Wellness committee to test alternating after‑school and evening meetings to boost participation

Perkiomen Valley School District wellness committee members discussed the committee’s meeting schedule and format and agreed to pilot alternating after‑school and evening meetings to encourage participation.

The recommendation follows comments that past meetings held at 3:45 p.m. in the library lab encouraged more informal conversation and higher staff attendance, while evening meetings allowed board members and parents to attend.

Tammy Campley, school board member and parent, and other members said they preferred returning to the 3:45 p.m. time in the library lab to foster informal discussion and increase staff voice. “I like the 03:45. Personally, this is just my own opinion,” Campley said.

Some members noted that calling in presents challenges for participation. One committee member suggested alternating meeting times so members who cannot attend after school have an evening option. Erin Dreisbach said the district could trial holding the next meeting at 3:45 p.m. and the following meeting at 6 p.m., and that staff would coordinate with the district’s public notices to advertise the schedule.

The committee proposed sending a short survey to members to determine scheduling preferences. No formal schedule change was adopted; the group agreed to try the alternating format for the second half of the year and reconvene to assess participation.

The committee also discussed logistics such as the committee’s need to advertise meetings as a district committee and the impact of a 7 p.m. hard stop when the meeting coincides with other committees; staff will work with district administrators to ensure public notice and consider alternating times to increase participation.