[{"_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",6544774,"mediaKeyId","3449972-ee4a122c76c90ed2f3f294e93b277371","parentId",3449972,"title","Board approves budgets, contracts and multiple consent items in single vote series","audioSeconds",721,"startMs",4093000,"endMs",4814000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3449972-ee4a122c76c90ed2f3f294e93b277371&start=4093&end=4814","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3449972-ee4a122c76c90ed2f3f294e93b277371/thumbnail_4093000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6544774/Pennsylvania/Board-approves-budgets-contracts-and-multiple-consent-items-in-single-vote-series","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6544774-7baa1c5588800fa320cff399abf3a283/orig.mp4?Expires=1773609242&Signature=BlXhMsbTcKfCS2Lq1scdkYdsVKspvAg7NuVCMv2SaUkTaW-S1~eaIAV13GlLya5PGhBjd0oKTH5uGB2xdRnPTXutP1tSPVC8UwIjjeYyaj2WGwboPFwsGOJgXwA0nChk26hv63JQHOsnh1Z4~XR-YCPGYqbFZqLjZVEaYWZ4-77jI1Om-GS3mNTYVM~2KtIbWbh-wfhv3EHJk6doxiFjA5odzMLGXVqVlCIhfrbyV86ZfJvzZ5aezSvbT9W4pj639fWZk3d8xZ4Ya2hkcBgtqMSt~TsgAPUHgt3hihVeoc837xLBFQC-5C6rdGlVY27W480uhGtn08sqWk2afu-BSQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Mifflin County SD","date","2025-05-22T22:40:28Z","article","The Midland County School District Board approved a set of consent and action items covering curriculum purchases, service contracts, personnel items and the district’s proposed 2025–26 general fund budget.

Key approvals included:
- Final proposed general fund budget for 2025–26 totaling $100,763,398; board members recorded a roll-call vote and trustees said the budget reflects no tax increase.
- I-Ready Classroom Mathematics as the core K–5 mathematics resource under a six-year contract (2025–26 through 2030–31) at a total cost of $335,665.41; Title I funds were designated to cover $214,311.84 of the purchase via a front-loaded consumables buy for grades K–3.
- A five-year pupil transportation agreement with Price Transportation Inc., covering July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2030.
- Approval of Metz Culinary Management as the food-service management company for the 2025–26 year (contract renewable annually up to four additional one-year periods by mutual agreement; a full RFP is required every five years).
- Personnel and position actions, including a head nurse job description submission and the approval of an assistant girls basketball coach pulled from the consent agenda.
- An MOU with the Midland County Education Support Professionals Association (MCESPA, PSEA/NEA) to increase hourly pay for paraprofessionals and HRAs during ESY and K Camp to their normal hourly rate instead of a $15/hour contracted rate.
- A bench naming sponsorship agreement between the River Valley Visitors Bureau and the district for one bench at Kishbank Fields (Donald M. Chapman III Stadium).
- Multiple capital projects disbursements approved, including a dishwasher purchase for Lewistown Intermediate School ($45,327.47) and a partial roof replacement at East Derry Elementary (cost not to exceed $110,000).
- Substitute teacher service agreement with STS for July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027.
- A recommendation to allow newly hired teachers to be paid supplemental work in June–August 2025 to attend trainings prior to the start of the 2025–26 school year.

Most items were approved by recorded roll-call votes. For curriculum and larger contract approvals trustees asked procedural questions about funding sources and renewal schedules; staff said Title I funds would be used to front-load consumable materials for I-Ready and that the food-service contract will be subject to a five-year RFP process. The board also approved the Midland County Academy of Science and Technology budget ($3,972,232) as presented.

Ending — The board completed a broad slate of routine and higher-cost approvals that set programming and contracted services for the coming school year; several items will require annual monitoring and future RFP processes as noted by staff.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","MCSD School Board Meeting 05-22-25","oneSentenceSummary","The Midland County School District Board approved the district’s 2025–26 general fund budget and a series of contracts, curriculum purchases and personnel items in recorded roll-call votes.","taxTitle","Mifflin County SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",55226,"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},6544779,"Board approves multi-sports stadium change orders after heated debate over contractor performance",1083,2959000,4042000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3449972-ee4a122c76c90ed2f3f294e93b277371&start=2959&end=4042","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3449972-ee4a122c76c90ed2f3f294e93b277371/thumbnail_2959000.jpg","/articles/6544779/Pennsylvania/Board-approves-multi-sports-stadium-change-orders-after-heated-debate-over-contractor-performance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6544779-4774ad495180e7768e7aeefecab3d2cb/orig.mp4?Expires=1773609242&Signature=RVUCDxUAj043OK3sSsVJofHKCU-bHD4TMaqqbBZOYi1uLDpmGgDvA3va03KQ4ENu91AfIq8x0rsqx8CqF5~R650DCamFr87s5nWJiiF39XnvniDMk9KZTqlz28fZzMye3J0-bepA2LU9VCABz6~3J11HmqVsu6l6Ji7wX5mFsqoeHfWaJfj1OOTcONLGUQr~-OP4mGRu4UgCF2OgzmSR0SNg9A4jP1BmMUfpqi54GufpG~swOvJXeBYR6pctVtqouoOpK6zs93wy5p5VrzPDTFZ0N3Z6hdtieH1~Y14Ra-0Ttatze4ly9~OPigMliiOGOlRqXDTxWJK4zq9e5E-ZFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Midland County School District Board of Education on a motion approved multiple change orders tied to the multi-sports stadium project at Kishbank Fields, after an extended discussion in which board members sharply criticized the contractor’s schedule, workmanship and management.

Board member Mister Baker and other trustees raised concerns about delays that disrupted graduations, practices and meets, and about construction quality — particularly a retaining wall — saying the district incurred inconvenience and risk when work ran past the contract completion date. “I don’t think we should be negotiating anything with them. I think they should be covering it all,” Baker said during the discussion. Board members and staff described disputes among contractor, manufacturer and the engineer over correct installation and noted defects that the district had demanded be remedied.

The board approved the largest contested item, a Keystone Sports change order to extend the upper deck of the home bleachers not to exceed $101,574 (listed on the agenda as “not to exceed a hundred and $1,574”). Baker and several trustees said they objected to paying additional sums after missed deadlines and workmanship problems; others said the district needed the parts and vendor support to finish critical bleacher components. Tom White, who the board referenced repeatedly in discussion as the district contact on the project, was credited by trustees for on-site oversight and for limiting costs compared with what outside construction managers could have added.

Other approved action on the stadium project included a Keystone Sports retroactive change order (listed as change order no. 9, retroactive to 3/27/25) for $3,395.59 to regrade the parking lot and improve sidewalk slope, and a credit change order from Hosler Enterprise LLC (mechanical contractor) reducing contract amount by $5,340 for unused allowances. Board votes were taken separately for each change order. The board’s roll calls show mixed votes on some items (several trustees voted no on the bleachers extension while a majority approved it).

During the debate trustees also discussed warranty work, the contractor’s responsibility after turnover, and the potential for claims or litigation. Several board members described common practice in public construction of contractors underbidding and later adding change orders. The board discussed that AIA-style contracts often favor contractors/engineers in disputes and that pursuing mediation or litigation can be costly.

Board members said they expect warranty and punch-list work to continue for up to a year — especially turf settlement — and that subs will return to address defects as specified in the contract. The board also discussed seating capacity and restroom access for commencement as part of the justification for finishing bleacher work now.

The board’s action: the change orders described above were approved by separate roll-call votes; several trustees recorded objections on the bleacher extension. Trustees asked staff to continue close oversight and to seek repairs and warranty performance from contractors and subs.

Ending — The board approved the change orders necessary to complete the stadium project while reserving expectation that warranty repairs and punch-list items will be addressed by the contractors; several trustees said they will continue to press for remedies and noted the district’s limited practical options outside mediation or litigation.","The Midland County School District Board approved several change orders for the multi-sports stadium project while several board members criticized contractor performance, disputed responsibility for delays and debated whether the district should press for credits or pursue legal remedies.",{"_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},6544770,"Board debates playoff-qualification standards; agrees to pilot removing 0.500 rule for one year",985,4935000,5920000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3449972-ee4a122c76c90ed2f3f294e93b277371&start=4935&end=5920","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3449972-ee4a122c76c90ed2f3f294e93b277371/thumbnail_4935000.jpg","/articles/6544770/Pennsylvania/Board-debates-playoff-qualification-standards-agrees-to-pilot-removing-0500-rule-for-one-year","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6544770-0f893ba0a4df31870d75d6c739fa7677/orig.mp4?Expires=1773609242&Signature=OkTnWKlv1LbF57VaNmZkRgCTRJUORQVVj-iTCV5JtuuCyQPql1zhpQ9jY4vyOFqICkg3E26A5nM-ER~VijuzP2q8x1P1p2zSZ1u14khEiDdNg3cn9ZUN4urOrSbav-~aSlV1jzQL-AfLuFAzfUEyTOrWf5zQaVclrEbsurfncO5raNsJSsFDArR1X-YmEBtJki2YX76gq4XM7VxLGYz7iPIHKbvOV~wk2YPx3j8z7vBHW0~tNFl47s1GlmE8mC9KzIDxXu50X4v092czNGMdbcZED5gQhfhYb1DYgdlsR4B-M6LxC4H5eEfa~WyRDYNBLykf6VElY-BMK2VTvc3zBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Midland County School District Board on the athletics agenda held an extensive discussion over playoff qualification standards and whether to require a .500 overall record for teams to qualify. The conversation drew many trustees and staff into a detailed review of district and PIAA classification differences across sports and districts.

Miss McClain (athletics staff) outlined the current rule set and noted the added caveat for District 6 qualifiers; she said district reclassifications occur in October and that sports classifications can change for two-year cycles. Several coaches had submitted preferences to allow more discretion; the board heard that the majority of coaches said they want an opportunity to take teams to postseason play even if the team’s overall record is below .500.

Board member Mister Baker and others argued for standards and warned that loosening the rule could create inconsistency and parental confusion; other trustees argued for a pilot approach that would allow coaches the option to seek postseason entry and would place accountability on coaches and the athletics program. A public comment urged the board to heed staff recommendations and warned that more discretionary decisions can lead to inconsistent outcomes.

After debate the board directed staff to place an item on the June 19 agenda to remove the .500 rule for one year as a pilot, with evaluation criteria. Trustees asked staff to provide an application or justification process for coaches who want to enter teams under the pilot and to document outcomes (win percentages, financial impacts, and any disciplinary or logistical issues) so the policy can be reevaluated at the end of the pilot year. The board indicated it will vote on the change at a subsequent meeting (vote scheduled June 26 on the pilot direction per board calendar notes in the meeting).

Ending — The board did not change policy immediately; it agreed to a one-year pilot and asked staff to return with documentation and a recommendation after the pilot period.","Trustees debated athletic playoff qualification criteria at length and directed staff to place a pilot removing the .500 rule on the June 19 agenda for a one-year trial, with reporting requirements and an application process for coaches who wish to enter their teams.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves budgets, contracts and multiple consent items in single vote series

Board approves multi-sports stadium change orders after heated debate over contractor performance

Board debates playoff-qualification standards; agrees to pilot removing 0.500 rule for one year