The Tyrone Area School Board met in regular session Wednesday evening at the Tyrone Area Elementary School.
Board President Lee Stover called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Board Members Rev. Norman Huff and Board Vice President James Crawford were absent. All other Board Members were in attendance.
The Board approved all minutes from their July meetings and the agenda for Wednesday evening’s meeting.
There was nobody present for the public input portion of the meeting. Following this portion of the meeting, Board Member Peter Dutrow requested the Board go into executive session.
At that point, the Board went into executive session and remained in executive session for about one hour discussing personnel issues.
When the regular session reconvened, the Board took the following action.
Board members approved the resignation of Laura Kisner as Assistant Girls Volleyball Coach, effective August 16, 2007. They also approved the election of Danielle Patton as Head Girls Volleyball Coach, effective August 13, 2007.
Board Members also approved Breakfast and Lunch prices for the 2007-08 school year. They include:
• Student Breakfast: $.55 for Elementary and $.65 for Middle/High School
• Student Lunch: $1.25 for Elementary and $1.40 for Middle/High School
• Adult Lunch: $2.40 for Elementary and $2.40 for Middle/High School
• Reduced Breakfast: $.30 for both Elementary and Middle/High School
• Reduced Lunch: $.40 for Elementary and Middle/High School
• Tier Lunch: $1.75 for Elementary and $1.85 for Middle/High School
• Flavored Milk: $.50 for Elementary and Middle/High School
• Unflavored Milk: $.45 for Elementary and Middle/High School
The Board also approved to enter into a agreement with Blair County Head Start to provide breakfast, lunch, and snack at the following rates: Breakfast, $1.25; lunch, $2.50; and snack, $.68 for the 2007-08 school year.
Board Members approved all financial reports.
The Board approved to enter into an agreement with Altoona Regional Health System to provide Human Service Coordinator services for approximately 122 hours at the rate of $45 per hour for a total expenditure not to exceed $5,500.
The Board also approved to enter into an agreement with Tyrone Hospital for urine screenings in accordance with the chain-of-custody requirements of the school district at the collection fee of $30 per individual for collection, testing, and MRO review and $35 confirmation fee per individual for each initial positive result, effective August 1, 2007 to July 31, 2007.
The Board approved the following resignations:
• Timothy Albright, Custodian, effective August 18, 2007.
• Michelle Dutrow, Tyrone Area Elementary School Principal, effective August 29, 2007. This resignation was accepted with regret.
Board Members approved the transfer of the following personnel:
• Kendra Pritchett, from the position of Elementary Kindergarten Teacher to Early Childhood K3 Preschool Teacher, effective August 28, 2007.
• Angela Diebold, from the position of Elementary Title 1 Paraprofessional to Early Childhood K3 Preschool Paraprofessional, effective August 28, 2007.
Board Members approved the following family medical leaves of absences:
• Elementary Teacher Kendra Pritchett, covering the period of October 2007 through January 1, 2008
•‑Elementary Teacher Lillian Miller, covering the period of August 28, 2007 through October 12, 2007.
• Special Education Teacher Bethany Genchur, covering the period of October 8, 2007 through January 3, 2007.
•‑Special Education Paraprofessional Cynthia Isenberg, covering the period of August 28, 2007 through November 28, 2007.
The Board approved the election of Christopher Krupp to the position of Full-time Alternative Education/In-School Suspension Teacher at the salary of $32,000 and full benefits, effective August 28, 2007.
The Board also approved the election of David Fernandes to the position of Technology Coach with an additional stipend of $5,000 that includes 5 additional contract days, effective August 28, 2007.
The Board approved the election of Michelle Raabe to the position of Full-time K3 Preschool Teacher at the salary of $36,467 and full benefits, effective August 28, 2007.
Board Members approved the election of Melissa Russell to the position of Acting Principal of Tyrone Area Elementary School for the 2007-08 school year at the salary of $65,000 and full benefits, effective August 30, 2007.
The Board approved the election of mentors for the 2007-08 new faculty members, effective August 28, 2007. They include the following individuals:
• Karen Raffetto, Mentor for Heather Becker
• Joan Jones, Mentor for Megan Coursen
• Janice Yoder, Mentor for Lillian Miller
• John Rossman, Mentor for Amanda Caton
• MaryAnn Volders, Mentor for Heather Dravecky
• Holly Sechler, Mentor for Catherine Grubb
• Fran Bloom, Mentor for Stephanie Haid
• Geraldine Morrisey, Mentor for Christopher Krupp
• Kristen Pinter, Mentor for Cummins McNitt
• Cathy Young, Mentor for Mark Murphy
The Board approved the listing of extra security personnel for home football games and other extra-curricular activities at the salary of $50 per home football game and $8 per hour for all other activities, effective August 16, 2007
Board Members approved the listing of substitutes and volunteers for the 2007-08 school year with one Board Member abstaining.
With some slight revisions, the Board approved the Tyrone Area High School bell schedule, effective with the 2007-08 school year.
Board Members approved the Tyrone Area High School Teacher Handbook for the 2007-08 school year.
Board Members also approved the Tyrone Area Middle School Teacher Handbook for the 2007-08 school year.
Also approved by the Board were the Tyrone Area Middle School Student Handbook and Tyrone Area High School Student Handbook, both area for the 2007-08 school year.
Following the required 30 day review period, the Board approved the new wellness policy for the district.
Board Members approved the designation of the following personnel as truancy officers for the 2007-08 school year:
• Robert L. Dick Jr,. School Police Officer
• Melissa K. Russell, Acting Elementary Principal
• Dr. John F. Vendetti, Middle School Principal
• Thomas A. Yoder, High School Principal
• Mark D. Mitchell, Elementary Dean of Students
• Leslie A. Estep, Middle School Dean of Students
• MaryAnn E. Volders, High School Dean of Students
The Board approved the list of 2007-08 Student Transportation Drivers for Beckwith Buses and Raystown Transit.
The Board also approved the adjustment in fee for the Hayes Large Service Agreement that includes a mini-study to determine scope work for HVAC upgrades to the Tyrone Area High School, from the fee of $2,000 to the fee of $2,500.
The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m. The Board went into executive session following the regular session meeting to discuss teacher negotiation items.
The next regular session meeting of the Tyrone Area School Board will be held on Tuesday, September 11 at the Board Room in the Tyrone Area Elementary School.
