001Order a special meeting to fill a board vacancy. 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. Borthwick >> here. >> Mr. Casey. Uh, Mrs. Chzik, >> present. >> Miss Fox, >> present. >> Mr. McCander, >> present. >> Miss Merkel, >> present. >> Mr. Leki, >> present. >> Mr. Mr. Holmes >> present, >> seven present, one absent. >> The purpose of this special meeting is for the board vacancy seat and has been duly advertised. >> You have to listen the public comments, Miss Lord. >> We don't have anyone signed up for public comment, so we can just continue. >> Okay. Well, then
002we're moving on to the interviews. Okay. >> Do you want to explain how we're >> Okay. At this time, we're gonna I'm gonna take the uh candidates to um do we have a room question for those that are watching what is currently going on is the candidates are being removed out of the room so that one candidate can be interviewed at a time. As soon as the candidates have all been removed and the one candidate that's being interviewed is returned, we will begin questions. >> Soon as she gets back, >> this is a reminder. All personnel that are being interviewed will be asked the same exact questions. >> Could she text me? I would need a magnifying glass. >> My dog could do that. >> You're older than me, Albert. Good evening. >> Yeah, I'm
003pulling them up right now. >> Mr. How, you have two minutes for an opening speech. >> Absolutely. >> Introduction. >> Uh, thank you board members uh for this opportunity to be able to stand in front of you. My name is John How. I am a Green Ridge resident, um, father of two, uh, community volunteer, and a big supporter of our district and our movement forward in special education, um, receiving budgeting, fairness, and more uh, space in schools. This is the reason why I did happen to apply for this vacancy. I am also running um as a candidate for school board uh this upcoming November is the election. I figured why not get in here, hit the ground running, and uh start making help make the changes now that this board has been uh fighting so
004hard to do for the past few years now. Uh I'm very passionate about the youth of this community, their education, their right to fair education, and being able to pick up on some of the things that uh the biggest things being the special education department and making sure that we work diligently as Dr. educating and everybody else has been uh moving forward and providing the proper services and losing and and cutting back on issues that we have with parents with students with IEPs and uh special education. So, um that's pretty much me in a nutshell. I have a m uh excuse me, I'm working on my master's degree in applied behavioral analysis with a focus in organizational behavior management. I have a bachelor's degree in legal support and service with a concentration in parallegal. I
005am an independent par uh parallegal. I do uh co-own a business with my wife called ABA supervise and learn providing uh supervision for aspiring uh board certified behavior analysts. Uh so we live this every day especially in the special education department in the realm of special education. Um I I volunteer coach for the North Grant Vikings. I help with the West Kraton Alumni Junior Wrestling Club with their strength and conditioning. And uh I'm very passionate about again every one of these students in this district. It doesn't matter who they are, where they come from. Every child in this district deserves to have an awesome education. And I believe that this is the pillar of the Northeast community, nor Eastern Pennsylvania, that we need to go ahead and continue to solidify our status and build for
006uh proper progress. Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Uh good evening, Mr. How um we have we do have six questions for you. So, um I will be asking the questions and you know, please provide your responses. The first question is um why are you interested in serving on the school board and what is your motivation? >> Well, I I excuse me. As I said, I I I have volunteered over the past decade giving my time to children in this community. I know firsthand their parents' experiences. I have two children that did go to Neil Armstrong, but due to uh problems with the special education, we were granted afforded the opportunity to go to Howard Gardner. So, they are currently in Howard Gardner. I would love to bring them back. I would love
007to have them back in this district and not have to worry about special education needs. Um I'm also a on a board as a community relations director for something called Books and Bars. It's about providing higher education to incarcerated individuals because it is proven to reduce recidivism rates. So I figured if I was to be attacking at that end the problems of education and seeing that education is proof of staying out of the justice system and avoiding it. Then why not start with our youth? Let's make sure that our the biggest problems come out of intermediate. They started intermediate and progress through high school and then it's the straight pipeline to the prison system. I believe that if we're preact, if we're proactive and we have these prevent uh preventive measures in place and we
008have people like yourselves up there who take stock in what is going on with our youth in this community, we can help eliminate some of the crime problems, some of the behavior issues that are going on that lead to the prison system. >> Thank you. Uh second question, what do you perceive to be the responsibilities of the school board? >> The school board is is to oversee. They're they're kind of like the the ones on the outside looking in. Someone once told me it's like a helicopter. You you're you're going to sit here. You're going to create you're going to go over policy, make sure that we're follow following policy, creating any policies that need to be fit, and then we allow our administrators to handle that. That's what I believe that the over overwhelming
009majority of the uh excuse me, I'm a little outwinded here. I'm nervous. Uh >> take your time. >> Of the board, that's the responsibilities of the board. Be able to guide. >> Thank you. Third question, what qualities, skills, and experience would you bring to the board? >> Well, like I know that we already have solicitors, but I am I am skilled in legal research and analysis. I do have a background in applied behavioral analysis. again working towards an organizational behavior management uh master's degree which does work within working together streamlining processes making sure that we are working to put our first foot our best foot forward and working in tandem with the community. I do believe that my ability to understand policy, I have created policy before as administrative director of uh another uh behavior
010analysis company. Uh I I believe that I might have something that's a little bit different than everybody else. Everybody brings what they can to the table, but I think my experience in that sector will greatly assist the board in their future. >> Great. Thank you. Next question. If you were faced with a tough issue as a as a board member, such as raising taxes or cutting programs, what kind of data would you need to help you make your decision? >> Well, I believe that it's going to come down to the community, right? Me being on the front lines in the community every single day, working with parents, with children, with students in the board, in the district, I do believe that taking them into consideration works. Also, are there things that we might have to
011trim the fat on? Are there ways that we can work around it? Are there more manageable solutions? Are there other things that we can do that will be able to cut back on some of the spending, especially with, you know, issues with funding coming up? What ways around it? I mean, if we have to raise taxes, it's an unfortunate thing. I I don't want to say I would never vote for that and and go for that, but it would be based on of a consensus of what we have, the data we have, what the people say in the community, who are the taxpayers who help, who are going to be affected by it, and where we can try to trim the fat or pick up more money through sponsorships, donations, you know, fundraising drives, and
012things of that nature. >> Thank you. Next question. Board members often face intense public scrutiny. How will you maintain your ethical standards when you're pressured by influential groups with competing interests? >> Well, the first things first is that you always have to go with your gut. Another person growing up always told me that that you go with your gut and you're going to have pressures in life. We all have had pressures in life. At some point, we've all had to make a a big decision. And it's just about being remaining ethical, understanding what your role is, what you what you can and cannot do ethically, and moving forward with that. We understand that people with competing interests are always going to try to influence your your opinion and your vote or your say in the
013matter, but ultimately you are one individual who has the trust of a great many. You need to take that into account and you need to be able to hold yourself to that higher standard without worrying about ridicule. Me, look at me. I'm a bigger guy. I get called out all the time. It doesn't matter to me. What people say does not matter. It does not influence me. What is in the best interest of the students of this district? What is in the best interest of the parents and families of this district? That is what matters. >> Thank you. Last question. District policy 304.1 nepotism requires that a candidate for a full-time position shall disclose but will not be disqualified by any relationship with a current director or the superintendent. Do you have a personal or
014professional relationship to any director or member of the administration or are any members of your immediate family employed by the district? >> I have met all of you at some point uh except for you all the board members. Nothing uh that is personal I would say like we don't go out and have drinks. We don't hang out. We don't call each other daily. Um just being a campaign a candidate you want to reach out to the people that you're going to be working with. Uh, so no an immediate family. I have no immediate family. I do have an aunt who's a who, uh, subs. Uh, I have an uncle who is also an SRO here. Um, but other than that, I I don't. No. >> Great. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, John. >>
015Thank you. I take a Take another >> big cross country match. >> How they doing? >> Thank you. >> Um Well, my youngest, she did very well. They the the G girls swept one, two, three, so they won the time. Sorry. >> Thanks. >> I had to leave my um oldest a little early. >> So hopefully they do well. Please never know. Good evening. >> Good evening. >> Welcome. Could you please do an introduction? You have two minutes. >> Okay. Thank you for your time. My name is Tamara Ley. Could you speak into the mic? It's hard. I'm sorry. >> My name is Tamara Ley and I'm a graduate of the Scranton School District. I bring over 20 years of experience as a speech language pathologist with a specialization in early intervention. My professional background
016includes conducting evaluations, developing and implementing, delivering direct treatment. >> I can't hear. >> Sorry. And monitoring student progress as an early intervention specialist. I've worked closely with families to build strong caregiver intervention partnerships that empower parents and support learning within natural environments. I understand the critical role of collaboration, communication, and individualized support. I'm the owner of a private practice and I have gained valuable experience in ensuring compliance with state and federal guidelines, overseeing alignment of internal policies, managing fiscal responsibilities, and facilitating clear communication across agencies, families, and community partners. As a doctoral student in educational leadership with the focus on special education, I bring research-based knowledge that informs real world decision-making. This academic foundation strengthens my ability to analyze complex issues, interpret data, and apply evidence-based practices that improve outcomes for all students. In addition,
017my lived experience as a parent and advocate furthers my perspective in equity and empathy. >> Thank you, Miss Ley. Um, tonight we have six questions for you. Okay. >> Um, the first question is, why are you why are you interested in serving on the school board and what is your motivation? My motivation is my long life commitment to education as evidenced by my career path as a speech language pathologist and also as my ongoing commitment to professional development and I also believe that every child deserves access to a high quality education. >> Thank you. Next question. What do you perceive to be the responsibilities of the school board? Fiscal responsibility, approving budgets, establishing policies that ensure safe, inclusive, and effective learning environments, representing the interest of students, families, educ educators, and the community, and upholding
018trans transparency and accountability. >> Thank you. Next question. What qualities, skills, and experience would you bring to the board? Um, as I've stated, I have 20 years of experience as a speech language pathologist. I own a private practice and I'm a doctoral candidate. Above all, I'm a parent of three children who are were students and graduates of the district. My oldest son has cable pausy and he has learning differences and because of that I can bring the perspective of a parent as a child with special needs. The struggles, the worries, the IEP meetings, the advocacy. My second son, he took a completely different path. He thrived in this grand school district. He was in the gifted program. He took advantage of all AP courses. He hopped from sport despora and was class president. He recently
019graduated from Cornell University. My youngest son also thrived in the Scranton School District. He was in AP honors. He ran cross country, track, and field. And he will be graduating in May with a degree in civil engineering from Penn State. So just in my home there are three completely different children with different needs who took different paths within this district. I bring an understanding that all children come to the district with individual needs and as a board member I want to use my education, professional personal experience to ensure that all children in the district thrive. >> Thank you. If you were faced with a tough issue as a board member, such as raising taxes or cutting programs, what kind of data would you need to help make your decision? >> I would need both quantitative
020and qualitative data. So, if I was looking at something like cost effectiveness, I would need numbers. But if there was a huge decision, a tough decision, I would need to see feedback, listen to feedback from students, educators, administration, and families to understand the tough in issue that's presented. >> Thank you. Board members often face intense public scrutiny. How will you maintain your ethical standards when you're pressured by influential groups with competing interests? Um, first I would definitely welcome diverse perspectives. I would also be able to set my own biases aside and I would just remain committed to having the best interest of the students regardless of any pressures. >> Thank you. Um, last question. District policy 304.1 nepotism requires that a candidate for a full-time position shall disclose but will not be disqualified by any
021relationship with a current director or the superintendent. Do you have a personal or professional relationship to any director or member of the administration or are any members of your immediate family employed by the district? >> No. >> Thank you. Hey, you supposed to stack from she did. We're in trouble. So hopefully God, it was good. [Applause] Good evening sir and welcome. >> Thank you. >> Um you have two minutes. Please tell us about yourself. >> Um I spent again I'm very very strong advocate for public school education. I spent 30 years of my career of 40ome years of education here in the Scranton School District. I'm looking forward to hope to be able to help our kids grow up in a very strong academic and safe environment here in the Scranton school district. I think
022again the three major issues that we need to look at very carefully is the students mental health and school safety. Secondly, I think the importance of finance, the budget and having the proper finance available for our kids and for our school district. Thirdly, I feel strongly about the um teacher situation that is developing and the importance of getting ourselves a very strong competent and more importantly having them be able to stay with the school district and provide the education that's necessary. And again, as I said, I I really feel strongly about trying to help the school district since I spent 40 years in education. I hope some of my background will help in preparing and let's say doing what we need to do for this Grand School District. >> Thank you, Mr. Cho. Um, we
023have six questions for you this evening. Okay. So, the first question is, why are you interested in serving on the school board and what is your motivation? Again as I said before I have spent 40ome years in education. I really feel strongly that again we need a very very strong educational system for our kids to grow up in and that again whatever way possible that I can help with the district that's that's what my goal is. >> Thank you. Second question, what do you perceive to be the responsibilities of the school board? >> Again, to act very very carefully. Uh the three main things as I said before, I look for school safety for the kids to make sure again with what's happening at these days, again, it's it's scary and we want the kids
024to be able to come to school, feel safe, and again get the education that they need. Thank you. Uh, next question. What qualities, skills, and experience would you bring to the board? >> Again, as I repeat before, uh, my experience in, let's say, in the case as a teacher, coach, athletic director, administrator, both vice president, vice principal and principal. I hope to bring with me the training in curriculum in let's say in a case budgeting and finance with let's say in a case providing a very very good facility for the students to work in and hopefully I would be able to bring let's say uh common sense in trying to make the decisions that's necessary for our kids. >> Thank you. If you were faced with a tough issue as a board member such as
025raising taxes or cutting programs, what kind of data would you need to help you make your decision? >> I would think let's say in the case I'm not I'll be totally honest. I'm not in favor of cutting any kind of facilities. I'm more in favor of let's say finding ways that we can provide for them. Uh, one thing that I had an experience in was when I retired from education, I worked as a a legislative assistant with Representative Marty Flynn in the state legislature and working with him, he made me the leazison with the Scranton school board to work with their let's say the renewal and let's any case uh u Scranton finance situation. that they were working on at that time. And I'm hoping that let's say any case with that I could be
026able to be a let's say in the case a good help to the members of the board in all of the different areas that's necessary. >> Thank you. Board members often face intense public scrutiny. How will you maintain your ethical standards when you're pressured by influential groups with competing interests? And I I try to have patience. I try to give everyone their own say and listen to what they have to offer. And more importantly, I believe in loyalty and I believe it would say in the case that what we need to do, we should do. >> Thank you. Uh last question. District policy 304.1 nepotism requires that a candidate for a full-time position shall disclose but will not be disqualified by any any relationship with a current director or the superintendent. Do you have a
027personal or professional relationship to any director or member of the administration or are any members of your immediate family employed by the district? >> I have some members of my family who work with the Scranton School District. Uh again, as I've always felt strongly, my position is they do what they should do and I would not be in a situation or would I ever try to force anyone to take their side for anything. I believe that again um on their merits that would be the way to be determined for whatever position they may be looking for. not on the vote from me. Thank you. >> Thank you, sir. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. [Applause] Good evening, sir. >> Good evening, everyone. >> You have uh two minutes to tell us about yourself,
028please. >> Okay. It's going to be a hard one, but my name is Pedro Anes. I'm a serial public servant and uh uh I'm bringing today a unique combination of post-graduate education, executive board experience, systemsbased solutions, and faithbased leadership to this role. Those of you may know me but don't know a lot about me, but I have over a 40-year uh public service and leadership. I'm a US Army retired veteran. uh been an adjunct professor of management, a center director of adult literacy and workforce development, university director of workforce education at Marywood, adjunct professor at the University of Catholic social teachings, small business owner of impact learning, a professor of economic and workforce development, chief talent officer atce environmental and the US very particular to this school, the US sensor census partnership specialist uh where
029we achieved that 98% uh complete count. That's just a few of the things that um that I've done. Uh but my unique aspect that I bring to the table is that um I was appointed to the financial recovery committee uh back in 2019 during some very turbulent times where I witnessed the excellent execution of that financial recovery plan and its early exit in 2024. I am I am very proud of the school district and the administrators um Pat Laffy and and uh and an a tremendous job with the with the uh with the budget. However, the effects of global, national, state, and local disruptions continue to create uncertainty which threatens to undo the successes of the recovery effort. In the most recent update uh that we received uh the three issues were identified. Budget instability
030and delayed state funding. Particularly uh threatening is the the cuts to uh title one funding cuts and the potential elimination completely of title three, four and five funding which can be catastrophic to the school district. student poverty and family instability. Uh the economy is what it is. Uh Scranton is very resilient. Um but that is going to continue to be an issue unless we work together uh with the community uh to ensure their children are safe. We have classroom over overcrowding. It was mentioned about the increase in uh children with autism. Um, and through all of these I I offer my life experience into um offering solutions and decisions that will ensure that Dr. Keading, Pat and the administration uh have the time to do their job free of politics and any other distraction. I
031just want to make a comment that uh we do have to remain vigilant uh during the monitoring period uh to ensure the district does not revert back into financial crisis. I don't think anyone had a good experience during that time. Uh but I witnessed in the community uh and even with unpopular decisions that uh my colleagues the the folks in the community the students in in the church were generally pleased with the school but there's still a lot more work to be done and um uh that is what I am offering this time, continuity, mindful decisions, and the greater good. >> Thank you, Mr. Ernes. Uh, this evening we do have six questions for you, so we'll jump right in. The first question, why are you interested in serving on the school board, and what
032is your motivation? >> Uh, as I mentioned before, I have no political motivation. Zero. it. And I said that before. Um is what I mentioned before. It was just an incredible amount of of work and effort and excellence that was put into uh the uh recovery plan uh by so many people. Um and like with any success, we have to remain vigilant. And I'm offering that continuity to have seen how we got there. Uh and then watching with the briefings uh on the recovery to an early exit which was excellent um uh of of the warning signs for uh um for reverting back into financial crisis. Um uh I do a lot of advocacy work with the United Nations Association. I'm on the national council elected as well as the National Association for Community Health
033Centers uh lobbying in uh Washington DC directly to uh the Congress. And I always uh I always insist on speaking to um uh congressmen and women uh who are not necessarily uh going to vote for a a bill. Um because I do believe that at a certain point altruism and dignity and kindness will prevail in in folks. That's The main reason that continuity, you know, I know we're going into election seasons and budget cuts and all those things get hairy and it does bring too much disrupting disruption to the administrators and when there's that disruption with the administrators, who suffers the most is the children. So uh that's my motivation. >> Thank you very much. Next question. What do you perceive to be the responsibilities of the school board? The school board responsibility is to
034be good fiduciaries because it always is about money. Uh that said, um being good fiduciaries and being mindful of decisions and how they ultimately will affect the children, right? And those children will grow up in to be in our communities and work or stay or play or whatever. Uh and they're the ones that can break the cycle. You know, I don't think there's I personally uh I get a lot of flack from this, but I personally don't think there's a whole lot of dignity in saying that we we gave because I work a lot with the food shelters. We gave 800,000 pounds of food to poor people. There's no dignity in that. Personally, I'd rather say that we created, you know, 3,000 jobs and moved people out of poverty. And that's just a mindset, you
035know. Um, and decisions are are that difference. >> Thank you. Next question. What qual qualities, skills, and experience would you bring to the board? Well, I I have vast executive board as I mentioned. Um uh experience as president of large boards, uh the boards that I serve on now, um uh none have less than $120 million, uh budget. Um and I'm often the treasurer or the audit. um on those. So uh what I bring is the vision um to all the boards is that I always say uh uh that I try to be that blind spot to keep people in that blind spot so that way uh they don't fall into things. I'm I'm just going to digress for a split second. And I think it had like when we mentioned the autism and the
036rise in autism and space and things like that um uh data um analysis are very important piece because I first thought okay there's a rise we closed a lot of schools and now there's a shortage because there's not enough space. Um but I thought in my mind that is that rise in in children with autism. Uh because in um the DSM changed the diagnosis of um Asberger the Asberger scale and essentially everyone is now autism or is there some other underlying factor like in our health health care systems um uh and I've I know we've heard in the news I don't even want to mention it but my point is is that um it's uh uh helping my colleagues um with those blind spots, you know, and uh I'm not holier than thou, but usually
037when I'm around people have a tendency to behave. >> Thank you. Next question. If you were faced with a tough issue as a board member, such as raising taxes or cutting programs, what kind of data would you need to help you make your decision? Well, the the data the data always has to be with the funding source and the line item. Um because we can have a big picture and say we're making budget cuts in title one, but you know what's underlying it? So the uh the census data is what I always as being the census uh representative uh in the county uh I always use the census data and whatever data this the the uh uh the PTE and and the school um uh bring up or or or have. Uh but you have
038to look at um uh in decision- making is what are the unintended consequences and you know um what but what cuts for example are a pet peeve or necessity or somebody's pet project because you know those types of things there's normal dynamics of of any organization but um you know ultimately people um you know have to live up to that personal code of ethics that the decision um to do no harm uh and be mindful of uh unintended consequences um using data. I I've immersed myself into AI and what that means um and and you know the disruption that it will cause and focusing on uh from that disruption um on opportunities um uh to emerge on something totally different. Um uh I I'll say right now as I mentioned those budget cuts um uh
039the current political environment uh I don't think anyone can um can deny that public education in the US as we know it right now uh may not be the same in three or four years. What do we do when we no longer have federal funding? you know, what do we do when um faithbased um schools now can get vouchers? That's money that comes out of the public school system. And I know it's something that we've all struggled with. Um so, do you continue to resist it or do you look for the opportunities on how you can leverage that? Um so the data uh is the current extent data uh that you report to uh PTE but also look at at um you know some of the uh AIs and and and uh and predictions and
040game theory um uh that's being played uh that you can't be blindsided by. Um so you go to the sources uh but don't turn your back on emerging technologies. Great. Thank you very much. Uh next question. Board members often face intense public scrutiny. How will you maintain your ethical standards when you're pressured by influential groups with competing interest? >> Um I have no allies. my um my property taxes went up over $9,000 and I was totally happy with it although I'm on social security and a military pension uh because I felt that was the greater good. Um so I'm I'm not indebted to anyone. I'm retired. I take care of my mother. She's the only one that bosses me around. So >> thank you. Last question. District policy 304.1 nepotism requires that a candidate for
041a full-time position shall disclose but will not be disqualified by any relationship with a current director or the superintendent. Do you have a personal or professional relationship to any director or member of the administration or are any members of your immediate family employed by the district? >> No. No. >> Thank you. Professionally, I know like we've asked Dr. Kading to be a keynote speaker at Resiliency. Um, but that's professional. I don't I don't have family members and uh >> Thank you, Mr. Anessa. >> Thank you very much. >> That's it. >> Thank you. [Applause] Give it to Jenny or Ty. She comes back to your score. And just for the record, for full disclosure, Mr. Ares was my sponsor when I joined Rotary 5 years ago. So when I joined Rotary Club 5 years ago,
042he was my sponsor. >> Uh she's going to come collect them. She's going to click when she comes back in >> candidates that you need. >> Does anyone have any follow-up questions they want to ask or have another candidate come back? >> You need those people up on stage, right? >> Jenny's >> for you to count. >> Yeah. Once everybody's done, is everybody done? You'reating. >> We're ready. >> Wait. I'm sorry. What are we doing? Are we supposed to deliberate at this time? need to talk about it. >> I just don't know. >> We didn't deliver >> should be your answer. No deliberation last time. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> We started to deliver it when we couldn't get a candidate >> because there were multiple votes. >> Just want to say >> multiple
043votes. question. >> One of these days it's going to happen. >> Deliberation that's the safest. >> But question here it is. Hey y'all. I would actually >> keep your score sheets, but turn in the individual with the with their personal information on >> I would turn that back in Jenny because that's your personal information. >> No, you don't have those are yours to keep your >> put their personal information on >> sports basketball. I wrote on >> fast. >> I'm sorry. Down there, ladies. Did you hear? I just said I would turn in the packets with their personal information back into Jenny. Keep your scorecards because that's where your notes, but turn in anything with their personal information on it to ensure that it's properly disposed of. without any business. >> No, really. >> What
044a beautiful. >> Okay. So, that's who it is. >> So, we don't need to bring them on back, do we? No. We just prefer the one >> be very Good. >> We did last time. >> I'll go with you. >> Yeah. And thank everybody else. >> I like to volunteer out to do things. disposal. >> Joseph, >> it's okay. >> Do you guys usually have your solicitor do this or is the board president? >> I know. I could have had my jacket before I left. So mad. >> Are they going to >> don't in times past we usually bring all them back and read the vote count. >> We not have to. >> It's not part of your policy. If it's tradition in the past, you guys have the discretion to do it however you
045Catherine ask >> usually we bring them all back and then read the vote count um and then take the vote. >> Did we do that for the last vacancy? I don't recall doing that. Oh, I'm thinking back to before the last >> I just read the policy just to see if deliberation was allowed and it kind of ended at after the appointment. So there's no >> and I'm following exactly what we did the last time two months ago that exact same pattern. >> So I made that call to do it this way. >> How are you, Catherine? >> I'm good. How are you? >> Thank you. Sorry. You look lonely over there. >> I'm pretty comfortable. >> I could understand that. >> Yeah, it is a little chilly in here though. >> The operations committee
046meaning there was no air. >> So, we're on the opposite extreme. >> It was cold the last. >> Was it hot for the operation? >> It was warm. Okay. >> We could only have one or the other. Six. >> She's only six months old. >> She lives like on my wife's chest. >> Kind of like my adopted. >> Okay, sir. We're going to have to swear him. Let's vote. >> We have to vote. We have to vote. We have to vote. >> Hold on, sir. >> Oh, yeah. We didn't vote yet. >> We have to vote. >> Okay. >> All right. The procedure is we we we first need a formal motion. This is a duly advertised public meeting and the applicants uh have closed, the interviews have closed, uh deliberation has closed. Now is
047the time for the board to vote on the vacancy. >> I need a motion. >> I ask for a motion to approve the appointment for John >> Joseph, sorry. Triano. >> I'll make the motion. >> I'll second it. >> Motion has been made. Seconded. >> Roll call. >> Uh, Mr. Borwick. >> Yes. >> Mr. Casey? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Chzik? >> Yes. >> Miss Fox? >> Yes. >> Mr. McCandrew? >> Yes. >> Miss Merkel? >> Yes. >> Mr. Zleki? >> Yes. >> Mr. Holmes? >> Yes. >> Eight. Affirmative. >> Okay, we will now have the swearing in. >> Congratulations, sir. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you to everybody who participated in >> Thank you. We had a lot of excellent candidates. Thank you all for >> sir. I'm going to swear you in. My name is
048Larry Moran. I'm the district solicitor. I'm a qualified officer under the school code to administer your oath. All right. I'm just going to ask you to repeat what I say. I, Joseph Triano, do solemnly swear >> I will support, obey, and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the Commonwealth. >> I will obey. I will support, obey, and defend the Constitution >> and that I will discharge the duties of my office with fidelity. >> I will, >> sir. Welcome to the school board. >> Thank you very much. >> Ask you to sign this document. We're going to add it to the notes of today's meeting. Director Triano, if you can, we'd ask you to stay and uh serve your first duty as a voting member or a participating member of our
049work session which is going to occur at 7. >> Thank you. >> Mr. Triano, you have if you would like to say a few words, the floor is yours. I'd like to thank everyone here on the board for your support and voting for me to become a member of the board. Again, I will do my very, very best to assist you in doing a tremendous job for the students and the people of the city of Scranton. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> I move to adjurnn. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I ready to go? >> Yeah. You got it. I will now call to order the work session for September 29th. Roll call. >> Mr. Boriswick >> here. >> Mr. Casey >> here. >> Mrs. Chzik >> present. >>
050Miss Fox >> present. >> Mr. McCandrew >> present. >> Miss Merkel >> present. >> Mr. Dreski >> present. >> Mr. Triano >> present. >> Mr. Holmes >> present. >> I will now turn it over to the superintendent. So, we have a very special um guest appearance here tonight. Principal John Coyle of Scranton High School is here with some people and we're going to introduce them. Mr. Coyle, if you could come up to the microphone, John, do you want me to go through them or do you want to talk? >> Okay. So, um, every year the the local newspaper does a best of, um, and we had three different entities from Scranton High School be voted to be the best of. So, the first group or the first individual that we would like to talk to
051is the best high school athletic coach, and that was Steve Shumbers. But I believe Mr. Shambress could not be here tonight. >> Yeah, he's currently at practice, so I'll accept that on his behalf. >> Thank you, Mr. Coyle. Next, we have the best high school athletic team. And I think we have some volunteers from there. We have some some students from that team. Ladies, if you'd like to come up. And the best high school athletic team was the Scranton High School varsity softball team. [Applause] Mr. Coyle, if you'd like to introduce them. >> Um, I'm Chrissy Dlinsky and I'm a junior this year. >> I'm Riley Bell and I'm a sophomore. Bianca Perez and I'm a sophomore. >> Any words there, Mr. Coyle? >> I just want to say congratulations to our entire softball program
052as well as um these fine student athletes for representing our school. >> Thank you ladies for coming tonight and being recognized. Congratulations on the award. Thank you very much. Great work. >> And then finally, Mr. Mr. Cole, would you like to introduce introduce the best of teacher who came from Scranton High School and I'm so very proud that the outstanding teacher came from one of our schools, Scranton School District teacher. I'll turn it over to you, Mr. Coyle. >> So, I'd like to introduce Leandra Ayala, who's one of our Spanish teachers at Scranton High. Okay. >> Hi. >> Hello. Welcome. >> Congrats. Congratulations. >> Congratulations. [Applause] >> Please say a few words. Um, I absolutely love working in the Scranton School District and I absolutely love being a teacher and I enjoy my time. It's
053my 15th year at Scranton School at Scranton High. And honestly, it's this is silly and Mr. Coyle does not know this till now. I have dreams that I leave Scranton to look for a different job. I don't know why, right? I have dreams I leave Scranton to look for a different job and then I'm like crying to Coyle to come back. Please let me have my job back. I don't know if it's an anxiety dream, but every so often I have a dream like that. So if if I want to come back in my dream, I must really enjoy working there. >> Well, on behalf of everyone on the stage and the entire school district, we are so proud of you for having this honor and for the work that you do every day in
054your classroom. So, thank you very, very much. >> Thank you. >> Good work. >> Yeah. >> Can't say it out loud. >> Athletics. >> Do you want me to read it? >> Sure. Um we will have a motion to approve facility use license agreement for Betaglia Sloan and Clover Fields. >> So these these are the um they've been working on these for a very long time. Uh Mr. Geneala has been doing that to make sure we have all the proper documents in place with attorney Jo um Joe Joy Joyce. So we are closing those out. >> Okay. We will also have a motion to approve Scranton High swim timing system. So, as I said at the operations meeting, this should have been on the September voting meeting and I will take responsibility. It was it
055was not put there. Um, our timing system is 25 years old and it's failing. Um, we do not know if it will make it through the season. We were able to kind of patch it together the last couple seasons. Um, but the athletic director, we're just worried about it. Um, we are going to ask because there's a timeline on this um for getting it installed if we could uh President Holmes have a consensus to see if it would be possible for us to order this and ratify it next week. >> Well, absolutely. Was going to call for >> I don't know if anyone has questions because there were questions on this system. So, we're we're here with any and I did go over it at the operations meeting, but I'll I'll go over it again.
056Um, it is not a better system. It is replacing the system that we have right now. >> Correct. So right now I'd like to call for a consensus to approve of this motion. >> Second >> on the question. >> Is this what we took consensus on already? >> We started but we didn't get a chance to finish it because there were questions. So it went over again in the operations. Want to make sure it's clarified. This is a time-sensitive thing. >> Just just so I don't think we're looking for a formal motion or a vote, right? We're we're looking to authorize administration to make a purchase and then we're going to ratify that with the October 6 meeting. Correct. Administration just needs to know that there's not more than four directors that oppose it. >>
057Does that understand? We can probably just ask. Is that the case? Is every >> Well, that's why we're going to do just go around and just call everyone's name. Jenny, just so you have it. >> Mrs. O, would you mind roll calling that question? >> Sure. >> Mr. Casey. >> Yeah. Mrs. Chzik, >> yes. >> Miss Fox, >> yes. >> Mr. McCander, >> yes. >> Miss Merkel, >> yes. >> Mr. Zleki, >> yes. >> Mr. Trium, >> yes. >> Mr. Borwick, >> yes. >> Mr. Holmes, >> yes. >> Consensus. >> Thank you very much. >> Budget and finance. >> So, under the um consent agenda, we're going to have motions to approve the bill list and exception bill list, delinquent tax reports, treasurers reports, repository sales, budget, budget transfers, disposal of assets, and budgeted purchases.
058Then we'll have a discussion and motion on real estate assessment approvals if any. >> There was uh excuse me there is one um it was I provided a synopsis for you guys in this past weekend's uh packet. Um this was worked on uh this was a carryover tax assessment appeal that remained with Kingpry. Um it had the the the process had begun while they were still solicister for the district. Um there is a recommendation to move forward with the proposed settlement. I did review that with Attorney Joyce. Um, so we will be bringing forward for that. >> I I do have a quick question. Um, just regarding I was trying to look at the legal bills. There's only the retainer and two small bills in there. Is that It's only There's only $540 and $100
059aside from the retainer. I just wanted to to know if that's accurate because that were sent. >> Catherine, speaking to the mic. >> Yes, sir. I was just the October bills that we got for legal there. There was only a $100 bill and a $540 bill outside of the retainer. So, I'm just wondering if some stuff might be missing from that folder >> because usually we have more than that. >> Director Fox, uh, the bills were sent to me today and approved today. >> Okay. >> Uh, earlier. >> That's fine. I just saw the email that came from Bert sharing. >> And there was one that I received after 4:00 that I >> So, we'll have more added on before. >> Yes, there will be more added on. >> Sounds good. Thank you. >> Okay.
060We'll have a discussion, a motion on the Samuel Morris lot sale and appointment of Pat Rogan to assist with the sale. So, I did put this in the packet for everyone. Um, we did try to do an auction and stop me if I start talking wrong, Pat. Um, we try tried to do an auction after we had everything assessed and there were no bids on that. >> Um, that after there was no bids on the property, um, Pat Rogan came forward as a realtor and said that he would assist, um, with no charge at all to help us in selling that property. Um, I sent a memo out to the packet in the packet that I worked on with um, Attorney Moran explaining how that would work and tonight we'd be looking for general consensus.
061Correct, Larry? >> So, no. Yes, it's it's a little bit we actually need authorization to pursue a private sale. Okay, that's the next step. We've we as the district are trying to liquidate this lot and uh, it hasn't worked so far. Uh so the school code allows us to petition the court uh with a pleading called a petition where we tell the story that the property was was attempted to be sold arms length. There were no buyers. We attempted to sell it at a public auction with over 200 participants. There were no buyers. We now have a buyer. We can't re we can't really get a buyer without a real estate agent. So what uh Dr. Keing was saying was we received unsolicited a a proposal from uh a local real estate agent who was
062willing to list this property on the MLS for free, not take a commission. So it wouldn't cost the district anything. Nothing would be coming out of the proceeds of the sale. Uh so we are actually asking for the board at the at the meeting to authorize two things. One is to pursue the private sale and two is to allow us to put this listing with um Pat Rogan. And when I talked to Mr. Rogan in anticipation of this work session, he reminded me that he can't put a put a listing together without a price. So, the other thing that we need is uh the board to set some parameters. I can tell you his recommendation and it seems to match, you know, the market the appraisal on this was around $75,000 and nobody was coming
063at that. So, the the realtor's recommendation was to list it for $50,000 and not take less than 30. Uh so, I told him and I think I told Dr. Keing that I would at least bring that recommendation to this to this board for that discussion. >> So back in 2019 I think the offer what was the offer pad? 25,000 >> I believe it was 25 and because we were looking at oh well we didn't get 50 grand. So we walked away from that. That's what six straight years that this wasn't on the tax roles. That's six straight years of no development in that neighborhood that could have had development. Um so that let's let's just move forward and get this sold. So there'll be two motions on the agenda for approval next Monday. >> So
064just so I understand, what was the starting bid at the auction that we I thought I thought was I thought we had to affiliate that with the appraisal value. No. >> So >> yeah, I think that that was the upset price, right? >> Yeah. So it it was like we had an appraisal done. I I believe it was approximately $68,000. Additionally, the transfer taxes were included in it. I believe the starting bid was at about 74ish. >> Yeah. And nobody was interested at that. Correct. >> That was the minimum bid that was authorized and no nobody participated. >> So did like So I'm just trying to understand that. Did we have to put the minimum bid at that? Like I'm just not >> Yeah. The school code required us to get an appraisal and we
065were we we we weren't allowed to sell it at that stage for less than the appraised amount. Now that nobody bid, we can go to this next level which is the private sale and essentially sell it >> anything that for anything the board authorizes as long as there's a willing buyer. Fair market value is whatever a willing buyer would pay a willing seller. So now we we're we're allowed to do that and I think the understanding is Mr. Rogan will will list it. Hopefully we can bring some potential buyers to to to the table and then once we actually get an agreement of sale we can't move forward on that without court permission. So we as your solicitor would take a petition to court, attach an agreement of sale and say we tried this other
066ways. We couldn't sell it for the appraised value but now we have this agreement of sale. Uh, your honor, please allow the board to sell it this way. >> I also think that uh what we discussed at the uh operations meeting when this was brought up was a concern of uh Dr. Keadings and a concern of uh Mr. Laffy uh concerning the state budget. It all flips into one another. And we said, well, it's as Tom said, it's been on the ROS for six years, not doing anything. And the concern from Dr. Keading and Mr. Lassie is >> uh it's going to be very very tight financially by the end of the year, and every penny counts. And even if we only get a small amount, um it's going to help our financial situation if
067we don't have a state budget. So, and I commend Mr. Rogan for coming forward. Um, um, he knows what our situation is and we need every every dime that we can get. >> Okay. Um, next up, a possible motion on a flex spending account. >> Uh, yes. This is a benefit that we're looking for to to bring towards uh or as an option a voluntary benefit obviously uh to the uh employees of the Scranton School District. It would allow our employees to contribute pre-tax uh to a flexible spending account for uh eligible uh medical related uh cost. Um so again it would lower their uh taxable income while you know providing them with a a a a resource to fund those uh eligible costs. So, um I am speaking with with one individual group now
068um that um we had a brief meeting with. I'm hoping to have some options for the board at the upcoming meeting. >> By options, you mean because there are multiple firms that do this. So, you're going to present a couple of them. >> Yeah, the the first group we spoke to, they there is a there is an administrative fee related to it. So, we wanted to see like kind of like what others would charge from an admin fee as well. Um, I I will note that, you know, we're hoping that any any fee that we do in incur to bring this type of of benefit would be offset by the district also lowering our taxable share from the employer side of the FICA taxes. >> Yeah, I mean, they're good ideas. Um, how are you
069finding these firms? >> U, one is a local firm that's that's worked with many uh different vendors. Another one is uh or many different districts in this area. Another one has worked with districts statewide and we'll also be speaking to our current healthcare consultant as well. >> Okay. Um is this something that we need to be doing RFPs or RFQS for? >> Certainly not. Uh not at the >> So it's not a is it a professional service? Yeah, it would be a I mean, I'll defer to solicitor Moran on this, but um I feel it would be its professional service and at the fee structure that we're looking at at least preliminarily, we would fall below any type of >> whatever you do with this. I I think the board should see a couple of
070options so that we can make make a choice um based on what's available and what's >> absolutely we'll prepare a little summary for you. Thank you. >> You said that was a question. Banking and a prof and uh financial services are uh professional services for purposes of procurement analysis. All right. Then we'll have a discussion on the PA budget impass impact and cash flow options. >> Want me to start and you pick up? >> So I I did uh for the people in the district, they received my weekly update and I will be giving a full public update on the state of the budget, but we have hit what I will call a crisis point. Um Pat's done an unbelievable job being able to say that we have $32 million of cash, which is seems
071to me just like an astronomical number. However, at the overhead that we have just in salary and benefits at $9.5 million a month, we have approximately 12 weeks of salary and benefit payments left. Um, we're also not able to take a tax anticipation note because we would have to pay it back by the 31st of December. Um, we sat on a call with PasBo and all the local superintendent on uh this past Friday. Um, our understanding from that call is that they are calling the Senate back in for the fourth, fifth, and 6th of October. And the best case scenario is they would leave with a handshake deal from that. But to process the budget and see things through, we would still most likely miss our October and November subsidy payments, which will take us
072well over $30 million. >> Yeah. As of October, as at the end of October, we'll miss another basic education funding uh subsidy payment, which will bring the total to over 30 million. Again, uh in November, we would uh miss a special education, you know, adding a few million dollars more to that number. >> These are dispersed by the treasur's office. Correct. >> Controller. Okay. The only reason I state that is I saw that um the treasurer is releasing a $500 million reserve fund for um they were talking about head starts that were negatively impacted by the budget impass. If there are people on the state level that we can look to to help us bridge, I mean that might be worthwhile. >> Pat has beun exploring things. >> Yeah. Again, as Dr. King noted, it's
073it's not that we cannot take a a tax anticipation out. The problem would be is that if a state's if the budget doesn't settle by the end of the year, we wouldn't have subsidy payments to pay off the TAN which would be due. So that's on the tiers of things that we're looking at. That would be kind of lower on the on the on those on the ladder. But a lot of school districts who are operating on a fiscal year budget are are looking at that as as an option. The outside of the general fund, the district does have some other accounts that are restricted for specific purposes. you know, capital reserve funds, including our nonprofit in addition to our nonprofit food service account, which does have a healthy fund balance. And working with Solicitor
074Moran's firm, we're exploring if short-term loans from those in the event needed um one are allowable and and can be structured. I think prelim preliminarily, it appears that um uh it would be the case um as long as we meet certain parameters. One of them is that you would pay um interest back to the account at a competitive rate that you would have loaned out in the market. In that case, we'd be paying interest to ourselves. >> Yeah. Kind of like if you're borrowing on your own life insurance policy type thing. >> Yeah. So again, we we are um again pursuing options. We're we're not there yet. Um we may bring a motion to the board to authorize us to uh to enact some type of short-term loan, interf and when it's necessary. Um, again,
075we I I will note that in addition to the $32 million or so that were that are in the general fund, um, we are anticipating the the remaining 20% or so of our local budgeted revenue, which would add approximately $15 million from, you know, September 1st through the end of the year. Again, in addition to salary and benefits, we have large contracts with many of our vendors that would require payment. So, um, you know, we anticipate bringing a motion forward for you. I'm going to >> Director Casey brought up at the operations being e- collect like we've been talking about this for a year. >> We have that on the agenda here. >> I had a nice call today. >> Pardon me. >> I had a call today actually with with representatives from me collective.
076>> As long as Tom brought it up. Uh, and it all ties into this. Um, I might as well address it now if anybody don't mind. Um, couple years ago, uh, when my son was on the board and he reminded me of this, uh, we had a company by the name of E-Collect that went out and collected um, taxes from corporations outside the city of Scranton, if I'm correct. And um, he told me that uh, we had what was it Pat? well over $600,000. >> I think it Yeah, it I think it approached almost $700,000. >> $700,000. Well, the previous board eliminated e- collect for whatever reason. And that would be fine. That was their prerogative if they wanted to do it. But in hindsight, it would have been a lot more prudent if they
077replaced E-Collect with another company. They didn't. So, we've left $700,000 on for on the table for a couple years. We're now in the middle of an emergency where I just commented before about uh the selling of the property. Every penny helps. Uh, more important is I consider this an emergency that we get every dime in and uh I'm suggesting that we contact them and uh enter into an agreement with them. Now, normally I would say put it out for an RFP and do this and that, but I feel that right now we're in the middle of an emergency situation and time is of the essence and I would like the board to uh direct Mr. Laffy to get Eolletch to start trying to bring us in some more money so that uh we're not into
078a financial bind by the end of the year. And if for some reason we do have a budget, it's still money that uh we could collect and uh help us keep our taxes low. >> Just actually to piggyback on that, it's an issue I plan on bringing up anyway a little bit later. Um and I apologize for belaboring it, but um we had uh recently an issue with RFPs related to our policy. And um I have I obviously I have concerns about policies that are structured in a way that you know either contravene or or or not or don't comport with state law. Is there a way Sister Ren you could take you could review that policy? Uh and I I also have concerns um that wouldn't be for the floor uh about our hiring
079policy. Is that something you could maybe by the end of the week get a memo together just analyzing those and >> hiring policy? >> Yeah. And and you might as well because we had to suspend the uh the policy for board vacancies the other day. That might not be a bad one to look at as well. And then maybe we can take a look and and make these things a little more smooth. >> Thank you. >> Uh Dr. Keing just offered to send me those policies. Uh and I'll absolutely get you a memo and some analysis by the end of the week. >> Much appreciated. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Just I since I guess we're skipping it at the bottom, um to combine what two directors said, is there more than one company
080that does what E-Collect does? like how we were saying for the flexible spending account to get more than one company to look at. Is there more than one that does what E-Collect does? >> So, >> uh, Katherine, one of the reasons I brought this up was because we really don't have a lot of time to be looking for companies. It's sort of an emergency situation. And maybe you could even shed a little bit of light on this because I believe that you were on the board prior to uh when Eollect was a member. Can you shed a little light while you did? >> Guys, we're not going to go back to that. Let the solicitor explain. >> Let me actually just It's not going to be a direct answer, but it's >> Thank you, Mr.
081Holmes, once again for giving me the floor. >> Okay. >> Uh Mr. Laffy and I actually had a brief conversation about this today. So, uh Burkheimer is uh a a private company. It's a vendor of the city of Scranton and Lacawana County. And because of that function, I believe there's there's a contract or a resolution from this board appointing Burkheimer as our exclusive collecting collecting agent for payroll tax, which is what has replaced the business privilege and mercantile tax. Right? So there's nobody right now collecting the the previous business privilege and mercantile tax that we're no longer pursuing. So So Mr. Mr. Laffy brought that to my attention and said, "Is this an impediment to e-collect being able to collect the payroll tax?" And ordinarily, yes, it is. I said to Mr. Laffy, my suggestion
082would be if the board is willing to do it, engage them because I don't know uh and I have some experience. I don't know anybody else who does what they call audit discovery. They're the only ones. They market themselves as the only ones that actually engage former IRS field auditors and they they physically go boots on the ground to license and inspection offices and they poured through building permits and they reverse engineer companies that came into your district did work return to their offices out of town were eligible to pay that tax and didn't. So that's that narrow scope of work that they do that audit discovery. So what I said to Mr. Laffy is we should sit down with Burkheimer and and E-Collect and ask Burkheimer if they do audit discovery and to the
083extent that they don't do audit discovery and that is still an exclusive scope of work for e-lect my recommendation would be to let e-collect also pursue the delinquent payroll taxes because my suspicion is and it's just my educated suspicion that a company like Burkheimer and other private colle collectors that collect payroll tax and business privilege tax only work the list of registered payers. So, if if I have a business and I take the time to register my business with a single tax office, I'm on a list as somebody who pays this tax. But if I didn't make that effort myself and register as a payer, do you know that I exist? Do you know that I'm not paying it? That's the work that E-Collect does. They find those who didn't register through audits. They make
084them register and then once they're on the tax role, that really becomes the single tax office, Burkheimer's obligation to collect. So my my belief would be if the board engaged this company that they would work in tandem with the existing company Burkheimimer, the single tax office and um the other collection efforts that are made on behalf of both the city and the school district. Does that make sense? And is that your understanding too, Mr. >> Yes, it is. And just to even add to that um again in conversations today with rep representatives from e-lect with Burkheimer specifically in other accounts of theirs or municipalities or or or counties, they actually work alongside Burkheimer currently. >> And what's the timeline? I mean, this is not something if we voted to approve this, is this something that
085we instantly see tangible results or we have to project out a year? I mean, obviously, this is not something that's going to immediately impact us positively within 30 days. Am I wrong or am I >> Well, in conversations this afternoon, again, you know, I did mention obviously this the state budget issue for us and, you know, how quickly they if you know, if if engaged, how quickly could they start working? they they they were committed to ramping it up ASAP. That being said, Director Holmes, President Holmes, um you know, uh again, I'm not so well verssed in this, but there is a um >> a 90-day um solic help me here. Um appeal process. >> Yeah. So, I was going to say% right because just under the way that this would go, it's it's you
086know, written notice that you owe the tax. It's an obligation to respond. It's then there's a process that that you're you're right. It would probably until we actually realize checks from delinquent uh payers. It would be the early part of 2026. >> Now, Mr. I will say like, you know, there are certain individuals that honestly might not know that this tax was due and when they received that first letter say our mistake and pay him. >> I'll give you a great example. I remember it. It was um an attorney that was originally from this community, Senator Casey's youngest brother who was a successful personal injury lawyer in Philadelphia. He got a letter and wrote a check within 24 hours. I remember. So there there are people like that. To your to your point, >> Mr.
087Holmes, I'd like to ask if uh you could pull the board because it's under my committee. I'd like to have it uh on for the next meeting and this board could uh vote it up or vote it down. Uh so I'd like to ask is there four other members of the board that would like to have this listed on the agenda to vote it either up. >> It's already listed on there. So, we're actually having it under your committee and that's where it can come up and you can ask for it to be moved over be looked at under vendors. >> No, I I understand that. >> So, you're jumping ahead. We're going to do that. Talk about that. >> Well, my main concern right now is I don't want it to uh mysteriously disappear
088from the agenda next. Uh >> it's not mysteriously disappearing. It's currently under work session under your committee to have a discussion that we're still haven't gotten to. So, it won't disappear. We're going to have a conversation when we get under vendor relations to continue that under this and then we can move to have it moved to the next meeting. There's no mysteriously disappearing. >> No, I understand that, Tom. I've I've just seen where things would be on the agenda or from a work session. >> Nothing has ever disappeared without actually talking to everyone here on the committee. I know personally because I do the agenda. So nothing has been removed without conversations >> and I respect your opinion. >> Thank you. >> Good. All right. Information on contracts update. >> Uh just one uh we
089did uh this is a budgeted purchase. It's uh the vendor is called Vector Solutions. The amount is $15,000 and it's from our IT budget. Vector Solutions provide the service or the software that they provide to us uh is for a district-wide training and and and compliance platform for all district employees. >> This is the last year of that, correct? Or is it >> uh I'd have to check with uh dire um Mr. Carney. Yeah. >> All right. I'm all good. >> Community relations >> on the consent agenda items. We'll have a motion to approve donations, but at this moment we don't have any >> there. There is one coming in. Um there uh I I reached out to the right center um for them to fund at both high schools um a health um it's
090called HOSA health what is it? What is it? >> HOSA is the future HOSA future health professionals. It's a student organization for those interested in healthcare healthcare careers. So, the right center will be denote um donating $7,000 to us so that both high schools can start this club. >> Uh Dr. Keating, uh I know that you're going to be pulling some uh policies to be reviewed. And I know that we've had some problems with this one specifically for the donation of bikes around Christmas time and it caused a little bit of a delay. Can you also give this policy to uh uh solicitor Moran to be reviewed and um make it a better policy? >> Specifically, we had changed when the bike donation so long as the school district is not taking ownership of said
091property and we did not necessarily have to vote. If it's actually being donated immediately distributed to the kids, then we weren't required to take a vote because we're not taking that. That's true. >> Yeah. That's how you need to give it out. I come to you from >> Well, that is what director case that's what we came to. I think that needs to be represented in the policy. >> Yeah. The the just on that note because like if I donate 10 books to my kids classroom, which I have done, I'm technically violating the district policy. So like like the little nuances of that. >> Yeah. And there's no reason um you know, well, I mean, you would know what the state or the school code is. So if we can add that, that'd be good.
092Good education. >> Under consent, we will have a motion to approve permissions to attend meetings or conferences and a motion to approve flight team agreement with NEIU. And then we will have a motion to approve special education settlements. >> So the flight team, I will tell you, is something I support very much so. Last year, unfortunately, we had to go through a moment where we utilized the flight team because we had tragically lost uh a coach. um they immerse us with resources um so that our counselors um our school counselors are not overwhelmed and that we make sure we have enough resources to meet needs and then we reciprocally support other schools if if unfortunately they have to find themselves in a situation. So, it's it's a very good program and there will be a
093special education settlement. Correct, Ann. Annie, special ed settlement. >> Oh, none. I apologize. None so far. >> We'd like to hear that >> operations. >> All right. So, the next three items are on the non-consent agenda. First one is discuss discussion motion for the Screen High uh gym floor. So, we do have the capital funds to be able to approve this. Capital funds are not part of that 32 million that I went just went over. Um, it's a safety issue. We need to get it done. They can get in here and get the floor done. Then, there were initially questions that were asked about making sure that, um, Weston High School does play six games there, that there's representation. Uh, working with Mr. Suma. We will be once the state budget is passed, we will
094be purchasing digital devices that will allow emblems to be um when people are walking in put on the gym floor. Um we're also going to be utilizing the vinyl poster maker that we have to make very large banners and things that could be taken up and down for games. Um the lights would not be allowed to be left on during the game because that would be a PIAA issue. But when you walk in, you will see those emblems digitally displayed on the floor um so that there's a more welcoming feel. Okay, next we're going to have a discussion slashmotion for West Intermediate gym floor. >> The gym floor here needs to be run redone as well. Um it's buckling in different areas. Um same thing can be taken from capital projects money and after the
095operations committee meeting. The recommendation is to get both of those floors done. Oh, while we're on while we're on this one, um can we get um Dewey CHA to update us on what they figured out the issue is with the the uneven floors >> fees on that change order from last month, right? >> You're asking about the specific >> I'm asking about Yeah, he was supposed to give us I'm interested in that as well. >> But I'm Yes, >> that's a more pressing issue because it's pretty wild. Um >> what's the gentleman's name? >> He is not here tonight, Mr. McName. He sent an email. He's unable to be here. Do they ever follow up with any information regarding >> There is some information that he has. We just have to um we got it
096late this afternoon before we go on the floor. We just want to go through it. I wasn't even in the office when we got it. >> Um aren't they supposed to send a representative some if somebody can't make it? >> I don't know if it was last minute. There was just um and then yeah uh also about the last month the that change order with the design fees. >> So we did find options for that. Mr. Rucker's on the side of the room. um he can give you an update on the tile and the carpet, Mr. Rucker. >> Yeah. So, that'll be the last discussion slashmotion, >> the tile, the carpet, right? We're doing this all at once. So, >> Oh, sorry. >> It's okay. I just wanted to threw me off. I kind of
097looked at you funny. I wasn't sure what we were saying. So, yeah, we I had my guys go down and review, and this is something we feel that we're going to be able to perform in house. uh there was a significant amount of attic stock kind of left over from um from the carpet being done here there. That being said, there will still be some minor purchases need to be done. Maybe some additional cove base, some uh uh stair treads for the risers in the band room. We're going to put treads there so that way they're protected and have a grippier uh footing to get up and down on, but very minimal cost and it would just be labor and leftover materials. So we have a lot of the materials and we're basically eliminating I
098forget what it was like a 365,000. >> Yeah. So we're we're >> how much? >> We're saving probably about 35,000 >> in design fees. >> Well, no in cost >> cost total. We're just going to inhouse it rather than pay. >> Yeah. It was material was counted in that. So >> So by questioning it, we actually saved $35,000. >> Yep. >> Good enough. >> Yeah. Good work. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, Rob. Thank you. >> I have one thing before we continue. Um, so sort of off topic, but it relates to like the buildings and all the the renovations that we had done. So, I know we talk about it here at the meetings, but like the general public is somewhat unaware of what the buildings look like. Like just looking through this
099building, like it looks phenomenal, even like the outside lettering and everything. So, I was wondering like can we do something perhaps on social media like maybe take images of the buildings that had extensive renovations over the last four or five years and maybe do some kind of post highlighting it like something positive where like we show the public like you know this is like what it looked like and this is what we've done to really show them like where the taxpayer money is going. >> Yeah, I think that's a great idea like a before or after even like a virtual tour or something. That'd be kind of cool. We and and director Chesik, we will also be we're targeting November having a full open house for the community for this building once the punch list
100is completely finished. >> That's wonderful. >> I just wanted to speak to that. That was something that I was working on as a little side thing, but I can work on that further just from pictures that were taken throughout the process. >> Yeah. And maybe Sydney too could, you know, help out. >> Yeah. So, awesome. >> Personnel. >> Okay. So, under personnel, we will have a motion to approve the personnel report. standard. >> Okay. Policy. >> We will have a mo motions to approve second reads on policy 102 academic standards 105 curriculum development 122 extracurricular activities 122.1 non-school sponsored student groups 123 intercolastics athletics 209.2 two, diabetes management, and 918 title one parent and family engagement. >> And then we'll also have the four policies um donations, hiring, RFPs, and board vacancy that were requested
101as well from Attorney Moran. >> Thank you. >> Vendor relations. >> Okay, we're going to have a mom and pop contracts if any. Uh an update list of transportation drivers. Uh the next one, copier/print services. I'd like to remove from the agenda uh Mr. Odano and I have started a survey of our copers and I uh won't have an opportunity to have it uh finished by our next meeting. Uh if I'm correct, I think we might be able to save a lot of money. Uh the next one is the appointment of a construction manager. uh safety and security communication devices uh an advertisement or advertising partnership proposals and a third party uh delinquent tax collection uh slashecolct. >> So to to go back to copers and printers that RFP was released and we had a
102meeting I believe you were invited to it Mr. uh Director Casey to begin reviewing those proposals that came in. Um so I I that's already scheduled for next Wednesday to review those. >> Well, the first time, let me give you a little bit of a a history lesson on this. Um when we first started about it, I was told that I was going to be an integral part of it. I was waiting and waiting and waiting. They went out. I wasn't contacted. Uh last week I got a call that we're having a meeting last minute again. I said I wanted to uh review uh what's going on. I called and had Mr. O'Donnell accompany me to two schools. Uh I know that from time to time we talk about what our backgrounds were and uh
103fortunately I have a very diverse background. Uh for many years I had my own company selling copiers. Uh and then I went worked for the state where I bought copers and then when I left the state I went back to selling copers and leasing copiers. Uh so far we've uh uh attended or re went over and looked at two schools uh Whittier and um McNichols and um if the rest of the uh elementary area um ends up the way that they did, I believe that by us going to a lease program would be a major mistake. Um uh I'd like the board to give me the opportunity to review all the machines along with Mr. Eldano if he could put up with me for the afternoon. >> So you're saying you want >> Let me
104just help on this. Um I think what Dr. Keing began to say as she was listening to Director Casey's uh I think I I think I heard Director Casey say he's going to call for a motion at the voting meeting to take this off the agenda. Correct. >> Right. >> Okay. And what Dr. Keating was saying is we've just completed a published RFP and I think they're planning or did already invite uh certain proposed biders to an interview and she's asking what we want to do with with with that RFP process now which probably you know I haven't looked at it. How how old is it? How how long do we require these people to keep their prices? >> It's it's our standard is 60 days. Um I believe they were opened late August. So
105like you know we're >> okay >> and I can I I can reach out and ask them to hold. >> So we would either have to reject these bids is one option at the meeting just slow down reset a whole process or ask these vendors to hold their prices kick it out another 60 days probably doesn't make sense to to do the interviews with the idea that we're going to be selecting somebody October 6th and >> to summarize this and all has to be done is motion to table if it is accepted then it will be tabled >> and then we will move forward. >> Correct. That's how >> Dr. King is saying what does she do about the interviews? >> So in the process we have to finish. >> You still keep you still
106keep going. You still going with the process. There has been no motion and no vote yet. There will be one next week. Director Casey can make the motion to table it. Then if it's second voted on obviously then it changes but right now it still continues. Am I correct? >> You are correct. Yes. >> And that's a simple thing. We continue correct the voting meeting. The motion can be made. >> And Mr. Laffy answered my question. There's there's plenty of time for this to be considered at the October October 6th meeting and then we can react to it after that. >> Okay. And um the next one is uh as I mentioned uh third party delinquent tax collection e- collect and I'd like to make uh uh ask the members of the board to uh
107have this on the agenda and we either vote it up or we vote it down. >> Do we do need to do a roll call? How does that work? >> Do we need to do a roll? Oh, I just I just want to clarify something right now. Uh the third party delinquent tax collections because it was brought up at last week's operation meeting, we had down asformational that we did begin formally moving forward that in fact Mr. Lafy said he had a meeting today. Um talked to solicitor Moran who had some additional things, some additional information we wanted to gather. We can put a placeholder in as a motion and that would be assuming that we were able to get all this other information for Monday night. >> Right. Right. I just want us to
108have the opportunity to be able to vote on it on Monday night. >> Yeah. And I I want to point out that I I brought this up at a March budget and finance meeting, so there's been more than enough time to get us this information. >> Yeah, there's there's no problem with having this on the agenda for the for the voting meeting. >> If there is if there is an impediment, I will let you know as your lawyer to take it off the agenda. >> Absolutely. Thank you. >> That's all I have, Mr. Holmes. >> Okay. So, um I watched the operations meeting and it was stated pretty clearly that we would be discussing the motion to appoint um construction manager at this meeting. Um we did glance over that. So, I guess I will
109take this time now to um ask a couple questions that I have. Uh sorry that I was not able to be there. I'm not free Wednesday evenings. Um, so, um, I do have a couple just a couple concerns just about, um, the way we're handling this in some aspects. Um, we all know construction management is a professional service. So, technically an RFP is not required. But since we did ask six firms to submit, we owe it to them and to the taxpayers to use a clear and fair process to evaluate those proposals. After I raised the concern of a lack of process to the operations chair, we were sent a rubric that board members could fill out, but there was no requirement, no scoring, and no consistency. Our solicitor arranged for outside professional guidance to
110help us make this decision, but from what I'm told, there was a decision not to pursue that avenue. At the same time, our administration has provided us with no recommendation or recommendation or analysis saying it's outside of the wheel wheelhouse. Sorry. that leaves us making a major financial decision with no process, no guidance, and no accountability. I'm not questioning the importance of moving forward, but if we choose um from I would like to discuss at this time um the pricing. I know it's very clear in the RFP that we do not choose just off price, but it does say that we will consider it. Um so from watching from home hearing that with no very little discussion we're recommending what seems to be if that could be clarified one of the highest price proposals um
111without any documentated docu documented evaluation we risk public trust uh fiscal responsibility and transparency. So at minimum I believe uh we need a consistent review process or outside expertise before voting on a firm. Um I don't know how we could defend this decision to the community that we serve. Um my first question to solicitor Moran would be um or I guess to administration first. Um did the um selection review committee meet to determine responsiveness of the RFPs? >> No. >> Okay. So it is listed in the RFP that applicants proposals will be reviewed initially by the district selection review committee to determine responsiveness to the RFP. Um, is there not an issue that we didn't follow what the RFP says that we would? >> So, I I I I wrote that RFP. I did not
112write that piece. So, if that's in there, that's that's boilerplate legal ease that probably attends all of our bidsp specs. >> It does. >> I wrote the meat of it. Uh, I did not put that in, but I I I would read that as uh a review for compliance. Was it submitted timely? Uh, was, you know, any of the mandatory language in our like for instance for legal services. uh did I have the cost sheet as well as the resume? Basically reviewing has this vendor ticked through all the boxes. I that's how I would read the initial screening committee when it was brought to me I think by the the head of the operations committee or maybe administration in an email last week. Uh the bids are closed. What's your recommendation? My recommendation was to
113use the operations committee as the review committee and let the re operations committee make a recommendation to the full board so that it could be that recommendation could be discussed in an open setting like this at a work session before it's voted on at a public meeting. And I believe that that's what was followed. So I don't know what a an an initial review committee is but I was I I believe that your operations committee since it exists this is squarely within their jurisdiction should and very well could be the review committee or screening committee and that's what my answer would be if if if if any bidder successful or otherwise asked me a question about that I would say this is the process we followed this the the the initial committee was the operations
114committee it is now moved to the school board and we are considering this at the work session then ultimately for voting action at the voting meeting >> and like anything else everyone has the option to vote yes or no request to table it >> but it was recommended to move forward by a committee. >> Yeah in at the committee meeting we did stress if anybody wanted to still hand in the recommendations or their scoring sheets or any input at all they still can do that and they still can do that today. >> Yes. Thank you. That's just why I'm asking these process questions so that I can understand. It does say >> and I I just want I'm sorry, Katherine. Can I clarify one thing? >> Yeah, sure. Go ahead. >> I did send an
115email um two weeks ago on a Monday and I said that if the board wished, such as in the legal process, we could bring an expert in. Now, Solicitor Moran had given me names. I didn't put them in there um for people to review. Nobody called me and asked me to do that. >> Um well, I mean to clarify for that, no consensus was taken on that. And Mr. Moran's response back to me was that a few directors chimed in saying that they didn't want that. So, we didn't take um a poll of the board to uh seek this outside help or not. Um which is that that's fine. We're I I understand how that would go anyway. Um but like I said, I do have a few questions. I don't know why the question
116of why are we using RFP processes if we're not going to follow RFP processes. Like if like I said, I understand this is a professional service. everyone could do basically what they want, but if we're putting it out where where my concerns and questions stem from is if we're putting it out as an RFP and then we're not following um parts of the that are listed on the RFP or such. Like I just don't know why we're putting ourselves in that predicament. >> I don't agree with that. I believe that we followed the RFP. I think we are still following the RFP. Uh I think until there's action taken uh um or the the the bids are rejected, we're still in the middle of the RFP as we're speaking right now. >> Okay. Um, so
117I appreciate um clarifying. So, um, maybe before the next meeting, can you just read this part? It's under the evaluation phases because it does say like the director of operations will chair the selection review committee. Um, so if you could just like review that and just >> I think I'm just going to say it's a mistake to put that stuff in there. These these are these are red tape hurdles that are unnecessary. I I believe we inherited I'm going to say boilerplate legal ease from other bid specs because I did not write that. I did not ask for that to be included. I believe that the the the recommendation came from the the the the committee that has the jurisdiction that's the most appropriate, the operations committee. I will absolutely take a look at what
118you're asking for. But I I'm telling you as as a legal professional, from what I've seen and what I participated in, the board has followed its own RFP for the selection of a construction manager and that that selection hasn't even been made yet. >> Mr. Marin, first of all, I want to ask, could we find another venue because I know that Director Fox is speaking, but I can't hear her and understand what she's saying. And I don't know if it's anybody else on this side of the table, but it isn't fair to us on this side of the table because we can't rebut or agree to what she's saying. She's saying that our we did not follow our our own RFP and I said that is not true. >> That's essentially it >> there's an
119allegation that we deviated from our RFP and I have refuted that allegation. >> I go with the solicitor's opinion. If you say it is, I stand behind you because you're our legal protection. >> Um and I just want to clarify this time that I'm as you said it was time for discussion. So, I'm asking the questions and I made it very clear that I was asking you your legal opinion that it is written one way and your response is that we're fine with um it written that way and we go another. Um, so >> we're not going another way. I think I think we're following it the way >> No, no, no. I'm just saying I'm just saying like just the just the part of saying it's chaired by director of operations. If that's fine,
120then that's just something I needed to understand. >> Director of operations chaired the operations. >> No, he director of operations is an administrator, not a board member. >> Okay. Um so then um I know at the operations meeting we talked um just very briefly um about why so should we talk publicly at all about costs of these or is that not a public discussion? >> I think now is the time to do that. >> Okay. So and that's where I just wanted to understand where everyone's coming from especially maybe the operations committee. Um because I'm not a pro in construction so I don't understand like I said I couldn't be at that meeting. So um like we were just talking about talked about all night long about how every penny counts. So, I just don't
121understand um the difference in like percentages of the six firms who um submitted and then the recommendation. So, I'm sure obviously like I know we don't have to go with the lowest. Um I fully understand that. Um but we did have such a brief conversation about it. So, like what um I I don't if this is a time we can have that discussion of um why is this the recommended candidate just so I can have a better understanding. solicitor man. Um, on that note, when if and or when an RFP is awarded, that begins the process of negotiating the language of a contract. Correct. >> So, we're not locked into anything um in terms of like the finality of the >> when I I I bid for my job and then I negotiated after I
122got selected for price. >> So, if there's a if there's something that the board doesn't like or it doesn't work out, we that's the end of it. Correct. >> That's correct. And I I'm telling you the truth. I don't even know who your recommended firm is. I it's not on the agenda in front of me. So, I mean, if somebody wants to answer Director Fox's question and say, "Here's who we're recommending and here's why." I think that would be appropriate. >> Yeah. I mean, I think we discussed it. The three operations committee members all discussed why they're um we made the recommendation. If you guys want to discuss it again, we can do that. Um but Director Fox, I I did say if anybody had any opinions on it, any of their own recommendations or
123any feedback. So, do you have a recommendation on who should >> No, no. That's why I'm asking you. You're like you were your committee was supposed to recommend it to us. just asking you why your recommendation is what it is. >> Correct. And we and we stated that at the operations meeting and I'll do it again. >> It was like three sentences said at the operations committee and we didn't talk about very much. So that's all that's and you No, no, no. It's not a bad thing. It was just the words were we'll discuss this at the work session. >> Okay. So I'm going to give you my I'm going to give you my reasoning and everybody could do that as well. Great. >> Um I went through all the proposals. Everybody was a great
124firm. There were some, you know, people who I looked at too when they have um change orders and stuff like that and some of their their information because we got hit with a lot of change orders this year. somewhere. Obviously, I know we're the um the permit cost, but I mean there's still some work we're talking about now over at West that might have over here that might have to be done with the floors. Um but the biggest thing for me was we have proof of some work they've done. We have four or five buildings that I tour. I go in on a frequent basis and I don't see any issues with it. I also there's if you drive around downtown you see you know a lot of the buildings at the U I believe
125this firm um has worked on and they're they're beautiful and we always get positive feedback in the community when I hear it. That's how I made my decision. >> Anybody else want to go >> I'm sorry. >> I made my decision pretty much the same way Director Mccandrew did looking over all them and some of the past work that they've done. >> Uh I'm I'm lucky or cursed to be in this space. Um this is like my professional life now. So I work with construction managers. I was with my construction manager today. Uh, in fact, and I work with architectures and architects and engineers all the time. I pulled a lot of the developers um that I work with and and I'm also familiar with Quandell because they built Scranton High. We are in their
126buildings all the time. Um, so what I what I've been harping on for a very long time is the need for a CM who can look out for our interests and they have proven that they can do this directly because they've done it for the district. and talking to and I brought um you know John Basil League's name up. I know he uses that in a lot them in a lot of his projects like these are people who are who are serious business people who are very happy with the work that they're getting um and working with them if they weren't happy that the firm would not even be working in Scranton. Like these are multi-million dollar massive projects. You mentioned the University of Scranton projects. Like I want the best product uh for the
127school district and that's why I went with that recommendation. I'm, you know, I'm in that world and and it makes sense to me to go with somebody who uh is active in the in the city, but also whose work we can judge because we're there like we're walking through Scranton High all the time. >> And I guess I would ask Director Fox, I know, like I said, I asked everybody who wasn't on the committee um to take a look at it. We have scoring rubrics sent out. Do you have a recommendation? Who do you think that was the best of all the proposals? >> Oh, um no, that's not my place at this time. Um the only I guess input I would have is um as it was stated about potential negotiations. Um I just
128kind of wrote down all the percentages for all the firms. Um so if as I'm just one board member which I um just my input is if we could um look at those percentages and see if we could do any better for the district. Um just because 1% of $5 million is $50,000. We were just talking about how we saved 35,000 um on the carpet tiles. So that's all I'm looking at is I'm just I I wrote down the numbers I'm looking at 1% 2% it might not seem like a lot when you're but when you're putting the numbers to paper it it does become a lot. So just that little bit of difference on some projects. So if we could just be um I just want to be a responsible board member with um
129taxpayer dollars that that's it. >> When you when you looked at when you looked at the proposals did you can you give us any feedback on what you thought um on based on any of the firms? I mean now you're asking us and we're you know we're answering. I'm just wondering, you know, if you have any questions or if you have any feedback based on what you saw that might differ from us or, you know, agree with us. Just curious. >> Um, no, I mean, I I appreciate the real world experience that you have that you're able to attest to. Um, you're probably I think you're the only one that um works in construction. Um, so I obviously don't so all I'm able to do is review these proposals and the numbers. I personally would
130have preferred if we brought in an outside expert um like was talked about the MMO. I understand that we didn't do that, but they would have been able to help me guide because I am not anywhere near a construction expert. So, all I could do is go off of um what the the words that you're saying and then what I see on paper. So, uh we did have six firms who um submitted and when I brought up the percentages there there were four that were cheaper. So, that was that was my only concern is that out of six, there were four that were cheaper than this one. So, that's it. That's my concern. If we're able to address that in any fashion, I'd appreciate it. >> Yeah. And I think I mean if I'm mistake
131me if I'm wrong I think when we did this with the state helped us out a few years ago when we hired uh Dwey I don't think they were you know the cheapest either you know cost definitely is a consideration but it's not the only consideration and I think that's you know past practice and a common thing in these in these situations that you're you know sometimes the cheapest isn't always the best quality and other things go into it. So yeah, that's why we put the rubric together to >> right >> to look at. Can I make a comment here >> and I'll be brief and according to Robert's rules were only allowed to really speak twice and I don't believe I spoke once yet, but I'll um wave my second time. Uh the first
132time that uh I believe the new members of the board came on, uh we asked Director Laffy about a roof that was uh going to be or that was recommended, I imagine, uh by our construction manager to be put on Armstrong School. And um Mr. Laffy, did you get a phone call concerning that roof from a former superintendent? >> I don't know if it was a phone call. It may have been a text message, but I was contacted. Correct. >> Can you sort of tell us what the >> Well, I don't want to be quoted because I I don't have it in front of me, but it was something to the effect of that the roof was replaced earlier than what was originally estimated at. >> Correct. And I was and I'm under the impression
133that uh our construction manager wanted to at that time put a roof on that was sake of argument um one to five years. I could be wrong. I but that was when I started having questions. Uh then we came I came up against the problem with the chiller over at McNichols Plaza and I mentioned that we didn't our construction manager called for a design fee of $64,000. Well, I've been in purchasing for over 18 years. And I'm not talking about pens and papers. I opened up three uh by myself veterans nursing homes from groundbreaking to our first resident. So I know something about purchasing and I know something about uh what you need to do RFQS and RFPs and the whole gamut. Well, I asked what our design fee was and why we were doing
134it. And our design fee was $64,000. Well, I knew we didn't need a design fee because all we needed to do was put out uh a model number, a make, serial number, and the people bidding on it would understand what our specifications were. Well, right there, that would have cost us $64,000. Then at our last meeting or two meetings from now, um, and we discussed this earlier tonight about the tile and the carpeting, uh, I believe it's for this building. And uh we were ready right then and there to appoint or to give our construction manager the go-ahad to do this. And I asked the question, what is our design fee? And their representative sat here and all I heard was crickets. Now, I understand the acoustics in this stage are kind of bad, but
135I think we would have heard something and it was crickets. Nobody could tell us what the design fee except that there was a design fee. Well, now we had Mr. Rucker come to the uh podium tonight. We don't need to have an architect for this. His men could do it alone. So between the carpeting and the chiller, if we listened to our present construction manager, we would have spent unnecessarily over $100,000. And when none of us seem to be here saying we're experts, we're experts. I think it's time for a change. I know Quandell has a good reputation in the city of Scranton. We have um experience with them, but I'm a little uneasy when I find out that our construction manager wants to put a new roof on Armstrong that hasn't that it uh
136was only installed one to five years. And I don't know the actual time, but if you don't want to go by that, let's go by the $64,000 for the um the chiller. >> Don't forget the $10 million roof at Scranton. >> Exactly. I don't feel warm and fuzzy about continuing down this path. I would rather have somebody who has their name plastered all over Johnson School uh the University of Scranton uh and who we have experience with within the Scranton school district. And if you want my recommendation, my recommendation is that we go with the company we know. When you go out of town and you want something to eat and you see over here on the right Joe's hamburgers and over here you have McDonald's. Who you going to pick? I don't know about
137you, but maybe I agree with Donald Trump on this. I like McDonald's on this one. >> I want to put out the resolution on Monday night. We either voted up, voted down. >> It's already on the It's already on. So, the >> Okay. Well, I don't need to be corrected. Uh, that's all I have. Robert's rule says that we're only allowed to speak twice on an issue. I've already spoken once. I believe other directors have spoken more than twice. I think it's time that we call for an adjournment. >> No, I'm going to let other people speak. Daniel, >> I just want to add one thing. So, I know like the topic of experts and consultant consultants came up a lot and I do agree there are situations where, you know, we could use that
138guidance, but I'm also thinking back to, you know, a recent time when we, you know, hired a a building study expert that, you know, $90,000 later, you know, told us to close multiple schools and we would have been in a very bad situation now, like even, you know, worse than what we're in currently. So, you know, I I'm sort of gravitating away from experts and consultants because, you know, we're also the board. We're the ones that were elected by the people to make such decisions. So, in this situation, you know, I do agree with the recommendation of the operations committee um that came over to the board for this. So, I just wanted to add my my opinion on the experts. And lastly, I'll say at no point did anyone ever reach out to me
139and ask for a consensus to hire an expert that anyone could have reached out at any point said I would like to. That was never done. And also, while I did not attend the operations meeting, I did watch it. And if I had questions, obviously they were directed to the operations people. My point being is we all had that opportunity to ask any questions. But like anything that we vote up, it's always recommended. Everyone has the opportunity to ask questions to get clarity, but at the end of the day, it's yes or no. There is no home run in anything we do. The best that we always do is we look to hire the best person for a job here in the district. We all know that once they're hired, it begins the negotiation process.
140So, the numbers that is something that can be done after we vote the school the central administration solicitor get to work and they get a contract done. Again, we're still in the middle of this. Um, I don't want anyone to be misled like we're just going there and they're writing a blank check. That's not the case. Um, anyone that has questions still pertaining obviously submit them. We have a week before we vote. Um, I'm com comfortable with the recommendation moving forward. Again, I do believe Dwey um while they've done a great job in areas we do need someone that works for the district. I'm comfortable with that and look forward to moving forward with it. fair funding. Superintendent, >> I I gave I gave my overall um kind of spiel on the budget. It was
141also in the weekly update at the beginning of the meeting. Um Director Strleki, I do think at some point we're going to want to do something a little more loud with advocating, especially as we're crossing into October and this doesn't seem like it's ending. I was kind of holding tight to see if there was that handshake deal after October 6th because then I would have concrete on where money was coming in. But if not, we're going to have to beat the drum a little bit. >> Okay, >> that's it. Dr. King is it? >> I have nothing else. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Move to adjurnn.