Beaver Area School District approves broad consent agenda, including $3.42M in invoices and multiple donations

The Beaver Area School District Board of School Directors unanimously approved a sweeping consent agenda at its Sept. 30, 2024 voting session, voting to carry a number of contracts, personnel moves, fund payments and donations.

Board Chair Merilu Hill called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. and noted that the board had met in executive session earlier to discuss safety, personnel and potential litigation. Denise Sebek conducted the roll call; seven directors were present and two were absent.

The board voted to approve minutes from the Aug. 12, 2024 voting session on a motion by Karin Pilarski, seconded by Robin Thompson. Later, on a motion by Victoria Bartholomew and second by Karin Pilarski, the board approved the consent agenda covering items 6.1 through 13.5.

Why it matters: The consent agenda consolidated a range of routine but consequential spending and personnel decisions that set the district’s near-term operations, including vendor contracts, grant acknowledgements, staff appointments, and capital maintenance agreements.

Key approvals and details: the board ratified General Fund invoices totaling $3,418,536.27; approved Food Service Fund invoices of $19,794.17 and Athletic Account invoices of $3,879.00; accepted multiple grants and donations (including a $10,000 legacy donation and a $20,000 AASA Tugboat grant); approved an AstroTurf warranty agreement to resurface five tennis courts (work expected May 2025, no cost to the district); and authorized an amended athletic training services agreement with Keystone Rehabilitation Systems (Novacare) at $45 per hour for PRN coverage effective Aug. 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.

Personnel and programs: The board approved a Last Chance Agreement with a named employee, accepted several resignations, authorized multiple new hires for teaching and support staff (rates and tentative start dates were listed in the meeting materials), approved winter and middle-school coaching appointments pending required clearances, and granted listed FMLA requests. The board also approved university field placements, student-teacher assignments and substitute/volunteer lists for the 2024–25 school year.

Education services and pilots: Among contracted services approved were BVIU (Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit) consortium items and an ESL instructional contract at $110 per hour, Title I nonpublic instructional arrangements, and a nine-week TeachFX pilot (one-time $5,000 fee) covering up to eight teachers.

Donations and community items: The board accepted a $12,500 donation to the Beaver Area Hockey Club and a $30,000 donation to the Beaver Memorial Library. Several overnight student music and band trips for 2025 were approved, with per-student costs noted where applicable.

Public comment and next steps: During public comment Janet Shute spoke about Beaver Tax Office rental space; the transcript records her topic but does not provide her detailed remarks. Chair Hill closed the meeting with announcements about upcoming October meetings and events. The meeting adjourned at 7:29 p.m. on a motion by Victoria Bartholomew, second by Mark Korcinsky.

Votes at a glance: Minutes approved (motion carried, 7–0); Consent agenda (items 6.1–13.5) approved (7–0); General Fund invoices $3,418,536.27 approved (7–0); Donations to Beaver Memorial Library $30,000 and Beaver Area Hockey Club $12,500 approved (7–0); Adjournment approved (7–0).

Provenance: Meeting minutes and motions recorded throughout the Sept. 30, 2024 voting session (agenda items 1–18).