Seneca Valley School District SCHOOL BOARD WORK SESSION Seneca Valley Intermediate High School Auditorium MINUTES May 7, 2007 1. CALL TO ORDER - Board President, Dean Berkebile, called the meeting to order at 8:00 p.m. A. Moment of Silence - The meeting was opened with a moment of silence. Mr. Berkebile asked those present to remember the family of LaRue Craig, a former guidance counselor who recently passed away. B. Pledge of Allegiance - Mr. Berkebile led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. C. Roll Call - Roll call by Joan Rinaman, Board Secretary, showed the following Board members in attendance: Mr. Paul Adametz, Mr. Dean Berkebile, Mr. Kenneth Brennan, Mr. Robert Hill, Jr., Mr. William Paul, Mr. Thomas Roth, Mr. Anthony Storti, and Mr. Jeffrey Widdowson. Others present included Dr. Donald Tylinski, Superintendent; Mr. Jeffrey Fuller, Assistant Superintendent Elementary; Dr. Matthew McKinley, Assistant Superintendent Secondary; Mr. Lynn Stewart, Business Manager; Mrs. Linda Andreassi, Communications Director; Mr. Ronald Lamneck, Buildings/Grounds/Security Director; Mr. Matthew Hoffman, Solicitor; visitors on enclosed list; and press representative. 2. ACTION AGENDA A. Public Comment 1. Mr. Michael Hale asked the Board how the tax abatement benefits the school district residents when the district wants to increase taxes and give Westinghouse a 15-year tax abatement. He also asked Mr. Brennan to abstain on the vote since bringing Westinghouse here would benefit his business. Mr. Brennan responded that this would benefit the entire region as well as Westinghouse by bringing jobs to the area. 2. Mr. Charles Grabenstein asked what impact this will have on schools and if there is any guarantee that Westinghouse will remain in the area after the 15-year tax abatement. He also mentioned that most of the stock is owned by Toshiba which is not an American company.
B. Appointments - Appoint Summer Help - Effective: May 8, 2007 1. Evan Cumo - Paint Crew Leader - $8/hr. 2. James Boyd - $7/hr. 3. Hillary Petrich - $7/hr. 4. Cassandra Berlin - $7/hr. 5. Kevin Berlin - $7/hr. 6. Patrick Dayton - $7/hr. 7. James Hardy - $7/hr. 8. Ashley McClelland - $7/hr. C. Student Adjudication - Approve student adjudication 2006-07-17. Mr. Hill motioned, seconded by Mr. Roth, to approve the summer appointments and student adjudication as listed above. Motion carried on a roll call vote with those present voting in the affirmative with Mr. Evans absent. D. Strategic Development Area Resolution - Approve resolution designating the Strategic Development Area (SDA) and abating certain taxes within that SDA. Mr. Hill motioned, seconded by Mr. Widdowson, to approve the Strategic Development Area resolution as provided in the backup materials. Mr. Brennan asked with no job opportunities in the area, who will pay for senior citizens houses when they want to sell. The young people in the area relocate since thee are no jobs. Westinghouse would be a major employer and will draw other employers to the area. Dr. Tylinski affirmed that Westinghouse, Cranberry Township, and Butler County understand that the school district is the largest tax base affected by this proposed SDA. Westinghouse may be able to assist the district in areas such as energy management conservation, telecommunications, technology, and science curriculum. Mr. Storti would feel much better about the abatement if Westinghouse would commit to staying longer, after their abatement expires. Mr. Roth questioned statistics provided in the resolution as they conflict with information in articles in the Post Gazette and Tribune Review. Mr. Hoffman clarified for him that Westinghouse is leasing the buildings and the property owner actually receives the abatement. This abatement opens the door for other companies to come before the Board and other government bodies to demand this same abatement suggested Mr. Adametz. He also quoted information on the Cranberry website and an editorial in the Tribune Review. The motion carried on a roll call vote with Mr. Brennan, Mr. Hill, Mr. Paul, Mr. Widdowson, and Mr. Berkebile voting in the affirmative; Mr. Storti, Mr. Adametz, and Mr. Roth voting no; and Mr. Evans absent. E. Preliminary Budget - Approve preliminary budget for 2007-08 in the amount of $87,296,197 with a 4.26 mill increase, and authorize posting in all school facilities and community public libraries. 2
Mr. Hill motioned, seconded by Mr. Widdowson, to approve the preliminary budget as listed above. Mr. Brennan noted that he was voting only on the publication of the budget. Mr. Roth agreed that he does not endorse the budget but is allowing it to go out for review. Likewise, Mr. Storti is supporting the release of the budget for viewing. Mr. Adametz asked if the budget included a contribution to the hockey boosters and was told it does not. He referred the Board to page 17 which shows we have 92 more employees than in 2001-02 and 252 less students which leaves no excuses for larger employment costs with fewer customers. Mr. Widdowson asked for detailed Plan B from any Board members who are not going to vote for the budget. Mr. Roth responded that it is not his job to put together the budget. Motion carried on a roll call vote with those present voting in the affirmative, except Mr. Adametz voting no, and Mr. Evans absent. 3. INFORMATION REPORTS A. Student/Staff Recognition 1. Seneca Valley students received 13 out of 30 awards at the Annual High School Art Exhibit Awards presented by the Associated Artists of Butler County. Dave Rocco won best of show for And I Was Looking for You. 2. Senior High students Sam Perry, Dave Rocco, and Sarah Cadman each won a gold key at the Annual Regional Alliance for Young Artists and Writers in New York City. 3. The Academic Games Team finished very well at the national championship at Oglebay, West Virginia in April. Of special note, Adam Byko finished 6 th overall best player for all games in the nation in the junior division. Adam Byko and Kevin Hinerman placed 2 nd overall best as a team for all games in the nation in the junior division. Dr. Tylinski presented a certificate to each team member from the Board. The team is coached by Mr. Harold Perkins and Mr. Dale Wagner. 4. Two Intermediate High School teams of students finished 1 st and 2 nd out of 94 teams in the Pennsylvania Stock Market game. 5. The Seneca Valley Senior High School Band participated in the Republic Bank Derby Festival Pegasus Parade in Louisville, Kentucky, and won the BellSouth Real Yellow Pages Battle of the Bands competition. As part of the Kentucky Derby Festival they competed with over a dozen bands with nearly 300,000 spectators. B. Dates to Remember May 11 May 12 May 16 and 17 May 28 June 1 June 1 June 4 Snow Make-Up Day #5 Senior Prom Grand March, Campus, 5:00 p.m.; Prom, 7:00 p.m., Heinz Field Professional Development - No school in p.m. for secondary only Memorial Day - No School Last day of school for students, students attend a.m. only Graduation, NexTier Stadium, 6:00 p.m. Teacher In-Service 3
C. Legislative 1. PSBA Legislative Platform - The Board could make a difference in legislation if it submitted ideas to the legislative platform. Both Mr. Brennan and Mr. Hill had participated in the PSBA legislative session in the past and encouraged other members to present ideas and attend the session. D. Strategic Plan - This will be addressed next week. E. Enrollment Update - The latest enrollment numbers provided in the backup materials. F. Principal Reports - The building reports provided in the backup materials. G. Grant Programs 1. County Drug and Alcohol 2. Title I - Improving America s Schools - Remedial Reading 3. Title IIA - Improving Teacher Quality 4. Title III - Language Instruction for Limited English Proficient and Immigrant Students 5. Title IV - Drug Free Schools 6. Title V - Innovative Education H. JROTC Spirit of America Field Trip - Cadet 1 st Sgt. Scott Platt provided a handout on the request of the JROTC to take the entire freshman class on a field trip to Mellon Arena in September for a United States history program. The cost is $14 per student which covers the cost of transportation, a sack lunch, and a t-shirt. This will be added to the action agenda next week. I. Budget Report - The March budget report provided in the backup materials. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - Approve the following minutes: A. Work Session - April 2, 2007 B. Regular Meeting - April 16, 2007 5. OPERATION REPORTS A. Treasurer's Report - The March treasurer s report provided in the backup materials. B. Financial Reports - The following reports provided in the backup materials: 1. Senior High Activities 2. Intermediate High Activities 3. Middle School Activities 4. Athletics 5. Tax Collection 6. Earned Income Tax 7. Food Service C. Agency Reports 1. Vo-Tech - There was nothing new to report. 2. I. U. IV - All current members retained their representation on the Board at the convention. 4
3. Clarence Brown - There was nothing new to report. 6. PAYMENT OF BILLS - Approve the General Fund bills provided in the backup which total $2,879,879.16. 7. ACTIVITIES FUND BILLS - Approve the Activities Fund bills provided in the agenda which total $9,445.20. 8. ADMINISTRATION ACTION A. Board Policies - Approve the second reading of the following Board policies: a. #218, Student Discipline, revised b. #249, Anti-Bullying, new 9. INSTRUCTION ACTION A. Approve the ASSET Resource Teacher contract for 2007-08 school year. B. Approve the ASSET membership agreement for 2007-08 school year. C. Approve the submission of the Accountability Block Grant (ABG) for 2007-08 school year in the amount of $675, 045. D. Approve YMCA Summer Program agreement for 2007. E. Approve purchase of the following textbooks, pending inclusion in the 2007-08 budget: 1. 7 th Grade Health - Prentice Hall - $9,072.77 2. 8 th Grade Health - McGraw Hill - $6,566.40 3. 11 th Grade Health - Holt Rinehart - $12,266.10 4. Chemistry - McGraw Hill - $15,863.10 F. Approve proposed curriculum changes for Math, Science, and Health for grades 7 through 12. 10. BUSINESS/FINANCES ACTION A. Buildings and Grounds 1. Authorize the administration to seek bids for the following, pending approval of the 2007-08 budget: a. Carpet Replacement at Rowan Elementary School b. Asphalt and Concrete Repairs c. Senior High School Gym Floor Refinishing d. Senior High School Loading Dock Repairs e. Purchase of Scissors Lift f. Purchase of Utility Vehicle to be Shared by Maintenance and Athletic Departments 2. Authorize the administration to seek proposals for the purchase of HVAC web-based software. 5
B. 2007-08 Bids - Approve bids for Nurses Supplies and Industrial Technology Supplies. C. Budget Transfers - Approve budget transfers. Mr. Roth questioned transfers from supplies to conference accounts. He requested that, in the future, the conference sheet indicate if the account is over budget. D. Depository and Treasurer Appointments - Appoint NexTier Bank as Depository and as Treasurer for the 2007-08 school year. 11. PERSONNEL ACTION - Personnel actions were discussed in executive session prior to this meeting. 12. COMMUNICATIONS - Communications were received from the following: A. Cathy Cortazzo, Cranberry CUP B. Jennifer Malloy C. Melissa and Ryan Milliron D. Julie Polcyn E. Bill and Denise Slusser F. Amy Taylor G. Marilynn McElhinny 13. PUBLIC COMMENT Jim Welsh wanted to offer points of clarification on the snack issue. He supports a policy that benefits all students, but feels this does not happen at Evans City and suggests the Board look into this. 14. MISCELLANEOUS A. Mr. Roth questioned why Education Energy was not on the agenda. The district is discussing this issue with Westinghouse to see if they can help the district with energy management. B. Mr. Brennan reported that the transportation committee is looking to see if bus stops can be eliminated or moved. 15. ADJOURNMENT - With nothing further to come before the Board, Mr. Brennan motioned, seconded by Mr. Paul, to adjourn the meeting at 9:12 p.m. Motion carried with those present voting in the affirmative with Mr. Evans absent. 16. EXECUTIVE SESSION - Personnel, real estate, and legal matters were discussed in executive session prior to this meeting. Mr. Dean Berkebile, Board President Mrs. Joan Rinaman, Board Secretary 6