001Okay, we'll call the meeting to order at 7:07. If we could have everyone rise for the pledge of allegiance. Thank you and we appreciate your patience for the few minutes we were late in executive session. Um Mr. Ramirez, you have roll call. Okay. Next we have um we also would like to say that we have Mrs. Xando Dennis on the line. Um next we have superintendence report. >> Good evening everyone. Today we're going to start our meeting as we've had to do too many times this year with a moment of silence. Unfortunately, we lost one of our high school teachers, um, Mr. Shane Llamus, who taught in our district since 2004, both at our middle school and most of his career at our high school as a learning support teacher. Mr. Dr. Llamus was well
002beloved by the staff and students and was a hard worker who dedicated tremendous amount of time both in and out of the classroom and had great impact on um the students that he worked with but also his colleagues and community and certainly will be missed as we move forward into the new year. Um you know our thoughts and prayers are out with his family. Every loss you know is a is a challenge and difficult. Um at this particular loss, there are three, you know, three children who are also students within our district. And so, um, you know, our our hearts and prayers go out to their family as they mourn the loss of their husband and father. So, and for us, our colleagues. So, if you'll take a moment of silence, please. Thank you. I
003only have two uh two items today. One short update on the agenda this evening. You will see a new proposed 2526 school calendar. The majority of that calendar has remained the same, but there is one change on that which affects four dates and those are four dates um for uh inservice time for the middle school specific. So there will be be four days in that calendar that you'll notice that are now indicated as inservice days for our middle school. And so certainly take a look at that if you have middle school students. Um you know I'll say this to our viewing audience as well. If you have middle schools, you know, students, just note that those have changed and been added to the agenda so that more time can be spent on professional development with
004uh that group of teachers. Um that is based on some of their u needs and our state designation for support for that staff and our education of the students at our middle level. So that is the change you'll see on that calendar. My other piece today is we're going to invite, you know, our friends from Alloy 5 to join us and give a a brief overview. Again, I think it was two weeks ago, we had our ad hoc high school committee meeting of which is a public forum and we had some members from our public here as well as mo many members of our board um that heard a full presentation. So, the intent behind these little presentations are just to give a quick overview. Certainly not the full presentation is that as that was
005about a two, you know, two hours plus meeting and so we certainly aren't going to recapture that whole piece this evening, but that was recorded. It is part of our YouTube channel where all of our other meetings are found. So those of you who may want to go back and review the full content, you certainly may do that. Um, but with that, I'll pass it to to Josh if you have any further um introductions. Otherwise, we can >> No, Bill, I just want to welcome Mike uh from CHA is here as well tonight. Jamie, I see you too. and Randy. So, thank you for everybody for being here. And Bill, I was not here at that meeting, so tonight is exciting. I get to see you for the first time. So, all right, Mike. >>
006Uh, good evening everyone. Uh, pleased to give a brief update from our ad hoc meeting two weeks ago and the schematic design process for the new high school. So, first slide is just a brief schedule of where we were, where we are, and where we're going. a lot of line items there, but what to focus on the green line is obviously today. And the VE items or value engineering design items are are due today from members of the public and the board, our design team, too. So, I hope everyone uh did their homework and can send those uh VE items in if they haven't done so already. Um, brief project update and value engineering review. The uh the kickoff meeting was two weeks ago and uh as I said, the worksheets were due today. Another
007two weeks we will have our third a ad hoc public planning meeting where we'll have an opportunity to review each of those worksheets and line items and also have an opportunity to challenge and discuss each of those items and see what we want to incorporate uh into the project. Go to the next slide please. So yeah, uh two weeks ago the ad hoc meeting 204 was held and we conducted our VE kickoff presentation uh outlining the process which had been ongoing and will conclude in about a month's time. Uh the worksheets are due today and we also reviewed the uh project phasing and schedule uh noting that the first phase which is uh site work and athletic work uh baseball softball fields is under consideration to be fasttracked for a 2026 start date. Uh we
008shared an updated project budget that broke down the uh the building cost by construction division and that estimate and budget will get more refined as the schematic design process turns into design development. Uh the design team met on site to continue coordination of the baseball and softball relocation and that process is ongoing with our civil engineer collars. Uh they've been out on site for the past two weeks and are wrapping up this week with the site geotechnical investigation. They've been doing borings and uh test pits to investigate the existing site. The next slide. So just a brief update and kind of overview of what value engineering is. What we discussed at our ad hoc meeting two weeks ago. The primary goal of value engineering is to increase the value uh of the project. So that's
009you can kind of think of that as a a math equation of function quality, performance, and community all added up divided by construction cost. But not just that, also the life cycle cost. Bigger the number so to speak, the bigger the value to the project. So it's not just about we're not necessarily looking at cutting budget, it's about maximizing the value to teachers, students, staff, and the project as a whole. Uh next slide. Uh just a review of the schedule. Uh we're kind of right in the the meat of it right now. And so over the next two weeks, we're going to take all those ideas that have been generated by the different team members and put them in a big old spreadsheet to review at our workshop meeting in two weeks. So that'll be
010a pretty exciting meeting where we get to go line by line and see what really works to make the school a better place. And then and uh two weeks from that, we will review the results of those highly scored items and uh present a presentation to that ad hoc meeting. Uh the next slide. Uh so just briefly >> I'm sorry because I just looked I just leaned over to Josh in our meeting in there. So the one date on there that is incorrect um was probably adjustment from original is we do not have a board meeting on August 26th. So we'll have to adjust that date about that later. But >> uh so just briefly the next steps for value engineering uh this is from our second ad hoc meeting. So those uh those packets
011were distributed and everyone has had a chance to to review and send in those worksheets and uh we'll be discussing them in another two weeks time. Uh can't go with a board update without reviewing the the latest budget. So this is the live budget we've been working with for the past couple months and I hope everyone's getting tired of seeing it because in a couple more weeks once the schematic design process is reaching a conclusion uh there'll be a fully updated budget. uh that'll be reviewed for at the end of the schematic design. Uh the budget is getting more detailed on the next slide where we're starting to break it down by uh construction division. Uh it's a little tough to read on the screen, but basically this takes the hard construction costs and breaks
012it down into HVAC, plumbing, site work, finishes, structure, all the different components of a building as we start to see uh how this building is going to shake out. Uh so just very briefly, the VE process never ends. We're going to be continuing to look at how to maximize value for the project even after this formal process is over in a couple weeks. Uh we were just meeting today with LA5 and Collers talking about uh things we don't have answers yet. For example, on the site end of things, uh we can't determine exactly uh what and where the retaining walls are, but we're going to be looking at what materials we're going to be using for that just to make sure we're using the right material in the right place. Just one brief example of
013how we'll be continuing to look at value engineering moving forward. Um, so with that, I will turn it over to Bill and Jamie from Alloy 5. >> Thanks, Mike. Um, so we're going to go ahead to the next slide. Uh, I'm not going to read each one of these. We've shown them um to the board before, but they're important to keep in your mind as we go through the value engineering process and understanding of what we're doing and what we're taking away from the school or adding to the school that we always go back to our guiding principles and our design requirements. And um the first one really the common space is the main hub or the heart of the school. Something we're going to look at right now. So if we go ahead one
014slide, Mike was talking about the site plan. So on the left side you can see um the two relocated baseball well one relocated baseball field and a relocated softball field in the practice fields. Um there's also a fieldhouse um out there and a and another practice field that will be making uh new grass baseball field. Um the road that goes around the back of the school and then all of the roadways and parking um that are attributed to the school. So the parking is uh sitting up very nicely at the front doors uh limiting the amount of time that people have to walk to the building. If we go to the next slide. Um so last time we talked about the library uh and about the gymnasium. Uh and a space that really is the
015heart of the school um sort of unifying the whole ground floor is right here. And then we call that the commons. The Commons is right off of the main kitchen and servery and it's also right off of the main gymnasium. So, it's the space that absorbs the 3,000 people who can get into that gymnasium when they walk out that door. So, halftime or uh before game or after game, that's the space that everyone kind of hangs out. And it's a if we go to the next slide, it's a um a twostory space. This is the lower level. Um this wall here looks out into the courtyard. Uh you can see the courtyard and the plan view over there and then the gymnasiums along here. The key to this space is is serving lunch to students
016but also that it's activated as an academic zone. Um so it's surrounded by the two wings of the academics which allows it to be used by the students um in the time that it's not being used for lunch. And uh one of the key features and flexibility is that this zone here is all fold away um furniture. So that space could then host a prom or have a marketplace or have a science fair. Very dynamic uh and useful space to a large school. And if we go to the next slide, directly above that um you come in off of the main parking lot. I'm losing my you come in off the main parking lot here uh and there's a little gathering area. Again, that's for breakout from the uh gymnasium which could have up to
0173,000 people, but also for the students on that level. It's a little bit like an airport uh sort of lounge touchdown space with different types of furniture for collaboration. If we go to the next slide, these are just pictorial views. So, we're standing uh in the corner. In the background over here, you see the entrances to the gymnasium on the upper level, entrance on the bottom level. Back there's the kitchen. There's two classrooms here. And then this is the wall, the courtyard. So, this is the main seating area of of furniture that can be moved out of the way. And then that space can do many things. And the perimeter seating is fixed and that has like the garbage and the tray return and all those things. But it also offers a variety of seating
018for students when they want to collaborate. If we go to the next slide, it's just more of an internal view. So you're kind of with your back to the gymnasium looking down the main hall on the right and then across the commons cafeteria in the middle out to the courtyard. So, the very nice window onto the courtyard which brings natural light deep into the plan and at the same time allows a connection to outdoor space, a safe connection and a safe space that can be utilized. If we go to the next slide, Jaime's going to walk us through um circulation and the academic commons are very important spaces. So, again, we're trying to increase the learning per square foot. >> Uh hi everyone. So um as Bill said another set of um commons are these
019more academic common spaces. So we have these um pull out small groupoup instruction um open and closed spaces that the students can gather at that are more with the e within the eb and flow of the academic wing. So as you can see in this view we're talking about these two spaces here. um one is a a space that is has four walls but one wall can be opened up to the hallway and the other is a um more open collaborative space right at the nexus of that intersection. Um this length of academic corridor is the you know the kind of arm that comes out on the site and this is from the main drag coming up from the main entrance. So that's at a very important nexus point um in the school. Next slide.
020So this is a pictorial view again of what that may look like. So you can see we have um an opportunity to open this interior space up into the hallway um to get some collaboration zones with different groups of students um and inc or increase the size of the group that's within that space. Um, you can see AB above this is on the third floor. So, we're able to pop up the roof, get a little bit of clear story light, and bring the natural light into what seems like a pretty interior zone in that building. Um, to make sure that we have adequate daylighting there. Um, another thing you'll see here in at this corner is some glass into the room that's off the hallway there. Um, since that one is more interior and more
021enclosed, we want to bring in a lot of that natural light. Um, and I know at the ad hoc meeting we've been talking about, you know, how much glass is there? Is it all the way, you know, up above kids heads? Is it halfway? So, that's one of those things that, you know, we'll acknowledge during that VE process. You can go to the next slide. So, this is just another direction. Um, looking at that corner classroom again with that that glass here. Um, but you can see how, you know, a busy intersection here. Really, you have space for students who need somewhere to go for a a break period or a lunch period. They can come here and sit here and work and be still in the eb and flow of everyone. Go to the
022next slide. Um, so another one of those spaces that we're looking at, this is on the ground floor um within the arts classrooms and the uh manufacturing labs is this room in the middle right here. Um, we had denoted this to be a small group instruction room, but we're going to turn it over more to um, the art and manufacturing department and turn it into a gallery space. If you can go to the next slide. So, giving the opportunity to again have these doors open up, have access from the corridor, not only for the students in the school, but also the public um, because we can shut down the building right past that at that point. um and open this up to to uh the general public to see what you know the kids are
023doing in those classrooms. Um and again you know we're looking at some glass some glass at some of those manufacturing labs to you know see what is going on in those spaces but again trying to pull the natural light deeper into the building into those interior spaces. So um this is the the our proposed design uh and construction schedule more condensed version. We've had a lot of big, you know, phasing um versions for the construction, but we wanted to show you, you know, this is where we're at at this point right here at board update. Um we're nearing the end of our schematic design with the end of August um submitting the package and beginning to um look at design development. And we also added here, which may look different from last time, above is
024our um athletics uh timeline because that phase is going to happen prior to the high school being constructed. So, we wanted to add the land development for those pieces as well to the schedule. So, yeah, we're short and brief. if anyone has any questions. >> So, just like I know it's there in print, but just to highlight um really what you're looking for the board to approve the next board meeting which is August 12th. Yes. We may need to regroup a little bit because of that August 26th date. You know, obviously somewhere along the line we had a change. >> Yeah. >> So, I don't know if you want to just maybe reiterate to the board what we'll be looking for them to approve and certainly during the ad hoc meeting on the 5th, we'll
025go through that. But just so the board has a little idea. >> Um so what you so you can see there it says approval schematic design and plan con A and B. So um because this is a new school building the department of education um requires us to have an act 34 process. Um which is a process that you go through with any type of new construction or any construction that is over 20% of the overall building area. Um so A and B are the first two sections as part of this process. So, we'll have, you know, a quick approval of those pieces of the process, and those pieces will continue on, and we'll ask for further approvals as we get closer to the act 34 hearing in January. >> Will that August 12th um
026vote include the the um uh the weird word just went right out of my head, but the the phasing of the baseball fields, the updated timeline for the baseball fields, will there be an approval needed at that point for that? >> Um approval. >> No. >> Okay. >> We'll be showing updating the group 29th with the baseball field. >> Okay. Okay. Thank you. >> And then I do have a question Jamie or or Mike maybe. Uh, so being that we don't have any board meeting on August 26th and that was going to be the the VE presentation, is that acceptable to push back to the board meeting in September or is there a need for another meeting or just trying to understand because we don't have that meeting scheduled, >> right? Yeah, there's no specific
027need to have it on August 26. That was just a natural progression of those dates. But if we need to push the the final approval back a couple weeks or a month, that that's no problem. the the VE process basically we're just kind of all accepting what have been discussed and then as more items come up through those uh typical design meetings that we have bi-weekly they can be added as necessary so that's no problem >> appreciate that >> do we I was not aware that we had an ad hoc meeting on August 19th was that at one was that so that is on the calendar I add that to my calendar okay because the initial announcement was I thought for three meetings Yeah. So there is an ad hoc meeting in this schedule schematic
028design schedule on August 19th. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Right. >> Well, thank you very much. We do have it on the 5th and the 19th. We'll clarify that for the public and the board. In my calendar, I have the 19th as the VE. Same thing that I had on the 26th, actually. So, I probably landed two places, but we'll we'll make sure that's clear to the public and the board. If there are any questions from the board. Okay, that concludes my report for today. Thank you very much. All right. Next, we'll move on to reports. All right. Colonial Intermediate Unit 20, Mr. Snyder. >> Yes. Uh real quickly here, um I did send out the link to the uh newsletter back on June 25th. So that should be in your inbox. Uh and just
029two things to note. Uh bear with me here on what they what they are. Uh two IU students had received awards. Both of them attend Easton. um for the Pennsylvania Association of IUs, the Rosetta Conference and Charlotte Nasaka Natka of Easton received the PA APA IU Ambassador Award. And at the um we had another student in in the district, Tristan Rice, uh who was a recipient of the Donald H. um Marsh Memorial Fund Award as as well. and uh Tristan is in electrical construction technology. Uh there is no meeting in July. So the next report will probably be of the August meeting which would report of course would be in September. And that concludes the report. >> Thank you Brian. Uh East Public Library see >> Mrs. H. I don't think there's anyone here from
030the library but if I could just take a minute. >> Absolutely. Um, I was at the library yesterday and I picked up their brochure for their museum passes and I just want to put out a plug for that. Again, it's the time of summer where people might be looking for something to do with their kids and there are um more than a dozen um museum passes that are available. They usually will cover an entire family. Everything from the Constitution Center to local things like the Industrial History Museum. So, there's a lot of great stuff there if you need a way to fill some time over the next month before school starts. >> Thanks. Thank you. Okay. Career Institute of Technology. We did not have a meeting in July, so the next one will be for
031August. Um, Northampton Community College. Mr. Bay is not here this evening. Is there anyone from the community college? Not seeing anyone. All right. Next we have the Foundation for Eastern Schools, Miss Seago. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh so no um uh formal written report for you this month, but I do want to highlight that the foundation has hired a new executive director who started July 1st. Um Miss Ashley Cra. She's off to a terrific start already. Um I'm very much looking forward to uh the work that she's going to be doing. she is sort of pairing this job with another part-time job for another foundation in a different area that also is focused on education. So, she's bringing a tremendous amount of experience with her. Uh we also have four new uh foundation board members
032who will be joining us in September. And I also just really want to take a minute to thank um you know the core group of people who have been helping the foundation over the last six months or so as we as we have sort of been transitioning um both community members and district employees uh Dave Wood Jacob Rugles um Tyrie Blair and then Trish Shenik, Tanya Oaks, Mrs. Piaza and myself um it's really important um you know especially those community volunteers really thankful for the work that they have done. So I'm very excited um to um have much to report for the foundation in the upcoming months. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Any association reports? Eastary Education Association PTA. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Well, Charlestrren, there's no report, so we're okay with that.
033Thank you. Um no association reports either. No. All right. Moving on. Then we have public to be heard on agenda items. Is there anyone in the public who would like to be heard on agenda items? Please come to the podium. Sign in. You have five minutes. All right. Seeing none, moving on. Executive session. East Area School District held the following executive sessions on June 24th regarding safety, legal, personnel, and negotiation matters. All right. Next, we'll be moving on to personnel. If everybody's okay with it, I will read through them. But if we can do A through Q and then I will do R. All right. A motion to approve the substitute staff placement agreement as presented. We have B. Motion to elect the 202526 spring coaching appointments as presented. C. Motion to elect the 202526
034winter coaching appointments as presented. D. Motion to elect the 20 2526 volunteer coaching appointments, the 2025 26 intramural sports programs, and the removal of the 2025 26 volunteer coaches as presented. We have E. Motion to approve the 2025 2026 athletic department workers and salaries as per attached. We have F um motion to approve the following resignations as presented. G motion to approve the following leave of absences as presented. H motion to approve the following administrative transfers as presented. Okay, sorry it's a little long. I uh motion to approve the following voluntary transfer as presented. J. Motion to elect the following professional contract as presented pending receipt of all forms and documents required by the district. K. Motion to elect the following temporary professional employee contracts TPE as presented pending receipt of all forms and documents
035required by the district. L motion to elect the following LTS long-term substitutes as presented pending receipt of all forms and documents required by the district. Motion to elect the following support staff as presented pending receipt of all forms and documents required by the district. N motion to elect the following coaches as presented pending receipt of all forms and documents required by the district. O. Motion to elect the following volunteer coaches presented pending receipt of all forms and documents required by the district. P. Motion to elect the following summer employees as presented pending receipt of all forms and documents as required by the district. And Q, summer employees. Motion to elect the following summer employees as presented pending receipt of all forms and documents required by the district. motion. >> Is there any questions or discussion?
036>> Okay, that was a lot. So, I wanted to give everybody time. Uh, all in favor? >> Any opposed? >> Uh, no. On G and K. >> Okay. And I will abstain on B and E. All right. Next, we will go to R. Motion to approve the collective bargaining agreement between the Eastern Area School District and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, AFL CIO, District 33, Local 1881, Administrative Professionals, Effective July 1, 2025 through June 30th, 2028. Motion >> second. Is there any questions or discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay. >> I just I just want to say thank you to everyone who that was able to pull this together and make it all work for the for everyone. Thank you. >> Okay. Okay, next we'll move on
037to academics and we have a motion to approve the revisions to the 20252026 school calendar as presented. B motion to approve the class of 2025 graduation list as presented. C. Motion to approve conference request as presented. D. Motion to approve elementary and secondary field trips request as presented. E. Motion to approve Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 letter of agreement for Title One Services as presented. And F. Motion to approve Community Services for Children, Inc. Collaborative agreement contract for services as presented. >> Is there any questions or discussion? >> Is there a cost associated with the CSC contract. >> There's not. >> Okay. Any other questions or discussion? All in favor? >> Any opposed? >> Okay. Next, we'll move on to athletics. Uh, a motion to approve the purchase of athletic equipment as presented. This is using
038St. Luke's funds. >> Any questions or discussion? All in favor? >> Any opposed? All right, we will move on to budget and finance. A motion to approve financial matters as presented. Treasure treasures report general fund revenue and expenditure reports. Monthly student activity statements middle school and high school. The bill register regular and AC general fund special activities capital projects and food services. We have B. Actually, I take that first. Oh, I'm sorry. >> Second. Do I need a second? >> Second. >> Any questions or discussion? >> I have a a couple questions on the uh the bills on the uh CHA consulting. It says MS Rener N O R $40,000. What is that for? There's another one for the roof repair the services for that roof. See, it was for the roof. >> Yeah, I
039would have to to look at that invoice, but I would assume it would be for the middle school roof replacement. So it would be their their fees or their ongoing fee with the associative project >> and then it might be because there's another one for middle school roof repair for CHA. So at 28,000 so I didn't know what the 40,000 unless it was just two invoices. >> Yeah. >> I did not see those invoices. So >> I'll have to double check. >> I'm just guessing. >> Um I know they they were there. They were designing that you know along the way as you know. Um but as far as whether it was one invoice split into two or two that I don't know. Um, that's all I had in the bill. >> Okay. Um, all
040in favor oop, sorry. >> On the the reports as part of this motion as well, right? The finance reports. >> Okay. >> All obey. So, we received the um June 30th final numbers, I guess, on the reports. And I just Jack, if you I just like some clarification. Um so, the report is showing $20 million uh over the budget. Uh expended $20 million over the budget. Um but the revenues are also more than anticipated, but they're in at 216. and the expenses came in at $225 million. So, it's uh 20 million over budget, but a $9 million shortfall in the revenue that we're going to have to again take out of our reserves. Now, that's an estimate at this point. It's not audited. Um, so we spent this year 225 million. The budget for next
041year is 28 million. >> 215. 250 million. I'm sorry. 20 250 million. So, um I just want to just circle back to the fact of where we are. The budget that was presented a year ago that we knew was not going to be accurate and um that which were just a $9 million shortfall. Now, is that I mean they're not audited, but is that your best estimate based on the information? Is there more to come? Is can these numbers be adjusted as more revenue or expenses? >> That would be my best estimate. >> That's your best estimate? Yes. Okay. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Did you have anything else you wanted to say? >> I don't You're just on a right. >> Yes. >> All right. All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? >> All
042right. Next, we'll move on to B. Uh B. Motion to approve BSI as the district's benefits broker of record. >> Second. >> Any questions or discussion? >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay. C. Motion to approve Crestler Wolf and Miller as the broker of record for the district's professional property and casualty liability insurance. >> Um Jody, at this time I' I'd like to ask for this matter to be tabled so that the board has an opportunity to review uh the information that was provided to uh Mr. Trent on both of the uh agencies presenting to him on the as you what do you call that our >> RFQ right? >> So I'd like to table this uh decision so that we we as a board have an opportunity to to discuss. >>
043Okay. I have a motion. Do I have a second? >> Is there a uh any specific information you're requesting? Well, I I'd like to I understand it was uh based on two different uh companies uh and I'd like to know about uh the added value services that each company provides and how one got chosen over the other and just just to know the uh you know why just to know why. >> Okay. Is that something that Jack you can't answer now or would you prefer to >> that would be you know that would be up to Jack uh based on our our conversation that we had in uh executive session if you'd like to answer now that would be fine and then I guess then a vote can be made and we wouldn't have to
044table it. >> I don't have any additional information than what was already provided. I I guess my my question the information that I have is just the one sentence in the board brief. Was there something else that I missed along the way? >> Sure. So I mean we received the RFQS. It was discussed internally as a staff. It was discussed in the finance committee where we did have the information out to discuss. >> Okay. So for those of us who aren't on the finance committee, we haven't seen that. So >> which is my issue I guess with this current I don't know what is not I can't even call it a committee structure whatever it is so >> you know I don't have a problem with the recommendation but I do think you know that
045there's some information that some have that others don't have >> I would say that this board has already approved Creser Wolf and Miller as their property and casualty this was just a continuation of that part of the service the board already did this was it a month ago two months ago I'm not sure when it went through but the board did approve this company already. This is just a continuation of the services that they already provide. So, I mean, >> that was prior to the RFQ though, right? When we approved them before and when we didn't have two companies to compare. >> It was. That's correct. >> Okay. >> And I'm going to say in the finance committee, it's not as though we we only discussed the aspect of we didn't go over the specifics
046of the RFQ. >> So, it's not any more information that I have that you have. Okay. Because all I have is that one sentence in the board brief. So, >> so I think at this point, you know, the board has to make your decision as to table or move forward. Jack, perhaps if you know, whether it's here tonight or whether it's uh it's it is tabled and it's moving forward, you could provide the full board with some context of what that RFQ was asking, you know, the scope of the work that we were asking for and then maybe some of that decision-making process that you talked briefly about this evening. you can add more context to that whether you want to do that this evening or whether the board wants to table and and hear
047that at a you know separate time. >> Okay, >> my microphone's not work. Is it working? There we go. >> Y >> um no I mean I don't have the documentation in front of me for that was provided so >> I I can't provide that right now. >> Okay. So, I'm going to go back to we had a motion to table it for additional information. If other board members do I have a second to table it? >> A second. >> Second. >> Okay. All in favor for tableabling it. And I guess the question then lies what the expectation is. You're requesting the RFQ and the breakdown of that information so that we can come back next month and approve or not approve. Yeah, at the end >> I don't even need the documents just so
048much more of a narrative about you know what this company offers that the other you know why we chose to continue with this company when we did gather from two at least two agencies. >> Understood. >> All right. So all in favor of tableabling >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Nope. >> No. >> And I'll be a no. All right. So that will be the request. Then please uh just give the information and then we can go forward with it for next month. All right. Next we have D motion to approve the Skyward annual renewal payment for business software as presented. We'll have E. Motion to approve the St. Luke's Pen Foundation employee behavioral health renewal as presented. Uh F. Motion to approve the sale of the repository property located at South Delaware Drive, parcel
049L9 SE2C 63 0310 as presented. G. Motion to approve the annual renewal of the food service software Primro Edge as presented. H. Motion to approve the attached request to establish a student activity at EAHS, namely class of 2029. I motion to approve the annual subscription for our facility scheduling ML schedules as presented. J motion to approve the new business HR software as presented. and K. Motion to approve the attached stipulation of council concerning the tax assessment appeal for the property noted as presented. >> Motion any questions or discussion? >> Question or more of a uh observation on on 9J. There's no there's no cost listed. Um I know there has been a cost given but it's not in writing. and I'd be very reluctant to vote I on a on a software contract if there's
050no cost listed. Um I don't know if the board may want to consider tableabling that until we have a cost in writing on that document. Um so again if there's no interest in tableabling it then then I would I'm certainly going to vote no on it because there's no cost listed there. I think it's the exhibit one, Jack, that was missing for the attachment. >> Can we change the motion to include the understood cost and vote on it based on that cost >> and therefore if the cost were to change, it would be it would need a new vote, right? >> So the motion would I'm not the board secretary anymore, but the vote motion would have to be amended amended. So >> yeah. >> So someone would have to >> but then the cost
051has not been listed 24 hours in advance. So, >> so strictly speaking to >> Yeah. >> Right. But, uh, strictly speaking, it's the topic that has to be listed, not necessarily the contents and the cost. So, I think it's perfectly acceptable for there to be a discussion question to Jack that says, Jack, what's the cost for that cost to be relayed? And then, you can you can amend the motion if you want to include the cost, but you don't have to. part of the discussion part. >> So the blinking is when there's multiple ones on. I got it. >> Jack, do you have that cost? >> I do have the cost in front of me. So for 2025 20226, I don't know if someone wants to write it down to amend the motion. It's $40,24.
052And again, that's in relation to previous motion, our former software, current software, which will become former, which was about $47,000. Is that pr-rated since you're starting January 1 if it's a 2526? >> Well, it's an annual cost of 40,24. So, it would be prrated, but I don't have the prrated, not just the annual cost. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And and with that, that's item D. Uh I see the due date was last week. So, has that already been paid? >> That 47,000. So, if it's going to be prrated, would we end up getting a refund? >> Which agenda item was that? I'm sorry. D the Skyward. I'm looking at the Skyward which has the cost which which you also quoted. Uh the due date for that was listed as the 15th. So I
053don't know if that's already been paid. Meaning if there is a termination of that and a refund warranted, we would >> Well, Sky will be our software through December 31st. So that's that's what we have to determine December 31st. Um has this been paid yet? No, we've been in contact with them and it'll be paid after this board meeting. at the the cost per month. >> Okay. So, we're going to go back then and we will put on here as the motion for Jay is the motion. >> We have to vote to amend it. >> Yeah. So, I mean, so um strictly speaking, you don't have to amend it because again, it was an exchange of information. You're still approving the contract. Um, but whoever made the motion, if they want to accept the friendly
054amendment, that >> didn't make the motion yet. >> Did anybody motion? >> No, we were just going through and >> Oh, we did. I'm sorry. We did ask the question. >> So, I'm not sure who made the motion. Ally, do you remember? >> Please. >> So, I would just submit. Dion, do you accept the friendly emotion, a friendly amendment to include the the value as indicated by Jack? >> I do. >> So, I would just that point. >> Yes. >> Okay. Okay. So, now is there any other further discussion or questions? Okay. All in favor? >> Is there any opposed? >> Okay. Next, we move on to buildings and grounds. I'm going to take a motion to approve the contract renewals as presented. >> Okay. Is there any questions or discussion? >> Just something that
055I had mentioned before. um more of a request when we have this many contracts. Uh I I would like to see maybe the possibility of having them each as their own item. We have one, two, three, four, five, six. There are nine contracts under one item. I understand the need to move the meeting through and things like that, but but um it's just a just an idea to recommendation. And it's not going to change the way I vote on things, but I always thought it's easier to say I vote I on this and nay on item whatever 10a or whatever it is it you know itemized out. So just just food for thought. So just a general comment. >> Okay. Anything else? All right. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay. Next we
056have B. Motion to authorize the administration to purchase two used police vehicles from the city of Eastston at the cost of not to exceed 7,000 total. C. Motion to approve the disposal of two police vehicles as per policy 706.1. I'll take the police vehicles first. >> Second. >> Any questions or discussion? >> Yeah, I just have a quick question. And I mean, I know we didn't talk about everything at budget time, but is there money budgeted for these extra purchases? >> There is. Yes. >> Good. Thank you. >> And 7,000 total means for the two cars, so it's 3500 each, correct? >> Okay. All right. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Okay. Next, we have D. Motion to authorize the administration to dispose of eight school buses as per policy 706.1 and E.
057Motion to authorize the administration to purchase up to seven used buses for a total not to exceed $35,000. We need a motion. >> Second. >> Any questions or discussion? >> So, just checking the numbers. 7,000 per bus up to but you're not going to exceed 35,000 for seven buses. So it's just going to be $35,000 cap. >> Yeah. So Mike, so what we were looking at is a few years ago we had purchased some buses from other districts including Stradsburg. They gave us a rate of $5,000 per bus. So that's kind of what our target number is. But as we start to look at some buses around probably three or four other districts that we've already looked at mechanically, um we have chosen not to move that route and we're starting to see the price
058kind of increase more to like a 67 some of them from local areas like uh like the Jennings but those types of establishments up to 1314. So we just thought it was best to ask for you know a 30 $35,000 and then we'll try to find the buses within that range because we definitely need at least five or six. I just look in the cap at 35. >> Okay. Any other questions or discussion? >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Okay. Next, we move on to uh educational technology and student supports. A motion to approve the contract renewals as presented. B motion to approve the conference requests as presented. C. Motion to approve the updatedou between the Eastern Area School District and Valley Youth House as presented pending solicitor final approval. D.
059Motion to approve the purchase of the network access control unit as presented. And E, motion to approve the purchase of the Cisco voice gateway routers as presented. >> Second. Any questions or discussion? >> I'm going to ask again about the IU transportation billing and discussions that we've been talking about for years. Are we have we are we getting anywhere? Are there are we at the table? Yeah, I can answer that. um did share that within a few a few months ago, Mike, but if I recollect correctly, yes, we did have a conversation with uh the executive director u multiple and I will let you know that uh they do charge for us uh regarding students. Uh so if there are two students at a at a bus stop, um they charge for both of those
060students rather than just one bus stop. Uh they ran the numbers for me. Um, I don't have those right now, but they did let us know that either way, if they chose to redo the billing across the consortium, we would still be paying more based on the number of students that we transport versus others. So, you are accurate in the fact that if there's two students there, they charge for two routes and not just one route. But that's how they built all school districts. And that's their that's their process. >> I know that's the process. >> They're not going to change it. >> Okay. So in other words, two kids on a bus going from the same house to the same school. We're getting build for mileage for each of those >> for twice. Correct.
061That's how that's how they're doing each district across consortium >> and the consortium's okay with >> and they let us know that they did run the numbers for us and that if they change it for everyone in the consortium, we'd actually be paying more money than what we're paying right now. >> Love to see that analysis. >> Sure. >> Okay. Uh question on the which package are we going with on the A to Z? >> It's a three-year renewal. It's a special education math software. Brian, >> the three-year one. Okay. >> So, I listed that in the in the actual attachment. >> Okay. I I didn't I miss missed that. So, thank you. Clarify. >> Sure. Thank you. >> Okay. Any other questions or discussion? >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >>
062No. I'm a nay on the scholarship and I'm an I on the other one to the other four that are listed there. >> Okay. >> Yes. Yes. Was yours Yes. Sorry, I'm writ I'm writing yes and talking looking at Mike. Mike, was your no on all um items listed there or >> the IU transportation? >> IU transportation. >> Okay. All you good? >> Okay. All right. Next policy. A motion to approve policy 103 discrimination title 9 sexual harassment affecting students. This first reading was June 24th and as presented. and B. Motion to approve policy 104 discrimination title 9 sexual harassment affecting staff. First reading was June 24th as presented. >> Motion >> second. >> Are there any questions or discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? All right. Next we have other business.
063A motion to approve settlement agreement as presented. >> Motion >> second. >> Okay. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Okay. Next, we have public to be heard on non-aggenda items. Is there anyone in the public who would like to be heard on any non-aggenda items? Okay. Seeing none, any business from other board members? I um would like to make a statement if I if you will. So this is based on the last uh meeting of the budget meeting where uh there was a statement or the article in WFMZ that indicated that the tax increase was a result of our outstanding debt. And I did have a discussion with uh Jack and Jack did not recall seeing it like that. I called FMZ to get clarification. Uh did not get a a response
064back. They said they were calling the district to find out. So I just think at this point I'm going to make it very clear that the outstanding debt is not the reason we're raising the millillage. The reason is because of the previous years continuingly continuing knowingly and haphazardly overspending well in excess of revenues. And we talk about transparency. This outrageous spending of school budgets beyond available revenues rect reflects a serious breach of fiscal responsibility and public trust. This four-year history of disregard for sound budgeting practices is unacceptable. When we talk about the need for millage increase, please let the pub the public do not be deceived. We had $43 million in reserves. A lot of that was slated to lessen the borrowing amount needed for the high school project. And this is also in addition
065to tens of millions of dollars of ESSER funds that are no longer available. This additional millage increase would not have nearly been as impactful or necessary if that $7 million that we were receiving from the TIFF money that was planned 10 years ago was used and put in the borrowing account. Excuse me. The most frustrating part of all this is that I've been talking about this for more than two years and we don't have the the courage to even acknowledge and we just we roll our eyes, we ignore it, we go on and I know with the 26 2526 budget um and by all appearances it's balanced. I hope that everything that we're planning on with some of the uh efficiencies come through. We talk about transparency. We've heard this for the last four years.
066We've heard it since for the last couple years still. There w where was the transparency when the previous administration knowingly overspent revenue by these millions of dollars? Requesting a tax increase while quietly overspending more than $40 million in public funds is not just irresponsible, it's in direct opposition of the principles of transparency and accountability. That's my statement to clarify what has occurred, where we're at, where we're going to be. And then we talked about what we're talk what we're doing for the 2425 budget. And when we talk about the middle school roof, we talked about coming out of reserves. By all accounts, those reserves are gone, but we're doing the project. We have to This is why we have to borrow. We have to build a high school. This is why we have to borrow.
067But make no mistake, it's not because of our current debt. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Is there anything else from any other board members? Okay, seeing none, call for an adjournment. >> All in favor? Motion adjourned at 8:06.