Wyoming Valley West School Board seeks building grant, approves business manager contract

Mar. 22—KINGSTON — During a brief special meeting at noon Friday the Wyoming Valley West School Board voted to apply for a state Public School Facility Improvement Grant, a new program started by Gov. Josh Shapiro last month and run through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

DCED is accepting applications through March, April and May, with the maximum grant capped at $5 million. Overall, Shapiro has earmarked a total of $100 million for the new program this year.

According to a February media release announcing the program, eligible projects include, but aren't limited to, "roof repairs and roof replacement; installation of HVAC equipment; installation of boilers; safety projects including lead and asbestos abatement; accessibility projects; and window repairs/replacement."

Like most districts both locally and statewide, Wyoming Valley West has been conducting extensive renovations and upgrades using federal COVID-19 pandemic relief grants, but that money is running out. This new grant has the potential to allow WVW to continue tackling extensive upgrades that board members have said were neglected for years, if not decades, without using local property tax revenue.

The Shapiro administration has separately earmarked $75 million for the Pennsylvania Department of Education's (PDE) School Environmental Repairs and Improvements Grant Program, which according to the same February media release "will focus on remediating and abating environmental hazards in schools and will be open to school districts, career and technical centers and charter schools." The state will begin accepting applications for those grants on May 1.

During Friday's meeting, the board also approved a 4-year contract for new business manager Robert Kachurak, effective retroactively from March 4 through June 30, 2028. The starting salary is $110,000, with raises to be determined by the board based on annual evaluations.

In other action, the board:

—Increased ticket prices for football, basketball and wrestling events to $5 for adults and $3 for children and seniors.

—Appointed Johnathan Evancho as high school English teacher at a starting salary of $46,500.

—Appointed Steve Maas as utility/stadium worker at $12.50 per hour.

—Appointed Chris Hogan as head custodian at Dana Street Elementary.

Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112