Board packet lists federal IDEA aid, auditor extension and routine contracts for review

Board Finance Committee Chair Tracy Miller presented several finance and contract items on the Jan. 19 Hempfield Area School District working meeting agenda, including federal grant acceptance and contract extensions.

Miller asked the board to accept and expend the district’s allocation of $935,777.74 in IDEA Section 611 Special Education federal funds for the 2025–2026 fiscal year through the Westmoreland Intermediate Unit #7 and to submit required documentation to the Intermediate Unit.

The agenda also requested approval to extend local auditing services with Zelenkofske Axelrod LLC for the 2025–2026, 2026–2027 and 2027–2028 fiscal years at $60,835.00 per fiscal year. Finance presented motions to exempt two residents—Arthur O. Martz and Ronald C. Rossey—from payment of real property taxes for five years each under Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs rulings for disabled veterans (effective dates specified in the motions).

Other items listed in the finance section included authorization to seek bids for school supplies for the 2026–27 fiscal year, extension of the Quadient Leasing USA, Inc. postage meter lease (two meters) at $509.07 per month for 60 months (a total lease amount of $30,544.20), and naming the Barksdale Group as the district’s school photographer for July 1, 2026–June 30, 2029.

Separately, the administration requested authority to hire Josh Daly with Gallagher to coordinate the district’s workers’ compensation insurance renewal/acquisition for 2026–2027, and to solicit competitive bids for network switches with the final award to be presented to the board; the agenda notes that E-Rate funding is expected to cover the purchase.

All items were presented as recommended motions in the working meeting packet; the transcript contains the listed motions and dollar amounts but does not record final votes for these specific items in the meeting text.