[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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":73},"mediaId",6555799,"mediaKeyId","3339582-4fa24bd0e9c6c3fbf3894d9acd47bb15","parentId",3339582,"title","Votes at a glance: Tunkhannock Area SD board approves consent items, contracts and appointments","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",757000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3339582-4fa24bd0e9c6c3fbf3894d9acd47bb15&start=757&end=757","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3339582-4fa24bd0e9c6c3fbf3894d9acd47bb15/thumbnail_757000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6555799/Pennsylvania/Votes-at-a-glance-Tunkhannock-Area-SD-board-approves-consent-items-contracts-and-appointments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6555799-ae3f5a43d140747f88c6cc5f71005dfb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144064&Signature=KGTh8bwMEp4Q~Sv1CYlpqraSQaC3j2chKCIMBDGVTf6HyIMZhvG-d0t0RfRhcMiqq8PolIg4lFkPErohlRaJFDwOHJbFPeWI26Y72xt180bn8ZBu~v3G767KjRtpd4o0Ljuv5fyA3TnOMNZFWzXunGycHVyPQusdJbhEX5nWKOK~7XgBfXg-ZSEEC9S3c-mY0CB2KaXnKk9bMBgJCNr~RoH4wAvT0IG72Ovqmm8C8jdiPedj4fGWkfm8WuwKZkY1761-eDCStrE47jx6mgny7R-rjkd~dRoAPW7XiZjC0-~9bcXxPVOm58PCOQK6KOuHL7InXwH2Y0uPH58-lieCzg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Tunkhannock Area School District","date","2025-05-16T12:12:30Z","article","The Tunkhannock Area School District Board of Directors recorded multiple motions and roll-call votes at its meeting. Key outcomes:

- Approval of minutes (April 10): motion passed on roll call with unanimous recorded 'yes' votes.

- Business and finance report: approved on roll call with unanimous recorded 'yes' votes.

- Personnel report (with Brooke Kearns removed from a support-staff job-classification change): the board approved the personnel report with one abstention (Mister Farr).

- Conference attendance: approved on roll call.

- Appointment of school board treasurer (John Burke): board voted to appoint John Burke to a one-year term beginning July 1, 2025.

- Bus and van contracts: approved on roll call; administration noted an associated compensation proposal will return to the board in June for separate consideration.

- Consideration of increased compensation for bussing contractors: discussed at length; no vote taken. Administration will present a formal proposal in June.

- Overnight/out-of-state field trips: Approved — FBLA students qualifying for nationals in Anaheim, California; funds to be partially covered by existing Kotera and other donor funds.

- 2025 proposed English department book-list additions: approved on roll call.

- Change of flexible-spending vendor from CBIZ to OCA: approved on roll call (administration said it reduces per-participant cost by $0.75).

- PSBA unemployment service contract (2025-26): approved on roll call with one abstention recorded (Missus Arnold/Arndt; transcript shows an abstention recorded by that board member).

- Two-year agreement with Total Grant Solutions (grant-writing services): approved; contract value $2,000/month for 24 months ($48,000 total).

- Memorandum of agreement with the Aaron Center: approved; board noted the MOU provides access to services if needed and that no students are currently placed there.

- Donation of an air-hockey table to the IC by a community member: accepted.

- Delegate assembly appointment for PSBA platform: approved; two delegates authorized to attend the delegate assembly and conference as offered.

Each item above was moved, seconded and recorded by roll call; the motions that had recorded abstentions are noted.

A full list of roll-call tallies is below (names appear as recorded in the meeting transcript).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","TASD School Board Meeting May 15th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its May meeting the Tunkhannock Area SD board approved minutes, business reports, personnel actions (with one abstention), bus/van contracts, field trips, book-list additions, several service agreements and appointments; two items had abstentions recorded.","taxTitle","Tunkhannock Area SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",55241,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6555803,"Board approves two-year contract with Total Grant Solutions to pursue external grant funding",201,2589000,2790000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3339582-4fa24bd0e9c6c3fbf3894d9acd47bb15&start=2589&end=2790","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3339582-4fa24bd0e9c6c3fbf3894d9acd47bb15/thumbnail_2589000.jpg","/articles/6555803/Pennsylvania/Board-approves-two-year-contract-with-Total-Grant-Solutions-to-pursue-external-grant-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6555803-2a951c4dc664841c1e0d8c2d792b0538/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144064&Signature=bdP~lSJ0rVLZVySn-zrfROKJ7CDm~zXep3dsBLQo5zraC5o58B0ao40yYrNX0xFqczXMMUP5PNaM~4uu2BAuD-uAScPpjgbD-n0GeWnLhkwrkbKQGn9Cu-Z1lKVsbVvr10tqKIFiFjuizez~-jiRWlLbS1LLDcAbj6LXuMPUJaZamaGUXcMGc44SpQCgZHbnNxk2uvdQ9UyIsZB-KsqbtHHEO0dlibtDz4dtU0iZFkguH6idNx1GOD~5kdHj~ZV8zeupcFWSfwiuxkoB9uF5UE5t~dW8vnnzIxyAHVABYMf0Ag0c7NpV4OVKdtQjF7dsqXRD4qA5YI9xqVdmVzwrqw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tunkhannock Area SD board approved a two-year contract with Total Grant Solutions to provide grant-writing and grant-advocacy services for the district.

Under the agreement the district committed to $2,000 per month for 24 months (a $48,000 total contract value). District staff presented examples of recent results other districts in the region have reported after contracting with the company, including awards ranging from roughly $100,000 to more than $1 million in individual examples cited.

Administrators said the vendor assists not only with writing applications but also with navigating state-level processes in Harrisburg. The administration described the arrangement as an investment aimed at securing awards that would exceed the contract cost; several board members and administrators said districts elsewhere have recouped multiples of the fee through successful grants.

Why it matters: the contract creates a recurring professional-services obligation incorporated into the 25-26 budget and is intended to supplement district capacity to identify and secure state and federal grants.

The motion passed on a roll call vote.","The Tunkhannock Area SD board approved a two-year agreement with Total Grant Solutions at $2,000 per month; administrators said comparable districts have won six-figure awards after contracting similar services.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6555807,"Board hears proposal to increase bussing contractor pay; administrators plan June vote",484,1895000,2379000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3339582-4fa24bd0e9c6c3fbf3894d9acd47bb15&start=1895&end=2379","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3339582-4fa24bd0e9c6c3fbf3894d9acd47bb15/thumbnail_1895000.jpg","/articles/6555807/Pennsylvania/Board-hears-proposal-to-increase-bussing-contractor-pay-administrators-plan-June-vote","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6555807-ebf7b0442ac922e5984f7f7f4120c8ea/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144064&Signature=eUWdBUYbTRcLIE-uRLY3omI2G5qXDRwCOm1DsBczZ4wSV~HZ-B3EoKHfjtqn9BmKZrfBJj8YTOkPfXG5BB-6ELn-Kf0jqLnz6-HIdhPf5srA3s6efZjLtqX-Hy2hm4H2ImYvABKkWY3HxyPRGUKxwjg3bgowrzjtuHK43WNfRTQv622Py~F114-rP~6Hk2qSW7tZcvnwQHJFyWAF2tBHyCrUF0ocVr7xRDZP9rDwT3lHjEu1gB5TK-MqQfLUR98rBvgVzq2I5jsCXzUSL~5sZ5u0Sd~ITtZFNuI0fYRT6ioFGZiMtPshU2oSiMvuKbnSnEy2FLcv3sd7ZZ2YIWMxNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tunkhannock Area School District administration told the school board it will present a proposal in June to increase compensation for contracted bus operators, after two meetings with contractors and district staff.

Doctor Soufran, who led the transportation discussion, said contractors asked for “full capacity pay” and a 10-cent increase on the cost-index formula; the administration estimated that change would cost the district $195,696.48. He said the administration would also continue to cover fuel (subject to an existing gas cap), maintain radio systems, and equip the current fleet with cameras and backup cameras. The district has also purchased compatible ProVision card readers to address past card-reading problems.

Soufran said the administration would not agree to guaranteed pay for non-run days (a requested “180 day” guarantee), but would continue the existing practice of covering 3 of 5 bid days. He also said the administration plans to limit bus sizes if it adopts full-capacity compensation to prevent oversized buses from being put on routes for financial reasons.

Why it matters: the administration framed the measures as a response to contractor requests and a way to stabilize service for students while balancing taxpayer stewardship. Soufran noted that higher operating costs will require revenue adjustments and that the board will need to consider how to pay for any increase.

The board approved renewal of the district's bus and van contracts at the meeting. The compensation-change proposal itself was discussed as an information item and will return for a formal vote in June.","Transportation staff described a package that would raise contractor pay to full-capacity levels, add 10 cents on the cost-index formula, equip buses with cameras, and preserve fuel and radio supports; administrators will present a formal motion for board action in June.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_46":105,"_48":106,"_50":107,"_52":108,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":109,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":110,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6555811,"Tunkhannock Area SD superintendent warns of multimillion-dollar budget shortfall, urges state cyber-charter reform",1446,271000,1717000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3339582-4fa24bd0e9c6c3fbf3894d9acd47bb15&start=271&end=1717","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3339582-4fa24bd0e9c6c3fbf3894d9acd47bb15/thumbnail_271000.jpg","/articles/6555811/Pennsylvania/Tunkhannock-Area-SD-superintendent-warns-of-multimillion-dollar-budget-shortfall-urges-state-cyber-charter-reform","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6555811-05d6050b6d1f8399331ad6df52cf8f2e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144064&Signature=E8zMQftmsuQ93y~CjaB5LeC78bJK5Ah61F7u6f2J8wte3Du1zdVFxSCV0Zp7Z3u6ZUi4JzQamMhYCKJR0HhZ3jgnGQ56riBHZbFnkVLea6imX~MskqPEvfHMdidhhvET3p1GwaWVdMMwcNc9uvAPmepBORr~71XSoh1etbXwo91u-XzvgwfEFvEKNnQ7LI5ebxfLNe4ma8zDpJstHFIDdtz3IYANc3p56TxnaNNqGAu-K5sjuiyTYq7b7l-dG8rya8IqkOfgCGkaYeVccrXnHKAnjrb6Wgy5CGnzFDSR9i7UXPqagbBYFh1jBtQ-JRcvdRGn8TuB8UT2LxM7r3yAjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Doherty told the Tunkhannock Area School District Board of Directors that the district is facing a “pretty large multimillion dollar deficit” for the 2025–26 budget and that the administration has already trimmed the gap from roughly $3 million to about $2.4–2.5 million in a month of work.

Doherty said he spent a day in Harrisburg advocating for rural school districts and pressed legislators on three items he described as central to closing the district’s budget gap: reform of cyber-charter funding, an updated transportation funding formula, and greater basic and special education funding. He said cyber-charter costs make up a large portion of the district’s shortfall and urged parents and residents to contact state lawmakers.

Why it matters: board members were told that, without additional state action, the district will need to consider difficult choices during the June budget vote — including larger class sizes and cuts to student programs — and that using the district’s fund balance to cover recurring payroll would rapidly deplete savings meant for capital projects.

Doherty described the district’s cyber spending and in-house costs as an example. According to his remarks, the district paid roughly $3 million last year to outside cyber-charter providers for about 120 students; by contrast, the district’s in-house program (Fusion C3) serves roughly 84 students at an approximate cost of $290,000. Doherty said there is legislation in Harrisburg under discussion that would limit outside cyber charters’ charges to no more than the district’s internal cost in cases where the district runs its own cyber program; he added, “It would save us $2,700,000” if such a cap passed.

Doherty also pressed for transportation formula reform, saying the state formula has not been updated in decades and that current reimbursements place an outsized burden on local taxpayers and bus contractors. He encouraged contracted bus operators to contact state legislators about the formula.

Board members asked for more detail ahead of the June budget vote. One board member requested a breakdown showing the dollar impact of contractual wage increases and what those increases would equate to in mills, and Doherty said the administration will supply exact figures, including healthcare and retirement cost lines, before the next meeting.

Doherty cautioned that, although the district maintains a healthy fund balance intended for capital work (he said the board prefers to use reserves to renovate aging school buildings), those funds are not sustainable for covering ongoing operating shortfalls.

The superintendent closed by asking the community to contact local representatives about cyber-charter reform and rural school funding, saying local legislators had been receptive during his meetings in Harrisburg. The board expects final budget action at its June meeting.","Superintendent Doherty told the Tunkhannock Area SD board the district faces a multiyear budget gap driven in part by cyber-charter costs and transportation funding shortfalls, and urged local advocacy as administrators prepare staffing and program decisions for the June budget vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Tunkhannock Area SD board approves consent items, contracts and appointments

Board approves two-year contract with Total Grant Solutions to pursue external grant funding

Board hears proposal to increase bussing contractor pay; administrators plan June vote

Tunkhannock Area SD superintendent warns of multimillion-dollar budget shortfall, urges state cyber-charter reform