MARS AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 17, 2017 A 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, Rebecca Brown, Rita Dorsch, Dayle Ferguson, Gordon Marburger, William Pettigrew, Christine Valenta, Bonnie Weaver, Board Secretary, Jill Swaney and Attorney Thomas Breth from Dillon McCandless King Coulter & Graham, L.L.P. Board member John Kennedy was absent. Also present were Superintendent Dr. Wesley Shipley, Dr. Elizabeth McMahon, Josh Schwoebel, Kate Rich, members of the press and members of the public. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7:03 P.M. ROLL CALL Roll call at 7:04 P.M. showed eight (8) board members present and one (1) board member absent. PUBLIC COMMENT Ms. Ferguson thanked Dr. Shipley and Dr. McMahon for inviting the board to attend a presentation with David Suda on drug addiction and student suicide. The board is scheduled for another bargaining session with the support union tomorrow. Prior to this evening s meeting, the board met in a closed executive session for legal, personnel and student issues. The board will convene after the meeting to discuss more legal and personnel issues. Student council representatives, Claire Staresinic and Jon Paul Plesniak, were introduced. Claire addressed an item that is on the agenda for board approval. Student council is requesting approval for members to attend a national conference in Washington, D.C. This would be their first attendance to a conference at the national level. Student council will present a gift of support to the new Adams Township fire hall. Members of the council attended a student government meeting with middle school students. Several middle school students will be attending a conference later in the year at the high school level and a Seneca Valley middle school student council advisor will be visiting the Mars Area Middle School. Shirley Lawther of 110 Shady Farm Lane, Mars, PA was introduced. Ms. Lawther is the Adams Township Tax Collector. She addressed the board a month ago requesting a pay raise and she is following up on that issue this evening. She thanked the board for their consideration and hope they will consider her request for a pay increase. Michele Jackson of 1525 Three Degree Road, Mars, PA was introduced. Ms. Jackson provided an update on the Boys Volleyball Club. Currently there are 26 students who have joined. There are two varsity teams and one junior varsity team. The teams have been in a few tournaments and one will be held in Mars later this month.
Page 2 of 7 MINUTES A motion was made by Mr. Boggs and seconded by Mr. Marburger to approve the Minutes of the Reorganization/ of December 8, 2016 and the Minutes of the Special of December 19, 2016. With Mr. Boggs, Ms. Brown, Ms. Dorsch, Ms. Ferguson, Mr. Marburger, Dr. Pettigrew, Ms. Valenta and Ms. PERSONNEL A motion was made by Ms. Dorsch and seconded by Mr. Marburger to: Pending the receipt of the necessary paperwork, approve Noah Kohl for a day-to-day substitute Custodian position. Pending the receipt of the necessary paperwork and 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 2016-2017 school year: Activity Coach Stipend Head Varsity Baseball Andy Bednar $4,589.00 Assist 1 Varsity Baseball Rob Case $3,581.00 Assist 2 Varsity Baseball Mike Bell $2,883.00 Assist Varsity Baseball Tom Davis Volunteer Assist Varsity Baseball Kent Bloom Volunteer Head 9 th Grade Baseball Jason Thompson $3,649.00 Assist 9 th Grade Baseball Joe Joswiak $2,850.00 Head Varsity Softball Michele Goodworth $4,589.00 Assist 1 Varsity Softball Mike DelDuca $3,581.00 Head 7/8 th Grade Softball Jessica Winter $3,649.00 Assist 1 7/8 th Grade Softball Ashley Golias $2,850.00 Head Varsity Boys Tennis Chris Knauff $4,160.00 Assist 1 Varsity Boys Tennis Mark Varlotta $3,246.00 Assist Varsity Boys Tennis Kent Shoemaker Volunteer Head Varsity Boys Lacrosse Bob Marcoux $4,589.00 Assist 1 Varsity Boys Lacrosse Tom Kozlowski $3,581.00 Head Varsity Girls Lacrosse Lindsay Burns (Flavion) $4,589.00 Assist 1 Varsity Girls Lacrosse Cara Dumont $3,581.00 Head 8 th Grade Girls Volleyball David Mayer $3,649.00 Head 7 th Grade Girls Volleyball Meghan Boland $3,649.00
Page 3 of 7 Activity Coach Stipend Head Varsity Girls Track & Field Joelle Patterson $4,589.00 Head Varsity Boys Track & Field Corey Slater $4,589.00 Asst. 1 Varsity Boys Track & Field Denny Clark $3,581.00 Head 7 th /8 th Grade B/G Track & Field Donna Dallatore $3,649.00 Co-Spring Weight Room Supervisor David Goodworth $ 720.50 Co-Spring Weight Room Supervisor Brian Hobaugh $ 720.50 Approve the request of Maria Kuchta (Autistic Support) for Child Bearing/Rearing Leave tentatively scheduled to begin March 4, 2017 through April 30, 2017, 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. Ms. Kuchta will utilize sick days and unpaid leave. Pending the receipt of the necessary paperwork, approve Courtney Goodzinski and Pauline Novotny as day-to-day substitute Secretaries. Approve the request of Nicole Vozza (English) for Child Bearing/Rearing Leave tentatively scheduled to begin March 15, 2017 through April 30, 2017, 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. Ms. Vozza will utilize sick days and personal days. Pending the receipt of the necessary paperwork, approve the following Volunteer Coaches for the Girls on the Run Program during the 2016-2017 school year: Susan Tirch, Jaime Schmitt, Kimberly Doyle and Tracey Weaver. Pending the receipt of the necessary paperwork, approve Cheri Pistner for a 2.5 Hour Paraprofessional position in the Life Skills Classroom at the Mars Area High School effective upon board approval. Approve Danielle LeDonne as a bus/van driver for A. J. Myers & Sons, Inc. during the 2016-2017 school year. FINANCE A motion was made by Mr. Boggs and seconded by Mr. Marburger to: Approve the Payables List Bills to be paid in January 2017. Approve the Treasurer s Report for October 2016. Approve the Cash Receipts Report for October 2016. Approve the Payables List Bills paid in October 2016 (Check #43168 through Check #43297).
Page 4 of 7 Approve the Account Summary Report for the Revenue Account and the Expenditure Account for October 2016. Approve the Construction Fund Disbursements for October 2016. Approve the Student Activity Fund Reports for October and November 2016 for the Mars Area Middle School and the November 2016 Report for the Mars Area High School. Approve the Mars Area High School Athletics Report for November 2016. Approve the 2016-2017 Resolution Establishing Rates of Compensation for Tax Collectors for the Collection of School Real Estate Tax, as presented. Approve the Budget Transfers required for the 2015-2016 school year, as presented. Approve Laura Chappel as a signer for the Mars Area Middle School Student Activity Fund. Ms. Chappel is replacing Gretchen Persinger as a signer on the account. Pending solicitor s review, approve the Contract with BAYADA Home Health Care, Inc. for student personal care services, as presented. A motion was made by Dr. Pettigrew and seconded by Ms. Dorsch to: Pending solicitor s review, approve the Agreement between the Mars Area School District and Keystone Educational Consulting Group, L.L.C. for educational consulting services, as presented. Pending solicitor s review, approve the Transfinder Contract and License Agreement for transportation software, as presented. A roll call vote was taken and with Mr. Boggs, Ms. Brown, Ms. Dorsch, Ms. Ferguson, Mr. Marburger, Dr. Pettigrew, Ms. Valenta and Ms. PROGRAMS A motion was made by Ms. Dorsch and seconded by Ms. Brown to approve the Contract Proposal with Lead to Learn for Teaching Training and Administrator Coaching, as presented. A roll call vote was taken and with Mr. Boggs, Ms. Brown, Ms. Dorsch, Ms. Ferguson, Mr. Marburger, Dr. Pettigrew, Ms. Valenta and Ms. A motion was made by Ms. Dorsch and seconded by Mr. Marburger to approve the adoption of the 2017-2018 Mars Area School District Calendar, as presented. A roll call vote was taken and with Mr. Boggs, Ms. Brown, Ms. Dorsch, Ms. Ferguson, Mr. Marburger, Dr. Pettigrew, Ms. Valenta and Ms. Weaver voting aye the motion carried.
Page 5 of 7 A motion was made by Ms. Dorsch and seconded by Dr. Pettigrew to approve the attendance of Rich Schoeffel (Student Council Advisor) and nine students to the Lead Conference for the National Association of Student Councils scheduled February 3-5, 2017 in Washington, D.C. at no cost to the school district. With Mr. Boggs, Ms. Brown, Ms. Dorsch, Ms. Ferguson, Mr. Marburger, Dr. Pettigrew, Ms. Valenta and Ms. POLICIES A motion was made by Ms. Dorsch and seconded by Mr. Marburger to: Approve the adoption of the following revised and/or proposed policies for the Policy Manual: 334 - Sick Leave 335 - Family & Medical Leave 336 - Personal Necessity Leave 337 - Vacation 338 - Sabbatical Leave 338.1 - Compensated Professional Leave 339 - Uncompensated Leave 340 - Responsibility for Student Welfare 341 - Benefits for Part-Time Employees 342 - Jury Duty 343 - Paid Holidays 345 - Employee Identification Badges 346 - Worker s Compensation 348 - Unlawful Harassment 351 - Drug & Substance Abuse 352 - Electronic Devices & Personal Technology Resources 007 - Policy Manual Access A roll call vote was taken and with Mr. Boggs, Ms. Brown, Ms. Dorsch, Ms. Ferguson, Mr. Marburger, Dr. Pettigrew, Ms. Valenta and Ms. A motion was made by Ms. Dorsch and seconded by Dr. Pettigrew to: Approve the removal of the following policies from the Policy Manual: Policy No. 602, 615, 616, 618, 620, 625, 627, 630, 631, 642, 664, 681, 690. These policies have become obsolete due to the adoption of the revised and/or proposed Policies 334 351 shown above. Approve the posting of the following revised policies for the Policy Manual: 006 - Meetings 707 - Community Use of Facilities 913 - Distribution of Non-School Materials 915 - School-Affiliated Organizations
Page 6 of 7 BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS A motion was made by Mr. Boggs and seconded by Mr. Marburger to approve Change Order No. G-1 (Revised) and G-2, as presented, for the construction of the two (2) softball fields. With Mr. Boggs, Ms. Brown, Ms. Dorsch, Ms. Ferguson, Mr. Marburger, Dr. Pettigrew, Ms. Valenta and Ms. Weaver voting aye the motion carried. OTHER A motion was made by Ms. Dorsch and seconded by Mr. Marburger to: Accept the donation in the amount of $2,308.50 from Box Tops for Education to the Mars Area Primary Center. Approve the attendance of Dayle Ferguson, Rebecca Brown and Dr. Wesley Shipley to the Pennsylvania School Board Association s Third Annual Board Presidents Day Forum scheduled on January 28, 2017 in Monroeville, PA. The cost to the school district for registration is $327.00. Approve the following Independent Volunteers during the 2016-2017 school year: Sally Bayuk, Tracy Brown, Shelley Cunningham and Rebecca Lutz. BOARD REPORTS Dr. Shipley researched the number of combined years of service the current board members have provided to the school district. Overall, 170 years of service have been given by the current board members, which includes service from two board members in the teaching and administrative capacity. Of the 170 years, 82 years is strictly from serving on the school board. Being that January is National School Board month, Dr. Shipley thought it appropriate that such years of service be acknowledged this evening. Business Manager Jill Swaney made comment regarding the state s proposal to eliminate school property taxes. PUBLIC COMMENT Christine Petrini, representing the teacher association, echoed the thoughts of Ms. Ferguson earlier with regard to the presentation given by David Suda. She attended the session with the elementary staff and feels it is important for the entire grade system to be informed of the topics Mr. Suda discussed.
Page 7 of 7 ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, a motion was made by Dr. Pettigrew and seconded by Ms. Dorsch to adjourn the board meeting. With Mr. Boggs, Ms. Brown, Ms. Dorsch, Ms. Ferguson, Mr. Marburger, Dr. Pettigrew, Ms. Valenta and Ms. Weaver voting aye the meeting was adjourned at 7:32 P.M. The board convened into a closed executive session to further discuss legal and personnel issues. MARS AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT Board President MARS AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT Board Secretary