001I pledge allegiance >> to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> WA >> Mr. Brazil >> present >> Mr. Casey >> here. >> Mrs. Ches >> present >> Mrs. Cleary >> present. >> Miss Fox >> present. >> Miss Merkel >> present. >> Mrs. Lucky >> present. >> Mr. Tri >> present. >> Mr. boards >> present. >> Nine present. >> All right. So, we have recognitions and achievements. Um to begin, we have the South or South Scranton Bean Company. >> Is ready. >> Okay. So, for this evening's awards and recognitions, we are pleased to welcome representatives from the South Scranton Bean Company to the meeting tonight. The students from Miss Margaret Flynn and Mrs. Tracy
002Stevens class operate a coffee cart every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for staff members at South Intermediate. Assistant principal Shawn Roland saw other schools do something similar and wanted to adopt it at South. At first, South Scranton Bean Company was just one earn of coffee that was donated by Aramark. Now, it has completely expanded. South Scranton Bean Company now offers different creamers, flavored syrups and sugar for coffee, a selection of tea, and baked goods that are made by the teachers in the building or donated through local businesses. The students in Miss Flynn and Miss Stevens class are the ones to set up, operate, and clean the coffee cart each day. Um, each day it is active. Students charge a small amount for coffee, tea, and baked goods with all the money going directly back into the
003classroom. The board wanted to congratulate the class for their hard work and recognize Miss Flynn, Mrs. Stevens, principal Joe Lai, and assistant principal Shawn Roland for their creativity with this idea. [applause] [clears throat] >> Hey, my name is Yian. I'm a sixth grade student at Strate Intermediate. I want to let you guys know about our coffee program. It's not about serving drinks to teachers. >> I feel most like a leader >> and a professional. When I'm at the car, I'm learning math and to give teachers the right amount of change they need back. >> I'm learning to be more social with adults at my school. There you go. >> I feel like a leader. This program makes me want to come to school on time. >> Uhhuh. I hope you continue to support programs. I
004hope you guys can continue to support more programs like this. >> They give students like me >> to give students like me >> a chance >> to show what I'm truly capable of >> what I'm truly capable of. >> All right. [applause] It was awesome. And I didn't buy my coffee. >> [laughter] >> I'm okay. >> Thank you. All >> [applause] >> right, next we have the Scranton High Show Choir. This year, the Show Choir had an incredible year. They competed in five different competitions across the East Coast with both Glitter and Gold and First Edition, placing within the top three at every competition. The show choir also saw a number of other awards such as best band, best performer, best soloist, best vocals, and best choreography. Throughout the competition season, the following students were
005recognized as either best soloist or best performer. From Glitter and Gold, Arianis Pguero, Denia Stubs, Zara Thompson, Mahagoni Bryant, and Geneva Tuluan. from first edition, Christian Rodriguez, Violet Martin, and Denia Stubs. The other sta the other standout achievement is that golden glitter earned grand champion honors and remained undefeated in their home circuit, New England. Geneva Tul Tulin was named best soloist in the unisex division for the entire season. In addition, the combo band nights amplified went undefeated in both the unisex and tier 2 mixed divisions throughout the season. first edition consistently placed in the top three during final final rounds at both outofcircuit competitions, outperforming all choirs in West Virginia and all tier 2 choirs in Ohio on their home turf. Congratulations to the Skrit and High Show choir. Good evening, Board of Education Superintendent
006Keading, Assistant Superintendent Lafian O'Donnell, members of the administration, and distinguished guests. My name is Violet Martin, and I am the lead vocal captain for the Scranton High School showqu choirs. On behalf of our directors, Mr. Barrett, Miss Styorski, and Mr. Hine, our student leadership team, and all of our members, we would like to express our sincere appreciation for your continued support of the arts. Your commitment allows programs like ours to grow, succeed, and represent our school, our city, and the state of Pennsylvania with pride. We would also like to extend a special thank you to Principal Coyle, as well as Mr. Montoro and Mr. Mitchell for their unwavering support and encouragement. Principal Coyle has worked hard to create a thriving environment for the performing and visual arts at the castle, and it means a great
007deal to all of us as students to know we are supported at every level. Being part of showquoire and our music ensembles is about so much more than performing. It teaches us discipline, teamwork, time management, and confidence. It gives us a place to belong, to express ourselves, and to build friendships that last far behind beyond high school. For many of us, these programs are also an important outlet during the school day. A chance to reset, recharge, and refocus, especially as many of us are enrolled in rigorous AP and honors courses. Our members are deeply involved across the school community. Students in our program participate in clubs, athletics, student government, and member mentorship roles. We are proud to share that this year both the valadictorian and saluditorian are longtime members of our ensemble along with two
008additional students ranked in the top 30 of the class of 2026. In addition, our ensembles continue to maintain an impressive average GPA of 92 94.2, too, demonstrating that academic excellence and involvement in the arts go hand in hand. Continued support at the district level is essential to ensuring these opportunities remain strong and accessible for all students. The arts create a space where students of all backgrounds can succeed, grow, and find their voice. They also help shape well-rounded individuals who carry these skills into college, careers, and life beyond high school. When you invest in programs like ours, you are investing in student success, engagement, and the overall culture and pride of our district. We are incredibly grateful for the opportunities we've been given, and we are proud to represent Scranton High School, our city, and the
009state of Pennsylvania. We have for you this evening a handout highlighting the success of our competition season. Thank you again for your continued support of the arts and for recognizing our program this evening. Congratulations. I don't want that. All right, we have uh reports from our student representatives, Max Huffner from Scranton High. Good evening. Scranson High School has had a very productive month of April. We're wrapping up spring sports for the year. Amazing job to all the nights who participated. Congratulations to Ana Turner for breaking the Scranton High School's Scranton High School girls 400 meter dash record. Congratulations to Riley Bell for making three home runs on April 13th against Scranton Prep. Congratulations to Julianori and Austin Godstein for being named the division one coaches all stars. Our show car had a spring concert last
010night. May 3rd, congratulations to our physics students for placing second overall in the University of Scranton's annual physics phys sorry physics competition. The night ambassadors hosted the annual bring your child to Berkeley on April 24th. The Scranton High School team hosted a trivia night on April 13th. On April 15th, our students in the SAD club right to elementary school students at Prescott Elementary. Our night ambassadors, SAD and the Venom Club will be collaborating to host a mental health week from May 11th to May 15th. Our mindful nights trained by the night ambassadors will be will be reading at the following elementary schools, Willard, Whittier, and Prescott to read and teach mindful breathing. Our tomorrow's leaders today students had their graduation this past Friday, May 1st. We held up top we held our top 30 student
011lunchon last Wednesday, April 29th. Also on April 29th, Mrs. Me held a Mother's Day shop for students to pick out gifts for gifts for Mother's Day. And there was also a blood drive held at the school. There will be a ceremony for the Scholastic School Scholars Peter Qui, Ella Grace, Ella Grace Mazo, and Emily Admal. And congratulations to Peter Qui for earning NEIU a scholar of the year. I wish everyone a good May and thank you so much for your time tonight. >> Thank you. Dungo from West High School. >> I believe it will be Sydney Toy. Good evening. This month has been an amazing month for West Krighton High School. I am not able to be present to share this news in person. I would like you all to hear about it. Our Invader
012student athletes work incredibly hard on a daily basis as they balance both their schoolwork and their athletics at West Grant High School. We've had quite a few athletic college commitments this year with our student athletes who signed last Friday. [snorts] Brianna Connor is committed to Penn State University to play softball. Tyler Scotch is committed to King's College to play baseball. Royale Ayala who is committed to Lyola University for swimming. Aaliyah Roman is committed to play soccer at Lacawana College. Kaden Far will be playing football at Kings College. Nick Gordano will be playing football at Alfred State University. Cameron Cole will be playing football at Missouri University. And Caleb Kane will be on both the track and field and soccer teams at Gwended Mercy University. We had two LIAA scholar athletes. Congratulations to Mia Talo and
013Evan Walsh. Our clubs have also been very active this month. The Red Cross club held a blood drive on Sorry. April 14th, in which our students and staff were given the opportunity to donate blood. The West Scranton High School newspaper club has continued to provide our school with all the current news and events in our building. In their recent selection, they covered spring athletes. St. Patrick's Day alongside student spotlights and drama club spotlights. The drama club will soon be hosting a cabaret, so stay tuned. And then it's also been a great month at West Granton Intermediate School. Firstly, all of our students would like to wish a happy teacher appreciation week to all of our amazing educators at West Scranton Intermediate School and the Scranton School District. They are celebrating each day with surprises for
014our staff. Everything from breakfast, lunch, an underground dress down week, prizes, coffee, and the snack cart. They deserve more than a week. Thank you for all you do. The scholar of the month for April at West Granton Intermediate School was Payton Alt. In eighth grade, she was selected a scholar of the month for English. Student of the month for April was Kish Patel. In grade five, he was selected as student of the month for being a positive role model for other students. Our student scholar of the month breakfast and national junior honor society ceremony will be held on May 12th. This year is quickly wrapping up. We would like to thank our students and staff for a smooth two weeks of testing. We are so proud of our invaders at Charles Sumner. The Sumner stars
015for the month of April were Marley Pollinia, Maddox, Aubrey Hyde, Aaliyah Silva, Angelo Genova, Audrea James, Tani Mitchell, Dalvin Ramos, Areel Abrau, Annabella Turpac, and Kaylee Vasquez Mata. The kindness star for the month of April was Emma J. Patruski and they will be celebrating Earth Day on Friday in I'm not sure what day in May, but they'll be planting flowers for the third quarter blowout after the PSSAs. Um fourth grade will be going to the Steamtown Ex on the Steamtown excursion heritage trip on May 14th. The whole school and all of the the entire Charles Summer School will be going to Lakeland Orchard on May 21st and they are so excited at John F. Kennedy. On Friday, May 1st, John F. Kennedy's kindergarten students released rainbow trout in Covington Township at the Sandis Pond. The
016rainbow trout were raised in Miss Miller's class as part of a grant through Lacawana County Conservation District and the Lacawana Heritage Valley Nationals and State Area. Mrs. Miller's classroom was supplied with a 55gallon aquarium, supplies, and rainbow trout eggs. The kindergarteners learned about watersheds, water levels, and testing, the life cycle of trout, and how to care for them. This experience culminated with a trip to release the trout into the wild. On the trip, students also participated in lessons on nature, wildlife, recycling, and our environment. The entire process was a huge success. Going on at the plaza, University of Scranton physical therapy grad students visited the third and fourth graders before PSSAs to discuss stress management and test taking skills. Preschool has been very busy. This month, they had visitors and learned about fire safety. Last
017month, preschool and kindergarten students had students from the Guisinger Medical School dressed up in lab coats and worked with medical students to learn about germs and other activities. First graders this year have been working so hard and focusing on their writing. Our first graders created Plaza News, sharing their favorite moments of the year and illustrating them. Students had a pet adoption and adopted desk buddies. Students wrote stories about their adopted pets. First grade also published class books. May is also jam-packed. On Tuesday, May 5th, Marywood students will be presenting to parents important topics such as literacy, life skills, nutrition, and kindergarten readiness. Fourth graders will be visiting South Scranton Intermediate School for a move up day on May 7th, and lawyers in the classroom will be visiting fourth grade this month. May 15th, the Attorney
018General's office will be presenting to students in K through 4 and parents on cyber safety. The third and fourth grade scouts will have a derby race during lunch and recess on May 7th. And on May 29th, Plaza will have its annual talent show. On June 1st, Plaza will be hosting its annual family picnic at 4 p.m. We hope everyone can attend. It will be a great community event with many organizations in attendance. It's all I have. Thank you very much. >> All right. So, for the work session, uh we start with the athletics and student activities. Uh, director Tri >> discussion of possible motion for inter mural soccer at the intermediate schools and the addition of three soccer coaches. >> Mr. O'Donnell, please. >> Last year we had a very successful sixth, seventh, and eighth
019grade inter mural soccer program at the three intermediate schools. This year there has been a request to add the fifth graders into the mix, which I think will be great for their academic and socialization. So there'll be a fifth and the sixth grade team and a seventh and an eighth grade team. This is a wonderful thing for our middle school students, especially the fifth graders. It brings them into the school spirit and gets them involved in the school. Thank you. >> All right. Budget and finance. Director. On the consent agenda, we'll have motions to approve the bill list and exception bill list, delinquent tax reports, the treasurer's reports, repository sales if any, budget transfers, dispos disposable of assets, and budgeted purchases. We'll have a discussion of motion for real estate assessment approvals, if any. >>
020Uh there is none for this meeting. >> And information on the contracts update. >> Uh just one uh contract update. It was a program called JF Jamf for 10 765. It is our uh software program to manage our Mac and Apple devices. Uh and that comes out of our IT budget. >> Okay. Community relations director Clearary. >> Um we have motion to approve sorry. Um motion to approve donations EOC to Scranton High School for transportation cost to Johnson College and Penn State University Scranton. EOC to South Scranton Intermediate School and Northeast Intermediate School STEM trips to the Rail Riders Game and Net Credit Union for Kennedy First and Second Grades trip to the aquarium. >> I don't understand the donations. I think it's a presentation that they're paying for, not a trip. I'm sorry. >>
021Oh, it says trip. That should say presentation. >> It's a presentation. >> Okay. Presentation. >> Okay. Uh education director Markle. >> Yes. On the consent agenda, we'll have a motion to approve permissions to attend meetings and conferences. Motion to approve the amended 2526 instructional calendar. A motion to approve to approve outofstate field trips if any, the Scranton High School shows to New York City on June 3rd. Motion to approve flexible instruction day plan for three-year term 26 27 27 28 and 28 29 school years. A motion to approve the CTC 2627 budget. A motion to approve Aadian's ALO reading med benchmark. A motion to approve personal finance curriculum and materials for Scranton and West Granton high schools for 2627. Motion to approve the school wellness policy. And on the non-consent agenda, motion to approve any
022special ed special education settlements. >> So I I will speak to one of the things on here. instruction days. So, there were changes to um instructional hours and days at the state level that occurred that allow for what one would consider unlimited virtual instruction days. Um how we as a district have determined to operate is one, we need to meet instructional hours. And I can give you a great example from this year. We had a few buildings that due to power outages, due to um different um operational issues, we had to close for the day. Just an isolated building. That building can't meet its 180. So, it must meet its instructional hours. So, that's the first thing. We must meet instructional hours. The second thing is that um we're going to follow the traditional flexible
023instruction day as the application is put into the pack uh package. It's going to keep what we have um with how things operated this year. K8 will have a paper packet. The high school will be um using their Chromebooks. Those are five days that are allotted under flexible instruction dates. However, Rob Duca has been working and submitting to you throughout the course of the year emergency contingency plans. And this would be that if we had an operational issue or we had something else where we had to shut down a building or multiple buildings due to whatever emergency occurred, we would be able to look at virtual instruction at that time. So we're going to keep the first five days as fit days following the submitted application as you have a copy of it for review.
024If something occurred that we would have to go beyond that, we would bring that up publicly and we would use our e operation procedures at that time and we would have to have the contingency plans kick in that way. So, that's kind of how things are a little different with flexible instruction days. Um, we're going to follow what we had. This winter was an anomaly. Um, I'm finishing year 28 in this game. You don't have a winter like you had this year that often. Um, it's not typical to eat through all of your flexible instruction days and then to have to bank in a couple snow days in there as well. Um but we want to be prepared and this is the step. So I don't know if any has anyone has questions on that.
025>> Thank you for speaking to that. [clears throat] Um I don't know if you would know this and if not we could speak at another time about this like I guess when I remember looking at the new guidance or such when it came out and I was just thinking in relation to like the one snow day that we had um like we weren't I think it was a Monday so the kids weren't in school so like my daughter didn't have her Chromebook home. So like that was my con like and I thought with the new um like with the guidance like they have to be prepared with their or like their packet or their Chromebook. >> Yes. So you actually have multiple days director Fox to be able to submit the work in. So you
026can't you have to make those plans if a kid was absent and even if they had an opportunity to bring their Chromebook home. So, if you read through the actual application, those contingency plans are in there um for us to be able to give kids a lot of time to be able to make up the work under the flexible instruction. >> So, so if we do one on a Monday and they don't they're they don't have their computer because it was Monday, they >> they have to have time to be able to submit that work in. >> Yeah. And that's part of the actual application process if you read through the narratives. >> Um hopefully next winter isn't like this one. >> So, we'll see. >> Hopefully. All right, operations director Brazil. >> We're going
027to have a motion to approve the chiller rental for McNichols Plaza. Have a motion to approve Montichello East contracts for general contracting, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical. A motion to approve forklift replacement at South Intermediate. Motion to approve South Intermediate painting. Motion to approve Scranton High Lock seal coating. And we'll have a discussion possible motion on Scranton High lighting and Memorial Stadium lighting controls. A discussion possible motion on operations vehicle fleet changes including plumbers and electrician vehicles. A discussion possible motion on west high doors and a discussion on districtwide blinds. So I I'll start the chiller rental um repair. We're just going to keep we did submit a grant to try to replace that, but right now the rental is in place and we're going to see how that grant washes out before we do anything.
028Um the Montichello East those bids were out. Uh there were questions on those so I don't know if anyone has any specific questions that they'd like to address on that. >> All I know is that I've been on this board almost two years now and the main thing that keeps popping up like a bad penny Nichols chiller. >> When are we going to finally get a resolution on that? >> So again, that's why we wrote one of the grants that was available through the state. We wrote to replace that. So we're continuing the lease agreement right now to see if we're awarded that grant. If we're not awarded that grant, Director Casey, then we do have to come back to you with a motion to replace that. >> When will we find out? Hopefully soon
029because we have multiple projects there. >> We're hearing the grant announcement. >> Oh, is that what they changed it now? Okay. Sorry, >> Pat. As long as we're talking about announcements. What about the uh lighting down on the side of Scranton? >> So, we checked with the city of Scanton. That award is supposed to be announced. They brought sometime in April. It hasn't been announced yet. Um, so for the um the Montichello East, I was just asking do I don't know if you knew if someone was here to speak to that or not. I just um so just so I can have a better picture. So when we did the we approved the demo um with the uh cooperative purchasing, it was told to us that it was it came in in like a thousand
030around the budget, which made me feel more confident voting for that. And some of these we although multiple bids were solicited, we only received one um for some of them. So to make me feel more comfortable, I just wondering how these came in in line with the projected budget. >> Uh Mr. Osborne or Mr. Rucker, do you know how they came in directly off of the budget itself? >> Because director Fox asked me, do you have that? >> Dr. Keing, uh Nick from Fondell is here with that information. >> Sorry, I didn't see Nick. Sorry, Nick. >> How are you guys? >> Good. >> All right. Um so what bids would you like to go through specifically? Um, well, okay. So, to be transparent, the we received further information yesterday, so I can't tell you
031that I got to review everything. Um, but I know that in the ones that we have here. Um, >> I keep looking at the wrong section. I'm sorry. Um, so plumbing, mechanical, electrical, I think we only received one bid. Um, so I'm just wondering if you could I mean, this is I think 6 something6 million or something. So if you could just explain how that comes in in your budget so I could feel more confident. >> Yeah. So for general construction, we solicited bids. We received bids from Hadley Construction, DNM Construction. We also solicited bids from Shawn Burn Construction and LR Castanzo. Neither of those contractors submitted. As far as >> Kathchan plumbing, correct? >> That's good. [clears throat] That makes me feel good. Thank you. >> Yep. So, as far as mechanical construction goes,
032we solicited bids from Mccclure Company, Banell, Aircon, Penn State Mechanical, and PAMSCO. >> That was five. >> Five. That was five. >> Yes. >> I believe there was another one on there, but I can confirm that at a later date, but we at least had five solicitations go out to the contractors via smart bid. We only had a submission from uh Scrant Electric and Heating. >> So, that's an example where you solicited five bids and we only received one. They they were sent out via smart bid. They all accepted. Um some of them downloaded the drawing, some did not. We kind of speculate that some of them might have got scared by the schedule, some might be busy. It is what it is. Yes. [clears throat] >> Uh, electrical construction, we solicited bids from Urban
033Electric who submitted, Apollo Electric, who did not, Kavanaaugh, who did not, Grotto, who did not, Joyce who did not, Lever who did not, and TJ Cannon who did not submit this. >> That was seven contractors. >> Yes, >> I can confirm the exact numbers. I might have left one or two off the list here, >> but we only got one, which was We only got one that was at a set. Okay. >> Uh for plumbing construction, we solicited bids from SC Scranton Electric and Heating Company. They submitted a bid. Benell did not submit a bid. HT Lions did not submit a bid. JBM Mechanical did not submit a bid. And Mccclure Company did not submit a bid. >> So we only got one. No, we got >> correct. >> No, two. We got two. >>
034No. Yeah, we got Ritzik and Scranton Electric. >> This is mechanical. >> Oh, mechanical. >> Plumbing. My apologies. >> Plumbing is two. Ritzick and Scrant. >> Yeah. So, we had Ritzik who also submitted and they were the parent low. >> Did Did you have an estimate of what you expected the cost to be versus what we received? Are we within a 10% difference? Like, >> yeah. So, >> is it way over what we thought? >> Right. Right now, uh, demolition the 50% budget. And when I mentioned 50% budget, this is a design phase that was crammed into two and a half, three months, which typical typically your design phases are pushed out longer, but because of the school's need to have this building by this school year, our precon time was cut in half at
035best. >> Uh so demolition the 50% budget, we were tracking around 28,000. We came in at 311,000. It's 102,000 over budget. We anticipate that that was because of the accelerated schedule. Again, the project schedule is very tight. >> Yes. >> Um and then the MEP safe off. So, typically on a project of this size, we would have all the prime contractors come in, safe off, and demo their MEP trade. So, their mechanical duct work, their electrical, fire alarm, etc. But because the way we were trying to do this project and get it out and get ahead of it, we had the demolition contractor responsible to do the MEP safe off. So that it adds cost but it saves time. In this situation, time is of the essence, >> right? >> Um so then as far
036as general construction goes, Panza Enterprises is the apparent low here. Mhm. >> Um the D50% budget was $2,641,296. We came in at $3,590,500 which is a $949,24 difference. >> Wait a minute. >> So we attribute that to we added into their contract. So we bought it into the contract directly a $300,000 construction contingency. So this is to be used by the contractor for minor change orders. um in the event that we have something that's small that needs to be taken care of that we can go through an alternative process to get the change order done, but that's within a certain dollar value. If it's anything over than that, over that value, we will go through the board. >> Um if need be, we'll have a special meeting to get it approved to save schedule. Uh
037we also attributed this to the accelerated construction schedule, the added structural steel beams for the building structure which was an unknown, the uh new turnaround in the front area of the building. >> Um the additional slab cuts and the concrete work, the added sensory rooms and the added door vision lights and door specifications which all came about after the 50% budget was in place. So these drawings are constantly evolving, constantly changing, trying to get everything right so we can get it into the contracts because it's cheaper to get it in a contract than it is in a change order. >> Great. >> So moving on to the mechanical contractor, Scranton Electric and Heating Cooling Services is the apparent low here. The 50% budget was $1,414,820. The contract value came in at $1,94,264. >> And under
038budget? >> Yes. So, we are under budget on that one by $320,556. >> You said under budget. What were the two? >> I wrote down 1.4 and 1.9. I guess I got that backwards. >> Um, so we are the 1.4 million is was the 50% estimate. >> Okay. >> Um, the 1,94,000 is what we recommending the contract value be. >> So, we came in under budget here. Um, we anticipated there was in the budget originally we had the demolition of the MEP carried in the mechanical budget. Uh, it never got pulled out and put into the demolition budget. So, we attribute being under budget to that not being put in the mechan or the demolition budget. Um, other than that, we had some ads there, but Scrant Electric typically has good prices, so we're comfortable
039with that. It's for the electrical contractor. Uh, urban electrical contractors is the apparent low there. The 50% budget was $99,345. The recommended contract value is 1,467,500. So, we are $558,55 over budget on that contract. We attributed that to 75,000 bought into the contract as a construction contingency. And again, if this money is not spent, it comes back to the school. So, it's your money, but it just makes it simpler to buy it in at the beginning and then pull from it as needed. Um, we also had some complications with the friendship house and the fire alarm, how it currently feeds the friendship house and we cannot deactivate the fire alarm, otherwise they will not be able to occupy the building. So, that is bought into this uh contract as well. We had several Dcope meetings
040on Friday. Uh we spoke directly with Urban Electric about this issue and they have they are very confident that they will have no issues with this and they will get it done off hours when they are trans uh transferring the fire alarm from the existing building over to the new friendship house building. Uh we also added a new fire alarm panel uh new switch gear in the basement and a new electrical service to the project. We also added 11 VAV units for the mechanical system to the project. Uh three rooftop units and the sensory rooms as well which have upgraded lights for the safety of the students. Plumbing um plumbing the apparent low is G Ritziken Suns. The contract value uh is $449,650 and the budget was $341,193. So, we're tracking $108,457 over budget on
041this. We attributed that to a $25,000 contingency bought into the contact contract directly. The added kitchen grease interceptors, the added underslab plumbing, the new gas lines, uh new furnace, and new water heater as well to serve the kitchen. So, that's where we're sitting at the budget. We are uh currently tracking around 9.9% over the total construction budget. >> That's just so far. That's with all these costs, all that you just spoke about. So, we're 9.9% over based on the things that went down, the things that went up. >> Yes. And we still have uh solicitations going out. I'm not sure if they came in or not yet, Pat, but the furniture, the kitchen. So there's a chance uh those may be over budget, may be under, but this is currently where we're sitting for the
042total project budget. We're sitting 9.9% over >> or uh $847,771.68. >> Could you repeat that? 847, >> $771.68 >> over. >> Correct. But but we might be able to recoup some of it either by >> No, that that that is not including the 550,000 we have bought in the contingency. If you include that, then we are 1,397,7716. >> Yes, that that includes that not being spent at this time. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, thank you for um reviewing. Oh, sorry. >> Was asking a question. We're just for I did get a text message. Please make sure we're speaking into the mic because we're having issues being heard right now. So, >> okay, >> for all of us, >> who's going to be approving any or all change orders? >> So, the change order process will
043go through Quandell um any prime contractor who believes they have a claim for a change order, they will submit it to myself and Chris Berinelli. We will review it along with our project superintendent who will verify whether it was in the drawings or the specifications and if that contractor owns it. If they do not then we will review it for cost and accuracy and then we will depending upon the value of it submit it to the board for approval. >> What is the definition of a change order? >> So a change order is anything that is not in the contract documents or specifications. So, anything that's not on the drawings or the specs is considered a change order. Any unforeseen conditions uh within reason um any design changes within reason. >> Okay. Thank you. >>
044Thank you for reviewing that. I appreciate um the transparency and the process and the numbers and everything like that. Thank you. This is a last second request. So, thank you for that. Um I know that um this whole process meanwhile has been uh we really need to I understand get this this building open for school. Um there's nothing we can do about it, right? You know, we're eight almost a million, you know, over budget, but we need these classrooms, so we just have to roll with it. >> So, to share publicly, um our enrollment as of today is 9,383 students. Uh we are up from we ended around 9250 last year. Um and every time I open that enrollment document, I'm literally taking a screenshot and sending it to my central office administration going, we're
045going to hit 9,400 kids. In addition to that, I know I've said it a million times, I'm going to say it again, we opened up 18 autistic support classrooms in the last two years. Uh in addition, we've seen an increase in life skills and emotional support classrooms as well. Um and we at this point right now um are anticipating 8 to 10 additional autistic support classes full-time needed for next year. I would like to thank uh Mrs. Norah Phillips and Mrs. uh and Maggie Lotney and Jen Bradley because they have and I know director Fox this was a question you asked. They have gone through the case loads to make sure that we have taken the children with the most high needs and put them into the new center while at the same time continuing
046our school-based program to ensure we have a continuum of services at all time. We're out of room, folks. We're out of space. I need a K4 emotional support class right now and I don't know where to put it. I'm out of space. I'm out of room. Nobody foresaw our enrollment going up and at the same time seeing our special education full-time classroom need increase like it is right now. This is not something anyone saw coming. I know it's further down on the agenda. Uh director will get there, but on May 26th there will be a committee meeting to review the financial impact with PFM of where we are right now because nobody saw this coming. Um the mended recovery document is a beautiful document. Um, and I've had conversations with Dr. Sailor about it. When
047it was put together, nobody saw our number on May 4th of 2026 being 9383. Nobody saw our enrollment going up. The studies that we did, we should be between 87 and 8,800 students this year. In addition to that, our cyber school full-time numbers did not increase to the level that they normally do. And with cyber school, remember that we start in the six or 700s and we may go up over a thousand students, but on the first day of school, those children need a physical seat in a classroom. Our enrollment is growing. Our need for our exceptional population is growing. It is significant. We are out of space. >> Take a shot at too because I think it's necessary to say this. Um last meeting we or maybe it was two meetings ago we undertook
048uh some board action to declare an emergency to be able to go from public bidding I'll call it to solicitation. It was one of the few options that we had available to kind of accelerate uh this project uh because we are administering this as a conventional construction project. One thing to look at maybe next time because this isn't going to be the only time we're doing a construction project based on what I just heard. Um the only way that I've seen in my experience to avoid what you just heard Nick go through is compliance with Pennsylvania separations act. Um meaning we have to have multiple primes separate contractors for all these trades.Well as the construction manager can't be the general contractor. Those rules all flow from the separations. There's something called the guaranteed energy savings
049act. visa. That's the only statute that I've seen that allows exemptions from separation. So, it is something that we can look at potentially in the future as another option. I could talk to Bill, I could talk to Nick about it because Quandell not not Nick brought that up. They're a Giza contractor. And if if if we just put a solicitation out to the Giza community and Quandell came in and maybe one or two other companies came in and just said, "This is the number. compeller or high water, we will deliver this asset for this number. That's how you do that. We could enter into a contract and we can do it one time and we can give it to a competent uh construction vendor who could do the GC, the plumbing, the mechanical all under
050one roof. That just wasn't available to us under the law. So, we were able to kind of modify, declare an emergency, but all that got us was the ability to kind of the flexibility to do solicitation for the most part. the the the the real relief if we wanted to expedite this and we wanted relief comes in the compliance with the separations act. So, we're still doing that. So, I'm not here saying it would it would work, but if you're asking for ideas about how we avoid this in the future and we can't control all these different contractors uh as a construction manager, but if the CM was also doing the GC work, also able to perform some of these trades, I would have to guess that we might be able to fare a little
051bit better and closer to the budget that they came up with. if that's something that you would potentially recommend in the future while we're taught we look into this experience and because we're a million dollars over arguably right now and that's probably not going to be the final tab it might be something that we could look at >> Aaron uh the previous board had a uh study done >> where would we be today if we followed that study >> well yeah we we would be in a real bad spot but again I mean that's That's why I'm saying it. Nobody foresaw this and and I happened to be with a number of superintendents of larger districts Friday at a legislative event and they're seeing the same increase. Um there there is there is a there's
052a boom right now. Um and and even with our numbers are obviously exponentially larger than everyone else's because of our size, but you're hearing about smaller districts needing to add additional full-time classrooms. So, it is in in a ratio, you're seeing this need everywhere right now. Enrollment in other districts around here may not be moving like ours is, but need to meet the exceptional population is. Um I I I don't I don't think anyone saw this coming. Um you know, I'm going to quote Pat Laffy. Just because you were born in Scranton doesn't mean you're going to school in Scranton. And just because you were born some else doesn't mean you're not going to go to school in Scranton. And that's what we're seeing right now. Um, and we're just seeing an enrollment increase. Last
053July, I sat in an operations meeting in Isaac trip and the words out of my mouth, I think they were in a Scranton Times article were, "I'm asking you to make a pause." I'm asking you to make that pause because what I'm asking to see is, is this an anomaly or is this trend data? At this time, I'm starting to look at this as trend data, not an anomaly. So, I came here, we were about 9,100 kids. We ended last year about 9,200 kids. We're almost at 9,400 kids. I'm in the education building. I love it. It's great. But we're just not prepared for it. This is not what we expected. So, you know, we have to figure we're going to have to to figure things out. Um, opening up this building this year is
054a first step in that. It's going to take the pressure off a little bit, but very honestly, these elementary students will eventually transfer into our secondary schools. We're going to run into spacious who's there. Like this is this is it is not when is the title wave coming? The title wave is here. Our enrollment's going up, you know, and and that's that's where we are. We are we are at a space crisis because you have to remember that to meet the needs of our exceptional population, a classroom that would normally house 28 students sometimes could only house eight or 10 or 12 or 15. So the space requirements are there, but there's there's not as many students because th those are the needs of that population at this time. 18 of those classrooms right now.
055That's a lot of classrooms in two years. So, you know, we have to we have to take a step back and we have to start to look at what we're going to have to do to address this. Um, you know, and I will keep I think I think I give I rattle numbers off at every board meeting. I will keep giving them. I know there's a there's an enrollment memo in the board packet for me every month. I will keep updating you. >> Thank you. >> All right. Anything else for discussion on the operations portion? >> Uh are we unless I did we discuss it says discuss or possible motion for >> I I was going to keep going down. >> Oh, is that okay? >> Yeah. >> Forklift has to be replaced. I think
056it's from like 1960. It it's got to go. Um South Intermediate Painting. Uh this will be the entire building. Um this aligns with anou that also exists under personnel um because we're going to bring a company in to get that done this summer. Uh the Scranton High park parking lot seal ceiling. >> It's seal coating. Correct. >> Sealing [clears throat] it. >> We are doing it. Um >> let me let me speak on this. Uh so uh apparently by just some clerical mistake this was left off the voting meeting agenda because it requires us to spend money. we can add it. Uh there's no more 24-hour rule as of around Thanksgiving of 2025. The Supreme Court interpret it differently. So for us to add the motion to uh seal coat the Scrant High School parking
057lot to the voting meeting agenda at an appropriate time, the president is going to ask for a motion to add it to the agenda. And we are going to roll call that. And if there's at least five and it gets added to the agenda, then we can at at the next appropriate time actually take action on it. that that's how that'll be done mechanically. >> And these are these are things that we're trying to do to I mean, hey, it's bad winter. We live in northeastern Pennsylvania. >> Roads are roads are where they are right now. >> What was the process to get for that for the >> that's a cooperative purchase >> for the seal? >> Yep. >> The Scranton High Lights and Memorial Life Stadium. I know we've talked about lighting for the
058for the people who are new to the board. We've talked about the lights at Scranton High numerous times. Um, they no longer go up and down. You have to run a crane. You got to put someone up. >> Memorial, I'm sorry, Memorial Day. You got to put somebody up in the crane. Um, you have to see how many light bulbs are out. The light bulbs are really expensive. Originally, we we gave a quote. Was it well over a million dollars, right? >> I believe at one point we looked at a a project that included the scoreboard that was over a million. It was about 625,000 is what we thought it was through a couple years ago. through a cooperative purchase. This would give you LED lights which have um a multi-year they'll come out and
059fix them if anything happens. Um and it will take away the things that we've had to do there um with the lighting because the lighting is it has to be replaced at this point. Um so this kind of finalizes and finishes the memorial stadium. >> So this motion is for the Scranton High School lighting and the memorial stadium. No, there's two. So, the Scranton High lighting is the lighting controls. Mr. Rucker has talked about those multiple times. >> The Yeah, I'm sorry. So, they are failing. We were able to do uh through Mr. Osborne. Mr. Osborne, it was like a Mr. Rucker a replacement of updating the system, but not fully replacing it for about $70,000, which is significantly lower than the replacement cost we initially brought forward. Um, and then the memorial stadium lights
060are the actual field lights and that is a cooperative purchase. >> But those are on the same motion. >> Same motion. >> Yes. The financial impact is listed on the motion, too. >> Um, the operation vehicle fleet, please change that. We are not going to update the plumber and electrician vehicles. This is just to replace a vehicle that was damaged and swap out the two um supervised foreman's vehicles. Um, so that that is not what appears on the motion here. Um, the West High doors, we are not bringing that forward at this time. Um, we did Mr. Rucker, Mr. Laffy, and Mr. Osborne took a ride to Tanda, I believe. Were you? >> So, so there is a motion for you this uh >> Yeah. So, there is a motion. Um, it is pending some
061solicitor review, but it is an alternative solution that we were able we did visit Tuana. It was a very nice very nice drive. Um, it's a eration of these doors rather than a full replacement. Significant savings per door. We were looking at a replacement cost of over $5,000. We're able to restore these at approximately $2,000. >> That's great. >> And it would keep the original look of the building, >> aesthetic of the buildings, >> new locks, the doors. >> We saw some finished pictures today without the uh the glass and the just yet, but the uh the stripping and staining looks very very good. >> And how many doors were that, Pat? 240 approximately. The motion said >> 234 I think. Yeah, >> we would be looking at potentially doing half this summer and half
062next >> because we have a contract for this. >> So it would be under a coop. It would be the co-stars cooperative. We've just been quoted the price per door. There is a there is a quote for it that I can't forward to the board. So I believe it should >> I'm just wondering the motion says approve the contract with the door resto that might so it's that it's a cooperative purchase >> need to change that. >> Okay. >> What what's a cooperative purchase? >> It's a cooperative purchase the door refinishing. It's not a contract. >> Okay. Okay. >> And the districtwide lines. We are right now looking to we're doing a couple different things. So we're looking at possibly sealing the windows. We're testing a room in South Grand Scrant Intermediate to check that
063out to coat them. We're also looking into possible ways to replace blinds. I mean, some of our blinds haven't been replaced in a real long time. At this time, we don't have anything formal on that. It's just weren't processed. >> Yeah, we've gotten a little bit of pricing on it, but nothing enough to bring a recommend, excuse me, recommendation to the board yet. We anticipate probably in June. >> Would we be doing this over a period of time? >> That would be a goal. >> Like we're painting South Scranton, so maybe there and then the next building maybe you know >> we don't have the details yet Mr. Osborne do we That is operations. >> Okay. Personnel director Casey. Uh the first one is uh a motion to approve the personnel report, assignments and appointments,
064um retirements and resignations and leave of absence under the uh consent. It's anou with the SEIU local 32BJ for painting. Uh, another one for anou with the same union for garbage and a motion with the SFT for cyber skull. And we have motions uh to be approved for change in life insurance carriers and a motion to terminate an employee. That's all we have. >> Okay. Policy. Director Fox. We'll have motion to approve second read updates revisions 140 charter school 221 dress and grooming 236.1 threat assessment 304.1 nepotism 325 dress and grooming grooming sorry 332 working periods 619 district audit 810 transportation >> there was a clerical error so nepatism is not there it will be approved in June >> okay vendor relations director chz Under the consent agenda, we will have a motion to approve
065mom and mom and pop contracts if any, updated list of transportation drivers, the center for independent living, advertising contract, installation of electronic door strike at West High, fruit and fresh fruit and vegetable contract, lumber and general supplies bid, um, which we're going to pull from the consent, and the Montichello East food service uh, equipment bids. On the non-consent, we will have a motion to approve the agreements to purchase furniture, fixtures, and equipment for Montichello East and a motion to approve Board Doc's diligent agreement. >> Director Director Shzik, I I request that we potentially and however we want to do it properly, but table the lumber and general supplies bid for this evening. Some information did come in this afternoon that I would like to review with the solicitor Moran before making recommendations. >> Okay. Thank
066you. Did I I I feel like there was a couple different things said. Wasn't there was there something about the furniture, fixtures, and equipment for >> We'll be pulling I have a motion to pull that when we get to the approval agenda. >> Regarding the uh diligent board docs, we've been having some issues with board docs. Is that because they're transferring over or they're in the press? I mean, do we know why we had some access issues? >> They did not give us a specific reason why. Um, Mrs. Orur or Mr. Sum, you did not receive a reason why. It's just updates that they were having technical issues. >> Yeah. >> Just curious. >> Yep. [snorts] >> Okay. Fair funding. Director Selei. >> We'll have a motion to adopt a resolution to the Commonwealth to
067support and adopt an adequately funded state budget in a timely manner. >> So, we we got to we got to advocate that we keep getting the the fair funding increases. Um, you heard what I just said about enrollment. We need the money. >> We're still owed 60,273,668 >> and that's yearly, correct? >> That is total. >> It's total what would become yearly, correct? Like once they fully fund us. >> So that that's the gap currently. >> Correct. >> So $60 million. That's crazy. and we'll have a discussion about the May 26 committee meeting for education and fair funding. >> So, I did request this meeting and thank you to director and director Merkel for complying, Mr. Director Borthwick, President Borthwick for allowing it. Uh, this meeting will look at the need for this fair funding
068as well as the financial impact to all of those enrollment numbers that I rattled off to you before. Um, I did briefly speak to Superintendent Keading and I'll send an email requesting, but um, if it could be in your heads if maybe we can add a policy meeting to um, that time since we're already having um, a committee meeting. >> Okay. Yeah, just fire me an email. >> Sounds good. >> Katherine, >> can you speak into the micro webinar? >> Sorry. I was just hoping to add a policy committee meeting the same day as education and fair funding. >> All I'm saying is I'm having a hard time hearing. >> I'm sorry. I know. I have a hard time hearing, too, so I apologize. >> At my age, I'm deaf. >> I can't hear either.
069It's okay. >> Sorry. >> Okay. Don't be sorry. >> All right. So, we have to We have a motion to approve the board meeting agenda. Start with that >> motion. I have a second. >> Second. >> Okay. on the question and I will just uh >> on the question we're going to ask for a motion to add as agenda item E9 a motion uh to award a cooperative purchase agreement for lot seal coding at Scranton. >> Okay. So could I have a motion? >> Make that motion. Second question. Roll call. >> Mr. Casey. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Chess. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Miss. >> Yes. >> M. Merkel. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Triiano? >> Yes. >> Mr. Brazil? >> Yes. >> Mr. Borth? >> Yes. >> And then
070that takes us back to approving the board meeting agenda. >> And we still have to um pull uh H4, approve lumber and general supplies bid. >> Okay. and and >> HA table. >> I couldn't hear either. I'm sorry. What did you What are we pulling at the moment? >> Supplies. >> Yeah. Uh pulling H4. Um approved lumber and general supplies bid. >> Okay. H4. Um >> and also H8. >> Also H8. Do you want to do that as a single motion? >> I don't H8 isn't on the consent. So I think we're good with that one. >> So then you want to do a motion on the H4. >> Yep. >> Second. Can you What did you I couldn't hear. >> Roll call. H4 to table H4. >> H8. That one's not on the consent,
071so we're good with that one. >> Oh, >> okay. We can do a roll call. >> Mrs. Chess, >> yes. >> Mrs. Clearary, >> yes. >> Miss Fox, >> yes. >> Miss Marco, >> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Brazil. >> Yes. >> Mr. Yes. >> Mr. Bwick. >> Yes. Okay. J >> executive sessions were held this evening to discuss personnel, real estate, litigation, negotiations, and safety and security. >> Solicitor's report. >> Um, we've been talking and doing a lot uh with um assessment appeals, although there was nothing on the agenda tonight. I noticed it's worth saying right now that the school district is going to take a hit in the new in the new year just with a couple of illustrations. Um Moses Taylor and Mercy hospitals are coming out the tax rules.
072Uh the bazooka plant, the Pine Brook session section has a zero dollar assessment right now because of the money subsidy. So that's off our tax rules for all of purposes. We are actively defending any challenge like the pen foster building on on Oak Street. Uh but we're expecting a reduction. Um the good news as I can say is we have not seen yet the anticipated uh appeals of new assessed values. Isn't that fair? Um for instance, Luzernne County did a a countywide reassessment after decades and decades of not doing it uh not that long ago. And in the first year after they completed it, they had 9,000 assessment. Um we only have 600. Uh so with that the county has anticipated many many more. They've added resources. They've they they have new members, additional boards
073of assessment appeals, additional lawyers and additional resources such that it made sense for us to start discussing recently and it was because um I I know I was on the receiving end of it most administration and all the board um two emails in the last few months. One was actually from a Lacawana County Commissioner who was pointing to a property uh I guess on North Washington Avenue near Coopers. Uh it's a defunct coffee shop, but it's owned by what the commissioner was saying is um technically a nonprofit entity and not paying property taxes. And the commissioner's position in the email that we received was that property should be on the tax. Shortly thereafter, we got an email, same group, all the board members and Edman and myself from a citizen talking about the Leader Cran
074Social Club on Lacawana Avenue saying, "Hey, that's not a real nonprofit yet. They haven't paid property taxes." It it it it generated some conversation and ultimately um a recommendation from my office which is that the Scranton school board should undertake um reverse assessment appeals of certain nonprofit properties in the city of Scranton. Uh and we actually started working with the other taxing districts and specifically Lacawana Countyy's assessor and we have a list a baseline list of about 250 properties. of those there are estimates of maybe a hundred that would not survive a challenge. Um the way to challenge those is essentially a reverse assessment of people and we will not have this option if we wait beyond August 1st. Um so for that reason this board has I think encouraged with with with our recommendation
075given us that authorization to begin that process. Uh so I also know that uh the city is undertaking a similar effort and the county certainly wants to uh I'm saying be be on the lookout uh for some of that act that activity to start soon because I think it's in the best interest of the city of Scranton, the Scranton School District primarily who I represent and certainly Wacawana County for this effort to be undertaken and in the context of the assessment appeals I I started there because it's actually cheaper for us to do this work With every assessment appeal that we have to defend, we have to spend our time as lawyers, we also have to go out and pay for a third party appraisal of the property to be able to contest whatever uh
076argument the property owner is making. Um there are third party expert fees, there's court fees, there's filing fees. None of that is true when it comes to the I think the effort that was authorized by this board which is essentially for us to work with the county assessor's office and to put everybody on notice who's a non a nonprofit taxexempt property in Scranton that you better prove to us that you really qualify to maintain that that standing under something called the hub test. It's never been done before in Lacawana County. It's never been done in the city of Scranton. And I started by saying we are going to take a hit. I know and I just pointed to two or three properties. Um this is the best way we can we we we can defend
077against that and we are estimating and believing um that there's there there's more there's enough money on u on the good side of this to justify it. Uh and the cost is is isn't near what it's going to be for us to defend some of these individual properties that we are um getting assessment appeals of right now. So, this there's a long way away of saying the work goes handinand glove with the work we're already doing on the assessment appeals and it's almost a no-brainer uh if it's the will of this board and the will of the taxing district to go out and get whatever money is owed to us that's on the table especially with the $60 million annual shortfall. Um it's something that that that that this board felt strongly about and I
078think still feel still does. Uh so we're we're going to be um you know they're professional agents in this exercise. We're going to work with the assessor and we're probably going to be, you know, on a case- by case basis putting some properties on the tax roles that um should not be offered in the first place. >> Larry, um if I could speak to this, uh I sort of got involved with this at the last minute at the request of President uh Borwick. And I know that you had a representative there at a meeting that was held at the uh county courthouse, the Globe Store on Friday afternoon, time at 3:00. [clears throat] And um other than hearing it from you, this is the first time that I actually heard about it that anybody taken
079this on. At that meeting, I was told that this has been a process between the county and the city that's been going on for uh correct me if I'm wrong, Tom, uh approximately two years. >> Yeah, it's it's about two and a half years. >> Two two two and a half years. And um one of the things that were given to us was a list of what they believed to be um tax taxes tax exempt properties that they're sending letters to asking them to prove that they're taxexempt, but to be quite honest with you, I I sort of reviewed it and I'm not an expert in this. God knows I'm not an expert in it as I was told. Um, I I reviewed the list and I don't know where the city and the county
080actually got their information from because it seemed like it was all mom and pop properties that were on it. And I'll give you an example. Uh, one of the properties was on it and I think the poor man is dead now, but a property is owned by uh, the former bishop of Scranton, McCormack. Uh, the Greenidge Little League was on it. Uh, you had multiple uh, churches. You had Brenne uh, properties owned by Bnee Brit. Um, you had, um, other properties that were owned by school districts. There was one there that was um that they're waiting for a response from the uh CTC. Um there was another one which was owned I have to believe it's owned by uh the city of Scranton, the Scranton Parking Authority. Um there was um SRRA Scranton Redevelopment Authority
081and on the list that we received it basically said no response. Now in all fairness and I have nothing against our local higher educations but there was nothing there from the University of Scranton. Nothing was there unless they were there were some that were direct uh uh blacked out which I asked Mr. Laffy today to get me a clean list. Uh we had nothing from the University of Scranton. Uh we had nothing there uh from uh Gisinger um which owns a lot of properties and that and I'll talk to you on that later because I always thought that they were a nonprofit organization but the more I look into it they may be owned by a corporation out in California. Um, but what I'm saying is this list, it has my head spinning like you
082want to put properties on, but I mean the closest to being an absolutely uh uh uh property that you might be able to go after. There was a name AT&T. Well, we all know AT&T isn't a a nonprofit organization. Um, but I don't know where they're going with this, Larry. Uh, at one point there was an excuse why they couldn't get the letters out. And correct me if I'm wrong on this, Tom. They did. The county did not have the money for the postage. >> Now, you tell me how the county didn't have the money for the postage. And I did a little bit more research today with some people that would they they told me how to actually do this at a much cheaper uh rate if I could get that list that they
083have. And I'm only going off their list. It's not my list or our list or be honest with you. I don't know whose list it is. But um you don't need to actually send letters out. All you need to do is get some people with some computer skills to go on each one of their uh um on the IRS website and see if they filed a 990 uh form. If they didn't file a 990 form, chances are they're for profit. And then if they didn't file it, uh I believe there was a little invest uh little invention about a hundred years ago called a telephone. You pick up the phone and you call the uh uh Libo or the whatever leader CR and you say, "Could we talk to somebody Greenwicher League?" Well, the president
084and secretary, first of all, I think the Green Entertainer League is defunct, but I mean, the city could always call down to uh their board that uh they appoint and say, "Hey, could you talk to your business manager and get this form in? I'm going do it tomorrow night at the uh Votech meeting. Why aren't we filing it?" Well, I know that we don't have that we're a nonprofit. We're a government agency. I'm just saying I I'm calling into question this um this whole list that we were given. I don't know if it was a complete list, an incomplete list, but I was told that in the last two two and a half years. Uh the city already paid legal fees in the sum of $14,000. Am I correct, Tom? >> So, let me just
085go back to the solisters report. Move on the rest of the agenda. I don't know what list you're talking about. I I'll certainly >> I'll be more than happy to give it to you and any other director who solicitor's report is because I was asked before tonight's meeting why this was not on an agenda. Uh and I don't know except that we're just starting this process. Uh we have not identified these properties. Um my suggestion is the assessor's office should just send blanket letters and revoke the status from everybody and make everybody go and reapply. That might be the path of least resistance. >> Larry, I wasn't going to bring this up tonight. I don't know what the right action is except that the reason it wasn't on an agenda is because it was discussed
086in executive session and I'm not the holder of that privilege, but the privilege seems to have been waved. There's been meetings at, you know, the Globe Building with other taxing districts. So, I'm just going to say it was a good idea. We discussed it robustly in executive session. It was a request made by some members of this board to bring it into the public meeting. There's no reason not to. Uh, it's your money. Uh, I see some members of Scrant Council here. I think we should work together. Uh I'm here saying because I usually don't because these are confidential matters. I'm trying to keep a lid on litigation that this is something that we're not hiding from. We're saying that nobody's done it. It's never been done in Lacawana County. It's never been done in
087the city of Scranton and it should be done. And I'm saying candidly now with the help of AI and one knowledgeable individual. We could probably do a lot of this stuff now and it could result in real money for the for the school district. >> Larry, that's what First of all, I just want to let everybody know. I wasn't going to bring it up because originally we brought it up in executive session and then all of a sudden it just seemed to appear that every government in Lacawana County knew that we had a discussion on this. But I just wanted to give you a synopsis uh as long as you brought it up tonight. I wasn't about to bring it up, but I wanted to give you a synopsis of where we're at. And to
088be honest with you, after two and a half years, unless I missed something, we're nowhere with with the two other Tom, correct me if I'm wrong. >> They went nowhere. >> It it went nowhere. And the whole reason of the meeting, I still don't know what it was for because none of the players that you would have expected to be on the list weren't. I mean, and I don't know, I'm not an attorney. I'm not a real or real estate guy, but I keep hearing why why aren't the University of Scranton paying taxes on Chick-fil-A? that as far as I know and I stand to be corrected that wasn't on the list. Geisinger wasn't on the list. Um but the reauthority the uh redevelopment was on the list. The votech was on the list. Uh
089Nativity Church which closed was on the list. And that was well the church isn't sold but the school is. So technically, I mean, poor Bishop McCormack, I think he's been dead. >> Okay, just in the interest of moving on, can we can we move on the agenda? >> All right. Uh, superintendent report. >> Thank you, President Borthwick. Uh, we are officially winding down the school year. 26 days left until graduation, flying by. Uh, first and foremost, I would be remiss if I did not start by recognizing that this is teacher appreciation week. Uh, this is a very important week of the school year. Teachers are the backbone of all that happens within the district. Um, what happens in their classroom is what makes kids successful. Um, Harry Wong, who is a a guru in the
090world of education 101, his book, Teachers are the most impactful person in a classroom. Um, I want to thank them for all they do. I want to thank them for um, what they give. Um, and I want everyone to take a moment to recognize teachers and all the hard work that they do. This year it is also school nurses week. Um when I in my previous role in the Scranton school district, I had the privilege of overseeing the nurses. They taught me a tremendous amount. Um it is probably one of the busiest most hopping places in a school in a school every single day. The work they do is essential. Um and they have a finite skill that nobody else can do. So I want to make sure we thank our school nurses as well
091as Monday, May 18th is speech and language pathologist day. another group of individuals who hold special special lure and have a special skill set to work with students in need in the district. It's also mental health awareness month. Um and everyone needs to take a moment and focus in on that folks. We after postco our world have seen such a dramatic increase in mental health um that it is something we need to focus in on especially not only this month but but every month. It is also speech and language and hearing month. Um, so there's a lot going on in May. I would like to take a moment to congratulate the social and emotional learning team at Scranton High School. They have been recognized as a 2026 Character Strong Spotlight School. This uh recognition reflects
092dedication, work, and intention that Scranton High is committed to fostering a sense of belonging and engagement in Character Strong. We're very proud of that team. Congratulations. Another thing that I want to highlight, if you saw the article in the newspaper, this past Friday, the district hosted a roundt discussion in partnership with Teach Plus and the Pennsylvania Literacy Coalition. Um, we were featured as one of four standout schools in a publication, a proof point. It was based off research, it was based off data, it was based off numbers of the work that we are doing being influential in moving the needle in literacy. We started this project two years ago um in a partnership with the Scranton Federation of Teachers um to train all of our teachers in structured literacy. The fact that we are one
093of the four featured districts in this publication is unbelievable. This is a true testament to the work that's being done here and the things that are taking place in the district. I'd like to thank Kim Teslick and Griebec who are joined by representatives Kyle Donahghue and Bridget Kazaroski, Justin Gensmore from Senator Flynn's office, Rachel Garrick from Teach Plus, and Vice President of Business and Workforce Development for the Scranton Chamber of Commerce Amy Lyster for serving on the panel. I'd like to thank President Borthwick for being there to offer support and opening remarks. Um, I would also like to specifically thank Kim Teslick, Susie Schaefer, and Griebec for the work they've done to make this happen. I'd also like to thank Corey Cross and the principal of JFK and the entire staff for hosting the roundt
094event. Um I I put it in the weekly update. Uh Sydney Toy is going to put it out online. Read this report. This this is very very positive. I made sure it was sent to Dr. Sailor and Dr. Karasi from the Department of Education because this is big stuff and I'm beyond proud that we were one of the districts chosen to be highlighted. um from central administration. Just a reminder, progress reports for the fourth marking period went out today. Um we're halfway through fourth marking period. Uh crazy keystone exams begin. Algebra 1 is May 11th and 12th for the high school. May 18th and 20th for the intermediate schools. Literature will be tested May 13th and 14th and biology May 18th and 20th. We have a professional development day on May 19th. There is no
095school for students. There's no school on Monday, May 24th in recognition of Memorial Day. And a reminder that Friday, May 22nd is um one of the snow makeup days from the winter. So, we are in school with an early dismissal that day. Friday, May 29th, there will be a building planning meeting, which means that there will be an early dismissal for students. Um elementaryaries at 1, high school at 1:25, intermediate at 2 o'clock. The district is hosting registration fairs Wednesday, May 13th from 4 to 7:00 at John F. Kennedy Elementary School. There's going to be a number of community organizations there. Please, if you know anyone who needs to register for school next year, who's new to the area, possibly a kindergartener out there who's going to start their school journey, please make sure that
096they get to one of these registration fairs. Um, on a personal note, I would like to take a moment to um thank Bert Geneala for his years of service and dedication to the Scranton School District. Mr. Geneala is retiring at the end of this year. Um he has 40 years 40 plus years of service with the district and the most sick days I've ever seen in my entire life. Bank. So B, congratulations for [applause] that. Um Bert [applause] has been a principal, counselor, um teacher. um he has spent his life here and he has given so much to us. Um they don't build him like Bert Jenna anymore. Uh you won't see that type of dedication again. As Bert and as as this generation leaves, we are going to have a void that cannot be
097replaced. And that's how I look at Bur and Alza. I also very much will miss Friday football updates um that occur in my office where Bert teaches both Peggy and Sydney something about football. Gives me his picks for the week and tells me if the Steelers will win or lose and why. So I will miss that tremendously. Bert, I love you. What you've done is unbelievable and thank you. >> Wonderful. And I think I can I hope I can speak on behalf of all the board and say, you know, thank you for your dedication, your years of service on u my end on a personal note. You know, I I don't think anybody from Westside uh doesn't know Bert and all of his dedication to his community, not just educationally, but especially in the sports
098world. I've been to God knows how many wrestling matches uh where where Bert refs and you know, in your retirement, I hope you have all the time in the world to do as much as you want in that regard. So, thank you again for for everything you've done for all of us. All right, Dr. Sailor. >> Dr. Sailor, do you have anything? >> Dr. Sailor. >> Okay. Oh, PSBA report. It is. >> No report. >> Okay. Dr. Fox. Um the only thing is in the PSBA email we received, they um highlight a school who submitted a story for greatpaschools.com. Um we haven't submitted a story since 2024. Sydney, I just emailed you the link fresh so you have it. If we could look at submitting some of the good things that we have going on,
099so that's in front of more people. That said this evening. >> Thank you. At this time, the board welcomes public comment. Each speaker will be allowed three minutes to speak. Union Presidents will be allowed four minutes. Up first, we have Amanda Vanuskerk. Good evening, school board members and Dr. Keiny. It's musical, talented, and wonderful. It's a cabaret. Join our talented students at West Scranton High School. Show date is May 27th at 5:30 p.m. Tickets will be $5. We hope you will join us to come see our talented, wonderful students. >> Thank you so much. >> What time was that again? >> 5:30. Okay. >> Next up, Councilman Sean McCandrew. >> How's it feel to be on the other side of this? I was going to say it's feels a lot different. Uh, hi to everybody.
100It's been a while. Uh, first of all, you guys are doing such a great job. I see all the updates in the paper on on Facebook. So, thank you for all your hard work and your dedication to the kids in our city and our district. Um, a lot of what Director Casey said was true. There's unfortunately some a lot of time going on. We wasted a little bit um for the hub test. So, hopefully we can get some answers. Anything you guys need from me on council or any of my fellow council members, let us know. We would love to work with you. Um, but the reason I'm here is to thank Bert Geneala for his dedication, uh, his hard work ethic. I mean, there's so many times I I drive to mass and or
101come back from mass or to mass at 6:30 in the morning and he's the only parking only car in the parking lot uh or on the weekends in the summer. Like he's first one in. He's such a hard worker and I've known Bird my whole life so I always admired that. But I was able to see that firsthand as a board member. uh any question I had, you know, he was my go-to guy to ask and he pretty much knows everything here. So, I wish him the best in his retirement and also thank him for everything he does and uh thank all of you guys. So, great seeing everybody. Thanks, >> Mr. McCann. >> Do you think it would be possible for the city and the district to work together for some sort of summer
102programs for the kids? >> Yeah, absolutely. Anything again, anything you want me to bring to council or bring to the city, I would love to partner with you guys. and a lot of good stuff we could do with all of our parks and >> and stuff to, you know, keep the kids busy and anything we can do together only only helps you guys but also helps us, you know, if we walk together and move forward together, this will be a great city for people who want to live here, but also have their kids who want to come here because it's great seeing the enrollment go up and let's continue that. And anything I can do to help, I would love to help. I I miss this more than you guys you guys probably know. So,
103it's awesome. >> Sean, there's sometimes we're glad that you're down there. >> Thanks. So, I'm glad you're still up there. So, thanks. >> We'll see about having someone reach out, Sean. >> Yeah, let me know. Anything I can do. All right. Thanks everybody. Have a good day. >> Thank you. >> All right. Next up, Jen Tlesco. [snorts] >> Good evening, Jen Tlesco. Um, SFD president. Um I just wanted to speak just for uh some clarification on the cyberou and in reference to what Dr. Kading was speaking earlier about with uh in terms of our enrollment. Um obviously or maybe it isn't as obvious the SFT is willing to work with the district to find reasonable workable solutions to the issues that we're facing in the district. Um and I just wanted to reiterate that the
104MLOU is meant to be a temporary solution. It is not meant to be a permanent fix for this. Um, and we uh respectfully request that the district and the board be committed to finding a permanent solution for finding a permanent space for the cyber academy in the district. Um, we are um completely understanding of our enrollment and that despite the last two enrollment projections and the studies that were done that we never for the sake of saying we never agreed with from the beginning. Um, we are busting at the seams in our brick-and-mortar schools and we need to find a permanent solution and in space for our cyber academy. But with that being said, I also want to ask for an update on the status of bankroft. Um, it's been closed for I think five
105years now and it's still sitting there. Can it be used without generalizing the estimating overall of speculation of what it would cost to renovate and to use it? Um, I'm respectfully asking it not only as the SFT president, but as a taxpayer, where are we at with that and the status of that building and it can it be used because clearly we are in need of space. Um, also given all of the construction projects that are on the agenda, um, I am glad to see that there's a motion for the painting at South Granton Intermediate. I know the parents, the students, the faculty, the staff are are hopeful that this is just the first step in uh, a starting point in investing in South Granton Intermediate School because they deserve it. Um, two other points
106that I'd like to end on is that thank you Dr. competing for bringing up the Kennedy um roundt discussion. I think it was a great day to see exactly the good work that can come about when the SFT and the district works together. Good things are possible. Um and it was a great collaborative effort for structured literacy and I want to see it continue through the district. And then finally, thank you for your kind words for all of the teachers, the staff, the speech and language, the nurses as we celebrate everything that they do, all the work that they do every day, not just during this week. and Mr. Don, lots of congratulations on your retirement and best wishes for your future endeavors. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Dr. King. Why don't you briefly
107because we all hear about Bankrooft often, want to briefly talk about what we're doing in terms of building assessment. >> Yeah. So, um, so with Mr. Osborne working now, Mr. Rucker, Mr. Laffy. Um, we're actually looking at giving the board something pretty solid with a three to fiveyear plan of things that have to be done. Um, I could absolutely make sure that, and I know we've sent it to the board before, there's been updates in the packet, but that there's something there to to to give the overall update on where we are with bankrupt as well. But, um, we need to look at really what we need to do over the next [clears throat] few years and have a plan in place. Um, we know there will always be emergencies. There will always be things
108that jump up out of nowhere that we're not ready for, but we'd like to give something more structured to the board. Um, and and I want to say this because Mr. Laffy put something in the packet with the amount of things that we have done. Um, I I came here in April of 2024. It's May of 2026. I've been here two years and a month. We've done a lot. Like I think everyone needs to take a pause and realize we've done a lot and there's a lot of really good things. Director Fox just brought up writing something for PSBA like there is a lot of really really good things happening. We are addressing things. We are getting ahead of things. So I I don't want it to all be there. Yeah, there's problems. It's a
10910,000 kid district with 17 buildings, but we are doing a lot. And I think we need to take a pause every once in a while and go, "Wow, we in two years we moved." >> Amen to that. >> And superintendent, I I also think in as regards to South Grant, there are other projects in the works that are not yet fleshed out and they'll be coming up, you know, to the board in the next month or so. Uh because that's a building that you it really needs some work. uh but 90% of it is cosmetic. So it's not going to break the bank to do that. But I would like Miss Tolesco to know that there are other projects coming for South. >> Thank you, >> Erin. Um, I'm on this board now two years
110and I got to be honest with you, there's been a lot of times that I've been uh frustrated, which you probably know, and I apologize if I've ever raised my voice out of frustration. I respect each and every one of you, especially this group. Uh, but I'd like to commend you, Mr. Laffy and Mr. Borthwick's leadership on moving this district forward. Uh when I got on the board, we didn't have a preschool. It was eliminated. Uh we had um buildings that uh were basically in dire uh repair and through your leadership you're bringing it back and you've also been a very steady force in dealing with our unions and uh I commend our unions. They have been partners. they have worked with us. Um we we don't have a uh relationship that's um adversarial. Uh
111we have one that I believe they realize that we're here for the children and the taxpayers. And I believe that every member on this board and administration feels that our teachers, the unions, their main concern isn't their own. It's their children and the taxpayers. I'd like to thank you, Erin, for your leadership. Tom and Jen, I'd like to thank you on behalf of uh the board for your cooperation um from Labor's point of view. And that's all I have to say. >> All right. Motion to approve the consent agenda. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Final question. >> Roll call. >> Mrs. Chz. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Clearing. >> Yes. >> M. >> Yes. >> Merkel. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Tri. >> Yes. >> Mr. Brazil. >> Yes. >> Mr. Casey. >>
112Yes. >> Mr. Boy. >> Yes. >> All right. Over to the operations committee. Director Brazil. Uh, if you don't mind, I'm going to read the uh >> the one that I received just now. >> Sure. I think that is going to be E9. That's the seal coding. >> Yes. >> President Book, I'd like to pull something from the non-consent agenda. >> Sure. >> Can we get into it? >> Oh, yeah. Sure. >> H8, the agreements to purchase furniture, fixtures, and equipment for Montichello East. This is due to the fact that we just are now today received their bids. >> Okay. So, and we haven't had a chance, the board hasn't had a chance to see. >> I'll second. >> Okay. >> Yeah, that one wasn't on the consent. >> Just do a motion to put
113it on the floor now. Do we do it now? Okay, we Okay, another question and roll call to pull. >> Roll call to table as Larry just said to the furniture purchase. >> Yeah, >> Miss Fox. >> Yes, Miss >> Yes. >> Mr. Yes, >> Mr. Tion. >> Yes, >> Mr. Brazil. >> Yes, >> Mr. Casey. >> Yes, >> Mr. Chess. >> yes. >> Okay, so Director Brazil, you're up. >> Okay. Have a motion to approve a contract with Ki Paving and Construction for seal coating of approximately 28,000 square feet of asphalt parking lot at Scranton High School. contract is per the co-stars contract 008-26-1675. The financial impact is $64,700. >> Second on the question roll call. >> Miss Marco, >> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Brazil. >> Yes.
114>> Mr. >> Yes. Yes. Mrs. Clearary. >> Yes. >> M Fox. >> Yes. >> Mr. B. >> Yes. >> Jenny, the the new law requires us to now add that as E9 to an agenda tomorrow and as soon as practical, ideally within 48 hours to publish the revised agenda on the website. >> Got it. >> Make a motion to approve the following lighting improvement contracts. Scranton High School Lighting Controls awarded to Anthraite Electric LLC 72,94. Co-stars contract 008-E25-1537. The Memorial Stadium lighting upgrade awarded to Musco Sports Lighting. Financial impact $513,264. Co-stars contract 014-22-240. Total financial impact $586,258. >> Second >> on the question. Roll call. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Brazil. >> Yes. >> Mr. Casey. >> Yes. >> Mr. Chess. Yes, Mrs. Clearary. >> Yes, >> Miss Fox. >>
115Yes, >> M. >> Yes, >> Mr. B. >> Yes. >> E3. A motion to approve the purchase of one replacement forklift for this South Grant Intermediate School Warehouse from Action Lift Financial Impact $21,45366. >> Second. >> Another question. >> Roll call. >> Mr. Trian. >> Yes. Mr. Brazil. >> Yes. >> Mr. Casey, >> yes. >> Mrs. Chz, >> yes. >> Mrs. Clearary, >> yes. >> Mr. Boy, >> yes. >> E4. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> E4. Motion to approve Scranton Electric Heating and Cooling Service, Inc. for the lease of the rental chiller at Plaza. Financial impact $79,456 for a period of eight months plus a mobilization cost of $7,800. Full financial impact $87,256. >> Second. >> Now the question roll call. >> Mr. Brazil. >> Yes. >> Mr. Casey. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Chz.
116>> Yes. >> Mrs. Clearary. >> Yes. >> Miss Fox. >> Yes. >> Mer. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Yes, >> Mr. >> Yes. >> E5 approved the contract for general contractor mechanical, electrical, and plumbing contracts for the Montichello East project. General contractor, Panza Enterprises, 72 George Avenue, Wolsberry, Pennsylvania 1870. Financial implication, $3,590,500. Mechanical Scranton Electric Heating and Cooling Services, Inc. 800 Sanderson Street Troop, PA18512. Financial implications 1,92,192. Electrical Urban Electrical Contractors, Inc. 801 William Street, Dunore, PA18510. Financial impact 1,467,500. Plumbing to G Ritzik and Sons, Inc. 125 First Street Plains, PA1 1870. Financial impact $449,650. The total financial implication 6,649,842. Second >> on the question. >> Roll call. >> Mr. Casey. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Chess. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Clear? >> Yes. >> Miss Fox? >> Yes. >> Merkel? >> Yes.
117>> Mr. Tri? >> Yes. >> Mr. Brazil? >> Yes. >> Mr. B? >> Yes. >> E6. Motion to award 570 painters for the interior painting of South Intermediate for the attached financial impact $150,000. >> Second >> on the question. >> I just want to make sure that this is a really high quality paint so we're not painting it again in like a year. >> I tell you that's one I can't answer. I don't know the [clears throat] quality of the paint. Well, I just know I've seen schools done with quality paint in the last 30 years, and I've seen schools done with really cruddy paint, and like three years later, you're paint. >> I'll openly admit one. I have no idea. I got no idea on that one. [laughter] >> Yeah, we're using the Crayola
118pastel stuff from the art. No, we're using Sher Williams. >> Crayola. Yeah, the watercolors. Uh, no. It's a I can't remember the exact um uh one exact Sherwin Williams product it is, but they are using a Sher Williams product. It is pretty good quality. >> It's not that like builder grade stuff. >> No, it's >> super paint. >> Is it super? Yeah, >> I thought it was I remember reading it, but I never had a chance to >> It's decent. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Um, so I guess on here it says it just the the one thing it says for the gymnasium it says no bid, but then if it's needed they could provide two men for one full day at $1,000. Do we know if that's something we're going to be >> It's all
119tile. It was just part of the uh the spec of anything small >> pieces here or there because I know there's a couple of uh of the u the backings of the bleachers have a little bit of paint on it but it's really not needed. >> So any work is required in the auditorium. So we won't be doing that. Okay. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Welcome, >> Mrs. Chz. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Clearary. >> Yes. >> Mox. [clears throat] >> Yes. Sorry. >> M. Merkel. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Triiano. >> Yes. >> Mr. Brazil. >> Yes. >> Mr. Casey. >> Yes. >> Mr. Boy. >> Yes. >> E7. Motion to approve enterprise fleet modification to replace a total loss vehicle and replace the two foreman vehicles per the attached financial impact
12060-month lease, one cargo van, $1,197.65 a month, and number two is a two foreman vehicles, $69569 per month. Second >> On the question, uh, Mr. Lafy, is there any way that you could have anybody on your staff to do a cost analysis on the leasing versus the purchase? >> We certainly can >> of all vehicles, just not these, but all lease vehicles. >> All lease fleet versus the ownership of our fleet. Certainly, we can put something together for the board. >> Thank you. Okay, roll call. >> Mrs. Clearary. Yes, >> Miss Fox. >> Yes, >> Merkel. >> Yes, >> Mr. >> Yes, >> Mr. Tion. >> Yes, >> Mr. Brazil. >> Yes, >> Mr. Casey. >> No, >> Mrs. >> Yes, >> Mr. Boy. >> Yes. E8 approved a contract with Door Restore LLC to
121have the interior doors for West Grant High School repaired and refinished at a cost of $2,043 a door. There are approximately 240 doors [music] in West Grant High School in need of repair and refinishing. The contract will be signed pending review of the solicitor. Financial impact is $2,043 per door. Cost for estimated $240 doors, $490,230. >> Second >> On the question, I'd like to congratulate Mr. Osborne and Mr. Rucker on having the ability to go and find alternative ways that uh actually saved the district money. >> Yeah. And and as somebody who has complained about the current state of the doors over the windows, they have plywood. It doesn't look great. Um but throwing those doors out, which are beautiful, heavy oak doors, and getting rid of them, uh and replacing them with something that
122would have been $5,000 as we discussed earlier, it's so much better that we're preserving the historic integrity of that building. It's a gorgeous building. So, excellent work to the operations department. >> Those doors are amazing. I didn't I went until I was there a couple weeks ago and I really looked at the doors. I was pretty impressed with the weight and the how thick they are. They're they're really they will be beautiful, I'm sure, when they're finished. >> Yep. >> Uh did this I have two questions, I guess. Did this have to be changed from contract to cooperative purchase? And um can you when it says laminated safety glass, like is that an is that an upgraded safety feature or is safety glass mean something else? Um, so I I don't know if it needs
123to be changed to contract and I wrote this, so I will take full owners for the responsibility of that motion. >> I think contract just came out of my mouth. It's a cooperative purchase. >> Um, >> or does that not matter? >> Yeah, friendly amendment I think. >> Yeah. Can we just get a friendly amendment to change the word contract to cooperative purchase? >> Make a friendly second. >> Okay. on a question. Roll call. >> Mox. >> Uh, yes. >> Mrs. Amendment. >> Yes. >> M. Merkel. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ley. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Brazil. >> Yes. >> Mr. Casey. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Chess. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Clearary. >> Yes. >> Mr. For. >> Yes. >> Okay. And now back to the amended motion. >> I think Rob
124was going to speak. >> So it's it's safety class. So it has a chicken chicken W. Now it doesn't. >> So safety glass is you need to run a tempered or a safety glass. Um because for example, if somebody just goes up and hits a regular window, it's going to shatter. It's going to be very sharp. It can cause some u some lacerations. It could hurt somebody if somebody was running and put their hand through it. Um the safety glass is more tempered, more safety. If it was to break, it's kind of it would break kind of like a car window would and it would just shatter out and less dangerous to a person. Uh we did originally look at specking in the glass with the as Dr. Keing stated chicken wire, but it was
125unavailable. Uh so we're running more of a a tempered safety glass instead. >> It's just overall overall better impact resistance and it's safer safer in the event that it ever does shatter. >> So will it be it'll be cloudy? >> It'll be clear. Yes, ma'am. So all the the nine panel for the nine squares. Yes, ma'am. >> Nine. Uh some are some are nine, some are there. There's different style doors in that building. Yes. >> And they also include the locks. >> Uh the I believe we had that in there. We have to provide some cores. >> So it includes all the the restoration of all the door hardware. There's potentially a >> hard to hear you. >> Oh, sorry. It includes the restoration of all the door hardware and hinges. Um there might be
126the cores that need to be addressed at at a later date. So that's not in that number. >> Okay. Okay. When you say core, what does that mean? >> The lock itself. >> Okay. >> Yes. We we may have to provide the cores. I I'm anticipating the cost of the cores being around two or 300 bucks each depending on what we're looking at. >> So, this motion is for if anything is broken, we'll have to approve that separately to replace parts. >> I think the cores are Rob, do we have existing cores in there now? Correct. >> But we don't have keys for all the cores. >> Correct. Each one is We have We have 234 doors. There's 234 different keys. So, one of the things [snorts] that we are doing is part of the
127Montichello upgrade and exterior doors upgrade. And now that we're touching the interior doors, we've created a keying system, a keying hierarchy that we'd like to follow. So, we're aligning the interior door keys to be the same cores as the exterior doors are going to be at that building. So, that way we can have one master key and multiple differ keys. That way, you don't need a bundle of keys to walk through a building. So we have more key control at that point. >> Thank you. >> Roll call. >> Merkel. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Brazil. >> Yes. >> Mr. Casey. >> Yes. [clears throat] >> All right. Director Casey. Personnel. >> Okay. Thank you, T. Okay. The first motion is F3. [cough] Um motion to approve personnel report
128as attached. Board appointment shall not vest unless and until the [cough] district has received and in its discretion as determined to be satisfactory. All required state and federal background checks and clearances employment shall not commence discretion that they are satisfactory. I so move >> second >> on the question roll call >> Mr. [cough] >> Yes. >> Mr. Brazil. >> Yes. >> Mr. Casey. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ch. >> Yes. >> Mr. Clearary. >> Yes. >> Miss Fox. >> Yes. >> Mer. >> Yes. >> Mr. Yes, >> Mr. Boy. >> Yes. >> The next motion is F4. Uh, approve the change in life insurance carrier to how do you pronounce a pet? >> Unum. >> UNM life insurance effective May 1st, 2026 is recommended by the district life insurance consultant. Um, drive-in insurance I so move.
129>> Second >> on the question. Roll call. >> Mr. Brazil. >> Yes. >> Mr. Casey. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Chess. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Clear. >> Yes. >> Miss Fox. >> Yes. >> M. Merkel. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Trian. >> Yes. >> Mr. B. >> Yes. >> The next one is F5. Motion to approve. Yeah. Motion to approve approve employee number 3973 termination of employment effective May 8th 2026. I so move >> second >> on the question. >> Roll call. >> Mr. Casey. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Chess. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Clear. >> Yes. >> M. >> Yes. >> Merkel. >> Yes. >> Mr. Black. >> Yes. >> Mr. Tri. >> Yes. >> Mr. Brazil. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. Okay, that takes us over to vendor relations. >> Uh
130H4, removed from the consent agenda, a motion to um award consolidate consolidated supplies and lumber bid 2026. These items will be utilized districtwide based on requested pet boards. >> Second >> on the question. >> And then um I would like to make a motion to table this. >> Second. on the question. >> Does tableabling this have any impact on like when does this go through that we have right now? >> We will I'll work with Miranda to clear this up ASAP and present it to the board hopefully um within the next week or so. >> Okay. Roll call. >> Mrs. Chz. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Clearary. >> Yes. >> Miss Fox. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mr. >> Yes. Okay. H7. Um motion to approve board docs agreement um for a
131period of one year July 1st 2026 through June 30th 2027. Cost $5,900. >> Second. >> Another question. I I just want everybody has outages, but if the outages go for an extended period of time, would we have some sort of rebate on those days? We can reach out. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Roll call. >> Mrs. Clearary. >> Yes. >> Fox. >> Yes. >> Merkel. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. Yes. >> Yes. >> Okay. And we had already tabled H8 at the request of director Merkel. So we are on to fair funding. Directors. >> A motion to approve the resolution calling for increased state funding by the board of directors of the Scranton School District as outlined in the attached >> second. >> On a question. >> Roll call. >> Miss.
132>> Yes. Mr. Yes, >> Mr. >> Yes, >> Mr. Brazil. >> Yes, >> Mr. >> Yes, Mr. >> Yes. >> for the president's report. I don't have anything new, new business. >> Can I say something? >> Yeah, absolutely. >> Okay. First, I want to personally thank Bert Jenna for his dedication to this Grand School District. He has been the backbone of our school community. We will miss you tremendously and you really help me personally as a board member. Thanks for And second, we have a special ed task force that Dr. Keading assigned and we are going into our third meeting this week. And for our next meeting, we will have a full report on where we're at. >> Wonderful. Thank you, >> Tommy. I have one thing. I I need to ask Pat a question.
133Pat, where are we with the uh audit? >> I expected the the audit to be completed last Friday. However, it was in manager review. However, I did get one additional comment related to Gazsby 101 that I am clearing of now. So, it it is delayed. I take full responsibility for it, but I'm hoping to have it to the board in the very near future. >> Pat, how many months is it late? >> We would ideally like it bunt done by September 30th of of each year. So, we're significantly behind. Um, as I noted before, you know, we fell be a little bit behind the eightball during my tenure as the interimm superintendent. So, we're trying to get caught up on that. Additionally, there's been some uh concerns uh with some of the the staff with
134the firm that we've been using. There's been some inconsistencies with their availability. So, um again, not an excuse, just just an explanation, but again, I hope to have it for you in the very near future. >> Pat, the year before, how many months? I don't need an explan. I just need to know how many months that one was late. >> It was ex basically exactly it was actually a little later because it was about eight months. So theoretically, they've never really been on time on getting their audits here. >> Well, I think again up until when I left my position as business manager, entered the I I'd have to check the exact times, but that's when it caused the major. >> I I just I need I need to state that there have been there
135have been concerns with delays that have come from the company, too. I don't want anyone to put any bloom on Pat. This is not Pat and I want to be real clear about that. and my back will be up because this there's been a lot of things outside that affected this. >> Erin, by no means am I trying to shine a negative light on Pat. I'm just more concerned that we have a um a firm that seems to be uh constantly late on getting our uh audits, which uh Okay, you say it's an audit, but audits also tell you what we're doing right and what we're doing wrong. And um is there any way that we can ask for a reduction in price due to the fact that uh they've been uh I guess you
136want to call it traditionally late? >> I can certainly request that. >> Would you please? >> I will. >> What are we paying them now? >> Off the top of my head, I imagine it's approximately 65 or $70,000 annually is is the contract. >> I'd have to verify that, but it's in it's in that range. 65 to 75. We'll call 70 for right now. And the only reason I asked this, Pat, is because I keep asking, uh, when are we going to get the audit? When we're going to get the >> We're pushing We're pushing very >> No, but Pat, what I'm saying is maybe if we tell them now that we want some money back, maybe it might uh make them sit up and take notice that this type of work is not acceptable.
137>> I will certainly request it first thing tomorrow morning. >> Thank you, Pat. Okay, Director Fox, thank you. >> Uh, yes. So just to the previous conversation that happened under the solicitors report um I did request for the consensus that was taken regarding the hop test to be added to the agenda and I did see that it was on the draft agenda but it was then removed. Um so I suppose to this I do have um a couple questions that I would just like to understand as a board member. I I guess I don't have an understanding of when a consensus that's taken needs to be ratified on an agenda and when it doesn't. Um and then just to piggyback off that conversation earlier, um I've shown concern that um the city is paying a
138company. I don't I maybe we could find out how much they've paid since supposedly the process has been two and a half years. But so the taxpayers are paying for the hub test and this um was presented a little bit different this way. So I'm not unwilling to discuss things um but I just have concern um because we didn't get a memo for the meeting that happened on Friday, but from my understanding the county said that they're about 80% complete with this process. Um there's something did you want to add to that since >> just my impression of that meeting is that that is not the case. >> Okay. And that's like why I'm more than willing to to hear what anyone has to say and um what the best route is for this school
139district. Um I was just like I said I also had concern when I asked for it to be added and then it was pulled. So I guess at this time I'm just asking if we could um Mr. Moran you told me and you said it here that you're more than willing to to discuss it. Let me answer your questions. Um, I've been going out of my way to say we discussed this in executive session and I'm not the holder of that privilege. Uh, so I'm walking a careful line here because I can't speak about what was said in executive session, but any nine members can the first amendment right. I just uh so let's start with that. There are about eight categories of of executive session topics that are exempted from public meeting action. And
140this in my estimation checked at least to as a real estate matter or as a potential litigation >> for does it real estate only if it's negotiating to purchase? >> Uh no it's purchasing leasing. I mean it's it's a statutory enumerate. It's there's been case law that has been leasing and purchasing. But even even so let's go back to what I think Mr. Director Casey was saying when I brought this up. I have not seen this list, but it sounds like there is a list that is the product of the assessor having sent notices to 250 property owners and some of them responded and it sound like you you said you had a list of those would be the respondent. So, it's it's it's conceivable that University of Scranton some of the more sophisticated parties
141that would have lawyers that would want to defend uh their status did respond. >> Who knows, >> Larry? Let me tell you this on that list and you're 100% right. Some of these uh um names that are being thrown around could have responded because there were some on it which I don't understand why they were redacted. >> But the point I make just let me finish just >> I'm sorry Larry. >> The point I was making is because they were probably responded to by lawyers. The huff test came from litigation. Tower health uh is the most recent one where the was the Phoenix area school district challenged the hospitals there and actually got the most recent iteration of the hub test meaning the sophisticated ones the ones worth going after likely result litigation. So it's
142more comfortably under litigation exception but because we're talking about it generally we are not in specific litigation I'm here saying it was premature probably to cast it under litigation in the future when in response to one of our notices we get a lawyer letter back threatening a lawsuit that's we probably talked about more privately in executive session but generally as the project goes I'm h that's why I said I'm happy to talk about it publicly. Uh so I think the answer to your question is when there are matters that are within an enumerated exception for executive session deliberation. It's probably not going to be added to an agenda for ratification but that could be ch that that I don't know what was in the president's head but I'm assuming that that's probably why it was
143taken off the >> Yeah. Since it was an executive session, I didn't and had mentioned pending litigation. I pulled it. >> Okay. So, that's that's the answer one. The other thing is I didn't talk to you or or you director Casey or any other people that were in attendance. I did talk to my partner Joe Joyce who went because I wasn't around and I got a couple of, you know, uh, items from him in terms of what was discussed. But $15,000 is the answer to your question. That's what the city spends. >> They engaged a law firm out of Bucks County that does largely what my law firm does. It's a municipal almost exclusively representing school districts and cities and counties. Uh and uh they charge they they engage them at an hourly rate and
144so far they've incurred bills of $15,000. >> Thank you. I appreciate that. So um I guess my question is so for I guess where my question stems from for like future and such. So we we agreed to um use your firm for this. So, is it because it falls under solicitor services that it doesn't have to be ratified at a meeting? >> There's there's already an existing contract for my law firm and you're using me. So, that's >> so we're just able to like add on to that. >> If you were going to engage a different law firm, it would have to go through the same process that I was hired at last April. Like so. For instance, if the school district wanted to go into some kind of shared services agreement with the city's
145law firm, which is called Rudolph Clark, Rudolph Clark would have to give us some kind of a proposal to go on an agenda and there would have to be board action to engage that new law firm. Since I was hired, you're still under contract. We're not paying us anything different than what's in that contract. Did not come for new board action. Katherine and uh Tom and I made it perfectly clear that we did not have the authority to uh agree to disagree. Uh am I correct, Tom? >> Yeah. And and at that point when I stated that and director Casey said the same thing. Um, I asked what they wanted us to walk away with and they just said information and frankly I think we both left with more questions than >> Joe Joyce's takeaway
146is the city was was inviting the school district and the county to be part of their project. >> So is there is there any like just to follow up could we get a little bit more information like you're talking about a list? Um, like I said, we didn't I I'm understanding we didn't get a memo, but I'm understanding a little bit of most of what the meeting pertained to. So, if we could just get a little bit more just so I can feel more comfortable moving forward, that's >> So, I actually asked the city uh and county to send us specifics related to whatever information that they wanted us to digest. Um, and then just since we're talking about it, I I was not I was not impressed with the effort. Um, they've had 30ome
147months to do this. We even asked questions about how they came up with striking certain entities like the university and the gentleman who responded from the county um he just said, "Oh, well, I just made the decision." Well, that he didn't apply a hub test. It was just gone from the list of considerations. So, >> that's not right. >> Yeah. I would imagine we would do things a little differently. Um and and the stamp thing is in writing, I believe, Pat, how they didn't have money for stamps. They >> I'm sure it certainly is. They put it in writing that they didn't do something like it did not seem like a particularly organized effort. So, um, >> do we need a resolution to give the county money for stamps? [laughter] >> You don't have money,
148Bob. >> So, um, anyway, that's that's >> But Catherine, I'll let you know. I do have a copy of that list >> and I will get it to Jenny tomorrow just so that everybody knows what I'm talking about. >> Yeah. And Jenny, if you could get it in the hands of every board member and our central administration, I'd be happy for it. I mean, >> um, we're always talking about transparency and I believe that this is a good issue that we be transpar. >> Yeah. And I I I was clear that I wanted them to send me everything in writing that so that I could pass it to you. Um, I have not received anything in >> Thank you. >> Well, when was the meeting? Friday. >> Yeah, it was Friday at 3. >> Yeah,
149today's only Monday. >> Yeah. Okay. Motion to adjurnn. >> Move to adjurnn. >> Second. Third. Fourth. >> You're going on vacation. >> But I think it's a great idea. >> She's talking to you. She's like, she's sorry. >> It's like I have little kids again. something to do. >> So are you. >> I'm not my grandkids. I'm busy. >> Hi. How are you? >> Thank you. I hope you know I'm out of >> this meeting is >> I'll be there. I didn't see that