[{"_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",6461403,"mediaKeyId","5824308-78eb1921d6072d6b3c3d4fc12ab926f6","parentId",5824308,"title","Parents and teachers demand action as reports of repeated violent behavior at Ringing Rocks dominate Pottsgrove board meeting","audioSeconds",4584,"startMs",1879000,"endMs",6463000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5824308-78eb1921d6072d6b3c3d4fc12ab926f6&start=1879&end=6463","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5824308-78eb1921d6072d6b3c3d4fc12ab926f6/thumbnail_1879000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6461403/Pennsylvania/Parents-and-teachers-demand-action-as-reports-of-repeated-violent-behavior-at-Ringing-Rocks-dominate-Pottsgrove-board-meeting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6461403-e07bbd048bed526813a7199f575a50d5/orig.mp4?Expires=1772869594&Signature=Mw4ckz9QQaglFB2KpSV5fnrng8~-TdcatJ1UBeTjh6wWS~Hld1iuefJP-WawvcCabLvhmPo~aoFK1J1yuERrFRQUQNJq41WYrwjsQvUvwopmn6EHhOBdk3Sn9hLhxGRbRUjpi1CfPfBnvdKAIcaeWRSKw9Z3PFty4DWZ9sE2a9qg3O85huEDZ0l4mU9Zhk1tKXfuxT8X02qhSSudCAwYVSJTwoSdl9Z9AtRehZHxUbNC8S6TPOyDBtktrlcLwSTSsHzZF3OEys12RBtc0fVPeTdg2xBUC6T9c--vc2yTcf~k14RS8Uhk9ZMMvBmVkmRNgkHJRetR5r6eEOtSKvl3ZA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pottsgrove School District","date","2025-09-24T12:42:28.55Z","article","Dozens of parents and staff used the Sept. 23 Pottsgrove School Board meeting to describe repeated, escalating disruptive and violent behaviors at Ringing Rocks Elementary and to demand immediate action, transparency and accountability from district leaders.

Speakers offered multiple, specific allegations: parents and teachers described students being hit, kicked, bitten, pushed, struck with objects, and teachers who required medical attention. Tina Capiello, who identified herself as a taxpayer and employee at the high school, said residents and staff were coping with broken HVAC systems and other facility needs but expressed alarm at repeated classroom violence, urging the district to prioritize student and staff safety over new facilities. \"You also have safety things that are coming up later that people are gonna discuss that money needs to be spent on,\" she said.

Several parents described serious incidents. Kelly Tresdale said her six-year-old grandchild was struck in the head with a heavy bookend and required monitoring for concussion precautions; she said: \"It was traumatizing enough for him to come home upset. ... My grandchild does not feel safe.\" Robert Biggio asked the board to \"perform a thorough investigation into this matter to determine what, how, why, and who is responsible for the culture\" at Ringing Rocks. Multiple speakers said teachers had been pressured not to report incidents to parents and that incident reports were not always filed.

Teachers and staff in the audience corroborated concerns. A teacher who identified herself as Brianna Robinson said staff have urged administrators for years to address behavior and had not seen adequate follow-through; another teacher said she had been attacked in the past and still experiences related injuries. Parents said classrooms had been evacuated, desks flipped and that some students were too frightened to attend.

Superintendent Dr. Finney acknowledged the seriousness of the concerns and described several recent and planned steps the district has taken: adding two special education teachers at Ringing Rocks, increasing the number of registered behavior technicians (RBTs), adding BCBAs (Board Certified Behavior Analysts), creating a new position to intervene with students exhibiting intense behaviors (currently filled by Karen Ottaviano), and contracting for additional mental-health supports. He said the district was already approving another RBT at the Sept. 23 meeting. He also said the district would meet internally after the meeting and aimed to report back to the community at the board's next meeting (scheduled Oct. 14), and that an executive session that evening would include personnel and safety discussion.

Parents and some board members pressed for faster, visible actions: callers asked for immediate increases in trained staff, clearer use of the handbook's discipline code, better transparency about incidents and consideration of an independent third-party investigation. One parent recommended suspensions for students who physically assault others, noting that IEP status does not preclude disciplinary action.

What the board said it would do: the superintendent and board members said they would meet immediately after the public portion of the meeting to develop action steps and would provide a report to the community at or before the Oct. 14 board meeting. The board also committed to follow-up meetings with individual parents who requested them, while cautioning that some responses required time to coordinate and that formal personnel matters might need to be handled in executive session.

The public record at the meeting includes parental accounts of injuries, teacher reports of being assaulted, statements that incident reports had not always been filed, and the board's pledge to return with action steps. Parents said they will continue to attend meetings until they are satisfied that staff and students are safe.

Note: the accounts reported at the meeting are the statements of parents and staff present and are summarized here as reported to the board; the district indicated it would continue investigations and follow-up steps.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Pottsgrove School Board Meeting Sept. 23rd 2025,","oneSentenceSummary","Dozens of parents, staff and teachers told the Pottsgrove School Board on Sept. 23 that repeated disruptive and violent student behavior at Ringing Rocks Elementary has left students and staff injured, and they pressed the district for immediate safety steps, transparency and an independent investigation.","taxTitle","Pottsgrove SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",65793,"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},6461408,"Pottsgrove board approves design contracts for proposed athletic complex; financing options outlined",3916,739000,4655000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5824308-78eb1921d6072d6b3c3d4fc12ab926f6&start=739&end=4655","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5824308-78eb1921d6072d6b3c3d4fc12ab926f6/thumbnail_739000.jpg","/articles/6461408/Pennsylvania/Pottsgrove-board-approves-design-contracts-for-proposed-athletic-complex-financing-options-outlined","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6461408-21d3d2d365ae19e67d915103b94bd4e9/orig.mp4?Expires=1772869594&Signature=j8-O9t6aQv~PPdMv~sKtgX0S2GxogpzW~1xXX5Hid6Qia1oyq2ip461kY41N4rCvuCthly~qFCutCSyb45IXZXxz9gg~HQfiMTO~byi3m9TjxpexowkIe83cTEzPY~-MojcOSjgoCgELiiMdNiJxHrkczi0NHvkGoLCc2NkI3eRgm-gMO3~O00XzHVeTcUc3a5llWS5mLVSP0EtFmsByjIYY1JQwaHM8C3zjADlYgqcXlOEp7n4p0ahywfuENehXpD~mAyE-gCUX0vndcCFohr20vdfbjnljA7mzgDqgcpWhfQtWtZwCE4M0XGDkM~6pc5O0OqIRNwbnS8djfRkkhw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Pottsgrove School Board on Sept. 23 voted to move forward with design contracts for a proposed athletic complex, while receiving a financing presentation from Jamie Doyle of PFM Financial Advisors about a possible $8,995,000 borrowing to fund construction.

Board members approved only the design-phase contracts at the meeting; no final financing or construction commitment was made. Doyle described market conditions, federal tax rules that affect tax-exempt borrowing, and a sample timeline that would let the district use calendar-year 2025 issuance limits if it chooses to do so.

Doyle told the board the district could borrow at attractive tax-exempt rates and explained the Internal Revenue Service requirements that govern tax-exempt municipal debt. \"You have to have reasonable expectations,\" he said, summarizing IRS guidance on spending proceeds and entering binding obligations. He described three practical tests the IRS applies, and noted the district would qualify for the \"small issuer exception\" because the contemplated borrowing is under $15 million. Doyle added the borrowing could be structured as a 13-year financing tied to the district's existing debt drop-offs to keep overall debt service declining.

Doyle explained other technical features the board should consider, including bank-qualified status that can lower tax-exempt rates when a district uses less than $10 million of that calendar-year limit, the possibility of positive arbitrage if the district can invest borrowed proceeds at higher rates than the borrowing cost, and the value of a reimbursement resolution for retroactive project costs. He summarized how capitalized interest could phase new debt service into the district budget over two years.

He also presented a sample calendar: the board could adopt a parameters resolution at a later meeting (Doyle said Nov. 11 as an example), enter the market as soon as the parameters are set, and settle roughly 35 days after sale if that timing was chosen. \"If the parameters resolution is adopted on November 11, we can be ready to enter the market as early as November 12,\" Doyle said.

Board members asked about urgency. Doyle said there was no requirement to borrow immediately \"not unless you want to use the $10,000,000 limit for '25,\" and noted advantages to acting in 2025 if the board wants to capture that calendar-year bank-qualified threshold.

The board approved the architecture and construction-manager contracts that will allow the design phase to proceed; the contract documents remain subject to solicitor review, and the board retains the option to reduce the scope or stop the project after design work is complete.

What happens next: the presentation was an initial step. If the district pursues financing, board members will face separate decisions about a parameters resolution, final project scope and a bond sale. The board vote Sept. 23 covered only the design-phase contracts and did not authorize final borrowing or construction.","The Pottsgrove School Board on Sept. 23 authorized contracts to begin design work on a proposed athletic complex and heard a financing briefing from PFM Financial Advisors about a potential $8.995 million borrowing and related IRS rules and timing options.",{"_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},6461394,"Votes at a glance: Pottsgrove School Board, Sept. 23 — accounts, personnel blocks, contracts and policy items approved",169,4457000,4626000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5824308-78eb1921d6072d6b3c3d4fc12ab926f6&start=4457&end=4626","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5824308-78eb1921d6072d6b3c3d4fc12ab926f6/thumbnail_4457000.jpg","/articles/6461394/Pennsylvania/Votes-at-a-glance-Pottsgrove-School-Board-Sept-23-accounts-personnel-blocks-contracts-and-policy-items-approved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6461394-cc2415024ad426b3e0ed33c6486365bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1772869594&Signature=CEXttZ5CJj9Puul9k6KymAVt8-Umn8YQe8-3qjyCb4qsAd4D4b~Bp8QugqgN8N5fYuXyaGnixmwTDsPjs09V829mqHcDjX1L2EGzr~qXozJa9PgbYMkmf6-IH2K1YO9VQy96H-6rMqOmF~61GuJB2SakIK6la2jNVvIAOOWMJiWmFnzWGpIVFHiH5zfKjxmhaw9LgnGa65wQIa2ZT5pqA2Cyc1-yAQS1ArwgeDzlIOhKjW~IbcZbkdVjK~o1FFHZx9Yu5G2y0vvS9XbA3MhFoQj5TzL9F3e19CiZUum2xSsvzTFohOqvSF0oeNhM4nf3zrg9uSOVcM2rtiCzFbQVIQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Pottsgrove School Board conducted several formal votes Sept. 23. Most actions were approved by voice vote; the transcript records \"Aye\" votes but not detailed roll-call tallies. Items approved included financial reports, a bundled personnel block, several vendor contracts, and required instructional and service plans.

Key votes and outcomes

- High school, middle school and cafeteria accounts (August 2025): approved. Motion to approve the student-activity and cafeteria accounts for August passed by voice vote.

- Treasurer's report (August 2025): approved and filed for audit. Motion carried by voice vote.

- Personnel block (agenda items 8.1–8.9): approved. The bundled motion covered retirements, leaves of absence, assignment changes, resignations, appointments (support staff and certified corrections), supplemental staff for SOAR, a behavioral assistant for the Evening Academy and two homebound instruction approvals. The district noted that one of the approved personnel items added another registered behavior technician (RBT).

- Contract approvals — design-phase for athletic complex (agenda item 9.1): approved. Board voted to authorize design contracts (architect and construction manager) to proceed; contracts are subject to solicitor review and the board retains discretion to reduce scope or stop the project after design.

- Contract approvals — substitute nursing services and elevator communications (agenda items 9.2 and 9.3): approved. The board approved a contract with General Healthcare Resources for substitute nursing services and a communications system for three elevators (middle, high and lower).

- Athletics Instagram account (agenda item 9.4): approved.

- Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (ATSI) plan — high school (agenda item 10.1): approved. The district is required to approve a plan because the high school has been identified for additional targeted supports.

- Contract with Camp Hill Special School and conference attendance (agenda items 10.2 and 10.3): approved. The board approved services with Camp Hill Special School for FAPE (IEP) students and authorized one staff conference attendance for dual enrollment German training at the University of Pittsburgh.

Other procedural votes included committee reports to be placed on the Oct. 14 agenda for formal approval.

Notes on voting: The meeting transcript records voice votes (\"Aye\") and motions but does not provide roll-call tallies or the names of motioners and seconders for every item. Where items were combined into a single motion (for example, personnel items 8.1–8.9), the transcript records a single approval for the group.

For readers seeking detail: the board's motion language was brief on the floor; contract documents and personnel files (as permitted by confidentiality rules) will contain the authoritative details on terms, compensation, effective dates and any follow-up requirements.","At its Sept. 23 meeting the Pottsgrove School Board approved routine fiscal items, a block of personnel actions, design-phase contracts for a stadium, contracts for substitute nursing and elevator communications, creation of an athletics Instagram account and several instructional and special-education contracts.",{"_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},6461399,"Pottsgrove earns sixth straight NAMM ‘‘Best Communities for Music Education’’ recognition",316,401000,717000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5824308-78eb1921d6072d6b3c3d4fc12ab926f6&start=401&end=717","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5824308-78eb1921d6072d6b3c3d4fc12ab926f6/thumbnail_401000.jpg","/articles/6461399/Pennsylvania/Pottsgrove-earns-sixth-straight-NAMM-Best-Communities-for-Music-Education-recognition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6461399-d446fb9302f4beae2642b88d17d9e2b1/orig.mp4?Expires=1772869594&Signature=GZ4M0LjCMksqp8-0jJ3zW5nOAw9Su~qBFdvmBcC81-LCIrVgnUzfibZX~J6gGTL-qnUgFHTp5hFA6THDUAW5E~peq43vf7KR-zDhVEuK~wKaf8Q0kv9Hqxm1exW~nEETKAfz65U~~D62kl29OqSILX6Ei1THBAc8IIyeVUC4ocR9poc~-b-X9y~k4zQfgr6OiYVbZvMsNA4btKGNRL15JRJJVQX8dZk129MT5JrOXZqoZr2H-CvZ~LNjs8-J7apx9trpgRbybc6vypjvow~cOV8cud3k71zNzr3bbkMf-N9aFQk9q-gnorqYLmK5yQ5vwU4sVeAcFO5WWieeuV5Pdw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tom Kelly of Zezewitz Music presented a plaque on behalf of the NAMM Foundation at the Sept. 23 Pottsgrove School Board meeting, recognizing the district for outstanding support of music education. Pottsgrove was one of roughly 1,000 U.S. school districts to receive the award this year and the district has earned the recognition six years in a row.

Kelly explained the program is administered by the NAMM Foundation and evaluated by an external reviewer (the University of Kansas). He said the application is extensive — \"32 or 33 pages of a lot of detailed questions,\" — and praised district staff for completing it. \"By the good graces of the administration, and the wonderful staff that is behind me, they are excellent,\" Kelly said.

The presentation highlighted both performance ensembles and general classroom music. Kelly noted the marching band's competitive success and that strong general-music experiences serve as the pipeline to chorus, band and orchestra. He presented a placard reading in part: \"We congratulate you, Potts Grove School District, for outstanding support of music education, enriching the lives of children and advancing student achievement. Music makes you smarter.\"

Board members and the superintendent thanked the district music staff, and Kelly invited the teachers to join the board for a photograph. The district named the music teachers present at the meeting, including Kristen Hyde (band and orchestra; music department chair), Allison Trout, Will Einhorn, Amy McMahon and others.

The recognition underscores the district's continuum of general and ensemble music offerings and the community and staff efforts that support those programs.","A representative of the NAMM Foundation presented Pottsgrove a plaque recognizing the district's music program; speakers highlighted marching band success and the role of classroom general music.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parents and teachers demand action as reports of repeated violent behavior at Ringing Rocks dominate Pottsgrove board meeting

Pottsgrove board approves design contracts for proposed athletic complex; financing options outlined

Votes at a glance: Pottsgrove School Board, Sept. 23 — accounts, personnel blocks, contracts and policy items approved

Pottsgrove earns sixth straight NAMM ‘‘Best Communities for Music Education’’ recognition