OFFICIAL MINUTES
WEST BRANCH AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
MORRISDALE, PA
REGULAR MEETING January 28, 2008
An executive session was held for Personnel at 7:00 p.m. in the Board Conference Room.
The regular meeting of the West Branch Area School District Board of Directors was held in the high school library on January 28, 2008, at 7:30 p.m.
Members present: Timothy Eyerly; Tom Veres; Donald Yontosh; Larry Allen; Gerald Coble; Joseph Kovalcin; Larry Cowder; Mary Ann Couteret; Ron Mollura
Others present: William Hayward, Elementary Principal; Wendy Fernburg, Supervisor of Special Education; Sean Wechtenhiser, High School Principal; Paul Carr, Business Manager; Miriam Ennis, Board Secretary; Allen J. Levin, Solicitor; Charles Howe; Shari Buck; Jen Brickley; PJ Monella; Phyllis Gable; Len Coval; Brady English; Spencer Folmar; Allison Koleno; Laurie Josephson; Preston Raymond; Jeff Eyet; Jeremy Craven; Holly Michael; Trent Yarrison; Holly Petriskey; Debra Moriarity; Tylen English; Taylor Reams; Lynn Brewer; Dave Nelson; Annie Lynn, The Progress; Lester Smeal; David L. Williamson; Jeff Ennis; Kim Eyerly; Robert Myers
Student Reports:
Spencer Folmar – Student Government
· The 4 Sight rewards for academic achievement went well.
· Boys’ basketball player, Chris Dotts, scored 1,000 points this season.
· Girls’ basketball player, Kari Larson, scored 1,000 points this season. The last girl to score 1,000 points at West Branch was Jennifer Hoffman.
· PMEA Jazz Festival will be held at West Branch on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
· Request to hold the 2nd Annual Senior Prom for the West Branch Community-Adults 45 years of age and older.
· Request to hold the 2008 graduation ceremony outside at the football field, weather permitting. The class is large and there would be more room on the football field.
· The Snowball Dance will be held at the school on February 23, 2008.
Christina Grossi – Senior Class
· The cookie dough fundraiser was held and money collected in a timely manner.
· Student Services is extending their deadline from January 23, 2008 to February 8, 2008.
· The new etching of the school for the diploma insert has been given to the board for their approval.
A discussion was held on outside graduation. Mr. Wechtenhiser said that if graduation were held outside that finals and the junior high trip would have to be rescheduled. The seniors will probably have one full day of practice inside and one full day of practice outside. Dave Nelson will have to set up both football field and the auditorium. Tim Eyerly said that the outside graduation would be held weather permitting and the weather should be checked in the morning.
Presentations:
Sam Maney and Eric Elensky from Walter Hopkins and Associations presented the audit report to the board. Total revenues were $14,212,440 and the budgeted revenues were $13,450,061 with a difference of $762,379. Total expenditures were $12,728,868 and budgeted expenditures were $14,689,703 with a difference of $1,960,835. No discrepancies were found and the district is financial in good shape.
Don Yontosh motioned, Tom Veres seconded, to approve the 2006-07 local financial audit as presented from Walter Hopkins and Associates. Motion carried.
Recognition of Visitors – None
Ron Mollura motioned, Don Yontosh seconded, to approve the minutes from December 20, 2007. The minutes of January 3, 2008 were approved with the addition of Larry Allen as leaving the meeting at 9:30 p.m.
Finance and Purchase:
Tom Veres motioned, and Gerald Coble seconded, to approve the payment of bills for December-January. Motion carried.
Tom Veres motioned, Mary Ann Couteret seconded, to approve the Treasurer’s Financial Report for December. Motion carried.
Don Yontosh motioned, Ron Mollura seconded, to approve the Activities Account Report for December. Motion carried.
Don Yontosh motioned, Gerald Coble seconded, to approve the Athletic Report for December. Motion carried.
Tom Veres motioned, Don Yontosh seconded, to approve the payment of Cafeteria bills for January and approve the Cafeteria Financial Report for December. Motion carried.
Ron Mollura motioned, Mary Ann Couteret seconded, to approve contracting with Daniel and Associates, for $6,000, for providing consulting services necessary in completing and submitting the West Branch Area School District Strategic Plan. Motion carried.
Personnel:
Tom Veres motioned, Larry Allen seconded, to approve the maternity leave of Sarah Ewing, Learning Support Teacher. Mrs. Ewing will begin her leave on or about April 9, 2008, and utilize all sick and personal days before beginning a leave in accordance with the Family Medical Leave Act. Motion carried.
Don Yontosh motioned, Mary Ann Couteret seconded, to accept the resignation of George Prestash as Assistant Varsity Softball Coach. Motion carried.
Don Yontosh motioned, Tom Veres seconded, to accept the resignation of Robert Myers as Head Junior High Softball Coach. Motion carried.
Don Yontosh motioned, Mary Ann Couteret seconded, to accept the resignation of Bryan Williams as Assistant Varsity Baseball Coach. Motion carried.
Tom Veres motioned, Gerald Coble seconded, to approve Jackie Sabol and Thomas Lannen as West Branch School District Volunteers. All appropriate documentation has been submitted. Motion carried.
Don Yontosh motioned, Joe Kovalcin seconded, to approve the conference requests as presented:
1. Wendy Fernburg, Supervisor of Special Education, to CIU 10 on February 4, 2008 to attend the 2008 PSSA Accommodations Guidelines Training for Students With IEP’s and 504 Plans Training, with no cost to the district.
2. William Hayward, Elementary Principal, to CIU 10 on March 4, 2008 to attend Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Refresher Training, with costs to the district not to exceed $35 for registration.
3. Angela Trude and Sarah Ewing, Elementary Learning Support Teachers, to State College on February 6, 2008 to attend the Effective Strategies for Working Successfully with Difficult and Disruptive Students Conference, with all costs, $560, to be paid with Title II funding ($390 for registration and $170 for two substitute teachers for one day).
4. Karen Kochkodin and Linda Stone, Title 1 Reading Teachers, to State College on February 8, 2008 to attend the Increasing the Success of Your Title I Students Conference, with all costs, $380 for registration, to be paid with Title 1 funding.
5. Van Johnson, Elementary Guidance Counselor, to Lancaster, PA on April 17-19, 2008 to attend the Pennsylvania School Counselors Association Annual State Conference with costs to the district not to exceed $610 ($280 for Registration and $330 for lodging).
6. Two Kindergarten Teachers, to be named later, to Harrisburg on March 10-11, 2008 to attend the Annual Conference for Pennsylvania Kindergarten Teachers, with costs to the district not to exceed $1,269 ($618 registration, $251 lodging, $60 meals, and $340 for two substitute teachers for two days).
7. Sean Wechtenhiser, High School Principal, to Johnstown, PA on March 12, 2008 to attend the Managing Multiple Projects, Objectives and Deadlines Training, with costs to the district not to exceed $199 for registration.
8. Kim Hubler, High School Guidance Counselor, to Ridgway, PA on February 28-29,2008 to attend the Toolkit for Career Education Workshop, with no cost to the district.
9. Sean Wechtenhiser, High School Principal, Betty Fry, Math teacher, and Jessica Frank and Ronda Hanslovan, English Teachers, to University Park, PA on April 28-30, 2008 to attend the Road to One-to-One Computing Workshop, with costs to the district not to exceed $1,510 ($1,000 for registration and $510 for three substitute teachers for two days.).
10. Deborah Gomola and Betty Fye, Senior High Teachers, to University Park, PA on March 9-11, 2008 to attend the Pennsylvania Association of Student Assistance Professional Conference, with all costs, $970, to be paid with Safe and Drug Free School Grant funding. ($630 registration and $340 two substitute teachers for two days).
11. Miriam Ennis, Board Secretary/Child Accounting Officer, to Hershey, PA on March 12-14, 2008 to attend the Pennsylvania Spring Child Accounting Conference, with costs to the district not to exceed $579 ($195 registration, $188 housing, $70 meals, and $126 mileage).
12. Adele Williams, Elementary Special Education Teacher, to CIU 10, West Decatur, PA on February 13, 2008 to attend PASA Preparation, with cost to the district not to exceed $85. ($85 for one substitute teacher).
Motion carried.
Joe Kovalcin motioned, Mary Ann Couteret seconded, to approve Rebecca Koscho to the Elementary Teacher substitute list. All documentation has been received. Motion carried.
Tom Veres motioned, Ron Mollura seconded, to approve, as presented, the Memorandum of Agreement with the West Branch Area School District Support Staff. Motion carried.
Don Yontosh motioned, Mary Ann Couteret seconded, to approve forwarding Grievance #2, 2007-08, to the arbitration level for resolution. Motion carried.
Ron Mollura motioned, Larry Cowder seconded, to approve Robert Lazauskas as the new West Branch Area School District Head Football Coach. Individual roll call: Joe Kovalcin – no; Don Yontosh – no; Ron Mollura – yes; Larry Cowder – yes; Tom Veres – yes; Larry Allen – no; Gerald Coble – no; Mary Ann Couteret – yes; Tim Eyerly – yes. 5 yes, 4 no. Motion carried.
Larry Allen motioned, Mary Ann Couteret seconded, to accept the resignation of Paul Carr, Business Manager as of April 30, 2008. Motion carried.
Joe Kovalcin motioned, Ron Mollura seconded, to accept the resignation of Gary Hubler for the purpose of retirement. Mr. Hubler has worked for the district for 30 years. Motion carried.
Instructional Services:
Ron Mollura motioned, Tom Veres seconded, to approve the following field trip requests:
1. Nanette Reams, Grade 5 Teacher, to take all Grade 5 students to Fort Roberdeau on May 30, 2008, with all costs paid for by PTO. Four Grade 5 teachers and eight parent chaperones will accompany the students.
2. Jackie Zimmerman and Sherry McGarvey, High School Life Support Teachers, to take selected students in Grades 11-12 to Lock Haven University-Clearfield Campus on March 5, 2008 to attend the Regional Student Employment Workshop, with no costs to the district. Karen Williams and Cindy Swatsworth, Paraprofessionals, will also accompany the students.
Motion carried.
Mr. Hayward – Elementary Report
· The third round of the 4 Sight test were held January 25 & 28, 2008. The PSSA Writing test will be given February 12, 2008.
· The elementary held their pint size blood drive on January 18, 2008 and 86 pints were donated. The district will receive a $500 scholarship.
· Legal Eagles Program was held on January 18, 2008. A polygraph program was given.
· A penny drive was held in the elementary from September until December. $1,764.78 was collected. The money will be used to purchase “Hank the Cowdog” books for the library in memory of Cheri Carr, Elementary Teacher.
· Make-up snow days will be February 15 & 18, 2008.
· Lorie Miles has been trained on the School Reach program to enter students and keep students updated in the system. Cindy Gormont and Kim Sabol were trained on adding students to the system. A test of the system will be held with the staff this evening between 8:00(el) and 8:15(hs). A community test will be held next week.
The board president requested that the board secretary send letters to the students that were involved in the penny drive.
Sean Wechtenhiser – High School Report
· Classrooms for the Future installation took place on January 22 and January 23, 2008.
· 4 Sight Remediation/Reward Day was a success. Suggestions for improvement were made by staff and students.
· Dr. Daniel Perna and Mr. James Hartman held their first meeting with the Teacher Induction and Professional Development committees to finish the strategic plan. Next meeting is February 7, 2008.
· The Dual Enrollment Program has received commitments from Penn State DuBois and Lock Haven Clearfield. Sixteen students have given letters of interest for the program for the 2007-2008 school year. A meeting will be arranged for Mr. Kovalcin, board member, Mr. Wechtenhiser, a parent and a teacher.
· Two proposed etchings have been presented to the board for the diplomas. This etching is of the new building.
· T-Jay Hockenberry is requesting permission to donate his senior project, a birdhouse, to the school. It will be placed in the courtyard between the nurse’s office and the sixth grade classrooms.
Wendy Fernburg – Special Education Report
· Jackie Zimmerman’s Life Skills Class is working to develop job skills before they graduate along with academics.
Jeremy Craven – Technology Coordinator Report
· The fingerprint time clocks are not working and are being returned to the company. He is requesting a price on card swipe time clocks.
The board is requesting that Mr. Craven purchase card swipe time clocks.
Dr. Patrick Lukasavich – Superintendent Report
· Thanked the board for their dedication to the students, staff and community. January is Board Recognition Month. An article was placed in The Progress asking the community to thank their board members.
· Gave an overview of the budget process.
Policy:
Ron Mollura motioned, Joe Kovalcin seconded, to adopt the Pennsylvania School Board Association’s Standards for Effective School Governance and Code of Conduct for Members of Pennsylvania School Boards. Motion carried.
David Nelson – Buildings and Grounds Report
· PP&L Energy Services updated Mr. Kovalcin, Mr. Yontosh, Dr. Lukasavich and Paul Carr on the second phase of their project. Another meeting will be on February 6, 2008 and they will attend the February 18 Committee meeting to appraise the board of their recommendations for Phase Two.
· Allied Electrical was in Thursday to work on the emergency lighting for the auditorium. Mr. Nelson does not know if they have been back since.
The recommendation is for the elementary roof replacement and the elementary skylight removal. The other items on the list will be addressed in the future. PP&L will give the board an approximate cost of each of the items and the savings of energy costs. The cost of the roof came in lower than expected. There is a thirty-year warranty on the roof.
Tom Veres motioned, Joe Kovalcin seconded, to authorize PPL Energy Services to proceed with the Planning stage for the Elementary School Roof Replacement and related Elementary School lighting additions (necessary because of removing skylights) specified in the energy savings building project for West Branch Area School District. Authorization is necessary at this time in order to ensure the availability of the contractor’s workforce and site management for this summer. Should the District decide in the future not to proceed to the implementation stage of the project, the District will pay all costs incurred by PPL related to the Elementary School Roof Replacement project up to the date of formal cancellation. Motion carried.
Transportation Report –
· Don Yontosh and Joe Kovalcin reviewed a bus stop in Palestine. The bus stop will be taken into consideration when the bus stops are scheduled for the Fall.
CCCTC Report –
· The CCCTC is again requesting use of the school van to take students to Minnesota for a motorcycle building competition. The team won third place in the nation last year. The CCCTC will get a waiver from their insurance company as they did last year.
Ron Mollura motioned, Larry Allen seconded, to give permission to CCCTC to use the school van to attend a motorcycle competition, if a waiver is received from their insurance company. Motion carried.
CIU Report –
· The Central Intermediate Unit is still searching for a new director.
Correspondence – None
Recognition of Visitors:
· Spencer Folmar asked the board if permission was given to hold the second Prom and hold outdoor graduation. The board did approve both events.
· Lenny Coval, Morris Township, commended Dr. Lukasavich on the explanation on the budget. He is also requesting that the district consider realignment of the voting precincts. The solicitor will check on the procedure.
Mary Ann Couteret motioned, Larry Allen seconded, to adjourn at 9:05 p.m.
An executive session for Personnel, Contractual and Legal issues will be held following the meeting. The meeting will not readjourn.
Respectfully submitted,
Miriam Ennis
Board Secretary