McKeesport Area School District



McKEESPORT AREA SCHOOL DISTRICTRegular Board MeetingOctober 24, 2018PresidingJoe Lopretto, PresidentDate, Time, PlaceWednesday, October 24, 2018, 7:00 PM, Board Room, Administration Building, 3590 O’Neil Boulevard, McKeesport, PA 15132.Opening ExercisesMr. Lopretto called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM, followed bythe Pledge to the Flag. We met in Executive Session prior to tonight’s meeting to discuss personnel and potential litigation items and issues. Please be reminded to turn off all cell phones upon entering the Board Room.PresentDavid DonatoThomas FiloteiIvan HamptonMary Jane KellerSteve KondroskyJoe Lopretto James PostonExcused.Jim BrownMindy SturgessOthers PresentDr. Mark Holtzman, SuperintendentDr. Tia Wanzo, Assistant SuperintendentMatthew Gergely, Business Manager/Board SecretaryCharles Kiss, Business Affairs/TreasurerBoard President’s Remarks – I don’t have much to report. I would like to thank all the boosters that put together the trunk or treat the other day that we had out in the parking lot here. Unfortunately, I found out and Dr. Holtzman found out at the last minute, but I still made it down here. It was a huge success. It was really great. There was about 40 cars passing candy out. All the little kids coming around. I think I brought 160 candy bars, I gave 150 out. To me, it was a huge success. Like I said, to see it go on, I hope next year it’s bigger and better and I hope we have more people and we’re already two months into school. I can’t believe it. Christmas is going to be here then summer is going to be here. On to you, Dr. Holtzman.Regular Board MeetingOctober 24, 2018Superintendent’s Report – If you want to know what happened to the other ten candy bars, you’ll have to ask him. Needless to say, welcome. I want to share a few things with you around student achievement. I think a lot of times what happens in these conversations, our School Board meetings, we often have a lot of rituals and different things that we have to get done. But, I want to take a minute and just talk a little bit about our academic achievement and what we are doing to move our district forward. Dr. Tia Wanzo, our Assistant Superintendent, really leads the whole initiative on the teaching and learning process in our district and does quite a fine job with Erica Guadalupe, Dr. Dellapenna and Mary Lynn Zoscak. They have done some really outstanding things. What we did this evening actually in a brief conversation with our School Board about the five-year plan. So we pulled out a few of those notes and many of you may remember the five-year plan that started when I started now that is over a year old. We pulled out some of those things that we really want to focus our efforts around when it comes to the student growth and achievement. Through that we looked at all the student data that has been recently reported as far as the PSSA exams and the Keystone exams and where growth and achievement was made. We talked a little bit about these things. A couple of things I just want to point out, is Founders Hall Middle School and the excellent effort that was made in their building academically, especially with our sixth grade students that are now currently in seventh grade. Unfortunately, all of that data is a year behind, but an outstanding job by that teaching staff, that Administration and their efforts to move those students forward from year to year. Actually, our seventh and eighth grade actually had considerable gains as well. So, our Middle School really did a super job when it comes to moving our students ahead and giving them what they need to be productive and successful students. Also, we looked at Francis McClure and Twin Rivers where there are some real serious highlights at Twin Rivers as well as Francis McClure. English being one of the highlights at Twin Rivers and mathematics being one of the highlights at Francis McClure. We are in our first year of implementing the new ELA and reading curriculum at both of our elementary schools. In the first year there are some kinks to iron out and there are some challenges. The high school is in the second year of implementation of the same reading and ELA curriculum. So, we are off to a great start. We continue to work on aligning our curriculum and being sure that our community members are able to, right now if you go on our website, click on the curriculum tab and go into any class that your child might have in grades six through twelve and pull up the curriculum map and see what they learn week after week after week. I think that is a huge accomplishment for us as a school district and we are working to build the K-5 curriculum in the same fashion. With all that being said, I just wanted to share those few things and a couple of updates of things I had the chance to see this week. The outstanding event, the battle of the bands which was outstanding. Unfortunately, I celebrated a birthday recently and I was out to dinner, but Dr. Wanzo was freezing in the cold and helped pass out the trophies at the battle of the bands competition in our stadium which was outstanding. Seton Hill’s band performed that evening as kind of the showcase of the Regular Board MeetingOctober 24, 2018event. We are also right now or we just recently wrapped up safety week. We have done a number of different things. We have done lock down drills, we have educated our students with the ALICE training, we have educated our staff and we’re going to finish up on Friday with a meeting with all the first responders and all our communities to discuss what we have done with our students. Make sure none of the leadership has changed and make sure we are all on the same page. Also, the last thing I’ll share that kind of stands out to me. I got a chance to visit Francis McClure and they do what they call the Greek Olympics. They have a number of activities established for their students. I got a chance to stop by the gym as well as the classroom and participate and see Dr. Skezas who came back and is very proud of her Greek heritage and she taught a lesson and was interactive with our students. We are happy she is still involved in our school district. With all that being said, that’s all I have for this evening. Treasurer’s Report – Mr. Poston moved to acknowledge receipt of the Treasurer’s Report for the month of September 2018. Seconded by Mr. Kondrosky.Voting aye. Mr. Donato, Mr. Filotei, Mr. Hampton, Mrs. Keller, Mr. Kondrosky, Mr. Lopretto, Mr. PostonExcused. Mr. Brown, Mrs. SturgessHearing of Citizens – Amber Webb, 1008 Washington Street, McKeesport, PA 15132.Ms. Webb addressed the Board on the issue of discipline policies.Discussion to follow with Ms. Webb.Minutes – Mr. Kondrosky moved to approve the minutes of the Open Agenda Meeting of September 19, 2018 and Regular Meeting of September 26, 2018. Seconded by Mr. Hampton.Voting aye. Mr. Donato, Mr. Filotei, Mr. Hampton, Mrs. Keller, Mr. Kondrosky, Mr. Lopretto, Mr. PostonExcused. Mr. Brown, Mrs. SturgessBills – Mr. Poston moved to approve the list of bills. Seconded by Mr. Kondrosky.Voting aye. Mr. Donato, Mr. Filotei, Mr. Hampton, Mrs. Keller, Mr. Kondrosky, Mr. Lopretto, Mr. PostonExcused. Mr. Brown, Mrs. SturgessRegular Board MeetingOctober 24, 2018Refunds – Mr. Hampton moved to approve property tax refunds as presented. Seconded by Mr. Filotei.Voting aye. Mr. Donato, Mr. Filotei, Mr. Hampton, Mrs. Keller, Mr. Kondrosky, Mr. Lopretto, Mr. PostonExcused. Mr. Brown, Mrs. SturgessAIU – Mrs. Keller moved to approve an agreement between McKeesport Area School District and Allegheny Intermediate Unit #3 for Title 1 programs at non-public schools. Seconded by Mr. Hampton. Dr. Holtzman explained.Voting aye. Mr. Donato, Mr. Filotei, Mr. Hampton, Mrs. Keller, Mr. Kondrosky, Mr. Lopretto, Mr. PostonExcused. Mr. Brown, Mrs. SturgessPSA Healthcare – Mr. Kondrosky moved to approve an agreement between McKeesport Area School District and PSA Healthcare for the period August 2018 through June 2019. Seconded by Mr. Filotei. Dr. Holtzman explained.Voting aye. Mr. Donato, Mr. Filotei, Mr. Hampton, Mrs. Keller, Mr. Kondrosky, Mr. Lopretto, Mr. PostonExcused. Mr. Brown, Mrs. SturgessResolutions – Mr. Filotei moved to approve Resolutions #1197 and #1198 – student discipline. Seconded by Mr. Poston.Voting aye. Mr. Donato, Mr. Filotei, Mr. Hampton, Mrs. Keller, Mr. Kondrosky, Mr. Lopretto, Mr. PostonExcused. Mr. Brown, Mrs. SturgessResolution – Mr. Poston moved to approve Resolution #1199 – district police department. Seconded by Mr. Filotei. Dr. Holtzman explained.Voting aye. Mr. Donato, Mr. Filotei, Mr. Hampton, Mrs. Keller, Mr. Kondrosky, Mr. Lopretto, Mr. PostonRegular Board MeetingOctober 24, 2018Excused. Mr. Brown, Mrs. SturgessPolicies – First reading of the following Board policies:#819 – Operations – Suicide Awareness, Prevention and Response#200 – Pupils – Enrollment in District#205 – Pupils – Postgraduate Students#206 – Pupils – Assignment within DistrictAgreement – Mr. Kondrosky moved to approve a Settlement Agreement for taxes on Lot and Block 461-M-146 per the Solicitor’s recommendation. Seconded by Mr. Filotei. Mr. Matta explained.Voting aye. Mr. Donato, Mr. Filotei, Mr. Hampton, Mrs. Keller, Mr. Kondrosky, Mr. Lopretto, Mr. PostonExcused. Mr. Brown, Mrs. SturgessProposal – Mr. Kondrosky moved to accept the proposal from Traffic Control & Engineering for the Safe Streets Project in the amount of $60,471.05. Seconded by Mr. Poston. Mr. Gergely explained.Voting aye. Mr. Donato, Mr. Filotei, Mr. Hampton, Mrs. Keller, Mr. Kondrosky, Mr. Lopretto, Mr. PostonExcused. Mr. Brown, Mrs. SturgessGreen Sheets – Mr. Kondrosky moved to approve the personnel recommendations (green sheets). Seconded by Mr. Filotei.PROFESSIONAL:RESIGNATION:1.Christopher ClarkHealth and Physical Education Teacher, McClure ElementarySchool, effective 09-28-18.2.Erica KoelschTitle I Facilitator, Pre K, Founder’s Hall effective 09-29-18.TO BE HIRED: Effective 10-26-18:1.Madeline NeelyHealth and Physical Education Teacher, High School.Step 1M$42,378.00 (pro-rated)Regular Board MeetingOctober 24, 2018TO BE HIRED: Permanent Day-to-Day Substitute for the 2018-2019 school year: Rate of pay will be $100.00/day + individual benefits and increase to $125.00 on the 61st day:1.Katie SuperHigh School, effective 10-01-18.LEAVE OF ABSENCE:1.Nevenka KostleyACE Teacher, McClure Elementary School, unpaid leave of absence effective 09-17-18 to an undetermined date. FMLATO BE HIRED: Effective for the 2018-2019 school year:1.*Kevin S. Ryan D.D.S.School Dentist$2,000.002.*Doris ArcherSchool Dentist Assistant$1,000.00CHANGES TO THE SUBSTITUTE TEACHER LIST:ADDITIONS:1.Tina CroninMent/Phys. Handicapped 2.*Danielle PazuchanicsEmergency Certified Day-to-Day Substitute3.*Carly TanneyHealth and Physical Education TeacherRESIGNATION: Extra Curricular Athletics for the 2018-2019 school year:1.Yolanda Johnson7th Grade Boys Basketball Coach2.Domonje Walker9th Grade Boys Basketball CoachTO BE HIRED: Extra Curricular Athletics for the 2018-2019 school year:1.Dana Brown, Sr.9th Grade Boys Basketball Coach$2,531.922.Domonje Walker7th Grade Boys Basketball Coach$2,025.53VOLUNTEER: Extra Curricular Athletics for the 2018-2019 school year:1.*Esper EliasAssistant Bowling Coach2.*Dave MackowiakAssistant Bowling Coach3.*Sarah Miller7th Grade Girls Basketball CoachSUPPORT STAFF:RETIREMENT: Effective 10-04-18:1.Leonard FowlerCustodianRESIGNATION: Effective immediately:1.Shirley BookerInstructional Assistant2,Wanda SiberioGeneral Worker, Food Service, Twin Rivers ElementaryRegular Board MeetingOctober 24, 2018LEAVE OF ABSENCE:1.Shelia MartinGeneral Worker, Food Service Department, Twin Rivers Elementary School, unpaid leave of absence effective 10-01-18 to an undetermined date (not to exceed 1 year).TO BE HIRED: Effective immediately:1.Rose MorganLunch Aide, Food Service Department, McClure Elementary SchoolRate of pay will be $8.75/hour2.Larry LoarGeneral Worker, Food Service Department, High SchoolRate of pay will be $8.75/hour3.Romayne MillerGeneral Worker, Food Service Department, High SchoolRate of pay will be $8.75/hour4.*Chelsea McDonaldInstructional Assistant, placement to be determined.Yearly salary will be $16,000.00 (pro-rated)5.Wanda SiberioCustodian, place to be determined. Yearly salary will be (Kost)$33,500.00 (pro-rated)6.Carlows BrownCustodian, place to be determined. Yearly salary will be (Fowler)$33,500.00 (pro-rated)7.Christopher NollCustodian, place to be determined. Yearly salary will be (New Position)$33,500.00 (pro-rated)CHANGES TO THE SUBSTITUTE LIST:ADDITIONS:1.*Richard OddoCustodianBOARD ACTION TO CREATE THE FOLLOWING POSITION EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY:(1)Custodian at Twin Rivers Elementary School* Pending receipt of Act 24, 34, 114 and 151 clearances, Act 168 Disclosure Release, T.B. Tine and Drug Test results.CONFERENCE REQUETS:1.Don WilliamsMicrosoft EES Update. Sponsored by the IU #13 andMicrosoft in Lancaster, PAOctober 31, 2018$556.55Voting aye. Mr. Donato, Mr. Filotei, Mr. Hampton, Mrs. Keller, Mr. Kondrosky, Mr. Lopretto, Mr. PostonRegular Board MeetingOctober 24, 2018Excused. Mr. Brown, Mrs. SturgessCommittee Reports -Athletic –Mary Jane Keller/James Brown/Ivan Hampton – Mr. Hampton reported. We met October 9th at noon. We went over recommendations for hire, you can see on the green sheets. We discussed fall sports, the girls’ cross country team who was section champ, we’ll be racing in the WPIAL championship October 25th. The girls’ tennis team has improved its records. The golf team’s final record was 8-6. In football our final regular season game will be Friday, October 26th at Gateway for a share of the conference title. Winter sports will have their physicals on Saturday, November 10th, at the high school at 9:30. There will be a coaches meeting November 16, 2018 with emphasis on clearances and annual concussion and cardiac certification. The PIA coaching will also be… (the end of the tape) Buildings & Grounds – Steve Kondrosky/Mindy Sturgess– Mr. Kondrosky reported. (nothing at the start of the tape) We discussed a few things here, district wide grant pricing for doors at the high school and Founders Hall. Fire system for McClure and Twin Rivers. Burglar system for McClure, Founders and Twin Rivers and emergency lighting for McClure and the high school which should become available in 2021. Vegely welding is working on our dump truck and tailgate spreader. At the high school some glass was broken so they replaced it with plexi glass in order to alleviate that problem again. Shop vac filters were replaced at South Hall gym. South Hall pump was replaced. I think another one is in line to be purchased. Roof patching at Administration, McClure and Neenie Campbell gym. Tudi mechanicals did a feasibility study on South Hall AC units and Founders Hall humidity concerns. Additional work was done at Founders Hall basement which was completed. A new wind screen was installed on the stadium fence. Pre-K shelving was installed. Got a quote from Waste Management on some damage that was done at McClure. The window seals by their collection company. Custodial interviews were conducted by Mike Mihalov and Jon Balogh. We are in conversation about the drainage ditch in the rear of White Oak School how we’re going to handle that, hopefully we’ll get rid of it. Mr. Walt Burton completed his back flow certification so that doesn’t have to go out for inspection yearly. He helped with many daily help desk tickets. That concludes my report. Discussion followed regarding Twin Rivers situation /special Counsel to be asked to attend November meeting. Mr. Matta suggested the conversation be held in Executive munity Relations/Cultural Diversity –James Brown/Ivan Hampton – Mr. Hampton reported. We had no meeting this month.Education/Legislation/Policy – Mary Jane Keller/Mindy Sturgess – Dr. Holtzman – We had a presentation by Dr. Dellapenna as well as our building elementary principals that Dr. Wanzo Regular Board MeetingOctober 24, 2018was involved in. Dr. Wanzo – We met with our elementary principals and Dr. Dellapenna as Dr. Holtzman said. We looked at our September Dibbles data which is our assessments that are given at the beginning of the year and just talked about different strategies that we are going to implement to address any needs of our students.Finance/Grants/Outside Funding – Mrs. Keller/Mr. Poston – Mr. Poston reported. We did not meet last week due to conflict of schedules, but the finances, some of the numbers we put together for the police department and the grants was the safety grant that those guys have been very busy with the last month getting it in. Personnel – Mindy Sturgess/Steve Kondrosky – Mr. Kondrosky reported. Unfortunately, I did not attend the personnel meeting, but as usual the green sheets reflect what happened when Dr. Holtzman sat in on it.Safe Schools – James Poston/David Donato/Thomas Filotei – Mr. Poston reported. Myself and Mr. Filotei met this afternoon with all the building principals and administrators and safety week was the 10th through the 19th. They had active ALICE training, they had earthquake drills, they did some other drills throughout the schools for a mandatory training for Act 44. All the other concerns at the high school, Founders Hall, Francis McClure, Twin Rivers and East End are all good.Solicitor’s Report – The only issue, we have a second under new business, another tax appeal. Maybe to just explain to the Board what happens during a tax appeal process. Normally we leave the property owner provide us with various information, possibly leases if it’s a rental property and assessments that they have from an appraiser and so forth. We evaluate those and at times we have our own appraiser do a desk review and what a desk review is, they’ll take the appraisal from the property owner and evaluate it to see if it is in the form of an approximate value without them going to see the property that they would agree with. It’s a lot cheaper to do that. Probably 10% of the cost. Appraisals on some of the properties we are looking at because we don’t do a lot with residential properties. It’s mostly just with the commercial properties. Some of those appraisals could be six, eight, ten thousand dollars or more. So, we try to limit that. These desk appraisals are usually somewhere between $600 and $1,000. This was another case where we went through a process and we felt that the settlement is appropriate to do so. What is happening is there is still a few properties that were purchased in the City of McKeesport that were evaluated by the County for a large amount of money during the reassessment. Now, they are being purchased for what the property value truly is. We are trying to make sure to get every dollar that we can. That they are arm’s length transactions and when they were if they had been purchased and some upgrades have been done to them that the assessed value reflects the amount that we are Regular Board MeetingOctober 24, 2018trying to settle for. Correspondence – noneNew Business – Mr. Poston moved to approve a Settlement Agreement for taxes on Lot and Block 307-E-080 per the Solicitor’s recommendation. Seconded by Mr. Filotei.Voting aye. Mr. Donato, Mr. Filotei, Mr. Hampton, Mrs. Keller, Mr. Kondrosky, Mr. Lopretto, Mr. PostonExcused. Mr. Brown, Mrs. SturgessFood Service Presentation – Kelly Patterson, The Nutrition Group.Adjournment – 7:50 PM – Mr. Kondrosky moved for adjournment. Seconded by Mr. Poston.Voting aye. All Members present.ATTEST: _____________________________________________________________________Matthew R. Gergely, Business Manager/Board Secretary ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download