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:

• President Wurz updates the District on the Board's First Year Progress

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

• The Communication Department previews the new PSD website and shows how Pennridge Cares!

• The School Board approves an exciting overnight trip for our Cheerleading Team to attend the National Championships
  

• There will be a new AP Pre-Calculus Course available to students

• Athletic Trainers at Pennridge are now part of the Pennridge Educational Association

• Policy 903- Public Comment at Board Meetings receives final approval

• ...and more

November School Board Meeting Schedule:

• November 4, 2024- Curriculum, Activities, and Policy Committees
• November 11, 2024- Facilities, Finance and Personnel Committees

Major timecode references for the School Board Meeting Video:

• 00:01:47- Start of meeting
• 00:02:50- President's Report
• 00:06:35- Superintendent's Report
• 00:31:22- Student Liaison
• 00:36:20- Public Comment
• 00:59:04- Consent Calendar Approval and Activities Report
• 01:01:11- Curriculum Committee
• 01:04:00- Facilities Committee
• 01:06:25- Finance Committee
• 01:38:00- Policy Committee
• 01:50:30- Extra Committee Reports
• 01:56:23- Old and New Business

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

• Transparency about the Library system with a new webpage (click here for the new Library Webpage)
• Celebrating recent Mental Health Awareness Program to erase stigma surrounding Mental Health and more to come.. (click here to see the Pennridge Mental Health Program from October)
• The School Board continues to work with Administrators and Staff to update and fairly compensate staff for EDR's (Extra Duty Rate)

• PHS Staff is Recognized for Quick Response to Save a Life
• Pennridge Students recognized for Excellence in Trades, Sports, and Philanthropy
• Pennridge Staff works together to collect more than 1600 pairs of socks for the homeless in our region
• Elementary schools raise more than $100,000 in Races for Education!
• The new Pennridge website is about to go live to our Community!

The quick actions of our security team and nursing staff made all the difference. I would especially like to commend Joe Gallo, June Strauch, and Lynda Tennett for their medical response, as well as Dan Branch, Chris McElwee, and Principal Tim Keddie for their excellent organization during the situation. I would like to echo Mr. Keddie’s sentiments in an email to staff after the incident when he said, “In moments of crisis, our Pennridge team truly shines. Rest well tonight, knowing you are part of an extraordinary group of people.”

Joining us at the meeting were Sue and Mike Seagreaves and PSD Staff members; Lynda Tennett, Justine Fenerty, June Strauch, and Principal Tim Keddie.

October was also known as “Sock-Tober” and we have collected more than 1600 of pairs of new socks for the region.
The Pennridge Human Resources Department combined forces with the Communications Department.

Next, they collaborated with Declan Cassidy and his Mom, Jen Malazita, who started the “Socks for the Streets” organization in Bucks County and North Middle School Teacher Stacey Verespy and Bridget Leary and Patti Fugez from The Giving Tree Families who will also be receiving socks from our drive.

After mobilizing this with the students, we estimate that we have raised more than a Thousand extra dollars for the fight against Breast Cancer– just part of a huge PSD effort from many schools, sports teams, clubs, and individuals who raised money and awareness for Cancer Research this month!

Over the next few weeks all school, club, and sports team representatives will present their checks to Grandview for Cancer research!

1. At Bedminster, to date, they have raised $34,100
   
2. West Rockhill, WRE’s final total for this year’s RACE is $31,011. This is approximately $225.00 more than last year’s total.
   
3. Guth raised the most money ever and at last count, they are at more than $37,000!
   
4. And Grasse raised just under $37,000.

The School Board approved a motion for an overnight trip for cheerleaders to compete at the National Competition in Disney World Florida on Wednesday, February 5th to Monday, February 10th, pending qualification.

• The School Board voted to retain Eckert Seamans as Solicitor for the Pennridge School District for the five-year term of November 1, 2024 through October 31, 2029. The following rates apply to the term of November 1, 2024 through October 31, 2027: $235 per hour for partners and associates and $100 per hour for paralegals and other clerical personnel.
• The School Board voted to retain Sweet, Stevens, Katz, and Williams as Special Education Legal Counsel at the rate of $200 per hour for attorneys for routine legal matters, $150 per hour for legal assistants, and $220 per hour for attorneys for non-routine legal matters and $150 per hour for legal assistants for non-routine matters. Approve renewing/continuing Pennridge School District’s participation in the SSKW special education and technology pool counsel reports.
  

• The School Board approved an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) between Pennridge School District and Pennridge Education Association, to include the Athletic Trainer positions into the Pennridge Education Association (PEA) collective bargaining unit.

Click the Link Below to View Policy #903

The School Board approved reinstatement of Policy #321 (Political Activity) as first read and repeal current Policy #321 (Advocacy Activities) upon final approval of Policy #321 (Political Activity).

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