Board approves tax‑collector compensation resolution and multiple personnel, contracts and payments

At its Feb. 12 meeting, the Ambridge Area School District Board of School Directors approved a series of motions including a resolution confirming elected tax collector compensation and a personnel package that included hirings, coach stipends and contractor approvals.

Resolution: The board adopted Resolution No. 2024‑2025‑7, described on the agenda as a confirmation of the elected tax collector’s compensation “without substantive changes.” The motion passed on roll call; board members recorded as voting yes in the roll call were Missus Fisher, Miss Fisco, Missus Kehoe, Mister Kovesovic, Mr. Metz, Mrs. Romasco, Mrs. Scott and Mr. Carpenter. The resolution removes a prior duty (delinquent per‑capita tax collection) that the district no longer requires of the elected tax collector because that function is now performed by a third party.

Personnel and hires: The board moved to adopt personnel items 1 through 11 as listed on the agenda (resignations, coach amendments and coaching‑staff appointments for spring and fall 2025, a paraprofessional hire, ratification of posted positions, a school resource officer agreement addendum, and approval of ABC Transit drivers). That motion carried on roll call; votes recorded in the minutes show one abstention by Miss Fisher on item 1 and a notation that Mrs. Scott did not support item 7. The items include: coach stipend listings, the retroactive hire of Joseph Fortune as a paraprofessional (effective 01/23/2025), ratification of activity sponsors, and a recommendation to approve an addendum to the agreement with the Ambridge Police Department (school resource officer agreement) and a list of contracted ABC Transit drivers pending required clearances.

Contracts, services and purchases: The board approved a number of recommended contracts and purchases presented during committee reports and nonvoting agenda items. Those included (as listed on the meeting agenda): - Ratification of a memorandum of understanding with the Psychology and Learning Center to provide neurological evaluations, outpatient therapy, and medical management at no cost to the district (subject to solicitor review). - Approval of a letter of agreement with The Meadows Psychiatric Center (subject to final solicitor review) for mental‑health services in future school years. - Approval of a ThinkSync agreement to provide tools for student emotional and mental wellbeing at no cost to the district (subject to solicitor review). - Approval of a UniFirst service agreement for floor‑mat and mop services (effective 02/07/2025) at rates on the agenda. - Authorization to continue participation in the educational telecommunications consortium to pursue E‑Rate discounts under the federal Telecommunications Act (the agenda cites the E‑Rate program application). - Approval to pay monthly district bills in the amount of $2,990,214.11 and monthly district personnel salaries in the amount of $1,266,984.55; cafeteria bills of $139,406.17 and cafeteria salaries of $44,638.02 were also recommended for payment. - Approval of quotes and purchases recommended by building & grounds and athletics committees, including replacement electrified exit device work at Economy Elementary (vendor listed on the agenda), boiler controls repair at the high school (vendor listed), replacement aluminum (carbon‑fiber style) volleyball poles for the middle school (quote reported at $8,033 on the agenda) and a fully automatic timing system for track and field (quote $5,440 on the agenda). The athletics agenda also recommended a three‑year athletic training services agreement with UPMC Sports Medicine (term 07/01/2025 through 06/30/2028) subject to solicitor review.

Training, field trips and grants: The board approved Orton‑Gillingham training payments for selected elementary teachers (35 total hours, to be paid from Title II grant funds subject to completion and certificate submission) and authorized multiple staff to attend conferences and student trips as listed on the agenda.

Votes and roll calls: The minutes record roll‑call voting for several actions. Where recorded in the transcript, votes were read aloud and appended to the motions; the minutes reflect that motions carried. The adoption of resolution 2024‑2025‑7 and the personnel package were recorded as carried. Specific member votes and abstentions recorded in the meeting record are preserved below in the actions array for audit.

The board did not take final action on the Chromebook pilot during this meeting; staff will present the pilot for consideration next week if the board places the item on the agenda.