Board approves personnel hires, vendor contracts and district agreements; holds two officer elections

The Lower Moreland Board of School Directors on May 21 approved a series of routine personnel actions, vendor contracts and district agreements and completed two board officer elections.

The board, presided over by Dr. James Lee, approved the minutes of the April 22, 2025 regular meeting and then moved through the consent agenda items, which included staff hires, service contracts, technology purchases, capital-plan updates, and a range of overnight student trips. Actions were taken by voice vote unless otherwise noted.

Personnel and human-resources items approved included the appointment of Shaquina Spraggins as assistant principal at Murray Avenue School starting July 1, Nancy Bradley as assistant principal at Pine Road starting July 14, and Bridget McShane as a long-term substitute English teacher at the middle school for the 2025–26 school year. The personnel list also contained additional resignations, unpaid leaves, summer camp counselor and lifeguard hires, and staffing for extended-year and summer academic programs. The board approved athletic extracurricular contracts, independent contractor agreements, and updated district substitute hourly pay rates for 2025–26.

On benefits and services, the board approved a three-year agreement described in the agenda as with “Centimeters Regent Solutions and Sun Life” to continue providing life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment and long-term disability insurance for employees, and a three-year agreement with Cardinal Point Security Group to continue security services to the district. The board also approved a data-support contract with the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit (MCIU), agreements for RWAN and Mimecast services with the MCIU, and an agreement with Apogee (listed on the agenda as Apogee/Aptogee) to provide a new website content-management system, hosting and a district mobile app. The board approved a quote for Chromebooks and warranty service for 2025–26 and an agreement with the MCIU for access services for the coming fiscal year.

An agreement with a company listed as Emergent 3 for emergency management services was approved after staff reported an amended termination clause that allows the district to end the contract after year one with 60 days’ notice without losing multi-year pricing. During discussion staff confirmed the vendor’s platform will be installed on district devices and allows real-time communication with township emergency responders.

On finance items, the board approved the Commonwealth-required tuition-rate calculation for 2025–26, accounts-payable checklists (dated 04/29/25 and 05/13/25), financial reports, a wire-transfer list (04/30/25), and the master capital projects budget dated 04/30/25. Finance staff reported that recent reimbursement from the Department of Community and Economic Development for an intersection project increased available capital funds; the board was told bids for ICS packages were opened and a June work session will include a full presentation on four bid packages.

The board accepted a donation from HVAA of a 6-by-6 wooden shed for Murray Avenue baseball field equipment and approved multiple overnight student trips, including boys tennis to Hershey for state competition, track district and state championship trips, and a study-abroad Europe trip previously presented at the work session. The board also approved continuation of the township-run Murray Avenue summer recreation program with no fee for facility use.

Two officer elections were conducted by roll call. For school board treasurer (one-year term 07/01/2025–06/30/2026) Frank McKee received five votes and Jennifer Cannon received three votes; McKee was elected. For school board secretary (four-year term 07/01/2025–06/30/2029) Alex Darien received five votes and Camille Baker received three votes; Darien was elected. The board also authorized administration to continue using existing signature stamps for payroll and accounts-payable checks until new board-officer signatures can be secured.

Other approved items included second readings of multiple revised policies (agenda items J–P), approval of affiliation agreements with Chestnut Hill College for school counseling placements, continuation of the University of Pennsylvania Coalition for Educational Excellence partnership via the Delaware Valley Consortium for Equity and Excellence (DVCEE), and various professional meeting and speaking engagement contracts.

All motions noted in the meeting minutes were approved by a voice vote except where a roll call was taken for officer elections. No recorded roll-call tallies beyond the two officer elections were given in the public minutes.

Ending: The board adjourned the meeting and scheduled the next regular meeting for June 3, 2025 at 7 p.m.