Conewago Valley School Board suspends in‑person quorum rule for reorganization, elects Kinstrup president; discusses buses and Act 34 timetable

Conewago Valley School District directors voted on Dec. 2 to temporarily suspend the board policy that requires a physical majority of directors to be present for voting so the reorganization meeting could proceed while several members attended electronically. The board then elected Jeff Kinstrup as president and Eric Flickinger as vice president, approved its 2025 meeting calendar and handled routine appointments and consent items. The board’s study session afterward concentrated on transportation (walking students and bus stops) and the timetable for Act 34 (construction financing) for the Conewago Township Elementary project.

Why it matters: The suspension allowed the board to complete legally required reorganization business on schedule while a majority of directors participated remotely; the board also outlined next steps for a major school construction project that will require public hearings, financing votes and later contract approvals. The transportation discussion raised potential budget and safety implications for hundreds of students if the district changed stop or bus coverage.

The board opened the meeting with a motion to add to the agenda a temporary suspension of the portion of board Policy 6.1 (requiring a physical majority of directors be present for voting). After brief discussion about the limited, emergency nature of the change (illness and travel prevented some directors’ physical attendance), the board took a roll-call vote; every named director voted yes and the motion passed.

The board then proceeded with reorganization. A temporary president was selected from holdover directors and Jeff Kinstrup was elected board president in a voice vote that was later confirmed by roll call. Eric Flickinger won the vice president vote by roll call, 5–4. The board approved the proposed 2025 meeting calendar after discussion from several directors about conflicts with municipal meeting nights and with school events; directors said they will revisit calendar timing in coming months if needed.

A motion to create a standing finance subcommittee (to provide deeper, working-level review of budget details) was brought to the floor and defeated on a roll-call vote, 5–4. Several public commenters urged the board to form a finance committee given the large planned construction projects and forthcoming financing decisions; other directors said budget working sessions are open to all members and the district already schedules multiple finance meetings.

Study-session highlights — transportation: Superintendent Dr. Meredith Perry and staff reported counts of students who live within walking distance and are currently classified as walkers: 79 at the high school, 43 at the middle school, 10 at the intermediate school, 62 at New Oxford Elementary and 101 at Conewago Township Elementary (295 total). Staff reported a rough estimate of $295,000 to transport those 295 walkers if all were bused. Directors asked for additional data on safety (sidewalk coverage), whether buses operate at capacity on existing routes, and whether targeted stop additions or designated pickup points might reduce cost while improving safety. The superintendent said staff will circulate a draft survey to families and return with more detailed options and timing for the board’s March budget work if the board wishes to pursue it.

Study-session highlights — Act 34 and financing: Superintendent Perry said the district will host PFM (financial advisors) on Dec. 9 to discuss financing options for the Conewago Township Elementary (CTE) project in advance of the Act 34 process. Perry told the board she plans to present the Act 34 booklet on Jan. 6, 2025, bring a resolution to advertise the booklet on Jan. 13, and hold the formal Act 34 public hearing at CTE on Feb. 13, 2025. She said New Oxford Elementary (NOE) is tentatively planned for a later Act 34 cycle (potentially May). Perry summarized: "We're hoping to bring the Act 34 booklet presentation to the Board on January 6, 2025," and added that the hearing will include a stenographer and a public comment period; subsequent votes on financing, bids and contracts will follow the hearing and the public process.

Public comment and controversy: Several members of the public and commenters pressed the board on three related concerns: (1) formation of a dedicated finance subcommittee (request reiterated after the subcommittee motion failed), (2) library selection and purchasing processes after a line item for $2,500 for library materials drew attention, and (3) transparency around the board’s recent assistant-superintendent hiring process and agenda notices. The board and superintendent described the district’s existing review procedures for library purchases (a review committee and a challenge process) and said hiring and agenda posting followed legal advice; members of the public said they wanted clearer advance notice of personnel actions so they could review candidates before votes.

Votes at a glance

- Emergency suspension of Policy 6.1 (physical‑presence quorum requirement) — motion approved by roll call (Buckley, Meckley, Souder, Crude, Flickinger, Swope, Miller, Getz, Kinstrup: all yes). Outcome: approved.

- Election of president — Jeff Kinstrup elected (voice vote, confirmed by roll call). Outcome: appointed.

- Election of vice president — Eric Flickinger elected by roll call, 5–4. Outcome: appointed.

- Approve 2025 board meeting calendar — approved by roll call. Outcome: approved.

- Create finance subcommittee — motion failed, roll call 5–4 against. Outcome: failed.

- Approve treasurer’s report — approved (total $62,943,498.31). Outcome: approved.

- Approve Ways & Means / Curriculum consent items (listed on agenda) — approved. Outcome: approved.

- Approve Personnel consent items (listed on agenda) — approved. Outcome: approved.

- Approve Property & Supplies / Use of facilities consent items (listed on agenda) — approved. Outcome: approved.

What’s next: PFM will present financing options Dec. 9; the board will review the Act 34 booklet on Jan. 6 and consider a resolution to advertise that booklet on Jan. 13; the district has scheduled the Act 34 public hearing for the CTE project on Feb. 13, 2025. Staff will return with more transportation options and a draft family survey if the board wants to pursue changes to stop coverage or targeted pickup points.

The board announced its next study session and regular meetings for January; members of the public were invited to register ahead of future meetings to speak during agenda‑related or non‑agenda public comment periods.