Derry Area School District board approves hires, contracts and capital projects; discusses frozen federal Title funds and possible use of general fund

The Derry Area School District board on the evening of its July meeting approved a slate of personnel hires, routine contracts and capital-project expenditures, and heard public comment pressing the board to replace an elementary intervention position while federal Title II and Title IV funds remain frozen.

Superintendent Dr. Ferencic opened with a summer operations update, including hiring activity, building and grounds work and technology upgrades ahead of the Aug. 18 start of the school year. The board then moved through consent and action items, approving personnel resignations and retirements (including a 25-year retirement), new hires, conference attendance, athletics appointments and several business affairs measures.

The board voted to renew an agreement with Southwest Behavioral Care to provide drug- and alcohol-related case management services at no cost to the district. It also approved continuing support for Saint Vincent prevention projects for the 2025–26 school year with an annual contribution of $6,270 to be paid from district funds. Capital-project approvals included a Log Cabin Fence proposal to replace fencing along Banfield/Trojan Drive for approximately $7,080 and completion of a salt-pad canopy roofing element budgeted at roughly $20,000. The board approved an attachment to Policy 1103 addressing harassment and discrimination of students, and authorized listed caravan drivers and aides for 2025–26. All motions were adopted by voice vote.

During the visitor-comment period, Mike Moxonczuk, president of the Derry Area Education Association and an eighth-grade American history teacher, asked whether the district would replace a recently retired elementary position tied to Title funding. He noted the retirement was submitted July 3, shortly after the board approved the budget June 26, and said federal Title II and Title IV funds were frozen on July 1. He said the district had roughly $79,000 in Title II funds and $55,000 in Title IV funds; district staff reported the Title IV amount had been transferred into Title I, producing roughly $135,000 that would have supported staffing. "I would ask that you even if it's not made available, take it out of our general fund balance," Moxonczuk said.

Dr. Ferencic and other administrators responded that the budget the board approved anticipated replacing positions supported by those federal funds, but that the funds are currently frozen and unavailable. "Right now, as you mentioned, they're frozen. They're not available to school districts," Dr. Ferencic said, adding that the district's eGrants applications were deleted when the freeze began. Administrators said they are monitoring both federal and state budget developments before committing to hire, and that the board's stated intention in the approved budget is to restore positions if funding becomes available.

Board members and staff noted the district had taken some internal steps: transfers between federal program allocations were used earlier to support teacher salary lines, and administrators outlined the current configuration of reading support staff (described in the meeting as five total positions: three elementary reading, one math, and one middle school reading). Speakers said some other districts had reduced or cut similar programs and that the Derry Area School District aims to retain services for its highest-need students.

A student speaker, Addison Hood, thanked the board for approving the high school gymnastics program and its coach. The meeting concluded with the board chair adjourning following routine closing remarks.

Votes at a glance - Personnel resignations/retirements (items a–g): Approved (voice vote). - Hire: Melissa Samuelsberger, high school office secretary (effective upon release from current employer; pending clearances): Approved (voice vote). - Hire: Karen [last name recorded as "Karen" in agenda], percussion instructor for marching band, 2025–26: Approved (voice vote). - Personnel conferences (items a–b, combined): Approved (voice vote). - Athletics motions (items a–g, combined): Approved (voice vote). - Renew agreement: Derry Area School District and Southwest Behavioral Care for Drug and Alcohol Case Management Services (no cost to district): Approved (voice vote). - Saint Vincent prevention projects, 2025–26, annual contribution $6,270 (district funds): Approved (voice vote). - Caravan drivers and aides for 2025–26 (as listed on agenda): Approved (voice vote). - Attachment to Policy 1103 (harassment and discrimination of students): Approved (voice vote). - Log Cabin Fence proposal — replace fencing along Banfield/Trojan Drive, approx. $7,080 (capital-project funds): Approved (voice vote). - Log Cabin Fence proposal — complete salt-pad canopy roofing (approx. $20,000, capital-project funds): Approved (voice vote).

The board did not take formal action on the funding question raised during public comment; administrators said they would continue to monitor federal and state funding and revisit staffing decisions as funds become available.