Schuylkill Valley board approves contracts, personnel actions and routine expenditures
October 13, 2025 | Schuylkill Valley SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania
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The Schuylkill Valley School District Board of Directors on Oct. 28 approved a slate of personnel actions, vendor contracts, a donation of TV studio equipment and the ratification of more than $4.6 million in district payments.
The board unanimously approved a one-year solicitor services agreement with Fox Rothschild LLP, covering Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2026, and accepted donated television-studio equipment from the Burke Career and Technology Center. The board also approved a package of personnel items that included retirements, resignations, new hires, substitutes, volunteers and leaves of absence.
The approvals are part of regular business the board handled in a single meeting. The solicitor contract passed by voice vote as ‘‘it passes 9–0,’’ and the board similarly approved a small pest-control contract and several student-related agreements by unanimous or routine voice votes.
Most of the personnel items were presented as committee recommendations and advanced without extended debate. Among the personnel approvals: Sherry Faust’s retirement effective Sept. 12, 2025; the resignation of custodian Brian Eiche effective Sept. 27, 2025; part-time food-service hire Bridal Furnage at $15.83 per hour; custodial supervisor Michael Capone at $25.11 per hour; part-time special-education paraprofessional Danielle Conrad at $17.36 per hour; and Mackenzie Becker as secretary to the assistant principal at $18.57 per hour effective Sept. 29, 2025. The board also approved a list of substitutes, extracurricular staff and game workers, and a mentor stipend list for the 2025–26 school year.
The board ratified district bills dated Sept. 8, 2025, through Oct. 27, 2025, with total payments of $4,690,502.58 across funds (General Fund $4,497,521.40; Capital Improvement Fund $89,582.25; Cafeteria Fund $95,968.68; High/Middle School Activity Fund $7,430.25).
Other approved contracts included: a vendor agreement with Ehrlich Pest Control for $300 to treat carpenter ants in a junior-high field-hockey shed (approved by voice vote), a 2026 prom-DJ contract with B and B Light and Sound for $1,200, the Concord Theatricals license and music materials for the 2026 pop musical for $3,508.54, and a Sweet Stevens legal-services consultation agreement for $10,500. The board also accepted a settlement and release for a student case (identified by the district as student 5635) and approved a waiver of expulsion agreement for student 4481 by voice vote (9–0).
Board members and staff presented several informational items during the meeting that did not require board action, including updates on instructional software inventories and on the status of RTU (rooftop unit) repairs at the middle school.
"We were fortunate to have a parent who's involved with the television studio at PCTC...and they got Schuylkill Valley on the list first to get the usage," a staff member said when describing the studio-equipment donation from BCTC.
The board moved the routine package of items forward without extended debate, and several items were handled by committee recommendation and unanimous voice vote. The meeting concluded after the board heard additional updates on building projects, a sponsorship presentation and routine district business.
The board unanimously approved a one-year solicitor services agreement with Fox Rothschild LLP, covering Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2026, and accepted donated television-studio equipment from the Burke Career and Technology Center. The board also approved a package of personnel items that included retirements, resignations, new hires, substitutes, volunteers and leaves of absence.
The approvals are part of regular business the board handled in a single meeting. The solicitor contract passed by voice vote as ‘‘it passes 9–0,’’ and the board similarly approved a small pest-control contract and several student-related agreements by unanimous or routine voice votes.
Most of the personnel items were presented as committee recommendations and advanced without extended debate. Among the personnel approvals: Sherry Faust’s retirement effective Sept. 12, 2025; the resignation of custodian Brian Eiche effective Sept. 27, 2025; part-time food-service hire Bridal Furnage at $15.83 per hour; custodial supervisor Michael Capone at $25.11 per hour; part-time special-education paraprofessional Danielle Conrad at $17.36 per hour; and Mackenzie Becker as secretary to the assistant principal at $18.57 per hour effective Sept. 29, 2025. The board also approved a list of substitutes, extracurricular staff and game workers, and a mentor stipend list for the 2025–26 school year.
The board ratified district bills dated Sept. 8, 2025, through Oct. 27, 2025, with total payments of $4,690,502.58 across funds (General Fund $4,497,521.40; Capital Improvement Fund $89,582.25; Cafeteria Fund $95,968.68; High/Middle School Activity Fund $7,430.25).
Other approved contracts included: a vendor agreement with Ehrlich Pest Control for $300 to treat carpenter ants in a junior-high field-hockey shed (approved by voice vote), a 2026 prom-DJ contract with B and B Light and Sound for $1,200, the Concord Theatricals license and music materials for the 2026 pop musical for $3,508.54, and a Sweet Stevens legal-services consultation agreement for $10,500. The board also accepted a settlement and release for a student case (identified by the district as student 5635) and approved a waiver of expulsion agreement for student 4481 by voice vote (9–0).
Board members and staff presented several informational items during the meeting that did not require board action, including updates on instructional software inventories and on the status of RTU (rooftop unit) repairs at the middle school.
"We were fortunate to have a parent who's involved with the television studio at PCTC...and they got Schuylkill Valley on the list first to get the usage," a staff member said when describing the studio-equipment donation from BCTC.
The board moved the routine package of items forward without extended debate, and several items were handled by committee recommendation and unanimous voice vote. The meeting concluded after the board heard additional updates on building projects, a sponsorship presentation and routine district business.
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