The Board of Directors for the Tyrone Area School District met in regular session Monday evening.
Board Vice President James Crawford called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Board members absent from Monday’s meeting include President Lee Stover and Treasurer, Rev. Norman Huff.
The board unanimously approved the minutes for Monday night’s meeting and the minutes from their January 9 regular session meeting. There were no members of the general public present for the public input portion of the meeting.
The Tyrone Golden Eagle Band program was in the Academic Spotlight Monday evening. Band Director Aaron Patterson and band seniors Jenna Dillon and Meredith Graudons were present. Mr. Patterson stated that the band had approximately sixty members this year including thirty-eight musicians and nineteen band front ranging from grades seven through twelve. He discussed the number of parades and field competitions the band participated in this year and presented a video of the band participating in the Macy’s Christmas Parade in Pittsburgh this year. He said this was a terrific experience for everyone in the program. Senior band member and Drum Major Meredith Graudons explained that being part of the program was a growing experience and she grew both as a person and as a musician. Mr. Patterson also said that the Tyrone Golden Eagle Marching Band received the first annual Tournament of Bands Chapter Eleven Sportsmanship Award. Senior Jenna Dillon also received the 2006-07 Tournament of Bands Chapter Eleven Scholarship. He was very proud of the band members for these achievements.
In other business, the board voted to appoint board member Brian Bressler to the newly created position of Pennsylvania School Board Association Liaison. This is combining the former positions of Legislative Chairperson and PSBA Representative held by Luther Laird and Peter Dutrow, respectively.
Gregg McLanahan, a Public Financial Management Representative, had a presentation to the board concerning various financial options for capital projects. The board will discuss this further.
The board approved the request of administration for disciplinary action against a grade 12 student for violation of district rules and regulations, a grade 12 student for violation of board policies 218.1-dangerous weapons in the schools and 222-use/posession of tobacco products, against a grade 10 student for violation of district rules and regulations, and a grade 8 student for violation of board policy 218.1-dangerous weapons in the schools.
The board unanimously approved the recommendation of Dr. Matthew Newlin as the commencement speaker for the Class of 2007.
Numerous field trip requests were approved by the board.
The board approved the following resignations of School District personnel:
• Merle Louise Ammerman as Field Majorette Advisor, effective January 29, 2007
• Larissa Dittman as a School District Social Worker, effective January 27, 2007
• Susan Bair as an Elementary Special Education Teacher, effective February 13, 2007.
• Dr. Rebecca Erb as High School Principal, effective February 28, 2007.
• Kim Romano as a Cafeteria Worker, effective January 15, 2007.
The board approved the retirement of Judy Smith, Title I Reading Paraprofessional, effective February 23, 2007.
The board voted to approve the termination of a School-To Work student, effective January 29, 2007.
The following Leave of Absences were approved by the board:
• Extension of Family Medical Leave of Absence for Elementary Grade 2 Teacher Amy Fleck, effective March 7, 2007 to the conclusion of the 2006-07 school year.
• Family Medical Leave of Absence for Elementary Grade 1 Teacher Dawn Whited, effective April 30, 2007 to the conclusion of the 2006-07 school year.
The board voted to approve the hiring of the following personnel:
• Jaime Branstetter of Philipsburg as a Full-time Substitute Teacher assigned to a grade 2 classroom for the remainder of the 2006-07 school year, effective January 22, 2007.
• Patricia Krajacic of Williamsburg as a Transportation Driver for an elementary student, five days a week, forty-five minutes a day, after school, effective January 29, 2007.
• Mark Brown of Tyrone as After-School Detention Supervisor, one day a week, one hour a day, effective January 26, 2007 through the remainder of the 2006-07 school year only.
• Jeanne Knouse as High School Liaison, effective March 1, 2007 through the remainder of the 2006-07 school year.
The board voted unanimously to eliminate the positions of Field Majorette Advisor and Field Color Guard Advisor and combine the responsibilities into one position. They voted to advertise for the new position of Field Band Front Advisor. However, a few board members questioned why the School District was voting to advertise for this new position when the Field Majorette Advisor was vacated due to a recent resignation, but the current Field Color Guard Advisor is still in place. It was explained to those in attendance that it will be advertised simply because it is a newly created position.
The board approved all financial reports for the month of January and to Occupation Assessment Exonerations for the month of January.
Approved by the board was an agreement with Miller, Kistler, Campbell, Miller, Williams, and Benson, Inc. of State College to provide Special Education Legal Counsel effective January 22, 2007 through the remainder of the 2006-07 school year.
The board approved the recommendation of the Tax Study Commission that included selection of the Earned Income Tax and an additional tax rate of .3 percent.
The board also approved a resolution Authorizing Notice of Intent to Adopt Resolution Authorizing the May 15, 2007 ballot question, notice of intent to adopt resolution authorizing the assessing and levying of the act one income tax if approved by voters and notice of public hearing. The public hearing will be March 6, 2007 at 7 p.m. in the board room.
The board approved the Middle School and High School Course Description Booklets for the 2007-08 school year.
It was mentioned that the Middle School students, grades 5-8, will not have to purchase gym uniforms next year. They will be able to wear T-shirts, socks, sneakers, and either shorts or sweatpants.
The board approved a proposal from Hayes Large Architects for re-roofing of the High School Gymnasium at the probable cost of $155,000.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m. The time the School Board will meet in regular session will be Monday, March 12, 2007 at 7 p.m. in the Board Room.
