November 17, 2026 at 7:00 PM - Combined Committee and Regular Voting Meeting

• Student Government update presented by Scarlett Stockhausen
• PTO update presented by Independence Middle School PTO
• Solicitor update presented by Megan Turnbull from Weiss, Burkhardt, Kramer

• Financial Report presented by Mary Burford, Interim Business Manager
• Communications Report presented by Jim Cromie
• Superintendent's Report presented by Superintendent Dr. Matthew Patterson and Assistant Superintendents Mandi Figlioli, Joseph Villani, and Dr. Mark Korcinsky

All individuals wishing to participate in an open Board meeting are requested to register their intent with the Board Secretary at least ONE DAY in advance of the meeting or complete the sign-in sheet located in the entry of the meeting room before taking your seat.  Requests to participate shall include the name of the participant, the topic to be addressed, and group affiliation, if applicable.  Public comments will be accepted at the Committee and Regular Meetings. Each commenter is required to state their name.  Please be reminded that public comments at the beginning of each meeting are reserved for agenda items only.  Public comments about non-agenda items as well as agenda items can be shared at the end of the meetings.  Board Policy 006.3 limits each public comment to 2 minutes in duration, and we ask that the public bear this in mind. The District will reserve its right to limit public comments that exceed 2 minutes.

Individuals shall wait to be recognized by the presiding officer before commenting, must direct all comments to the presiding officer, and must preface their comments with an announcement of their name and group affiliation, if applicable.

The public comment session at the beginning of the meeting shall be limited to not more than thirty (30) minutes.

The second public comment period shall be limited to not more than thirty (30) minutes.

Commenters may not cede their time to other individuals.

No individual may speak more than once in each of the two (2) designated times for public comment.  The topic of the comment must be different in each of the two (2) designated times.

The presiding officer and the district solicitor have the authority to:

1. Interrupt an individual to warn the commenter that the statement is too lengthy or conduct is otherwise in violation of this policy.
    
2. After warning, terminate the individual’s opportunity to comment when the conduct continues and is in violation of this policy.
    
3. Call a recess or adjourn to another time when an individual’s conduct is otherwise in violation of this policy.
    
4. Request an individual to leave the meeting when that person’s conduct is disrupting the operation of the meeting.
    
5. If the individual refuses to leave the meeting, request the assistance of school security personnel or law enforcement to remove the disorderly person to enable the Board to proceed with the orderly operation of the meeting.
    
6. Waive the Board’s rules regarding public comment with the approval of a majority of those present and voting.

Response to Public Comment

The purpose of public comment at Board meetings is to allow the Board to learn the thoughts of the public prior to Board deliberation and official action.

Although the public comment period of the meeting is not a question-and-answer session between the public and the Board, the Board may direct staff to follow up and address public inquiries in a reasonably prompt manner.

Whenever public comments are subject to the Board policy regarding public complaints, the individual shall follow the process outlined in the policy for the resolution of the issue.

• National Conference on Education 2027
  • Dr. Matthew Patterson to attend the conference in Atlanta, GA, from February 24, 2026, through February 27, 2027.  This is part of Bethel Park's membership in AASA and Future Driven Schools and is partially/fully grant-funded. 
     
• Association of School Psychologists of Pennsylvania Annual Fall Conference 2026
  • Crystal Summers to attend the conference at The Central Hotel and Conference Center, Harrisburg, PA, from November 18, 2026, through November 19, 2026 

1. Jodi McAdoo, Part-Time Special Education Paraprofessional at Bethel Park Elementary School, effective November 23, 2026
2. Janice Stepien, Substitute Bus Aide for the Bethel Park School District, effective TBD

1. Thomas Sanders, Maintenance Specialist (HVAC) for the Bethel Park School District, for the purpose of retirement, effective January 23, 2027.

1. Denise Konton, Full-Time Van Driver for the Bethel Park School District, to Full-Time Bus Driver for the Bethel Park School District, retroactively effective November 4, 2026
2. Kasey Elphinstone, Campus Manager at Bethel Park Elementary School, to Security Officer at Bethel Park Elementary School, effective November 18, 2026

Appointment of Personnel
The Board of School Directors approves the Administration's recommendation to appoint the following individual(s) for the position(s) indicated, at the salaries and effective dates specified: (All applicants are hired contingent upon certification of proper clearances and documentation, pre-employment testing, and adherence to all the hiring policies of the Bethel Park School District.) The rates of pay for new hires and extra duty assignments for those covered by a Collective Bargaining Agreement are subject to any revisions that occur in that Collective Bargaining Agreement if those changes go into effect during the school year.)

PROFESSIONAL

1. Jackson Rice, Long-Term Substitute, for Employee #3848, effective September 17, 2026 (46th Day November 25, 2026), through approximately March 2027.

CLASSIFIED

1. Stacey Scheible, Part-Time Special Education Paraprofessional at Independence Middle School, at an hourly rate of $21.74 with all other provisions in the Educational Support Paras/Aide CBA, effective TBD
2. Daniel Somma, Substitute Van Driver for the Bethel Park School District, at an hourly rate of $18.87, effective November 16, 2026

1. Employee #3848, a Bethel Park School District employee, requested an FMLA leave of absence effective September 11, 2026, through approximately March 2027.
2. Employee #6018, a Bethel Park School District employee, requested an FMLA leave of absence effective approximately January 4, 2027, through June 30, 2028.
3. Employee #6605, a Bethel Park School District employee, requested an extension of their current unpaid leave, with a return date of April 12, 2027, previously set for January 4, 2027.

1. Employee #7002, a Bethel Park School District employee, requested an FMLA leave of absence effective October 11, 2026, for approximately 8 weeks.
2. Employee #6397, a Bethel Park School District employee, requested an FMLA leave of absence effective December 21, 2026, for approximately 8 weeks.
3. Employee #7233, a Bethel Park School District employee, requested an FMLA leave of absence effective December 7, 2026, through March 1, 2027. 

The Board of School Directors approves the Administration's recommendation to appoint Dr. Mark Korcinsky as the Bethel Park School District's Agency Open Records Officer (AORO), effective November 17, 2026, in accordance with the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.502.

The Board of School Directors approves the Administration's recommendation to approve the official name change of Independence Middle School to Bethel Park Middle School, effective for the start of the 2027-2028 school year, and authorizes the Superintendent to submit the necessary documentation to the Pennsylvania Department of Education for review and approval.

The Board of School Directors authorizes the Administration to solicit and entertain proposals from qualified architectural and/or engineering firms to conduct a Facilities Feasibility Study for the Bethel Park School District.

Background:
The purpose of the feasibility study is to provide the District with a professional evaluation of potential facility needs, opportunities, and options to assist the Board in future capital planning and decision-making.

The feasibility study will generally examine the following areas:

• Athletic Facilities, including Blackhawk Stadium, baseball and softball facilities, press box, storage facilities, site improvements, parking, and related infrastructure.
• Operations and Maintenance Facilities, including the District’s current operations, maintenance, vehicle and equipment storage needs, and potential opportunities to improve or consolidate operations.
• Former Neil Armstrong Middle School, including the condition, utilization, potential adaptive reuse, and future District needs that could potentially be accommodated at the facility.
• Related Site and Infrastructure Needs, including building systems, utilities, accessibility, parking, circulation, life safety, and other facility considerations as appropriate.

The study may include conceptual options, preliminary cost considerations, prioritization of needs, potential phasing strategies, and recommendations for future consideration by the Board.

The Board of School Directors authorizes the Administration to solicit competitive bids and proposals for district-wide cellular and telecommunications coverage improvements across all Bethel Park School District facilities.

This initiative will allow the Administration to evaluate available technologies and service providers, including Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS), cellular signal enhancement systems, and other appropriate solutions to address existing indoor cellular coverage deficiencies.

The evaluation shall include, but not be limited to, carrier compatibility, infrastructure requirements, installation costs, and ongoing service and maintenance expenses. The Administration shall review the proposals received and present its findings and recommendations to the Board for consideration prior to any commitment to proceed with implementation.

The Board of School Directors authorizes the Administration to solicit competitive bids and proposals for the purchase and installation of window coverings throughout Bethel Park Elementary School (BPES).

This initiative is intended to support instructional environments, manage natural light and glare, improve classroom functionality, and provide additional privacy where needed. Window coverings will also support the District's overall safety and security efforts by providing the ability to limit visibility into classrooms and other designated spaces when circumstances warrant.

The Administration shall evaluate appropriate products and materials, installation requirements, durability, and associated costs to identify a consistent and functional solution throughout the building. The Administration shall review the proposals received and present its findings and recommendations to the Board for consideration prior to any commitment to proceed with implementation.

Payment for the New K-5 Elementary School Project
The Board of School Directors approves the Administration's recommendation to approve payment to the following for the New K-5 Elementary School Project.  The funds will be paid from Construction Fund 39.

1. Project #22-S28-01, Invoice #22-S28-01-51, to Draw Collective in the amount of $50,238.14
2. Project #22-716, Application #26, Invoice #HVAC-26, to Hranec Corporation in the amount of $445,998.29
3. Project #22-716, Application #23, Invoice #FPC-23, to Interstate Fire Protection Company, Inc. in the amount of $62,223.94
4. Project #22-716, Invoice #41, to Massaro CM Services, LLC in the amount of $55,596.24
5. Project #22-716, Application #29, Invoice #EC-29, to Merit Electrical Group in the amount of $109,054.36
6. Project #22-716, Application #33, Invoice #GC-33, to Rycon Construction, Inc. in the amount of $371,108.40

• Committed for Capital Projects: $1,669,316.57
• Committed for Retirement Benefits: $1,000,000.00
• Committed for Legal Trusts: $26,268.33
• Committed for Tax Refunds: $1,000,000.00

• 006.3 - Public Comment in Board Meetings
  • Proposed updates include changing the Public Comment speaking time from two (2) minutes to three (3) minutes.

All individuals wishing to participate in an open Board meeting are requested to register their intent with the Board Secretary at least ONE DAY in advance of the meeting or complete the sign-in sheet located in the entry of the meeting room before taking your seat.  Requests to participate shall include the name of the participant, the topic to be addressed, and group affiliation, if applicable.  Public comments will be accepted at the Committee and Regular Meetings. Each commenter is required to state their name.  Please be reminded that public comments at the beginning of each meeting are reserved for agenda items only.  Public comments about non-agenda items as well as agenda items can be shared at the end of the meetings.  Board Policy 006.3 limits each public comment to 2 minutes in duration, and we ask that the public bear this in mind. The District will reserve its right to limit public comments that exceed 2 minutes.

Individuals shall wait to be recognized by the presiding officer before commenting, must direct all comments to the presiding officer, and must preface their comments with an announcement of their name and group affiliation, if applicable.

The public comment session at the beginning of the meeting shall be limited to not more than thirty (30) minutes.

The second public comment period shall be limited to not more than thirty (30) minutes.

Commenters may not cede their time to other individuals.

No individual may speak more than once in each of the two (2) designated times for public comment.  The topic of the comment must be different in each of the two (2) designated times.

The presiding officer and the district solicitor have the authority to:

1. Interrupt an individual to warn the commenter that the statement is too lengthy or conduct is otherwise in violation of this policy.
    
2. After warning, terminate the individual’s opportunity to comment when the conduct continues and is in violation of this policy.
    
3. Call a recess or adjourn to another time when an individual’s conduct is otherwise in violation of this policy.
    
4. Request an individual to leave the meeting when that person’s conduct is disrupting the operation of the meeting.
    
5. If the individual refuses to leave the meeting, request the assistance of school security personnel or law enforcement to remove the disorderly person to enable the Board to proceed with the orderly operation of the meeting.
    
6. Waive the Board’s rules regarding public comment with the approval of a majority of those present and voting.

Response to Public Comment

The purpose of public comment at Board meetings is to allow the Board to learn the thoughts of the public prior to Board deliberation and official action.

Although the public comment period of the meeting is not a question-and-answer session between the public and the Board, the Board may direct staff to follow up and address public inquiries in a reasonably prompt manner.

Whenever public comments are subject to the Board policy regarding public complaints, the individual shall follow the process outlined in the policy for the resolution of the issue.