Considering that it had been over a month since the last meeting, and the school year has just started, the Blue Ridge School Board session on September 16th was shorter than might have been expected. The agenda was filled with routine personnel matters, but a few major items did spark some attention.

Not the least of them was the completion of a new “outdoor classroom/pavilion” erected by CB Contracting as a result of the fund-raising efforts of the Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) in collaboration with Rob’s ShurSave promotions. The facility will be outfitted with furniture designed by the High School Home Repair class with a target of Spring next year.

The Blue Ridge PTO has been an energetic adjunct to the school’s operations over many years. Board president Laurie Brown-Bonner offered a long list of the organization’s initiatives and projects when she read out a certificate of resolution that was presented to three of the PTO’s board members at the start of the meeting. The PTO has some 150-200 members active in the life of the Blue Ridge community in those ways, “and much more,” said Ms. Brown-Bonner. The current PTO board, listed on the certificate include president Danielle Buchanan, vice president Ann Sargent, treasurer Jennifer Lindquist, secretary Sarah Sparks, teacher representative Trudi Hepler and community liaison Stephnie Thornton.

Following the presentation, when Ms. Brown-Bonner asked for questions or comments from the public, a parent asked about the very long routes some of the buses now take on the district’s new single-bell transportation system. He said that one route that covers ground from Heart Lake to Gibson often reaches its last drop-off only after 4:45pm. Superintendent Robert McTiernan thanked the parent for bringing this item to his attention, noting that the transportation team is “working on it.” There were bound to be problems with the new routes, he said, which the district is working to resolve.

Among the personnel matters, the Board accepted the resignation of Spencer Stoud as Junior High Boys Basketball Head Coach. It also approved the appointment of Paula Wedlock-Finn as Head Coach of Girls Junior High Basketball and Nicole Welmon as her Assistant; Joe Conigliaro to yet another position, this time as director of the Future Business Leaders of America program; and Kristopher Gardner to replace Mr. Stoud as Boys’ Junior High Basketball Head Coach. Mr. Stoud was then accepted as an “athletic volunteer” with the Boys’ Basketball program as he suggested in his letter of resignation.

As expected from discussions over the summer, the Board accepted a proposal by Northeast Data, Inc. to install new fiber optic equipment at a cost of $170,445 to be paid for by some prestidigitation in a new budget also approved at the meeting. Administrators, and Board member John Ketchur, chair of the Board’s Technology Committee, said that the upgrade would provide a more reliable and higher-speed “backbone” for the district’s internal network, offering a basis for the next stage, which could include more use of streaming video as well as a new telephone system using “voice over IP” technology.

The new budget, re-opened as a result of changes in the state budget, pushes the District’s spending over $17 million. Most of the increase is covered by shifts in budget accounts. The new budget does not increase any tax rates. Business Manager Loren Small was able to pay for the technology upgrades, as well as some funds added to the special education budget, by borrowing from the account that has been accumulating to help pay for increased demands from the state retirement system, and by cadging money from a debt-service account that hasn’t been used and isn’t likely to be needed as the district’s debt load from the renovation project almost 20 years ago dwindles.

An additional $15,000 or so may have to be found to pay the wages of 2 part-time security personnel. The Board allowed the administration to advertise for 2 people to beef up security, each of which would be on duty 8 hours per day, 5 days in each 2-week pay period at $10.00 per hour. The measure grows out of discussions that resulted from the shootings in Connecticut last year. Individuals in these posts would be selected based on a number of stringent criteria, and would be carefully trained. They would not carry firearms, but would generally man a desk at the main entrance to the buildings. Mr. McTiernan said that there is a shortage of other staff to man the desk, and that a teacher in that position is not an effective use of resources.

The Board approved proposed contracts for bus transportation with amendments. Board member Shane Rumage asked that 2 of the buses be cut from the proposal, saving some $27,000 out of the total cost. Ms. Brown-Bonner characterized the busing situation as a “work in progress,” and the 2 additional buses and their routes will be the subject of further discussion with contractors. During the current school year, bus contracts total over $853,000 for the regular routes, and almost $175,000 for additional vans, activity runs, and special education. The entire transportation budget comes to very nearly $1 million per year.

The only item that occasioned real debate was a recommendation to create an account with the Community Foundation of the Endless Mountains for funds collected by the activities sponsored by the Board’s Fundraising Committee, including its “annual” golf tournament. The first tournament last April raised just under the $5,000 threshold for establishing an account with the Foundation; some of those funds were distributed as scholarships to last year’s graduates. A benefactor has offered $1,000 to boost the balance in the fund as long as the committee can raise another $700 or so to fill out the $5,000 minimum.

The Community Fund generally disburses up to about 10% of managed funds each year as directed by the owner of the fund. Board members seemed reluctant to relinquish so much control over the liquidity of the fund. Ms. Brown-Bonner supported the move noting the convenience of having the Community Fund manage the money and do all the bookkeeping. In the end, however, the vote was overwhelmingly against the proposal: only Ms. Brown-Bonner and Michael Detwiler voted in favor.

And finally, with recent changes in procedures at the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, the lobbying outfit for the 501 school districts across the state, the district was given the opportunity to make choices among candidates for the organization’s officers. In the past, officers were chosen by vote during the annual convention in October. Without much knowledge of the 2 candidates for each of the offices, the Board generally accepted recommendations from others on the Board who were familiar with some of the candidates and selected William LaCoff for president, Charles Ballard for vice president, Otto Voit for treasurer, and Robert Schwartz for the eastern region at-large representative.

 “Off to a good start” was the judgment of Middle/High School Principal Matthew Nebzydoski. As a highlight, he noted that the cooperation of Blue Ridge with the Susquehanna Community School District has grown closer than the football program that started it all. So close that this year the 2 districts will put on a joint homecoming dance.

Elementary School Principal Matthew Button reported 100% compliance with immunization requirements through the efforts of the district’s Health Office.

And Mr. McTiernan announced that a Blue Ridge student is expected to be one of only 2 in the county to be named a semi-finalist in the National Merit Scholar program. For Mr. McTiernan it was a “fantastic start” to the new school year.

The next meeting of the Blue Ridge School Board will be a workshop, on Monday, September 30, 2013, beginning at 7:30pm. The Facilities & Grounds and Policy Committees will also meet that evening, beginning at 6:30pm. All meetings are held in the cafeteria in the Elementary School.

The board utilized the new Board Docs system at the September 19th meeting of the Elk Lake School Board. Through this system, access to the agenda and certain documents are available to the public via the district website.

A grant was given through the Community Foundation from the Giana Foundation in Texas, it was stated as part of the correspondence. This money was to be used for Music History and Music Theory courses, as well as in support of artist in residence events.

During the administrators’ reports, Dr. Cuomo related that the elementary had experienced a great start. He said that they had spent a lot of time thus far working on the new instructor observation model. He had begun observations, and they were taking a differentiated approach to implementation. They had been using the professional development time on Wednesdays to work through the process.

Also, the emergency plan had been revised. The elementary was planning to conduct lock down drills on a monthly basis. They had also been spending in-service time talking about curriculum mapping.

Mr. Mallery, in his report, said that the secondary school was also working on the new educator assessment system. He also related that AYP had been eliminated under the waiver, and the state was going to be rating schools based on the new school performance profile.

The results had been received from the Keystone exams. The secondary school had met state average in all areas, except for Algebra 1, at which they were slightly above the average.

The secondary school was also to continue holding safety drills; Mr. Mallery thanked the staff and Mr. Weisgold for their work. The school was also to be holding sessions on topics like suicide, bullying, and drugs and alcohol.

The school was planning to make a form available on the website which would allow the students to report a bullying incident on-line, and submit it directly to Mr. Weisgold. A Rachel’s Challenge assembly had been held the previous Tuesday. The school had also had a mock car crash that day, with representatives from emergency services personnel. This was a student’s graduation project.

Three associate positions were approved. One full-time one-on-one position, one full-time classroom, and one part-time recess position. The candidates for the first-two were previously furloughed staff who were being brought back.

Permission was sought and approved to transfer $25,000 from the general fund to the cafeteria fund. Payments were also approved for a freezer payment, security doors payments, and a summer water heater payment. These were to come from the capital fund.

There were twelve students presented before the board for approval of a tuition waiver. Of those, 11 were children of staff members and the twelfth was a senior who desired to remain at the school even though her family no longer lived in the district. Dr. Bush alluded that this was long standing district policy.

The transportation contracts were reviewed. There were a number of contracts which had been decreased. Dr. Cuomo had met with every contractor, reviewed the bus routes based on a gps system, reviewed the routes with the drivers, and variablesdiscussed with them. One bus had lost a number of students, one of whom led to a reduction of mileage. Dr. Cuomo related that he had shown the drives the new software, which was based off of a satellite system. The interesting thing about the software, he said, was that it could indicate where children lived, and there were a couple of instances where a more efficient way of running a route was seen. He clarified that it was not a gps system, it was a satellite imagery system. The district plotted the route, and reviewed the routes suggested by the system as it chose the most efficient, but not necessarily the most practical route. Dr. Bush related that some bus routes were also changed due to need, and the overloading of buses. All bus routes were within the allotted number of students at that point, he declared. Dr. Cuomo stated that their first priority was ensuring that students could get to school safely.

The dress code and electronic device policies were discussed. There was only one change to the dress code policy, Mr. Mallery said, a desire to include a stud in the nose as acceptable facial jewelry. They did not want anything to be protruding, such as a ring, and running the risk of catching on anything. However, it was not felt that a stud would not be too distracting or too much of a safety hazard.

Mr. Mallery reviewed the process for working on the electronic devices policy. He had met with Mr. Weisgold, and took their thoughts to the Leadership Team. They had then taken the topic before the students, particularly the student council. The policy which resulted he felt to be fair. Under it, the students were able to use the electronic devices in the cafeteria and gym. If they were listening to music they would be required to use headphones. Administration did not feel that music should be listened to during study hall, so it was decided that only e-readers could be used in those locations. The same rule applied to the library, where non-educational games were also no longer to be allowed. The question had been raised regarding what to do if a student refused to give up a device under the disciplinary portion of the policy. There were to be separate consequences in this situation. He said that technology was present, and this was an attempt to limit and un-limit their use. Use of devices such as calculators was to be at the discretion of the instructor.

Dr. Bush said that it was important to note that technology was part of the students’ lives. Education had resisted technology for fear that it would be used irresponsibly, but there were benefits as well.

Mr. Place asked if there was anything which would make these regulations applicable to student transportation on buses and cars. Dr. Bush responded that most contractors had the rules set in a way which was comfortable for them. He felt that the district would be better served by meeting with the contractors than by cross-applying the policy.

Mr. Place felt it was a good idea looking at the subject, speaking of poor judgment incidents that occurred on a bus. He felt that this should be met with the same level of non-tolerance as it would at school.

Board meeting dates were reviewed.

Kim Guiton was present to talk to the board about Johnson Control. Nick Sracic had been there the meeting prior to discuss the energy savings project, primarily designed to change the system to natural gas and conduct ventilation and lighting improvements. The district had chosen to pursue the RFQ process. There was interest in four companies. Johnson Controls was the only company which completed the RFQ documentation, and met all criteria. What she was asking was for the board to select an Energy Service company for a potential Guaranteed Energy Savings Act project. Ms. Guiton noted that this action did not bind the district financially or contractually at that stage. If Johnson Controls was selected, the board would be asked to authorize a Project Development Agreement in October, and the district could incur a $65,000 fee. If within 60 days of completing this PDA the district chose to enter into an agreement, that cost would be rolled into the project. If no Implementation Agreement was reached during that time, the fee was due. If the project failed to meet the financial impact described in the first section of the PDA, there would be no obligation for the district to pay the fee. If the lack of natural gas delayed the project start, and no Implementation Agreement was reached the fee would be due in September of 2014. Dr. Bush asked if Mr. Sracic could attend the next SCCTC meeting to answer questions.

Mr. Tewksbury queried as to whether or not natural gas could be stored economically and safely. Mr. Emmerich opined that he wasn’t sure it would be valuable for them to hear more of the same. He said that his questions had to do with the infrastructure, and those questions could not be answered until the next step was taken.

Mr. Curley said that he was skeptical because they had begun a process with Johnson Controls, and a month into it everyone fell away except for Johnson Controls. He expressed some discomfort with this. He said that he was kind of leery about taking the next step, because he was uneasy.

Dr. Bush felt it was beneficial for the board to hear more only if they were ready to take the next step. He responded to Mr. Curley’s comment, explaining that the RFQ process limited down who the district was going to work with, more so than the RFP. The process pursued was of the district’s choosing. Ms. Guiton said that Johnson Control did not set the RFQ parameters.

Mrs. Teel asked if any company could provide the same qualifications in response to the RFQ. Mrs. Guiton responded that they could do so. She said that she had spoken to all of the companies who had responded. One did not want to compete with Johnson Controls. The district had some negative experiences with the second, so had dismissed them. The third company wanted the district to start all over again, which would become an RFP. The fourth was Johnson Controls.

Mr. Emmerich said that there seemed to be a significant cost ahead of the district regardless of whether they entered into this or not, due to the aging infrastructure. This provided the district with an avenue they could go down, which would be no initial cost to the tax payers. He had been comfortable with Johnson Control’s presentation. Mr. Place said that he agreed that the district was risking $65,000, but if they went ahead with the project they were not really risking it.

Mr. Tewksbury asked how much of the profit was attributed to switching to natural gas. It was responded that about half of it was. Mrs. Teel said that this work had to be done one way or the other, and what it came down to was whether the district would do it on their own or through Johnson where the savings were guaranteed.

Mr. Curley noted that the savings were going to be repurposed, and he felt it needed to be framed to the public in such a way that they understood that, in effect the savings were going to be used to take care of some housekeeping and they would not be seen as a reduction in tax bills, etc.

Mr. Emmerich made a motion to accept the only RFQ received.

A visitor gave Kudos to Dr. Cuomo, saying that she had heard very positive things from customers coming into her business regarding how he was relating to people at the elementary level.

At the September 18th meeting of the New Milford township supervisors, it was stated that the township was looking to upgrade its older backhoe. They wished to do this while they could still get a decent dollar for it. The supervisors had tried out three, which were all on the CoStars program. They liked the Case best, and a motion was made to purchase it. Under the program, the prices were locked in and there was no need to go out to bid. The motion passed unanimously.

A letter from the Secretary of Transportation regarding bridge safety was noted. The other townships had brought it up, regarding the state bridges. Mr. Hunter said it didn't impact the township roads, as they didn't have any bridges not on state roads of a size to meet the requirements.

The Blue Ridge School District was granted an air Quality Permit. Tri City Highway Products was granted a general NPDES Stormwater permit (it was stated this was for their runoff water), as well as a GP105 permit for Bluestone Mining at the Onyon Quarry.

Damascus stone was applying for a BAQ-GPA/GP3 and a GP9 permit for a Portable Nonmetallic Mineral Processing Plant up on Carey Road. This was just notification to the supervisors.

PSATS had offered a webinar regarding how to handle an active shooter threat, it was related.

A letter had been received from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation saying that the township's estimated liquid fuels allotment was $145,707. This was down about $30,000 from the year previous.

A visitor thanked the supervisors for the guardrails on the Highlands Road. He also asked a question, wondering if the gas company was pumping gas behind his property. Mr. Hunter replied that he couldn't say, once the company came in and put the wells in the supervisors didn't know when they were turned on, or if they were pumping gas or not.

Mr. Bondurant related that he had attended the emergency response and pipeline response workshop for excavators, which he said was very good. He suggested that perhaps the following year they should make the contractors who worked in the township aware of it. Mr. Hunter hadn't known the contractors were invited. Mr. Bondurant pointed out that excavators were in the title of the workshop, and that the workshop was definitely geared toward them as well.

Tony Napolitano's twenty-one years of service on the Veteran's Memorial Bridge Committee were recognized at the September 18th meeting of Susquehanna Borough. Mr. Napolitano was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation from the board, of which he said he was “very proud” to receive.

Pictured are Roberta Reddon, Toni Napolitano, Bill Perry and Roy Williams.

A focal point of the meeting was also the “Beautification Project,”money specifically designated and aimed at improving the appearance of the downtown area in the coming years. Margaret Biegert spoke of an estimated offer received for landscaping costs and upkeep of the gardens in front of the Veteran's Memorial and potted plants within the downtown area. The Council members determined they would wait until more information was received on what type of work would be done specifically, and also to give the opportunity for other offers to be received as well.

Another concern of the board members was that of neighborhood dogs. Mr. Varsick described how loose dogs are beginning to become a problem, as well as dog leashes or runs that extend beyond the owner's property onto the sidewalk or the road. Mr. Varsick also suggested that the dog ordinances in place locally be obeyed by the community and warned that these ordinances will be enforced by local police, as there is only one dog warden in the county. Another member of the council suggested adding to the ordinances a ban on certain breeds of dogs in the future, such as pitbulls or other breeds that are known to be temperamental, although no decisions were formally made to add to the ordinances that are already in place.

Roberta Reddon also gave an update that PennDOT has received and approved an application of extension from the contractors who are working on repairs on the Drinker Creek bridge. The original project time frame of completion was set for this November. PennDOT, however, has extended the project completion date until July of 2014. Also, relating to the construction on Drinker Creek, council asks that people do not move the barrels in place at the site, as it can disturb designated traffic patterns.

An application for a grant for 2014, from the Housing Re-Development Authority, was approved for $27,000. This grant is for light removal of two to three houses in the community that are unsightly.

In other news, Margaret Beigert was appointed the local Right to Know Officer. Also, a decision was made on whom to hire for the cleaning position of the Borough Building. An offer was also accepted from Heinz Energy to provide oil for the 2013-2014 season.

The next meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 16th.

Mistakes were made! And those mistakes were made by a person or persons not elected to the Susquehanna Community School District Board of Directors. In acts that could be best described as the height of hubris, the parties responsible for the mistakes asked School Directors to take the hit for them - to make the parties “harmed” financially whole.

School Board members would have none of it. By unanimous vote of 8-0, President Steven Stanford, Vice-President Clay Weaver, Treasurer Martha Stanford, Secretary Evelyn Cottrell, and board members Lori Canfield, Jason Chamberlain, Amanda Cook, and Holly Kubus rejected a motion that would have accommodated two requests: (1) refunded “$200 for a 2012 school tax bill due to an error in addressing the bill made by the Susquehanna County Assessment Office;” and (2) provided a “Homestead Exemption for parcel no. 057.00-1,047.00,000 for the 2013 tax year in the amount of $304.07 due to a clerical error by the Susquehanna County Assessment Office.”

Essentially, the school board rejected the county’s attempts to dodge accountability for the errors made at the Courthouse. It is the board’s position that the school district had done due diligence in every regard, and there was no logical basis for the board to serve as an enabler for those negligent or culpable.

A bit of explanation is in order for gentle readers. SCSD directors met for their September regular meeting from 7 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 18. It was at this meeting the aforementioned repudiation of county errors occurred. To place the issue before the entire board, Mr. Weaver made motion and Mrs. Kubus seconded. District Superintendent Bronson Stone recommended disapproval, and succinctly explained why.

At the board’s Information & Deliberation Session held 24 hours earlier, Mr. Stone expounded in detail on the untenable positions of those seeking tax relief, at least insofar as the district’s responsibility to provide it. First, concerning the property holder seeking $200 tax relief for 2012 school taxes, Mr. Stone explained that the individual concerned had a problem with his address, and consequent receipt/late-receipt of the tax bill concerned. Noting the amount of time that has passed and the essential responsibility of each property owner to keep the county taxing authorities apprised of their true and correct mailing address, Superintendent Stone decried any district role or responsibility in this particular situation. In his opinion, the party seeking relief has made no case in connecting the school’s responsibility for the “addressing error” and the relief sought in consequence. Mr. Stone added that although he didn’t have reason to believe it applied in this particular case, the “open secret” is that a number of outsiders/part-timers are claiming residency here while in fact their true status is as residents of other states or counties.

In like fashion, Mr. Stone, with the assistance of Business Manager Gary Kiernan, described in detail how the Homestead Exemption program works. The number of properties eligible for the Homestead/Farmstead Exemption is enumerated and definitively determined each spring - at the county level. The county provides that definitive number of exemptions to the school district. The amount of money allocated by the state from gambling proceeds is then divided by the number of exemptions within the school district. The exemption amount thus arrived at this year is $304.07.

The problem emanates from the county’s error in the number provided by the county, since the county evidently “erred” in their classification of one particular property, which they are trying to correct retroactively. However, the district relied upon the county’s original number, allocated the gambling proceeds/tax relief accordingly, and has only $25 left in the designated fund (which rolls over to next year’s tax relief). So with the board’s repudiation of the county’s errors now final, the ball is back in the hands of the individuals seeking relief to argue their case with the county and pursue relief in that arena.

The other bombshell news of the school board’s meetings on September 17 and 18 was the State Board of Education’s Changes to Chapter 4, just published on Thursday, September 12th. With the third Secretary of Education - current incumbent still unconfirmed - at the helm in the last six weeks, the changes announced amounted to a shocker of consequential import.

Superintendent Stone gave a brief overview of some of the changes his administration had been able to divine from the state’s sudden lurch from what was thought to be the sure path established only months earlier. Among the changes, Keystone Exams will count for one-third of final course grade, and Graduation Projects, thought to be on their way out, will be continued rather than eliminated.

Also, the state, long resistant to any waiver from the NCLB (No Child Left Behind) 100% literacy achievement goal of 2014, finally buckled to the reality that achievement of that goal was not going to happen - not in any school district, not this year or any year - and no amount of money thrown at schools (or held in abeyance in penalties) was going to make it happen.

The 65 pages of Changes to Chapter 4 approved by the State Board of Education authorize the Department to issue guidance (write voluminous regulations) on a vast swath of educational issues. In essence, the state’s regulatory educational establishment is authorized to continue to expand to regulate anything remotely connected to education and to do so to the minutest detail. Specifically of interest to the State is the new requirement that school districts halve the achievement gap in the next six years. While that may sound good on paper, logic (and the law of diminishing returns) demonstrates an increasing level of resource expenditure and an exponential level of effort will be required to achieve even minimal achievement of what is being defined as success. Unlike private schools, public schools provide an education to all comers, not those selectively accepted.

To make these stupendous gains in closing the achievement gap, “Six-year plans” will be mandatory, with revisions as necessary, or at least every three years, whichever comes first. Added to the central planners’ nirvana of the Six-year plan - most communist countries stopped at five-year plans - the Department of Education has decreed that subgroups to be monitored should be as small as 11, as opposed to the previous requirement that subgroups consist of at least 40 students. As Superintendent Stone pointed out, the Board’s action defies the principles of statistical sampling, in that a larger sample size provides a more accurate portrayal of reality.

Unaddressed by the Department of Education’s changes were how the achievement gap was to be halved when schools are implementing Common Core Standards (recently renamed Pennsylvania Core Standards), but the state continues to dawdle, having failed to update their standardized tests to account for the shift from the standards predating Common Core). That failure will necessarily impact any measurement of school’s efforts to close their achievement gap under new Six-year plans.

Finally, Mr. Stone noted that these Department of Ed changes must still be approved by the General Assembly, so new changes to the just-announced changes could be afoot. Seems the only thing certain beyond death and taxes is change.

But Superintendent Stone did have good news on several other fronts. Notably, SCSD is in receipt of three grants, and busy applying for a fourth. District plans call for $5,000 of the $16,000 Rural & Low Income Schools Grant to be used for wiring and furniture, with the balance for computer towers in Room 232, and for use by the math department with the new Carnegie Math Program. Also received are the Jessie Osgood Tourje Memorial Fund ($1,000 for electronics boards), and the Giana Foundation ($2,400 for microphones and lighting for stage/drama) grants.

Decisions by the board included a wide range of miscellaneous issues, including: approval of tenure for Karen Downton and Carly Batzel; approval of revised policy #806 regarding Child/Student Abuse; approval of the Dual Enrollment Agreement between Lackawanna College & SCSD; and approval of an Addendum of the Memorandum of Understanding between SCHS and the Claire Williams O’Neil Foundation.

Before wrapping up at 7:30, the board elected PSBA Officers and at-large members to represent them in that organization. Delicious brownies were then served up by the Super “K’s” - Mr. Kiernan and Mr. Keyes - to meeting attendees, who after partaking departed into the warm, post-sunset eve.

Susquehanna Community School District Board Directors approved the following personnel actions during their regular meeting on Wednesday, September 17, 2013.

To hire for the 2013/2014 school year: Megan Koziol and Angela Hadden - Substitute Aide and Food Service; Kim Marco - H.S. Aide Substitute 48-day position; Kristopher Gardner - Assistant Jr. High Boys Basketball Coach; Jessica Hubal - Jr. High Girls Softball Co-Coach; Stephen Nayduch - JV/Varsity Boys and Girls Basketball Clock; Roland Salamon - JV/Varsity Boys Basketball Game Manager; Mary Weaver - Part-time Maintenance position; and Nicole Furch - Elementary Personal Care Aide.

To hire for the 2013-2014 school year ONLY: Brent Soden and Lawrence Tompkins - New Initiative Support Personnel.

To hire for 2014-2015: Jake Johnson - Varsity Baseball Head Coach; Jeremy Page - Assistant Baseball Coach; Joshua Carpenter & Tom Adornato - Jr. High Baseball Coach; Joe Collins - Varsity Softball Head Coach; Stephen Nayduch - Boys Track Head Coach; Susan Day - Assistant Coach Boys Track; Jeff Hall - Girls Track Head Coach; Mary Weaver - Assistant Girls Track; Susan Crawford - Boys JV/Varsity Volleyball Game Manager; Scott Glidden - Baseball & Softball Game Manager AND Jr. High Baseball/Softball Game Manager; Rich Emmons - JV/Varsity Baseball Books; Kim Garrison - Boys Volleyball Clock.

To hire for 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 school years: Susan Crawford & Carol Bushong - Substitute Game Manager any sport; Raymond Testa - Varsity/JV Boys Basketball Books; Robin Carmody - Varsity/JV Girls Basketball Books; Kelli Kane - Jr. High Boys Basketball Books; Debra Benson - Boys Basketball Ticket Taker and Girls Basketball Ticket Taker.

To approve as volunteers: Richard Bagnall - Varsity Football; and Christen Beamer - Student Council.

To approve as Substitute Teachers: Ryan Gilleran and Mary Auborn-Cook.

The Susquehanna County DOMESTIC RELATIONS Section has outstanding BENCH WARRANT’S for the following individuals as of 11:15 a.m. on September 20, 2013: Shannon Andrews, Beverly A. Carvin, William J. Casey, Anthony M. Choplosky, Thomas D. Earley, David J. Fischer, John S. Frisbie, Jr, Jon W. Hanson, Douglas R. Heath, Joe R. Kimmell, Kay L. Knolles, Whade A. Koch, Scott A. Kochmer, Todd J. Layton, Charlie J. Legere, Lawrence M. McGuire, Ronald N. Mitchell, George M. Moran, III, Jeffrey A. Ransom, Anthony Reed, Jose A. Rodriguez, Scott A. Russell, Bruce A. Schurr, David J. Shiner, Brian R. Shio, Eric J. Snell, Nathan C. Strohl, Frederick Swingle III, Timothy T. Towers, II, Robert J. Twilley, Steven G. Warner, Todd M. West, Kyle Wilbur, Kevin E. Yanney. Please contact the Domestic Relations Section at 570-278-4600 ext. 170 with any information on the location of these individuals.

The following is a list of jurors to appear at the Susquehanna County Courthouse, Montrose, PA at 9:00 a.m., October 7, 2013.

Apolacon Twp.: Colleen L. Martin.

Auburn Twp.: Cornelus Dejong, Brenda Jean Smith.

Bridgewater Twp.: Robert M. Sedor Jr., John Severs, James Snell Sr., Joseph C. Tometchko, Kelly VanAuken.

Brooklyn Twp.: Diana Fuller.

Choconut Twp.:  Becky Johnson.

Clifford Twp.: Karen Allen, John P. Flynn, Carol Ann Pope, Christine G. Tellep, Dorothy A. Wallace.

Dimock Twp.: Craig Good, James Greenwood, John Sharkey, William Taylor.

Forest City 2nd Ward: Donald G. Armstrong, Thomas Conner, Raymond S. Ondrako Sr.

Forest Lake Twp.: Mary Smith.

Franklin Twp.: Michael R. Travis.

Friendsville Borough: Marlene Ingersoll.

Gibson Twp.: Michael Candeo, Jacqueline A. Frantz, James Laing, Sharon Panasevich.

Great Bend Twp.: Ed Conroy, Connie Margets.

Hallstead Borough: Mark Tierney, Carolyn Weber.

Harford Twp.: Marlene Y. Barry, Amy Bishop, Lori Glover, Donna Ritz.

Harmony Twp.: Richard Hennessey, Justine M. Ord, Sheila Pannepacker.

Herrick Twp.: Dawn Clark, Joan Ewins, Paul Messer.

Hop Bottom Borough: Carla Benedict.

Jackson Twp.: Robert Slack, Retha Wood.

Lathrop Twp.: Frank V. Carpenetti Jr., Carrie Dery.

Lenox Twp.: William Atkins.

Liberty Twp.: Anna Bevan, Joni Rene Conlon, David W. Smith.

Little Meadows Borough: James Maus.

Montrose Borough 1st Ward: Roger Rosenau, Linda D. Rucker.

New Milford Borough: David Canfield, Ernest Harris, Timothy Stonier.

New Milford Twp.: Linda L. Cramer, Linda M. Kays, Dennis McNamara, Pamela Ward.

Oakland Borough: Mary P. Weaver.

Rush Twp.: Elizabeth Nixon, Floyd L. Vanwinkle Jr.

Silver Lake Twp.: Kevin Brewster, Lisa Fike, Carolyn Finch, Barbara A. Hartigan, James E. Lee, Earl George Lesch, Erin McPherson, Brenda Turner.

Springville Twp.: Wendy Fisher.

Thompson Twp.: Ivan Baker.

Tina M Braungard, 35, of Great Bend, PA to 5 days to 6 months in Susquehanna County Correctional Facility, pay $300 fine, pay cost of prosecution, pay $100 Act 198 fee, pay $50 CAT Surcharge, pay $10 EMS, attend safe driving school program, receive drug and alcohol counseling, not to possess transport or consume alcoholic beverages for Driving Under the Influence in Great Bend Township on October 22, 2012.

Shannon Marie Mangin, 23, of Clarks Summit, PA to 15 months probation, pay $200 fine, pay cost of prosecution, pay $50 Criminal Justice Enhancement Act fee, complete parenting classes, not to have contact with persons under the age of 16 unless supervised, not to have contact with the victim unless supervised, take all prescribed medications for Recklessly Endangering Another Person in Thompson Borough on July 25, 2012.

Jennifer Lynn Spadine, 45, of South Montrose, PA to 15 months probation, pay $200 fine, pay cost of prosecution, pay $50 Criminal Justice Enhancement Act fee, not to have contact with victims for Theft by Unlawful in Dimock on November 9, 2012.

Matthew John Moxen, 23, of New Milford, PA to 1 months to 15 months in Susquehanna County Correctional Facility, pay $200 fine, pay cost of prosecution, pay $50 Criminal Justice Enhancement Act fee, not to have contact with the victim, pay restitution to the victim for Theft by Unlawful Taking on November 11, 2012 in Great Bend Township.

Gary Edward Snow, 46, of Montrose, PA to 12 months probation, pay restitution to the victim, pay $200 fine, pay cost of prosecution, pay $50 Criminal Justice Enhancement Act fee, not to have contact with the victim except for visitation for Simple Assault in Montrose on November 11, 2012.

Seth Aaron Haynes, 37, of Newark, OH to 5 days to 6 months in Susquehanna County Correctional Facility, pay a $300 fine, pay cost of prosecution, pay $100 Act 198 fee, pay $100 CAT Surcharge, pay $10 EMS, receive drug and alcohol counseling, attend safe driving school program for Driving Under the Influence in New Milford Township on April 18, 2013.

Salvatore P Gentile, Jr, 46, of Montrose, PA to 12 months probation, pay $200 fine, pay cost of prosecution, pay $100 Act 198 fee, not to have contact with codefendants for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia in Montrose Borough on October 11, 2012.

Peter Paul Provinzano, Jr, 54, of Factoryville, PA to 3 months to 15 months in Susquehanna County Correctional Facility, pay $200 fine, pay $100 Act 198 fee, pay $50 Criminal Justice Enhancement Act, pay cost of prosecution, pay restitution to the victim, pay $250 DNA testing fee and submit sample, not to possess firearms, receive drug and alcohol treatment for Manufacture, Delivery or Possession with Intent to Manufacture or Deliver in Hop Bottom on January 9, 2012.

Gregory Matthew Isby, 41, of Great Bend, PA to 10 days to 23 ½ months in Susquehanna County Correctional Facility, pay $500 fine, pay cost of prosecution, pay $200 CAT Surcharge, pay $10 EMS, pay $100 Act 198 fee, receive a drug and alcohol evaluation, attend safe driving school program, not to possess transport or consume alcoholic beverages for Driving Under the Influence in Great Bend Borough on February 9, 2013. Mr. Isby also received 3 months to 2 years minus 1 day in Susquehanna County Correctional Facility, pay $300 fine, pay cost of prosecution, pay $500 additional fine, pay $50 Criminal Justice Enhancement Act fee for Fleeing or Attempting to Elude Police in Great Bend Borough on February 9, 2013.

Rashaan Maurice Samuels, 37, of Bronx, NY to 11 ½ months to 2 years minus 1 day in Susquehanna County Correctional Facility, followed by 5 years probation, pay $750 fine, pay cost of prosecution, pay $100 Act 198 fee, pay $50 Criminal Justice Enhancement Act fee, pay $250 DNA testing fee and submit sample, perform 100 hours of community service for Manufacture, Delivery or Possession with Intent to Manufacture in New Milford Township on September 23, 2012.