With reassurances provided for some wary school board members about the nature of the commitment, the Palisades School District has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Pennsylvania Solar Center (PA Solar) of Pittsburgh ”to collaborate on technical assistance…to help explore solar (energy) for use on their own property.” The action was taken by an 8-1 vote at the Sept. 18 public meeting.
The reassurances were provided by board Treasurer Saul Ramos, who said the role of the partner group was best understood as “a broker,” with the MOU noting that they would receive a fee from solar developers who landed contracts for solar installations through a bidding process; by district Business Administrator Lorie Olexson, who noted comprehensive presentations on options would be provided “without obligation” for the district; and by board President Silvia LeBlanc, who noted termination of the MOU was available “to either party with 30 days-notice in writing.”
The MOU summarizes the project as “collecting and sharing relevant information” toward “creating a well-informed estimate, and soliciting bids from qualified solar developers” that provides Palisades “the opportunity to make an educated decision about if, and how, they choose to move forward with a solar installation; meet on a regular basis to review strategy and results; and work towards the goal of installing a minimum of one solar project” on Palisades property.
Also at the Sept. 18 meeting, following the announcement at the August meeting of the retirement of Food Services, Transportation, and Warehouse Director Gerry Giarratana, the board approved a one-school year, Emergency Food Service Agreement with Whitsons Nutrition, LLC of Islandia, N.Y. The board also approved a salary increase for Olexson to cover added responsibilities, which will include directing transportation and the warehouse.
Last spring, the district had advertised for, and solicited, proposals to manage, and operate, the district’s food service program. When the district did not make a contract award, Whitson agreed to provide the service on an emergency basis for the 2024-2025 school year. It includes an onsite director.
At the August meeting, while noting strong disappointment with their performance heading into the new school year, the board approved renewal of its transportation contract with George Krapf Jr. & Sons Inc., also for the current school year.
In an update on the difficulties experienced by many parents with obtaining critical busing information, officials noted that the vendor had lost a key employee that was responsible for transition to new operating software.
They credited the vendor with responding thoroughly and diligently to the crisis, including assurance of better lines of communication going forward.
At the outset of the meeting, Public School Boards Association Senior Director of Member Outreach Becky Dussinger honored school board director Silvia LeBlanc for five years of service, and James Hallowell for 35 years.
The PSBA honors board members for each five years of their service, so LeBlanc, now in the first year of her second term in office, was honored for the first time. Dussinger praised both LeBlanc and Hallowell for their “tremendous commitment, working tirelessly in support of public education.”