Work Session 06/11/2012

OCTORARA AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
WORK SESSION
June 11, 2012 – 7:30 p.m.
Jr./Sr. High School Multi-Purpose Room


DISCUSSION GUIDE

1. Lord’s Prayer

2.Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

3.Roll Call

2 absent
4.Presentations
A. Budget
Dan Carsley read an item from the weekly legislative report from Harrisburg.   They hope to pass the budget next week.  They have set it aside to discuss the privatization of the Wine & Spirits stores.  He is waiting to see if the PA Accountability grant will be restored.

Budget Summary  (K = thousand):

• Salaries increase $34K over last year's budget.  This includes negotiated contract and changes in positions.
• Benefits increase $374K over last year's budget. Includes medical, prescription, retirement & unemployment.  Retirement increases $701K.
• Outside Services increase $256K over last year's budget.  Includes payments to the I.U.
• Repairs - flat
• Transportation/Tuition increase $343K over last year's budget.  Charter schools increase $427K.
• Supplies/Diesel/Natural Gas decrease $108K.  Due to natural gas prices decrease & decrease use over the winter.  The fuel tanks are full.
• Capital decrease $51K.
• Bond Interest decrease $87K.
• Bond Principal increase $142K.

Overall increase of 1.98%

Revenue:

• Tax Revenue increase $688K
• Transportation decrease $114K
• Bond Reimbursement decrease $60K
• Revenue for Retirement increase $350K
• Title I increase $36K
• Title II decrease $32K
• Title III increase $16K.

Mr. Norris asked if there is a status on the Plancon moratorium.  Mr. Carsley replied that nothing has been passed yet.

Ms. Bowman noted that Chester County millage would have increase 1.7% before any adjustments were made because of the rebalancing formula.   Chester County millage goes up; Lancaster County goes down.

Mr. Carsley will still be making adjustments up to the June 25th regular meeting.

Ms. Bowman emphasized that they tried to minimize the impact to education.  They reduced 2 administrators; 4 teachers and the number of hours worked by the aides.  They can't cut any more without impacting the classroom.

5. Visitors’ Comments - Agenda Items Only

None.
6. Information Items:

None.

7.Presentation of Agenda Items for the June 25, 2012 Regular Monthly Public Meeting:

The amounts for "A" and "B" will be filled in for the 6/25 meeting.

A. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the attached resolution adopting the 2012 – 2013 General Fund Budget Expenditures in the amount of $__________.

B. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the attached resolution establishing a real estate millage rate of ____ mills in Chester County and ____ mills in Lancaster County.

C. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the attached resolution for the 2012-2013 Homestead and Farmstead Exclusion.

D. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following financial institutions and investment firms for financial services during the 2012-2013 school year, in accordance with Section 621 of the School Code:

1. Fulton Bank-depository and investment
2. PA School District Liquid Asset Fund – depository and investment
3.RBC Dain Rauscher, Inc.-investment only


E. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following list of signatories for the designated bank accounts effective July 1, 2012:
General Fund: – President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary
Cafeteria Fund: – President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary
Official Imprest Fund: - Superintendent, Business Manager, High School Principal, Asst. High School Principal, Board Secretary (Required 2 signatures)
School Activity Fund: - Building Principal, Building Asst. Principal, Business Manager, Board Secretary
(Required Business Manager signature with one counter signature)

F. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the appropriate budget transfers for the year ending 2011-2012 as a result of the annual financial audit. (Note: This is a requirement for the school code to be done prior to June 30th of each fiscal year.)

G. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the resolution authorizing Daniel R. Carsley, Jill Hardy, and Kim McCully to conduct financial transactions on behalf of the District with Fulton Financial Advisors.

H. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve Dr. Jeffrey Blair as the school dental consultant for the 2012-2013 school year.

I. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the Amendment with M&B Environmental, Inc. to include one additional day for one additional hour of operational coverage per week during the summer months due to operational needs at the Water Treatment Facility.

J. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the Proposal for Octorara Landscape and Turf for treatment of the athletic fields from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013 at a total cost of $17,600.

Resignation Approvals:

K. That the Octorara Board of School Directors accept Ms. Alison Parry’s resignation as an instructional assistant at the Octorara Elementary School effective May 22, 2012. (Hired August 31, 2009)

Hiring Approvals:

L. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve Ms. Melanie Johnson and Ms. Jennifer Bower as teachers for the Special Education Extended School Year Program effective June 18 through July 19, 2012 at the rate of $30 per hour.

These are additions because of the number of students attending.

M. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the attainment of tenure status for the following professional employees (in accordance with Section 1108 of the current School Laws of Pennsylvania):

Tara Pitts
Kristen Lauer
Ashley Brennan
Amanda Lenton


N. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve Ms. Sarah Bieg’s request for Family Medical Leave for the purpose of child rearing from approximately October 15, 2012 through January 2, 2013. Ms. Bieg is an art teacher at the Octorara Sr. High School.



8. Facilities Committee Report

Mr. Stoltzfus reported on the Facilities Committee meeting earlier in the evening.

• Carpet in the PLC - They went back to the original installer, but they don't want to do anything.
• HS Renovation - still signing off on items.  Still haven't signed the final letter.
• OIS - Water issue continues.  They will work on it between 7/16 - 8/20
• Shop Wing - the roof leaks.  They have narrowed down the issues & are looking for a solution.  This has happened at other facilities that Bresslin has worked on.
• Priority List - They didn't have time to talk about this evening.  It will be discussed at the next meeting.
• Field development - ongoing.
• School sign - brushed over
• Ductwork at PLC  - will be cleaned over the summer
• Proservice - did workon basement from flooding last fall.  The worst has been taken care of.
• PTO - 2 swings sets to be placed at PLC & OES.  They have the funds to purchase & install.  They have to figure out where to place them.
• Old generator - trying to get rid of it
• Water treatment plant - There are still issues.  They will monitor.
• Property sold at sheriff's sale - District needed to sign off on the sale.
• Conservation easement - on 2 properties - doesn't impact taxes.

Mr. McCartney asked about the extensions in the HS.  Mr. Stoltzfus explained that in one section of the high school they did not put partitions between the classrooms above the ceiling.  They found the noise traveled.  They redesigned to fix the problem as they went forward, but need to go back and remediate the first phase.

9.Other Items/Concerns

None.

10.Visitors’ Comments – General

None.
11.Administrator Comments/Announcements

Dr. Newcome thanked the Board of Directors for participating in the graduation ceremony.  He also thanked Mr. Rohrer and his staff for organizing graduation.  It was a lovely evening and he is very proud of the District.
12.Board Comments

Mr. Norris said that graduation was wonderful.  He was disappointed with the article in the paper that stated there were 159 graduates.  It was off by about 50.  He'd like to see a correction.  He also asked what it would take to stream video of graduation.   We have a TV studio.  We should use it.  He was able to view Pequea's graduation online.

Mr. Hume thanked Dr. Newcome for the time & energy put into Kindergarten.  He thinks full day Kindergarten will be good for the District.

Ms. Bowman congratulated all students at all levels for graduating.  She thinks it would be cool to have it streaming.  She thanked Mr. Knickerbocker for posting pictures of graduation (Grad pictures)  She thanked the PTO for the playground equipment.

13.Adjournment


Facility Committee Meeting – Monday, June 11, 2012 – 6:00 p.m. in the District Office Conference Room

Executive Session for personnel – Monday, June 11, 2012 – Following the Work Session in the District Office Conference Room

Policy Committee Meeting – Monday, June 25, 2012 – 6:00 p.m. in the District Office Conference Room

Finance Committee Meeting – Monday, June 25, 2012 – 6:30 p.m. in the District Office Conference Room

Next regularly scheduled Board Meeting – Monday, June 25, 2012 – 7:30 p.m. in the Octorara Jr./Sr. High School Multi-Purpose Room