Home → Main News ( August 1, 2018 )
It seemed like a routine agenda item for mid-summer – handbook updates. At the last Board meeting, High School Principal Robert Presley broached the subject with a discussion of athletics eligibility. He wasn't present this time, but at the meeting on July 23rd, his colleague, Elementary School Principal, Chris Lake, offered Board members a fairly comprehensive review of the changes to some of the handbooks for the 2018-2019 school year.
Dr. Lake described his thorough revision of his school's handbook, as well as a couple of the others (of which there are 9 altogether). For the Elementary School, among other things, Dr. Lake said several obsolete references have been removed, such as items referring to "projectors" and other outmoded technology. The handbook is also updated to conform to the 2016 state truancy law. He also added the Mountain View mission and goals to the 30+ page document.
With the renovations to the Elementary School this summer, the new lobby will be the only accessible entrance. All faculty, staff and students will enter the school through the single portal, for security reasons. With safety and security now a primary concern, picking up children at the end of the school day will also be more carefully controlled: parents, guardians and others picking up their children will need to present identification. There will also be some changes to how the buses are loaded at the end of the school day, so that the youngest children no longer have to wait the longest.
All of the new handbooks will be available through the district's website. In addition, parents will be able to use the website to submit the form acknowledging that they have read the parent/student handbook (paper copies will still be available).
An item sure to cause some consternation is the new rule regarding parties. The Board's health and wellness policy now prohibits homemade food products to be served at the school. Dr. Lake said that parties with food will now be scheduled once at the end of each month (other parties – without food – can still occur at other times). Parents may purchase food items from the district's food service (Nutrition, Inc.) or through the parent-teacher organization, or may provide food items in sealed packages.
The faculty handbook will see some changes as well. For one thing, recess cannot be skipped. And faculty and staff are prohibited from taking money home; money must be deposited no later than the day after receipt.
Dr. Lake also announced that health and physical education in all of the schools will now be on a 6-day cycle, and that after-school tutoring for the younger grades will be available at least 2 days a week. There are also some adjustments to the dress codes in the handbooks.
Dr. Lake said that to save paper and copying costs the schools will be experimenting with sending notices and letters home only once per family – with the youngest child, as the "most responsible."
That new lobby/entrance in the Elementary School is nearing completion. Superintendent Karen Voigt said that the glass in the new atrium, while not bulletproof, will be resistant to penetration. In Mr. Tayler's stead, she reported that the project appears to be "on schedule," but that some of the new lighting will not be completed by the start of school; final work will be handled later, after hours. She said that teams that need the gym this summer may have to use facilities at other area schools. Business Manager Thomas Witiak reported that the district had received an invoice from the contractor, Energy Systems Group (ESG), for over $2 million. The district floated bonds totaling over $8 million for the entire project. Photos of the construction are available through the district's website.
Following up on the last meeting's discussion of the string music program, in Dr. Plonski-Sezer's absence, Board member Sondra Stein put up a spirited defense of the proposal to spend $5,000 to offer intermediate string instruction at Mountain View through the Marywood String Program. The item didn't make in onto the agenda this time, but Ms. Stein pleaded for support, noting that the district spends some $112,000 annually for athletic coaches. On the other hand, her colleague, Jason Richmond, pointed out that the district employs band and chorus teachers, while saying that he supports the expense for the Marywood program.
The Board accepted the payment of bills totaling over $4.5 million through June and most of July covering most of the district's funds. Treasurer Dan Very's report showed the general fund balance modestly higher over the month of June, finishing with about $2.5 million. Debt service and capital reserves were largely unchanged, totaling about $350,000 altogether.
Several of the Board's executive sessions over the past couple of months have focused on Act 93 compensation plans for administrators. This time the Board approved Act 93 plans for "second-line" administrators; as well as for the Business Manager and his assistant who are not covered by Act 93.
The Board also approved a list of coaches. Some Board members questioned the eligibility of one of them as a result of a recent retirement. Mr. Witiak said that he would research the question.
Board member Edward Napierkowski reported on some suggested changes to 2 policies that had their first reading at the last meeting. The policies cover "Weapons/Acts of Violence" and "Terroristic Threats/Terroristic Acts" and have been the subject of the Board's policy committee discussions recently, particularly with respect to "social media." One change covers student use of social media at any time, rather than just during school hours.
Ms. Voigt reported a donation of $15,000 from a district resident who appreciates the schools' responsiveness. The money is designated for the digital sign that the district is planning to install.
With the increased attention to safety and security, Board member David Schulte asked if the District or its Board should create a safety committee. Ms. Voigt said that the District already has one that meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month and consists of the Superintendent, the Business Manager, the school principals, and maintenance supervisors. She invited Mr. Schulte to join them.
The next public meeting of the Mountain View School Board is scheduled for Monday, August 13, 2018, beginning at 7:00pm, probably in the library in the High School.
The Blue Ridge School Board passed a 35-point agenda in quick order at its meeting on July 24th. But before they did, members heard the latest on the multi-million-dollar project to reconfigure the campus from Sam Scarantino, representing the prime contractor, Quad 3. If you haven't seen any evidence of it yet, you will soon see some heavy duty digging.
Mr. Scarantino reported that the discovery of some "wetlands" on the property will require some adjustments in the design, as well as some delays in getting all the required permits sorted out. The wetlands brings in the county Conservation District, and the designation of some "high quality water sheds" on both sides of the property will bring in the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). So, the project "is going to take longer," he said. But construction of a major retaining wall on the south side of the Elementary School parking lot will be able to go forward, and will require moving a large amount of dirt. Since the work will continue into the beginning of the new school year, Board President Chris Lewis was most concerned that there would be adequate staff parking. Mr. Scarantino assured him that the contractors could work around those concerns.
The Board proceeded to approve "geotechnical" soil analysis work by Midlantic Engineering, at a cost not to exceed $15,000, in support of the Quad 3 project.
Before launching into the business agenda, Mr. Lewis announced some executive sessions that covered safety issues, as well as some personnel matters, including Superintendent Matthew Button's evaluation.
The Board proceeded to approve almost all of the 35 agenda items in a single motion. Among other things, the Board designated Matthew Nebzydoski the district's "Safety/Security Coordinator." With the recent spate of school shootings, security has become a major focus, and the state is now requiring districts to appoint someone with official responsibility. So Mr. Nebz will add this to his portfolio as Principal of Instruction and Curriculum. He will act as the administrator for safety and security, collaborating with School Resource Officer (SRO) Greg Deck for operational responsibility.
Among other routine personnel matters, the Board welcomed Erin Stec in person as a para-educator for the new school year. They also accepted the resignation of Middle School Social Studies teacher Timothy Hutchins, and the retirement of library clerk Mary K. Sienko. And Michelle Allen will be shifted from an emotional support position to Middle School history teacher. Ross Macciocco has also resigned as varsity girls' basketball coach.
The Board approved next year's 6th-grade trip to the nation's capital scheduled for May 1-4, 2019 sponsored by the community group known as Creative Adventures for Education (C.A.F.E.).
Other items of interest approved by the Board:
The Board also approved a measure recommended by Mr. Button offering tuition-free placement for children of district staff who do not live in the district. This is not a new policy, but Mr. Button determined that the practice should be formally adopted by the Board.
Most of the administrators had little to report at this mid-summer session. Mr. Nebzydoski, however, reported on the outstanding performance of 62 Blue Ridge students in advanced placement (AP) programs and exams. He also noted that the Endless Mountains Community Foundation had paid for all 118 exams.
Mr. Nebz also announced that Blue Ridge would host some 26 police officers for training in school emergencies.
And finally, Mr. Lewis declared that school supplies are the responsibility of the district (and its budget). Staff are discouraged from purchasing such supplies themselves, and if they do, he wants to know… all the while knowing that it will happen anyway.
Probably have to wait 'til fall for soup, but if you want the latest information about your schools, consider attending the next public Board meeting, scheduled for Monday, August 20, 2018 beginning at 7:00pm in the cafeteria in the Elementary School.