The Neshaminy Board of School Directors met in public session on August 8, 2001 in the Board Room of the District Offices, Maple Point Middle School.  The following persons were in attendance:

Prior to the Public Board Meeting, a Public Board Meeting-Work Session was held.

Call to Order - Mr. Stack called the meeting to order at 8:10 p.m.

Public Comment - There was a three minute time limit per speaker.  A Penndel resident stated she has taught in modular classrooms.  She urged the Board if it closes an elementary school, to do its best to move the students out of the modular classrooms and into regular classrooms.  She said the modular classrooms are not safe.  Anyone can walk into the modular classrooms.  The modular classrooms are not a good place to teach and learn.

Mr. Johnson, Penndel, stated the use of modular classrooms for special classes (i.e., speech therapy, music, art, etc.) results in the loss of instruction time.  At least five to ten minutes of travel time is lost when students are traveling from the school building to the modular classrooms.  He urged the Board not to use the modular classrooms for classroom space of any kind.  When redistricting, place all students in the school buildings and not modular classrooms.

A Langhorne resident felt if the Board plans to close more than one school in the next few years, it should close both schools now.  It would be too disruptive to have students change schools a second time in two to three years. 

Ms. Knauth, Feasterville resident and Tawanka School computer aide, said it is going to be a hard, hard year for us at Tawanka. She said she knows the Tawanka staff will put the children first as they have throughout the whole process.  She advised the Board she is very proud of the Tawanka School’s computer program.  The Tawanka lab was the first computer lab opened in the District. The school’s computer program is word processing 90 percent of the time.  She said the Tawanka students will have the greatest year educationally.  The children will come first.  The Board has given us quite a challenge.  She pledged the Tawanka students will have an even better year this coming year in the computer lab.  Perhaps, 95 percent of the time will be spent on word processing.

Certified Personnel Actions - Dr. Bowman presented the following for approval:

·         Resignation (retirement) of Administrator

·         Election of Acting Administrators

Personnel Report distributed at the meeting.

Mr. Dengler moved the certified personnel actions be approved and Dr. Frank seconded the motion. The Board unanimously approved the personnel actions.

Dr. Bowman noted the Personnel Report included Dr. Daggett’s retirement.  Dr. Bowman said Dr. Daggett has served the Neshaminy School District for 34 wonderful years.  Due to Dr. Daggett’s initial employment position, music teacher, hundreds of children have passed through his hands.  He produced world class bands and performances at Neshaminy High School.  He helped put the Neshaminy School District on the map.  He served as the assistant principal at Neshaminy High School and then was appointed to his current position of principal of the Neshaminy Middle School.  Under his leadership, the Neshaminy Middle School obtained national recognition as a Blue Ribbon School.  Dr. Daggett is leaving a rich legacy in the Neshaminy School District.  Dr. Bowman thanked Dr. Daggett for his tremendous dedicated service to the children of the Neshaminy community. 

Mr. Schoenstadt stated very few people have the opportunity to directly influence children the way Dr. Daggett has.  He said his two sons benefited so measurably by Dr. Daggett’s influence in the band and jazz band that they actually turned out to be great citizens.  Dr. Daggett can be proud of his influence on the children of the Neshaminy School District the past 34 years.

Motion:  Designation and Notice of School Closing

Mr. Schoenstadt presented the following motion:

WHEREAS, the Neshaminy School District K-5 elementary enrollment has significantly declined since 1992 and elementary building program capacities exceed enrollment by over 1,000 students; and

WHEREAS, the District can reduce operating costs by closing an elementary school; and

WHEREAS, Section 780 of the School Code requires the District to hold a public Hearing three months prior to making a school closing decision, notify the public fifteen days prior to the date of such hearing and designate the school that is being considered for closing.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of School Directors will hold a public hearing on August 28, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. to obtain community input prior to the scheduled November 27, 2001 Public Board Meeting at which time the Board will consider a resolution that designates the Tawanka Elementary School to be closed at the end of the 2001‑02 school term.

Mrs. Butville seconded the motion.

Mr. Dengler stated when the Board started discussing closing a school, he never thought he would be in the position of having to vote to close the Tawanka School.  He had supported closing a middle school until Dr. Bowman presented data reflecting a middle school could not be closed at this time.  The Tawanka School has a terrific team.  He explained his wife taught at the Tawanka School and in two years his granddaughter would have attended the elementary school.  He said it is a very hard decision, but it is a decision that must be made.  Mr. Dengler stated he will support the motion. 

Mrs. Butville stated Mrs. Knauth is not extraordinary.  She is the ordinary teacher we have in Neshaminy.  All of Neshaminy’s teachers are of that caliber.  No matter what school they are in, they care that much about their students.  Mrs. Butville said she felt confident the students from Tawanka will be going to  another Neshaminy school that will have teachers just as wonderful and dedicated as the Tawanka School has.  Each of the schools in Neshaminy have outstanding staff and programs, and we can be very proud of them. 

The Board approved the designation and notice of school closing motion with six ayes, Mrs. Bostwick, Mrs. Butville, Mr. Dengler, Ms. Drioli, Mr. Schoenstadt and Mr. Stack and three nays, Mr. Eccles, Dr. Frank and Mr. Mecleary. 

Other Board Business - Dr. Bowman reported the Educational Development Committee is scheduled to meet on August 16 at noon.

Mr. Stack requested any outstanding committee assignment forms be returned to  him. 

Mr. Stack thanked Mrs. Bostwick for making a special effort to attend the Board Meeting.

Mr. Schoenstadt moved the meeting be adjourned and Mrs. Butville seconded the motion.  The Board unanimously approved the motion.  Mr. Stack adjourned the meeting at 8:35 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Carol A. Calvello 
Board Secretary                                                                                          

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