The Tyrone Area School Board met last night for the first of two meetings in August.
Vice President James Crawford called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. All Board Members were present except for Board President Lee Stover.
There was nobody present for the public input segment of the meeting. It was announced that the board would meet in executive session to discuss personnel items later following the regular session and work session meetings that evening.
The Board approved guidelines and prices for the sale of athletic tickets for the 2007-08 school year.
The Board took action on a retirement, a resignation, and a number of new hires at last night’s meeting.
Board Members accepted, which one Board Member accepted with regret, the retirement of Sarah J. McNelis, High School Attendance Office Secretary, effective August 15, 2007.
The Board accepted the resignation of Ellen Hull, Elementary Grade 1 Teacher, effective August 8, 2007. Her resignation was also accepted with regret.
Following this action, the Board accepted the following new hires:
• Megan Marie Coursen of State College to the position of Full-time Elementary Teacher, at the salary of $32,000 and full benefits, effective August 28, 2007.
• Lillian Miller, of Warriors Mark to the position of Full-time Elementary Teacher at the salary of $32,000 and full benefits, effective August 28, 2007.
• Heather Becker, of Dysart to the position of Full-time Elementary Teacher at the salary of $32,000 and full benefits, effective August 28, 2007.
Board Members also approved the election of the following Special Education Paraprofessionals. All positions have 180.5 contract days, 5 days a week, with ten sick days, two personal days, and no other benefits rates and hours vill slightly vary. The election of all positions are effective August 28, 2007:
• Karen DeHass of Warriors Mark, 6.6 hours a day, at the rate of $7.43 per hour.
• Karen Koegler of Tyrone, 7 hours a day, at the rate of $7.43 per hour.
• Penny Weight of Tyrone, 7 hours a day, at the rate of $8.49 per hour.
Board Members also approved the election of the following Title 1 Paraprofessionals. All positions have 180.5 contract days, 5 days a week, 6 hours a day, include 10 sick days, 2 personal days, at the of $7.43 per hour with no other benefits. The election of all positions are effective August 28, 2007. The new hires for Title 1 Paraprofessionals include:
• Brian Grieco of Tyrone
• Christina Long of Altoona
• Gina Williams of Williamsburg
The final action at the regular session meeting had to do with the School District’s transportation issue. Board Members approved a 5 year contract with Raystown Transit Service to provide student transportation, effective with the 2007-08 school year.
Business Administrator Cathy Peachey did elaborate on the new contract. She stated that Raystown will give the School District the option of renewing if they are satisfied with Raytown’s service. She said the oldest bus they have is a 2000 and Raystown Transit owners stated they expect to have all buses within 5 years of age.
Peachey also said that all but two of the former Rayco Transportation drivers have signed on to drive for Raystown Transit and will continue to transport Tyrone students. It was also stated that the Raystown buses will not have ‘Tyrone Area School District’ on the side, but bus numbers will be listed as T1, T2, T3, etc. This will state this is a bus on the Raystown Transit fleet used as a Tyrone bus.
At this point, the regular session adjourned. The Board then started their August work session meeting. During this meeting, prices for school lunch items were discussed and much of the meeting was used for the Middle School Principal, High School Principal, and High School Dean of Students to present and discuss changes in the Middle School and High School Student Handbooks for the 2007-08 school year. Board Members were pleased with the changes and all handbooks will be officially approved by the board at next week’s board meeting.
Board Members also decided to change next week’s board meeting from next Tuesday to Wednesday.
The next regular session meeting of the Tyrone Area School Board will be Wednesday, August 15 at 7 p.m. in the Board Room at Tyrone Area Elementary School.
