Votes at a glance: Franklin Regional board approves consent agenda, budgets and contracts on Oct. 13

The Franklin Regional Board of School Directors approved multiple routine and contract items at its Oct. 13 meeting. The board approved minutes, the treasurer’s report, the September and October bills, and the full consent agenda (items 1–21). Key items approved included vendor agreements, grant acceptances, policy readings and instructional materials.

Key approvals and outcomes (motion text and outcome are summarized from the meeting record):

- Committee of the Whole minutes for 08/18/2025: Motion moved by John; second Deb. Outcome: approved.

- Regular meeting minutes for 08/18/2025: Motion moved by Mark; second Vince. Outcome: approved.

- Treasurer’s report for August and September 2025: Motion to approve; outcome: approved.

- List of paid and unpaid bills for September 2025: Paid bills $792,729.40 (general fund) and $20,953.96 (athletic fund) for a total paid of $813,683.36; unpaid bills total $1,693,761.45; grand total including food services $2,535,313.85. Motion: approved.

- List of paid and unpaid bills for October 2025: Paid bills $2,127,908.56; unpaid bills $2,198,734.28; grand total including food services $4,335,631.32. Motion: approved.

- Consent agenda items 1–21 (approved as a group). Items included (highlights): • YMCA lease agreement (annual lease for before- and after-school K–5 care; administration noted the YMCA provided the contract late and that the agreement is intended to formalize a longstanding arrangement). • Catapult agreement (Title I instructional services; carryover of about $23,000 referenced). • Title II nonpublic professional development funding. • St. Vincent Prevention Project (curriculum and small-group services; services not yet provided; billed after delivery). • Watson Institute placement for special education students (programs for students requiring out-of-district placement; number of students not publicly identified for privacy reasons). • Joint purchasing consortium participation and district representatives (paper and fuel purchasing). • OmniTSA 403(b) third-party administrator amendment: vendor fees to participating vendors will increase to $27/year effective Sept. 1, 2025 and to $30/year effective July 1, 2028. • Renewal of lease/maintenance agreement with Toshiba covering 43 multifunction machines (service, parts, supplies). • Gifts and grants: $4,500 from the Highmark Foundation for PE equipment at the high school; $3,500 from the Chucky Mahoney Memorial Foundation for mental-health and suicide-prevention programming. • AirSpring PRI and SD-WAN phone services. • Security camera purchase (vendor selected via lowest bid; installation/power work by district staff; detailed security information withheld). • Weight-room equipment purchase: combined $3,000 capital funds and a $4,500 grant applied to purchase equipment. • Policy first readings: a set of policy updates including Policy 237.1 (student cell phone and personal electronic devices) and Policy 815.1 (use of generative artificial intelligence in education). • Policy second readings and approvals: policies including 6.10, 6.11, 6.26, 6.26.1 and 8.27. • Concurrent enrollment agreements: La Roche University (one-year continuation) and Westmoreland County Community College (three-year continuation). • Scholastic Classroom Magazines (sixth grade nonfiction texts for 2025–2026). • New 8th grade family and consumer science course (style, design and construction). • EduStaff substitute-staffing agreement (see separate item). • Personnel agenda items (provisionally approved pending required documentation).

Motions to approve the consent agenda and to adjourn were called, seconded, and approved. Several public comments and board questions about timing of contracts were raised during public comment prior to the vote; the board president and administrators explained that several contracts were rollover agreements or were received late for a previously scheduled September meeting.

No item on the consent agenda was tabled; all listed items were approved as presented.