Public School Board Meeting 02/15/2010

OCTORARA AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
February 15, 2010 – 7:30 p.m.
Middle School Multi-Purpose Room

AGENDA
1.Lord’s Prayer

2.Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

3.Roll Call

All present
4. Approval of Minutes from the Work Session of January 11, 2010 and the Regular Meeting of January 18, 2010.

Approved.
5. Presentations
Brian Cutler (State Representative) was there to let the Board know that he is available for questions & to let them know what is going on in Harrisburg.



He has been added to the Education Committee. The Governor would like more money for education. He is looking for $30 million extra. Mr. Cutler is concerned that there will be strings & mandates attached to this funding. He realizes that unfunded mandates are a problem. A task force may look at unfunded mandates to see if any can be suspended or repealed.

They are also looking at the impact of Clean & Green on school districts.

He also realizes that there are huge pension increases coming. They will also be looking at this.

Mr. McCartney asked if there has been any movement on the 2007 task force recommendations.

Mr. Cutler replied that one of the things they’ve looked at is the consolidation of school benefits programs & a purchasing consortium. However, he has found that many districts in our area would be adversely affected by this – districts in this area do well with this. They would be forced to spend more.

Mr. Norris asked if there would be a greater push to have the budget passed on time. Mr. Cutler said that he hoped so. The Governor would like to sign the budget by mid-June. State revenue is behind by $500 Million.

Mrs. Bowman asked if there would be pension reform. Mr. Cutler said that they have to. State benefits need to be cut. One thing he would like the state to look at is the natural gas contained on state lands. He’d like to see that used to fund infrastructure (including education) within environmental standards. There was further discussion about pension funds.

Mr. Carsley asked what they should do about budgeting an increase in basic education funding from the state. Mr. Cutler suggested that they not include it. If it occurs, then it is a bonus.

6.Discussion Item

Avon Grove Charter School Busing

Dr. Newcome along with Larry & Lynn Althouse (Althouse Transportation) addressed this.


There are some students on this route who traveling on the bus for 1 hour 50 minutes.

Dr. Newcome met with some parents. He asked Althouse Transportation for some options. They came up with four.

1. Create a stop at the PLC. Have the parents bring the students to the PLC in the morning & they would proceed from there.
2. Shuttle bussing – students would ride the bus to the Octorara Campus with Octorara students. They would then take a different bus to Avon Grove Charter. (Many students attending private schools use this). While this would decrease the ride-time for students in the northern part of the district, it would increase the time for students in the southern part of the district.
3. Add a bus at $310/day (approx. $56,000 annually)
4. Add a van at $224/day (approx. $40,000 annually)

There is nothing in the law about the length of time students ride the bus.

Mr. Malone stated that last week the Board was talking about cutting busses.

Mrs. Bicking asked how far away a private or charter school had to be before the district was no longer responsible for transportation. The answer is 10 miles from the district border. Avon Grove Charter Kemblesville is 9.7 miles.

Mr. Ganow wanted to know what the district would cut if they were to fund $ 56,000 for this bus.

A lot of discussion ensued. Everyone kept coming back to option 2. Mrs. Althouse said the problem with option 2 is that while it has a positive impact on 5 students, it would have a negative impact on 21 students.

Mr. Norris asked who does Avon Grove’s bussing & is there any way to piggy-back on that.

Mr. Ganow stated that the district does that for at least on private school. He doesn’t think it is fair to ask Althouse’s to purchase an additional bus & then the district may cut busses.

Someone asked what the tuition is for AGCS. $9,800/student.

Mr. Norris thinks the Board needs to plan for the future in this regard.

Mr. Ganow said that the best solution is to find out why parents are sending their children to charter schools & then try to get them back to Octorara.

Mr. Hume asked if there has been any conversations between the Administration & parents of students who go to the charter schools.

Dr. Newcome said that they could try, but could not require it.

Mr. Carsley said that another part of the problem is that in the current economy, for families attending private schools, if one parent loses a job, the children are being taken out of private school & are enrolled in charter school.

Mr. Stoltzfus asked if these parents are looking for a solution for this year.

Mr. Malone stated that we don’t have the money.

Mr. Hume asked if they had to make a decision tonight.

Mr. Malone asked if the District is currently abiding by the law. Dr. Newcome responded “yes”. Mr. Malone stated that it is the parents’ choice to send them to the charter school.  Discussion between Mr. Malone & Mr. Hume as to the District's responsibility to these students.  Mr. Hume thinks the district needs to do something.  Mr. Malone thinks it is the parents' choice to send the students to the charter school and the district is doing what it is legally obligated to do.

Dr. Newcome stated that they are looking at all bus routes for next year.  Some of the district's students may be riding longer than they currently do.

7.Information Items

Administrative position changes:
Transfer Jon Propper from Octorara Middle School principal to interim Octorara Area High School assistant principal.

Transfer Cliff Blantz from Octorara Area High School assistant principal to interim Octorara Middle School assistant principal.

Transfer Elena Wilson from Octorara Middle School assistant principal to interim Octorara Middle School principal.

8. Treasurer’s Report

A. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the General Fund Report for
period ending January 31, 2010.

Mr. Malone gave the report. Approved.


9.Business Manager’s Report:

A.Approval of Bills for Payment

Mr. Carsley gave the report. 

Mr. McCarter wondered why the athletic bills had different totals on two different pages.  Mr. Carsley will look into it and get back to Mr. McCartney.

Mr. Norris had a question about a couple of items.

Approved.10. Visitors’ Comments - Agenda Items Only

Eric Stuehrmann (W. Fallowfield) said he could address some reasons why parents choose to send their children to a charter school.  Mr. Stuerhmann stated he has 3 children, one of whom he recently transferred to a charter school.  He's concerned about the District's priorties.  His oldest child took the PSAT's and was eligible as a National Merit Scholar in everything but math.   There seems to be a systemic problem with the math program.  The child who transferred has some problems that weren't addressed by the district. 

11. Recommended Action Items:
(Italicized items are new; they were not on the February 8, 2010 agenda.)

A. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the proposed preliminary budget for the 2010-2011 fiscal year and allow the administration to apply for Act 1 exemptions.

Mr. Ganow wanted to make it clear that a positive vote at this time does not mean a positive vote in the future.  Dr. Newcome clarified that this is a legal necessity under Act 1 and not what the budget will show in the end.

Approved.

Hiring Approvals:
B.That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the employment of Ms. Melissa Rapp as a bus aide at the Octorara Intermediate School at the rate of $9.65 per hour effective February 1, 2010. (Ms. Rapp is currently employed by the District as a lunch/playground aide. She is replacing Billie Lynn Stanley who resigned.)

Approved. 

C.  That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the employment of Ms. Catherine Mundy as a mid-range substitute English teacher at the Octorara Area High School effective February 1, 2010 through June 11, 2010 at the rate of $140 per day. (Ms. Mundy is replacing Jennifer Watson who is on child-rearing leave.)

Approved.

D. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the employment of Ms. Dawn Munion as a mid-range substitute math teacher at the Octorara Area High School effective January 4, 2010 through March 30, 2010 at the rate of $140 per day. (Ms. Munion is currently an approved substitute for the District and is
replacing Melissa Carrodo who is on medical leave.)

Approved.

E. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve Ms. Cheryl Coughlin as a volunteer swim coach for her child. She will be representing Octorara Area High School in Chesmont League swim meets on an exhibition basis when there is a lane available at the meets.

Approved.

F.That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following supplemental contracts for the 2009-2010 school year:
Dean Bicking OIS Technology Coordinator 2 points @ $545 $1,090
Drew Duggan OIS Academic Comp Advisor 2 points @ $545 $1,090

G.That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following substitute teachers for the 2009-2010 school year:
Alicia Ivey (Elementary)
Laura Stewart (Elementary)
Kelley Ternahan (Elementary, ESL)
Beth Vattelana (Special Education, Elementary)
Melissa Weathers (Elementary, Reading Specialist)

Approved.

H. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following substitute support staff for the 2009-2010 school year:
Amy MacDonald (Instructional Assistant, Lunch Playground Aide, Nurse Aide, Library, Secretary)
David Kauffman (Custodian)

Approved.

I. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following changes in salary due to graduate credits earned:
Drew Baumgardner From M+15 ($57,535) to M+30 ($59,524) Step 7
Shawna McAllister From M+15 ($55,181) to M+30 ($57,349) Step 4
Dena Schott From M+30 ($60,974) to M+45 ($63,750) Step 9

Approved.

J.That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the textbook Voices of Dissent – Critical Readings in American Politics, 8th Edition, Grover and Peschek, published by Pearson Education, Inc., © 2010. This text will be used by the Octorara Area High School in the AP Government course.

Approved.
K. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the purchase of cable TV distribution and video on demand server for the District from AVT Digital Media Systems at a cost of $49,190.00.

Mr. Ganow questioned whether this went out for bid.  Mr. Carsley stated that these are state prices & have already been bid.
Mr. Ganow wanted to know if it could be put out to bid anyway.  Mr. Carsley said that it could be.  Mr. Ganow did some pricing online & found several prices to be cheaper. 

Mr. Hume said that since they are looking to cut expenses that this should be shelved for the time being.  Mr. Ganow said that this is from capital funds. 

Mr. Norris said that if we don't do it now, while the classrooms are ripped up, it won't happen at all.  We depend on the state to get us the best prices.  This has been discussed for a while & it is a little late now to be questioning the prices.

Mr. Stoltzfus believes this is the time to do it.

It was explained that residents will be able to stream school events on campus to their home computers.

Mr. Stoltzfus said that we will receive credit for the coax cable.

Mr. Ganow is not opposed to doing it, he is just worried about this being the best price.

Ms. Johnson said that they had received 3 quotes at the facilities meeting.  Mrs. Bowman stated that this was discussed at 2 facilities meetings.

There was more discussion.

Mr. Carsley said that they try to piggyback onto state contracts whenever they can.  He did request other quotes & the state quote was the best.  If it is put out to bid, it would delay the installation & the project.  A bid has to be in the paper for 3 weeks.

Roll Call Vote:
Bicking              Yes
Bowman            Yes
Ganow              No
Hume                No
Johnson             Yes
Malone             Yes
McCarter          No
Norris               Yes
Stoltzfus            Yes

Approved 6-3

L. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the attached agreement between the Octorara Area School District and the Octorara YMCA.

Approved.

12. I.U./C.A.T. Board Representative’s Report

Mr. Stoltzfus said the meeting is this Wednesday.

13. Old Business

None
14. New Business

None

15. Other Items and Announcements

None

16. Visitors’ Comments – General

Eric Stuerhmann (W. Fallowfield) wanted to follow-up some things from the December meeting.  It was his recollection that the Board said they don't respond to community comments per policy.  However, he looked through the policies and couldn't find anything that said that.  There doesn't seem to be a 2-way conversation.

People have told him that they don't come to the meetings because the Board doesn't seem interested in listening.  He often has people ask him to bring up things at the meetings that they don't wnat to bring up themselves.    He has encouraged people to come to meetings.

He said that at the Avon Grove Charter School Board meetings that the public has an opportunity to speak with every agenda item.  The public knows exactly what is being discussed.

John Reid (Atglen)  had a question regarding the information item.  He wanted to know when these moves were effective.  As far as he knows, there has been no communication with parents.  He feels that this is a disruption so close to PSSA testing.  He also questioned the term "interim" (how long?  impact on salaries?)  As a building principal in another district, he has never seen anything like this occur.


17. Board Comments

Mrs. Bowman said that the Board has always listened and at times there has been dialogue. There are other boards who don't respond until the following month.


Mr. Norris said he cannot recall an incident where no one has addressed questions.

Members of the Board stated that they would not discuss the Superintendent contract or the information item above.

18. Adjournment

Executive Session for personnel Monday, February 15, 2010 – following the Board Meeting in the Octorara District Office Conference Room.

Facility Committee Meeting – Monday, March 8, 2010 – 6:00 p.m. in the Octorara District Office Conference Room

Next regularly scheduled Work Session – Monday, March 8, 2010 – 7:30 p.m. in the Octorara Middle School Multi-Purpose Room

Finance Committee Meeting – Monday, March 15, 2010 – 6:30 p.m. in the Octorara District Office Conference Room

Next regularly scheduled Board Meeting – Monday, March 15, 2010 – 7:30 p.m. in the Octorara Middle School Multi-Purpose Room