001Sorry. >> Is that pretty good? >> Think so. Right. >> So, Joe, what did you ask for a new seat? So, they moved me. >> All right. >> Yes, you did. He's picking on me. >> I'll call to order this work session and board meeting for Monday, March 2nd, 2026. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. 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. Chzik >> present. >> Mrs. Clary >> present. >> Miss Fox >> present. >> Miss Merkel >> here. >> Mrs. Leki >> present. Mr. Triano >> present. >> Mr. Borth >> present. >> Nine present.
002>> All right. So, right now we'll have recogn recognitions and achievements. Um, black wanted a drug and alcohol billboard design contest finalist and winners. >> Uh, I don't Is anyone here from that? >> They're here. Maybe one person is coming in. >> Okay. >> We go to the lady nights. They're all here. >> All right. So, lady nights basketball >> and Mr. Director Tase is coming down with you and I. >> Yep. I'll wait till >> So, my lady knights and coaches, could you come up front? >> Okay, we have the Lady Knights basketball team with coach PJ Hughes. Over the holiday break, the Lady Knights competed in the annual line tournament against girls basketball teams from Dunore, Scranton Prep, and Holy Cross. Our Scranton Lady Knights faced off against Dunore in the final, rallying
003for a 50 to 49 victory over the Lady Bucks. Chrissy Jlinsky scored a game high 24 points. Jaylen Allers, who made the winning three-point shot, scored nine points, and Riley Bell scored eight points. This is the Lady Knights second line at tournament victory with the first in 2023. We are so proud of our Lady Knights for this victory. >> Girls, I'll tell you my funny story. I was I wasn't really I couldn't remember who were playing on Friday night and I had to wear green because I had to go something for the the parade and I had to text Mr. Coil and go, "Who are we playing? I can't show up in a green sweater if it's somebody green right now and then I have to borrow clothing somewhere along the way. So, but congratulations.
004You have a playoff game Friday night, correct? And who are we playing? >> Red Lion. So, congratulations. >> Thank you. Congratulations. big time. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> Okay. directly. >> Okay. >> So, we are pleased to welcome Carrie Ready Archer, Ro Robertson, Melanie Dietro, and Olivia Bernatski. Mrs. Readydd Archer and Mrs. Robertson both had students who participated in the Lacawana County Billboard Design Contest. Mrs. Ready Archer students. D anise Yanoa won the Lacawana County Billboard design contest and Mrs. Robertson student Misty Bailey was a finalist. Both Mrs. Ready Archer and Mrs. Robertson are here to accept the board's congratulations on their behalf. Northeast Intermediate student Olivia Bernotsky received an honorable mention for her billboard design as well. Olivia is here tonight with her art teacher, Mrs. Dietro. We are so proud of our students
005for their incredible work and our teachers for supporting them and pushing them to do their best. Thank you everybody. I'm Mrs. Robert Robertson from Scranton High School and we're very proud and honored to be here tonight. my colleague Carrie Ruddy Archers, a 20 plus year veteran of Scranton High and she has she swept it this year with the first place. I was very glad to have an honorable mention. Our colleague Melanie from Northeast Scranton Intermediate School wasn't able to be here tonight. Her little uh artist was uh ill, but um we will certainly accept for her. Carrie and I have been participating in the Lacawana County Drug and Alcohol Poster Contest for more than 20 years. Um myself since 1987 when I didn't win uh at Scranton Central 1995 a winner. Um so we're very
006uh honored to participate every year and very thrilled for our winners this year. Uh our artists in Scranton are exceptional and we're very proud to teach them every day. So, thank you for Thank you for recognizing us. >> It's pretty nice. going down. We are also proud to welcome Miss Danielle Corby and the West Scranton Intermediate Kindness Club. Miss Corby founded the kindness club last year with the goal of spreading positivity through acts of kindness. Miss Corby started the club with roughly 12 to 18 students who were mostly students from her class. Since then, over 50 students have joined the club, spreading kindness to their peers, teachers, and community members alike. A core group of about 12 to 15 students help plan events while other students act as helpers. Recently, Miss Corby received recognition from
007Governor Shapiro in the form of a letter praising her work on the kindness club, specifically mentioning the adorable decorating contest, which was held in December. We are so proud of Miss Corby and her kindness club for their commitment to spreading kindness and positivity throughout the West Granton community. Keep up the great work. Good evening. I'm Angela Keading, the principal at West Scranton Intermediate School. It's such a privilege tonight to be able to recognize this group of students who have redefined what it means to lead with a heart. The West Granton Intermediate School Kindness Club under the advisement of Danielle Corby has become a beacon of positivity within our halls. I would first like to highlight the vision and dedication of the club's adviser. As a veteran ELD teacher at West Granton Intermediate, Miss Corby has
008created a safe and welcoming environment for our students for whom English is a second language. They are however not the only students. As you can see, that's where it started. Where we went is much bigger. But I love to speak of these students because the trust and comfort that they have had in her starting in her classroom. Those students found a home in the kindness club. By participating in these projects, these students are not only giving back, they're gaining immense confidence and rapidly improving their language acquisition and communication skills in a real world supportive setting. While not all members are EL students, the club ensures that no matter where a student started in their journey, they feel like an integral and valued part of the West Scranton community. Their impact is felt through a variety
009of thoughtful initiatives that bring our school together. I would like to highlight some of those activities that we have made and continue to make a positive impact at Western Media. The first is the original the kindest coffee cart which everybody looks forward to. Not only does this project provide a morning boost, but it delivers a personalized kind note to every individual who makes a purchase, ensuring everyone starts their day feeling valued. For World Kindness Day this past November, the club went above and beyond by ensuring that every single student, teacher, and staff arrived to a handwritten kind note on either their locker or their desk. It was a massive undertaking that transformed the school's atmosphere to instant positivity. Valentine's for veterans. Extending their reach beyond our school walls, the club created and delivered heartfelt Valentine
010message messages to our heroes at the Gino Merly Center. Honoring those who have served our country with gratitude and art. Bundle up a buddy, which was our most recent. This was a winter accessory drive that has provided essential warmth to students in need, fostering a culture of care and pure support. 361 AC accessory items were collected, which was awesome. And our sixth grade won a dress down, which anybody who knows Western Intermediate knows we don't ever do a full dress down. Um, and they earned it and they they deserved every minute of it. And then the last thing was our adorable door decorating contest because we've got doors now and so we had to celebrate that. Um, so the kindness club sponsored this a creative competition and the club encouraged every classroom to visually represent
011their spirit of kindness, brightening our hallways with inspiration and some holiday spirit. And last, but certainly not least, everybody's favorite activity every year, Miss Corby brings out Mr. Sunny Ray. And Mr. Sunny Ray is our almost summer mascot that appears 30 days before school. And every ray gets curled by one of our kindness members. And we know by each one that is curled how many days we have left to go until summer vacation. So the dedication of these students has not gone unnoticed. We are incredibly proud to share that Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro recently issued a formal recognition to Miss Corby and the kindness club, praising their commitment to making West Scranton Intermediate in Pennsylvania a better place. Please join me in congratulating these young leaders for their empathy, their hard work, and pro proving
012that not only West Scranton but kindness is indeed the best. Oh Okay, >> sorry, we're already going off script. Um, the kindness a few of the kindness club members are here tonight because they wanted to speak. Um, I asked for volunteers and we have uh four or five volunteers. Um, so they um we were going to write something together and they all showed up with their own speech. So, uh that's what we're getting because I couldn't improve upon them. So, here they are. Uh here's Brooklyn. read it now. >> Okay. Good evening. I am Brooklyn. I'm in fifth grade. I wanted to thank you all for recognizing our little group, Kindness Club. At first, I thought Kindness Club was different, just like giving people compliments. But we've worked on many events. We have hosted teacher
013potluck parties, a pumpkin decorating contest, and a winter accessory drive called up called bundle up a buddy where we collected over 360 socks, scarves, gloves, and hats to keep our classmates warm this winter. I'm glad I joined the kindness club because I enjoy helping other people. Next up, we have Leilani. Good evening. I am Leai from Kais Club. I am in sixth grade. I joined Kais Club because I wanted to spread joy to the school. I think Kai's Club does just that. I think other people will think that, too. Kais Club is a club that helps other clubs and sports with their events. We work the concession stands for the dodgeball basketball tournament. We wear stage hands for the talent show. We have a caffeine and kind cart which we sell coffee to the adults
014and pass out kind notes a few times a month. We volunteered at the community Thanksgiving dinner. We and we organized a schoolwide collection of valid for our animal Vatypes for veterans project in which we create Valatypes for the veterans resident at the Gino Mery Center. We help people feel like they belong and are welcome to our school. That's the reason I joined Kaiser Club. That's great. >> Okay, Jaylen. And Jaylen is joined tonight by her brother who is one of the OGs of kindness club from last year. He came back from the high school to celebrate tonight and he's going to have a few words to say after our prepared notes and possibly generic do. But here's Jaylen. Good evening. My name is Jaylen and I am in eighth grade. I first want to start
015off by thanking everybody for the opportunity for letting me speak here today. I first joined kindness club thinking it would be a good way to spend time with my friends and do fun projects, whatever that would be. But the more time I spent in this club, I realized that being kind isn't just a personality. It's a lifestyle. It's how you live life. It's how you spread positivity to people who are going through a tough time. I think we all need to be a little kinder sometimes, even if it's just to ourselves, because a negative mind will never give you a positive life. So, even if we don't want to, I'd say to just try to be a little kinder. Okay, now we have Mckenley. Good evening. My name is Mckenley and I'm in sixth grade.
016I joined kindness club because I wanted to spread joy and kindness around the school. We did a couple of cont projects like the pump pumpkin decorating contest and the adorable door contest. We also did a bundle of a bunny. We raised a lot of things for kids who might not be able to buy them and that is why I join kindness club. Okay. And now we have Ma Good evening. I am Mina McCartic and I'm in fifth grade. I would like to start out saying thank you to the Scranton School District School Board for having us here tonight. I would also like to thank Governor Shapiro for the letter he wrote about Mrs. Corby and the kindness club. Before joining kindness club, I always would do small acts of kindness, but since joining, I realized
017I can do so much more. We have completed many projects bringing joy and warmth to our classmates and school. I definitely will be joining next year. It's always nice to be recognized for the work you do, but it's even nicer to feel the joy in your heart after helping somebody. In close, in closing, thank you for recognizing Mrs. Corby and our club and allowing me to the time to speak to you. And I invite Governor Shapiro to come visit West Granton Intermediate School and see all the great things we're doing. Thank you for your time and good night. Leia, did you want to talk? No. Okay. How about you? >> Okay. As I said, Angel was one of the original members of kindness club from last year. uh and generic, both students of mine, both
018former students, um who are, I hope, about to speak so they can show off how incredible they speak English. So, here we go. >> Oh, okay. Good night. My name is Angel and I'm one of the founding members of the kindness club. I'm so glad I'm one of the founding members of the kindness club. Um, I would like to say that I joined the kindness club because I like to help other people and and help other people as much as much as I can. I enjoyed every activity we did last year and one of those is the coffee cart which I worked on Fridays. I enjoyed because I got to work with my friends. And one of the other activities I that I liked was collecting socks for the people who need them in winter
019time. And I'm so glad that I got the opportunity the opportunity to join the kindness club and be one of the founding members. Thank you. >> Thank you. I just I should mention too that Generic and Angel both um won the ELLL humanitarian award last year when they graduated 8th grade on our eighth grade awards ceremony which is a very big honor. Um okay board members and is this thing on? Okay. Board members, administrators, members of the public and Dr. Grand Marshall Keading, thank you for this incredible honor tonight. And thank you to our students. You spoke as the true leaders of kindness club. It is a true privilege to be your adviser. Excuse me. I want to thank my colleague and friend Danielle Dumbar for helping make Governor Josh Shapiro aware of our little
020club. And of course, Mrs. Keing and Mr. Dempsey for their constant enthusiasm and support of the kindness club and all of our ideas. I don't think I've been told no yet. So that might be dangerous. Um, as you know, our school recently completed a multi-year remodel. For the first time in our building's 50 plus year history, we had classroom doors. The kindness club decided that this milestone deserved a celebration, so we hosted the adorable holiday contest. Doors, all caps. Teachers decorated their doors in a holiday movie theme, and the entire school voted. That event may have caught the governor's attention. But what truly matters is what happens when no one is watching. We started small last year, mostly with my own students. This year, we have more than 50 members from across the school. A
021core group meets regularly to plan projects and the rest jump in wherever help is needed. They don't ask for recognition, they just ask, "What can we do next?" One moment that stands out after announcing our bundle up a buddy winter drive, Miss Tracy and Mrs. B I'm sorry, Miss Tracy's and Mrs. Buyer's life skills classes returned from a field trip to the marketplace at Steamptown and came to my room single file each carrying a donation items purchased with their extra fundraiser money to help keep another invader warm. That's kindness and action. I also want to thank a few families. First, my own, my sisters Michelle and Leah and my mother Sandy for always supporting kindness club and helping in various ways. Second, our school family here in West Scranton. Educators and staff who work tirelessly
022for our students and champion this club. Finally, my classroom family, my immigrant students and their families. They are an extraordinary part of our school and my life. Many carry burdens we may never fully understand, yet they show up for each other. Their courage, resilience, and hope inspire me every day. That generosity, showing kindness even when life is hard, is the heart of this club. Kindness Club isn't about doors, decorations, or recognition. It's about creating a culture where students lift one another up, especially when the world feels heavy. If we all notice the struggles around us and choose compassion anyway, we are creating something that truly matters. Thank you. Before we're through, one more thing. Um, Dr. Katy, we wanted to congratulate you, our superintendent, Dr. Gran Marshall Katy, for being chosen to lead Scranton St.
023Patrick's Day parade. And we have a small token to celebrate this honor and show you our appreciation for this evening. >> I'm just going to tell you, this grand marshall gig is the best thing I ever got. >> I agree. >> Thank you. Thank you guys. Thank you so much. You I'll never say no to presents and they just keep showing up for this grand marshall day. This is the best thing that ever happened to me. I'm so excited. So, and I also have nine green outfits ready to go. I could go from 70° summer to the tundra and I could still be in green right now. >> All right, >> we're set and ready to rock. >> There's a little something in there for Sally, too. >> Thank you. Thank you to everybody. All
024right, now we have reports from student representatives. Uh, Max Hoffman from Scranton High. Good evening. I hope everybody had a great month. Scranton High School has had a great February. Starting off strong, our winter sports teams have had a great end of the end of the season. Congratulations to our district champion wrestling team. Julie Nory placed first with other medal winners Chase Brown and Austin Godstein. Our show choir has been having a fantastic season with many first place awards in recent comp competitions. And to top off winter sports, our girls will play Red Lion this Friday, March 6th, at Scranton High School. Today, we started winter sport, we started spring sports at Scranton High School. And I would like to wish our teams a good season. There will be a trade and industry fair held
025at Scranton High School during all lunches on March 12th. Also on March 12th, the Scranton High School High School SEAL team will be hosting a board a board game night. Congratulations to all the students who participated in the PJAS regional competition this past Saturday. We have many students who placed very well and will be attending the state competition in May. The SHs of Eden Club will be walking the St. Patrick's Day parade on March 14th with the John Malvesy Foundation. Our night ambassadors are starting a STEM mentoring program. 14 high school students were recognized by College Board for for excellence and seven students earned top honors in the 2025 Scholastic Art Awards. Congratulations to Emily Cacao, Jessica Zalinsky, Yash Patel, Violet Martin, Josh Espazito, Cayla Vaughn, and Olivia Qui. Thank you so much for your
026time tonight and hope everybody has a great march. See you next month. >> Thank you. >> I'm Tristy Do from West Scranton High School. Good evening board. Hope you all had a great month because our school sure did. Spring sports officially kicked off today. Our softball, baseball, track and field, boys volleyball, and tennis teams have been working really hard in their preseason and are ready to show the community that their hard work has paid off. Here's a quick recap on our winter sports and all their successful. Varsity wrestler Thomas Centularly is a 2026 PIAA AAA regional champion and has punched a ticket to state competition Hershey. Varsity swimmer Roy Ayala is a district true champion in swim. Roy has broken numerous school records this year. He is a holder for seven out of eight of
027our school records. Varsity swimmer Isabella Stanton also meddled in the PIAA districts. Bella is the first girl from West to ever medal in districts. Bella got six in the 100 yard breaststroke. Varsity Lady Invader senior Mia Tallow is also the new record holder for the most three-pointers in career. She ended her career with 145 three-pointers. Students from West High School participated in the cool scholars polar plunge at Montage Mountain. We raised over 7,000 for Special Olympics. 45 students along with Dr. Stevens, Miss King, and Miss Hollage took the plunge for a great cause. A few of our students also took part in PJIS. Angelis, Alexis Alt, Brienne Subeti, Natasha Jims, and myself. All of our invaders got first awards and are heading to Penn State to compete at um state level. West and Randy School
028also had talent this month. Congratulations to Emma Farley, grade seven, on her selection of scholar of the month for February. The subject area was life, arts, and fitness. Emma was scholar of the month. Congratulations to Cammy Bulmer, grade 8, and Cashel Connor, grade eight, for the selection of student of the month for February. Their characteristics were citizenship. Cammy was student of the month. Now, here's a deep dive into some of our local elementary schools. At Plaza, they hosted a parent and family night and they hosted a roaring for reading event. Dinosaur theme with special guests. Families participate together, enjoyed Dino Nuggets, and visited the book fair hosted by the PTA. This was a great for ready read across America week. PA is hosting their first annual masked reader. Each day they share a mass reader.
029Students are looking for clues using inferences based on their knowledge of teachers and guessing who the mass readers are. Student government hosted a canned food drive. We set a goal for each grade to collect a thousand 100 items. Plaza students collected over a thousand food items to donate to the local pantry. Airark visited pre-K and kindergarten students teaching them a healthy foods. Students made pizza and a snack. Hands-on learning is so much fun. Francis Willer Elementary celebrated their schoolwide behavior blowout with the February friendship 5 fiesta. This month, Miss Jenny style. Miss Jennifer Fetszler is a Willard Willard famous art teacher who is known for her talented art and singing. Students had a glow-in-the-dark friendship bracelet making dance party. Keep the excellent behavior, wild cats. Mrs. Rucker is so proud of you. Thank you so
030much for your time. Have a great night, guys. >> Thank you. >> Okay, so we'll move on to the work session agenda. Uh, beginning with athletics and student activities. is director Triana. >> I'd like to make a motion to approve a memorandum of understanding with University of Scranton track team regarding West Scranton High School and Scranton High School use of the Kevin P. Q Quinn athletics campus for the 2000 2026 2027 school year per the attachments staff. >> So, Director Tra, we're actually we're on the work session part. So this will be where uh we dis we discuss it and then when we have the formal meeting we'll do the motions. So that motion um that he just read will be on the voting >> and then we have one more item >> House Bill
03141. So just to let everyone know House Bill 41 is the Pennsylvania Interscolastic Athletic Association, the PIAA looking at separating um public and private schools into their own state championships. They did ask for people to come forward and support this. Both high school principles, both high school athletic directors, and myself did all support this initiative. Um, and we'll see where it moves forward. President Forthwick. >> Okay. Thank you. Budget and finance. Director Shzeki. >> On the consent agenda items, we'll have motions to approve the bill list and exception bill list, delinquent tax reports, the treasures report, repository sales, budget transfers, disposal of assets, and budgeted purchases. um a discussion for homeowner occupied tax rebate. >> So, this is something I directed Mr. Laffy to put on the agenda as a a potential discussion uh idea
032or uh going forward for us and asked him to research what a homeowner occupied tax break might look uh tax rebate, excuse me, might look like in terms of financial impact or how we could possibly do it. Um the gestation of this is it's something that u previous board members talked about here and there as a possibility. Uh, but with the, you know, with the recent tax reassessment, some people are getting hit harder than others. So, I asked Mr. Laugh to research that he provided information to the board, but it's on for discussion. So, Mr. Laffy, would you mind? >> Uh, certainly. I'm just going to pull up the the memo that uh I provided previously. Uh, just give me one moment. >> Sure. >> February 20th. Okay. Yes. So, um, as President Borl mentioned,
033we we we did research this and there is a district in the area that is currently offering a very similar program and they they're they are piggybacking off the already established PA property tax and rent rebate rebate program that currently is a state funded program. Uh to be eligible for the state funded uh property tax rent rebate program, you need to be 65 years old or older. Um widows or widowers of 50 years old or older, people with disabilities 18 or older, or with a health household income below 48,000. That current program provides rebates ranging from $380 to $1,000 with additional supplemental rebates for pit Pittsburgh, Scranton, and Philadelphia ranging from $190 to $500 if you're eligible. Um, currently right now like again a local uh a local district in onu 19 only provides it
034to homeowners not not to renters as well because renters are eligible for it. Just looking at some of what the tax impact could be for Scranton. Obviously we don't know the exact numbers of eligible properties that could be eligible but there was a report done in 2024 by the state based off of 2022 uh data. In that total, there was approximately 1471 owner properties that qualified for the state's rebate. An additional 2256 uh rental properties that qualified for the state's rebates for a total of 3727. If we were to offer a similar rebate that the local district has, which is a a maximum rebate of $200, phasing on down to $76 um on on the income eligibility requirements, you know, with 1400 assuming 1471 qualifying programs or properties, you would look at a possibly an
035impact of about $174,000. Okay. So, the question becomes is is is how do you fund that? Um, so there's a couple different ways that we that we looked at it, but currently right now we are re receiving a tax equity supplement in 2425, which we already received through the ready to learn block grant, which is $793,000. We use that to reduce our debt, which is an allowable use in the ready tolearn block grant. In 2526, the board already adopted resolution to use that funding for that specific purpose as well. So again, we are quote unquote reducing our debt with that funding. In the 2627 governor's proposed budget, he also proposed another round of tax equity supplement for 793,000. I've reached out to PTE to see if that funding source is an allowable funding source because
036it does state that supplements of the senior tax rebate chapter 13 program is an allowable use of that funding. Um and the confirmation I did receive is that it would be so if the board wanted to explore that that could be a funding source other than uh you know taking it from our um our rental or excuse me our real estate revenue it could come out of a state source which has been previously committed to reducing debt but it would be an allowable use of that as So this would be something that we if we were interested in doing it, we would have to attach it to the upcoming budget which I think you usually give us a first draft when August. >> We so act one timeline requires a pre preliminary budget to be
037released in July and board adopted uh uh in August, first week of August, give or take. >> So this is something for the board to think about. We have a lot of time to think about it. Uh but given feedback that I know some of I have and I'm sure a lot of you have received from the community, some kind of relief might be in order. um especially if we're getting this tax equity supplement from the state. Um and the budgetary impact of $174,000 it, you know, with money from the state sounds like something that's worthy of consideration because it's going to help people who are who are hurting. >> And I I'll continue to research this and just see if I can get a more up-to-date figure of how many properties may be eligible.
038But again, that was just based off of data that I was able to publicly search and and excuse me, and locate from a 2024 report provided by the Department of Revenue. >> Thanks. Anybody have any questions or comments? >> Yeah, on the question, is this something that if we committed to, we could do it year by year because obviously our our debt, our our needs, our finances would change from year to year. So, if we did it, let's say, in the year 2027, we wouldn't necessarily have to do it in the year 2028. >> I would assume that to be the case, but I I can work with Solicitor M. >> I just wouldn't want to commit long term to something that we might not be able to support. Um, and I had another question.
039It just left me, but okay, that's fine. >> I just wanted to say uh thank you to Director Borthwick for suggesting this and also Mr. Lafy for researching it. I think it's a great idea. Um, from what I'm hearing from the community is that so many people are struggling right now and I fear that people are going to leave the city. Kids are going to go to other districts. So, if we can do something to help those that are struggling right now and keep them in Scranton and help Scranton grow, I think that's a huge benefit. So definitely something I would like to explore. >> Just you asked for comments. I'll just observe um I've been involved with similar programs in my career. Um the state offers one for for eligible veterans. Um we uh
040do some legal work for Lacawana County uh whose area agency on aging offers uh similar programs for income eligible seniors. Uh we do work with the tax claim bureau that has lifetime deferrals for my point is in those three programs there are formal applications that need to be completed. So there's some initiative that's usually taken on behalf of the property owner like we can offer the program but they would have to come to us right they would have to apply they would have to demonstrate uh that they've met those criteria and then they would get the abatement or the benefit of it. So the likelihood that all 1400 property owners are going to make application and be compliant with all that is very very unlikely. So I think if Pat's talking about $174,000 maximum exposure
041the reality of it will be a lot less. Is that does that make sense? >> I would think so. Yeah. >> And who would handle that um process? Would the school district have to handle that process? >> I think that's something we would it part of the process. I would suggest since it's already working with the county, there might be an intergovernmental cooperation agreement where the area agency on aging can handle it for us or something. I I don't know off the top of my head, but since there are similar programs, the county runs it, the veterans department runs the one for the veterans. Okay. The area agency on aging runs the one for for the seniors. So, it may make some sense if the will was there to do some kind of intergovernmental cooperation
042agreement with the county since they already have the applications. >> Okay. Thank you. And director Chzik, if I may, for those, you know, watching or in attendance, um, on our website under the business office, there is a section called tax relief resources to that out outlines some current real estate tax assistant programs that if um, you know, if people needed information or or links uh to the uh, applicable departments or uh, areas that offer them, they are on our website. >> And then just flatly, because I think I remember when this came up, it was it was Mid Valley. I I got a call asking it was a former director asking it to be done here and he was observing to me that Mid Valley opens it up for just a finite window. >> So
043there's like a 30-day eligibility window and if you miss that, you're out. >> You're out here. >> Well, otherwise it could drag on forever. >> Thank you. >> We have a discussion on public school facility grant program application. >> Uh yes. So um I we've discussed this briefly. Uh we were hoping to have a motion this evening for the board to authorize us to apply for uh for for this grant opportunity. Again, I will just reiterate, we were successful in getting this last year. We received a million-dollar grant for the fire alarm systems at West High School and South Intermediate. Um in order to submit a grant application, we do need a project budget or an estimate based off of a qualified architect engineer or construction management company. Um we've engaged Quandell to help us
044with that uh on some various projects that we're interested in looking to fund. They are currently in the process of providing us an estimate. Uh once we receive that, we anticipate having that by this Friday, March 6th. Uh we will prepare the necessary uh motions and resolutions for the board to allow us to submit this grant. >> We have a discussion and motion for real estate assessment approvals, if any. Um, none at this time, but I will say, uh, Sister Moran and I and members of his team are looking at some current appeals that are in process that we we anticipate most likely coming to the board, uh, uh, with, uh, in the near future. >> Um, information on a contracts update. >> So, just one, um, we previously approved the accelerated reader program with
045Renaissance Learning. Uh, there was, I believe, one school, I believe it was McNichols Plaza, that was excluded from that proposal. It is at zero cost. So they were able to offer us adding McNichols Plaza. So there was an amendment to our current agreement signed, but it's at no cost to the district. >> And last, we'll have a motion to approve the sale of delinquent 2025 taxes. >> I'll just say like this is a budgeted uh revenue source. It's um it's been a program that the district has, I think, operated in since about 2008. Uh there is a motion for this evening uh to authorize the sale to uh municipal revenue services with a net return to the district of just about 4.4. 4 um million dollars in revenue and again it is a budgeted revenue
046source. >> Um I just have a quick question. I don't know if it's under the bill list or the exception bill list. I don't know if we started using maybe a different software or something but and I assume it's in house. Maybe this is a question for Bert or maybe Erin. Um the legal bills the staff member has been voided out but it never used to be that way. Um so for us to like justifi like see that we're getting charged the right amount by the staff member. I understand for the public if that was requested it might be blacked out but for us it never was. So I don't know if that's something >> general is tomorrow. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I I I honestly answer honestly I didn't catch it. So okay. >>
047Okay. >> Thanks. >> All right. Community relations director Clearary >> umformational community schoolyards program update. Gus Fehee. >> Mr. Fehee is here with us in the house. Hello everybody. Uh I'm Gus Fee. I run an organization called Valley in Motion, which is a nonprofit that does quality of life initiatives in the Lacawana Valley. Uh Community Schoolyards is a playground building initiative that we have in Scranton. And uh as part of uh Valley motion and our national partner Trust for Public Land, we made a commitment to the school district and a previous board and previous superintendent that we were going to build playgrounds in the in the Scranton school district. And I just wanted to sort of update you guys on sort of where we stand with that. Um but we had initially approached uh the
048school district in 2022 to do a pilot program of three um three playgrounds, three community schoolyards. uh Kennedy Elementary, Whittier, and uh and Willard uh Elementary. And we finished one at uh Kennedy Elementary, finished that in June. It opened up for this uh school year. And they're called community schoolyards because they're open to the public after school hours. So, what we had approached the um the previous school board with was that um the nonprofit partners would raise the vast majority of the funds in order to build these schoolyards and we'd build them as well. Um and then the commitment from the D district would be to maintain them going forward and then have them open to the public uh after school hours. And that's sort of the the way that that's our funding mechanism. That's
049how we can go to especially uh national partners to get the kind of money to to build it because uh because it's about time that our schoolyards were more than just sort of plain asphalt and they had play equipment on there um and so that the kids can enjoy. Uh so we've completed one and we're sort of looking at where the results are. not only are kids getting sort of more exercise and getting out there, but whether it has any impact on attendance or whether it has any impact on disciplinary measures too for kids getting out there and sort of and you know having their energy and stuff. One of the best things about this program is that the kids themselves designed the schoolyard. So at Kennedy, we had a third grade class that went
050through uh seven or eight different classes where they measured the site of their schoolyard. They watched as the sun went across the sky just like that. Um they watched where water ran after, you know, after it rained. Um so they did a bunch of and they looked at surveys of what what their other students said or what their administrators or parents said and all of those things sort of factored into the to the kids' design. So the kids developed the conceptual design and then we took it to architects to actually create construction documents and then and then have it actually built. So, I think that's just a really great way to sort of give kids agency. And when these third grade students came back two years later, it took us two years to sort of
051raise the money and build the schoolyard. Uh, and they brought their parents, they they really couldn't believe and they're really proud of what they had accomplished. and and from what I'm told, those children from JFK are now at Southgrant uh intermediate that there are they're leaders in the school now at at South Scranton Intermediate. And uh I think it's a real model that we can look at to sort of activate these schoolyards, not only for the community, but for to help instill civic virtue in in in our kids. So, um, so we are we're we're rushing to do, uh, a second schoolyard at Whittier Elementary. We got to have that finished by, uh, September in order to make sure that all of the public funding that we have sort of comes together and is spent
052by that time. And we're doing a fundraising, uh, mostly grant writing, but also fund other fundraising for uh, Willard Elementary, which we want to complete next year. And part of the reason that I'm here is that once we complete this pilot program, I really would like um guidance from the administration and the school board about what other kinds of what other schools we're going to do next because uh now that we've proven that the that the program can be done in order to do it faster, we'd really like to have the school the the school board commit money to these projects so we can mix public money with like private fundraising and then really to sort of just barrel through and see how many schools that we can do, you know, at least one one
053a year or really depending on the commitment from the what we can deliver and what you can deliver, you know, maybe we can go at an even faster pace than that. Um, so that's really what I have uh for you today. I I feel like these community schoolyards could really help to address some of the tax challenges. Like if people felt like the community the school the that they were benefiting from a school being in their neighborhood that that people could use the playgrounds like after school hours and during the summer and on weekends and stuff, then they have more of a commitment, as far as I'm concerned, more of a commitment in the work that the school district is doing. If everybody feels like the school is an essential part of a neighborhood, then
054I feel like that really gets at those concerns and you don't say like, oh, my kids are older, you know, why do I even contribute uh taxes to the school district. So, just something else to think about, too. And when we all participate in what the facilities are that the district has, then I feel like we all benefit. >> Thank you very much. Much appreciated. >> Yeah. A motion to approve donations Lacawana Heritage Valley Field Trip for Robert Morris, McNichols Plaza, Charles Sumner, Whittier, and Prescott, and Isaac Trip. Also to approve a donation of 1,8 combination locks from Scranton Products. >> Okay. Education Director Merkel. >> Yes. We're going to have motions to approve permissions to attend state attend meetings and conferences. Out of state field trips for Northeast Intermediate School to New York City,
055the amended 202526 instructional calendar. NEIU 2627 budget. Letter of agreement with ACE for the SSD preschool program. America 250PA resolution between Scranton School District and Keystone College. >> On the question, can I ask a question? I just wanted to I'm just not clear having just gotten back on the board where we have our preschools and where are we looking at adding some or we're just keeping the current where are we at with that? >> So, sure. We have we have funding and Mr. O'Donnell I if you want to speak please feel free at um Plaza at Adams and the first one we put in was Charles Sumar >> so they're a partnership with ACE of NEPA and they are head start classrooms we follow by their guidelines and we received the funding for them um
056at the beginning of this year we were hoping to be able to expand into Francis Willard and into Neil Armstrong then the budget impass happened so that didn't happen um recently in the packet um I had met with Senator Flynn advocating uh for us to be able to find funding to expand out. Um I'd like to thank AC of NEPA um and Jim Wanzac because they have completed all the paperwork for us to be able to expand. It's just that things got kind of tied up in the budget at that time. >> Um the application for prek counts does not open until 2028. We are in continuous contact through um the director of monitoring Dr. Gina Karasi. They know and Dr. sailor as well who's online. This is a priority initiative that we want to
057do. Um and we're building the community partnership as the monitoring plan says. Uh but we got to get to 2028 and kind of chip away a class here and a class there where we can get them in until that application opens up, >> right? So we can get that funding. Um and then what are the hours of head start? Somebody asked me and I didn't know the answer >> if they're following our school day. Our school day works with the hours. >> Okay. So they go as long as our school goes. Okay. The only other thing I wanted to mention about the um consent agenda, the NEIU budget, very proud to say there is no increase to our >> um input for it >> for all the school districts. So that was that was really
058good. Um for the non-conent agendaformational on the student information system update. >> So Mr. Suma had put a memo in the packet. there was a question or concern that there was um it was cumbersome for people to be able to begin the process. We're actually doing the EI transitions right now um in traditional paper and pencil form and have an input system that we're going to be using to get those in. We're not going live. We've actually delayed the kindergarten start a little bit to go live. Mr. Sumi, you're in trainings this whole week, correct? >> Yeah. And then we're hoping to go I don't I can't remember the live date and I apologize right now. >> Yeah, we're we're actually doing our EI uh enrollments through a a series of both paper and pencil
059but also uh Google Drive. Uh Gina and her team in the central registration department have really done a great job to ensure that things go as smoothly as they can, but we are still digitizing everything. So, it is still tied to the individual student with all of their records that are already scanned and in digital format. Um, we did push off kindergarten enrollment until Mar roughly March 26th. That is our our intended go live date right now. Um, we had our first online registration training last Friday with the central registration department. There's another one this Friday and there'll be a third one before that March 26th date in order to ensure that they have everything they need to go live on the 26th. >> Questions? >> I guess my only concern at one point was
060just um I don't really understand everything we are doing or whatnot is I know I had to fill out like a Google Drive asking like email address and things like that. I don't even know if I did that for both of my kids or now that I'm going to have two kids in the district or if I only did that for the one, but um I know that closed on like February 10th and then I didn't know if that was also put out in span in other languages or if it was just in English. Those were my like concerns because I >> Yeah. So the email address the the main component that we asked for with emo is that that would be the direct link for people to be able to log into the web
061portal as a parent. So, we wanted to try and get the as the most up-to-date information we could get from the parents. I know that it was pushed out on our social media. I know that it was on the website. I know Dr. Keading made the announcement here as well. So, we did try and advertise that as much as we possibly could to ensure that we can get as accurate information as we can get back from all the parents. >> Are you sure? Do I I'm sorry. Do you know if it went out in more than just English? Do we know offhand? >> Offhand? I don't know. The website automatically translates. >> I was just saying I don't know if a Google form does though. Does it like so it's a link to a Google
062form? >> I don't know if our website I'm getting convoluted with my past life that it would have but >> right something I was thinking of if maybe we would miss that population updating their information. >> We can get something out to through the teachers as well. >> Honestly, having gone through a student information management conversion in my previous district um we did the same thing. we pushed out. We got about a third of parents to do it and then the first time progress reports or something came out, we were there until 7 o'clock at night answering the phones updating things because people couldn't access stuff, >> right? >> So, we will continue to do huge push outs to make sure that people have the app and the link and all that they need to
063be able to access their students information. >> Thank you. >> It's a really big task turning rolling systems. >> Yeah. And the last thing is a motion to approve special education settlements >> standard. >> Um just for the um the ACE agreement. Last time I abstained because my daughter's father works in the maintenance department for ACE. So I'm going to ask for that to be pulled so I can do that again. >> Okay. >> Yeah, it's going to be pulled. >> Y a second. All right. Operations Director Bizo. >> We're going to have an update on the Montichello uh Peace Mountain project. Mr. Osborne is here. Mr. Osborne, could you come to the mic to give that update? >> I'd like to apologize to the audience. My phone is going off because the superintendent snowchain
064is very active right now. >> Yeah, there's going to be something tomorrow. >> Right now, we're holding steady, kids. >> We're going to be like an >> Yes, Joseph. Good evening, members of the board. I'm Robert Osborne. >> Do you want to get the update on mountain at at present time? the uh I reviewed the demolition. >> Mr. Osborne, can you pull the mic closer to you? >> I haven't had good >> good. I reviewed the demolition uh contract this morning and went over it and talked to um Pat and we we're going to uh be reviewing that and getting it out for bid ASAP. Uh Larry Moran is going to have to take a look at us. listener Moran and Pat Laffy will be making sure that all the requirements are in place so
065we can put it out for public bid and hopefully that will be ready by next week. I'm just going to add um we are going to have bid packages for demolition, roof, um I think all the mechanical systems uh and general contracting uh minimally. I think that's what we we we agreed on just so we can set the expectation that we're starting with the demo. That's that's the immediate moving forward. Um folks that are interested, folks in building trades, uh pay attention to your classified ads. We're going to be busy between, I'd say, uh April and July. uh really getting this work going. >> That's correct. >> And what I add is we're currently working with our construction manager Quandell to finalize those bid documents, those front-end documents that lists all the requirements that the
066districts have, whether it be bid bonds, performance bonds, etc. That's in process now. We will have those probably they have some questions for us. I'm already begun working on responses. I hope to have them completed for uh their questions by the end of the day tomorrow. Pat, uh, I believe a couple months ago we, uh, this board approved a PLA, uh, with the trade unions. Will that be part of the specifications where capital Well, >> it's not just there's no specific project labor agreement. >> There's a responsible contractor agreement. Well, that is one >> and that has been provided towandell as well as they prepare the bid >> and that will be part of the bid package. >> It will be incorporated as >> part of the specs. >> Yeah, I mean it's been provided
067towel. I I've not seen it finalized yet, but we will work to see make sure that any requirements of the policy that's been adopted by the board is is is >> integrated. Okay. >> So, will be part of the bid specs. Again, it's not a PLA, but it's a responsible contractor agreement. >> Excuse me for my language. We went back and forth there. >> Yeah, it's a policy. It's a district policy that we provided the policy to them, so they understand that that's board policy that we have to follow. >> Correct. Thank you. >> We're going to have a discussion on the Scranton High gym floor mats. >> Okay, that is in progress. We did you uh the motion go through to purchase those? That's this is the work session right now. >> Okay, >>
068I can jump in. Yeah. So, so this evening, um, we've obtained a quote. It should be a cooperative quote and we will confirm that before moving forward uh to purchase these mats for the Scranheim gym floor, which as you know has been recently refinished, but there's been a great investment made in that and we feel we recommend purchasing that to uh obviously uh protect these floors. Scran High hosts a lot of events, not just athletics in that um in that auditorium in that gymnasium, excuse me. So this evening there is a motion that you will be requested to vote on to purchase these mats at a cost of $33,990. >> And we have a discussion on the Scranton High tennis courts. >> So the Scranton High tennis courts, you had received a cooperative agreement to
069redo them. Um, however, I went to the athletic the spring athletic meeting and in talking to the AD and the principal, they expressed to me concerns that runoff water from the expressway that even if we redid them was still going to be a problem. So, Mr. Osborne has a meeting with PennDOT this Friday um to review those concerns. I don't want you voting on something if we're going to spend that much money and we're still going to have a water problem. So, that's why it's just a discussion. It'll >> just come again. >> Yep. So, we're going to pull that >> and it's not it's not on there. It's just a discussion. We pulled it already. Yep. >> Sorry. Sorry. >> We'll be coming forward in the near future with hopefully discuss >> the correct
070solution. >> We're going to have discussion and a possible motion on the West High locker replacement. >> So, it would be two floors of locker replacements. If you're there, a lot of the lockers are just they're just dinged up. They they don't close. Um they are very old at this point. Um so we are able to do 1,600 lockers. Mr. Lapy is the exact number um across two floors. >> 1665 to be able to give us what's there and give us a cushion if we had any additional enrollment or we saw fluctuation enrollment or the building was used for different purposes. lots of things could happen in the future um that we would have additional locker space to what's there right now. So that would be the replacement of those lockers at this time. >>
071Can I ask a question about the lockers? Sorry. >> Yeah. >> Um I haven't I will apologize. I haven't been to West Scranton for a couple years, but my recollection is that they're embedded into the walls. >> Correct. >> If we have to enlarge the doors for ADA compliance, isn't that going to be a problem? So, the doors aren't on here right now because we were given a design bid for the doors that was very expensive. Mr. Osborne is working on the doors and we'll be updating the board on that. If you replace just the door, then you don't have to move to the full ADA compliance. You've done that in older buildings before, Mr. Osborne. I know that's not on here, but we've had multiple conversations about doors. >> That is correct, Superintendent. Um
072if you don't we're just actually it's a repair and I know you've all probably seen West Granton. I mean this 1937 I think and those door doors have gotten slammed a lot and the glass has fallen out of a lot of them. We've done temporary repairs by putting just plywood over the windows. It's just that isn't adequate. But we have it there now for safety reasons that if the slab just gets repaired and you were right. That was a very good question in reference to if we take the entire door out then we're going to get involved with handicappers for disabled section. We have to cut into the marble. We have to do a lot of different things to make that correct which puts the cost of that project of astronomical. But if we just
073replace the door, we will be fine doing that. And it's just it's called a repair. And we're going to make the doors correct and they'll they'll look they'll be stained correct to the door jambs. The transom will stay in place that it is right now and we're not going to be touching any of that. But we're just replacing the door and the hardware. >> Okay. which thank you for that explanation, but I guess my concern is could they somewhere somewhere down the road come to us and say you have to make these doors ADA compliant >> according >> I'm just asking according to what >> according to what Mr. Osborne has researched and told me >> if we replace just the door as a repair. No. >> Um if we do more than that. Yes.
074So that's why we're looking to do just a door and why we didn't go bring that design forward to you because the design didn't do all of that. Correct Mr. Osborne? >> Yes. We pulled actually we asked for a design and it was just astronomical to do a design because that would be taken for ADA compliance. Take the door out the frame the marble. We're just repairing the door and that's the way we're going to present it. Like just repair the door and uh we've gotten some prices in on it, but I don't know if we want to discuss that now, but it's going to it's uh you know they're looking at if we do it'll be a door a day for one person a crew and uh that is um you know it could
075it could range which we have to look at it but it could be $5,200 a door as of right now. >> Gez. So, he is he's still working on that, which is why we didn't bring it to this right now. Um because when we got the original design, we were all just like, you can't this isn't something that do right now. Millions and millions of >> But I will be very honest, the the fire doors, which the the change order on here is for, and the doors were something that I brought forward to the the board simply for safety reasons, >> right? And I guess that if looking at the doors that we're going to maybe replace at some point if we get a better price, would these include safety features as well? That's the
076goal of this >> with the things in the floor, whatever. That's the goal. >> All right. Thank you. >> We're going to have discussion uh and a motion on the West High auditorium project. >> So, the West High Auditorium project started um there was concerns raised about the auditoriums. Obviously, things had to be fixed. Um to the board, I had given an initial proposal which had a really large swing in prices. um it went from about 800,000 to about 1.8 million. Um it was it was a very large uh swing. So we took and we scaled that down. Um and I believe without looking at it on my computer right now it was about 800,000 to 1.2 million. The problem is that once they get into the ceilings and once they start doing some of
077this stuff, they don't know fully what they're going to encounter. So they gave you a range of prices at that time. Now, one or two board members have reached out to me to get a firm fixed price. I met with Mr. Osborne on that this morning. That is something that we could bring forward. The only thing I want to remind the board is that if we do anything that has a firm price that if they encounter something, you could have a change order. And I know that's not something the board likes to hear, but if they, you know, opened up the stage or had to go into the ceiling and there was an issue, I might have to bring a change order forward. So, if there's concerns about that gap in price, um, we can
078table that for the evening. I can continue. Mr. Osborne already has a meeting set up to look at it again. We met this morning on that, but I just want to say the change order word because I I know that's not a word the board to hear. >> So, >> you're right. We don't. >> We're going to have discussion and possible motion on the West Intermediate Auditorium seats. So to Mr. Rucker and Mr. Osborne, kudos. Uh there is a school that's closing out near the Pittsburgh area. They have um the hardsided the hard plastic uh auditorium seating. Mr. Osborne was able to get them down to $5 a seat. We're going to send a crew out to actually spend two days or three days out there, remove all the seats, bring them here, replace the
079orange seats with invader blue um hard seats, uh the the hard plastic seats here in the auditorium. >> Mr. Osborne, so as it relates to this, um one of the or part of the the cost is related to renting pods to store these. Correct. >> That's correct, sir. So you believe we don't necessarily need to do that? We could use space that we have. >> Exa Exactly. Up at Montichello's Mountain. I got in there yesterday and I realized that we it's very we have enough of space. I talked to Rob Bucker u just before this meeting and saying that he wasn't in that garage. I was in there two days ago and we finally got the key for it. And just with a little cleaning up, I think we would have enough of room to
080store there and you utilize that for our strategic locations for these for these chairs to be brought in. >> When that comes up, um, would we be able to get like a friendly amendment just to strip that portion of the cost? I mean, that's >> Rob was concerned and just so you know that Rob made a concern that we could possibly use the pods and other they're I believe they're $3,000 a piece and you've all seen them. There's there sea containers that I believe Narrow Trucking up in Moscow has them and you can go and buy them from them because they're supposed to be only used once and they then he puts them up for sale. But uh it it's it's a if it's a cost overrun. I mean, we just found additional space. I
081asked Rob if we had any play around in this building to possibly stage them when we're doing the project and things like that, but there's going to be I believe we bought chairs. I can't remember the exact number. Rob found them. Rob found them on a on a on a site that wholesale with a I guess they share some type of a co-op site with different school districts and they're getting rid of stuff. and Rob found them and we negotiated a price down which was an excellent price. They're excellent chairs, but and I I look here, you know, that what that the color doesn't really go with the decor. And these are plastic, but they're hard plastic. They're probably if we had to purchase them, they probably in excess of 70 $70 a piece. >>
082It's great savings. >> We we're talking about the seating that we're getting and then we're going to come back and store them. >> It's going to I talked to Robin. He said, "We we're going to be doing it this summer is actually putting replacing these in in this auditorium, the ones that we're picking up out in Western Pennsylvania." >> But we have to get them out of there now because that building's physically closing. >> Exactly. But what I'm wondering is if I'm if I'm correct, when I was going over my packet, I think there was a $6,000 storage fee. >> Well, that's the two shipping containers. >> Yeah, these two shipping containers. Yes, correct. They're Mr. Casey, you've seen them. They're they're on the roads all the time. They're there's sea containers that come off
083of of cargo ships and then they they're supposedly only used once and narrow has a big contract with the shipping companies to to do that work. And they have you anyone can go up there and purchase them. >> I understand what you're saying. I >> So the nice I'm sorry, Mr. Casey. The nice thing about them is they're waterproof. So they can be set behind a building almost like a shed. >> Erin, that isn't where my concern. >> Oh, okay. Sorry. My concern was when I saw storage, I thought we're bringing them back here and then we're renting a warehouse when we had other facilities such as uh uh Monaceel East that for the time being I I saw storage and I thought we're we're renting space until we >> Yeah, we're not going to
084be >> saying I understand you're saying I I suggested like getting rid tableabling that part of it with the storage containers and possibly putting everything up in the Montichel East Mountain in the in the the the garage that's behind the facility that we just purchased. >> And that's as easy as a friendly amendment, right? >> Yeah. Okay. Thank you. Is it like a silly question if um I think somebody else mentioned this before um like if the slope works with the chairs at the other like the slope of this auditorium is that like any concern or would they just >> fit >> like how the floor is slant how this floor is slanted. >> Well, do we know that their chairs will definitely work with the slope in the room? Is that a concern or
085not? >> Rob Rucker took a look at it and he he feels very confident that they will work. >> Okay. And I'm hopefully true that they will. >> Okay. >> I mean, it's it's a cost where when we start doing it and if we run into any problems, I I think we could figure them out. We have a very qualified support staff in operations that good carpenters, mechanics that could possibly make them work. >> Okay. >> Thank you. We're going to have a discussion and a motion on the West High Science Lab design. >> So, the science labs at West Grand High School, I can tell you when I was in my old position, um, which I left in 2019, these were something that were being talked about because, um, things just didn't work in
086them because of the mechanical and the electric and the gas and and all of the different things that have to take place. It actually needs a design. Um, we we had Gordian out, we had different uh contractors out. We have to put a full design together and then bring that back to you with a total cost. So, this is to approve the design tonight. >> That's correct. Ma'am, >> uh, we're going to have discussion and a motion on the Whittier playground. >> Oh, sorry. >> Uh, yeah. Uh, yes. Good evening. Thank you. Um, as you know, Mr. Fehee was just here obviously talking about the partnership that we have with Trust for Public Land and his group value in motion. Um, we did provide some information to the board. Um, I believe in last weekend's
087packet. Um, in our weekly meetings with the team from Trust for Public Land, they've indicated that the ongoing fundraising efforts for the John Whittier U playground have been, you know, fruitful. They've raised over about $700,000 so far for the project. that comes from various funding sources uh like Valley Motion, the Weineberg Foundation, the EPA grants, etc. 560,000 of it is committed to the construction, the actual construction portion of the playground. The estimates by the architects now is that to design it as the students had intended, let's just say, uh we're about $96,500 quote unquote short on on the estimates. Fundraising efforts are going are going to continue. Um and that number may uh decrease. Um, and I want to say that they've also indicated that this project can continue with with removing the components of
088that 96,500 such as um fencing replacements and repairs, benches, picnic tables, um some structural roof areas over the playground. We can still do the playground without those, but if we wanted to kind of create it as as the students designed and similar to what we have at John F. Kennedy, they were asking if the district would consider a not to exceed potentially uh effort in kind to possibly fill that gap if fundraising efforts don't materialize and the bids do come in at where the estimates are. So, there is a motion um in front of you this evening for your consideration on that. I have a question going back on the auditorium seats. Mr. In case he asked me, um, the storage is that storage for transport to get them here in these in these containers.
089>> Um, >> or is that storage once they're here? >> Yes, Mr. Brazil, that is storage once they're here. We're going to be going through our leasing company and we we're going to be getting two uh tractors or uh container trucks uh from uh Enterprise to go out there and I believe we're bringing one of our district utility trucks there to transport them back here to Scranton and then hopefully we'll be able to put them up in Montichello in the garage. >> Yeah. Um Mr. Director Brazil on the motion when when we do get to that point there is there is a breakdown of all the costs associated which which includes truck rental. >> Okay. Yeah. I wasn't clear. I didn't hear of what whether that was in transport that was storage for here. >>
090Okay. >> Uh I have a motion to approve the change order for the West Grant High School fire doors. >> And this is this is was a cost and labor that changed from when we initially approved this um that we have to put the change order through. Uh this was a consensus vote by the board so that we could get moving on this to get everything set up for the summer to be able to replace the fire doors. >> Solicitor Moran, just to clarify, um at the time of consensus, I voted no because I didn't have the information at that time, but on the floor for the motion, I'm okay to change my vote to yes. >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. >> We're going to have a motion to approve engineering services for Montichello
091K to3 expansion. >> You want to talk about that, Mr. Osborne or you want me to? >> Yes. the uh engineering changes. Now um >> Mr. Brazil, you're talking about the structural this is structural structural structural engineering. There's a problem in the one section of the building where the floor is sagging and underneath there I believe is a utility room and they we had to get a structural design because the floor when the when the HVAC system kicks in, the furnace system kicks in, it starts shaking and when you walk on it, you can feel that it's not really strong or structurally sound. So, we did have to ask for a structural engineer to come in and take a look at that. >> Okay. Would we were we on the question were we aware of
092that when we did our inspection or did that come out when we started >> came back when we were further walking through the building and really starting to get into the details of the building. >> So it was after the >> after Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. On on the on the uh when they did the uh inspection of the building that wasn't picked up. They didn't pick that part of it up. >> Should it have been picked up? I I'm sure it wasn't on the contract that when they came in they and they saw it on the you know we did the asbestous abatement we did the uh lead we did the radon and that particular one from what my understanding is was not on there that there was a structural problem with that
093particular floor that we had a problem with the roof but Rob might be able to Rob Rucker might have seen that on there I know he addressed it as soon as he saw it. Okay. >> And we're going to have a motion to approve uh land survey and civil engineering services for Monachello. >> As for civil engineering, you need a structural engineer and a civil engineer, right? >> Civil and survey. Civil engine civil and survey. >> Yeah. the the uh survey part of it is just to to locate I believe the last one was done in 2009 to pick up the original pins where we're at now. the the survey uh as far as the uh engineering survey is for the front of the building because we want to do an entrance ramp coming in
094there, a drop off point and we need a a typographical uh map to be done so that we can do the grading and making sure that the road is the uh I believe um is it Maple Street? >> Maple Street. Maple >> Yeah, Maple Street that we we stay in compliance with the grade and everything. And then we also in compliance of the the drop off point for the children and the front of the building, the aesthetics of the building. That's what they're going to be doing for us. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Osworth. That's all. >> So, I just want to say that it's very exciting to see some of these projects um finally starting to have some movement because we've been talking about a lot of these projects for a while. So,
095it's very exciting that we're starting to vote on them and get these upgrades and improvements moving on some of these things. All right. Personnel director Casey. >> Thanks, Mr. Osborne. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. Personnel uh report. Uh motion to approve the assignments and appointments. Uh motion to approve retirements and resignations and motion to approve leave of absence. And that's all we have. >> Standard report. >> Okay. Policy. Director Fox. >> Um, we will have a motion to approve second read updates revisions for 006 meetings. No change 204 attendance 218.1 weapons 610 purchases subject to big quotation 611 purchases budget budgeted sorry 805 emergency preparedness and response 805.1 relations with law enforcement agencies and 805.2 school security personnel. >> Any questions on policies? Uh, can I ask uh to remove 610
096from the consent agenda? >> You want to pull 610? >> Yep, please. >> Okay, >> that's all I have. >> All right. Vendor relations. Director Chesik. >> On the consent agenda, we will have a motion to approve mom and pop contracts, if any. Motion to approve updated list of transportation drivers, if any. Motion to approve between Scranton School District and Scranton Counseling Center. Motion to approve early intervention related services provider Apple Tree Association for Occupational Therapist Services and Apple Tree Association for Speech Therapist Services. On the non-consent agenda, we will have a motion to approve the single tax office audit proposal, motion to approve medical assistance authorizer, motion to approve Quandell fee schedule for Montichello, motion to approve clever digital form workflow software. Motion to approve federal irate mini bid for wireless networking hardware. Motion
097to approve digital scoreboards for West High gymnasium and a discussion motion on grant services agreements. >> Two questions or do you want us to go through those? >> I'd like more information on the workflow and software because I thought when I was on the board before we had we did one. >> So we had monday.com and Mr. Suma this is going to replace that. Correct. And there is an initial um implementation fee that will make the first year more expensive than the initial years after that will ask actually be a cost savings because it costs less money than what we are paying for monday.com. Um monday.com right now is really only being utilized by one department and that's not systemic in its use at present either. This also gives us workflow um from the memo
098that Mr. Suma did. It also lets us digitize some paperwork we have like permission to attends um after school um pay sheets things like that um to be able to um have better record retention and workflow on those documents as well. >> So this is more expansive than what we had and more inclusive other things that we need >> I'm going to have Mr. Suma answer that because I'm going to tell you in my English degree. Yes. But >> well, thank you. >> Yeah, for sure. It will uh it it's more expansive. It will be crossuse in more departments. Uh it will able there's a notification system built into this that when certain tasks are completed, the the next person in line will get a notification to let them know it's your it's up to
099you next. And so we will have a digital paper trail instead of where we're currently losing documents or if we've lost documents. >> Um, >> and as somebody who signs every one of those permission to attends, >> I'm looking forward to it. >> Yeah. I don't blame you. >> Yeah. >> And it it's only it's a $1,200 uh more expensive in year one and then it's somewhere in the neighborhood, I think, $6 or $7,000 savings in year two from what I had in the memo. >> Yeah, I I read that. I just wanted some clarification. Thank you. The more things we could get into a digital format, the better for us and get out of the paper and pencil stuff. >> Absolutely. Because then it's recorded and you can follow up and No, I absolutely
100agree. I absolutely agree. >> Any other questions on any of that stuff? >> Um, I had a question on the for the Quandell fee schedule. I did read the memo and I see the motion, but did we have a breakdown of the cost like how we got to 325,000? I did put that in there. I uploaded the fee schedule from them in there based on their hourly rates. >> Right. The hourly rates. >> So the the breakdown was in the packet. >> Yes. When I did the memo, it should have been upload it with it. If it if it wasn't, I can send it. >> I did send their paperwork that they gave me along with my summary of their paperwork. >> Okay. Like I said, I recall reading the memo, but I'll look for
101So on that, I should go to that and then it should be attached with that. >> Okay. >> Yes, I did submit both. If not, I could go on my email and forward it to you right now. >> I have one other question about the digital I'm sorry, the scoreboards. Why was that fee not initially included in the bid for the TVs? >> We thought and again, I'm going I'm going to speak for Mr. Suma, but we thought we were going to be able to do it. We thought um we our our electricians are phenomenal. We thought we were going to be able to handle it and then we found out that there's a specific is it a cage covering, Mr. SUMA that if we don't install it the right way can ruin the warranty.
102So so they need to install it. So and it's better to have them install it then so we don't have any issues. >> No, that makes sense. But I just was wondering why it wasn't included in the original bid. >> That's why. >> Okay, makes sense. Thank you. >> Okay. >> Did Wait, are we Did we read all of vendor relations? >> Yes. >> Yeah. Yeah, >> I did. Okay. So the last one says discussion. Did we talk about that >> for the grant services agreements? >> That's what we're doing now. >> Oh, okay. That's why I was confused. Thank you. >> Yeah. So, I I can jump in on this. Um I provided a memo uh in your packet uh this past week, maybe the weekend prior, I forget. Um but essentially uh we've
103received a proposal from uh Total Grant Solutions um which uh is a grant services uh company that has worked with other local districts in I I would say in the NEIU area. Uh they've proposed a a retainer structure agreement um not a contingency percentagebased agreement to provide grant writing services for us. Um they proposed a $4,000 a month retainer or about approximately $48,000 not approximately $48,000 per year. Um as you were aware previously we did have a shared agreement with the city of Scranton where we had a we had a an employee that was split between the two organizations. Um in the 2026 budget we did include the which that position is currently vacant. Um, we did include the replacement of that position, but as a full-time equivalent to the Scranton School District, not a
104shared uh shared entity. Um, again, based off of the proposal that we received, uh, the the the monthly fee uh is in line if if not actually $28,000 cheaper than kind of what we had budgeted as as an SSD hire. Um, you know, I mentioned before that we all we that we will be looking to apply for some grants, including this public school facility grant, and this would be um an organization that could assist with that. >> Can I just ask how the decision went to switch from hiring somebody to going over to the grant services agree? Like when did that how did that happen? I'm a little confused. >> So, we had when I first came in, we had already hired somebody um they were shared services between the city and us. And I
105I don't want to speak for the city, but I don't think the shared services was um something conducive to either side. >> Wasn't that that individual ended up leaving so it left the position open. >> Um we did vet and before you got on the board, Director Curry, I did vet other possible companies and people to come in um to try to uh look at some grant writing services. Some of them I've edited were significantly more expensive. Um, and the other thing I'm going to say, um, dabbling in grants, it is a finite skill and there is a networking piece to state and federal grants that you need beyond just the written document itself. Um, and honestly, these people are really hard to find. Um, and you try to steal them off of each other.
106I'm not going to lie, I contemplated trying to steal Larry's and he told me no. So, um, they're they're not an easy they're not an easy entity to find out there because you need both the writing capabilities, but then also the network capabilities to go forward and be able to secure the grants. Um, and a lot of other companies charge a percentage of the grant. And some of these are huge grants. So if it's a million or two million dollars and they get percentages of the grant that sometimes becomes especially if they could earn us multiple becomes much more expensive. >> Okay. So you're supporting this decision. >> Okay. Thank you. >> I just observed we all heard recently about Congressman Breznahan giving us information and kind of laying it at our feet to apply
107for a grant that he can then be helpful for. Um I think our our administration is going to spend this whole week trying to figure that grant out just to be compliant with deadline >> four hours on Sunday. >> And if this person was in place or this company was in place I think you know that would have freed you guys up if I am I correct in observing that. >> Yeah I I mean I I I will very honestly that grant information was sent to us very late last week. It was either late Thursday night or Friday. I finally got a chance to sit down at the computer on Sunday and try to start reading through all the language and I'm literally copying subsections that are in the email, sending them to Solicitor Moran
108and and Pat and and being like, I think we qualify under this. We might qualify under this. I don't know if this will work here because I I don't doubt my own intelligence. But it again, it's a skill set when you're looking at do we fall more under community relations or do we fall more under labor and industry or which one do we go for and you know how do we make the most bang for our buck when we try to write this and go for money of what we're trying to look for. >> Well, I appreciate the time you spent, but that's not what you should be spending your time on, >> which I'll admit I was responding, I hope the board hires a grant writer. Right. Right. But I mean when you have
109it like some of these come around and that's just so the public realizes like we had approached that office that that congressional office a very long time ago and they had given us some generic information initial information and then you get an email on Thursday night or Friday morning with a lot of reading that says you need to turn this around and submit it by noon on Friday the 6th. >> That's crazy. So, I mean, no, I would have liked to been watching Bridgetgerton on Sunday, but I had to do it because I know what my week is going to be like. And once you get in here, you can't say, "I'm going to block three hours and do this because anything could go wrong at that time." So, you know, we watched the webinar
110this afternoon and now we have a little more of a game plan. Um, but you have to do that pre-ereading before you go into that stuff. >> Okay. Thank you. Um so just um on this my concern was just as the memo stated and we've talked about it said that and what you discussed it went from a shared partnership to um we decided as a board to hire our own person and without further discussion we're now looking at um a contract service. So and I understand your perspective on why that would be beneficial and such. I just I think um director Clearary's question because she wasn't present is kind of still my same question with being present which I'm not actually asking of how did we kind of get here if at the end result
111it is um you believe it's in the best interest of the district um personally I did think like we didn't even put it out there right yet as our own person like to see if there was anybody who applied. >> So so when we go into this and again I we're not locked into this forever and ever. I would have yeah I would say the any final contract should be reviewed by solicitor Moran to ensure some type of if there's separation >> but quite honestly to us too at this time it filled a need and at a monthly charge without piecers and healthcare benefits. It's also more cost effective to be able to see can this be the source that we would use to be able to start securing these larger state and federal grants.
112Um I understand all that. So then um uh my hard part is just like I know this is adjusting to having the work session and then the voting meeting immediately after but I was trying to I was looking at other districts like local districts um that this company um used this this company and they're two within the last year the contract was and it was $2,000 a month compared to our $4,000 a month. So like I don't know if that's if there's like factors to that. Um and to that if we approve this this evening and there's a contract attached that doesn't give our solicitor time to review that contract and potentially modify it. Correct. >> Usually we say pending review. >> There is no contract. >> Right. For that there's a framework of a
113proposal >> proposal >> that would have to be turned into a contract >> and then it would be pending review of the solicitor. >> Okay. >> So we may have to is that what the motion says? I I could also tell you I was not the superintendent in the Scranton school district, but I was the superintendent of a neighboring district when those initial proposals were done. And I also and I don't want to speak I don't want to speak out of turn or or generalize something, but that was also at those pitches a get on board. This is a new thing kind of um I don't want to say bargain price but an introductory kind of of pricing that's been they've been around now for a little while um since that happened and I was
114in a different district. >> Mr. Laffy, did you say this would be cheaper than hiring an employee? >> Yeah. Uh Director Brazil in the memo we did, let me see if I can find it. Uh we did kind of a cost analysis for the board just to see. We did budget a 50 I have it here somewhere. Uh we did budget $50,000 uh for a district hire grant writer. Um estimating health care. Again, we don't know what healthcare claims are truly going to be because we're self-insured, but based off of the actuarial estimates, the net FICA and Pasers cost, you're looking at about 76,000 in total SSD higher costs versus 48. So there could be potentially it appears to be like about $28,000 uh savings by with the contracted services >> and it's a flat
115fee, >> correct? >> It's not per contract or anything. It's just a flat fee. >> Yeah. And again, we'll we'll work again the way that the motion is is written is uh contingent upon review and approval of documentation by the district solicitor. So we'll work with solicitor Moran to make sure that's the case. Okay. >> And this person's going to start immediately pretty much after we approve it. if approved immediately >> with the yeah with the uh pending short submission obviously on the uh on the president hand information but also on the public school facility grant that I mentioned earlier we would we would like to engage >> to help with that >> so is it still possible I assume this will pass is it still possible to find out the the difference in price
116like why it is um double the other districts or like I understand what you're saying makes sense like the one I saw was just six months ago so I don't Oh, if >> I looked at those I looked at those numbers. They they belong to much smaller districts. Maybe it's a function of size. >> That was going to be my speculation because I represent some of those districts. >> Yeah. >> But this company is in Riverside for Riverside. We have 152 kids, >> right? The ones I looked at were I think Tanic and maybe Abington or something of the sorts. Um >> yes. >> All right. So, in between the uh work session and the move to the uh formal board meeting, could we take a fivem minute recess just in case anybody wants to
117>> grab a water? So, just do a fivem minute recess and then we'll start. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. Anybody want a water? I'm going to give the ladies for free. Can I have a motion to approve the board meeting agenda? >> So moved. Second. >> On the question. >> Roll call. >> Mr. Brazil? >> Yes. >> Mr. Casey? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Chzik? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Clearary? >> Yes. >> Miss Fox? >> Present. >> This is to approve. >> Oh, wait. Don't we have to redo? We don't have to do a No. >> Oh, do we have to redo attendance? >> Well, I could just say >> everybody here all board members returned. >> Okay. So, yes. >> No one left. >> Okay. >> Uh, Miss Merkel. >> Yes. >> Mr. Zleki? >> Yes.
118>> Mr. Triana? >> Yes. >> Mr. Borwick? >> Yes. >> I affirm. >> Judy. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Um, exe executive sessions were held this evening to discuss personnel, real estate, litigation, negotiations, and safety and security. >> Solicer's report. >> Um, just to piggyback on some commentary made during the work session. Um, we are uh beginning the phase of bidding out the trades on a renovation project that's underway on on East Mountain. Um whether we have a project labor agreement or responsible contract agreement, uh it is black letter law because we are a public agency that we have to publicly bid and uh seek competitive bids for all these trades and we must pay prevailing wage. Uh which is essentially the the incentive that the law has to use union labor. Uh so that will
119probably without exception be the standard that uh everybody should expect on these Okay, superintendent report. >> Thank you, President Forquick. Uh, February has been a little kinder to us weatherwise than January. Um, I will start with something a little heavy. Um, I'd like to offer my heartfelt condolences to the family of Kristen von Aurin. Kristen was a teacher at the Electric City Academy who recently lost her courageous battle with cancer. Kristen was an incredible teacher who genuinely loved what she did. She was passionate about her students and their success. and we were blessed to experience her joy and light within the district. She'll be greatly missed. I would ask us to please pause for a moment of silence in memory of Kristen. Thank you very much. I'd like to congratulate the following student athletes on
120accomplishments during the season. Scranton High School lady uh Knight Chrissy Jackalinsky scored a thousand points this season. West Scranton High School Invader Nate Shimlfing Fing scored a thousand points this season and Scranton High School's Tony Metagi has scored a thousand points this season and broke four school records. He had the most career three-pointers, most points scored in a game, most three-pointers in a game, and the most three-pointers in a season. In addition to that, in wrestling districts, students from Scranton High School, Drew Lenori was the district champion at 139 pounds. Chase Brown placed fifth at 145 and Austin Godstein placed fourth in the heavyweight. Five students from the Westgrin High School program also placed. Tommy Shreley was the champion. San Antonio Anisca placed second. Jocelyn Shunhow Sanchez, if I said that wrong, I'm sorry, placed
121fourth. Uh John Sastre placed fifth and Julian Lisier placed sixth. Um Tommy Shakerly was named the winner of the Northeast region and he's going to attend the PAIA state tournament at Hershey. At West Grant High School, El Brewster placed sixth in the districts and Michael Davis placed fifth for diving. We had numerous medals in the 200 free relay, the 200 medaly, the 400 free relay. Um and senior Royal Ayella was named the District 2 champion and regional second place finisher. He broke the school record in his own personal record once more. Captain Isabella Stanton placed sixth in the 100yard breaststroke. Uh Bella is the first girl from West to medal, so we're really proud of her. And Jordan placed fifth in the 100 meter breaststroke as well. In basketball, our lady knights qualified for the
122district to compete this Friday. Um we'd like to congratulate them on that accomplishment. They were here this evening. And then this past Saturday, STU Scranton High School District at the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science um sent 60 students to present 65 different math, science, engineering, and computer science projects. Um of them, 37 of the 37 school districts, Scranton had the largest number of students participating. Of the 60 students who participated, 37 of them are now eligible to compete at the state level in May. That's unbelievable. And we're going to bring all of the winners in, some of them with perfect scores and special medals um at our next board meeting. Uh the third quarter will end on March 30th. Uh the year is flying by. I can't believe it's March. Um but that is where
123we are. Fourth mark period will start in April. Um we're going to dismiss for spring break on Thursday, April 2nd. And we will have um school on we will have a full day off on Monday, April 1st. Uh, I'm sorry, April 2nd with a full day on Monday, April 1st. That's a makeup day into the snow day in December. Um, so the district is closed Friday, April 3rd and Monday, April 6th, uh, for spring break. That is if weather holds right now and we get through the month of March. So, everyone keep your fingers crossed. Uh, this week is Read Across America week. As a former English teacher, this is one of my favorite weeks of the year. I had a great time out at schools this morning. Nothing better in the world than starting
124in kindergarten with Mr. Brown can move. Can you? I had a wonderful time. Um, if you have the opportunity to read, please take time this week to share the uh the joy of reading and the importance of literacy with children. It's something we should do all the time, but this is a real special week. So, let's enjoy it. I'd like to take this opportunity as well to invite the entire uh community next week to this building, West Grant Intermediate, for an open house to see the new construction. It'll begin at 6:00 p.m. There's going to be a ton of community vendors and representatives um who are also going to be here set up in the cafeteria. Um the building has been transformed um and we're really thrilled to show it off to the community. So
125again, that's next Thursday at 6 PM. Um next Tuesday on the 10th, uh District Attorney Brian Gallagher will be at Scranton High School at 6 PM with a panel for the wait until 8th presentation. Wait until 8th is a national campaign that asks parents and guardians to wait until their children are in at least 8th grade until giving them a smartphone and access to social media. We're encouraging parents and guardians to attend either in person or if they are available or to watch the live streamed version on our YouTube channel. In the coming days, there's going to be a form on social media and the district website where parents and guardians can ask questions to be answered live. If you have a question for myself, for DA Gallagher, or the other panelists on wait until
1268, please use the form to submit your question, especially if you can't make it in person. Um, there's going to be a lot going on in March. March is athletic training month. It's music in our schools month. It's National Reading Month. It's women's and history month. It's youth art month. We also celebrate our school social workers, our maintenance worker appreciation day. March is busy. I had to write a lot of emails. There's a lot of schedule sent things ready to go. Super excited to celebrate all these things and to thank the people that are in our buildings every day. And last, but certainly not least least, it is time for kindergarten registration. I'm going to be doing a little spot tomorrow on one of the news stations talking about how important kindergarten registration is. If
127you have a kindergartener, come on out. We are ready to meet you and super excited that you're coming to us. Um, you have to make a person you have to make an an in-person appointment to register your child. Um, fill out a paper packet. Um, to register, the information is available on our district website. So, there's a lot of stuff going on. Um, next this I'm sorry, I said next Thursday. Open house is this Thursday. Thank you, Mr. Laffy, for correcting me. Um, I have all of that set and ready to go. Um, the open house again is this Thursday. I will be here. I'm very excited and I have a blue outfit ready to go as well. >> Thanks. Thank you. Uh Mr. Borthwick. >> Yes. Um I I don't know if this is
128the proper time or not, but I'll do it anyway. Uh Dr. Keading has just uh mentioned a whole litany of uh good things that are happening in the Scranton school districts from science to sports to academics. uh to to a lot of different programs that the general public really don't realize what we have. Now, I know that I've spoken to a couple directors uh in conversation about this idea, and I think now is the time to actually move into it, especially seeing that there's going to be a lot of uh like preschooler, kindergarten kids, eighth graders looking to find out where they're going to go uh next year to begin or to continue their academic growth. Uh, I'd like this board to hire um a firm to do video of the good things that the
129district has. Uh, like Aaron mentioned above the science, we have the martial arts program after school. Uh we we're getting back to having free preschools. Um and I'm not saying that we're not doing a good job in on our PR, but I think that we need to step it up a little bit to more u to more of a a professional. Uh, one of the things that I I got when I went to um the conference in Washington was that with the um coming of age of charter schools and more private schools, it's becoming more of a competitive uh nature to um get students in our programs. uh it's no longer well you either go to uh a parochial school or you go to a um a public school. Uh I believe that it's going
130to become more competitive and along with being more competitive for um everyone we need to be moving in and just don't say well they're going to come to us. Well, they're not. Um, and I would like this board to seriously consider hiring a firm to do uh some PR work for us. >> Erin, is that something that you could take a look into to present some options to us? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. Interim CRO report. >> No report, you said. >> Okay. PSBA report. Director Fox. Um, I don't really have anything sorry for this time, but I did see um I'm guessing we all get it. It's the uh PSBA government affairs. Uh Jenny might like this one. Um it says um sorry, it says
131public notice advertising reform. Your voice is needed. So Pennsylvania's public notice laws date back to 1976 and still require school districts to publish legally required notices in printed newspapers. uh this is causing issues with the way things are nowadays and it's very costly and such. So there are a few house bills that are being proposed, some PSBA is in favor of and some that are not. Um so if I received this email on the 27th, February 27th, um so if you um have the time and want to take a look and see um where you stand on these matters and maybe if um some advocacy seems to be needed at this time. Um, so again, the the public notice laws date back to 76. Uh, currently school districts can only use printed newspapers to meet
132legal notice requirements. Um, local print newspapers are rapidly disappearing, higher costs and such. So, um, maybe this is something where we can, you know, see how we stand and if there's any advocacy you want to give. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. At this time, the board welcomes public comment. Each speaker will be allowed three minutes to speak. Union presidents will be allowed four minutes. Uh, Brenda Dixon. Hello. Good evening. My name is Brenda Dixon and I'm a sixth grade math teacher here at West Granton Intermediate School. I went to school here with no doors and now I'm teaching with doors though, full circle. Um, a few of my colleagues and I volunteered to pilot the open SIED at the end of the school year last year. We were part of a committee that
133explored different science program for the new steel-based standards. We spent time exploring all the curriculum, books, differentiated materials and science kits. We were also given access to the online components for each of the science programs. After we explored each of the science programs, we had to fill out a rubric. The rubrics targeted topics such as accessibility, textbooks, workbooks, and most importantly, cost. Ultimately, openside was chosen because it is free to access and the highest point values on the rubric were for cost. We did not pilot any other science programs we explored. The committee had concerns from the beginning regarding open sed and we expressed our concerns early on but our concerns were ignored. We did not think open sed was the best choice for our students or for the new steel-based science curriculum. We were
134also told the district doesn't have any money for other options like sabas which we all liked. I'm sorry but if our district is moving towards more of a literacy based instruction then we should be cutting cost elsewhere to buy the best curriculum for our students. If there are meetings taking place on supplemental materials and AI generated support, then we should not be choosing open sed. If the district found money to spend millions of dollars on a STEM program for a small portion of our students, then the other students in our district deserve better than open sed. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you, Beth Price. Good evening. I am Beth Price, sixth grade math or science teacher. I was math at Western Media. I'd like to thank you in advance for your time. We
135are speaking to you this evening in regarding our open sedience program. I refer to it as such being that if it were a full curriculum, teachers wouldn't need to or at the very least minimally supplement and find content. >> Beth, could you speak into the microphone? Sorry. >> Sorry. >> Thank you. >> My colleague and I meet every day, sometimes multiple times a day, in order to plan and search for content for our students. If she and I do not take this time to find such content, the students will have very little background knowledge and no actual foundation for the lesson that is being presented. In addition to my colleagues and me needing to research and search for content for our students, we are also faced with a lack of literacy. As a district, we
136have recently decided to become literacy based across all disciplines. With that being said, I am unsure why we want to try to hold on to a program that the teachers not only do not believe works for the best of our students, but also has no literacy components. At recent meetings, it has been discussed to supplement this curriculum using AI and its company. Why would we as a district that is trying to save money pay for AI when it is readily available to anyone? It was also discussed to supplement using other free materials that can be downloaded and printed. I will return to my original point, which is if this were a solid curriculum, not just a program, then there would not be a need or very little need to supplement. I have an elementary and
137English language arts background. I would love to incorporate additional reading strategies and comprehension into my lessons. However, with this program, that falls beyond short. When I brought this issue up at our last meeting, our STEM coordinator was able to only find three passages at the end of unit one. Forgive me for saying, but three passages that are not on a reading level for our students at the end of a twomonth unit is not literacy. I have students in my classes who struggle to write their names. I want the best that I can give these students. I want to be able to give them everything they need to thrive after they leave my room. I implore you to please, please reconsider this science program. >> Thank you, >> Christian Gua. >> Good evening. My name is
138Christian Guerrero. I'm a seventh grade science teacher at West Gren Intermediate. On November 20th, I along with 15 other science teachers from across the district met with Anne Griebec to discuss the failures of the open sed curriculum. The following points were made by me at this meeting. I entered the school year with an open mind and a genuine hope for the success of open sed. I have long advocated for teaching science as a skill rather than a subject and for more opportunities to have hands-on activities in the science classroom, both of which were promised with open sed. I approved the state's new steel standards and was ready to teach a new curriculum. Despite my optimism, I quickly became dissatisfied with the methods of instruction used in open seding open sed exactly as directed so that
139I could get a fair and accurate picture of its efficacy. Because of these efforts, I can now say conclusively that the curriculum is not merely flawed but inoperable and utterly unsalvageable. These are the observations which led me to this conclusion. The curriculum takes twice as long to implement as open sad plans for this is because the curriculum has unrealistic expectations of student efficiency, engagement, and background knowledge. The curriculum builds upon previous year's lessons. We rolled out this curriculum all at once. So, the students have not received these lessons and lack the knowledge necessary to complete many assignments. This issue will persist in future years as this district has a large transient population whose students will be coming from districts that did not subscribe to open sed and thus lack the background experience. The official line
140from the curriculum administrators to fill this gap in knowledge is for teachers to supplement to create their own lessons that go off of the official curriculum. The curriculum does not account for catching up absent students. This time has to be specifically allotted to catching up absent students during which time students who are caught up will need an independent activity to keep them busy. There is almost no independent work for students to do in this curriculum. Uh this curriculum is almost entirely based around discussion and hands-on activities. The curriculum contains very few reading opportunities. On average, three readings per unit, which again could take months to get through. This is insufficient for a district in a literacy crisis. The curriculum dictates that every minute of the class period uh be spent in direct instruction, not accounting
141for the time taken in attendance, setting up materials, passing out supplies, dealing with innumerable variances of a normal classroom setting, and leaving no room for supplemental work. The curriculum cannot be carried out by a substitute teacher. If the teacher is going to be absent, supplementary work must be found for students to complete. The curriculum's instruction is based on investigation and discovery. The curriculum cannot be supplemented because if a student learns something at the wrong time uh about a subject out of sequ sequential order, it spoils the entire investigation. Any supplemental work has to either come at the end of the unit, which again can take months to reach, or be unrelated to what is presently being taught. curriculum is very rigid, quite literally scripted, and offers very little room for teachers to modify it uh
142for their specific classroom needs. Every day I have to stand in front of students and read from a paper like I'm doing currently. That's how I teach students now through this curriculum through the though the curriculum is scripted, it does not come with a script. Instead, teachers are provided with teacher edition guides that have up to 12 pages of instruction for teachers to study and memorize for a single day of instruction. This requires significant prep time just to understand what is being taught. Competing with this demand is the fact that lessons require teachers to prepare six to 10 posters per class period. >> I'm sorry. >> Per le totaling up to 50 posters for teachers to make for any given day. The posters are supposed to be hung up and referred back to throughout the
143unit. There is no >> Sorry, you're past the time limit. I'm sorry. Would you mind wrapping up real quick? This curriculum is failing. We have made this aware to the administration in November. This was ignored. Instead, we are being told that it will be supplemented with AI generated content. This is unacceptable. Our students deserve better. If it's an issue of funding, let's fund raise. Let's have students selling pizzas, baked goods. Let's have people writing grant applications. We can find the funding. We can get a textbook. >> Thank you. Dr. Keon, could you get a memo? And I might have to come from Anne Griebeck kind of outlining the process of how this was arrived at and get that to the board. Thank you. >> Mr. O'Donnell will also be over to West Intermediate to meet
144with these teachers. I just told them that. >> Okay, good. All right. Mr. uh James McCormack. Good evening. My name is Sheamus McCormack. I'm a parent of two children in the Scranton School District and I am also a teacher in the district. I'm speaking before you again today because I'm still waiting for an explanation regarding the stance of the board and administration that the board and administration have regarding civics instruction in the district. Last month, this board approved the creation of a new world history course to be added to the high school curriculum. While I am all in favor of increased instructional opportunities for our students, I'm not sure how we can rectify doing this while struggling to meet the basic needs of the curriculum pathway. Currently, we have 800 plus students in the district
145who are behind their peers in the social studies curriculum. We cannot say they're struggling due to reading comprehension issues, nor can we blame it on an inability to understand the content. The only thing we can say for sure is that these students are being let down by a decision that civics does not matter. Math practice, not math instruction, but practice matters more. When talking about education practices, we tend to use a lot of different terms like inclusive education, datadriven instruction, student centered learning, and rigor. Yet, it becomes convenient for us to forget about what may be most important, especially when it comes to district-wide instruction, equity. Currently 800 students in one middle school have lost 70 days of an expected 90 days of social studies 6, social studies 7, and social studies 8. These three
146courses are the building blocks of the district social studies pathway. That same pathway is supposed to lead our students to this new world history course. A world history course that onethird of our middle school students will be less prepared for. Teachers and administrators in this district have worked hard over my entire career to build, strengthen, and update district-wide curriculum for every subject in every grade level. Perhaps seeing this work dismissed unilaterally is why our te teachers feel as if their voices are not heard. Around the last time I spoke to you, it was suggested by the building principal that we revisit our daughter's GIP to create more time for her with the GIP teacher. The suggestion was that this additional time could be used to cover the social studies material she was missing. While my
147daughter was not interested in that idea because she didn't want to be separated further from her classmates, as her parents, we did not consider it a solution to the problem. The problem we have is not that our daughter is missing out on this curriculum and falling behind students in the other middle schools. is that all of the students affected by this decision are thank you Hafner. >> Aaron, can we also get a memo on explaining the delay? >> Yeah, I actually just asked Mr. O'Donnell to >> Okay. Yeah. >> So, that's I'm doing some of those things right now. >> Thank you so much, Don. >> Okay. Good evening, board. Uh, my name is Don Hafner, taxpayer, Scranton uh, school district um, math and social studies teacher at South Intermediate and SFT1 1147 member. I
148am speaking tonight because the physical condition of our middle school has reached a point where it can no longer be viewed as cosmetic or minor. It is affecting morale, instruction, and the message we send to our students. Our building shows clear signs of neglect. Painting is peeling in classrooms and hallways. Walls are stained and damaged. Floors are worn and in need of repair. Furniture is chipped, unstable or outdated. Bathrooms deplorable. These are not isolated issue issues. They are visible throughout the building. For example, the old wooden auditorium seats are broken, cracked, and riddled with graffiti. Please come visit or I can send you my video. I heard seats which prior to coming here I didn't know was on tonight's agenda. It was they are being purchased from another district, but they are coming here which
149went through a huge renovation. Looks beautiful. Congrats to West Intermediate. However, lockers, I realize were mentioned tonight and I already had that in my speech because our lockers are literally breaking in our students hands. They walk up to us several times a week with the handle and they can't get in. Um, our lockers are 85 years old, which if I do the math, that's older than West High's lockers at at South. Um, in West High as well received renovations. I'm sure they look beautiful. I'm an alumni. That is wonderful. But I have to ask, what about South? The SSD chose to move the boundaries eight years ago. I'm not sure if you're aware of the number, but 23 of South Scranton students attend West Scranton High School. Yet, there's still no incorporation of our sister
150schools colors into our middle school's visual identity. As our students transition between buildings, fostering a stronger sense of unity and continuity can positively impact school pride, belonging, and community connection. Since South Intermediate is the only middle school that feeds both high schools, aligning our middle school colors with those of our sister schools, for example, our Westside Blue, which is prevalent in the district, and the maroon/ red, which our lockers already are. This could be an easy fix and it would create a more cohesive district identity. It would help students feel part of something larger than a single building and reinforce the shared values and traditions across grade levels. When students walk into a building that looks rundown, they notice the condition of a school communicates value. The colors should be welcoming to both sides of
151the boundary. Right now, the message being sent is not one of pride or inclusion. As educators, >> the time is expired. I'm sorry. A as educators, we are held accountable for student performance and school climate. We accept that responsibility, but we cannot ignore that the environment in which students learn plays a critical role in both achievement and morale. I am asking the board to just take some action, prioritize the painting, which if it's done at night um avoids overtime uh for these visible repairs, and provide a clear timeline for facility improvements. Our students deserve a building that reflects the importance of their education. Thank you. Thank you. Um, Mr. Lap, do we have on the docket our clerk of the works is going to be doing an internal facility needs assessment? Correct. >> He's been
152tied up with the monitor. >> No, I know. I understand. That's why I use the words on the dock. >> Yeah. I just want to make sure that everybody knows that. >> Okay. >> It is one of the Yeah, it's one of the assignments that he'll be tasked with. >> Good. Thank you. Um, Erin. >> Yeah. >> If Mr. Osborne could take a day and meet with uh Mrs. Tooffner and >> I I put a note here. Oz needs to go to South Scranton Intermediate. >> Well, I'd like to have the board get a uh a report from Mr. Osborne and uh in conjunction with the teachers who are over there and um have the report sent to the board. Um, my opinion is I think it's about time we started spending some money in
153South Scranton and Green Ridge and East Scranton. Uh, we're rebuilding everything and um I walked into um South Scranton's auditorium and uh Miss Hafner is 100% correct on the seats that are there. I haven't seen seats in a intermediate school like that since I went to North Scranton Junior High School and I was wondering why these haven't been replaced. So, if we could get a full comprehensive report so that we can analyze and we could start spending money in South Scranton Intermediate School. I would greatly appreciate it. Okay, thank you. Uh, Christine Walker. Good evening. My name is Christine Walker. I'm a Scranton homeowner, proud SFT member, and a sixth grade English teacher at South Scranton Intermediate School. Like most classroom throughout the district, my students and I are working extra hard to prepare for
154the upcoming PSSAs. I'd like to remind you all that in the middle school, reading and English are taught as two separately um different subjects completely independent of each other. As we work to ensure that our students are fully prepared to meet state standards, we are currently and have been for years doing so without an adopted English textbook or workbook or resources. This situation presents significant challenges for both teachers and students. A few years ago, the district purchased a new consumable reading series, SAVIS, and in this series, there is little to no grammar or vocabulary. The English teachers were not in favor of this book for that reason. Yet there was no discussion of purchasing a separate book for English. So English which is a tested subject has absolutely no district provided resources. Our district is
155currently focusing on the science of reading and as a matter of fact our last inservice provided middle school teachers with ways to improve literacy in the middle school. It was stressed the importance of vocabulary development across all subject areas. But without a common resource, each English teacher is focusing on a different set of vocabulary words. There is no consistency of which vocabulary is being taught in each class. I do know that we teach to the standards and not to a textbook, but it is an important resource. A comprehensive textbook or workbook provides structure, consistency, and alignment with the state standards. It helps ensure that the essential skills for English such as grammar, vocabulary, vocabulary development, and writing are all taught systematically and thoroughly. Without this basic resource, teachers must piece together materials from various sources,
156which leads to gaps and inconsistencies between grades. My colleagues and I have had to search for all of our own materials, often online, and then photocopy absolutely everything. A textbook or workbook would certainly support independent study and work completion. It's hard to believe that with all the focus on the science of reading and increasing our state scores, no one has considered the very basic need of an English textbook, workbook, or resources. It's actually hard to believe that I even have to ask the district to provide these essential things. Our goal is to give every student the best opportunity for success. And investing in quality English resources would not only support state test preparation, but also enhanced daily instruction and long-term academic growth. We have begun a conversation with um Anne Griebec about the needs of
157our English and our reading curriculum. So, I'm hoping that we can work together with the district's new director for secondary education to make this a priority. Thank you. Thank you very much, >> Kathleen Beckwith. Good evening, members of the board. My name is Kathleen Beckwith, and I'm a sixth grade reading and science teacher at South. I would like to briefly address concerns regarding our use of the open siead science curriculum and how it lines not just on paper but in practice with Pennsylvania steel standards. The steel standards emphasize deep content understanding, scientific thinking, literacy integration, and meaningful student engagement. Alignment to standards is important, but alignment alone does not guarantee effectiveness in the classroom. Several of our science teachers grade three through high school implementing open sed have reported consistent concerns to the district administration.
158Many described the curriculum as repetitive and cumbersome, requiring significant modification to meet student needs. Some teachers have shared that they had to substantially rework lessons in order to make them clear and engaging. There are also concerns about how foundational scientific concepts are introduced. I have noticed that key vocabulary and core ideas are sometimes delayed or presented indirectly which can create confusion rather than clarity. Under the steel standard, students are expected to build coherent scientific understanding over time. Clear, explicit concept development is essential to that goal. Additionally, literacy is embedded throughout the steel's framework. As we continue to focus on the science of reading and structured literacy across our district, we must ensure that science instruction reinforces those efforts. The science of reading emphasizes structured explicit instruction, building background knowledge and clear vocabulary development. Open SIAD
159does not support these principles. When students engage with reading comprehension in content areas, science materials must be intentionally designed to strengthen vocabulary, background, knowledge, and clarity, not assume it. Another issue is the heavy planning load required to implement the curriculum effectively. When teachers must significantly adapt materials to make them workable, that impacts instructional consistency and sustainability. When consistent patterns of frustration, heavy modification, and concerns about clarity emerge across the district, it is the district's responsibility to examine those concerns closely. This is not about abandoning high expectations for science education. It is about ensuring that curriculum we use truly supports both our teachers and our students academically and developmentally. I respectfully ask the board to consider gathering formal feedback from our own science teachers, not just the opin opinion of Katana Miller. I'm not really sure
160why the STEM supervisor is making curriculum decisions for our district when we have science teachers with lots of experience in both science and reading development. Evaluating how well the curriculum supports literacy development because it doesn't. Exploring whether adjustment, supplemental materials, or alternative programs may better meet our students needs. We have consistently been informed that the district can't afford to invest in a well-designed curriculum and must instead rely on free resources. However, it's important to consider that millions of dollars have been allocated to STEM program with SERS approximately 130 students. Meanwhile, thousands of our students are being told that funding is unavailable to support a comprehensive highquality curriculum for them. >> Okay, Miss Beck, you pass the time. This disparity raises important questions about our funding priorities and equity across the district. All of our students
161deserve a science program that builds knowledge, clearly supports literacy development, and empowers teachers to teach, not redesign curriculum. Thank you. >> Thank you, >> Dr. Katy. >> Uh, do we still have a curriculum committee? Mhm. Monday night 4:00 Monday the night. >> Has these issues been uh >> open sad has been a problem? I've I've actually met with Mrs. Beck with one to one. We did have meetings. Mr. O'Donnell attended one of the meetings. They just had a meeting and took more input last week. So there are there are things in place with open sad that we know that there's concerns and there's been there's there's work toward that. Um so I it's on my radar. It's very much so on my radar. How long have we had this program? >> This year it's the
162new steel standards. But just remember so everyone understands cost on that rubric is a major thing because we are still in monitoring. So cost has to be a major part of any rubric Mr. Laffy. That's not just curricular. That's everything that we do. >> It's been a primary factor of every uh proposal that we review. and we still have a year and 10 months of monitoring left. >> Did this program go through the curriculum committee? >> And I actually went over when I went over to Scranton High School and sat in the STEM lab with teachers and explained that we're still in monitoring and that's why cost still matters. So there there's there were meetings that happened. Mr. O'Donnell, when did you meet with everyone? >> I don't remember. I don't remember the exact date
163within the last couple months >> and there was just a meeting a week or two ago with uh Katana Woodbridge and Anne Griebec um and people were able to give written information on it as well. I'll do a comprehensive report. >> How is the curriculum committee selected? >> Uh I don't know SFT IF >> I don't I think that it's been a while since >> and I don't mean to be putting you on the spot. I think I think it's been a while since the superintendent I I I I participated. I try to log in and join every meeting now. I try to listen. I try to see what we could do. >> You know, >> yeah, >> I can't hear. >> Jen is saying point of clarification. Jen, let's go >> SFT appoints the
164teachers who are participating. So for the curriculum council, all of the teachers on that have been uh appointed by the SFT. Likewise, any of the committees that the administration asks us to form, we do um appoint the teachers that are serving on it. I think the we have met um concerned teachers with the steels in November and as recently as last week. Uh the committees that do meet do the work, they go through it. I think the frustration that was expressed tonight and for many times is the fact that yes, the committees meet, but they're not listened to all the time. So if they had a recommendation, it was certainly not open sed, but it went through anyway. And understandably, yes, it's free and understandably we're in uh monitoring and the financial aspects of it,
165but there are also issues with things and and people who are serving on these committees and then asking, well, why? Because every time they serve on a committee, their voices aren't heard. They're not listened to. >> So basically, they're committees with no team. I wouldn't say every committee. I'd argue back that open sad is a problem, but I definitely think I would fight back that people are listened to in a lot of a lot of other areas. Open sad is a problem. I'm not denying that. It's it's why there's meetings taking place. There's products being vetted right now and we're going to come back in April and get information on those. But I I don't want a generalization that nobody's listened to ever. >> I'm not generalizing and saying that no one has listened to
166right now. But for the majority of our past committees, whether it be looking for curricular materials and supposedly vetting them or um piloting them and then after the fact of what's chosen was not what was the work of the committee. >> Yeah. Some of the ELA series and stuff like that were before I got here. I think uh so to most importantly the the point of that is is that correct that has happened beforehand before you were here and we're trying to avoid being in that situation with open sed right now going forward. So while there is still an opportunity to make the changes and not continue with something that doesn't work and try to piece meal things together to make it work. um looking for alternatives that we can financially support that will be
167supportive and respective for our students and our teachers throughout the district. >> I' I'd also like to say just saving some using something because it's free isn't necessarily a savings, >> right, >> if it if it causes additional problems. And that was one of the questions that came about with the last meeting that I did inquire to say exactly how much some of the other um programs that were vetted that were looked at cost versus um how much money we're going to end up spending to supplement a free program. >> Yeah. So, and I know you already have that on your notes for getting information. >> Awesome. >> I have lots of notes. >> Thank you. >> Yep. >> All right. Thanks, Jen. Okay. Can I get a motion to approve the meeting minutes? Excuse
168me. of December 15th and December 29th, 2013. >> So moved. >> Second. >> On a question. Roll call. >> Mr. Casey? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Chzik? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Cleary? >> Yes. >> Miss Fox? >> Yes. >> Miss Merkel? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Lucky? >> Yes. >> Mr. Triano? >> Yes. >> Mr. Brazil? >> Yes. >> Mr. Bourwick? >> Yes. I >> motion to approve the consent agenda. >> I think we have one more that we want to Do you want to >> What? I I forgot to pull something. Is that okay to pull? Well, Jenny already had >> 610. >> She had D4 written as written as pulled and >> December 15 >> and 610. I just wanted to pull B1 for my questions. Um, that's just a bill list. So, so alto
169together we would have B1 >> D4. >> All right. Um, I think we probably since we already approved the agenda, we probably need a motion to pull that which is probably correct way to do it >> or just vote against the consent agenda. You know, people that ask I mean there's lots of ways to do it. Did we formally pull the other two though that she had written down as part two? Oh, we did. Then let mine go. That's fine. I'll just vote no. >> Okay. All right. So, then a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> I make a motion. >> Second >> on the question. >> Um just on the question um I forgot to pull something so I'll vote no. Um and then also um meetings is on here. There's not anything
170specific, but um either on the next agenda or I can call a policy meeting if you'd like. I'd like to redisuss having the work session and the voting meeting right after each other. I think just two meetings in um having public comment at 9:30 when people have to be at school in 10 hours isn't um very fair or transparent per se, not intentionally, but when things go long and we have to ask questions. So, I would just like to re um visit the conversation now that we've had a few meetings. So, is that something that we could add to the next work session or would you like me to call a policy committee meeting? >> Would you like to call a policy meeting? That's fine. You just send me an email. We'll set it up.
171>> Okay. Roll call. >> Uh, Mrs. Chzik, >> yes. >> Mrs. Clearary, >> yes. >> Miss Fox, >> no. >> M. Michael, >> yes. >> Mr. Zky, >> yes. >> Mr. Triano, >> yes. >> Mr. Brazil, >> yes. >> Mr. Casey, >> yes. >> Mr. Borthley, >> yes. >> Affirmative, one negative. Motion passes. >> Mud finance. Um, a motion to approve the sale of the 2025 delinquent taxes to municipal revenue services. Per the attached resolution, the financial impact is 4,336,78216 plus fees not to exceed $250,000. >> Second. >> Another question. >> Roll call. >> Mrs. Clearary? >> Yes. >> Miss Fox? >> Yes. >> Miss Merkel? >> Yes. >> Mr. Slucky? Yes, >> Mr. Trio. >> Yes, >> Mr. Brazil. >> Yes, >> Mr. Casey. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Chzik. >> Yes, >> Mr. Borthwick.
172>> Yes. >> Uh, education, but as a reminder, we're beginning with D4, which was pulled. >> That's okay. >> What was >> D4? >> D4. I have to read that one now. >> Yes. >> A motion to approve the letter of agreement with ACE of NEPA agency for community empowerment of NEPA effective February 1st, 2026 to June 30th, 2026 as outlined in the attachment. This is the annual six-month agreement with ACE of NEPA for this grand school district preschool program. >> Second. >> On the question. >> Uh, yes. I just pulled this so I could abstain because my daughter's father works in the maintenance department for ACE. >> Okay. Roll call. >> Okay. Miss Fox, >> abstain. >> Miss Merkel? >> Yes. >> Mr. Zky? >> Yes. >> Mr. Trio? >> Yes. >> Mr. Brazil?
173>> Yes. >> Mr. Casey? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Chzik? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Clearary? >> Yes. >> Mr. Borth? >> Yes. >> Eight. Affirmative. One extension. Motion passes. >> D8. Approve special education settlement agreements following legal review and negotiation. Settlement subject summaries previously provided to the board for review. SM3005207. >> Make the motion. >> Second. >> Now the question. Roll call. >> Miss Merkel. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ley. >> Yes. >> Mr. Trio. >> Yes. >> Mr. Brazil. >> Yes. >> Mr. Casey. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Chzik. >> Yes. >> M. Mrs. Miss Clearary, >> yes. >> Miss Fox, >> yes. >> Mr. Borthley, >> yes. >> Nine. Affirmative. >> Operations. >> I make a motion to approve the purchase of locker replacements for the first and second floor of West Grant High School from
174Third Dimension LLC under Co-Star's pricing number 014-E2-261. Financial impact $979,250. Second >> on the question. >> I guess on the question, um, how is it determined that West Granton High School was in the most need of lockers out of the buildings that we have after public comment and such? >> It was a building that we were looking at addressing doors and a bunch of different issues. And at the same time, if we're going to do all of that and have lockers that are shut are banging out, it was one of the things that we brought forward at that time. So, prior to the comments made tonight, um, and Mr. Osborne has already received an email from me to please go down there and inspect everything. Um, that wasn't something that was brought up to me.
175That is something that's going to be addressed starting tomorrow morning. In fact, the email is timestamped from stage tonight. >> Um, I appreciate that. So I guess so one of the concerns and I've heard this before with um different approvals and things like that is uh people do like to think there's a focus on west is best and we don't want anyone to think that where and this facility stud that what you said before that Mr. Osborne's going to work on that's going to help us know for a fact that we're approving things in order of when they're needed and like the highest priority. So >> yeah, I'm sorry. >> No, no, no. You're fine. You're fine. Go ahead. >> There there's there's a tremendous amount of need everywhere. So, so I brought forward the
176fire doors and the doors at West Grant High School because they're unsafe. I mean, they're just flat out unsafe. I understand what Mrs. Hafner said about the paint peeling and stuff like that. Remember that we had an environmental abatement project taking place in South South um and firearms like we were there the Sunday before school opened. I don't know if you remember that was like a big concern of it was dirty the week before when people were in there. It had to be clean. We got all that done. So, you know, as summer work is being designed, the painting at South is definitely something that we could look at. There's other schools that need painting projects as well. Um, there's been a lot of things that we've brought up different times that that have come
177on here. Some of these are cosmetic, some of them are are large overhauls. So, yes, with Mr. Osborne, we could look at where we need bigger replacements and and where cosmetic things like painting could take place. I'm going to be honest with you, I'm surprised Mrs. Hapner didn't say it. I also think a lot of those rooms need shades. Um, and that sounds silly, but there's a lot of shades that are broken in the district. Um, so there's there's small things like that. Doors, obviously, Mr. Osborne gave the price at almost $5,000 a door tonight. Are extremely expensive. Um, this is 1,600 lockers at at um $900,000. I think there's 680 kids at in the middle schools roughly each right now. So, you know, you could do it for less. So, we would have to
178put that priority list together. But there's cosmetic things that definitely need to be taken place. And when you compare an older building to a newer building, I agree with people that it feels different when you walk into a trip or um Scranton High School because they're newer buildings. They're newer construction. Um some of the buildings, I think Adams is the oldest. It's 100 years old right now. You know, it does it feels different. So, we can get that list together. Mr. Mr. Osborne, I I don't know if he's still here, uh, has an email in his thing right now to please go down to South. Please make sure he touches base with Mrs. Apron. >> Yeah. >> You know, I have to laugh. Before I took a seat on this board, uh, we had some
179members of the previous board before I came on and it was about the elevators. And I'm sure that it was a little dig at me because of my past history because I was on the board generations ago. So blame everything back then and it was about the elevators and somebody said why are we doing the elevators and the answer was because previous boards didn't do it. And in all fairness to previous boards they were in the same boat we were in. And the reason why maybe a south or a uh west intermediate didn't get done maybe to the satisfaction of a lot of people. It's because they didn't have the money or what happened was when we closed North Scranton Junior High School. Well, it's kind of ironic because the people who voted to close
180North's Grand was from a different part of town. They really I'm not saying they didn't care, but it wasn't high on their agenda. But all I'm trying to get get out there is there's a lot of things that we need to do in this district. A lot. And we're not going to get them all done in one day or one year or one term. And maybe it was previous boards that decided to put the money somewhere else. Well, now it's our turn to sit on that seat where we have to decide. We're not miracle workers. We're not Christ with seven loaves of bread and how many fishes he had. we have to prioritize and there are going to be some things that we're going to fight about and um I just think that we need
181to let the administration go through their paces, bring back their reports and come back to us. And now this board, I hope we don't say something like how it was said when I was in the audience that night. Well, it's the fault of other boards because you're always going to be able to blame the people that came before you. We'll do the best we can. We'll get our seven loaves of uh bread and how many fishes and we'll try to feed the masses. We're not Christ. We only have so much. >> Well, we we still have $200 million worth of debt. >> Well, >> so I I I just I I do need to throw that number out there. >> That's a lot of money. >> $200 million worth of debt and we also have
182a limited borrowing capacity because we have $200 million worth of debt. So, I I think there's definitely things from a cosmetic perspective that if we don't have large building projects like last year, environmental abatement and and fire alarm systems, we could get in and we could do, but then we're going to have to put that list together. And the other thing I just want to say is the CHA list that was put together when they were here was also based off a Mckis study that had us at 8,700 kids. We're at 9347 today. Nobody saw the increase in exceptional children coming toward us and the needs to meet those as well. So there's a lot of moving pieces on this chessboard. A lot of moving pieces. >> I understand that. >> So so that that
183priority list and and the the needs of everything and there there are a lot of needs. We we have to look at we have to look at all of those things. But, you know, the work that was done by previous boards to get us to the financial place we're in right now is miraculous. So, I will give credit where credit is due. The work Pat Laffy and his team did is phenomenal. However, we still have $200 million of debt and and we have an increased enrollment. And those are things that we have to consider. Last July at the operations meeting at Isaac Trip, I said to the board, we need to put a pause right now on a lot of reconfiguration ideas and other things right now because I wanted to see is the enrollment
184trends we're seeing an anomaly or is it a trend? And based off what we're seeing with early intervention enrollment right now, it's leaning towards trend. We want to see what the kindergarten numbers are, but our enrollment's going up. So, there's a lot of decisions that have to be made. Um, you know, there's a lot of things that we'll have to look at. Mr. Osborne will absolutely be down to South Scrretton Intermediate to address and look at all of the issues that were just brought up and and we have to look at putting our summer work schedule together for what are those cosmetic things that hey, you know, a fresh coat of paint does make things feel better. It does, you know, it makes it makes things look nicer. So, what are those things we could
185do in the interim to get there as well? So, >> thank you. >> And and just I do have to say this, West Grant High School didn't have investment put in it for a very, very long time. So unfortunately we're at a place right now with things like doors and fire doors where like we we have to do something to address the safety measures. >> Sure. >> Thank you. >> Roll call. >> Mr. Sleki. >> Yes. >> Mr. Tri. >> Yes. >> Mr. Brazil. >> Yes. >> Mr. Casey. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Chzik. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Clearary. >> Yes. >> Miss Fox. >> Yes. >> Miss Merkel. >> Yes. >> Mr. Borth. >> Yes. Nine. >> Affirmative. Have a motion to approve purchase auditorium seating from the lower Burell School District at $5 per
186seat. There are 450 seats available. Seats cost $2,250. District employee travel $3,232 based on government perdm rates. Truck rentals and fuel 1,600. Storage containers, two of them, $6,000. Contingency 500. Total financial impact $13,582. >> Second. >> I'd like to offer a friendly amendment that we uh strike uh the storage cost from uh this resolution. >> Can can I ask a question, President Bwood? Can we allow it to remain in case we needed it to be able to come back to the board and say, "Hey, we saved $6,000. We didn't spend it." >> I was just move it to the contingency. >> Is that Is that possible? Just in case, what I what I fear is Director Casey, I fear that we think we have room in a storage shed right now or we think we
187have room and then we're going to get 500 chairs and it's going to be bigger than we think. And I don't want to be in a position where I'm coming back to you. I'd rather come back and say, "Hey, we didn't spend that money if if that's something that's possible." And have the option if it's needed, but only if it's needed. Does that make sense? >> So the so the motion, the friendly amendment would be to move the storage containers to the contingency. >> Correct. >> That's on the floor. Needs a second. >> I do have a question though. >> Okay. On the question, go. >> We're going to be replacing these. >> What are we going to do with these? Go to a special place. >> Pardon me. >> I didn't hear it. >>
188She said go to a special place. My >> my question was the motion doesn't specify where they're going and I assume you want them here because they're blue and because we're already >> they are they are earmarked for here. >> For here for here. Okay. >> But what I'm asking is where are these going to garbage? >> We don't have a a place for them and I don't know. I I will have to ask Mr. Osborne or Mr. Rucker if they are usable in any capacity somewhere else. >> They're they're fat they're fabric. >> I'd like to make a suggestion because I have seen the seats over at uh South Intermediate. Maybe we could move these over there because these are still better than hard wooden cracked seats. >> I'm going to talk to Oz
189tomorrow. Um Mr. Rucker is not back yet, but I'm going to talk about >> I'll tell you what, it would actually make a lot more sense because it could be a large project where we could be getting rid of the south seats, taking these over, putting them in south, and then this area is all ready to put the new seats in. >> So, you are going to need those storage containers, >> huh? You are going to need those. >> I didn't ask you for a legal opinion, Larry. >> I don't think that was a legal opinion. Let let me I can't answer that question. I have no idea of the feasibility or the usage, but let me let me talk to Oz. It's on for my staff meeting. We have a staff meeting tomorrow at
1908:30, 9:00, 9:00 because I'm reading it plaza tomorrow morning. Um >> well, I I'm just thinking I'm looking at these seats and they look pretty darn good to me. They're a lot better than the ones over South Intermediate. >> Okay, so we have a friendly. >> Why don't we do this? the seats that we're getting for that we're supposed to get for here. Let's put them over at South Intermediate. >> They're blue. >> This is late in the game. >> Well, it doesn't matter. They're still better than >> because they're blue and I think they're going to fit in and this this building will be pretty much done. >> Original idea. Put these at South. >> I'm busting. >> And South has a much bigger auditorium. >> You need to get a sense of humor.
191>> I have a very good sense of humor. So, uh, we we haven't seen it yet, Carol. God. All right. All right. All right. Let's stop. Okay. We have a we have a friendly amendment on the floor. >> Contingency, right? Okay. >> Yeah. The contingency. >> Mr. Triano. >> Yes. >> Mr. Brazil. >> Yes. >> Mr. Casey? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Chzik? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Clearary? >> Yes. >> Miss Fox? >> Yes. >> M. Merkel? >> Yes. >> Mr. Zleki? >> Yes. >> Mr. Borthwick? >> Yes. >> Okay. And then that brings us back to the original motion on a question. Roll call. >> Mr. Mr. Brazil, >> yes. >> Mr. Casey, >> yes. >> Mrs. Chzik, >> yes. >> Mrs. Clearary, >> yes. >> Miss Fox, >> yes. >> Miss Merkel, >> yes.
192>> Mr. Struck, >> yes. >> Mr. Triana, >> yes. >> Mr. Borthwick, >> yes. >> Notion to approve Studio KP to provide a need design services for the West Grant High School Science Lab renovations. Design documents will be utifi utilized to bid and/or obtain future pricing on the project. Financial impact $79,300. >> Second >> on the question. >> Roll call. >> Mr. Casey? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Chzig? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Clearary? >> Yes. >> Miss Fox? >> Yes. >> Miss Merkel? >> Yes. >> Mr. Lucky? >> Yes. >> Mr. Trio? >> Yes. >> Mr. Brazil? >> Yes. >> Mr. Borick? >> Yes. Night affirmative. A motion to approve West Grant High School fire door replacement change order number one. The change order was previously authorized by board consensus. Financial impact $17,100. >> Second >>
193on the question. Roll call. >> Mrs. Chzik, >> yes. >> Mrs. Clearary, >> yes. >> Miss Fox, >> yes. >> Miss Merkel, >> yes. >> Mr. Zucky, >> yes. >> Mr. Triana, >> yes. >> Mr. Brazil, >> yes. >> Mr. Casey, >> yes. >> Mr. Yes. >> 94 minutes. >> Have a motion to authorize the commitment of capital and inind services to assist in filling the estimated funding gap for the John Whittier playground. Trust for public land will continue fundraising efforts and the Scranton School District commitment will not exceed 96,500. >> Second >> on the question. Roll call. >> Mrs. Yes. >> Miss Fox, >> yes. >> Miss Marco, >> yes. >> Mr. Slucky, >> yes. >> Mr. Trio, >> yes. >> Mr. Brazil, >> yes. >> Mr. Casey, >> yes. >> Mrs. Chzik, >>
194yes. >> Mr. Borth, >> yes. >> Can I motion to approve Scranton High School gym floor mats? These mats were originally requested as part of the gym floor refinishing. They were not purchased due to budget issues at the time. The operations department recommends purchasing these mats to protect the gym floor during non-sporting events. Financial impact $33,990. >> Second >> on the question. >> Roll call. >> Miss Fox, >> yes. >> Miss Merkel, >> yes. >> Mr. Zaki, >> yes. >> Mr. Trianna, >> yes. >> Mr. Brazil, >> yes. >> Mr. Casey, >> yes. >> Mrs. Chzik, >> yes. >> Mrs. Clearary, >> yes. >> Mr. Borth, >> yes. A motion to approve proposal from design BL engineers to perform structural engineering services for the Montichello K to3 expansion financial impact hourly rates not to exceed
19518,500 >> second >> on the question roll call >> Miss Merkel >> yes >> Mr. Lucky >> yes >> Mr. Triion >> yes >> Mr. Brazil >> yes >> Mr. Casey. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Chzik, >> yes. >> Mrs. Clearary, >> yes. >> Miss Fox, >> yes. >> Mr. Borthwick, >> yes. >> Nine. >> Affirmative. >> A motion to approve the proposal from GPI to perform land survey and civil engineering services for the Montichello K3 expansion financial impact 12,600. >> Second >> on the question. Roll call. >> Miss Tresky? >> Yes. >> Mr. Triano? >> Yes. >> Mr. Brazil? >> Yes. >> Mr. Casey, >> yes. >> Mrs. Chzik, >> yes. >> Mrs. Clearary, >> yes. >> Miss Fox, >> yes. >> Miss Merkel, >> yes. >> Mr. Borth, >> yes. >> N have a
196motion to approve the fee schedule for the West Scranton High School auditorium project financial impact lowend estimate 800,000 not to exceed 1,250,000. >> Second. Um, >> a question. Can we hold this? >> Just move a motion to table it. >> I couldn't think of the word. It's 10 o'clock. Can we table this? >> Yes. >> Second table. >> Did I get a second? >> Second. >> Okay. So, what do we >> on the question tableing the motion? >> I I do want to say something though. I just don't want this hanging out there for months. >> No. Right. >> Absolutely. >> Get this done in a timely fashion and get a >> get a price on it. >> Why are we tableabling it? >> Because it's a range. firmer price. It's 800.400,000. >> Hold on.
197I got to find it. It's in my It's in my list of things from today. I believe that there's a meeting tomorrow. Um >> for hard numbers. Um that uh Mr. Osborne's meeting with uh Mr. Barrett from Scranton High School um to meet with the company to look at getting you a a more narrow bridge. So, that's already in place. Can >> if if we get fair enough numbers, can we do a consensus so we don't have to wait a month? Is that possible? >> I think we're going to need a special meeting for the public schools facilities grant. So, I'm going to try to see if we can pull something quickly. Um but we need to get uh it's Friday at 10 a.m. I love how people watch and then they answer my questions
198for me in text message. They're meeting Friday at 10 am. So >> even even if they come back with a range of like 50,000 depending upon what they have to do once they get up into the rigging that would be >> me okay. But 400's just a little bition. >> It's Friday at 10 a.m. if they're meeting. So as soon as we get something um I'll get it out to you guys. Even if I can't make the board packet deadline, I'll send an email. >> Thank you. >> So all right. >> So this is a motion to table. >> Yep. >> Yes. Roll call. >> Uh, Mr. Trio, >> no. >> Mr. Brazil, >> yes. >> Mr. Casey, >> no. >> Mrs. Chzik, >> yes. >> Mrs. Clearary, >> yes. >> Miss Fox, >> yes.
199>> Miss Merkel, >> yes. >> Ms. Chrisy, >> yes. >> Mr. Borthwick, >> yes. >> Seven affirmative, two negative. Motion passes. >> Okay. Director Casey, personnel. I'll be with you in one second. >> Thank you. Okay. F1. Um motion to approve personnel report as attached. Board appointment shall not shall not best unless and until the district has received and in its discretion as determined to be satisfactory. I so move. >> Second >> on the question. >> Roll call. >> Mr. Brazil. >> Yes. >> Mr. Casey. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Chzik. Yes, >> Mrs. Clearary. >> Yes, >> Miss Fox. >> Yes, >> Miss Merkel. >> Yes, >> Mr. Leky. >> Yes, >> Mr. Triano. >> Yes, >> Mr. B. >> Yes, none of >> Uh, so now we move over to Director Fox with the
200policy. Um, this is policy 610 purchases subject to bid quotation. >> Is that all I have to read? >> Motion to approve. >> Will we pull all of G1 or just Just 610. >> Okay. So, a motion to approve 610 purchases subject to bid/ quotation. >> Need a second. >> Second. >> On the question. >> Yeah. On the question, I just have some concerns about this RFP versus bidding. I, you know, it's kind of lumped together and I guess I don't understand. >> We're eliminating the RFP process, but we're keeping the bidding to do bid work. >> My understanding of the recommendation is just to be consistent with the I think Mr. You left you left the new thresholds. So I think this policy and I haven't read it is because the uh bidding thresholds
201have increased. >> No, that's not the only change. >> Well, the major change also came from the board wanted us to look at getting bids and then having the ability to negotiate with vendors to get the lowest responsible price. So, it it wasn't possible during the the complete RFP process, but if you solicit the bid, you then have the ability to sit down with vendors and see if there's a better bottom line for the district. So, that's where the language change that was originally requested came from. Um, back in the fall, Director Curry, before you were on the board, they rejected RFP bids twice to then be able to go and do that process. So, the difference between the RFP and the bid is the RFP locks you in once it's submitted that there's no
202negotiation price. And Pat Laffy's probably cringing that I'm talking for him right now. However, the bid process allows us to solicit that that information, but then to be able to sit down with vendors and see is there a better bottom line to this process. >> So, we're still going to do bids for various >> we're required to like for anything over I believe the new number is 24,200 or yeah for we're required to bid anything over that >> unless it's a professional service. unless it's professional services which would be which would be exempt from the from the bidding requirement you know and that's where like the RFP process could come into play where you evaluate on more than just cost right evaluate on cost capabilities references experience things of that nature so yes bids will
203still be done always you know when we're dealing with supplies and goods okay and obviously anything related to construction related items much like Sister Moran said this evening like with the with the in Monosel expansion there will be construction bids for all the prime contracts. >> Okay. But when we're doing professional services we're no longer going to do any bidding. I'm >> not you're not required. >> I know you're not. >> I know but there was a reason that it was put in this policy to begin with and I'm just clarifying if we take it out then I'm cons I just have concerns that when we do professional services if we're not bidding how are we getting >> I'll give you a good example. So copiers, uh, we do RFPs, when we open them, we're
204bound to whatever they give us. We're not bound if we say, "Hey, give us a proposal. Actually, this one's better than that one, but you know what? Can you match it or can you do better or whatever?" It gives us control over the process. >> It's more professional services. That's not a professional service. >> I think what what what Mr. Borth was trying to explain is the difference between bidding and solicitation. So I I think what I'm hearing is the the this modification of this policy gives more flexibility to administration to also be able to avail themselves of a solicitation process. Meaning rather than locked in publicly bid RFPs, the administration can solicit informally three proposals. So if if if if the board had an appetite to hire an architect, this is an a real
205example, professional service, >> the old policy would have required us to to adhere to a very formal request for proposals bids. >> Right? >> I think now with this modification, the the administration can reach out informally to three, four, six, eight different architects. >> But in that case, I don't believe that. In that case, I didn't believe we did that. We did an RFP that we then negated and then we didn't do that to get >> No, I'm not saying that's was I was saying what Mr. Borth was describing is a solicitation and that's different than than than a public bid. I don't know that this policy, you're right, doesn't require us to do any of it. I think they they it gives the maximum flexibility to hire any individual under a professional services agreement
206if that was the will of the board. It gives them the flexibility to go get three proposals, bring those people in, interview all three or zero. I think this policy basically just gives the board and administration more flexibility. But you're right, uh the LA the last one um was less flexible and that was that was honestly I think what what the superintendent was trying to to describe. That was what we were hearing as administration was the desire of this board was to have more flexibility, not have as much red tape and be able to move quickly uh on these service contracts in particular. Is that accurate? >> Yeah. And I I would say I just pulled up the uh Mr. general has sent me some of the changes that were that were made for this.
207You know, it it still says that we may use other lawful procurement methods where permitted. So, it doesn't mean that it it won't occur. It's just >> we have more options. >> More options. >> Thank you. >> Feeling on these professional services, the way it was always explained to me, do you bid your doctor? It it it boils down to a matter of trust and a relationship that you know they're going to do good work. So, by tying our hands with all these regulations and all these policies, I I I said, I don't believe it helps us to make the best decision. I said, you know, we hire people and then we find out with no relationship. Well, uhoh, maybe we made a mistake. So, I'm just telling you the reason why the law states
208that you do not have to bid professional service is exactly for that reason because it comes down to a matter of the biggest reason is a matter of trust. Now, obviously someone's $10 million more then you got to look at that. But really, at the end of the day, that's the way I view this. I I just am never going to be for things that tie our hands and able to do the things that we know we have to do to succeed and that's just my opinion on it. >> Thank you. >> Uh just so uh to clarify as um share policy and uh involved in this prior since we're not here um everything that was stated was correct and the um examples like so uh in a few we have grant services that's a
209professional service and we did not receive more than one bid for that. So you have nothing to compare it to, right? So, um, that's that's the the thing. You know, there was a reason why this was included in the recovery plan. I did ask about the language in the recovery plan because I read it as we still had to follow this, but the language apparent said that not while we're in moderate recovery or something. So, we're out of that even though we're still in monitoring. So, um, you know, parts of that were put in for a reason because of of of that. So recently we've approved a lot of professional services for for example um the FSA there was a free option or a 17,500 option. There was reasons to go with the second option.
210People wanted to go more local. Okay. But at least for that we even had two bids. So when we have no bids you have nothing to compare to and um no discussion. So I I am against the change in this policy. >> Thank you. >> Roll call. >> Mr. Casey. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Chzik. Yes, >> Mrs. Clearary. >> No, >> Miss Fox. >> No, >> Miss Merkel. >> Yes, >> Mr. Leki. >> Yes, >> Mr. Triano. >> Yes, >> Mr. Brazil. >> Yes, >> Mr. Borthwick. >> Yes. >> Seven affirmative, two negative. Motion passes. >> Vendor relations. Director Chzik. >> Okay. H5. Motion to approve the medical assistance authorizer at the right center as outlined in the in the attached effective March 3rd, 2026 through March 2nd, 2027. Second >> on the question >>
211roll call. >> Mrs. Chzik, >> yes. >> Mrs. Clearary, >> yes. >> Miss Fox, >> yes. >> Miss Merkel, >> yes. >> Mr. Zlucky, >> yes. >> Mr. Triana, >> yes. >> Mr. Brazil, >> yes. >> Mr. Casey, >> yes. >> Mr. Borth, >> yes. Main further. >> H6 appro approve a proposal from Rainey and Rainey for the financial audit of this grant and single tax office for year end 12312023 and 12312024. Financial impact total cost $13,200 per year which equals $26,400. Scranton School District share is 6,600 per year which equals $13,200. Second >> on the question. >> Roll call. >> Mrs. Clearary? >> Yes. >> Miss Fox? >> Yes. >> Miss Merkel? >> Yes. >> Mr. Zleki? >> Yes. >> Mr. Trio? >> Yes. >> Mr. Brazil? >> Yes. >> Mr. Casey? >> Yes.
212>> Mrs. Chess? >> Yes. >> Mr. Borth? >> Yes. >> H seven. Approve the fee schedule for Quandell for the Maple Street property renovations precon precon. I can't even talk. Too tired. Preonstruction phase services $31,939. Construction phase services $41,968 uh dollars per month for seven-month duration. Total three $325,76. >> Second >> on the question. Roll call. >> Miss Fox. >> No. >> Miss Merkel? >> Yes. >> Mr. Ducky? >> Yes. >> Mr. Trio? >> Yes. >> Mr. Brazil? >> Yes. >> Mr. Casey? Yes, >> Mrs. Chzik. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Clearary. >> Yes, >> Mr. Borick. >> Yes. >> Eight affirmative, one negative. Motion pass. >> H8. Motion to approve Clever Digital Form Workflow Software uh cost $24,200. Financial impact not to exceed $24,200. >> Second. >> On the question. >> Roll call. >> Miss
213Merkel. >> Yes. >> Mr. Zki? >> Yes. >> Mr. Trian? Yes, >> Mr. Brazil. >> Yes, >> Mr. Casey. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Chzik. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Clearary. >> Yes, >> Miss Fox. >> Yes, >> Mr. Borth. >> Yes. >> H9. Motion to approve category 1 - bid for external fiber connectivity to ZTO media media communications. Category 2 - mini bid for internal wireless networking to integrate one. Um cost one category one cost $15,000 $15,300 a month. Financial impact not to exceed 2,295 a month after reimbursement. Category 2 cost $72,79 793.94. Financial impact not to exceed 140,55858.78 after reimbursement. Second >> on the question. >> Roll call. >> Mr. Leky? >> Yes. >> Mr. Trian? >> Yes. >> Mr. Brazil? >> Yes. >> Mr. Casey? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Chzik? >> Yes. >> Mrs.
214Clearary? >> Yes. >> Miss Fox? >> Yes. >> M. Merkel? >> Yes. >> Mr. Borthley? >> Yes. >> Nine. >> Affirmative. >> Okay. Um H10, motion to approve Trafera for installation of new line digital scoreboards for West Scranton High School gymnasium. cost $18,066. Financial impact $18,066. >> Second >> on the question, >> will we if we do renovations to the gyms and all of that for the scoreboards? Um, will we have to repay this installation cost if we have to take them down or remove them? >> That I don't know. >> Yes, >> because of the warranty stuff. Yeah, we would have to have them move them. >> Okay. >> If because of warranty on the down the road. Yeah. >> Okay. Roll call. >> Mr. Trianiano? >> Yes. >> Mr. Brazil? >> Yes. >>
215Mr. Casey? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Chzik? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Clearary? >> Yes. >> Miss Fox? >> No. >> Miss Merkel? >> Yes. >> Mr. Zucky? >> Yes. >> Mr. Borth? >> Yes. >> Eight affirmative, one negative. Motion, please. >> Okay. And then we have H11. Uh, approve agreement with total grant services as per attached. Approval is pending review of district solicitor. financial impact $4,000 per month retainer. >> Second >> on the question. >> Sure. On the question, um just reviewing the proposal submitted by Nathan Barrett, it says the um average client spending investment is 18,000 a year. So, back to my original question about not understanding the cost, why ours is 4,000 a month when the others I saw were 2,000. I do understand that there um could be justified reasons, but the proposal
216also states that the average investment is 18,000 a year. So um I just don't feel like that we've had enough time to review this understand. We don't have anything to compare it to. Um so it'll be no this evening. >> Roll call. >> Mr. Brazil? >> Yes. >> Mr. Casey? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Chz? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Clearary? >> No. >> Miss Fox? >> No. >> Miss Merkel? >> Yes. >> Mr. Zky? >> Yes. >> Mr. Trio? Yes, >> Mr. Borth. >> Yes. >> Have an affirmative to negative motion pass. >> I have nothing in the president's report. Anything for new business? >> I just have one question. Um, going back to the committees that the FST appoints the teachers to. Is there I don't know if this is appropriate or possible, but is
217there a way to have a board member sit on some of those committees so we know of the issues and things like that? >> Honestly, that's a great idea. >> I think a lot of it is determined, if I'm not mistaken, the way it used to be by union contract. I may be wrong. I think it's >> wrong. I mean, the insurance committee is for one, but I don't know. They all are. >> I All I'm saying is it's something we could look into >> that if we could look into it. >> I What I'm saying is I think that it is pretty much determined >> the way it used to be years ago was uh by negotiation. >> Oh, okay. But if we could look into it just for more information on it, I'd
218appreciate it. Well, something to put on the negotiating table. >> All right. Motion to adjurnn. Thank you. Well, so you're welcome. >> All right.