Robots coming to Hanover Area athletic fields

Mar. 4—HANOVER TWP. — Robots are coming — tiny mobile robots,to be exact — to Hanover athletics.

At a meeting moved from Tuesday to Monday with six of nine members present, the Hanover Area School Board voted unanimously to purchase small computerized vehicles designed to be programmed through smart phones or computer pads and paint markings on sports fields.

The high-tech devices from Georgia-based TinyMobileRobots US LLC use about 50% less paint and 80% less cost in personnel to mark a field, Superintendent Nathan Barrett said after the brief meeting. Total cost for the first year is $19,940. That includes software for painting lines on fields for all school outdoor sports, he added. There will also be annual service and support charge.

The board also:

—Voted to notify the Northeast Pennsylvania School District Health Trust of intent to withdraw as of June 30, 2024. The trust is a consortium of local districts formed in an effort to lower health insurance costs through greater buying power. It has become routine for districts to submit a required notification of intent to withdraw simply to keep the option open. In most cases, districts have remained in the Trust.

—Approved a three-year deal with KDP Photography for yearbook services for 2024-5, 2025-6 and 2026-7.

—Renewed an agreement with The Education Modified, Inc., for mental health database services. The company provides software designed to improve delivery of special education services and track compliance with state and federal laws. The total contract amount is $16,994. Barrett said this is the second year in a pilot program, and the software has been helpful in assuring students get mental health services and support they need, and to keep records of what supports work well for each student.

—Appointed Dakota Rubenstein as assistant varsity boys volleyball coach at $2,020 and William Weidner as assistant junior high softball coach at $1,951, and accepted the resignation of Brandon Chafin as assistant junior high track and field coach.

—Appointed Gary Chapin as utility worker/custodian/groundskeeper, and Sharon Schlingman as certified school nurse.

Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish