[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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],{"_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",6598110,"mediaKeyId","3065957-05ff43cddd15a55a39755f68deb417d9","parentId",3065957,"title","Residents urge greater transparency on bids, policies and planning at Souderton Area SD meeting","audioSeconds",154,"startMs",1592000,"endMs",1746000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3065957-05ff43cddd15a55a39755f68deb417d9&start=1592&end=1746","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3065957-05ff43cddd15a55a39755f68deb417d9/thumbnail_1592000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6598110/Pennsylvania/Residents-urge-greater-transparency-on-bids-policies-and-planning-at-Souderton-Area-SD-meeting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6598110-31437811453a5e2ab2c2f706b2025e2b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771100706&Signature=brS2rmRNLO7X7EN5Dq5ONURs4e7g5L8nNImFE5HxB8wPFkUKDJzSO0eIOEnuirNgxXj3UV-f0Tf2QVqEyASTSoHlveHKPAnpVcqRExediTKy2AmZZ2C9w25B-GImNIwBshL-rn7m-OR6PI55610rtfmaHmmhurMf6bDkSAokXP0y~XhIAxHsGjesTfDLYg8X1BWipCyqjsKjwx5hkgueZxLLbyoFqLE1f1K0qWQl0gOnx23C2RWoOOHHEe9iwHpQTtE-pCIrCKly9ax~kPn5d8bSPyLM35PDmEY0ciCTokwTzL-nx7z8sN2B5~09eFa33Xv409NY4DaG4SxfwWYVYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Souderton Area School District","date","2025-03-27T00:00:00Z","article","Several residents used the public-comment portion of the March 27 Souderton Area School District meeting to press the board for more transparent information about procurement and policy changes, to raise concerns about the district's outreach on its comprehensive plan and events, and to seek clarity on disposal of school library materials.

Corinne Dejazo, who identified herself as a parent representative on the district's comprehensive planning committee, told the board she had expected fuller participation in the committee's working groups and said members of the public and some board members appeared not to have participated in those subgroups. \"It seems that we may need to go back to basics so that all board members are reminded that the whole child includes their mental health too,\" Dejazo said, adding that supports implemented through the district's MTSS (multi-tiered system of supports) are part of baseline services.

Alex Wisser, a resident who spoke on agenda items 8.26 and 8.27, objected to the absence of attachments for two procurement items on the agenda. \"Tonight the board has not included attachments on the agenda for 8.26, which is to approve asbestos abatement bid and 8.27 to approve the security camera bid,\" Wisser said. She noted the security camera contract was not discussed at the March 19 operations committee meeting and asked, \"Where are the cameras being placed and why was it not being discussed at the committee level?\" Wisser told the board, \"Souderton deserves better.\"

Rosemary Butekofer questioned the disposal of excess obsolete items listed on the agenda, citing specific counts she found in the detailed agenda and asking how the items are disposed of or re-used. She asked about a list of 713 books being removed from the Salford Hills library and whether any of the materials could be donated or repurposed.

Paul DeJazzo raised a safety concern about contractors smoking near school entrances where parents and students pass, asking the district to clarify that posted signage and rules apply to contractors as well. The board indicated staff would follow up with the contractors.

Other commenters asked the district to consider allowing community members to submit public-comment remarks ahead of live-streamed meetings to verify residency and to consider indefinite archival of recordings to make oversight easier. Several speakers criticized the board's decision to put four policy revisions directly on the consent agenda without prior discussion at the policy committee; Alex Wisser said bypassing the policy committee \"undermines transparency and makes it harder for residents to engage.\"

Why this matters: residents sought fuller access to the underlying documents and committee review that inform procurement and policy decisions. Questions about library disposals, placement of security cameras, contractor compliance with signage, and how the district archives and promotes events reflect recurring concerns about public engagement and operational transparency.

Board response and follow-up: district staff and board members responded in part during the meeting. A staff member explained the disposal process for equipment and that donatable books would be distributed or offered to students when appropriate. A district official said staff and an assigned officer would remind contractors of site rules. Regarding packet attachments, board members and staff noted that some policy changes were technical and had been reviewed by PSBA legal; speakers pressed for more committee-level discussion on policy items and for clearer advance sharing of attachments.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board Action Meeting - March 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Public speakers at the March 27 meeting raised objections to missing agenda attachments for asbestos abatement and security camera bids, criticized bypassing the policy committee, requested archival of meeting recordings, and asked for clarity on disposal of library materials and contractor behavior.","taxTitle","Souderton Area SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",74090,"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},6598115,"Souderton Area SD board approves consent agenda including policy updates, purchases and bids",131,2040000,2171000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3065957-05ff43cddd15a55a39755f68deb417d9&start=2040&end=2171","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3065957-05ff43cddd15a55a39755f68deb417d9/thumbnail_2040000.jpg","/articles/6598115/Pennsylvania/Souderton-Area-SD-board-approves-consent-agenda-including-policy-updates-purchases-and-bids","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6598115-4fc68b7da8ec9a889e8f9c2a63d3ec1e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771100706&Signature=FRZlxKhxmD-cx9PzgKA0rEyOlhl9~JlFsVfbFkIEtWxJ1vwb3O2mGKNfvekf4UnyDwLxImrN03Cq7ABC8~sQXyTLXRtGBtxrW8lbTUfqCdgdxpYqCb8hGuoIJatvVOCTQNgxj2EJGS7NTWk5-rtL5f7I5N04MnqcuyaSOPomesGvP-M-WjIhIblV0ljHNQNcwNOG2q1aWzuvr0xJE0ObsSxqHsiwEDQp21gaBKwl4ByQ8y~8W-ov2dE-penuae-vvS60aB8Zlm6LabXchY5l62K1DziLuIifV~JgaZybTwXA~oN46Jrmrx7nKeoZJkf8su~G3frTlk1FlQvsm5qWdQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Souderton Area School District Board of School Directors approved its consent action agenda (items 8.2–8.27) at the March 27 monthly action meeting, adopting multiple policy updates, authorizing purchases and cooperative agreements for building renovations, and approving bid awards including asbestos abatement and a security camera contract.

The consent package included second and third readings and final adoptions of multiple district policies; approvals for purchases subject to bid and cooperative purchasing agreements for Indian Crest and Salford Hills renovations; ratified conference attendance requests; personnel items; nomination of a district representative to the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit board; approval of the district's comprehensive plan for 2025'28; and approval to dispose of excess, obsolete and nonrepairable equipment. The agenda descriptions listed asbestos abatement (item 8.26) and a security camera bid (item 8.27) among those approvals.

Board members moved and seconded the motion to approve the consent action agenda as presented; the motion was approved by voice vote. The board did not record an individual roll-call tally in the public transcript for that vote.

Why this matters: the consent agenda bundled several policy changes and procurement decisions that affect building renovations, safety equipment and instructional resources. Approving multiple policies and purchase actions on a single vote reduces the number of separate motions but also concentrates decisions on technical and budgetary matters into one package.

Supporting details: the policies listed for action included policy 202 (eligibility of nonresident students), 805.2 (school security personnel), 807 (opening exercises, displays), 254 (education opportunities for military children), 610 (purchases subject to bid), 626 (travel reimbursement, federal programs), 105.1 (curriculum review by parents and students), 105.2 (exemption from instruction), 218 (student discipline) and 218.1 (weapons). The board also approved curriculum revisions to high school math courses and multiple personnel items; it nominated Mrs. Flasek as the district representative to the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit Board of Directors.

The board president called for the motion to approve the consent agenda and a second was given; the motion carried by voice vote.

Votes at a glance
- Motion: \"Approve the consent action items 8.2 to 8.27 as presented.\" Outcome: approved by voice vote. Individual yes/no counts were not recorded in the public transcript.

What the board recorded: the board formally adopted the comprehensive plan for 2025'28 and authorized disposal of excess or obsolete equipment. The meeting record lists asbestos abatement and security camera bids among the approved procurement items.

Next steps: the board listed upcoming committee and board meeting dates on the record; committee-level review or implementation tasks tied to the approved items were not detailed in the public minutes provided at the meeting.

","At its March 27 meeting the board approved the consent action agenda 8.2–8.27 by voice vote, adopting several policy updates, authorizing purchases and cooperative agreements, and approving bids including asbestos abatement and security cameras.","actionData","errors"]

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Residents urge greater transparency on bids, policies and planning at Souderton Area SD meeting

Souderton Area SD board approves consent agenda including policy updates, purchases and bids