OFFICIAL MINUTES

WEST BRANCH AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

MORRISDALE, PA

SPECIAL MEETING                                                                                  January 3, 2008

An executive session was held for Personnel and Contractual at 6:00 p.m. in the Board Room. 

A special meeting of the West Branch Area Board of Directors was held January 3, 2008 at 7:46 p.m. in the high school library.

Members present:  Tom Veres; Larry Cowder; Mary Ann Couteret; Don Yontosh; Joseph Kovalcin; Gerald Coble; Ron Mollura; Tim Eyerly.  Members absent:  Larry Allen

Others present:  William Hayward, Elementary Principal; Sean Wechtenhiser, High School Principal; Wendy Fernburg, Supervisor of Special Education; Paul Carr, Business Manager; Allen Levin, Solicitor; Miriam Ennis, Board Secretary; Phyllis Gable; Holly Petriskey; Susan Betts; Debra Morarity; Holly Michael; Annie Lynn, The Progress; James A. Coval, Sr.; Jeremy Craven; Trent Yarrison; Dave Nelson; Kim Eyerly; Mary Sheroke; Bruce George; Lynn Brewer; Jeff Eyet; Jeff Ennis; Paul J. Monella II.

Debra Moriarity, Drama Advisor, spoke to the board concerning the need for clearances for the school musical volunteers.  She said that the play is in jeopardy because her advisors are required to get their clearances and then be approved by the board.  The Board stated that they would make an exception so that the play would not be cancelled but that this would be the last exception to their motion of February 2007.  All volunteers must have all of the necessary paperwork before being approved by the Board.

Larry Cowder motioned, Mary Ann Couteret seconded, to approve waiving the volunteer paperwork until February 14 for Tom Owen to participate with the drama practice.  Motion carried.

Sue Betts, Junior Class Advisor would like permission to sell raffle tickets to raise money for the Jr./Sr. Prom.  The volleyball team would allow the Junior Class to add their name to their games of chance permit. 

Mary Ann Couteret motioned, Tom Veres seconded, to approve the Junior Class holding a raffle as a fundraiser for the Jr./Sr. Prom provided that Board policy is followed.  Motion carried.

Administrative Reports:

Bill Hayward –

• Jessica Frank, staff member, has developed a weight loss challenge.  Mr. Hayward approached ProCare and they are willing to give the staff a reduced rate.  They will do that contingent upon the fact that they are on the provider list with worker’s compensation.  Paul Carr will check with worker’s compensation.

• Mr. Hayward gave Mr. Carr the information on the type of two-way radios that the school will require for emergencies.  There is a good chance that Wal-mart will donate the radios.  They are approximately $40 per set.

Paul Carr – No report

Sean Wechtenhiser –

• The West Branch Boys’ Basketball Booster Club, an outside organization, is interested in taking a fan bus to Harmony.  It is the opinion of the solicitor that the chaperones should have all the necessary paperwork. 
• The district’s improvement plan was approved.  The district can now apply for the $9,500 grant to carry out the school improvement plan.
• The West Branch Band is hosting the Jazz Band Festival in January and is looking for host families to sponsor students. 
• The fax machine in the high school is not working properly and will need approximately $200 in repairs.
• Head varsity football coach interviews will be held January 15 and 16, 2008 with the Athletic and Transportation committee.

Jeremy Craven-

• Received a price on three fax machine/copiers from Edwards Office Machines.  The cost will be $4,650 per machine.  The district will need three quotes because the price is over $4,000.
• The price to purchase the automated program to phone parents for student’s attendance and early dismissals for snow and emergency situations is $4,425.00 for the first year.  There is a one-time fee of $525 that is based on the number of students in the district.  The district will look into the cafeteria end of the software so that parents can call and find out their students’ cafeteria account balances. 

Wendy Fernburg –

• Apprised the Board of the new Chapter 14 regulations concerning Paraprofessionals.  They must complete at least two years of postsecondary study or possess an associate degree or higher or meet a rigorous standard of quality as demonstrated through a State or local assessment by July 1, 2010.  They must also provide evidence of 20 hours of staff development activities related to their assignment each school year.
• Scott Burfield’s Life Skills Class is participating in a job-shadowing program in the elementary cafeteria on the serving line.  The board was provided with a job-shadowing rubric.

CCCTC – No report

CIU – No report

Joseph Kovalcin motioned, Mary Ann Couteret seconded, to approve contracting with School Reach on Option No. 2 at a cost of $4,425.00.  Motion carried.

BOARD:

The Board will consider adopting the PSBA Standards for Effective School Governance at the January 28 meeting.

PERSONNEL:

Tom Veres motioned, Joseph Kovalcin seconded, to approve Dr. Patrick Lukasavich as Interim Superintendent at a rate of $500 per day and employment commencing on January 7, 2008.  Motion carried.

Mr. Eyerly welcomed and then introduced Dr. Lukasavich to the audience.

Ron Mollura motioned, Mary Ann Couteret seconded, to approve the following volunteers. All paperwork has been received.

Andrea Coval – Elementary

Kathryn Fluck – Elementary

William Fluck – Elementary

Thad Ritter – High School

Lisa Scaife – Elementary

Mary Hudish – Elementary

Motion carried.

Joe Kovalcin motioned, Gerald Coble seconded, to approve Leave without Pay for Wendy Sabol, Personal Care Aide, in reliance upon the letter from the bargaining unit, from January 10, 2008 to January 23, 2008.  Motion carried.

PROGRAM:

Ron Mollura motioned, Don Yontosh seconded, to approve the following motion:

Propose the Board approve the following workshops:

2008 PASA Training Update with Dr. Zidmond:  CIU, West Decatur; January 16, 2008; ACCESS FUNDS

Sarah Ewing:  Sub – 42.50.  Total cost:  $42.50

Response to Intervention:  CIU, West Decatur; January 30, 2008

Wendy Fernburg:  No cost to district

Motion carried.

A letter from the Pennsylvania Department of Education approving the 2007 high school improvement plan will be referred to the Personnel and Education Committee at the January 21, 2008 Committee meeting.

A letter from the Pennsylvania Department of Education concerning the Summer Food Service Program will be referred to the Cafeteria Committee.

Buildings and Grounds:

A letter was received from the Western Land Services, Inc. concerning an oil and gas project in Clearfield County will be referred to Buildings and Grounds.

Budget:

A letter was received from the Department of Education that the rate increase for all proposed tax rates is less than or equal to the school district’s index was given to the Board.

Information:

The Personnel Committee will be starting negotiations with the Support Staff on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 at 4:00 p.m.

Old Business:

Mary Ann Couteret inquired if the board secretary had located a copy of the travel expense policy that the previous superintendent was revising for the Board.  Mrs. Ennis did not locate the policy and will provide Mrs. Couteret with a copy of the policy for her review.

Sean Wechtenhiser is interested in hiring the PA Educational Consultants to increase PSSA test scores. The board questioned the timing of removing the teachers from their classrooms for training.  Joe Kovalcin suggested that the Board possibly hire the firm to start the new school year.  Mr. Wechtenhiser said that he would apply for the $9,500 grant to offset the cost.  The consulting firm would write the grant for the district.  Some board members received phone calls concerning the movie reward system that was being held the next day for improvement on the PSSA’s.  Mr. Wechtenhiser explained that this is being used as a motivational tool.

Executive Session for Personnel and Contractual at 8:50 p.m.

Meeting reconvened at 9:20 p.m.

Personnel:

Ron Mollura motioned, Don Yontosh seconded, to approve Sandy Hoffner as Temporary Elementary Head Cook with the possibility of a permanent position.  Motion carried.

Mary Ann Couteret and Larry Allen left the meeting at 9:30 p.m.

Old Business:

Mr. Eyerly questioned Paul Carr concerning Fobs for the aides.  Mr. Carr has issued one fob for each of the Life Skills Classrooms in the high school. 

Mr. Eyerly questioned if the phone lines have been repaired and if Mr. Craven has put together a list of all of the lines that in the building.  If all of the lines are not repaired by the next board meeting, the district will look into hiring another company.

Mr. Carr reported that the time clocks have been programmed and that every employee will start using the system on Monday.

The Gethsemane bus stop was started on January 2, 2008.  The board would like to know why the bus stop was approved on December 3, 2007 and was not started until January 3, 2008.

The Crisis Plan will be approved at the next board meeting.

Don Yontosh would like to know if the cafeteria is using the inventory system that is included with the software program NutriKids.  Mr. Carr did not know that the software was capable of an inventory program.

Since there is not an official job description for the Attendance Secretary position, the board will use a temporary list of duties to post and advertise until a permanent job description is approved.

Mr. Eyerly questioned Mr. Carr if the mail is being separated into the three building areas.  Mr. Carr stated that companies are being notified to update their mailing list to reflect the new addresses.

Sean Wechtenhiser reported that he provided Dr. Perna with the password for the strategic plan so that he could review it.  He also has contacted the department of education to get an extension.  He left a message but has had no return phone call.

The arrowhead and Indian logo will be returned to the district letterhead.

The Board is suggesting the visitor’s passes be different colors to indicate the place of entrance.

New Business:

Mary Ann Couteret motioned, Tom Veres seconded, to approve order two fireproof filing cabinets for the Board Conference Room with locks.  Motion carried.

Tom Veres motioned, Larry Cowder seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 10:30 p.m.  An executive session for Personnel and Contractual will be held following the meeting.  The meeting will not reconvene.

Respectfully submitted,

Miriam Ennis

Board Secretary