and we will be getting started. So, thank you Oh lord. All right, I guess we're ready to go. So, good evening everyone and thank you all for your patience as we begin our special school board meeting here this
evening. And always before we get started, I just want to reiterate just as we are preparing for the new school year um that we still um set our um value here as school board and as a district was to respect each other um and we value everyone's voice in time.
So whether we agree or disagree um if it's the board members, our administration or the community and our students, we want to be mindful of what we say out and be respectful to one another. So with that, it is now 5
and I call to order the August 4th, 2026 special school board meeting of the Harrisburg City School District Board of School Directors. If we can please rise for the pledge of allegiance to my left >> and I will lead
>> to the flag nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. And we will now move to our roll call for this evening. So, Madam Secretary, um, can you please call the
role for this evening? Yes. Miss Anderson, present. Mr. Carter. >> Miss Copin, >> present. >> Miss Hughes, >> present. Miss Johnson, >> present. >> Miss Radcliffe,
>> present. Miss Robinson, >> Mr. Roy >> here, >> and Mr. Thompson Leader, I'm sorry. >> Present. >> And Dr. Susky >> present. Thank you. And we have a quorum this evening. >> Uh, thank you, Madam Secretary. So here,
majority of the members here, we now have a quorum to proceed. Um, so we'll start with our approval for the agenda for August 4th, 2026 for the schoolboard meeting. So, I have a motion to approve the agenda for the August 4th, 2026.
Excuse me. My apologies. I mean, I'm moving a little fast. The minutes and then our agenda. So, I have a motion to approve the minutes of the June 30th, 2026 special school on the Keystone agenda. >> So, move to use.
>> Is there a second? Second, Johnson. >> Thank you. The motion has been properly moved and seconded. Madam Secretary, can I have a roll call vote, please? >> Yes. Just give me one moment. If you have an electronic device, it's a for you to vote. Thank you, Madam
Secretary. You're welcome. Okay. So, I'll just call out the rest of the names that I don't have votes for. Mr. Carter. >> Yes. because he was present. Okay. Uh give us one second. Thank you.
Okay. And then Miss Hughes. Yes. Miss Johnson. >> Yes. >> Miss Ratcliffe. >> Yes. and Mr. Roy. >> Yes. >> Thank you.
How many count? >> Yeah. >> Yes. No. Motion pass. >> Thank you, Madam Secretary. So, we have majority addresses. So, that motion will carry for approval. And um just for the
public and for everyone, we actually are using a new system which now will record our votes. so we don't have to call them out um on behalf of our um board secretary. So everyone's vote will be recorded and you will actually be able to see it here live so you can see it
and it's recorded for the record. And now we will move to our agenda approval for this evening. So again, may I have a motion to approve the agenda for the August 4th, 2026 special school board meeting as presented in Keystone agenda?
>> Brian Carter. >> All right. Is there a second? >> Second. Thompson leader. >> Thank you. The motion has been properly moved and seconded. Madam Secretary, the vote is now ready. So we can electronically if you have access to vote and madam secretary for all
additional votes, we would ask you to call them out for the record. >> An email. I'm not dogs. >> Log into what? >> Mr. Carter, your vote.
>> Miss Hughes, yes. Miss Johnson, >> yes. >> Miss Rackcliffe, >> yes. >> Mr. Ray, >> try it. >> Email address.
>> Okay. Circle up. Eight. Yes. Zero. No. Z abstain. >> Thank you, Madam Secretary. Seeing the majority of the Yay. So, that motion will carry for approval. Um, now we'll now move to our public comment section
for this evening. So, Madam Secretary, uh, do we have any public comments for this evening? We do. We do not have any public comments for the agenda item. We have four public comments for general item, not agenda item. Did you want to go ahead and
>> Yeah. So, can we proceed not to this time? Okay. First up is Miss Cook. All right. And if you could state your name and address for the record. And just a reminder, you are limited to three minutes. Thank you. >> Good evening. My name is Melanie Cook and actually I do want to comment on
something that is on the agenda. Uh I came in the hopes that Dr. Stokes would be here because I wanted to be one of the people who recognized her and the work she has done uh for the last several years on behalf of the students of the city of Harrisburg. uh she in my
opinion has been very much the the brains and the heart of the ability to keep the district on track and it is going to be an incredible loss. She quite frankly was someone who I had hoped uh might be the superintendent because that seems to be the track that
gets you to being the state secretary of education which is a role that I hope to see her um take in the future. I don't think many people know how she fought to keep the tax rate at a level that did
not overly burden despite the fact that there were recommendations that were coming from parties that uh pushed for much higher increases. So you should be aware that without her to hold that line, you who are out there as parents and as property owners are going to need
to hold that line on behalf of yourselves and your children. I also want to say um again, we are here tonight for a meeting that's supposed to start at 5:30, starts at 5:41. We want
to hold our children to a standard that says come to school on time, be prepared, and get ready to roll and learn. You have to lead by example. We understand the technology is new, but when we come here on a night where there is yet again a major conflict, this is a
special meeting that was scheduled on the day of the national night out, not just the night out for the city of Harrisburg, but the national night out. So, the parents and the kids who are in the audience today will have to leave this meeting and go to their neighborhoods or go to the farm show in
order to take part. Again, I implore you, like I will do every time I get up here, figure out how to move your meetings so they do not conflict with other things that the public has to do. I am also here to stand before you as someone who lives in the immediate area
of the William Penn demolition project. I and others from my neighborhood met with the Berg magazine after repeated requests to know when the demolition schedule would take place, the methodology used, and what steps would
be taken to ensure environmental harm did not come to our homes and those around us. That is a whole separate meeting which you should have and likely will not. But please know that action has been taken. uh contact has been made with the department of environmental
protection and as a result those of you who don't know there is something posted on the stu the district's website but please know it was not there before the action of private citizens and again to Dr. Stokes, wherever she is, I do truly
wish her the best. >> Thank you, Miss Kirk. And next we have Jen Dodson. And again, if you could state your name and address for the record, and you're allowed three minutes. Thank you. >> Hi, it's uh Jen Dudson, but everybody
does it. Uh it's 3008 Third Street, North Third Street. Uh, I live in the same neighborhood as Melanie. Um, I'm just here because we only found out the week before they started to um work on William Penn and
we had no notice. Uh, it was interesting that there wasn't there weren't cuz usually with the gas companies working in the neighborhood or something, they come around, they they put papers at your door, they have people coming around, but the only way we found out was a gentleman from the uh the DP. His
name was Eli Downey. Uh, and he was the Department of Environmental Justice, which is a He was walking around asking if anyone had questions or concerns. And we're like, "Concerned about what?" You know, but most people didn't had no idea. So,
and he had paperwork that he was handing out to people he saw, but no one else in the neighborhood got the paperwork. I didn't get it. I wasn't there. You know, Melanie was there. another neighbor was up a ladder painting her house, you know, that it was just, you know, so I'm
just wondering is there a way to, you know, communicate a little bit better with the community? And I I haven't talked to anybody below like on on Division Street, like the houses that face out on Division Street on William Penn to see if you know they'd been if
any contact had been made with them either. you know, um I have been in contact with uh Commissioner Justin Douglas to see if he could give me some ideas on how to handle things. Um and also I have uh contact information for Rep. Nate Davidson to talk to him as
well. So just thank you. >> Thank you. And I don't want to butcher is it? [clears throat] >> All right. Is there any other comments? >> Yes. Next we have Rosie Waller. And again, if you could state your name and
address for the record and your line. Thank you. >> My name is Rosie Waller. Um I live 1943 Rudy Road. Um my concerns are just for special education. Um I wrote something cuz I'm like really
nervous. So, but um I could just read that cuz it's going to be less than anyway. Um, I'm the mother of three autistic daughters who attend this district. And I'm here because I no longer feel like my daughters are safe or receiving the education that they're entitled to. Over the last several
years, my daughters have experienced repeated bullying, both physically and emotionally from students and at times staff. Instead of seeing lasted solutions, I've watched problem after problem be ignored or brushed aside. My youngest daughter was dragged out of a bathroom by a teacher. On another
occasion, that same teacher lost track of her. Rather than immediately alerting the school, I received a text message saying that she couldn't find my daughter. That was one of the most terrifying moments of my life as a parent. I never received a meaningful follow-up or explanation.
My middle daughter was bullied so severely that she broke down emotionally at school. She brought that pain home, started speaking negatively about herself, and her grades suffered. She was moved to another classroom, but the bullying continued. The student responsible received little more than a conversation while my daughter continued
to struggle. My oldest daughter was physically assaulted when students threw water bottles at her while a teacher just watched. I have serious concerns that her needs are not being met in general education, that her safety is not being prioritized as a special education student. On top of these
incidents, we have ongoing concerns that our daughter's IEPs are not being followed. Services that were once provided have disappeared. I still have not signed her IEP for May because I disagree with her placement and with the removal of speech therapy. Despite expressing these concerns, I don't feel like anyone has truly listened or worked
with me to find appropriate solutions. Now, she is expected to attend the high school next month. Given everything our family has experienced, I do not trust that she will be safe or that her educational needs will be met. I'm asking this board to recognize that these are not isolated incidents. This
ref reflects a larger problem with how special education students are being supported in this district. And I'm asking for accountability, meaningful changes within the special education department, and for my daughter's needs and safety to be treated as a priority and not as an inconvenience. I also want all appropriate placement options to be
seriously considered so that my daughters can receive a free and appropriate public education in a safe environment. No parent should have to fear sending their child to school. No child should have to endure years of bullying, ignored IEP concerns, or unsafe conditions. is just to receive an education.
>> Wow. Um, thank you, Miss Waller. >> Miss Waller, we will make sure Miss Palmer follow up with you with your concern. >> And next we have Kendra Simpson. If you can state your name and address for the record, and you're allowed three minutes.
>> Yes. Uh, my name is Kendra Simpson. My address is 2962 Heather Place. Um, I also am a special education parent advocate. Uh I'm here because I'm having problems with uh the transition process uh from elementary to middle school,
from middle school to high school. My daughter is actually a classmate and fellow student of Harmony Rivera and um we have not received a lot of assistance as far as finding out the proper accommodations for our children. Uh and
there has not been a lot of um I'm sorry, I lost my train of thought. uh there has not been a lot of uh accommodations for the children that have been made. I have requested that we have a special education open house so that we have just a specialized amount
of time whether it's an hour so that the children and the families can tour the school uh so that it's not a sensory overload for them so that they can we can comfortably get them around let them have a feel of the school so that they can meet their teachers and staff without the crowd of all of the other
students. Um, I was told that that was something that would be discussed, but it has not been carved out yet. So, I'm hoping that the board can assist with that. And also, I was wondering if it would be possible to have a district-wide special education parent group so that we can maybe meet with
questions and concerns uh in a whole uh in an environment where we can all speak from elementary up to high school. uh we feel that a lot of times that our voices are not being heard or the uh questions and concerns are just being pushed aside. It does give you the feeling that
you're being in combatants with the staff instead of working together with the staff. That is my question. That's my concern. That's my statement for today. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Simpson. All right. And um before we move on um
first um my apologies on behalf of this uh news to me because one thing um I always say I'm a parent as well. So I'm not just a board member, I'm a parent. So safety is one of the things that I drive off of. So these is this is why we
do have the board meetings because it's important that when we don't hear these things that we advocate correctly and appropriately to hold everyone accountable because again we are advocates. So we are elected by our community and yes as of our
administration with all respect this is their day-to-day jobs. So when we get it, you do have access to go on to the the Harrisburg School District website. All of the board members emails are available to use appropriately and it's
not that we want to point the finger. We try to get to the problem, right? So, thank you for, you know, taking your um your boldness to speak about it because I think that's what we we sometimes we walk around and think it's good to sweep
stuff under the rug and hide it and live this beautiful life that's not happening, right? And we have to hold everyone accountable just as you spoke um Miss uh um Cook about showing up. And that's why I said it's important to show up and be
here because we all have to be accountable, right? So again, thank you for that. And you know, on behalf of the board, I'm sure others have something to say to it because this is the public comment and this is our meeting. So that's why I like to reiterate this. So we're we here on one side, but we're
we're not there with them dayto-day, but we do want to be aware. So when these hap, you know, issues like this occur, we want to make sure that they are accountable. So, I heard the superintendent to speak on that, but I will make sure you can take our my email address as well that it is followed
through or CC me on it to make sure we follow through cuz we don't get in the weeds because we again are on the community side and the superintendent just that role alone, he handles both sides, right? But he's the driver, you know, to assist. So, again, thank you
for your comments. And with that, I don't know if any members have anything. Uh, [clears throat] thank you for those sentiments. Uh, President Copeland, um, I'd like to ask you to a question. Uh, who did you guys reach out to when you had these concerns? What individuals did
you guys reach out to? And also, was were you guys ever given the proper protocol of who to reach out to with these concerns? Um, our daughters go to Marshall Math and Science Academy, but they're transition into the high school. >> No, that's not I'm asking them a
question. Go ahead. >> Speaking. Go ahead. I apologize. Go ahead. Um both of our uh well they're all sitting back there but um our daughters, the two older ones, they're going to the high school this year cuz they didn't get into DC Tech. Um and uh
we spoke to they went to Marshall Method Science Academy. Same with the my other daughter right there. And that's we spoke we had a um like what was it called? A special autism support >> that we set up. >> That we set up, but no one ever came. It was just me and her. Um, and we would
speak to the teachers, the autism support teachers and Ryan Jones who was the principal there before he went to Camp Curtain. He was there and well sometimes some of the times and he would write all this stuff down. It just seemed like it would just go to that and that's it. And then you go to the high
school and and you speak to I don't know >> Shell Johnson or whatever her name is and you speak to her and there just there was a lot of unsuress and there wasn't a lot that you could actually see when it came to the high school. And I mean, everybody knows that our high school doesn't have the best reputation
>> for safety >> for safety. So to throw them in there and we already have safety issues where we are, it's kind of like it's it's difficult because we we need to know that they're okay. It's a little different when you have special needs
kids. So it's >> Okay. So [clears throat] thank you again. I would recommend to email exactly what you said because I always say you have a trail to follow you because sometimes it's word of mouth and at least that just keeps sometime to follow up and make sure you know we are
holding everyone accountable. >> And just one other thing I wanted to state because it's federal law um both of us were not in uh agreeance with the IEPs for our children. So they were not signed. So they have not been completed. So that's already a regulation
violation. So we we've been trying to get this, you know, resolved before the school year started. Nothing nothing. So I don't know what's happening with that. We don't know what's happening with that. No one's reached out. >> So our like in limbo. >> We'll make sure Miss Palmer will reach out to both of you all to get some
resolution on this for both of you all. >> Thank you. >> So again, thank you. And with that, we're going to second we'll move to our item for this evening. and it will be for the approval or
acceptance for uh Dr. Marshia Stokes. So we have we have an immediate action item, a motion to accept the resignation of Dr. Marshia Stokes effective as the close of business September 14th, 2026 as an immediate action item. So now I'm
going to place the motion on the for floor. So do I have a motion to approve the acceptance of Dr. Marshia Stokes resignation as an immediate action item? Move Thompson leader. Is there a second? >> Second Anderson.
>> Thank you. The motion has been properly so on the online. >> Okay. So the motion has been second. Is there any discussion on the pay
please? All right. And um thank you, President Copeland. Um I just wanted to thank Dr. Stokes for her years of service in the district and for um getting us very far and in a very great
place financially. Um and also just being a really great um source of information. She was someone that I felt that we could go to as a board to get a lot of detailed information about the budget um and to help provide a little bit of guidance as we were under trying
to understand what that budget process looked like. Um and she was an advocate for keeping taxes low which I think we appreciated um as a board as a whole. So want to again thank her for her years of service and uh wish her the best of luck in her new role. Thank you.
>> Thank you Miss Anderson. Is there any other discussion? And I just want to uh add that um I didn't know she would not be here as well, but uh Dr. Stokes, we do appreciate um your time here in the district. uh you played a major role
especially with our financial um comp um and comprehensive plan and things we have to keep in order to actually um stay afloat in this district especially act after exiting our receiverhip
and I can uh publicly announce that um since she's been here she's done her part and I think we got some news recently that are I believe it Let me just Yeah, the bond that we actually
got a report that our district moved from I think it was a a minus to an A. So again that is what that work requires and looks like when you have um you know someone who is accountable and doing the
work. So and then and us hosting or having this meeting was specifically because we received a letter of the resignation. So in order when we have that res resignation, we have to have a special meeting. So that's why this kind
of interfered with the national night out, but we had to make it public and do it timely by law and legal perspective. So the community was aware. So that is why we're here. And with that, again,
like I said, I just wanted to thank her for all she's done. And I wish her well. And with that, if there is no other discussion, we are now the motion. Do I have a motion to approve the
acceptance? Well, I already went through that, so we can go ahead and take the vote. Excuse me. And if you have access to your electronic device, you can go ahead and vote where it is publicly. And for the others who are not able to
vote, Madam Secretary will call out. >> Mr. Carter, >> yes. >> Miss Johnson, >> yes. Miss Rackcliffe. >> Yes.
>> Mr. Roy. >> Yes. >> Eight. Yes. Zero. No. Z abstain. >> Thank you, Madam Secretary. Hear a majority of yeses. So that motion will carry for approval. And uh we'll now uh
move to our well we already handled all the public comments for this evening. So now we have to complete the business on our agenda. So we need to motion to adjourn out to our board retreat. So is there a motion to adjourn our special
school board meeting and reconvene as a board retreat? >> So moved. Anderson. >> There a second. >> Second. Hughes. >> All in favor signify by saying I. >> I I.
>> Those opposed. Meeting is now adjourned. >> Very worried about therapist. Thank you. Yeah. Hold on.