Fox Chapel board approves contracts, staffing changes, safety upgrades and consulting agreements
June 10, 2025 | Fox Chapel Area SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
The Fox Chapel Area School District board on May 5 approved a series of consent-agenda items covering facilities services, contracts, food-service and capital disbursements, consulting appointments and personnel actions.
The board approved a renewal of a customer service agreement with UniFirst for provision of floor mats and shirts for the period July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028. The agenda listed the item as a renewal; the motion carried on a roll-call vote.
Finance-related approvals included disbursements from Fund 10 totalling $7,172,158.25 and a capital reserves disbursement from Fund 31 of $262,086.13. The board approved the district’s April plans report for filing and audit, budget transfers for 2023-24 and 2024-25 as attached, and an interfund transfer of $30,066 from the general fund to an athletic capital reserve fund representing 50% of athletic sales for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.
Insurance renewals for the policy year beginning July 1, 2025, were approved. District staff reported the workers’ compensation premium reflects a 12% increase driven by payroll and multi-year claims history; the general-liability/commercial package premium reflects a 13% increase tied to property values and claim history; cyber-protection premiums declined about 17% due to participation in a Pennsylvania inter-district cybersecurity consortium.
The board renewed an agreement with CSM Consulting Inc. for E-rate compliance services effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, at a base cost of $3,000 plus an amount equal to 3.5% of Category 2 applications submitted during the term.
The board approved the 2025-26 food services budget in the amount of $2,136,600 and appointed PNC Capital Markets as the district’s investment banker and Dinsmore & Shohl as bond counsel to explore long-term debt issuance opportunities. The board authorized those advisors and district administration to study financing alternatives, prepare official statements and related documentation, solicit bond insurance, and pursue a published credit rating as appropriate.
The board also approved a reimbursement resolution for bond proceeds (listed in the agenda as Resolution 2025-5) and authorized a range of construction-related operational delegations, including staff authority to approve change orders through Aug. 11, 2025, not to exceed $22,800 in the aggregate for ongoing projects.
Instruction and student services items that passed included adoption of updated textbooks and resource materials for Fox Chapel Area High School social studies, Dorseyville Middle School math, and elementary science materials; renewals or approvals of professional-service agreements for specialized student services (including DePaul School for Hearing and Speech, MHY Family Services, McGuire Memorial, Pittsburgh Behavioral Services, St. Anthony School Programs and individual evaluators); participation agreements with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services school-based access program; and a Title III consortium memorandum of understanding with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit.
The board approved a master services agreement and subscription for Navigate360 (PBIS rewards) for $16,442.50, to be funded by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency school safety grant. The agenda item was presented as a renewal of services.
Personnel and staffing votes included multiple retirements and resignations in food services and teaching, and approvals of a slate of new hires across elementary, middle and high school levels, including special education and counselor positions, and appointments for the Extended School Year (ESY) program. The district also approved compensation adjustments for nutrition center employees averaging about a 3% increase for affected classifications, with some classification changes producing larger adjustments.
Safety and operations approvals included quotes from D’Agostino Electronic Services Inc. for camera upgrades at a total cost of $130,077 funded by a PCCD school safety grant, renewal of a software subscription for nurses at a cost of $6,800, and approval of an agreement and lease with the YMCA for before- and after-school childcare and a summer daycare camp (renewal; no cost to district).
The board approved the A.W. Beatty Career Center operating budget for 2025-26 at $12,007,075, with the Fox Chapel Area School District share set at $556,885. The board set meal prices for 2025-26 as listed in the agenda: breakfast $1.60 (reduced 30¢), adult breakfast $2.45; elementary lunch $2.65, secondary lunch $2.95, reduced lunch 40¢, adult lunch $4.75, milk 75¢.
All motions reported on the consent agenda were approved by recorded roll-call vote and carried as announced by the board secretary.
The board approved a renewal of a customer service agreement with UniFirst for provision of floor mats and shirts for the period July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028. The agenda listed the item as a renewal; the motion carried on a roll-call vote.
Finance-related approvals included disbursements from Fund 10 totalling $7,172,158.25 and a capital reserves disbursement from Fund 31 of $262,086.13. The board approved the district’s April plans report for filing and audit, budget transfers for 2023-24 and 2024-25 as attached, and an interfund transfer of $30,066 from the general fund to an athletic capital reserve fund representing 50% of athletic sales for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.
Insurance renewals for the policy year beginning July 1, 2025, were approved. District staff reported the workers’ compensation premium reflects a 12% increase driven by payroll and multi-year claims history; the general-liability/commercial package premium reflects a 13% increase tied to property values and claim history; cyber-protection premiums declined about 17% due to participation in a Pennsylvania inter-district cybersecurity consortium.
The board renewed an agreement with CSM Consulting Inc. for E-rate compliance services effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, at a base cost of $3,000 plus an amount equal to 3.5% of Category 2 applications submitted during the term.
The board approved the 2025-26 food services budget in the amount of $2,136,600 and appointed PNC Capital Markets as the district’s investment banker and Dinsmore & Shohl as bond counsel to explore long-term debt issuance opportunities. The board authorized those advisors and district administration to study financing alternatives, prepare official statements and related documentation, solicit bond insurance, and pursue a published credit rating as appropriate.
The board also approved a reimbursement resolution for bond proceeds (listed in the agenda as Resolution 2025-5) and authorized a range of construction-related operational delegations, including staff authority to approve change orders through Aug. 11, 2025, not to exceed $22,800 in the aggregate for ongoing projects.
Instruction and student services items that passed included adoption of updated textbooks and resource materials for Fox Chapel Area High School social studies, Dorseyville Middle School math, and elementary science materials; renewals or approvals of professional-service agreements for specialized student services (including DePaul School for Hearing and Speech, MHY Family Services, McGuire Memorial, Pittsburgh Behavioral Services, St. Anthony School Programs and individual evaluators); participation agreements with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services school-based access program; and a Title III consortium memorandum of understanding with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit.
The board approved a master services agreement and subscription for Navigate360 (PBIS rewards) for $16,442.50, to be funded by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency school safety grant. The agenda item was presented as a renewal of services.
Personnel and staffing votes included multiple retirements and resignations in food services and teaching, and approvals of a slate of new hires across elementary, middle and high school levels, including special education and counselor positions, and appointments for the Extended School Year (ESY) program. The district also approved compensation adjustments for nutrition center employees averaging about a 3% increase for affected classifications, with some classification changes producing larger adjustments.
Safety and operations approvals included quotes from D’Agostino Electronic Services Inc. for camera upgrades at a total cost of $130,077 funded by a PCCD school safety grant, renewal of a software subscription for nurses at a cost of $6,800, and approval of an agreement and lease with the YMCA for before- and after-school childcare and a summer daycare camp (renewal; no cost to district).
The board approved the A.W. Beatty Career Center operating budget for 2025-26 at $12,007,075, with the Fox Chapel Area School District share set at $556,885. The board set meal prices for 2025-26 as listed in the agenda: breakfast $1.60 (reduced 30¢), adult breakfast $2.45; elementary lunch $2.65, secondary lunch $2.95, reduced lunch 40¢, adult lunch $4.75, milk 75¢.
All motions reported on the consent agenda were approved by recorded roll-call vote and carried as announced by the board secretary.
View full meeting
This article is based on a recent meeting—watch the full video and explore the complete transcript for deeper insights into the discussion.
View full meeting