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Derry Area SD board approves multiple routine motions, contracts; adds agriculture & horticulture committee
Summary
At its May meeting the Derry Area School District board amended the agenda to add an agriculture and horticulture committee, approved multiple contracts and renewals (electricity agreement, tree removal, salt pad foundation), accepted the district solicitor’s resignation and authorized an RFP for solicitor services.
Derry Area School District trustees on Thursday voted on a series of consent and business‑affairs items, amending the agenda to add a new agriculture and horticulture committee and approving several contracts and renewals included in the meeting packet.
The board approved routine minutes, financial reports and a slate of personnel and program renewals. Trustees also voted to award contracts for energy, grounds work and a salt‑pad foundation, and accepted the resignation of the district solicitor with instruction to solicit new proposals.
Votes at a glance
- Amend agenda to add an agriculture and horticulture committee: motion by Mr. Lynch, second by Ms. Showalter; outcome: carried. The motion added a committee (to be listed under committee reports as “Agriculture & Horticulture”) and trustees confirmed it will provide monthly reports like standing committees.
- Approve 2025–26 summer and special program budget: motion carried (formal approval of the program budget was tied to the overall budget packet presented this evening).
- Electricity contract: approved a one‑year electricity supply agreement with AUP Energy Inc. for the period 06/01/2025–05/31/2026 at a fixed rate of $0.08244 per kilowatt hour; outcome: carried.
- Tree removal contract: accepted the low bid from Telford’s Tree Service for removal at the middle/high school, cost approximately $16,500 to be paid from the capital projects fund; outcome: carried. Work scheduled to begin over the summer.
- Salt pad foundation contract: awarded to Hammacher Contracting LLC at an approximate cost of $52,007.89; outcome: carried. The project is in the capital projects plan for Recreation Road area work.
- Reappoint Amerisource Financial Bank as district treasurer for 2025–26: outcome: carried.
- Renewals and agreements: the board approved renewals and service agreements listed on the agenda (examples on the record include long‑term disability insurance renewal through the regional carrier, renewals with Seton Hill University for dual enrollment and with Westmoreland Case Management for student assistance services); outcome: carried.
- Accept resignation of Nichols & Nichols as district solicitor effective 05/15/2025 (or mutually agreeable date): outcome: carried. Trustees subsequently authorized advertising an RFP for solicitor services and to receive proposals for future selection.
Other routine motions approved included approval of bills, minute approvals for regular and special meetings, payment authorizations, personnel employment/resignations, student activity reports and field trip approvals (all motions carried as presented on the agenda).
Board procedure and scheduling notes
Trustees also approved an amended 2024–25 school calendar to address one cancellation (power outage) without requiring student make‑up days; the administration will schedule a staff make‑up day for aides and professional staff on Wednesday, June 4 and will report the certified homestead/farmstead offset once available.
Ending: Most motions were routine, approved on voice votes with “Aye” recorded; where timing or follow‑up is required (notably the solicitor replacement), the board directed staff to publish an RFP and return with proposals.
