[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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",6634460,"mediaKeyId","2706377-8381b86c98e081212ee038eb8f4e561c","parentId",2706377,"title","Avon Grove updates PBIS and Communities In Schools partnerships as public commenter urges stronger response to hate speech","audioSeconds",7360,"startMs",341000,"endMs",7701000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2706377-8381b86c98e081212ee038eb8f4e561c&start=341&end=7701","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2706377-8381b86c98e081212ee038eb8f4e561c/thumbnail_341000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6634460/Pennsylvania/Avon-Grove-updates-PBIS-and-Communities-In-Schools-partnerships-as-public-commenter-urges-stronger-response-to-hate-speech","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634460-9556032bd47bbd37eb38db2ae87644d9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141137&Signature=dq7GyvWi2cMi8I07pYWt8jeHaeexkkJwX2USDBIK~6yTQSVYAmXAXXFPU43iUoLhBNHPFkVrZ1M7OkJkqcg0qu6WQjTt1l0plOQ34CCfT8NT5xChgs2vvFDJfbWchpWxXalVN-fFGbh62OW35Al-9yjKlWraOH1m1h4nSG8BewniWNE5FlVwQ98hOGNR6ALNmTgxseEzROfFPu0fZnZqE-m1kFHN1407RCdoxV00Q~FdRNtYxMMcxuD3aHODq84EQI2MIzmHGIvAmeXWtI1KINE2qijDnJgcKq8MGwW9qxr0FJUcjC3DoH0HK~pOiAO2GX3WpBXDSTVIkgMKZcaQTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Avon Grove School District","date","2025-02-20T00:00:00Z","article","District staff briefed the board on the Connected, Accepted and Valued (CAV) action team\u00146s work, including consistent implementation of Navigate360 threat and risk tracking, universal Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) in all four schools and a Communities In Schools partnership at Avon Grove Intermediate School and Avon Grove High School.

Dr. Evans (Connected, Accepted and Valued action team) said Navigate360 has been adopted as a centralized platform to record threat assessments and risk-to-self assessments and to provide training. The district is collecting building-level feedback through threat-assessment teams and working with Christy Simpkins on follow-up and training.

Evans also reported the elementary schools have completed two full years of PBIS and secondary schools are finishing their first full year. Districtwide MTSS meetings and school-specific practices such as reward stores and reinforcement carts at secondary schools were cited as positive indicators. The district has also placed Communities In Schools coordinators at AGIS and the high school under a multi-year grant; staff explained funding constrained the initial rollout and they prioritized the largest buildings where the grant could produce the most reach.

During public comment, a resident who identified herself at the lectern said PBIS points, raffles and small rewards were \"cute\" but did not address repeated incidents of hate speech and an unresolved Title IX matter involving her child. She asked what the district is doing beyond incentives to prevent and respond to hate speech; she described an instance in which administrators responded to a Safe to Say Something tip and a security guard met her child but said the family needs systemic changes to reduce hateful incidents.

Board members and administrators responded in the discussion, noting PBIS focuses on universal, tier-1 supports while the district is developing aligned anti-bullying strategies and reviewing its code of conduct (last updated in 2015). Administrators said PBIS and code-of-conduct revisions will be aligned with MTSS behavior tiers. They also noted that Safe to Say Something is one tool for reporting; staff said they will continue to examine reporting options and supports for students with individualized needs.

Administrators asked the public commenter to meet with staff to review case specifics; no formal action was taken at the work session. The district said it will present additional data on PBIS outcomes, Safe to Say Something use and anti-bullying alignment as part of ongoing action-team reporting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","AGSD Committee of the Whole - 2.20.25","oneSentenceSummary","Administrators reported districtwide PBIS implementation, expansion of the Communities In Schools partnership to AGIS and the high school, and use of Navigate360 threat- and risk-assessment tools; a public commenter told the board PBIS incentives do not address hate speech and asked for stronger anti-bullying and Title IX responses.","taxTitle","Avon Grove SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",38840,"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},6634464,"Avon Grove budget preview: administrators propose 3% tax increase amid state, federal funding uncertainty",363,8317000,8680000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2706377-8381b86c98e081212ee038eb8f4e561c&start=8317&end=8680","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2706377-8381b86c98e081212ee038eb8f4e561c/thumbnail_8317000.jpg","/articles/6634464/Pennsylvania/Avon-Grove-budget-preview-administrators-propose-3-tax-increase-amid-state-federal-funding-uncertainty","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634464-241c1076f02ac2ddd41aefcf5aba89ae/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141137&Signature=QIUznV9FWCpG9TDH061tu1qYwmqYUTYTRuFC4qHULm6TiKnzbmxNi9-PV7AY~WkZsp~GAuynOLjRgfw5mUb8kPRaS5YKgdlL2QCkhDMfCDe4rWPQdsln~2wjPL0EvQ3mVZpopstE0q5ALSbbH0KpivXHwmeKGmcntdh~sxfckAP4SNOfPmHKgOqubBYzWobLaQZv7R6Rs3NgDRiTVYv1rcnoloaqWzDiBviPO1k764M01zSfSJ5xDgVPta7pw32TeodW9gLvQggqS-nVIyF8zm7oIx2Cfz-xNVRtvO71sIBd6qCO0lZM3Hk5QYfN8XudX9E6qdAxmsnKOCLms6pAjw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District finance staff presented a preliminary 2025-26 budget update that proposes a 3% tax increase, a total operating budget near $121 million and continued use of fund balance while cautioning about uncertain state and federal revenues.

Presenters said the budget was adjusted since earlier drafts: total proposed spending was $120,934,000 and projected revenues were $113,312,000, leaving an expected use of fund balance reduced from $8,062,000 to $7,600,000. Administrators noted the board-approved tax increase in the proposal is 3% while the district\u00146s adjusted Act 1 index is 5.3% this year.

Finance staff walked trustees through revenue components: local revenues (about 66% of total, mainly property taxes), state revenues (roughly 33%) and federal revenues (about 1%). The median assessed home in the district was reported as $172,475, producing a tax bill of roughly $5,005 before homestead/farmstead relief; that relief typically reduces the median bill by about $499 for enrolled homeowners.

The presenters warned that some state-level proposals in the governor\u00146s budget are subject to change and could affect the district\u00146s outlook. The administration removed a brief governor\u00146s proposal for charter-school tuition reimbursement from the revenue estimate because it is not finalized; presenters said that reimbursement would have been roughly $119,000 (another slide estimated potential savings of about $380,000 if the state moves to an $8,000-per-pupil charter tuition cap). The governor\u00146s proposed increases in basic-ed funding, pension aid and a large Ready-to-Learn block-grant were noted but not guaranteed.

Board members pressed for more expense detail and asked staff to continue searching for reductions to lower the proposed tax increase. Trustees asked for additional personnel-level analysis, for retention and substitute-fill metrics, and for clearer links showing how recent one-time state funds were used (administrators said $1.9 million of higher state allocations in 2024-25 covered kindergarten staffing and additional EL teachers, not new recurring programs).

Administrators also highlighted capital needs that will affect fund balances: proposed transfers to the capital fund (about $2.9 million) and planned projects including roofs, HVAC and auditorium rigging repairs. Trustees asked for further detail during upcoming personnel and capital meetings in March and April.","District staff presented a preliminary 2025-26 budget that relies on a proposed 3% tax increase, uses several million in fund balance and flags uncertainty over state and federal revenues including a governor\u00146s proposal affecting charter reimbursement; trustees asked for additional expense-savings options and deeper personnel analysis.",{"_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},6634470,"Avon Grove board reviews draft 2025———2028 comprehensive plan emphasizing people, progress and purpose",3564,3430000,6994000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2706377-8381b86c98e081212ee038eb8f4e561c&start=3430&end=6994","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2706377-8381b86c98e081212ee038eb8f4e561c/thumbnail_3430000.jpg","/articles/6634470/Pennsylvania/Avon-Grove-board-reviews-draft-20252028-comprehensive-plan-emphasizing-people-progress-and-purpose","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634470-a1b31aa619651af4b9dad4fcebca0900/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141137&Signature=RgZ2zzW1eRBgTSPn2TcQTfvh79oDBXwcaH~IOov5Gk5aSyms2AlDG1lH6yJGw08cCNd3isRqbF438Lj3UuaOg-WOumsuIYeqFEq7HcWlpkTO3jGpcaF~L-8qnhj9jF2ow~eY0Ia~~bWpzSyW29UG1I67dnoLW3IPuZ7ApWqxvbeQBQ~18MxTVBSk7bVetH5OwThJVvAGKmVEyopgBsSBwNN9yVWzLeKdz7~QXoO~toldGY5tRbetf~etH9Je0leSXM06BhCnUmJZgQaPYBFQ~eMqGEUk8RNc5klCyAoJOCrCQmJIt6bN0mMew9LqgNa~~P747Y1Z0Lp~U5GDoJ5ykg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Avon Grove School District administrators presented a draft 2025\u0010\u0010\u00182028 comprehensive plan to the Committee of the Whole, outlining three cross-cutting themes — people, progress and purpose — and measurable goals the district intends to pursue over the next three years.

Dr. Harvey, who led the nine-month comprehensive-planning process, told the board the plan is still draft and will be posted for public review; it must be submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) by March 31. The steering team\u00146s work included district needs assessment, steering-team meetings, action-team reports and public engagement such as focus groups and surveys.

The plan retains three priority areas from the prior cycle: high-quality academics, supportive learning environments and healthy systems conditions. Administrators described a shift toward deeper, measurable outcomes tied to student experiences and engagement, and toward staff-centered systems to improve retention and operational practice.

Key measurable goals in the PDE-format draft include: by the end of year three, 100% of students in grades 2, 5, 8 and 11 will demonstrate proficiency on career education and work standards as evidenced by aligned portfolios; 90% of students will meet academic growth expectations (with incremental year-by-year targets); 90% of students will report feeling connected and safe at school by year three; and a staff retention target of at least 90% by year three, starting with classroom teachers in year one and expanding to all staff in later years.

The presentation highlighted data points that guided priorities: PSSA and PVAAS student-performance comparisons showing uneven cohort results post-COVID; PACE student-survey responses that indicated large shares of students who felt schoolwork was not meaningful (higher in grade 10 and grade 12); educator-survey items where district averages hovered near but not above the target of 3.0 on a 4-point scale; and chronic absenteeism rates ranging from about 11% to 21% across schools.

Board members commended the work but asked for clarifications. Mr. Wood asked for clearer links between foundational initiatives and measurable student outcomes; Dr. Harvey responded that the new plan places more emphasis on student-level measures and growth monitoring. Trustees also asked for more cohort-level analysis of PVAAS and internal benchmark data, and for more frequent reporting on absenteeism, retention and professional-learning engagement.

Administrators said the draft will be posted for 28 days for public inspection and comment; a final update will be presented at the March committee meeting and then on the legislative agenda for March 27. If approved, the district will publish an infographic and begin implementation next year.","The district presented a draft comprehensive plan that emphasizes measurable goals for academics, engagement and staff conditions for 2025\u0010\u0010\u00182028. Administrators said the plan will be posted for public inspection and is due to the Pennsylvania Department of Education by March 31; the board will review public comments before final adoption.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6634474,"Avon Grove focus groups identify phones, AI and inconsistent classroom rules as top technology concerns",1470,893000,2363000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2706377-8381b86c98e081212ee038eb8f4e561c&start=893&end=2363","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2706377-8381b86c98e081212ee038eb8f4e561c/thumbnail_893000.jpg","/articles/6634474/Pennsylvania/Avon-Grove-focus-groups-identify-phones-AI-and-inconsistent-classroom-rules-as-top-technology-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6634474-056373302eb436e03e4fbb260428b531/orig.mp4?Expires=1771141137&Signature=In38N2TogT4EriX248Dw7HRUzEev2zs-Oexvadxs6LXmvcNpqu1Ks1qIYXcD06tv8PkgGKWVHTe9bz9O0OHL8RngYnNHLnul5HABIZNeHsNR664BQ3r161HtEA~EFPle~zR-qWLGnbELCpwSmizKjmX3j5AuKatCOc8dBf3PoE1IfvnSX883~YwZyTHYfKNNVa6l1BYn7P0~2--Miq-9Vp0jA0gjtrWSUkj6Z9zGYY~t9tAxAYZ0bN8gvnz2-pOF0jWR6CGBPH2vk4h4VgyyUEI5W7Qw9ilYsKHsgJ5o5~qqKvZshkifE7TwVT9bH92fjm8YXk-w9WlnUWBCQc6SEQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A consultant who ran 10 stakeholder focus groups for Avon Grove School District told the board that cellphone use, inconsistent enforcement of device rules, and questions about artificial intelligence and digital citizenship were the most cited issues across students, parents and staff.

Beth Trapani of Trapani Communications summarized themes from focus groups convened this winter for the district\u00146s Impact of Technology team, saying the sessions included high school, middle school and elementary parents, three high school student groups, a middle-school group, teachers, school-board members and a Padres Latinos parent group.

Trapani said the groups repeatedly highlighted cellphones as a classroom distraction and a barrier to social interaction. Many students told focus-group facilitators that phone use interrupts learning and socializing; middle-school participants were especially outspoken, she said. Parents and teachers emphasized the need both to allow emergency communication and to reduce classroom disruptions.

Trapani said teachers reported uneven enforcement of phone rules between classrooms and across grade levels. Some teachers use caddies or collect devices; others permit phones in pockets or backpacks. Several teachers asked for more consistent districtwide expectations so enforcement does not fall entirely on individual instructors.

The consultant also reported widespread interest in digital citizenship training and in incorporating AI into that instruction. Teachers flagged the rapidly changing pace of AI tools and requested ongoing professional development; one teacher said that training could be outdated within months. Students and staff suggested including topics such as online fraud, security and the ethics of AI use.

Trapani said many students, particularly high-achieving ones, supported limited phone use tied to incentives: for example, classroom privileges or short phone breaks when class objectives are met. But some students said they would refuse to surrender phones entirely. Parents raised equity concerns, noting that allowing screen-time incentives could encourage students to rush work.

Board members asked whether focus groups produced concrete solutions: answers included gradual, co-created policy changes involving students, phased implementation, incentives and clearer classroom-level expectations. Trapani said students should be included in policy development.

The district plans to use the focus-group findings in a draft technology plan the steering committee will begin crafting in March. Administrators said learning walks and surveys will continue as the district prepares a technology policy for consideration this spring.","Consultant-led focus groups convened by Avon Grove School District found cell-phone use, inconsistent enforcement of phone rules, digital citizenship and AI awareness as the most frequent concerns among students, parents and staff; district will use results to draft a technology plan and consider policy changes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Avon Grove updates PBIS and Communities In Schools partnerships as public commenter urges stronger response to hate speech

Avon Grove budget preview: administrators propose 3% tax increase amid state, federal funding uncertainty

Avon Grove board reviews draft 2025———2028 comprehensive plan emphasizing people, progress and purpose

Avon Grove focus groups identify phones, AI and inconsistent classroom rules as top technology concerns