The Solanco School District Board of School Directors on Oct. 6 approved a package of contracts, facility-use requests and construction change orders and authorized bidding for a new well. The board also approved a Solanco High School improvement plan and moved into an executive session on student discipline; a single waiver vote is scheduled after the closed session.

The measures approved affect student services (including education for students placed in psychiatric facilities), contracted support-staff coverage, a specialized out-of-district placement, facility rentals for a post-prom event and a religious congregation, and several school construction contract adjustments.

WellSpan Health agreement
Doctor Dangler presented an education linkage agreement with WellSpan Health that would allow district students placed in WellSpan facilities (predominantly Philhaven) to continue receiving instruction while hospitalized and to permit information sharing between the hospital and the district to support continuity of services. “We are required to provide education to them during that time,” Doctor Dangler said. The board approved the WellSpan Health agreement by voice vote.

Other personnel and placement contracts
The board approved an education-services agreement with Maxim Healthcare to provide support staff (described by the administration as a bus aide for a student with specific needs and with the option to provide other nursing or aide services if needed). The board also approved an agreement described as for Royer Grieves, a school for the blind located in Paoli, for a single student’s school-year placement; the district noted that summer tuition had been previously approved and that state reimbursement would offset much of the placement cost.

Facility use and rentals
The board granted a facility-use request from the post-prom committee to use the high school cafeteria, the large and small gyms and the great hall from May 8 (after the school day) through May 10 (up to 3 a.m.) for weekend activities, a use the committee had held at the high school in prior years but not in recent seasons. Board members discussed custodial and insurance costs tied to the event, and the administration said the organizers would reimburse custodial coverage.

Separately, the board approved a renewal rental agreement for Freedom Life Christian Center to use Smith Middle School for Sunday services; the district recorded a monthly rental fee of $5,333.12.

Construction and facilities actions
The board approved a change order credit for the high school HVAC Phase 2 project that removes a specified portable railing by an RTU and provides the district a credit of $8,851.88. The board also approved a change-order package for Swift Middle School’s electrical upgrade: the administration reported added work that included installation of five additional duplex receptacles (valued at $5,900) and 50 spare 30-amp disconnects (allowance valued at $21,600), plus unused allowances that produce a credit of $756.96; the administration said the contract total ($99,000) was unchanged by these adjustments.

The board authorized the administration to advertise a bid to drill an additional well at Bart Colrain Elementary School and to work with an engineer to structure the bid, citing permitting timelines and the risk of operating with only a single functioning well at the site.

School improvement plan and staffing approvals
Doctor Long presented the Solanco High School ATSI (Additional Targeted Support and Improvement) non‑Title I school plan, which the administration said targets low Keystone exam performance and attendance among specific subgroups through three primary strategies: improving differentiated instructional practices, expanding the Track-to-Track mentoring program and increasing restorative practices to reduce suspensions. “We believe we can do each of those things,” Doctor Long said. The board approved the ATSI non‑Title I plan as presented.

The personnel report was approved. The report included a stipend recommendation for Krista Camarota for serving as interim principal at Coreyville while the returning principal transitions back, and interim extracurricular stipend adjustments following a mid‑season resignation in the band program.

Executive session and next steps
The board voted to excuse Mr. Rutton from the remainder of the meeting and moved into an executive session for student-discipline matters. The board announced that its only vote after the closed session will be on a waiver related to that student-discipline item.

Votes at a glance (motions approved, all by voice vote unless noted)
- WellSpan Health linkage agreement (education for students placed in WellSpan/Philhaven): approved; motion/second not specified; outcome: approved unanimously.
- Maxim Healthcare educational institution agreement (support staff/bus aide): approved; outcome: approved unanimously.
- Royer Grieves placement agreement (out-of-district placement for one student): approved; outcome: approved unanimously.
- Post-prom facility use (high school, May 8–10): approved; outcome: approved unanimously.
- Renewal rental — Freedom Life Christian Center at Smith Middle School (monthly fee recorded as $5,333.12): approved; outcome: approved unanimously.
- Guest teacher (substitute) list approval: approved; outcome: approved unanimously.
- Solanco High School ATSI non‑Title I school plan: approved; outcome: approved unanimously.
- HVAC Phase 2 change order credit (high school roof railing/RTU): approved; credit $8,851.88; outcome: approved unanimously.
- Swift Middle School electrical upgrade change order (additions and allowances): approved; items noted: $5,900 (five duplex receptacles), $21,600 (50 spare 30-amp disconnects), credit $756.96; contract total reported unchanged at $99,000; outcome: approved unanimously.
- Authorization to bid well drilling at Bart Colrain Elementary School: approved; outcome: approved unanimously.
- Personnel report (support staff resignations/hirings, stipend for interim principal Krista Camarota, interim extracurricular stipend splits): approved; outcome: approved unanimously.

What board members and administrators emphasized
Administrators noted the district’s legal obligation to provide education to students when placed in psychiatric facilities and the role of agreements in permitting information sharing with providers for continuity of services. Board members pressed for clarity about contract terms (for example, a question about the WellSpan term length) and for practical details such as custodial and insurance costs tied to large facility uses.

The district calendar and upcoming meetings mentioned at the end of the meeting include the next board meeting on Oct. 20, an agenda meeting Nov. 3, parent‑teacher conferences Nov. 7, the Nov. 17 board meeting (noted as the last meeting for two departing board members) and reorganization on Dec. 1 when new members will be sworn in.

Sources: Solanco School District meeting transcript, Oct. 6, 2025; board roll call and agenda items as read into the record.