Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Operations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves first‑responder student organization, METS cafeteria contract renewal and multiple operational items
Summary
At its April 10 meeting the Tunkhannock Area SD board approved a slate of operational items, including a new high‑school first‑responders club, a one‑year renewal with METS that guarantees $433,071.93 profit for cafeteria operations, bus and van contracts, a $19,985 abatement project and other routine approvals.
The Tunkhannock Area School District Board of Directors approved a package of operational and contract items on April 10, including the creation of a high‑school first‑responders student organization, a renewal of the district's culinary management contract, and several maintenance and service contracts.
Board members approved the high‑school first‑responders club, which staff described as a school organization that will offer students training and the opportunity to earn first‑responder certifications in partnership with local emergency services. Board members said the program could help address a county‑wide shortfall in volunteer emergency personnel.
The board also renewed the METS culinary management contract for July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. The renewal includes a guaranteed profit to the district cafeteria account of $433,071.93. District staff clarified that guaranteed funds from METS are restricted to the cafeteria (cafeteria account/CAF) and cannot be transferred into the district's general fund.
Other items approved during the meeting included:
- Bus and van contracts (approved). - Two payment applications to Scranton Electric Heating and Cooling Service (payments 11 and 12) (approved). - A budget transfer to cover remaining HVAC project costs at the high school and intermediate center (approved). - A summer abatement project to remove asbestos floor tiles in selected rooms, awarded to Datum Products for $19,985; staff noted the work targets undamaged tiles while students are off campus (approved). - A five‑year renewal agreement with the Burke Center (approved). - A student settlement agreement for student number 5643963736 (approved). - Renewal of the royalty agreement with OhioPile for merchandise use of district logos; the district reported the arrangement yields a $1,000 scholarship fund (approved). - Donation of iPads to the Intermediate Center and STEM Center by the IC & STEM PTO (approved).
Several items were presented as routine approvals and were passed without substantive debate, including approval of minutes, business and finance reports, conference attendance, and updates to board policies (legal updates and Title IX policy revisions were noted by staff as the reason for the policy updates).
What the board said and clarified: district staff and board members emphasized that METS's guaranteed profit is restricted to cafeteria uses only. On the abatement project staff reiterated that undamaged asbestos tiles are not an immediate hazard but that removal when students are out of the building reduces future risk.
Public comment at the meeting included tributes to the late longtime director Lori Bennett and remarks from residents and students. A resident, Michael Lacey, and a student, Zachary McBain, made public comments; McBain spoke in support of a staff member and credited that staff member with mentoring and fundraising work in the school.
Ending: The approvals completed routine district business and cleared several facility and administrative tasks ahead of summer work; the board's larger budget discussion, including the preliminary 1-mill vote, will guide decisions on any future program or staffing changes referenced by staff.
