Once again Lorrie Detwiler proved herself a hero at Blue Ridge. Not only is she the School Board’s Secretary, but she helps to sustain the Board’s energy level when its meetings drag on. For the workshop on February 23rd that opened discussion of the District’s next budget, Ms. Detwiler brought hot homemade corn chowder soup, fresh homemade bread with a tub of real butter to slather thereon, and to top it all off, a scrumptious chocolate cake. Lorrie Detwiler deserves one of the Board’s achievement awards.
For some Board members the evening was a long one that began at 5:00pm with a presentation by Technology Director Mike Stewart to the Board’s Technology Committee. He offered a collection of proposals for projects to upgrade the District’s infrastructure that would cost upwards of $200,000 if fully implemented.
Mr. Stewart chose as his highest priority a project to install new cabling and related equipment to all of the classrooms and offices. The new higher-speed-capable cables would complete the wiring upgrade that began last year with the installation of a new glass fiber backbone within the school. The cabling project could cost about $120,000, with some $84,000 of that paid through E-Rate, a program of the Federal Communications Commission that “helps schools and libraries to obtain affordable broadband.”
His next priority would be to purchase and install 2 propane generators and supporting equipment to help maintain service to the District’s servers and networks in case of a power outage to the campus. He estimates the one-time cost of this project at about $50,000, all of which would fall on the District.
The third-level priority would be upgrading the wireless infrastructure on the campus. This might cost $40,000, of which $28,000 might be covered by E-Rate. Mr. Stewart said that wireless (wi-fi) support at Blue Ridge is already adequate, but new access points and related equipment would carry the District some way into the future.
Mr. Stewart also covered the aging Pano virtual desktop devices, some 323 of which are in use at Blue Ridge. The company that made them is now defunct, and the equipment will not be useful beyond another 5 years or so. He recommended a gradual transition to the use of low-cost Chromebook computers for most uses in the schools.
Harold Empett’s Facilities & Grounds Committee met at 6:00pm with Kevin Price, head of the District’s Maintenance Department, who summarized his group’s activities, and outlined some of the major items that face the District for the relatively near future.
Mr. Price reported that, for some as yet unknown reason, the average daily use of electricity on the campus has been more than 450 kilowatt hours higher this winter than last year. He also reported reasonably normal fuel consumption (wood chips and fuel oil) so far even though this brutally cold season has been some 480 degree-days colder than last year.
He also reported that the District will switch from Ehrlich to Terminix for pest control, for a modest cost savings.
Like Mr. Stewart, Mr. Price has 3 major projects in prospect. The most pressing item is the renovation of the gravel roofing systems. The buildings’ rubber roofs were recently restored and are under warranty. However, the gravel roofs are now nearly all out of warranty. A project to “prepare” the gravel roofs for renovation would cost about $200,000, and would extend their life for another 3-5 years during which time money would have to be found to complete the restoration. Otherwise the roofs would have to be completely replaced at a cost of millions.
Some of the parking lots are seriously deteriorating, particularly the one designated as the 5th-grade lot. This winter’s severe weather hasn’t helped them at all.
And the gymnasium floor, a perennial worry, can be repaired well enough to last a while longer. Replacing the floor itself would cost about $80,000. But the bleachers would have to be replaced at the same time to meet newer standards, and that would add a lot to the cost.
All of this was reported to the full Board at the workshop that began at the accustomed time of 7:00pm.
But first the Board entertained the testimony of Nathan Mains, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA), and Zachary Pearce, the PSBA “Member Relations Coordinator” for the Eastern part of the state. The PSBA – the lobbying organization of Pennsylvania’s public schools – is visiting school boards across the state to expand its outreach services (some of which cost extra). To “bring the association to its membership,” said Mr. Pearce. They promoted a new set of on-line services, including training for Board members, as well as a comprehensive policy maintenance site with links to relevant legislation and rule-making.
As a lobbying organization, the PSBA is now trying to limn the direction new governor Tom Wolf will take with regard to public education funding in the new budget, and what the legislature may or may not do with it.
Board President Laurie Brown-Bonner postponed the best for last – the budget – at the workshop, hearing reports from each of the committee chairs on their activities. One of her own favorites, Fundraising, has been quiescent recently, with the demise of the “annual” golf-tournament after two outings, and the cancellation of an alumni dinner before it really got off the ground. She mentioned a “capital campaign” and an “alumni foundation” as possible directions. And a splendid wood bookcase is now on display outside the High School office. The committee will be selling raffle tickets for the bookcase in an effort to boost funds for the committee’s scholarship program.
The District is still looking for an aide to ride the buses. One after another a series of candidates for the job have backed out.
When they finally got around to it, Superintendent Robert McTiernan led Board members through the department budget proposals for the 2015-2016 fiscal year that will begin in July. The numbers did not include any revenue estimates, nor figures for the largest part of the annual budget, salaries and benefits. (In fact, negotiations on a new teacher contract have not progressed much; a session scheduled for February 18 was postponed.)
The worksheets the Superintendent was presenting were available only to Board members. However, starting alphabetically, with Athletics, it was clear that the budget hopes to keep expenses more or less level from the current year, with cuts in many areas in order to make funds available elsewhere. In particular, the so-called “contingency” accounts – slush funds budgeted but sequestered pending specific Board approval – have been cut in many areas since most of them have gone unused during the current fiscal year. In fact, Mr. McTiernan is proposing to consolidate some of the contingency funds and make the money available for Mr. Stewart’s and Mr. Price’s higher priority recommendations.
Mr. McTiernan said that overall, the department budgets are about $150,000 lower than for the current year.
Board member Michael Detwiler asked about progress on the development of a “STEM” (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) curriculum. The Superintendent said that Middle/High School Principal Matthew Nebzydoski is working on it, and that it doesn’t look too costly to implement other than the possible hiring of another teacher. Ms. Brown-Bonner wondered whether the program could be expanded to a “STEAM” program, to include the Arts.
And with that, Ms. Brown-Bonner announced an executive session on a “personnel matter,” and adjourned the workshop out into a bitterly cold night – wonderfully fortified with hot soup, buttered bread, and chocolate cake.
One can’t expect to be so generously fed at every Blue Ridge Board meeting, the next of which will be a week hence. All meetings are in the Elementary School cafeteria, and the schedule can be found on the District’s website at www.brsd.org.
DEEDS
Raymond McGettigen (AKA) Raymond F. McGettigen Jr. to Breamer HOF Owners, Inc., in Herrick Township for $100.00.
Bremer HOF Owners, Inc. to Jo Ann & Albert Driscole, in Herrick Township for $300.00.
Beverly I. Vauter to Beverly I. Vauter, in Clifford Township for $1.00.
Beverly I. Vauter to Beverly I. Vauter, in Clifford Township for $1.00.
Beverly I Vauter to Paul Richard Vauter, in Clifford Township for $1.00.
Laura J. Novak to Addax Minerals LLC, in New Milford Township for $6,570.00.
Marjorie Pardo to Addax Minerals LLC & Silver SPUR Resources LLC, in Forest Lake Township for $12,375.00.
Thomas & Arlette Zupko to Stephen B. & Tammy L. Pendrak, in Uniondale Borough for $35,000.00.
National Loan Investors LP to David M. & Leslie S. Shinn, in Herrick Township for $189,900.00.
Robert J. & Bonnie E. Fleming to Bonnie E. Fleming, in Great Bend Torouch & Great Bend Township for $1.00.
O Kenneth Shaffer & Ann E. Tego to Edward C. Pomierny, in Thompson Towsnip for $46,000.00.
James W. McDevitt to John Rood, in Hallstead Borough for $30,000.00.
James D. Stiles, Karen T. Stiles, Ronald C. Stiles & Lynn D. Stiles to Samantha J. Wickizer, in Great Bend Borough for $105,000.00.
JoAnne Eleanor Hatala to Tonya J. Hill, in Liberty Township for $1.00.
Joseph DeMatto, Jane DeMatto, Philip J. & Patricia Notto to Bluestone Pipline Co. of Pennsylvania LLC, in Harmony Township for $540,000.00.
John W. Christensen (TRUST BY TRUSTEE), Edna R. Christensen (TRUST BY TRUSTEE), Anthony W. Thomas, James R. Thomas & Arthur Stephens, to Thomas Acres LP, in Auburn Township for $1.00.
Jean Fontana, Stephen LeVintow, Carol Fontana & John Hughes to LeVintow Fontanta Trust, Carol Fontana & John Hughes, in Bridgewater Township for $10.00.
Robin & Amy Ghirelli to Matthew & Tara Cobb, in Clifford Township for $382,500.00.
Michael Como (AKA Michael J. Como & Linda Como to Frank Conklin, in Gibson Township for $1.00.
Patricia Ann James & Thomas E. James Jr. to Christine Raughley for $63,000.00.
Edward Grasavage Jr. & Rebecca Grasavage to Delta Gas & Oil LLC, in Jessup Township for $1.00.
Edward Grasavage Jr. & Rebecca A. Grasavage to Delta Gas & Oil LLC, in Jessup Township for $1.00.
Edward Grasavage Jr. & Rebecca Grasavage to Delta Gas & Oil LLC, in Jessup Township for $1.00.
Edward Grasavage Jr. & Rebecca Grasavage to Delta Gas & Oil LLC, in Jessup Township for $1.00.
Jeffery Herbert (BY SHERIFF AKA) Jeffrey Herbert (BY SHERIFF) to HSBC Bank USA, in New Milford Borough for $4,420.73.
Raymond E. & Laura A. Coolbaugh to Appalachian Basin Minerals LP, PENNMARC Resources II LP, Wildes Mineral Investments LLC & McCrow Energy Partners II LLC, in Bridgewater Township for $1.00.
Jack D. & Florence Vail to Jack DeWitt Vail Jr. (TRUST), in Silver Lake Township for $1.00.
Loretto S. Clay to Loretto S. Clay (TRUST), in New Milford Township for $1.00.
Eugene J. Emmons (ESTATE) & Steven E. Emmons to Thomas J. Lapatofsky Jr., in Herrick Township for $180,000.00.
Brad & Shaela Schmidt to Robert G. Pandich Jr., in Silver Lake Township for $45,000.00.
John C. Lackey to William D. Jones III & Abigail R. Jones, in Middletown Township for $89,900.00.
Maxine A. Heath (ESTATE AKA) Anna Maxine Health (ESTATE), Sandra J. Tingley (AKA) Sandra J. Benson, Rebecca L. Heath (AKA) Rebecca L. O'Neill to Sandra J. & Kenneth A. Tingley, in Great Bend Borough for $36.666.66.
Nicholas A. VaKay to Nicholas A. Vakay, in Bridgewater Township for $1.00.
Oak Ridge Sportsmens Club, Inc. to Oak Ridge Sportmens LLC, in Oakland Township for $1.00.
David R. & Michelle Lukens to David R. & Michelle Lukens, in Clifford Township for $1.00.
Phillip C. & Donna A. Hodges to Donna M. Hodges, in Clifford Township for $1.00.
Emily R. Merrill (NBM) Emily Jr. Jenkins & Keith Jenkins to C. Eric Merrill, in Montrose for $9,000.00.
Jeffrey A. & Nancy R. Kirk to Patrick M. Flaherty, in Choconut Township for $8,000.00.
John A. & MaVourneen K. Boner to Talarico Family Limited Partnership, in Dimock Township for $1.00.
Fannie MAE (AKA) Federal National Mortgage Association to Rhouse516 LLC, in Great Bend Township for $31,000.00.
Orving J. Brown to Aaron Treadway, in Hallstead Borough for $1.00.
William E. Boyle (ESTATE) to Thomas L. Boyle Jr., in Auburn Township for $1.00.
Bernadette Slick to Bernadette & Joseph Slick, in Forest City for $1.00.
Lillian W. Jayne to Lillian W. Jayne , Allen Rodney Jayne, Franz Robert Jayne & Timothy Allen, in Auburn Township for $1.00.
John Kettling, Kristina Z. Berquist & Robert P. Berquist to Boulder Little Meadows LLC, in Apolacon Township for $1.00.
Sharon McGavin to Sharon McGavin, David W. Rumberger & Lorraine A. Storch, in Auburn Township for $1.00.
Brian P. Gesford , Patricia L Gesford (AKA) Patricia Laraine Gesford to Matthew D. & Tiffany M. Neenan, in Dimock Township for $1.00.
Virginia McBride to Rachel Vauter, in Clifford Township for $1.00.
Harford Penn Can Service Inc. to Lynn C. Butler, in Harford Township for $1.00.
Harford Penn Can Service Inc. to Lynn C. Butler, in Harford Township for $1.00.
Harford Penn Can Service Inc. to Lynn C. Butler, in Harford Township for $1.00.
Arindam Purkayastha to Barnes Kasson County Hospital, in Susquehanna for $1.00.
P. Scott & Deborah A. Baldwin to Redpath Holdings LLC, Lenox Township for $725,000.00.
Frederick L. Mack (ESTATE AKA) Frederick L. Mack (ESTATE), Frederick Laverne Mack (ESTATE AKA), Paula J. Mack to Paula J. Mack, in Forest Lake Township for $7,000.00.
Frederick L. Mack (ESTATE AKA) Fred L. Mack (ESTATE), Frederick Laverne Mack (ESTATE AKA) Paula J. Mack to Paula J. Mack, in Forest Lake Township for $1.00.
Millett Real Estate to Millett Enterprises LLC, in Harmony Township for $1.00.
Brian S. Thompson to Heatherlee Thompson, in Liberty Township for $1.00.
Phillip & Donna Hodges to Phillip Hodges, in Forest City for $1.00.
Ronald & Susan Crawford to Joseph M. & Shannon R. Lewis, in Oakland Township for $101,000.00.
John E. Harding to EMK Resources LLC, in Franklin Township for $231,000.00.
John G. McGrath (ESTATE) to John & Sarah E. McGrath, in Brooklyn Township for $1.00.
Phillip & Donna Hodges to Phillip Hodges, in Forest City for $1.00.
Susan M. Falcone to Tilghman G. Smith & Kelly M. Hamlin, in Silver Lake Township for $300,000.00.
Mildred T. Rahn (ESTATE) to Marjorie King, Paul Rahn, Ruth Ness & Eric Rahn, in Lathrop Township for $1.00.
Mildred T. Rahn (ESTATE) to Tekla Walsh, in Lathrop Township for $1.00.
Little Family Trust (BY TRUSTEES) to Allyn B. & Betty W. Carey, in Bridgewater Township for $290,000.00.
Patrica M. Propert (IRA), Equity Trust Co. (COUSODIAN FBO) to Donald Wehrle, in Harmony Township for $97,000.00.
St. John's Episcopal Church of Vernon Connecticut, Kevin Fenner (SENIOR WARDEN), Elizabeth Sartori (JUNIOR WARDEN), Gerald Cosman (TREASURER), William Francis (ASSISTANT TREASURER), Virginia W.G. Army (RECTOR) to WPX Energy Appalachia LLC, in Liberty Township for $1,101.20.
Doris Van Tassel to WPX Energy Appalachia LLC, to Liberty Township for $18,583.20.
Tolland Public Liberty Foundation & Jack Scavone to WPX Energy Appalachia LLC, in Liberty Township for $837,00.
John Sershen to UGI Energy Services LLC, in Auburn Township for $200,000.00.
Joseph & Betty Zuk to Joseph Zuk, in Clifford Township for $1.00.
Lanesboro Borough to Lanesboro Borough, In Lanesboro Borough for $1.00.
Lanesboro Borough to Lanesboro Borough, in Lanesboro Borough for $1.00.
Burton M. Shermer III & Mary P. Shermer to Adams & Hollenbeck Properties, in Harmony Township for $350,000.00.
Lanesboro Borough to Lanesboro Borough, in Lanesboro Borough for $1.00.
Lanesboro Borough to Lanesboro Borough, in Lanesboro Borough for $1.00.
Veto M. & Dorothea H. Barziloski to Appalachian Basin Minerals LP, Pennmarc Resources II LP, Wildes Mineral Interests LLC & McCrow Energy Partners II LLC, In Springville Township for $1.00.
Jason M. & Rachel M. Goss to Jason M & Rachel M. Goss, in Hallstead Borough for $1.00.
Jeffrey Smith (BY COURT ORDER) to Ester Smith (NKA) Esther Scarfallotto, in Lenox Township for $1.00.
Dixie L. Nowik, James F. Nowik, Dawn M. Fearnley & Robert W. Fearnley to Dixie L. Nowik, James F. Nowik, Dawn M. Fearnley & Robert W. Fearnley , in Bridgewater Township for $1.00.
Effie A Potter (BY POA) to Williams Field Services Company LLC, in Brooklyn Township for $1,750,000.00.
Sandra A. Babuka (BY SHERIFF) to PA Bank (FKA) & Peoples State Bank of Wyalusing, in Montrose for $9,793,71.
Anne E. Green, Margaret M. Green, Elisabeth R. Green & Greenhome Farm LLP to Greenhome Farm LP, in Dimock Township & Auburn Township for $1.00.
Robert D. Hendricks (BY SHERIFF) & Faye T. Hendricks (BY SHERIFF) to Federal National Mortgage Association, in Hop Bottom Borough for $1,116.75.
Patricia A. Wood (NBM) Patricia A. Lasher, Ray Lasher (AKA) Raymond Lasher to Raymond & Patricia A. Lasher, in Bridgewater Township for $1.00.
Argyros Family Irrevocable Trust (BY TRUST) to Patricia M. Argyros , in Harmony Township, Jackson Township & Thompson Township for $1.00.
Richard K. Hacker to Appalachian Basin Minerals LP, Pennmarc Resources II LP, Wildes Mineral Interest LLC & McCrow Energy Partners II LLC, in Gibson Township for $1.00.
David L. HoExter to Edmund V. & Cheryl A. Jaeger, in Herrick Township for $89,000.00.
Frank J. & Astrid W. Glodek to Astrid W. Glodek (TRUST) & Francis J. Glodek (TRUST) in Ararat Township for $1.00.
Frank J. & Astrid W. Glodek to Astrid W. Glodek (TRUST) & Francis J. Glodek (TRUST), Ararat Township for $1.00.
Francis J. & Astrid W. Glodek to Astrid Glodek (TRUST) & Francis J. Glodek (TRUST), in Ararat Township for $1.00.
Franklin Gerald & Janet S. Belcher to Franklin Gerald & Janet S. Belcher, in Gibson Township for $1.00.
Nancy A. Jones to Iris Kundla, Nancy Greensmith, Paul Jones & Allison McCawley, in Lathrop Township for $10.00.
Leonard Whitney to Whitney Mountain LLC, in New Milford Township for 41.00.
Julia Miles to Mulia Miles, in Lenox Township for $1.00.
David P. Whiteman (AGENT), William T. Whiteman (AKA) W. T. Whiteman & Catherine M. Whiteman to Catherine M. Whiteman, in Silver Lake Township for $1.00.
Karen M. Templeton (By SHERRIF) to US Bank National Association & Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, in Montrose for $1,596.15.
William T. Whitman (BY AGENT AKA) W. T. Whitman (BY AGENT) & Catherine M. Whitman to Catherine M. Whitman, in Silver Lake Township for $1.00.
Karen M. Templeton, (BY SHERIFF) to US Bank National Association & Pennsylvania Housing Finance, in Montrose for $1,596.15.
Logs Unlimited LLC to Keith & Wendy J. Wiseman, in Liberty Township for $1.00.
Harry H. Thatcher, Mary H. Thatcher, Dawn Meagher, Donald Meagher (AKA) Donald J. Meagher, Marjorie Sebring, Edward Sebring (AKA) Edward Sebring J. to Michael Thatcher, in Gibson Township for $1.00.
Sherman Duane Jones to VJC Holdings III LLC, in Middletown Township for $167,000.00.
Eric A. Pike (BY SHERRIF) to Northwest Savings Bank, in Apolacon Township for $1,210.84.
Lee Geisler to Pennsylvania Commonwealth, Silver Lake Township for $1.00.
Ruth Littman to Appalachian Basin Minerals, Pennmarc Resources II LP, Wildes Mineral Interests LLC, McCrow Energy Partners II LLC, in Brooklyn Township for $500,000.00.
Gary D. Wood (ESTATE) & Norman Wood to Matthew D. Newhart, in Dimock Township for $1.00.
James A. & Irene L. Warner to James A. & Irene L. Warner, in Lathrop Township for $1.00.
Donald H. Glover (BY SHERRIF AKA) Donald H. Glover Sr. (BY SHERRIF), Sharon M. Glover (ESTATE BY SHERRIF), Andrew Scott Perrington (BY SHERRIF) & Rebecca Perrington (BY SHERRIF) to George Dale Howell, in Ararat Township for $45,300.00.
Kimball McGary (BY TAX CLAIM BUREAU) & Susquehanna County Tax Claim Bureau to LQ Properties LLC, In Lanesboro Borough for $4,661.14.
Jacques A. Kaufman to Jacques Kaufman & Sons LP, in Auburn Township for $1.00.
Leo G. Peter to Andrew J. Heim, in Choconut Township for $122,000.00.