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2025-10-27 Scranton SD Work Session & Board Meeting | Scranton School District | YouTubeToText
YouTube Transcript: 2025-10-27 Scranton SD Work Session & Board Meeting
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This Scranton School District board meeting highlights the severe financial strain caused by the Pennsylvania state budget impasse, impacting operations and programs, while also celebrating positive achievements and securing new funding for student support initiatives.
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order the work session for the Scranton
School District for October 27th. Please
Pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands. One nation
under God,
>> indivisible, with liberty and justice
>> Mrs. Orur roll call.
>> Mr. Borick >> here.
>> here.
>> Mr. Casey >> here.
>> here.
>> Mrs. Chzik, >> present.
>> present.
>> Miss Fox, Mr. McCander, >> present.
>> present.
>> Ms. Merkel. Mrs. Leky, >> present.
>> present.
>> Mr. Triano, >> present.
>> present.
>> Mr. homes. Uh, six present, three absent.
absent.
>> Okay. So, we're going to begin this
meeting by doing some recognitions.
>> Um, is there a mic down on the floor?
>> There is. Right.
>> Okay. We're going to go down the floor. [Applause]
[Applause] >> Thanks.
>> Thanks.
all the way here. Elementary. [Applause]
Sean and Jenna, get down there.
Oh, yeah. They're running for office. >> Okay.
>> Okay.
>> All right. So, first up for tonight's
awards and recognitions, we have Mason
the therapy dog and his owner, Mrs.
Aaron Moore.
>> Mason is a 4-year-old mini golden
doodle. He received his K9 good
citizenship certificate and his therapy
certification through All American Dog
Trainer. He joined the Compassionate
Kines in June once he graduated. Mason
and his owner, Aaron Moore, work with
Compassionate Canines, taking Mason to
different events where people can
interact with the therapy dogs, such as
community events, nursing homes, and
schools. Due to Mrs. Moore's job, Mason
will frequent Prescott Elementary
School, providing some therapy dog time
with the students there. Mason recently
visited back in the beginning of October
where he hung out with all of the
students at Prescott. We are very
grateful for Mrs. Moore for her being
here tonight with Mason and for allowing
the students at Prescott to share in the
>> So, our our goal, just so everyone
knows, is I would like to eventually
have a puppy in every building. Um I
love dogs. um and
step down that path um to hopefully do
that. We want to thank Mrs. Moore for
to go say hi to everyone? >> Yeah.
>> Go say hi to Yes. You are the most
special boy here tonight. Yes, you are. >> Yes.
>> Thoughts make me happy.
I don't get to do this fun stuff very often.
often.
>> Better than getting
too.
>> I know your dad.
>> Well, my husband.
>> I know your husband.
>> Yeah. Thank you.
>> Great work. This is nice. Bob just said
Bob, I was asking on your dog how he
knows you. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah.
>> Sit up here.
>> You could vote on my behalf.
>> We got the new director.
>> There you go, Bob.
>> Some people might think he's better than
me. Anyway,
>> come right across here. Right across the
front. Right across the front. Good.
>> Come right across the front.
>> I got a nice doggy at home.
>> Oh. Oh. Oh. Back over here. Back over
here. Back over here. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry.
Sorry.
>> The TV. There we go. There we go. All
right, the floor is yours, everyone.
Face the crowd. Here we go.
>> Good boy.
>> Right there.
>> Back here.
>> All right, so next we have the Whittier
Road Runners, which is a a running club
for students at John G. Whittier
Elementary School. This weekend, the
students at Whittier participated in
Kella's Run for T1D, a fundraising
walk/run for Breakthrough T1D, which is
type 1 diabetes. Breakthrough Type 1
Diabetes is the leading global type 1
diabetes research and advocacy
organization. We are so proud of our
Whittier Roadrunners for participating
in this weekend's fundraiser and are so
grateful to have them here tonight.
Thank you guys. We have a speaker
lady. You're my speaker. [Applause]
You got your speech ready? Hi, my name
is Laney Coin and I'm a fourth grade student
student
student at Whittier Elementary. This was
our second session
as radio as road runners and we are so
lucky to have this club at Whittier.
Thank you Mrs. King for taking the lead
on this club with some help from Mrs.
Base, Mrs. McGlin, and Mrs. Smeen. Your
dictation to make this club successful
is is appreciated.
Whittier Road Runners helps build
friendships, learn commitment, and
staying active. Rittier Road Runners
would like to thank the Electric City
Runners for your encouragement and
motivation during our races. We
appreciate your support every step of
the way. Thank you to parents and
teachers at Whittier who cheer us on
on who cheer us on each week and at
every race. We are looking forward to
[Applause]
after school programs like this. What
Mrs. King does um and and the other
people help Mrs.
to make this happen for kids. Really,
these are the great moments um that are
happening around the district. We're
here with our wittier kids tonight.
teachers who come forward to stay after
school to help build these kind of
awesome programs for our kids. So, this
is just something that we want to make
sure we're highlighting. And a huge
thank everyone a
to all of the um wittier road runners
for all that you're doing. [Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
Everyone take a step back. Scrunch in
here. Come on over here, guys. Come on
over here. [Applause]
[Applause]
>> I will run for grants.
>> I run for grants. So if you need I run
for grants. You need runners. I'm in. [Applause]
>> Great job, Al. Great job. Good.
>> The only good dog is a dead dog or a hot dog.
>> If we had
>> St. Bernard, I vote for it. Big
All right. Athletics and student activities.
activities.
we have a discussion for additional
>> Okay. So, sorry. Um,
I sent you guys a memo to the new
members. I don't know if you got the
memo. We have a lot of kids. We just saw
the interest at the elementary level and
track running track. And it's to a point
because the different events with
throwing in one area and running in
another area and hurdles in another area
that we kind of really need to add staff
on for safety and security. And I'm
making that recommendation to the board
that we do that. I don't want this to
get lost. I want to keep this on the
radar. Obviously, under the current
budget situation, I can't bring that
forward right now, but please make sure
that this one is still in your mind
because when we have money, I'm bringing
it forward to you immediately.
>> Thank you.
>> Thank you. Thank you.
>> Budget and finance.
>> So, on the consent agenda, we'll have
motions to approve the bill list and
exception bill list, delinquent tax
reports, treasurers reports, repository
sales, budget transfers, disposal of
assets, budgeted purchases. And we'll
have a discussion and motion for real
estate approve assessment approvals if
there are any.
>> Uh there are none on for this evening.
>> Okay. Uh and we have information on uh
the budget update. P.
>> Uh yes. So uh today marks I think
believe it's approximately the 119th day
since June 30th uh for the Pennsylvania
state budget impass. So in front of you
what I wanted to review was some of our
uh cash flow uh that we've been
monitoring. Um as you've heard the
district or Dr. Keading note many many
times we are a calendar year school
district. So some of the options or some
of the um revenue sources that are
available to our fiscal year school
districts, we don't have that option. So
we are monitoring our cash to make it
through uh December 31st. At that time,
we anticipate issuing a tax revenue
anticipation note to carry us forward
and continue our operations through when
our tax bills or tax revenue will begin
to be received, which is approximately
March. So in this scenario, we're we're
assuming that the state budget impass
and subsidies do not begin to flow until
approximately April. So you'll notice
that as of July 1st, we started the
fiscal year at a with a pretty healthy
cash fund balance of 56 million.
Since then, you know, these next first
these first few columns on page one are
essentially almost like actual results,
not as estimates, but we're anticipating
ending the month of October in that
bottom right hand corner with just under
$21 million of cash available. Okay,
that is general fund only as we do have
other funds that are restricted for
things like our food service operating
account or our capital improvement
account, but we're focusing on the
general fund and that represents almost
a $35 million decrease um in our
available cash resources in that uh
4-month period or about 63%.
Moving on to page two where we continue
to monitor as I mentioned just to get to
December 31st. Again, we're estimating
our our payrolls, any local revenues
that would be received um in the months
of November and December, and then
obviously some uh expenses like the
daily operating expenses that we need to
continue to pay um just to keep the
doors afloat.
Under this scenario, we're estimating
ending the year with only just over one
$1 million of cash resources. So, that's
how tight that is on a $225 million
budget. So,
one um one, you know, unfortunately, a
large healthc care claim or uh a repair
to a building that was unexpected could,
you know, put us into a situation where
we're cutting it very, very close to the
end of the year. Moving into January and
February, again, we do not anticipate
too much in the form of local revenues.
Um, and moving on to page three, you'll
notice that at the end of March, we have
a cumulative negative operating cash
flow of just over 21 mill million. That
cumulative amount as well as a reserve,
we're looking at borrowing around $30
million for TR um effective January 2nd
to close on that day so we can make a
payroll obligation. Um, we anticipate
bringing, we've been seeking proposals
from local banks within the area,
multiple. I believe there's been over
eight or nine contacted. Uh, we hope to
have a proposal for the board to
consider at the November 12th meeting
that's been scheduled for the budget for
the proposed budget. And again, with
the, uh, obligation that we close on
January 2nd. So, again, it's been it's
been a long couple months. Um, it's
getting tighter and tighter each day.
Um, but we continue just to, you know,
hold firm on, you know, the purchasing
freezes that we have. We are operating,
you know, things to keep the doors open
every single day. But it's it's been um
it's been a difficult couple months for us.
us.
>> And and this again is keeping the doors
open. This is the reduction of after
school tutoring. This is the reduction
of programs. This is the reduction of
professional development. This is
hurting kids and teachers. The political
stalemate that we have right now is
hurting kids and teachers.
This is this is how we're going to
survive to get to the end of the year
and barely survive to get there. And I
I'm going to use this term because it's
truly how I feel now. We are victims in
this situation. Um I I had heard uh one
of the legislators talk about how school
districts should be prepared and that's
why you carry a fund balance. Well, I
think carrying $56 million at the turn
of the fiscal year was being very very
well prepared. We would not have been
able to survive this a few years ago.
The work that Pat Lafy has done to be
able to put us in this situation, we
should be ending this year with a 27
to30 million fund balance. And instead,
we're looking at are we going to survive
to get to New Year's Eve. It's just it's
terrible situation. And there's no other
word for it. We are victim to this
situation and we are hurting kids and teachers.
teachers.
>> Well, I think too with the situation
that I agree it's it's an awful
situation and politics, you know, makes
it even worse. But, you know, the fund
balance carrying over, if our district
and other districts who are not funded
correctly, if they were funded
correctly, we'd be in a lot better
shape. So, we still are severely
underfunded by the state. you know that
that this will that'll show too here
with our district and other districts.
If we had the funds we need every year,
we would be in a way better shape. We're
in good shape now, but we'd be even in
better shape if we got what was actually
owed to us. So, I think that has to be
also brought up because there's other
districts that aren't as, you know, um
prepared as us and they're suffering and
yes, it does hurt kids and they they
need to they need to get this done. So,
thank you.
>> Yeah, there's two really important
things that I think the public should
know. First of all, there's a lot of
veterans of the fair funding fight up
here. And when we started, um, Director
Chzik and I in particular, uh, back in
like 2019, it we were talking about uh,
fund balance or excuse me, uh,
reimbursement differences of like per
student reimbursement from the state
being 8,500 per kid for York versus
4,500 for Scranton. Lowest funded urban
school district in the state of
Pennsylvania. It's an embarrassment. And
the state lost a Supreme Court case that
said we have to be funded. So there is a
a legal requirement to give us money
that we are owed. And even though that
ruling was was what three years ago now,
two years ago now, every budget that the
state has introduced and the past two
that they've that they've passed, we're
still not reaching that fair funding
amount. They're they're giving us money
that we are owed incrementally. And
guess who pays when the state doesn't?
Local local property owners. We have to
raise taxes here and we have to trim
programs. I mean what's sad is Scranton
has gone through a lot and we have come
out of we have come out of the darkness
and then we're being plunged back in and
it's it's very sad because of the amount
of hard work that people have put in and
to turn around and see um like after
school programs which we were bringing
back preschool coming back you know we
had a line item in the budget to bring
uh library aids back so we could have
kids in our elementary schools taking
library books out again we have been
turning the corner and for the state to
just sit on this um is unconscionable
and and as I agree with Dr. Keading, we
are victims here and it's our kids who
are victims because we had the resources
as you could see from what what Mr.
Laffy just said. $56 million we had in
the bank in July and we're barely going
to make it to the end of the year.
That's money that we could be using to
expand programs for our kids in a time
where we need positive after school
programs. I mean, we've been doing a lot
of good work here and and the state is
getting in the way. I I do also want to
add that, you know, our state senator
Marty Flynn um our reps uh Bridget
Krosowski um and Kyle Dunner who they
have been fighting effort tirelessly for
us. So they they do a great job in
fighting for us. I just think, you know,
it's it's the other uh senators and
state reps who really got to, you know,
start getting this thing done. But
because our reps are in our senator are
excellent. So I really want I really
always want to point that out that they
go to bat for us and they fight for us
and the public should know that. So
Mr. Moran, it's my understanding
that the federal government has already
released approximately $8 million in
title funds that are sitting in
Harrisburg. It's also my understanding
that it goes into the budget and they
can't the money from the feds have
already come down on the state level
and it's not state tax money. It's
federal tax money that's just sitting
there. But because it goes into the
budget, they can't release it. Is there
any way that we could pursue legal
matter or legal means to go and have
them release this money seeing that it
doesn't include uh state taxpayer money
and it's already been allocated for us
$8 million for title funds
>> under the hypothetical that you just
described. The answer is yes. Um, so I
would have to actually internally
confirm um that um because let's just
take uh what actually did happen to us
six months ago. Uh we got an email from
uh the federal department of education
that title two and t title three funding
was suspended or canled. Uh when I first
got hired I think in May like there was
a little bit of panic because allocated
ARPA money or I'm sorry Esser's money
school districts uh was quote unquote
clawed back. Uh I took the legal
position then that I'll take right now
that you know no way uh that's money
that has been appropriated, it's been
allocated. Uh there is no executive
whether it's in the state branch or the
federal branch that has the
constitutional authority to unilaterally
pull that back. Uh and I also maybe not
in this setting but in back rooms
predicted that any of our federal judges
sitting in Scranton uh would love to
have this case come before them. So I'd
be the first lawyer to rush into court
on that matter.
>> Uh the answer is yes. But I what I have
to understand is I first took the
political route and I don't know if it
was a month or two months ago I went to
Congressman Breznahan and Congressman
Breznahan didn't have the answer that
day but within a couple weeks I have the
email said it was his understanding that
money has been released. So, our federal
representatives, I think, would be
surprised to hear what you just said,
that the money has been released and
it's parked in Harrisburg because their
expectation was Harrisburg was a pass
through and that PTE was going to then
release the money to the districts. If
that hasn't happened, rather than sue
somebody, I think we'd be better off
that we use our internal contacts uh and
find out from PTE why that hasn't been
released and what the mechanism would be
to release it because I can't imagine
that PTE is is is using that money for
their benefit. I think it's just parked there.
there.
>> Okay. So, let's let's confirm that uh
one director thinks it's parked there.
Do we have any thoughts from uh from the
business office of that that title funding?
funding?
>> I can confirm that, you know, even with
the government shutdown at the federal
level. Other states or other districts
in other states are receiving their
federal revenue. We are not. It's being
it's being held up.
>> All right. So, that's 100% something we
should look into impass at the state level.
level.
>> Why aren't we? If others are, why aren't we?
we?
>> We will. I think you're talking about
other jurisdictions outside the
>> not other not other school district news
that he's seeing
>> across the country other districts may
receive it but in Pennsylvania districts
are not receiving it because of our
current state budget impact.
>> To be clear if the Pennsylvania
Department of Education is holding
federal dollars earmarked with the
Scranton School District, we'll we'll
confirm that and we'll find out why
they're holding it and when and if it
could be released.
>> Okay. The only reason that I know that
we can get help is a couple weeks, and
excuse me, and I apologize for all this.
It's been a little controversial,
but a couple weeks ago I ran into um
Representative President
and it was at a political party which I
received a lot of criticism for but um
it was at that point I had a discussion
with Representative uh Breznahan and he
said that he would look into these and
he got back to me and he said I that he
believes there's $8 million in federal
ederal funds sitting there and that's
how I know about this. Uh I wouldn't
have known about it. Uh I feel kind of
bad because I've received a lot of
criticism over this and it was only
through a conversation. Um but uh I'd
like to thank uh Representative Breahan
uh for looking into it for on our
behalf. He said the money is already in Harrisburg.
Harrisburg.
So just to expand on that, it's very
consistent with what I was saying. So I
started this months ago and I reached
out to Congressman Breznahan, asked for
a meeting and he granted it. The meeting
was supposed to be on a Friday at 11:00
in his district office and he called me
at 9:00 that morning to say, "Do you
need to have the meeting?" Because my
information is the money's been released
and it's in Harrisburg.
>> So we got the same but this was months
and months ago. Uh, so I thought maybe
it was my mistake that I just assumed
that it had made its way to the district
and it just has not.
>> No, I I'm currently reviewing our uh,
financial and accounting information
system through the state and other than
our property tax reduction allocation,
some plan con bonds that were owed from
previous years and our national school
lunch program reimbursement. We not
received any state or federal um, uh, funding.
funding.
>> Okay, that's easy. We're going to go to
PTE and and and tell them the truth that
it's been it's been represented to us by
our representative
done that. Yes, we we've not received
any federal funds since July 1st.
>> Well, do we have to do as far as I'm concerned?
concerned? >> Yeah,
>> Yeah,
>> I do want to say um a thank you to uh
Joyce Carney Moran and especially Mr.
Moran. Um we got made aware that they
were donating their some of their
services uh in light of the budget
issue. So, I think that needs to be, you
know, the public should know that that
that's such a great thing for you guys
to do and I really appreciate that and
just shows how much you actually care
about our district. And so, thank you. Welcome.
>> Okay, we have contracts update.
>> So, uh, due to the impending budget p uh
impass and our spending freeze, there is
no update as of this tonight.
>> Thank you. Community relations, we'll
have two consent agenda items. The first
one is a motion to approve donations um
from Net Credit Union to both Scranton
High School and West Grant High School
for transportation costs to the
community resource fair on October 24th
and then a motion to approve a student expulsion
expulsion
>> standard practice.
>> Okay. Education.
>> All right. So, um we're going to have
first on the non-consent um sorry, the
consent agenda motion to approve
permissions to attend meetings and
conferences. Um, we're gonna have a on
the non-consent motion to approve
special education settlements. We're
gonna have a discussion and motion to
accept the all one foundation grant. And
then we're also I missed this one. We're
going to have a presentation for federal
programs and the impact. So, so part of
the proposed final budget when we get to
November and go over that, um, we'll
look at the
unsubstantiated, shall I say, rumors
that from the federal level, we will see
the complete elimination of titles 2,
three, and four and a 20% reduction of
title one. For the board to understand
the impact of those, Mrs. Griebeck is
here this night. tonight, the director
of curriculum and assessment and
instruction um as well as uh Maggie
Cosgrove Murphy who is the director of
federal programs and they're going to
summarize for you. There is a full
presentation um basically what these
titles cover so you have a better
understanding of that when we go into
the November 12th meeting.
>> Good evening. Thank you very much for
this opportunity. Uh the superintendent
as she mentioned would like me and to
present a brief overview of the various
um title one uh programs that we offer
and the allocations that are designated
to each. This PowerPoint was shared
electronically and you have a hard copy
in front of you and it's on display for
the public.
So if you look at slide two, this is an
overview of ESSA federal funding, the
Every Student Succeeds Act and it
provides targeted federal support to
ensure equitable access to highquality
education and improve student outcomes.
The total budget is over $8 million and
there are five categories listed below.
Title one is academic achievement. Title
1D is delinquent programs. Title two is
educator quality. Title title three is
English learners. And title four is
student support.
Combined one through four collectively
advance academic equity, educator
excellence, language development, and
I'm a little ahead on my presentation.
Sorry. Slide three is going to be an
overview of title one. The purpose is to
improve achievement for disadvantaged
students by funding resources to support
at risk learners, providing extra funds
for highnee schools, support tutoring
and interventions, requiring family
engagement. Schools must hold these and
supporting our designated CSI and TSI
improvement efforts. Slides five and six
will show you a graph. On the left is
the cost breakdown and on the right is
the description. I just wanted to draw
your attention to just in this
particular category we have 41 title one
uh specialists who receive their
salaries and benefits under this
particular title one um aotment
and those uh teachers provide a valuable
resource to our students each and every
day. And there's also a section here for
an amount that's designated to our non
non-public title one which have to be um
requ provide required services and
obviously academic improvement funds.
And title six is a continuation. On the
left is the cost breakdown and on the
right is a description of each of those
amounts and what those amounts are used for.
for.
Title 7 is an overview of title 1D.
The purpose is to support education for
neglect, neglected, delinquent, and at
at risk youth by helping them meet
academic standards, supporting
successful transitions from school to
work, preventing dropouts, and providing
re-entry support for continued education.
education.
Slide nine again outlines the cost
breakdown on the left and on the right
is a description of each of those cost aotments.
aotments.
Slide 10 is an overview of title two.
The purpose of title two funds are to
strengthen teacher and leader
effectiveness through professional
development and class size reduction teachers.
teachers.
The focus areas, just a few to name, are
science of reading. That's an um
incentive by the state that we're trying
to roll out in a creative way since we
really can't do it the way we did last
year with after school. So, we're
working on creative solutions to solve
that. OGAP training which is a new
innovative way of teaching mathematics
our steels uh SAP and cell training
curriculum writing and strategic
planning committee meetings and data
reviews in-house and external PD for
example through the NIOU and hiring new
teachers to reduce class size
12 again on this uh graph the cost
breakdown is on the left and the
descriptions are on the right
the next one is an overview of title three.
three.
On slide 14, you'll see the purpose of
title three is to provide language
support to help English language
learners gain English proficiency and
succeed academically through
instructional programs and staff
support. Some key responsibilities are
to assist families with registration and
acquiring required documents to
translate and interpret educational,
legal, medical, and IEP records,
maintain EL and migrant data, support
schools during testing, provide
interpretation for meetings, and
facilitate communication and classroom
access. Our L status, we have
approximately 1,400 students speaking 64
languages. The top languages spoken in
the Scranton school district are Spanish
followed by Nepali and Swahili.
Slide 15 again the same graph outlines
the cost on the left and the description
that each of those costs are attributed
to on the right.
The purpose of Title 4 is to expand
access to well-rounded education,
improve school safety, and enhance
technology use. Some focus areas are to
provide well-rounded education in the
arts, STEM, civics, and health. To
provide safe and healthy schools, mental
health, drug prevention, and positive
climates, and technology to increase and
improve the digital literacy and
classroom access. Again, slide 18
outlines the cost breakdown on the left
and the description on the right and the
salaries and benefits of the the faculty
that are covered under this particular
Uh slide 19. This is in summary. The ne
next three slides are in summary. The
proposed fiscal year 26 budget is
looking to cut 12 billion 12 billion
from public education, reducing funding
for research, student support, and key
programs just as I've outlined. The
impacts will be to eliminate services
for our L students and migrant students,
to cut college access programs for
disadvantaged students, and reduce our
K12 federal programs and support by 3.8 billion.
billion.
Slide 20, fiscal year, the proposed
budget. Key points, 18 programs are look
are looking to be combined into one K12
simplified funding program. States will
gain control over how funds are used.
However, targeted support support for
specific programs may be lost. affected
areas, just to name a few. Afterchool
and summer learning, arts and
technology, education, mental health,
safety, teacher training, and emergency
preparedness. The funding cut again is
looking at from 6.5 billion down to 2
billion, a 70% reduction.
And finally, slide 21. The House bill
proposed budget key points is looking to
cut 12.1 billion which is a 15%
reduction to the United States
Department of Education. Title one
reduced low-income student support.
Titles 2, three, and four eliminated,
which would include teacher training,
English learners, well-rounded
education, health, and safety, state
assessment grants eliminated, and
schools will no longer be required to
give state assessments.
And would you be able to get us um like
a onepage fact sheet with the direct
impacts to our district because there's
a lot of there's a lot of positions that
are fedally funded.
>> 53 53 positions.
>> Yeah. So we're talking 53 jobs. These
are these are teachers, pair
professionals. These are people who live
here, work here. This is their
livelihood and they are people who um
provide critical services to our kids.
And um
>> you're you're not only 53 position what
you just said is about critical services.
services.
>> Yeah. So like a onepage fact sheet is
probably not a bad idea so that we can
get it out there and show people in a in
a short sweet manner like hey this is
what's about to happen to this grand
school district. These are in
>> jeopardy. Going back to what Aaron said
that we're the victims the kids are the
victims because they're not going to be
receiving the services.
>> But I do have one question um for you
Pat. Um these are all title programs correct.
correct.
>> That's correct. And we're just talking
about five minutes ago about $8 million
that are sitting into Harrisburg.
I have to assume that we're paying now
uh all these programs through our
general fund until we get that money.
>> Most of them are postponed.
>> Pardon me.
>> Most of them are stopped right now.
>> No, I Director Case, you are correct.
Um, all employees of the Scranton School
District, whether they be funded with
local and state dollars or federal
dollars, have been um being paid on a
bi-weekly basis uh out of our general
fund. Correct.
>> Okay. Now, when we
receive this $8 million plus or whatever
it may be, will we be able to um
reimburse our uh general budget on it or
is that basically loss money that you
can't shift the title money into the
general budget?
>> Well, the federal budget is a component
of our general fund. It's just the
funding source. So, it those dollars
will go back into our general operating
account. So we won't lose I mean once we
get funded we won't lose the money.
>> We're losing interest on those dollars
as we speak that you know I think
there's some discussion as to whether
people have asked will will the state
reimburse districts for lost interest.
Our understanding of that is is no. But
yes once those federal dollars continue
to flow they will come back and
basically reimburse us for the wages and
payrolls and benefits that we've uh
fronted for the staff that are covered
Thank you, Pat.
>> So, a lot of doom and gloom tonight and
we have a piece of happy news. I'm going
to call this Hemp Hill up right now.
Maggie Cosgrove Murphy on the positive
side of things uh to share with you an
incredible grant. Mrs. Egan will also be
joining them um that we received from
the All One Foundation. So, I'm going to
turn it over to them.
>> Hello. Good evening. Um we we are here
with some good news tonight. Um, just to
give you a little bit of background,
about a year ago, September of 2024, you
you may remember um led by Dr. Keading
and and her idea to go to the All One
Foundation. We went with 20 partner
agencies, at least 20. Um, we were
joined by Miss Boland at the time, um,
on behalf of SFT, also all of our
partner mental health agencies locally,
the DA's office, um, juvenile probation,
the juvenile court system, two of our
local judges came with us and we
presented to um, the All One Foundation
an idea to introduce restorative
practices to the Scranton School
District, but also to train all of our
partner agencies who all impact the
lives of our students so that we all had
shared philosophy, shared language and
um all one said we we love this idea.
Ours was a five-year plan to introduce
this but they said currently we you know
we're not able to fund fully for 5
years. So they came back to us um in
August and said can you scale this back?
Can you give us a one-year pilot and
show us what you would do in one year
with this idea? So we did that and so we
asked um we we are very fortunate here
in the Scranton school district. We have
a treasurer who works among us um Miss
Shelley Egan who is the principal at
Prescott but who is also a nationally
certified trainer in restorative
practice who goes to other districts to
train them to implement restorative
practice and we have her right here. So
what we asked to do um from all one was
to give us some funding to be able to
get a floating assistant principal so
that we could free up Mrs. Egan to come
and and train in our own district
Kennedy Plaza Prescott and West Grant
High School. And they have incredibly
generously offered for the next 12
months to fund us with $350,000
to see what we can do with this money
and what that looks like. And then the
goal would be that in a year's time we
would come back, show them some good
data and information and then they
hopefully will continue to fund the
project little by little instead of one
big lump sum. So we are thrilled and and
we're ready. So we we knew this was
potentially coming and we wanted to be
ready to go. We are ready to go. We are
completely ready. I'm going to let uh
Mrs. Egan talk to you. She she will
explain to you briefly what restorative
practice means and what that will look
like and why that will be such a
positive impact on our district and then
Miss Murphy will tell you about the
money. She she she's the the wizard that
can tell us how we're going to really
implement um that $350,000.
Two things I want to add. One, this is
at no financial impact to the district
at all. So, we're going to be able to do
this without taking any financial hit
whatsoever. And the other thing that we
know from all one is that although we I
know that we are straining in other
areas, we cannot use these funds for
anything else. So we can't kind of mix
and match or use it to patch something
else. This is very specific and Mrs.
Murphy will help us to make sure that we
stay on track and do exactly what we're
supposed to do with the money. So thank
you first of all to Dr. Keing for coming
up um with this idea and and bringing it
to fruition into something that's real
and tangible. And also, many of you may
know, she's pretty tenacious. And so
when we got a soft no, she just didn't
accept that. And we just kept going and
said, "Okay, well, if not that, how
about this?" And so I'm I'm very
grateful to her and to all of the board
and to all the help um that we've had
bringing this project forward. It's
Good evening. Um as the principal of
Prescott, I'm very proud to be part of
the Scranton School District. So I'm
very proud that I get to take on this
role within the district as well. For
the past 11 years, um I have been a
trainer for restorative practices. I
hold the graduate certificate from the
International Institute for Restorative
Practices, which is located in
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, but globally
serves all countries worldwide,
training, uh, individuals in restorative
practices, uh, both in educational
communities, business communities, um,
and just community agencies overall.
Restorative practices is not a program.
It is a social science um that seeks to
build relationships um among individuals
within communities within our school
community um along with repairing any
harm caused by negative behavior. The
fundamental hypothesis behind
restorative practices is that
individuals are happier uh more
positive, more cooperative, more willing
to make changes in their behavior when
people in positions of authority do
things with them rather than to them or
for them. and within a school community
um the practices uh would be
implemented. We would look to see a
reduction um in negative student
behavior, a reduction in the recid
recidivism of student behavior. We would
look to see that uh positive
relationships are fostered among individuals
individuals
um whether those be adults to other
adults or um students to adults or
students to students. Um so along the
continuum of practices it would work
together with the current systems in
place um such as the positive behavior
intervention uh and support program,
social emotional learning program and it
would align with um within the MTSS
framework that we are implementing
throughout the district um in looking to
see how we can implement this one-year
program and impact as many as we can
throughout the the one year. Um we would
set up uh hopefully four sets of
trainings throughout the next coming
months which would target the
administrators, school counselors,
mental health professionals um and
teachers uh to take part in the two-day
trainings. Uh we would work within the
school calendar. Um and some of the
funds would be used to support to uh the
teachers if in doing afterchool
trainings as well. Um so all those
individuals would take part in two-day
trainings. Um and in addition to that uh
there would be coaching on my part. Uh
we would look to see if there are any
individuals that would want to take it a
step further um and be and take part in
a training of trainers program so that
we can continue to kind of um expand and
build our capital of employees that um
can go go about and train other
individuals within within the district
in restorative practices. Um so we would
look to do that along with collecting
and analyzing the data and hopefully
seeing the the outcomes of the reduced
uh student recit recidivism and the
building of positive relationships. Um
and hopefully that would give us enough
support that we can uh take the program
even further and add on uh additional
years and expansion. Thank you. >> You
um Mrs. Mrs. Hensel and Miss Degan did a
great job um providing an overview. I'll
just do a quick rundown of the um
background of the compliance of the
federal fiscal aspect of the grant. Um
all one as um Miss Hel said was is going
to grant us $350,000
and they will provide us with half the
$350,000 once the grant assign uh grant
agreement is signed. And then halfway
through the 12-month grant program, we
will um provide them with a progress
monitoring report and they then will
provide us with the other half of the
350,000. So, it's very good because
that's holds accountability on our part
that we could share out the information
that um we are how we're using the funds
and all the great um professional
training that we are providing with the
funding. Um the funding will cover um as
we said the cost of an assistant
principal and then also with the
trainings and materials and resources
that will go along with the trainings.
>> Thank you.
>> This is wonderful. Um Dr. Keating, uh
would it be possible I know we're taking
some time to recognize positive things
that are happening in the district and
this is obviously one of them. Would it
be possible to put letters of
condemnation or Yeah, condemnation. Oh
my god. Commenation. Opposite of what?
Opposite of condemnation.
>> Yeah, I know. pause rubbing off, but
yeah, letters of combination in their
file because this is excellent work and
we just doomed and gloomed everybody
with uh our our budget problems and this
is an absolutely positive thing, you
know, and it's it's nice to
>> to see our workers going and bringing
this money in.
>> Uh Chisik,
um maybe you can uh craft something for
Superintendent uh Keading.
>> I I will absolutely file
>> take care of what was done. It was a lot
of work and it's big stuff. uh to to get
this kind of money given to the school.
It's a big that's a big check.
>> Yeah. Thank you for for your work.
>> Thank you. >> Yep.
>> Yep.
>> Right. So, personnel,
>> we'll have a motion to approve the
personnel report, including assignments
and appointments, retirements and
resignations, and leave of absences. And
we'll also have a motion to approve the
decreased administrative fees with Kelly Services.
Services.
>> I'll second it. >> Right.
>> Right. policy.
>> Um,
>> I guess it's
there. There's an update to policy 610.
Um, just because you're facilitating the
meeting, um, which would be purchase
services, bids, and quotes. It was
written by our legal firm. This is a
first read.
>> Okay. Thank you. Uh, vendor relations.
>> That's you.
>> Thank you, Tom.
I don't know what I'd do without you, Tammy.
Tammy.
Okay. The first one is a motion for mom
and pop contracts. Second is update list
of transportation drivers if any uh discussion
discussion
uh to approve new rate consulting firm
and discussion for advertising
partnership proposals and discussion for
flexible spending account.
>> So one of the things I just want you to
know that I tked the central office to
do was to come back with ways to save
money. I'd like to thank Mr. Suma. The
proposal that was in your board packet
on -ate does that. It's a reduction in
cost for this service. Um and he went
out and solicited that and brought that forward.
forward.
Um advertising, we're still working on
partnerships. Mr. O'Donnell is covering
that. We right now have one local and
one national um perspective. We're
gathering more information to bring to
you on that. And flexible spending.
>> Yeah. Uh very similar to advertising.
We're we're discussing with a local
provider, but also a statewide provider,
and we're gathering more information to
bring forth the for the board hopefully
>> Okay. And uh fair funding.
>> Um we'll have anformational update from
on the superintendent's budget update
and a motion to adopt a resolution to
end the state budget impass.
>> Move to the board meeting. All right.
All right. I call to order the board
meeting for October 27th. Roll call.
>> Mr. Bick >> here.
>> here.
>> Mr. Casey >> here.
>> here.
>> Mrs. Chzik >> present.
>> present.
>> Miss Fox.
>> Mr. McCandrew. >> Present.
>> Present.
>> Miss Merkel. Mr. Zleki. >> Present.
>> Present.
>> Mr. Triano. >> Present.
>> Present.
>> Mr. Holmes. Uh, three absent, six present.
present.
>> May I have a motion to approve the agenda?
agenda?
>> So moved. Second
>> Roll call.
>> Mr. Casey. >> Yes.
>> Yes.
>> Mrs. Chzik. >> Yes.
>> Yes.
>> It's Mr. McCandra. >> Yes.
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Zleki. >> Yes.
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Trio. >> Yes.
>> Yes.
>> Mr. Borthwick. >> Yes.
>> Yes.
um the communications of the board and
executive sessions were held this
evening to discuss personnel, real
estate, excuse me, lit litigation,
negotiations, and safety and security.
>> Okay. Solicitor's report.
>> Uh it's been recently brought to our
attention that uh $8 million of federal
money uh has been released and it's in
the possession of the Pennsylvania
Department of Education. So, we'll be
exploring all uh options, including
legal uh to u get possession of money
that we believe is rightfully ours.
>> Okay. Thank you. Uh, superintendent report.
report.
>> Thank you, Vice President Chzik. A lot
of talk about the budget. Really
important that we we keep talking about
it and the impact it has. Uh, but some
for more some more good news. We'd like
to congratulate Sheamus Wallace for
placing first in the district cross
country. Sheamus is the first district
cross country champion from West Grant
High School since Paul Fox in 1985,
making him the second Westraton cross
country champion. Sheamus will head to
Hershey this weekend for states.
Congratulations to Sheamus on this
accomplishment and we know that he will
make us proud and he runs like
lightning. Oh my god, is he fast. Um,
I'd also like to congratulate all of our
fall sports seniors for an incredible
season this year from Scranton High.
Boys soccer, football, girls volleyball,
and girls tennis each made it to
districts. Scranton High also sent
individual cross country runners and
girls tennis players to districts this
season. This year from West Grant High
School, uh we had girls tennis, boys
soccer, and girls volleyball all went to
districts. We would like to congratulate
the seventh and eighth grade football
team who will appear in the championship
game tomorrow night. Um I'd also like to
take a moment to recognize President Ty
Holmes, who is not here this evening
because he is currently in Harrisburg
receiving the Governor's Keystone Award.
Um we'd like to congratulate President
Holmes on this tremendous achievement.
Uh the 2526 winter sports season
officially the first day begins November
14th. Can't believe we're in winter
sports season. Physicals for winter
sports season will begin during the
first week of November at Scranton High
School in West Scranton Intermediate
School at the school-based Wright Center
uh uh medical clinic. 2025 immunization
clinic sponsored by the Scranton School
District in partnership with Hometown
Health will be held on October 8th and
October were held on October 8th and
October 15th. 132 individuals with 202
vaccines were administered. Scranton
High and West Scranton will host their
annual open houses for 9th graders in
November. West Scranton will host theirs
on November 6th and Scranton will hold
host theirs on November 19th. Just a
reminder that next week we are closed
Tuesday the 4th for election day and
we'll also be closed for Veterans Day on
Tuesday the 11th. Parent conferences
will be held on the following days,
November 12th and 13th for elementary
schools, November 18th for intermediate
schools. Um, with the budget, Griebec is
planning creative ways to support
teachers with ongoing professional
development. These opportunities are
voluntary and are offered virtually.
They're asynchronous opportunities such
as office hours as a way to provide
feedback to any teacher or principal on
curricular materials. We also have an
update on our University of Virginia
partnership. The six schools involved,
Trip, Willard, Armstrong, and our three
intermediate schools and the
administrators involved are continuing
to make progress and are actively
engaged in the program. Dr. Sailor has
been working with them. Each team is
focused on strengthening tier one
instruction using datadriven practices
to improve student learning and building
leadership to improve continuous
improvement. We see momentous team
collaboration and this really has been
an oppos awesome opportunity for the
school district. Um marking period ends
this week. Happy Halloween to everyone
celebrating. Got to John Adams to see
the parade today. Um if you need an
uplifting moment of your life, please
get to one of the elementary Halloween
parades because boy do they make you
smile. Have a good day everyone.
>> Thank you Dr. Kadine. Uh CRO report. Dr. Sailor.
Sailor.
>> Yes. Thank you. I'd like to take this
opportunity to respond to Director Fox's
questions from our last meeting and to a
subsequent email she sent me. Uh first,
my apologies for not having the recovery
plan easily accessible. I have it with
me tonight. Uh I believe director Fox
was re referencing the initiative P3
uh which speaks to continuing the cycle
of soliciting RFPs for services. Uh it
actually reads continue to execute the
current cycle of soliciting requests for
proposals for services provided to the
district. Upon reaching the end begin
the cycle again. Um,
legal advice on this topic was provided
by attorney Moran, which is exactly what
PTE would have advised. Ask your
attorney. Uh, PDE does not provide legal
advice to school districts. The other
question was regarding the monitoring
phase. PTE's concern during the
monitoring phase is to ensure and this
is going to be real tough with the
budget as it is right now uh to ensure
the continued financial stability of the
district uh because the questions were
brought up publicly. I wanted to respond publicly.
publicly.
>> Thank you sailor.
>> Thank you. Uh, next we'll have the
report from our student representatives.
has had a great October. We celebrated
our our senior cheerleaders as well as
our football players last Thursday
during senior night. Congratulations,
seniors. This Friday, the Scrant High
football team will travel to
Williamsport for a playoff game. Go Knights.
Knights.
Congratulations to Alessandro Sodto,
Ammani Wulonia, and Jens Mugab for for
being selected as all-stars for the
Lacawana soccer league. Also,
congratulations to Natalyia Arangelli
for her 500 500th kill on the Screen
High School volleyball team. # power at
the net.
Winter sports physicals will be held on
at Scrin High School on November 3rd,
6th, 10th, 13th, and 17th from 1:00 to
5:00 p.m. Our students have been very
active within the community community
lately. We had five SHs students
represent Skirtton High School, the
night ambassadors in Avidum at a mental
health symposium. Our night ambassadors
and penser students also volunteered at
the annual transition fair held at
Johnson College. Our penserf club also
helped out at the Domar/Greamage soccer
teams over the weekend. And on October
10th, 15 students from Penser
volunteered at the Steamtown Marathon
pre-race expo.
This week is Red Ribbon Week at Screen
High School. We will be raising
awareness through distributing
materials, morning announcements, and
spirit dress days.
This Friday, we'll be hosting a minute
to win it challenge throughout the day.
And to celebrate with some spooky fun,
we will be doing a Halloween trivia.
We are finishing up the Common App
workshop tomorrow, October 28th. Also,
tomorrow through Thursday, we will have
our class picture days. Throughout
November, we will be doing a feed a
friend fundraiser in a cold weather and
coat cold weather coat and accessory
drive for students at SHS.
On November 7th, there will be an
American Red Cross blood drive from
12:15 to 5:00 p.m.
There will be an open house at Scranton
High School on November 19th to all open
to all students, including sixth graders
interested in the STEM Academy and
eighth graders exploring their high
school options.
The SHS semi- formal will be held on
November 21st at the Hilton in downtown Scranton.
Scranton.
Upcoming college visits this week are
University of Rochester, Loyal
University, Satan Hill University,
University of Pittsburgh, Cedar Crest
College, Arcada University, Fischer
College, and Albreight College. And next
week, Alvin University, University of
Scranton, Lacawana College, and Wilson
College. Thank you so much for your time
tonight, and I look forward to meeting
with you next month. I hope everyone has
a great rest of of their October and a
great November. Thank you.
>> Thank you, buddy.
>> Our next student representative, Shristy Danielle.
Danielle.
>> I don't I don't think she's here.
>> Okay. Uh PSVA report. Director McAndrew.
>> Nothing at the time.
>> Thank you. At this time, the board
welcomes public comment. Each speaker
will be allowed three minutes to speak.
Union presidents will be allowed four
minutes. Our first speaker is Jen Tlesco.
Good evening. Um Jennifer Tlesco, Scranton Federation of Teachers
Scranton Federation of Teachers President. Um
President. Um I may sound like a broken record, but I
I may sound like a broken record, but I wanted to speak tonight about the good
wanted to speak tonight about the good things that are happening within our
things that are happening within our district in relation to the dire
district in relation to the dire situation that we're in with the budget.
situation that we're in with the budget. um our students that were here tonight
um our students that were here tonight from Whittier, uh the Whittier Wildcat
from Whittier, uh the Whittier Wildcat Road Runners under the direction of Mrs.
Road Runners under the direction of Mrs. King and Mrs. Bice and the Armstrong
King and Mrs. Bice and the Armstrong runners who were here last time by um
runners who were here last time by um Mrs. Johnson are all examples of some of
Mrs. Johnson are all examples of some of the good things that are happening in
the good things that are happening in our elementary buildings. um giving our
our elementary buildings. um giving our students great opportunities to meet new
students great opportunities to meet new friends, um try something new, um be
friends, um try something new, um be part of a team and to get out from
part of a team and to get out from behind a screen and to be active, which
behind a screen and to be active, which is something that all of us teachers and
is something that all of us teachers and parents are really encouraging and uh
parents are really encouraging and uh are loving the fact that they have those
are loving the fact that they have those opportunities. Um I think we've done
opportunities. Um I think we've done some great work between the Scranton
some great work between the Scranton Federation of Teachers and the district
Federation of Teachers and the district with um our professional development and
with um our professional development and our literacy initiatives that we worked
our literacy initiatives that we worked on together and guiding our new teachers
on together and guiding our new teachers and doing curriculum writing. Um but I
and doing curriculum writing. Um but I mention all of these because the
mention all of these because the importance of all of those opportunities
importance of all of those opportunities and I want to see them continue and more
and I want to see them continue and more opportunities for our
opportunities for our elementarymentaries to have perhaps some
elementarymentaries to have perhaps some clubs because at the elementary level
clubs because at the elementary level it's not something that is very
it's not something that is very existent. Um we focus a lot on our
existent. Um we focus a lot on our middle and high schools for clubs and
middle and high schools for clubs and I'd love to give those opportunities for
I'd love to give those opportunities for our elementary students. Um but given
our elementary students. Um but given the state budget impass that we're in
the state budget impass that we're in right now, it's really hard and the
right now, it's really hard and the district and Dr. Kading and I have had
district and Dr. Kading and I have had conversations to continue these um
conversations to continue these um initiatives and these great things when
initiatives and these great things when we are are are waiting for the state um
we are are are waiting for the state um and our state legislators to do
and our state legislators to do something to come together to meet at a
something to come together to meet at a table um negotiate and to compromise.
table um negotiate and to compromise. and the immediate impact that we're
and the immediate impact that we're having is affecting our students in the
having is affecting our students in the classroom in afterchool opportunities
classroom in afterchool opportunities that they're not having at this point.
that they're not having at this point. Whether it's tutoring, um going on field
Whether it's tutoring, um going on field trips, our teachers are lacking the
trips, our teachers are lacking the ability to really involve in
ability to really involve in professional development opportunities
professional development opportunities at this point. And I applaud Dr. Keing
at this point. And I applaud Dr. Keing and the district for being transparent
and the district for being transparent with the union for exactly what
with the union for exactly what financial situation we're in and how
financial situation we're in and how dire it is just to maintain payroll, our
dire it is just to maintain payroll, our benefits, to keep our doors open and the
benefits, to keep our doors open and the lights on.
lights on. Um, I've been trying to and the union
Um, I've been trying to and the union has been trying to impress upon our
has been trying to impress upon our members. But tonight, I want to impress
members. But tonight, I want to impress upon the board, the public, all our
upon the board, the public, all our family members how important it is to
family members how important it is to contact our elected legislators um, and
contact our elected legislators um, and ask them to come and do their job, to
ask them to come and do their job, to sit down and to meet and to compromise
sit down and to meet and to compromise because the health of the district, the
because the health of the district, the success of our students and our future
success of our students and our future relies upon that. But I don't also want
relies upon that. But I don't also want us to be um distracted in the overall
us to be um distracted in the overall picture within the state that there are
picture within the state that there are huge financial um impacts right around
huge financial um impacts right around the corner with our federal funding that
the corner with our federal funding that Mrs. Griebeck also spoke about earlier.
Mrs. Griebeck also spoke about earlier. Um the federal funding cuts and how
Um the federal funding cuts and how detrimental they are going to be in um
detrimental they are going to be in um on our district, not only to our staff,
on our district, not only to our staff, but to our students and those programs
but to our students and those programs that we need. Um, and that is something
that we need. Um, and that is something that I also am going to call upon
that I also am going to call upon everyone to get together and to continue
everyone to get together and to continue to contact our legislators. Um, if we
to contact our legislators. Um, if we need to make a road trip to Harrisburg,
need to make a road trip to Harrisburg, um, we're always I'm game for a road
um, we're always I'm game for a road trip. Um, we're more powerful. We've
trip. Um, we're more powerful. We've learned if nothing else um together,
learned if nothing else um together, stronger together, and um, we can get
stronger together, and um, we can get through this. So, I I encourage
through this. So, I I encourage everyone, whether it's schoolboard
members, teachers, pair professionals, parents, even our students to contact
parents, even our students to contact our legislators and tell them to come
our legislators and tell them to come sit down and do their job. Thank you.
Thank you. Our next speaker, Rosemary Boland.
Good evening, directors. I too want to encourage everybody, everybody in this
encourage everybody, everybody in this Scranton school district, and that
Scranton school district, and that includes the parents, the grandparents,
includes the parents, the grandparents, the relatives, everybody in our family
the relatives, everybody in our family community to pitch in with this. We
community to pitch in with this. We cannot allow people in Harrisburg,
cannot allow people in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to violate the constitution
Pennsylvania to violate the constitution of the state. And that's what they're
of the state. And that's what they're doing. The court case was won and it was
doing. The court case was won and it was cited earlier. We haven't received our
cited earlier. We haven't received our fair funding. They're violating the
fair funding. They're violating the Constitution. Lately, however, in the
Constitution. Lately, however, in the United States of America, it seems that
United States of America, it seems that we've been violating a lot
we've been violating a lot because of lying and lying and lying.
because of lying and lying and lying. So, for approximately 24 days, the House
So, for approximately 24 days, the House of Representatives in Washington has not
of Representatives in Washington has not gone to work.
gone to work. The Republican leader, Mr. Johnson, is
The Republican leader, Mr. Johnson, is sending people home. Those people are
sending people home. Those people are getting paid and they're getting their
getting paid and they're getting their benefits paid and they're taking away
benefits paid and they're taking away our children's livelihood, their
our children's livelihood, their education.
education. Once it's taken away, we can't make that
Once it's taken away, we can't make that up. Every day that they're not going to
up. Every day that they're not going to be in school because of this dire
be in school because of this dire emergency that they've put us in, this
emergency that they've put us in, this mess our students are losing.
mess our students are losing. They don't have that right. They don't.
They don't have that right. They don't. Yesterday, I was sick to my stomach when
Yesterday, I was sick to my stomach when the White House was demolished to build
the White House was demolished to build some kind of freaky ballroom
some kind of freaky ballroom for 350
for 350 plus billion dollars.
plus billion dollars. We're saying that maybe maybe Mr.
We're saying that maybe maybe Mr. Brnahand said there money is in
Brnahand said there money is in Harrisburg someplace.
Harrisburg someplace. Well, that's great. What Mr. Breahan's
Well, that's great. What Mr. Breahan's supposed to do is call down to
supposed to do is call down to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to the Senate,
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to the Senate, which is a Republican controlled Senate,
which is a Republican controlled Senate, and get that $8 million here. That's his
and get that $8 million here. That's his job that we pay him for. We pay those
job that we pay him for. We pay those salaries. They work for us. And they
salaries. They work for us. And they don't get it. They do not get it. And
don't get it. They do not get it. And nobody should apologize to them for not
nobody should apologize to them for not doing their job and not doing what
doing their job and not doing what they're supposed to do. I don't think
they're supposed to do. I don't think they deserve praise.
they deserve praise. I too spoke with Mr. Bjahan a few
I too spoke with Mr. Bjahan a few Sundays ago when he couldn't answer one
Sundays ago when he couldn't answer one question I put to his face.
question I put to his face. On the contrary, his two aids came over
On the contrary, his two aids came over to him to hustle him out. Mr. Brean
to him to hustle him out. Mr. Brean can't answer fifth grade teacher
can't answer fifth grade teacher questions.
questions. Shame on him and shame on the entire
Shame on him and shame on the entire House of Representatives in Washington
House of Representatives in Washington who have decimated the House, decimated
who have decimated the House, decimated the Department of Ed. They're taking
the Department of Ed. They're taking away special needs children's funding.
away special needs children's funding. They're not going to fund that. And the
They're not going to fund that. And the parents of those kids will have no idea
parents of those kids will have no idea what's going to hit them. They won't. On
what's going to hit them. They won't. On November 1st, people are going to get
November 1st, people are going to get their insurance bills and they're going
their insurance bills and they're going to be killing themselves over them
to be killing themselves over them because they're so horrific.
because they're so horrific. And you know what they care about?
And you know what they care about? Nothing.
Nothing. Mr. Breahan has made a ton of money
Mr. Breahan has made a ton of money since he was elected making deals.
since he was elected making deals. Congratulations on that. I'm thrilled
Congratulations on that. I'm thrilled for him. Great. But he's not doing the
for him. Great. But he's not doing the job. He promised people he wouldn't
job. He promised people he wouldn't destroy Social Security. He wouldn't
destroy Social Security. He wouldn't touch Medicare and Medicaid. He voted
touch Medicare and Medicaid. He voted with every Republican in Washington and
with every Republican in Washington and he's destroying that.
he's destroying that. These are the people that we have out in
These are the people that we have out in our our community here. We can't let
our our community here. We can't let this go. We cannot sit and think about
this go. We cannot sit and think about calling or writing letters or texting.
calling or writing letters or texting. We cannot do that. We can't sit on our
We cannot do that. We can't sit on our hands. We're not doing what we're
hands. We're not doing what we're supposed to do. I listened to a program
supposed to do. I listened to a program a couple weeks ago and one lady
a couple weeks ago and one lady said,"What does it look like to live in
said,"What does it look like to live in an autocracy?"
an autocracy?" And the person answered her and said,
And the person answered her and said, "You are living in an autocracy."
"You are living in an autocracy." And I I understand the attorney would
And I I understand the attorney would like to go to court to federal court.
like to go to court to federal court. The AFT just went into federal court two
The AFT just went into federal court two weeks ago. We don't have an answer yet.
weeks ago. We don't have an answer yet. Guess what?
Guess what? The president of the United States keeps
The president of the United States keeps getting taken to court and he keeps
getting taken to court and he keeps losing in court and he just doesn't
losing in court and he just doesn't care.
care. And apparently the legislative body, the
And apparently the legislative body, the second uh the first actually in the in
second uh the first actually in the in the country, the legislators,
the country, the legislators, they're not doing their job at all.
they're not doing their job at all. We have one man
We have one man dictating to everybody in the 50 states.
dictating to everybody in the 50 states. And shame on everybody and anybody who
And shame on everybody and anybody who thinks this is a great idea. With that,
thinks this is a great idea. With that, I'm going to second the president of the
I'm going to second the president of the federation, Mrs. Tlesco, and say, pick
federation, Mrs. Tlesco, and say, pick up the phones tomorrow morning and call
up the phones tomorrow morning and call this brushan's office. And by the way,
this brushan's office. And by the way, you might want to call our our senator,
you might want to call our our senator, our United States senator, who I've
our United States senator, who I've never seen in Pennsylvania in my life.
never seen in Pennsylvania in my life. And I don't live in Connecticut, so I'm
And I don't live in Connecticut, so I'm not driving there to talk to him. But we
not driving there to talk to him. But we should hold his feet to the fire, too.
should hold his feet to the fire, too. Thank you so much for listening and
Thank you so much for listening and please help us out. All the public,
please help us out. All the public, write, text, get on social media and
write, text, get on social media and start blasting them by name so that
start blasting them by name so that everybody knows what good they're doing.
everybody knows what good they're doing. No good at all. Thank you.
No good at all. Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. May I have a motion to approve the
May I have a motion to approve the meeting minutes of September 8th, 2025,
meeting minutes of September 8th, 2025, September 17th? second.
September 17th? second. >> 2025 and September 29th, 2025.
>> 2025 and September 29th, 2025. >> Okay, we had a second. Um,
>> Okay, we had a second. Um, >> yeah, I'll second.
>> yeah, I'll second. >> Okay, so uh on the question
>> Okay, so uh on the question roll call.
roll call. >> Uh, Mrs. I'm sorry, Mrs. Chzik.
>> Uh, Mrs. I'm sorry, Mrs. Chzik. >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Mr. McCandrew,
>> Mr. McCandrew, >> yes.
>> yes. >> Mr. Lucky,
>> Mr. Lucky, >> yes.
>> yes. >> Mr. Triana,
>> Mr. Triana, >> yes.
>> yes. >> Mr. Borthwick,
>> Mr. Borthwick, >> yes.
>> yes. >> Mr. Casey,
>> Mr. Casey, >> yes.
>> yes. >> Six affirmative.
>> Six affirmative. >> Okay. Uh, may I have a motion to approve
>> Okay. Uh, may I have a motion to approve the consent agenda?
the consent agenda? >> So moved. Second
>> So moved. Second >> on the question.
>> on the question. >> Roll call.
>> Roll call. >> Mr. McCandrew.
>> Mr. McCandrew. >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Slucky.
>> Mr. Slucky. >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Triano.
>> Mr. Triano. >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Borthwick.
>> Mr. Borthwick. >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Casey.
>> Mr. Casey. >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Mrs. Chzik.
>> Mrs. Chzik. >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Six. Affirmative.
>> Six. Affirmative. >> Okay. Uh, athletics and student
>> Okay. Uh, athletics and student activation.
>> Oh, sorry. That's me. Um, we have D3 motion to accept the All One Foundation
motion to accept the All One Foundation grant in the amount of $350,000 to
grant in the amount of $350,000 to introduce um restorative practices to
introduce um restorative practices to the Scranton School District.
the Scranton School District. >> Second
>> Second >> on the question.
>> Roll call. >> Mr. Ducky?
>> Mr. Ducky? >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Trianna?
>> Mr. Trianna? >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Borthwick?
>> Mr. Borthwick? >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Casey?
>> Mr. Casey? >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Mrs. Chzik?
>> Mrs. Chzik? >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Mr. McCandra?
>> Mr. McCandra? >> Yes. Six affirmative.
>> Yes. Six affirmative. >> All right. All right. And then we have
>> All right. All right. And then we have D4. Approve special education settlement
D4. Approve special education settlement agreements follow following legal review
agreements follow following legal review and negotiations. Settlement summaries
and negotiations. Settlement summaries previously provided to the board for
previously provided to the board for review. 30006312
K. Um and then 200811 a.m.
a.m. >> Second
>> Second >> on the question.
>> Roll call. Mr. Trianu. >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Borthwick.
>> Mr. Borthwick. >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Casey?
>> Mr. Casey? >> Yes. Mrs. Chzik,
>> Yes. Mrs. Chzik, >> yes.
>> yes. >> Mr. McCandrew,
>> Mr. McCandrew, >> yes.
>> yes. >> Mr. Drosky,
>> Mr. Drosky, >> yes.
>> yes. >> Six. Affirmative.
>> Six. Affirmative. >> Personnel.
>> Personnel. >> We have a motion to approve the
>> We have a motion to approve the personnel report as attached. All hires
personnel report as attached. All hires are contingent upon all background
are contingent upon all background checks and clearances.
checks and clearances. >> Second
>> Second >> on the question.
>> on the question. Roll call. Mr. Borthwick.
Roll call. Mr. Borthwick. >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Casey?
>> Mr. Casey? >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Mrs. Chzik?
>> Mrs. Chzik? >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Mr. McCander?
>> Mr. McCander? >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Zky?
>> Mr. Zky? >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Triano?
>> Mr. Triano? >> Yes. Six. Affirmative.
We have a motion to approve Kelly Educational Services substitute teacher
Educational Services substitute teacher administrative fee be decreased from a
administrative fee be decreased from a markup of 1.32 to 1.30 effective
markup of 1.32 to 1.30 effective immediately as negotiated by
immediately as negotiated by administration. The financial financial
administration. The financial financial impact substitute teacher daily rate
impact substitute teacher daily rate with fees will decrease from $165 a day
with fees will decrease from $165 a day to $162.50
to $162.50 per substitute teacher per day. back
per substitute teacher per day. back >> on the question.
>> on the question. >> Roll call.
>> Roll call. >> Mr. Casey?
>> Mr. Casey? >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Mrs. Chzik?
>> Mrs. Chzik? >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Mr. McCandrew?
>> Mr. McCandrew? >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Isli?
>> Mr. Isli? >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Triano?
>> Mr. Triano? >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Borwick?
>> Mr. Borwick? >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Six. Affirmative.
>> Six. Affirmative. >> Vendor relations.
>> Vendor relations. >> Okay,
>> Okay, I got it.
I got it. >> No. Okay.
>> No. Okay. >> Uh motion to approve consulting firm.
>> Uh motion to approve consulting firm. >> Second. on the question.
Roll call. >> Mrs. Chzik,
>> Mrs. Chzik, >> yes.
>> yes. >> Mr. McCandrew,
>> Mr. McCandrew, >> yes.
>> yes. >> Mr. Zky,
>> Mr. Zky, >> yes.
>> yes. >> Mr. Triano,
>> Mr. Triano, >> yes.
>> yes. >> Mr. Borthwick,
>> Mr. Borthwick, >> yes.
>> yes. >> Mr. Casey,
>> Mr. Casey, >> yes.
>> yes. >> Six affirmative.
>> Six affirmative. >> Fair funding.
>> Fair funding. >> Oh, it's fair.
>> Oh, it's fair. I move that the Scranton School District
I move that the Scranton School District board of directors adopt the following
board of directors adopt the following resolution entitled resolution urging
resolution entitled resolution urging the Pennsylvania General Assembly to
the Pennsylvania General Assembly to enact a complete and responsible state
enact a complete and responsible state budget which calls upon the governor and
budget which calls upon the governor and members of the general assembly to
members of the general assembly to immediately resolve the ongoing 2025
immediately resolve the ongoing 2025 2026 state budget impass fully fund
2026 state budget impass fully fund public education and fulfill the
public education and fulfill the Commonwealth's constitutional obligation
Commonwealth's constitutional obligation to provide adequate and equitable
to provide adequate and equitable funding to all school districts. Upon
funding to all school districts. Upon approval, the resolution shall be
approval, the resolution shall be transmitted to the governor of
transmitted to the governor of Pennsylvania, the leadership of the
Pennsylvania, the leadership of the Pennsylvania House and Senate, and the
Pennsylvania House and Senate, and the district elected state legislators as
district elected state legislators as outlined in the resolution text.
outlined in the resolution text. >> Second
>> Second >> on the question. I think it's important
>> on the question. I think it's important to recognize that our local
to recognize that our local representatives who have been fighting
representatives who have been fighting hard on our behalf, um especially
hard on our behalf, um especially Senator Marty Flynn, um we s sincerely
Senator Marty Flynn, um we s sincerely want to thank them for all of the
want to thank them for all of the advocacy and partnership that they have
advocacy and partnership that they have given us and that they continue to
given us and that they continue to provide um during this time.
provide um during this time. >> Great.
>> Right. Roll call. >> Mr. McCandrew?
>> Mr. McCandrew? >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Zleki?
>> Mr. Zleki? >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Triana?
>> Mr. Triana? >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Borthwick?
>> Mr. Borthwick? >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Casey?
>> Mr. Casey? >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Mrs. Chzik,
>> Mrs. Chzik, >> yes. Six. Affirmative.
>> yes. Six. Affirmative. >> All right. New business.
>> All right. Um, can I have a motion to adjurnn?
adjurnn? >> So move.
>> So move. >> Second.
>> Second. >> Thanks everyone.
>> Thanks everyone. Thank you.
Thank you. I think this is the first
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