ETSD School Board News
October 11, 2021
The Exeter Township School District Board of School Directors met on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 for their monthly Committee of the Whole Meeting. Here’s what happened:
The meeting opened with Dr. Kimberly Minor thanking the families and staff who attended the Title I Literacy Night at the Administration Building this past week. She said that all families in attendance seemed to have a wonderful time networking with our reading and intervention specialists and learning more about the program as they selected books to read with their children.
Next, Mr. Mark Ricketts, Internship Facilitator at the Senior High, discussed the progress he’s made with the Senior High internship program and its growth and awareness since assuming the full-time facilitator position over the summer. During his presentation, he responded to some community questions, including:
How do internship credits integrate with the current graduation requirements?
Mr. Ricketts responded that students can take an internship as an elective to receive credit for it.How will internships meet district goals?
Mr. Ricketts cited elements of the district goals are to create lifelong learners who are productive citizens in a global community, and to prepare students for tomorrow’s opportunities. He said internships offer those exact experiences to our students.
Mr. Ricketts also was pleased to report that he has grown the program to include 50 area businesses that will now accept Exeter students as interns.
During his presentation, Kevin Matos Cruz and McKenna Schaeffer, two students in his internship program, discussed their experiences at the Exeter Veterinary Hospital and Aerie, respectively. Thank you to both of these students for sharing their thoughtful insights into their experiences with the internship program!
Following, Dr. Eric Flamm recognized and congratulated Olivia Biancone, Brynn Patchell and Brittany Truong for their artwork being juried into the Shippensburg University Art & Design Department - 2021 Scholastic 144 Exhibition. They are art students of Ms. Christina Pinkerton at the Senior High. Congratulations to all three students!
Next, Mrs. Jennifer Breton, the district’s communications specialist, presented an overview of ParentSquare, which will roll out as a new communications system that sends parents texts, phone calls, emails and app alerts and combines all school communication into one simple and easy-to-use app. She also presented her work on a new website, which will debut after the Thanksgiving break.
Mrs. Dawn Harris, Director of Pupil Services, then delved into current quarantine practices of the District in response to students who have been exposed to a Covid-19-positive individual at school. She clarified that the District has been following the recommendations set forth by the PA Department of Health since students returned to in-person learning, but she said that these recommendations are not mandates and that the Board could opt to change the policy if they so chose. Mrs. Harris also pointed out that more than 90% of students that the District quarantines remain Covid negative. She proposed to the Board that they could continue with the PA DOH guidelines and recommendations as the District is currently doing, or the Board could create a voting item for the next Board meeting next week to amend the current Health & Safety Plan to relax or remove quarantining activities for asymptomatic students. After a discussion, the Board decided to move the agenda item forward to the next voting meeting, which will be on Tuesday, November 16th at 7PM. To watch Mrs. Harris’ presentation and the discussion, please see the video below. Her presentation begins at the 55 minute mark.
Dr. Eric Flamm then discussed the procedures the District provides for students and their academics when they are quarantined. In his presentation, Dr. Flamm stated that students in K-6 receive their work via hard copy or digitally, and principals follow up to find out if students need additional support or to help them arrange tutoring if necessary. Students in 7-12 grade receive their schoolwork via Schoology with principals checking in with the students and their parents to arrange for additional help if needed. Students and families can also contact their counselor if they feel they need additional help or support. Dr. Flamm also mentioned that this approach is being used because teachers are no longer sitting stationary at a desk as they may have done during hybrid or fully-virtual learning, and they are now teaching normally by moving throughout their classrooms for instruction and to help students individually.
Dr. Flamm then continued with the next agenda item, which was an update on the District’s Comprehensive Plan. Dr. Flamm said that the Pennsylvania Department of Education has now offered districts an extension on their submissions of their plans to August 2022, which the ETSD intends to take to add additional content and receive committee feedback about Professional Development areas within the plan.
The Board then moved ahead two agenda items for next week, including early graduation requests and a field trip request.
During the Finance & Audit Committee, Mr. Hunter Ahrens introduced Mr. Kevin Burkas of Portnoff Law Associates, who spoke of his firm’s work and success with collecting delinquent school taxes.
Dr. David Hemberger then mentioned that the Patriotic Sons of America will be participating in a ceremony at the one-room schoolhouse next to Jacksonwald on Veteran’s Day to celebrate the installation of a flag and flagpole they completed recently.
Dr. Hemberger then continued with moving three policies forward to the voting meeting, which included revisions to the weapons (Policy #218.1), hazing (Policy #247) and terroristic threats (Policy #218.2).
The next meeting will be next Tuesday, November 16th at 7PM at the Lausch Administration Building.
Exeter Township School District
Email: communications@exetersd.org
Website: https://www.exeter.k12.pa.us
Location: 200 Elm Street, Reading, PA, USA
Phone: 610-779-0700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExeterTownshipSchoolDistrict
Twitter: @ExeterTwpSchool