Springfield board approves contract, budget, capital change orders and personnel actions in Aug. 28 meeting

The Springfield School District Board of School Directors approved a series of routine and capital items during its Aug. 28 meeting, voting on personnel matters, construction change orders, special-education settlements, the district's community-college budget share, technology leases and transportation routes.

Major items approved by voice or roll-call vote included: the board-approved consent agenda (recorded in the transcript as "Motion carries 7 2 0"); promotion of Joe Hepp to executive director of operations (motion recorded as "7 0"); the personnel report listing multiple resignations, hires and employment-status changes; three special-education settlement waiver and release agreements; the Delaware County Community College budget share for 2025–26; multiple capital project change orders and a construction settlement; a technology lease schedule with Dell Financial Services; a real-estate tax-assessment settlement; and approval of transportation routes and bus drivers provided by Student Transportation of America (STA).

Personnel report: The board approved a personnel report that, according to the district's presentation, included the resignation of 1 administrator; resignations of 3 certificated staff members and 5 noncertified staff; employment of 8 certificated staff; status changes for 7 certificated staff (long-term substitutes to contracted teachers); employment-status changes for 3 noncertified staff; employment of 12 long-term substitutes; employment of 9 noncertified staff; and two requests for family and medical leave.

Special-education settlements: The board approved settlement waiver and release agreements for students identified in the agenda as 9380, 11306 and 10854. Each motion was moved, seconded and approved on voice votes recorded as "Motion carries 7 0." The board did not discuss settlement details publicly beyond the motions on the consent calendar.

Community college budget: The Delaware County Community College board approved its 2025–26 budget on June 18, 2025. The Springfield School District's share for that fiscal year was presented as $739,880, a 1% increase from the previous fiscal year. The board approved the DCCC budget in a roll-call vote recorded as 7–0.

Capital projects and construction settlements: The board approved several capital-related items on the agenda: - Change order No. 1 to AJM Electric Inc. for $6,176 to install and start up a transfer switch at Sable Elementary School’s emergency generator. - A settlement and release with McCarthy Construction related to E.T. Richardson Middle School AC work that included a $15,000 credit to the district and a final district payment to McCarthy of $51,528. - Change orders Nos. 11–14 with Donald E. Reisinger Inc. totaling $34,372.99 for additional ceiling, wall and flooring work at E.T. Richardson; the board said costs will be funded from capital project bond proceeds.

Technology lease: The board approved additional schedules to a master lease with Dell Financial Services to acquire 1,403 additional laptops, workstations and Chromebooks and licenses to replace out-of-life devices and expand one-to-one Chromebook access in specified grades and schools. The schedules are for a four-year term; the agenda listed a rental cost of $11,248 and a total acquisition cost of $44,994.21, with payments funded from the technology department’s operating budget in the general fund.

Real estate tax assessment settlement: The board authorized its solicitor to finalize a settlement of a tax assessment appeal for folio number 42-00-00469-00600 (Baltimore Pike at Saksor Avenue), proposing a 2025 assessment of $830,250 and fair market value $1,350,000. The proposed resolution reduced the 2025 assessment by $403,710 and was calculated to yield an approximate district tax-dollar decrease of $8,953.60 for tax year 2025.

Transportation: The board approved the 2025–26 transportation routes and the Student Transportation of America bus drivers as presented; annual board approval was noted as required for the state audit.

Votes and tallies: Many motions were passed unanimously by voice vote or roll call; most recorded tallies in the transcript were 7–0. The consent agenda vote was recorded in the transcript as "Motion carries 7 2 0." Where the transcript records a roll-call tally, that figure appears in the action details below.

The board also approved routine district reports, committee schedules and future meeting dates. No further public hearings or extended debate accompanied most items, which the board treated as routine or consent matters.