During public comment, paraprofessional Sally Horton of Leesport urged the Schuylkill Valley School District to create an emotional‑support classroom at the middle school and to raise starting pay for paraprofessionals, saying staffing shortages are stretching learning‑support teachers and paras "to their limits." Horton told the board the district’s posted starting para salary is "$13.66 per hour" and compared that figure to higher starting rates she cited on neighboring districts’ websites.

Board response and follow up: board members acknowledged the concern and asked administrators to review the district’s para pay scale and compare countywide rates. One board member asked building administrators to coordinate with the special education office to ensure IEP coverage and to bring any recommended pay‑scale adjustments back to the board; no immediate salary change was approved at the meeting.

Personnel and votes: following presentations and routine business the board approved several personnel and contract items by voice vote:

- Creation of an assistant director of food services (presentation and justification given by Louisa, food service director); motion passed 9‑0.
- Employment of Kimberly Kern Smith as accounts payable/transportation secretary at $28.01 per hour; motion passed 9‑0.
- Approval of co‑curricular assignments for the 2025–26 school year; voice vote passed.
- Approval of customized maintenance agreements with Landis Bonfetto for building environmental systems (presented as preventive boiler and hot‑water maintenance). Slide notes listed annual costs for the high school ($9,448) and middle school ($4,067); an elementary‑building figure reported in the transcript appears anomalous and is noted below as requiring clarification.
- Approval of a $16,500 contribution in aid of construction (CIAC) with UGI for the proposed field house project; motion passed.
- Approval of a three‑year County of Berks MOU for transportation procedures for foster youth effective 01/01/2026–12/31/2028; board asked administration to confirm the county’s countersignature when available.

Why it matters: the public comment raised staffing and compensation questions that relate directly to how the district meets IEP requirements and retains support staff. The assistant director role in food services was presented as a fund‑neutral position paid from the food‑service fund to support expanded participation, catering and community events.

Transcript flag and clarifications: an amount presented for the elementary maintenance agreement was printed in the meeting notes as "$7,002,247 per year," which is inconsistent with the other line items and the surrounding discussion; administrators should confirm and correct that figure in the official contract documents and board minutes.

What’s next: administration agreed to provide a county pay‑scale comparison for paraprofessionals, to confirm contract dollar amounts, and to notify the board when the County MOU is countersigned.