School board covers full slate during monthly meeting

ST. MARYS - A full agenda was covered during the March regular meeting of the St. Marys Area School District Board of School Directors on Monday evening.

Among the agenda items was a contract with Aramark as the exclusive provider of custodial, grounds and maintenance management services for the school district. The contract amount of $1,224,772 includes a staff of two full-time managers, 18 full-time employees and five fulltime equivalent employees. Aramark maintains services of all four school buildings at South St. Marys Street and Fox Township elementary schools, St. Marys Area Middle School and St. Marys Area High School along with the outdoor classroom, the Dutch Country Stadium field house, all athletic practice and game fields including Berwind Park for baseball.

The board approved posting for an elementary assistant principal or dean of students for both elementary schools. Chrissy Keebler, school board member, stated her concerns about the position citing potential budgetary obstacles. Keebler proposed a motion to table the item indefinitely. Fellow school board member, Clythera Hornung, replied that posting the position does not necessarily mean hiring. Keebler’s motion died for a lack of a second and the motion to advertise for the position passed with an opposing vote cast by Keebler

Also under business affairs, the board approved the following:

•For KTH Architects to conduct a bid of a redesign for the existing SMAHS handicap parking and ADA sidewalk/ ramp access needs.

•For district administration to conduct a bid to repair pool leaks.

•A contract with Zito Media to provide internet services for Bennetts Valley Elementary

School on a month-to-month basis beginning July 1, 2023. The cost of the service is $200/per month.

•A letter of agreement between SMASD and The Meadows Psychiatric Center in Centre Hall for educational services provided to students while at The Meadows during the 2022-23 and 2024-25 school years. The district will pay the facility $70/per day for educational services provided by a Pennsylvania certified teacher Monday through Friday while a student(s) is at The Meadows.

•An agreement between Seneca Highlands IU9 and SMASD for vision support, mobility and orientation services beginning March 20 through June 2. The contracts includes 26 days of services at a rate of $325/ per day.

An executive session took place prior to the board meeting.