By SUSAN RUMBLE

Special to The Press

To make certain all students can leave buildings safely in case of an emergency, the Parkland School Board approved purchase of five evacuation chairs at a cost of $15,847.

The items were requested by Dr. Anthony Naradko, director of safety and security, for use at Ironton Elementary School, Orefield and Springhouse middle schools, and the high school.

Naradko said the chairs would most likely be used for an incident, such as a fire or gas emergency.

Superintendent Dr. Mark Madson noted the chairs would be used to take students down steps, if needed.

In another matter at the Nov. 15 meeting, the board authorized an agreement with General Healthcare Resources to provide staff, including nurses, for the district, as necessary.

The agency would not replace the search for health care workers at Parkland but would provide staff to fill vacancies when employees cannot be found.

An ongoing challenge for the district is finding nurses to cover all of the required positions.

School directors moved on to renew an agreement with Sharp-Ross PsychEd Services to provide bilingual pycho-educational evaluations for students.

Dr. Mary Sharp-Ross is a bilingual school psychologist with whom Parkland has contracted for several years.

Support is provided by the district to students who speak 43 different languages.

There is one English Language Learner staff member at each elementary building and more in the middle schools and high school.

On a different topic, the board approved a proposal from Eccotrol LLC to replace the building automation system that controls the HVAC equipment at the Jaindl Elementary School.

The unit will connect with the districtwide setup.

The cost of $30,855 will be paid through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund established during the COVID-19 pandemic.