[{"_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",6494735,"mediaKeyId","5726817-89b7a1c3d795957b4b4744ac7d4c8374","parentId",5726817,"title","Franklin Regional starts school year short two bus drivers; facilities repairs approved","audioSeconds",140,"startMs",1229000,"endMs",1369000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5726817-89b7a1c3d795957b4b4744ac7d4c8374&start=1229&end=1369","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5726817-89b7a1c3d795957b4b4744ac7d4c8374/thumbnail_1229000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6494735/Pennsylvania/Franklin-Regional-starts-school-year-short-two-bus-drivers-facilities-repairs-approved","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6494735-1de99c4a91c53de7e05e936ff76f978f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771076752&Signature=obqwYvxTs7AYoCb4M~8TRDoun7q~QF~g6wkI4Th79tb5CiHy9BiubKzbs1xKm61Gt~Bg0uqWPqODXk-iC56MYAyrjj8L0vQFjej9hMHCVeDhI-fSL5apaaOafQ8pqLeWGKjN4Aor2TcNQgt6ZFb18Sc3N~G3-61Y79sId4YT~FBTVCYRrE9nWIXqZjfekCN3XNXq10uyqaU4mIP00e7EOXQtNwIKI1lquGV6n8QkAtiTzgNOgFusuC1KFRomabaNPINZUzPYX4PVPpZFitbIcUr23HCSpKtGOkasfjTot5n3J2C4RhF~NP8uav~2AM4-sgsZ4FLY6RRnbzKQ2GvACw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Franklin Regional School District","date","2025-08-21T16:43:04Z","article","District transportation staff told the Franklin Regional Board on Aug. 18 that the district is starting the year two drivers short because of medical leaves and recent departures, but that two candidates are in the pipeline to obtain commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). The board approved the quarterly roster of bus and van drivers and the current bus stop assignments as part of the consent agenda.

Missus Gao, who presented the transportation items, said the district has two drivers out on medical leave and has recruited potential drivers, including a member of a local family pursuing a CDL. Gao also described a recent communication push highlighting bus driving as a position with paid training and flexible summer schedules to attract applicants.

Facilities and maintenance items approved included replacement of a popped stadium hot‑water tank on the visitor side after pressure spikes tied to a middle‑school main were repaired; the district will install the new unit using in‑house staff. Maintenance staff also described replacing an obsolete uni‑vent coil in the high‑school counseling center with a ductless split system because replacement parts were no longer available and fabricating a part would have been cost‑prohibitive.

Why it matters: Driver shortages can affect route stability and start‑of‑year transportation; the board’s approvals permit facilities repairs needed for operations and staff comfort.

Administration said staff will continue recruitment efforts for CDL candidates and will rely on in‑house maintenance capacity for immediate repairs; no service suspensions or route cancellations were announced at the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","8 14 25 FR School Board Meeting COW & Regular","oneSentenceSummary","District officials reported beginning the school year with two drivers on medical leave and approved several facilities repairs including a stadium hot‑water heater replacement and a ductless unit for the counseling center.","taxTitle","Franklin Regional SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",68111,"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},6494740,"Franklin Regional board approves consent agenda, ratifies contracts and budget transfers",2055,468000,2523000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5726817-89b7a1c3d795957b4b4744ac7d4c8374&start=468&end=2523","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5726817-89b7a1c3d795957b4b4744ac7d4c8374/thumbnail_468000.jpg","/articles/6494740/Pennsylvania/Franklin-Regional-board-approves-consent-agenda-ratifies-contracts-and-budget-transfers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6494740-2c74b49863b8f8cdfe991024ed813508/orig.mp4?Expires=1771076752&Signature=BX~feaOToe8I12IdKVrQmPon69km2xwtk3vAEzVeW5zLYJfN9s1RvQ72p6IEZz1BGbVo7ge0cV6QEl0HF2czK-n~jDwgI25VaSR5UwpikB~-M1OWEquidIFFGd-e~A8cXdhT9FMR0w4RaOW49frVs442aVqs5dYvbFa4Y38UY5fYjLNQKlb~V8sCfPOlS~gCdH3UZyb6n5wEKtP7sM~VSeiwS09UbFWc2z8V~Kb1g9cpgf6A9VYviSzhwIJ14SHnOWTY9z7T3a-jBcFC7KGgbUBeQYdd7jkO-Jrjj2q74BK46r6QTevhHz2wzNc8vadRbhd7gdFqBT7hBbmPV0yVwA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Franklin Regional Board of School Directors approved its consent agenda (items 1–25) by roll call during the Aug. 18 meeting, ratifying multiple annual contracts, professional‑development agreements and budget transfers as the district finalizes pre‑school‑year operations.

Key approvals included: the K–2 primary school novel list (following a 30‑day review), a professional‑development agreement with Penn State’s Hamill Family program for 28 teacher leaders, a one‑year contract with Renaissance (including the Freckle and Nearpod resources), K–12 consultant agreements for science (Liz Mirra, year four) and math (Anne Bergender, 14 sessions), and several special education agreements including New Story Schools, Pressley Ridge (addendum updating costs), Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children outreach services and deaf/hard‑of‑hearing interpretive services for students attending Sunrise School.

The board approved transportation‑related items: the list of bus and van drivers for the start of the year and the current bus stop assignments. Business actions included ratification of a natural gas commodity agreement with United Energy Trading LLC for a portfolio purchase covering Sept. 2025–Aug. 2028 (second purchase; reported pricing: Year 1 $3.51/decatherm, Year 2 $3.84/decatherm, Year 3 $3.76/decatherm) and budget transfers to clean up year‑end accounts (general fund transfers totaling $1,904,681.96; athletic fund $20,943.31).

Facility and services contracts approved on consent included replacement of a stadium hot water heater on the visitor side, installation of a new ductless split system for the high‑school counseling center, a Medic 1 standby medical services agreement for sporting events and on‑call coverage, and extension of a scoreboard sponsorship agreement with METS Culinary ($3,000 per year plus $2,250 per fundraising or school‑based event). IT and health‑services technology items approved included purchasing a firewall installation/invoice consolidation with the MSP, moving to eHealthyTools for nurse/state reporting (PowerSchool credit in discussion), and membership in an Allegheny IU digital trust offering data privacy and governance support.

Administrative items adopted on consent also included ratification of gifts/grants from the Grable Foundation ($1,150 and $1,000), approval of personnel items contingent on required documentation, first readings of policies 6‑10, 6‑11, 6‑26, 6‑26.1 and 8‑27, and the annual BAYADA Home Health Care nursing services contract for 08/01/2025–07/31/2026.

The consent motion was moved by Mark and seconded by Josh. Roll call recorded eight votes in favor and one abstention (Mister Adelina); the board president and other members voted yes. The meeting record ties many individual agenda approvals to the consolidated consent vote rather than separate roll calls for each item.

Why it matters: The approvals finalize staffing, technology, curriculum materials and multi‑year energy purchasing that affect district operations for the coming school year.

All approvals described above appear on the meeting record as consent agenda items; individual contract language, pricing tables and any addenda are available from district administration or the posted agenda packet for further detail.","The board approved consent agenda items 1–25, ratified contracts for professional development, special education services, utility commodity purchasing and budget transfers totaling roughly $1.9 million for the general fund year‑end reconciliation.",{"_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},6494745,"Franklin Regional board approves middle‑school novel after parents raise concerns over themes",392,376000,768000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5726817-89b7a1c3d795957b4b4744ac7d4c8374&start=376&end=768","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5726817-89b7a1c3d795957b4b4744ac7d4c8374/thumbnail_376000.jpg","/articles/6494745/Pennsylvania/Franklin-Regional-board-approves-middleschool-novel-after-parents-raise-concerns-over-themes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6494745-2e514e66b2f49cc251a25823cb4e533c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771076752&Signature=boHpyB6XENzGOw9PsD5ScqYGILRoMptHzvxgOdd31TAK01voLeMWE8clkYpfefJvmZzWnuUGXhKlmszd9vOAT~TeT8Dn3sovr61aFhEak~UgQQul3WdIOwnt6GIYLtibz0m5hBcnd9k3cvm15-53QM3eTtwEeDc~-Zbe8YOxlrYlFbNZnsd82cryBAjE9KHCCJkKWsSoNqOxL4sYpOZLe5JAsw7nvqn90BeNsvbTFmNsaEFuFBozV~C9wq~PhHil-m~7iT6WahUQOPK2mHQjh3q9vZny221kXie4TNe~1IUwQps8~QG1OxX39OVjj--0NRLB4vqajB1Nmu-xbMSlEQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Franklin Regional Board of School Directors voted to approve use of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children in an eighth‑grade curriculum segment during its Aug. 18 regular meeting, after district staff described curricular connections and members of the public voiced both support and concern.

District curriculum staff described the novel as connecting literary analysis with historical context. Doctor Delp, speaking for the curriculum team, said the book was proposed to replace a current nonfiction text, 10 Days in a Madhouse, and “there are a lot of tangible connections” to eighth‑grade standards, including themes of identity, belonging and cross‑curricular links to World War II. Delp also said students who wish to opt out should first speak with the teacher to arrange alternative assignments that still meet the standards.

Two public commenters gave opposing views. Helen Elliott said she had read the book and called it “very dark,” citing references to foul language, horror elements and themes she found disturbing and asked whether parents could opt out and what replacements would be provided. Christy Trautman, who said she had read the novel years earlier, told the board she found it appropriate for middle school, praised its themes of belonging and self‑discovery and described it as a “get to read” option that engages students.

Board members asked clarifying questions about grade level and opt‑out procedures. When asked what grade the book would be used for, Delp answered “eighth grade.” On whether a specific alternative assignment had been chosen for opt‑outs, Delp said no specific replacement was named at the meeting and that the teacher would work with families to provide an alternative that preserves the aligned standards.

The discussion referenced a May curriculum committee presentation by Miss Cooley (not present at the Aug. 18 meeting) that curriculum staff said had detailed Lexile levels and instructional connections. Delp characterized the May presentation as addressing both the literary and historical rationales for the choice.

Board approval came as part of the consent agenda that the board approved by roll call later in the meeting. The roll call showed the motion for the consent agenda passed with eight votes in favor and one abstention (Mister Adelina). The meeting record does not show a separate roll call just for the novel approval; it was approved under the broader consent action.

Why it matters: The board’s decision determines classroom reading options for eighth graders and sets the district practice for communicating opt‑out procedures and alternatives to families.

The board did not adopt a districtwide parent opt‑out policy at the meeting; instead, staff described the teacher‑level process for arranging alternatives. The curriculum committee’s prior materials and the teacher‑level accommodations referenced by Delp will be the basis for responding to individual parent requests going forward.","The Franklin Regional Board approved use of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children in eighth‑grade curriculum after staff described curricular connections and two parents offered contrasting public comments about the book’s suitability.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Franklin Regional starts school year short two bus drivers; facilities repairs approved

Franklin Regional board approves consent agenda, ratifies contracts and budget transfers

Franklin Regional board approves middle‑school novel after parents raise concerns over themes