The Board welcomes participation by the members of the public both in-person and telephonically. To address an item on the agenda, before the scheduled start of the meeting, an individual must provide their name and short description of the agenda item on which they wish to comment to the Chair, along with any materials they want to have distributed to the Board. Individuals who wish to address the Board telephonically must contact the Principal or Board President by phone or by email at least twenty four (24) hours before the scheduled start of the Board meeting. If the individual wants to provide any written materials to the Board, these should be emailed to the Principal or Board President at least twenty four (24) hours before the scheduled start of the meeting. The total time for any individual to present, either in person or via telephone, on an item on the agenda shall not exceed three (3) minutes, unless the Board grants additional time.

Individuals desiring to make a formal presentation to the Board on an item not on the agenda but desiring it be placed on the agenda must provide notice and written submissions detailing the subject of the presentation to the Principal or Board President at least fourteen (14) days prior to the meeting. Any such presentations shall not exceed fifteen (15) minutes in duration, unless otherwise permitted by the Chair.

Staffing Report

The EAP contract with BHS is up for renewal effective 5/1/25.  The initial renewal was unfavorable. However, through negotiations a more reasonable contract for Reach was obtained and is attached for consent approval.

The current contract runs 5/1/22 – 4/30/25 at a rate of $1.99/AE/Month billed monthly based on 750 Active Employees (AE), which equates to $17,910 annually.

The renewal will run 5/1/2025 – 12/31/27 which will allow Reach to align with other benefit renewal dates. Through negotiations, Reach maintained our current rate of $1.99/AE/Month until 12/31/25 and effective 1/1/26 – 12/31/27 the rate will increase to $2.05/AE/Month, both billed monthly on 870 Active Employees, which equates to $21,402 annually.

This benefit has been gaining ongoing slow growth since implementation and provides diverse benefits to our staff. The Wellness Committee and HR promote this benefit on a consistent basis to ensure staff are aware of the program and how to access it’s benefits.

The Amplify program helps our teachers administer the DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) assessments to measure and strengthen foundational reading skills.

Summer Learning Kits will be distributed to returning and newly enrolled K-3 students during the summer months to promote hands-on learning and prevent summer learning loss. They include grade appropriate learning materials, including a workbook, fiction and non-fiction books, flashcards or manipulatives, and pencils. 

Approval of Agreement with Penn State LaunchBox Entrepreneurship Career Mentoring Program

a. Twenty-one hours of instruction and mentoring

b. 1.5 hour sessions twice per week for seven weeks (proposed July/August 2024)

c. Kits included in fees - Number of Participants and All-Inclusive Fees

d. 5-11 students - $4,995.00

e. 12-20 students - $5,995.0

f. Description: Develop entrepreneurial skills including creativity, problem-solving, collaboration, and resiliency. Understand how innovation, collaboration, and an entrepreneurial mindset contributes to career growth and development. Learn key strategies to starting a business. Learn from real-world experiences and examples. The Entrepreneurship Challenge culminates in a pitch competition to a group of entrepreneur judges who will provide feedback.

g. We had a student that did this during covid that was grant funded through Hazleton Launchbox and got 2nd place in the competition. We had 22 interested students sign up initially, 8 stayed in it.

Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) Western PA Chapter seeks to encourage the growth of career pathway opportunities for high school students in the construction sectors through the Registered Pre-Apprenticeship – Pathway 2 Build program. The development of pre-apprenticeships provides students with career-specific skills in the construction field, advances the students’ employability and work-readiness skills, and provides opportunities to connect to longer-term career opportunities in the construction industry and registered apprenticeship programs.

Sage Intacct Nonprofit Spend Management enables organizations to prevent expenditures beyond committed resources. Configuration can warn of or prevent overspending. Provides insight and controls to deliver on mission and commitment.

Frontline Comparative Analytics compiles state-level data that includes staffing ratios, teacher salaries, and budget information with the ability to compare data across all school districts.  Having access to this data through Frontline allows Reach to compare our information to other school districts to include Charter and Cyber Charter.  The HR and Finance departments use this information to assist school administration and the Board in financial and budgetary considerations. The HR department is seeking approval to renew this contract for the FrontLine Comparative Analytics service. 

This proposal is for project management services associated with our building acquisition and move.

A centrally managed, single pane of glass, IT-focused platform to help prevent information/data sprawl. This gives us the ability to easily organize, standardize, and store important documentation. It enables streamlined access to critical data, such as network and workstation configurations, passwords, and system documentation. The improves our collaboration and knowledge sharing and increases efficiency and reduces downtime.

Pursuant to 65 Pa. C.S. §§ 708(a)(1) – to discuss any matter involving the employment, appointment, termination of employment, terms and conditions of employment, evaluation of performance, promotion or disciplining of any specific prospective public officer or employee or current public officer or employee.