Tunkhannock board approves personnel moves, contracts, purchases and budget transfers

At its regular meeting the Tunkhannock Area School District board approved a package of routine but substantive items including personnel hires, labor-related agreements, vendor contracts and several purchases funded through existing accounts.

Superintendent Paul Doherty presented the personnel report, which the board approved; he noted several teacher hires for the 2026–27 school year and said crisis counselor Stephanie Gianncini is resigning to spend time with family. The board also approved an Act 93 agreement covering 2026–2031 that includes salary adjustments effective July 1 for listed administrative positions, and authorized a memorandum of understanding with the support-staff association to add an additional, lower-cost health insurance plan option to the district’s cafeteria plan beginning July 1, 2026.

On procurement the board accepted cafeteria bids (Culinary Depot, $36,000; Bryce’s Food Equipment, $52,458 for a serving line and $50,925 for a combi oven) and approved a $7,581.60 purchase of high-school statistics textbooks from Cengage to be paid from the 2025–26 textbook fund. The board also approved budget transfers totaling $88,214 ($5,000 for AED machines and $83,214 for Chromebooks), with the business manager saying Chromebook funds will come from the 22-26-50 software budget code to lock in prices before an anticipated increase.

The board appointed John Burke as school board treasurer for a one-year term and approved Holly Arnold and Laura Goble as PSBA delegate assembly representatives for November.

During public comment residents raised concerns about field projects, boiler replacement and leftover student-account balances; the chair reminded commenters that personnel allegations should be handled privately with administration. The meeting closed after routine announcements and a motion to adjourn.