Please click on the links below to be redirected to boarddocs.com, where you will find meeting agendas and minutes. WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. 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 . 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). The school board voted 6-3 on Nov. 15 moving forward with a redistricting plan shifting 12 voting precincts in six of Central Bucks' nine regions five of those regions include school board . "If you agree with me that queer students need to be supported you will vote no on this policy," said student Leo Burchell during the meeting. 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. 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. 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. Community members, students, legal experts, and education advocates have been arguing against the policy for months. Tom Wolf's declaration on masks earlier in the day. According to Hunter, Lucabaugh provided more information on each of 18 requests totaling $15,619 on Nov. 6. Find 162 jobs live on CharityJob. Tohickon Parent Council, 6:30 PM Policies. Select the Committee from the dropdown located in the upper right corner of the BoardDocs homepage. Adoption of Policy 321 confirms that the Central Bucks board majority is disregarding and continuing to perpetuate a hostile environment for LGBTQ+ students, said ACLU attorney Rich Ting in a written statement. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Got a question about life in Phillys suburbs? 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. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. "It shouldn't be a political issue, I think the school board is turning it into a political issue.". BUCKS COUNTY, Pa. (CBS) -- A day after students returned to school in Central Bucks School District, the school board will have to adjust its school return plan to include mandatory masking. Central Bucks hires former U.S. Attorney McSwain to investigate ACLUs allegation of anti-LGBTQ discrimination. All Rights Reserved. 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. Over the next several weeks, I will be hosting six town-hall forums for our teachers, paraprofessionals, and administrators to listen, ask questions, and open a dialogue to better understand how we can position you to engage in your work within the context of the policy, and to do so with confidence and impact, Lucabaugh continued. 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. He said the policy was a step backward and could hurt efforts to support students, including those in the LGBTQ community. Audio Player 20 Welden Drive | Doylestown, PA 18901 | Phone 267-893-2000 . takes on CBSD complaint:Department of Education will investigate complaint against Central Bucks School District. The ACLU of Pennsylvania has said the broad language gives the district the authority to censor whatever it doesnt like, can lead to teachers self-censoring out of confusion and fear, and generally chill classroom discussions on political and cultural topics outside of the curriculum. Gov. Learn more about Social Responsibility at WHYY. Looking for charity jobs in team coordinator? 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Operations Committee Meeting. The five requests for the NCTE conference totaled about $1,916 to virtually attend from Nov. 18 and Nov. 21. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes. On Tuesday, about one hundred people crammed into the boardroom, with some standing against the walls because there werent enough chairs. These middle school teachers requests had been approved by the administration. Because these meetings are streamed live, the potential exists that any number of technical issues could impact the audio stream. "It's the direction the board has been going and we expected it, but we're going to keep fighting.". Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. . The board also added cafeterias and common spaces as areas that will require social distancing. Central Bucks School District high school students handed out bags of chips asking people to support LGBTQ students at the Central Bucks School District board meeting on Jan. 10, 2023. Hunter and Collopy were the dissenters in that vote. "I just think the school needed direct guidance on how to handle this conversation, and the district didn't have this policy in place so they didn't handle it correctly," said Barnhart. Its how we live. Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect board members Suits and Smith were the previous school board President and Vice President. After the Jan. 24 meeting, the school district plans to hold two community input meetings, one at Midland Valley High School and one at North Augusta High School. 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. Together we can reach 100% of WHYYs fiscal year goal. Gamble did not run for re-election this year, and heresigned in August after receiving a death threat for previously casting the swing vote to keep masks optional. 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 . Education dept. Monday, December 4, 2023 (first Monday of the month) will be a combined School Board Organization Meeting and School Board Meeting. Agendas will be available twenty-four hours before a scheduled meeting. This program allowed school districts to deliver instruction remotely on days in which they would otherwise have closed due to an emergency. "Policy 321," which passed in a 6 to 3 vote, calls for banning teachers from talking about or displaying decor that advocates for "any partisan, political, or social policy issue." Keith Willard, a Holicong Middle School teacher, led a crowd of teachers and students out of the middle school at around 3 p.m. Tuesday, joining a group of about 20 other teachers already gathered near Holicong Road. "Policy 321," which passed in a 6 to 3 vote, calls for banning teachers from talking about or displaying decor that advocates for "any partisan, political, or social policy issue.". If the meeting does not start at the scheduled time you may need to refresh your browser occasionally until the stream starts. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. Stay Updated on this Important Initiative, 9:00 AM She said one teacher, who she did not identify, refused to use the name of former President Donald Trump and instead referred to him as Number 45., The policy specifically says employees should not advocate to students on partisan, political, or social policy matters, or display any flag, banner, poster, sign, sticker, pin, button, insignia, paraphernalia, photograph, or other similar material that advocates concerning any partisan, political, or social policy issue. An early draft of the policy prohibited materials related to gender identity, and sexual orientation, but school officials removed those terms after legal review and replaced them with social policy issue. Hunter told The Philadelphia Inquirer that the policy will ban Pride flags, as well as Blue Lives Matter flags, anti-abortion flags or any other flags that advocate on social policy issues.. "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. People who are deaf or hard of hearing can call 1-800-799-4889. Please press the Play button if the audio does not begin automatically. "I'm not surprised, but very disheartened, very upset," a woman said. CB South Parent Advisory Council Meeting, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Ganes sister, Katie, who was lesbian, died by suicide in 2019 as a senior at Central Bucks West. 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. Education stories from across the Keystone State. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The newly elected . Policy 321 passed last at the Jan. 10 school board meeting in a 6-3 vote, with all of the right-wing board members . Section 504 >. Click herefor a list of 2023 Committee Meeting dates. Lottery results for Phillys special-admissions schools to come by month end, District officials are still working to review appeals from families concerning their childrens eligibility, which must be completed before the lottery can be held, according. LGBTQ students say this is another dig at them and the pride flag. Meetings will be held at 7:00 p.m. in the Educational Services Center: 16 Welden Drive, Doylestown, PA. Establishing an effective and efficient structure. 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. Curriculum Committee. The Central Bucks School District passed a contentious policy that bans teachers from engaging in "advocacy activities" and displaying inclusive symbols like Pride flags in their classrooms. My School Bucks; Contact Us; GREAT . Item 14C on the agenda calls for the approval to contract public relations services with Devine + Partners of Philadelphia at $15,000 per month from July 2022 - June 2023 (which doesn't include out-of-pocket costs and subsequent professional fees to be billed separately). January 10, 2023 / 10:14 PM Those also against it say it's a form of censorship. 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) Central Bucks board meetings have been a hotbed of heated and vitriolic comments for much of the coronavirus pandemic. WHYY provides trustworthy, fact-based, local news and information and world-class entertainment to everyone in our community. Board members Mariam Mahmud, Karen Smith, and Tabitha DellAngelo voted against the policy. 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). The decisions that the district is making have a real-world impact on our students and our community.". Download meeting agendas. 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. Officials hired the firm in November to defend the district against a federal LGBTQ discrimination complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Education on behalf of several students. Could impact the audio does not start at the Jan. 10 school board meeting in a 6-3,... 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