Message from Board President Dana Hunter

Welcome to Board Note, the monthly summary of news and information from the Central Bucks Board of School Directors. Through communications like this, our goal is to provide you with factual and timely updates that help you stay informed. We encourage you to read this newsletter and to click the links below to view or listen to the recordings of recent board and committee meetings.

In the past several weeks, there was a lot of focus on Policy 321, which passed at the January board meeting. Thank you to administration for holding Q&As with teachers and staff in various schools to help clarify what this policy is and is not, how it will work in our buildings, and answer any questions.

To reiterate, there is no ban on flags or classroom discussions. Policy 321 does not ban, for example, pride flags, pro-life flags, Biden flags, or Trump flags as is being alleged. Instead, it simply limits their use to when it is related to the day’s curricular lessons. This is no different than how our schools would permit flags of religions when teaching about comparative religion, but would obviously not permit a teacher to hang a religious flag on the wall year round.

As noted in the last paragraph of the policy:

This policy is not a prohibition on topics of speech. Rather, it is designed to promote education instead of indoctrination or endorsement of partisan, political or social policy matters. In an analogous context, the district has long educated students about world religions but cannot endorse a particular religion. When implementing and enforcing Policy 321, District employees, the Superintendent and principals may be guided by that existing and familiar non-endorsement principle.

Please click here to read Policy 321.

Please click here to read the district’s community statement.

Superintendent’s Report

Superintendent Dr. Abram M. Lucabaugh highlighted that January is National School Director Recognition Month. He thanked the members of the Central Bucks Board for their time and dedication year-round, noting that as volunteer, locally elected officials, “school boards are tasked with making key decisions that drive public education.”

To view the Superintendent’s Report, click here and go to minute 8:44.

Curriculum Committee Meeting

This committee did not meet in January. The last meeting was November 16, 2022. You can listen to the meeting here and view the agenda here. The Curriculum Committee will reconvene on February 8, 2023.

Policy Committee Meeting – January 11

Listen to the meeting. | View the agenda.

Highlights:

• Moved out of committee revised Policy 815: Acceptable Use of Electronic Resources. Given the importance of this topic due to ever-changing technologies and tools, this policy was reviewed and re-developed by the solicitor for technology integration, Wisler Pearlstine, based on best practices for school districts. (Discussion begins at minute 3:00 here.)
• There was a discussion about policies 218.2: Terroristic Threats and 218.3: Student Threats of Violence to review implementation protocols. Both policies were moved out of committee. (Discussion begins at minute 32:14 here.)
• Moved out of committee a recommendation to combine Finance and Operations committees into a Finance & Facilities Committee (Policy 005). (Discussion begins at minute 49:49 here.)

Operations Committee Meeting – January 25

Listen to the meeting. | View the agenda.

Highlights:

• Moved out of committee a recommendation regarding the damaged chiller at CB East High School and the need for an additional three-month rental due to delays for replacement equipment; additional rental fee being worked through insurance. (Discussion begins at :15 here.)
• Moved out of committee the recommendation for leased partitions at Lenape Middle School for temporary classroom space in the auxiliary gym and library for 5-6 week phases through 2024 to complete the full classroom renovation schedule. (Discussion begins at minute 1:06 here.)
• Updates provided on playground renovation schedule. (Discussion begins at minute 18:12 here.)
• Welcome to the district’s new Capital Projects Coordinator Brian Garrahan.

Finance Committee Meeting – January 25

Listen to the meeting. | View the agenda.

Highlights:

• Heard presentation on the 2021/2022 Financial Statement Audit. (Discussion begins at :48 here.)
• Moved out of committee a staffing contract with Aspire Educational Services to have the ability to contract outside of the district for psychologist and counseling services in the short term if open positions within the district are not able to be filled. (Discussion begins at 28:45 here.)

Message from Board President Dana Hunter

Welcome to Board Note, the monthly summary of news and information from the Central Bucks Board of School Directors. Through communications like this, our goal is to provide you with factual and timely updates that help you stay informed. We encourage you to read this newsletter and to click the links below to view or listen to the recordings of recent board and committee meetings.

I especially encourage you to read the Superintendent’s Report below as well as the accompanying links which address the district’s annual achievement and data report on student learning. Like so many in our community, the Board is aware of the learning loss that resulted due to the disruptions of the pandemic and fully supports our Superintendent and all of the administration and faculty who are addressing this daily and developing additional strategies for advancing academic excellence across the district.

Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year and all the best in 2023!

December School Board Meeting Video

December 5, 2022 Board Meeting Brief

January 10, 2023 Board Meeting LIVE

View the January 10 board meeting live, beginning at 7 p.m.

Superintendent’s Report

Annual Achievement and Data Report

In introducing the district’s annual report on student achievement, Superintendent Dr. Abram M. Lucabaugh shared the following:

“A strong educational experience creates access, opportunity, and choice for our students and provides the social mobility our students need to live their best lives. Everyone understands that the last 24 months have been an extremely tumultuous time in education and that the impact of the pandemic on teaching, learning, and student achievement is irrefutable. Recently the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) indicated that across the nation, student achievement has declined; in fact, there is no state that had an increase in student achievement. As a nation, as a state, and as a district, we’re at a very important intersection, and now more than ever, it’s going to take our best, collective efforts to restore that which was lost during the pandemic. We have to do this for our district and our community and, most importantly, for our students, who represent the future of our country.”

Richard Kratz, the director of teaching and learning for the Central Bucks School District, presented the results of the district’s annual achievement and data report across grade levels, looking at data from the PSSA tests, Keystone Exam, ACT and SAT scores, and the AP Exam. Mr. Kratz highlighted benchmark assessments at local, state, and national levels, identified areas of progress and those in need of improvement, and spoke about next steps. Dr. Lucabaugh added that the content of the report will inform subsequent curriculum committee meetings in determining the educational strategies for addressing learning loss and restoring the district’s high standards of student achievement.

To view the presentation in its entirety, click here and go to minute 14:07 or see the PowerPoint slides here.

Curriculum Committee Meeting

This committee did not meet in December. As reported in the prior Central Bucks Board Note newsletter, the last meeting of the year was November 16, 2022. You can listen to the meeting here and view the agenda here.

Policy Committee Meeting – December 14

Listen to the meeting. View the agenda.

Highlights:

• There was continued discussion about Policy 321: Partisan, Political, or Social Policy Advocacy Activities from community members and among committee members. The policy was moved out of committee for a vote at the January full board meeting.

Operations Committee Meeting – December 14

Listen to the meeting. | View the agenda.

Highlights:

• Moved out of committee a recommendation on Home & School Association-funded capital projects. (Discussion begins at minute 1:07 here.)
• Moved out of committee a recommendation for the CB South pool systems project, which includes replacing an original HVAC component as well as lighting. (Discussion begins at minute 4:46 here.)
• Moved out of committee the Operations Center fuel island upgrade project. (Discussion begins at minute 7:27 here.)

Finance Committee Meeting – December 14

Listen to the meeting. | View the agenda.

Highlights:

• Moved out of committee a recommendation for legal counsel retainer agreement for special education litigation matters and an agreement for professional development on second language evaluation for Special Education staff. (Discussion begins at minute 2:47 here.)

November School Board Meeting Video

Watch the board meeting in its entirety.

November School Board Meeting Minutes

Review of items heard and acted upon by the board.

Board Briefs Archive

Review items heard and acted upon by the board, by meeting date.

Central Bucks School District

Facebook@cbsdinfo

The members of the Central Bucks School District’s Board of School Directors each represent one of nine regions in the district. Each region includes one or more municipalities. While each region elects one school director, members represent the interests of the district as a whole once elected.

Regular school board meetings are generally held on the second Tuesday of the month. Download a complete list of 2023 meetings, including regular meetings and meetings of the board’s committees. Download meeting agendas.

Correspondence for the Board of School Directors should be sent to Stephanie Radcliffe, Secretary to the Board, at sradcliffe@cbsd.org.

The “Central Bucks Board Note,” is an e-newsletter designed to provide Central Bucks School District constituents with an overview of the work of their Board of School Directors.

If you reached this newsletter online, but would prefer to receive it via email, please register your email address here.

20 Welden Drive, Doylestown, PA, USAsradcliffe@cbsd.org267-893-2000cbsd.org

Message from Board President Dana Hunter

Welcome to Board Note, the monthly summary of news and information from the Central Bucks Board of School Directors. Through communications like this, our goal is to provide you with factual and timely updates that help you stay informed. We encourage you to read this newsletter and to click the links below to view or listen to the recordings of recent board and committee meetings.

November School Board Meeting Video

Watch the board meeting in its entirety.

November 15, 2022 Board Meeting Brief

Review of items heard and acted upon by the board.

In this issue, I’d like to clarify one item related to the board’s response to the heavily redacted administrative complaint filed by the ACLU of Pennsylvania in October, which alleges discrimination on the basis of sex. As we have said many times, there is zero tolerance in the district for discrimination, harassment or bullying. On October 11, the board called on the ACLU to provide the district with an unredacted copy of the complaint so that any and all allegations can be investigated appropriately. This has been reported and interpreted by some as the board asking for the names in the complaint to be made public – that is incorrect. We are asking that specific allegations be provided only to the district so that the process for investigating the allegations and, as appropriate, working with the people involved can begin. To date, the allegations are still being withheld and hidden from the district by the ACLU.

Please note that the next board meeting is Monday, December 5 at 7 p.m. Each year, the December meeting includes the School Board’s annual reorganization agenda, which provides for the election of a board president and vice president and the approval of the coming year’s meeting schedule. You can tune in to the meeting at the link in the blue band below.

Lastly, I want to highlight how active our students, teachers and staff are in all of our schools as we head into the final weeks of the calendar year. From winter concerts and theater productions to all manner of in-class activities and celebrations, there is never a shortage of talent on display. In fact, we were fortunate to hear a collaborative performance by students from the Holicong Middle School music and social studies departments under the direction of Holicong teachers James Glaser and Patrick Kelly (pictured above) prior to the beginning of the November board meeting. Our thanks to all of them for joining us!

And our thanks to all of you, too, for your interest in and commitment to the Central Bucks School District.

December 5 2022 Board Meeting LIVE

View the December 5 board meeting live, beginning at 7 p.m.

Superintendent’s Report

2021 Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS) Report

At the November 15 Board Meeting, Superintendent Dr. Abram M. Lucabaugh introduced Director of Pupil Services Alyssa Marton to share the findings of the 2021 Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS) with the board.

PAYS is a biennial survey, which the Central Bucks School District conducts among grades 8, 10 and 12 as part of a statewide initiative to assess students’ knowledge, attitudes and behavior toward alcohol, tobacco and drug use. The 2021 survey addressed six areas, including substance abuse, mental health concerns and suicide risk, social climate and safety, abuse and food scarcity, COVID-19 impacts, and remote learning perceptions and experiences. For the 2021 survey, CBSD had a 92.1% participation rate with more than 3,900 student surveys submitted.

Mrs. Marton reported that, overall, CBSD data was trending in the right direction. Highlights include a decrease in bullying and an increase across all grades of a more positive social climate at school. However, she also shared areas of concern, which include a rising trend in mental health considerations and student drug and alcohol usage rates that are higher than the state average. She said the PAYS data helps to raise awareness within our school community and inform the development of prevention practices and education for students and families.

View Mrs. Marton’s presentation, which starts at 6:00, here, or view a narrated presentation below.

Curriculum Committee Meeting – November 16

Listen to the meeting. View the agenda.

Highlights included three information presentations:

• Sound City a recommended, supplemental, pilot program for grades K-2 on Phonemic Awareness with the goal of possible full implementation in the 2023-2024 school year. Program emphasizes phonemic awareness and phonics/decoding as the critical foundations for building toward reading comprehension. (Hear the presentation and discussion here at 5:52.)
• A new pilot for expanding computer science and robotics courses as high school electives with the goal of possible full implementation in the 2025-2026 school year. The pilot would include four, half-credit courses at CB West next year, including two computer science courses within the mathematics department and two robotics courses within the technology, education and engineering department. (Hear the presentation and discussion here at 31:36.)
• An overview of the Network Of Victim Assistance or NOVA presentations available for K-12 this year, including programs on Cyberbullying (5th grade), Digital Footprint (6th grade) and Respectful Citizen (middle school). (Hear the presentation and discussion here at 53:40.)

Policy Committee Meeting – November 16

Listen to the meeting. View the agenda.

Highlights:

• School districts around the country are considering the complexities of student athletes competing in sports according to their gender identity vs. their biological gender, and the Policy Committee is beginning to think about how to balance the rights, needs and care of all student athletes in CBSD. To that end, the Committee hosted informational speaker, Greg Brown, PhD., a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine, professor in exercise science at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, and a subject matter expert on this matter. (Discussion begins at 1:06 here.) Additional experts will be invited to future Policy Committee meetings in order to explore all aspects of this topic.
• Moved Policy 227: Controlled Substances/Paraphernalia out of committee. The updated policy is intended to provide district administration with the ability to better navigate intervention, education and discipline related to use and abuse of controlled substances by students in school. (Discussion begins at 32:33 here.)

Operations Committee Meeting – November 30

Listen to the meeting. | View the agenda.

Highlights:

• Discussed how and what Home & School Association fundraising can or should support in terms of school capital projects. (Discussion begins at 14:21 here.)
• Received updates on continuing capital projects in the district, including eight construction projects and five projects in the design phase. (Discussion begins at 42:18 here.)

Finance Committee Meeting – November 30

Listen to the meeting. | View the agenda.

Highlights:

• Moved out of committee a recommendation for two new positions in Finance and Operations, a district security manager and an environmental coordinator. (Discussion begins at :20 here.)
• Moved out of committee a recommendation to front district funds for the cost of an exterior freezer/cooler for Barclay Elementary’s food pantry. Anticipated grants and fundraising are expected ultimately to cover the freezer’s cost and will be repaid to the district. (Discussion begins at 15:08 here.)
• Discussed the continuing issue of transportation labor shortages impacting First Student’s bus runs. (Discussion begins at 26:39 here.)

October School Board Meeting Video

Watch the board meeting in its entirety.

October School Board Meeting Minutes

Review of items heard and acted upon by the board.

Board Briefs Archive

Review items heard and acted upon by the board, by meeting date.

Central Bucks School District

Facebook@cbsdinfo

The members of the Central Bucks School District’s Board of School Directors each represent one of nine regions in the district. Each region includes one or more municipalities. While each region elects one school director, members represent the interests of the district as a whole once elected.

Regular school board meetings are generally held on the second Tuesday of the month. Download a complete list of 2022 meetings, including regular meetings and meetings of the board’s committees. Download meeting agendas.

Correspondence for the Board of School Directors should be sent to Stephanie Radcliffe, Secretary to the Board, at sradcliffe@cbsd.org.

The “Central Bucks Board Note,” is an e-newsletter designed to provide Central Bucks School District constituents with an overview of the work of their Board of School Directors.

If you reached this newsletter online, but would prefer to receive it via email, please register your email address here.

20 Welden Drive, Doylestown, PA, USAsradcliffe@cbsd.org267-893-2000cbsd.org