Board Meeting Summary
October 19, 2009
REMINDER: Each AASD location receives one copy of the Board Meeting Summary. The report can also be read on both the Intranet and at www.aasdcat.com on the Internet.
The Altoona Area School Board meeting was called to order at 6:15 p.m. by Vice-President Dick Lockard. All members were present except President Ellis and Mr. Irwin.
Minutes of the September 14 and October 5 were APPROVED along with the list of payments and the financial reports before the Board took action on these matters:
PERSONNEL - The Board RE-ELECTED Dr. Murray as superintendent from July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2013.
SPECIAL EDUCATION - Frances J. Parker was APPROVED as a special education supervisor along with Cynthia Gibbons (Learning Express-Preschool Speech Specialist). Non-instructional elections included Max Anslinger (Technology Office-Assistant); special education aides Michelle Burk, Stacey Fisher, Debra DeGol-Fraundorfer, Barry Noel, DiKarla Peters, Tracy Phelan, Deborah Steep, Soni Wood, Wendy Fox, Sheila Quay, Duane Ferrell and Elizabeth Joyce; maintenance substitutes Colton Trotter, Michael Sisto, Patrick Love, Kathy Hazlett, David Bell, Sr., Joel Templon, Robert Gensamer, Jr., and Michael Raley; and James Ianuzzi (Part-time-Custodian).
An INSTRUCTIONAL election was Rebekah Wood-Greenland (Homebound Instructor) and Denise Breslin (EARN/MoveUp Instructor) was HIRED under Federal Programs.
A change of status for Josh Thompson (Full-time Laborer) was APPROVED and the resignations of Eric Troxell, Rita Ergler, Brandon Maines and Lindsay Baird were ACCEPTED. The retirement of Charlie Michaels was APPROVED.
Three instructional subs and one non-instructional sub were DELETED. Leave without pay was APPROVED for Darlene Mills, Sherry Schorner, Ruth Mitchell, JoAnn Friedenberger, Ellie Herbster, Elaine Fee, Gwen Ramos, Deborah Lear, Carol Auker, Paula Truby, Elaine Loupe, Kathleen Yon, Joyce Webster, Tami Buchanan, Bill Curran, Doris Grassmyer, Linda Scalice, Betsy Miller and Diana Peters.
Stipends and extra duty pay were APPROVED for Circle of Friends supervisors Jason Lloyd, Leanne Fanale and Amy Brisbin; Mary Ann Pleva, a mentor for Carla Swartz; Ken Krott for AAJHS computer lab supervision; and staff involved in a variety of Federal Programs.
These conference requests were APPROVED: Administrators, board members and the solicitor to attend state and national conferences; Robin Dwyer to Excellence in Teaching Conference in South Bend, IN, October 8-11; and Tina Johnston to National Council of Teachers of English Conference in Philadelphia, November 19-23.
The payment of credit list was ANNOUNCED and Maureen Butterbaugh was AWARDED tenure. Severance bonuses for the various employee groups were APPROVED.
EDUCATION -These field trips were APPROVED: AAHS science students to Loretto, November 24; AAHS business students to NBC High School and Sheetz Distribution Center, October 29, and to State College, November 1-2; AAHS Astronomy Club to Alexandria, October 8; AAHS Student Council to Perkasie and to Quakertown, November 11-14; AAHS band members to Indiana, November 8; AAHS pep band to State College, October 23; AAHS social studies students to Washington, DC, November 24; AAJHS English and drama students to Pittsburgh, May 7; and AAJHS business students to Loysburg, October 29.
The Board also APPROVED an agreement with Home Nursing Agency; a student teaching memorandum of agreement with Penn State Altoona; an interagency agreement with Child Advocates of Blair County Head Start; a Master’s degree project by Jonathan Despot; participation in the PA Department of Health H1N1 vaccination program; an agreement with Skills of Central PA; student and staff participation in a US Department of Education survey; Attorney Todd Park as an inservice speaker; hosting the Interscholastic Reading Competition at AAJHS on November 17 and 19; and the constitution for the AAJHS Circle of Friends.
The Penn State student teacher program was GRANTED permission to seek parental permission of AASD students when classroom audio/visual recordings are being done.
FINANCE -A bid for cafeteria kitchen equipment was AWARDED and the Metz & Associates monthly report was SHARED. The establishment of the AAJHS Circle of Friends Club was APPROVED along with an Elect Program fund-raiser. Nicole Hunter was APPROVED as an intern in the food service program.
PHYSICAL PLANT -Plancon Part K involving a bond issue was APPROVED.
ATHLETICS - Rachel Futrell was TERMINATED as an AAHS assistant swim coach. Coaches Shawn Sankey (AAJHS-Seventh Grade Maroon Basketball) and Michele Hallinan (AAHS-Assistant Swim Coach) were HIRED.
Permission was GRANTED for the VA Hospital to use Mansion Park on October 24 for a veterans’ fitness day; for Eden Seidel, a Bishop Guilfoyle student, to practice with the AAHS swim team; and for St. Francis University men’s basketball team to use the AAHS Fieldhouse for an intra-squad scrimmage and kids’ clinic on October 25.
POLICIES - Policies dealing with family and medical leaves and unlawful harassment were ADOPTED. A policy dealing with workers’ compensation was READ for the first time.
COMMITTEE REPORT - The Board REJECTED a teacher request for payment of credits leading to principal certification.
SOLICITOR'S REPORT - Attorney Andrews reported that Centax had remitted $104,371 in tax payments after the school district threatened a lawsuit. Henry Adams noted that no documentation was provided with the check.
STUDENT RESPONSE - Maura Jones spoke about activities at AAHS including homecoming, the senior citizen dance and Tom Montler Tag Day.
ITEMS OF INTEREST -Tom Bradley reported that Cole Gingrich, an AAHS senior, is a National Merit Semifinalist and that Denice Gordon, Stephanie Hippo, Sarah Holmberg and Madeline Ketner are Commended Students. He reminded everyone of the AAJHS student production of “Big Bad” on Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m.
Finally, Tom reported that the AASD Foundation has been tabbed as Pennsylvania’s best by the Mid-Atlantic Consortium of Education Foundations - primarily because of the school district’s “constancy of purpose” under Dr. Murray’s leadership since 1984.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:54 p.m.
Compiled by: Thomas M. Bradley, Director of Public Relations