July 6, 2026 7:00 p.m. - IU Monthly Meeting

Description: 

• Call to Order
• Roll Call
• Committee Meeting

Description: 

The regular monthly meeting of the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 Board of Directors, held at the Conference Room of the Schuylkill Technology Center — South Campus, Mar Lin, Pennsylvania, will be called to order by President Scott Jacoby.

 

Description: 

The Committee of the Whole will meet before the board meeting at 6:30 p.m.

Description:  Administration and representatives from Quandel Construction will provide an overview of the proposed lobby and gymnasium renovation project at the Maple Avenue Center, including preliminary project concepts, cost estimates, project sequencing, timeline, and next steps related to project development, bid preparation, and procurement activities.

Description:  Approve the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit Financial Reports for April 2026 as presented.
 

Description:  Approve the following budget revisions as presented for the 2026–2027 school year.

LIEP	$388,379.36
IU Core	$1,630,429.00
Transportation	$656,257.00

Description: 
Authorize those depositories to be designated for the 2026-2027 fiscal year as presented.

Description:  Authorize the Executive Director and Assistant Executive Director to submit grant applications for the Intermediate Unit programs throughout the 2026–2027 fiscal year. Grants that are approved will be submitted to the Board for acceptance or rejection at future Board Meetings.

Description:  Authorize administration to pay all bills and make the necessary budget transfers, as is done annually, so that all program accounts may be properly closed for the end of the fiscal year.

Description:  Approve payments to the following districts as listed for instructional services, transportation, and supplies utilized during the month of April for the 2025-2026 after-school program. All expenses are covered through the respective grant funds.
 

Description:  Authorize Administration, in coordination with Board Leadership and Quandel Construction, to proceed with project development, preparation of specifications and bid documents, advertisement of bids, and related pre-construction and procurement activities necessary to maintain the targeted project schedule for the lobby and gymnasium renovation project, subject to applicable procurement requirements and subsequent Board ratification where required.

Description:  Approval of the flooring replacement project for instructional spaces and the physical therapy suite at the IU29 Maple Avenue Campus. Administration will present flooring replacement options received through COSTARS for Board consideration and approval.

Description:  Educational Support Professionals

• Penelope Davis, full-time 2nd shift custodian at the Maple Avenue Campus on June 3, 2026. Ms. Davis resigned for personal reasons.
• Shannon LaSalle, full-time Administrative Assistant in the Special Education Department, on June 5, 2026. Ms. LaSalle resigned for other employment.

Description:  Approve the retirement of the following employees, effective at the end of the day listed.

Support Staff Compensation Plan

• Christine Rhoades, full-time EI Program Service Coordinator in the Early Intervention Department, on June 30, 2026.

Intermediate Unit Education Association

• Kristin Greenawalt, full-time Teacher at the Maple Avenue Campus, on June 3, 2026.
• Donna Schenk, full-time Teacher at the Maple Avenue Campus, on June 3, 2026.

Description:  Approve the employment of Penelope Davis as a substitute Custodian at an hourly rate of $14.50, effective June 4, 2026, pending receipt of all required documentation.

Description:  Jennifer Fritz, Mental Health Counselor, MAC, who attends Millersville University in the School Psychology Department, be approved to complete the School Psychologist Internship to begin on August 18, 2026, and end on May 30, 2027.

Description:  Approve the agreed-upon behavior interventionists and mental health therapists' salaries for the 2026-2027 fiscal year as presented per the 2024-2028 Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 Education Association/PSEA/NEA Contract.

Description:  Approve the agreed-upon Educational Support Personnel salaries for the 2026–2027 fiscal year as presented.

Description:  Approve Sharon Morgan, Behavior Interventionist, for additional hours to prepare SCM Training at the rate of $25.00 per hour.

Description:  Approve the following PDE grant-funded incentive payments for goal achievement for the period of January 2026 to June 2026 as specified within the grant award.

• Karen Damiter $3,200.00
• Nathaniel Hafer $1,000.00
• Lisa Greenawalt $1, 800.00
• Laura Hoppes $1,200.00
• Colton Butler $1,200.00

Description: 

Permission to employ a seasonal summer custodial staff to complete indoor and outdoor tasks. The staff will start on or about the week of June 22, 2026, through on or about July 30, 2026.

• Steve Homola - Crew Leader - $30 per hour
• Kim Wickersham - Assistant Leader — $18.40 per hour
• Marcia Jacavage - Assistant Leader — $21.80 per hour

Description:  Approve the revisions to the following job descriptions:

• Art Teacher
• Itinerant Learning Support Teacher
• EI Behavior & Transition Coordinator
• EI Physical Therapist

Description:  Approve an unpaid leave of absence for the following employee(s). The employee(s) will reimburse for the cost of health insurance for their absence when applicable.

• Employee #1160 for medical reasons on April 21 and May 26, 2026.
• Employee #2529 for medical reasons on May 5, 11, 13 (1/2 AM), 2026.
• Employee #2637 for medical reasons on April 8, 9, 10, 21, and May 7, 2026.
• Employee #2799 for personal reasons on May 20 and 21, 2026.
• Employee #2846 for medical reasons on April 22, May 1, 7, 13, 21(1/2 PM), and 22, 2026.
• Employee #2855 for personal reasons on March 20 (1/2 AM), April 8 (1/2 PM), April 9, 10, 14 (1/2 PM), 20 (1/2 AM), 21, 22 (1/2 PM), 29 (1/2 PM), May 1, 4, 5, 6, 7 (1/2 AM), 8 (1/2 AM), 12, 15 (1/2 AM), and 18, 2026.
• Employee #2859 for medical reasons on May 12, 13, 18, 19, 2026.
• Employee #2860 for personal reasons on April 17 (1/2 PM), May 1, 20 (1/2 PM), and 22, 2026.

Description:  Accept the applications received and place them on file for all programs as presented.

Description:  Approve the ACT 93 and Support Staff Compensation Plans for the period of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029, as presented.

Description:  Approve the revised agreement between the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit and Catapult Learning, LLC of Newark, NJ, in the amount of $122,953.65 plus an 11% administrative fee for providing Title I services to the Schuylkill County non-public and private schools in the 2025-2026 school year.

Description:  Renew Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit (CSIU) student information system (SIS) software services for the 2026-2027 fiscal year for Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29.

Description:  Renew Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit (CSIU) financial information system (FIS) software services for the 2026-2027 fiscal year for Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 for fund accounting, payroll, personnel applications, and SCView.

Description:  Approve the renewal from Dauphin DataCom, Harrisburg, PA, for a 4-year maintenance and support subscription for the IU29 and STC phone system.

Description:  Approve an agreement with Dr. Jeffrey Chimahosky, Pottsville, PA, to authorize the evaluations and health-related services recommended for students in their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) at a rate of $10.00 per signature for the 2025-2026 school year. Medical authorization is required in order for services to be billed through the School-Based ACCESS Program.

Description:  Approve the renewal notice with Finalsite, Glastonbury, CT, for the website and content management, web hosting, and video publishing for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The software is used to host the IU website.

Description:  Accept the proposal from The Nutrition Group as the Food Service Management Company contingent upon final review and approval by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Division of Food and Nutrition, for the period July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.

Description:  Approve an engagement agreement with FSL Public Finance as presented.

Description:  Approve a Consulting and Grant Advisory Services Agreement with GSL Government Consulting LLC for assistance in identifying, securing, and implementing grants through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Description:  Approve the renewal notice with Jamf, Minneapolis, MN, for their mobile device management school subscription for the 2026-2027 school year. The software service is used for managing iPad mobile devices for staff and students.

Description:  Enter into an agreement with Johnson Controls in the annual amount of $2,082.00 for the test and inspection of the fire alarm system at the Maple Avenue Campus. Agreement effective 6/1/2026 through 5/31/2029.

Description:  Approve the online learning software renewal with Learning A-Z, Tucson, AZ, for the Maple Avenue Campus for the 2026-2027 school year. The renewal is for online learning software that helps instruct reading, writing, science, and vocabulary.

Description:  Approve the continuation of the lease agreement with Tamaqua Area School District for Early Intervention classroom space in the Tamaqua Middle School, effective July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, at a rate of $850.00 per month.

Description:  Enter into contracts with districts for the Language Instruction Education Program (LIEP) District Consortium Program of Services (formerly ESL District Consortium) for the 2026-2027 fiscal year in the amount of $388,379.36. A sample contract, a description of services, and LIEP Handbook for employees are attached.

Description:  Approve the revision to an agreement with Linda Light, American Red Cross Instructor, to provide CPR/AED/First Aid Certification Training for the remainder of the 2026-2027 school year for Intermediate Unit 29 required staff. The cost for a 2-year certification will be at a rate of $73.00, and recertification at a rate of $61.00. The cost for the nurse's certification will be at a rate of $81.00, and recertification at a rate of $71.00. The lifeguarding certification will be at a rate of $136.00, and recertification at a rate of $91.00.

Description:  Approve the renewal notice with Linewize, San Diego, CA, for their Internet filter and classroom management software for the 2026-2027 school year.

Description:  Approve agreements between Schuylkill Intermediate Unit #29 and the participating districts in the National School Lunch Program for the 2026-2027 school year. A sample agreement is included.

Description:  Approve an agreement with PAIU and BrainPOP for consortium pricing on their product and services.

Description:  Approve an agreement with PAIU and Kami for consortium pricing on their product and services.

Description:  Approve an MOU with the Pennsylvania State Police for both the Maple Avenue Campus, in compliance with Safe Schools.

Description:  Approve a shared services agreement between the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 and the Schuylkill Technology Center. 

Description:  Authorize the contract agreement with Teacher Created Materials and the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 for Language, Rigor, and Access: Strategies for Multilinguals in Content Classrooms Presentation for content area teachers and ESL teachers in the amount of $5,000 plus books on June 15th.

Description:  Approve the revised Title I contracts. Contracts are revised due to school district changes presented in the funding adjustments.

• Blue Mountain $953.15
• Minersville Area $15,846.85
• Pottsville Area $19,804.50
• Panther Valley $35,216.00
• Saint Clair Area $480.00
• Shenandoah Valley  $7,861.26 
• Tamaqua Area $22,168.47
• Jim Thorpe Area $2,657.66
   

Description:  Request permission to reimburse Title III member districts for district-employed ESL teachers to provide supplemental English Language Development (ELD) virtual tutoring to English learners as requested by parents during the summer, not to exceed 30 hours per teacher at the 2025-2026 employee personnel hourly rate listed. All costs are to be covered with Title III funds.

Name	District	Rate
Olivia Hepler	IU29	$37.15
Adele Wallace	IU29	$33.83
Brett Reed	Pottsville Area	$40.78
Robert Wiscount	Pottsville Area	$59.75
Ashley Fehr	Pottsville Area	$48.22
Trisha Puyarena	St. Clair	$58.36
Michelle Argust	Tamaqua	$69.91
Diann Belsak	Tamaqua	$64.50

Description:  Contract with the following, contingent upon enrollment, an instructor for a Continuing Professional Education Course as listed:

Course Title	Instructor	Credits	Fee
A Walk Through PDE SAS and All It’s Tools	Kimberly Groody	3	$2,250.00

Description: 
Approve the renewal with Zoom Video Communications Inc., San Jose, CA, for video and webinar conference software for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The Zoom video software will allow our administrative and professional staff the ability to provide online video and webinar conferencing.

Description:  The 2025-2026 School Safety and Security Update will be presented to the Board of Directors during the Executive Session.  Disclosure of this information would be likely to jeopardize or threaten public safety, preparedness, or public protection.

Description:  Approve the board meeting dates for the 2026-2027 fiscal year as presented.

Description:  Approve the updated 2026-2027 LIEP Handbook.

Description:  Approve the first reading of the following policy:

• 000 - Board Procedures

Description:  Appoint one individual to attend the Delegate Assembly to be held on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 9:00 pm at the Cumberland Valley School District’s Mountain View auditorium. This will be an in-person only event.

Description:  Use of the Board Room at the Maple Avenue Campus by the Schuylkill County School Nurses for their in-service on Monday, October 12, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on Wednesday, April 21, 2027, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Description:  The Lifelong Learning Center graduation ceremony will take place on June 25, 2026, at 6:30 PM in the Jacoby Conference Center.  All board members are invited to attend.

Description: 

Monday, July 13, 2026
7:00 p.m.
Schuylkill Technology Center - South Campus, Conference Room