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Susquehanna Township board says Wayne Avenue sale complete, will place EIT referendum on November ballot; approves personnel, finance and contract items
Summary
Board members heard a district update that the Wayne Avenue property sale was finalized, approved multiple personnel, finance and contract items by voice votes, and referred a $74,000 rooftop water installation question to the facilities committee for further review.
The Susquehanna Township School District board heard that the sale of the Wayne Avenue property was finalized in January and moved to place an earned-income-tax (EIT) referendum on the November ballot to fund construction on the site.
Board members said the district now owns the 42-acre parcel and will begin a public information and outreach campaign, including ward-level town halls and at least one public hearing, in the months before the referendum. “We now have the land on which to build a school,” Superintendent Dr. Willis said during the meeting. “It took seven years, but we’re here.”
The update matters because the district says ownership of the parcel would provide a site for a future school if voters approve the EIT referendum. The board said it will begin communications and a campaign to inform township residents ahead of the November election.
In other business the board approved a slate of routine items by voice vote and roll call where noted. Motions passed included personnel approvals and several finance and contract items. The board also adopted the 2025–26 school-year calendar, which starts the school year on Monday, Aug. 18, 2025, and lists June 3 as the last student day for 2026.
Several items under the contracts section generated discussion. Board members questioned an estimated $74,000 price to install rooftop water outlets and service access at multiple district buildings; facilities staff said the figure covers installations at several locations and is state-contract pricing. Board members asked for more detail; the superintendent and facilities staff agreed to present the scope and pricing at the facilities committee meeting on Feb. 28 for additional explanation before any final approval.
Board members also noted Governor Josh Shapiro’s upcoming budget address and said they will monitor any state education funding proposals that could affect the district’s plans.
Votes at a glance - Motion to approve personnel items (agenda items 7–8): motion passed by voice vote (mover/second: motion noted; second recorded as Johnson). (Transcripts: motion and voice vote recorded.) - Motion to approve finance items (AA–D): motion passed by voice vote. (Transcripts: motion and voice vote recorded.) - Motion to approve contracts items 9A–D: motion passed by voice vote; items 9F and 9G were held for discussion and referred to facilities committee for additional review. - Motion to adopt the 2025–26 school calendar: motion passed by voice vote; start date Aug. 18, 2025 and last student day June 3, 2026 as presented. - Motion to approve education/student attestation (ID 2024-45-019): motion passed by roll call (roll call recorded in transcript showing board members voting yes).
The board adjourned after approving the final motions and scheduling committee follow-up for the rooftop/water installation discussion. Facilities staff and district administration will return to the facilities committee with the contractor scope, state-contract documentation and comparisons to address board questions.
The board discussion combined routine approvals with next-step planning for the district’s capital needs: a completed land purchase, a planned EIT referendum this fall, and a facilities follow-up to decide how to maintain rooftop HVAC equipment going forward.
