Welcome to the Pennridge School Board monthly update. To foster better communication with the public we are providing a monthly executive summary of our actions. These are highlights of this month's Board meeting.

Each month, we will also include links to specific times of the video of our meeting to help you navigate to specific areas of interest. I hope you find this information useful and easy to access.

We welcome feedback from the public and the School District welcomes you at the meetings and invites you to participate in the meetings' public comment sections.

If you have comments or concerns about Pennridge School Board matters, please e-mail psdschoolboard@pennridge.org.

Below for a complete list of Board actions for the month. The full agenda can also be viewed on our Board Docs website by clicking here.

Highlights of the Board's Decisions:

• After the annual reorganization, President Wurz retains his Presidency for another year.

• Mrs. Carolyn Sciarrino as the new Vice President of the School for the next calendar year.

• Superintendent Berrios honors and recognizes our students and staff members.

• The Communication Department previews the new PSD website and shows PSD in the News!

• The School Board approves four new exciting courses at PHS!

• The School Board approves Policy 321- Political Activity
  

• The School Board approves an MOU between PSD and the PEA for planning time.

January School Board Meeting Schedule:

• January 6, 2025- Curriculum, Student Services, and Policy Committees
• January 13, 2025- Facilities, Finance and Personnel Committees
• January 27, 2025- Pennridge Board Meeting

Major timecode references for the School Board Meeting Video:

• 00:03:28 Start of Meeting
• 00:05:00 Public Comment
• 00:33:10 Call for Nominations- Re-Organization
• 00:37:07 President's Report
• 00:40:30 Superintendent's Report
• 00:56:00 Student Liaison Report
• 01:00:00 Consent Calendar- Start of Regular Meeting
• 01:01:00 Curriculum Committee
• 01:03:18 Facilities Committee
• 01:03:56 Finance Committee
• 01:04:46 Personnel Committee
• 01:07:15 Policy Committee

President Wurz reported to the community about these items during the December meeting:

• Credited both PSD Administrators and the Pennridge Educational Administration for negotiating a solution together for an increase of 20% more planning time for Teachers- an MOU was passed during the Personnel Committee portion of the meeting.
• Expressed excitement over the addition of an AP Latin course (approved during the Curriculum Committee portion of the meeting) and three other courses being added to increase rigor at Pennridge High School
• Announced the changing of the name and scope of the former "Activities" Committee to "Student Services" Committee

• PHS Athletic Standouts from Fall Sports are recognized
• Excellent Students and Staff members recognized for the great work they do all the time and especially during American Education Week
• Seven Students and the PHS Gifted Teacher honored nationally for NASA design contest!
• Pennridge has its first-ever Robotics Competition Team and earns $7000 in grants!
• The new Pennridge website is live to our Community and Pennridge in the News!

Girls Volleyball-
Continental Conference Champions
Kaitlyn Kuntz- Player of the Year

Water Polo- All-State Athletes
3rd Team: Michaela Burroughs
Honorable Mention: Michael Timm
Honorable Mention: Bridget Sullivan

As part of the Gifted Resource Center at the High School, the teams have produced designs that are among only 20 chosen nationally for the NASA zero-gravity prototype design challenge.

With a passion for increasing our STEM programs, PHS has had a Robotics Club for a year now, but, after student leaders took the initiative, Pennridge now has its first-ever Robotics competition team!

FIRST Robotics is the Premier League for Robotics Competitions and the Mid-Atlantic division leaders were so impressed by our students' passion and talent that they awarded the team $7000 in grants to start their rookie season. Students from our new team as well as Frank Farrell from First Robotics were celebrated at the meeting.

• AP Latin
• Advanced STEM Lab: Product Design and Development (STEM 3)-Grades 9-12
• STEM Innovation Lab: Manufacturing and Product Entrepreneurship (STEM 4/Honors)-Grades 10-12
• Honors Advanced Computer Design and Animation- Grades 10-12

• The School Board approved an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) between Pennridge School District and Pennridge Education Association regarding planning time. Please see the attachment below for more detailed information.

The School Board pass a motion to approve reinstatement of Policy #321 (Political Activity) and repeal current Policy #321 (Advocacy).

Please be advised, all supporting documentation can be found as attachments of the meeting agenda on BoardDocs. https://www.boarddocs.com/pa/pnrg/Board.nsf/Public