Votes at a glance: Coatesville Area SD committees advance subscriptions, contracts, hiring, capital items and administrative approvals

Coatesville Area School District committee members on Feb. 18 voted to advance multiple separate agenda items to the full board. The committees (Education, Finance and Operations) approved motions to move or ratify program subscriptions, contracts, personnel requests and capital items; all items below were advanced for final action at the full board meeting.

Votes at a glance (committee action summarized):

- Gifted Education subscription (Art of Problem Solving / Beast Academy): Committee moved to forward approval of a 12‑month subscription for gifted program access at a cost of $4,800. No mover/second was recorded on the transcript; committee members present voiced agreement to advance the item.

- Learning A to Z subscriptions (Reading A‑Z): Committee moved to forward a quote for 107 Reading A to Z subscriptions for a 36‑month term at a quoted cost of $36,834.75. The district expects reimbursement for the purchase through the structured literacy grant; a committee member confirmed the grant is a state‑level award and that funds are already accounted for by the intermediate unit.

- Learning/course catalog changes (middle‑school grade realignment and course revisions): Committee advanced proposed course catalog changes including replacing Family and Consumer Science in some grades with programming focused on study skills, organization and executive functioning and a change to eighth‑grade ELA block scheduling. Administrators said additional addenda to the catalog are expected as schedules and coursework are finalized.

- EverDriven contract (specialized transportation): Committee moved to advance a contract with EverDriven to provide specialized transportation for students whose homes are in terrain or locations not accessible by the district’s existing provider. Committee discussion noted the cost is high for a small number of students; the transcript did not specify a dollar amount.

- Financial statements and bills payable: The Finance Committee approved forwarding the monthly financial statements, bills‑payable list and an included revenue report to the full board for ratification.

- Construction project change‑order blanket authorization: Finance Committee approved forwarding a blanket authorization that would allow district administrators to approve up to $40,000 in minor change orders on ongoing construction projects in order to keep work moving; administrators said they will return to the board to ratify those changes. The committee asked that the final agenda item list the three named authorized approvers (Superintendent Dr. Rybarczyk, Finance designee Lori [last name not specified], and Director of Operations Jeffrey Bridal).

- Dindas, Inc. quote (sound for high‑school drama production): Committee moved to forward approval of a contract with Dindas, Inc. for sound services for the Paint & Patch Drama Club’s production of Beetlejuice Jr.; the club is responsible for associated costs.

- Donation for varsity baseball scoreboard: Committee moved to forward ratification of a donation from Brian Hoskins Dealership to purchase a new scoreboard for the varsity baseball field; donors requested the dealership logo be displayed on the scoreboard. Committee clarified the donation covers removal, installation and electrical work.

- Franklin Mint FCU Foundation classroom mini‑grant: Committee ratified a $500 mini‑grant from the Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union Foundation to replace cookware in culinary/family and consumer science classrooms.

- Purchase of 2023 Dodge police vehicle: Committee moved to forward a quote from New Holland Auto Group for purchase of a 2023 Dodge police vehicle for $47,938.24. Administrators said the oldest district police vehicle (a 2007 model) will likely be retired from police duty and repurposed for safety staff use.

- Group of new positions (middle schools): Finance Committee advanced a package of requested positions to support grade‑level realignment: two music teachers, two secondary counselors, two mathematics teachers, two special education teachers and two STEM teachers. Administrators said these hires will be dedicated to individual middle school buildings (no shared travel between buildings is planned) and are intended to address caseloads and build course offerings.

- Communications and public relations specialist: Committee advanced creation of a full‑time communications/public relations specialist position with a proposed salary range of $90,000 to $120,000. Administrators said the position will centralize community and emergency communications and will mirror similar roles in comparable districts.

- Operations Committee capital/maintenance items: The Operations Committee advanced several projects for board approval, including asbestos abatement work at Kings Highway, Excel Elevator service items to repair door safety edges, replacement/design of natatorium (pool) lighting by Snider Hoffman Associates, Inc. for $8,760, and several construction addition change orders (ICS additions at Reesville Elementary and North Brandywine). Administrators said the natatorium lights are aging and that the district is evaluating LED upgrades for improved lighting and energy savings.

What the votes mean: In committee, motions to “move forward” typically indicate the item will appear on the full board agenda for final action and ratification. The transcript records voice approvals in committee; most motions were advanced by general assent without a named mover or detailed roll‑call recorded in the committee transcript.

Next steps: Each item will appear on the board agenda for full consideration and final vote. Committees requested a clarifying edit to the construction change‑order authorization to list the specific authorized approvers by name on the full agenda.