Minutes
of the
KUTZTOWN AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
Board of Directors Meeting
Monday, March 17, 2003, 7:30 p.m.
The Board of Directors of
Kutztown Area School District met for the regular board meeting on Monday,
March 17, 2003 at 7:30 p.m., in the library of the Senior High School pursuant
to due notice to board members and the public.
Absent Kent
Dahlquist, Carl Ziegler, Lynn Nonnemacher
Also Brenda Winkler-Superintendent, Nickolas
Sosik-Treasurer, Gretchen DiehlÐSecretary, Present
Geri
Miller, Lu Palmer, Mark Erb, Eric Erb, Eric Sills, Nick Lazo, Michele Fragnito,
Celeste Brown, Tom Green, Leroy Merkel, Eric
Veronikis-The Patriot, Merav Bushlin-
Reading Eagle, Kimberly A. Trexler, Linda Schroeder,
Christina Kuhn, Randy L. Pyle,
Pamela Ashman, Lori Arndt, Bruce & Kim Kindred,
Shelby Brett, Dr. F. Javier Cevallos-
President, Kutztown University
Welcome President
Vymazal welcomed guests and opened the meeting with a
moment
of silence and Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. He asked that everyone signs the attendance book and marks
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. This meeting was tape recorded.
Approval Motion made by Patricia Bealer, seconded by William
Yurvati, to approve
Of Minutes the
minutes of the January 21, February 3, and March 3, 2003 school board
meetings.
Roll
call vote: Yes 6 No 0 Absent 2 (Dahlquist, Ziegler)
Abstain 1
(Kramer)
Motion carried.
TreasurerÕs Motion
made by Donald Meyers, seconded by Dennis Ritter, to accept
Report the treasurerÕs report of the general account.
Roll
call vote: Yes 7 No 0 Absent 2 (Dahlquist, Ziegler)
Motion carried.
Ratification Motion
made by Patricia Bealer, seconded by James Kramer, to ratify for
of General payment the general account bills in the amount of
$984,808.54.
Account Bills Roll
call vote: Yes 7 No 0 Absent 2 (Dahlquist, Ziegler)
Motion
carried.
Approval Motion
made by Patricia Bealer, seconded by Donald Meyers, to approve for
of General payment the general account bills in the amount of
$234,316.49.
Account Bills Roll
call vote: Yes 7 No 0 Absent 2 (Dahlquist, Ziegler)
Motion carried.
SuptÕs á Randy Pyle of
Sovereign Bank presented the district with a check for $1,000, an investment
incentive
offered by Sovereign to school districts investing a pre-determined amount in
conjunction
with their ÒChildren in EducationÓ commitment.
á Dr. Winkler and Mr. Yurvati introduced Dr. F. Javier
Cevallos, president of Kutztown University. Mr. Yurvati described 28 programs
in a partnership between KU and KASD. The partnership involves KASD and KU
students, teachers and administrators working together in mutually beneficial
programs from student teaching to tutoring to cultural events. Dr. Winkler
acknowledged Dr. Cevallos and shared continuing support of the partnership.
á Weather make-up days move the last day of school to
June 11, 2003.
á 9th grade PSSA Writing results show 83% of
students are proficient or advanced.
á Special thanks to Jim Kramer and parents for a
wonderful Florida band trip. The studentÕs performances and conduct were
exceptional.
á KASD hosted a successful county music festival.
á Jazz band festival to be held at the high school this
Saturday.
á KASD also hosted their first indoor twirling event.
á Congratulations to Brad Roth for winning 2 state
swimming medals.
á Thank you to 40 high school student vocalists and
musicians who, at the last minute, made themselves available to perform in a
Òsend-offÓ ceremony for the Kutztown National Guard. The troops were deployed
into active duty on Thursday to Kuwait.
á Dr. Winkler acknowledged the TSA students who again
did well at the annual convention. Great job.
á PSBA conference in Hershey.
á Congratulations Darcy Spohn for being named #1
baritone sax player in the state!
Committee EIT Legislation determined taxable and non-taxable items.
Berks County districts
Reports Pat Bealer to see a total $1 million loss.
BCTC No
report.
Jim Kramer
ECC No
meeting.
Jim Kramer
BCIU County
meeting to be held in Oley next month. Dr. Vicky Phillips, Gov.
Dennis Ritter RendellÕs appointee for Secretary of
Education will be in attendance.
PSBA
No
report.
Carl Ziegler
Policy & Curriculum Meeting
held February 24th. Items discussed: senior PSSA retest data,
Bill Yurvati full day
kindergarten article and background info, emergency management
activities were reviewed, Ken Kern-Kutztown Emergency
Management is working with the district, building level crisis teams are in
place, if needed, chaperone information, Apple computer pilot partnerships,
book replacement cycles, list of needs for upcoming budget, minutes policy was
discussed further and 3rd grade PSSA review.
Public Comment Kimberly
A. Trexler, Linda Schroeder, Christina Kuhn and Kim Kindred Ð concerned that
5
weeks of social studies instruction will be replaced with instruction on test
taking strategies
for
new testing format required by ÒNo Child Left BehindÓ legislation.
Personnel Motion made by William Yurvati, seconded by Donald
Meyers, to approve the following
personnel
items #1-9:
1. Approval to change the retirement date of
Nickolas Sosik to be effective June 30, 2003 instead of March 31, 2003 as
previously approved.
2. Approval of the resignation of Susan
Kline, instructional aide, effective March 19, 2003.
3. Permission to hire an instructional aide
with ratification at a future board meeting.
4. Approval to increase the hours of Denise
Statkus, aide, from 30 to 35 hours per week.
5. Approval of the following job
descriptions for the purpose of clarifying current positions at middle and high
schools:
Computer Lab
Support Aide
Technical Support
Aide
High School
Network Administrator
6. Ratification of Mark Legwant as computer
lab support aide at a rate of $9.50 per hour effective on or before April 1,
2003.
7. Ratification of military leave of absence
for Thomas Sally, high school social studies teacher, beginning February 27,
2003 until approximately February 26, 2004 as per the rights of military
personnel under USERRA, Pennsylvania Military Code and Public School Code of
1949, as amended, due to being ordered to active duty to support contingency
operation ÒOperation Enduring FreedomÓ.
8. Ratification
of Donna Hinkle as long term substitute high school social studies teacher
during Tom SallyÕs leave of absence effective February 27, 2003 through the end
of School Year 2002-2003 at a rate of $80 per day for days 1-20, $90 per day
for days 21-45, and the balance per BachelorÕs, Step 1 of the KASD/KATA
contract.
9.
Approval of Lois Marie
VonFunk as a substitute aide for School Year 2002-2003 at the current
substitute aide rate.
Roll
call vote: Yes 7 No 0 Absent 2 (Dahlquist, Ziegler)
Motion carried.
Motion made by James Kramer, seconded by Donald
Meyers, to approve the following
individuals
as substitute teachers for School Year 2002-2003 at the current substitute
teacher
rate:
Patrick Herlihy Guest
Teacher Lehigh
University/University of Pittsburgh
Carla McNamara Guest
Teacher University
of Maryland
Jason Grim Guest
Teacher Albright
College
Kelly Trumbauer Guest
Teacher James
Madison University
Bonny Wehr Guest
Teacher Penn
State University
Janice Wadsworth Guest
Teacher Albright
College
Michael Sikora Guest
Teacher Alvernia,
DeSales and Moravian College
Lois Marie VonFunk Guest
Teacher LCCC/KU/St.
JosephÕs University
Pamela Youssef Elementary
Ed. Kutztown
University
George Diehl Health
& PE/Elem. Kutztown
University/East Stroudsburg
Rebecca Mast Elementary
Ed. Kutztown
University
Joanne Denslow Elem./Social
Studies Georgian Court College
Roll
call vote: Yes 7 No 0 Absent 2 (Dahlquist, Ziegler)
Motion carried.
All Personnel are Approved Pending the
District's Receipt of All Mandated Credentials
Transportation Motion made by
Dennis Ritter, seconded by Patricia Bealer to ratify the transportation
Contract
contract between the
Kutztown Area School District and Theodore and Robin LaFerriere for
transportation of their child to attend classes at
the Kutztown Area School District Middle School beginning March 3, 2003 for the
balance of School Year 2002-2003, unless terminated earlier for cause or by
mutual consent of the parties hereto at a cost equal to the current IRS maximum
allowed mileage rate (currently $.36 per mile).
Roll
call vote: Yes 7 No 0 Absent 2 (Dahlquist, Ziegler)
Motion carried.
Revised Bus Motion made by Patricia Bealer, seconded by Dale
Reppert to ratify the attached revised
Routes bus routes for School Year 2002-2003.
Roll
call vote: Yes 7 No 0 Absent 2 (Dahlquist, Ziegler)
Motion carried.
Bid Opening Motion made by James Kramer, seconded by Dennis Ritter to accept bids
for Custodial
Supplies,
Art Supplies, and General Supplies opened March 14, 2003 as listed on the
attached
summary sheet.
Roll
call vote: Yes 7 No 0 Absent 2 (Dahlquist, Ziegler)
Motion carried.
Special Board Motion made
by James Kramer, seconded by Donald Meyers to approve a special board
Meeting meeting
to be held on March 31, 2003 to review and approve documents relating to
refinancing
1998 General Obligation Bond Issue to be bid on that date.
Roll
call vote: Yes 7 No 0 Absent 2 (Dahlquist, Ziegler)
Motion carried.
Audit Motion made by Donald Meyers, seconded by Dennis
Ritter to renew the services of
Consultant Hutchinson,
Gorman & Freeh, Certified Public Accountants, to perform the audit of the
2002-
2003 financial records. Their fee is $10,300.00. A
federal single audit, if required, would be performed for an additional
$1,800.00.
Roll
call vote: Yes 7 No 0 Absent 2 (Dahlquist, Ziegler)
Motion carried.
Mr.
Kramer left at 9:07 p.m.
Discussion Apple Computer Partnership
Items Business
Manager Search
PSBA
Lobby Day Ð April 29, 2003
Berks
County School DirectorÕs Convention Ð April 24, 2003
Mr.
Meyers left at 9:46 p.m.
Adjournment Motion
made by Patricia Bealer, seconded by Dennis Ritter, to adjourn the
meeting
at 9:47 p.m.
Motion
carried unanimously.
Respectfully
submitted,
Gretchen
A. Diehl
School Board Secretary