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Pottsgrove board approves contracts, grants and personnel actions; hears public concern about high school backpack ban
Summary
The Pottsgrove School District board approved a series of routine contracts, personnel items and grants and ratified two large invoice payments. The board also heard public comment opposing a new high school backpack restriction and received updates about transportation improvements including a forthcoming parent bus-tracking app.
The Pottsgrove School District Board of School Directors approved multiple contracts, personnel appointments and grant awards and ratified two invoice payment batches at its meeting, and heard a public comment criticizing a recently announced backpack restriction at Pottsgrove High School.
Dr. Finney, superintendent, opened with back-to-school information and transportation updates, including an investment in Transfinder software and a parent app called Stopfinder that the district plans to roll out later in the fall. "The first day packet is critical to our transportation and parent communication systems," Dr. Finney said, urging families to complete the packet and noting bus letters would be mailed by Aug. 18.
The board voted to ratify invoices and to approve a range of administration recommendations. Among the items the board approved were: the ratification of invoice payments for June 2025 in the amount of $1,000,475,112.82 and for July 2025 in the amount of $3,000,346,102.75; a change order and net increase to paving work at Ringing Rocks and Lower Pottsgrove Elementary; an annual athletic supplies bid; hosting, licensing and add-ons for the PowerSchool student information system through the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit; and a transportation contract for the 2025-26 school year with CMD Services. The board also approved personnel items including the granting of tenure to five staff members and a slate of administrative and support staff appointments.
Board members and staff described several changes intended to improve bus service under the renewed CMD contract. Dr. Finney said there is "a new support position at CMD to provide better service and better communication" and that combining some routes with other vendors for certain special-education and nonpublic routes had been considered. The Transfinder software and the Stopfinder parent app were described by staff as a future value add for families once activated.
The board accepted a $5,000 foundation grant from Dick's Sporting Goods to support a batting cage project. The board also approved contracts and agreements for student placements and services, including a contract with UHS of Doylestown for placement at the LifeWork School, agreements to accept student teachers from several universities, a letter of agreement under the Pennsylvania program for children and youth experiencing homelessness consistent with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, and a student services contract with the Chester County Intermediate Unit. Several items were combined for single votes and approved without separate roll-call tallies recorded in the meeting minutes.
During public comment, Lower Pottsgrove resident Nick Harmon urged the board to reconsider a high-school backpack restriction recently communicated to families. Harmon said students and a petition of 463 signatures oppose the policy, arguing the rule was implemented without supporting data on vaping or theft incidents and that similar-looking small bags could still conceal prohibited items. "We received the email, indicating that the students were no longer able to carry backpacks," Harmon said. The board did not respond substantively during the public-comment period; President Jay Strunk said the board "hears" the comments and would not respond at that time.
On personnel votes, the board approved combined administrative and staff appointments (items 8.3 through 8.17, with item 8.12 pulled initially for separate consideration). When the board later voted on 8.12 (39 supplemental athletic staff appointments), Patty Grimm announced she would abstain; the motion carried.
Committee and external reports included a Western Montgomery Career and Technology Center (Western Center) update. The JOC report, delivered by Administrative Director David Livingood, noted capital-planning discussions and contractor proposals for renovations and that the Western Center had initiated key safety and facility upgrades including keycard access funded in part by a grant. The JOC also reported that the Western Center has secured two of 30 state-approved pre-apprenticeship programs (electrical and precision machining) and expects a third (welding) soon.
The meeting closed with routine reminders about opening day (Aug. 20) and the next board meeting scheduled for Aug. 26 at 7:00 p.m. The board moved to adjourn following public comment.
Votes at a glance: June invoices ratified ($1,000,475,112.82) — approved; July invoices ratified ($3,000,346,102.75) — approved; transportation contract with CMD Services for 2025–26 — approved; change order for paving at Ringing Rocks and Lower Pottsgrove Elementary — approved; athletic supplies bid — approved; PowerSchool hosting, licensing and add-ons with Montgomery County Intermediate Unit — approved; Dick's Sporting Goods foundation grant ($5,000) for a batting cage — approved; tenure granted to five staff members — approved; 39 supplemental athletic appointments (item 8.12) — approved (with Patty Grimm abstaining).
The board's approvals were recorded as motions and carried by voice votes as shown in the meeting transcript; specific roll-call tallies were not read for most combined items.
