001Good evening. Can you hear me? >> Okay. All right. Great. Thank you. Hold on. Didn't get that far. I had to move my mic. Good evening and welcome to tonight's Spring Grove School Board meeting. At this time, will you please stand for the allegiance and a moment of prayer? >> Silence. introduction. The United States. Y'all may be seated. All right. Well, thank you everyone for uh being in attendance. Everyone that's at home watching and listening, we do appreciate it. Happy summer to everyone. Everyone can shake off the jitters. Get to relax a little bit. So, at this time, we're going to do our favorite roll call. Balm >> here. >> Ramsey >> here. >> Ritz >> sheer >> here. >> Stein >> here. >> Waterstodorf >> here. >> White >> here. >> Wilston >> here.
002>> Mrs. Walders Dorf is participating via Zoom >> and Eric Bariner is out on personal leave. Um, we had an executive session on May 18th, 2026 for some school safety discussion. So, at this time, if anyone is interested in coming forward um to address the board and we have what, Michelle, come on down. Either a gonna become your worst nightmare or b become your best friend. Um so I had planned and I had started working on a federal grant and my initial thing was for mock trial. However, in researching this grant and I have a proposal that I kind of outlined and yes why the outline is for mock trial. It will benefit all of Springrove and let me explain why. If the Springrove Area Education Fund would apply for this grant and apply for
003it as the Springrove interdisciplinary leadership initiative, we can not only bring in Mocktra, we can bring in DECA, Future Farmers Agricultural Club, Big Buddy, Student Lighthouse, CAD and CAM Club, and many others. The reason why this federal grant is a good possibility for our school is because we can frame it that every club and every organization to promote the safety of a service road which you guys want or other service factors or safety factors that you want in the school by adding student initiative and if we collaborate together we can apply for this grant. It is a 2-year grant. We can apply for $50,000 which would help offset a lot of these expenses, clubs, things that are necessary that our budget is struggling for. I don't mind helping. I don't mind coming up here and
004talking about different grants, different ways to raise money. I cannot do it alone. I am one person. I have a family. I have a job. I have a farm. I will help. And that's why I'm here is because I have found a grant, a federal grant that just opened up May 28th that would benefit so many different aspects that this board is trying to accomplish. You might have lost the grant money that you needed for that service road, but what happens if you would have included the students voices in that grant? That would have changed something for the feds. That would change something for the state that would have got publicity of what you're trying to do and the students involved. The impact American civics, this is what the initiative is. The US Department of
005Education, American History and Civics Grant Program is requesting any college or nonprofit established nonprofit organization to submit proposals for a 2-year program. That is why I'm up here because I'm trying to find a win-win for everybody. I cannot do it without help. So, I will be up here talking about different grants. I will come up with different solutions because I don't like problems. I like solutions. I like answers. I like teamwork. You want us to fund it? Then support us. Help us. Give us the resources that we need. Work with us. because as a team you can accomplish way more than an individual. So if you have it, I gave her a copy. Keep in mind while this is an outline for mock trial, it kind of outlines the deadline, but we can quickly switch
006it over for the Springrove Area Education Fund to submit. It doesn't mean we'll get it, but it means that we have a fighting chance. And that's what it's all about because you learn and you grow as a school, as a district, as a team, working together to better all aspects. That's what I have to say. So, if anybody wants a copy, I gave her a copy. Um, and I have an extra copy. >> Thanks. Thanks very much. She's going to go ahead and scan it and get us all copies so we can review. And again, if anybody has any questions or needs additional information, please feel free. I've been out of commission for two weeks. I was in an automobile accident, so I'm a little late getting everything up. But, you know, I'm again, I'm
007here to help you, not bring a problem, but to bring solutions. Thank you. Well, thank you, Michelle, and thank you for all of your hard work, and we'll certainly uh see what we can do to obtain some help for you. We'll talk to the administration. >> Sure. Well, thank you. Okay, moving on. Any uh other questions or anything? Anyone else would like to come up and speak twice? Okay. Uh moving on, we have correspondence and at your seat. Uh there are two things. There's the 26 board agenda and meeting timeline. If you could take uh look at that. And the other thing, this is what I'm really excited about and I hope to see all all your shining faces. We have the uh 26 27 back to school nights orientation. Yes, there is candy provided
008at the table. It's a great time to get out and meet the public, shake hands, kiss babies. It's a wonderful thing. Karen and I attend a lot of them. Doug attend some. Nice to see you. Ben out there. Mike and Rodney, Jess, Nicole. Please sign up. Give back to the community. All right. Well, that's all I have. So, now we'll move on the superintendent report. Daffany, >> thank you. So, the month of May, as you can imagine, flew by like a flash between concerts and athletic events, building events, graduation, and a whole list of other things. Uh, the the month was truly a blur. Starting with athletics, the high school unified track and field capped off an outstanding season by earning second place finish at the 2026 PIAA Intercolasters Scholastic Unified Track and Field Championships.
009Their runner-up performance on the state stage reflects the dedication of each athlete and the strong sense of unity that makes the program really special. Our rocket gymnast had an outstanding season competing with the handover gymnastics team. Several of our athletes earned medals, achieved personal bests, and earned spots at the state competition also. So, congratulations to our gymnast. Senior, now graduate, Luke uh Bear, received an impressive milestone of 1,000 career assists on the volleyball court. His 10,000th assist was made in late April during the boys volleyball game against New Oxfords. Congratulations to Luke. Um, also our senior, now graduate, Ella Bond, delivered another standout performance at the 2026 PIAA track and field championships, adding two more gold medals to her collection and finishing an incredible high school career with over with a total of seven state
010titles. Ella was crowned state champion in the 300 meter hurdles for the fourth consecutive year and took home gold in the 100 meter meter meter hurdles. having trouble tonight. Mr. White, congratulations once again to Ella for an outstanding career here at Spring Grove Area School District. One other may highlight included the Springrove Intermediate School podcast. So, I had the opportunity to meet with students behind the SGI podcast inside scoop team. This conversation was organized and led by the students who developed their own questions they wanted to ask the new superintendent. It was a lot of fun to watch them take charge of the interview and give me an opportunity to share something about my journey and experiences on a personal level. So, it was very fun. Nothing could have prepared me for the experience and
011emotions that I felt the night of graduation. The ceremony, the facility, the procession, the music, everything. The amazing scoreboard and video technology was honestly the most spectacular commencement that I have experienced. I am truly grateful and honored to serve in the this community and want to take another opportunity to just thank you for entrusting me with the privilege of serving as the superintendent. It was amazing. In legislative news, the House passed bill 1814 that bans the use of cell phones during the school day on school property. The timeline of this is going in supposedly going into action in 2026 27. However, there is some advocacy for pushing this to a 2728 uh implementation. So, we'll see what happens with that down the road. And finally, because we have action items on the agenda for this
012evening, which will likely lead to some additional discussion about the high school access road, I'd like to take a few minutes to provide an update regarding this project. Please know that information has been changing rapidly and flowing between site logic team and lowbar team, Jackson Township supervisors, and members of our leadership team and board. many phone calls, many emails, and lots and lots of discussions about this project. For example, I know that there have been questions and concerns related to where the dirt from the YMCA project is going and why it's not going to the area close to the planned road. Uh, this is really based on a renewed interest in doing the access road and something that just got approved for us to do just days ago. Actually, we've been working very hard to
013gather information that answers questions and ensures that any recommendations are based on a thorough review of both costs and project needs. In summary, here's what we know. We cannot look at this project as anything but essential. We are required to have curbing for storm water management. With the current elevation and slope of the embankment, township officials and our team strongly advise that we need guard rails as well. We are required to have lights, but we are not required to have sidewalks. If this is something that we want to look at later, we can definitely do that as an option, but that's not a requirement at this time. While we are still awaiting updated construction costs from Lobar, it is important to acknowledge that costs will likely exceed the excess the estimates presented to the board
014back in April over a year ago in 2025 due to inflation and the current market conditions. At the same time, we are actively exploring opportunities to reduce some of those increases by taking advantage of existing site conditions, current mobilization efforts, and coordination with future projects. However, we may not be able to get the project under the financial threshold with which board members are comfortable. At this point, both Lobar and Site Logic have independently reviewed the access road project. We met with Jackson Township on the design, and we've had many conversations with building leadership staff, our SRO's, and our chief lash. Everyone involved with this project has reached the same conclusion. Proceeding with the current design is the most coste effective, reasonable and logical path forward. This recommendation is based on several key factors. First, the
015project has already completed the engineering approval and permitting process, including the MPDES approval, meaning it is essentially shovel ready. Second, the access road would provide a critical secondary route into and out of the campus during emergencies, which will significantly improve the safety and security of our students. Third, the project directly supports previous safety and traffic flow recommendations by helping to reduce congestion and better separate student drivers, parent traffic, buses, vans, and delivery vehicles. Both lowbar and site logic also determine the opportunities for meaningful cost savings through redesign are limited due to site constraints, grading requirements, and property boundaries. In addition, redesigning the project would require a new engineering process, additional permitting, and further approvals, potentially delaying construction by another year at best. Estimated redesign and permitting costs alone could approach $100,000 with an additional 50
016to100 on construction escalation costs resulting from the delay. For those reasons, we believe that moving forward with the currently permitted design allows the district to avoid unnecessary redesign costs, minimize the impact of inflation, and address a longstanding safety concern as quickly as possible. This evening you will see two motions on the agenda related to site logic. The first authorizes site logic to continue working alongside Lobar to review the project design and updated costs providing the board with an additional layer of independent analysis. The second authorizes Site Logic to assist the district with future grant writing opportunities and other capital improvement projects. Mr. Dr. Andrew from Site Logic and team are here with us tonight and available to answer any questions the board has regarding the firm's review analysis or recommendations. Chief Lash, as you can
017see in the front, is also here with us this evening and available to address the board and answer any questions that you might have regarding safety and the urgency of getting this project underway. Chief and Andrew and team, thank you for your support and for taking the time to be here this evening. We really appreciate your support of the district. So, thank you. And that is all I have this. >> All right. Well, thank you very much. I appreciate it. And uh to walk in Deaf's high heel shoes here to extend a very warm thank you from the entire board to the high school on the graduation. They did a fabulous job. Very professionally done. The students were amazing. very uh gracious, excited I should say and um in an hour and a half we
018were completed with graduation which was unusual. We actually heard from other people some graduations what two and a half three hours long. So for what was it 20 659 students that that was pretty impressive. So, uh, kudos to everyone, to the staff, to, uh, the parking attendants, to everyone out on the field, and, you know, uh, our police department was there to help. So, a big thank you to everyone. It, it went off without a hitch. Uh, so, moving on, uh, we have district department reports, uh, business office department report that everyone has, uh, information in your packets about that or on your little handy dandy, uh, device. uh human resource department report that's uh in your packet too. Athletics department report is in your packets as well or online. Is there any questions or
019anything anyone has about those from the board? All right, moving on. So now we're going to regular voting actions and then we have budget and finance. Mr. Ramsey. >> Budget and finance board actions requested. Homestead farmstead exemption. Approval of the homestead assessment exemption of $8,742 and a farmstead assessment exemption of approximately 878742 for the school year beginning July 1, 2026 under the provision of the Homestead Property Exclusion Program Act and Taxpayer Relief Act. B. pre-construction management services approval to enter into agreement with site logic IQ according to the terms and conditions outlined in the attached proposal to work with administration and Lobar Associates serving as the district's project manager and review the proposed high school rear access road project to establish a base project in a series of ad alternates at the lowest cost possible
020for the board's consideration at a cost not to exceed 1750 bucks C grant Grant writing and advocacy advocacy services approval to enter into agreement with site logic IQ according to the terms and conditions outlined in the attached proposal to work with administration and review the district's current facility needs to determine applicable grant programs that support funding facility improvements at a success fee equal to 4% of any and all grants awarded to the school district. So moved on budget and finance. >> Any questions? Any questions, comments? >> But maybe we maybe we need to talk about this later, but um in terms of grant writing, um is are we going to write a grant for the current access road project? Is that still happening? because we >> no >> that was discussed as an option to
021there was >> and so we did not apply >> that was discussed as an option and when we further explore the access road project what we what we know is that there's an urgency to the project that doesn't align with the timeline of the grant. So there are other opportunities to use that grant funding for other projects, but for this one, there's just an immediate need to get this project done. And if we would use the grant money for that, we would be looking at, I would say, at least a year out, maybe two. >> So we are applying for a grant. We're just not going to use the funds on that project. And Site Logic is going to do a tour um of the facilities and understand how we can use that money in
022a different area for other stuff that we need. I just don't know if I agree. I mean, in terms of if we could get something that would give us a road a year from now, I don't know if that would be a terrible thing, right? I mean, >> well, the reason why it was uh it was discussed in site logic uh agreed 100%. Due to the time constraint time, we would put the u grant in. And again, we're almost looking at another year and a half when we have equipment and everything on site now where we could basically get a faster answer and turn and burn and be able to start digging faster instead of relocating back on back off site. And but the other thing and correct me if I'm wrong group in the
023back, we may not be guaranteed that as well. So then that's another year and a half, two years we would waste again. >> Can can we ask you to use the microphone up here please for our live stream audience? >> Okay, >> shouting from the back is probably not very professional. Um, two things I would say. Um, number one, you're absolutely correct. There's no certainly no guarantee. The program closes July 31st. They would make awards probably March, April, May of next year. Um so you would be essentially waiting a year. And the second thing I wanted to say is unfortunately the grant program does not let you work retroactively. So the second you start construction, you become ineligible for using state funds to pay for that. So, we've primarily looked at uh state grants. Um
024but we have obviously reviewed um federal grants. A lot of times what the federal government will do is they will um use the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. They'll use Pendot as a pass through. So, the federal money will flow through the state essentially. So, you're still applying to the state. Um it's just federal dollars. So, um, the US DOT will use PENDOT as the administering agency. >> All right. Thank you. Appreciate it very much. >> Well, I just I want to weigh in on some of this stuff. >> It uh, you know, everybody says it's an urgency. It's a matter of life and death. We've been going on there for 18, 19 years now, and that never happened. So, you know, people say, "Well, we can't we couldn't start this road. We couldn't haul the
025ground there because we didn't have an ENS plan." You know, I'm not the smartest person in the world, but we have an ENS plan for over there at that high school back road. We didn't have one for up at the water tank. They say we couldn't put a construction entrance in over there at the high school and dump background over there because we didn't have a plan. But we cut a road in and put a construction entrance in over at the water tank road where we disturbed probably 20 times more area than if we' have did it over where it belonged. So, we're talking about saving money. We at the last building ground meeting, someone said we can save $300,000 by having this ground on site. We ain't doing that. We hold the ground somewhere
026else. We hold it up to the water tank where we got to load it and move it again. So, you know, and these guys say, you know, it's you can hire as many people at the top to watch this thing as you want. If you don't change the location of that road and the length of that road and change that road, you're not going to save a dime. You can have eyes on that all you want. So, fellas, don't sit here and tell me we can't go with less than a 4% grade going up there. We were told when we got the the permitting process through that for that land development plan that we can change that road as long as we don't go bigger. We can do anything we want and it's no big
027deal with the township. Now I'm hearing it's going to cost $100,000. I don't believe any of that. I'm sorry. I just don't believe that. I don't believe it's true. I've been in con I was in construction for 25 years and did these many of these projects and never heard nothing so ridiculous in my life as to haul the ground from the YMCA to the water tower and now we're going to load it back up and haul it up there and you're telling me we're saving money. That's not a fact, fellas. And you're never going to tell me any different than that. So I agree. I'd love to have the road there. There's no reason we can't put a road there, but there's no reason to put a road in that length and and then then
028to have that kind of expense on it. It's just no reason for it. And as far as lighting, the township saying required lighting. I drove through the developments all around this place where roads were put in and a lot of them don't have street lights on. Spirit Lane don't have street lights on. So, I don't know where they're coming up that when when we get this information. I would very much like to have copies of their zoning ordinance that requires this so I can look it up because I think sometimes people are just pulling this stuff out of their hat. That's my belief. So I will tell you right now, I will argue this thing until the day you guys put it in that it it's ridiculous to spend this kind of money when we
029don't need a road like that for years. I mean, we did when you did that water line, we hauled that ground on top of the water tower. We could have dumped it over there. That that we don't plan anything here. We do everything in this government does everything ass backwards to what a person that had actually when the money's come out of your pocket, you wouldn't do it that way. So I hope we look at it. I hope we think about it. And uh I just if if we can't find an engineering firm or a architect firm that wants to to do a better job, then I I don't not I don't know what to do. This is ridiculous. You know, we spent I don't know how many times we spent. This is an identical
030road to what what was it? KPI that gave us the the price when and Crab Train Roarball looked at. It's identical road. And at that time it was I don't remember what it was. It was under $100,000 and we turned it down then. >> Yeah. And we turned it down then because it was too much and it was too long. We didn't like it coming way up there. We're back at the same thing. This is why nothing gets done. You know, six weeks ago, I talked to quite a few people in administration. I talked to the contractor down there and told them, "Do not haul that ground up there. Hau over where we need it." And they said, "Oh, we don't have an ENS plan." You don't have an ENS plan for the water tower
031either. We didn't do a call one when they booked that road in up there to the water tower. There's no silt saw up the whole way along that road at the water tower, but we couldn't do it over there over the same on our same site. Somebody's for beans. That's all I got to say. >> Any rebuttal mark? >> I can. Mr. White, where would you like me to start? I'm not gonna I'm not going to argue with Mr. Shear. He has he brings up a lot of um valid points. Um but um and Mr. Shear and I spoke today. I brought this to the contractor's attention. Um as Dr. Kurpatre mentioned, um they reached out to York County Conservation. We got the approval on I believe May 28th. Uh we've been requesting it. We
032got the approval to dump the field ground on May 28th. Uh Mr. Styles and I reached out to them on Friday and on Monday and they're now waiting for the um for the site utility location. That's what the uh the contractor wants. So, I do agree um that it does appear that uh is it is a delay uh in in in you know that it's not happening really quickly, but again um you know, we're at the we're at the mercy of the of the contractors and and others that are working on the project. Um, I will argue uh some of his points. Uh, the school district did a resolution with the YMCA. Um, I believe it was November of 2025. I think what the board needs to understand is that when we did the master
033land development project, the parking in front of the former middle school is a YMCA project. If you remember, we did a resolution for the YMCA to pay for that. This was not going to be a school district project. So, this is the YMCA's project. So, again, we're not the ones who are calling the shots on that project. The YMCA is. So, we're working through Lowar and we're we're communicating with Lobar and the YMCA. So, we can't basically make those decisions on their project for their construction project. the board did a resolution allowing them to do that construction project. So, I hope that makes sense. Like we are requesting for the filter to be moved over there. Um, but I I you know it's it's it's different than if it's a school district project. Does that
034make sense to everybody? >> But I I thought that project in that contract it the the agreement in the contract for the contractor that the ground stayed on site. >> Correct. And in November of 2025, we had spoke to the contractor about putting the field ground at the water tower. There was the the the access road had been denied by the school district, I believe, two or three months prior to that. So, we had worked with the contractor and said, "We want the fill ground to be put at the water tower." So, I I I do agree with you on some points, but um we had no reason to put it at the at the um uh at the road. We were assuming that we were going to be using it for the maintenance facility.
035>> So, we have an ENS plan on that then for the ground to go up to the water tower. >> Correct. Yes, we do have an ENS plan for the water tower. Um, and the York County Conservation said that they will allow us to dump it at the high school access road because when we did the master land um NPDES permit for the entire facility, we included that road. So they said that they will allow us to to move it over as long as we put the road in and the silt sock all that everything that you mentioned there as far as a dump. >> Why do we need sil sauce and stuff at the >> I don't know. I I can ask your county conservation why we need it there and why we don't
036need it up top there. I I can't answer that. >> Yeah. So you're telling me the ground through that project was already done at your county and conservation for that the ground to go up there was the water tower. >> Correct. Yeah. That was um November of 2025. >> Thank you. >> And Bill or Mr. Styles, anything I missed there? I know you missed something, but Okay. >> So, one one more question. In terms in terms of the cost of that, is that road going up to the water tower temporary >> or >> Yes. Yes. Um the low bar actually H&H was the contractor. Uh the YMCA Yeah, the YMCA is paying for all that project there. The YMCA is paying 100% of that project. There's no no district fees coming out of it. We
037are coordinating with them. We just we have to be careful because as the board remembers, this project is being paid for by the YMCA um from basically private funds from them. It's not from the rack P from the state. It's not prevailing wage project. This is a YMCA privately paid project. So the district, we made it clear that the district will not be involved and because we they're not using district state funds. That makes sense. So >> I agree. But it's our ground. We own the we own the ground. >> Correct. And we and we asked for that ground to stay on school district land. And our fill site is at the water tower. And that's what we worked with the county conservation to say that's where we want the ground. That's where I say
038our weaknesses are. You know, we knew we needed this ground if we were going to do we know eventually we're going to build a back road in there and the the hold up on the back road to the high school is cost. So that would have done nothing but help the cost of the back road of that. That would have been that would have put that, you know, if I heard him right, that would have saved us the $300,000 for the fill. I I agree with you with the first part that it would have saved the district money. I I'll argue the amount of fill. I don't believe that we had >> Well, that's what we were told at the building ground meeting. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I mean, that's I've got a paper saying
039that. >> If that that was true, then all I'm saying that we don't >> I don't I just don't understand it. I don't understand when we when we just do things completely ass backwards. It's just this makes no sense. >> Rod, if if it was in their contract and it had to get approved to put in a road to put it at the water tower, I agree that hindsight's 2020 at this point. If we had known that we were going to bring the road back as quickly as we were, then we could have asked them, and I imagine they would have obliged to put a road in and submit it that way when they did their project. But once they submitted the project and it got approved, they can't stop their YMCA project because we
040want to move the dirt over. I appreciate the intention of trying to save the money. I want to save all the money we can. But once that those plans got submitted and they agreed to put a temporary road into the water tower, that's where the dirt has to go until we get it approved, which we already did last week, you said, from Jackson Township that they can now put in another road to take it and put it somewhere else, which they're doing at no additional cost to anybody. So, it's outside of their original scope of service, and they're already cooperating with us. So, do I wish that we could have done it gone back and identified that? But >> I don't know that any of us would have thought about that if we weren't doing
041the road because we shut the road down with the understanding that when we shut this road down and we said we weren't doing it, it was going to be years >> before we came back because of the size of the project. We knew that we had to finish the first one and then we could go back and start another permit process for the other one. So, it was going to be years down the road. So, can we just ask the gentleman in the back the question of the $300,000 that we could potentially save? How much of that money are we not going to be able to save if the dirt has to get moved again? Because one part was having the dirt and the second part was moving the dirt. So, how much of the
042$300,000 are we not going to be able to save if we have to move the dirt a second time? >> Andrew, come on. Andrew, right? Come on now. >> Yell from the back again. You can get in trouble again. >> So, while while while Andrew's coming up, I'm going to put you on the spot. Tell us you looked at you reviewed the plans. You reviewed the plans with Lowar. Are the plans in spec? Can they be changed? What what can we look at to do anything differently? My understanding is if the district wants to deviate from the project as is currently permanent and designed, it would require trigger significant changes to the design and the permit which would then trigger the entire process over again. That is my understanding. Um to answer your your question,
043Mr. Ramsey, >> just to be just to be clear with your county conservation, not with Jackson Township because that's what we were told from Jackson Township. Um Mr. year could we we asked that night when you or the next morning we asked Jackson Township and they would not have an issue if the road was smaller but they said your county conservation would have an issue with it >> and they are the entity that oversees the NPDS permitting process on behalf of the the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. To answer your question, what we said was you need we estimated very briefly obviously we looked at the project and we estimated you might you're you're going to need around 15,000 cubic yards of fill. If you were to get a significant portion of fill from the
044other project, you could save up to $300,000. Certainly, we didn't factor it in being moved. Um, but we also still don't yet have an exact quantity from Lobar on what amount of fill would be coming from the YMCA project to the high school to support the high school access road. >> So, can you give me a range because I'm looking for like we're still going to save a bunch of that money is what you're saying. It's just it's not going to be as much if it has to get moved again. >> It's not going to be as much if it has to get moved again. And I think the other issue is it's it's not going to be there there's not going to be 15,000 cubic yards of fill coming from the YMCA project. Um
045as it pertains to the road. Um and we said I said this at the buildings and grounds meeting. the original people that we had do the engineering. Um, without speaking for everybody, I feel like there was a lack of trust in their numbers and the stuff was inflated. Um, what Mr. Shear and some other people have talked about is why does the road need to be that long? Because if and I think this is the part that looking for some clarity on because if we can significantly cut out the road or the cost of the road. The problem with the road was not whether or not people agreed that it needed to be done but it was with the number and what the total amount was. Um one of the things that was used to
046deter us from the first group was the slope of the road. Um, now I've never been in construction, but some quick research online saying, I believe they use the number of 4%. That they wanted a max of a 4% grade. Um, can you talk about that a little bit? Because if we shorten the road and it increases the grade, um, that's not what Penn site says is at 4%, but I also did a short amount of research on it. What is a safe slope for a road? And if we make the road shorter, I believe the comment was made that you're going to trade dollars almost because of the increased amount of money that's going to be required for excavation. Um, can you talk about that a little bit? Because I think what to Mrs.
047Wilson's point. Um, there's a threshold where I think what people are looking for is is if we wait, we can put the to redesign the road, we can potentially save x number of dollars. Um, versus doing it now, grant, no grant, like what's the relative cost of construction equipment? I'm putting a lot of stuff out there, but I think that's what people want to know is if we do it now versus later, like what's the potential best case scenario for both scenarios? >> So, I'll try to answer your questions in the order. Um, first of all, I can't tell you, and I'm not going to stand up here and lie to you, that I know the percentage grade that would be appropriate for that driveway. Um, I would rely on a civil engineer. I'm not
048a civil engineer to to answer that question for you. Um, I'd be happy to get you something from a civil engineer that provides recommendations for grades for different road types. Um, to answer your second question, um, delaying this project, for instance, if you were to go after a grant and you were to delay this project 12 months, it's reasonable, especially with what is going on in the world, to expect 5 to 10% inflation on construction material costs over the next 12 months. Yep. >> So, delaying a million dollar project roughly, you know, it it's anywhere from a hundred to $150,000. >> You could just say $800,000 project. I think everybody would stop arguing anyway. Sorry. >> From what I'm hearing, it's going to be well over a million because I think our last estimate was
049what? One point. >> Two. So now we're hear Now I'm hearing 1.4. So I Yeah, that's >> Yeah, I will say I mean we we do not have updated pricing from LowBar. The district is not in receipt of updating pricing from LowBar. So I can't provide any exact recommendations or scrutiny on that cost figure. I think, you know, the reality of the situation is there's an expressed desire for this project and we're trying to do everything we can to help the district get it um at the best cost that we can in the time frame that you are wishing to pursue this in. >> So, the equipment component that's been referenced, uh what's the dollar value that comes as a savings if the equipment's already there? I mean, I think you could expect, you know,
050general conditions on a project of this size is a probably 50 to $100,000. I see Dave nodding in the back. So, um I think you know with what is going on with the maintenance building project that is anticipated to start October, November >> potentially. Yes. >> Yeah. Late early midfall. Um, you know, I think you could see, yeah, I think it's reasonable to expect a break on the general conditions of this project. So, $50 to $100,000. Do I think you'd see a complete break on that? No. But it is reasonable to expect that Lowbar is going to give you better pricing because they're already anticipating having materials, staff, time, manpower committed to the maintenance building. And the reality is if the district pursued this project with vigor and wanted to approve it at their next
051board meeting, you're not breaking ground until likely August. I mean, by the time you mobilize and get staff ready, I mean, and the excavation world, most contractors are signed up. So, you know, their summer work is going to start slowing down in August. That's when it would pick back up. Can you talk a little bit about the um if you've seen it and you have the ability to elaborate on it because one of the things that I feel like was said if we shorten the road we're trading dollars because of the additional excavation. Have you guys been able to look at that or is that what you guys are going to be able to report back to us? >> Yeah, sorry. I I I think we we will definitely look at when we receive costs
052from LowBar, we'll definitely scrutinize them to the point where we will recommend value engineering options. But candidly, because of the site constraints, you know, with property boundaries in the grade, you are fairly limited in terms of options that are available to you to provide an access road. Again, we were focused on this particular project or this particular design as it's been permitted because, you know, those are those are significant milestones, you know, to to get a project to this point. And so before we went um and looked at maybe significant changes to the roadway, we wanted to evaluate um the legitimacy of the project as it was currently designed. Can I follow up? There's a couple clarifications. F. First of all, M Mrs. Wilson, that that road has always been there. Um, it's just not
053pronounced like it is now since it was excavated. Uh, that's been a a dumping area up there for the last 19 years since high school's built. Um, we ran several projects, dump truck loads up there, including the the water project, the domestic domestic water project four years ago with another contractor ran close to 50 loads of U triacles up there without a problem. This particular contractor um worked with LowBar. They had concerns about that and they excavated with the bulldozer to level it off up on the top end so there wasn't so much tilt. And then at the same time, they thought if if it would get into a rainy season with that stone at the end, it would prevent some of the uh mud uh coming onto Rocket Drive. And then the other thing
054about um slope as as we were working through this project, and I'm not sure what the pendot um specs are, and I know Mr. year um has stated many times that there's uh roads in the Pigeon Hills that are exceeding much more than we have here on campus, but our intent as we're looking to this road was we don't want anything steeper or with additional slope than we have on campus already. So between on Rocket Drive, between Spirit Lane and the high school, there's one section there that that's over 9% not quite 10. And then with the current design with the long road, we don't exceed seven and a half the whole the whole road itself as it is. So just a little clarification on that of how how we got to where we're at.
055>> So what what I think Mr. Shear was asking for and I and I don't disagree with this part when we're talking about things like slope and the legal components that are attached to being part of a school district. I I I think that part helps. um everybody to understand what make it helps me at least to understand what makes doing a project at a school uniquely different to what I'm going to do at my house because if there's things that are in place that require us to do things a certain way um that information is helpful when we're trying to make sense of a government that does things backwards that more than one person has set. So, um I don't want a ski slope for a access road, but there's a threshold that I
056imagine everybody is going to have. And if it's 1% for $300,000, I think that's the kind of information that people want to be able to make a decision that if it's a shorter road and it's 8 1/2 versus 7 and 1/2, then show us what it if there's something that it has to be what it is so we can go through. And a huge part of this whole project has been the first group of engineers were so far out there with what they gave us that it's created a scenario where everybody wants to challenge it. But the challenging of it is designed to not waste money, not because people don't want to do it. And I would I would say um just in an effort to give us something that we can keep and know
057for a fact is true. Um we're talking about sidewalks. No, actually we're not talking about sidewalks, guardrails, lighting, etc. I want to I'd like to see either the ordinance or whatever. I'd like to see that guidance for us. um because we always talk about what the guidance is, but I want I'd like to see it. Um and I think I think I can speak for everyone. Um not necessarily currently with this, you know, this this board things seem to change >> quite a bit and I want to see it. So um so that we understand exactly what is necessary, what do we have to have versus what can we have, right? So, and I I'd like to see >> and we did get that verbally up at the township building a week and a half
058ago. So, backing that up in writing shouldn't be very >> I don't I don't necessarily want the writing from you. I would like to see the documentation from the Yeah. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. But I I want all of you to remember something. We have a bond. We're not doing tax increase or anything. the money is aotted there for these improvements and this is something that we can pass tomorrow and start constructing. So if it's a million a million two the money is aotted. I understand we all want to be good stors with taxpayers money but at the end of the day 19 20 years whatever enough is enough we need to move and put a road in for the safety of our students and that's sometimes where our views come
059off hand we want to look at the viewpoint of being the the good savior and the taxpayers and on the other hand we're not thinking about the students and what we have to do as far as safety and and one way one out. So, just keep that in mind. We do have the funds available. It's not what we're asking for a, you know, 5% uh tax increase to the, you know, taxpayers. The money is allotted. The money is there and that's what it's used for. So, we >> I I agree um that the money is there, but just because it's there doesn't mean we should use it in a fashion that is not necessary. So I appreciate that very much. But at the end of the day, we have had 18 19 years without this
060road. And my point is is if we could get a grant and we had and we could we could delay maybe a year, maybe a year and a half and cut the cost of this for the district by half. I want I'd like to consider that, right? I mean, we haven't had a had a road in 18 years. I have children that go to the school. Um, one graduated and everything went fine, right? Um, so I just I want to make sure and and it's not about the safety of the kids. It is about the safety of the kids. We're doing what we can, but that should not be um whether or not we choose to do it today or a year from now has no bearing on whether or not all of us care
061about the safety of the kids. Of course, we care about the safety of the kids. That's why we're all sitting here, right? So, okay, let's move on. So, budget finance. >> We need to vote. >> Y >> I got a Ram Ramsey. >> Do I have roll call? >> What are we voting on? >> Under your little computer there. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Shear. >> Yes. >> Wilson, >> yes. >> Ramsey, >> yes. >> Ritz, >> yeah. >> Bomb. Yes. Watersf. Yes. >> Stein. >> Yes. >> White. >> Yes. >> All right. Well, thank you everyone for your vote. >> Uh, moving on, we have personnel. Miss Wilson. So, wait while you're looking. Uh, one more thing. So, um, that means got back there three or four amigos. Three. That means the three of
062you need to start doing some homework and presenting to the board some good facts. That's your homework. So, um, personnel board actions requested. Letter A, resignations, acceptance of the following resignations as listed. Letter B, teacher appointments, approval of the following teacher appointments for the 2026 2027 school year. Um, Katherine Grafton, I hope I'm saying that right. New Salem Ele for New Salem Elementary and Springrove Elementary um as an IST gifted instructor. Um number two, Corey Mangle. Um she um Springrove Area High School would be a learning support teacher for next year. Um letter C, guest teacher substitute approval of the following individuals holding a PA teaching certificate or bachelor's degree and completing the the district's guest teacher orientation program. Um, number one, David Fair. Letter D, classified substitute approval of the following classified substitute for
063the classification as listed. Um, Ethan Laughman. Letter E, uncompensated leave approval of the following request for uncompensated leave as listed. Um, letter F, athletics approval of the following coaches for the 2026 2027 season as listed. Letter G, aquatics approval for the following individuals pending a receipt of updated clearances to work aquatic aquatic events as listed. So moved on personnel. >> Is there any questions? All right, moving on. Roll call vote. >> Wilson, >> yes. >> Mom, >> yes. >> Shear, >> yes. >> Waterfr. >> Yes. Yes. >> Ramsey. >> Yes. >> Ritz Stein. >> Yes. >> White. >> Yes. And thank you everyone for your votes. Appreciate it. >> Yes. Before we move on, >> it is my pleasure to introduce Katherine or Kathy who will be filling in for the position. She'll be filling
064the position of Beth Mauy who retired at the end of the 2526 school year. Katherine is will be an instructional support. She is currently an instructional support teacher at St. Rose of Lima Elementary School and pre has previous experience working in the York City School District. So Kathy, welcome to Spring Grow Area School Bishop. >> All right, moving on. Welcome Katherine. Um, that ends our action voting meeting. Do we >> second? >> All in favor? >> I Okay, now we're calling the director study forum. And do we have any uh formal or informal requests to address the board? Okay, seeing none, we're going to move into uh business and finance committee. And Mr. Ramsey, >> I believe we're going to hand it over to Mr. Zack. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Ramsey. If you're okay
065with it, I'm going to um continue um with each of these from one to looks like number six, then I'll turn it over to Dr. Lewick. So, the first one we have is we have the engagement of our auditing firm. Um we have uh we're recommending uh engaging Cockenau Ernest and Meiser and Berg um as a school district's public uh accountants for um for the year ending June 30th, 2026. Um and you can see the proposed fee um um that they've um um sent to us and it's a $100 increase from last year. Um any questions on that? Okay, good. Thank you. So uh next the board is asked to consider the appointment of Sax and Stump our attorneys at law u for uh district solicitors for the 2627 fiscal year and also designating Gareth
066Baha um as our principal council and primary contract contact sorry about that. The attached proposal was received from Sax and Stump. It outlines specific details concerning the scope of services and their proposed fee schedule. Any questions on that? Yes, I have a question. My my only thing and I understand we have longevity and you you make a relationship, but I would like to see next year at least, you know, uh two other companies and their rates as well. Okay, that's it. Move on. All right. Um we have the u reappoint of board treasurer uh that we have uh committed from Miss Watersdorf. Um no action or no memo on that. Um the fourth item there the SGE projector. Uh we have um uh we're asking the board to consider replacing the projector screen at SGE.
067Uh we currently don't have it in this year's budget. uh it was um it was torn uh this year and we would like to take the uh replacement screen out of this current year's budget before June 30th, 2026 and not take it out of next year's budget. So we'd like to take it out of this year's budget. So >> had a I had a question about it says the electrical disconnect and reconnected by others. Do we have any idea how much that's going to be? >> I don't know if Mr. Styles or Mr. Ank have a >> Yeah, we'll do it in house of >> Oh, in house. So the others means like they're not doing it but >> okay we will take care of that. >> Okay. Thanks guys. >> All right. Uh moving
068on. Let's see here. >> Oh number five. Moving on. So um after the approval of STS, the substitute uh vendor service. Uh the board asked us for recommendations for adjustments to our current substitute pay. Um the attach that you have there was presented at our budget and finance committee meeting. Uh the recommendation from the budget and finance committee was to move this forward for board consideration. Uh you have uh that in front of you. Are there any questions to that? Okay. Um next we have two proposed agreements with OSS health that we typically have presented at this time of year. As you can see on the first one, it's for our PIAA pre-articipation physicals and the second one is for athletic trainer support at our athletic events. Any questions to those contracts? Okay. And I
069will then turn it over to Dr. Lewick. >> Real quick before we get to Dr. Dr. Lewig, in terms of the substitutes, Mark, I know that we are um where do we fall um in from a county perspective? I know we're pretty low, right, for substitutes? >> Yeah, I believe we have it on the second um >> Yeah, it's on I'm sorry. Yeah, >> it's on the second uh sheet there. It's the comparison. Uh we did talk about it um in our um in our budget and finance committee meeting. As you can see there, we're we're pretty much average. Um, one of the things that we wanted to take advantage of was um, uh, as you can see there, we're 125. Uh, Central's 129, 130, 125, 120. So, um, there are a few higher ones
070like Southern, Southwestern. So, we wanted to definitely be competitive to those. Um, but one of the things, and I think it was Mr. Stein who brought this up, was take a look at our um, um, retired teachers. And one of the things that we heard from Dallas was some of their success from, you know, getting those uh professionals back that had that um experience, those veteran teachers um and getting them back. So that's what we uh proposed um um increasing that rate of our retired teachers. >> I brought that up and also brought up the fact that uh it was after the meeting. I just talking to you that we keep talking about how our test scores are always down and we want to get our test scores up. Ruters, they paid $15 an hour,
071you know, for that. And we're trying to get substitutes. Well, I was at Ruters a week or so ago and they're they're paying $18 an hour on we're sincerely interested in being on education. It's not just looking at how much we pay them, but what type of people we're getting and what do we need to pay people for substitutes and what do we need to fill it. If you were at that meeting and there was that chart and Dallas Town has like a 97% I think it was >> six >> 96.6 96.6 6 bill rate. And yes, they're charging. They're they're paying more, but I said that we should really look at what would it cost to do what Dallas Town does. First, we got to find out what Dallas Town's doing exactly. And what
072would it cost us to do that? Would it be $50,000 a year or or would it be more? I don't know. But maybe if we're so concerned about test scores and we keep questioning it, maybe that's part of the problem is that we have classes because I hear stories that we're doubling up classes on a regular basis, you know, on in some it's not a case of just looking at what's it cost, but it's a case what do we need in the classrooms to keep education at the levels we want. So, it's something I think we should look at. And that's not something for just the business office look at. That's something that the uh superintendent, assistant superintendent, curriculum leaders need to look at. It's it's it's a case of looking at the whole picture,
073not just what's the dollars. >> And on that note, Doug, you're absolutely right. I I think again we can write grants all day for everything but we need to look at our fill rate of teachers as well where we've lacked for many years of not filling a lot of positions. So you know our classrooms that are filled you know what uh 20 30 kids you know could be looked at and and bring bring you know uh teachers back into the school as you had said before. um something that it's going to empower us as far as learning and and to get our scores back up where they're not having so many students. Um you know I'm I'm I'm a big component and I hate saying this but do we need you know uh six gym
074classes of you know teaching yoga and this and that. No te teach the simple and you know we can utilize teachers at other places. So maybe maybe we need to reook at our whole whole system over the summer and where everyone's at and where we can add and where we need and still be conscientious and uh you know the teachers and salaries and things like that as well. >> And I'll add on to that. uh some of the information we had gotten from uh substitute teacher if if some of that information any of that information was true the the stuff they were getting to be able to do the substituting the lack of they didn't have anything to do that with they all they could do was take attendance they had no idea what was
075going on so if that stuff's being taken care of I think our substitutes will step up better because a lot of our substitute teachers were fed up that they were going to the classroom and they had no idea what they were supposed to do and it no reason that we we technology world we have today whether they work or not we should be able to get them that stuff. So I think that's going to help our substitutes an awful lot and keep get people in. Yeah, I'll echo that too because I I I do we have like a policy or protocol for substitutes coming in and getting the teachers um lesson plans etc because just feedback from kids and so forth that the substitutes it's kind of a free period for them. So I just
076wonder if you know if I'm if I'm somebody coming into the building I don't want to sit there and just take attendance right so you want they want to teach and they want to be a part of it. So I think that would be very helpful. most recent changes that we have made include access to technology, loginins, email um as well as um training, professional development so that they feel comfortable using the technology that is available in the classroom. So those things are all things that we have recently made adjustments to in working uh with hope in working with Chris um to get some of those things updated. As we do, we I we typically send out a survey. I think we skipped it this year, but um even having our surveys go to to
077our substitutes as well, that would give us um open our eyes in terms of their >> Yeah, we are um I just want to echo we are excited uh you know with uh not these rates. Yes, we're excited that the getting the board support for uh initiatives like this as well as STS because, you know, I personally heard from a teacher who's going to be able to sign up right away with STS um and they appreciate the higher rates that it's a retired teacher um who's going to appreciate the higher rates uh because of their experience and they can also start on day one so it's not going to affect their apper. So, uh we appreciate the board support of of all that. So, Dr. Ledwick, now we'll turn over. No, >> I'm okay with
078it. Um, number seven, the proposed contracts for student outside placements. You you'll find a memorandum for news story, River Rock Academy, River Rock Aedy, and High Road School of Southern New York. Any questions? I just rolled to number eight. All right. the 2627 dental program memorandum with family first health questions. >> Ma'am, thank you so much. >> Mr. Ramsey, I'll move right on to grounds. Okay, so we are presenting the final draft of the purchase agreement between the Springrove area Historical Preservation Society and the Springrove Area School District. um some items that um are highlighted there that I wanted to bring to the board's attention. The sale of the property is for $535,000. That was agreed upon, I believe, 535. Um we would be looking at a um a date of of um July 31st,
0792026 as the settlement date, if not sooner. Uh and the last thing and I believe uh Mrs. Watersdorf you asked at the buildings and or at the budget and finance committee meeting uh the fuel tank has been removed. Uh thank you Mr. Styles. Uh and we are awaiting final soil test results from uh from that. But preliminary results from the contractor was um they didn't see any uh any issues. The tank uh was not leaking. There was actually um fuel in it. So um all good signs um you know that came from uh from that report. So, but we will let the board know if there's any uh issues with the final soil results. >> Mark, question for you. The 535, can that be utilized as part of the uh access road fund? >> Um,
080no, it may not. Uh, if you remember from the um uh budget and finance committee, we had uh talked about that being part of our revenue for this year. the sale of the that the the sale of the ESC would be part of our revenue stream for this year. So no, it cannot be used for the access road. >> We already have it spent trying to tell >> any. Okay. Any other questions? >> All right. Moving on to management committee policy, Mr. Shear. Okay. And then the policies, we had a policy meeting. Forget what day it was, but anyhow, we went over them. And every policy in here, four of them. And the ones we were looking at are all due, the changes are all due to either state with to do with the overtime.
081And the sick leave is mostly just to get more administration people involved in it. Uh to make sure everybody knows what's going on and more notification. and everything else was all had to do with with state regulations for the overtime tracking things like that. The other thing was was for the uh for the handbook all we did was install anything new policies or anything like that we we adopted over that the season and included just right with that no major change there's no major change it's just like I say just stuff they pass for for overtime tracking things like that. All right. And then number two, the memorandum. >> Yeah, the handbook. I say the handbook is is all all they're doing is is uh making that in line with the policies and anything we
082have put in place. >> All right. Thank you so much. And then we have uh personnel. Nicole, >> we have executive session for personnel. Anyone? All right. Program committee and Mr. Stein >> request for we have requests for Mr. Craig to attend a national alliance of concurrent enrollment partnerships uh in October in Ohio. And there's a memorandum. So I guess the questions answer the question. on the question answer. Any questions? >> That's that was 100% funded. >> Yes, sir. >> That's why there's no questions. >> That's right, sir. >> Okay, moving on. And again, thank you everyone. and makes it nice having all the uh information in the books as well or on your little handy dandy device when it works. Uh so planning any items to be considered for future agendas. Anyone have anything
083like to discuss or bring up? >> I think the only thing we were talking about was the retreat and scheduling board retreat. >> Yeah. Uh Nicole and I had talked about that before. with Dapany and if I were remember Dafany you were going to say give you a little time to get inquated and put some stuff together so we'll look forward to you back >> we will do our best to coordinate schedules >> okay 8:14 p.m. on a Monday. I wish all of you to have a wonderful and kind and pleasant week. Now we move into our favorite adjournment. >> Moved second. >> All in favor?