July 13, 2026 7:00 p.m. - IU Monthly Meeting

Description: 

The regular monthly meeting of the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 Board of Directors, held at the Conference Room of the Schuylkill Technology Center — South Campus, Mar Lin, Pennsylvania, will be called to order by President Scott Jacoby

Description: 

The Committee of the Whole will meet before the board meeting at 6:30 p.m.

Description:  Approve the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit Financial Reports for May 2026 as presented.

Description:  Approve the following budgets for the 2026–2027 School Year:

Budget Name	Amount
State Early Intervention	$5,854,522
IDEA B: Component I	$370,549
IDEA B: COMPONENT II AND III	$4,700,552
IDEA: SECTION 619	$347,622
ELECT	$344,000
ABLE-STATE	$121,690
ABLE-FEDERAL	$222,780
FAMILY LITERACY	$88,291
ACT 89	$579,010

Description:  Approve payments to the following districts as listed for instructional services, transportation, and supplies utilized during May of the 2025-2026 after-school program. All expenses are covered through the respective grant funds.

Description:  Approve the renewal of the insurance coverage through Seltzer Insurance Agency effective for the fiscal year July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, at annual premiums as presented.

CM REGENT
Package	$128,109
Auto	$9,948
Unbrella	$4,378
Legal Liability	$5,494
AMTRUST
Workers Comp	$170,130
ELPHASECURE
Cyber Liability	$5,048
TOTAL	$323,107

Description:  Establish the daily rates for the 2025-2026 fiscal year as below. Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 participates in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP); therefore, the first student meal purchased is free. The prices listed are for additional student meals purchased.
 

Regular Student Breakfast	$1.20
Regular Student Lunch	$2.45
Milk (1/2 Pint)	$.65
Adult Breakfast	$3.05
Adult Lunch	$4.85

Description:  Appoint authorized signers for the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit bank and investment accounts for the 2026–2027 fiscal year as presented.

• Board President
• Board Treasurer
• Board Secretary
• Executive Director
• Assistant Executive Director
• Business Manager
• Assistant Business Manager

Description:  Authorize administration to obtain renewal of the Board Secretary and Board Treasurer bonds effective July 1, 2026.

Description:  Approve the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit to participate in cooperative purchasing programs for the 2026–2027 school year.

Description:  Accept the Intent to Retire for Cecelia Reber, Paraprofessional at the Maple Avenue Campus, effective at the end of the day on January 2, 2027.

Description:  Accept the resignation of the following employees effective at the end of the day listed:

Employee Name	Position	Employment	Location/Department	Last Day of Employment
Support Staff Compensation Plan
Elizabeth Brensinger	Non-Public Guidance Counselor	full-time	Nativity BVM/ Curriculum	June 30, 2026

Description:  Approve the employment of the following employees pending receipt of all required documentation.

Employee Name	City	Position	Employment	Location / Department	Rate	Effective Date	Replacing
Educational Support Professionals Association
Kyle Welkie	Llewellyn	Custodian — 2nd Shift	full-time	Maple Avenue Campus / Maintenance	$14.50	June 15, 2026	Penelope Davis
Amy Marmas	Schuylkill Haven	Paraprofessional	part-time	Maple Avenue Campus	$14.50	to be determined	open position
Corrine Firestine	Pottsville	Administrative Assistant	full-time	Transportation	$15.50	July 20, 2026	Melissa Zula

Description:  Approve the employment of the following Long-Term Substitute Teachers, start date to be determined pending approval of a Pennsylvania Department of Education Emergency Permit and completion of all pre-employment requirements.

• Robert Oravitz, Minersville, as a long-term Itinerant Support substitute teacher at the Maple Avenue Campus. Due to the extended nature of this assignment, compensation for the 2026–2027 school year will be $50,439, determined by the Schuylkill IU Education Association Salary Schedule for an Entry (1st Year) Teacher - Master's Level.
• Kayla Merwine, Frackville, as a long-term Autistic Support substitute teacher at the Maple Avenue Campus. Due to the extended nature of this assignment, compensation for the 2026–2027 school year will be $48,439, determined by the Schuylkill IU Education Association Salary Schedule for an Entry (1st Year) Teacher.
• Jessica Sickle, Pottsville, as a long-term Autistic Support substitute teacher at the Maple Avenue Campus. Due to the extended nature of this assignment, compensation for the 2026–2027 school year will be $48,439, determined by the Schuylkill IU Education Association Salary Schedule for an Entry (1st Year) Teacher.

These employees will receive all benefits in accordance with the applicable Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Description:  Permission to employ a seasonal summer custodial staff to complete indoor and outdoor tasks at a rate of $12.00 per hour. The staff will start on or about the week of June 22, 2026, through on or about July 30, 2026.

• Shane Fessler 
• Chase Sep
• Brack Brown
• Chase Zimerofsky
• Marcela Paniagua
• Grace Lapachinsky

Description:  Approve the agreed-upon teachers' salaries for the 2026-2027 fiscal year as presented per the approved 2024-2028 Intermediate Unit Education Association/PSEA/NEA Contract.

Description:  Approve the agreed-upon ACT 93 and Support Staff Compensation Plan salaries for the 2026-2027 fiscal year as presented.

Description:  Approve a salary increase of 3.0% for the 2026–2027 fiscal year for the Business Manager.

Description:  Approve a salary increase of 3.0% for the 2026–2027 fiscal year salary of the Executive Director.

Description:  As of July 1, 2026, adjust the hourly rate for School Police Officers to $32.00, with subsequent increases aligned to the annual percentage increases approved under the Act 93/Support Staff Compensation Plan.

Description:  Approve the following staff for additional hours, not to exceed 20 hours, for the 2026-2027 School Year to prepare Individual Educational Programs (IEP) for students as per the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

• Nikki Stock

Description:  Approve a $5,000.00 stipend to Kristin Nunes, Social Service Coordinator, for the performance of additional PACTT Alliance duties during the 2026-2027 school year.

Description:  Approve an unpaid leave of absence for the following employee(s). The employee(s) will reimburse the cost of health insurance for their absence when applicable.

• Employee #1160 on June 1, 2, 3, and 4, 2026
• Employee # 2637 on May 7 and 21, 2026
• Employee # 2871 on May 27, 2026

Description:  Approve the following job descriptions:

• Administrative Assistant — Floater/Access
• Administrative Assistant - Transportation
• Secondary Mathematics Teacher
• Technology Intern
• Technology Specialist I
• Technology Specialist II
• Technology Specialist Networks & Systems

Description: 
Accept the applications received and place them on file for all programs as presented. (Supplemental Attachment).

Description:  Approve an agreement with Amergis Healthcare Staffing, Inc., Reading, PA, for a School Psychologist in the amount of $100 per hour. 

Description:  Approve the revised agreement between the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit and Catapult Learning, LLC of Newark, NJ, in the amount of $123,195.09 plus an 11% administrative fee for providing Title I services to the Schuylkill County non-public and private schools in the 2025-2026 school year.

Description:  Approve the contract amendment with Chester County Intermediate Unit, Downington, PA, to provide off-site data protection and recovery. This service will provide 24x7 support, including monitoring, investigation, and secondary cloud replication.

Description:  Enter into an Agreement between the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29’s Early Intervention Program and Child Development, Inc. to establish working procedures between the two [2] agencies for the provision of services to eligible Early Intervention children at the Child Development Centers for the period July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027..

Description:  Extend agreement with Clear Path Pediatric Therapy LLC to provide speech therapy services to students in the IU29 programs through the contractor's therapists at $94.00/hour effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

Description:  Approve an agreement with CVS Health for collaborative efforts to provide employability skills training and create meaningful career opportunities for students for two years upon execution. (attachment)

Description:  Approve an agreement with All The Way Up Life Inc for an In-Service Keynote Presentation in the amount of $5,000. The cost will be grant-funded.

Description:  Approve an engagement agreement with FSL Public Finance as presented.

Description:  Approve a Consulting and Grant Advisory Services Agreement with GSL Government Consulting LLC for assistance in identifying, securing, and implementing grants through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Description:  Authorize the administration to approve and execute an Agreement with Husky Research Corporation for services through the Bloomsburg University Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology for the 2026-2027 school year, as outlined in the agreement. This will also provide observation opportunities to Audiology students attending Bloomsburg University.

Description:  Approve the Microsoft Renewal Agreement for EES-IU13 with Lancaster Lebanon IU13, Lancaster, PA, for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The software allows for the use of Microsoft products, software, and solutions.

Description:  Approve the continuation of the lease agreement with Tri-Valley School District for Early Intervention classroom space in the Hegins-Hubley Elementary Building, effective July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, at a rate of $850.00 per month.

Description:  Approve the following LIEP agreements between the Schuylkill Intermediate and the following school districts to support Language Instruction Education Program services for the 2026-2027 school year.

District	Amount
Gillingham Charter	$2,304
Mahanoy Area	$13,176
Minersville Area	$12,804
North Schuylkill	$24,996
Pine Grove Area	$18,048
Pottsville Area	$28,392
Saint Clair Area	$8,028
Shenandoah Valley	$14,544
Tri-Valley	$10,488
Williams Valley	$11,280

Description:  Approve a letter of linkage with Matrix Behavioral Solutions, LLC, and Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 to establish a referral relationship between agencies and provide continuity of care for the 2026–2027 through 2030–2031 school years. (attachment)

Description:  Approve a Grant Implementation Partner Agreement with North Schuylkill School District for the implementation of the PDE'S Developing Future Special Educators Grant.

Description:  Approve the Pennsylvania PRE-K COUNTS Partnership Agreement with Pine Grove Area School District from July 1, 2026, until June 30, 2027. Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 is responsible for fiscal and administrative oversight, program leadership, and decision-making authority relative to PA Pre-K Counts.

Description:  Approve the agreement with PenTeleData, Palmerton, PA, for broadband Internet services at the Child Development, Inc. - Fountain Springs Center for the Schuylkill IU29 Early Intervention program. This agreement is for 36 months at a cost of $67.95 per month.

Description:  Approve the Service Agreement between Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 and Point Park University/BloomBoard for the administration and payment of tuition expenses associated with participants enrolled in the Para Educator Advancement Grant program.

Description:  Approve the continuation of the agreement with Sunbelt Staffing Client Service for a Substitute Speech and Language Therapist for $115 per hour and Substitute Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants for $67 per hour.

Description:  Enter into an agreement with Saint Clair Area School District for the provision of technology support services effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

Description:  Approve the revised Title I contract for the 2025-2026 school year. Contracts are revised due to school district changes presented in the funding adjustments.

District	Amount
Blue Mountain	$1,194.50

Description:  Approve the agreements listed below between the following school districts and the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit for providing Title I services to nonpublic students in the 2026-2027 school year:

District	Amount
Jim Thorpe Area	$1, 588.59
Minersville Area	$2,416.13

Description:  Request permission to reimburse Title III member districts for district-employed ESL teachers to provide supplemental English Language Development (ELD) virtual tutoring to English learners as requested by parents during the summer, not to exceed 30 hours per teacher at the 2025-26 employee personnel hourly rate listed.  All costs are to be covered with Title III funds.

Name	District	HourlyRate
Denise Wahinski	Tamaqua Area	$77.09

Description:  Approve the driver rates and revisions as presented.

Description:  Approve the second and final reading of the following policies:

• 000 Board Procedures

Description:  Approve the IU Threat Assessment Plan as presented.

Description:  Approve the IU/STC Emergency Operations Multi-Hazard Plan

Description:  Permission to adopt the Schuylkill County Emergency Operations Plan.

Description:  Approve PSERS' use of the following rooms at the Maple Avenue Campus

• Gymnasium for the Foundations for Your Future Presentation on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, and Wednesday, April 14, 2027, from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Board Room for small group exit counseling on Thursday, October 15, 2026, Thursday, April 1, 2027, and Wednesday, May 5, 2027, from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Description: 

Total Number of Participants	Participant Payment	Instructor Payments	Profit
196	$52,700	$34,125	$18,575

Description:  Board Meeting
Monday, August 3, 2026
7:00 p.m.
Schuylkill Technology Center - South Campus, Conference Room