Solanco School Board honors five teachers, approves student‑service contracts and routine business

The Solanco School District Board of School Directors recognized five teachers as “distinguished educators” and approved multiple service agreements and routine business at a special meeting on Aug. 18, 2025.

The board formally approved a one‑year memorandum of understanding with Franklin & Marshall College for a college‑and‑career counseling program, extended an agreement of services with Winter Circle Center for alternative education placements, adopted a three‑year athletic trainer services contract with OAL, and authorized continued contracting with the Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU) for specialized programs. Board members also approved minutes, fund reports, several building‑use requests, a foreign exchange student placement and personnel items.

The “distinguished educator” recognitions were presented by an administrator identified in the meeting as Doctor Dangler, who described the honorees as teachers “who embody the very best of our profession” and highlighted work in music, Title I intervention, transition and student leadership, chemistry instruction, and performing arts. The board invited the new teachers present to introduce themselves briefly.

Why it matters: the contracts and approvals cover services that affect students with individualized education plans, school athletics and extracurricular activities, and college and career counseling. Several of the agreements are grant‑funded or intended to fill gaps in district services for students with complex needs.

Key approvals and details

- Franklin & Marshall College MOU: The board approved a one‑year MOU for the college/career counselor program at a cost of $45,000 for the 2025–26 school year. The district reported the position will be funded with grant money. The item was described as a continuation of a multi‑year partnership the district values for senior and underclassmen college and career planning.

- Winter Circle Center agreement of services: The board approved continued use of Winter Circle Center, an off‑site alternative education program housed on a farm that blends academics with therapeutic and hands‑on activities (animals, chores, job‑readiness). District staff said Winter Circle is among the more fiscally reasonable partners; last year six students attended and two of those students subsequently enrolled in college.

- OAL athletic trainer contract: The board approved a three‑year contract (2025–26 through 2027–28) with OAL to provide athletic training services. The agreement assigns two full‑time, 10‑month athletic trainers to the district, locks pricing for three years, includes on‑site physician coverage required for football games (with a modest per‑event increase in years two and three), and covers on‑site student physicals.

- Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU) contract: The board approved continued contracting with CCIU for specialized placements and services. District staff said use of CCIU and other partners gives the district options for students with complex needs. The presentation included a multi‑year membership history showing a decline in students placed at CCIU over recent years and a projected caseload of about eight students next year; staff estimated the CCIU cost projection for 2025–26 at roughly $800,000 (staff said this is an estimate and actual billing is for days of service delivered).

Routine business

The board approved minutes for previous meetings, the general fund, capital projects and cafeteria fund reports (district balances and receipts were presented), several single‑day Sunday building‑use requests (including a youth wrestling tournament, a dance competition and a community choir event), approval of a Solanco High School foreign exchange student for 2025–26, and a nonresident student admission where the family is under contract to buy a home within the district and is providing transportation. The personnel report was approved; the board noted a long‑time high school band and orchestra teacher submitted a resignation after 22 years and the district formally moved an administrator (Matt Jansen) into an assistant principal role after his certificate arrived.

Facilities and other updates

Board members and staff summarized building and grounds work done over the summer: chillers, new ovens, repaved drives, new bollards and fencing, playground reviews and repairs, and completion of a two‑year HVAC project. Board members noted bollards were funded through a safety and security grant. Lancaster County Academy (LCA) East Campus relocated to space at Park City Mall; a public grand reveal is scheduled for Sept. 24.

Next steps and calendar

Staff reminded the board of opening‑day in‑service and convocation and of regular meetings in early and mid‑September. The district also introduced a new facility dog, “Cali,” at Solanco High School and said the district is pursuing additional facility dogs for other buildings.

The approvals at the meeting were recorded as motions, seconded, and carried unanimously (no opposing votes were recorded in the public meeting minutes provided).