Central Bucks School District officials are expected to vote Tuesday night to hire a former U.S. Attorney and a federal prosecutor to review a discrimination complaint filed by the . Operations Committee Meeting, 7:00 PM Hunter and Collopy were the dissenters in that vote. Central Bucks School District. If you wish to speak at a school board meeting, please contact Mrs. Kim McConnell, school board secretary kmcconnell@cdschools.org or by phone at 717-545-4703. Central Valley High School (9-12) District Office; Gateway Educational Options (K-12) Grand Oaks Elementary School (TK-5) . 20 Welden Drive, Doylestown, PA 18901, 267-893-2000. . The draft voted through at a first-read vote in October had five references to sexual orientation and gender identity, but the new draft cut those terms entirely. Establishing an effective and efficient structure. Learn more about Social Responsibility at WHYY. . Ask us a question or send an idea for a story you think we should cover. Section 504 >. Print Close. While it is unclear exactly how the conversation to remove the Central Bucks requests occurred, Melewsky added that a quorum and a decision outside of a public meeting are not mutually exclusive to violate meeting laws. The transgender education program wouldnt start until June and included several half-day work sessions through the summer and ongoing one-on-one consultations into the fall. "Pride flags should not be a litmus test for teachers to be considered accepting. Find a career with meaning today! It was a packed house inside the Central Bucks School District Board meeting in Doylestown. "Because these conferences and workshops do not go through committee for approval, this is simply the same process that would occur if it had, Hunter wrote. Agendas are available 24 hours in advance of each meeting. For some, the meetings were too little, too late in seeking educator input. A motion to approve several requests for multiple trainings failed in a 5-4 vote against, with Hunter joining Ballasy, Leigh Vlasblom, Dan Ring and Sharon Collopy in the majority. It would prohibit teachers from displaying flags or posters advocating any political or sociopolitical activities and issues in the classroom. Go behind the headlines: From the economy and healthcare to politics and the environment - and so much more - On Point talks with newsmakers and real people about the issues that matter most. Find a career with meaning today! The only exceptions are if the displays are part of that teachers specific lesson plan. Also, this past month, (Hunter) and four board members decided they did not want to approve a virtual conference for English teachers, so it was removed from the agenda without notifying the remaining board members, Suits said. Let our teachers teach. This program allowed school districts to deliver instruction remotely on days in which they would otherwise have closed due to an emergency. 20 Welden Drive, Doylestown, PA, USA . Please press the Play button if the audio does not begin automatically. 2022-23 District Calendar (Approved December 16, 2021) 2023-24 District Calendar (approved December 15, 2022) 21st Century Community Learning Center Information; Athletics/Band Handbook (effective July 1, 2021) Connecting to HCS WiFi Outside of the School Building; CompassLearning; English Learners Program (LAU Program) If you reached this newsletter online, but would prefer to receive it via email, please register your email address here. The ACLU complaint asked the US Department of Education to follow federal recommendations outlining how to support students within the LGBTQ+ community. The school board voted 6-3 on Tuesday night to approve the final draft of the policy which is part of a federal investigation of the school district. ", Michele Haddon, Special to the Bucks County Courier Times, Transphobic, anti-semitic comments disrupt Central Bucks meeting: 'This is hate. Flags, banners and photographs and other similar items expressing a political or social stance are prohibited in classrooms under the general rules of the new policy. Central Bucks LGBTQ students, allies protest over teacher suspension, removal of Pride flags and bullying. Ballasy, Suits and Schwartz did not run for re-election this year and Ring lost his seat to Tabitha Dell'Angelo in the Nov. 2 election. There was little discussion over why the request was rejected at that meeting as Vlasblom immediatelymotioned to approve only a handful of the requests for events occurring in May. Responsibilities are central bucks school district handbook is determined by staff to reviewthis booklet for special thanks to. Assessment and PA Graduation Requirements, CB Building & Floating Substitute Teacher, Elementary New Teacher Professional Reading Library, Instructional Aides-Grit in the Elementary Classroom, Please click on the links below to be redirected to. Central Bucks educators, students, and parents rallied outside the administrations meeting about a policy that bans Pride flags and other inclusive classroom decor. The district paid Duane Morris $114,106 for legal services in December, according to January public meeting documents. It attempts to make LGBTQ support invisible," he said. Select the Committee from the dropdown located in the upper right corner of the BoardDocs homepage. Replies (34) Linden Elementary School in Doylestown. On the other side those for policy 321 feel it will create a balanced and neutral environment in the classrooms. Assessment and PA Graduation Requirements, CB Building & Floating Substitute Teacher, Elementary New Teacher Professional Reading Library, Instructional Aides-Grit in the Elementary Classroom, Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). If its a decision on agency business, and training offered to employees seems very clearly to be agency business, its got to be discussed and acted upon at a public meeting, Melewsky said. Suits, Smith and former board members Jodi Schwartz and Lorraine Sciuto-Ballasy issued a joint statement about a week after that meeting, and a message from Superintendent Abram Lucabaugh addressing a bomb threat earlier that week included a plea for solidarity among the community at large which has seen heated debate over several topics in recent months. Together we can reach 100% of WHYYs fiscal year goal. The controversial policy has been a hot topic in this district. Pennridge students share insight on their experience with a policy up for vote in Central Bucks School District that may censor classroom decor and conversations. DOYLESTOWN, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- A controversial school policy that would limit what teachers can discuss and display in classrooms was passed by the Central Bucks school board Tuesday night. Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). Collopy's term ends in 2023. WHYY offers a voice to those not heard, a platform to share everyones stories, a foundation to empower early and lifelong learners and a trusted space for unbiased news. These middle school teachers requests had been approved by the administration. DOYLESTOWN, PA The Central Bucks School Board will vote Tuesday on a controversial policy that board leaders say is about bringing neutrality and balance to the classroom. The Sunshine Act requires any agency of elected officials, like a school board, to deliberate and take official action on agency business in an open and public meeting, according to Pennsylvanias Office of Open Records website. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. Like with the May decision, one of the teachers who asked to go to theNCTE convention posted on Twitter that an "anonymous donor" covered attendance costs for her and a coworker. The school has a rainbow bench in her memory. Tuesday, February 7, 2023 (first Tuesday of the month), Tuesday, July 25, 2023 (fourth Tuesday of the month). Providing community leadership as advocates for children, the school district and public schools. Every student who spoke opposed the policy. Because these meetings are streamed live, the potential exists that any number of technical issues could impact the audio stream. Assessment and PA Graduation Requirements, CB Building & Floating Substitute Teacher, Elementary New Teacher Professional Reading Library, Instructional Aides-Grit in the Elementary Classroom, Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). Boards fulfill this role by performing five major responsibilities: Setting direction. LGBTQ students say this is another dig at them and the pride flag. The American Civil Liberties Unionfiled a complaintwith the U.S. Department of Education claiming the district is fostering a hostile environment for its LGBTQ students. Please enter valid email address to continue. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Providing support. A few students stood at the entrance of the board meeting room handing out bags of Lays chips with the word Gays on them, advocating against the policy. "It's the direction the board has been going and we expected it, but we're going to keep fighting.". Policies. Audio Player 20 Welden Drive | Doylestown, PA 18901 | Phone 267-893-2000 . Central Bucks teachers gathered outside of CB East High School Tuesday in . By the time we found out about it, it was too late to call a special meeting to discuss and vote on it in public, Suits continued. Former director Ring and others defended the decision as a matter of saving money since the district hadwhat Ring describedas a similar training across the district previously. Attendees cheered, booed, and clapped after speakers took the mic. Although the policy doesn't explicitly mention LGBTQ advocacy, the district previously banned pride flags. Bond Committee Meeting Agendas; Bond Committee Meeting Minutes; Citizens Oversight Committee Reports; Surplus Advisory Committee. I know she tried so hard, Gane said. The "Central Bucks Board Note," is an e-newsletter designed to provide Central Bucks School District constituents with an overview of the work of their Board of School Directors. Dozens were out in front of Central Bucks East High . This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Central Bucks School District teachers walkout protesting Policy 321, Department of Education will investigate complaint against Central Bucks School District, Central Bucks to consider policy to restrict displays of advocacy in classrooms. WHYY thanks our sponsors become a WHYY sponsor. . The board also added cafeterias and common spaces as areas that will require social distancing. "It shouldn't be a political issue, I think the school board is turning it into a political issue.". "Make no mistake, this is a policy borne out of bigotry and discrimination and one only needs to look at the previous revisions to see symbols of pride targeted.. Bucks County Justice Center 100 North Main Street Doylestown, PA 18901 Phone (toll free): 1-888-942-6528 Phone: 215-348-6000 Email Us According to Hunter, Lucabaugh provided more information on each of 18 requests totaling $15,619 on Nov. 6. "The pride flag is a symbol of identity and inclusion and it tells students, 'Hey, this is a safe place for me,'" ACLU Rich Ting said. Creating inclusive spaces in part means that students see themselves and one another reflected in positive ways in books, materials, displays, etc. Agendas are available 24 hours in advance of the meeting. Meetings will be held at 7:00 p.m. in the Educational Services Center: 16 Welden Drive, Doylestown, PA. Kathleen Weintraub hugged their child, CJ, before they spoke at the Central Bucks School District board meeting on Jan. 10, 2023. 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Operations Committee Meeting. Download the CBSD Alexa Skill. Monday, December 4, 2023 (first Monday of the month) will be a combined School Board Organization Meeting and School Board Meeting. Committee Meeting agendas and minutes are housed atBoardDocs.com- once on the BoardDocs site, select the committee from the drop down arrow located in the upper right corner of the BoardDocs homepage. DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- The Central Bucks school board voted in favor of a rule that limits what teachers can display in the classroom on Tuesday night. Board President Dana Hunter, Vice President Leigh Vlasblom, and members Debra Cannon, Lisa Sciscio, Sharon Collopy, and Jim Pepper voted for the policy. It was a packed house inside the Central Bucks School District Board meeting in Doylestown. (Jeff Werner) DOYLESTOWN, PA As the Central Bucks School District moves into 2023, front and center on its agenda will be decisions on . We apologize in advance if that occurs, every effort will be made to repair the issue and recorded meetings will be archived on the website, Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). During 90 minutes in the courtroom, liberal and conservative justices suggested they were . This news organization has filed a Right to Know Law request for emails regarding conferences to appear on the Nov. 9 agenda, but the district has invoked a 30-day extension allowed under the law to review the documents to redact information not subject to open records laws. In the 2020-2021 school year, 126 districts reported utilizing this program." This "snow day pilot" program was extended to the 2022-2023 school year. CBS Philadelphia spoke with some attendees following the vote. January 10, 2023 / 10:14 PM Here's what's changed. . Hunter said Lucabaugh provided more information on all conventions and workshops at the request of board members the Saturday before the Nov. 9 meeting. 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