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Board approves sensory playground purchase, university MOU, Apple lease and assorted operational contracts
Summary
The Kutztown Area School District approved a $228,392 sensory playground purchase (with $137,000 pledged by an education foundation), a tuition-free three-credit MOU with Kutztown University, a four-year Apple device lease ($173,610.32) and a suite of routine contracts (insurance renewal, procurement awards, employee assistance program).
At its regular meeting the Kutztown Area School District Board of School Directors approved a series of operational contracts and purchases intended to support instruction, student services and facilities.
Facilities and donations: the board authorized purchase and installation of a sensory playground at a total cost of $228,392, noting that $137,000 of that total was expected from a district education foundation’s fundraising campaign. The board also accepted several smaller donations to support school programs ($610.80 to Greenwich Elementary, $1,000 from the Fraternal Order of Eagles for the high school softball program, and $354 from the Kutztown Youth Athletic Association for the middle school gym).
Kutztown University MOU: the board approved a memorandum of understanding with Kutztown University that allows each Kutztown Area High School student to take one three-credit university course tuition-free during either 11th or 12th grade beginning with the class of 2027. Board members thanked university and district representatives for arranging the dual-enrollment opportunity.
Technology and procurement: the board approved a four-year Apple lease for district devices totaling $173,610.32 with a guaranteed buyback price of $26,000 and a student-device buyback program allowing graduating seniors to purchase outgoing devices for $300. During discussion administrators explained the device refresh cycle, resale expectations and that some devices will be recycled or resold to offset costs.
Insurance and other contracts: the board renewed liability insurance with CBZ Insurance for a one-year term beginning July 1, 2026 at the cost stated in the record (transcript: $1,191,653), awarded joint purchasing contracts for custodial supplies and copy paper (copy paper award to W. D. Mason for $17,195.70), approved an extended-school-year contract with Pathway School for special-education services, and approved a one-year employee assistance program agreement beginning July 1, 2026.
The board approved fee-waiver requests for a community indoor association transitioning away from school sponsorship, updated handbooks and pay scales for classified and ESS employees, and a fund-balance amendment to increase committed resources for a planned IT infrastructure server project to $375,000. Most items passed by unanimous or near-unanimous roll-call votes.
Next steps: administration will finalize vendor documents, receive pledged foundation donation checks where applicable, execute the Kutztown University MOU for communication to students (class of 2027 and families) and advance procurement and implementation steps as authorized.
