Southern York County school board approves guidance-plan wording change, multiple contracts and to retire Comcast channel 99

The Southern York County School District Board of Education on March 20 approved a set of administrative actions that included a wording change to the district guidance plan, multiple vendor contracts and the district’s plan to retire its Comcast cable channel 99 after June 30 while continuing live streams and YouTube access.

The board voted to approve the guidance plan required by the Pennsylvania School Code (chapter 339) after amending two lines to change the phrase “school counselor as agent of systemic change” to “school counselor as supporter of change” and to mirror that wording in the final sentence. The motion to approve the amended guidance plan passed on voice vote.

The board also approved a series of administrative and procurement items presented on the consent and committee agendas: - Meredith Comer was approved as the district dental examiner for the 2024–25 school year. - The board approved the purchase of two elementary academic placements at Yellow Breeches Educational Center for the 2025–26 school year at a cost of $38,894 per student. - Budget transfers, bills for payment, and other routine consent-agenda items were approved as presented. - The board awarded a contract for HVAC filters to ACIA Limited (PA) for $20,323.86 for 2025–26; a five-year elevator maintenance contract with Fotis Elevator for $7,200 in year one with up to a 3% annual increase; a boiler preventative-maintenance contract to Hinsworth Inc. under CoStar pricing (yearly amounts listed in the agenda); and a door replacement contract at Southern Middle School to Hershox Inc. for $20,100.61.

In a separate, contentious vote, the board approved retiring Comcast channel 99, which the district has used for local broadcast of board meetings and other content. The motion passed after a roll-call vote with eight directors in favor and one opposed. Board and staff said they will continue streaming meetings on YouTube and will keep channel 99 operational through June 30 to allow a transition; staff also agreed to post a help-desk phone number and a banner instructing viewers how to find the YouTube stream.

Why it matters: The guidance-plan wording change updates how the district defines the counselor role while several contract awards set vendor relationships and operating budgets for the coming years. The channel-99 decision affects how some residents—particularly seniors—receive district content and triggered a board discussion about digital access and the resources required to maintain multiple distribution platforms.

Votes at a glance - Guidance plan (PA School Code, chapter 339) — approved (motion to amend and approve passed; vote by voice, no roll call recorded). - Meredith Comer, dental examiner, 2024–25 — approved (voice vote). - Yellow Breeches Educational Center — purchase 2 elementary placements at $38,894 per student for 2025–26 — approved (voice vote). - Budget transfers and bills for payment — approved (voice vote). - HVAC filters (ACIA Limited) — award $20,323.86 — approved (voice vote). - Elevator maintenance (Fotis Elevator) — five-year contract, $7,200 first year (3% annual cap) — approved (voice vote). - Boiler preventative maintenance (Hinsworth Inc.) — approved (voice vote). - Southern Middle School door replacement (Hershox Inc.) — $20,100.61 — approved (voice vote; one board director asked for executive-session detail on security components). - Retire Comcast channel 99 — approved (roll-call vote: 8 yes, 1 no). The board agreed to keep the channel active through June 30 to allow transition and to provide help-desk support. - Second reading and approval of multiple updated and new board policies (18 policies total) — approved (voice vote). - MOU with Southern York Educational Support Personnel Association (voluntary transfer of two employees effective 07/01/2025) — approved (voice vote).

What board members said: Directors who favored retiring channel 99 said viewership is limited, the channel provides standard-definition quality, and streaming/YouTube and school-messenger systems reach more users; other directors urged keeping the channel through June and providing clear instructions and a help line for seniors and others who rely on Comcast.

What’s next: The board will present the final budget for 2025–26 in May after a proposed approval in April. District staff said they will post instructions and a help-desk number on channel 99 and on the new website, and will keep channel 99 active through June 30 while encouraging viewers to move to the district’s YouTube stream.