Board Meeting 02/21/2011

OCTORARA AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
February 21, 2011– 7:30 p.m.
Middle School Multi-Purpose Room

AGENDA

1.Lord’s Prayer

2. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

3.Roll Call

1 absent.   (Dr. Newcome was also not present).

4. Approval of Minutes from the Work Session of January 10, 2011, and the Regular Meeting of January 17, 2011.

Approved.
5. Presentations

None.  There will be a presentation on the budget next month.
6. Information Items

None.

7. Treasurer’s Report
A. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the General Fund Report for period ending January 31, 2011.

Mr. Malone gave the report.  Approved.

8. Business Manager’s Report

A.That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the list of bills for payment.

Mr. Carsley gave the report.  Approved.
9. Visitors’ Comments - Agenda Items Only

None.
10. Recommended Action Items: (Italicized items are new; they were not on the February 14, 2011 agenda.)

A - J:  Approved.

A. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the addition of the Imprest Fund to the contract for the remote deposit between Fulton Bank and the Octorara Area School District.

B. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the removal of tax liens on the mobile home parcels listed below. The Chester County Commissioners exonerated the parcels because the original mobile home has either been removed from the parcel or demolished.

Parcel 44040000150T $ 620.51
Parcel 44070004250T $ 741.11
Parcel 46040026021T $3,539.76

Resignation Approvals:

C.That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the resignation, with regret, of Dr. Judy Curiel as a Spanish teacher at the Octorara Area High School for the purpose of retirement effective March 8, 2011. (Hired August 26, 1986.)

Hiring Approvals:
D. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the employment of Ms. Beth Reburn as an instructional assistant at the Primary Learning Center effective February 2, 2011 through May 2, 2011. Ms. Reburn’s rate will be $11.40 per hour. (Extended medical leave.)

E.That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the employment of Ms. Bridget Marowski as a long term substitute Spanish teacher at the Octorara Area High School. Ms. Marowski’s salary will be $46,914 which is Step 1of the Bachelor’s Scale pro-rated from December 17, 2010 through the end of the 20102011 school year. (Replacing Judy Curiel who retired.)

F. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the employment of Ms. Tammy Anthony as a long term substitute third grade teacher at the Octorara Elementary School effective approximately March 25, 2011 through the end of the 2010-2011 school year. Ms. Anthony’s rate will be $140 per day. (Replacing
Dena Schott who will be on child rearing leave.)

G.That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve Ms. Heidi Griest’s request for unpaid medical leave from February 3, 2011 through May 2, 2011. Ms. Griest is an instructional assistant at the Primary Learning Center.

H. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve Ms. Danielle Carmella’s request to extend her Family Medical Leave from February 14, 2011 through February 28, 2011.

I. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve Mr. Matt Walton as a volunteer for the Octorara Area High School girls’ basketball program.

J. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following changes in salary due to graduate credits earned:
Sarah Callaway From M+30 ($58,909) to M+45 ($61,502) Step 2
Ashlee DiRocco From M+45 ($67,077) to M+60 ($70,154) Step 9
Jennifer Haldeman From M+30 ($65,733) to M+45 ($68,622) Step 10
Alysyn Hoffman From B+15 ($48,873) to M ($50,811) Step 1
Nick Kluge From M+30 ($59,654) to M+45 (62,298) Step 3
Matthew Livingood From M+45 ($62,298) to M+60 ($65,278) Step 3
Sarah Morrissey From B ($46,914) to B+15 ($48,873) Step 1
Nina Thwaites From M+45 ($72,259) to M+60 ($75,385) Step 10
Sally Welk From M+45 ($68,622) to M+60 ($71,591) Step 10
Kyle Whary From B ($47,664) to B+15 ($49,759) Step 2
Dana Young From M+15 ($59,100) to M+30 ($61,143) Step 5
Jennifer Watson From M+15 ($59,906) to M+30($61,887) Step 6

K. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the employment of Ms. Karen Williamson as a long term substitute first grade teacher at the Octorara Primary Learning Center effective January 31, 2011 through approximately February 25, 2011. Ms. Williamson’s rate will be $140 per day. (Extended medical leave.)

Approved.
L. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following substitute support personnel for the 2010-2011 school year:
Lori Farish (Classroom assistant, clerical, personal care assistant)


Mr. McCartney asked why there isn't a salary attached to this.  Ms. Hardy explained that there are different rates for each job per the contract.
The Board approved a lease agreement with Edwards Business Systems for the District Office copier.

The Board approved the termination of an employee as of 2/18/2011.

11. Facilities Committee Report

Mr. Stoltzfus gave the facilities report.  The committee met tonight. The classroom portion of the renovation is running about a month ahead of schedule.  There may be an issue with the electrical contractor.  The project has been taken over by the bonding company.  They are worried about the two projects coming up that will need a lot of electrical work (Gym & Auditorium).  The work on the Gym starts this week.  Work on the Auditorium starts in March.

There was some wind damage to the MS roof.  They are waiting for the insurance company. 
They are still working on possibly outsourcing custodial services.

They are looking at transportation packages to look at bus routes.

The terrazzo tile is still an issue.  This will hopefully be taken care of over the summer.

The classrooms should be done by the end of March; the Gym by June and the Auditorium by August.

Mr. Rohrer said that graduation will be at school.  The alternate site for bad weather is the Gym.

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

Mr. Stoltzfus reported that they met last week & went over the budgets.  The I.U. has 3 budgets.  One went up 1.4%.  The other two decreased.  Although they are not bound by the same rules as the districts, they don't want the budget to go over the index set by the State.

They have reduction in staff in the budget because other districts are doing the same as Octorara & are trying to bring in-house more services.

13. Old Business None

14. New Business None

15. Other Items and Announcements

Lisa McNamara said that First Grade's open house was great.  There was a large turnout.

Ms. Bowman said that she met with John Lawrence last week.  He will come speak to the Board; possibly in April.

16. Visitors’ Comments – General

None

17. Administrator Comments/Announcements

Mr. Rohrer talked about the SmartDrive program.  There are 75 students participating at this time.  Student Council has also done some things to promote safe driving.

18. Board Comments



Mr. McCartney asked Ms. Bowman if Mr. Lawrence had joined Representative Cox in the School Property Tax Elimination Act.  Ms. Bowman replied that Mr. Lawrence didn't mention it.  She said he did talk about the House Bill that is supposed to bring relief for Districts impacted by Act 319.   He stated that only 6 people co-signed the bill this year, compared to 20-30 in prior years.  This shows that other areas of the state aren't interested in helping us.

Mr. Ganow asked how much Clean & Green costs each taxpayer. 

Mr. Carsley said that $5.4 million is shifted to other taxpayers from those whose property in covered under Act 319.  In other words, for every dollar of assessed value that is protected under Act 319, parcels NOT protected have to make up the difference. 

He took a look at the preliminary budget.  If those assessed values were put back it, the millage would be below last year's numbers.

Mrs. Bowman said that some of this is out of the District's hands.

Mr. Carsley will be working some of this into next month's budget presentation.

Mr. Hume said that people need to contact their representatives.   They need to hear from residents.

Chloe Dean said that the HS students enjoyed the assembly (motivational speaker) that Student Council provided last week.

Ms. Bowman congratulated the Boys' Basketball team for making Districts and being the top seed.

19. Adjournment

Facility Committee Meeting – Monday, February 21, 2011 – 6:00 p.m. in the District Office Conference Room

Policy Committee Meeting – Monday, February 21, 2011 – 7:00 p.m. in the District Office Conference Room

Facility Committee Meeting – Monday, March 14, 2011 – 6:00 p.m. in the District Office Conference Room

Next regularly scheduled Work Session – Monday, March 14, 2011 – 7:30 p.m. in the Octorara Middle School Multi-Purpose Room

Finance Committee Meeting – Monday, March 21, 2011 – 6:30 p.m. in the District Office Conference Room

Next regularly scheduled Board Meeting – Monday, March 21, 2011– 7:30 p.m. in the Octorara Middle School Multi-Purpose Room