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Octorara board approves multiple personnel contracts, policy changes; tables Route 41 school-light repair
Summary
At its September meeting the Octorara Area School District board approved a slate of personnel contracts and policy updates, accepted two resignations and tabled a $19,753 quote to repair flashing school lights on Route 41 pending further research.
The Octorara Area School District Board of School Directors approved multiple personnel contracts, supplemental coaching and band stipends, policy readings and other administrative items at its regular meeting, and tabled a repair quote for flashing school lights on Route 41 until the October meeting.
Board members voted to accept the resignation of James J. T. Bridal as assistant principal at Octorara Area High School, effective no later than Nov. 6, 2025, and to approve a range of new and renewed employment contracts. The board approved a contract for Nicole Dean as chief human resources officer through June 30, 2030, and a contract for Michael Stabile as chief financial officer through June 30, 2030. The board also approved Matthew Bristow as director of safety and security, a new position, at a prorated annual salary of $95,000 effective Oct. 1, pending completion of required employee paperwork.
Other personnel approvals included appointment of James Bookman as night lead custodian at $24.03 per hour replacing a transferred employee; acceptance of a student-services supervisor-on-assignment contract with the Chester County Intermediate Unit effective Sept. 15, 2025; and multiple supplemental extracurricular contracts for the 2024–25 and 2025–26 school years (including Jen Hoskins, Scott Cullen, Andrew Reynolds, Elaine Russell and Ryan Fegley) as listed in the agenda.
The board approved business and financial items on the consent calendar, including the general fund reports for the periods ending July 31 and Aug. 31, 2025, and heard the business manager report that showed total general fund balance of approximately $1,507,715.97 and cafeteria fund balance of $7,305.90.
On policy matters, the board approved several first readings (Policy 108, adoption of primary resources; Policy 109, adoption of secondary resources; Policy 112, school counseling; and Policy 625, procurement cards) and approved second readings with changes to Policy 113 (special education), Policy 626.1 (travel reimbursement — with added language requiring prior written board approval to incur travel costs), and Policy 827 (conflict of interest). The board also approved changes to the district's early-notification retirement incentive plan (originally adopted April 14, 2024).
The board approved a resolution authorizing Superintendent Dr. Sean Dukiewicz to sign or e-sign contracts, agreements, grants and licenses with the Pennsylvania Department of Education effective Sept. 1, 2025.
A quote from Signal Services to repair nonfunctioning flashing school lights on Route 41 for $19,753 was discussed; after questions about the district’s legal or contractual obligation to maintain the lights, board member Brian moved and another member seconded to table the item for one month to seek additional information and coordinate with township partners. The motion to table carried.
No public votes against the listed personnel and policy items were recorded in the meeting transcript; votes were taken by voice ("aye/oppose") and the minutes record the motions as passed or tabled as noted above.
Votes at a glance • Accepted resignation: James J. T. Bridal, assistant principal — accepted (effective no later than 2025-11-06). • Approved contract: Nicole Dean, chief human resources officer — approved (through 2029-06-30 per agenda text: through 06/30/2030). • Approved contract: Michael Stabile, chief financial officer — approved (through 06/30/2030). • Approved hire: Matthew Bristow, director of safety and security, new position, $95,000 prorated, effective Oct. 1 — approved. • Approved hire: James Bookman, night lead custodian, $24.03/hr — approved. • Approved: Student services supervisor-on-assignment with Chester County Intermediate Unit, effective 09/15/2025 — approved. • Approved: Multiple supplemental extracurricular contracts (Jen Hoskins; Scott Cullen; Andrew Reynolds; Elaine Russell; Ryan Fegley) — approved. • Approved: General fund reports for 07/31/2025 and 08/31/2025 — approved. • Approved: First- and second-reading policy items as listed in the agenda (Policies 108, 109, 112, 625; 113, 626.1, 827) — approved. • Approved: Changes to early-notification retirement incentive plan (original adoption 04/14/2024) — approved. • Approved: Resolution authorizing Dr. Sean Dukiewicz to sign PDE contracts, agreements and grants, effective 09/01/2025 — approved. • Tabled: Signal Services quote to repair flashing school lights on Route 41, $19,753 — tabled one month for further information.
Board text and motions as recorded in the meeting minutes and transcript form the basis of this summary; individual vote tallies by member were not provided in the transcript and were recorded as voice votes in the meeting minutes.
