The Colonial School District Board approved a slate of routine motions and several operational contracts at its Sept. 18 board business meeting, including supplemental transportation arrangements to address a nationwide driver shortage and a revision to the 2025–26 academic calendar that designates three "active days."

The actions took place largely by voice vote during the meeting, which included routine approvals of minutes, August financial reports and the treasurer's report. The board also accepted recommended personnel and extracurricular contracts and confirmed appointments contingent on valid credentialing and state requirements.

Transportation and mileage

Administration described multiple transportation agreements intended to bolster routes for the 2025–26 school year. An administrative presentation said the district would contract Saint Joseph Preparatory School to transport Colonial students at a rate of $11.07 per student per day through June 30, 2026, and would reimburse Carolyn Ed Eichner for mileage at the current IRS rate (stated in the meeting as $0.70 per mile) for specified dates. "Due to the nationwide bus shortage, administration has recommended contracting 2 additional companies to provide transportation," the presentation said.

The board also approved supplemental contracts with Superior Bus Service and ALC Schools, LLC, to provide additional bus services on an as‑used basis, meaning the district is billed only when services are used.

Calendar changes and tuition placements

The board approved a revision to the K–12 calendar for the 2025–26 school year to designate Aug. 20, Aug. 21 and Nov. 4 as active days; an administrator explained that "active days are days that can be counted as instructional time where the district conducts things like spare teacher conferences, curriculum writing, and other staff development," and that the change helps ensure compliance with the 180‑day requirement if extended closures occur.

The administration also brought forward two special‑education placements/contracts identified in the agenda: services with the Bucks County Intermediate Unit and tuition for 33 returning students at Martin Luther School, with the meeting report stating $75,592.98 per student.

Other approvals

The board approved a request for the PW High School orchestra to travel to New York City to tour Carnegie Hall and attend the Broadway production Wicked, and accepted a $1,000 donation from Berkeley Chevrolet to support Cloy Middle School athletics.

Votes at a glance

- Minutes (items 3 b–3 g): approved (voice vote)
- Financial reports (items 4 b–4 l, Aug. 2025): approved (voice vote)
- Treasurer's report (Aug. 2025): approved (voice vote)
- Personnel and extracurricular contracts (items 7 b, 7 c): approved (subject to credential verification)
- Student representative appointments: approved (voice vote)
- Policies (first reading: 101, 330, 702): approved on first reading as presented
- Calendar revision (designate Aug. 20, Aug. 21, Nov. 4 as active days): approved
- Transportation contracts (Saint Joseph Preparatory; Superior Bus Service; ALC Schools, LLC): approved
- Mileage reimbursement (Carolyn Ed Eichner, IRS rate stated as $0.70/mile for specified dates): approved
- PW High School orchestra trip to NYC: approved
- Donation (Berkeley Chevrolet, $1,000): accepted

What it means

Superintendent and administrative remarks framed the transportation contracts as a short‑term operational response to a nationwide driver shortage; supplemental vendors will be used when needed and billed only for services rendered. The calendar revision provides staff development flexibility while preserving a full academic year in the event of emergency closures. The Martin Luther School tuition figure and the per‑student transportation rates were read aloud from the agenda packet and recorded in the meeting notes.

The board did not record detailed roll‑call vote tallies in the public meeting transcript; approvals were conducted by voice vote unless otherwise noted. The next procedural steps include implementation of approved contracts and continued monitoring by administration and committees.