August 31, 2026 at 3:30 PM - Education Committee Meeting

Description:  Mrs. Mathis will call this meeting to order.

Description:  Tonight's meeting is being recorded and broadcast live on North Hills School District's YouTube Page.  Images may also be posted on District Social Media.

Description:  Approval of the minutes from the August 3, 2026, Education Committee meeting.

Description:  Act 20 of 2026, enacted July 12, 2026, amends Pennsylvania School Code requirements related to truancy, educational best-interest hearings, and cyber charter enrollment and residency verification. Most provisions are currently effective, with additional requirements beginning October 10, 2026.

Description:  1. Needs Assessment
    a. K-12 Health and PE
    b. K-12 Library Media and Computer Science
    c.  K-5 Language Arts
    d.  6-8 Science

2. Curriculum Proposal
    a. 6-12 School Counseling
    b. 6-8 Social Studies
    c.  7-12 Technology Education
    d. 9-12 Science
 

Description: 

West View teacher, Bruce Goodworth, will lead a hands-on field trip at Ohio Township Community Park and Nature Center that will meet the environmental sustainability standards and engage the students.

He has graciously agreed to lead the field trip for each school this fall. We are currently considering the following dates:

• September 22 - Ross
• September 23 - McIntyre
• September 29 - West View
• September 30 - Highcliff

Description: 

Public Statement to be read prior to Public Comment

"The Board recognizes the value to school governance of public comment on educational issues and the importance of involving members of the public in Board meetings. The Board also recognizes its responsibility for proper governance of the district and the need to conduct its business in an orderly and efficient manner.

We would like to invite any resident, taxpayer, or employee of the North Hills School District who wishes to address the Board to come forward at this time. It is our policy to strongly encourage such public participation, inasmuch as it provides the Board with an important source of ideas, as well as informs us of many concerns in the District. The board has limited public comment by a participant to five (5) minutes in duration and no participant may speak more than once per meeting on the same topic. Commenters may not cede their time to other individuals in an attempt to extend one or more commenters allotted time.

BOARD POLICY 903 - PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN BOARD MEETINGS

Purpose

The Board recognizes the value to school governance of public comment on educational issues and the importance of involving members of the public in Board meetings. The Board also recognizes its responsibility for proper governance of the district and the need to conduct its business in an orderly and efficient manner.

Authority

The Board adopts this policy to govern public participation in Board meetings necessary to conduct its meeting and to maintain order.

In order to permit fair and orderly expression of such comments, the Board will provide a period for public participation at every public meeting of the Board for residents and taxpayers to comment on matters of concern, official action or deliberation which are or may be before the Board prior to official action by the Board.
 

If the Board determines there is not sufficient time at a meeting for public comments, the comment period may be deferred to the next regular meeting or to a special meeting occurring before the next regular meeting.
 

When an item is added to the agenda after the public comment period has ended, the Board shall offer a further public comment opportunity limited to the added item(s).

An individual’s public comment may be interrupted or terminated only under limited circumstances, such as when the individual’s commentary is in clear violation of law or Board policy, including but not limited to the following:
 

1. Sexual harassment, racial, ethnic, religious or nationality intimidation towards an individual or individuals in the school community.
    
2. Disclosure of confidential personal information regarding students or staff.
    
3. Speech that traditionally has not been protected under the First Amendment, such as obscenity, defamation and speech integral to criminal conduct.
    
4. Speech that is profane.
    
5. Speech that constitutes true threats such as inciting imminent lawless action or subjecting individuals to fear of violence.
    
6. Speech that does not concern matters that may come before the Board for deliberation or official action, for example, sales of commercial products or services. 

Delegation of Responsibility

The presiding officer at each public Board meeting will follow the rules of the Board for conduct of public meetings in accordance with this policy and Procedures and Goals Policy No. 006—Meetings. Where the presiding officer's ruling is disputed, it may be overruled by a majority of those school directors present and voting.
 

Guidelines

Whenever issues identified by the participant are subject to remediation under policies and procedures of the Board, they shall be dealt with in accordance with those policies and procedures and the organizational structure of the district.
 

The presiding officer shall be guided by the following rules:

1. The Board requires that public participants be residents, taxpayers, or employees of this District;
    
2. Residents, taxpayers, and employees wishing to comment during the Board meeting shall complete the document designated for requests to comment and submit the document to the Board Secretary prior to the start of the meeting.
    
3. Participants must be recognized by the presiding officer and must preface their comments by an announcement of their name and if they are a resident, taxpayer or employee.
    
4. The presiding officer and the district solicitor have the authority to:
    

• Interrupt an individual to warn the commenter that the statement is too lengthy or conduct is otherwise in violation of this policy.
   
• After warning, terminate the individual’s opportunity to comment when the conduct continues and is in violation of this policy.
   
• Call a recess or adjourn to another time when an individual’s conduct is otherwise in violation of this policy.
   
• Request an individual to leave the meeting when that person’s conduct is disrupting the operation of the meeting.
   
• If the individual refuses to leave the meeting, request the assistance of school security personnel or law enforcement to remove the disorderly person to enable the Board to proceed with the orderly operation of the meeting.
   
• Waive the Board’s rules regarding public comment with the approval of a majority of those present and voting.

5. Each statement made by a participant shall be limited to five (5) minutes' duration. The President may extend the time for more complex issues or complex budget draft comments.
    
6. No participant may speak more than once.  If the participant feels that five (5) minutes is not sufficient time, they are encouraged to supplement their statement with an email to the board.  Participants may request additional time prior to making their statement. Commenters may not cede their time to other individuals in an attempt to extend one or more commenters allotted time.
    
7. All statements shall be directed to the presiding officer and the Board as a whole; no participant may address or question school directors individually.

Electronic recording devices and cameras, in addition to those used as official recording devices, shall be permitted at open meetings under guidelines established by the Board.
 

The meeting agenda and all pertinent documents shall be available to the press and public at the meetings.
 

No placards or banners will be permitted within the meeting room.

Description: 

The next meeting of the Education Committee is scheduled for:

• Monday, November 2, 2026
• North Hills Administration Center
• Arlene Bender Leadership Center (Boardroom)
• 3:30 p.m.