The Tyrone Area School Board met Tuesday evening in the Tyrone Area School District Board Room.
Board President Lee R. Stover called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. All Board Members were present except for Board Member Peter Dutrow, who was unable to attend Tuesday’s meeting.
The Board approved the July 10 agenda, along with the minutes from the June 5 and June 12 meetings.
There was nobody present for the public comment portion of the meeting.
The Board approved the field trip request for Middle School vocal ensemble group ‘Vocal Attraction’ to travel to Benedum Center for the Performing Arts in Pittsburgh on Saturday, February 16, 2008, to attend the Broadway production of ‘The Lion King’.
All financial reports, including the Treasurer’s Report, Cafeteria Operating Expenses, Tax Fund Reports, Monthly Expenditures, and Investment Analysis Report were approved by the Board Tuesday evening.
The Board also approved the exoneration of Occupational Assessment Taxes for June 2007 in the total amount of 671.99.
Board Members also approved to enter a contract with Easter Seals of Altoona, PA for a number of services at the rates listed below:
• Physical Therapy for $70/hour, which is a decrease of $5/hour from last year.
• Occupational Therapy for $60/hour, which is an increase of $8/hour.
• Speech/Language Services for $60/hour, which is an increase of $8/hour.
• Mileage $0.38/mile through August 31, 2007 and $.445/mile from September 1, 2007 to August 31, 2008.
Board Members also approved the 2007-08 insurance policies through Jack Shuck Agency Inc., in the amount of $139,535. This includes the school package policy, excess liability policy, Business Administrator/Board Secretary bond, Accountant/Tax Supervisor, Board Treasurer bond, custodian of student activities fund, worker’s compensation, and sports accident policy.
The Board had a lengthy discussion concerning their 2007-08 donation to the Tyrone-Snyder Public Library. Last year, the School District donated $5,000 to the library and budgeted that same amount to donate to the library this year. However, for several years prior to last year the School District donated $7,500. The library sent a letter to the School District requesting they begin to send them the amount of $7,500 like they did in the past due to problems with government funding they receive. The Board decided not to act on this at Tuesday’s meeting, but to discuss it further and act on this in the future.
At Tuesday’s meeting, the Board accepted the following resignations:
• Jessica Hetrick as Head Girls Volleyball Coach, effective June 27, 2007.
• Andrew Persing as Cafeteria Worker/Dishwasher, effective July 11, 2007.
• D. Scott Knee as High School Math Teacher, effective July 11, 2007.
• Kristen Pinter as Alternative Education English Teacher, effective July 11, 2007.
• Steven Stoner as Builders Club Advisor, effective July 11, 2007.
• Annamarie Manna as Special Education Paraprofessional, effective July 11, 2007.
• Michael Weitzel as Middle School Special Education Teacher.
The Board approved the transfer of Renee Jamison from full time K4 Preschool-Kindergarten Looping Teacher to the position of part-time K4-Kindergarten Teacher and part time K4-Kindergarten Literacy Coach, with no change in salary or benefits, effective August 28, 2007.
Board members approved the following elections of current Title 1 Paraprofessionals to assist with Title 1 Summer Kindergarten Reading Camp for 5 days a week, 4 hours a day, effective July 9 through August 3, 2007:
• Angela Diebold, at the rate of $7.53/hour
• Amy Gherrity, at the rate of $7.80/hour
• Robin Snider, at the rate of $7.97/hour
The Board approved the election of Becky Schreckengost to the following yearbook positions at the Tyrone Area Middle and High Schools, effective July 11, 2007:
• Middle School Yearbook Advisor, at the stipend of $500
• High School Yearbook Advisor, at the stipend of $1,200
The Board approved the election of Amy Breon of Tyrone as Personal Health Care Paraprofessional, carrying the assignment of 5 days a week, six hours a day, at the rate of $8.49/hour, effective August 27, 2007.
The final vacant Administrator position in the School District was filled at Tuesday’s meeting. The Board approved the election of Barbara S. Mozina of Flinton, PA as the new Middle School and High School Special Education Supervisor. This is a middle management position carrying the assignment of 215 contract, 5 days a week, 7.5 hours a day at a salary of $60,000 for the 2007-08 fiscal year, effective July 24, 2007. Mozina will replace Jeanne Knouse who served in the position since the 2003-04 school year and departed in June.
Amanda Kurtz, a current Grade 1 Teacher at Tyrone Area Elementary School was approved by the Board and elected as First Grade Chairperson, at the special service fee stipend to be determined with the new teacher contract.
The Board approved the election of the following new faculty members that will be joining the Tyrone Area School District at the beginning of the 2007-08 school year:
• Amanda Caton of State College to the position of full-time Middle School Special Education Teacher, at the salary of $32,000 and full benefits, effective August 28, 2007.
• Christopher Krupp of State College to the position of part-time Middle School and High School Motivational Resource Room Supervisor, 3 days a week, 6.5 hours a day, with no benefits, on a time sheet basis to be determined with the new teacher contract, effective September 5, 2007.
• Jessica Hetrick of Roaring Spring to the position of full-time Middle School Social Studies/Future Tech Teacher at the salary of $34,719 and full benefits, effective August 28, 2007.
• Mark P. Murphy, of Cranford, NJ as Middle School and High School Band Director at the salary of $33,900 (credit for years of experience) plus $6,200 for additional Band Director duties and full benefits, effective August 1, 2007.
District Superintendent Dr. William Miller said he met with Mr. Murphy earlier on Tuesday and he is anxious to move to central Pennsylvania and really likes the area. Miller also said that Mr. Murphy had a chance to tour the Band Room and Music Department facilities.
In other personnel items, the Board approved the request for the Superintendent to offer a signing bonus of $2,000 to newly elected professional staff members in critical teaching areas with a minimum commitment of two years with the Tyrone Area School District, effective July 11, 2007. This bonus will be a one time payment and not added to the employee’s base salary.
The Board was informed that following three years of successful teaching, tenure status was granted to the following teachers at the conclusion of the 2006-07 school year:
Robert Drager, Elementary Physical Education Teacher; Ellen Hull, Elementary Grade 1 Teacher; Matthew Kimberlin, Middle School Guidance Counselor; Andrea Okonak, Elementary K4 Preschool/Kindergarten Looping Teacher; Kristen Pinter, Secondary Gifted Support/Academic English Teacher; Christie Taylor, High School Health Occupations Teacher.
The Board approved the Elementary Professional Staff Handbook and the Elementary Parent Handbook. Both are for the 2007-08 school year.
Board Members approved proposed policy number 255 (Pupils: Threat Assessment).
In accordance with School District policy for a 30 day review period prior to adoption, a revised version policy number 138 (Programs: District Wellness) was submitted to the Board for its first reading.
The Board approved the request to award the bid for replacement of High School Stair and Gym Lobby Glazing to Allegheny Glass & Mirror of Altoona in the total amount of $25,870.
The Board approved amendments to the professional services agreements with Hayes Large:
Mini-Study to determine scope of work for HVAC upgrades at Tyrone Area High School at a fixed rate of $2,000 and HVAC system upgrades at the High School at a compensation fee of 7 percent of the construction cost.
Board Members approved to change order to Boyer Swimming Pools, Inc. in the total amount of $66,628 for drain/line replacement at the High School Pool.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m. The next meeting of the Tyrone Area School Board will be held on Tuesday, July 24 at 7 p.m. in the Board Room.
