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Kiski Area SD: foundation grants, staff changes and procurement options discussed
Summary
Board heard reports on Education Foundation fundraising and a $5,000 donation to East Primary, discussed personnel resignations and upcoming hires, and considered cooperative procurement options for a track replacement that could lower costs.
At the Kiski Area School District board meeting, representatives provided updates on several routine but consequential district matters including Education Foundation fundraising, personnel changes, regional programs and procurement plans.
Miss Mellinger, reporting for the Kiski Area Education Foundation, said the foundation voted to donate $5,000 to East Primary and will fund the remainder of a 40-by-20 pavilion planned for the southeast playground after raising $7,000 from a "bunny run" and receiving $2,000 from local businesses. She also said the foundation had been approved to participate in the state Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program. Miss Mellinger told the board that the Jeff McLeuth golf outing drew about 120 golfers and that Sports Hall of Fame inductees will be introduced at halftime of the Aug. 22 football game; a banquet is scheduled for Aug. 30.
On personnel, administrators noted several resignations and said the board previously authorized administration to extend employment offers (the packet references resolutions and agenda numbers including 10.8, 10 19 and 6 18). Administrators said placeholders will be replaced with names ahead of the next meeting and that a school nurse vacancy will be filled by recommendation. The board discussed how competitive the labor market has been for nurses and other positions.
District solicitor Rob Repack (solicitor) told the board there was no formal legal report but raised a common concern among school lawyers: rising health-care costs, saying "health care is just going through the roof" and that many districts are seeing "double digit increases" that will factor into upcoming labor negotiations.
On facilities procurement, Repack explained the administration is considering cooperative purchasing vehicles (KPN or CoStars) for a track replacement and related subsurface work. Because that route is not a sealed lowest-bid process, he said the district has the option to negotiate and may present a lower recommended amount at the next meeting to save taxpayer dollars.
Administrators also flagged the Pennsylvania Youth Survey (voluntary; parents and students may opt out) as a possible data and funding pathway; participation can unlock prevention funding through the Westmoreland Drug and Alcohol Commission and allow prevention programming such as a drug-and-alcohol counselor liaison.
The meeting closed after routine business and a motion to adjourn; the board approved adjournment by voice vote.
