February 14th Octorara School Board Meeting Notes

OCTORARA AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

WORK SESSION

February 14, 2011 – 7:30 p.m.

Middle School Multi-Purpose Room

DISCUSSION GUIDE

1. Lord’s Prayer

2. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

3. Roll Call - Mr. Nelson Stolzfus is the only board member not present.

4. Presentations:

A. Dr. John Hagen –

Dr. John Hagan is a former board member has a presentation to make to the board.  Dr. Hagan was a board member from 1967 to 1991.  The last 15 years of his tenure on the board were as president.  Spoke of working with Dr. McAdams.  After leaving Octorara Dr. McAdams worked at a number of school districts and later wrote a book.  Dr. Hagan reviewed the book and came to the conclusion that he would have benefited having the book when he was a school board member.  Dr. Hagan presented a copy of Dr. McAdams book to each board member and asked them to hand the book to their successor when they leave the board.  He thanked the board for their work.

B. Budget

Mr. Carsley.  We received pricing on final bond. The final price came out favorably for the district.  Interest rates came in our favor due to our improved credit rating.  The change will have a positive impact on this year’s budget.

Copy of a letter dated 1/28 about Edujob funding.  Another letter today discussing basic ed. state funding being reduced to 2006-07 levels.  The change could have a $500K impact on the preliminary budget for this year.

Dr. Newcome remarked that the budget townhall meeting had roughly 26 people attendance last Thursday evening.  Of the 26 people attending the meeting, 20 were members of the community.  Most were regular board meeting attendees.  6 were new faces he hadn’t seen before.  The presentation made was the same one made at the last board meeting.  More town meetings will be scheduled.

March 14^th meeting will have a new budget estimate. 

President Bowman liked the back and forth format at Thursday’s townhall meeting.  The purpose of the meeting was to get as much info out and educate people about the budget process.

          The district will advertise future town meetings.

5. Visitors’ Comments - Agenda Items Only

6. Information Items:

An activity fee of $30.00 will be charged for participation in the Octorara Elementary School musical. The fee will cover performance rights and scripts, cast T-shirts, props and sets, and snacks for the participants.

7. Presentation of Agenda Items for the February 21, 2011 Regular Monthly Public Meeting:

A. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the addition of the Imprest Fund to the contract for the remote deposit between Fulton Bank and the Octorara Area School District.

B. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the removal of tax liens on the mobile home parcels listed below. The Chester County Commissioners exonerated the parcels because the original mobile home has either been removed from the parcel or demolished.

Parcel 44040000150T $ 620.51

Parcel 44070004250T $ 741.11

Parcel 46040026021T $3,539.76

Resignation Approvals:

C. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the resignation, with regret, of Dr. Judy Curiel as a Spanish teacher at the Octorara Area High School for the purpose of retirement effective March 8, 2011. (Hired August 26, 1986.)

Hiring Approvals:

D. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the employment of Ms. Beth Reburn as an instructional assistant at the Primary Learning Center effective February 2, 2011 through May 2, 201l. Ms. Reburn’s rate will be $11.40 per hour.

E. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the employment of Ms. Bridget Marowski as a long term substitute Spanish teacher at the Octorara Area High School. Ms. Marowski’s salary will be $46,914 which is Step 1of the Bachelor’s Scale pro-rated from December 17, 2010 through the end of the 2010-2011 school year. (Replacing Judy Curiel who retired.)

Why is this prorated?  Ms. Markowski has been working in the district since December.   Dr. Curial has been on sick leave since December.

F. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the employment of Ms. Tammy Anthony as a long term substitute third grade teacher at the Octorara Elementary School effective approximately March 25, 2011 through the end of the 2010-2011 school year. Ms. Anthony’s rate will be $140 per day. (Replacing Dena Schott who will be on child rearing leave.)

G. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve Ms. Heidi Griest’s request for unpaid medical leave from February 3, 2011 through May 2, 2011. Ms. Griest is an instructional assistant at the Primary Learning Center.

H. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve Ms. Danielle Carmella’s request to extend her Family Medical Leave from February 14, 2011 through February 28, 2011.

I. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve Mr. Matt Walton as a volunteer for the Octorara Area High School girls’ basketball program.

Mr. Walton is a parent of one of the players.  He has been helping out due to illnesses on the coaching staff.

J. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following changes in salary due to graduate credits earned:

Sarah Callaway From M+30 ($58,909) to M+45 ($61,502) Step 2

Ashlee DiRocco From M+45 ($67,077) to M+60 ($70,154) Step 9

Jennifer Haldeman From M+30 ($65,733) to M+45 ($68,622) Step 10

Alysyn Hoffman From B+15 ($48,873) to M ($50,811) Step 1

Nick Kluge From M+30 ($59,654) to M+45 (62,298) Step 3

Matthew Livingood From M+45 ($62,298) to M+60 ($65,278) Step 3

Sarah Morrissey From B ($46,914) to B+15 ($48,873) Step 1

Nina Thwaites From M+45 ($72,259) to M+60 ($75,385) Step 10

Sally Welk From M+45 ($68,622) to M+60 ($71,591) Step 10

Kyle Whary From B ($47,664) to B+15 ($49,759) Step 2

Dana Young From M+15 ($59,100) to M+30 ($61,143) Step 5

Board Member Sam Ganow asked that in the future board members be told how long the applicant has been on the previous step.

8. Other Items/Concerns

9. Visitors’ Comments – General

10. Board Comments

Board Member John Malone - Finance committee meet this evening before the board meeting.  State auditor is concerned about building and IT safety/security. Discussed collection of past due taxes, basic ed funding.  There may be a reduction coming up.

A board member asked if volunteers subject to background checks – yes

Mr. Hume

·       Budget town halls are a good idea.  Word on the street are that people are appealing their property values.  People don’t know how difficult it is to get funds.  They need to understand there has been tremendous cuts at the district for a number of years.

·       Also commented on the parent becoming a volunteer for a sports program.  Asked if they must have some background in the sport.

·       Board member John Malone spoke and stated the parent had experience with basketball

President Bowman. The boys basketball game well attended.  The budget process is an ongoing process and we are constantly looking for cuts.

1^st grade open house and musical this Thursday.  Early learning center

11. Adjournment

Finance Committee Meeting – Monday, February 14, 2011 – 6:30 p.m. in the District Office Conference Room

Executive Session for personnel – Monday, February 14, 2011 – Following the Work Session in the Octorara District Office Conference Room

Facility Committee Meeting – Monday, February 21, 2011 – 6:00 p.m. in the District Office Conference Room

Policy Committee Meeting – Monday, February 21, 2011 – 7:00 p.m. in the District Office Conference Room

Next regularly scheduled Board Meeting – Monday, February 21, 2011– 7:30 p.m. in the Octorara Middle School Multi-Purpose Room

Octorara Students Meet Standards (Updated)

As Octorara School District administrators and school board members struggle with the district’s finances, students in the district's four schools continue to demonstrate continued improvement to their academic balance sheets. 

According to the district's home page, all four of district schools met state and federal academic standards for achieving "Adequate Yearly Progress" (AYP), according to the 2010 AYP Report used by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Adequate Yearly Progress, or AYP, is a measurement defined by the United States federal No Child Left Behind Act signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2002.  It measures how every public school and school district in the country is performing academically according to results on standardized tests.

In Pennsylvania AYP calculations are made through a math and reading assessment given to all students.

While this is the fourth straight year Octorara's student body has achieved AYP designation, because AYP standards shifts incrementally higher every year, this year's performance is their highest achievement yet. 

For 2009-2010 school year 72% of district students must be proficient in English while 67% must be proficient in Math.

The benchmarks continue to go up for the next 3 years until 2014 when expected proficiencies are 100% for both math and reading.

Fire Company Considers Merging

Last year the tiny Borough of Rutledge near the Philadelphia Airport in Delaware County, a borough with less than 900 residents, shuttered their local fire company and merged their equipment and resources with nearby Morton.

Why would Rutledge's fire company with 124-year-old history of emergency service close its doors.

"Money and manpower," according to the president of the new Morton - Rutledge Fire Company.

And the challenge is not unique to Rutledge.  By one estimate in the 1970's Pennsylvania had over 300,000 volunteer firefighters.  Today that number is between 50,000 and 60,000.

And what does Rutledge's decision to take up with a neighbor have to do with Parkesburg?

The Parkesburg Fire Company is in the same straights.

Volunteer membership is down and money is tighter than ever.  While state mandates on fire companies and fire fighters increase, funds from the the state to support local fire and ambulance companies shrink.

The same is true at the local level.  Monies from the boroughs and municipalities served do not keep pace with the real demands of training and fielding a competent fire and ambulance corp.

Parkesburg's Fire Company is considering all options including merger talks with neighboring boroughs and municipalities.

You can read about how Rutledge did it in an article mentioning Parkesburg on Fire Rescue 1 or you can go to Parkesburg Fire Company outstanding web page and click on the links describing their talks with Atglen, Pomeroy, Highland, Valley and West Sadsbury to consolidate into a single fire company.