The Conewago Valley school board held a special meeting Monday evening to discuss 2026-27 handbook changes and multiple construction delays at Conewago Township Elementary School.
2026-27 school handbooks
School board members talked about ways to extend the review and discussion period from the time handbook changes are presented until they are up for a vote.
Board member William Getz requested more time for the board to have to review proposed changes, saying there is not sufficient time to review “literally hundreds of pages of documentation” before the vote.
Dr. Wesley Doll, assistant superintendent for the district, said administration attempted to bring changes earlier this year compared to last year in response to prior board feedback, adding that the board can review only the areas with changes rather than reading entire handbooks every year.
“And then we try to bring you highlighted sections to make it easier for you to zero in, right, knowing that what you approved the previous year is exactly the same and you’re just approving some of the additions or things that were deleted or verbiage that was changed because of law or when it’s ever come down from the state policy,” Doll said.
Getz suggested the board adjust their meeting schedule by a week next year in order to allow more time for board members to read the handbooks.
Board president Jeffrey Kindschuh said the change would work if the board agreed but asked the directors to evaluate whether they would truly use the extra week for review.
Kindschuh said he spent about 3 to 4 hours reviewing handbook changes for this meeting.
Superintendent Sharon Perry said delaying handbook approval would mean parents and caregivers would not have access to Sapphire until they are approved.
The board agreed to vote to approve the handbooks on Monday night but review the changes more thoroughly and submit questions and comments by July 23.
If necessary, the board will discuss the handbooks in more depth during the upcoming study session in August. Should the board wish, Kindschuh said the committee of the whole policy subcommittee could meet in the future for further discussion to start providing feedback for next year.
Perry said the board can always consider handbook changes outside of summer.
“I don’t view this as a finite document,” Perry said. “It’s something that, upon review, even beyond a vote, that’s always open season for the board to bring up any concerns in any of the handbooks at any time, and then certainly we can make any changes that the board deems important and that administration support.”
Construction updates
Perry said construction at New Oxford Elementary School is going smoothly but work at Conewago Township Elementary has run into significant delays.
According to Perry, recent power issues delayed electric, HVAC and plumbing work. The discovery of previously unknown above-ground water lines have also posed a hazard as the pipes may burst during the winter.
Finally, uncovering old fuel lines during excavation on July 2 caused additional delays.
Perry said the lines are probably leaking and will take days to dig out as the district works with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Should soil testing return a positive result for oil, the project will be delayed for up to a month for remediation.
York College Community Opportunity Scholarship Program
Doll said the York College Community Opportunity Scholarship Program that three Conewago Valley students participated in was a success.
Doll said the program was intended to be a “summer jumpstart” for students intending to attend York College.
Recently, Doll said he attended a presentation that showcased what the students worked on over the past five weeks.
“I was pretty impressed that they were taken and learned about professional dress,” Doll said. “They were actually taking them out to stores, they actually purchased clothing, and then they were actually wearing that during this presentation. So they learned about professional dress, how to go shopping for professional dress, they learned about dinner and then having conversations at the dinner table without cell phones, which is probably a unique experience for them.”
Doll said students were also taught time management skills, how to change car tires, performed community service and made friends with other future York College students.
Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation
Doll said the district applied for and received grants from the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation to add STEM labs to schools in the district.
While New Oxford Elementary and Conewago Township Elementary school will not receive STEM labs immediately due to construction, Doll said talks are underway to try to incorporate them in the future.
Doll said the district will receive training, furniture and more for the labs. There will be no cost for the district.
The only obligation for the district is to complete annual surveys about the use of the programs, such as whether the schools use in-person labs students visit or mobile materials on carts.
AI considerations
Perry said district administration discussed AI during their retreat in June.
“Our goal is to keep the adults safe, the teacher safe, the students safe, and to put those parameters in place as a district and those boundaries of academic integrity,” Perry said. “Those seem to be the two main areas that worry school districts and parents and teachers the most, so that will be the focal point for the 2026-27 school year. A lot of their training and discussions about the landscape of AI was educating us even more than the fact that we know that it exists.”
The board recently adopted a policy on artificial intelligence. Perry said there are dangers to AI but also useful tools.
“There are, of course, with any new technology or advancement, there are positives to that, that we would like to optimize as a school district, and there are darker sides to that technology,” Perry said. “We want to rein those in to the point that we’re protecting the privacy and security of our students and staff at all times and that our board policy reflects that, which it does, which I appreciate.”
Perry said Dr. Ollie Dreon, a professor and AI specialist, went to the retreat and will meet with staff and faculty on Aug. 11 for the district’s opening day.
“He came to our administrative retreat and he’ll be here on opening day to talk about the landscape of AI and what that means in schools and how to equip our faculty and staff for navigating that as it’s everywhere – it’s on our phones, it’s on our computers, personal and in business, etc,” Perry said.
ACTI
Perry said three out of five area school districts approved an Adams County Technical Institute (ACTI) resolution agreeing to the purchase of property for a new building.
One district voted against the resolution but is reconsidering the issue while the other tabled the discussion, Perry said.
At present, Perry said moving forward with the land purchase will have to wait for the two remaining votes.
The Conewago Valley school board will hold a study session and voting meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3.
A regular public voting meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 10.
In September, the meetings will be delayed one week due to Labor Day. The study session will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 14 and a regular voting meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21.
