SOUTHERN COLUMBIA AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT 800 SOUTHERN DRIVE CATAWISSA, PA 17820 The, Board Meeting of the Southern Columbia Area School District Board of Directors convened in the High School Library at 6:07 p.m. with President Michael Yeager in charge of the meeting. The Pledge of Allegiance was said by all. President Yeager welcomed everyone, followed by a roll call of Board Members. BOARD MEMBERS Charlene Cove Richard Steele (Absent) John Yocum (Arrived 7:15 p.m.) Charles Porter Timothy Vought Gail Zambor Schuerch Eric Stahley Michael Yeager OTHERS PRESENT Paul Caputo, Superintendent; Michael Sokoloski, Business Manager; Tresa Britch, Board Secretary; Richard J. Roberts, Solicitor; James Becker, Angela Farronato, Brenda Monick, Jennifer Snyder (Arrived 6:59 p.m.), Administrators; Timothy George, Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds; and district residents. AGENDA HEARING PERIOD President Yeager announced that all items on the agenda would be action items. SUPERINTENDENT S REPORT Mr. Caputo s report included the following topics: 1.) He announced that the district was mourning the loss of Freda Dalious. 2.) Mr. Caputo congratulated Mrs. Stone and the cast and crew of Godspell for an outstanding performance. He noted that one of the cast members was a special needs student. Previously, that student was placed out of the district. Had it not been for the Board s decision to bring those special needs students back into the district, that student would not have had that opportunity. He stated that the Encore presentation is symbolic of the benefits of inclusion. 3.) Plans for the EnerNoc initiative have begun. The primary contact person and alternate contacts have been determined. The metering equipment has been ordered. The equipment should be installed in approximately six to eight weeks. Approximately three days following installation, they will contact the district for a dry run to measure the wattage and officially set the bar for the kilowatt decrease to which the district will commit. The administration met earlier in the week to discuss how it will affect the staff during the summer when the calls are received. 4.) Mr. Caputo commended the road crews during the inclement weather for getting the roads into good condition. 5.) The district is looking at different cost savings measures. The administration believes that by rerouting and doing some other things with transportation, the district could realize savings. The software company that is used for routing could provide an analysis of the bus routes, which is an approximate two-week study. He stated that he would like to ask the Board to authorize a bus routing analysis not to exceed $12,000. He stated that they could have concrete numbers for mid-april. Mr. Sokoloski reported that there could be significant savings
Page 2 from going from a one-tier delivery system to a two-tier delivery system. Several Board members expressed concern over the analysis. The Board entered into executive session at 6:25 p.m. to discuss a personnel matter and reconvened the regular meeting at 6:42 p.m. 6.) The following day, Mr. Caputo would be meeting with Locust Township Police Chief Allen Breach. Mr. Caputo recently attended a Safe Schools seminar and received a lot of good information and material. He and Chief Breach would be reviewing the material together. 7.) Mr. Caputo requested a brief executive session following the meeting to discuss personnel. 8.) Mr. Sokoloski reported that he received notification that the PSERS exception was approved for an amount of $162,621. The total permitted millage with the exception is 35.80 for Columbia County and 52.86 for Northumberland County. The current rate for Columbia County is 38.20 and 49.95 for Northumberland County. Mountain View Associates filed a tax appeal back in 2010. The review has been completed and the appeal was overturned. The district received approximately $1,700 additional for the two years. 9.) Mr. Sokoloski reported that the new HVAC unit was placed on the elementary building roof the previous night and they were ahead of schedule. The pressure pumps for the high school building would not arrive until the following Wednesday and would be installed during the break. An invitation to bid for 100,000 gallons of #2 fuel oil was advertised. Results will be available for the next Finance Committee meeting, so a price can be locked in for the first meeting in April. To date, there are approximately 4,900 gallons of heating fuel remaining, out of 95,000 gallons, which will most likely not last through June. 10.) Mr. Sokoloski reported that the Board would need to approve a proposed final budget at the May 20 th meeting. At that point, it will be advertised for public inspection and will be voted on at the June 17 th meeting. 11.) Mrs. Monick reported that she would be putting together a more comprehensive report on the Keystone Exams. The district s Algebra I scores came in more than ten points above the state average. The Biology scores were also ten points above the state average and the Literature scores were well above state average. Mr. Becker reported that they will be flipping Algebra II and Geometry, so most of the 9 th graders will have Algebra II. Mrs. Monick stated that the teachers have been tremendous in stepping up and embracing the changes. 12.) Mr. Becker requested to add an agenda item to approve Alexandra Oley as a Volunteer Track Coach. She is already a basketball coach and has all of her clearances on file with the district. 13.) Mrs. Snyder reported that the students in grades 3 through 8 Life Skills classes had just finished the alternate Pennsylvania Assessment. They are also continuing to volunteer at a local food bank and are visiting Home Depot the following Monday to explore careers in carpentry. She also reported that they are two weeks away from and audit of the Gifted and Special Education Programs. Mr. Porter asked if the EnerNoc shutdown would be on a school day. Mr. Caputo replied that the test call doesn t require the district to power down that day. They will meter the energy usage and determine an appropriate kilowatt reduction.
Page 3 Mr. Sokoloski reminded Board members that the Facilities Committee would meet on Tuesday, April 2 nd at 5:30 p.m. and the Finance Committee would meet Thursday, April 4 th at 6:00 p.m. Both meetings would be held in the District Office conference room. Head Girls Soccer Coach, Derek Stine, asked if it would be possible to approve Jensen Kremser as a Volunteer Junior High Girls Soccer Coach at the present meeting. She is a junior but would be helping out with the Junior High program. The Board agreed to add a motion to the agenda. COMMITTEE REPORTS Curriculum, Instruction & Technology The meeting was cancelled. Negotiations & Personnel - Charlie Porter, Chairperson, reported that the committee is trying to set up a meeting with the AFSCME group to go back to the table. He also reported that they met with the teachers earlier in the evening and received a proposal from them. They are trying to set up some dates for future meetings. Transportation Services - The meeting was cancelled. Wellness Committee - Gail Zambor Schuerch reported that the committee is trying to meet monthly. Claire Campbell has agreed to be the chairperson. Vo-Tech - Eric Stahley reported that they were not awarded an equipment grant this year. The new nursing program curriculum was approved by the state and would begin in March. Four students attended the Skills USA competition. They are working on some professional development relating to the Keystone Exams. They discussed streamlining the student handbook. There were at least 537 people in attendance at the recent open house. Five colleges were present and sixteen plus employees were present. Twenty-two students took advantage of the ASVAB testing. Jim Dunkelberger reported that some of the special education seniors are transitioning into the next step in life by visiting Luzerne County Community College and Career Link. Five or six adult education classes would begin shortly. Applications were still being received. They are offering several online courses. The second meeting dealt with the budget and the admissions policy. Changes to the admissions policies were approved. The main difference is that the available slots are not divided into special education and regular education slots. The budget represents a one percent increase over what the sending districts were paying last year. A lot of the line items did remain the same. They realized an approximate $200,000 savings through retirement and positions either not being replaced or being replaced at a lower cost. No new equipment was purchased with the exception of the equipment for the new Health Occupations Science curriculum started this year. TREASURER S REPORTS On a motion by Vought and second by Yocum, the Treasurer s Reports were presented for approval. MINUTES AND INVOICES On a motion by Zambor Schuerch and second by Stahley, the following items were A. Minutes of February 11 and 18, 2013.
Page 4 B. General Fund invoices in the amount of $376,155.44 and Athletic Fund invoices in the amount of $12,204.30 and Capital Projects invoices in the amount of $7,920. ITEMS FISCAL On a motion by Zambor Schuerch and second by Yocum, the following items were A. The 2013-2014 Columbia-Montour Area Vocational-Technical School General Operating Budget in the amount of $7,339,308 Southern Columbia Area School District s cost is $547,422 (per Exhibit A). B. The 2013-2014 Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit General Operating Budget in the amount of $1,183,369 (per Exhibit B). C. To adopt a Resolution Calling For Reform of the Commonwealth s Charter and Cyber Charter School Funding Formula (per Exhibit C). D. To establish an Activities Account for The Empty Bowl Club. E. To authorize the administration to enter into a contract with Bus Tracks for a routing analysis not to exceed $12,000. ITEMS PERSONNEL On a motion by Vought and second by Porter, the following items were presented for approval: A. To change the employment status of Diane Dobson from Substitute Bus/Van Driver to Regular Run Bus Driver effective March 11, 2013. B. Alexandra Oley as a Volunteer Track & Field Coach for the 2012-2013 school year. C. Jensen Kremser as a Volunteer Junior High Girls Soccer Coach for the 2012-2013 school year. D. FMLA Qualifying Leave for employee #2100HS effective on or about June 1, 2013, through on or about October 31, 2013.
Page 5 ITEMS POLICY AND PROGRAMS On a motion by Yocum and second by Zambor Schuerch, the following items were A. The first reading of revised Policy 802 School Organization (per Exhibit D). B. Homebound Instruction for a High School Student (#37761) effective March 25, 2013, until further evaluation by a physician. BOARD COMMENTS President Yeager commented that if you take into consideration the academics, the extracurricular activities, the students and the staff, Southern Columbia is an unbelievable school. RECOGNITION OF THE PUBLIC District resident, Shirley Breech, asked for clarification on the routing analysis. President Yeager stated that this analysis would be different than the previous analysis. Mr. Porter stated that the company is coming in to do another analysis because they feel there are savings that could be realized. Mr. Caputo explained that the analysis would be based on current information. Derek Stine asked the Board to give some consideration to the handout that he gave to them a few weeks ago. President Yeager announced that there would be an executive session following the meeting to discuss personnel and negotiations. ADJOURNMENT On a motion by Vought and second by Yocum, the meeting was adjourned at 7:26 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Tresa J. Britch Board Secretary