Minutes

of the

KUTZTOWN AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

Board of Directors Meeting

Monday, July 16, 2007, 7:30 p.m.

 

The Board of Directors of Kutztown Area School District met for the regular board meeting on Monday, July 17, 2007 at 7:30 p.m., in the library of the Senior High School pursuant to due notice to board members and the public.

 

Present                  Kay Churchman, Al Darion, Dennis Ritter, Dan Walter, Don Vymazal, Bill Yurvati, and Carl Ziegler

 

Absent                   Pat Bealer and Dale Reppert

 

 

Also                         Dr. Brenda Winkler, Joseph Pugliese, Barb Richard, Karen Connaghan, Lorraine Felker,

Present                  James Brown, Peter Miller,Tom Green, Leroy Merkel, Donna Keglovits, Sheryl Snyder, John Noll, Karen Austin, Ann Dietrich, Ron Devlin-Reading Eagle, Stephanie Skedonis, Justin Miller, Pam Heid, and Jennifer Schumaker

 

Call to Order      The meeting was called to order at 7:55 p.m. by President Vymazal.

 

Welcome               President Vymazal welcomed guests and opened the meeting with a moment of silence

                                    and Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.  He asked everyone to sign the attendance book and mark their concern next to their name.  He requested that anyone wishing to speak on an agenda item please raise his/her hand to be recognized. The meeting was tape-recorded.

 

Approval               Motion made by Dennis Ritter, seconded by Dan Walter, to approve the minutes

Of Minutes           for the June 18, 2007 school board meeting, with the recommended corrections.

                                    Roll call vote:  Yes  7       No  0      Absent  2

Motion carried.

 

TreasurerŐs         Motion made by Kay Churchman, seconded by Dennis Ritter, to accept the treasurerŐs

Report                    report of the general fund.

                                    Roll call vote:  Yes  7      No  0      Absent  2

Motion carried.

 

Ratification         Motion made by Bill Yurvati, seconded by Al Darion, to ratify for payment the

of General            general account bills in the amount of $336,092.62 and $36,304.50.

Account Bills     Roll call vote:  Yes  7       No  0      Absent  2

                                    Motion carried.

 

Approval               Motion made by Dennis Ritter, seconded by Carl Ziegler, to approve for payment

of General            the general account bills in the amount of $451,180.40.

Account Bills     Roll call vote:  Yes  7       No  0      Absent  2

Motion carried.

 

SuptŐs                     Dr. Winkler announced that renovations to the High School are currently in progress.  The

Report                    carpet is being replaced by tile in the hallways, and there are classrooms being made out of the Special Education offices, which will now be located in the Maxatawny Elem. building.

 

                                    AEM are to attend the next board meeting: Tom Green will be making the arrangements.

 

Dr. Winkler welcomed Jim Brown as the new Middle School Principal.

 

Committee           EIT                      No report.

Reports                                                   

                                   BCTC               Mr. Ziegler reported that they confirmed the budget and approved the continuing

Carl Ziegler          education and holiday calendars at their meeting on the last Wednesday in

                                     June.

 

                                    ECC                   No report.

 

                  BCIU                 Mr. Ritter reported that there would be no meeting this month.

                  Dennis Ritter

 

                  PSBA               Ms. Churchman reported that the budget is in final voting and there will be no subsidy

                                    Kay Churchman     increases.

 

Policy & Curriculum   Mr. Yurvati reported that they discussed the issue of open seats being held

                                    Bill Yurvati     at Kutztown University for the ability for senior students to receive credits. 

                 

Personnel            Motion made by Carl Ziegler, seconded by Kay Churchman, to approve the following personnel items:

1.               Resignation of Eric Erb, High School Principal, effective July 27, 2007, with regret.

2.               Ratificaiton of Julie A. Kerchner as High School Secretary, at a rate of $13.20 per hour, effective July 23, 2007.

3.               Approval of Amanda Harden, as an elementary long-term substitute ((Cindy Parker sabbatical) for the School Year 2007-2008, at a rate of $96.00 per day for days 1-20, $107.00 per day for days 21-45 and the balance at BachelorŐs Degree, for non-tenured teachers per the KASD/KATA contract.

4.               Approval of Rachel Christian as a special education teacher effective School Year 2007-2008 at a salary to be set at $47,279, BachelorŐs Degree + 24, Step 3, (non-tenured) of the KASD/KATA contract.

5.               Approval of Shannon Langer as an elementary teacher effective School Year 2007-2008 salary to be set at $ 36,546 per Step 1, BachelorŐs Degree (non-tenured) of the KASD/KATA contract.

6.               Approval of Louise M. Hutchings as a non-certified Learning Support Aide starting School Year 2007-2008 (32 1/2 hrs/wk), at a rate of $9.30.

7.               Permission to hire and ratify at a future board meeting for the following positions for School Year 2007-2008:

Full-time RIT Aide for Kutztown Elementary (Block Grant)

Part-time RIT Aide for Maxatawny Elem & Albany Elem (new position-Block Grant)

Part-time IST Aide for Kutztown Elementary (District Paid)

Full –time RIT Aide for Greenwich Elementary (Block Grant)

8.               Approval of Marianne Hill-Strackbein as a non-certified Kutztown Elementary Life Skills Aide, at a rate of $9.30 per hour (35 hrs/wk) effective August 24, 2007.

9.               Approval of Judy Daub as a non-certified Life Skills Aide, at a rate of $9.30 per hour (35 hrs/wk), effective August 24, 2007.

10.           Approval of Jennifer Lentz as a Krapf Driver for School Year 2006-2007.

11.           Approval of Krapf Drivers for School Year 2007-2008:

Rick Haag

Jennifer Lentz

Bill Brobst

12.           Resignation of Andre Bolling as substitute custodian effective June 21, 2007.

13.           Approval of Cheryl Day as a substitute custodian, effective June 1, 2007, at a rate of $8.80 (06-07) and $9.10 (07-08).

14.           Approval of Corri Speakman as Volunteer/College Intern for Field Hockey for School Year 2007-2008.

15.           Approval of Ian Moreland as JV Boys Soccer Coach,  for School Year 2007-2008, at a rate of $2,200.

16.           Approval of Jeff Zimmerman as a volunteer Tennis Coach for School Year 2007-2008

17.           Approval of Lorraine Felker as acting High School Principal, effective July 27, 2007.

18.           Approval of Middle School and High School Majorette Advisors for the School Year 2006-2007, at a stipend of:

Middle School Majorette Instructor                Katelyn Fox                            $   500

High School Majorette Instructor Angela Bucci                         $1,400

                               Roll call vote:   Yes  7                No 0                                  Absent 2

                               Motion carried

 

                   All Personnel are Approved Pending the District's Receipt of All Mandated Credentials

 

Miscellaneous   Motion made by Dan Walter, seconded by Carl Ziegler, to approve the miscellaneous position

Position                 pay rates for School Year 2007-2008 as per the attached list.

Pay Rates             Roll call vote:  Yes 7                  No 0                           Absent 2

                                    Motion carried.

                                   

Conference         Motion made by Al Darion, seconded by Bill Yurvati, to approve Amy Howard to attend the

Request                 Reading Strategies to Unlock the Social Studies Conference, held on July 16-18, 2007, at Goucher College in Towson, MD, at a cost of $716.40.

                                    Roll call vote:       Yes 6              No 1 (Walter)            Absent 2

                                    Motion carried.

 

High School       Motion made by Al Darion, seconded by Bill Yurvati, to approve the repair of the high school

Roof Repair        roof at a cost of $137,000.

                                    Roll call vote:         Yes 7            No 0                                Absent 2

                                    Motion carried.

 

LunchByte          Motion made by Bill Yurvati, seconded by Dennis Ritter, to approve the implementation of the

Program                LunchByte Program (NutriKids) beginning School Year 2007-2008, at no cost to the district.

                                    Roll call vote:       Yes 7           No 0                        Absent 2

                                    Motion carried.

 

Connect Ed         Motion made by Dennis Ritter, seconded by Bill Yurvati, to approve the implementation of Connect Ed, a parent notification service, at an annual service fee of $7,720 locked in for three years (prorated at ten months for School Year 2007-2008).

                                    Roll call vote:    Yes 3 (Darion, Ritter, Yurvati)  No 4   Absent  2

                                    Motion not carried.                                 

 

Forgiveness       Motion made by Bill Yurvati, seconded by Dennis Ritter, to approve the forgiveness of the 2005  of Real Estate            real estate tax penalties and interest in the amount of $162.10 (per Tax Claim Office), PIN

Taxes                      #45545600401917TL9, per taxpayer letter.                                                                    

                                    Roll call vote:         Yes 7            No 0            Absent 2

                                    Motion carried.

 

Public                     Karen Austin, a Greenwich 2nd Grade parent, requested updated information on any response

Comment             from the letter sent out and the next course of action that will be taken regarding the 2nd Grade                                Greenwich to Albany switch. 

 

                                    Jennifer Shumaker, a Greenwich 2nd Grade parent, expressed childcare concern regarding her                             childŐs possible move to Albany.

 

Sheryl Snyder expressed her concern regarding Cyber School students participating in extra-curricular activities.

 

Discussion          Elementary Task Force

Items                      

                                    Proposed that the Elementary Task Force hold five meetings starting in September 2007 before

                                    going to Board in December 2007.  The first meeting is to be lead by Dennis Ritter.  

 

Adjournment     Motion made by Bill Yurvati, seconded by Dan Walter, to adjourn the

                                    meeting at 9:33 p.m.

                  Motion carried unanimously.

 

                                                                                                                   Respectfully submitted by,

 

                                                                                                                   Rikki L. Clark

                                                                                                                   School Board Secretary