting are to provide actual construction cost for two options.

• McNelly Stadium Occupancy Update: On March 2, 2021 Limerick Township Board of Supervisors approved a waiver for the Subdivision of Land Development which saved the district, project approval time and professional service fees. Mr. Hunter is confidant that remaining scheduling milestones for the project will be completed before graduation.
• Farmhouse Rental Property Update: Mr. Hunter discussed the current status of the rental property as being vacant and the largest expense required to reoccupy is the replacement of the septic system. A comparative analysis report was done on the property and the market price for similar properties was shared with the committee.  A cost analysis summary for these three options were provided to all board members at the request of Property Chairperson, Clinton Jackson.
• Capital Projects: Capital Project at 567 Grade Center, replacement of three boilers. Capital Project at Upper Providence Elementary School (UPES), request for equipment only purchase of two roof top HVAC units. Capital Project at Evans, 567 Grade Center and UPES, request for equipment only purchase of LED exterior lighting through the COSTARS contract with Colonial Electric supply. These items were on the Board Agenda for approval.

Chief David Boyer, Coordinator of Safety, Security, and Emergency Preparedness, provided project updates including Rapid Antigen Testing, traffic control, S2SS tips, and PPE distribution. Chief Boyer also informed the committee that the school district was awarded a grant for $25,000 to complete Phase Three of the Digital Radio Project as well as a $40,000 grant to cover a portion of one School Police Officer's annual salary.

 

Finally, Mr. Hunter requested approval from the committee to name Maintenance Shed #1 "Carson's Compound" in the memory of the late Doug Carson, Maintenance foreman and 31 year employee of the district. Pursuant to Board Policy 702.1, Naming of School District property, this request was on the Board agenda for approval.

 

Extracurricular Committee

The Extracurricular Committee met on Monday, March 15 at 7:30 p.m. on Zoom and in-person. Many secondary events are being planned for in-person attendance with Livestream access for those tuning in from home. The number of guests will be determined by state capacity guidelines at the time of the event. The Spring Musical, Guys and Dolls Jr., occurred during the weekend of March 5, 2021. Alex Cifelli, Theatre Director, indicated that over 1,000 links were "reserved" as people tuned from all over the country. Students were involved at every level of the production from acting and singing, to lighting and sound design. This was a joint effort between the theatre, music, and Communications/RCTV Department.

 

Policy Committee

The Policy Committee met on Monday, March 15 at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom and in-person. The committee recommended sending Policies 703, 704, 708, 710, 805, 901, 902, 905, 908, 909, 912, 912, and 914 to the solicitor for review. Policy 609 is being reviewed by the Business Office and, barring any significant changes, will be brought forward for a first read in April. Policies 811, 812, and 813 are being reviewed by the Business Office and will be sent to the solicitor. Barring any significant changes, policies will be brought forward for a first read in April. A motion for PSBA to combine and update the 300s, 400s, 500s in the policy book into one section (300 – Employees) was brought forward at the March 22, 2021 Board Meeting.

 

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee met on Tuesday, March 9 at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom and in-person. Jim Fink, CFO, reviewed the districts Executive Reports including liquidity, revenues, expenditures, assessments, real estate transfer taxes, earned income taxes, self-funded health insurance, and food service. Mr. Fink noted the implementation of a new Food Service checkout system, which will focus on speed and safety, and will allow for a larger menu. Mr. Fink also spent a great deal of time on the 2021-2022 Budget Update. He reviewed budget cover sheet of model with a 3.99% tax impact with a gap of $4,528,410. With an index of 3% there is still work to be done to reduce the overall gap to get to 3%. Mr. Fink reviewed the original timeline stating the proposed final approved at the April 12, 2021 Board Meeting for public posting and adopt the budget at the May 2021 Board meeting.

 

SFASD NEWS AND CALENDAR

The Spring-Ford Area School District affirms that no person shall, on the basis of sex, disability, race, color, age, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, veteran's status or genetic information be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination in any educational program or activity. In addition, no person shall, on any of these bases, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination in employment, or recruitment, or consideration, or selection therefore, whether full-time or part-time, under any educational program or activity operated by the school district. The district shall make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. Please contact the Title IX Coordinator (Director of Human Resources) 857 S. Lewis Road, Royersford, PA, or at 610-705-6000 ext. 6124. Refer to Board Policy No. 103 for further information about the district's Nondiscrimination in Participation, Employment, Contract Practices.

SPRING-FORD AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

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