Board moves affiliation agreements, comprehensive plan and policy readings to consent agenda

Board directors reviewed multiple administrative and committee items and agreed to place them on the consent agenda for a single vote at the next meeting.

Under curriculum, the board was asked to approve a five-year affiliation agreement with Carlow University for student teaching beginning 03/26/2024 through 03/25/2029 and a parallel five-year affiliation agreement with the University of Pittsburgh for the same period. Members were also asked to approve professional-development travel (Pennsylvania State Athletic Director Conference in Hershey, 03/19–03/22/2024, cost $1,546.02) and Dr. James Walsh’s attendance at planning meetings in Baltimore (04/17–04/19/2024; no cost to the district). The board was also asked to accept and submit the Bethel Park School District comprehensive plan for 2024–2027 to the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Personnel committee items moved to the consent agenda included approval of EDR responsibility programs, an MOU with the Bethel Park Federation of Teachers, acceptances of resignations, changes of assignment and appointments, unpaid and sabbatical leaves, approval of an agreement for salaried maintenance/head custodial employees, and approval of extended school-year programs.

Finance items slated for consent included accepting the February 2024 summary of cash and investments and the operating-budget financial report, authorizing budget transfers within the 2023–24 operating budget, approving a student-services contract with University of Pittsburgh Health and Rehab Services, a fund-balance commitment related to a student legal settlement, the Allegheny Intermediate Unit Program of Service Budget, approval of Kennedy School of Driving for 2024–25 at no cost to the district, declaring unused/unnecessary items for disposal, and authorizing use of two district buses and drivers to run shuttle services for the July 27 Arts and Music Festival.

Dr. Walsh also reviewed policy items: last readings and updates including a policy change to reflect Pennsylvania code changes regarding military-family enrollments, adjustments to sign-in and public-comment procedures to align with Right-to-Know and sunshine laws (including eliminating the requirement that speakers read their address into the record), and policy 707 and its administrative regulation governing use of school facilities. The board agreed to add two policy items to the consent agenda as requested.

Several presenters recommended placing those items on the consent agenda so they could be approved with a single vote at the next meeting; the board agreed to do so. No final consent vote on those items was recorded in the meeting; a single consent vote was scheduled for the following meeting.