The Salisbury Township School Board held a work session meeting Oct. 5 to hear presentations on student-led individual education programs and teaching and learning updates from administrators.

The board also discussed at length the Guaranteed Energy Saving Agreement and the five year plan for capital improvements.

The meeting commenced with an informative presentation on the topic of student-led IEPs. The presentation was given by middle school and high school teachers Missy Cerco and Michael Fredrick as well as administrators Dr. Traci Jacobi and Michael Vacaro.

The idea of student-led IEPs stems from the realization many high school students were unaware they had a disability or even an IEP. When they graduated high school they were not fully aware of their needs so did not know how to advocate for themselves when they transitioned to the workforce, trade school or college. By involving students in their individual educational plan from a young age they will gradually take on a more empowered role in the process which helps them understand their strengths and weaknesses and in turn gives them a voice in self advocacy ensuring a more successful outcome.

Parents, teachers and counselors also benefit from student-led IEPs because students can more easily convey what accommodations work for them which helps to provide more effective support.

Also during the curriculum and technology section of the meeting district administrators provided the board with a teaching and learning update for their respective schools.

Salisbury Elementary School Principal Zach Brem highlighted the successful implementation of the language arts curriculum Wit and Wisdom with a “book tasting” for the students. Teachers went above and beyond to give their classrooms a restaurant-like feel so the children could get a taste of the books they will be reading in the upcoming unit.

Professional development for teachers included Cohort 1 of the program LETRS. Training for this early literacy program will continue throughout the school year.

As part of the profiles of a graduate program, students in fourth grade were able to apply for coveted jobs in and around the school. Students hold jobs such as morning announcers, flag raisers, safety patrol, grounds crew and peer tutors. It is an exciting time to be a fourth grader as many students have looked forward to these positions for years.

Ken Parliman, principal of Salisbury Middle School reports Fastbridge and raw Pennsylvania System School Assessment data is being analyzed on a weekly basis focusing on data collection and interpretation of data and identifying learning loss.

Open house at the middle school was held Sept. 29 and it was well attended. Thirty minute sessions were held and time was allotted for parents to follow their child’s schedule to meet their teachers.

Salisbury High School Assistant Principal Ryan Yurchick reported a dual enrollment presentation was given by guidance counselors Mike Anderson and Allison Moyer preceding the high school open house Sept. 22. The Center for Humanistic Change was also on hand providing information for families about how to spot risky teen behaviors and through the use of their mock teen bedroom the many ways in which drugs can be hidden in plain sight.

Additionally, there will be student/community programming offered every quarter during the school year in cooperation with the Center for Humanistic Change for students and families in the community to address topics including social media safety, vaping, drug trends and mental health and suicide prevention.

Online enrollment is coming soon as a way to reduce the duplication of information parents are tasked with completing at the start of the school year. The program is expected to roll out in November.

Paper options for non-English speakers or for those who prefer not to use a computer will also be available.

Assistant Superintendent Kelly Pauling continued the curriculum conversation updating the board on the new science and technology standards. Administrators attended a professional development experience on the new S.T.E.E.E.L. standards which stand for science, technology, engineering, ecology and environmental literacy.

These new standards will affect science assessments in the future.

In an effort to boost math skills the elementary and middle schools are piloting Rocket Math and IXL. Piloting these programs is free and a good way to gauge the effectiveness of these programs for students.

The operations committee discussion centered around the upcoming vote on the middle school Guaranteed Energy Saving Agreement.

Administrators are asking the board for permission to proceed with the $7.5 million McClure Company GESA project giving them authorization to move forward with the project before taking the item to a vote at the Oct. 19 board meeting.

Dawn Nickischer, chief financial officer, offered her assessment of the district’s ability to fund the project. Taking into account an Act 1 Index yearly tax increase of up to 4.1% and unspecified state funding offset by expenditures such as insurance costs, salary agreements, charter school costs and fluctuating utilities costs she believes the district could fund the $327,000 per year but there will be very little room for error.

Board members discussed the ramifications of securing funding for this project with so many other looming projects such as the replacement of the roof at the middle school and a list of other necessary capital expenditures. Many of the members felt rushed to make a decision on the GESA although they were cognizant of the fact the project must be done soon or the district could be faced with a situation similar to the closing of Western Elementary School due to unsafe conditions in the building.

Board member Sam DeFrank voiced concern over being asked to make a decision for a project not knowing what our funding will be in the next year. He also pointed out the board is still responsible to balance the budget even if funding falls short.

Joe Kuzo expressed reservations about approving a project in which the school district solicitor has not completely reviewed all the facts. He felt it would not be in the best interest of the district to move forward until the solicitor has had enough time to review the project in full.

Christopher Frees, chair of the finance committee, raised the question of the possible risk of moving forward with a project before actually securing the bond.

Laura McKelvey pointed out the GESA project does not reflect that much of a savings and wondered why we did not bid the job out first. Both Bill Bracket, director of facilities and board member Tom Spinner explained that if jobs are bid out there are significant engineering, architectural and design fees inherent in that process.

The way GESA is set up, those fees are included in the price of the program which could exceed by conservative estimates $1 million.

Ultimately, the board opted not to give advanced approval for the project and will discuss the matter in depth at the Oct. 13 finance committee meeting.

Following this discussion, Brackett was tasked with presenting the board with a scope and sequence of critical infrastructure projects that need to be completed in the next five years in order to keep the buildings operational and safe. The total price tag for these projects exceeded $15 million.

After viewing the list, several board members expressed concern over the inevitable issue of lack of space at Salisbury Elementary School due to the recent increase in enrollment numbers.

A $10 million price tag was calculated but the amount was not a part of the five year plan.

As board member McKelvey stated, we know we have a space issue, we don’t know how we will address it and the five year plan does not include it. We can’t decide on financing projects now and add that in later. It has to be part of the first conversation. She also pressed the board members to establish a timeline to achieve goals to avoid making decisions with a reactionary mindset.

The board will discuss these issues in depth at the Oct. 13 finance committee meeting which will be held 7 p.m.

The next school board meeting will be held 7:30 p.m. Oct. 19. Both meetings will be held in the administration building, 1140 Salisbury Road.