Coatesville Community & Parents

Lyryn Yacoe - CASD Region 3

2023-05-11T06:30:00.369-04:00

Website/ social media handle: https://www.facebook.com/YacoeCASD

Why are you running for a seat on the CASD School Board?

Being a board member is not a responsibility to take lightly. It requires much devotion of time and is a job for someone passionate about their school district. Anyone who knows me, knows how passionate I am about Coatesville and our success. Like so many proud alumni, I believe that the education and experiences that I had in Coatesville prepared me well for adulthood. That sense of pride in our school and community needs to be fostered.

As a parent and community member, I am continually looking for ways to be actively involved in this district, consistently advocating for district transparency and improved communication with all stakeholders. School board members have a unique opportunity to work alongside the district employees and stakeholders to advocate for families, engage community organizations, and inspire our students. All stakeholders- community organizations, parents, district personnel, as well as students - must be partners in this endeavor if we are to be successful.

What experience and/or background will assist you in being a successful school board member?

I have attended nearly every school board meeting since 2017. Founding CCAP (Coatesville Community and Area Parents advocacy group for CASD) allowed me to form many relationships and afforded me many opportunities to partner with CASD. I have a complete understanding of the duties of school board members, the rules and procedures required by Pennsylvania School Board Association (PSBA), and the dedication necessary to be an effective school board member.

What involvement have you had in CASD schools or our community?

Founded Coatesville Community Area Parents (CCAP). CCAP began as an advocacy group to analyze the negative trends that began to surface in CASD. The most important quality of CCAP is the responsibility to truth in communication. Our leadership worked diligently to ascertain facts and conduct statistically sound surveys to determine what was working and not working in CASD. Through CCAP, we published Monthly School Board Updates for the community from 2018 to 2021. CCAP's public blog and Facebook page as well as the private Facebook group continue to thrive today.
Accepted responsibility of and facilitated “Adopt a Coatesville Teacher” Program (2019 to 2022)
Worked on Discipline & Code of Conduct Task Force, Comprehensive Planning Team, Technology Task Force Team, and Master Facilities Planning Team
Worked together to organize “Preschool Partnership” program for the district
Partnered with CASD’s Food Services Supervisor on Covid Meal Distribution - CCAP organized immediate daily distribution to students during COVID quarantine. Organized volunteers, packing, and distribution on an ongoing basis, including home deliveries
Founded (and currently the head) the non-profit Coatesville High School Alumni Association
Organized Hurricane IDA Relief Efforts - CCAP quickly organized food and clothing donations, 100’s of volunteers for the cleanup effort on 5th Ave and raised money for immediate hotel stays, gift cards for those impacted, and remediation efforts

Assisted in the creation of the Community Partnership/Engagement policy

What do you believe are the top two or three issues CASD is currently facing?

Leadership

Over the last couple of years, we have had a great turnover in leadership positions such as the Superintendent. It is critical that our leadership, improves communication with all stakeholders, engaging them in meaningful conversation, allowing for input into impactful decisions.
We have remarkable teachers and staff working with our students. It’s essential for us to demonstrate that we value all employees and re-establish our commitment to them to help strengthen their morale to allow the school board to work harmoniously and productively in improving our district.

Academic Progress

All of our students are deserving of the very best services and education that we can provide.

Many strides in the last few years have enhanced and enriched the happenings in our schools, but there is still so much more to do. We must continue mapping a course that will provide the necessary opportunities that students need to reach their full potential in CASD schools and beyond.

Fiscal Accountability

Board members must review and request information to make informed decisions to ensure the district is fiscally responsible and includes equitable improvements to our educational programs. It is essential for us to become proactive instead of reactive.

Is there a particular issue that motivates you to serve? If elected, what will you prioritize?

Board and Community Relationship

Board members are elected officials from the community. They must be responsive and receptive to parents, staff, students, and the community at large, encouraging open dialog. The board must seek input from all groups and weigh all the facts before making a decision.
Board members have an obligation to the public to be transparent, to ask questions and discuss decisions made for the stakeholders. Board members should hold one another accountable to examine different perspectives in order to make the best decisions.

What role do you believe the community should play in our schools?

Our community is the backbone of the district. Without the community, we wouldn’t have a school. Therefore, they should be as involved as much as they can. However, I also understand that it can be extremely overwhelming to figure out where to start. I created CCAP because I was one of those parents who didn’t know how to get involved and as I learned and then our team learned we realized how important getting the community informed and involved really was.

When I wrote ‘What Does the Coatesville Area School Board Do?’ four years ago, I wanted to explain how important the community’s role was in selecting and keeping our school board accountable. This is just a tiny way for someone to be involved… I still believe this today.

We as a district need to better engage the community to ensure representation for all of our students.

Is there anything else you would like to share with voters?

Coatesville is one of the most diverse school districts in the country (26th in the nation). It’s important to embrace that diversity. We can do more to celebrate and leverage this important quality in our district for improvements. We must do better to address the diversity, equity, and inclusion practices in our schools.

I proudly support our district through various tasks and committees. If I am elected to serve, I will continue to advocate for the district by thoroughly researching any information brought before the board, working with community organizations, and speaking up for our students to have the best and most equitable education CASD can provide.

Marilyn Harris - CASD Region 3

2023-05-10T06:30:00.006-04:00

Why are you running for a seat on the CASD School Board?

I am running for a seat on the CASD School Board because I am very concerned about the reading illiteracy in our students, the need for each and every student to be educated equally to the best of their abilities, and to reduce the ongoing and recent violence and bullying incidents that adversely affects our students.

What experience and/or background will assist you in being a successful school board member?

My experience and/or background that will assist my success as a school board member is that of personal experience in rearing my own children. As such, I am acquainted also with the challenges of children, teachers and learning. Moreover, I have a love and compassion for the successful growth and development of all youth.

What involvement have you had in CASD schools or our community?

I do believe in being involved in and enhancing the community in which I live. Volunteering is important to me, and I currently do so on a regular basis at the Coatesville Salvation Army, in addition to feeding the homeless and those in need of food.

What do you believe are the top two or three issues CASD is currently facing?

My top issues facing the CASD are improving academic scoring, IEP student follow-up, and securing a safe environment for learning.

Is there a particular issue that motivates you to serve? If elected, what will you prioritize?

A particular issue that motivates me to serve, and if elected, is the protection, safety, and emotional well-being of all students, especially in light of the recent disturbing events at school.

What role do you believe the community should play in our schools?

The role that I believe the community should play in our schools is to support each other interdependently; building a bridge for better and stronger relationships between families, community and schools.

Is there anything else you would like to share with voters?

I would like to share with voters that when we, parents, community, and school board members, look to and work together resolving the challenges before us, and strategize with hopeful expectation, we can achieve even more successful schools!

Jen Shaut - CASD Region 2

2023-05-09T06:30:00.054-04:00

Website/ social media handle: Facebook - Jennifer Shaut, CASD School Board Director

Why are you running for a seat on the CASD School Board?

I am running to keep my current seat on the board because I think we are starting to gain some traction in moving things that we’ve wanted to get changed from the time I first took my seat on the board about 18 months ago.

What experience and/or background will assist you in being a successful school board member?

I have been a board member for about 18 months. I am also the mother of 2 CASD kids, 1 graduate and 1 in 7th grade. I am a nurse and have been for 16 years.

What involvement have you had in CASD schools or our community?

I have been a board member for about 18 months. I also own a non-profit organization aimed at increasing accessibility for young women in economically depressed areas to period supplies.

What do you believe are the top two or three issues CASD is currently facing?

- Student Attendance

- Funding

- Teacher Shortages

Is there a particular issue that motivates you to serve? If elected, what will you prioritize?

I am motivated to serve because I believe that all children deserve access to quality education and resources that can help them reach their full potential, regardless of their background or circumstances. Additionally, I am passionate about advocating for policies and programs that can provide support and opportunities for at-risk children, such as early childhood education, mentorship programs, and after-school activities.

What role do you believe the community should play in our schools?

Providing resources: The community can provide financial, material, and volunteer resources to support schools. This can include donating supplies, equipment, or funds for programs, as well as volunteering time to assist teachers and students.
Advocacy: The community can advocate for policies and funding that support education, and encourage their elected officials to prioritize education issues. By speaking out on behalf of students and educators, the community can help ensure that schools have the resources they need to provide a high-quality education.
Partnership: Schools can partner with local businesses, organizations, and community groups to provide students with opportunities for internships, mentorship programs, and real-world experiences. This can help students develop important skills and knowledge, and create a stronger connection between schools and the community.
Engagement: Parents and community members can engage with schools by attending school board meetings, parent-teacher conferences, and other events. By staying informed and involved, they can help support their children's education and advocate for the needs of their community's schools.

Overall, the community can play an important role in supporting schools and improving education outcomes for students. By working together, schools and communities can create a more positive and effective learning environment for all students.

Liz Muirhead - CASD Region 2

2023-05-08T06:30:00.002-04:00

Website/ social media handle: School Board Facebook Page

Why are you running for a seat on the CASD School Board?

I care deeply about getting involved in the community I live in and making it better.

Even before I finished building my first house in the district in 2004, I was attending school board meetings. I was concerned about high taxes and wanted to ensure the district was able to do its best to serve its students well. My first child was only 1 year old. I attended and spoke at meetings often, chaired committees, and researched policies, laws, and district statistics to help the school board and superintendent work effectively on behalf of students and taxpayers — and to hold them accountable when they didn’t. One thing people always asked me was “Liz, when are you going to run for school board?” But as a full time working mom, pursuing a professional designation, and raising two children, it was never the right time. Now my youngest child is a year away from graduation, and the time is finally right to step in and serve my community in a more official way.

What experience and/or background will assist you in being a successful school board member?

As someone who has worked in finance for 25 years, digging into numbers and understanding statistics and district finances is where I believe I can add the most value. I also have a deep understanding of charter school funding laws, their evolution, and their flaws. In addition, I’ve done statistical analysis of district data over many years and believe in having decisions informed by an accurate review of data.

What involvement have you had in CASD schools or our community?

I have spent time in the schools - volunteering for the PTA as a member and officer, helping with various student activities, and spending 7 years as a marching band/ color guard chaperone and “band mom” at Coatesville Area High School.

I chaired the Act 1 commission, co-founded the Coatesville taxpayer alliance, contributed to the creation of CCAP, and served on multiple strategic planning committees in the district.

I’ve built connections and relationships with numerous educators and staff in the district and understand both the challenges and the spirit that ties the school community together.

What do you believe are the top two or three issues CASD is currently facing?

The top issues are the financial strain that the district is under due to the way education is funded in PA (particularly charter school funding) and the district’s approach to educating the whole child, after considering the high percentage of special needs and socioeconomic disadvantaged students in the district.

Is there a particular issue that motivates you to serve? If elected, what will you prioritize?

Accountability and transparency are huge for me. For years, the district has made proposals and decisions without clear insight into the goals or factors considered. I want to ensure the right decisions are made and the board is not a rubber stamp that accepts whatever comes before it. I will not be afraid to ask for more information and context and do so publicly so the taxpayers and community members can learn why a proposal is being brought forward.

What role do you believe the community should play in our schools?

Especially in a community like coatesville, the community is essential to the success of the school and the children it serves. We need community members to share expertise, volunteer, set examples, and lift up the school community. What makes coatesville special is what will help the students and the district succeed.

Is there anything else you would like to share with voters?

Please support me to be your Region 2 school director, so I can continue my devotion to improving the district my family has called home for nearly two decades. As your representative, I will be focused on increasing transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility. Thank you for your support!

Rebecca Harlan - CASD Region 2

2023-05-04T06:30:00.001-04:00

Why are you running for a seat on the school board?

I am currently on the school board, and I would like to continue working with the new Superintendent. I also believe that we still have a lot of work to do in our Special Education department, we are doing great things and I know we will continue to do great things, and I want to be a part of this. I also believe that the special needs population still doesn’t have a loud voice, and I want to be that voice for parents and students.

What experience and/or background will assist you in being a successful school board member?

My current role as a school board member. I am also a special education advocate, so this helps me to be the voice for the voiceless. I already know and understand the amount of time it involves being a school board member.

What involvement have you had in CASD schools or our community?

I was a volunteer for CYI, current school board member, currently sitting on the mental health consortium that the district is involved in.

What do you believe are the top two or three issues CASD is currently facing?

1) A teacher shortage, as well as support staff shortage

2) Special Education

3) Finances

Is there a particular issue that motivates you to serve? If elected, what will you prioritize?

My particular issue is special education. Parents understanding what is involved in special education. This is the platform that I ran on and I will continue with this platform. Making sure that our students with needs are not left out and are getting the education they deserve. I would like to continue to educate our families on special education and help them understand the process, and what their child is entitled to during their time at school. I would like to prioritize a transition program for our students that are 18-21.

What role do you believe the community should play in our schools?

The community is important to our schools, they are our biggest cheerleaders. We are headed in the right direction with the community helping our students, and I believe that the new Superintendent will continue to have our community come into our schools and help where they are needed.

Bob Essl - CASD Region 2

2023-05-03T06:30:00.030-04:00

Website/ social media handle: Facebook page soon to be published

Why are you running for a seat on the CASD School Board?

I am a concerned parent who wants to see our Coatesville area youth receive the best resources for a better education. I am also concerned about the budget that supports our schools but has a significant impact on our community.

What experience and/or background will assist you in being a successful school board member?

I've held a 20-year career in sales with the last 10 years working with enterprise organizations managing budgets and forming strategies to accelerate growth. I take a delicate consultative approach to understand their core issues, carefully listening to key stakeholders in order to formulate a positive outcome that is measurable and accountable.

What involvement have you had in CASD schools or our community?

I am an assistant coach for the Shanahan / Coatesville Middle school ice hockey team.

What do you believe are the top two or three issues CASD is currently facing?

Fiscal responsibilities
Age-appropriate material
Parental rights

Is there a particular issue that motivates you to serve? If elected, what will you prioritize?

I want to create transparency between the school board and the community. I want to understand from the community what they feel is most important for the school district. Issues that I've already been hearing from the community are poorly managed budgets, overspending, unnecessary tax increases, inappropriate material being presented to our youngest school children.

What role do you believe the community should play in our schools?

The community is a vital part of the success of an effectively managed school board, they need to play a vital role in influencing the decisions the school board makes to improve the district.

Is there anything else you would like to share with voters?

If elected, I will work tirelessly to be an advocate and a voice for the students, teachers and parents of the CASD community. It is especially important for me that the board is accountable for the decisions they make in supporting the Coatesville area schools, teachers and students. I feel transparency is the key to building a strong relationship between the school district and its community.

Donna Rowland - CASD Region 1

2023-05-02T06:30:00.003-04:00

Why are you running for a seat on the CASD School Board?

My main concern is the communication gap between the school parents and our community, and I want to help bridge that gap. I served on the CASD Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee, saw the complexity of the CASD school issues from different perspectives, and plan to work with others to solve education problems. I’ve been out listening to parents, nonprofits, teachers, community advocacy groups, and administrators, and I want to be part of the solution.

What experience and/or background will assist you in being a successful school board member?

I have experience with children and parents by operating a daycare center in Coatesville for 25 years. Running a daycare increased my understanding of parents’ hopes and dreams for their children while helping both work through many obstacles they face.

My goal on the Board will be fighting for the best education for all of Coatesville’s children, paying attention to parents’ needs. I will work diligently with other board members to find resources and set high academic and moral standards for our children.

What involvements have you had in CASD schools or our community?

My children and grandchildren all attended Coatesville schools, and I recently volunteered to serve on CASD Steering Committee. I’ve raised and given over $19,000 in scholarships to Coatesville graduates in memory of my late husband as an encouragement to young men of color that were continuing their education. I’ve always been connected to Coatesville and plan to further this commitment on the school board.

What do you believe are the top two or three issues CASD is currently facing?

Communication ─ Dissemination of Information
Cultural Barriers & Listening to Understand our differences

Is there a particular issue that motivates you to serve? If elected, what will you prioritize?

The beginning will be a learning period for me to understand the school board and see the issues before recommending priorities.

But today, my general plan is to ensure your child and every child receive what they need to develop to their full academic and social potential. I will fight for fairness and stand up against particular narrow issues that only benefit one group. I will work with CASD and our community and negotiate equitable policies.

What role do you believe the community should play in our schools?

The role of the community is crucial and can positively influence our students and encourage the Board to make the right calls. When our community is involved in education, we contribute ideas to benefit the lives of children and families. I plan to instill a sense of pride so that our community grows socially and economically stronger.

Bottom line: If elected, I plan to work with the superintendent, my school board colleagues, administrators, and teachers on behalf of what’s most important ─ the children and families of the Coatesville Area School District.

Holly Charest-CASD Region 1

2023-05-01T06:30:00.013-04:00

Website/ social media handle: Holly Charest-CASD Region 1 | Facebook

Why are you running for a seat on the CASD School Board?

I am running to be elected to the school board because I want to continue collaborating with the new Superintendent of Schools in putting forth policies and programs intended to focus on helping all our students succeed.

What experience and/or background will assist you in being a successful school board member?

I have worked in education, as well as educational and behavior support for 18 years. I am currently working in public health as part of a national non-profit organization, while attending graduate school to obtain my Master of Social Work. I was appointed to my current school board position back in December of 2021 and have made a committed effort to fulfill my duties to the residents of Region 1.

What involvement have you had in CASD schools or our community?

I served as a Girl Scout Troop Leader for Troop 4223 of the Greater Coatesville Service Unit for 6 years. I also participated in Coatesville Boys Soccer Booster Club and the Coatesville Parents Music Club. I have judged the school science fair at Rainbow Elementary School 2 years in a row. I have also attended sports, music and Drama Club events and try to get to community events as my schedule permits me. I currently am a member of the Coatesville Rainwater Revival Committee.

What do you believe are the top two or three issues CASD is currently facing?

1.) Aging buildings and Infrastructure
2.) Improving our special education department
3.) Implementing sound trauma informed practices

Is there a particular issue that motivates you to serve? If elected, what will you prioritize?

Implementing a code of conduct/discipline matrix that utilizes trauma informed and restorative practices. When students violate the code of conduct, there should be a documentation of restorative practices attempts listed so that one can see the efforts made to resolve the inappropriate behavior of a student, while doing all that is needed to continue the student’s education. Proper documentation of restorative practices can make citing behavioral “red flags” easier and therefore, can move forward to earlier intervention of student behaviors rather than sitting on it until the student is recommended for expulsion. Discipline matrixes and codes of conduct MUST be adapted to support a restorative practice template. Restorative practices and student inclusion would be two areas on which I would focus.

What role do you believe the community should play in our schools?

Community members are absolutely essential to our schools. As a school board director, I am the elected representative of the stakeholders and taxpayers in my region, but I make a stronger impact when our community members also participate. I feel that the relationship between a community and its schools is symbiotic - one cannot thrive unless it has the other. The maintenance of this symbiosis is vital to the survival of both the school district and the community it supports.

Is there anything else you would like to share with voters?

Anything that I vote on is based on my decision, not based on others influence or “going along with the crowd.” The matters presented at public meetings are important: I will ask questions, I will challenge items with further discussion, and I will vote based on my own thoughts, feelings and opinions.

Become an Informed Voter

2023-04-28T06:52:00.000-04:00

As we get closer to the primaries, we are looking forward to sharing the information about each of the candidates starting next week. But before we do, we think it’s imperative to also help communicate and educate our community members about aspects of primary voting.

CROSS-FILING

Election Code allows candidates for the office of school director to “cross-file” for nomination in a primary election; that is, to seek the nomination of more than one major political party. We believe that Red, Wine, and Blue published and excellent infographic to explain “What is Cross-Filing” and the significance of it.

This also means that many of the candidates you will read about next week will appear on both the Democratic and Republican ballots May 16^th.

UNEXPIRED 2 YEAR TERM

All school board director are voted into a four (4) year term. When a school board director resigns, the board has thirty (30) days to fill a vacancy when the vacancy. If that vacancy goes into another election cycle, they will be put on the ballot for a two (2) year term so that the public can vote on that replacement.

Both Region 1 and Region 2 have an unexpired two (2) year term to fill. The image to right is what you will see on your ballot if your region has an expired term to fill.

As the ballot instructs, make sure to only select two people for the four (4) year term and only one (1) person for the two (2) year term.

For any who are new to local elections, heck, even for seasoned voters, understanding the details can be challenging. Please ask us any questions. We are happy to help!

School Board Candidates 2023

2023-04-27T06:30:00.001-04:00

Local elections have long been considered less important than the national elections. However, voters are learning that they actually have more impactful consequences to the community.

School boards were created to be non-partisan. CCAP leadership has representation from both political parties and does not believe that a person's party determines their value as a member of the school board. We believe that school board members need to understand, support, and celebrate our Coatesville community and our diverse student body; they need to be dedicated to improving our schools, be accountable to their constituents, hold school personnel accountable, and make sound financial decisions that support the district's mission.

CCAP is grateful for the community members running for a seat on the school board. We know that the role is undervalued, requires long hours, and staunch dedication. We are excited to announce that next week we will be sharing the responses solicited from each candidate.

Since Lyryn Yacoe, the founder of CCAP, is a candidate running for school board, she will not be involved in any postings or monitoring of discussions related to the election.

If elected, Lyryn will step away from CCAP, and the remaining leadership team will take over her responsibilities.

What is Safe2Say?

2022-10-17T17:54:00.003-04:00

With so many Safe2Say tips continuing to pour in and interrupt our student’s education, it makes sense that we are all frustrated. However, it’s also crucial that our community understands that Safe2Say is an anonymous reporting tip line that the state of Pennsylvania mandates all schools to participate in and follow.

There is a process that has been clearly laid out by Safe2Say, PSBA, and our school. Our district and administrator are following the proper protocol to the best of their ability and we need to understand that this process will take time. If these are false allegations, the next step according to Safe2Say would be to get a court order for the records.

As tension and frustrations grow regarding how the Coatesville Area School District is handling these situations, we wanted to take some time to explain and correct some misunderstandings about how Safe2Say works.

What is Safe2Say?

The Safe2Say Something is a system for anonymously reporting unsafe, potentially harmful, dangerous, violent or criminal activities in any school in Pennsylvania that was established within the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. This program is state mandated by Act 44 of 2018 and requires all K-12 schools, school districts, charter schools, private schools, cyber charter schools, private schools, nonpublic schools, intermediate units, and area vocational-technical schools operating in Pennsylvania to participate. Safe2Say has a FAQ section that we could encourage you to read over.

How do Safe2Say reports come to the school?

First: “Tips are triaged by Analysts in the Office of the Attorney General Crisis Center. They triage each tip to ensure there is enough information to act upon the tip, determine if the tip is life safety or non-life safety as well as conduct on-going 2-way dialog with the tipster where needed.”
Next: “Life safety tips are sent to 911 Dispatch and your school/district. It is important that both understand who is going to take what role when these tips are received. Additionally, how you will coordinate with your local police. The good news is its likely you have protocols in place already that will allow you to reference and build from together. If not, a discussion guide will be provided for these meetings.”

When a tip comes in can Safe2Say dispatchers follow up with the tipster?

“Yes – Schools / Districts have the ability to have 2-way anonymous dialog with a tipster at any time. This information, depending on the tipster’s availability to answer, can be instant. This information is also shared instantly across the platform so your teammates can see the information the same time as you – keeping all well-informed.”

Can the school request the Safe2Say tipster’s name and information?

“We are able to trace false submissions ONLY if a school gets a court order to uncover anonymity of a tipster. As reference, we anticipate less than ½ of 1% of tips are false submissions based on similar programs nationally.”

Can CASD “turn off” Safe2Say?

CASD cannot simply “turn off” Safe-to-Say when they feel like it. It is a state-mandated program.

Who can parents and community members contact to push for help in getting a court order TODAY to identify the individual who is making these Safe2Say reports?

Attorney General’s office
CASD is already working in conjunction with them. Thank you to community members who were proactive in communicating the urgency of the situation.

By law, what information are residents, parents and taxpayers allowed to know about the threat and what the district leadership is doing to rectify it?

If these reports happen to be made by a student, the district will NOT be allowed (FERPA) to share with the community the identity of this person or what their consequence is unless they are charged by the DA.

What is the district doing to learn from yesterday’s lockdown when kids didn't eat lunch can’t go to the bathroom until the search is done?

The District has crisis/ safety procedures that are reviewed frequently to make changes and adjustments to plan for situations that were not previously included.

Safe2Say Annual Report:

2021-2022 Annual Report

Other Districts that have gotten court orders:

Strayer Middle School

Quakertown High School

Bucks County Technical School

Other schools in PA that have false alarms:

East Stroudsburg Area School District

Blue Mountain Area School District

Conestoga Valley School District

Kiski Area High School

Charleroi Area School District

Milton Area School District

The Process of Being Expelled: Understanding Adjudications

2022-02-13T16:49:00.009-05:00

Adjudication has come up several times in the last few months during public comment, so we wanted to explain the process to the community. The first step to understanding this process is understanding CASD’s Code of Conduct: Secondary Code of Conduct and Elementary Code of Conduct.

The CASD school board are the ones responsible for creating and governing these rules and regulations. (School Code No. §12.6) .

Language related to the Adjudication Process

Adjudication - written recommendation for expulsion

Expulsion - exclusion from school for more than 10 days

Suspensions- exclusion from school for 1-10 consecutive days

This written adjudication is what the board votes on at monthly meetings. The district is required to educate and provide services to the adjudicated student and the duration of the expulsion may include additional conditions or sanctions. Pa. C.S.A. 101 et seq

What is the Process before Adjudication?

Informal Hearing

When a student is in violation of the code of conduct and faces the consequences of suspension over three days, the student is entitled to an Informal Hearing. The purpose of the informal hearing is to enable the student to meet with the appropriate school official to explain the circumstances surrounding the event.

School officials, the student, and parents or guardians discuss all relevant information regarding the event and ways by which future offenses might be avoided.
This meeting could include the principal, teacher(s) involved, and director of pupil services. Parent(s) are also permitted to bring an advocate if they wish to do so.

Manifestation Determination Hearing

If the student is a special education student, a manifestation determination hearing is required.

Suspensions or expulsions affecting students with disabilities shall be governed by Applicable Law, Including 22 Pa. Code§ 14.143 (relating to disciplinary placements) and 34 CFR 300.519—300.529 (relating to discipline procedures) and will need to have a manifestation determination hearing.

The purpose of a manifestation determination meeting is to determine if the behavior of the student was a manifestation of the student's disability.
This hearing is held with the student, the student's parent or guardian, the special education case manager, a general education teacher, and the special education supervisor and/or principal, who is an LEA (Local Education Agency).
Parent(s) are permitted to bring an advocate or an attorney if they wish to do so.

So What Can Lead to an Adjudication?

When a student has committed a level 4 infraction (fighting, possession of weapons or drug paraphernalia, or the use of drugs) or ongoing violations of the CASD code of conduct, the student is scheduled a board hearing if the student's offense possibly warrants being excluded from school for more than 10 days. This formal hearing is required by law (School Code No. §14.143) so the board can review the complaint and discuss potential avenues for the student moving forward.

The Board then determines which of the available processes will be used in any given case based upon factors including, but not limited to, the willingness of the student to accept responsibility for the violation, the seriousness of the alleged violation, the existence of a pattern of repeat or multiple violations, or issues of fairness and equity.

Discipline should, as a minimum, have three objectives in mind:

PRESERVE the optimum environment in which to deliver instructional services
RESPOND to student’s disruptive behaviors with corrective measures in a firm and consistent manner while attempting to correct the behavior and keep student in school
REMOVE, as a last resort, the student from the educational environment so that the majority may pursue their educational goals

Formal (Board Hearing) Meetings

A formal hearing is required for any students whose offenses are serious enough to result in an exclusion from school past ten consecutive days (expulsion).

Student will go before the board to hear the evidence against him/herself. Administration must prove that the student violated a written school rule. Administration must also prove that expulsion is the correct punishment for the student’s behavior. A majority vote of the entire governing board is required to expel a student.
The student may bring a lawyer, a non-legal advocate, or support person to the hearing. They have the right to bring witnesses as well.

Non-Special Education Students Who the Board Votes to Adjudicate:

Notice of a right to appeal the results of the hearing shall be provided to the student with the expulsion decision.

Students expelled for 30 or 45 days: placed on APEX and continue their education. (Apex is an online program that provides students with an alternative educational setting.)
Student expelled for 45 -120 days: placed in a facility to allow them to continue education as well as work on behaviors that led to the student's infraction.
Student is expelled for 180 days: the student will be placed into a facility that is equipped to meet the students behavioral needs or provide services more appropriate to the students needs. (CCIU schools and Lincoln Center are examples of facilities used)

Although, PA Code states, "the initial responsibility for providing the required education rests with the student’s parents or guardian, through placement in another school, tutorial or correspondence study, or another educational program approved by the district’s superintendent," CASD assumes this responsibility. Our administration and staff recommend and arrange for the placements of adjudicated students.

Special Education Students Who the Board Votes to Adjudicate:

A student with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is recommended to placement out of the district to receive the interventions that are needed to support the student until returning.
After a longer expulsion, the IEP team (student, parent/guardian, case manager, LEA) meets and decides if the student is ready to return, or if the placement is a better fit for the student. If it is, the student could have the option to remain in that placement through graduation.

Important to Note

All adjudicated students remain the responsibility of the Coatesville Area School District until graduation; the District is responsible for the student's education regardless of location.

Coatesville Area School District's partnership with the Lincoln Center was created to assist in student success.

CASD values the importance of creating environments conducive to learning, and CASD recognizes that students' needs vary. Therefore, when students are adjudicated, the process is one to still provide them a pathway to success.

Gov. Wolf's Budget Address

2022-02-10T10:59:00.005-05:00

HARRISBURG, PA (Feb. 8, 2022) – Following Governor Tom Wolf’s 2022-23 Executive Budget Address Susan Spicka, executive director of Education Voters of PA, issued the following statement:

“Education Voters of Pennsylvania most enthusiastically supports Governor Wolf’s historic budget proposal for education, which demonstrates his strong commitment to giving all children in the commonwealth a shot at a bright future in their K-12 schools and after graduation.

“For nearly three months, heartbreaking testimony in Pennsylvania’s school funding lawsuit has laid bare the harm that the commonwealth’s current school funding system inflicts upon students in districts that have been chronically and grossly underfunded by the state.

“The $1.5 billion in K-12 Basic Education Funding and $200 million in special education funding in Governor Wolf’s proposed budget will take a big bite out of the $4.6 billion adequacy gap that leaves students throughout the commonwealth without the resources they need to succeed in their schools. Governor Wolf wisely invested in Level Up to accelerate $300 million in Basic Education Funding to the commonwealth’s 100 poorest districts, driving substantial resources into schools where students have been disproportionately harmed by the current funding system.

“We strongly urge the legislature to enact Gov. Wolf’s proposed charter school reforms to reduce over payments to charter and cyber charter schools – saving taxpayers nearly $375 million. Home and business owners across Pennsylvania are cheering today, because – if enacted – this reform will reduce pressure on school districts to raise their property taxes as the only way to pay charter school tuition bills.

“Finally, we applaud Governor Wolf’s commitment to improving college access and affordability through $200 million in Nellie Bly scholarships for State System and community college students and a substantial, recurring, investment in our public universities. This funding will take a step toward lifting Pennsylvania out of a disgraceful 49^th place ranking in the nation for support of higher education and will help put the dream of higher education back within the reach of children from working families who will become our future teachers, nurses and other professionals that support a thriving commonwealth.

State lawmakers need to get on board with this budget and approve it without any cuts. Harrisburg is flush with cash –the state’s budget surplus is expected to reach nearly $12 billion by the end of June. There is no excuse for not approving these critical investments in our children and in the future of the Commonwealth.

Click HERE to register for a webinar where we will take a deep dive into Governor Wolf's education funding proposal on Thursday, February 10th at 7:00 pm. We will give an overview Governor Wolf's proposal and discuss what we expect this budget season in Harrisburg and how advocates can help secure a substantial increase in funding for public school students this year.

And tune into PCN tonight at 8:00 where we will be talking all things education on the “On the Issues” show.

Taken from an Email send by Education Voters of Pennsylvania

School Board Meeting: Jan 25th

2022-02-02T07:07:00.014-05:00

SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS

January, 25 2022 - 7:00 PM

The board meeting in its entirety can be found on the District YouTube channel. The agenda, documents, and recording of all votes can be found on board docs.

Board Meeting Review

North Brandywine Middle School’s band gave a wonderful performance and the board recognized outstanding students.

Superintendent's Report

Operation Warm donated a coat to every student at Reeceville

Supplemental programs update
- Reading: K-5 completed 165,000 units in Lexia, learned 11,000 new skills, over 250 students moved from below level to in or above, kindergartners reading levels rose from 39% to 77%
- Math: Students 6-12 completed one million math problems on IXL
Update on progress of the Comprehensive Plan (presentation)

CCAP Notes: There has been tangible progress made from this plan including creating curriculum teams, progress on CASD curriculum, added STEM field trips, progress on a STEM lab with Siemens, climate coaches hired on the campus,
The district had a speaker on the first day of in-service this year explain trauma, we are not aware of any further training or future dates scheduled.

We would encourage the board to share with the public both the results of the communications audit, and more about how the partnership with Krapf reduced the budget.
Equity audit to be conducted: review our systems and processes to ensure they are fair for all of our students, policies, textbooks, what we're teaching. We’d like to know more about this audit and who is conducting it.
Legislators will be visiting and our Administration will visit other other schools "to ensure we provide a balanced budget."

CCAP Note: Specifics on how this will ensure a balanced budget would be helpful
Transportation team is establishing routing for next year, researching the use of a web-based program for efficiency
Mr. Pelegrin is in charge of creating a facility's master plan.
CCAP Note: Due to the uprise in students back to the district and the reorganization of the 7-12 grades last year, we would encourage the board to ask for an evaluation of the current breakdown and verify it is still the best solution.
Creating technology assessment for inventory of Chromebook. Creating plan to collect Chromebooks at end of year as well.

CCAP Note: Written processes and procedures regarding distribution, collection, maintenance, insurance fees, etc. have been pushed for by the Technology Task Force as well as the Board from the beginning of the 1-1 Device Initiative.

Details on this new inventory and how it differs from previous inventories would be helpful.

Health and Safety Update (58.48)

Due to the high positive numbers, the district is still requiring masks to be worn indoors
The CDC has changed guidelines, so the District will no longer do contact tracing
Parents are encouraged to inform the school nurse of any cases of quarantine due to exposure or positive test results

CASD Budget Discussion (105.55)

Reminder the debt payments are scheduled to increase in 2023
Areas to explore in order to balance budget moving forward

Use of ESSERS dollars (Must be tied to Covid19)
Reduce programming
Reduce Staffing
Change real estate holdings/use

Board votes to stay within the Act 1 Index of 4.4%

Held From Consent Agenda
FINANCE COMMITTEE

A. Financial Statements (Always held from consent agenda)

B. 2022-2023 Budget Resolution

CASD's school board voted for option B to "stay within the 4.4% Act 1 Index" for the 22-23 school year Budget. This means that the board will not raise taxes above 4.4% this year. It's also important to understand that this does NOT mean they will raise it 4.4%.

CCAP Note: Read more about the ACT 1 Index.

F. Edward A. Pristernik - Tax Collector Agreement (Attachment)

N. Human Resources Report (Attachment)

EDUCATION COMMITTEE

E-K. All Adjudication (always held from consent agenda)

OPERATIONS COMMITTEE

E. Health and Safety Plan (Attachment)

Public Comments of Note

CCAP Note - The quality of the live stream makes hearing comments difficult. CCAP encourages the district to look at surrounding districts and their livestreams. Many have positioned mics and cameras closer to the public speakers and board members while some are using multiple cameras. (See Octorara, Oxford, Downingtown, Phoenixville)

During public comment, Shelly Durbanes read a letter from Downingtown district asking Pristernick to waive fees for the year to help reduce budget expenses. After this, the board voted to hold the vote for the Tax Collector Agreement for further investigation.
Many Muslim Residents requested that CASD take into consideration honoring Muslim holidays on the school calendar.
Laurie Shannon Bailey

Asked to consider have the ACT as an option
Milton Serles passed
Wanted a response to the resolution to fair funding - Mr. Hanna responded it would be on the 2/8 agenda.

CCAP Note: We continue to be encouraged by the admin and board interactions with the public during comments.

You can watch the entire board meeting on CASD's YouTube

Act 1 Index

2022-01-26T06:30:00.001-05:00

The Act 1 Index limits how much each school district can increase taxes in a given year. It is set each year by PDE and is calculated for each school district. PDE sets a base index (a limit), then makes adjustments for the districts requiring more aid, allowing them to raise taxes higher than the base.

Not all districts have the same Act 1 Index.

The base index is calculated by averaging the percent increase in Pennsylvania statewide average weekly wage (using the last 3 years average) and the percent increase of the Federal employment cost index for elementary/secondary schools (using the previous year July-June). (SAWW) (ECI)

SAWW from Jan 2017-Dec 2019 ($1064.89) to Jan 2018-Dec 2020 ($1,114.93) = 4.7% increase

ECI for Elementary & Secondary Schools from July 2020 (140.6) to June 2021 (143.6) = 2.1% increase

= PDE Base Index 2022/2023 (3.4%)

The PDE base index for 2022/2023 is 3.4%. The historical data for the Act 1 base index shows that the percent increase in SAWW has increased considerably over the last two years. (Act 1 Index) (Historical Data)

Various state subsidies, including a transportation subsidy, require PDE to calculate Aid Ratios for each school district using the market and personal income data per district compared to statewide. (MV/PA AR calculation methodology) (Financial Data Elements)

For schools with a market value/personal income aid ratio (MV/PI AR) greater than 0.4, the Act 1 Index is adjusted to BASE * (0.75 + District MV/PI AR) (Reference) Schools with a MV/PI AR 0.4 or lower will have an Act 1 Base Index.

Schools with a higher aid ratio will have a higher Act 1 Index

PDE publishes this data for all school districts in the state. MV/PI AR and Adjusted Act 1 Index for all PA districts

Coatesville is about middle of the road compared to all 500 districts in PA

Calculations do not take into account the existing tax rate or charter costs leaving the district. It is, however, directly related to needing aid.

So school districts who need more aid from the state are given the ability to raise taxes higher

Chester County Act 1 indexes for reference...

CASD School Board Meeting Review: January 11th

2022-01-14T13:14:00.804-05:00

SCHOOL BOARD COMMITTEE MEETINGS

January, 11 2022 - 6:00 PM

For the new year, CCAP has decided to approach recaps by focusing on what we believe to be significant agenda items, including context and information to promote discussion. It is our hope that this will allow our community members to engage more in the district’s decision making process by voicing opinions on current school board topics.

The board meeting in its entirety can be found on the District YouTube channel. The agenda, documents, and recording of all votes can be found on board docs.

Education Committee (Agenda)

Curriculum Update - Lynn Mancinelli presented for Jason Palaia and Cassandra Jones

For the specifics of how the district is evaluating the piloted programs, please see the presentation.

All pilot teachers, K-7 principals, and parents of students in formal pilot classrooms will be sent a feedback survey by 1/17 surveys (due by 1/31) and feedback will be on the district website for public view by 2/21.

Presentation
Supporting Documents

5. INFORMATIONAL ITEM(S)

A. Enrollment Reports as of December 31, 2021

Continue to trend positive, getting students back
Additional 133 compared to a year ago
Decrease in charter enrollment by 86 students

A. High School Summer School - Tuition Fee - Sliding Scale

Looking at sliding scale for tuition for summer school
Students attending summer school (to earn repeat credit) have not paid any fees for the past several years.

Comments

Laurie Shannon Bailey commented - Mr. Hanna and board engaged with discussion and answers
Admin is planning on presenting what the process is for adjudications at a future board meeting

Finance Committee (Agenda)

2022-2023 School District Budget Update - Tomás Hanna and Lori A. Diefenderfer

Tax increase can be up to 4.4%, recommending stay within 4.4% Act 1 Index
CCAP Note: Act 1 Index is set each year by PDE and is different for each district

CCAP will soon post a blog with an explanation of Act I index.

ESSRS Funding Report

CARES/ESSRS1 funding total $1,346,239 (used $1,329,473 with $16,766 remaining)
Used for salaries, BVA (cyber school), supplies, software, prof development, facilities related costs

CRRSA/ESSRS2 funding total $6,915,330 (used $2,794,612 with $4,120,718 remaining)
Used for salaries, services, software, health supplies, transportation, chromebook expenses
Balance remaining is already accounted for
Remaining ESSRS money allocated to district is still in process

4. AGENDA ITEMS

A. Financial Statements

Finkbohner noted that the debt and legal amounts listed in financial statements include settlements

Operations Committee (Agenda)

C. Mainline Commercial Pools - Monthly Water Management Program and Chemicals

Rehabilitation work for pool, following through on all details and preventative measures

F. Wiggins Shredding Inc. - Updated Secure Shredding Services Agreement

Use of service is less, so reducing the number of times they come

Policy Committee (Agenda)

F. Policy 236.1 Threat Assessment

New team being developed with annual board report (most policies are asking for this)
Hanna said all policies will be compiled in a report in June
Hanna stated there was trauma informed training over the summer, have two climate coaches at CASH, looking to add one at CAIHS
Information on threatening behavior and how to report concerns will be distributed by school messenger, students taking info home, training online
Board asked if we are prepared to put this in place in each building, Hanna says yes
Discussion about developing an individualized management plan, but no specifics on what this looks like
IMP requires ongoing monitoring, follow up assessments, referrals, Mr. Hanna stated whoever is in charge of the team will be trained to do this

5. INFORMATIONAL ITEM(S)

L. 214-AR-0 Class Rank 
Pulled to be discussed again and added back for next board meeting

7. New Business

A. Policy Presentation

Dunlap and team of administrators engaging in conversations around changing four policies in particular. Items below are changes to existing policies currently in discussion.

Policy 204 Attendance

Requires 90% attendance
Better enforcement truancy follow through / Accountability
Absence or cutting class could result in 45% for the day
Fine for accrued absences / referrals to agencies & court
Comments determined we are behind on SAIP meetings
Snyder clarified that letters used to be practice, trying to reimplement -it is for lates to school, not lates to class
In public comment, Shannon-Bailey impressed upon the board and admin that parents should be notified and held accountable for truancy issues

Policy 212 Student Progress

Elementary

Revamp report card to reflect new ELA program standards and curriculum
AR to provide parents with meaningful information about student progress

Secondary

Review passing threshold to be appropriate - currently 50%
Increase midterm value 5 to 10 percent
Tie in attendance to student progress

Policy 215 Retention and Promotion

Add true acceleration for gifted students
Update AR for clear procedure for acceleration
Verify AR to clearly inform parents of issues in a timely manner

Policy 217 Graduation

Updating with Pathways to Acceleration

Aligning with state expectations across the board

Updating AR's to align with pathways to acceleration
Updating and enforcing obligations list

Comments

Fisher impressed upon policy writers that any policy brought to the board should be able to be enforced
A student can still receive a 50% if they don't attend classes or do work

If they could get a 10% in one semester, they cannot numerically make it up the rest of the year; therefore, 50% was determined to be the lower threshold, allowing a student the opportunity to come back after a very disappointing marking period
This needs to be re-evaluated and balanced with the accountability factor

Harlan - the goal would be to reach the student before the they fall to 10%

Special Board Meeting (Agenda)

Agenda Changes

8D - Policy 212 Reporting Student Progress - deletion from agenda - presented as informational item, not followed proper procedure - will be reviewed later this month or February

Comments:

When asked if we compared vendors for roofing, Pellegrin said we've been using roofing resources as they know our roofs

Items pulled from Consent Agenda

Finance 5 A,G

Education 6 F,G,H,I student adjudications

BRIEF OVERVIEW | ITEMS OF TO NOTE

Consent Agenda and items pulled all passed

Comments:

Laurie Shannon Bailey - sent info to board about resolution and asked them to support it
Elicker - CATA thanked school board for their service and commitment to our community

Informational Items:

Health and Safety Plan

Current PCR positivity rate 28%
Policy changed to reflect CDC guidelines
Positive Covid case may return to school after five days of isolation IF asymptomatic, and wear well-fitting mask for additional five days in public settings (schools days and events require them.)
CASD Covid-19 Guidelines

You can watch the entire board meeting on CASD's YouTube

The Organization of CASD School Board Meetings

2022-01-11T06:00:00.081-05:00

Thinking about attending a CASD school board meeting? Awesome – We love seeing the community engagement! Since your first time attending can be overwhelming and confusing, we put together some helpful information to assist you understand the format and procedures of these meetings.

2022 Public School Board Meeting Schedule

Committee Meetings are held at 6:00 p.m. every second Tuesday of the month.
School Board meetings are held at 7:00 p.m. every fourth Tuesday of the month.

Both meetings are held in-person in the Coatesville Area Senior High School Auditorium, unless otherwise stated (due to the COVID-19 pandemic or weather emergencies.)

Committee Meetings (Held on the 2^nd Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m.)

At CASD, School Board directors are broken into four (4) committees in order to divide the labor of the board into manageable categories. Education, Finance, Operations, and Policy. Committee Meetings serve as the starting point for policies, initiatives, or planning and make recommendations for action of approval by the full board at a business School Board Meeting.

Each committee consists of three (3) Board Directors who have an opportunity to study and review issues within the committee’s area of responsibility in greater detail than possible at the entire board level as well as receive informational updates from the Administration.

Topics of interest to the public are generally discussed within a committee before going to the entire School Board for a vote. Public comment is accepted at the end of each committee meeting on topics related to the agenda. (See Public Comment Guidelines)

School Board Meetings (Held on the 4^th Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m.)

School Board meetings are official business meetings, at which the School Board meets in their official capacity to deliberate and take action on the business of the school district. In accordance with the Board’s adopted Policy 006 Meetings and based on the PA Public School Code section 4-421, the School Board is required to meet at least once every two months, at specified times and places, to conduct the business of the school district.

According to the Sunshine Act (65 Pa. C.S. Sec. 702), a meeting is “held for the purpose of deliberating agency business or taking official action.” The role of the School Board at meetings is to consider and discuss the information presented on the Board meeting agenda and to take official action by voting on motions made regarding that business, i.e., approving the hiring of personnel recommended by administration.

School Board meeting include two public comment opportunities: one for specific items listed on the agenda and another for general comment. (See Public Comment Guidelines)

Special Meetings (Can be called by the board at any time with public notification of ten days, but typically they are held right after all committee meetings are finished.)

These meeting happen after Committee meetings for action on matters that cannot wait until the next regular meeting. Only the specific topic on the special meeting agenda can be discussed.

Executive Session (Held on the 2^nd & 4^th Monday of every month.)

Also known as a “Closed Meeting.” These meetings are where the board discusses only items that are not permitted to be discussed publicly: for example, some discussions could center around anticipated litigation and issues involving attorney-client privilege; negotiations with labor unions and negotiating strategy; matters involving the purchase of property; and any discussion of student discipline. NO voting may take place in the executive session; votes must occur in public.

The Sunshine Act restricts school boards to discussing a limited number of items in a closed meeting or “out of sunshine.” Such meetings are called executive sessions and may be held only for the following reasons:

Personnel matters.
Information, strategy and negotiation related to negotiation or arbitration of a collective bargaining agreement.
Consideration of the lease or purchase of property.
Consulting with an attorney or other professional adviser about active or pending litigation.
Discussing agency business which, if conducted in public, would violate a lawful privilege or lead to disclosure of information or confidentiality protected by law.
Discussion of certain public safety issues if disclosure of the information would be reasonably likely to jeopardize or threaten public safety or preparedness or public protection.

FAQ About School Board Meetings

What is the board agenda?

Agenda reflect the matters to be discussed in that meeting. However, the board is not precluded from addressing an issue that arises just because it was not on the agenda. You can find CASD’s agendas on the School website under School Board > Board Docs

What is a consent agenda?

At every board meeting, at least a few items come to the agenda that do not need any discussion or debate either because they are routine procedures or are already unanimous consent. A consent agenda (Roberts Rules of Order calls it a consent calendar) allows the board to approve all these items together without discussion or individual motions.

What is considered a “Public” School Board Meeting?

The Sunshine Act requires that official action and deliberations by a quorum of the Board and most Board committees take place at a meeting open to the public. Boards must also announce to the public, in advance, when and where meetings will be held in order for the public to attend and have the opportunity to comment before the Board takes official action.

Can the Board limit a community member's participation in school board meetings?

The Public School Code (section 407), Policies 006 and 903, and the Sunshine Act (Section 710) allow the Board to establish reasonable rules and regulations for conducting the business of the Board at public meetings. School boards have the option to accept all public comment on agenda items at the beginning of the meeting, rather than before each vote on each individual agenda item. Boards may set reasonable limits on the overall length of the comment period and the time allotted for each to comment. The Board may choose to hear public comments on non-agenda items at the end of the board meeting. The Board may also ask commenters to state their name and information for purpose of taking the Board meeting minutes.

Meet Holly Charest, Region I WRITE-IN Candidate

2021-10-30T07:00:00.011-04:00

Name: Holly Charest

Campaign Page

Education: Bachelor of Arts Psychology, West Chester University, 1995; Master of Social Work, University of Michigan, currently attending, (@2023)

Family Life: I was born and raised in Philadelphia. I have been living in Valley Township since 2006. I have been married to my college sweetheart Ron for 23 years and we have three children. Our oldest, Donovan, is a proud 2019 graduate of Coatesville Area High School and is currently serving in the United States Navy. Our middle, Ethan, is a senior at Coatesville Area High School and our youngest, Amelia, is a 5th grader at Rainbow Elementary School. We also have a 6-year-old Vizsla/Rhodesian rescue dog named Abby.

Occupation and background: My background is mainly in education and behavior support. I worked for approximately 16 years as an early childhood educator, then as a behavior support professional to children and adolescents for approximately 4 years. I am currently doing community health outreach services for the CDC Foundation while I attend graduate school online. Upon completion of my master’s degree, I hope to serve as a Licensed Counseling Social Worker.

Why are you running for the Board of Education? If elected, what will be your priorities?

I am running for the Board of Education because I feel that having a parent representative on the board is essential for many reasons. Parents of children attending the district’s schools have a first-hand experience of the results from the board's decisions. They also are connected first-hand with other parents in the community via the schools their children attend. Therefore, the parents are more inclined and comfortable to speak to the parent representative regarding concerns they may have. Parents appreciate board members who have children in the district schools because it’s a shared and relatable experience.

If I am elected, my priorities are:

1.) Campaigning to fix the charter school equation - This issue has been plaguing our district for years and it is time for this to change. We need to implore our lawmakers that the current equation is way out of date and it’s time to make the funds going to charter schools fair so that no school district must go bankrupt from the costs.

2.) Addressing ideas to curtail the transportation issue - This is certainly something that is hurting our district as well as the charter school funding issue; however, this is affecting ALL students of the district (public, charter, private, etc.). As a working parent myself, I understand the importance of having safe, reliable transportation of students to and from school. With the current shortages of bus drivers, we need to investigate how other school districts are managing their driver shortages. I would like to consult with Krafps to consider solution ideas that have not been investigated.

3.) Protecting and supporting the rights of often marginalized students - I have spent the better part of my career working with a plethora of children. I would like to ensure that all our students feel safe and comfortable in our schools. I believe there should not only be mental health counselors but mentors who are assigned to schools and are regular, friendly faces for the students. The mentors can be not only used to help monitor hallways and, assist teachers with positive behavior management but can also intervene for a student in crisis or in need of support as a first step before being referred for mental health counseling.

In what ways have you served or currently serve our community?

I have served our community in a variety of ways. I was an early childhood educator for some of the local daycares and preschools. When I was working as a behavior support professional, I was assigned to different schools in Coatesville to work with not only my assigned student but to offer a friendly, kind face to other students as well. I volunteered with the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania as a troop leader from 2016-2021. I was also active in the Coatesville Parents Music Club in 2018-2019. I worked the concession stand for the marching band and became affectionally known as the “Walking Taco Lady”. Finally, I helped with the Coatesville Boys Soccer Team Booster Club, along with my husband Ron, from 2016-2019.

Is there a particular issue that motivates you to serve on the board of education?

The three issues I listed previously are what I am most passionate about. I am also a believer that our board and administration should rely on facts, data, and objective information when examining issues for decision-making.

What is the formula for a good educational experience for our youth?

A formula that is a good educational experience for our youth should be non-discriminatory, objective, and factual. There can be much debate about the purpose of using standardized tests (PSSAs, Keystones, etc.) as learning markers. I believe that while these kinds of assessment tests may have their use, they should not be the be-all and end-all how a teacher should teach to their students. Standardized tests like the two mentioned above, do not always incorporate a student’s life experiences, and can therefore be discriminatory towards learning ability, race, cultural background, socioeconomic status, and living situation. A multi-disciplinary approach is the best approach for a student to excel.

How will you engage the community to improve public schools in the district?

I believe it is important for our community to know the board members and for said members to have avenues of accessibility. In addition to email and mobile number, I will also maintain a CASD Board member page on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the people I represent. I welcome feedback from all in the CASD community, in addition to the people I would represent in Region 1. I will be certain to return any email or call within 48 hours of receiving it. I also will try to attend as many community events as I can while serving on the board.

What is your view of the role of charter schools in public education? What is your position on charter schools?

Charter schools offer a great opportunity to parents who feel that their child is better suited for them, and I support that decision. Charter schools can be a better fit for some children. What I do not support is the outdated formula in Pennsylvania that can take excessive funding from districts, like Coatesville, which then leads to decisions to increase property taxes. There must be a better solution for charter schools the receive accurate funding without raising property taxes in Coatesville. I want to be part of that solution.

How does a school board balance the need to provide quality education with the need to respond to the local taxpayer burden?

The keyword is balance. There is a way to find a balance so that both students benefit from quality education and that property owners don’t have to keep having tax increases. I don’t know the answer at this moment, but I would like the chance to work with other board members to find that solution. It can involve contacting other school districts in Pennsylvania or nationwide, if necessary, to find that golden ticket, but I would like to have the chance to find it.

Rachel Wick, Region II Candidate

2021-10-29T07:00:00.048-04:00

CCAP spoke with Rachel Wick yesterday evening to discuss our candidate questions. She shared that she has some health concerns and wanted us to issue this statement:

"After much thought and consideration, I have decided to withdraw my candidacy. I encourage everyone to support and write-in Jennifer Shaut. I believe she will be a valuable asset to the school board and a strong advocate for our children and our community. Thank you so much for your support." - Rachel Wick

Meet Rob Fisher, Region III Candidate

2021-10-28T06:49:00.138-04:00

Name: Robert Fisher

Region: III

Education: BS California University of Pennsylvania, Master's at Penn State University.

Family Life: Rob Fisher graduated from Coatesville in 1975 and married Ellen Fisher (class of ‘77). They have two children: Lauren (class of ‘02) and Robbie (class of ‘06) and two grandchildren in Kings Highway.

Occupation & Background: Rob Fisher spent 37 years in the district. He taught English at Gordon for 20 years and then coordinated the Alt-Education program in the late ‘90s before becoming 9/10 assistant principal and CASD athletic director. He was then the principal of CASH for 10 years.

For the last four years, he has served as a region III board director as well as being president for two of those years.

We reviewed Rob Fisher’s platform from four years ago and copied his goals from the last election:

Continue to restore parent confidence in CASD and work to return those who have left as well as retain those who remain.
Continue to be a voice for all the young people who come to school each day with a thirst to learn in a safe and uninterrupted environment.
Continue to restore a positive, comforting environment for our many educators and support staff who instruct our students every day!
Work to restore our once very successful "Alternative Education Program". Not all students learn in the same style or environment. Three of the best years of my career were spent as the coordinator of this program!
Continue to support the extra-curricular and co-curricular programs. Our students deserve the myriad of opportunities afforded them beyond the classroom. Our district is saturated with success stories!
Accountability is a must!

Meet Philip Roomet, Region III WRITE-IN Candidate

2021-10-27T06:15:00.001-04:00

Name: Philip Roomet

Age: 42

Campaign Facebook Page: See Here

Website: N/A

Education: Octorara High School, Carson Long Military Academy

Family Life: Married 5 years, with one daughter and another baby on the way.

Occupation & Background: Currently a carpenter
at Forest Ridge Builders, (8+ years) Spent 20+ years working in kitchens as a chef.

Why are you running for the Board of Education? If elected, what will be your priorities?

I am running so I can assure a better educational experience for our children. I feel that student well-being, gender equality, and focused educational needs are my top priorities.

In what ways have you served or currently serve our community?

Most recently I served as a Boy Scout leader and board member for Troop 135. I also try to be an active voice in my community by challenging the decisions made on behalf of said community.

Is there a particular issue that motivates you to serve on the board of education?

I feel that the concerns of the parents and students are being heard but not addressed or acted upon. Being an honest voice for the parents and students means making sure the board addresses and acts on these concerns appropriately.

What is the formula for a good educational experience for our youth?

I believe that a healthy mind is the first step to a quality education. Individual breakdowns of a student’s educational needs can be used to better organize the classrooms and more uniformly accommodate similar learning styles.

How will you engage the community to improve public schools in the district?

I hope to engage the community by being openly available. This will allow me to gather the input needed to bring the true voice of the parents and students to the board.

What is your view of the role of charter schools in public education? What is your position on charter schools?

Because there are no two students that are alike, I feel there is a place for alternative educational
facilities. My preference would be to see these facilities as an option within the school district’s
regular educational plan - for example, expanded curriculum options, a broader view of what is
considered a "required" course, as well as making sure the staffing is adequate. As for my personal
position on charter schools, as long as there are other options provided in the public school system
those options should be looked at and evaluated on an individual level.

How does a school board balance the need to provide a quality education with the need to respond to the local taxpayer burden?

It is the Board's responsibility to provide the tools necessary for quality education. Accountability
and transparency are needed to show the taxpayer how their tax dollars are being spent. Ideally
the taxpayer shouldn’t feel as though they are burdened, instead they should feel as though they
are part of the educational system by helping lift the students up to their best educational selves
through funding. Our school taxes are an investment. I would never invest in a product that I
couldn't track and neither should anyone else.

Meet Jennifer Shaut, Region II WRITE-IN Candidate

2021-10-26T06:29:00.002-04:00

Name: Jennifer Shaut

Age: 38

Campaign Facebook Page: N/A

Website: N/A

Education: RN, BSN, MHA-IT

Family Life: Mom of 3 (18, 17, 11), married for 12 years.

Occupation & Background: RN in Philadelphia. Background in ER/Trauma and Pediatric trauma/ER. Now in leadership role.

Why are you running for the Board of Education? If elected, what will be your priorities?

I am running for the Board position because my district is currently without representation. I feel strongly that all districts must be represented in order for all of the children of our school district to be adequately served.

My priorities, if elected, will be advocating for our families in the district to ensure quality Special Education services, affordable before & after school programs to support working families and trying to find an acceptable solution (even if only temporary) for the school bus driver shortage.

In what ways have you served or currently serve our community?

I currently volunteer with several animal protection organizations in our community with my children (La Mancha & a privately owned farm who asked not to be named). We also participate in food drives, clothing drives and fundraising.

Is there a particular issue that motivates you to serve on the board of education?

There are several issues that motivate me, however I think the following are the top 3:

Children do not learn in a box. My dream scenario would be for more individualized educational experiences for all of our children. People learn differently and I don’t think anyone should be penalized because the way they learn may be different than the antiquated way of tracking level of teaching/learning success of the past through standardized testing. I think this has to be a “top-down” approach from school district administration, which would mean allowing the teachers the ability to innovate in their classrooms in addition to allowing families, teachers and children to brainstorm on new, fresh, innovative ways to learn and teach.

I feel there needs to be more/better options for working families and/or single parents in regards to before/after school programs. As a former single, working parent, I know the stress of finding a reputable program for my son and then the additional stress of trying to afford it. These options should extend into middle school and not end abruptly at the end of 5th grade.

Having had a child who utilized the Special Education system, I feel strongly about optimizing our Special Ed department and reinstating many services that were done away with by previous administrations. This can be done through various funding options, including grant writing. As a district with a history of financial struggles, we may have to get creative, however that is something that I do not shy away from.

The biggest issue that motivates me to serve could arguably be encouraging more collaboration between the District and our families.

What is the formula for a good educational experience for our youth?

I’m not sure that this is a question that can be easily answered, as I think the definition of “educational success” varies from child to child. Overall, I believe that a good educational experience consists of a safe place for them to learn, be themselves, learn to succeed and to fail, and a place our families feel supported. I think collaboration between the District, the Board and parents/families is critical for everyone’s success.

How will you engage the community to improve public schools in the district?

I don’t know what I don’t know. In the immediate I would like to become more knowledgeable about community events which are taking place with the intent of improving the district (any fundraising initiatives, webinars, continuing education opportunities for parents, etc). If there aren’t any events, then I would like to help organize some. In the long term - I would like to become more involved with policy writing/amending to help better fit our current student and family population.

What is your view of the role of charter schools in public education? What is your position on charter schools?

My understanding about charter schools in public education was they were initially started to break away from the traditional public school model to allow teachers to be more innovative and provide high-quality instruction. Charter school teachers were supposed to be able to have the autonomy to design a classroom that fits their students’ needs, increase the learning opportunities and increase student outcomes. However, this has not been my experience. My personal experience was with CCS. My daughter started @ CCS and after 3 very frustrating years, we returned to CASD. The charter schools in our area are understaffed with classrooms that are no smaller in student population than those of CASD, there are significantly less educational opportunities @ CCS, the special education program is virtually non-existent, and charter school students are still taking standardized tests, making the curriculum almost mirrored to that of our district.

How does a school board balance the need to provide a quality education with the need to respond to the local taxpayer burden?

I can only speak to what my opinion is regarding our school board. According to a recent study completed by The Philadelphia Inquirer, Coatesville Area School District has some of the highest school taxes in all of Chester County, having experienced a 20% increase over the last 6 years (the highest increase in the county). Continuing to raise property taxes to off-set a historically mismanaged budget is not the right answer. There has been a significant lack of trust in our CASD Board in the last 5-8 years which I feel comes from a lack of transparency. I feel very strongly that the Board needs to hire a truly independent firm, voted on & agreed to by all members of the Board, to audit the current budget and find cost-cutting, cost-saving opportunities. I also feel the Board needs to further explore other funding options, such as grant-writing and major fundraising events.

Meet Andrew Finkbohner, Region III Candidate

2021-10-25T06:37:00.003-04:00

Name: Andrew Finkbohner

Age: 35

Campaign Facebook Page: N/A

Website: N/A

Education: B.S Business Management

Family Life: Wife (former CASD teacher) and two children (ages 5 & 6)

Occupation & Background: Consumer Relations and Supply Chain management

Why are you running for the Board of Education? If elected, what will be your priorities?

I am currently representing CASD as a region three school board member. Initially, I ran thinking that I could change everything in this district for the better. After serving on this board for the last two years, I have found that to be easier said than done. It has been my priority not to rubber stamp decisions being made in this district, and I will continue to question decisions being made. I have pursued fiscal oversight with our district and will continue to do so ensuring that we constantly evaluate the return on investment (ROI) for decisions we have made. I will continue to voice my opinions, and at times, go against the grain where necessary to ensure I uphold the standards that I believe CASD should represent. My priorities will continue to be the same priorities I hold today. It is my responsibility to do whatever it takes to improve the academia of our students, provide a safe and conducive environment for our teachers and staff, and hold this district accountable the transgressions that have plagued us, learning from past mistakes.

In what ways have you served or currently serve our community?

As mentioned in the previous question, I am a current board member; I currently sit as the chair of the Finance Committee. I have served as the treasurer, and Vice-President of my HOA. Additionally, I have volunteered my time to give back to our community in a variety of ways.

Is there a particular issue that motivates you to serve on the board of education?

This is a good question. The cliche answer will be the answer that I will give because I feel it to be most fitting. Every issue that this district faces motivates me to put in the time, day in and day out. We will never achieve perfection; however, we should continue to be motivated by the shortcomings that are presented to this district and strive to be the best we can be for our children. Any progress is good progress, but we should never be satisfied. For far too long, our community has been the ones to bear the brunt of taxation without representation and it is paramount that we have people serving on this board that represent the qualities that this community expects to be upheld. Sometimes, less than favorable decisions must be made. These are decisions that will be criticized and ridicule, but sometimes the unpopular decision is the one that best serves our students, teachers, and community.

What is the formula for a good educational experience for our youth?

This is a tricky question. Education should be equitable and is not a one-size-fits-all experience. A good educational experience for some may not be the same for another child. I will, however, say that we should not strive to provide "good" educational opportunities. We should, as our CASD mission statement reads be "committed to excellence." While I cannot give a formula for the reasons I mentioned, there are several factors to consider. Strong fiscal oversight and accountable spending provides opportunities for our teachers to have the materials and resources needed to educate our students which would be aligned to proper scope and sequence. To ensure those resources and curriculum are being taught appropriately and to the best of our abilities, we should have a professional development plan that elevates our teacher’s knowledge and capabilities to meet those expectations. Our schools should be safe for all, and we should be teaching our children natural consequences. If you cannot control the discipline in the classrooms, our teachers cannot teach, and our students cannot learn. Finally, we must better provide differentiated instruction so we can meet our students at our students’ level. Reading specialists should not be coaching or guiding teachers, but rather should be delivering small group and one to one instruction to improve literacy. There are so many moving parts in the recipe for a good educational experience, and it is important to find the right mix for each student that promotes a safe, healthy and successful learning atmosphere.

How will you engage the community to improve public schools in the district?

Results. Results. Results. This community has received too much lip-service over the years. Too many promises without the deliverables. In my opinion, the only way to engage and to obtain buy-in from our constituents is to allow actions to speak for itself. We need to implement stakeholder sessions in which community feedback is not only received but valued and considered. While decisions in a school district cannot be made by our community, we can accomplish many things in partnership.

What is your view of the role of charter schools in public education? What is your position on charter schools?

I will start by stating that our governmental entities do not do enough to prioritize the importance of a strong education and public schools are woefully underfunded. I believe that a child’s choice for educational interests should be one that a parent has a right to choose. I firmly believe in public education and as it stands right now believe that a person’s right to choose can prohibit another child’s right to FAPE and that is deeply concerning. Our funding formula for special education MUST change at the state level. Our charter funding formula MUST change. Education should be equitable for ALL students, regardless of the LEA. Making these changes would allow better oversight for charter schools and allow public school districts to have access to proper resources to educate their children. It is a shame to see the disparity that exists between charters and public-school districts especially in socio-economic depressions areas. If you take a second to look at areas most heavily impacted by charter schools, you will find Reading, Chester, Phila., Erie, Harrisburg, and York, schools that have a very diverse community causing each to be "penalized" for their diversity. It is time that Charter Schools academic performance standards be held accountable as the charter funding formula was instituted to provide parents with a choice in education that meets or exceeds that in which some from their home school district. Should those standards not be met by Charter Schools, charter schools should be held accountable through reduced funding, charter sanctions, or denial of charter renewals. It is CASD’s responsibility moving forward to correct the issues that led to families to leave this district and once again become competitive in education.

How does a school board balance the need to provide a quality education with the need to respond to the local taxpayer burden?

First and foremost, this is a very deep-rooted problem in our district. We must find ways to partner with our communities to enhance our business tax base. A strong business tax base helps to offset other taxation aspects and allows for a steady revenue stream for educational reinvestment. I do not believe that increased taxation is the answer. In my first year on the board, this district passed its first zero percent tax increase as far back as I can remember. While the financial outlook is bleak, we should continue to be innovative in savings, not negatively impacting areas such as programming, teaching, or support staffing. The answer is to not egregiously tax our community year after year while continuing to repeat the same mistakes. We must find ways to get creative and innovative in our academic offerings while improving the facilities our children and staff attend.

CASD School Board Elections 2021

2021-10-24T16:53:00.005-04:00

“Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.”

- Kofi Annan

“Knowledge is power.” CCAP wants to equip you, the Coatesville community, with information about the candidates for school board for each region. We want to provide them an opportunity to share what they believe they can bring to the Coatesville Area School Board. Our mission in doing this series is to empower the Coatesville community to make the most informed decision at the ballot box on November 2nd.

“Information is liberating.” At our core CCAP believes that if the community can be informed with accurate information & data about the occurrences in the district, we will be able to liberate the community to take action by moving one step towards making positive changes in our district.

"Education is the premise of progress.” We cannot move forward or stand united as a community without educating ourselves with facts. To improve this district we must be open-minded, work together, and be willing to learn from others and our own mistakes. Educating ourselves through facts on those who will be running our district is the premise of Coatesville’s progress.

This year, Coatesville has FIVE seats up for reelection.

Two seats in Region I
(City of Coatesville & Valley Township)
Holly Charest (write-in) | Open Seat

One seat in Region II
(Caln & West Brandywine Township)
Jennifer Shaut (write-in) | Rachel Wick

Two seats in Region III
(West Caln, East Fallowfield, Modena, South Coatesville and Sadsbury Township)

Andrew Finkbohner | Rob Fisher | Philip Roomet (write-in)

On October 25th, we will be introducing you to each of the candidates so you can learn about who is running in your region. You will also hear in candidates' own words what their platform and intentions are for running. To give every candidate an opportunity to share, we contacted each in advance with the same list of questions. We believe you will value knowing the candidates’ visions and hopes for Coatesville Area School District.

Those of you who are in Region One will see James Bookman's name on the ballot. However, he was unable to remove himself from the race in time. If he is re-elected, he will not accept the position. If you are interested in running for school board, please let us know. We’d be happy to assist in a write-in campaign for you! Remember, this is for anyone living in the City of Coatesville or Valley Township.

Tune in tomorrow to start meeting the Candidates! Remember our vote drives who will make the future decisions for this district. It is our responsibility to be well informed about the candidates we are choosing.

CASD School Board Meeting Agenda: August 23, 2021

2021-08-24T06:41:00.012-04:00

Please review the school board agenda for tonight’s meeting. CCAP wanted to make it easy and accessible as we know Board Docs (the program the District uses) requires more clicks to review everything. If you would like to see the main agenda with attachments, click the image to your right.

SPECIAL REPORTS

A. Discussion of Health and Safety Plan 2021-2022 - Tomás Hanna

FINANCE COMMITTEE

A. Financial Statements

B. CCRES - Grant for AmeriCorps VISTA Position

C. ACME - Donation of Cleaning Supplies to CASH

D. Lifetouch National School Studios - Commission Check

E. Shivika Varshney - Girl Scout Project

F. Human Resources Report

EDUCATION COMMITTEE

A. Practicum Experience - Megan Murray

B. Paid Research Opportunity - Caln Elementary School

C. MTSS Service Agreement - CCIU

D. Adjudication - Student 10008547

OPERATIONS COMMITTEE

A. Bonnett Associates Incorporated - Architectural Services for North Brandywine Middle School Project

That the Board of School Directors approve the proposal from Bonnett Associates Incorporated to provide architectural services for the North Brandywine Middle School Security Entrance for a fixed fee of $5,900, as presented.

POLICY COMMITTEE

A. Policy 003 Functions

B. 003-BOG-0. Development Of Board Procedures/Policy

C. 003-BOG-1 Board Procedure Policy Development Process

D. Policy 006 Meetings

E. Policy 007 Policy Manual Access

F. Policy 100 Comprehensive Planning

G. Policy 105 Curriculum

H. Policy 105.2 Exemption From Instruction

I. Policy 106 Guides For Planned Instruction

J. Policy 108 Adoption Of Textbooks

K. Policy 204 Attendance