Scranton School District board authorizes private sale step, temporary loan and multiple contracts; tables construction manager award

The Scranton School District Board of Education on Monday, Oct. 6 authorized steps to start a private sale of the former Samuel Morse school site, approved a temporary intra-district loan during the state budget impasse, and approved several contracts and settlements while tabling the award of a construction-manager contract.

The actions came at a meeting where Superintendent Dr. Keating warned the ongoing Pennsylvania budget impasse was already reducing district services, and where a public commenter asked the board to create a Title IX equity committee for athletics.

Votes at a glance

- Private sale authorization for the former Samuel Morse school (Lackawanna County tax map 14506020016; deed book 357, page 417): motion approved on a 9-0 roll call. The board authorized administration to sell the property via private sale; the district does not yet have a buyer. (Record language cited: “24 p s 7 7 0 7 6” in the motion text.)

- Authorization for Hub Real Estate Group to assist with marketing and listing the Samuel Morse property at no cost to the district: approved 9-0.

- Real estate tax settlements (same PIN across tax years): approved 9-0. The board approved court-ordered assessment reductions with the following revenue impacts: tax year 2024 — revenue impact $13,513 (assessment reduced from $196,800 to $105,400); tax year 2025 — revenue impact $14,667 (assessment reduced from $196,800 to $99,200); tax year 2026 — revenue impact $14,380 (assessment reduced from $3,268,850 to $1,700,000). The three-year total revenue impact was stated as $42,560.

- Temporary loan during the state budget impasse, not to exceed $10,000,000, drawn from the district’s nonprofit school fund and food service account: approved 9-0.

- Special education settlement agreements (case numbers provided to the board): approved 9-0.

- West Grant (intermediate) gym floor refinishing, sanding/refinishing and graphics package: approved 9-0; financial impact $29,410.

- Scranton High School gym floor refinishing, sanding/refinishing and graphics package: approved 9-0; financial impact $56,120.

- Personnel report (hires contingent on background checks and clearances): approved 9-0.

- Motion to table award of the construction-management contract (award to Quandell was moved, then the board voted to table): motion to table approved 9-0; the award is now delayed pending completion of negotiations and possible special meeting to consider the final contract.

- Authorization to engage eCollect PA LLC to perform audit-discovery and collect delinquent payroll and business-privilege/machinery-and-mercantile taxes, contingent on a 90-day appeal period and subject to taxpayer bill-of-rights processes (engagement contingent fee; an additional 5% after the appeal period was noted): motion approved 8-yes, 1-abstention (Miss Fox abstained), and carried.

What the board said and why it matters

Board members and staff emphasized that several items are procedural steps toward implementation rather than immediate actions that change ownership or budgets. A staff member noted the private-sale authorization does not mean the district already has a buyer; it authorizes administration to proceed with a private-sale process and to engage a real-estate agent to market the property.

Superintendent Dr. Keating, in her report, said the ongoing state budget impasse is already forcing cuts to after-school tutoring, field trips and professional-development activities, and that local legislators are advocating for a resolution in Harrisburg. “A state budget impasse should never affect the education of a child and that’s what’s happening to us here in Scranton,” she said during the superintendent’s remarks.

On the proposed use of outside tax collectors, administration described eCollect’s role as “audit discovery” to identify businesses that did work in the city but may not have been registered for local payroll or business-privilege taxes. Legal staff said the board will seek to avoid duplicating services covered by the current ordinance and contractor (Berkheimer), and that the engagement would be limited where overlap exists.

Public comment and unresolved requests

During public comment, Marissa Harris urged the board to create a Title IX equity committee composed of coaches, administrators, boosters and board members to annually review athletic funding and recommend allocations before each season; the board did not take formal action on that request at this meeting.

Next steps and follow-up

- Administration was authorized to engage Hub Real Estate Group to market the Samuel Morse property at no cost to the district and to return to the board with a proposed sale when a contract or buyer is secured.

- The construction-management award was tabled pending finalization of contract negotiations; the solicitor and administration indicated the board might consider awarding the contract at a special meeting when negotiations conclude.

- The eCollect engagement is contingent on further legal review and a meeting with established collectors to clarify scope and avoid duplicative services; the board’s authorization allows administration to proceed with negotiations subject to those clarifications.

Ending

Board members closed the meeting after approving the consent agenda and the items above. The board also recognized student achievements, named the district an Outstanding Visual Arts Community for 2024–25, and announced upcoming immunization clinics and professional-development days in early October.