001I'd like to call to order this work session board meeting for Tuesday, April 7th, 2026. Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. Pledge allegiance. I 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. Roll call. Mr. Brazil. Here. Mr. Casey. Here. Mrs. Chessick. Present. Mrs. Cleary. Here. Ms. Fox. Present. Ms. Merkel. Here. Mr. Slucki. Here. Mr. Triana. Here. Mr. Worth. Here. Nine present. And now we will have recognitions and achievements. Director Chessick has the information. All right, for this evening's awards and recognitions, we are pleased to welcome art students from Scranton High School and West Scranton High School, along with their teachers, who were recipients of the Scholastic Art Awards. Awards are presented in
002three categories: gold key, silver key, and honorable mention. The students who were awarded gold keys at the regional level proceed to the national competition for a national gold key award. From Scranton High, Violet Martin was a recipient of three gold keys and an honorable mention. Yuraj Patel and Kayla Vaughn won silver keys. Imel Kukau, Jessica Zelinski, Josh Kirschner, and Suzette Esposito, and Olivia Kweet were all awarded honorable mentions. From West Scranton High, Adeline Hirschler was awarded an honorable mention. Janiah Curey was awarded an honorable mention. And Janish Janish Praja Prajapati, excuse me, was awarded a silver key and honorable mention. Students are accompanied by their teachers, Carrie Ruddy Archer, Rob Robertson, David Schultz, Ryan Nat, and Adam Ruane. Congratulations to our our our students our talented students, excuse >> [applause] >> Okay. So, next we
003have art students from West Scranton High School who participated in the Pennsylvania Art Education Association's Art Month exhibition. Janiah Myers was named the best of Region 9. Claire Showalter, Lee Lanyos, Janiah Curey, and Riley Smith also had artwork on display. Congratulations. We are so proud OF YOU. >> [applause] >> IT'S NICE. OKAY, WE ARE ALSO PLEASED TO welcome students and advisors who participated in the regional Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science regional competition. Last meeting, Dr. Keating informed the board of 60 students from South Intermediate, West Intermediate, West Scranton High, and Scranton High STEM Academy who competed. 37 of those students will compete at the state competition in May at Penn State University. The following students are in attendance this evening to be recognized. From Scranton High STEM, Valeria Morales, Emily Atonal, Delilah Lear, Yesharalilugo, Denaya
004Castro Martinez, Kaylin Owens, Sophia Schultz, Lincoln Clemens, Ariana Rodriguez, Lexi Anneman, Sydney Whitman, Nisoma Udoy, Caitlin McDonal. Sophia Schultz received a perfect score and Emily Atonal received a perseverance award. From West Scranton High, Angel Ovalle Pena, Rainan Subedi, Kristy Daniel, Alexis Alt. Angel Ovalle Pena received a perseverance award and a scholarship to Marywood University. Rainan Subedi received a perseverance award. From South Intermediate, Gracie Budahaki, Claire Dean, Scarlet Delorb, and Celeste Reyes. From West Scranton Intermediate, Khami Boomer, Liam Manley, and Mashk Patel. Mashk Patel received a perfect score. Advisors, Catona Woodbridge, Abigail Hankey, Chris Ort, and Pamela Manley are all present as well. We are so proud of our students and their advisors for their hard work. For those competing at the state level, we wish you the best of luck in May. Congratulations >> [applause]
005>> Congratulations. Lots of work. So proud of you. >> [applause] >> Sorry. Sorry. So, the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science or PJAS, as we know it, is a statewide organization of both junior and senior high school students. It's designed to stimulate and promote an interest in science and mathematics among its members through the development of research projects and investigations. Over 600 students competed at the regional event at Wilkes University on February 28th. The students here tonight are just a sampling of the over 60 students from across West Scranton High School, Scranton High School STEM, West Scranton Intermediate School, and South Scranton Intermediate School. The Scranton School District had the largest number of participants this year out of the 53 school districts in our region, which is a testament to not only the students' hard work
006and dedication, but also the dedication and long hours our district sponsors spent working with our students, including Abigail Hankey, Jasmine Rothenberger, Diorce Hackenberg, Chris Ort, Pam Manley, and Crystal Deantona. And also included several volunteers, including parent Pat Ayers, Mike Ferris, Frank Wall, and myself. We are all also excited to welcome McKenzie Bell from Northeast Intermediate School to our program next year. We want to thank you for recognizing our kids and sponsors this evening, and let's not also forget about the support of their parents as well. Thank you. >> [applause] >> All right. We're having our report from student representatives, Mr. Steven O'Malley from West Scranton High School. Good evening, board. This month has been a great month at West Scranton High School. Our spring sports have officially kicked off. Sophomore Calia Connor had 100 strikeouts,
007and baseball also had a successful start of their season. They had a 5-2 win over Delaware Valley and a 7-2 win over North Pocono. March 16th to 20th, the students took part in spirit week. The themes were Monday, culture day, Tuesday, St. Patrick's Day, Wednesday, character day, and Thursday was Twisted Thursday. Students dressed as teachers and teachers dressed as students. Friday was anything goes. The seniors won the anything goes. And our drama club will be presenting Frankenstein this weekend. Miss Amanda will speak more about that. And then two of our students got selected to be the Times-Tribune Scholastic Superstars. This is the first time in 2 years that West Scranton High School has students selected. Ava Givenwer and I were selected for the prestigious honor. Charles Sumner gave kindness to our first student who was
008caught being kind the most. Kindness acts are put on the kindness tree each day. His name was on the tree the most, Jakai Williams in fourth grade. Congratulations, Jakai. That's a wrap for April. See you all next month. Thank you for your time. Have a great night. Thank you. >> [applause] >> We have Max Hoffner from Scranton High. Max up. Here you go. Please open. Good evening. March at Scranton High School was a very successful month. Starting off strong, we had our student our senior class officer elections at Scranton High School. Congratulations to our class of 2027 officers and our class president Yarland Yarland Darl Yarland Delorbe. Our Knights have been working very hard with their spring sports. Amazing job to all participating. Our show choir freshman showman first place overall at the Road Island
009competition. Our students and clubs have been very active within the community lately. Congratulations to Ayush Suba for performing at the PMEA any PA orchestra festival. Congratulations to Nazir Holmes for winning the 2026 Scranton St. Patrick's Day t-shirt contest. The Scranton High School Student Council donated $150 to the Women's Resource Center. Our SADD club will be reading What Should Danny Do at Prescott Elementary. Our PennServe club has volunteered at the Albright Library book sale and annual Easter Fun Day. And on April 10th, they will be volunteering at the Unified Track Team track meet held at the Memorial Stadium. Our freshman semi will be held on April 23rd at the Green Ridge Club, and our prom will be held on May 17th at the Hilton. There is a blood drive being held at Scranton High School on
010April 29th. And we will be hosting and we will be hosting a Bring Your Child to Work Day on April 24th sponsored by the Knight Ambassadors. We are looking forward to a great April and a strong start to the fourth quarter. Thank you so much for your time tonight. Thank you. >> [applause] >> All right. Now to the work session agenda, budget and finance director, Mrs. Lee. On the consent agenda, we'll have the following items: the bill list and exception bill list, delinquent tax reports, the treasurer's reports, repository sales, budget transfers, disposal of assets, and budgeted purchases. We'll also have on the regular agenda a discussion and motion for real estate assessment approvals. So, approval of this evening. I did provide the information to the in the board's packet 2 weeks ago. It's actually a
011matter that was previously authorized to settle by the board back in October of 2025. Since then, the uh the taxpayer did not agree to the ultimately the number that we associated with it. However, we renegotiated it down slightly. We're looking at approximately a revenue loss of about $2,900 more than what was previously authorized. The cost of litigation or trying this would far out seed the actual loss in this, so we're recommending the approval of the settlement. And then we have information on the contracts. Certainly. So, there were three contracts that I approved throughout the month under policy 611. They are AIMSweb, which is a special education tool in the amount of $12,950. Axon, who is the vendor for our body or SSO's body camera. It's our license fee for the amount of $12,067.62. And a
012program called Boost Lingo, which is a translation services software in the amount of $2,352.44. These are all budgeted out of the special ed department, safety and security, and title three. And that's all for budget finance. Community relations, director Clear. Okay, we have a motion to accept donations from Sandy Hook Promise to West Scranton School SADD/SAFE club for $500. Scranton Area Community Foundation to 7th through 12th grade for buses for an event. Partnership with Miracle Surplus giving donation and EOC to high school students trip to Geisinger Medical College. We also have a motion to authorize the Scranton School District to apply for and receive $300,000 funding from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Community Conservation Partnership Program to construct a green community school yard at the Frances Willard Elementary School for the attached resolution. Oh,
013on the previous one, there was no financial impact. I'm sorry. I didn't read that. There's You're missing a donation from Fidelity. Um Hold on. It's just a motion to approve a Fidelity Bank donation from Fidelity. >> Yeah, cuz it's [clears throat] I don't have it. Um This was added late. It came in Oh, okay. Yeah, I I don't see it, but okay. Um It's a $7,500 donation for both high schools, Scranton High School and West Scranton High School, for a total of 15,000 to support our doing a program. Okay, thank you. Uh education director Merkel. On the consent agenda we'll have a motion to approve the special education plan. Motion to approve permissions to attend meetings and conferences. Motion to approve out of state field trips if any. Motion to approve Penn State dual enrollment
014science program agreement. Motion to approve Johnson College industry fast track program. Motion to approve ratify the contract with Magma math. Motion to approve the amended 2025-2026 calendar version two. Motion to approve elementary, middle, and high school curriculum updates with chapter four standards. Motion to approve updated K-8 reading curriculum. Motion to approve Cengage high school math materials. Motion to approve STEM Academy 12th grade curriculum and updates. Motion to approve tech ed 10th grade curriculum updates. We'll also have a discussion on the tact two implementation. So tact two implementation, we currently use safe crisis management in the district. We want to move to tact two. Um where we would look to post for trainers in each of the buildings to build capacity to be able to do this. One of the reasons we want to move to
015this is that it's not only physical restraint but it also comes with a verbal de-escalation piece that as we have more issues in schools we think would be very beneficial. Um we would be able to take this money from our current title budget. So it does have a large financial impact um near $80,000. However, we would be able to use grant money so there would be no impact to the general fund. Thank you Dr. Cuti. We'll also have a motion to approve special education settlements. There are. And we'll have a discussion motion of naming of the Maple Street building. So that was sent to you by me with the motion from the committee the ad hoc committee for the name of the building. Thank you Dr. Cuti. Questions? On the question. So I guess I'm
016a little concerned about the I guess we have an AR in naming our buildings. However, I noted when I reviewed the um the AR that this was updated two weeks ago and that prior to that we had used a different format to name our buildings and I was kind of wondering what transpired that we So made that change. >> We have a lot of policies, a lot of ARs. Mhm. Some of them contradict each other. So as things come up and I knew naming a building would be one of them, I send them to the board president and I say here's what currently exists right now. Uh the current structure was quite cumbersome. It was discussed to ratify that. We did, we changed the the AR. An AR doesn't need board approval to change. The
017process was put in it to make it a board decision and not as cumbersome with um all the outside people. Uh the date that it was put through was I I know it was late and that was on me. I had it written and I just hadn't gotten it to Mr. Genovese to get it done. I also verified with Joe Joyce the attorney that there's nothing in the school code that sits over the top of how buildings should be named or there's nothing in the school code that dictates how a building should be named. So it's really a district choice. Okay. Um in reviewing it I just did notice that it sounds like there's some contradictions. So maybe we could at a later date go back and review that for future buildings cuz in the
018second paragraph it says the board shall establish an ad hoc committee comprised solely of board members and then the procedure for number one is that the president chooses the ad hoc committee. To me that sounds like we're saying two different things. So maybe we could take a look at that just so it makes more sense moving forward cuz there may be new buildings. Just so I can the the language was modeled off of the board president appoints committees. So I I just kept it with the What I'm trying to do is slowly align all our policies so there's not contradictions like the board president appoints committees. So just try to keep it under that. Okay. It's just usually ad hoc committees by based on the Robert Rules should be done by the board. And just
019I being a board member being unaware that this was even transpiring in the background and all of a sudden we get a memo that the the the school's been named. I think the board should have been made aware of that. Um could I also ask possibly when ARs are updated that the board's notified just so we can review them and know what's been changed. Okay. You know, just moving forward. >> There there have been I would have to go through but I know I can tell you that the day we did that we also had to change one for days off cuz of the alignment with an audit. There were a couple other ones because we keep finding contradictions in ARs. I'm sure. But I mean just moving forward if you could notify us that
020so we could review them. Mhm. Thank you. So uh before we move forward I would like to add to that discussion on this motion. I just wanted to explain a little bit about where this this name came from. So tonight we are voting on a motion to name the Maple Street building. First I would like to thank President Borthwick for nominating me as the chair of the naming committee. It has been an honor to serve alongside vice chair Jenna and committee member Joe Brazil. Together we thoughtfully considered a name that reflects the values of public education, represents the pride of this Scranton community, and will inspire students for generations to come. After careful discussion the naming committee respectfully proposes the building to be named the Jim Connors Learning Center at Monticello East. As many in
021the community know, Mayor Connors was a dedicated and passionate advocate for public education. He consistently showed up for the district whether at rallies, meetings, or in his everyday work. His journey into public service was rooted in using his voice to save a school, a mission that resonates deeply with many of us. We believe that naming this building in his honor is a meaningful way to recognize his legacy. It represents not only growth within the Scranton School District but also the limitless academic potential of the students we serve. Like Mayor Connors, we all we are all advocates for public education. With that I respectfully move that the board proceed with the proposed name for a formal vote later this evening. Thank you Danielle. I I want to follow up and state that um throughout my time
022being involved uh either running for school board or or being getting elected um Mayor Connors is always on my mind because I've seen him stand here fighting for things like keeping our preschools open or keeping buildings open. He was an advocate for the district and for our kids. So the fact that the naming committee brought his name forward I think is a wonderful testament to the work that he's done alongside his family to fight for our kids. So thank you. Mr. President being probably the elder statesman on this board that goes back approximately 40 years. Uh I had the pleasure of working with Jimmy Connors. He he was an employee of the Scranton School District. He was our title one coordinator before he decided on a career in politics. Uh Jimmy and I worked together
023uh back in the '80s. Um on a program called community education. Uh Jimmy promoted it. Jimmy was a driving force behind it. Jimmy was on radio, TV. He was he was a uh an advocate for opening the schools at night. Uh creating a program along with myself homework hotline where we had people uh if the if a student had a problem uh with their homework there was a a number and somebody would be able to help this student get over the the problem. Um Jimmy was a dedicated public servant in every uh every sense of the word. Uh >> [snorts] >> and I'd like to thank Jimmy personally right now and his family for all of the service that Jimmy did unselfishly for the Scranton School District. Thank you. This is a true testament of
024Jimmy Connors' legacy to the Scranton to the city of Scranton and the Scranton School District. Amen. Thank you. Okay. Um sure. On the question of this um when was the first time the ad hoc committee met? Do we know the date offhand? I don't know. You sent me the names President Borthwick. I don't know when they actually met. I think it was one second I could pull up Three weeks ago maybe? Weeks ago. >> [clears throat] >> Okay. I believe it I believe it was Thursday, March 26th. Okay. Maybe? I'm sorry. That might not be the correct date. It's around there I think. Um so I would just like to go off of what Dr. Cleary was saying to be clear to the public what the process was. Um so ARs do not need to
025be approved by the board but the board was not notified as a whole that the AR was changed or that an ad hoc was created until they met and a decision was made. Um the original AR said that when naming new buildings, the committee would consist of two board members, the superintendent or designee, the building principal, two staff members, two parents or guardians, two community members, and two students when appropriate. Also, there would be forms in administrative office, so if anyone in the public wanted to give a recommendation for somebody they wanted the name to be they wanted the building to be named after, they could fill it out and submit it, and the committee could consider that. So, although everyone's words are very kind, and I I agree with everything that you are saying,
026I don't agree with the process that we now completely cut out the public from giving any input on what they might want this building to be named. For example, maybe the residents that live around the surrounding area know somebody that it would really make sense to name the building after up there, or who knows, maybe the majority would pick Mr. Connors, but we didn't go through this process to allow the public to participate, and at the end of the day, we're not the ones that own this building. Um, the taxpayers do, and I'm just confused on just because we can do something, why we would do it if the building's not opening tomorrow. Um, so why did we completely cut the public out from this process of being able to participate in this committee, bring
027forward recommendations, and then consider them? When we named Isaac Tripp, it was a very large community effort. I think students participated and such, and now to see us completely pivot and go a complete opposite direction where three board members met, came up with a recommendation. I understand that now it's a vote for the board, but as would be if we followed the process that we had in place prior. So, now this sits as an AR, but really I think it would then move to a board policy because this doesn't have anything to do with administration now. The administration was completely cut out, and now it's just an ad hoc committee with board members. Um, Ms. Fox, you mentioned about the people from the area, the neighborhood, being in favor of this. >> This is just
028one example of the the whole community was cut out of the process. So, anyone Westside, Northside, Southside, Eastside, anybody could have been involved. >> to rebut some of the things that you just said. Um, first of all, I'm not only a school director, I'm also a neighbor up in East Harlem. Uh, and and as long as we're talking about that, I want to congratulate Sydney on the fine job she did on the town meeting. Uh, can you stand up, Sydney? You did an excellent excellent job. Uh, you you mentioned about the naming of uh uh Tripp Elementary. Well, that went through that process, and after they named the school, they found out that Isaac Tripp was a slave owner. I mean, where is the process there? And as long as we're getting into um different
029issues about what what's what we should be doing and what we shouldn't be doing, and I really don't want to get into it too deeply, but I think that we should have a total review of all policies that were given to us and that we voted on by PSBA uh to make sure that uh uh that's what we want, and because I have some concerns about our policies, and I didn't want to bring it up, but right now seems to be the right time to bring it up. I think we need to have a total review of all policies that were given to us by PSBA. Thank you. Thanks. How far back would you want us to go? Pardon me? How far back would you want us to go? I mean, there's hundreds of policies.
030>> Okay, it's not I I need I need to speak up right now. >> Please do. Because it's not humanly possible for us to do that. And and had there been a concern about this AR, which was put appropriately in the board packet on time, and has been sitting in there with the the motion, I would have easily entertained phone calls or taken emails from anyone on this board. So, please, I I would like to publicly state to the board members that if there's a concern, and I can be properly prepared and ready for you for those concerns, I have never not answered a phone call, I have never not returned an email, I have never not been responsive to a person on this board. That is my job, and I take it very seriously.
031So, I'd like that put on the record tonight. Next. >> What's Dr. Keating? Hold on. Director Casey, I'm asking to speak right now. Next. Our policies are extensive. The ARs themselves go into the eight and nine hundreds. It would be a full-time job for one individual to sit and try to do it. We have tried to use AI to find the contradictions in policies. If there are any specific policies that any board member would like me to look at, as I have done with others that have been brought forward to me, please let me know the number, the policy, I will do so appropriately, and the full board will be updated. I also feel like if there is an issue with the process, if people have an issue with the process of how the ad
032hoc committee came up with it, or how the ad hoc committee was formed, then you can vote against this when we vote in the public meeting, and that's your option to do that. Right, and so I just want to just I'd like to clarify something. That was not an attack on you or any administrator here. Uh, I think that you do an excellent job. I do believe that you're overworked. Uh, I have called you at night, at like 10:00, 11:00 at night. You have been very responsive, and um I actually feel that you're probably one of the best superintendents this district ever had, and I told you this personally, that I'm afraid we're going to lose you, that someday I actually feel that you're going to be secretary of education. I have the highest respect
033for you. You have the highest integrity of any administrator that I've ever seen, and if for some reason you took offense to my comment, I do apologize. The worst thing in this district that could happen to this district is that you walk into caucus one day and say that you're leaving. And if that happens, I would hope the board would hold you to your contract to the last day. So said. I Thank you. I just want to clarify that um I just recently found out that this was a retired or recently redone policy, so AR, um but I I I'm not I think there's a disconnect here, and I'm not understanding because I'm essentially getting yelled at for asking questions on the floor, but I'm an elected official, and business should be done in public.
034And I feel uncomfortable that an AR was changed 2 weeks ago with no notification, then an ad hoc was created, and then a name was picked, and I'm told to afterwards. And if I can't voice that publicly, I'm confused, and I maybe I'm misunderstanding my role and my position and what I am supposed to do or not supposed to do, and I understand that if I have a question ahead of time and I feel comfortable to to reach out and to ask that that I should and I can. Um, but um also if I if I have a question like this, where I'm asking, and especially in such as this where the public was completely taken out of a process, so why would that not be stated publicly? Hey, just so you know, you had
035an option to give input, but that was taken away from you. I I want them to know that. They're taxpayers. They should know that they had a choice to give a name, but now they don't. And I don't know why I'm getting made to feel as though I can't speak and I can't ask questions because walls are going up and backs are against wall cuz my back's against the wall right now, too, because I'm not told an AR's changed 2 weeks ago and an ad hoc was created. I don't want to feel this way in my position, and I'm sure others you don't want to feel this way in your position. I I want to feel comfortable. I want to feel like I can ask questions. I don't want to feel like how you've said
036before, you don't want to be in gotcha moments. To me, this was a gotcha moment because an AR was changed 2 weeks ago, we weren't told, now we're told here's the name. So, in my 2 years, it has not been practice to inform the board that an AR has changed. That is now a directive of the board that all AR changes need to be the information >> The majority of the board has not indicated that. So, so that is that is a change in the 2 years that I've been here. Dr. Keating, um that has not been a directive of the board. Um, you know, unless there's anything that needs to be added, I I think we've exhausted this, and we can move on. The the former superintendent didn't do that, and the majority of
037the board wouldn't expect you to do that either. >> Well, I disagree. That's not true. Missy Missy did change an AR. I remember on one occasion, perhaps there were more, but we were it was sent to the board with the cross outs and changes. See, this is what I'm not understanding. Why are we fighting transparency? I don't understand why we're we're fighting like I'm not trying to cause any issues anyway. I get everybody hates me right now because I ask questions, but why are we fighting transparency, especially on something that such as naming a building? Why can't we just say we we we changed the AR 2 weeks ago. Um Here you go. And then we create an ad hoc. Like you're yelling at me because I'm asking questions and I don't I don't understand
038what the issue is. Who's yelling at you? I'm being told that I could have asked questions over the last 2 weeks and basically I shouldn't be asking it now. I could have asked 2 weeks ago. That's not yelling. Okay. I'm not yelling, Catherine. I I'd like to >> move on. I I No, no, no. I I believe that at this point I need to say something. I very clearly this was something that was in there. If there were questions No, by no means do I want to censor anyone on this stage and I want that very clearly articulated. However, if there was a timeline that would have been requested, if there was additional information that I could have procured, if there was anything that I could have done to maybe clarify this or give you
039more information prior to a public meeting, I am here to do that. Thank you, Dr. Keating. Operations Director Brazil. We're going to have a motion to approve illuminated integration contract for restoration and repair for West Grant High School Auditorium. Uh total amount of this project is $1,099,042 35 cents. >> So just just so you know, um Director Brazil, you don't have to read the motions. Just No, uh it's just you're just running through the work session stuff. Okay. I wanted to Everything is on Yeah, just read it. Yeah. I wanted to more because I knew we weren't going to be >> We're going to have a discussion on West High and West Intermediate gym floor mats. We're going to have a discussion motion on lawn equipment. Discussion motion on fire alarm at Kennedy. Discussion motion
040on West High Auditorium. Discussion on West High door restoration. A discussion on on a possible motion on Scranton High School paving. A discussion of possible possible motion on summer abatement. Uh a motion to reject all bids previously received for the 1509 Maple Street project. A motion to declare an emergency at the 1509 Maple Street building according to 24 PS 7-751. And a motion to authorize the superintendent to implement emergency procurement. Just want to speak on this for a moment. Uh at the regular meeting tonight, you're going to hear that we had an executive session before tonight's work session. Uh it was long, that's why we were 10 minutes late to the stage. We talked about personnel, safety and security, and some real estate matters. Because we went long, there were some directors that had questions
041about some of the items that were just listed. And I wanted now that we're at the work session invite those directors to ask those questions now at the work session so we can discuss it in this setting rather than do it at the public meeting, if that would be appropriate. So if there are any questions that were un- unasked or unanswered, we can have this discussion at this public work session. I I'd be happy to facilitate. So we're allowed to ask questions at this time? >> Absolutely, yes. Okay. So I So I can ask questions now, but not at the voting Not not, but you prefer them now and not at the voting meeting. When we were talking in executive session, I said my preference was to answer questions about real estate, litigation, safety and
042security, and personnel in executive session. But what since we ran out of time, I didn't realize we were coming right into the work session. A work session is a work session. So if there are questions that are remaining, now would be the time to ask them rather than try to interrupt the cadence of a voting meeting. That's my recommendation that we're in a public setting for the sake of transparency, if there are still questions from any director that have spilled from the executive session that are that remain, let's do it now. Um okay, so I can't say that I'm fully prepared with my questions at this time because I was under the impression that I should hold on those. Um That's a work session, so let's let's get it out now. Okay, so I guess
043one of my questions in just trying to understand is um the approval of the Maple Street building was December 15th, I believe. 12:15 or so. And at that time we also, I believe, hired to the construction manager. And from my understanding, we weren't specifically told when the contract was signed. I think I sent an email and uh Superintendent Keating did get back to me that it was signed like February 24th or something of the sorts. Um is I don't know if that timeline sounds right to you guys or not cuz I like I said, I don't have my information up right now. Um So I can But if you want me to speak, just to help you, uh I'll be linear about it. Uh we voted to acquire the property at 1509 Maple Street, Scranton
044at a middle December 2025 meeting. I think it was December >> December 15th. We closed on that transaction approximately 60 or 70 days later. So around the end of February. Uh in the intervening time, we had an inspection. The inspection occurred in January. Uh the inspection was performed by the recently engaged construction manager. So you're right. At the same meeting that we purchased the purchased property, we also engaged Kwandel to be the construction manager. The very first task that Kwandel was given as the Scranton School District construction manager was to conduct an inspection of 1509 Maple Street because it was part of the agreement of sale before we closed. They did that. Uh I will tell you that I know they did that because what I was starting to say in executive session, I'll you
045know, even though I'm not the holder of that privilege, I'm going to repeat some of these things. They reported back to Mr. O'Donnell at the time, but I was also part of the the chain of administrators that were hearing feedback from Kwandel. That the building is is fine in terms of an as is asset that's being acquired in a commercial transaction. But Kwandel also knew because they had been given either rough estimates or preliminary drawings or at that time they knew that we had a big ambitious renovation. So at the time that they were conducting the inspection, they were also putting us on notice that it was going to be an enormous task to conduct and complete the renovations that were being proposed to put this facility into service by the beginning of the school
046year. So from the very first conversations with Kwandel in January, they were making the administration aware of the fact that it was going to be a very, very ambitious undertaking to to make this this building what we needed it to be by August of 2026. So then after the inspection occurred, the arc our construction manager suggested that we start having weekly job meetings to as their effort to expedite the construction. Uh and we've been meeting every Tuesday at 1:30 since January about this. And the theme has been the same. It's going to be really, really hard to finish this project by August of 2026. Um came up again between last meeting and this meeting as we now started some of the uh the public procurement, um some questions, some some deliberations, and some concern again
047about what if we even have the smallest of delays, what are we going to do? Well, the answer is what we've been coming up with. Phasing in the students, satelliting satelliting satelliting the food in. But the that reality is these students are the are special needs students, autistic support kids. So what is being proposed tonight is the the board declare an emergency as to the building because it will not be suitable for special needs kids in August of 2026 unless we do something to try to expedite the construction. Uh as it as as it is, we bought it, it was an office building. It was it was used for some Friendship House administrative tasks or adults doing office work. The building is fine for adults doing office work. The building would be fine we needed
048it for an admin building. For you know, uh special needs students who are vulnerable, uh it is not suitable. By By By By many measures, we we we we we can detail that. We can get into the specifics. But the bottom line is the emergency declaration is necessary for us to have a fighting chance to finish the construction project to put the asset into service by August of 2026. So at this point, we have a minimum of 60 special needs kids that have to be learning in that building in August. Um to accomplish that goal, um we are recommending this action. And uh I don't know if that answers the question. You're looking for the timeline, but that that's my sense of the timeline. You're right. We had a public meeting December 15th. We voted
049to acquire it. The agreement of of sale was probably signed within days of that meeting, but we did not close until February of 2024, meaning we didn't give Friendship House 2 million bucks and they didn't give us a deed until around the end of February. The relevance of that, I don't know, but I I do know that the the condition of the inspection happened and Kwandel did the inspection and they called us and they said despite suitability of the building, you're going to have problems getting this thing ready based on the ambition of your project for August of 2026. So it's been a it's been an issue that we've been aware of uh all year. And um this is a a a solution that is available under the law and the facts as they exist.
050Thank you. Now No, I think there's more. I just I was trying to jump in because she said she she didn't know ever knows, but I want to make sure we answer all the questions. >> Yeah, no, that that helped. I think I was just trying to wrap my head around it a little more just how exactly the emergency procurement um process happens and such as like you said we bought the building knowing that it wasn't suitable for for our needs, but then needed it for a certain time. I guess like where just like my concern in looking at it was like so we got the information about the emergency procurement declaration less than a week or so after if I understood it correctly the due diligence period in the contract. So like if we
051wanted to if we decided like there's no way we can make this work or uh from my perspective it seems like a lot of things have come up in the building that maybe we didn't expect or something. So then if we wanted to back out did we have that 30 days from the signed contract? Um >> We had an inspection contingency, but the building's the building passed inspection. We have an inspection report that came back from Quandel. So without we would have had a failed inspection report. If the building failed inspection under the agreement we had the ability to go back and renegotiate the purchase price. That didn't happen. Okay. Okay, Mr. Laffey I believe with the the list that Director Brazil read there's quite a few Certainly. Yes, I I I'll go through them.
052So the first was a discussion on the South Intermediate building updates. So our new project manager Mr. Cerbulis has been touring South Intermediate following our last meeting. He's looking at some work that needs to be done in that school. We're looking at possible painting and some plaster repair, some improvements to some of the lockers, potentially a window shade solution whether it be installation of new shades or some type of film over over the current windows to help with those issues. We're also looking at some of the improvements necessary on laboratory doors. So we're compiling that list and we hope to have some projects ready for the summer. Uh Ed I'm glad you brought up laboratory doors. Um I had to use the ladies room and there's a door missing on the She has Thank you
053Bob. Also why would >> Sometimes that's where changing special needs kids want two people. Oh, I understand. Okay. So I'm not saying that that is the reason on record. I'm saying that sometimes that is needed. We will look into it. Yeah, does that include the seating in the auditorium at South? Yes. Okay, and the old uh shops downstairs that's in the process now being cleaned out? Yes, we're we're we began that process and hoping to reclaim some space in that. Currently right now it's being used heavily for storage. Okay. Um the next item was a discussion motion on West High and West Intermediate gym floor mats. So similar to what we purchased or you authorized us to purchase for Scranton High School, we recently made some investments into refinishing the floors at those two schools
054as well. We're looking to protect those investments with the purchase of gym floor mats and they are on for your consideration this evening. Discussion motion lawn equipment. Mr. Rocker was able to secure a Sourcewell contract which is a cooperative contract quote for the purchase of I believe it's a tractor. Uh Three. Okay. Um discussion motion fire alarm at Kennedy. Bob, do you We have a CoStars contract from NRG to update and and correct a deficiency that that's that's been occurring there as well. Um discussion motion West High auditorium. We see we received a quote from the organization that will be redoing the Scranton High auditorium as well for your consideration this evening. Discussion on West High door restoration. So Mr. Osborne was able to locate a a pretty unique vendor that would take our existing
055doors and [clears throat] keep the same aesthetic to the building, but just do a complete full restoration of that. We've asked them to do a sample of one door just to see what the results are. So as of right now this is only a discussion for you, but that's what we're looking at. It could be a potential pretty significant cost savings for the district. Um discussion possible motion on Scranton High School paving. We've obviously we've been touring some of our buildings there is some paving work that needs to be done. Um excuse me, specifically [clears throat] at Scranton High School. Mr. Osborne and Mr. Rocker did contact a local paving company that did provide us a quote. At the current threshold that the quote is listed at it would require bidding. However, he is pursuing
056getting added to the CoStars cooperative contract which would provide us some flexibility there. And last is the discussion possible motion on summer abatement. This evening we're we're asking you to approve the budget for some summer abatement for 2026. That would allow us to start engaging Pennoni who is our environmental consultants to prepare bid specifications for abatement work this summer. Ed You mentioned about the CoStars contracts. Um I've had some dealings with CoStars contracts. Um Do we check to make sure when somebody gives us a CoStars contract We all excuse me. >> Do we verify We do. that it's an active CoStars contract? >> We do. We log into CoStars or Omnia Peppol KPM whatever that contract is it's our requirement to do our due diligence to one make sure that the vendor who is quoting
057that cooperative contract was the one awarded that cooperative contract and it lists the dates in which the contracts are active. So the answer to your question is yes. We maintain all those for our files. What is a CoStars contract? A CoStars contract What is a CoStars contract? It's what it's under cooperative purchasing. Oh, okay. All right, I understand that. The way CoStars contracts came about was uh a lot of the state contracts uh were being used uh by um local municipalities, school districts. What happened was uh there were a lot of small vendors Mhm. that didn't have the opportunity to be able to uh be on state contracts. So what the Commonwealth did was they came up with a whole new set of um contracts that small vendors or even large vendors can actually go
058and through the Commonwealth their bid through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. And um it makes it legal for us to buy with a CoStars contract and um it actually makes it a lot easier. And um just to let everybody know is that when you're dealing with a CoStars contract you have to give a percentage off. Okay. Well you don't have to take the price of a CoStars contract. Uh Pat in his negotiations for the the purchase of an item uh you can negotiate down from the percentage that's listed um the CoStars contract. Mhm. With the um uh the the rule of thumb with CoStars when you're negotiating a price you could [snorts] always go down from the percentage, but you can't go up. >> Okay. All right, thank you. Thank you. Okay. I have to give
059a correction on what you stated with the JFK fire alarm. Okay, thank you. So the the JFK fire alarm what you see in front of you today is the budget that is not the absolute quote. That still requires a design to be done. The contractor which is NRG North gave an overall budget which has allowances and all that is inclusive of the design of the of the system. Does that price include the design or Price includes the design. Includes the design. Yep. But that will be once that's completed then that'll be bid out and brought back to you for for further. Thank you. All right, personnel director Casey. Okay, we have a short agenda tonight. Um we're going to have a motion to accept assignments and appointments. Um retirements and resignations. Leave of absence. And
060a motion to approve uh a settlement SFT-G5-2025. And that's all I have for this evening. Okay, policy director Fox. First read updates [clears throat] or revisions 140 charter school, 221 dressing grooming, 230 6.1 threat assessment, 325 dressing grooming, three 32 working periods, 619 district audit, and 810 transportation. Okay. Interrelations Director Chesik. On the non-consent agenda, we will have a discussion about BoardDocs expiration. So, uh do you want me to to do them here, the ones that I have? [snorts] Yeah, go ahead. Okay. So, BoardDocs, we got notice that BoardDocs is um PSBA is no longer going to support it, and we didn't receive that information until very, very recently. Um they are moving to a different system. Uh we would need to archive all of our own information if we don't go to the PSBA
061system, and honestly, between now and June 30th, we do not have enough time to vet a system properly, and be able to say that we should stay with BoardDocs or move to the new system, or there's other systems that are out there. Um I've put a board memo in for $5,700 through Diligent. We could continue working with BoardDocs, and that will give us a year to properly vet um a new system, and be able to bring that recommendation to the board. Will they be able to roll over all our old stuff, or are we going to lose them? If we stay with Diligent, it will stay because we're in BoardDocs right now, and they're managing BoardDocs. If we move to a different system at any time, we will need to archive all of our information.
062Okay, and do we know why they're changing? Yeah, I can I can speak to this. I I have a suspicion it's they were they were hacked last year. A lot of my clients in the southeast part of the state moved away from BoardDocs um because of because of that, because of hackers, uh cyber criminals got in there. I can't speak to what BoardDocs has done in reaction to that. I I would assume that they've, you know, uh plugged up some of those gaps, but that's that that that that happened. I saw an abrupt move uh in the southeast part of the state last year in reaction to some hacking. I just >> [snorts] >> to give you a recommendation for the first week in June and to vet these products, it's not enough time. And
063we can uh to archive all that Would we have to archive all that? If we don't stay with PSBA, or we don't stay with BoardDocs through Diligent, yes, we have to archive everything. >> don't have the time to do it. No. Not with everything going on. >> might like Diligent. But again, we we would like to go out and actually look at what other options are available. Okay. And price them out. Okay. Okay, we will have a discussion motion um on FSMC renewal. Uh yes, so the FSMC is food service management company, as you are aware, uh last year we went to bid for a food service management company contract, and it was awarded with uh awarded to Aramark. The the agreement with your FSMC is a 1-year contract with four optional renewals. This would
064be our first uh optional renewal uh that we are recommending uh to the board for this evening. Okay, thank you. We will also have a discussion motion on banking services. Yes, uh as um as information was provided in the packet, we did seek proposals for uh banking services from local institutions. Uh we received overall seven very competitive proposals that were uploaded and summarized for the board's consideration. Okay, um we will have a motion to award medical supply bid, discussion motion workers comp TPA. Uh yes, so uh as um uh as indicated in the packet, uh we're we're we're at a uh a point now where uh a transition for our current workers comp TPA will be necessary. Uh we received uh two quotes, uh and again, this would be a mutually agreed-upon tran- transition that
065Attorney Joyce has been working on with me as well. Um we did receive two quotes uh from uh insurance companies that provide these types of services. I will I will say they are pretty nuanced. Um the recommendation is for a group called Inservco, uh and a full fee schedule is provided in the motion. We'd also like to uh engage uh the group that helped us locate [clears throat] Inservco uh to help [cough] us with this workers comp TPA transition. Um the honesty of it we we've never gone through this, so um their expertise would would be helpful. That's included in the motion as well. Okay, um it just says possible here, but I'm assuming that's supposed to be possible discussion motion um Monticello East classroom technology purchases. That's for us to be able to to
066go out and to start securing those things. There's lead times right now that we're very worried about, and we want to make sure that we can meet them um with all of the AI correct, Mr. Zuman, the data centers, the the uh lead times are starting to get much longer. Again, we haven't seen this since COVID. And you are correct, uh Director Chesik, there is a formal motion for consideration this evening. Okay, thank you. Uh next up on the consent agenda, we will have a motion to approve ProCare contract for virtual speech language services at ITEE, motion to approve mom-and-pop contracts, if any, motion to approve updated list of transportation drivers, if any, motion to approve Geisinger School of Nursing Associate Degree Nursing School Program Agreement, and a motion to approve 2026 partnership with Keystone
067Red Rock Job Corps. Okay. All right, so that takes us to the meeting portion of the meeting. Um can I Can I have a motion to approve the board meeting agenda? So moved. Second. Roll call. Oh, I'm sorry. I have a question. Um I think this will be the time. Um I would like to pull D9, approve Cengage high school math materials from the agenda, please. D9? D9. Okay. Cengage. D9. Roll call. Um Mr. Brazil? Yes. Mr. Casey? Yes. Mrs. Chesik? Yes. Mrs. Cleary? Yes. Mrs. Fox? Yes. Mrs. Merkel? Yes. Mr. Zlucky? Yes. Mr. Triana? Yes. >> Mr. Burke? Yes. Um executive sessions were held this evening to discuss personnel, real estate, litigation, negotiations, and safety and security. Okay, solicitor's report. Uh picking up on what we were discussing at the work session, uh tonight
068there's an action item on the uh board's agenda asking the board uh to consider declaring an emergency at the building located at 1509 Maple Street in Scranton. It does not mean that the building is condemned or condemnable, or there's an actual physical emergency. It is what I explained at the work session, that we have uh uh a constitutional uh and statutory obligation uh to put autistic support students, a lot of them, in classrooms by August, and we don't have those classrooms ready. And because we are a public agency, to run this job conventionally, we have to follow conventional procurement rules, which require us to advertise in newspapers of circulation, general circulation, for so long, slow down, uh have um uh pre-bid meetings, uh have contracts awarded at uh every 30 days or so at public
069meetings, and if that was the case, we would not be able to achieve putting this asset into service by August. So, the school code allows this opportunity to provide flexibility from those procurement rules, and if this motion passes tonight, it will authorize uh essentially the same process, but expedited. So, the the district will start using solicitation more so than public bidding, meaning they can uh solicit quotes from contractors, uh um make sure that uh they they satisfy uh all the conditions and the terms and the legalities that are in our bid specs anyway, but be in a position to kind of award those contracts and keep the jobs moving uh rather than slowing down uh and waiting for uh public uh meetings every 30 days. So, that's essentially the relief. Uh it'll give us, as
070I said in the work session, a fighting chance at actually finishing the scope of work, and putting the uh uh the kids in classrooms uh by August. Okay, superintendent's report. Thank you, President Forth Wick. March was very busy. We began with Read Across America Week. I'd like to thank all of the board members who came out and read in the schools. The kids and the um staff greatly appreciate having your presence in the schools as those things are happening. Um our Guidance 339 Counseling for Career Success Advisory Council uh will hold their annual meeting on April 8th at West Scranton Intermediate School at 9:00 a.m. Uh April begins state testing. This is in grades 3 through 8. I'd like to wish the teachers, the students, and the principals the best of luck. We've been preparing
071for these exams all year. English language arts testing is April 20th, 21st, and 22nd. Math is April 27th [clears throat] and 28th. Science is April 28th and 29th. Progress reports for fourth quarter will go out on May the 4th. West Scranton High School will hold an open house for the newly refurbished basement portion of the school after this summer's flood. Um it's going to take place on Thursday, April 23rd from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Um it really does look beautiful down there. I hope people can come out and see it. We're very excited uh for the work that was done. Per the new state guidelines, uh the district will be implementing a cursive writing curriculum for grades 2 through 5 starting next school year. Um we are vetting materials at this time and making sure
072we're prepared to move forward with that initiative. Uh a reminder to our families that the district is transitioning to Infinite Campus this summer. There's information on how to access the new web portal. Please make sure you're following that on social media. You can also access it through the district website. This week is Assistant Principals Week. Uh as a person who has served in the role of high school assistant principal, these folks never sit, and if they're wearing an Apple Watch, I guarantee you they are 10,000 plus steps every day of their life. Um I'd like to recognize the work that all assistant principals do. Um they make buildings run smoothly and effectively, and we're very grateful for them. April has a ton of celebrations. April's Autism Acceptance Month. April is Occupational Therapist Month. We'd like
073to thank all of our OTs for the work that they do with all of our students. Um and also with Autism Acceptance Month, a heartfelt appreciation to all of the staff that works with our students um on the spectrum, and a special uh you know, set of of just uh praise to all of our students who come to school every day um and work through uh their different um conditions and still be successful every day in school. Uh this month we also celebrated Paraprofessional Appreciation Day on April 1st. On April 22nd, it's Administrative Professionals Day. And on April 28th, it's National School Bus Driver Appreciation Day. It is a lot of emails to write this month. That is what I'm going to tell you. Um They But to all of these folks, this is what
074makes the district hum. So, you know, we can't we can't do the jobs without you, and we're so happy that you're part of the school district. This Friday, there'll be an art exhibition at the University of Scranton in the Hope Horn Gallery in Highland 405 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The exhibit will feature art from a number of our art teachers, including some of the teachers here this evening. This Friday, West Scranton High School will premiere the spring play Frankenstein. I had the pleasure of going to see the preview for this Wednesday before break. The students did an amazing job. Unfortunately, I'm away and I'm going to miss it, but to anyone who out there, I strongly encourage you going to see the show. Next weekend, the Albright Memorial Library will host an art
075expo with artwork from both Scranton High and West Scranton High School students. Um it will begin at 3:00 p.m. on Friday. There'll be a reception on Saturday from 1:00 to 3:00, and student awards at 1:30. Uh we are in the fourth marking period. Um we are cruising through this year. It is flying by. Um we will be sitting through all of the award ceremonies and breakfasts and recognitions and honor societies and all the wonderful things that culminate the end of the school year. Um so, we are really looking forward to a positive and productive end to the school year, um and thank you, President Portwood. Thank you, Dr. Keating. Uh Interim CRO report from Dr. Sailor. Dr. Sailor, do you have anything to report? >> No report. No report. PSBA report, Dr. Fox. No report
076this evening. Jane, do we have public comment? Okay. Uh Amanda Van Buskirk. Good evening, school board members and Dr. Keating. It's shocking. It's alive. It's Frankenstein. Join Victor at West Scranton Intermediate School. Show dates are April 10th at 7:00 p.m., April 11th at 7:00 p.m., and April 12th at 2:00 p.m. Tickets will be $10. We hope you will join us in the lab. It's electrifying. Uh thank you so much. Next up, uh Chris Skydos. Good evening. Um I'm here I'm holding a a fundraiser for NEPA Youth Shelter for my birthday this uh month. Um It's a dine dine to donate event. Um if you guys go to Texas Roadhouse this Thursday from 3:00 to 10:00, take this flyer, they'll give 15% of the food purchase to NEPA Youth Shelter. Chris, if you want to leave
077me one of those, I send those forms out through the district, so we can make sure that's sent out as well. Thank you very much, Chris. Ryan Nette. Uh good evening, school board, uh administrators, uh teachers, faculty, taxpayers. Um my name's Ryan Nette. I'm a teacher at West Scranton High School. Uh thank you, Dr. Keating, for covering half of my list of uh >> Ryan. Uh we have the teachers as artists at the Hope Horn Gallery, artists showing from the entire Northeast region, not artists, but teachers. Um Some practicing in the classroom, some not practicing. It's amazing exhibition. Best uh best work I've seen in a while of uh living contemporary artists in our region. Um we have Frankenstein at our school. That play's happening this weekend. We also have our spring concert right around
078the corner. You might want to mark your date for this, April 16th. It's a Thursday evening, 7:00 p.m. at West Scranton High School. Um anybody who attends uh the funds and proceeds raised from this concert directly benefit our music department. Um Scranton High and West Scranton have cooperated with uh the public libraries, the Albright Library and Children's Library, to put on an amazing art show, 100 works juried out from both schools. Um that is happening one weekend only, um April 17th, 18th, 19th. The reception is April 18th from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Awards at 1:30. If anybody can attend, uh greatly uh I think a lot of parents and uh families would love to see your faces. And this is happening in a historic library that's never happened before. The artwork is going to be
079placed on the shelves with the books in the library, plus in their second floor gallery, there uh large works on display. Um West Scranton High School will have its school-wide art show opening May Thursday, May 7th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Um this is all our student uh population at West Scranton, all on the first floor. If you can uh attend, uh be fantastic. Keep rolling down. Uh students associated with West Scranton High School and CTC are cooperating together to erect a new art sculpture as a memorial for all students whose time came too early at West. Dedicated to student Rose Hernandez, class of 2026. Uh an unveiling will be announced once we have a set date for completion. Everything is in process. This uh large sculpture is a flower that's blooming. That's going to
080have a play with how the light from the sun hits it. That's going to happen be installed in the courtyard at West Scranton High School. Um I have That's a lot of stuff. You guys have a lot of stuff on your plate. I do have one kind of thing from the teacher side uh that's a little bit more about um how we proceed. Uh our school budget, during the middle of the or the end of the year, as a teacher, we may not have something that we need. I would like to see if the school board or admin can seek a method to have available funds for these additional purchases. Not sure how this would look. Preloaded credit card or easy way to request expenses during the year. I would like to reserve $250 for
081this account. Um right now, presently, we have to expend our entire budget at the beginning of the year, and there's nothing left over at the end of the year, and we get a lot of issues with trying to print student artwork uh or framing artwork. If that is something that we can do that um is manageable and not a burden on somebody managing all this individual money, uh it would really help the art programs and make these uh end-of-year expenses for art exhibitions. Thank you very much for your time. Thank you so much. Uh Dr. Keating and uh Cindy, um all those wonderful events that were mentioned, do you think we could get them posted on our social media for the public and as a general reminder? >> she We usually do make sure we
082get this stuff out here, and that's why even I asked Mr. Skydos for the form, because we just send everything out through the email, too, so people know. Perfect. Thank you. Okay. I'll motion to approve the minutes of the meeting minutes of February 2nd So moved. Second and and March 12th. So moved. Second. On the question. Roll call. Mr. Casey. Yes. Mrs. Chezick. Yes. Mrs. Cleary. Yes. Mrs. Fox. Yes. Mrs. Merkel. Yes. Mrs. Lucky. Yes. Mr. Triana. Yes. Mr. Brazil. Mrs. Chezick. Yes. Mr. Portwood. Yes. Nine affirmative. Motion to approve the consent agenda. Second. So moved. On the question. Second. Roll call. Do we have a second? I think Bob did. Oh, did he? I'm sorry, I missed it. I'll put that. Okay. Sorry, Mrs. Chezick. Yes. Mrs. Cleary. Yes. Mrs. Fox. No. Mrs. Merkel.
083Yes. Mrs. Lucky. Yes. Mr. Triana. Yes. Mr. Brazil. Yes. Mr. Casey. Yes. Mr. Portwood. Yes. Eight affirmative, one negative. Motion passes. Motion to finance. A motion to approve real estate tax settlement as per the attached stipulation. Second. On the question. Roll call. Mrs. Cleary. Yes. Mrs. Fox. Yes. Mrs. Merkel. Yes. Mrs. Lucky. >> Yes. >> Mr. Triano? Yes. Mr. Brazil? Yes. Mr. Casey? Yes. Mrs. Chezick? Yes. Mr. Borthwick? Yes. >> Nine affirmative. Okay. Um that takes us to uh D9. Um which is What am I looking at? Okay. I don't know. Okay, committee recommendation. My brain's fried here. That was pulled, Director Borthwick. >> Yeah, I know. For for a separate vote. So Um we have to read D9 here. That's your director Merkel. Huh? Okay, it's education, I think. Yep. Oh, I'm sorry. Here
084it is. Passed committee. I apologize. >> No, no, not at all. Um a motion to approve the purchase of Cengage online math instructional materials for Scranton High School and West Scranton High School. Financial impact, Scranton High School $68,670. West Scranton High School $62,548.50. Second. Second. Second. On the question. Roll call. Miss Fox? Yes. Mrs. Merkel? Yes. Mrs. Leakey? Yes. >> Mr. Triano? Yes. Mr. Brazil? Yes. >> Mr. Casey? Yes. Mrs. Chezick? Abstain. Mrs. Cleary? Yes. Mr. Borthwick? >> Yes. Eight affirmative, one abstention. Motion passes. I love the teeth. I'm sorry about that. >> No. Approved special education settlement agreements following legal review and negotiation. Settlement summaries previously provided to the board for review. AE3008812-2025-2026. Second. On the question. Roll call. Mrs. Merkel? Yes. Mrs. Leakey? >> Yes. Mr. Triano? Yes. Mr. Brazil? Yes. Mr. Casey?
085>> Yes. Mrs. Chezick? >> Yes. Mrs. Cleary? >> Yes. Miss Fox? Yes. Mr. Borthwick? >> Yes. Nine affirmative. Sorry. Approved the committee recommendations to name the Maple Street building Monticello at Jim Connors Learning Center. Second. On the question. Um I think that's a little bit backwards. It's the the Jim Connors Learning Center at Monticello East. So this is how it was written. Oh, okay. All right. So it'll be the Jim Connors Learning Center at Monticello East. Second. Okay. On the question. To clarify on the question, um what I stated during the work session, which was that as of 14 days ago, uh members of the com- of the public would have been able to submit the recommendations to a committee that consisted of multiple members, including board members, superintendent, staff members, parents, community members, and
086students. So we removed all of those people from the process um and just isolated to the board. Um this is by no means about the name of the building, but about process. Um this building at cost alone is 2 and 1/2 million dollars, which will be much more by the time we're said and done with everything. And I fully do not agree with completely removing the public um from naming a building when, like I said 2 weeks ago, they had input. And just to clarify, the process that was previously laid out um said that uh within 2 months of the first meeting, recommendations would have brought been brought forward to the board, which would have only taken us um to the summer. So thank you. So um before we vote, I just want to say
087I stand by the committee. I stand by the name that was selected. I I wish um prior to me coming on the board, I wish we had such such a process for closing buildings or removing preschool. A lot of those things were done without public input and without any sort of I don't know. It was pretty much a decision made um by the board. So I know that a lot has changed over the last several years and we've come a long way since then, but just going back um you know, looking back at how things were and how things are now, I just, you know I wish that the process that was done in closing schools and eliminating preschool could have been similar to what we're asking for the the naming committee. Thank you. Roll
088call. Mrs. Leakey? Yes. Mr. Triano? Yes. Mr. Brazil? Yes. Mr. Casey? Yes. Mrs. Chezick? Yes. Mrs. Cleary? No. Miss Fox? No. Mrs. Merkel? Yes. Um Mr. Borthwick? Yes. Seven affirmative, two negative. Motion passes. At this time, I'd like to invite Suzy Connors to come up and speak. >> [applause] >> Well, before I speak, thank you so much. I this has been very enlightening tonight. I mean, usually I've come I've spoken before you many times before. Ask ask my husband. And I think some of you will remember, I think it's 4 years ago in November when he got booted off the uh the stage. He was called for talking too long. And I wanted to give up my time to him and it was I was told it wasn't allowed. But anyway, and I researched it
089and there was nothing that said I could not yield my time to him. But at Uh anyway, thank you. He would be so uh thrilled with this. As you've said, he was definitely an advocate for public education. And uh and I must say, Mr. Casey, he definitely did not own any slaves unless you consider me his slave. >> [laughter] >> Oh. So you had said no public ice trip. And many, you know, many of the schools were named for slave owners. We all know George Washington owned slaves and so forth and so on. But we cannot rewrite uh history. So uh and of course, I know Jim would tell a couple jokes, but I can't think of one at the moment. So uh but Hi, Mr. O'Donnell. How are you? He was my principal for
090many years. >> [laughter] >> And a wonderful one at that, I must say. And uh we were basketball fans to uh So anyway, um thank you again. I uh really appreciate it and the family does. And when the school finally opens and you unveil the name, please let us know because I'm sure the whole family will will be there for that occasion. Okay? So thank you again. THANK [applause] YOU SO MUCH. OPERATIONS, DIRECTOR BRAZIL. MOTION TO APPROVE THE contract with Illuminated Integration for the restoration and repair of the West Scranton High School auditorium. Total project cost $1,000,042. >> louder here. Okay. 35 cents. Bingo. Second. On the question. That will include the lighting for the stage? Yes. That's comprehensive of the whole proposal that I sent in the packet. Yep. Roll call. Uh Mr. Triano?
091Yes. Mr. Brazil? Yes. Mr. Casey? Yes. Mrs. Chezick? Excuse me, yes. Um Mrs. Cleary? Yes. Miss Fox? Yes. Mrs. Merkel? Yes. Mrs. Leakey? Yes. Mr. Borthwick? Yes. Nine affirmative. Motion to approve purchase of gym mats for West Scranton High School and West Intermediate School. These mats are the same mats purchased for Scranton High School. The financial impact, West Scranton High School $19,950. West Scranton Intermediate School $21,300. Total financial impact $41,250. Second. On the question. Roll call. Mr. Brazil? Yes. Mr. Casey? Yes. Mrs. Chezick? Yes. Mrs. Cleary? Yes. Miss Fox? Yes. Mrs. Merkel? Yes. Mrs. Leakey? Yes. Mr. Triano? Yes. Mr. Borthwick? Yes. Nine affirmative. Motion to approve the purchase of three Toro Z Master 4000 zero turn tractors from Scranton Grinder for $35,280.90. A subscription plan for a Turf Tank 2 from Turf Tank for
092$16,000 annually. This includes a $3,000 annual paint allotment. The financial impact, $35,280.90 from Scranton Grinder. $16,000 annually for 3 years with the $1,700 one year implementation cost. Year one financial impact, $52,980.90. Year two financial impact, $16,000. Year three financial impact, $16,000. Total financial impact, $84,980.90. Second. On the question. Can I just ask why we what the annual paint allotment is or why the I I I missed that when I was reading >> the lines on the field. >> Okay, that's what I thought it might have been. All right. Thank you. Okay. Just needed that clarification. Yep. And I can tell you that you can't imagine how many lines you paint with grass. Oh, I I done it, but it was the powdery stuff for Little League. Yeah. So no, I I thought that >> the
093only place he uses is painting lines, correct? Correct. That's it. Yep. Okay. Thank you. Roll call. Mr. Casey? Yes. Mrs. Chezick? Yes. Mrs. Cleary? Yes. Miss Fox? Yes. Mrs. Merkel? Yes. Mrs. Leakey? Yes. Mr. Triano? Yes. Mr. Brazil? Yes. Mr. Borthwick? Yes. Nine affirmative. >> [clears throat] >> Motion to approve High School paving repair. The entrance loop and loading dock pad at Scranton High School has failed in sections need to be replaced. This price is contingent on confirmation of a valid COSTARS contract. Financial impact, $48,400. Second. On the question. Roll call. Mrs. Chezick. Yes. Mrs. Cleary. Yes. Ms. Fox. Yes. Ms. Merkel. Yes. Ms. Slucki. >> Yes. Mr. Trianos. Yes. Mr. Brazil. Yes. >> Mr. Casey. Yes. Mr. Borthwick. Yes. Nine affirmative. Motion to approve the budget for summer abatement at North Scranton Intermediate School
094and South Scranton Intermediate School. The financial impact, $488,250. Second. On the question, excuse me, roll call. Oh, I'm not thinking. Uh jumping back. On the question. On roll call. Mrs. Cleary. Yes. Ms. Fox. Yes. Ms. Merkel. Yes. Ms. Slucki. Yes. Mr. Trianos. Yes. Mr. Brazil. Yes. Mr. Casey. Yes. Mrs. Chezick. Yes. Mr. Borthwick. Yes. Nine affirmative. Motion to approve the budget for John F. Kennedy fire alarm upgrade. Financial impact, $287,500. Second. On the question. Roll call. Ms. Fox. Yes. Ms. Merkel. Yes. >> Ms. Slucki. Yes. Mr. Trianos. Yes. Mr. Brazil. Yes. >> Mr. Casey. Yes. Mrs. Chezick. Yes. Mrs. Cleary. Yes. Mr. Borthwick. Yes. Nine affirmative. Motion that the Board of School Directors of the Scranton School District hereby rejects all bids previously received for the construction, reconstruction, repairs, and related work at the school
095building located at 1509 Maple Street, Scranton, PA 18505 on the grounds that A, the bids received do not adequately address the scope and urgency of the emergency conditions that have rendered the building unusable and unsafe for student occupancy. B, the conditions at the facility have material materially changed since the original bid solicitation requiring the district to reassess the scope of work and procurement approach. C, continued reliance on the current bid process not in the best interest of the district, its students, or the taxpayers given the emergent nature of the building's deficiency. D, the board reserves the right to re-solicit bids or to proceed under the emergency procurement provisions of 24 P.S. 7-751 as appropriate. Second. On the question, were these I'm just trying to Were these on OpenGov and did we receive the bids in
096the packet or in the drive? These were not on OpenGov. Uh these bids were conducted uh through Quandl. Okay. >> Uh yeah, they were not on the OpenGov platform. And then did we Have we received these bids that we're denying? What was the question, Kevin? If we received the bids that we're denying. We received them. I think she Director Casey's asking >> guess I'm a board member, do we We received the bids that we're rejecting. I do not believe so. Okay. Roll call. Ms. Merkel. Yes. Ms. Slucki. Yes. Mr. Trianos. Yes. Mr. Brazil. Yes. Mr. Casey. Yes. Mrs. Chezick. Yes. Mrs. Cleary. No. Ms. Fox. No. Mr. Borthwick. Yes. Seven affirmative, two negative, motion passes. Motion that the Board of School Directors of the Scranton School District hereby adopts the attached resolution declaring an emergency
097at the school building located at 1509 Maple Street, Scranton, PA 18505 authorizing emergency procurement pursuant to 24 P.S. 7-751 for the immediate repair, reconstruction, or replacement of the facility. Second. On the question. Roll call. Ms. Slucki. Yes. Mr. Trianos. Yes. Mr. Brazil. Yes. Mr. Casey. Yes. Mrs. Chezick. Yes. Mrs. Cleary. Yes. Ms. Fox. No. Ms. Merkel. Yes. Mr. Borthwick. Yes. Eight affirmative, one negative, motion passes. Motion that the Board of School Directors authorize the superintendent or designee to take all actions necessary and appropriate to implement the emergency procurement authorized by the resolution adopted under agenda item E-8 including but not limited to soliciting competitive bids from at least three responsible contractors, negotiating and executing contracts for emergency repairs, reconstruction, or replacement, notifying the Secretary of Education in the form and manner required by 24 P.S.
0987-751 and taking any and all other steps necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the students and staff of the Scranton School District. Second. On the question. Roll call. Mr. Trianos. Yes. Mr. Brazil. Yes. Mr. Casey. Yes. Mrs. Chezick. Yes. Mrs. Cleary. Yes. Ms. Fox. No. Ms. Merkel. Yes. Ms. Slucki. Yes. Mr. Borthwick. Yes. Eight affirmative, one negative, motion passes. Personnel Director Casey. Thank you, Mr. Borthwick. The first one is uh a motion to approve personnel report as attached. Board appointment shall not vest Um shall not vest unless and until the district has received and in its discretion has determined to be satisfactory all required state and federal background checks including Employment shall not commence and no employment rights shall vest unless and until the district reviews such results and determines in its
099discretion that they are satisfactory. I so move. Second. On the question. Roll call. Mr. Brazil. Yes. Mr. Casey. Yes. Mrs. Chezick. Yes. Mrs. Cleary. Yes. Ms. Fox. Yes. Ms. Merkel. Yes. Ms. Slucki. Yes. Mr. Trianos. Yes. Mr. Borthwick. Yes. Nine affirmative. Okay, the next one Um I submit approval of the settlement agreement with the monetary amount listed in exhibit A for grievance G5-2025. I I so move. Second. On the question. Roll call. I was just going to ask I'm just I I read the settlement and I'm fine with it. I just wanted to know if I'm assuming that situation's been repaired. So there are times and around this time of the year is where we run into the issue that we may receive a student with a a disability and go over a caseload by
100one or two. >> Right. And the language in this now gives us a path of of how if somebody has to pick that up we can move forward with the daily rate. Okay. So that's how we'll handle it moving forward. Yeah, this this is also now clears how we have this path forward. Uh obviously what we want to always do is is be able to hire open new classrooms, but special ed teachers aren't easy to come by right now and we need to make sure the people, you know, if they are picking up the extra work or doing what we need to do. >> But they're Yes. You get those people. Yep. Thank you. Roll call. Mr. Casey. Yes. Mrs. Chezick. Yes. Mrs. Cleary. Yes. Ms. Fox. Yes. Ms. Merkel. Yes. Ms. Slucki. Yes. Mr.
101Trianos. Yes. Mr. Brazil. Yes. Mr. Borthwick. Yes. Nine affirmative. Inter Relations Director Chezick. H6, motion to approve 2026-27 FSMC food service management company renewal approval. FSMC renewal for the 26-27 school year with Aramark Educational Services. This is the first of four possible renewal years. Financial impact, national school lunch program projected operating cost attached with the guarantee of $1,500,000 subject to the guarantee exceptions outlined in the current contract. Second. On the question. Roll call. Mrs. Cleary. Yes. Ms. Fox. Yes. Ms. Merkel. Yes. Ms. Slucki. Yes. Mr. Trianos. Yes. Mr. Brazil. Yes. Mr. Casey. Yes. Mrs. Chezick. Yes. Mr. Borthwick. Yes. Nine affirmative. Okay, uh H7, award and authorize banking and deposit services with the following financial institutions based on proposals received. Second. Sorry, a couple more things. Uh general fund capital improvement, cafeteria operations, Memorial Stadium,
102and other accounts, Fidelity Bank, and then workers compensation, PS PS Bank. Second. On the question. Roll call. Ms. Fox. Yes. Ms. Merkel. Yes. Ms. Slucki. Yes. >> Mr. Trianos. Yes. Mr. Brazil. Yes. Mr. Casey. Yes. Mrs. Chezick. Yes. Mrs. Cleary. No. Sorry, Mr. And Mr. Borthwick. Yes. Eight affirmative, one negative. Motion passed. H8, motion to approve workers' compensation TPA services. The board authorizes the mutually agreed-upon transition from Excalibur Insurance to Inservco Insurance Service for workers' compensation TPA services. Quotes for a 3-year contract subsequent years are $28,840 and excuse me, and $29,700 respectively. Second. On the question. Roll call. Mrs. Merkel. Yes. Mrs. Zelesky. Yes. >> Mr. Triana. Yes. Mr. Brazil. Yes. >> Mr. Casey. Yes. Mrs. Cheslik. Yes. Mrs. Cleary. Yes. Ms. Fox. Yes. Mr. Borthwick. Yes. >> Nine affirmative. H9, motion to award medical
103supply bid. Awards for medical equipment and supplies bid 2026. These items will be utilized by our medical and nurses' office. Total $17,870.75. These items are budgeted for and paid for out of the district medical budget. Second. On the question. Roll call. Mrs. Zelesky. Yes. >> Mr. Triana. Yes. Mr. Brazil. Yep. Mr. Casey. Yes. >> Mrs. Cheslik. Yes. >> Mrs. Cleary. Yes. Ms. Fox. Yes. Mrs. Merkel. Yes. >> Mr. Borthwick. Yes. >> Nine affirmative. Okay, um H10, motion to approve Monticello East Technology purchases. Motion to approve the New Line Interactive Panel to Trafera. Cost $30,720. Cooperative Contract PEPPM Pennsylvania. Ricoh camera door hardware to Blair Technology Solutions. Cost $345,035.97. Cooperative Contract PEPPM Pennsylvania. Aruba network equipment to IntegraOne. Cost $72,233.64. Cooperative Contract Co-Stars 8W003-E22-580 and SW006-E23-252. Financial impact not to exceed $456,989.61. Second. On the question.
104I know we'll be phasing in for the building, but is this for all of the classrooms that we and and the the like the whole It's the full package. Correct. This should give us what we need to be able to open right now. Mr. Suma, this is cameras, this is teacher technology, and student technology. So, is the tech for just our what we're phasing in in the beginning or for No, this is for the whole building. The goal is to open eight classrooms for the beginning based off the timeline on the Monticello meeting today. They're they're saying by um August 15th, those eight classrooms should be done. And then into the fall will be phase two, which will allow us to open the additional classrooms and sensory areas. The cafeteria won't be done until late
105into the fall. We'll have to do lunch deliveries until then. Uh but this will allow the technology for all of those things. >> So, not just phase one, but phase two. Yep, and the networking through everything including the cafeteria. Correct, Mr. Suma? Yes. Thank you for the clarification. This doesn't include phones, right? Phones would be an additional would be a >> Are phones additional, Chris? So, for the people who couldn't hear Mr. Suma, we have Zoom phones that we still can use um that are on site that we could use in the building. Okay. We have about 200 of them, correct? I I don't know the number at all. I apologize. Uh Aaron, um as long as we're talking about furnishing um the Connors building, uh that has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?
106Um I just want to let you know from my past experience in sales, uh if you're going to be buying or purchasing any and all equipment uh for the Connors building and our other buildings, we probably should be purchasing them now because every other school district in the country is going to be purchasing and um if we wait until the last minute, uh we probably won't get our equipment until December. Mr. Mr. O'Donnell's working on FFE, the furniture right now. He has the lead times, and you have a visit set up in 2 weeks. 2 weeks that they're going to go with staff, and they're going to look to make sure we have everything we need to meet the population that will be in this building. Where is he going? We're going to a uh
107a school district in the Lehigh Valley that just set up this type of building uh to see what it looks like and to see what uh needs they put in the autistic classrooms. So, we're going to actually see autistic classrooms that are set up. Okay. I just wouldn't wait too long um because we may have the building ready to go, but we may not have the equipment and furniture. We're we're meeting often. Uh Mr. Latney just reminded me that the bid for food service equipment is also out right now. Um so, there's there's a weekly meeting, but on like tomorrow morning at 8:00 we're meeting. It It's It's a process that's underway. We have a meeting this Friday, I believe, in person as well. Like this is to get this up and running because of
108the fact that we know we have 60 kindergarteners that will need placements for the first day of school. This is this is consuming significant amounts of what everybody's doing right now. Do they have a lot of furniture left from what We don't. If you go into Bancroft, it's not No, I meant from when we bought that building, did they leave things that that we could use? >> We're we're we're utilizing what was left where where we can. Uh I believe it was mainly Right, like the desks and stuff. >> So, you know, we won't be purchasing many office-related furniture. Um so, cuz we will be utilizing what's left on on hand. And again, I just wanted to note again the food service equipment bid, which is a large one, is out on the street now,
109and we anticipate awarding it in the at the May meeting. Just to clarify quick off of what you said, just because I think it it was been brought to me the concern of um peop- students will only be placed there if that is the best environment that is deemed for them. Just because they're Okay, got it. Yeah, as I've said, I I I I don't know how many times I've said this in interviews and and on stage. We are not getting rid of our school-based programming, and we are going to always have a continuum of services that aligns with law. Um what we have seen um is that there is significant need in this K2 band. Our goal is to be able to give the children who need additional resources what they can get. My
110ultimate goal would have everyone back in a traditional school setting, but some children require that group of students that need the extra supports what they need to be successful and hopefully reintegrate into a regular school setting. Mrs. Phillips and Mrs. Bradley are both out in the audience as well as Ms. Latney. Um Mrs. Latney, they are going through those [clears throat] caseloads now because we have kids in our school settings that could benefit from a center-based program. So, it's creating those class lists right now. We're also doing a lot of work with the kindergarten transitions from our early childhood centers locally, um from Head Start, um and then just getting eyes on our kindergarteners as they're coming in um because we've also not only we we've noticed over the last at least my 2 years
111to sit here, it's not only the EI transition, which which we know are at 60 right now, 144 total, 60 autism spectrum disorder, but we also find an additional group of children through our kindergarten summer programming and our kindergarten transition programs who had no services and will require these services. So, I'm hoping eight classrooms is enough cuz that's what we're going to have ready for the beginning because last year Mr. O'Donnell went out and did an extensive walk of all of our elementary schools, and it's why right now we have an MOU with the SFT that half of our cyber people are working virtually certain days. We're out of space. And I just to that, my son is one of those 100 and some early intervention numbers, and he had his event at the Armstrong,
112and it went very well, and they don't he should not need any services when he comes in. But, it was a very nice experience, and so uh And and I I want to I want to publicly give a lot of credit to Maggie Latney and because from my first year through last summer, and they put additional programming in this summer, they've done exceptional work to be able to make sure we capture students, and we have them in the right places, and we have them getting the supports they need on the first day of school. Um and every year we're going to get better at that, but I mean, I'll I'll be very honest with you, and Dr. Sailor knows this, and I want publicly the public to know this, I literally just sent Dr. Collarossi
113from PDE and Dr. Sailor, the recovery officer, our statistics that special education put together because our numbers are so astronomical, and I'm working on a cover letter to send to Dr. Smith, who's the head of the superintendents association, because she was interested in hearing our story because of how just unbelievable our special education growth, and especially our autism um group, has grown over the last 3 years. It It's an emergency, folks. I I I I'll go on record and say that. I got to have a space for these kids at first day of school. I I think it And I think it's imperative that that these types of students start out where they're supposed to start out, you know, in the right place and not get shuffled around, because I experienced that professionally, kids not
114starting where they should be, and it's very difficult for them and traumatic for them when you're moving their teacher, or you're moving their classroom, or you're moving their building, so their so you know, so their needs can be met. So, I I think It It's I I'm agreeing to saying it's And the other The other thing, just so the public knows this, cuz I know the board's been informed regularly, we are up an additional 110 students in overall enrollment from last year, and our cyber enrollment is down compared to where we normally are last year. So, we also have just overall more bodies in schools right now. Dr. Keating. I wasn't going to say this, because I know how humble you basically are, but uh I can't thank you enough. Uh and I know the
115special needs community feels the same way that I do for your leadership and your dedication and your vision to this project and to the district. You're to be commended. We didn't vote on this. It doesn't mean you get a It doesn't mean you get a raise. You just get kind of words. >> [laughter] >> All that said, roll call. Uh Mr. Triano. Yes. Mr. Brazil. Yes. Mr. Casey. Yes. >> Mrs. Chesick. Yes. Mrs. Cleary. Yes. Mr. Fox. Yes. Mrs. Merkel. Yes. Mrs. Slezak. Yes. >> Mr. Borthwick. Yes. Nine affirmative. Nothing under the president's report. Anything for new business? Um I have one quick thing that I'd like to ask. All right. >> I I'm sorry. I was vaccinated with a Victoza needle. Um Aaron, is there any way that we could possibly look into, and
116I know it's short notice, and you have a lot on your plate, maybe Mr. O'Donnell could uh take this over. Is there any way that we can try to get an elementary reading summer school up and running for this summer? Uh we're working on some summer programming. I don't know if I can target that specifically, but we're working on some summer programming. I should have an update for you guys on what we're doing. Thank you. I just have one thing. I just want to quant quantify something I said previously when we were speaking about ARs. I I don't want you to share every AR with us, but I am asking the board, if it impacts the board, or it's something that it's a role that we have to partake in, it would be beneficial if
117we knew if there were changes there. So, we know what we're doing. We know that we don't always know all the ARs exist, so it's helpful if we Sorry. That don't might only be And you don't have to go back. I'm just talking like moving forward, that would be helpful. And that's only if it impacts the board and our role. Thank you. You know, in all fairness to the administration, every time that every 2 years board has changed, and uh it's a learning process of who needs what, and uh it's hard for the administration to learn what we'd like, and it's also a hard process for us to learn what they need to give us. So, uh I >> in progress. Pardon me? It's a work in progress. That's what I'm saying. And uh I
118I don't want to give the impression out there in in the public that uh we disagree. Uh we're not. It's a learning process. We have a new administration, a new team, new board members. We're learning uh what the other part of our family needs, and I actually think that our administration on this is doing an excellent excellent job. I move to adjourn. Second. >> Second. I got the second. All right. Thank you, everyone.