OFFICIAL MINUTES

WEST BRANCH AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

REGULAR MEETING

MORRISDALE, PA           

 

                                    DATE: December 4, 2009

The regular meeting of the West Branch Area School District Board of Directors was held December 3, 2009, at 7:02 p.m. in the high school library.

 

MBRS

PRESENT

 

Joe Kovalcin, Larry Allen, Gerald Coble, Don Yontosh, Tim Kephart, Gary Miller, Jennifer Kerlin, Robert Seprish, Melvin Smeal

MBRS

ABSENT

 

None

OTHERS

PRESENT

 

Michael Panek, Superintendent; Kasi Jackson, Board Secretary; Jason McMillen, Business Manager; Allen Levin, Solicitor; Sean Wechtenhiser, Elementary Principal; J.R. Holenchik, Secondary Principal; Wendy Fernburg, Supervisor of Special Education, Holly Michael, Greg Modzel, Lester Smeal, Dave Nelson, Maintenance Supervisor; Annie Lynn, Carla Reitz, John Milliron, Kristine Kolesar, Jennifer Sproull, Cindy Gormont, Shelly Milliron

 

OATH OF OFFICE

Cindy Gormont did the swearing in of office for Gary Miller, Melvin Smeal, Jennifer Kerlin, Tim Kephart, and Robert Seprish. Mrs. Gormont was also the notary for this process.

 

TEMPORARY PRESIDENT

Don Yontosh motioned, Larry Allen seconded, to nominate Joe Kovalcin as temporary president. Motion carried.

 

NOMINATION OF PRESIDENT

Don Yontosh motioned, Larry Allen seconded, to nominate Joe Kovalcin as West Branch Area School District Board of Education President. Voice Roll Call: Mr. Kovalcin—yes; Mr. Kephart—yes; Mr. Smeal—yes; Mrs. Kerlin—yes; Mr. Yontosh—yes; Mr. Allen—yes; Mr. Coble—yes; Mr. Seprish—yes; Mr. Miller—yes. 9—yes Motion carried.

 

NOMINATION OF VICE PRESIDENT

Joe Kovalcin motioned, Gerald Coble seconded to nominate Larry Allen as vice president. Larry Allen motioned, Don Yontosh seconded, to nominate Tim Kephart as vice president.

Voice Roll Call: Mr. Kovalcin—Larry Allen; Mr. Kephart—Mr. Allen; Mr. Coble—Mr. Allen; Mrs. Kerlin—Mr. Allen; Mr. Smeal—Mr. Allen; Mr. Seprish—Mr. Allen; Mr. Allen—Mr. Kephart; Mr. Miller—Mr. Kephart; Mr. Yontosh—Mr. Kephart. 6—Mr. Allen, 3—Mr. Kephart.

Mr. Allen won the majority of votes and is now West Branch Area School District Board of Education vice president. Motion carried.

 

MEETING DATES AND TIMES

Tim Kephart motioned, Larry Allen seconded to approve the following meeting dates and times for the 2010 year:

January 25th

February 22nd

March 22nd

April 26th

May 24th

June 28th

July 26th

August 16th

September 27th

October 25th

November 22nd

December 2nd     Reorganization; 1st Thursday of December

 

BOARD MEETINGS ARE THE 4TH MONDAY OF EACH MONTH EXCEPT AUGUST, AND DECEMBER.

COMMITTEE MEETINGS START AT 7:00 P.M. IN THE LIBRARY PRIOR TO THE BOARD MEETING.

Motion carried.

C.I.U. #10 REPRESENTATIVE

Larry Allen motioned, Don Yontosh seconded, to nominate Gerald Coble as C.I.U. #10 representative. Don Yontosh motioned, Larry Allen seconded, to nominate Tim Kephart as the alternative representative. Motion carried.

 

VO-TECH RESPRESENTATIVE

Don Yontosh motioned, Tim Kephart seconded, to nominate Larry Allen as the vo-tech representative. Don Yontosh motioned, Tim Kephart seconded to nominate Gary Miller as the alternate representative. Motion carried.

 

LEGISLATIVE CHAIRPERSON (PSBA)

Larry Allen motioned, Don Yontosh seconded, to nominate Joe Kovalcin as legislative chairperson for the district. Motion carried.

 

 

SUPPORT STAFF NEGIOTATION COMMITTEE

Melvin Smeal, Robert Seprish, and Don Yontosh volunteered to negotiate the support staff contract.

 

 

PROFESSIONAL STAFF NEGIOTATOIN COMMITTEE

Gerald Coble, Jennifer Kerlin, and Tim Kephart volunteered to negotiate the professional staff contract.

 

 

 

REAPPOINTMENT OF SOLICITOR

Don Yontosh motioned, Larry Allen seconded, to nominate Levin & Wise as the district solicitor.

 

REC OF

VISITORS

 

Jennifer Sproull presented the bids for the new band uniforms. She gave many details about the uniforms and the changes and improvement from the current uniforms. She also brought a sample uniform to show the board.

 

MINS

APPRVD

 

Gerald Coble motioned, Larry Allen seconded, to approve the meeting minutes from November 23, 2009. Motion carried.

 

ADM

REPORTS

 

Mr. Wechtenhiser:

·          Welcomed the new board members.

 

Mr. Holenchik:

·          Welcomed the new board members.

 

Mrs. Fernburg:

·          Welcomed the new board members.

·          Handed out information on the special education program.

 

Mr. McMillen:

·          Welcomed the new board members.

 

Mr. Nelson:

·          Welcomed the new board members.

 

Mr. DeGennaro:

·          Introduced himself to the board.

·          Explained how fortunate the school is to have the technology equipment that it does.

·          He is working on updating the usage policy.

·          The biggest challenge for him is the PowerSchool and working in PowerSchool with PIMS.

·          People were having problems with logging into the system at home so he networked and made changes so the program is accessible at home.

 

 

 

 

Mr. Panek:

·          Welcomed the new board members.

·          Informed the board of the GEN 6 report that was being completed by the high school and the elementary volunteered to do a similar report to know where the school stands as far as improvements.

·          The response to the auditor general was sent in and the District is awaiting a response from the auditor general.

·          The school is still waiting to hear from the department of health in regards to the dispensing of the H1N1 vaccine.

·          Status on uploading and collecting PIMS information is being done. Mr. Panek informed the board that most schools have a PIMS administrator and instead of four people doing it one person would be responsible.

 

CIU

 

·          Funding was the big topic; many budget cuts are coming from the state. The teenage pregnancy is completely being eliminated. The CIU will be sending out letters to the districts asking for help to keep running this program since the children are benefiting greatly from it.

 

CCCTC

 

·          The meeting is being held next week.

 

PERSONNEL

 

Don Yontosh motioned, Larry Allen seconded to approve the School Improvement Plan as per the recommendation of Mr. Holenchik and Mr. Panek. Motion carried.

 

Don Yontosh motioned, Melvin Smeal seconded to approve the West Branch Area School District to dispense the H1N1 vaccine when they are available. Motion carried.

 

Don Yontosh motioned, Gary Miller seconded, to approve the following conferences:

·          Angie Lucas to attend the E.S.L. networking meetings held on January 6, 2010; March 25, 2010; and May 13, 2010, held at the C.I.U. #10. Cost to the district is $255 for subs; paid for by ACCESS funds.

·          Patricia Wood to attend the Health Education Assessment Project on December 16, 2009 and January 13, 2010, held at Lock Haven University. Cost to the district is $170 for subs paid for by TITLE II funds.

·          Chris Marsh to attend the PSEA House of Delegates on December 4, 2009 in Pittsburgh. Cost to the district is $85 for a sub paid for by TITLE II funds.

·          Lori Bollinger to attend Classroom Management on December 8, 2009 at the Hilton Garden in State College. Cost to the district is $239; $154 for registration and $85 for a sub. Paid for by TITLE II funds.

Motion carried.

 

Don Yontosh motioned, Melvin Smeal seconded to defer the approval of Kris Kolesar to be the Student Government Advisor and Sophomore Class Advisor. The position will be re-advertised in-house. Motion carried.

 

Mr. Smeal asked who Mrs. Kolesar was and he would like the positions re-advertised because the board would like an employee of the school to take the position.

 

Larry Allen motioned, Gary Miller seconded to approve the purchase of replacement marching band uniforms, as per bid submitted by Stanbury Uniforms, Inc, at a total cost of $45,358.37.  This cost reflects a 4% discount if pre-paid in advance.  (Current total in Band Uniform Replacement Fund: $43,762.98.  Board approval needed for advance of additional $1,595.39 to cover the difference.  It is understood that this additional amount will be deducted from the annual $4000.00 to be transferred to the Band Uniform Fund for 09-10 fiscal year.) with the addition that the board will pay the different of $2,400 which will be deducted from the June payment. Motion carried.

 

 

 

 

Don Yontosh motioned, Larry Allen seconded, to approve the Ski Club to go on the following field trips:

1.     Tussey Mountain Ski Area on January 10, 2010. There is no cost to the district and $60 cost to the student.

2.     Hidden Valley Ski Resort on January 17, 2010. There is no cost to the district and $75 cost to the student.

3.     Holiday Valley Ski Resort on January 24, 2010. There is no cost to the district and $80 cost to the student.

4.     Holiday Valley Ski Area on February 10, 2010 (tentative). Cost to the district is $170 for subs, and cost to the student is $60.

Motion carried.

 

Melvin Smeal motioned, Tim Kephart seconded, to approve the following volunteers:

1.     Dean Swatsworth—Wrestling

2.     David Heefner—Boys Basketball

3.     Walter Timblin / Amanda Moore—District

 

TRANSPORTATION AND ATHLETICS

Melvin Smeal motioned, Larry Allen seconded to defer the resignation of Lester Smeal, Assistant Head Football Coach. Voice Roll Call: Mr. Kovalcin—yes; Mr. Kephart—yes; Mr. Smeal—yes; Mrs. Kerlin—yes; Mr. Yontosh—no; Mr. Allen—yes; Mr. Coble—yes; Mr. Seprish—yes; Mr. Miller—no. 7—yes; 2—no. Motion carried.

 

Mr. Smeal said the football team needs to be restructured and something needs to be done. The board will invite the coaches to the next committee meeting and see if there can be a solution as to why the coaches and boys are quitting.

 

FINANCE AND PURCHASE

 

Tim Kephart motioned, Larry Allen seconded, to approve the payment of bills through the end of December 2009, with a list of bills to be provided at the January 2010 board meeting. Motion carried.

 

ADDENDUM

 

Gerald Coble motioned, Larry Allen seconded, to approve exoneration of payment of school per capita tax for 2009 for 2 residents of Morris Twp.  [These are in addition to the exonerations approved at the November 23, 2009 board meeting.]  Each resident has filed the required exoneration form and meets the income limit as set by the district.  Forms are on file in the Business Office. Motion carried.

Melvin Smeal motioned, Jennifer Kerlin seconded, to approve the resignation of Michael Polachek, head of security, effective immediately. Motion carried.

 

Melvin Smeal motioned, Jennifer Kerlin seconded, to defer the resignation of Gerald White, assistant varsity football coach. Voice Roll Call: Mr. Kovalcin—yes; Mr. Kephart—yes; Mr. Smeal—yes; Mrs. Kerlin—yes; Mr. Yontosh—no; Mr. Allen—yes; Mr. Coble—yes; Mr. Seprish—yes; Mr. Miller—no. 7—yes; 2—no. Motion carried.

 

Don Yontosh motioned, Larry Allen seconded, to approve the high school special education class to take a field trip to Clearfield Lock Haven Student Employment Workshop on January 12, 2010. There is no cost to the student and cost to the district is for bus or van transportation and sub costs. Motion carried.

 

NEW BUSINESS

Carla Reitz expressed her concerns to the new board members about the size of the learning support classes. She passed out a handout with facts that she has collected.

 

ADJOURN

Larry Allen motioned, Melvin Smeal seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 8:09 p.m. motion carried.

The board took an executive session for negotiations and did not reconvene.

Kasi Jackson

 

 

Board Secretary