[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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],{"_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",6475539,"mediaKeyId","5733667-6855f146ddb84a1d4a02d3da62b7b457","parentId",5733667,"title","Saint Marys Area SD board approves multiple service contracts and supplemental assignments; moves to executive session on transportation","audioSeconds",557,"startMs",1550000,"endMs",2107000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5733667-6855f146ddb84a1d4a02d3da62b7b457&start=1550&end=2107","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5733667-6855f146ddb84a1d4a02d3da62b7b457/thumbnail_1550000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6475539/Pennsylvania/Saint-Marys-Area-SD-board-approves-multiple-service-contracts-and-supplemental-assignments-moves-to-executive-session-on-transportation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475539-d0797fc370bed21947cf717d26774c98/orig.mp4?Expires=1770601878&Signature=Jxe~daxj8fekLGb1gTg7SVT1rCA9YeGhltHcygtGo1Eq-KDTslB3RDqviS8xSz8h1wglZaKy2srTmvTO1ced3msskftBIt0zGtUuu2eo1-FL~cpc2HneXUC66Y0Qc72RMMKi684Av9sADBDdh9h2KYcnCUlQ3rok06WNJ4XG0CT0SvXtN7HAPDNrCNpFROzq2l2ZvnVU5zUBnVWSEfZ5m1Wgy2GMghxHu~gkzPFsXt0n6RJuOCVU3Wv8IyxA3iJXyu4-97Qq-IuhyJOGkN66ZPW75dmTNClxbiHx-03GCT6-lRxNkoPDGqLPOihHn~~cWbOeUCFlI170X-QQmfJVIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Saint Marys Area School District","date","2025-09-08T00:00:00Z","article","At its Sept. 8 meeting the Saint Marys Area School District board approved a series of service agreements and personnel items covering special‑education supports, nursing and technology services, and supplemental advisor contracts. After the vote on listed business, the board adjourned into executive session to discuss a transportation contract.

Key approvals recorded on the public agenda included: the technology services contract with Advanced Computer Solutions beginning in the 2026‑27 school year; an agreement for vision and orientation/mobility support services with Luminda Foster Rev for 2025‑26; a retroactive service‑fee agreement with Riverview Intermediate Unit 6 for hearing support services for 2025‑26; an agreement with Angels of Care Pediatric Home Health to provide nursing services for 2025‑26; and an educational services agreement with Soaring Heights Educational Services for the 2025‑26 school year. The board also approved new Saint Marys Area Education Association (SMEA) supplemental contracts and a group of personnel items taken together.

Votes were recorded as follows in the meeting record: motions were made, seconded and the clerk announced \"Aye. Motion carries\" for the above items. Specific roll‑call tallies were not read into the public transcript for each vote in the segments provided.

The board then moved into an executive session to discuss the district’s transportation contract; the public meeting minutes indicate the motion to enter executive session carried.

Ending

The items approved authorize the district to proceed with contracted services and supplemental assignments for the coming year; the board directed staff to continue the closed‑session discussion on transportation and returned the public meeting record at the time recorded in the minutes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","SMASD Board Meeting - 9/8/2025","oneSentenceSummary","During the Sept. 8 meeting the board approved several service agreements for the 2025‑26 and 2026‑27 school years, adopted supplemental contracts and then went into executive session to discuss transportation; votes on listed items were recorded as approved.","taxTitle","Saint Marys Area SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",74806,"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},6475541,"Saint Marys Area School District board discusses expanding pre-K as enrollment edges down",1284,44000,1328000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5733667-6855f146ddb84a1d4a02d3da62b7b457&start=44&end=1328","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5733667-6855f146ddb84a1d4a02d3da62b7b457/thumbnail_44000.jpg","/articles/6475541/Pennsylvania/Saint-Marys-Area-School-District-board-discusses-expanding-pre-K-as-enrollment-edges-down","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475541-22d10af9a2092d2ec53adee0067e3696/orig.mp4?Expires=1770601878&Signature=ELmjJH-X7Bg16rPhZoI1NvnyyKMP81Ebtud5GYmSUvoi4P2DpHeVrbusxc9KC68elSgS8Vl76G1RQoGyKQOTihDHwZhM0g684U4KslHsxhxrX-5DW080U8v0C6yctc5I5KttFbOTioDrkmb9VfsUIH7yqPhEZVPqhWfguWb-0g2QYpsq8kzCKCn9UK3P85rGJS5tnn8D~WAcMVia1ilM5A1CuAKFIJtkDHpghennv6DE~05E87qOHpCGyDpOzdKMkUbCDh39nMDbQZ-OcNuQK~67PyJM7SwJfT4pyEMHxbML5CTBdvpjxU2CNCOw3m1uQETzu3ch1G5vPOvIaY4aJw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Sept. 8 regular meeting of the Saint Marys Area School District board, district staff reported enrollment of 1,836 students as of the third day of school and opened a board-level discussion on expanding the district's preschool offerings, including new 4‑year‑old classrooms and potential 3‑year‑old classes. No vote or formal commitment was made.

District staff said the 1,836 figure is down slightly from about 1,848 at the same point last year and includes virtual‑academy students and virtual electives. The staff presentation noted the district’s virtual platform is growing and that cyber‑charter enrollment is presently small but concentrated in upper grades.

District staff framed the central question as financial: each additional pre‑K classroom would add about $180,000 in staffing costs to the district’s annual budget. “The much bigger question is, do we want to look at adding a $180,000 to the bottom line for additional classrooms?” the staff member told the board. The staff member said the district could seek local start‑up support but remains uncertain about sustaining ongoing costs without more stable state funding.

Board members and other speakers emphasized the potential educational and economic benefits of early childhood investment. One board member noted the larger economic impact of inadequate child care in Pennsylvania and described the per‑classroom cost as an investment with a strong return. Several board members also said expanding district‑run pre‑K would improve alignment between preschool and elementary instruction.

Funding options discussed included local philanthropic support (the staff member cited a local foundation that helped launch the district’s last pre‑K classroom), state Pre‑K Counts dollars and federal Head Start funds. The staff member cautioned that Pre‑K Counts eligibility depends on household income and can require stratifying classrooms by economic qualifiers, which the district views as limiting because of a preference for heterogeneous classrooms. The staff member also said “ready to learn” block grants at the state level would be one plausible funding route but noted uncertainty because of the current lack of a state budget.

Several possible facilities were mentioned as potential sites if the board chose to expand pre‑K, including space offered by local organizations and the third floor of Sacred Heart (the staff member said that would require renovation and likely a lease). The staff member said the district had identified some free or low‑cost space that might be used with renovations or leases but that facilities planning should follow, not precede, budget decisions.

The staff member said the district would continue to pursue grant opportunities, keep looking for suitable facilities and further refine options, and asked the board whether to continue devoting staff time to exploring pre‑K expansion. Board members indicated they wanted further study but stressed that no commitments were being made during this meeting.

Ending

District staff will continue exploring funding, facilities and grant options and return to the board with refined proposals; the district made no formal commitment or budget allocation at the Sept. 8 meeting.","At its Sept. 8 meeting the Saint Marys Area School District board discussed adding 3- and 4-year-old pre-K classrooms, funding constraints and possible facility options; no formal action was taken.","actionData","errors"]

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Saint Marys Area SD board approves multiple service contracts and supplemental assignments; moves to executive session on transportation

Saint Marys Area School District board discusses expanding pre-K as enrollment edges down