School Board Meeting 03/21/2011

OCTORARA AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
March 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

2 absent

4.Approval of Minutes from the Work Session of February 14, 2011, and the Regular Meeting of February 21, 2011.

Approved.

5. Presentations

A. Education Technology Grants – Dr. Bishop

Dr. Bishop went over some educational opportunities the district has taken advantage of through grants and other low cost means.

Mrs. Dean's 4th grade class became penpals with education students at West Chester University.  They worked on literacy & writing.  There are two classrooms participating this semester.

A group of 3rd through HS teachers participated in a science/math integration workshop.

A Geodome is coming to the campus for 4 days next week.  It will be used at the K-6 Math Family Fun Night.  More information can viewed at http://www.geodome.info/

Received video conferencing equipment from the CCIU.  They have used it to contact classrooms across the country.  They hope to expand to around the world.

Mr. Bankert presented information on Promethean Boards.   Nearly every classroom now has one.  Ninety  percent have been installed in the past 3 years.  The website is http://www.prometheanplanet.com/en-us/.  Software to create presentations is included.  Octorara was selected for a pilot program (one of 30).  There is a website that is only for Octorara teachers.  They can share files with each other.  Fifty-six teachers have signed up for it.  There are about 150 presentations currently on the site.  For participating the District will receive $15,000 in equipment from Promethean.

B. Budget Update – Mr. Carsley
Mr. Carsley explained how Act 319 causes a shift in who pays school taxes and by how much.    He also presented information from the Pennsylvania Dept. of Education website that showed how Octorara compares to Districts in Chester & Lancaster counties. 

One Mill is worth $665,464 in the Octorara District.  One Mill is worth $8,207,667 in the West Chester District.

Average Assessment for Octorara is $ 114,000.   Average Assessment for Unionville is $ 270,000. 

People has asked about joint purchasing.  We do joint purchasing in several areas through the I.U.  Mr. Carsley showed a list.

We have received a savings of about $ 279,000 by switching to Provident Energy for electric procurement.

Future concerns:

• Continued cuts in state funding
• Healthcare (costs and excise tax)
• Retirement Rates  (2012/13  12.22%; 2013/14  16.71%)
• Charter Schools
• Elimination of exceptions
• Future legislation

Retirement Costs:
If the index doesn't change, one-half of it will be taken by retirement costs.  In following years, the percentage will be worse.

Chester County tax history: the 5 year increase average is $675  ($135/year)
Lancaster County tax history: the 5 year increase average is $484 ($97/year)

Mr. Norris confirmed that the budget at this point uses $1.2M of Fund Balance to get below the index.  He asked if there are further cuts that could take place to use less Fund Balance.

Mr. Carsley said he never recommends using Fund Balance.  That is using non-recurring revenue to pay for recurring expenses.  We need to maintain acceptable levels of Fund Balance.  It needs to be tightly managed.

There was discussion about the expected continued decrease in revenues & how the District will probably have to dip further into the fund balance. 

Mr. Hume said that Fund Balance is the "people's money".   He said that people need to contact their representatives.  Mr. McCartney agreed. 

6. Information Items

A.The coaches for the combined seventh and eighth grade boys’ baseball team will be Mr. Drew Duggan and Mr. Phil Rudisill each receiving two points.

7. Treasurer’s Report

A.That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the General Fund Report for period ending February 28, 2011.

Approved
8. Business Manager’s Report

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

Approved.
9. Visitors’ Comments - Agenda Items Only

None.

10. Recommended Action Items: (Italicized items are new; they were not on the March 14, 2011 agenda.)

Approved A-L.
A. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve Policy #303.2, 404.2, 504.2 Supervisor/Employee Relationships, second reading.

Resignation Approvals:

B.That the Octorara Board of School Directors accept the resignation of Ms. Katherine Ward as a Title I reading assistant at the Octorara Middle School effective February 22, 2011. (Hired August 25, 2010)

C. That the Octorara Board of School Directors accept, with regret, Ms. Ada (Jackie) Ellingsworth’s resignation as manager/cook at the Octorara Primary Learning Center for purpose of retirement effective June 9, 2011. (Hired September 28, 1998)

D. That the Octorara Board of School Directors accept, with regret, Ms. Jody Bradley’s resignation as a third grade teacher at the Octorara Elementary School effective March 8, 2011. (Hired August 25, 2003)

Hiring Approvals:

E.That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the employment of Ms. Gail Bolger as a long term substitute business education teacher at the Octorara Area High School effective February 24, 2011 through March 11, 2011. Ms. Bolger’s rate will be $140 per day. (Extended medical leave.)

F.That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the employment of Ms. Joan Miller as a long term substitute instructional assistant at the Octorara Elementary School effective March 25, 2011 through June 14, 2011 pending completion of work related documents required by law and the District. Ms. Miller’s rate will be $11.40 per hour. (Replacing Tammy Anthony who is filling a long term substitute position.)

G. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve a change in rate for Ms. Stacey Hoopes from $15.42 to $16.17 effective January 1, 2011 due to credits earned. Ms. Hoopes is an instructional assistant at the Octorara Intermediate School.

H. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the list of 2011Summer Reading Program employees at the hourly rates listed.
I. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following substitute teachers for the 2010-2011 school year:

Gail Bolger (Business Education)
Joan Miller (Elementary)
Matthew Reinert (Health, PE)

J.That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following substitute support personnel for the 2010-2011 school year:
Susan King (Clerical, instructional assistant)

K.That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following supplemental contracts for the 2010-2011 school year:

Matthew Reinert OAHS JV Baseball Coach 6pts @ $570 $3,420
JoAnn Marinacci Mentor for Tammy Anthony $ 200

L.That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the employment of Mr. Derek Smith as the boys’ varsity soccer coach for the 2011-2012 school year.

M. That the Octorara Board of School Directors accept, with regret, Ms. Eleanor Cugini’s resignation as librarian at the Octorara Area High School for purpose of retirement effective June 22, 2011. (Hired September 1989)

Approved.
N. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve Mr. Harry Rylee’s request for unpaid Family Medical Leave from March 11, 2011 through June 6, 2011. Mr. Rylee is a custodian at the Octorara Middle School.

Approved.
O. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following change in salary due to graduate credits earned:


Carol Dittoe From M+15 ($65,470) to M+30 ($67,344) Step 11

Approved.
P.That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following change orders:
Lobar #401-016 - Credit to compensate for materials required to repair fiber and electrical lines in the amount of -$9,495.00
Eastern Shore Services #404-04 - Relocation of existing conduits in loading dock area, replacement of existing fiber lines and electrical lines in the amount of $33,467.22
Reed Associates #408-02 – Modifications in casework for room E109 in the amount of $2,216.00

Mr. McCartney asked why this needed repaired.  Mr. Stoltzfus explained why.


11. Finance Committee Report

Saw same Budget Presentation as shown earlier.

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

Mr. Stoltzfus was not able to attend.  He will forward e-mail to Board Members.
13. Old Business

none
14. New Business

None

15. Other Items and Announcements

None.
16. Visitors’ Comments – General

Jen Zduniak (Londonderry) - believes we have awesome teachers.  Is disappointed that so few teachers have been nominated for the Citadel Heart of Learning Awards.  She'd like to find a way to publicize it to get more teachers nominated.

Anita Grimes (Parkesburg) shared information from school districts in Berks County.  One district is offering early retirement incentives ($18,000 one-time payment) that could save the district $41,000 per teacher.  This is independent of contract negotiations.  She also wanted to give a plug for all-day Kindergarten.  The bulk of students attending charter schools are in the lower grades.

Kathy Blank (West Sadsbury) - Wondered about the effect on education of laying off teachers.  She proposes pay freeze as an alternative.

Tammy Awad (West Sadsbury) - wants to know how residents can help - fundraisers?   Residents need to have a voice.  She'd like to be proactive.

17. Administrator Comments/Announcements

Mr. Rohrer gave a list of high school student highlights.  (See separate blog post).

Ms. Wilson gave a list of middle school student hightlights.  (See separate blog post).


18. Board Comments

Dr. Newcome said they weren't offering an early retirement package this year.  They offered one last year.  Ten teachers took it.  He is still running numbers on full-day Kindergarten.

He'd like to discuss the layoffs as part of the Parent & Town Hall meetings.  There will be a better opportunity to have a dialogue.

As to how to help - the nature of the challenge is the system of funding schools (property taxes).  He talked about the Octorara Regional Planning Commission and how the area needs to be poised to take advantage of when the economy turns around.   We need tax rateables (commercial property) in this District.

Mr. Norris said that we need to battle apathy.

Ms. Bowman suggested that Ms. Zduniak work through the PTO to get more nominations for the Citadel awards.  She also mentioned fundraising and how a lot of the people who are heavily involved in fund raising  were in the room.

Mr. Hume gave the phone number for Senator Pillegi 1-888-984-3478.  He recently called about the proposed voucher system &  how it will take even more money away from public schools.

Mr. McCartney thanked people for coming out.

19. Adjournment

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

Executive Session for personnel – Monday, March 21, 2011 – Following the Regular Meeting in the District Office Conference Room

Facility Committee Meeting – Monday, April 11, 2011 – 6:00 p.m. in the District Office Conference Room

Next regularly scheduled Work Session – Monday, April 11, 2011 – 7:30 p.m. in the Octorara Middle School Multi-Purpose Room

Finance Committee Meeting – Monday, April 18, 2011 – 6:30 p.m. in the District Office Conference Room

Next regularly scheduled Board Meeting – Monday, April 18, 2011– 7:30 p.m. in the Octorara Middle School Multi-Purpose Room