The Upper Adams School District will take a closer look at how it communicates with Spanish-speaking families after Board President Tricia Plank raised a series of questions Tuesday about translation services, cultural barriers, and whether Spanish fluency should be considered when hiring administrators.
The board also approved the hiring of Brock Asper as athletic director at Biglerville High School, replacing Anthony Graham. Plank abstained from the vote, while the other recorded votes were in favor.
The discussion about Spanish-speaking families came during the Aug. 18 school board meeting as the board considered the Upper Adams Middle School plan for the 2026-27 school year.
Plank said about one-third of the district’s student body comes from Spanish-speaking households and asked whether the district has considered including Spanish fluency in job descriptions for new administrative positions where communication with parents is an essential responsibility.
She also asked the administration to provide information about how frequently interpretation and translation services are used for parent outreach, telephone calls, disciplinary conferences and Individualized Education Program meetings.
Plank questioned the training and qualifications of people currently providing translation and interpretation services, including whether they are certified interpreters and whether the district has a formal process for vetting them. She specifically asked about translators’ knowledge of educational matters such as assessment reporting, PSSA testing, IEP and 504 procedures, and disciplinary due process.
The questions went beyond translation itself.
The district’s Additional Targeted Support and Improvement plan identifies home-school connections as a barrier for its English-language learner subgroup. Plank said cultural differences can also affect communication between schools and families.
She said that for some Spanish-speaking families, showing deference to school authorities can be considered a sign of respect, meaning that a parent may nod or smile even when the parent does not understand or agree. She asked how district employees are trained to distinguish between expressions of respect and actual consent and understanding.
Plank also raised the issue of parents who may have limited literacy in their home language. She asked whether the district is using oral and visual communication methods, including video messages, infographics, direct telephone calls and home visits, to make sure families understand information rather than simply receiving translated written materials.
She also asked how the district is using community and faith-based organizations to help reach parents.
Finally, Plank asked whether the district solicitor has been consulted about whether Upper Adams could legally require Spanish fluency for new administrative hires when communication with parents is an essential part of the job. She asked whether the board could receive legal guidance on the issue if the solicitor has not already been consulted.
Plank emphasized that she was not raising the questions in opposition to the middle school plan.
She praised Superintendent Todd Dishong and the administrative team for their work and said the questions were intended to come from a position of partnership and support. She asked that administrators have time to prepare responses rather than answering the questions off the cuff during the board meeting.
Plank said she intended to support the plan and asked that her questions be addressed more fully at a future Curriculum Committee meeting.
The board subsequently approved the middle school plan.
The hiring of Asper was considered separately from the rest of the district’s personnel actions at Plank’s request. Personnel Committee Chair Loren Lustig identified Asper as the new athletic director at Biglerville High School, replacing Graham. Plank abstained when the board voted on the hire. The remaining personnel items were then approved in a separate vote.
The personnel report also included job descriptions for human resources coordinator and payroll coordinator, several supplemental contracts, volunteers and substitute personnel.
The board also approved several FFA trips and supported creation of an account for Cups of Kindness, a program at the intermediate school that gives life-skills students experience operating a small business. Students in the program take drink orders, fill the orders and keep track of supplies and other aspects of the operation. According to the board discussion, the program has been operating for about three years. The requested account would allow the program’s funds to be handled through a subaccount associated with the principal’s account.
The district also acted on several policies.
Policy 607, dealing with tuition income, was approved with a typographical correction specifying that services will be terminated when payment is more than 30 days overdue. During discussion, a board member noted that the district currently has no students who are out of district and therefore the policy is not currently being used, but that could change.
The board also moved forward with Policy 619 concerning district audits. Discussion centered on language emphasizing the public’s right to inspect district financial records.
Policy Committee Chair Matthew Lustig proposed restoring language stating that the board recognizes the public’s right to access district records, including public financial records. During discussion, another board member noted that the policy already states that the public has a legal right to inspect and obtain copies of the district’s annual financial audit.
Lustig said retaining the additional language would be a matter of goodwill and would make the district’s commitment to public access more explicit. It was also noted that the district’s audits are posted on its website.
Policy 918, covering Title I parent and family engagement, was also approved.
Earlier in the meeting, Superintendent Todd Dishong said the district was prepared to welcome students back for the 2026-27 school year.
Dishong thanked administrators, secretarial staff, transportation employees, buildings and grounds staff and food-service personnel for their work over the summer preparing for the opening of school.
Teachers and staff had returned to a breakfast sponsored by the Canner Foundation and a welcome-back program featuring district band, chorus and cheerleading students. Fall sports were also getting underway.
The board also heard an update on the Cumberland Perry Area Career and Technical Center. Board representative Loren Lustig reported that a major construction project is adding about 55,000 square feet to the existing 130,000-square-foot facility, an increase of roughly 45%.
Lustig said the project costs approximately $24.7 million, with about $1.2 million obtained through grants. The center received $206,000 for an automotive painting booth and related equipment.
He also reported that the center expects to add a Fire and Rescue course of study incorporating firefighting and emergency medical training. The center was also seeking an instructor for its certified nursing assistant program, which Lustig said serves 80 students.
The board approved its financial reports and payment of bills during the meeting. The treasurer’s report included the financial report and condensed board summary through June 30, the food service fund statement through July 31 and the student activity fund report through June 30.
The next Policy Committee meeting is scheduled for Sept. 1 at 5 p.m., followed by the Curriculum and Extracurricular Committee at 6:30 p.m. and the Business and Operations Committee after the curriculum meeting.
The next regular Upper Adams School Board meeting is scheduled for Sept. 15 at 7 p.m.