Committee recommends multiple personnel hires, contract renewals and budgets; board approves athletic director in 9‑0 vote

At its committee meeting, the Schuylkill Valley School District advanced multiple personnel recommendations, contract renewals and budget items and recorded a formal vote to hire an athletic director.

Hired athletic director

The committee moved and the board subsequently recorded a 9‑0 vote to approve the employment of Jason Hansen as athletic director at an annual salary of $120,000, prorated for actual days worked, effective date to be determined. Board member Cluffel moved the motion; Mr. Bendigo seconded it. The transcript records the roll call and a voice vote; the motion passed "Nine‑zero." The appointment fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Stephanie Diebler.

Personnel changes and retirements

The committee considered several personnel items and recommended board approval, including retirements and resignations: Sharon Gillius (special education paraprofessional; retirement effective 04/11/2025), Susan Christman (executive secretary to the superintendent and board recording secretary; retirement effective 08/01/2025), Mark Harrell (physics and mathematics teacher; retirement effective end of 2024–25), Deborah Retsky (reading specialist; retirement effective end of 2024–25) and the resignation of David McDonaldson (director of billings and grounds; effective 03/24/2025). The committee also recommended multiple hires and long‑term substitute appointments; those personnel items were advanced by the committee for board consideration.

Contracts, renewals and purchases

- Frontier Education: The committee recommended renewal of the Frontier Education agreement for applicant tracking, absence/time tracking and professional learning management at a total cost of $38,146.96 for 07/01/2025–06/30/2026.

- PowerSchool (Schoology rollover): The committee recommended approving a PowerSchool quote for the Schoology rollover at $843.50 to prepare the learning management system for the next school year.

- ATCO Chromebook protection: The committee recommended approving a district‑paid accidental damage protection proposal from ATCO covering the district's student Chromebooks at a total annual cost of $28,350. Technology staff said the per‑device cost is $21 this year (down from $31 last year) and that the district elected not to purchase theft coverage this cycle because theft incidents have been minimal; the transcript does not record the exact number of devices covered.

- Lifetouch: The committee recommended three‑year Lifetouch service agreements for elementary, middle and high school picture services for 2025–2028.

- MEP design services: The committee recommended awarding mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering design services to Gather and Deal Incorporated for high school and middle school kitchen renovations at a cost of $10,400.

Budgets and finance items

- Bills ratification: The committee considered and recommended ratifying payments totaling $2,198,828.70 for the period 02/10/2025–03/25/2025 (general fund $2,109,685.90; capital improvement $3,738.42; cafeteria funds $67,942.59; activity funds $17,641.79).

- Berks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU) operating budget: The committee recommended Schuylkill Valley's district share of the BCIU annual operating budget in the amount of $37,388.75 for 2025–26.

- Berks Career & Technology Center (BCTC) budget: The committee recommended the BCTC budget for 2025–26 totaling $20,223,509. Schuylkill Valley's member share was listed as $799,720 plus $51,142 for students with disabilities. A committee member noted the budget was nearly flat and commented on high health consortium costs and increased district enrollment in CTC programs.

Other routine items

- Disposal of outdated textbooks at the high school (materials dated from 1982 to 2007) was recommended for approval.

- Equipment removal: Committee recommended disposing of two Craycor hot holding units and two point‑of‑sale register cards due to age and nonworking condition.

- Senior class and student council field trips: The committee recommended approval of the 2025 senior class trip (May 29) and the high school student council field trip; board members asked for an itinerary to be supplied to the board (not distributed publicly).

- Staffing lists: A series of substitutes, volunteers, mentors, extracurricular coaches and game workers were advanced in the committee consent agenda and recommended for board approval.

Student services and practice updates

The committee also heard updates on student handbooks and code of conduct revisions for the high school, middle school and elementary school. Administrators reported they are aligning handbook language to board policy, clarifying enforceable expectations (for example, cell‑phone use and teacher discretion), adjusting dress code language for specific classes (PE, labs), and aligning grading scales (moving some buildings to a plus/minus scale). Administrators said the updates aim to make expectations consistent and enforceable across buildings; the committee did not record a final handbook adoption vote in the transcript.

Votes at a glance (items recorded in the committee transcript)

- Jason Hansen, athletic director, annual salary $120,000 prorated — Motion moved by Cluffel, seconded by Bendigo; outcome: approved, 9‑0 (recorded).

- All other listed personnel actions, contracts and budget items — Committee recommended approval; the committee advanced those items for board consideration. The transcript records committee recommendations and "move that forward" language but does not include final board roll‑call tallies for each consent item in the committee excerpt.