[{"_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",6625609,"mediaKeyId","2756630-00832070382913819f4a9ffe053c3b63","parentId",2756630,"title","Board approves budgets, contracts and other agenda items; roll-call votes largely unanimous","audioSeconds",280,"startMs",3596000,"endMs",3876000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2756630-00832070382913819f4a9ffe053c3b63&start=3596&end=3876","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2756630-00832070382913819f4a9ffe053c3b63/thumbnail_3596000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6625609/Pennsylvania/Board-approves-budgets-contracts-and-other-agenda-items-roll-call-votes-largely-unanimous","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6625609-2d3453542a53073b13ebaf19b85e8e83/orig.mp4?Expires=1770438831&Signature=MM5ZzGI8fhv-hCeasDYQloi89dxPz0sEu-d55YS1UBjT~YmdLiwlSUWW1UIeirmpvsBemdDj5Y~oA4D4hbKtLoRw2vFnA2nB9sjW~xOQD1YRqmpy0ot-ZT4WxGfGbhJ0CRcQXLXBahdi9ndVdm3u9NTFvYBB6JItW7hZyEK1wyfadU5Jlt7WaC7oZehq3qVV8WD9aohvYcc3aNCwf6JK9RBNG-Hefbj51WLrq~ghE-4uVQN9YRN-F9lshcyjekjhs3Gbipd7BavealMmq289lJ1gkTuRHRKQgwhoSZ43mMDHlArNhUjCqQWTSKWVw0fM-UcihCjiqGy--Tz~2bLkbw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Schuylkill Valley School District","date","2025-03-25T01:17:25.647Z","article","The Schuylkill Valley School District Board approved a series of motions and budget items during its March meeting, with most votes recorded as unanimous.

Key outcomes

- Approval of minutes: The board approved the minutes (voice vote; outcome recorded as approved).

- BCIU mandated services and district share: The board approved the BCIU mandated services budget item and the district's share for the Berks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU). The motions passed on roll call with votes recorded as 9-0. Roll-call names recorded in the transcript for the BCIU share approval included \"Frank Amaral\" (recorded as yes), \"David Moll\" (yes), \"Kelly Steinke\" (yes), \"Paul Bendigo\" (yes), \"Daniel Wheaton\" (yes), \"Al Rossi\" (yes), \"Nikki Kleffel\" (yes), \"Brian O'Donnell\" (yes) and \"Linda Lash\" (yes). The transcript also shows a second part of the tally including \"David Wall\" voting yes.

- BCTC budget approval: The board approved the Berks County Career and Technology Center (BCTC) budget for the 2025 school year; the transcript records the district's member share as $799,720 and a separate $51,142 for students with disabilities. The agenda item passed on roll call with the recorded outcome yes (passes 9-0). The full BCTC-wide dollar total was cited in the meeting but not audibly clear in the transcript; therefore the district-wide total is not specified here.

- MEP services and addenda: The board approved MEP services related to school kitchens and approved two addendum items discussed in committee, including an engagement letter retaining Kasloff Stout for a tax appeal matter; both motions passed (recorded as 9-0).

- Contracts: The board approved a contract for services with Schrader Group Architecture, LLC (motion passed 9-0) and approved provisions related to the State Route 73 project, subject to final review and solicitor approval (motion passed 9-0).

Vote style and tallies

Most roll-call votes were recorded as unanimous with the transcript repeatedly noting \"passes 9 0\" or listing individual yes votes during roll-call procedures. Several consolidated motions (committee items combined into single motions) were adopted by voice vote and recorded as passing unanimously. Where the transcript contains a roll-call list, those names appear in the meeting record and are reflected above; when the tally was taken by voice, the minutes record the motion as passing 9-0.

Provenance for key votes is provided below in the structured actions array; motions were recorded in the meeting minutes and the roll-call tallies cited in the transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","March 24 2025 Schuylkill Valley SD Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","At the March meeting the Schuylkill Valley School District board approved multiple budget items, contracts and other routine motions, including BCIU mandated services, the district's share of the BCIU budget, the BCTC budget and contracts for architecture and tax appeal counsel; most actions passed unanimously (9-0).","taxTitle","Schuylkill Valley SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",46604,"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},6625613,"Public commenters press board on communication about safety; solicitor says MOU with Northern Berks Police Commission finalized",889,1665000,2554000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2756630-00832070382913819f4a9ffe053c3b63&start=1665&end=2554","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2756630-00832070382913819f4a9ffe053c3b63/thumbnail_1665000.jpg","/articles/6625613/Pennsylvania/Public-commenters-press-board-on-communication-about-safety-solicitor-says-MOU-with-Northern-Berks-Police-Commission-finalized","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6625613-24ab15d31108be3b43d1af534a7965e2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770438831&Signature=oDsw8CaS~ZVO37yIvlU0s7POBUCSY6oxfoLG5mHkDjOeTXJEr~kWiAwEstd348qloUgh5c9HuAGVBGDApZ9N01erF~ftHiRIMDvUndUzUEDNqgb8cpYjqy3ayLP3tC8JmAw85OxihnDneDgxlQm5mqiwRoeSBFZOg-sGzXu2BWP4aPx2hh2BBdS-cT2QokCsW1FN3C-6mnkc3VCITx85j-pPLgqBzOuyK2sXFjyWan6vYrRoNzzJ7omSu1juXBMl3BiCFjn~ZfGtgw84qU5pLr6Rv97cbi5NbElD3-RNn~-MWzpfPOk5n0T9xbnJoMyG7VmmXEGwj2wvmrDXTWgLdw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Multiple public commenters at the Schuylkill Valley School District meeting urged greater transparency about safety incidents and staffing, while the board's solicitor said the district finalized a memorandum of understanding with the Northern Berks Police Commission that will begin providing services this week.

Lou (Lewis) Shucker, a resident, urged the district to report what steps it is taking on early literacy (quoting an outside column) but the meeting's public-comment block focused heavily on school safety and communications. Carol Wheaton told the board parents expect two things: safety and a quality education, and said she was \"shocked\" that a superintendent did not comment after low Keystone scores were displayed. Several public speakers, including Joe Brown, said transparency has been insufficient and described delays in responses to right-to-know requests related to an earlier on-campus incident involving a BB gun. \"Over the past 6 months, I have found transparency to be non existent,\" Brown said. He said he obtained records only after an appeal to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records and that internal draft language circulated among board members described the event as \"an attempted premeditated attack.\" Brown said the draft language was never released to the public.

The board and others pushed back in places: one board speaker said the lack of a public release may indicate the draft language proved untrue during the investigation. The board repeatedly distinguished allegations raised during public comment from official board statements or actions.

Solicitor and police support

Under the solicitor's report (item 4.1), the solicitor (name not specified) told the board the district finalized a memorandum of understanding with the Northern Berks Police Commission and thanked Attorney McFarland for cooperation; \"the services begin this week,\" the solicitor said. Later in the meeting trustees noted Detective Sergeant Woods was present on his first day in the schools and thanked law enforcement for their assistance during a recent incident that prompted extended supervision and transportation delays. At the meeting's close the superintendent thanked teachers, administrators and law enforcement for their response and said the district continues to work with partners to address safety and communications.

What the public asked for and what the district said

Public commenters asked for (1) clearer, timely explanations after safety incidents; (2) full disclosure of timelines about what the administration and board knew and when; and (3) better responsiveness to right-to-know requests. Board members and staff replied that some draft internal communications can reflect early, unverified theories and that not all internal drafts are released publicly. The solicitor's finalization of the MOU with the Northern Berks Police Commission and the presence of a detective sergeant in the schools were cited as steps the district has taken to strengthen on-site law enforcement partnerships.

Ending

No new board policy was adopted on safety at the meeting; the solicitor noted the MOU was finalized and services would begin this week, and trustees asked staff to continue improving communication with families after incidents and to follow legal records procedures.","At the meeting several residents raised concerns about school safety, transparency and a past on-campus weapon incident; the board's solicitor reported a finalized memorandum of understanding with the Northern Berks Police Commission and members noted a newly assigned detective sergeant was on duty.",{"_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},6625618,"Schuylkill Valley board hears detailed review of attendance rules, thresholds and follow-up supports",74,2619000,2693000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2756630-00832070382913819f4a9ffe053c3b63&start=2619&end=2693","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2756630-00832070382913819f4a9ffe053c3b63/thumbnail_2619000.jpg","/articles/6625618/Pennsylvania/Schuylkill-Valley-board-hears-detailed-review-of-attendance-rules-thresholds-and-follow-up-supports","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6625618-e26c8c3a602b837c4cc4c5fe27f0cd7c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770438832&Signature=hGd9CsgBknNquG9Hyr0OuHLxzyYMpg~Rxc0dlag3WMT1sxIw8thodydfMD3pHv7zg9e9mITma-0IH7b52d7QuV~xvCbEXHKLF~tnmhPMJdc7CRMo6mG1ld3qTwx7MZGaA11xc8jwDlY4Y~QhstMsFqsAT2mAFir1-1SLMxR13A14Tn-W6vGGYf5i453Pws56O9P9EEjk5RoLJC0pPNy~f2anSUzfxMDTeWN60pM1OXjoVtPvtkvwZ5PIli3R0xR1bhod3lz3ThPNF4ggdiSew1U4fjWVRZ2gYJU4OvapveSNVesT-OM4aWLOl7KosBACNxJdOPnVCm47S6~U60Jv~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Schuylkill Valley School District officials presented a step-by-step review of how the district defines and responds to student absences, outlining thresholds for compulsory attendance, chronic absence and the interventions the district uses before filing truancy citations.

The presentation by Dr. Brewer (title not specified in the record) explained state-driven definitions and district policy and described how the district identifies students for interventions such as Student Attendance Improvement Conferences (SAIC), school attendance improvement plans (SAIP) and referrals to the Advancing School Attendance Program (ASAP), administered by Service Access and Management, Inc. \"Students who are chronically absent... have missed at least 10% or more of the days in the current school year,\" Dr. Brewer said, and added that Schuylkill Valley triggers local SAIC/SAIP attention sooner: \"At Schuylkill Valley School District, our threshold for SAIC and SAIP for chronically absent students is between 15 to 20 days of absence.\"

The nut graf: The presentation matters because research and district data show attendance affects learning and because the board and parents raised concerns that letters and follow-up steps were not consistently communicated; trustees asked staff to clarify how the required notices are generated and delivered and how the district handles students with chronic health conditions.

District process and thresholds

Dr. Brewer walked the board through legal definitions and local policy (board policy 204, attendance), noting compulsory attendance extends through age 18 once a child is enrolled. He distinguished excused lawfull absences (illness, medical appointments, authorized activities) from unlawful/unexcused absences and described the district's standard notices: a state-required warning at three unlawful days and district 5-day and 10-day follow-ups. For habitual truancy (six or more unexcused/unlawful days) the district initiates an SAIC to build a SAIP. After an SAIP, the district may refer families to ASAP case managers and—if needed—file citations in district court; Child and Youth Services (ChildLine) involvement requires evidence the district exhausted required attendance steps.

Dr. Brewer provided local data showing the number of referrals to ASAP (elementary: 1 case; middle school: 14; high school: 1) and comparative metrics drawn from the Pennsylvania Future Ready Index for the 2023-24 year, noting the district's middle school had 92.1% of students not classified as chronically absent and the high school and elementary had 85.3% and 90.79% respectively.

Board questions and follow-up requests

Board members pressed for operational clarity. Trustee Kelly Steinke said multiple parents contacted her: \"Why am I getting these letters? I personally got a letter for 1 of my children. I got the 5 day letter, but I never got a 3 day letter.\" Dr. Brewer said the student information system should \"automatically generate\" the required letters for unlawful absences, and that principals review and sign them before steps move forward, but he agreed to follow up with building administrators to confirm procedures and timing.

Trustees also raised sensitivity around students with chronic medical conditions and special education needs. Dr. Brewer acknowledged those concerns and explained the district flags students who have IEPs, 504 plans or GIEPs and seeks to convene appropriate teams earlier (he said 15'to'20 total days of absence should prompt heightened review for such students). He told the board that SAIC meetings and SAIP plans are intended to identify root causes and tailor supports, and that referrals to outside services are optional for families.

What the board directed next

Trustees asked staff to (1) confirm that the three-, five- and ten-day letters are being generated and sent as described; (2) report back with additional detail on why some families reported receiving 5-day but not 3-day letters; and (3) provide more information on how the district monitors students with chronic health conditions and how building administrators track attendance and escalate cases. Dr. Brewer said he would follow up and provide that information.

Ending

The presentation closed with trustees continuing to request more granular operational reporting so the board can monitor whether policy and practice are producing timely family outreach and appropriate supports for chronically absent students.","At its March meeting the Schuylkill Valley School District heard a staff presentation defining compulsory attendance, chronic absence and the district's steps (3-, 5- and 10-day letters, SAIC/SAIP, and outside referrals) used to intervene; board members pressed staff on letter-generation and communication with families.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves budgets, contracts and other agenda items; roll-call votes largely unanimous

Public commenters press board on communication about safety; solicitor says MOU with Northern Berks Police Commission finalized

Schuylkill Valley board hears detailed review of attendance rules, thresholds and follow-up supports