October 26, 2026 at 7:00 PM - Regular Meeting
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1. MEETING OPENING
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1.A. Call to Order
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1.B. Pledge of Allegiance
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1.C. Roll Call - Board Secretary
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1.D. Notice of Executive Sessions
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1.E. Mission Statement: "The Hempfield Area School District, in its commitment to excellence, shall engage and educate all students for personal success through a shared responsibility with the student, family, and community in a safe, secure, and nurturing environment".
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2. STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES (attend voting meetings)
Description:
Joseph Coldren, Student Council President; Katie Wentzel, Student Council Vice President. |
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3. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
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3.A. Recognition of the October Spartans of the Month
Description:
FTA - Molly Vidakovich MAX - Sadie Nicewonger STW - Luke Sasala WHE - Madison Snyder WPT - Naomi Plumb WEN - Gage Myers WHM - Lyndsay Watson HAR - TaLena Wright HS - Caleb Henry |
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4. HEARING OF CITIZENS (Agenda Items)
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5. BOARD SECRETARY'S REPORT - Dr. S. Learn (VP)
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5.A. Approval of Board Meeting Minutes.
Recommended Motion(s):
Motion to approve the minutes from the September 28, 2026, and October 19, 2026, Board Meeting Minutes.
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6. BUILDINGS & GROUNDS/TRANSPORTATION - V. DeAugustine (Chair), M. Alfery, L. Stevens
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6.A. Approval of two Change Order items.
Recommended Motion(s):
Motion that approval be given for the attached List of two (2) change order items and corresponding amounts to the applicable two (2) contractors for the additions and renovations of the Hempfield Area Senior High School as depicted in the grand total amount of $26,545.50 for the month of October 2026 and to be paid from the Project's planned Contingency Fund contained in the District's GOB 2022 Fund.
Attachments:
()
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6.B. Approval to hire Professional Service Industries, Inc. for asbestos.
Recommended Motion(s):
Motion that approval be given to hire Professional Service Industries, Inc. to provide the required on-site project asbestos sampling, testing, monitoring, and final air clearance testing for the additions and renovations of the Hempfield Area Senior High School for the applicable rates as depicted in their Agreement (pending Solicitor review) with the District and to be paid from the District's GOB 2022 Fund
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7. EDUCATION - J. Bretz (Chair), M. Alfery, J. Stape, T. Miller
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7.A. Approval of the College-in-High School Agreement with Westmoreland Community College.
Recommended Motion(s):
Motion to approve the Agreement with Westmoreland Community College for its College-in-High School program, which allows eligible high school students to fulfill secondary school graduation requirements.
Attachments:
()
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7.B. Approval of UPMC Western Behavioral Agreement.
Recommended Motion(s):
Motion to approve the non-binding referral agreement with UPMC Adolescent Walk-In Center, at no cost to the District, for the utilization of services by students experiencing crisis.
Attachments:
()
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7.C. *New* Approval of the Agreement with ASK Speech Therapy, Inc.
Recommended Motion(s):
Motion to approve the Agreement with ASK Speech Therapy Inc., for the purpose of providing Speech-Language Services to students for the 2026-27 school year if needed.
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8. PERSONNEL - J. Stape (Chair), V. DeAugustine, D. Graft
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8.A. Approval of Leaves of Absence
Description:
Employee #4219: leave of absence effective January 19, 2026, through June 4, 2027 (unpaid). This is an extension of a previously approved leave. Employee #2587: leave of absence effective September 21, 2026, through October 27, 2026 (tentative). (paid) Employee #4357: leave of absence effective October 12, 2026, through October 23, 2026 (paid). This is an extension of a previously approved leave. Employee #4637: leave of absence effective October 12, 2026, through October 23, 2026. (paid) *new* Employee #2736: leave of absence effective November 14, 2026, through December 18, 2026 (unpaid). This is a continuation of a previously approved leave of absence. Employee #1740: leave of absence effective October 26, 2026, through December 18, 2026 (paid). This is a continuation of a previously approved leave of absence. Employee #1218: leave of absence effective December 1, 2026, through January 3, 2027 (paid).
Recommended Motion(s):
Motion to approve all Leaves of Absence, as presented.
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8.B. Approval of Resignations and Retirements
Description:
Resignation: 1. Emily Hardy: Special Education Teacher at Fort Allen Elementary School, effective on the agreed-upon release date, but no later than December 4, 2026.
Recommended Motion(s):
Motion to approve all Resignations and Retirements, as presented.
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8.C. Approval of Employment
Description:
Leanne Byers: 10-month Custodian (Floater), district-wide, effective October 7, 2026. The terms and conditions are in accordance with the Hempfield Area Educational Support Personnel PSEA Collective Bargaining Agreement. Autumn Lauritzen: Part-time Building Aide at West Hempfield Elementary School, effective October 6, 2026. The terms and conditions are in accordance with the Hempfield Area Educational Support Professionals PSEA Collective Bargaining Agreement. Tina Stewart: 2nd Semester LTS English Teacher (Masters scale, step 2) at the High School, effective January 18, 2027 through June 4, 2027. The terms and conditions are in accordance with the HAEA Collective Bargaining Agreement. (Replacing a teacher who is on leave and this is a continuation from the first semester) *new*: Abigail Miller: LTS HEP Teacher (Bachelor's scale, step 1) at Wendover Middle and Maxwell Elementary Schools, retroactive to August 17, 2026, through June 4, 2027. The terms and conditions are in accordance with the HAEA Collective Bargaining Agreement. (Replacing a teacher who is on leave) Erin Meritts- Special Education Teacher (Bachelor's scale, step 1) at Fort Allen Elementary School effective upon release from current position. The terms and conditions are in accordance with the HAEA Collective Bargaining Agreement. (Replacing a resignation) Substitutes list to be approved, as needed: Sydney Sapir Charles Angus - Substitute Custodian
Recommended Motion(s):
Motion to approve all Employment as presented.
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8.D. Approval of Transfers
Description:
Tyler Warden: Assistant to the Athletic Director to Interim Athletic Director, effective September 26, 2026, through the period of employment of a new Athletic Director. He will continue to receive his salary plus a daily rate increase of $50 and benefits as per the Act 93 Plan while serving in this capacity. (This is a temporary position and a continuation of a previously approved motion.) Erin Sidun: Special Education Secretary to interim PIMS Coordinator in Central Administration effective November 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026, at an hourly rate of $23.00. All other terms and conditions of employment shall remain in accordance with the Secretarial Salary and Fringe Benefit Plan. *new* Approval for the following staff realignments and transfers to the positions depicted below effective per the dates identified: Jennifer Kudrick: HEP teacher at Wendover and Maxwell Elementary Schools to Reading Teacher at West Point Elementary School effective November 1, 2026 through June 4, 2027.
Recommended Motion(s):
Motion to approve all Transfers as presented.
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8.E. Approval of Other Personnel Items.
Description:
1. Approval be granted for administration to create the following position for 2026-2027:
Recommended Motion(s):
Motion to approve Other Personnel Items as presented.
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9. SUPPLEMENTALS - M. Alfery (Chair), T. Miller, D. Graft
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9.A. Approval of Supplementals
Description:
1. That the following supplemental contracts be created, effective October 1, 2026:
Recommended Motion(s):
Motion to approve all Supplementals, as presented.
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10. POLICY - T. Miller (Chair), J. Bretz, J. Stape
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10.A. Approval of all Fundraisers as presented.
Description:
Fort Allen Elementary - Art Class
Recommended Motion(s):
Motion to approve all fundraisers, as presented.
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10.B. Approval of Overnight Field Trip to Italy
Recommended Motion(s):
Motion to approve the Northern Italy trip for high school students in June of 2028 through the Global Tours
Educational Travel Program.
Attachments:
()
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11. FINANCE - T. Miller (Chair), L. Stevens, D. Graft
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11.A. Approval of Monthly Financial Reports
Description:
1. That the List of Bills and Payments for the month of October 2026, in the total amount of $13,759,653.74, be approved as submitted. 2. That the Depository Report for the month of September 2026 be approved as submitted. 3. That the Tax Collector’s Report for the month of September 2026 be approved as submitted. 4. All Activity Statements received for approval in the month of October 2026 be approved as submitted. 5. That the General Fund Budget Transfers for the month of October 2026 be approved as submitted.
Recommended Motion(s):
Motion to approve all Monthly Financial Reports, as presented.
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11.B. Approval for the Business Manager to work with Keytex Energy to acquire electricity.
Recommended Motion(s):
Motion that approval be given to authorize Paul Schott (Business Manager) to work with Keytex Energy to acquire electricity commodity pricing options and to lock in a fixed price per kWh with a To Be Determined electricity vendor for a To Be Determined period of time based on pricing options received from electricity vendors as well as the current commodity market conditions for electricity procurement.
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11.C. Approval of authorization of payment of bills and funds.
Recommended Motion(s):
Motion that approval be given to authorize the payment of all applicable November 2026 Bills and Payments for the General Fund, the GOB 2022 Fund, and the Food Service Fund.
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11.D. Approval that the donation from the HASD Class of 2010 be accepted.
Recommended Motion(s):
Motion that the donation of funds received from the HASD Class of 2010 in the amount of $238.00 be accepted to pay for a portion of the outstanding student lunch debt at the West Hempfield Elementary School in the District's Cafeteria Fund for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
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11.E. Approval to enter into an Agreement with New York Life Insurance Company.
Recommended Motion(s):
Motion that approval be given to enter into an Agreement with the New York Life Insurance Company to make available voluntary whole life insurance coverage at the individual employee's cost with no cost to the District.
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12. ATHLETICS - M. Alfery (Chair), V. DeAugustine, D. Graft
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13. BOARD SAFETY & SECURITY - M. Alfery (Chair), T. Miller, L. Stevens
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14. TECHNOLOGY - J. Bretz (Chair), M. Alfery, T. Miller, J. Stape
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15. SCHOOL BOARD - Jerry Radebaugh (Pres.), Dr. Scott Learn (VP)
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15.A. Approval to purchase and pay for the annual Enterprise License.
Recommended Motion(s):
Motion that approval be given to purchase and to pay for the annual Enterprise License for NetID software to remotely manage the District's twelve (12) OPENGATE AI Weapons Detectors from CEIA USA, LTD. through the COSTARS State Purchasing Program, in the total amount of $18,000.00 to be paid from the District's 2026-2027 fiscal year PCCD School Safety & Mental Health State Grant received in the General Fund.
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15.B. Approval to enter into an Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement with Hempfield Township.
Recommended Motion(s):
Motion that approval be given to enter into an Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement with Hempfield Township for the purchase of Road Salt and Anti-Skid Material at the applicable rates as depicted in their Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement (pending Solicitor review) with the District and to be paid from the District's General Fund.
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15.C. *New* Approval for the expulsion of student #910692 for the remainder of the 2026-2027 school year in its entirety.
Recommended Motion(s):
Motion that the Board of Education of the Hempfield Area School District, after discussing a student discipline incident in an executive meeting, moves that student #910692 be expelled and not eligible for readmission to the Hempfield Area School District for the remainder of the 2026-2027 school year in its entirety.
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16. COMMITTEE REPORTS
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16.A. District Safety & Security - Mrs. Lindsay Stevens
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16.B. Drug Awareness & Prevention - Mr. Mike Alfery
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16.C. Foundation Funds Committee - Dr. Scott Learn
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16.D. Greensburg-Hempfield Area Library - Mrs. Jennifer Bretz
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16.E. Central Westmoreland Career and Technology Center - Dr. Scott Learn
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16.F. Westmoreland Intermediate Unit - Mrs. Jennifer Bretz
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17. HEARING OF CITIZENS (Non-Agenda Items)
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18. MEETING CLOSING
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18.A. Adjournment
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