[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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],{"_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",6611515,"mediaKeyId","2893997-2a277ffd663b73fa2d2f9b69f650d135","parentId",2893997,"title","Scranton board: votes at a glance — consent agenda, taxes, contracts and personnel","audioSeconds",1633,"startMs",2314000,"endMs",3947000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2893997-2a277ffd663b73fa2d2f9b69f650d135&start=2314&end=3947","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2893997-2a277ffd663b73fa2d2f9b69f650d135/thumbnail_2314000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6611515/Pennsylvania/Scranton-board-votes-at-a-glance-consent-agenda-taxes-contracts-and-personnel","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6611515-8c2b38a5c0dbc2153703820dac28e56b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771027252&Signature=UCPQRd~RTxm9Bgsp0c16OG~3coVeHDlIgt0QPHTsqrlQopMQuiu~28AGk6RaLkNtp0XqT8inOaHvc90h~g7Cud-LP7DW06WMtpNw6wdx4aoEqNEPSusOukajtDc6c1wG0XnPLELuqSEgVWaigWQlJqAraaTC2tWG9r9z2CveXx7JE08y9O6tvnZCqSJGLzN2F4lMyrfNKqgLreNCQ8hhE6AX75Up26F4t1sM2-AKnjlQe4mqsWf7lyCvaxvDtfQIl~fdIm9w9r3V1dFc0JNo2gfdhWOF0wiWhy1uuFbmroZHlZ8BMefwe82saqSlNKqSiMLS0nBsqNTvyHWdh4aCKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Scranton School District","date","2025-04-08T01:01:06.587Z","article","The Scranton School Board on Monday acted on a slate of routine and project items, approving the consent agenda, several contracts, budget items and personnel actions while tabling two items for additional review.

Approved items (selected)

- Consent agenda: approved. Roll call produced seven affirmative votes and one negative; motion carried.

- Sale of 2024 delinquent taxes to Municipal Revenue Services: approved; financial impact described in the resolution (fees not to exceed $250,000).

- Real‑estate tax settlements for listed PINs: approved (vote recorded as 6 affirmative, 2 negative); board staff gave assessment and budget‑impact figures for tax years cited in the motion.

- Career and Technology Center of Lackawanna County budget for fiscal year 7/1/2025–6/30/2026: approved; Scranton’s share reported as $1,783,448 (a $49,414 increase).

- Special‑education settlement agreements: approved following legal review; settlement summaries had been provided to directors.

- Operations and capital contracts: a contract for interior vestibule door hardware at Scranton High (Kelly Brothers) for $10,470 was approved; a painting contract award for West Intermediate School was approved.

- Personnel report: approved; hires contingent on background checks and clearances.

- Election of board secretary: Virginia Orr was elected board secretary under the PA school code for a four‑year term through July 2029; vote was affirmative.

- Memorandum of understanding with SCIU Local 32B‑J: approved as presented.

Tabled or postponed items

- West Scranton Intermediate renovation change orders (four line items totaling $80,133.81): a motion to approve change orders was made and then tabled; directors voted 7–1 to table while awaiting design‑fee details and additional information about funding sources. Staff said the project is funded via capital improvements and a state RACP grant, not COVID funds.

- Appointment of Joyce Carmody Moran as special‑education counsel: the board placed the resolution on the floor but then tabled the matter because the final contract was not distributed to every director; a special meeting will be scheduled after the contract is circulated.

Other notes: Several votes included roll‑call tallies read into the record. Directors were regularly reminded that hires were contingent on background checks and that budget impacts had been summarized in board materials.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025-04-07 Scranton SD Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved the consent agenda and multiple budget, contract and personnel items; they tabled change orders for the West Scranton Intermediate renovations and delayed a decision on naming Joyce Carmody Moran special‑education counsel pending contract review.","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},6611520,"Scranton superintendent highlights UVA leadership program, testing schedule and $284,000 grant",497,167000,664000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2893997-2a277ffd663b73fa2d2f9b69f650d135&start=167&end=664","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2893997-2a277ffd663b73fa2d2f9b69f650d135/thumbnail_167000.jpg","/articles/6611520/Pennsylvania/Scranton-superintendent-highlights-UVA-leadership-program-testing-schedule-and-284000-grant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6611520-94fd902f13927794c5b17b057c849f9c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771027252&Signature=HnHXFO-rMKkNcpVRHc3AIc6oEAkJYD~J8Y7MNDEy2mfTi-~E8FH6eC-0VOE~sR8wgwphDwmSNPy48qnbvglUIjp24Jz7ZUEIV6fAB8eqt8sJr526n7UaWcD1alVd7aSZPmWG6txm4cYogJ8Xol0xO9W6aYFeaNW1JkMCIRPJzuIHDMhEcnHD8Oc2ze5MugfUJbTh5bw4ftrUJ2IyQ5Z1JEyt5YdOqfxvAzvSh6jOswCoLxeTBjMT8WUgdv7mpc8YGtTjpIUch1~y4SSiJFuOzrockw9tFpjCYOaiu-qUO4assBmXEa3fzhcfGpZjHpHVqttUJAPZNiipQQlh2Vp8RQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Dr. Keating (reported by the district superintendent’s office) told the Scranton School Board that district staff and principals participated in a University of Virginia Darden School of Business leadership program and that six principals and six central‑office administrators will attend an extended professional‑development cohort this summer.

The superintendent said the district will administer PSSA testing online for grades 3–8 from April 22 through May 1, with science testing scheduled April 30 and May 1. “This is the first year we'll be testing fully online,” the superintendent said, and asked families to encourage students to treat the tests seriously because “these are so important.” The district moved report‑card grading deadlines for teachers to Tuesday, April 8; progress reports will be issued May 2.

District officials reported ongoing curriculum updates for several areas: grades 5–12 social studies, grades 6–8 art, K–12 music, advanced journalism and a pre‑K submission. The superintendent also said central administration has begun a five‑year strategic‑planning process in partnership with NEIU and that steering‑committee and subcommittee work will continue.

The board received notice that the district had been awarded $284,000 from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) to support improvements to public‑address systems. The superintendent described other recent outreach and awards, including participation in a national women in leadership conference and school art exhibited at City Hall.

","Superintendent reported district participation in a University of Virginia leadership program, curriculum updates, PSSA online testing dates and a $284,000 PCCD award for PA systems, and previewed a multi‑year strategic plan with NEIU.",{"_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},6611525,"Scranton board tables vote on new special‑education lawyer after public questions about legal fees and conflicts",2672,1371000,4043000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2893997-2a277ffd663b73fa2d2f9b69f650d135&start=1371&end=4043","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2893997-2a277ffd663b73fa2d2f9b69f650d135/thumbnail_1371000.jpg","/articles/6611525/Pennsylvania/Scranton-board-tables-vote-on-new-specialeducation-lawyer-after-public-questions-about-legal-fees-and-conflicts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6611525-28f422da3fe067a484ee4570513e8d94/orig.mp4?Expires=1771027252&Signature=RGa55hZToGUk29zwQxt5cykxX7l8Zk49h3Tr76K695641keELLG-PMuebdaw3YkvVIwyPgSNXvM5F-2BqmiwFFA6dOcGyWQ2kT6JtV0-352L99jKHJssXUSJkihzDIQ1ghrEOrJ54RokWtnXSOZ0gRjAnIVQJIXofx7CJAQwDrB9kYviE-GFS~aS~ziK79vxwHRIskAkUrT92P-8Sis-k03zmFM0cTflcF4s0cjRTXHhkGcZTzZr0vG5wgvTNCJ8BwYILKBBBS14pqB0hjAQUXZPVBOaU56AK4ZwSsRlYyOqfHwL5UdSXLuZKp7VeYbSuR0~uTwVcfmXquu3fPhBow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Scranton School Board on Monday postponed a vote to hire the law firm Joyce Carmody Moran (JCM) as special‑education counsel after public commenters raised questions about the firm’s involvement in local politics and the district did not have a final contract available for directors to review.

Several members of the public urged the board to be transparent about legal fees and potential conflicts before approving a new contract. “It is my understanding that President Holmes directed the vendor committee to negotiate the contract with JCM,” resident Barb O’Malley told the board, adding that JCM attorney Brendan Fitzgerald had written a letter concerning a Scranton City Council candidate and “has not identified on whose behalf they wrote the letter.”

Holly Mead, who followed during public comment, said the agenda listed a $60,000 retainer for the firm and described apparent inconsistencies in hourly rates; she asked the board for details on how much the district currently spends on legal services. “This is a very lucrative contract for whichever firm the board chooses,” Mead said.

Board members responded by saying the procurement process was handled through the solicitor and central administration. President Holmes defended the RFP process and said legal counsel had answered directors’ questions during interviews. In separate action, the board voted to appoint an outside attorney as special counsel to oversee the legal‑services request for proposals (RFP) process. Attorney Katz was appointed special counsel by roll call vote and accepted the assignment.

When a resolution to appoint Joyce Carmody Moran as the district’s special‑education counsel was placed on the floor, several directors said they had not received the final contract document. Director Bolland urged patience and cited experience and continuity as relevant selection factors, using the phrase, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” while describing a competing firm’s long record in education law. After discussion, a motion to table the resolution passed 5–3 because the final contract had not been circulated to all directors.

After the tabled vote, directors agreed to coordinate with central administration to circulate the contract and schedule a special meeting to consider legal‑services and general counsel appointments once all board members have had a chance to review the final documents.

Discussion points: public concern over possible political involvement by a law firm attorney; inconsistent or unclear published hourly/retainer amounts; board assertion that the RFP and interview process was handled transparently.

Next steps: the board directed central administration to circulate the final contract and said it will advertise a special meeting to vote on legal services once scheduling and contract distribution are complete.

","Public commenters pressed the Scranton School Board over a proposed contract with Joyce Carmody Moran (JCM) and overall legal fees. The board appointed outside special counsel to manage the RFP process, then tabled a separate motion to name JCM as special‑education counsel because directors did not have a final contract to review.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Scranton board: votes at a glance — consent agenda, taxes, contracts and personnel

Scranton superintendent highlights UVA leadership program, testing schedule and $284,000 grant

Scranton board tables vote on new special‑education lawyer after public questions about legal fees and conflicts