STATE COLLEGE — The 2026/27 school year is starting in less than a month and like most districts in the state, State College Area School Board began by approving several purchases at their recent meeting held Aug. 17.
The board approved a quote from Medco Sports Medicine for $11,673 for athletic trainer supplies. Henry Schein Inc. provided a slightly lower bid of $11,185, but it was noted that their quote did not include all required products.
The Medco Sports Medicine expenditure will be funded through the athletics budget.
Additionally in athletics, the board approved purchasing uniforms for the junior high wrestling team from BSN Sports LLC at a cost of $3,121. These uniforms were included in the 2026/27 budget as part of the anticipated uniform rotation schedule. Varsity uniforms will be purchased at a later date.
The uniforms expenditure will be funded from the athletic uniform budget.
District administration recommended that the board approve the cost of a one-day student leadership and professional development presentation on Oct. 8 for approximately 45 Career & Technical Education students in the school auditorium at a cost of $3,500. This is the annual training provided through Bartell & Bartell LTD.
The purchase of this professional development presentation will be funded through the Career and Technical Center budget.
Administration also recommended the purchase of program equipment, specifically 60 Lego Education Spike Prime Sets from Lego Group Inc.com Elite Sportswear at a cost not to exceed $34,990.
The purpose of this is to provide middle school technology education students with hands-on experiences in coding, robotics, engineering design, data, and artificial intelligence.
The purchase will be funded by the EITC Funds through the SCASD Education Foundation.
Administration recommended the purchase of the following program equipment for the 2026/27 school year:
- Food Processing Lab Kit from Amazon, including one Proofing Cabinet, four Robot Coupe Food Processors, and one Clear360 Pro Glassware Polisher, at a cost not to exceed $9,199.99. The Food Processing Lab Kit will provide Culinary Arts CTE students with hands-on experience using industry-standard equipment found in professional food service operations. The Robot Coupe food processors will provide students with additional opportunities to practice commercial food preparation, cutting techniques, recipe production, portion control, sanitation, and kitchen efficiency. The glassware polisher will provide experience with efficient and sanitary beverage service, including proper glassware handling, polishing, equipment operation, and front-of-house procedures.
- Freeze Dryer Machine from Harvest Right, including extra in-trays, at a cost not to exceed $3,104. The Harvest Right Freeze Dryer will provide Culinary Arts CTE students with hands-on experience using industry-relevant food preservation technology.
The purchase of the Food Processing Lab Kit and Freeze Dryer Machine will be funded through the state Dept. of Education Perkins Grant.
The engineering program will also benefit from new equipment, specifically two VEX CTE Workcell Kits from Project Lead the Way at a cost not to exceed $5,370.
The VEX CTE Workcells will support student learning in engineering technology by providing hands-on experience with industry-standard automation and robotics systems.
The purchase of the VEX CTE Workcell Kits will be funded through the PDE Perkins Grant.
At the elementary school level, administration recommended approval of an agreement and addendum with the Pennsylvania Friends of Agriculture Foundation to provide hands-on science experiences through the Mobile Agriculture Education
Science Lab at Corl Street Elementary School from Sept. 21-24, and Park Forest Elementary School from May 10-14, 2027.
The Mobile Agriculture Education Science Lab is an interactive, field-trip-style learning experience that brings hands-on science education directly to schools for students in grades K8. The Mobile Ag Lab is equipped with more than 30 STEM-based science experiments and lessons, along with a certified teacher and all necessary instructional materials and supplies.
The fee for the Mobile Science Lab program at Park Forest Elementary School is $3,000. Park Forest Elementary School qualifies for a $600 sponsorship from the Pennsylvania Soybean Board, reducing the district’s final payment to $2,400. Corl Street Elementary School qualifies for a $2,400 sponsorship from the Centre County Treasurer’s Office, which covers the full cost of the program for schools participating for the first time.
The board also approved new agreements with private van transportation providers including Fullington School Bus LLC, J.D. Cramer Transportation, R&S Corl Transportation LLC and D&D Transportation Inc.
These agreements began on Aug. 1 and allow the district to engage with the vendors to provide specialized transportation services.
