Souderton Area School Board to Begin Recording Committee Meetings After Residents’ Request

John Worthington | The Reporter•

The Souderton Area School Board Thursday evening, Feb. 22, approved a policy to begin recording committee meetings.

The move follows repeated requests from parents and community members for greater transparency surrounding board proceedings, particularly committee meetings. The current policy only allows for recordings of board action meetings, which are posted on the district website for 30 days.

Under the new policy, all committee and board action meetings will be recorded and archived on the district website for one year.

While expressing gratitude for the policy, residents characterized the changes as insufficient, requesting livestreaming and indefinite storage of all board meetings.

"If I can store board meetings indefinitely, I fail to understand why the board cannot,” said Corrine DeGeiso of Telford. "While this is a step in encouraging more community involvement, the board needs to consider that these steps do not meet the needs of all members of our community.”

"I would ask that a committee of parents, taxpayers and maybe some students be put together to look at this policy and discuss live streaming for the betterment of the community,” said Victor Verbeke, a former school board member.

Residents also requested that presentations and other materials be included as attachments to meeting minutes and agendas.

"These are public records that taxpayers are entitled to see without the extra burden of making a special request or sending a right-to-know request after the fact,” said Alex Wisser of Upper Salford.

Fundraiser a Success

Student representative Emelia Messina reported on some recent school events, including the Polar Plunge fundraiser at Citizens Bank Park that raised $10,000 for the Special Olympics, the Teacher in the Workplace event and the beginning of the indoor color guard and percussion groups’ competitive seasons.

Messina also detailed an upcoming pep rally on March 15 in preparation for the high school’s first Red v. White competition, in which students will compete against each other in games, relays and other events over the course of two evenings. Additional events include a Rock Band fundraiser on February 27, Music in our Schools on March 6, a Fifth Grade Expo on March 19 and a Jazz Band Festival on March 22.

In his report, Superintendent Frank Gallagher applauded the high school academic decathlon team’s sixth eastern Pennsylvania regional championship victory and the girls’ wrestling team’s victories in the Suburban One League championship and the District One Team championship. He also noted that student artwork will be displayed at the Indian Valley Public Library from March 11 to 15 and welcomed Joe O’Hara as the district’s new Coordinator of Community Education.

In addition, the board played a video about calming corners, an initiative to address mental and behavioral wellness in classrooms by providing a designated spot where elementary students can learn how to manage their emotions.

The next Souderton school board meeting is on March 26 at 7 p.m. For more information, visit soudertonsd.org.

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