[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6360724,"mediaKeyId","2174227-60109c2abd7172de2acbc8bc87c92e77","parentId",2174227,"title","Board reviews STEM Academy enrollment changes, Quaver music curriculum and a first-read therapy-dog policy","audioSeconds",133,"startMs",2357000,"endMs",2490000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2174227-60109c2abd7172de2acbc8bc87c92e77&start=2357&end=2490","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2174227-60109c2abd7172de2acbc8bc87c92e77/thumbnail_2357000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6360724/Pennsylvania/Board-reviews-STEM-Academy-enrollment-changes-Quaver-music-curriculum-and-a-first-read-therapy-dog-policy","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6360724-1b8a8fef0cdcdd8c171357f85e1bf52b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775183461&Signature=F2RBNGaOVyfTFJ97tfV35d9P8r37buHnyX5p7IIq94PRkobql6brNYsbeQgi6-YAhuNxH76AHy8JBuwp0I90BlPFCwni2epPUaqxlekT1d7DENJdcqjUK~t3GV9ibpzxPAeeFs6YrMh-ULqryuAsLhhl4IH7Vek04aRMLV8Q-uDQ0wDh7X6zv1J6S5xYguR8rEuld2x5AnUzEsTN2aNgVRQsogpDYDm~Y7p0wGp~73cERPRlScMWRRAbBmFNdqNSxmi1hWDCxlYkKOCF~qBcSWmgFcsfWhlcX3gQgpvPLi70lFYTwWK65bVfXPCDWFkchGqeDVwuLQvy7JgNxrjIJw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Scranton School District","date","2025-01-27T00:00:00Z","article","The board discussed several education items in the Jan. 27 work session, including proposed STEM Academy handbook revisions, a recommended digital music curriculum for elementary grades and a first reading of a therapy-dog policy.

Board members said the STEM Academy handbook revision would permit open ninth-grade enrollment into available slots without removing currently enrolled students. Director Miller had proposed the language to encourage students from nonpublic schools to return to the district, staff said.

District staff described Quaver, a digital elementary music curriculum the district is considering for kindergarten through fourth grade. The presentation said Quaver replaces a 1995 textbook with a three-year subscription that includes lesson plans, multimodal accessibility, cultural responsiveness, grade-book integration and compatibility with Chrome, Mac, Windows and iOS devices. Staff said the curriculum can be adapted for special education students and includes career-readiness elements; funding for the subscription is available in the curriculum budget, staff said. Board members asked about the availability and location of instruments; staff said many instruments are kept with music teachers following building relocations and that inventory details could be provided.

The board also took a first read of a therapy-dog policy. Staff said McNichols Plaza previously hosted a therapy dog and that the new policy, developed with the district\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000 legal team and an outside group (identified in the transcript as Kings Pride), would address insurance, allergy notification and operational protections so therapy animals could safely be used for social-emotional supports. Staff distinguished therapy dogs from service dogs and said a separate service-dog policy exists.

The items were presented for board consideration; Quaver and the STEM handbook revision were on consent or non-consent agendas for approval at an upcoming meeting, and the therapy-dog policy is moving through a first-reading review.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025-01-27 Scranton SD Committee Meeting & Work Session","oneSentenceSummary","Trustees discussed opening ninth-grade spots at the STEM Academy, a three-year digital Quaver music curriculum for K-4, and a first reading of a therapy-dog policy intended to restore in-school animal-assisted supports.","taxTitle","Scranton SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",78422,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6360729,"Board hears timeline for tiered RFPs; legal memo recommends case-by-case review of PLAs",3291,1084000,4375000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2174227-60109c2abd7172de2acbc8bc87c92e77&start=1084&end=4375","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2174227-60109c2abd7172de2acbc8bc87c92e77/thumbnail_1084000.jpg","/articles/6360729/Pennsylvania/Board-hears-timeline-for-tiered-RFPs-legal-memo-recommends-case-by-case-review-of-PLAs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6360729-02098fe6feb8d1eee38025711a63a3a2/orig.mp4?Expires=1775183461&Signature=otWw9gmXqja2qcQm2yZ0lAA7DR-mcr0v6uQFtgefLikJmqUh~-N8VR-fKXFF3~EoTVMbQHWMRrz1ff3NIjREfjkUt9YctUgwsOWG14xN8WgLayNZUCJFjAl95~gPhQ7KMEPNovA2gTBOUCSngp662XnswRp1PV~FB6Gr6IxjQlw17QIL6bu2Gf9p9KfhjpLJLSqxDpTXqxeFqE91ZEwidX1ZH4GRxLoiiSa7BGtPXPb4efOikfvoX1Y6UmnfTrds~AkTITBsQVzYgjB9w-5u2tnHR9moQC3vG~MmErc2erFFA6XSfKSrZ7Jdd-xHvSH~Ro9HypGG3RaaPFC9fS5w3A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the vendor relations portion of the Jan. 27 work session, the board was briefed on a tiered schedule for public procurement and on legal guidance the district received about project labor agreements.

Director Jason (vendor relations chair) reviewed a tiered plan for request-for-proposal releases. Staff said Tier 1 RFPs include school physician services, athletic training (already awarded), a healthcare consultant (on that night's agenda), HVAC and plumbing (previously awarded) and photocopiers, which staff said requires additional design work with the technology director before an RFP is posted. Tier 2 items will include legal services, construction management and school security officers; by law, food-service procurement must also go out to bid.

Mister Suma, director of technology, said photocopier procurement is complex because the district is looking at managed print services and electronic faxing. He said his team will meet building principals to gather volume and capacity data so the RFP reflects building-level needs.

Separately, the board received an informational Project Labor Agreement (PLA) submission and a legal memo from John Freund. Attorney guidance, summarized at the meeting, said PLAs require careful, case-by-case consideration and that a blanket PLA covering all future construction work could be problematic. Counsel suggested the district consider a responsible-contractor policy (similar to a municipal responsible-contractor ordinance) as an alternative approach and offered to provide sample policies from other local governments.

Director Jason said the district will follow the tiered RFP plan and return procurement documents for board consideration as recommended candidates are identified. Staff said they will include legal guidance and an example responsible-contractor policy in an upcoming packet for board review.","Vendor relations chair outlined tiered RFP releases for services including school physicians, food service and photocopiers; legal guidance on project labor agreements recommended case-by-case evaluation and suggested a responsible-contractor policy as an alternative.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6360734,"Operations update: credits returned, multiple bids received, and several building projects advance",322,2712000,3034000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2174227-60109c2abd7172de2acbc8bc87c92e77&start=2712&end=3034","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2174227-60109c2abd7172de2acbc8bc87c92e77/thumbnail_2712000.jpg","/articles/6360734/Pennsylvania/Operations-update-credits-returned-multiple-bids-received-and-several-building-projects-advance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6360734-7d4665388ec52a9d653f64a44b0fb9ef/orig.mp4?Expires=1775183461&Signature=OP06Fs9aBcfNWxsOaUJuvGEk3iuP36eXafselNUwzh9pfBZ9B5GpRbiG4EHnxeXG3ZWqXTk0MFFEKhYEJuLt4HslYNqhaMPxBjBw4r9cRrV8F1bhMxiS3WvlEMphJtFybYdCO3i6tmllykHh9fVkpF89nBGS0GEP2BtPjj6l57NH0O5LBhh2~mCr7Rqo~N7OjsrZIU86I1TF7oeZRVd5JZt5Ig57z0kq2b-T9Uwu063tMaGJBJdGhWmSuc8bLH-9XIy2cRJeNl2cY29GektKvCbaTLTQoSdd1EQPe2XPBE9S3B6A83bWO~sTDb3y5LVPeD6Z9l~Uk8Yd927BWQI~yQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Operations staff briefed the board on a bundle of capital projects and change orders on Jan. 27, reporting returned allowances, bid results and several pending procurement decisions.

Pat Rucker and other facilities staff said three credit change orders for the Robert Morris project (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) will total $281,223.95 in credits back to the district. A separate set of credits for the West High Tech Ed project will return $27,764.74.

Bids opened last week for the Scranton High boiler and water-heater replacement produced a total with alternates of $922,000. Staff said that figure was about $398,900 under the project budget; the recommended plan moves the building to a three-boiler system so the building can continue operating if one unit is down.

For South Intermediate and West High, bids for environmental abatement and fire-alarm systems produced a pool of responses and alternates. Staff reported total contracts are currently below an initial budget estimate and recommended acceptance of an alternate (1b) for $41,600 to expand an area-of-rescue communication system at West High. Rucker said the district received grant funding that offsets part of the cost: roughly $1,000,000 toward the fire alarm work and about $826,000 tied to environmental abatement efforts.

Facilities presented an estimated full replacement budget for the McNichols Plaza chiller at about $1,088,350, of which roughly $859,000 was construction cost. Staff said they hope to authorize design and construction bidding to secure a new chiller and also continue a temporary chiller until replacement.

West Intermediate items prompted detailed discussion. The district plans a purchase order via cooperative purchasing for $93,000 to complete roofing work. Staff noted the overall roof project returned a credit of $317,399 to the district. A Pennsylvania State Police facility assessment recommended installing vehicle barriers outside West Intermediate; staff gave an approximate cost in the transcript (about $14,315) and recommended proceeding for security reasons.

Board members debated the process for using change orders to alter the West Intermediate gym ceiling and corridor finishes. One director raised concerns that using change orders to alter scope might improperly circumvent competitive bidding; district legal staff said change orders are legal on a case-by-case basis but committed to documenting compliance and to seeking further input from counsel and the Office of Budget as appropriate.

Facilities also said a generator replacement at West Intermediate required additional work and increased the contract by $14,544.82 beyond the original approval; staff said the work involves protecting and reinstalling finished elements and scheduled the demolition/protection work for the summer. The West Intermediate renovation program is scheduled to finish by Oct. 2025, staff said.

Other items included a feasibility-study approach for the West High gym: two firms have offered to provide feasibility studies (one as part of owner\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000 rep services and another offered to provide a study pro bono). Facilities recommended receiving both studies for comparison. Finally, stadium front-end loaders—two John Deere machines from about 2002—are failing; the district is renting a replacement and will consider the state surplus as a possible procurement option.","Facilities staff reported credits back to the district for two projects, opened bids for boilers and fire alarms that came in under budget, outlined a chiller replacement estimate, and flagged change-order and procurement questions for West Intermediate trades.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6360739,"District says electric buses delayed; vendors to be on site first week of February",153,1346000,1499000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2174227-60109c2abd7172de2acbc8bc87c92e77&start=1346&end=1499","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2174227-60109c2abd7172de2acbc8bc87c92e77/thumbnail_1346000.jpg","/articles/6360739/Pennsylvania/District-says-electric-buses-delayed-vendors-to-be-on-site-first-week-of-February","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6360739-23f523913c528ca960fc718adeff39ad/orig.mp4?Expires=1775183461&Signature=bSUl3mmgZCs23ltYm3pcSLbDgFM9HBE6v4aSSaTVbs3YAB5EFg5bHCert3BsFY37QhWZKjPqZlvJnAQ~71OhPHzTJrtFccD2AgXfa1RJAdJkom0t8gUM~ujoeqf5aSEtzcID0-O0Gg4s-GM-0lWPUsdkZkwhjvpRLcXa90N02Kw9T4eVi7bBJz6zZ9Jj8erzCC3~NsX8dtL5LdizUSAFEb8LHhbPDk6utrHC10rAT-IXkkun0mcXgRtd92SDsq4uP6mCdVrGefXh0goskEWZpOr~tLk4eeNa~5oGwSjXW7K9TAoQT8dhD2XrmUX7J-z6mLzhkBwMb~JKQ2D~vFpNwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District staff and transportation contractors told the board on Jan. 27 that several technical issues are delaying operation of the district\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000 electric bus fleet and that vendor technicians will be on campus the week of Feb. 2 to try to fix chargers, onboard systems and battery problems.

Julie Maloney, supervisor of transportation, said issues include charging station performance and the buses\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000 inability to hold a charge; representatives from Rohrer Buses were scheduled to be on site starting Feb. 2 for about a week, she said. Maloney said Thomas Built Buses representatives had identified problems with 12-volt batteries on some vehicles.

Maloney also corrected a circulating account about an electric bus on Interstate 81. She said no bus was stranded on I-81; one electric bus ran out of charge on the Morgan Highway after a wrestling meet at Abington Heights and students were picked up by a second bus.

While the district works to make the electric fleet operational, diesel buses are continuing to run regular routes. Maloney said the district and its contractors want the electric fleet on the road because it will return money to the district once operational, and the district\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000 wants to recover any available contract remedies if deliveries or performance fall short.

John Freund (recorded in transcript as John Forend) was reviewing the contract and told the board he was not aware of any contractual breach at that time. Pete's Garage representatives and contractor staff were present for questions.

Board members asked whether the delivery issues had interrupted service; Maloney said no, diesel buses were covering routes while electric vehicles remain offline. The district said it will update the board after the Rohrer visit and when it has a formal status report.","School officials outlined technical problems with the district\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000 fleet of electric buses, reported a single run-out-of-charge incident on Morgan Highway, and said Rohrer technicians will be on site during the week of Feb. 2 to resolve charging and battery issues.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6360744,"Board briefed on plan for $17 million bond issuance and possible refinancing of 2017 bonds",213,1743000,1956000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2174227-60109c2abd7172de2acbc8bc87c92e77&start=1743&end=1956","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2174227-60109c2abd7172de2acbc8bc87c92e77/thumbnail_1743000.jpg","/articles/6360744/Pennsylvania/Board-briefed-on-plan-for-17-million-bond-issuance-and-possible-refinancing-of-2017-bonds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6360744-64a0d0f0c6fcfd32c19b6d5c12311ace/orig.mp4?Expires=1775183461&Signature=oY21KzqH3NwJ4FYyjoUaeWk7nEdOhFFa1I2bk-t~dmO4t7SeiuZt0zxXfB68~k2MkrqG-5rkrREW2YPml6b0QJeq5RxxiLMrCaEJATd4bHpvK61oJaucar5APtAH6RnLBOZJU9TJV40gnUqK79m7V8Kq4Gb1vZWHczXi74DqCKjnQ9iH9lFRmSXFwesk~7p7YNySz7ZJj0L4UPZo4TE~AdXT8nnWHQmZhCe~PgTMQFqwmD3IEZd1y~BB~B16qMjMHvy-o6duGqZ4aNqHk2SbW8C6Br~Ixp9d0n1LPP664c-rSPY29MEETaeoEJnCsmsXLYHJHDwkVOhxfIanlP2wIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Scranton School District board heard a presentation about a two-part financing plan on Jan. 27 that would complete a previously authorized bond issuance and allow the district to refinance certain callable 2017 bonds if refinancing yields required net savings.

Mike Vind, the district\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000 (presenter), told the board the remaining issuance would be about $17 million to fund capital projects already included in the 2025 budget. He said the district had split issuance across calendar years to qualify for bank qualification and obtain lower rates.

Vind also described refinancing options for the district\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000 C and D 2017 bonds, which are callable this year and have roughly $22 million outstanding. He said any refunding would be structured so it would not extend the repayment term; the refunding bonds would mature in 2035, the same as the existing bonds.

Vind described a common threshold used in the industry for refunding: a net present value savings of about 2 percent. He said that would correspond to roughly $500,000 to $600,000 in net savings for the district at that threshold, but the board may set a different threshold during deliberations.

No resolution was adopted at the work session. Vind said staff would return a formal authorizing resolution for board consideration at the next public meeting and would monitor market rates; if rates move favorably and the board\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000 directs a target, staff could move to execute the refunding within the parameters approved at that later meeting.

Board members asked about target savings and timing; Vind reiterated the 2 percent net present value guideline as an industry standard and said the district could set a different target if it preferred. He also listed types of capital projects that could be funded with the remaining proceeds, including roof repairs, paving, masonry repairs and chiller upgrades that were identified in the district\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000 capital improvement plan.

The presentation did not include a formal vote. The board placed the authorizing resolution on the non-consent agenda for a future meeting.","School district finance adviser described a two-part plan to issue the remaining $17 million of previously budgeted capital bonds and to refinance callable 2017 series bonds if market conditions produce net savings.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board reviews STEM Academy enrollment changes, Quaver music curriculum and a first-read therapy-dog policy

Board hears timeline for tiered RFPs; legal memo recommends case-by-case review of PLAs

Operations update: credits returned, multiple bids received, and several building projects advance

District says electric buses delayed; vendors to be on site first week of February

Board briefed on plan for $17 million bond issuance and possible refinancing of 2017 bonds