Centennial SD committee approves personnel moves, contracts, bus replacement and routine purchases

The Centennial School District Board of School Directors voted on a slate of personnel actions, purchases and contracts at its committee of the whole meeting Tuesday, Jan. 28, and approved a replacement bus to replace a vehicle that was totaled in a collision.

The item bundle included approval of the agenda and the personnel agenda (terminations, retirements, resignations, authorizations to employ, leaves, change-of-status actions and mentor-teacher assignments); overnight conference requests for music students and staff; purchase of musical instruments and library books; replacement of HVAC controllers at McDonald Elementary; a three-year fire-equipment inspection and maintenance contract; and the award of a bid for a 30-passenger bus to replace a totaled vehicle. The board also approved a 2025–26 Act 1 accelerated budget opt-out resolution setting the district's inflation index at 4.0 percent (a procedural action that does not itself raise taxes above that cap).

Why it matters: several of the approvals commit short-term district funds or ongoing contracts (fire inspections, HVAC maintenance) and authorize travel or equipment purchases that affect classroom programs and transportation. The bus award restored capacity after a totaled vehicle; the board discussed longer-term fleet strategy, including grant-funded propane bus replacement for older vehicles.

Votes at a glance (selected items approved)

- Approval of the Jan. 28, 2025 Committee of the Whole agenda — motion approved (voice vote); passes 9-0. (Transcript evidence: agenda read and approved.)

- Personnel agenda (terminations, retirements, resignations, authorizations to employ, leaves of absence, change of status, mentor teachers, fine arts festival items) — motion approved (voice vote); passes 9-0. (Transcript evidence: personnel items read as 3.1.)

- Overnight conference: 8 William Tennant High School students to attend Pennsylvania Music Educators Association Choir Festival, Feb. 6–8, 2025 (Pottstown). District cost not to exceed $1,751.76 — approved; passes 9-0.

- Overnight conference: 2 William Tennant choir students and 1 teacher to attend NAfME All‑East Choir, April 24–25, 2025 (Hartford). District cost not to exceed $2,907.50 — approved; passes 9-0.

- Purchase of musical instruments for K–12 music program, not to exceed $14,070.48 — approved; passes 9-0.

- Purchase of library books for McDonald Elementary, not to exceed $1,158.17 — approved; passes 9-0.

- Instructional coaches overnight conference (career pathways immersion, Feb. 17–20, 2025, Scottsdale) — no district cost (paid by VOS-Ed) — approved; passes 9-0.

- Supervisor of Teaching & Learning: PA Migrant Education Program conference (Mar. 24–26, 2025, Gettysburg). District cost not to exceed $800 — approved; passes 9-0.

- Manager of Technology & Data/Assessment Specialist: Skyward ICON conference (Feb. 25–28, 2025, St. Petersburg, Fla.). District cost not to exceed $5,000 — approved 8–1 (one recorded dissent).

- Act 1 Index accelerated budget opt-out resolution (sets inflation index at 4.0%) — board clarified this is a procedural vote that does not itself increase taxes; motion approved; passes 9-0.

- Manager of Accounting: Skyward ICON conference (Feb. 26–28, 2025, St. Petersburg). District cost not to exceed $2,360 — approved; passes 9-0.

- Replacement of 21 HVAC controllers at McDonald Elementary (Siemens), district cost not to exceed $35,625.70 — approved; passes 9-0.

- Award: Fire equipment inspection and maintenance bid (three‑year term, June 1, 2025–May 31, 2028) to Fire and Safety & Security Technologies; base inspections/maintenance cost not to exceed $24,480 per year — approved; passes 9-0.

- Award: Bid 2025‑10 for one new Chevrolet Thomas 30‑passenger bus to Rural Bus Sales. District gross cost not to exceed $105,735; net cost after insurance payment $79,975 (vehicle replaces a bus that was totaled in an accident) — approved; passes 9-0.

What the board said: board members asked clarifying questions about the Skyward travel costs and the bus purchase. Trustees discussed propane buses and a district grant for replacing vehicles older than 2010; trustees and staff noted propane buses cost more up front but can yield savings over time and are a longer‑term fleet goal where feasible.

Next steps: staff will execute contracts and travel authorizations per the board motions. Budget planning and the first regular budgeting meeting were scheduled for Jan. 30 and additional finance meetings in February to continue planning for the 2025–26 fiscal year.