Easton Area School District board approves site design work for new high school, approves elevator and routine personnel and budget measures

The Eastern Area School District board approved a set of measures including authorization for design services on a proposed new high school site and an elevator upgrade at Easton Area High School, and approved a package of personnel, budget and policy items during its meeting.

On buildings and grounds, the board voted to approve the EAHS elevator project and to "authorize Alloy 5 and CHA to continue a site design of a new high school located at the northeast corner of the current property," as presented at a January 14 standing committee. Administration said the vote authorizes design work only and that further approvals would be required before construction. "Tonight's vote is simply about the location so that we have your approval to move forward," a superintendent-level speaker told the board.

The meeting record shows many consent and action items were approved or otherwise recorded during the meeting, including routine personnel elections and terminations, retirements and resignations, substitute appointments, contract approvals, student activity accounts, scholarship creation, an insurance policy, and conference and field trip requests. The board approved a motion to accept the settlement referenced on the agenda (settlement 01405494) and approved several policy first readings.

Notable procedural notes from the meeting record: - Several personnel and program items were adopted as part of consent motions covering coach elections, retirements, resignations, leaves, contractual salary increments, administrative transfers, professional contracts, temporary professional employee contracts and long-term substitute appointments. One abstention was recorded on item F (contractual salary increments) and one abstention was recorded on item O (after school program employees); the transcript does not record the names tied to those abstentions. - The administration noted that the Ready to Learn Block Grant (a state grant) will fund after-school program employees previously paid from ESSER funds. - The board approved the AP African American Studies course at EAHS, various field trips and conference requests, and accepted a digital display donation from Fast Signs. - The athletics-related contract for a mental health/sports psychology service (Mind of the Athlete) was approved with grant funding as presented. - The board approved a cyber risk insurance policy with Chubb Winchester Insurance Company and authorized Jack Trent as an authorized representative on the Berkheimer tax collector contract as presented. - The board approved multiple IU 20 (Colonial Intermediate Unit) contracts for behavioral and technical supports, and an iPad lease agreement. - The board approved expulsion hearing waiver forms for a specified student under the terms presented.

The board also approved multiple policies on first reading, including Policy 210.1 (use of standing order emergency epinephrine and naloxone), Policy 113.1 (discipline of students with disabilities), Policy 113.2 (positive behavior support for students with disabilities) and Policy 308 (employment contract amendment).