Board approves renewal of security and staffing contracts; clarifies benefit responsibility

The Central School District Board of Directors approved renewal agreements on Aug. 4 to continue existing contract relationships for building security, custodial staffing and substitute teachers for the 2025-26 school year. Dr. Egan, a district administrator, described the high school security contract with Shad as "boilerplate" and said the district has "been working with Shad for a number of years now." He confirmed the cost increases were included in the 2025-26 budget. The board also reviewed a renewal with School Operations Group Incorporated (custodial/temporary staffing) and an addendum with Substitute Teacher Service. Director Strickler questioned language in the renewal notes that appeared to suggest the district would provide fringe benefits to temporary workers. District staff clarified that the vendor provides fringe benefits to their employees and that the district pays the vendor's bill rates; the district does not enroll vendor personnel in district benefit plans. Mister Spataro noted the 3.1% increase for the School Operations Group contract was consistent with staff increases, and district staff confirmed a 3% rate increase for substitute services. No further discussion was recorded. The board approved the contracts in a single motion during the action items portion of the meeting; the chair called for a vote and said, "All those in favor? Any opposed? The motion carries." The verbal record shows the renewals passed, though the transcript does not list individual roll-call votes or tallies. Board members asked staff to correct a typographical error on the substitute teacher addendum (a vendor name on the draft) before posting final documents. The contracts will take effect for the 2025-26 school year and district staff said budgeted amounts for those services were already included in the operating budget.