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McGuffey board approves vendor contracts and insurance renewals amid cost concerns
Summary
The board approved multiple contracts — including paeducator.net access, a three-year Parchment agreement, Novocare sports-trainer services, and new auditors — plus insurance renewals that include a $14,096 increase in liability premiums and a $20,818 increase in workers' comp.
At its meeting the McGuffey School District board approved several vendor agreements and insurance renewals that trustees said they will continue to monitor for cost and delivery.
The board approved a contract with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit for access to paeducator.net at $17.50 for the 2024–25 year for applicant review, and it approved a three-year service agreement with Parchment (with year-one and escalator pricing for years two and three) to manage transcript and verification services. Trustees clarified that replacement diplomas and some records are managed in-house, while transcripts and verifications are handled by the vendor.
A one-year contract with Novocare for sports-trainer services at $60,000 was approved after trustees asked whether competitive quotes had been sought; the transcript records that none were provided this year because of timing, and trustees discussed the higher overall cost of hiring an in-house trainer once benefits and employer-side costs were added.
For audit services the board approved a three-year engagement with Zelankovsky Axelrod LLC to conduct financial and single-audit work. Several trustees criticized the previous auditor for repeated late delivery of reports and sought clearer pricing on the agenda packet; the board discussed that dollar amounts were available in the PDF attachment even if not visible in the agenda summary.
Insurance renewals approved included student accident insurance through Zurich American Insurance Company with an annual premium of $9,603 (unchanged since 2020–21), general liability and auto insurance through Gallagher with a premium of $115,712 (an increase of $14,096), and workers’ compensation coverage through UPMC with a premium of $128,007 (increase of $20,818). Trustees said they will shop for better rates going forward.
Where specific vote tallies appear in the transcript motions were recorded as passing; the transcript typically records verbal 'ayes' and 'motion carries' without roll-call tallies.
