[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6617116,"mediaKeyId","2843787-1c55bb213711601482eebdb619002035","parentId",2843787,"title","Votes at a glance: Middletown Area SD board approves minutes, bills, appointments and operations items","audioSeconds",1438,"startMs",1294000,"endMs",2732000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2843787-1c55bb213711601482eebdb619002035&start=1294&end=2732","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2843787-1c55bb213711601482eebdb619002035/thumbnail_1294000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6617116/Pennsylvania/Votes-at-a-glance-Middletown-Area-SD-board-approves-minutes-bills-appointments-and-operations-items","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6617116-f80086fe265529ba0842fb0dded7e166/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154572&Signature=d80J5GMD0PDQegpuhJ-0ly3-BraZBj5LRNt6ZVuML2NI3Y3gkKqxWtz2RAKx3l3HOwD~9XlVpqm9D8OFRTIwLdQ63LMIQzb1Id-Wv-k0JeVh0JidX~X8bHDJWQj7mwhqulLC7kmKTHPe2fZGOLGLoOMKY5IpZoLAGZYcN-Fhz46U9T1SFih2jBnlvAmlAXnA1HwANsUj1C46~7OEsUneAdD-LCGHgBqWqdIz6J2-JAd0RI53-i8Ev6NdDE1XxMbAo6jbYUa-Lgio-NBbsJiwhoc58sEm7dp1ehiga7q4v52ogFlK5eWVHJdvHn~n~poGzcZp0pU8t6yl~fjjm3vLOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Middletown Area School District","date","2025-04-02T06:11:18.427Z","article","The Middletown Area School District board took a series of routine and operational actions at its April 1 meeting. Key outcomes recorded on the meeting record: all motions listed below carried by voice vote unless otherwise noted. Where individual movers or full roll‑call tallies were not read into the record, the transcript records the motions as approved by voice vote.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of minutes from the March 18, 2025 general business meeting: motion carried by voice vote; no roll call recorded.

- Letter of support for the Borough of Middletown's Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant application for improvements to the former public pool site (phase 1): motion carried by voice vote.

- Approval of paid bills (totals by fund as attached): motion carried by voice vote.

- Approval of unpaid bills (totals by fund as attached): motion carried by voice vote.

- Appointment of Saxton and Stump LLC to serve as Special Education counsel for the district, effective 04/01/2025 through December (year not fully specified in transcript): motion carried by voice vote.

- Modification to design professional agreement to reflect additional HOP (highway occupancy permit) work, noting a reduction in the fee for HOP work from 6% to 3% for the HOP portion: motion carried by voice vote.

- Approval of a set of operations items including purchase of whiteboard markers and installation of an end wall at a loading dock: motion carried by voice vote.

- Approval of encroachment/easement agreements required to traverse existing utility and pipeline easements (including AT&T fiber and Buckeye pipeline easements) on the proposed Greenfield Drive extension site: motion carried by voice vote; solicitor review to follow.

- Consent approval of personnel immediate action items (list CA through BE as on the meeting agenda): motion carried by voice vote.

- Authorization to change the district's Mitel phone licensing service provider to Visual Sound, Inc., effective immediately: motion carried by voice vote.

- Consent to allow township staging of excavated soil at the district operations site for the sewer project, subject to hold‑harmless, additional insured status, bond and firm removal deadlines and solicitor review: motion carried by voice vote.

Notes: Several agenda items were described as \"immediate action items\" or consent agenda items and were approved without extended discussion. A number of motions were moved and seconded without the record naming the individual mover or seconder; the transcript records voice votes of \"aye\" and the chair announcing the motion carries.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","MASD Board Meeting - April 1st, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its April 1 meeting the school board adopted routine minutes and bills, appointed special education legal counsel, approved several operations and consent items and authorized a change in phone licensing provider; outcomes are listed below.","taxTitle","Middletown Area SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",41875,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6617121,"Board hears operations update, approves encroachment agreements and tentatively allows temporary storage of sewer spoils with safeguards",1228,1449000,2677000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2843787-1c55bb213711601482eebdb619002035&start=1449&end=2677","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2843787-1c55bb213711601482eebdb619002035/thumbnail_1449000.jpg","/articles/6617121/Pennsylvania/Board-hears-operations-update-approves-encroachment-agreements-and-tentatively-allows-temporary-storage-of-sewer-spoils-with-safeguards","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6617121-12da3b52d7e5da806cfcc63f40518c21/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154572&Signature=FnyyK8q~tbmf19tUMh7j2wZ6u8WJKsAksU-ciAdsepcbk5nDT6R8AM~x3xNKRGior2oLthMnUdeJj8MZong4CBTN7YiELit1UMODt4Vo519fmBQ2Aibn45o7ZATh-I0CeNyHYTh3-OsX7PhHvP8KEfaGCIV3-py0aQaJbvRdxcJ2GcNP7XhXvj6ejNqASnuNpWpGNf3bsfCrV0uUcsVKDsuHZo33uzQj1cjcAxEaSye~adapkBAHT0W99ZP1UUoR~HkRubHo3BwMCucmQejK5UNYZkRzINXvqOOvwL7laO40wjMY6unTMdQMga1Vxex7DWyI2BHZPdgRlroHXW0D0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mrs. Schreffler, speaking for operations, told the board the district's new operations facility construction is progressing and that the gym was about 80% complete and one section's first floor roughly 75% complete. She said the administration had modified the design professionals' agreement to reflect additional highway occupancy permit (HOP) work with PennDOT and that the design fee for the HOP work was reduced from 6% to 3%.

The board approved several routine operations motions, including adding whiteboard markers and installing an end wall at a loading dock to prevent stone from spilling onto an adjacent pad. The board also approved easement/encroachment agreements that allow the district to cross existing telecommunications and pipeline easements on the proposed site for Greenfield Drive extension; presenters described the agreements as boilerplate required by companies such as AT&T and Buckeye and said there is little room to negotiate.

Operations staff described a request from the township and PennDOT to use a grass area beside the district's current operations building as a temporary, lined storage area for excavated soil (\"spoil\") while a sewer project is completed. The site is adjacent to a former landfill area the presenters described as part of a Superfund site history for that corridor. Presenters said PennDOT and the contractor would test each containered load (testing turnaround 7–10 working days), and the district proposed contract safeguards including a hold‑harmless agreement, naming the district as an additional insured and requiring bonds and documented removal deadlines.

District staff said the township preferred not to stage material on Penn State's campus and that the operations site is being considered because it sits on the corridor previously used by the Olmsted Air Base landfill. Staff estimated the staging could begin in June and finish in October but said the schedule could extend if testing required disposal offsite. Staff recommended allowing the staging only with contractual protections, firm removal deadlines and insurer/bonding protections; the board approved the consent motion to allow the township to pursue the site subject to solicitor review and the recommended safeguards.

Board members noted the district cannot market or sell the existing operations facility until the sewer line and EDU capacity issues are resolved; staff said the district expects its major move into the new operations facility likely in September or October 2025 and that sale or rental would follow sewer completion.

Speakers emphasized the limited negotiation leverage with major utility and pipeline owners and the need to protect the district from liability if contaminated spoil were present. Presenters repeatedly said test results and written contractual protections would determine the district's final exposure and timing.","Board members received a construction update on the new operations facility, approved easement/encroachment agreements for utilities, and agreed in principle to let the township stage excavated soil at the district operations site under hold‑harmless and testing safeguards.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6617124,"Middletown Area SD presents special education plan for 2025–28, to submit to Pennsylvania Department of Education",899,215000,1114000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2843787-1c55bb213711601482eebdb619002035&start=215&end=1114","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2843787-1c55bb213711601482eebdb619002035/thumbnail_215000.jpg","/articles/6617124/Pennsylvania/Middletown-Area-SD-presents-special-education-plan-for-202528-to-submit-to-Pennsylvania-Department-of-Education","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6617124-573da1f4d4d286e98ab9ccb1a0c54cbc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771154572&Signature=N-4x05ysV55tfxqGm4oB-cRt5rLfDVhVZjEcsBpQuzXCDUeJxU6CfdG4OW7nM2kvmANzOs86PcsPONw-idKq~mgamStWcCam6skDalwEId6s6aGhvVXW19e4bBMK-eH4Sn8TdewBgj9j98VvTh4TVbhVuKvjRIKJtrmUOAQk9LPYLRzrHWpkiQRVPDkmc~lanMP6appsVu6-n3HlwE0VOZaX4KNbkiGNfDQUETWEHxRnngSjMCFPS0njjuiyzXmfjGeR5F6sFRDjV5dmxRuBXmbW-k4fChqy9ENaPCs0Vlx9F4RjdWeA~waXCUTBcq5ZJ~r3o00Gk7yW~X0nTM62HA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sonya Bruner, director of special education for Middletown Area School District, and Dr. Chelsey Pruznak, assistant director of special education, presented the district's Special Education Plan for 2025–2028 at the April 1 school board meeting and said the board will be asked to approve the plan so it can be submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Education by the May 1 deadline.

The plan provides a snapshot of staffing and student counts at each building and lists out‑of‑district providers the district uses when it does not offer a program. At the time the draft was prepared the district reported 479 students receiving special education services, equal to 21.1% of the student population; presenters said that percentage is changing and the district's current internal count is slightly higher.

Brunner and Pruznak described how the district organizes services: Reid Elementary houses the district's autism supports and related staff; Fink, Kunkel and Reid elementary schools have varying numbers of learning support teachers and paraprofessionals; the middle and high schools have larger special education staffs and districtwide specialists including occupational and physical therapists, school psychologists, social workers and speech and language therapists. The presentation listed the district's current out‑of‑district partners as the Capital Area Intermediate Unit, Yellow Breeches Educational Center, River Rock, New Story, Hilltop Academy, Capitol Academy and the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf.

The plan emphasizes least restrictive environment strategies: differentiated instruction, flexible grouping, data‑driven interventions, accommodations and specially designed instruction. It also highlights schoolwide positive behavior supports, school‑based mental health staff, suicide awareness and prevention, student assistance programming and use of outside therapy providers so students can access services during the school day without leaving campus.

Brunner outlined seven goal areas the state requires, including autism supports (continuing the current PEAK/ABA approach and expanding to middle school), paraprofessional training (CPR and first aid required for medical access funding), transition planning for post‑secondary pathways, Individualized Education Program compliance under Chapter 14, and parent training (a planned \"Navigating Your Child's IEP\" workshop series).

During questions from board members, Brunner said the district participates in a county consortium that meets monthly; individual districts make local decisions about which programs to maintain and the business offices handle billing and cost allocation when one district places a student in another district's program. On crisis intervention, Brunner said Safe Crisis Management is staff training intended to teach de‑escalation strategies and to avoid physical intervention whenever possible. Asked how the district's 21.1% special education rate compares with others, Brunner said, \"I would say we're in the ballpark,\" and noted that the state figure used in the plan is two years old and the district's current percentage has risen slightly.

The presenters said the draft was posted for a 28‑day public inspection, and next steps are board approval followed by submission to PDE; PDE will review and respond with any requested additions or corrections. No formal vote on the plan itself was recorded at the meeting; the board did vote elsewhere in the meeting to appoint legal counsel for special education matters (see \"Votes at a glance\").

The presentation included detailed staff counts by building and a list of outside providers; copies of the draft plan and the district's program descriptions were made available on the district website during the public inspection period.","District special education leaders outlined staffing, out‑of‑district placements and program goals for a plan the board will approve and submit to the Pennsylvania Department of Education by May 1.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Middletown Area SD board approves minutes, bills, appointments and operations items

Board hears operations update, approves encroachment agreements and tentatively allows temporary storage of sewer spoils with safeguards

Middletown Area SD presents special education plan for 2025–28, to submit to Pennsylvania Department of Education