SOUTHERN TIOGA SCHOOL DISTRICT
241 MAIN STREET
BLOSSBURG, PA 16912
MINUTES: BOARD OF EDUCATION– MAY 12, 2003
The meeting was called to order by Board President Jeffery Rush with the following members also present: William Miller, Kathleen Halstead, Barbara Shull, Terry Osborne, Roxanne Landis, Susan Jaquish and Martha Bastian.
Also present were Messrs: Kalata, Rakoski, Lindner, Mrs. Drabick, Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Sargent, Ms. Simmons, Mrs. Crowell, Mrs. Sick and interested teachers and citizens.
On motion of Mr. Miller and second of Mrs. Halstead, the Board voted 8 to 0 to nominate Martha Bastian as Treasurer for a one year term. On motion of Mr. Osborne and second of Ms. Shull the Board voted 8 to 0 to close the nomination.
Mr. Rush recognized the Teachers of the Year. Elementary teachers were Pat Bielski and Linda Lutomski as Co-Teachers of the Year, secondary teacher was Wes Detar.
The Minutes of the meeting held on April 14, 2003 were read by the Board. On motion of Mrs. Landis and second of Mrs. Bastian the Board voted 8 to 0 to approve the minutes as amended.
The Minutes of the meeting held on May 5, 2003 were read by the Board. On motion of Mr. Osborne and second of Mr. Miller the Board voted 8 to 0 to approve the minutes.
The Financial Summary was presented and showed a balance in the General Fund Checking Account of $5,583.06, $97,452.40 in the Cash Management Account, and $2,174,093.52 in PLGIT. The report also included statements regarding the Student Activity Funds, Student Athletic Funds, Capital Reserve Funds, and Bank Notes. On motion of Mrs. Halstead and second of Ms. Shull the Board voted 8 to 0 to approve the Financial Summary as presented. (EXHIBIT)
The Board studied the Bill List for the General Fund. On motion of Mrs. Landis and second of Mrs. Jaquish the Board voted 8 to 0 to approve paid bills in the amount of $1,251,161.99 and approved bills to be paid in the amount of $41,515.28. (EXHIBIT)
The Food Service Report was presented. On motion of Ms. Shull and second of Mrs. Halstead the board voted 8 to 0 to approve the report which showed a loss of $910.44 in the breakfast program and a gain of $1,677.48 for the lunch program during March 2003. (EXHIBIT)
On motion of Mrs. Landis and second of Mr. Miller the Board voted 8 to 0 to accept the following:
Retirement of Mary Loomis, Warren L Miller Elementary School, effective at the end of the 2002-2003 school term and waive the requirement for her to return from sabbatical for medical reasons.
Resignation of Heather Dempsey, dishwasher at Warren L. Miller Elementary School, effective at the end of the 2002-2003 school term.
Resignation of Michelle Reese, cook/server at Warren L. Miller Elementary School, effective June 6, 2003.
Resignation of Matthew Bugaj, Warren L. Miller Elementary School, effective at the end of the 2002-2003 school term.
On motion of Mrs. Bastian and second of Mrs. Jaquish the Board voted 8 to 0 to approve the Facility Use Permits as presented. (EXHIBIT)
On motion of Mr. Osborne and second of Mrs. Landis the Board voted 8 to 0 to approve Field Trip and Conferences as presented. (EXHIBIT)
Mr. Rakoski reported on the Preliminary Budget to be voted on later in the meeting.
Student Representative, Susan Wickman, reported on various student council activities throughout the District.
George Kump, Sullivan Township, commented on the budget and Mr. Miller and President Rush commented on the hard work of the Board and Administration to prepare the budget and encouraged the public to contact legislators to increase the level of state funding.
Mary Beth McKeever, Blossburg, asked the Board to reconsider the elimination of the Bridges program, if additional funds should become available.
The Administration recommended Board approval of the following:
Adoption of a resolution authorizing a change to the Earned Income Tax rate from .5 to 1.2%. (EXHIBIT)
Adoption of a resolution authorizing elimination of Act 679 and Act 511 Per Capita Taxes. (EXHIBIT)
Adoption of a resolution authorizing elimination of the Occupation Tax in accordance with the November 2002 referendum. (EXHIBIT)
Approval of the Section 356 Agreement to obtain taxpayer information from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Approval of a contract with BLaST I.U. #17 for I.D.E.A. funds for the 2003/2004 school year.
Entering into a contract with BlaST I.U. #17 for special education services for the 2003/2004 school year.
Reappointment of the following:
Powell, Rogers, & Speaks as Delinquent Tax Collector
Cox, Cox & Stokes, P.C. of Wellsboro as District Solicitor
Sweet, Stevens, Tucker & Katz of New Britain as Special Counsel
INPUT PLUS for professional data processing services
Lewis, Danzig & Co as district auditor
Approval of bond coverage for the Board Secretary in the amount of $10,000 and for the Board Treasurer in the amount of $5,000.
Entering into an agreement with the Tioga County Probation Department for school probation officer services in the 2003/2004 school year with a District matching cost of $16,166.
On motion of Mr. Miller and second of Mr. Osborne the Board voted 8 to 0, by roll call, to approve the above recommendations.
The Administration recommended Board approval for the reappointment of the following district depositories: First Citizen’s National Bank of Blossburg and Mansfield, Citizen’s and Northern Bank of Liberty, PA Local Government Investment Trust (PLGIT), and M&T Bank. On motion of Mrs. Halstead and second of Mrs. Landis, the Board voted 7-0-1, with Mr. Osborne abstaining, to approve the recommendation.
The Administration recommended approval of the 2003/2004 preliminary budget of expenditures in the amount of $20,208,206. On motion of Mrs. Bastian and second of Ms. Shull the Board voted 8 to 0, by roll call, to approve the recommendation.
The Administration recommended Board approval of the following:
A request from Kimberly Holcomb, vocal music teacher, Blossburg Schools, to revise her maternity leave request to end on April 21, 2004.
Additions to the Day to Day Substitute Employees list for the 2002/2003 school year. (EXHIBIT)
A request from Adlain Milheim, Learning Support Teacher, North Penn High School, for a maternity leave beginning May 27, 2003, through June 16, 2003.
The employment of Doreen Mase at Pre-Arranged Short-Term Substitute Instructional Assistant effective April 14, 2003, through the end of the 2002/2003 school year. Ms. Mase will be employed at an hourly rate of $7.50 as defined by the Conditions of Employment for Hourly Employees.
The employment of Julie Wilson as Pre-Arranged Short-Term Substitute Instructional Assistant effective May 7, 2003, through the end of the 2002/2003 school year. Ms. Wilson will be employed at an hourly rate of $7.50 as defined by the Conditions of Employment for Hourly Employees.
The employment of Meagen Sorensen as Pre-Arranged Short-Term Substitute Vocal Music Teacher at the Blossburg Schools, effective May 12, 2003, through the end of the 2002/2003 school year. Ms. Sorensen will be employed at a daily rate of $120.00 as defined by the Conditions of Employment for Substitute Professional Employees.
On motion of Mrs. Halstead and second of Mr. Osborne the Board voted 8 to 0, by roll call, to approve the above recommendations.
The Administration recommended Board approval of a request for homebound instruction for a Liberty High School student, for a Warren L. Miller Elementary student and for a Mansfield High School student. On motion of Mr. Miller and second of Mr. Osborne the Board voted 8 to 0 to approve the request.
The Administration recommended Board approval of the following:
Richard Berg as volunteer for the Mansfield High School softball program.
Entering into a contract with the Blossburg Track Boosters for spring game attendants in the amount of $2,650.
2003/2004 supplemental contracts (EXHIBIT)
On motion of Mrs. Halstead and second of Ms. Shull, the Board voted 7 to 0 to 1, by roll call, Mrs. Jaquish abstaining, to approve the recommendations.
The Administration recommended approval to authorize execution of the adjudication, when prepared, regarding exclusion from school of a certain student. On motion of Mr. Osborne and second of Mr. Miller the Board voted 8 to 0, by roll call, to approval the recommendation.
Board President, Jeffery Rush, made the following announcements:
On motion of Mr. Osborne and second of Mrs. Landis the Board voted 8 to 0
to adjourn the meeting.
Respectfully Submitted
_____________________
James J. Rakoski, Board Secretary
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