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Methacton board approves routine fiscal and personnel items, installs 55 bollards and votes 8–1 to remove German from middle/high school offerings
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Summary
The board approved minutes, fiscal and personnel items (including installation of 55 bollards at six buildings), accepted resignations and passed a curriculum revision removing German for grade 7 in 2026–27 and for grades 8–12 in 2027–28 (vote 8–1). Several motions passed unanimously or near‑unanimously.
During its April 28 meeting the Methacton School District board approved a package of routine business including minutes, fiscal items, personnel changes, policy second reads and a curriculum revision to discontinue German at specified grade levels.
The board first approved the March 17 work session and March 24 regular meeting minutes by voice vote; the chair announced the motion carried 9–0. The fiscal items motion also passed 9–0 after discussion that clarified a security purchase: Dr. Surgini said there are 55 bollards to be installed at entrances to six of the district’s seven buildings (the high school already has them), plus bollards at rear entrances to the Skyview gym and the Arcola planetarium. He said bollards are “widely accepted as best practice and security” and noted the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) identifies bollards as a tier‑1 safety item.
Personnel items passed 9–0 and included resignations from Kimberly Steffe, director of business services, and Dr. Nicole Bridal, principal of Skyview Upper Elementary School. The board acknowledged those departures and thanked the staff members for their service.
On curriculum, the board considered item 11d, a revision to instructional offerings citing a ‘‘substantial decline in course enrollment.’’ The motion removes German as a grade‑7 course beginning in 2026–27 and removes German for grades 8–12 beginning in 2027–28. The motion passed 8–1; the chair recorded Miss Austin as opposed.
Policies presented on second read were approved by the board in a recorded vote. Other consent and administrative items were approved by voice vote.
Board members asked a procedural question about whether installing bollards could affect insurance rates; operations staff offered to seek that information and report back. The board and members of the public were also thanked for their work on recent events such as post‑prom and teacher appreciation activities.
The meeting then moved to public comment and adjourned.
