Carlynton School District

 

Voting Meeting

March 19, 2009

Carlynton Jr.-Sr. High School Library – 7:30 p.m.

 

MInutes

The Carlynton School District Board of Education conducted its Regular Voting Meeting Thursday, March 19, 2009 in the library of the junior-senior high school. Attendance included President Thomas Brown, Vice President Patricia Schirripa and Directors Thomas DiPietro, Sandra Hughan, Ronald McCartney, Betsy Tassaro, Raymond Walkowiak and Sharon Wilson. Also present was Superintendent Michael Panza, Solicitor Janet Burkardt, Principals Jacie Maslyk, Robert Susini and Christopher Very, and Director of Pupil Services Lee Myford. The audience was comprised of seven individual and one member of the press.

 

 

Call to order - The meeting was called to order by President Brown at 7:30 pm. The pledge was led by Carnegie Elementary kindergarten student Gracie Scuillon.  Recording Secretary Michale Herrmann called the roll; Director Roussos was excused from the meeting.

 

public comment on business before the board: None

approval of minutes:

Director McCartney moved, seconded by Director Wilson, to approve the minutes of the March 5, 2009 Meeting as presented.  On a voice vote, the motion carried 8-0.

 

REPORTS:

 

  • Executive Session – President Brown reported that personnel, labor and legal issues were discussed in executive session.

Ø      Principals’, Pupil Services’ and Business Manager Reports – The principals offered a brief report; Mrs. Myford announced that grant money for the bullying program has been received; Mr. Christy made everyone aware that public schools may be forced to contribute up to 30 percent (employee contribution) to the retirement system

  • Superintendent’s Report – Dr. Panza reviewed the calendar of upcoming events and provided the following information:

Ø      The Carnegie Towers outreach program is now drawing 22 students

Ø      PSU is conducting a study regarding curriculum alignment/ studies with the PSSA. Dr. Panza submitted the district report for review and was told we are the 300th school in line and the analysis will take some time

Ø      Cafeteria and custodial workers are needed

Ø      PSSA and Terra Nova testing is going well; there was a glitch with the Terra Nova but it has since been resolved

Ø      Parkway CTC will hold its honor society induction

Ø      A few new student workshops/offerings are in the works for next year, i.e., conducting college searches

Ø      The last SHASDA meeting with students and roundtable discussions went very well

Ø      A date in April has been set to visit schools using Board Docs

Ø      There is no perceived increase in the budget; Director Walkowiak asked if more accurate estimates could be obtained for such things as the driveway paving, rather than internal estimates

Ø      The debt service retires as of October 2009 (last payment)

Ø      The district will lose revenue from the sale of Carnegie Towers (at a lower than assessed value) and an in-progress application for tax exemption by the Salvation Army, now housed in Carnegie Office Park

  • Secretary’s Correspondence

Ø      The minutes of the Parkway West Career and Technology Center Joint Committee Meeting of February 3, 2009 were entered into record. (Secretary’s Correspondence #0309-1)

·         Pathfinder Report – Director Wilson said that visitations and tours for new students and parents are being conducted and the playground fund has topped $25,000. Administrators are moving forward to acquire designs.

·         Parkway West CTC Report – Director Hughan said the potential for Parkway graduates is great; the Alternative School has a new principal.

·         SHASDA – Director DiPietro stated that he attended and thoroughly enjoyed the last meeting with the student panel discussions. Carlynton student representative was Lauren Uffelman.

·         PSBA-Legislative – Director Walkowiak reported a new approach is being considered for the GCA’s, one of which is renaming them the Keystone Exams. Improvements are being made, but there are still issues. In another area, he reported that research has shown that public school students perform better in math versus private schools and findings illustrate this is most likely due to certified teachers. Lastly, PSBA has introduced a new initiative – FREE, an acronym for Focusing Resources on Educational Expenses.

 

 

BUSINESS BEFORE THE BOARD:

 

The Miscellaneous and Curriculum items were approved in one motion:

·         Miscellaneous

Director Wilson moved, seconded by Director Hughan, to approve the list of Conference and Field Trip Requests as presented:  

§         FT…L. Merglowski…Out-based Community Learning…3/27

§         FT…J.Tylka-Welty…Carnegie Art Museum…Enrichment…3/27

§         C…A. Harrity…PATTAN…Professional Development…3/31

§         C…K.Papst…PATTAN…Professional Development…3/31

§         FT…L.Dedola…Elementary Schools…Musical Preview…3/31

§         C…R.Mickolay…Robert Morris…Tech Conference…4/1

§         FT…Car 5th Gr. Tchrs…Library Civil War Room…History…4/1

§         FT…D.Cosnek…IUP…Physics Olympics…4/3

§         FT…J. Welty…SFayette MS…Creative Convention…4/3

§         FT…M. Lear…North Allegheny HS…Jr. High Chorus Fest…4/3-4

§         FT…Craft 3rd Gr. Tchrs…Carnegie Public Library…Enrich…4/8

§         FT…C. Rex…Wheeling Jesuit U…Science Unit…4/30

§         FT…V.Ferro…CHS…Concert Rehearsal/Carnegie & Crafton…5/5

§         FT…M.Berlingeri…McKeever Env. Ctr…Bio/Ecology…4/13-15

§         C…L.Myford…Hershey…PDE Conference…4/14-17

§         FT…C.Rex/N.Kelly…CCAC…Science Olympiad…5/14

§         C…C.Rex…Central Elem…Professional Development…5/15

§         C…N.Kelly…Central Elem…Professional Development…5/15

§         FT…Crafton Gr.3 Tchrs…PNC Park/Omnimax…Culture…5/27

§         C…N. Martin…Alleg. College…Eng. Lit Workshop…7/13-17

(Miscellaneous Item #0309-1 REVISED)  

 

·         Curriculum

 

The updated K-12 Art Curriculum as presented; 

 

And the updated Elementary Computer Curriculum, grades 5-6, as presented.  On a voice vote, the motion carried 8-0.

 

·         Finance

The following items were approved in one motion:

Director Tassaro moved, seconded by Director McCartney, to approve the Treasurer’s Report for the month of February 2009 as presented; 

 

The February 2009 bills in the amount of $2,540,852.92 as presented; 

 

The Carnegie Real Estate Tax Refund for March 2009 as presented;  (Finance Item #0309-1)

 

The Rosslyn Farms Earned Income Tax Refund for March 2009 as presented; (Finance Item #0309-2)

 

The January and February 2009 Athletic Fund Reports as presented;  (Finance Item #0309-3)

 

The January and February 2009 Activities Fund Reports as presented;  (Finance Item #0309-4)

 

The Cafeteria Operating Report for the month of February 2009 as submitted by Aramark Educational Services.  (Finance Item #0309-7) 

On a ROLL CALL vote, the motion carried 8-0.

 

Director Tassaro moved, seconded by Director DiPietro, to approve continued participation in the Project Succeed Consortium for the 2009-2010 school year as presented;  (Finance Item #0309-5)

[Dr. Panza explained that this is a credit recovery program; the district purchases eight seats at $1000/seat and the program is operated by the Keystone Oaks School District.]

 

And the proposed 2009-2010 Allegheny Intermediate Unit Program of Services Budget as presented. The budget totals $3,807,900 and there is no increase in the total district allocation from the past year; (Finance Item #0309-6)  On a voice vote, the motion carried 8-0.

 

 

·         Personnel

The following items were approved in one motion:

                                                                                                                                                              

Director McCartney moved, seconded by Director Wilson, to approve the additions to the 2009-2010 Day-to-Day Substitute List as follows:

§         Brooke Staab – Elementary/Special Education

§         Leah Bazzano – Health and Physical Education, K-12

§         Megan Chips – Elementary Education

                           (Personnel Item #0309-1 REVISED)

Marian Sywy as payroll clerk for the Carlynton School District, effective March 31, 2009, under the terms and conditions of the Secretaries-Cafeteria-Aides Collective Bargaining Unit Agreement;  (Personnel Item #0309-2)

 

Family Medical Leave of Absence for employee CFT09-02 as requested; 

 

James Fiering as the cafeteria van driver, effective March 31, 2009, under the terms and conditions of the Secretaries-Cafeteria-Aides Collective Bargaining Unit Agreement.  (Personnel Item #0309-3)

 

Posting for a special education teacher to operate the elementary Extended School Year Life Skills program for a period of 15 days in the summer.

 

Posting for a certified elementary/special education teacher to provide Extended School Year services to an elementary student. The program will operate June 22 to July 31, 2009 for six hours per week.

 

Posting for a special education teacher to operate a summer reading program for a period of 20 days.  (Personnel Item #0309-4)

 

Family Medical Leave of Absence for employee SCA09-04 as requested;

 

Resignation of Meghan Dettling from the athletic supplemental position of Varsity Girls’ Soccer Coach and to post for said position; (Personnel Item #0309-5)

 

Pete Banaszak for the position of after-school study hall teacher in the high school cafeteria;  (Personnel Item #0309-6)

 

Anticipated posting for the position of a year-long school psychologist internship position at a stipend of $15,000;  (Personnel Item #0309-7) 

It was noted that the stipend will be paid by ACCESS at no cost to the district.

 

And posting for an after-school tutor for an individual for 28 total hours prior to the end of the 2008-2009 school year.  (Personnel Item #0309-8)  On a voice vote, the motion carried 8-0.

 

·         Student Services/Transportation

 

Director Tassaro moved, seconded by Director Wilson, to approve Carolyn McGaha as van monitor for a Life Skills van as submitted.  (Student Services Item #0309-1)  On a voice vote, the motion carried 8-0.

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Director Hughan cited an article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about Governor Rendell’s proposal to break down 500 school districts into 100. She asked if anyone had heard of his intentions for Carlynton. President Brown said that a bi-partisan commission has been formed to study the proposal.

 

President Brown commended the Interact Club for raising funds for Children’s Hospital by hosting a Battle of the Bands.

 

Director DiPietro, directing his question to Mr. Christy (in reference to the report given earlier), asked an estimation of the retirement contribution rate had been provided. Mr. Christy said that the retirement fund’s economic losses are guesstimating a contribution rate of up to 30 percent.

 

Director Walkowiak asked if any progress had been made with the 300 series of the policies. Dr. Panza noted that a meeting has been scheduled to review the policies.

 

NEW BUSINESS:  Director Hughan questioned where the district stood in terms of rising fuel prices for buses. Dr. Panza said the district is locked into a rate through the AIU consortium, but the rate will be lowered per a more recent agreement.

 

OPEN FORUM:  Director Wilson congratulated all who facilitated and participated in Read Across America. She noted that the hallways at Crafton Elementary look beautiful with all the student artwork hanging everywhere for all to see. She also encouraged everyone to register for the upcoming Relay for Life and distributed a flyer regarding luminaries and an upcoming golf outing in support of Relay for Life.

   

ADJOURNMENT:  With no further business to discuss, Director Hughan moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:41 pm, seconded by Director McCartney. On a voice vote, the motion carried 8-0.

 

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