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Solanco school board approves routine personnel, facilities and contract items and moves to executive session
Summary
At its Sept. 8 meeting the Solanco School District Board of School Directors approved routine operational items — including bus-driver roster, building-use requests, a sponsor-to-sponsor meal agreement and a contract change order that produced a small net credit — then entered executive session on safety, security and personnel.
The Solanco School District Board of School Directors on Sept. 8 approved several routine operational items — the annual list of Eshbach bus drivers, multiple Sunday building‑use requests, a sponsor‑to‑sponsor meal agreement with Community Action Lancaster County for the Thrive to 5 program, and change order No. 7 on an ongoing capital project — and then moved into an executive session to discuss safety, security and personnel matters.
Board members approved the attached Eshbach bus‑driver roster as part of the district’s standard annual review of contracted drivers. The board also granted three Sunday building‑use requests: the high school spring musical scheduled for March 1, 2026, and recurring Sunday afternoon indoor practice time in the small gym for the high‑school boys soccer team. Motions to approve those items passed without recorded opposition.
The board approved a sponsor‑to‑sponsor agreement with Community Action Lancaster County required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). Under the agreement Solanco will provide breakfast and lunch to children enrolled in the Thrive to 5 program (formerly Head Start) while they are in school; the district will invoice the program for those meals at the prices listed in the agreement. Board discussion noted that the price rates have not increased from the prior year and that those rates are set at the state level.
Change order No. 7 on a district capital project was approved. The presentation to the board said the change order included an added cost to restore the glycol level to the original project condition and an unused credit in the contract of $19,008.80, resulting in a net credit to the district of $5,083.12. The board was told the project is now complete. During discussion a board member said overall savings on the project from change orders on the tracker sheet were about $223,000 and that a ceiling‑grid clarification identified by a staff member saved roughly $275,000; those figures were presented by board/staff speakers during the meeting.
The personnel report was approved. The board was told the personnel list is longer than usual because the district waits to submit hires until paperwork is complete; most hires on the report were support staff positions, many in special education. The report named one certified hire: learning support teacher Zoe Peeleman, Smith Middle School. The administration said recruiting used broader postings (including Indeed) and that the current focus is retention after recent hiring gains.
The board announced upcoming dates including the next regular meeting on Sept. 15 and district presence at the Lancaster County fair. Before adjourning to executive session, the board voted to excuse member Lee Coffin from the meeting. The executive session was described as covering safety, security and personnel; the board stated no votes would be taken on matters discussed in executive session.
Votes at a glance - Approve Eshbach bus‑driver roster (Agenda item 5.1): approved (mover/second not specified in the record). - Approve Sunday building use — high school musical (03/01/2026): approved (mover/second not specified). - Approve Sunday building use — high school boys soccer (small gym, Sunday afternoons): approved (mover/second not specified). - Approve sponsor‑to‑sponsor meal agreement with Community Action Lancaster County for Thrive to 5: approved (mover/second not specified).) - Approve change order No. 7 (net credit $5,083.12; contract credit $19,008.80 reported): approved (mover/second not specified). - Approve personnel report (multiple support staff hires; certified hire Zoe Peeleman listed): approved (mover/second not specified). - Excuse board member Lee Coffin from the meeting: approved (mover/second not specified).
The board then adjourned the public session and moved into executive session to discuss safety, security and personnel; the board stated that no votes would be taken on items discussed during the executive session.
