[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6329376,"mediaKeyId","2316177-7e15d4dc4f9833c68e31e190bcdbdb72","parentId",2316177,"title","Board approves two teacher hires, votes 9-0 on motions to hire","audioSeconds",51,"startMs",3540000,"endMs",3591000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2316177-7e15d4dc4f9833c68e31e190bcdbdb72&start=3540&end=3591","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2316177-7e15d4dc4f9833c68e31e190bcdbdb72/thumbnail_3540000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6329376/Pennsylvania/Board-approves-two-teacher-hires-votes-9-0-on-motions-to-hire","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6329376-f75e1293fb4db0167158fd0095ea40d2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770967949&Signature=jicY0ZU5zBej2T66-ETYu0u61ox~tgFaKem7wAS6OsmOM8PHjiEHxb6K4w7ezkGFa~Ch43-GWnhuTXPTZBIHaO0n6aIvbsTfsntEY4FP-8hGzAENV6B20LxxKECNUe7nGH7z9ZrP4dydQeL4aav5h064nv4v~ZyKFnRqtoWy1uakneF3ctWcAUSpZXCcTiSz~~xz3D~5ldMnG9CuUj2YNKwIfxCOORQImVX6WRBkmj253PON~FTWG2WZafrTGUDhXb0tH8dUZ9TgstpwYH-f2tzH0mDS95X3aE4Uu9-337eQPY7n3slxjfwNWYqs2anz60v9DfdfxljVn4j2i4hDBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Woodland Hills School District","date","2025-02-15T01:47:07.447Z","article","The Woodland Hills School District board approved two personnel hires by unanimous vote during the Feb. 12 agenda-setting meeting.

Lede: The board voted 9-0 to approve the hiring of Ashley Drisdott as a special education learning-support teacher at Turtle Creek Elementary and Jamieson Spagnati as a kindergarten teacher at Edgewood Elementary.

Nut graf: Both hires were presented at the agenda-setting meeting as requests to allow candidates to resign from their current positions and start earlier with Woodland Hills; the board completed roll-call online voting for both items and recorded 9-0 tallies.

Details: The board sought approval to hire Ashley Drisdott at a salary listed as Master, step 13, prorated to a March 10 start date. A motion to approve the hire was made and seconded; the online vote closed with the ruling, \"Motion passes 9 to 0.\" The transcript records a board member noting the motion and second were made by Mike and Laura.

The board next approved Jamieson Spagnati as a kindergarten teacher at Edgewood Elementary at a salary listed as Master, step 5, prorated; the hire’s specific start date was listed as to be determined. Board members again held an online vote and the clerk announced, \"Motion passes 9 to 0.\" The transcript records a motion and a second for that item as well.

Provenance: The hires were discussed and motioned under personnel items 7.1 and 7.2 during the Feb. 12 agenda-setting meeting; roll-call voting results are printed in the meeting record.

Ending: Both hires were approved unanimously; contract paperwork and start-date logistics will be handled by district personnel offices.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","WHSD Agenda Meeting 2/12/2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the Feb. 12 agenda-setting meeting the Woodland Hills School District board voted unanimously to hire two teachers: Ashley Drisdott as a special education learning support teacher (start March 10) and Jamieson Spagnati as a kindergarten teacher (start date to be determined).","taxTitle","Woodland Hills SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",38760,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6329378,"Public commenters press board on agenda removals, solicitor role and blurred organizational chart",132,7094000,7226000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2316177-7e15d4dc4f9833c68e31e190bcdbdb72&start=7094&end=7226","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2316177-7e15d4dc4f9833c68e31e190bcdbdb72/thumbnail_7094000.jpg","/articles/6329378/Pennsylvania/Public-commenters-press-board-on-agenda-removals-solicitor-role-and-blurred-organizational-chart","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6329378-26e94fe8869bd78db4b333a280308214/orig.mp4?Expires=1770967949&Signature=fOCE2KAjGPgOUd8hqjvWjwYJR8IXHMblHQVvP3Fq9fMg6-bsH-c6WJPhMdqN9WZfPKdL-jxG~ymPqqSRM2HZH6zYVRZAR7ZyYZV1xsmD5BAiX6hSjzlzy3rkXzP7sDKngQzwFyT7hnRRQFtLrHVBy23C97i5E5dKaVe1-3jSrFop7bNfQZuLJMCPEEt8t0LK22A0Sgec-CIMxe3T6bIWJwCYysUy6xVuE5dWWhbDapywYGwQnyYU-CK~6cHOyh9PtjjcbvzzKLdD-mKUWnA1wvunD76uJZW9yT2ALQlz7FBwlaGMxNYsyPjzTlx1cBTOsUjMYMqSJXM9tUvhApmgxA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Two members of the public used the Feb. 12 agenda-setting meeting’s public comment period to raise governance and transparency concerns with the Woodland Hills School District board.

Why it matters: Public commenters asked the board to explain why an agenda item related to the solicitor’s removal was removed and raised questions about clarity in the district’s organizational chart and personnel placement—subjects that touch on board transparency and personnel governance.

John Jeffers, identified during the meeting as an in-person speaker, asked how and by whose authority the agenda item removing the district solicitor had been removed. \"How and by whose authority does something get removed from the agenda that was just placed on it for tonight?\" Jeffers asked from the podium, urging greater transparency in agenda-setting.

Board members responded that agenda-setting is coordinated between the superintendent and board president and that the item was removed because it had not been placed correctly and there were executive-session matters related to the topic. The board noted that the majority of the board can also dictate agenda items.

Another in-person commenter, identified in the transcript as Robert Clannigan Bay, pressed the board about an organizational chart he said remained blurred following a December 2024 presentation. He focused on the PIMS (Pupil Information Management System) position, asserting the PIMS coordinator role historically reported to the business manager but was shown on the new chart as moved under technology after a title change. \"I still don't know the justification for moving the PIM supervisor position from under the business manager to the technology department,\" he said.

Board members answered that executive-session items had been discussed with legal counsel as needed; they also said the organizational-chart materials had been corrected where appropriate. The transcript records the public questions and board replies but does not show a formal board action on the substantive issues during the Feb. 12 meeting.

Ending: Commenters asked the board to restore transparent processes for agenda decisions and to clarify organizational chart changes; staff said they would respond through the appropriate administrative processes.","Two in-person public speakers questioned why an agenda item to remove the district solicitor was removed from the Feb. 12 agenda and raised concerns about a blurred organizational chart and the placement of the PIMS coordinator/supervisor position under technology.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6329380,"Student teams, athletics and Black History Month events highlighted at Woodland Hills meeting",334,444000,778000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2316177-7e15d4dc4f9833c68e31e190bcdbdb72&start=444&end=778","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2316177-7e15d4dc4f9833c68e31e190bcdbdb72/thumbnail_444000.jpg","/articles/6329380/Pennsylvania/Student-teams-athletics-and-Black-History-Month-events-highlighted-at-Woodland-Hills-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6329380-9cf5661caa534f51085fd13197aa24dd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770967949&Signature=HKnvuzuuAVIXn2V1LGOPpf7wc45dXs~Dhsd5y1GYJykJt1pqd27m16-XQiSL0QtMwbgpY2HDS7pDajEeN08H5HoLzv9vFNyR9vRn1JTHrldO9xNJa8ILZMTOABdWEFLo9U3RkXdKrMoQad8YSVgKpeEMRdo9~vgUgOVovJUhnHR64y0DIN5yELnNoa8n24RBIoDA0TKmr1TCH~TnglzSBh5KSCvHMuvpirJLFJyF7Od0fhD-acUnHAZM4PtgHxfnUHs~Ow8cQ4w-4ISMEJ5X0xxL~o54Rl1-Vc8iTy4dnzXulBOmhUWgvg8iSITy5GFLIa0EFw6X-~TiyMbIxhQUqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Board members and the district’s student representative used the Feb. 12 meeting to highlight recent student achievements in academics and extracurriculars.

Why it matters: Celebrating student success provides community recognition and connects district programming — academic competitions, athletics and cultural activities — to student engagement and school climate.

Student representative Zach (first name only in the transcript) opened the report by noting Black History Month activities and the high school’s Black Student Union assembly featuring motivational speaker Davontae Butler. \"They started the month with an assembly for the high school featuring guest speaker, Davontae Butler,\" Zach said. He also described a door-decorating contest and outreach to elementary schools.

Administrators and board members detailed competitive results: Woodland Hills VEX IQ teams won design, judges and teamwork awards at regional events; one middle-school alliance qualified for the Western PA VEX IQ state championships. Athletic highlights included the boys basketball team qualifying for playoffs and the rifle team qualifying for state championships. Specific athletes and relay teams advancing to postseason competition were named during the report.

Superintendent Eddie Wilson and board members used the segment to urge public support for events and to call attention to student-led activities such as FBLA’s partnership work and a student summit on AI scheduled for March.

Ending: The board received the report as informational; no board action was taken on the student items at the Feb. 12 meeting.","Student representative Zach and administrators reported VEX robotics awards, athletics qualifications and Black Student Union activities at the Feb. 12 agenda-setting meeting.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6329382,"Woodland Hills reviews 'Assessment for Good' pilot; district would receive funding for participation",1554,861000,2415000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2316177-7e15d4dc4f9833c68e31e190bcdbdb72&start=861&end=2415","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2316177-7e15d4dc4f9833c68e31e190bcdbdb72/thumbnail_861000.jpg","/articles/6329382/Pennsylvania/Woodland-Hills-reviews-Assessment-for-Good-pilot-district-would-receive-funding-for-participation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6329382-a949f939df8d8d51f0bca1988c534d8c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770967949&Signature=MZJVP8skzr4RVkOfWacreIE7PPCb6bYdQ7OjoU7r6nPRCKdJQH5dHKBwR6lw4g8yUUxZlV3Cudw3x4W1MB7r4x~Ony7U5V0KkJGLFLaTqo-lmyg15tiEwBexVkp04pcTV9SwDyd0arZFTVnRFzzWnA1dI1Pd8vUCvR51t747W1ETEFUn4tE3VrWSMyGpaL2cvUDmNk~hp74P9~4vzI~-Tred0wynC5feVCtvDEyOk0JaUcbB6FwqrfVT6YVhjysUG-Yzy1yX4BAlmkK4cxLhsaNMkO505sZ2hf3cwN1EtnYvlkmIiQNzfe1hWX4NE-SLCXW9E6OBbzkoIbO00u-5aw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Assessment for Good, a research and development program that builds asset-based formative assessments, presented to the Woodland Hills School District board on Feb. 12 and asked permission to pilot tools at Dixon Preparatory STEAM Academy.

Why it matters: The pilot would give the district early access to new assessment tools designed to measure student engagement, executive function and belonging and would provide funding for district participation while the tools are co-designed with students.

Ira Rigo, who described his role as partnership lead for Assessment for Good, told the board the company builds short, gamified assessments intended to surface students’ strengths and to be implemented quickly by teachers. \"These are almost games, like gamified spaces that students can engage in in 5 minutes or less,\" Rigo said during the presentation.

Rigo said Assessment for Good funds district participation and pays participants in design sessions. He described a two-part engagement model: small-group user testing and larger, class- or grade-level administrations that gather quantitative data for iterative design. \"We fund these partnerships so that schools receive funding for their participation in helping to build these tools as well as early access to these tools,\" Rigo said.

Superintendent Eddie Wilson summarized the district benefit during later discussion: the district would receive roughly $45,000 for participation in the current school-year contract and the program is opt-in for students, he said. Wilson also noted the pilot year is intended to be followed by additional pilot and design work into the next school year if both parties agree.

Board discussion focused on implementation logistics: rostering and limited onboarding time (Rigo said onboarding has taken districts about two weeks), data sharing needs, and the district’s focus on middle grades, where Rigo said the tools have the most immediate research interest.

Status: At the agenda setting meeting administrators sought board permission to partner and to host the pilot at Dixon. The transcript records the request for permission but does not show a formal board vote during the Feb. 12 meeting.","Assessment for Good presented a pilot formative-assessment program to the board and sought permission to partner at Dixon Preparatory STEAM Academy. The firm said the district would receive funding for participation and that the tools emphasize student assets, quick formative games and co-design with students.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6329383,"Three insurance brokers pitch coverage and cost-saving strategies to Woodland Hills School District",649,556000,1205000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2316177-7e15d4dc4f9833c68e31e190bcdbdb72&start=556&end=1205","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2316177-7e15d4dc4f9833c68e31e190bcdbdb72/thumbnail_556000.jpg","/articles/6329383/Pennsylvania/Three-insurance-brokers-pitch-coverage-and-cost-saving-strategies-to-Woodland-Hills-School-District","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6329383-0c1ec5b593b205f31ff1df160a65069b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770967950&Signature=VL2sEuYgoCZRpZZuwJn029SOcHVFlq~9-kDMkoPeqrBfiJgSC0JrWAcIZmRyUN5pudZIeaYrua2W3Fi6tLDF4idYcTU5fQc-rnm0P6qHLNi6MR8NAzjkicTl2AFXlHCcIsKgFcz-6oWw9iuwBRi0L~UJeKjv-u1ZUmHvr8BZf~17ubkpoRDVn-Lx5oexgBXmZ-iHStpgrjkBYnKvlCTD55sHAf-l6F8WG4NOUQ4hTmSM-agr1nmgvLdnLnjLwcuxE7Qfjkpev-~KIiquT9iOiATj90XsMnuQb9t5JGehX8atCV-zS4gXC9kEMX3Tk0KgmThOfti3tG5EgDZqlMxQzg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Three insurance firms briefed the Woodland Hills School District board on Feb. 12, each pitching services and strategies to manage rising premiums and claims exposure.

Why it matters: The district’s insurance costs have risen in recent years and board members said they want both competitive pricing and year-round service after several large claims. The presentations outlined different market access, claims and risk-control approaches that the board said it will weigh before selecting a broker to manage renewals.

Hub International representatives described a multi-year service plan and emphasized continuity. \"I take accountability to the highest level, and I can assure you that my teams will be accountable,\" said Chet Rhodes, identified as president, Hub 3 Rivers, during his remarks. Mike Troppiano of Hub said the firm currently insures dozens of Pennsylvania school districts and promoted a multi-year strategy to stabilize costs.

Arthur Gallagher’s Pat Zedrick said his firm insures more school districts in Pennsylvania than any other agency and highlighted its benchmarking ability, noting Gallagher can compare Woodland Hills with similar districts to set premium and deductible targets. \"Because we have access to so many school district policies, we're able to do benchmarks and analytics,\" Zedrick said, citing examples of premium differences and claims trends.

Henderson Brothers, the district’s incumbent broker, framed its pitch around the service and risk-control work it has provided since taking the account 18 months ago. Jared Sadowski, vice president, said carriers previously left portions of the district’s program because of a claims spike related to the district’s unique properties, including vacant buildings and a district police station. \"We came in, offered our service approach, and we were able to find a home for Woodland Hills to move to a different carrier,\" Sadowski said. Evan Benton of Henderson Brothers described in-house claims and risk-control resources the firm assigns to school accounts.

All three firms described specific program elements they would emphasize if hired: coordinated claims response and on-the-ground risk-control visits (Henderson Brothers), statewide cyber programs with centralized placement (Arthur Gallagher), and a planned, multi-year renewal strategy with client service teams (Hub International).

Board members asked for written summaries and suggested the decision should be made quickly so a new broker can begin work before the March renewal cycle. District business officials indicated they will collect feedback and return a recommendation to the board.

Looking ahead: Board members were not asked to vote on a broker during the Feb. 12 agenda setting meeting; they signaled they expect a recommendation and a potential vote at a forthcoming meeting.","Hub International, Arthur Gallagher and Henderson Brothers presented to the Woodland Hills School District on Feb. 12, offering different approaches to property, casualty and cyber insurance as the district evaluates its broker and coverage after recent costly claims.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves two teacher hires, votes 9-0 on motions to hire

Public commenters press board on agenda removals, solicitor role and blurred organizational chart

Student teams, athletics and Black History Month events highlighted at Woodland Hills meeting

Woodland Hills reviews 'Assessment for Good' pilot; district would receive funding for participation

Three insurance brokers pitch coverage and cost-saving strategies to Woodland Hills School District