The Regular Meeting of the Board of School Directors of the Williamsport Area School District of which all members were duly notified and of which due public notice was given as required by Act 84 of 1986, was held on Tuesday evening, September 2, 2008, beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the Board of Directors’ Room, District Service Center, 201 West Third Street, Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
The President, David B. Stone, Jr., called the meeting to order with the following members:
PRESENT: Lori A. Baer, Eric J. Budnovitch, Karen V. Harris, Jay B. Shultz,
James E. Temple, David B. Stone, Jr., Lois T. Williams, Thomas A. Zimmerman
ABSENT: Pamela J. Markle.
OPENING EXERCISES – were provided by Mrs. Lois T. Williams.
Motion made by Mrs. Williams, seconded by Ms. Harris, to approve the agenda including the addendum and excluding item 8.2A.
The motion carried by a unanimous roll call.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Regular Meetings – June 3, and 17, 2008 and July 15, 2008
BOARD PRESIDENT’S REPORT – Mr. David B. Stone, Jr.
Committee Reports by Board Members
Mrs. Baer reported on the BLaST meeting. Tom Shivetts will be retiring as Executive Director and
Bill Marten has been appointed to replace him.
Construction Projects
FINANCE REPORT
5.1 Approve the following financial reports:
A. Payroll Report for the month of August, 2008:
General Fund – Unrestricted $3,680,642.71
General Fund – Restricted 365,702.59
Athletics and Extra Curricular 12,921.96
Food Service Fund 6,939.75
Data Processing Fund 33,825.09
Maintenance Fund 43,801.88
Earned Income Tax 58,165.18
Student Activities .00
TOTAL $4,201,999.16
FINANCE REPORT CONT’D:
5.2* Authorize payment of invoices and services rendered by the list submitted and direct the officers of the Board of School Directors to execute the same:
Order Number Amount Order Number Amount
09/02/08 272,200.00 09/02/08A 659,817.64
09/02/08B 90,069.42 09/02/08C 1,676.22
09/02/08D 68,187.54 09/02/08E 2,067.39
09/02/08F 2,084,782.35 09/02/08G 888,211.25
09/02/08H 1,342.89 09/02/08I 39,506.05
09/02/08J 645.59
BOARD POLICY – None
CURRICULUM REPORT
7.1 Approve participation of WAHS students Alice Baldys, Andrew Glunk, and Colleen Mahoney in Leadership Lycoming’s Youth Leadership Lycoming Program. The students will participate in 9 program days throughout the 2008-09 school year with other high school students throughout Lycoming County. The purposes of the program are to learn more about the local community, to build students’ ; leadership skills, and to encourage community service. Tuition is $500 per student and is budgeted under the Assistant Superintendent’s budget.
7.2 Approve a purchase of service agreement with Susquehanna House Inc., a private alternative education provider, to serve a limited number of WASD students during the 2008-09 school year. Services will be reimbursed at $31.00 per day for the period of actual enrollment.
7.3 Approve an agreement with Community Connect AmeriCorps/Lycoming-Clinton Counties commission for Community Action (STEP), Inc. for the placement of two AmeriCorps volunteers in the Williamsport Area School District to function as paraprofessional home-school visitors and assist with after school programs. The agreement facilitates two full-time staff at a total cost to WASD of $10,000, paid from the governor’s Safe Schools Initiative grant.
7.4 Approve an agreement with Advanced Academics, an on-line course vendor, to allow the scheduling of courses for WASD students. This provider offers courses that provide additional academic resources for students at our high school. The agreement acknowledges our partnership with BlendedSchools, which allows us to schedule courses at reduced rates. Advanced Academics has provided courses to WASD students for several years.
President Stone called an Executive Session for personnel beginning at 6:12 p.m.
The meeting reconvened at 6:20 p.m.
PERSONNEL REPORT
8.1 RESIGNATIONS
Accept the following resignation(s), effective on the dates and for the purposes indicated:
A. Rickie T. Walker, full-time Elementary (1st Grade) teacher at Cochran Elementary School, for the purpose of retirement, effective at the completion of the 2008-2009 school year (tentative date of June 5, 2009).
RESOLVED: that the Board of School Directors of the Williamsport Area School District acknowledges with profound regret the retirement of Rickie T. Walker from service in the Williamsport Area Schools and expresses its sincere appreciation for his over 32 years of dedicated service to our school system as a teacher. It further expresses the hope that his years of retirement will be many and richly rewarding.
B. Jody J. Schefsky, part-time Instructional Support Aide at Jackson Elementary School, for personal reasons, effective August 21, 2008.
8.2 LEAVES OF ABSENCE
Approve the following leave(s) of absence:
Cynthia I. Hughes, full-time School Bus Aide for the District, for an unpaid leave, effective August 25, 2008, through June 5, 2009.
The motion failed by a vote of 0-8.
B. Joseph P. Walizer*, full-time Custodian at Lycoming Valley Middle School, for an unpaid leave, effective August 28, 2008, through November 19, 2008, possibly to return sooner.
8.3* ELECTION OF STAFF
Elect the following staff, for the purpose and on the date indicated:
A. Erick J. Edler, 2629 Lincoln Drive, Montoursville, as a temporary professional employee, effective date to be determined, as Guidance Counselor at Cochran Elementary School, at a salary rate of Step 1, master’s, $42,250 (replacing Vicki Loehr, transferred to part-time position).
B. Tristin R. Forney, 2800 Lycoming Creek Rd., Apt. #10, Williamsport, as a temporary professional employee, effective with the 2008-2009 school term (scheduled date is August 21, 2008), to teach Mathematics at Curtin at Middle School, at a salary rate of Step 1, bachelor's, $39,250 (replacing Matthew Reber, resigned).
8.3* ELECTION OF STAFF CONT’D:
C. Melanie L. Miller, 1961 Walters Rd., Montoursville, as a part-time Administrative Support I (245 days per year, prorated; up to 5 hours per day) in the Tax Office, with a base wage rate of $11.21 per hour or contract rate, effective August 25, 2008 (replacing Linda Zegarski, transferred to full-time position).
D. The following substitute custodian/event staff, with a base wage rate of $9.00 per hour, for the actual number of hours worked, effective date as indicated:
Russell L. Hall 30 Berkshire Place, Williamsport (eff. 08/27/08)
Nichole E. Richards 1047 Memorial Ave., Williamsport (eff. 08/25/08)
E. The following as an event staff person, with a base wage rate of $8.50 per hour, for the actual number of hours worked, effective date as indicated:
Louis R. Cochran 217 N. Washington St., Montoursville (eff. 09/05/08)
F. The following person(s) as non-certificated substitute teacher(s) with receipt of an emergency permit, subject to assignment by the Superintendent of Schools, at the salary and/or rates as established by Board policy ($90 per day for first 45 days; $110 per day for days beyond the 45th day; up to a maximum of 180 days/year) and only for the actual number of hours assigned and worked during the 2008-2009 school year:
Michael L. McLaughlin 309 Susquehanna Ave., Lock Haven
Jane E. Rishel 59 Linden Acres Lane, Linden
G. The following substitute teacher(s), subject to assignment by the Superintendent of Schools, at the salary and/or daily rates as established by Board policy ($90 per day for first 45 days; $110 per day for days beyond the 45th day; up to a maximum of 180 days/year), and only for the actual number of hours assigned and worked:
Joanne W. Heimer 1181 Valley View Rd., Jersey Shore (eff. 08/21/08)
Joseph B. McGinty 725 Lincoln Ave., Williamsport
Jeanne T. Dykstra 293 East Academy St. Apt. #3, Hughesville
Michael J. Samson 1311 Cherry St., Williamsport
H. The following substitute administrative support/aide(s), subject to assignment by the Superintendent of Schools, at the hourly rates as established by Board policy (Administrative Support - $9.00/hr., Instructional Aide - $8.00/hr.; up to a maximum of 180 days/year) and only for the actual number of hours assigned and worked:
Sherry A. Esposito 1912 R. 973 W, Cogan Station (effective 08/26/08)
Amy M. Pardee 708 Poplar St., Williamsport
Heather E. Umstead 11 Riverview Rd., Linden
8.3* ELECTION OF STAFF CONT’D:
I. The following substitute food service worker(s), at the salary rate of $8.00 per hour, for the actual number of hours worked, effective September 3, 2008:
Misty P. Bain 2335 Newberry St., Williamsport
J. The following substitute school bus driver(s) (non-bargaining unit personnel), with a base wage rate of $11.00 per hour, effective September 3, 2008:
Edward L. Hubbell 392 S. Pine Run Rd., Linden
Stephen Nilson 2250 Central Ave., Williamsport
K. The following persons as teachers for the Educational Assistance Program/Tutoring Program effective for the 2008-2009 school year (beginning September 2, 2008). Teachers will be paid at the rate of $27.71 per hour plus appropriate benefits, up to three (3) days per week, one (1) hour per day plus 15 minutes preparation time per hour of instruction (maximum of 3.75 hours per week; total length of program is 72 days) [## indicates Building Coordinator to be paid for an additional one hour per week to serve as Coordinator and Tutor for the program]. All funds budgeted under EAP (Educational Assistance Program):
Roosevelt Middle School:
Carol J. Watson ## (Coordinator) 12 Watson Rd., Turbotville
Christine S. Koch 1031 Thompson St., Jersey Shore
Kevin B. Mumbauer 238 Westland Ave., S. Williamsport
L. Bobbi J. Gallagher, 1000 Park Ave., Woolrich, Elementary (5th Grade) teacher at Stevens Elementary School, as Coordinator for the Accelerated Reader (AR) Program at Stevens Elementary School for the 2008-2009 school term, at a total annual stipend of $400, funded through Title I (availability of position and funds to be reviewed annually).
M. Carol S. Fischer, 431 Woodland Ave., Williamsport, Kindergarten teacher at Stevens Elementary School, as the Volunteer Coordinator at Stevens Elementary School for the 2008-2009 school term, at a total annual stipend of $400, funded through Title I (availability of position and funds to be reviewed annually).
N. Susan L. Bielski, 1322 Elmira St., Williamsport, part-time Instructional Support Aide at Sheridan Elementary School, to serve as the Parent Involvement Coordinator at Sheridan Elementary School for the 2008-2009 school term, at a total annual stipend of $1,000, funded through Title I (availability of position and funds to be reviewed annually).
8.4* POSITION CHANGES – None
8.5 CONTRACTED SERVICES
A. Approve Jennifer Meanor, 30 Pineview Dr., Lock Haven, qualified interpreter of American Sign Language (ASL) and Pidgin Sign English (PSE) certified teacher of the Deaf and Hearing Impaired to provide day-to-day substitute interpreter services (as needed) to eligible students and/or their parents at the rate of $25.00 per hour for hours worked, effective August 26, 2008, through June 5, 2009.
B. Approve Bayada Nurses, Inc., R.R. 4, Box 4249, Dushore, to provide RN/LPN Nursing services as needed for the Williamsport Area School District at the rate of $40.00 per hour for hours worked, effective August 26, 2008 through June 30, 2009.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
9.1 RELEASED TIME/TRAINING PROGRAMS
Approve released time for staff members to participate in professional development activities in accordance with the Professional Development Plan of the Williamsport Area School District and consider approving training programs. All expenditures proposed are within local, state and federal budget categories approved as noted.
STUDENT/COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
10.1* Approve the following student trips:
All students must be in compliance with the school’s field trip disciplinary requirements
in order to participate.
A. Six (6) students from Jackson Elementary School, accompanied by their principal
and a teacher, to travel to Hoss’s Steak and Seahouse on dates during November 2008 through May 2009 as a reward for their citizenship. Transportation will be provided by the staff members and the meal will be provided free of charge by Hoss’s.
B. Thirty (30) English 12 Honors students from the Williamsport Area High School, accompanied by their teacher, to travel to the Community Arts Center during October 2008 to attend a production of Hamlet . District transportation is requested (10-1100-519-000-30-850-150-016-0000).
C. Twenty-eight (28) life skills and autistic support students from the Williamsport Area High School, accompanied by two teachers and twelve teachers aides, to travel to the Williamsport Hospital on dates throughout the school year to participate in a vocational transition site program. Transportation will be provided by River Valley Transit. All costs will be paid through Special Education Funds.
10.2* Approve the following request for facility use:
A. Lycoming County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees to use the Board Room at the District Service Center on Monday, September 29, 2008, from 6:00 pm until 9:30 pm to hold a pre-retirement seminar. LCCPASR is requesting relief of the occupancy fee of $40.00.
BIDS/CONTRACTS
11.1 Approve the attached lease agreement with the Williamsport Scottish Rite to hold the 2010 WAHS prom at a cost of $500.
11.2 Approve the attached contract governing the terms and conditions of the sponsorship signs that will be attached to the WAHS stadium scoreboard.
TAX ITEMS
12.1 Approve the following tax summaries.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT – Kathleen R. Kelley, Ph.D.
Dr. Kelley reported the following:
Richard Villa spoke about inclusion in the afternoon.
ITEMS FROM BOARD MEMBERS
Mr. Zimmerman reported that the October Leadership Conference is approaching and the PSBA
Executive Committee and Board has decided to hold a regional meeting on Tuesday at the conference.
ITEMS FROM PUBLIC – None
President Stone announced an executive session, to discuss the terms and conditions of employment for one or more District employees, real estate and to receive legal advice from an attorney.
Upon motion made by Mrs. Williams, seconded by Ms. Harris and carried the meeting adjourned at 6:28 p.m.
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Charles E. Peterson, Jr. Board Secretary