Rose Tree Media School District
Penncrest High School
Minutes of the March 10, 2014 PTG Meeting
Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 7:02pm.
Welcome: Debbie Saylor-Brown welcomed everyone to the meeting.
Guest Speaker, Mr. James Wigo, Superintendent of Schools:
 Mandates from Harrisburg are changing the way teachers will be evaluated in our district.
A Teacher Effectiveness Program based on a model by Charlotte Danielson will be used
to do teacher evaluations. A description of this model can be found at
http://www.danielsongroup.org/article.aspx?page=frameworkforteaching. Some
highlights of the program include:
o Evaluations will be based on classroom observation, student and school
assessment scores, and how well students do once they pass through a teacher’s
classroom.
o The person doing the evaluation must maintain a relationship with the teacher
throughout the process. This requires a lot of communication between the
appraiser and teacher.
o The teacher’s score will be based 50% on classroom observation, 15% on the
school’s score, and 35% on students’ scores on Keystone Exams and/or other
learning outcomes.
o The four domains of teaching responsibility used for evaluations are planning and
preparation, classroom environment, instruction, and professional responsibilities.
o According to Mr. Wigo, this program could eventually lead to the approval of
merit pay by the Commonwealth.
 PSSA exams will be taken in April. The district is now concerned with the growth of
students, not the percentage of kids above the bar of proficiency. Every student should be
growing at least one grade level every year.
 School performance scores can be found online.
 Penncrest has over 99% of students graduating within 4 years.
 School will be open this summer for enrichment, remedial, and advanced learning.
 There were 290 responses to the iPad survey. The results were overall positive. More
textbooks will be available on the iPads when the publishers catch up to us.
 The district cannot apply to the state to reduce the number of make-up snow days
required. Our days are already used by the district for parent-teacher conference days.
 Penncrest and SLMS will not have to make up the days missed due to power outages
because the elementary schools were in session those days.
Principal's Report (Given by Mr. Gregg):
 Principal Gregg had no new information to add after Mr. Wigo.
 If you have any questions for Principal Gregg, you can email him at rgregg@rtmsd.org.
Secretary's Report: Minutes of the February 10, 2014 PTG meeting were unanimously
approved (motions to approve: Susan Howe and Bob Schultz).
Treasurer's Report: The PTG currently has about a $13,000 cash balance. Close to $6,000 is
expected to be used by the end of the year for expenses and payouts, leaving $7,000 in cash not
yet assigned. The tax return from last year has been filed. Treasurer’s report was unanimously
approved (motions to approve: BJ Spears DeMarcantonio and Leslie Bullitt).
Faculty Report (given by DeAnn Scherer):
From Theresa Long, Physical Education Department
Reminder to parents of 11th grade students: 11th grade PE portfolios were due February 18th. Students
that do not submit by the end of the marking period will not pass PE.
From Craig Snyder, Director of Bands
The Penncrest Wind Ensemble has been selected to perform at the Kimmell Center on May 30th as part of
the inaugural East Coast Concert Band Festival. Our band will have 30 minutes of performance time on
stage and receive a clinic.
From Joe Fuhr, Principal of the Simon Youth Academy
Art
Our students just finished self-portraits. They did a great job! The students are learning Value or Tone
which is shades of lights and darks. Students will then use this knowledge to create a charcoal still life.
Forensic Science II
Students have begun their investigation into the 19th century murder at Old Fields. They have conducted
finger print analysis and are learning about blood typing.
Mythology and Folklore
The students are working on Unit 7, “Comparative Mythology.” The class is learning the role linguists
play in finding the origin of a myth or legend and the underlying structure in all myths. The students will
be able to explain how comparative religion is used to compare the themes of sacred myths and identify
the psychology behind shared symbolism.
Serving the Community
RTMSYA student volunteers worked with the staff of the Middletown Free Library at the Granite Run
Mall organizing over 60,000 books for the Library’s Used Book Sale. The book sale was held Friday,
February 7th and was the biggest sale ever, raising over $8,000. This money will be used by the library to
offset costs.
Employment
Susan Bond from Delaware County Community College gave a presentation to the students on all the
resources at DCCC students can use to seek employment. She discussed different job positions and
compensation for the positions.
Committee Reports:
1) AM Prom (Kathleen Veloso): The silent auction and fashion show were successful with
$10,000 raised. To raise more money, the following restaurant fundraisers are planned:
o Wednesday, April 2nd at Pappone’s Pizzeria
o Monday, April 14th at Iron Hill (20% of food bill)
o Wednesday, April 23rd at Taqueria del Sol (20% of entire bill)
Decorations for the AM Prom are coming along well. No offer of assistance will be
refused!! The senior prom is on May 3rd. We need a junior parent or committee of parents
to do the take-down of the AM Prom @ 5am on May 4th. The AM Prom is open for
preview on May 3rd.
**We need somewhere to store the casino decorations used every year so that we don’t
lose them!!**
Contact Kathleen Veloso at kveloso@verizon.net with any questions or offers to help.
Grade-Level Reports:
9th Grade (Chris Powell): No report.
10th Grade (Susan Howe): The sophomore dance was a success with 333 tickets sold.
11th Grade (Julie Bond): No report.
12th Grade (Kathleen Veloso): AP tests are coming up soon and graduation preparation is
underway.
School Board Meeting Report (February 27, 2014-Provided by Janet Lis):
Presentations and Awards:
 Glenwood Essay Contest Winners - essays to be entered in the American Legion Essay
Contest.
Educational Presentation:
 SLMS Lego Robotic Club demonstration.
School Reports:
 2014 Ring of Honor – John Baker, Candace Finn-Rocha and Don Lambert.


Medical Scholars Club applying as chapter affiliate with HOSA Future Health
Professionals Organization; 17 students participated in BioOlympiad. Club is doing
research for the Annenberg High School Sciences Symposium – topic is sleep disorders.
Two students doing medical internships: Nicollete LaRosa cancer research at Fox Chase
and Alexa Efthimiadis-Budike paid neuroscience research at U Penn.
Art students’ work is displayed at Lima Estates and the Youth Art Month Exhibit at the
PA Dept. of Education Building in Harrisburg.
School Board Reports:
 Legislative – Postles – PA Senate Bill 1085 regarding charter schools is still pending.
 Ibooks approved for Chemistry and Biology.
Legal Report:
 Middletown Township Council granted CNG proposal 1/27, with several conditions,
which have been approved.
 2/18 met with Granite Run Mall owners (old and new) re tax issue for 2013 and 2014.
Hearing was continued until 2/2015, unless settled in the meantime.
Finance:
 Approved contracts for Springfield Country Club for Junior Prom for 2015 and
Concordville Inn for Senior Prom for 2016.
 Approved appointment of David Grossman as DCCC Trustee, and reappointment of
Bernice Clark-Dickerson as DCCC Trustee.
 Approved interagency agreement for medical and psychiatric services with Crozer
Keystone Health System.
 Budget review – Health and retirements benefits increase of 26.4%. Current health plan is
being reviewed. PSERS retirement rate with increase from 16.93% (2013/2014) to
21.40% (2014/2015). Other costs include maintenance equipment replacements, overtime
costs, utility costs and purchase of instructional materials and software.
Operations:
 Capital projects include: Fund 22 includes transfers for future purchase of buses. Also
needed is $375,000 for 12 CNG buses in 2015 (if all grants received). Fund 22
commitments also include $600,000 for 2014/2015 capital projects to go out to bid this
spring. Fund 22 is transfer from General Fund for capital projects; Funds 32, 34, 37 and
39 are bond issues for larger projects. The General Fund contains a $2.5 million
assignment for capital projects.
 Lease with Granite Run Mall for Simon Youth Academy expires 6/30/2014. Alternate
locations are being investigated; Ed Center and Penncrest are being investigated.
Old Business:
 None
New Business:
 Relay for Life will be held on May 18th from 10am to 10pm. This year it will be more
like a carnival experience.
 The February 25th Principal’s Coffee was a big success.
 Two possibilities for the use of the cash in the PTG account were suggested. The first is
to give the lion statue outside of the auditorium a facelift and/or change of location. The
second is to add seating to the courtyard outside of the library for quiet study time or to
use for an outdoor classroom. Principal Gregg thinks this is a great idea.
 PHS Lacrosse Boys team is selling Mulch for $5.00 a bag. Brown or Black mulch is for
sale from Nature's Pride. All you need to do is go to Boosterdepot.com and hit the
Lacrosse link and find MULCH. Delivery is included in the price and discounts for large
orders are available. Don't miss out on this great opportunity and the LAX guys will be
there to deliver the goods!
Meeting Adjourned: The meeting was adjourned at 8:48p.m.
**There will be no PTG meeting in April.**