MARS AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES MARCH 7, 2017

Transcription

1 MARS AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES MARCH 7, 2017 A Work Session Meeting of the Board of School Directors of the Mars Area School District was held on Tuesday, in the board room of the Administration Office. Present for the meeting were board members Steve Boggs, Rita Dorsch (Ms. Dorsch participated via a conference call), Dayle Ferguson, John Kennedy, Gordon Marburger, William Pettigrew, Christine Valenta, Bonnie Weaver (Ms. Weaver participated via a conference call) and Board Secretary, Jill Swaney. Board member Rebecca Brown was absent. Also present were Superintendent Dr. Wesley Shipley, Dr. Elizabeth McMahon, Kara Eckert, Lindsay Rosswog, Todd Kolson, Deborah Adams, Josh Schwoebel, Kate Rich, Joe Merhaut from Keystone Educational Consulting Group, members of the press and members of the public. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7:07 P.M. ROLL CALL Roll call at 7:08 P.M. showed eight (8) members present and one (1) board member absent. Ms. Ferguson noted that the board held a closed executive session prior to this evening s meeting to discuss personnel, student and legal issues. Another closed session is required after the meeting to discuss legal, real estate and personnel matters. Per a new policy, the board reports will now be presented at the start of each meeting. BOARD REPORTS Gordon Marburger presented an update from the last Butler County Area Vocational Technical School meeting. A student from Butler High School was introduced as student of the month and was recognized for her achievements. The standard list of bills was reviewed and approved for payment. Dr. Pettigrew provided an update on the Mars Planet Foundation. The foundation is working on putting together a campaign for banner recognition. Effective July 1, 2017, the foundation will own the fences in the school district and a banner fund raising campaign will be scheduled to explain the process of how banners can be displayed on the fences for advertising and recognition purposes. This year s academic banquet is scheduled for May 10 th. Ms. Ferguson will hold on providing her report on the Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV meeting until next week and noted that three school board members had participated in Take a School Board Member to School Day. Board member Bonnie Weaver spent the day with teacher, Mrs. Bridge in her robotics class. Ms. Weaver was amazed at what the students were learning. Ms. Weaver explained some of the projects the students were working on and commented that the students were very much engaged in the class.

2 Page 2 of 5 Board member John Kennedy visited Mrs. Goodzinksi, the Centennial School librarian. Ms. Goodzinski was teaching the students how to access information by using the internet to locate different websites. Mr. Kennedy enjoyed the morning and thanked everyone for organizing his time at the school. Ms. Ferguson visited with Gretchen Baysek, the high school nurse. It was a busy day in the nurse s office, as it was the last day to turn in student paperwork for participating in spring sports. The paperwork was reviewed thoroughly and good questions were asked regarding medical issues that were noted on the registration forms. Along the course of day, the office also handled normal student issues. MINUTES Dr. Shipley reviewed the Minutes to be approved. PERSONNEL Dr. Shipley reviewed the Personnel items to be approved this evening. Each item was read to the public. A motion was then made by Dr. Pettigrew and seconded by Mr. Boggs to: Approve Nicole Kolson (2 nd Grade) for Family Medical Leave to be used intermittently during the school year, as per the terms and conditions of the Agreement between the Mars Area School District and the Mars Area Education Association dated July 1, 2014 through June 30, Pending the receipt of the necessary paperwork, approve Erin Weitzell for a Secretary position in the Guidance Office of the Mars Area High School effective March 8, This position is available due to the resignation of Jana Messmer. Pending the receipt of the necessary paperwork, approve Pauline Novotny for a 6.75 Hour Paraprofessional position effective March 8, This position is available due to the resignation of Laura McGuinness. Pending the receipt of the necessary paperwork, approve Holly Wetherholt as a long-term substitute teacher for Maegan Fabanich (Autistic Support) beginning February 27, 2017 to May 31, Ms. Wetherholt will be paid at the day-to-day substitute teacher rate until she reaches the long-term substitute teacher rate (after 45 consecutive days) and as per the terms and conditions of the Agreement between the Mars Area School District and the Mars Area Education Association dated July 1, 2014 through June 30, Pending the receipt of the necessary paperwork, approve Nicole Hardt as a long-term substitute teacher for Maria Kuchta (Autistic Support) tentatively scheduled to begin March 4, 2017 through April 30, Ms. Hardt will be paid at the day-to-day substitute teacher rate until she reaches the long-term substitute teacher rate (after 45 consecutive days) and as per the terms and conditions of the Agreement between the Mars Area School District and the Mars Area Education Association dated July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2017.

3 Page 3 of 5 Pending the receipt of the necessary paperwork, approve Deborah Schroat for a full-time Custodian position at the Mars Area High School effective March 20, Pending the receipt of the necessary paperwork, approve Connie Schmoll for a day-to-day substitute Custodian position. Pending the receipt of the necessary paperwork and the confirmation of meeting the minimum participation requirements, as established by the Athletic Director, per family ID Registrations, approve the following Supplemental Athletic Coaches during the school year: Activity Coach Stipend Assist 2 Varsity Boys Track & Field Chris Protho $2, Accept the Resignation of Candace Mathews (Secretary) effective April 11, Accept the Resignation of Renee Watterson (Custodian) and approve Ms. Watterson to a day-to-day substitute custodian position with the school district. Pending the receipt of the necessary paperwork, approve Stephen Talpas as a long-term substitute teacher for Nicole Vozza (English) tentatively scheduled to begin March 15, 2017 through April 30, Mr. Talpas will be paid at the day-to-day substitute teacher rate until he reaches the long-term substitute teacher rate (after 45 consecutive days) and as per the terms and conditions of the Agreement between the Mars Area School District and the Mars Area Education Association dated July 1, 2014 through June 30, With Mr. Boggs, Ms. Dorsch, Ms. Ferguson, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Marburger, Dr. Pettigrew, Ms. Valenta and Ms. Weaver voting aye the motion carried. FINANCE Kurt Speicher, Executive Director of the Butler County Area Vocational Technical School, was introduced. Mr. Speicher distributed material to the board. The proposed budget was reviewed. The three highest expenses for the school are salaries, benefits and equipment. A voting ballot was provided to each of the board members. Mars Area School District has shown an increase student participation. At the start of the school year, 51 students were enrolled. Mr. Speicher collected the ballots from the school board. Dr. Shipley reviewed the Finance items to be approved. There is one item to be approved this evening. A motion was made by Ms. Valenta and seconded by Mr. Boggs to approve the Proposal with River Pediatric Therapies for Speech Therapy Services, as presented. With Mr. Boggs, Ms. Dorsch, Ms. Ferguson, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Marburger, Dr. Pettigrew, Ms. Valenta and Ms. Weaver voting aye the motion carried.

4 Page 4 of 5 PROGRAMS Dr. Shipley reviewed the Programs items to be approved, with one item to be approved this evening. A motion was made by Ms. Valenta and seconded by Ms. Weaver to approve the attendance of Rich Schoeffel (Student Council Advisor) and four students to the 2017 Student Summit scheduled March 8-9, 2017 in Harrisburg, PA at no cost to the school district. With Mr. Boggs, Ms. Dorsch, Ms. Ferguson, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Marburger, Dr. Pettigrew, Ms. Valenta and Ms. Weaver voting aye the motion carried. POLICIES Dr. Shipley reviewed the Policies items to be approved. BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS Dr. Shipley discussed going to bid for the installation of air conditioning in the high school gyms. Prior to going out to bid on the project, the district will first do a Request for Proposal. He is requesting the board s approval to proceed. The board agreed that a Request for Proposal should be received first and approved Dr. Shipley s request to proceed. John Hays from Thomas and Williamson was introduced. Mr. Hays commented on the great response received on the bidding of the turf fields. There were also many choices for items that could be included in addition to the turf installation. Mr. Hays will provide renderings and future expansion options that can be incorporated into the project. Dr. Shipley reviewed the items under Buildings and Grounds and requested approval of the item pertaining the to bid recommendation for the turf fields. A motion was then made by Dr. Pettigrew and seconded by Mr. Marburger to approve the bid recommendation, pending solicitor s review, to Pro Grass with a base bid amount of $1,494, and accept an alternate bid, GC-07, in the amount of $6,964.00, for the multi-purpose athletic field along Doc s Way and the replacement of turf at the Mars Athletic Complex for a total amount of $1,500,972.00, as presented. A roll call vote was taken and with Mr. Boggs, Ms. Dorsch, Ms. Ferguson, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Marburger, Dr. Pettigrew, Ms. Valenta and Ms. Weaver voting aye the motion carried. PUBLIC COMMENT Board member Dr. Pettigrew commented that the sale of the Clarence Brown building has not yet occurred. The building failed its dye test. It was the recommendation of the attorney to collect quotes on repairing the water lines. Dr. Shipley noted that water testing will begin this evening in the school district. Test results will be available in the next few weeks. Information regarding new vaccination regulations put into effect by the state will be sent home to parents and posted on the website.

5 Page 5 of 5 Dr. McMahon is preparing for the next In-Service Day on March 27 th. The Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV will be conducting a special education audit next year. Christine Petrini, representing the teacher s association, was glad to hear that the school board member visits are going well. Members of the association would like to look for a date in the spring to meet again with the school board. Board member Ms. Valenta commented on Mr. Kolson s monthly report. She was glad to hear about the students placing in the manufacturing video contest. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, a motion was made by Mr. Boggs and seconded by Ms. Valenta to adjourn the work session meeting. With Mr. Boggs, Ms. Dorsch, Ms. Ferguson, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Marburger, Dr. Pettigrew, Ms. Valenta and Ms. Weaver voting aye the meeting was adjourned at 7:51 P.M. The board convened into a closed executive session to discuss legal, real estate and personnel issues. MARS AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT Board President MARS AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT Board Secretary