Emotions Run High Over Photography Contract

Emotions ran high over the authorization of the district’s photography services. Jeffrey King, a parent within the district and a representative from Redford Photography — a Washington County-based studio that has served Canon-McMillan School District for the past 12 years — attended the meeting alongside a handful of other parents to advocate for keeping the business local. Redford’s current three-year contract with the district is set to expire at the end of the school year, and King said the company was blindsided by the proposed switch. Despite the concerns raised, the school board voted unanimously to approve a new agreement with M&M Photography, based in Allegheny County, which will take effect at the beginning of the 2025–2026 school year and run through June 30, 2028. The deal comes at no cost to the district. ​​For King, the issue was less about losing the contract and more about the decision to outsource to another county. Some parents echoed King’s sentiment during the public comment portion of the meeting, expressing disappointment that a local business with more than a decade of service was passed over without a transparent selection process. Nevertheless, King remains hopeful that the door isn’t closed.