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Solanco board approves multiple service contracts, renews substitute staffing agreement
Summary
The board approved a set of vendor contracts including a two-year renewal with STS for substitute services (with updated rates), a three-year PowerSchool enrollment analytics license, Vector Solutions PD renewal, a Lancaster General physician services agreement and a Soliant Health contract for occupational therapy coverage; administrators said changes aim to maintain services while containing markup and aligning pay with county averages.
The Solanco School Board approved several vendor contracts and service renewals June 15 intended to maintain continuity of instruction and compliance while managing costs.
Mrs. Tucker presented a two-year renewal with STS (substitute teaching services) that includes updated rate tables. Administrators said they negotiated changes in the agency markup to limit cost increases and noted the district's intent to keep substitute pay competitive. "We did increase support staff minimum wages so that the bottom is $14.50 per hour," Mrs. Tucker said. Administrators also recalled that in recent years the district's daily substitute pay was in the county range of $135 per day and said the new contract brings the district in line with the county average.
The board approved a three-year PowerSchool predictive enrollment analytics license recommended by district administrators to improve multi-year enrollment projections and boundary decisions. Dr. Busse said the analytics will support decisions around building use and staffing by providing geospatial population projections.
Other contracts approved included a one-year Vector Solutions renewal for required professional development and mandated safety trainings (annual cost reported as $10,001.62), an annual agreement with Lancaster General Hospital to provide the district physician and oversight of nursing standing orders (price reported roughly $4,000 per year plus $40 per additional physician service), and a one-year agreement with Soliant Health Client Services to provide occupational therapist coverage this summer and as needed for ESY and extended leaves.
Board members discussed the limited supply of specialized substitutes (speech, OT, PT) and the district's strategy to work with outside vendors and the intermediate unit (IU13) to meet specialized needs. Each contract or renewal was approved by motion and voice vote.
The board also approved a renewed two-year agreement for substitute services with STS, noting administrators had updated appendices with new rates and markup changes. Implementation steps include updating payroll and contract documents and communicating changes to schools and staffing vendors.
