MONTROSE AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL MEETING DATE APRIL 9, 2007, 6:30 PM MEETING MINUTES APPROVED MAY 14, 2007 (Visit our website at www.masd.info) Mr. Kevin Sives President, Board of Directors Mr. Michael F. Ognosky Superintendent of Schools The Montrose Area School District Board of Directors Meeting was called to order by Board President Mr. Kevin Sives at 6:30 PM in the Junior-Senior High School cafeteria, 50 High School Road, Montrose PA, 18801. I. OPENING EXERCISES - Led by Mrs. Denise Gieski, Board Member II. III. IV. ROLL CALL Mr. Lewis Plauny, Board Secretary PRESENT: Mr. Chris Caterson, Mrs. Denise Gieski, Mr. George Gow, Mrs. Mary Homan, Ms. Julie Humphrey Mrs. Kathleen Mordovancey, Mrs. Celeste Ridler (arrived 6:52 PM), Mr. Kevin Sives, Mr. Ray Smith ADMINISTRATORS/SUPERVISORS: Mr. Michael Ognosky, Mr. Lewis Plauny, Dr. Donald Golden, Mr. James Tallarico, Mr. Russell Canevari, Mr. Gregory Adams, Mr. Christopher McComb, Mr. Craig Owens, Mr. Rickie Clapper OPPORTUNITY FOR VISITORS TO ADDRESS AGENDA ITEMS - None (Visitors must speak directly into the public microphone for accurate transcription of minutes. Even if the person speaks loud enough to be heard by meeting attendees, they cannot be heard on the tape transcription unless they speak directly into the microphone.) GOOD THINGS ARE HAPPENING A. Letter of gratitude for music department Mr. Ognosky read a letter he had previously distributed to the members of the Board from Mrs. Ann Reed (Montrose Borough) expressing her feelings about the district s music program. Mr. Ognosky thanked Mrs. Reed for sharing her thoughts with the School Board. B. Scholastic Team Mrs. Eileen Baessler, Advisor and students Liz Baessler, Brianna Gieski, Emily Klie, Ben Jones, Kyle VanZandbergen, and Lance Elliott Mr. Ognosky introduced Mrs. Baessler and Student Captain Liz Baessler introduced the members of the team present at this evening s meeting and reviewed the background and accomplishments of the Scholastic Team to date. Mr. Ognosky presented Advisor Baessler and team members present with certificates of appreciation and all received the congratulations of the Board members for a job well done. V. INFORMATION ITEMS A. Items from members of Board of Directors - None VI. BOARD PRESIDENT ELECTION 146. Prior to this motion the members of the Board and administration thanked Mr. Sives for his service as Board President. A motion was made by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mrs. Mordovancey to accept with regret the resignation of Kevin Sives as President of the Board of Directors effective immediately.
Page -2- VI. BOARD PRESIDENT ELECTION - continued 147. A motion was made by Mrs. Mordovancey, seconded by Mrs. Gieski to appoint Mr. Kevin Sives as Temporary President for election purposes and a roll call vote was taken. Temporary President of the Board Mr. Sives called for nominations for the office of President of the Board of Directors effective immediately until the reorganization meeting in December 2007. The name of Mrs. Celeste Ridler was placed in nomination by Mr. Caterson. 148. With no further nominations a motion was made by Mr. Sives, seconded by Mr. Caterson to close nominations for the office of President of the Board of Directors and a roll call vote was taken. 149. Election by roll call vote was held for Mrs. Celeste Ridler for the office of President of the Board of Directors. Mrs. Celeste Ridler took office as President of the Board of Directors. 150. A motion was made by Mrs. Ridler, seconded by Mr. Smith to nominate Mr. Chris Caterson to fill the newly vacated position of Vice President of the Board of Directors. 151. With no further nominations, a motion was made by Mr. Sives, seconded by Mrs. Gieski to close nominations for the office of Vice President of the Board of Directors and a roll call vote was taken. 152. Election by roll call vote was held for Mr. Chris Caterson for the office of Vice President of the Board of Directors. Mr. Chris Caterson took office as Vice President of the Board of Directors. AGENDA ITEMS A. MINUTES Mr. Kevin Sives 153. These minutes were approved prior to Mrs. Ridler s arrival at the meeting. A motion was made by Mrs. Mordovancey, seconded by Mr. Smith to approve the following minutes as submitted: a. March 12, 2007 Board Meeting b. March 12, 2007 Work Session c. March 19, 2007 Curriculum Committee Meeting d. March 22, 2007 Wellness Committee Meeting Ms. Humphrey, Aye; Mrs. Mordovancey, Aye; Mr. Sives, Aye; Mr. Smith, Aye AYE 8 NAY 0 ABSTAIN 0
Page -3- AGENDA ITEMS continued B. FINANCE Mr. Chris Caterson, Chairperson 154. A motion was made by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mrs. Gieski to approve a list of bills to be paid as submitted. 155. A motion was made by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Gow to advertise for bids for the purchase of the following: Custodial Supplies, General Supplies, Health Supplies, Waste Removal, and Propane Gas. C. LEGISLATIVE Mr. Chris Caterson, Chairperson D. TRANSPORTATION Mr. Raymond Smith, Chairperson E. BUILDINGS & GROUNDS / SAFETY Mr. George Gow, Chairperson F. CURRICULUM Mrs. Denise Gieski, Chairperson G. EXTRA CURRICULAR Mrs. Kathy Mordovancey, Chairperson H. POLICIES Ms. Julie Humphrey, Chairperson I. PERSONNEL Mrs. Celeste Ridler, Chairperson 156. A motion was made by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mrs. Ridler to accept with regret the resignation of Elizabeth Wakeman, part-time Business Office Clerk, effective April 13, 2007. J. PROFESSIONAL Mrs. Mary Homan, Chairperson 157. Mr. Ognosky thanked all retiring teachers for their service to the school district. A motion was made by Mr. Smith, seconded by Ms. Humphrey to accept with regret resignations for the purpose of retirement from the following, effective the day after the end of the 2006-2007 school year: a. Rose Marie Barnhart, 5 th grade teacher at Choconut Valley Elementary School b. Mary Eddy, 6 th grade teacher at Choconut Valley Elementary School c. Karen Hellmuth, 2 nd grade teacher at Choconut Valley Elementary School d. Nancy Houck, instrumental music teacher at Choconut Valley and Lathrop Street Elementary Schools e. Dennis Newhard, 6 th grade teacher at Choconut Valley Elementary School f. Juliette Newhard, 3 rd grade teacher at Choconut Valley Elementary School g. Alice Walsh, 2 nd grade teacher at Choconut Valley Elementary School h. Willard Lewis, 5 th grade teacher at Lathrop Street Elementary School i. M. Colleen Lukas, 4 th grade teacher at Lathrop Street Elementary School j. Margaret Kohnke, 6 th grade teacher at Lathrop Street Elementary School k. Mary Ann Murphy, business teacher at the Junior-Senior High School
Page -4- AGENDA ITEMS Professional continued 158. A motion was made by Mrs. Mordovancey, seconded by Mr. Smith to appoint the following daily substitute teachers for the district contingent upon completion of employment requirements: a. Kathleen Maier, biology and general science b. Heather Bradley, emergency VIII. NEW BUSINESS Mr. Ognosky, Superintendent of Schools 159. Prior to this motion Mr. Ognosky reviewed the calendar for the upcoming school year. A motion was made by Mr. Sives, seconded by Mr. Smith to approve the 2007-2008 school district calendar as submitted. 160. A motion was made by Mr. Gow, seconded by Mrs. Mordovancey to appoint Janet Small as census taker for Forest Lake Township effective immediately at the rate of $2.00 per new card and $1.00 per old card. 161. A motion was made by Mr. Smith, seconded by Mr. Sives to ratify the recommendations resulting from a student expulsion hearing held at 5:30 PM on in the Superintendent s Office IX. SCHEDULE OF PUBLIC BOARD MEETINGS Mrs. Ridler reviewed the following upcoming meetings: A. Monday,, immediately following Board meeting Work session, Junior-Senior High School B. Tuesday, April 17, 2007, 7:00 PM Transportation Committee meeting, Choconut Valley Elementary School C. Thursday, April 19, 2007, 7:00 PM Community Advisory Committee meeting, Junior-Senior High School D. Monday, April 30, 2007, 7:00 PM Curriculum Committee meeting, Junior-Senior High School E. Monday, May 14, 2007, 6:30 PM Board meeting Junior-Senior High School F. Monday, May 14, 2007, immediately following Board meeting Work session, Junior-Senior High School X. OPPORTUNITY FOR VISITORS ADDITIONAL COMMENTS (Visitors must speak directly into the public microphone for accurate transcription of minutes. Even if the person speaks loud enough to be heard by meeting attendees, they cannot be heard on the tape transcription unless they speak directly into the microphone.) Mrs. Suzanne Bennici, High School Instrumental Band Director read a letter to the members of the Board from a former student now attending Penn State University in support of the elementary band program and Mrs. Bennici reiterated the many accomplishments and awards the band has received. Mrs. Pam Caterson, Treasurer of the Band Aides reported to the Board on the various community projects that the members of the band on both the elementary and high school level and their parents have been involved in. Mr. Nino Bennici, Music teacher at Lathrop Street Elementary School provided the members of the Board with statistical information regarding instrumental band programs within our county and within our state. This information in written form was distributed to the Board members for their reference. Mrs. Ridler thanked Mr. Bennici for his information and requested that the members of the Board direct any questions they may have to Mr. Ognosky so that he may have time to report back to the Board at the May monthly meeting.
Page -5- X. OPPORTUNITY FOR VISITORS ADDITIONAL COMMENTS - continued Mrs. Trisha Brown (Little Meadows) reported to the Board that she had moved to this state two years ago and that her family had chosen to settle in this area greatly due to the school district s reputation and the various programs offered here including the instrumental band program. Mrs. Susan English (Silver Lake) reported to the Board members that she presently has two students in the band program and feels that the band would lose members if the program is held as an after school event at the elementary level which is the ongoing base for the band program itself. Miss Liz Baessler, a senior at the Montrose Area Junior-Senior High school reported that she has been a district band member since elementary school and feels that a great majority of elementary students continue with the band program at the junior-senior high school level. Miss Rebecca Ball, a sixth grade student at Lathrop Street Elementary School reported to the Board members how the instrumental band program has benefited her in many different ways. Mrs. Linda Rucker (Montrose Borough) reported to the members of the Board that her grown children had benefited greatly from the band program, and would have been present at this evening s meeting had their schedules allowed. Mrs. Dawn Augenti, Assistant Curator at the Susquehanna County Historical Society, commented on the musical legacy left by Mr. Morris Taylor and reported that the community benefits from the present band program citing their appearances at the Blueberry Festival yearly. Mr. Bob Orner suggested the district was putting too much emphasis on test scores and less on the arts and questioned if a new sport was being considered at the junior-senior high school level. Mr. Caterson reported that it would be at an intramural level only. Mrs. Ridler thanked all for attending and expressing their concerns and advised those in attendance how they could reach the members of the Board via their email addresses. XI. ADJOURNMENT This meeting adjourned at 8:05 PM by acclamation. Lewis Plauny, Board Secretary