NORTH STAR SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF SCHOOL DIRECTORS MINUTES OF REGULAR BOARD MEETING SEPTEMBER 15, 2015 A Regular Meeting of the North Star Board of School Directors was held in the Library at North Star Central Elementary on Tuesday, September 15, 2015 at 7:00 PM. The meeting was called to order by Board Vice-President, Mr. Dave Lichliter, with the following additional board members present: Mr. Marty Blough, Mr. Bernie Carlson Mrs. Colleen DeLuca, Mr. Mike Revak, Mrs. Carol Shaulis, Mrs. Cindy West, and Mrs. Gina Wiedenhoft Total members present: 8 Members absent: 1 Mr. Wayne Lohr (vacation) OTHERS ATTENDING Others in attendance were Mr. Louis Lepley, Superintendent; Mr. Ed Denner, Business Manager; Mrs. Renee Lepley, Elementary Principal; Mrs. Cheryl Slade, Middle School Principal; Mr. Thad Kiesnowski, High School Principal; Mr. Dan Rullo, School Solicitor; Mr. Terry Ohler, Maintenance Supervisor; Derrick Hemminger, Student School Board Representative; and Mrs. Diana Duvall, Board and Superintendent s Secretary. VISITORS Mr. Matthew Toth, Somerset Daily American Mr. Christopher Ickes, Ickes Insurance Agency, Inc. Mr. Braden Heider MEET AND GREET Invitations were extended to all new staff members to attend a Meet and Greet at 6:30 PM prior to this evening s meeting. The following new staff members were able to attend, and were introduced by Mr. Lepley and the building principals: Mr. Mikel Balsley High School Physics Ms. Heather Birch Elementary Physical Education Ms. Courtney Blackner 7 th /8 th Grade Language Arts Mrs. Megan Fulmer 2 nd Grade Learning Support Ms. Kaylin Hofecker 5 th Grade Reading Mrs. Hannah Komula - Kindergarten Ms. Mary Mayak Year Long Day-to-Day Substitute Ms. Mattison Weimer Elem Emotional Support and 1 st Grade Learning Support Mrs. Duvall called the Roll and Mr. Lichliter led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. AGENDA ADOPTED On a motion by Mr. Revak, seconded by Mr. Blough and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Board adopted the evening s Agenda, as amended. MINUTES On a motion by Mr. Revak, seconded by Mrs. Wiedenhoft and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Board approved the Minutes from the Regular Board Meeting of August 25, 2015.
TREASURER S REPORT On a motion by Mr. Revak, seconded by Mrs. West and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Board approved the Treasurer s Report for the month ending August 31, 2015. PAYMENT OF BILLS On a motion by Mr. Revak, seconded by Mrs. DeLuca and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Board approved payment of all General, Cafeteria, and Federal Fund bills, as attached to these Minutes. PUBLIC COMMENT There was no public comment. PSBA VOTING RECEIPT The Voting Receipt from the 2016 PSBA Election of Officers is attached to these Minutes. STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE The Board welcomed Derrick Hemminger as the Student School Board Representative for the 2015-2016 school year. Derrick is a Junior at North Star High School. CONSENT AGENDA On a motion by Mrs. DeLuca seconded by Mr. Blough, and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Board approved the following items on the Consent Agenda: 1. STAFF TRIPS AND CONFERENCES FOR APPROVAL: (Education/Policy) No. Name Conference/Workshop Title Location Date(s) Cost Estimate Funding Source 1. L. Lepley (3) Superintendent Conference Hershey 9/30 10/2/15 $1,106.43 GF 2. R. Lepley (2) MTSS Cohort Series PaTTAN Harrisburg 9/10-11/15 (Reaffirm) $284.60 PaTTAN MTSS 3. L. Zubal (2) MTSS Writing Cohort PaTTAN 9/10-11/15 $506.22 PaTTAN 4. K. Timulak (1) MTSS Writing Cohort PaTTAN 9/10-11/15 $321.62 PaTTAN D. Robertson (1) 5. S. Vena (2) MTSS Writing Cohort PaTTAN 9/10-11/15 $1,539.46 PaTTAN J. Seibert (1) M. Hostetler (1) 6. J. Toye (1) Elementary MTSS Writing PaTTAN 9/10-11/15 $644.60 PaTTAN Cohort Series 7. D. Robertson (2) L. Zubal (3) The Foundations of Learning to Read IU8 Richland 9/23/15 (Reffirm) $140.81 Act 48 Title II 8. E. Denner (3) PSBA School Law Hershey 10/14/15 $798.15 GF Conference 9. D. Duvall (1) PSBA School Board Hershey 10/14-16/15 $926.54 GF Secretaries Conference 10. B. Carlson (1) PDE Data Summit Hershey 5/22-25/16 $919.50 GF 2. PRE-APPROVED STUDENT TRIPS (INFORMATION ONLY): (Education/Policy) No. Teacher/Requestor Student/Group Destination/Purpose Date(s) Estimated Cost Funding Source 1. C. Lohr HS Life Skills (7) Somerset Historical 9/11/15 $86.18 GF Center 2. K. Conrad HS Business Ed (10) Accounting Career Dev. St. Vincent College, Latrobe 10/27/15 $267.44 GF 2
3. STUDENT TRIPS FOR APPROVAL: (Education/Policy) No. Teacher/Requestor Student/Group Destination/Purpose Date(s) Estimated Cost Funding Source 1. S. Cannistraci Concert Band (28) Conemaugh Twp. HS, Airmen of Note Clinic 9/8/15 (Reaffirm) $77.54 GF 4. BUS AND VAN DRIVERS FOR APPROVAL: (Transportation) No. Name Vendor 1. James Weaver Griffith Transportation 2. David Golden Vernon Paul The following DAY-TO-DAY SUPPORT SUBSTITUTE was approved as a part of the Consent Agenda. 1. 2015-16 SUPPORT SUBSTITUTES FOR APPROVAL: (Personnel/Grievance) No. Name Area 1. Mr. Damian Ryniak Custodian All members present voted in the affirmative, with the exception of Mrs. Carol Shaulis, who abstained on the vote. Motion to approve passed: 7 YES; 1 ABSENT; 1 ABSTENTION COACH RESIGNATIONS On a motion by Mr. Revak, seconded by Mrs. DeLuca and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Board regretfully accepted the resignations of the following coaches and advisors for the 2015-2016 school year, and granted/reaffirmed approval to post and advertise the vacant positions: a. Ms. Mariah Seymour Visual/Audio/Stage Crew b. Mrs. Joan Rea Head Jr. High Volleyball Coach AQUA-DRY WATERPROOFING On a motion by Mrs. Shaulis, seconded by Mr. Revak and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Board accepted a proposal from Aqua- Dry Waterproofing Corp. in the amount of $2,670.00 to correct a water infiltration problem at the High School. FIT OPTIMIZED SOLUTIONS On a motion by Mrs. Shaulis, seconded by Mr. Blough and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Board accepted a proposal from FIT Optimized Solutions, Partner of Schneider Electric, in the amount of $5,540.00 to remove, replace, and program a new controller to correct an HVAC electrical problem at the Middle School. FACILITIES USE FEES On a motion by Mrs. West, seconded by Mrs. DeLuca and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Board approved the following Fee Schedule for Use of School Facilities for the 2015-2016 school year, with no increases from last year: Custodial Staff Cafeteria Staff Technology $19.00 / hr. $14.50 / hr. $23.00 / hr. CAREER EXPO On a motion by Mrs. West, seconded by Mrs. Shaulis and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Board granted approval for the 8 th grade students and advisors to attend a Career Expo at Seven Springs on October 29, 2015, with transportation funded by a grant through Tableland Services. 3
POLICY FIRST READING - STAFF DRESS CODE On a motion by Mrs. West, seconded by Mrs. Shaulis and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Board approved the First Reading of Revised School Board Policy #425 Dress and Grooming, with the addition of the Staff Dress Code Policy Guidelines. BAND TRIP On a motion by Mrs. West, seconded by Mr. Revak and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Board approved a trip for Mrs. Stormie Cannistraci and the Marching Band to travel to Orlando, Florida and Walt Disney World from Tuesday, May 10 Sunday, May 15, 2016. NATURAL GAS CONTRACT On a motion by Mr. Blough, seconded by Mr. Revak and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Board approved the extension to the Natural Gas purchasing contract with Dominion Peoples for the period of August 1, 2016 through July 31, 2018. BOND REFINANCING On a motion by Mr. Revak, seconded by Mr. Blough and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Board authorized the Business Office to advance with the refinancing process of the Series A of the 2010 bond issue through a bank qualified loan approach. TRI STAR FORD On a motion by Mrs. Wiedenhoft, seconded by Mr. Carlson and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Board authorized Mr. Ed Denner to sign the financial documents associated with the purchase of the dumptruck from Tri Star Ford Somerset, Inc. CAFETERIA WORKER On a motion by Mrs. DeLuca, seconded by Mrs. Shaulis and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Board hired Ms. Crystal Slate of Boswell as a 3.5 hour cafeteria worker at the high school, retroactive to September 1, 2015, at a rate of $7.25 per hour, increasing to $7.60 after successful completion of a 60 work day probation period. MASTER SALARY INCREMENT On a motion by Mrs. DeLuca, seconded by Mr. Revak and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Board approved a salary increment of $1,000.00 for Mr. Zachary Vena, to begin on September 9, 2015, pro-rated in the 2015-2016 school year, for having earned a Master of Education from California University of Pennsylvania. ADVERTISE FOR SUBSTITUTES On a motion by Mrs. DeLuca, seconded by Mrs. Shaulis and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Board approved the advertisement for teacher and support substitutes, and if necessary, approved the use of any substitutes with complete paperwork, to be reaffirmed at the following board meeting. EXECUTIVE SESSION On a motion by Mr. Revak, seconded by Mrs. Wiedenhoft and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Board went into Executive Session at 8:05 PM to discuss personnel, potential litigation and attorney-client privilege. On a motion by Mr. Revak, seconded by Mr. Carlson and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Board came out of Executive Session at 8:40 PM. 4
UMBRELLA INSURANCE PACKAGE On a motion by Mrs. Wiedenhoft, seconded by Mr. Blough and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Board approved the Property/General Liability/Auto/Crime/School Officials Errors and Omissions Umbrella Insurance Package through Ickes Insurance Agency, Inc. as presented: a. Property/General Liability/Auto/Inland Marine Liberty Mutual $51,664 b. School Leaders Errors and Omissions and Umbrella Liability PSBA $20,003 $71,667 SUPERVISOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION On a motion by Mr. Blough, seconded by Mrs. Shaulis and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Board hired Mrs. Suzanne St. Clair for the position of Supervisor of Special Education, at a salary of $72,500.00, pro-rated in the 2015-2016 school year, under the agreement terms to be negotiated. DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM, DATA AND FEDERAL PROGRAMS On a motion by Mr. Blough, seconded by Mrs. Shaulis and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Board hired Mrs. Melissa Garman for the position of Director of Curriculum, Data and Federal Programs, at a salary of $60,527.00, pro-rated in the 2015-2016 school year, under the agreement terms to be negotiated, and granted approval to post and advertise Mrs. Garman s vacant Guidance Counselor position at the high school. SUPERINTENDENT APPOINTED On a motion by Mr. Blough, seconded by Mr. Revak and carried by unanimous voice vote: Resolved that the Board hereby appoints Mr. Louis M. Lepley as Superintendent of the North Star School District for a five year term beginning September 15, 2015, and ending September 14, 2020, in accordance with the Superintendent s Contract as presented (Exhibit A), which Contract is authorized in compliance with the Public School Code and is hereby approved; and further resolved that the officers of the Board are authorized to execute the same. E-SIGNATURE On a motion by Mr. Carlson, seconded by Mrs. Shaulis and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Board approved a Resolution to authorize and direct Mr. Louis M. Lepley to sign PDE documents and contracts electronically with e-signatures. FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENT On a motion by Mr. Carlson, seconded by Mr. Revak and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Board agreed to accept a foreign elementary student who will be living with a district family and who wishes to enroll in the district in December or January of this school year. TEACHER RESIGNATION On a motion by Mr. Carlson, seconded by Mr. Revak and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Board regretfully accepted the resignation of Mr. Christopher Evans from his positions as High School History Teacher and Head Varsity Baseball Coach, effective at the end of the workday on September 25, 2015, and authorized the administration to advertise for the vacant positions. ADJOURNMENT On a motion by Mr. Carlson, seconded by Mr. Revak and carried by unanimous voice vote, the Regular Board Meeting was adjourned at 8:45 PM. 5
Respectfully submitted, Approved, Diana L. Duvall, Secretary Board of Directors North Star School District B. Wayne Lohr, President Board of Directors North Star School District 6