[{"_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",6668013,"mediaKeyId","2245726-78c7299be168d23e47238f2fd11d434a","parentId",2245726,"title","Derry Area School District board approves minutes, bills, personnel actions; treasurer's report accepted","audioSeconds",62,"startMs",542000,"endMs",604000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2245726-78c7299be168d23e47238f2fd11d434a&start=542&end=604","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2245726-78c7299be168d23e47238f2fd11d434a/thumbnail_542000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6668013/Pennsylvania/Derry-Area-School-District-board-approves-minutes-bills-personnel-actions-treasurers-report-accepted","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6668013-1c5b895161023bab2eb22fb2e1f76362/orig.mp4?Expires=1770960356&Signature=ShpVuCU33wXZ5pWIrjhc65zK8Vn2FXKziqfQs4tAnRXT2bGilDwsqOKTACyxaH~MBXRXKlVJaSPPqASMrMSqLBJojqcv7lbrDQDfZFBvLN~BiBs5oesacJqY1o~5wQ6ZyHjwr3UVc9aOoyF~Bu8c7hpf5~aoHA7kLBpUei1owt06J9pUFn0l2evK1327uheHCURu6894t7db2F~CsQ5s76k5O4Mqa1piDza8lALUrX77gznX4npGBURpmQ8mqob7Ls2vcMPb3RYlnBC5xKO1ZkwdykSKEB4jj2d0WxwuzjvnS9ZebQHYL7jhYXAlfMHF6xBlf0j6khZD89V5Jx6xwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Derry Area School District","date","2025-02-07T01:16:24.073Z","article","The Derry Area School District Board of School Directors approved a series of routine motions at its regular meeting.

Votes and formal actions taken (motions approved):
- Approved minutes of the regular meeting of Jan. 9, 2025. (Mover: Mr. Lynch; Second: Ms. Showalter.) Outcome: approved.
- Approved minutes of the special agenda-prep meeting of Jan. 23, 2025. Outcome: approved (mover/second not specified in the record).
- Approved payment of board bills in the amount of $226,000. (Mover: Mr. Lynch; Second: Mr. Scholl.) Outcome: approved.
- Accepted the treasurer's financial report for the period ending Dec. 31, 2024, which showed beginning balance $187,768.19, receipts $3,234,318.28, investments returned $2,800,000, total investments $2,323,100.76, total disbursements $3,761,643.68, and an ending balance $1,307,340.03. (Mover: Mr. Shaw; Second: Mr. Campbell.) Outcome: approved.
- Approved employee 127 for a 12-week intermittent family medical leave (run concurrent with available leaves), effective Jan. 24, 2025. Outcome: approved.
- Approved employee 281 for a 12-week intermittent family medical leave, effective Feb. 3, 2025. Outcome: approved.
- Approved personnel employment items A–F as published on the agenda. Outcome: approved.
- Approved personnel conference items A and B as published on the agenda. Outcome: approved.
- Approved athletics items A and B as published on the agenda. Outcome: approved.
- Approved business affairs letters A–N as published on the agenda. Outcome: approved.

The board also heard a superintendent's report featuring middle-school student leadership presentations on recent activities (house challenges, Farkerberry fair, turkey trot, clubs and a dodgeball fundraiser that raised $1,055 for the middle school). The Foundation and multiple committees reported updates, including plans for concerts, fundraising events and facility work (stadium entrance work is in progress). A bocce coach provided a visitor comment reporting playoff dates for the school’s teams.

No contested motions or roll-call tallies with individual yes/no votes were recorded in the meeting text for these routine items; votes were announced by voice and each motion was recorded as carrying.

The meeting concluded with reminders about kindergarten registration (47 registrants reported) and scheduling: the next regular board meeting is on Feb. 20 and a board retreat is scheduled for March 8.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board Meeting of February 6, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the regular meeting the board approved routine administrative items including minutes, payment of bills, the treasurer's financial report, multiple family medical leave requests and personnel employment items; it also heard committee reports and superintendent's remarks including a student presentation.","taxTitle","Derry Area SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",60291,"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},6668018,"Westmoreland IU officials flag $2 million Clearview parking-lot estimate, note lease and possible legislative change",205,919000,1124000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2245726-78c7299be168d23e47238f2fd11d434a&start=919&end=1124","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2245726-78c7299be168d23e47238f2fd11d434a/thumbnail_919000.jpg","/articles/6668018/Pennsylvania/Westmoreland-IU-officials-flag-2-million-Clearview-parking-lot-estimate-note-lease-and-possible-legislative-change","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6668018-e120cd7e2a40e9dadc7540be5cfa726f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770960357&Signature=YmcJHqW-IJvxXH-ZrDajquLhukb26AOJQq8zMcux7wUyWUmyhRQcdejt~LMyYw2zxyX5KmugV5CA4uw1FeEeZa4vc4wO4KKcweWRoXFhVEz3bJzevGOfhgnth5Xti2aDm6f-afOHiTXMRXsRs3lxhJipKaIXnaexzjo2S7YMR6FgslFXt9MeD9CRNRdrggH~f1KLcpQTld2xiKIoRzfhR~mmh90TbZGxa7supsAmSuoZzRmjgr3tqr-20lc49d-PKK95VYSQXm6F2ptElQU6DS5XuAqboZyN~7eVfBjl7lzbqEjI4MZCE3YXdYEJiVBPRjc3Yb0yJR~dcgdfxT7PFA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Derry Area School District board heard concerns and background information about renovations and lease issues at the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit’s Clearview School during a committee report.

Westmoreland IU board representative Mr. Scholl told the Derry board that recent discussions at the IU focused on renovations to Clearview — especially a parking lot that the IU estimates could cost approximately $1.9 million to $2.0 million to repair. Scholl said the figure is likely outdated (he called it an eight-year-old bid) and that districts participating in the IU would share the cost.

“There has been a lot of personnel turnover,” Scholl said while summarizing IU discussion, then added that the IU had discussed a roughly $1,900,000 paving estimate and whether to put the work out to bid. Board members asked whether the IU would issue an RFP; Scholl said he did not know the answer and suggested reviewing IU policies and solicitor guidance before deciding.

Scholl also said the IU’s lease for the Clearview building began in February 2015 and extends through February 2035. According to the report, the IU currently pays rent, taxes and upkeep on the building while the owner (identified in the report as an entity in California) pays no expenses. Scholl described the lease as “not that great of a lease” and said the IU effectively covered building costs for years.

Board members referenced state procurement thresholds and bidding requirements raised in the IU discussion. One speaker summarized district policy language on construction contracts, noting projects valued above roughly $23,800 (per the district policy excerpt recited at the meeting) would be subject to public bidding unless exempt by law.

Scholl also referenced a legislative item to monitor: House Bill 201, then pending in the Pennsylvania House Education Committee. He said the bill would remove a limitation on intermediate units renting facilities and allow them to own instructional spaces, a change the IU representatives said would be worth watching.

There was no formal vote by the Derry board on IU actions at the meeting; the report was given for information and to flag future discussions and potential financial implications for participating districts.","At the board meeting, the district’s Westmoreland Intermediate Unit representative reported a roughly $1.9–$2.0 million estimate for repairing the Clearview School parking lot, noted the IU’s long-term lease and flagged House Bill 201 — legislation that could affect intermediate-unit facility ownership.",{"_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},6668023,"Derry Area School District board advances draft dress code into formal policy review",518,1232000,1750000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2245726-78c7299be168d23e47238f2fd11d434a&start=1232&end=1750","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2245726-78c7299be168d23e47238f2fd11d434a/thumbnail_1232000.jpg","/articles/6668023/Pennsylvania/Derry-Area-School-District-board-advances-draft-dress-code-into-formal-policy-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6668023-ff23d10262f69e56a5b6d9155d19d0da/orig.mp4?Expires=1770960357&Signature=OHDoGsVBHyLtf3BB5YfE1AwboKzPdb0-xEhwfZ7WutQCXYUvyFhEi-px3kWKmKC33bhmf-vbS43M-6--o5z4QUzSVEbIfWIUTIQlTi9myrEMkiazk~HZhMLc4VOMIGtc-HagihV~dwimM~ZmR~etICDtK5JL5YdoCvKNYI9X2tLhbBTFvS5iCf3OUEz38cjnsN2BYv2JxDMpQVjSZJPqhNhlGbf0JZTSMAbrc6Y3VwW0SIVW7sXtVL8-nYh9mOVxfFdKDplrd8bWwHREa-fr5v8X43oMLbM5~O0yMB3E8SXYEDa5hPgbwtQsfqY6ON2lGAUpE6Fh8tk7B6-SejdYyw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Derry Area School District board members advanced a draft of a districtwide dress-and-grooming policy during a policy-committee report and first read at the regular meeting.

The proposal — identified in committee materials as proposed Policy 2.21, Dress and Grooming — would move the district’s current dress rules from the parent/student handbook into board policy and make several substantive changes. Among them: the draft explicitly says undergarments do not qualify as shirts or bottoms, requires opaque coverage of breasts, buttocks and midriff/torso, and bans most hats and head coverings indoors except for religious headwear. The draft also removes precise measurement rules (such as “fingertip-length” requirements) and replaces them with a principle-based test about exposure.

Policy committee member Mrs. Fendish, who led the review, said the committee had read surveys from students, staff and community members and sought to find a compromise among competing views. “If you can't stand, sit, bend over, or reach above your head without exposing yourself, your private parts, your undergarments, or whatever, then you are not appropriately dressed for school,” Fendish said at the meeting. The committee removed measurement-based criteria because members found them difficult to administer and sometimes unfair.

The draft also spells out disciplinary steps. Students who violate the dress code would be required to change into appropriate clothing before returning to class; parents or guardians may be asked to bring replacement clothing; and the district may provide appropriate clothing when necessary. The draft directs that dress-code violations be handled through the progressive-discipline framework in the student handbook.

Board members repeatedly emphasized the committee’s preference to avoid moving to a uniform requirement but said uniforms remain a potential option if dress-code problems persist. Mrs. Swindish, another committee participant, said the committee “made concessions” but aimed for clearer, enforceable language.

Superintendent Dr. Franzen and district staff also described where the draft lives online for public review. Staff outlined a schedule provided in the meeting materials: this meeting’s discussion counted as the first read, a second read is expected in March, and a final vote is planned for May if there are no substantive changes.

The board did not take a final vote at the meeting; the draft remains in first-read status with the policy committee and staff available to answer follow-up questions.

The draft and meeting minutes are available on the district’s BoardDocs page under Policy Committee materials.","Board members gave a first reading to a revised district dress-and-grooming policy that tightens coverage requirements, removes measurement-based rules and sets progressive discipline; second reading is planned for March and final action in May.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Derry Area School District board approves minutes, bills, personnel actions; treasurer's report accepted

Westmoreland IU officials flag $2 million Clearview parking-lot estimate, note lease and possible legislative change

Derry Area School District board advances draft dress code into formal policy review