Board approves classroom, tech, facilities and operational items; summary of motions and outcomes

The Southern York County School District Board of Education on Aug. 14 approved a series of consent, operational and contract items needed to start the 2025–26 school year. Many motions were routine; several authorize projects or contracts the administration said are necessary to maintain operations and student services.

Key approvals and administrative actions at the meeting included:

- Lincoln Intermediate Unit (LIU) additional early-intervention classroom at Shrewsbury Elementary: the board voted to approve LIU’s request to operate an additional early intervention services classroom beginning in the 2025–26 school year. The motion was moved and seconded; administration said the classroom will provide supports and internship opportunities.

- Replacement hall-pass system: the board approved a one-year subscription to SmartPass for an electronic hall-pass system at a cost of $5,618.23 through June 30, 2026. Administration said SmartPass provided required functionality at roughly half the price of upgrading the district’s previous vendor.

- Asset inventory and cybersecurity subscriptions: the board authorized a one-year license to Divot Assets Inc. (desktop inventory/tracking) for $1,750 and approved an 18-month subscription to the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) cybersecurity services for $1,995. The board received an engagement letter from the district auditors (Smith, Elliott, Kearns & Company) as an information item.

- Guaranteed energy savings/RFQ and project alternates: the board authorized advertising a request for qualifications (RFQ) for a guaranteed energy savings performance project focused on boilers, rooftop equipment and roof work identified in the district’s greatest-needs project. The board also approved including select Shrewsbury skylights as an alternate to be considered with pricing; administration said skylights would be evaluated as part of the energy and life-cycle analysis.

- Susquehannock High School project and grounds work: the board received a financial update on the Susquehannock High School construction project and approved multiple grounds and facilities contracts, including top-dressing athletic fields with Heritage Lawn & Landscape Care (detailed in the board packet) and a protective fence around district equipment using CoStar pricing. The general-contractor team committed to warranty and landscape replacements as part of punch-list work.

- Security and building items: the board approved a Johnson Controls proposal ($2,225) to install a cell dialer for the Shrewsbury Elementary burglar system.

- Personnel and staffing motions: the board approved bus drivers and depot staffing for 2025–26, and authorized the superintendent, in consultation with the board president and the personnel and policy chair, to provisionally hire an athletic director prior to the Sept. 17 board meeting, subject to board ratification at the next meeting.

- Policy and curriculum items: the board approved stage-1 curriculum maps for districtwide master maps (leadership in the classroom) and other routine personnel and MOU items, including a memorandum of understanding with the Southern York Educational Association for two supplemental positions and travel/attendance approvals for the superintendent to attend conferences.

Routine motions passed included approval of the agenda, approval of minutes, acceptance of the consent agenda and payment of bills presented.

The board’s approved purchase amounts and contract awards were documented in the meeting packet; administration said most facilities contract work is being coordinated to minimize future change orders and to take advantage of collaborative design/contractor review in the guaranteed energy savings procurement.

A full list of the motions voted on during the meeting appears below.