[{"_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",6587651,"mediaKeyId","5548590-23620223e9309052e98283aea34b71f0","parentId",5548590,"title","Derry Area School District board approves minutes, contracts, capital items and several service agreements","audioSeconds",1713,"startMs",2617000,"endMs",4330000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5548590-23620223e9309052e98283aea34b71f0&start=2617&end=4330","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5548590-23620223e9309052e98283aea34b71f0/thumbnail_2617000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6587651/Pennsylvania/Derry-Area-School-District-board-approves-minutes-contracts-capital-items-and-several-service-agreements","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6587651-d7928e21ca24afb27ff988781d7dc923/orig.mp4?Expires=1770429173&Signature=AJyPQI1YIYt5wlHCrYy~QzhedZltJor5S5rL4Lkrd0pXs3fpvXuTEhMKRff1or6HaQ-jygudYZ8qhGfQEPp54-11tIK~3i7E~OhKbgLqEryXebY17qAsHH821sATStUJbt0Ke3Q7HHfenyFCt1QHkOin474NW-WG5AP8oUDj7WtvPWtbYubWc5ewSKwB2jqOiaZlyfdcIyAmZpteoJ21~2ZuN67H-MP-0ylUhEp0WrwHFNUcQZoi8MjuXGJQAaTFegexGu~x9Hq88wXBGHVSbkqkZZC~VQEYukFY3ncNBAZ6xdXh1MIdNS9u1Xuu73Rb1dQGjXVUkZ-BGvL5tj4fog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Derry Area School District","date","2025-08-08T00:41:11.1Z","article","The Derry Area School District board on Aug. 7 approved a series of routine and contract items, including minutes, financial reports, personnel actions, service agreements, capital purchases and two small change orders.

Key votes and approvals included:

- Minutes and routine records: Approved minutes of the regular meeting of June 26, 2025; special meeting minutes of June 30, 2025; and a special agenda prep meeting in July. Motions carried unanimously as recorded.

- Treasurer’s report: The board approved the treasurer’s report. The packet listed an ending balance of $33,940.27 as of June 30, 2025, with beginning balance and receipts and disbursements read into the record.

- Personnel and conferences: The board combined and approved multiple personnel employment motions (A–J) and approved employee #174 to attend the National Association of Agricultural Educators conference in Nashville, Tenn., in December 2025.

- Substitute and support pay rates: Approved substitute teacher and support‑staff daily/hourly rates for 2025–26 (day‑to‑day teacher $140/day; extended day‑to‑day $170/day; support staff day‑to‑day $11.50/hr; extended $12.25/hr; long‑term rates per DAEA contract).

- Agreements and renewals: Approved a 3‑year agreement with Westmoreland County Community College for college‑and‑high‑school programming (2025–26 through 2027–28); renewal of Bayada nursing services; renewal of agreements with Soaring Heights School and Meadows Psychiatric Center for specialized education services; approval of ASK Speech Therapy for services tied to Saint Vincent College’s Bearcat BEST program; and approval of Outside In for counseling services.

- Fellowship and partnerships: Approved an affiliation agreement with Saint Vincent College for one fellow for 2025–26 at $770/month to be paid by district funds (board approved the agreement despite no fellow being named at the meeting).

- Drone pilot: Approved participation in a CSinPA/PDE integrated drones pilot (one of six districts selected) for 2025–26 at no cost to the district; board members noted the program could bring training and equipment (speakers referenced multispectral drones and teacher training).

- Student activity accounts: Approved consolidation of several inactive high school student activity accounts into the general student activity account and authorized liquidation of Grandview primary and intermediate student activity funds effective July 1, 2025, with remaining funds (reported to be approximately $22,000) transferred to the district general fund and reserved for future building expenditures at the discretion of building principals.

- Capital and change orders: Approved change order No. 1 to Esqueda Masonry for Phase 3 EIFS in the amount of $1,900 (to cover about 260 sq. ft. missed in initial scope) and awarded a bid for a Grandview compactor to Reaction Distributing at $35,525 to be paid from the Capital Project Fund; board members noted the replacement was more cost‑effective than a major repair to a 14‑year‑old compactor.

- PDE‑363 form: The board approved the PDE‑363 form establishing district rates used for accounting and state reporting; figures were read in during the meeting (transcript contains the rate language and figures as recorded in the packet).

- Policies: Approved second/third readings of several revised policies including electronic attendance, electronic devices, conduct/discipline procedures, educator misconduct, employee freedom of speech, and service animals in schools.

All motions that were called to a voice vote were recorded in the meeting as carrying; where a recorded roll call or named yea/nay appeared in the transcript, motions were recorded as approved. No major opposition was recorded on the items summarized above.

For full text of motions, vendor agreements, and the treasurer’s report, see the meeting packet posted on the district website.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board Meeting of August 7, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its Aug. 7 meeting the board approved routine minutes and financial reports, personnel motions, renewals of contracts for nursing, special education and counseling services, participation in a state drone pilot, a Saint Vincent College fellowship agreement and several capital purchases and change orders.","taxTitle","Derry Area SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",60291,"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},6587654,"Derry Area alumnus proposes STEM pilot; board approves fall roundtable to plan program",678,1780000,2458000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5548590-23620223e9309052e98283aea34b71f0&start=1780&end=2458","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5548590-23620223e9309052e98283aea34b71f0/thumbnail_1780000.jpg","/articles/6587654/Pennsylvania/Derry-Area-alumnus-proposes-STEM-pilot-board-approves-fall-roundtable-to-plan-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6587654-c172b02e84a91d95b4504ea958712d6b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770429173&Signature=Ldgiw7BZkAYFHPHTauX3gN-XIt9IGO2MAdH6uEeNafPaaa07PfruJDfbguwuJBPLY4rylHHPexW89wYFrobxNIVyzBVduGwuy7W6WszDBN07ZNzjHXnhw5nwWVA-jE8zNUop4q3gOD7OCku0esCxa6AmdTX~tuBD9jP5UgCLGr3ofwn4QVtEr6X7gTk7GR0ez~y9xdQWCzzfokkHkw0dC52zrcnYYnqe7Je76y4ojVTC5ND8a03~IkuZrW12KSk2kJyZLBgJsSkKcE1YJAQhhqaz18MXVGnQToUgflrNWy1VbiQpOfHrrvBfU2MxSeFKoGn8-N-la7PVzUO0ck~tQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","David McElfresh, a 2021 graduate of Derry Area High School now headed to a PhD program, presented a proposal on Aug. 7 to make Derry a pilot site for a collaborative STEM partnership aimed at expanding hands‑on science experiences and pathways to STEM careers.

McElfresh described outreach to local colleges (Seton Hill, Saint Vincent, University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg) and regional STEM networks to provide campus visits, guest lectures, dual‑enrollment opportunities, internships and mentorships. He said the initiative would complement, not replace, classroom instruction and emphasized early, hands‑on exposure as a predictor of STEM persistence.

\"Talent is everywhere. Opportunity isn't,\" McElfresh said, describing his path from local summer science camp to Yale and upcoming doctoral work at Princeton. He asked the board to support moving the idea forward in concept and to back a fall 2025 STEM roundtable of district leaders and prospective partners; he did not request funding at this stage.

A board member noted the district's recent adoption of an Amplify science curriculum for K–6 and said McElfresh’s plan “dovetails” with that work. The board moved to place McElfresh’s proposal on the agenda for formal action and then voted to support convening a 2025 fall STEM roundtable; the motion passed with no recorded opposition. The district solicitor/administrator said the roundtable posed no known issues for the district.

Superintendent and board members expressed support for McElfresh returning to work with students and for partnering with higher education; the board did not authorize any spending at the Aug. 7 meeting and asked staff to help organize the roundtable.

McElfresh said next steps would include co‑designing the pilot at the roundtable, identifying grants and mapping programming with teachers and partner institutions so that student‑facing programs could begin in winter or spring if planning proceeds.","Recent graduate David McElfresh proposed a pilot STEM partnership to expand hands‑on lab experiences, dual enrollment and internships. The board voted to support the concept and set a fall 2025 STEM roundtable to develop the plan; no funding was committed.",{"_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},6587658,"Derry Area SD highlights Teaching Tiny Trojans early‑learning program; parents praise home‑based model",1061,676000,1737000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5548590-23620223e9309052e98283aea34b71f0&start=676&end=1737","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5548590-23620223e9309052e98283aea34b71f0/thumbnail_676000.jpg","/articles/6587658/Pennsylvania/Derry-Area-SD-highlights-Teaching-Tiny-Trojans-earlylearning-program-parents-praise-homebased-model","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6587658-2ca816f887ef345bc271d80cc39d895d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770429173&Signature=lE2-zuW-W1Z~OGyh94jZxZCPdPm6hjRy1X9Um4JkFbKPw~gnfO20E4wu3~l9uijyYiYcswHdG3Vlaq~2Ja00A55fRx8H43oMrH~4vHoDeAEPJ~mOWoPAPcE-dLDkWOhx4Oo-fS-~Cfu9S6BtbjFJeJV0OkmwtLiYeRrIFGbkU5s1oCV-HVlj5lXP62DlcG3XpZW3aBo5DX~VuqWTeUY1QG8HqtpiXZz2LQfmiG1lajcpUSnogxcHib6gaAYCaKzxL3lmQ01FDhzjoPawXA9F~lJCU4pPMVzHjSpxgZPLpnc3UiWdn6g~vQw7OzgkuEs5kr7BqtvQCXze7NlLL7fs7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Derry Area School District board on Aug. 7 heard a presentation on Teaching Tiny Trojans, a grant‑funded early‑learning program that serves children ages 2 through 5 with home‑based and on‑campus lessons and parent education.

Program leader Mrs. McClain said Teaching Tiny Trojans provides individual and small‑group instruction, play‑based learning, an iPad lending program, authentic books for home libraries and parent education. Instruction is guided by intentional assessment, including Ages & Stages questionnaires completed by parents, and staff monitor student progress across literacy, math, social‑emotional and motor skills.

\"The goal of the program is to also educate parents so that they act as co‑teachers with our Teaching Tiny Trojans educators,\" Mrs. McClain said. She told the board the program is grant funded by the nonprofit Learning Lamp and that the district will “slowly absorb costs associated with the program” over time.

Parent Nathan Bundy, whose son Roland enrolled at age 2, said home visits and group lessons helped introduce his child to peers and to “the concept of school and learning” in developmentally appropriate ways. \"They meet you where you are. They literally come to your house… they were flexible with the times,\" Bundy said.

Parent Phil (last name not specified in transcript) said the program increased his child's confidence and comfort in school settings after attending group lessons on campus. Both parents described teachers’ responsiveness and the value of taking students into the school to see buses and older children.

McClain said the program uses materials such as the Dolly Parton Imagination Library and delivers books and resources to families; teachers also co‑plan lessons with kindergarten staff to ease transition. She reported that eight students who participated in the program were expected to enter the district’s kindergarten class and that enrollment grew between program quarters.

Board members thanked parents and staff for their work. No formal board action on the program was taken at the meeting; McClain emphasized continued outreach and assessment as the program seeks to grow.

The presentation included slides on early‑brain development and the program’s emphasis on family engagement; McClain noted that early intervention can address developmental delays and strengthen school readiness.

The board meeting packet and the district website include the program presentation for further detail.","The board heard a presentation on the Teaching Tiny Trojans program, which provides free home‑ and on‑campus early education for children ages 2–5, funded by a Learning Lamp grant. Parents described gains in social confidence and school readiness; staff said the district will gradually absorb program costs over time.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Derry Area School District board approves minutes, contracts, capital items and several service agreements

Derry Area alumnus proposes STEM pilot; board approves fall roundtable to plan program

Derry Area SD highlights Teaching Tiny Trojans early‑learning program; parents praise home‑based model