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Abington school board approves finance team, contracts and several routine items; series of votes taken
Summary
At its Aug. 12 meeting the Abington Board of School Directors approved a package of routine and project-related actions including creation of a bond finance team for the planned middle school, contracts for special-education services, and several permits and personnel items.
The Abington Board of School Directors voted on a bundle of actions Aug. 12 that advanced planning for a new Abington Middle School and approved a set of routine administrative items.
The board authorized a finance team to prepare for issuance of general obligation bonds to fund the middle school project, approved contracts for special-education services and several vehicle and grant-funded purchases, and adopted a districtwide assessment program. The board also approved routine minutes, personnel changes and building-use permits.
The board voted to authorize a bond finance team that includes the district’s financial advisor and bond counsel and directs administration to prepare for issuance of a 2025 general obligation bond series to fund the middle school project. The board authorized Christopher A. Lyonetti, the district’s chief financial officer and board secretary, among others, to work with bond counsel and the financial advisor to investigate and prepare the financing.
Board members approved contract awards that the administration presented: a capital lease finance agreement to acquire 49-passenger transportation vans, a separate purchase/lease of four 9-passenger vans (partly funded by 2025–26 Access Funds), and grant-funded accessories for a simulated impaired-driving experience vehicle. The vehicle accessories are paid for by a Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board grant for reducing underage and dangerous drinking.
On special education the board approved contracts with Pediatric Therapeutic Services for applied behavior analysis, occupational, physical and speech-language services not to exceed $1,162,870.54 (including summer 2026 ESY if needed), and with Children’s Therapy Consultants for occupational and physical therapy not to exceed $500,000. The board approved payments to the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit for early intervention costs not to exceed $135,000.
The board adopted a districtwide assessment program and asked the administration to notify parents and guardians in writing of the name, purpose and grade levels for each assessment. Administration said the assessment list reflects required state and federal assessments and district choices and that work has been done to reduce redundancy and the total assessment time for students.
Other routine approvals on the agenda included minutes from three June meetings, a personnel addendum (leaves, changes of status and appointments), building-use permits for fall activities and a rescheduling of a June 1, 2026 board meeting to instead hold a districtwide student achievement awards ceremony on June 2, 2026.
The board recorded its approvals via voice votes and roll-call votes as required. Several board members asked for additional transparency and public outreach as the district prepares financing for the middle school.
