[{"_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",6525512,"mediaKeyId","3393084-2742e1783ac740fdc4c4241ac3b3ee8a","parentId",3393084,"title","Votes at a glance: Board approves routine financial, personnel and site items; air-quality monitor and curriculum purchase noted","audioSeconds",2582,"startMs",308000,"endMs",2890000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3393084-2742e1783ac740fdc4c4241ac3b3ee8a&start=308&end=2890","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3393084-2742e1783ac740fdc4c4241ac3b3ee8a/thumbnail_308000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6525512/Pennsylvania/Votes-at-a-glance-Board-approves-routine-financial-personnel-and-site-items-air-quality-monitor-and-curriculum-purchase-noted","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6525512-877aeec90582d5fb5760f09b26bcfc3b/orig.mp4?Expires=1776623418&Signature=LxyHxnW9k0y5aSPFvL1g75P8BD-3rnapI5Gz9~F1JOc6Qjf6P13uR7hEikCw5zQkn32EqdFkuViOqL1zNoAISn3Kj1f2bIgW0jVphXYB4YXysr7OF9OABI71iGsQHBjQ7n9qMUufCiQ2bXsS1PHShsgRGisGzrxU4eFfZLymHtAYQfS4QIUtfKxU5z7nPgs695hZl~cQEvGWzL-D5djRLdPWHRDQHpAtspz-VLGdkpeWs9UsDvt7eV2Srw3pTiu5s4CZbClk9e5cdjK--SQSrhGA~bnNRd9xNIjxI6TZpkG4FzzxPtaBR~J4AidKQ1l-RJCjkl0jusoG8c7cjpE42Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Jersey Shore Area School District","date","2025-05-19T00:00:00Z","article","At its May 19 meeting the Jersey Shore Area School District Board of School Directors approved a suite of routine motions by voice vote, including minutes, financial reports, personnel items and several operational items.

Key approved items (voice votes; board used \"aye\"/\"opposed\" format; no roll-call tallies recorded in the transcript):

- Approval of minutes (motion carried by voice vote).

- Approval of the treasurer’s report and an investment update presented by Mr. Enders: the district reported continuing a CD ladder strategy with short-term (3-month) and 12-month CDs at the stated rates discussed during the treasurer’s report.

- Approval of bills. Discussion noted a higher-than-normal month due to large certificates of deposit with Journey Bank requiring check payments; otherwise monthly invoices were described as routine.

- Personnel: Board approved personnel items A through M (motion carried by voice vote).

- Buildings and grounds, letter A: Board approved hosting an outdoor air-quality/weather monitor at Avis Elementary (DEP program). Staff noted the device is self-contained with solar power and does not use district electricity; it will be located in the front yard near the entrance. Motion carried by voice vote.

- Finance items A through I: Board approved finance letters A–I. The president earlier clarified a finance item to add wording allowing purchase of Journey's reading curriculum \"for the 2025-26 school year at the cost of up to $53,699.\" Board members discussed the curriculum’s scope and asked for stronger reading-comprehension supports before final adoption; the finance motion including those items carried by voice vote.

- Miscellaneous items A–H: Approved by voice vote.

Motions were approved by general voice vote with the chair calling for \"all those in favor say aye\"; the transcript records unanimous \"aye\" responses, with no roll-call vote counts recorded in the meeting transcript.

Ending: Several approvals were routine operational motions. Items that required further board direction (notably the class-size staffing question and the EF Tours item) were left for future meetings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","JSASD Board of Directors Meeting 5-19-25","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved routine items including minutes, treasurer’s report, bills, personnel actions A–M, buildings and grounds item to host an air-quality/weather monitor at Avis Elementary, and finance items A–I that include a reading curriculum purchase described as up to $53,699 for 2025–26.","taxTitle","Jersey Shore Area SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",38703,"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},6525517,"Board debates class-size imbalances, data and a one-year second-grade teacher proposal",411,3395000,3806000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3393084-2742e1783ac740fdc4c4241ac3b3ee8a&start=3395&end=3806","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3393084-2742e1783ac740fdc4c4241ac3b3ee8a/thumbnail_3395000.jpg","/articles/6525517/Pennsylvania/Board-debates-class-size-imbalances-data-and-a-one-year-second-grade-teacher-proposal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6525517-f7cf17ab0e54103543fab758fd3d30b5/orig.mp4?Expires=1776623418&Signature=iS6q1urT~5Jn~8DwKmuzAjZ4eWh2yNTW40tD-8L5ffEMBf5Pl7qKfugvxhdvxkeqORSwcEA3bCcZOGu8WXwA9mA93uTcosJqpAYYS41uvOlxneo0mU4otOvX~Nd2FcEHkkRBDXzCD1ACk5SAehnnFYIM1hoMP7bLauZGCjvGPWBWkFF3g863noLcHgAcct-egQ-htDQC6uXHzvfDD0Q2JN9iFVS5VFDEsVzgvAi~LPq3yQOCHZuTjKIm2XILKI4OtryQKAEeiU3X-WuPi0YvzcPwjlVkc53lqOLZjDrNeJMD5LCVFTl44Tlm5qWYo7YfT6ZNlnSasyGcSA2FnBvimg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Board members on May 19 debated whether to add a temporary second-grade teacher after members analyzed May enrollment reports that show uneven section sizes between Jersey Shore Elementary (JSE) and Avis Elementary.

Board member Mrs. Thomas, who reviewed enrollment snapshots dating back to 2016–17, said second grade at JSE shows 25 students while Avis has 19 and recommended adding a sixth second-grade teacher for one year so class sizes can be reduced in the district’s critical early-reading grades. \"I would like to see us address that difference between the kids because the second grade is... critical with reading,\" Thomas said.

Others urged caution. Dr. Ulmer and other board members said historical data show the disparity often evens out within one to two years and that classroom-level special-education support and IEP distributions matter. \"The numbers that she's using are from the May enrollment report. So they are the most up to date,\" Dr. Ulmer said, while also noting enrollment changes month to month.

Board members requested additional data before directing staff to hire. The superintendent’s office agreed to provide counts of students with IEPs, numbers receiving interventions or reading specials, and a clearer breakdown of kindergarten assignments between JSE and Avis. The board also discussed classroom physical capacity: district staff said capacity planning had previously used a 25-student-per-classroom benchmark and that classrooms meet current size thresholds; staff said they would confirm specific room-size maxima and building-by-building differences.

Public commenters weighed in. Bob Pryor of Midland Township questioned the rationale for smaller classes given historical larger classes, while former educator Melissa Spearley urged the board to prioritize early reading, saying, \"There is a huge difference between teaching 19 students and 25 students.\"

No formal staffing motion was made at the meeting. The superintendent said she would return with the requested IEP and intervention data and that the board will need to give direction if members want a temporary hire to address next year’s second-grade imbalance.

Ending: Staff will compile the requested special-education and intervention counts, confirm classroom capacity limits, and report back so the board can decide whether to authorize a one-year second-grade hire or use other adjustments.","Board members discussed May enrollment figures showing second-grade sections at Jersey Shore Elementary higher than Avis, with proposals to add a second-grade teacher for one year to reduce class size; staff will return with IEP/intervention data and other requested details.",{"_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},6525522,"Board hears presentation on proposed EF Tours for middle school; first trip to Rome/Pompeii planned for spring 2027",330,1856000,2186000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3393084-2742e1783ac740fdc4c4241ac3b3ee8a&start=1856&end=2186","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3393084-2742e1783ac740fdc4c4241ac3b3ee8a/thumbnail_1856000.jpg","/articles/6525522/Pennsylvania/Board-hears-presentation-on-proposed-EF-Tours-for-middle-school-first-trip-to-RomePompeii-planned-for-spring-2027","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6525522-79f71d07c514436df6307a09ed2540bb/orig.mp4?Expires=1776623418&Signature=oH0MTd9I4hSqPD5RBm0O1tSfMRc4cJz9Iiz1x0IG3ijHn2qVWH9ze0qH93YNTmc~fwrI3Pof4Mq3DptFV61dR4VJQoN7aG5Jd~L9XWGimraZSGIrov987PsV6LUHny7GLZ5RTZGDhDh0CRAfSzj8PgImBGPJGxj9KpUW9BMudktpWqkRiOnciwqzkvg9-THwQD5TmLtiRvv-fhySAZzHFqVH1WDHrcCqCHcFGt4MZxFe63crs2LJzsdiJnfu5O545iR7D5lptw8EFOB3NlSmbHBY5SI899hMYMecVqpb3d8HsVIOVo7qjxKZIc9hTrqYrdvU62Vt2Jx7x66bKRpLpA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District staff presented a proposal to offer EF Tours to middle school students and asked the board to place the first trip—Rome and Pompeii in spring 2027—on a future agenda for approval.

Dr. Battaglia told the Jersey Shore Area SD board that EF Tours offers programs tailored to middle-school students, emphasizing cultural awareness, collaboration and hands-on learning. \"It raises cultural awareness for students and I think that's something that everyone can benefit from,\" Dr. Battaglia said.

If approved, the district plans to target students who are in fifth, sixth and seventh grades at the kickoff (so the traveling group will be sixth through eighth graders when the trip occurs). The proposed Rome/Pompeii trip is estimated at $4,109 per student, with a monthly payment plan of $183 over 22 months if families enroll early. Dr. Battaglia described EF’s payment plans, fundraising and scholarship options and a \"risk free enrollment period\" that allows families to withdraw with limited financial loss.

Board members asked logistical questions. The district listed requested travel dates from March 20 to March 27, 2027; the trip would run about eight days and would fall adjacent to spring break, producing two to three missed academic days. Dr. Battaglia said the required chaperone ratio is 1 adult per 6 students; she added that families commonly serve as additional chaperones. She also said EF provides international representatives and insurance protections and that the company offers scholarships and fundraising tools to lower costs.

Board members asked who would be eligible to travel. Dr. Battaglia said the program would be open to students who can afford to participate and that the district will highlight EF scholarships and potential foundation or fundraising help to expand access. She told the board, \"There are scholarship opportunities through EF, possibly through the foundation we could apply for. There are fundraising opportunities that we would we try.\"

The board did not vote on the program at the meeting. Dr. Battaglia said the first trip will be placed on the next agenda for a formal vote and that each subsequent trip would require separate board approval.

Ending: The board will consider the Rome/Pompeii trip at its next meeting; staff said they would bring details on eligibility, scholarship access and the formal trip approval motion at that time.","A district staff member proposed expanding EF Tours to middle school students, starting with a spring 2027 Rome and Pompeii trip estimated at $4,109 per student. The board will vote on the first trip at a subsequent meeting.",{"_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},6525527,"Jersey Shore Area SD unveils five-year iPad replacement plan funded from committed ESSER dollars",590,1328000,1918000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3393084-2742e1783ac740fdc4c4241ac3b3ee8a&start=1328&end=1918","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3393084-2742e1783ac740fdc4c4241ac3b3ee8a/thumbnail_1328000.jpg","/articles/6525527/Pennsylvania/Jersey-Shore-Area-SD-unveils-five-year-iPad-replacement-plan-funded-from-committed-ESSER-dollars","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6525527-58ce900c2ef0c6e6c827f5945005443f/orig.mp4?Expires=1776623418&Signature=kPmsYKTV6uS-TPcCndPOV5Nu01rQ-HYMTqn7SEP2Jn1wKGIDySeWfs7VEKfqdujw1IdqtVdcDAimDqRU9h8BEBq-9PhKoVb6HPfYjZ90mRXGX4x2t1H7zXU6scBIxIBzUdO3kJ22H8rF2qJ1R15pFYN6QHzPL1l8v0CL-XVIo4Y9ZQtEujCYSX5oH8tBBdnDSOyYw1m4J0ZGtNIeQWPCZswq-FMIg1h~3KHNCogL6IpgsthH1Bakq7sYKOCJR8bmEeyuP-7CkKhgKly4f5OvuCw2mHxpRhnJ4Dk1zz3whuwA6VoP9ybnz5-i3xHhe-D4kcbKvl5xOaryDNvZMA-A9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District technology staff on May 19 laid out a five-year plan to smooth iPad purchases and avoid large one-time replacements that would hit the district’s annual budget.

The plan, presented by Chad Crait at the Jersey Shore Area School District Board of School Directors meeting, would replace devices on a staggered schedule—each year replacing kindergarten, fifth and ninth grade—creating an expected five-year life cycle for iPads and avoiding mass refreshes of an entire building in a single year.

Crait said the district’s pandemic purchases left ‘‘gaps’’ because entire buildings were refreshed at once and students subsequently advanced grades on different schedules. \"What that does is essentially that lets us paint over those years to maintain the technology age for those students,\" Crait told the board, explaining the proposed kindergarten/fifth/ninth rotation.

Under the plan, devices taken out of primary classroom service would be kept as spares to replace broken units during the year, repurposed for STEM or other classroom uses, or—if there is a surplus—resold with proceeds returned to the committed fund that will be used for future device purchases. Crait said the district had used ESSER funds in the past five years to buy devices and that the intent is to use the previously committed ESSER set-aside for these purchases rather than local tax dollars in the annual budget.

Board members asked about lifecycle expectations and classroom use. Crait described a five-year practical life cycle for iPads: \"In our world, that's huge. So I'm comfortable with a 5 year.\"

Several members asked how kindergarten teachers use iPads and requested classroom-level data. Crait said staff are surveying teachers by grade to record time of use and apps; he told the board, \"you're gonna get a report from me that shows amount of time, what apps they're using, and for what purpose.\" The board chair/ president noted the plan is meant to protect local budget dollars while using the committed ESSER funds.

Board members also discussed the disposition of replaced devices and the possibility of resale revenue being reinvested into the committed fund. Crait described options for repurposing or reselling retired units and returning funds to the committed technology account.

The board did not take a formal vote on the plan at the meeting; the presentation will inform future budget and procurement decisions.

Ending: The district will receive a written teacher-survey report on classroom device use and a more detailed implementation schedule; staff said they will bring further details to the board for approval as purchases are scheduled.","District staff outlined a five-year device refresh that would replace kindergarten, fifth- and ninth-grade iPads each year, use retired devices as spares or for STEM, and draw on previously committed ESSER funds rather than the annual operating budget.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Board approves routine financial, personnel and site items; air-quality monitor and curriculum purchase noted

Board debates class-size imbalances, data and a one-year second-grade teacher proposal

Board hears presentation on proposed EF Tours for middle school; first trip to Rome/Pompeii planned for spring 2027

Jersey Shore Area SD unveils five-year iPad replacement plan funded from committed ESSER dollars