Hatboro-Horsham board approves facilities work, personnel actions and multiple policy readings; tables procurement policy for legal review

The Hatboro-Horsham School District Board of School Directors on March 24 approved a series of consent, facilities, finance, human-resources and policy items and tabled a proposed procurement policy for further legal review.

Minutes and consent agenda: The board unanimously approved the minutes of the Feb. 24, 2025 legislative meeting and the March 10 work-session minutes (motion by David Brown; second Theresa Brown). The board then approved the consent agenda, items A through K, covering general fund check register and voided checks; capital projects and bond fund reports; food services, medical, payroll and student activities fund reports; student scholarship fund memorial reports; tax collector and treasurer reports; ratification of contracts; and conference attendance (motion by Susan Hunsinger Hoff; second DJ Schultz).

Facilities: Members approved facilities committee recommendations A–F, including awarding a bid for a pole-barn building at the Operations Building; rejecting a bid for the Keith Valley maintenance building due to high cost; approving an allowance adjustment with the general contractor for the Keith Valley project; purchasing two AI-powered scrubber dryers for the operations department; awarding repairs to the high school tennis courts as a summer capital project; and approving repairs to the Stanley Stadium bleachers (motion by DJ Schultz; second Theresa Brown). The board recorded the motions and voted to approve each item without recorded opposition.

Finance and donations: The finance committee items A–D were approved (motion by David Brown; second Susan Hunsinger Hoff). Those items included accepting Montgomery County Intermediate Unit copier paper and fuel bids, accepting a donation of books to Simmons Elementary School, approving a tax-assessment stipulation with a commercial property owner in Horsham Township, and approving disposal of obsolete maintenance equipment. When a board member asked about the donation process, district staff said donated books are vetted by librarians and reviewed against governing recommendations before placement on school shelves; the board accepted the donation and the vetting will occur prior to shelving.

Human resources: The board approved the human-resources action items on the agenda (motion by Tara Conner Halston; second David Brown). The HR items included five retirements, which the board said would be formally recognized at the June board meeting: Jane Yaya (Keith Valley teacher, 34 years); Teresa Kentop (Keith Valley teacher, 33 years); Claire Walker (Simmons instructional assistant, 26 years); Scott Douglas Sr. (high school custodian, 10 years); and Steven Hatchen (bus garage mechanic foreman, 38 years). The board also welcomed newly appointed teacher Jenna Cherwin, hired as an autistic-support teacher at Simmons Elementary School.

Policy: The board considered multiple policy items. The board voted to table the first reading of revised Policy 6-10 (procurement) for further legal review to ensure compliance with the school code; the motion to table passed unanimously after solicitor review was requested. The board also voted to table the motion to retire Policies 6-11, 6-12 and 6-13 pending finalization of Policy 6-10. Separately, the board approved a renumbering of Policy 6-25 (fund balance) to Policy 6-20 (motion by Tara Conner Halston; second Susan Hunsinger Hoff). First readings approved included Policy 6-26 (federal fiscal compliance), Policy 6-26.1 (travel reimbursement), Policy 6-31 (procurement cards) and Policy 800.1 (electronic records and signatures). During discussion of procurement cards, district staff noted the small-purchase threshold in current practice is $50 or lower; the board conducted first readings and may consider final adoption at a future meeting.

Special services: The board approved two special-services action items: an alternative-instruction program and an agreement regarding a waiver of an expulsion hearing (motion by David Brown; second Susan Hunsinger Hoff).

Other business: The board approved the Hatboro-Horsham School District 2025–26 school-board meeting calendar and the district's 2025 summer sports-camp programs (motion by Tara Conner Halston; second Maggie Kisner). The student board representatives, liaisons and committee chairs reported on recent district activities and events.

Votes at a glance (recorded motions and outcomes): - Approve minutes (02/24/2025 and 03/10/2025): Mover David Brown; second Theresa Brown; outcome: approved (unanimous, yes=8). - Approve consent agenda Items A–K (financial reports, contracts, attendance): Mover Susan Hunsinger Hoff; second DJ Schultz; outcome: approved (unanimous, yes=8). - Facilities Items A–F (pole barn bid award; reject Keith Valley maintenance building bid; allowance adjustment for Keith Valley; purchase AI scrubber dryers; tennis court repairs; Stanley Stadium bleacher repairs): Mover DJ Schultz; second Theresa Brown; outcome: approved (unanimous, yes=8). - Finance Items A–D (copier paper and fuel bids; accept book donation; tax assessment stipulation; disposal of obsolete equipment): Mover David Brown; second Susan Hunsinger Hoff; outcome: approved (unanimous, yes=8). - Human Resources action items (including retirements and new appointment Jenna Cherwin): Mover Tara Conner Halston; second David Brown; outcome: approved (unanimous, yes=8). - Policy 6-10 (procurement) – motion to table for legal review: Mover (policy chair); second; outcome: tabled (unanimous, yes=8). - Policy retirements (6-11, 6-12, 6-13) – motion to table: outcome: tabled (unanimous, yes=8). - Policy renumbering (6-25 to 6-20): Mover Tara Conner Halston; second Susan Hunsinger Hoff; outcome: approved (unanimous, yes=8). - First readings approved: Policies 6-26; 6-26.1; 6-31; 800.1 (first reading approved; final adoption anticipated at a later meeting): outcomes: approved for first reading (unanimous, yes=8). - Special services Items A–B (alternative instruction; waiver of expulsion hearing agreement): Mover David Brown; second Susan Hunsinger Hoff; outcome: approved (unanimous, yes=8). - Other action Items A–B (2025–26 board meeting calendar; 2025 summer sports camps): Mover Tara Conner Halston; second Maggie Kisner; outcome: approved (unanimous, yes=8).

The board's tabling of Policy 6-10 triggered a request for additional legal review to ensure the proposed procurement policy aligns with the school code; the board's solicitor and district staff said they will return revised language for future consideration.

Ending: Many items were routine or first readings; the most substantive ongoing matter requiring follow-up is the procurement-policy rewrite, which the board sent back for legal review.