Editor's note: This story has been changed to correct the number of hours in the contract for Strategic School Solutions LLC. The company is contracted for a total of 20 hours.)

The Pleasant Valley School Board approved a contract for consulting services on the Capital Improvement Plan with a company affiliated with the former business manager.

The agreement is with Strategic School Solutions LLC, whose address in Easton is the same as a residence listed for the former business manager Michael Simonetta. Simonetta retired from the school district in June, after working as the business manager since June 2021. The company is to be paid $65 per hour for consulting services from Aug. 1 to June 30, 2025.

Susan Kresge, the president of the school board, said the reason for the independent contractor agreement is because of “the expertise that might be needed on our project.”

“Having an extra set of eyes on the project, knowing that this is a multiyear project for us, it’s important to make sure, at set times throughout the project, that if there’s an individual who can provide us some feedback and support,” said Superintendent James Konrad. “We want to make sure that the project is going smoothly and timely because if it’s not, then it’s going to cost money, so having another set of eyes that is almost a nonpartisan individual to provide some thoughts and guidance is going to help put us in a better place for the project down the line.”

As part of the agreement, Simonetta will provide the following consulting services as stated in the agreement:

• Advisory services related to the approve Capital Improvement Plan regarding, but not limited to, the high school renovation project and any other consultative services requested by the district, such as consulting on project planning, scheduling and reporting, as well as meeting and discussing project status with the contractors and other district professionals.

• He will “act solely on the district’s behalf in all matters.”

• Abide by the district “to determine and direct the objectives to be pursued with the assistance of the contractor.”

The agreement limits his hours to 20 overall. The agreement requires him to provide a monthly invoice to the school district for payment of his consultation work.

“If the board decides that yes we need to add, they certainly can, but what we all had agreed upon that this is a good starting place,” Konrad said. “At this point, a lot of the leg work has been done, so I think quite frankly there will be a lull in even utilizing outside expertise until the project actually begins, which is projected to be about April of ‘25.”

According to the agreement, it states that if the school district desires additional hours beyond the 20, then it has to request those additional hours in writing. The number of hours of work are at the discretion of the Capital Improvement Committee and the district’s administration.

The contract also states that the agreement can be terminated early based on mutually agreed upon terms, and 30 days written notice, but it also can be extended beyond the termination date at any time during the life of this agreement.

Because Simonetta will be working as an independent contractor and not as an employee of the school district, Pleasant Valley will not be contributing additional money to his pension through the Pennsylvania Schools Employees’ Retirement System.