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Middletown Area SD Board OKs traffic study, vendor contracts and a five-year physical-therapy award amid disclosure about superintendent’s relative
Summary
The Middletown Area School District board approved a package of contracts — a post‑opening traffic study, civil-engineering additional services, a five‑year waste contract and a five‑year physical‑therapy services contract — and amended its physician agreement to add athletic trainer services. The physical‑therapy award drew a disclosure that the highest‑scoring bidder is owned by a relative of Superintendent Dr. Hunter; the solicitor advised no prohibition if it’s in the district’s best interest.
The Middletown Area School District Board of School Directors approved multiple contracts and procurement actions at its meeting, including a supplemental traffic study, an amendment to its civil‑engineering contract, a five‑year garbage and recycling services contract, a five‑year physical‑therapy services contract and a two‑year athletic‑trainer services amendment.
The board voted to contract with the Borough of Middletown for a supplemental traffic study at the Blue Raider Lane/Oberlin Road intersection to be conducted six to nine months after the district’s new primary school opens, including a signal‑warrant analysis and the installation of a traffic signal if the study warrants one. The board instructed that study costs be paid from the capital projects or capital reserve fund.
The administration also presented a recommended amendment to the district’s design professional contract with K&W Designing Environments to provide additional civil engineering services tied to the primary‑school project; the board approved that amendment.
On solid‑waste services, the board approved a five‑year contract with Penn Waste Incorporated for garbage and recycling removal beginning July 1, 2026, at an estimated monthly cost of $1,195.95.
A contested administrative recommendation involved physical‑therapy services. The administration said it opened responses from five vendors, evaluated proposals on five scoring categories (cost carried the most weight) and ranked Central PA Therapy Connections — a company identified in the record as owned by a relative of Superintendent Dr. Hunter — highest. Mrs. Shreffler summarized the procurement review and the disclosure, saying the district followed "schoolboard policy 827, conflict of interest" during the RFP process and noting the district solicitor advised there is "no prohibition to contract with Central PA Therapy Connections if the board determines it is the best interest of the district to do so." The board was also told Dr. Hunter did not participate in the evaluation team.
The board approved contracting with Central PA Therapy Connections for a five‑year term beginning July 1, 2026 at a rate of $90 per hour.
Separately, the board approved amending its agreement with Penn State Health to add athletic trainer services for a two‑year term beginning July 1, 2026; the administration said Penn State Health was the only response to the supplemental athletic‑trainer RFP and proposed an amendment to the district’s existing physician agreement.
Why it matters: These votes move forward multiple elements of the district’s capital program and operations ahead of the new primary school opening, lock in vendor pricing for routine services, and formalize student health support through the athletic trainer agreement. The physical‑therapy award also triggered a formal disclosure about the ownership of the recommended vendor and an administrative statement that conflict‑of‑interest rules were observed during evaluation.
What board members said: Mrs. Shreffler read the procurement summary and disclosure about Dr. Hunter’s familial relationship to one bidder and said the solicitor reviewed the matter. A member of the evaluation team noted factors behind the recommendation, saying Central PA Therapy Connections scored highest in part because of current, local experience; board members also discussed the difficulty of finding therapists and prior staffing shortfalls that shaped scoring.
Next steps: Contracts are effective on the dates noted in the motions (most beginning July 1, 2026). The board did not delay implementation pending outside review; it carried the motions during the meeting.
Actions at a glance: the board approved the traffic‑study agreement, an amendment with K&W Designing Environments for additional civil engineering services, a five‑year garbage/recycling contract with Penn Waste Incorporated (estimated $1,195.95/month), a five‑year physical‑therapy services contract with Central PA Therapy Connections at $90/hour (beginning July 1, 2026), and a two‑year athletic‑trainer services amendment with Penn State Health (beginning July 1, 2026).
