The Tyrone Area School Board met in regular session on Monday. Due to the large crowd at the meeting, the meeting was moved to the Tyrone Elementary School LGI Room.
All school board members were present.
It was announced that the board met in executive session immediately following adjournment of the April 17 regular session meeting and the May 1 work session meeting to discuss personnel items. It was announced that the board negotiating committee would meet directly following the May 7 meeting.
Several TAHS seniors were recognized as part of the academic spotlight. The following seniors were recognized for achieving a score of 1200 or above on the SAT: Sara Boyer, daughter of Michael and Wendy Boyer; Caleb Gwinn, son of Robert and Becky Gwinn; Francesca Lambert, daughter of Francois and Yong Sook Lambert; Alexis Pazmino, daughter of Ruth Pazmino; Joshua Shaffer, son of Lynn and Shelby Shaffer and Paige Stott, daughter of Susan Stott. The students received an engraved keychain that was presented to them by high school principal liaison Jeanne Knouse and assistant superintendent Joann Lang.
Also featured in the academic spotlight was senior Brittney O’Rourke. Brittney participated in a presentation on the school-to-work program with high school principal liaison Jeanne Knouse. Mrs. Knouse presented information about the program and Brittney presented information about her experiences participating in the program.
Following the academic spotlight, an hour-long public input segment occurred on the possible cutbacks in the Tyrone Area School District music program, as was reported in the Wednesday edition of The Daily Herald.
Following the public input segment, the board continued with other business.
The board approved several field trips and also approved the list of seniors eligible for graduation, including the valedictorian, salutatorian, and students receiving scholastic recognition.
The board approved the election of the following personnel:
• Patricia ‘Erin’ Lowery of Tyrone as a Full-time Special Education Paraprofessional, Monday-Friday, 6 hours a day, and at the rate of $7.25 per hours, effective May 9, 2007.
• Kourtney L. Swires of Altoona as School Psychologist, 210 contract days, at a salary of $50,000 and benefits for the 2007-08 school year, effective July 1, 2007.
• Daryl Irene Smith of James Creek as Assistant Superintendent of Schools, at a four year contract covering the period of July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2011 with the salary of $92,000 for the 2007-08 school year. Annual salary increases will be adjusted for the remainder of the contract by the cost of living adjustment based on the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The board also voted to approve additions to the Substitute and Volunteer Lists for the 2006-07 school year. The board also voted to approve the increase of the hourly rate of daily substitute custodians from $6.50 per hour to $7.25 per hour, effective June 11, 2007. Board member Amy Stever abstained from voting on this issue.
The board voted to approve all monthly financial reports. Also, to meet state requirement of advertisement for 30 days prior to final board adoption, the board approved posting the proposed 2007-08 General Fund Budget for public review.
The board approved to solicit quotes for Tax Anticipation Note in the amount of $1 million. They also approved the adoption of a resolution authorizing the collection of school property taxes in installments, effective July 1, 2007.
The board approved health, dental, life, and vision insurance rates for the 2007-08 school year, along with voluntary student accident insurance program through Whren Associates of Tyrone.
As required by the School Code of Pennsylvania, the board completed the following annual May elections covering the period of July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008:
• To enter agreement with Citizens Bank of Tyrone for the 2007-08 school year.
• Elected Rev. Norman Huff as School Treasurer.
• To enter agreement with Dr. Robert Sloss as School Dentist with no increase in rate of $5 per examination for students in Kindergarten, Grade 3, and Grade 7 for the 2007-08 school year.
• To enter agreement with Dr. Thomas Mextorf of Blair Medical Associates to provide the services of School Medical Examiner with a rate of $6 per examination for Grade 11 physicals, spring/fall/winter sports physicals and work permit physicals. Kindergarten and Grade 6 physicals will also be $6 per examination with money donated back to the elementary school art and music departments. They also voted to enter agreement with Dr. Mextorf to serve as Football Team Physician at a rate of $100 per home football game with necessary follow-up services on Saturday morning. Money is donated back to the Football Booster Club.
• To enter agreement with Cynthia Yeager of Cynthia A. Yeager Law Offices of Altoona to provide legal services as School Solicitor for the 2007-08 school year at the rate of $90 per hour for general legal advice, $110 per hour for adversarial matters and no increase in rates from the current school year.
• To enter agreement with Miller, Kistler, Campbell, Miller, Williams, and Benson, Inc. of State College to provide special education legal counsel for the 2007-08 school year at the rate of $135 per hour plus costs.
Following the required 30-day review period prior to any board action, the board submitted the 2007-08 textbook/workbook order, 2007-08 elementary library book order, and the 2007-08 middle/high school book order for first reading.
Following the required 30-day review period prior to board action, submitted to the board for first reading were policies for Nondiscrimination in School and Classroom Practices, Special Education, Charter Schools, Emergency Preparedness, Child/Student Abuse, Opening Exercises/Flag Displays, and District/School Report Cards.
Due to a legal issue and by instruction by the school solicitor, the board rejected all janitorial bids received with a bid date of April 2, 2007.
The board approved to award the bid for garbage collection to Burgmeier’s Hauling of Altoona at the total cost of $21,960 for the 2007-08 fiscal year.
The board approved to enter a five year contract with Beckwith Buses and Rayco Transportation, Inc. to provide student transportation, effective with the 2007-08 school year.
The board meeting adjourned at approximately 8:30 p.m. The next meetings for the Tyrone Area School Board will be held on Tuesday, June 5 at 7 p.m. for the work session and Tuesday, June 12 at 7 p.m. for the regular session.
