Cornwall-Lebanon board approves multiple construction change orders, $5M campus payment and routine personnel actions

The Cornwall-Lebanon School District Board of Directors on Sept. 15 unanimously approved a series of construction change orders, contracts and fund payments related to campus renovations and other district projects, and completed routine personnel, policy and program approvals.

District trustees voted 8-0 to approve multiple change orders for projects including the Falcon Connector, Cedar Crest High School renovations and Earl Bald Stadium improvements, ratified a contract with Stepback Engineering for engineering services on the Cornwall Elementary traffic-pattern project (to be funded from the capital reserve fund), and authorized payment of $5,016,405.39 from the Cedar Crest Campus renovation fund. The board also approved capital reserve payments of $214,914.72 and routine operating disbursements, and took personnel and policy actions described below.

The board heard brief nonaction items earlier in the meeting, including a student-council update from Ryan Brophy and superintendent remarks by Dr. Dimencic, who said the “school year is off to a fantastic start.” The approvals at the Sept. 15 regular meeting were taken by roll call/show-of-hands and were recorded as 8-0 where noted.

Votes at a glance: The board approved, by unanimous vote where indicated, the following motions (motion text is summarized or quoted from the meeting record):

- Approve change order covering general contractor for Falcon Connector Building Project (GC #12, ECI Construction). Outcome: approved, 8-0. - Approve change order covering electrical contractor for Falcon Connector Building Project (EC #4, McCarty and Son). Outcome: approved, 8-0. - Approve change order covering general contractor for Cedar Crest High School renovation (GC #2, Low Bar Incorporated). Outcome: approved, 8-0. - Approve change order covering plumbing contractor for Cedar Crest High School renovation (PC JR Reynolds). Outcome: approved, 8-0. - Approve change order covering site contractor for Cedar Crest High School renovation (SC #1, Iron Eagle Excavating). Outcome: approved, 8-0. - Approve change order covering general contractor for Earl Bald Stadium Facility Improvement Projects (GC #1, NCI Constructions Limited). Outcome: approved, 8-0. - Ratify contract with Stepback Engineering to provide engineering services for the Cornwall Elementary School traffic-pattern project; authorize the district business office to advertise for bids. Funding source: capital reserve fund. Outcome: approved, 8-0. - Approve payment of Cedar Crest Campus renovation fund bills: $5,016,405.39. Outcome: approved, 8-0. - Approve payment of capital reserve fund bills: $214,914.72. Outcome: approved, 8-0. - Approve 2025–26 emergency medical technicians instructor list. Outcome: approved, 8-0. - Approve credit reimbursements: $53,764.76. Outcome: approved, 8-0. - Approve multiple overnight/field trips for Cedar Crest High School (including Penn State, FFA competitions and swim team trips). Outcome: approved, 8-0. - Ratify contract with Yellow Breeches Educational Center for academic programs and related services for 2025–26. Outcome: approved, 8-0. - Approve food service fund bills: $57,480.59. Outcome: approved, 8-0. - Approve employment of drivers employed by Bright Bill Transportation per the submitted documents. Outcome: approved, 8-0. - Approve routine personnel resignations, retirements, hirings and ratifications, and grant administration authorization to hire classified personnel to be ratified at subsequent meetings. Outcome: approved, 8-0. - Final adoption and placement on review of several revised board policies (motions placed on the table and final adoptions per the meeting record). Outcome: approved, 8-0.

Board discussion and context: Most action items were presented by the appropriate committee chair or administrative lead and carried without debate. Building-and-grounds items were introduced by Mr. Snyder; curriculum and staff-development motions were presented by Dr. Weiss; extracurricular field-trip approvals were presented by Mr. Zug; personnel items were presented under the personnel section; and policy items were presented by Mr. Bensing. Financial oversight items (treasurer’s report, payment approvals) were approved earlier in consent business. The meeting record shows no recorded votes against any of the motions and no recorded abstentions on the listed action items.

Other meeting highlights: Student representatives presented a schedule of upcoming events including the Falcon Fair and ninth-grade elections; the board recognized two Rotary Students of the Month, Vincent Mattern and Adam Rudy. Dr. Dimencic provided routine superintendent’s updates and reminded the public of upcoming district events and the next board work session scheduled for Oct. 13.

What’s next: Approved construction payments and contracts will proceed under the terms presented to the board; the Cornwall-Lebanon School District will advertise for bids on the Cornwall Elementary traffic-pattern project after the Stepback Engineering contract was ratified. The board’s next regularly scheduled work session is Oct. 13, 2025.