Avonworth Board of School Directors

Avonworth School District

258 Josephs Lane

Pittsburgh, PA 15237

Avonworth Board of School Directors

Minutes – Regular Meeting – January 18, 2016

Administration Office – Board Room

7:30 P.M.

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Mr. Beau Blaser, Mr. John Brandt, Ms. Vicki Carlson, Mr. Jeff Carraway, Ms. Kathryn

Monti, Mr. David Oberdick, Mr. Patrick Stewart, Ms. Kristin Thompson

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Mr. Eric Templin

OTHERS PRESENT

Dr. Thomas Ralston, Superintendent

Dr. Ken Lockette, Assistant Superintendent

Mr. Brad Waters, Director of Fiscal Management

Mr. William Andrews, Esquire, Andrews & Price LLC

Ms. Emily Clare, Avonworth High School Principal

Mr. Jeff Dzubinski, Avonworth Elementary School

Ms. Nicole Levis, Avonworth High School Counselor

Mr. Dave Como, Avonworth High School Counselor

Ms. Susan Ciccone, Counseling Intern

Ms. Katlyn Weiser, Student

Peyton Faulkner, Student

Mrs. Stacy Faulkner, Parent

Ms. Nicole Ehrmann, Parent

Ryan Ehmann, Student

Sophie Guest, Student

Mr. Steve Guest, Parent

Mary Gannon, Student

Mr. Tim Gannon, Parent

Ms. Nancy White, The Citizen

Ms. Cindy Donovan, Board Secretary

Call to Order

Board Vice President, David Oberdick, called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:30 P.M.

Minutes– Regular Meeting – January 18, 2016

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Mr. Oberdick read the following: The Athletic Committee held a meeting Monday, January 11, 2016 at 6:30 P.M. in the District Administration Office, Board Room, 258 Josephs Lane, Pittsburgh, PA 15237, to discuss matters of athletics and personnel.

PRESENTATION: Dr. Thomas Ralston, Superintendent Dr. Ralston thanked and acknowledged the good works of our School Board and stated they set the overall vision of what our school district is all about.

JANUARY, 2016 SCHOOL DIRECTOR RECOGNITION MONTH

WHEREAS, the role of locally elected school officials has served the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and local communities in meeting the needs of public education since the passage of the Free School Act in 1834; and WHEREAS, these local boards have discharged their responsibilities to public education in a manner which has placed public education in the forefront of our educational systems; and WHEREAS, locally elected officials have distinguished themselves and their communities in this nonpaid, volunteer public service commitment; and WHEREAS, the contributions of these men and women should be recognized and appreciated by those who benefit from the workings of our public school system; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association hereby proclaims the month of January as School Director Recognition Month in the Commonwealth; and FURTHER RESOLVE, that this proclamation hereby recognizes the Avonworth Board of School Directors for their outstanding efforts, difficult decisions, attention to educational success, and the invaluable amount of time they dedicate to making the Avonworth School District an outstanding educational institution. STUDENT BOARD RECOGNITION Mr. Jeff Dzubinski, Elementary Student Council Sponsor was present this evening with Elementary Student Council representatives Ryan Ehmann, Peyton Faulkner, Sophie Guest, and Mary Gannon. Each student presented a book on behalf of the School Board for the Elementary and Primary Center Libraries. For the elementary library, Ryan chose The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and Peyton chose Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. For the Primary Center Library, Sophie chose Fancy Nancy by Jane O’Connor and Robin Preiss


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Glasser and Mary chose Finding Winnie written by Lindsay Mattick and Sophie Blackall. Mrs. Clare presented Auggie and Me by R.J. Palacio for the Middle School Library and Absalom, Absalom by William Faulkner for the High School Library.

Visitors’ Comments

Ms. Katlyn Weiser spoke to the Board about an Interact Club that she would like to start at the

high school for her senior project. She likened the Interact Club, which focuses on leadership skills,

to a Rotary Club for high school students. Several students have expressed an interest in joining the

club if it is established. She has been in contact with a battered women’s shelter in Beaver County

and the club could collect items they need such as blankets and food. She will provide a copy of her

senior project presentation on the subject for the Board.

Mr. Peter Vancheri of Hosack, Specht, Muetzel, & Wood, LLC, discussed the 2014-2015 Audited

Financial statements and was receptive to questions from the Board.

Motion: J. Carraway; Second: P. Stewart; Motion Carried: Unanimous voice vote to approve the Minutes of the Work Session/General Purpose Meeting of November 30, 2015 and the Reorganization and Regular Meetings of December 7, 2015. Report of Administration – Dr. Thomas Ralston, Superintendent

Dr. Ralston introduced Ms. Nicole Levis and Mr. Dave Como, High School Counselors, who then

gave a high school college and career counseling presentation.

Mr. Stewart feels there’s a disconnect between what happens from 8th grade to 9th grade. Ms. Levis

will send provide the school counseling curriculum document to the Board.

Report of Assistant Superintendent – Dr. Ken Lockette

Dr. Lockette formed a curriculum k-12 team, which met today, to map curriculum using the Atlas

Rubicon on-line tool. Will work with a pilot group this semester and open up to all next year. He

will attend a curriculum conference in Baltimore sponsored by Atlas. Dr. Lockette provided a recap

of the grants on today’s agenda that shows how they support our curriculum.

Report of the Solicitor – Mr. William Andrews, Esq.

Mr. Andrews provided a January 2016 Status Report on real estate tax assessment appeals.


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Beattie Key Notes/AIU News – Mr. Beau Blaser

In December, A. W. Beattie Career Center received a $5,000 grant from Caterpillar for Robotics.

They signed an MOU for dual enrollment with CCAC. On January 9 A. W. Beattie hosted their

first Robotics League competition. Avonworth students Katie Winter and Ethan Kelly were Students

of the Month in November/December and December/January, respectively.

PUBLIC RELATIONS & COMMUNICATIONS – P. Stewart, Chair Motion: P. Stewart; Second: J. Carraway; Motion Carried: Unanimous 2016-17 Calendar

voice vote to approve Item #1:

1. To approve the revised Avonworth School Calendar for 2016-2017 as follows:

2016 – 2017 AVONWORTH SCHOOL CALENDAR

August 2016 S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

11/7

September 2016 S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 X 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

21/21

October 2016 S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

21/21

November 2016 S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 X X 26 27 28 29 30

20/19

December 2016 S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 X 24 25 X X X X X 31

16/16

January 2017 S M T W T F S

1 X 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

21/21

February 2017 S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

20/20

March 2017 S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

23/22

April 2017 S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 X X X X X 15 16 X 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

30 14/14

May 2017 S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 22/22

June 2017 S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

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End of First Trimester APC/AES November 15 (student day 60) End of Second Trimester APC/AES February 21 (student day 120) Beginning of Third Trimester APC/AES February 22 (student day 121)

End of First Marking Period AHS/AMS October 27 (student day 45) End of First Semester AHS/AMS January 10 (student day 90) Beginning of Second Semester AHS/AMS January 11 (student day 91) End of Third Marking Period AHS/AMS March 14 (student day 135) 192 Teacher /185 Student Days

2 Hour Delays Orientation Day/Educational Planning (New Teachers) August 15, 16 Orientation Day/Educational Planning/Clerical (All Teachers) Aug. 17, 18, 19, 20

Middle School (Grades 6-7) Student/Parent Curriculum Night 6:30-8:30 P.M. August 17 Avonworth Elementary Curriculum Night (Grades 3 – 5) 6:30 – 8:30 P.M. August 18 First Day for Students August 23 Avonworth Primary Center Curriculum Night (Grades 1 - 2) 6:30 – 8:30 P.M. August 25 Labor Day (Schools Closed) September 5


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Middle School (Grade 8) Curriculum Night 6:30-8:30 P.M. September 8 Senior High School Open House (Grades 9 – 12) 7:00 – 9:00 P.M. 6:30-8:30 P.M. September 8 15 2 Hour Delay (Teacher Inservice/Schools in Session) September 21 Act 80 Day Columbus Day (Schools Closed for Students) October 10 Parent/Teacher Conference Day (Schools Closed for Students) November 23 Thanksgiving Vacation (Schools Closed) November 24-25 Act 80 Day (Schools Closed for Students) November 28 Schools in Session November 29 2 Hour Delay (Teacher Inservice/Schools in Session) December 14 Winter Vacation (Schools Closed) Dec. 23-January 2 Schools in Session January 3 Act 80 Day & Evaluation Martin Luther King Day (Schools Closed for Students) January 16 Act 80 Day Presidents Day (Schools Closed for Students) February 20 2 Hour Delay (Teacher Inservice/Schools in Session) March 8 Parent/Teacher Conference Day (Schools Closed for Students) March 10 Spring Vacation (Schools Closed) April 10 - 17 Schools in Session April 18 2 Hour Delay (Teacher Inservice/Schools in Session) May 10 Memorial Day (Schools Closed) May 29 Last day for Students and Graduation June 2 Last Teacher Day/Clerical June 5

Due to Emergency Closing of School--

“5” Days reserved to be made up are in this order: April 17, April 10, 11, 12, 13

FINANCE – J. Carraway, Chair

Motion: J. Carraway; Second: B. Blaser; Motion Carried: Unanimous voice

vote to approve Items #1.1-11:

1.1 Ratify payment of General Fund bills for December, 2015, beginning Gen Fund

with Check #38370 and ending with Check #38529 in the total amount

of $419,344.49.

1.2 Ratify the December, 2015 payroll in the amount of $1,015,662.42. Payroll

1.3 Treasurer’s Report for October, 2015. Treas Rpt

1.4 Ratify payment of Food Service Fund bills for December, 2015, Fd Svc

beginning with Check #02321 and ending with Check #02336 in the

total amount of $28,025.57.

2. Increase the hourly rate of solicitor, Andrews & Price LLC from Solicitor

$100/hour to $115/hour, retroactive to January 1, 2016. Rate incr

3. To approve the proposed settlement for the 2014-2016 Real Estate Real Est

Assessment Appeal of Property Owned by Fiore Mt. Nebo LLC, Parcel Tax

No. 607-J-203, as recommended by the District Solicitor as attached. Appeal

1/18/2016


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Finance, continued

4. To approve the 2014-2015 Audited Financial statements as presented Audit

by Hosack, Specht, Muetzel, & Wood, LLC. approval

5. To approve Dr. Thomas Ralston and Dr. Ken Lockette to write an Ed-Tech

Ed-Tech Refinery (Sprout Fund) foundation grant in the amount of Grant

$10,000.00 retroactive to August 4, 2015; payment of $42.50 each for

writing the grant; acceptance of the grant; and payment to Dr. Ralston

and Dr. Lockette in the amount of $250.00 each for implementation of

the grant.

6. To approve Dr. Thomas Ralston and Dr. Ken Lockette to write a PBL PBL Grant

Summer Institute Through Human-Centered Design & Arts Integration foundation grant in the amount of $78,494.00 and payment of $57.50 each for writing the grant.

7. To approve Dr. Darlene Tartaglione, Ms. Rebecca Kolesar, and Ms. TAP

Julia Udovich to write a Teacher Artist Partnership state grant in the Grant amount of $30,000.00 and payment of $38.33 each for writing the grant.

8. To approve Dr. Darlene Tartaglione and Ms. Rebecca Kolesar to Fruit Tree

write a Fruit Tree Planting foundation grant for 25 fruit trees with an Grant estimated value of $6,250 and payment of $42.50 each for writing the grant.

9. To approve Dr. Ken Lockette to write a Will Eisner Graphic Novel Eisner

Innovation foundation grant in the amount of $7,000.00 and payment Grant to Dr. Lockette of $85.00 for writing the grant.

10. To approve Ms. Emily Hickman to write a Maker Nights @ ARC Maker

(Sprout Fund) foundation grant in the amount of $1,000.00 retroactive Nights to December 31, 2015; payment of $75.00 to Ms. Hickman for writing Grant the grant; acceptance of the grant; and payment of $50.00 to Ms. Hickman for implementation of the grant.


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Finance, continued 11. To approve Resolution 011816: Authorizing Participation in the Resolution

National Purchasing Cooperative and in the National Buyboard Purchasing Program

RESOLUTION 011816 OF THE BOARD OF SCHOOL DIRECTORS

Authorizing Participation in the National Purchasing Cooperative

and in the National Buyboard Purchasing Program

WHEREAS, the Board of School Directors of the Avonworth School District desires that the School District

join the National Purchasing Cooperative (“National Coop”) in order to enable the District to engage in

cooperative purchasing through the National Coop’s “National BuyBoard” program, a program created for

the benefit of school districts and other governmental entities nationwide; and

WHEREAS, certain agreements exist between the National Coop and the Local Government Purchasing

Cooperative (“Texas Coop”), an administrative agency of local governments organized under the laws of the

State of Texas for purposes of cooperative purchasing, and pursuant to such agreements local government

entities of other states joining the National Coop hereby acquire the right to make purchases through the Texas

Coop via the “Buyboard” application owned and administered by the Texas Association of School Boards; and

WHEREAS, Chapter 19 of Pennsylvania’s “Commonwealth Procurement Code,” 62 Pa.C.S.§1901 et seq., authorizes

school districts and other political subdivisions to engage in cooperative purchasing with external procurement

activities such as the Texas Coop and deems such purchases to be in compliance with Pennsylvania bidding and

other governmental procurement requirements so long as the external procurement activity complies with the

governing laws of its state relating to cooperative purchasing; and

WHERAS, the agreements between the National Coop and the Texas Coop require and assure that the Texas Coop

complies with the laws of Texas governing cooperative purchasing by local governments, and further require and

assure that any other external procurement activity through which the Texas Coop in turn arranges cooperative

purchasing will do so in compliance with the governing laws of the state in which the activity is located;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of School Directors hereby directs that the School District become a

member of the National Coop by entering into the National Purchasing Cooperative Organizational Interlocal

Agreement (which is incorporated herein by reference), which agreement shall be executed by the appropriate

officers of the Board.

Adopted and approved this 18th day of January, 2016.

By: ____________________________________________, School Board President

David G. Oberdick

Attest: ____________________________________________, School Board Secretary

Cindy S. F. Donovan


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PERSONNEL – Ms. K. Thompson, Chair Motion: K. Thompson; Second: P. Stewart; Motion Carried: Unanimous voice

vote to approve Items #1-7:

1. To approve Ms. Kelly Walbush as 7th Grade Interim Grade Level Interim Chair

Chair retroactive to December 7, 2015 for the remainder of the

2015-2016 School Year.

2. To approve Ms. Kathy Galecki as Interim Mentor for 7th Grade Interim Mentor

English retroactive to December 7, 2015 for the remainder of the

2015-2016 School Year.

3. To approve a change in assignment for Ms. Cindy Dorsey, General Change in Assignmt

Food Service Worker from 9:45 A.M. – 1:15 P.M. (3.5 hours/day) to

8:45 A.M. – 1:15 P.M. (4.5 hours/day), retroactive to November 10, 2015.

4. Change in status of Mr. William Bauer from Maintenance Supervisor Change in Status

to Buildings & Grounds Supervisor at a salary of $61,000, effective

February 1, 2016.

5. To approve the transfer of 25 sick days for Ms. Tara Wahl, which were Sick days transfer

accumulated during her employment with the Ridgeway Area School

District.

6. To approve Ms. Danielle Holtzman as a Grade 7 long-term substitute LTS

Reading teacher for the 2015-2016 school year, according to the AEA

contract at Category M, Step 1, retroactive to January 13, 2016, with

benefits, pending requirements of the District.

ADDENDUM ITEM

7. To accept the resignation of Ms. Angeline Perminter, substitute Food Resignation

Service worker, retroactive to December 18, 2015.


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ADDENDUM ITEM CURRICULUM – J. Brandt, Chair

Motion: J. Brandt; Second: J. Carraway; Motion Carried: Unanimous voice

vote to approve Item #1 as amended:

1. To approve the 2016-2017 Kindergarten Program Guide amended as Kindergarten follows: The third bullet point on Page 5 should include: “Many Program Guide

factors, including changes in personnel and enrollment could lead to a change of this assignment.”

ADDENDUM ITEM ATHLETICS – D. Oberdick, Chair

Motion: D. Oberdick; Second: B. Blaser; Motion Carried: Unanimous voice

vote to approve Item #1:

1. To approve a Middle School Cross Country program as a sponsored MS Cross Country

school sport beginning with the 2016-2017 school year.

BUILDINGS & GROUNDS – E. Templin, Chair

Motion: P. Stewart; Second: V. Carlson; Motion Carried: Unanimous voice

vote to approve Items #1-2:

1. It is recommended that the Board authorize participation of the Electricity Consortium

Avonworth School District in the Western Pennsylvania Electricity

Consortium Extension for the purchase of electricity from Direct

Energy only if the price is at or below our current price. The extended

agreement will begin after the final meter read date in January, 2018,

under our current agreement for a period of 12 months and the price

will include all costs except distribution, sales taxes, and other local

utility charges as contained in the original agreement.


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Buildings & Grounds, continued ADDENDUM ITEM

2. To declare the following equipment in the high school weight Obsolete Equipmt

room obsolete and to trade it in on new equipment or dispose of the equipment. (See attached)

A. Six (6) commercial treadmills B. Two (2) upright cycles C. Two (2) recumbent cycles

Old Business

No old business.

New Business

Policy – V. Carlson, Chair

Motion: J. Carraway; Second: J. Brandt; Motion Carried: Unanimous

voice vote to approve Item #1:

1. To nominate Mr. Pat Stewart as a School Board Trustee for the Nomination to

Northern Region of the Allegheny County Schools Health Alleg County Health

Insurance Consortium. Ins Consortium

Adjournment

Motion: J. Carraway; Second: P. Stewart; Motion Carried: Unanimous Voice Vote to adjourn to an Executive Session at 9:30 P.M. to discuss personnel matters.

Respectfully submitted,

Cindy S. F. Donovan,

Board Secretary

Avonworth Board of School Directors

Documents

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