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Board liaison reports jointure contract changes for Pathfinder School; Burdick recommends support ahead of Wednesday vote
Summary
Board member Burdick described negotiated contract terms with the AIU and the Pathfinder jointure, explained Act 77 funding expiration and a new payment structure beginning 2025, and recommended the board support the annual contract at an upcoming vote.
Board member Mrs. Burdick reported on negotiations over a new operating contract between the Pathfinder jointure and the Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU) and told the board she planned to vote in favor at an upcoming jointure meeting.
Burdick said Pathfinder is a small regional school (about 85–90 students) governed by a five‑district jointure that includes Mount Lebanon, Upper St. Clair, "Carlington" and two other districts she identified collectively. She said Mount Lebanon typically sends eight to 11 students per year to Pathfinder.
According to Burdick’s account, for about 15 years tuition and related costs were covered under a funding arrangement tied to Act 77, but that arrangement is expiring. Beginning in 2025, the jointure will operate under a new payment plan in which the AIU will pay a sum to the jointure to cover operating costs; the funds will be managed by the jointure treasury. Burdick said the contract defines who pays for which expenses and that federal grant money has been used in recent years for items such as boiler replacement and pool‑tile work.
After rounds of questions and solicitor review across the jointer districts, Burdick said changes the Mount Lebanon representatives sought were made and that she now recommends supporting the contract. Board members who serve as liaisons and solicitors said they were comfortable with the agreement. She said the contract is annual and will return for renewal in subsequent years.
Status: discussion and recommendation ahead of a jointure vote (no Mount Lebanon board vote was recorded at the Feb. 17 meeting).
