The Tyrone Area School Board met in regular session last night in the School District’s Board Room.
Board President Lee Stover called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. All Board Members were present.
The Board started by approving the agenda for the meeting and the minutes from the May 7 and May 17 regular sessions.
There was nobody present to address the Board during the public comment portion of the meeting.
The Board approved the request by administrators on disciplinary action against a Grade 8 student for violation of Police number 218.2-terroristic threats/acts.
During the report from the Student Activities and Services Committee, Committee Chairperson and School Board Member Brian Bressler, along with Board Member Amy Stever recognized students from the TAHS Track Team who were 2007 State Track Qualifiers. They include Shane Emigh, Tyler Gillmen, John Franco, Larry Glace, Philip Kreckel, and Shayne Tate for the 400 relay, Ben Ingle for the 1600 relay, Rachel Emigh for the pole vault, and Liz Tepsic for the triple jump and 100 hurdles, in which she placed third.
Also, Board approval was requested for the Varsity Boys Basketball Team to travel to West Virginia University from June 29-July 1, 2007 to participate in basketball team camp. Expenses will be paid by the Basketball Boosters. The Board approved this trip.
The final request from this Committee was to request approval to establish a Mock Trial Team as an extracurricular activity for the 2007-0 8 school year. The Board approved the establishment of this activity. Superintendent, Dr. William Miller reported that the School District will make some contacts to arrange for an attorney to advise the team.
It was brought before the Board to approve a food service contract with Nutrition, Inc. for the 2007-08 school year, with a guaranteed profit of $45,000. There was a little discussion on this matter before the Board voted. Board Member Brian Bressler said that this program will be closely monitored next year. It was also discussed that the samples that Board Members wanted to test after an issue in the Elementary Cafeteria were not available to be tested when a representative from the USDA was present to do so. It was reported that the samples are only stored for three days. Board Member Raymond Detwiler also explained that he was upset that the Board decided last week not to put the food service contract out for bid, instead of agreeing not to and just working out a few details with Nutrition, Inc. The Board approved the contract with Nutrition, Inc. Board Member Raymond Detwiler voted against the contract and all other Board Members voted in favor of it.
The Board approved adoption of a resolution supporting PA House Bill 446 attempting to relieve the financial burden on school districts created by cyber charter schools.
In accordance with School District policy for 30 day review period prior to adoption, a new policy for threat assessment, listed as Policy number 255, was submitted for the first reading.
Following the 30 day review period, the Board approved the following policies. They include policies for Nondiscrimination in School and Classroom Practices, Special Education, Charter School, Emergency Preparedness, Child/Student Abuse, Opening Exercises/Flag Displays, and District/School Report Cards.
Following the 30 day review period, the board approved the following orders. The 2007-08 textbook/workbook order in the amount of $184,608.60, the 2007-08 Elementary library book order in the amount of $6,538.14, and the 2007-08 Middle/High School library book order in the amount of $17,225.74.
The Board approved two Family and Medical leaves of absences requested by Suzanne Burket, effective August 28, 2007 through October 26, 2007 and from Charles Potts effective May 8, 2007 through May 30, 2007.
Two transfers were also approved, effective August 28, 2007. They include Geraldine Morrisey, from Middle School Emotional Support to Middle School Learning Support and Judith Woodcock, from Title 1 Paraprofessional to Elementary Library Paraprofessional.
The board approved the election of Carrie Grassi to the position of Elementary Autistic/Life Skills Support, Louise Seidel to the position of Middle School Emotional Support and Michael Weitzel to the position of Middle School Learning Support, all effective August 28, 2007.
The board approved the following staff members to various special service fee positions with stipends to be determined with the new teacher contract. They include Janette Ober-Lauck as English as a Second Language Chairperson for Grades K-12, Lucas Rhoades as Senior High Student Council Advisor, Michael McKee as After School Detention Monitor, and Marcia Stager as Grade 2 Chairperson.
The Board approved the following Special Education Teachers to provide Extended School Year Services at the rate of $20.13 per hour. They include Emily Oakes, Middle/High School Autistic/Life Skills, Lauren Neikam, Olivia Passanita, Michael Savino and Geraldine Morrisey for Individual Cognitive Sessions, and Carrie Grassi for Elementary Autistic/Life Skills.
The Board approved the election of the following Paraprofessionals to provide support services for summer 2007 Extended School Year Services. They include Elizabeth Hoover and Alanna Patterson.
The Board also approved the election of the following teachers to serve as Summer Reading Camp Teachers at the rate of $20.13 per hour. They include Beth Genchur and Lauren Neikam, Reading Specialists and Lilly Miller and Kendra Pritchett, Early Childhood Teachers.
Before the adjournment of the meeting, Dr. Miller thanked and recognized Assistant Superintendent Joann Lang. This was Mrs. Lang’s final School Board Meeting as she will retire at the end of June. She has been Assistant Superintendent for 14 years and had previously served as Principal of the former Warriors Mark-Franklin Elementary School after teaching in the district for several years. She expressed her thanks to the current School Board and to the past School Boards she has worked with.
She said that those she worked with in the Tyrone Area School District were “more like a family to me” and said she always tried to put the children first when making decisions. She encouraged the Board and Administration to “always put the children first”. On behalf of the Board, School Board President Lee Stover thanked Mrs. Lang for everything she had done for the Tyrone Area School District and wished her well in her future endeavors. A number of other Board Members echoed what Stover said.
