The Tyrone Area School Board conducted regular business both old and new on Monday night.
The board also held a work session, executive session and its annual reorganization meeting all in about a two and a half hour time span.
In old business, it was announced two long-time school directors were recognized for serving on the school board and for volunteer service to the district. The awards were announced during by the PSBA during the PASA-PSBA School Leadership Conference in Hershey, Pa. Brian L. Bressler and James B. Crawford were recognized for 10 and 20 years of service respectively. Each are now members of the PSBA’s Honor Roll of School Board Service.
School board directors and other guests viewed a PowerPoint presentation and were introduced to fourth graders participating in the district’s Futurekids technology curriculum.
The board then moved to the reorganization portion of the meeting which was covered in detail in Wednesday’s edition of The Daily Herald.
Some highlights included:
•Ray Detwiler was sworn in as the board’s newest member;
•Lee Stover was unanimously re-elected board president; and
•James Crawford was re-elected vice-president;
After the reorganization meeting, the board conducted new business including:
•accepting the resignation of a high school special education teacher, Robert Reed;
•approved the hiring of Ellen E. Hull as an elementary coordinator for the 2003-2004 school year. The position is funded by the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Grant and the Violence Reduction Grant;
•accepted the resignation of Michael McCready as assistant junior high wrestling coach;
•approved Ronald Garbinsky as the new assistant junior high wrestling coach with a pro-rated salary of $821;
•accepted the resignation of Nichole Taylor as a high school special education paraprofessional;
•also accepted the resignation of Sarah Swenson as a high school special education/guidance secretary and yearbook financial advisor;
•hired Lisa Little as a permanent, full-time middle school autistic support teacher at a salary of $15,500 for the second semester of the 2003-2004 school year;
•hired Leslie Stewart as a part-time math coach for the remainder of the school year at an hourly rate of $18.50 with no benefits;
•hired Kelly Hoover as an HOSA advisor for the remainder of the year at a salary of $388.09;
•hired Karen Raffetto as a Kindergarten grade-level chair at a prorated salary of $1082.42 and no benefits; and
•also approved field trips and substitute lists.
The also took the following actions:
•pending revision by the school’s solicitor entered into a standard clinical education agreement with the Bon Secours Holy Family Hospital. The agreement is designed to provide clinical experience for Tyrone Area High School health occupation students;
•approved the district’s organizational chart; and
•approved a waiver for use of computers by a high school English teacher to create text for reading and writing addressing the No Child Left Behind standards.
The board also took a number of actions regarding the upcoming middle/high school additions and alterations building project:
•approved the awarding of a bid for the geotechnical investigation and engineering proposal for the project. CMT Laboratories, Inc. was awarded the bid in the amount of $4,985;
•approved a land survey proposal from Gwin Dobson and Foreman, Inc. at a cost not to exceed $8,144;
•tabled entering into an agreement with the Carpenter’s Union regarding a clerk-of-the works position for the renovation project; and
•approved the Act 34 cost resolution for the project.
The board also voted 8-1 to adopt rules and regulations governing the administration of earned income/compensation tax for the district and its municipalities. New member Ray Detwiler was the lone no vote. He cited not having received background information on the issue as the reason for his vote.
The board agree to process payment of December 2003 bills with the next report to the board in January due to the earlier than normal date of this month’s meeting.
