[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6368181,"mediaKeyId","2157704-c3c6ace8484f00804fcc577bdd244d18","parentId",2157704,"title","Spring-Ford board approves minutes, personnel, finance, curriculum items and 2025-26 calendar; tables one item","audioSeconds",1277,"startMs",3757000,"endMs",5034000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2157704-c3c6ace8484f00804fcc577bdd244d18&start=3757&end=5034","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2157704-c3c6ace8484f00804fcc577bdd244d18/thumbnail_3757000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6368181/Pennsylvania/Spring-Ford-board-approves-minutes-personnel-finance-curriculum-items-and-2025-26-calendar-tables-one-item","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6368181-c25757f36851cd7bc18dd614be984139/orig.mp4?Expires=1777514598&Signature=GJPoHTpoeUmZ3fs-DEugU6A4uLXJ0PJmttJ~2bozlK~KCXukL83PBnLIxb-zhUyqALW4Z7kTfA6sp0wBgxDuOtAUcRPQD2fQPqL581eeA5p~A-01MiuXnsJtwvJZjEEXtgf7WnjYrXJBq0r3tD6SCcGEjTcFRVJMosx9wWbPtnY1ezdjQcIw-azRO5khuKONqannicNlQaqNW9husy5dD1VIEh8B7uBGt~iCPJXPjvDXpAjWnn2m7b~pTXUrJ6n7DE3Raqt1SVMonLCNRtiu5lWOXZ80v8IyQNRGrGZwXbkNDb6hBobzeT89qQDjHQbvHEccVXkdcj1513USMxfbVQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Spring-Ford Area School District","date","2025-01-28T13:24:19Z","article","The Spring-Ford Area SD board conducted a series of votes Jan. 27 approving routine and substantive agenda items and tabling one matter for further consideration.

Votes at a glance

- Minutes (Section 5, letters A-C): Motion carried, 9-0.
- Personnel (Section 6, letters A-H): Motion carried, 9-0.
- Finance (Section 7, letters A-K): Motion carried, 9-0.
- Grama and Curriculum (Section 8, letters A-I): Motion carried, 9-0. During discussion board members asked about a seven-year contract term for a curriculum/ digital content contract (presenters described a fixed seven-year term with no out clause) and staff explained the longer term is intended to lower long-term costs; administrators said an early termination for cause would be a legal avenue if required. Presenters described the upfront payment and that \"no additional cost\" would be expected over the seven years; exact dollar amounts were not specified in the public discussion.
- Conferences and Workshops (Section 9, letter A): Motion carried, 9-0.
- Other Business (Section 10, letters B and D): Motion carried, 9-0.
- District Calendar (Section 10, letter C): Motion carried, 9-0. Board discussion included keeping Eid and Diwali on the calendar and ensuring breaks mean no practices or activities district-wide.
- Other Business (Section 10, letter E): Motion to table carried, 7-2; the item will be returned for future consideration and may appear on the next work-session agenda depending on developments.

Board members asked clarifying questions on a few items before votes. On the curriculum package (Section 8) administrators and board members discussed the seven-year contract term and whether the district would be locked into costs if the program did not meet expectations; staff said the district would pursue contractual avenues for cause if necessary and that the seven-year term provides a price break versus year-to-year procurement.

Ending: The board approved the listed motions and instructed staff to follow up on cost and implementation details for the curriculum contract and the tabled item will return for consideration at a future meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Spring-Ford Board Meeting - January 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its Jan. 27 meeting the Spring-Ford Area SD board carried multiple consent motions including minutes, personnel, finance and curriculum items, approved the district calendar and tabled agenda item 10E to the next meeting by a 7-2 vote.","taxTitle","Spring-Ford Area SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",38705,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6368189,"Spring-Ford solicitor warns districts to prepare for possible immigration enforcement at schools; cites FERPA and Plyler",493,3106000,3599000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2157704-c3c6ace8484f00804fcc577bdd244d18&start=3106&end=3599","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2157704-c3c6ace8484f00804fcc577bdd244d18/thumbnail_3106000.jpg","/articles/6368189/Pennsylvania/Spring-Ford-solicitor-warns-districts-to-prepare-for-possible-immigration-enforcement-at-schools-cites-FERPA-and-Plyler","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6368189-6494259aed87f5253dd07199b49ce287/orig.mp4?Expires=1777514598&Signature=JbeeefKJzbU1x3ReBDM8PVc0tVRDqQkqjoou9RYFr72T~VsKOxpar2ZPvuiA2PqHiYxxnDl2~rLfWwyTSKbPQcvkGfmpTi89UPj3ZJHi-QZh3t1BiVMLqjVpff54EIDol9Hy0LEXtAvM4nTSEeLSs9Oc0FYQfnthy-kZkoRsMaWWDWifO7XOu8jxakMY9KobTCgGEkE2HFc8lraYwlaY~IDwfW0HKLIs6~YLJbrzHDGNRsbuXJ-zZPW4E2l7XvpIPHoWFHagHkErJYGvPg48ASNOrzQOObMxm7ZL7x0ULnmpfN-juKfZMOjSrEyknVcYy70y2CM6jcSryHiGfGS4ag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Spring-Ford Area SD Solicitor David Fitzgerald briefed the board Jan. 27 on recent national developments and their possible local implications if federal immigration-enforcement activity were to occur at school sites.

Fitzgerald told the board there is \"a constitutional right to school for individuals who may be undocumented\" and that students have privacy protections under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). He said districts are discussing contingency plans and should prepare at the building and district level with administrative and legal staff. \"If you get a federally issued judicial warrant, we have to comply,\" Fitzgerald said, adding other types of federal requests may leave discretion to districts.

Board members pressed Fitzgerald on the scope of state law protections and whether Pennsylvania statutes or school code provided additional safeguards. Fitzgerald said existing federal privacy protections and the Plyler v. Doe decision establishing a constitutional right to education are the key legal foundations; he said state law does not appear to provide protections \"in excess\" of those federal frameworks in this context and that conflicting federal agency directives could create difficult legal questions.

Fitzgerald said the issue is fluid and that federal directives issued recently appear aimed chiefly at local law enforcement. He also noted that the district's hiring processes, which include background checks and certifications, reduce the likelihood employee workforces would be directly affected. \"Our employee workforce is likely not going to be affected by this as in some other sectors,\" he said.

Board members and administrators said they are assembling guidance and resources, including materials from solicitors' firms and state associations, and asked the policy committee to remain vigilant. One board member noted that some nearby districts have drafted resolutions reaffirming commitments to student safety and suggested Spring-Ford consider a measured approach to any resolution to ensure it would meaningfully help families.

Ending: Fitzgerald and district administrators said they will continue discussions with building administrators and legal counsel and bring recommendations to the board as the situation develops.","Solicitor David Fitzgerald told the board Jan. 27 that districts should plan for a range of federal immigration actions, that schools must comply with judicial warrants, and that privacy protections under FERPA and the constitutional right to education remain key legal considerations.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6368196,"Spring-Ford to add second regional ELD site at Upper Providence Elementary under four-year plan",693,1080000,1773000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2157704-c3c6ace8484f00804fcc577bdd244d18&start=1080&end=1773","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2157704-c3c6ace8484f00804fcc577bdd244d18/thumbnail_1080000.jpg","/articles/6368196/Pennsylvania/Spring-Ford-to-add-second-regional-ELD-site-at-Upper-Providence-Elementary-under-four-year-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6368196-dcb4d9f614658a272abdefa496a650f6/orig.mp4?Expires=1777514598&Signature=T52Y3NrvQqEltrxdvXeFMQNTMG50W301dCrcj8LpcuUEChmn2E3kI3cDysY54zsg2FXqZ6iC7Wu~GQPyA5ZZv079dHXyQa5F2CQXdPaGU6-LaBN3ev5BTdgf3omK2aPD4vPLBdMfHMYe5FFaGrgWOU7~IyQETyqhtO~4rARbx9La8v9TKuX~4cRD1D22R82t4zruU0Ru~pt-JEIwSgN0FmAJfArQoTUFPZ5UYS4wH8RKADDiGg7OoDZAsvx3Yv-UWuJMI8Lu27GfwhDMf1-yw58S4cwO48WD61uE3Y7-RsH7-vP7WKxvY~rUmBsB8dn1TdujzQbYpNy~xk3Ma2hzrQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Spring-Ford Area SD board members heard a presentation Jan. 27 outlining a planned expansion of the district's elementary English language development (ELD) program that would create a second regional site at Upper Providence Elementary and phase in services over four years.

The proposal, presented by Dr. Robin Moyer and Dr. Tina Giambattista, would split the district's two regional ELD sites so Brook Elementary continues to serve Brook, Limerick, Evans and Royersford and Upper Providence Elementary would serve Upper Providence, Spring City and Oaks. \"We are about a 185 K-to-4 elementary ELs,\" Moyer said, adding the district identifies about 350 K-to-12 students as English learners. The presenters said the change responds to a recent increase in multilingual students and aims to restore smaller instructional group sizes.

District officials said the current model centralizes K-4 ELD instruction at Brook Elementary, where ELD teachers hold both elementary and language certifications and provide sheltered instruction and small-group language arts instruction until students' language levels allow full inclusion. \"These students are pulled into smaller classes for language arts until their language levels get to a certain place,\" Moyer said. Students continue to take math, science and other specials with their regular classrooms.

Under the plan, implementation would be phased: year 1 would move the cohort currently in Brook kindergarten who are next-year first-graders to Upper Providence (presenters estimated this would affect about \"8 students\"). Phase 2 would add the next cohort as students matriculate, and the district said it expects a full K'0 continuum at both sites by the end of the 2028-29 school year for grades K-4. Officials said newly registering students in the two service regions would be assigned to the appropriate regional site going forward.

Next steps listed by administrators include a communication plan for families with language support, a curriculum and resources survey, a professional-development plan for Upper Providence kindergarten and first-grade teachers, and further staffing analysis. On staffing and cost, administrators said moving currently enrolled students should be cost-neutral because building allocations and ELD funds would follow students, but that any decision to expand to a full extended ELD day or to hire additional staff would create new costs. \"There's definitely going to be a cost down the line,\" Moyer said; district staff also noted Title III allocations for ELD will affect available funding but are not finalized until later in the budget cycle.

Board members asked about potential effects from other district moves (for example, returning fifth grade to elementary buildings) and about the timeline for costs and staff development. Dr. Katie Gardy, identified in the presentation as the district's human-resources director, said professional development could be accommodated through in-service time or summer training and that the district would explore MCIU contract supports for training to minimize additional expense.

Officials emphasized the phased approach is intended to limit disruption for families and preserve the program's small-group model. Administrators also said they will consider whether there is demand for an extended ELD day in future years.

The presentation was informational; the board did not take formal action on the proposal at the Jan. 27 meeting.

Ending: District staff said they will begin written communication with families and gather additional cost and staffing details before returning to the board with concrete implementation steps.","District staff proposed expanding the elementary English language development program by opening a second regional site at Upper Providence Elementary, phasing in students over four years to respond to a doubling of elementary multilingual enrollment.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Spring-Ford board approves minutes, personnel, finance, curriculum items and 2025-26 calendar; tables one item

Spring-Ford solicitor warns districts to prepare for possible immigration enforcement at schools; cites FERPA and Plyler

Spring-Ford to add second regional ELD site at Upper Providence Elementary under four-year plan