Brandon L. Bailey

The meeting included an Executive Session held prior to the public call to order to address labor, personnel, real estate, healthcare consortium, and legal issues. Public comment focused on the resignation of School Nurses. Administrative and Board Reports covered student representatives, various administrator updates, the Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center Update, and the East Hills Recreation Update. The Board also announced several personnel changes, including resignations and retirements effective in early 2026. Key actions involved approving Treasurer's Reports and the payment of bills. Under General Administration, the Board reviewed and acted on the first and second readings of several revised and new Board Policies, ratified administrative actions for homebound instruction requests, tentatively approved the 2026-2029 K-12 Guidance Plan, approved updates to the RHS Program of Studies, ratified homebound instruction requests, approved a new field trip related to suicide prevention, approved a School Partnership Agreement with Vision Together, and approved the creation of the Richland Cross Country Boosters Organization. Business and Finance actions included purchasing psychology curriculum materials, renewing camera licenses, approving a US Federal Contractor Registration agreement, ratifying exonerations of tax collectors, approving exonerations from 2025 Per Capita taxes, approving the 2025 fiscal year Audit Report, approving agreements for substitute services, ratifying administrative action for purchasing certificates of deposit, authorizing the purchase of a used vehicle for maintenance, approving a Public School Facility Improvement Grant Program Resolution, approving travel for the Athletic Director to attend a conference, and approving lawn application services. Personnel actions included ratifying additions to the Substitute List and Driver List, approving a Leave of Absence, ratifying the assignment of a Homebound Instructor, approving updates to Winter Coaches, approving a transfer of a Custodian, and approving the hiring of one new full-time Custodian and two new School Nurses.

The meeting began with an executive session concerning healthcare matters. Key discussions included administrative reports covering student representatives, various administrator updates, and reports concerning the Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center and East Hills Recreation. The Board Secretary announced the resignation of the Boys and Girls Tennis Head Coach, effective February 6, 2026. Financial actions included approving Treasurer's Reports and payment of bills. General Administration saw the first reading of revised board policies (626, 805, 805.1, 805.2), the second reading and approval of other revised policies (202, 204, 218.1, 610, 611, 626.1), approval of the 2026-27 Calendar, approval of a Letter of Agreement with Breaking the Barriers subject to solicitor review, and approval of the 2026-2029 K-12 Guidance Plan. The Board also approved the appointment of Mr. Jesse Miller to the East Hills Recreation Commission, approved travel for the Varsity Baseball Team, and approved adding AP World History to the RHS Program of Studies. Business and Finance items included approving the Audit Engagement Letter with Kotzan CPA & Associates, adopting the tentatively adopted 2026-2027 General Fund Secondary Budget and the Adult/Workforce Development Budget for the Greater Johnstown Area Vocational-Technical School Joint Operating Board, approving a one-year maintenance proposal for elevators, approving the 2026 Extended School Year Agreement with ACRP, approving the 2026 Field Turf Project and Track Upgrade Project, authorizing the Superintendent to approve Change Orders for field turf replacement and scoreboard replacement up to $20,000, and approving attendance for the Technology Students Association regional qualifiers. Personnel actions included ratification of administrative action to approve substitutes, approval of a Leave of Absence, and approval for 2025-26 Spring Coaches, Weight Room workers, Game Workers, and mentors.

The meeting commenced with an Executive Session covering labor issues, personnel matters, real estate appeals, legal issues, healthcare consortium, and safety. The session was followed by the Reorganization of Board Directors, which included administering the Oath of Office to a new member and electing the Board President and Vice President for terms extending until reorganization in December 2026. Board representatives and an alternate were appointed to the Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center Joint Operating Committee, and voting delegates were selected for the PSBA Legislative Policy Council. The Board agreed to follow the Code of Ethics. Discussions in the general session included administrative reports, the announcement of personnel changes (a teacher resignation and a retirement), and required training information for school directors. Significant actions in Business and Finance involved a motion to withdraw from the Greater Johnstown Area Schools Healthcare Consortium effective June 30, 2026, approval of the resolution regarding the 2026-27 tax rate increase limit (Act 1 Index), authorization to pay routine bills in December, and ratification of administrative actions for purchasing certificates of deposit and entering into a new electricity supplier agreement. General Administration items included approving multiple readings of revised and new Board Policies related to academic standards, curriculum, conduct, artificial intelligence use, and ethics, continuing participation in the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference, and approving annual agreements with Grand Canyon University and Indiana University of Pennsylvania for student teaching/clinical experiences. Personnel actions ratified additions to the Substitute and Driver Lists and approved personnel appointments and leaves.

The agenda for the Regular Meeting included standard opening procedures such as the Pledge of Allegiance, Call to Order, and public comment periods. Administrative reports were presented by various staff members, followed by the Board Report, which included updates from student representatives and reports from the Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center and East Hills Recreation. New Business addressed several areas: General Administration items included the first and second readings of revised Board Policies (covering fiscal compliance, emergency preparedness, security personnel, student eligibility, attendance, weapons, purchases, and travel reimbursement), approval of the 2026-27 Calendar, approval of an agreement with Breaking the Barriers, approval of the 2026-2029 K-12 Guidance Plan, appointment of a representative to the East Hills Recreation Commission, approval for the Baseball Team travel, and addition of AP World History to the RHS Program of Studies, along with an agreement with the Richland Education Association. The Business and Finance section involved approving the Audit Engagement Letter, adopting resolutions for the Greater Johnstown Area Vocational-Technical School budgets, approving maintenance contracts for elevators, approving agreements for the Extended School Year and the 2026 Field Turf Project and Track Upgrade Project, authorizing change orders for capital projects, and approving student travel for the Technology Students Association regional Qualifiers. The Personnel section involved ratification of additions to the Substitute List, approval of a Leave of Absence, approval of Spring Coaches & Pay, approval of Spring Weight Room workers and Game Workers, and approval of mentor stipends. The meeting concluded with an Executive Session.

The meeting included two executive sessions to address labor, personnel, real estate, healthcare consortium, and legal issues. Public comment was heard regarding the resignation of School Nurses. Administrative reports covered student representatives' updates, various administrator reports, and informational updates on the Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center and East Hills Recreation. Board announcements detailed several personnel changes, including resignations and retirements of nurses and staff, effective across late 2025 and early 2026. Key actions in General Administration involved the first and second readings of several revised and new Board Policies, ratification of administrative actions for homebound instruction requests, tentative approval of the 2026-2029 K-12 Guidance Plan, approval of an RHS Program of Studies update, approval of a suicide prevention-related field trip, approval of a no-cost partnership agreement with Vision Together, and the creation of the Richland Cross Country Boosters Organization. Business and Finance actions included the purchase of updated psychology curriculum materials, renewal of Verkada camera licenses, approval of a 3-year US Federal Contractor Registration agreement, ratification of tax exonerations for collected 2025 taxes, approval of the Audit Report for FY 2025, approval of agreements for substitute personnel, ratification of administrative action for investment purchases (Certificates of Deposit), authorization to purchase a used maintenance vehicle not exceeding $35,000, approval of a Public School Facility Improvement Grant Program resolution, approval for the Athletic Director to attend a conference, and approval of lawn application services.