BROOKVILLE, Pa. (EYT) – Participating in community politics can be a tedious, tiresome, and often thankless job. Most of us have too much on our plates to even consider contributing the extra hours a task like that requires. However, Monday night’s Brookville Area School Board (BASB) meeting was a prime example of what can be accomplished when pro-active citizens sacrifice their time and effort for the betterment of a community.
Clarinda Darr opened things up by thanking the Board Members who made it possible for her and a partner to attend an educational seminar on the soon-to-be-opened Shell Cracker Plant in Monaca, PA. Darr then informed the Board Members that the petrochemical plant promises to hold great things for the future of the Brookville community and its current students.
Darr was followed by James Overly – a math teacher in the Brookville Area School District (BASD) – who was there with the monthly update to BASD’s “Student of the Month” and “Extra Effort Student” campaigns. This month’s recipients for Student of the Month were Porter Kale, Maximus Dennison, Riley Meyers, Ainsley Wolfe, Danny Macbeth, Tanner Shields, and Jayda Palmer. This month’s Extra Effort Students were Camden Davie, Noelle Moneram, Blake Saunders, Autumn Blomen, Alyssa Waterson, and Brooke Shattenberg. Teachers of the Month were Christina Iraka and Ray Doolittle.
Student Representative, Levi Roseman gave the board an update on the goings on at the school. Some of the more notable takeaways from Roseman’s report were Gavin Park’s State Title for wrestling in the 120-lb. division, and a new printer obtained by the journalism department via grant money from the Raider’s Foundation.
During the Superintendent’s Report, Dr. Robin Fillman introduced the board to Mr. Bob Fiscus, who would be stepping in for Mr. Rod Osborne as the Director of Buildings and Grounds.
Ms. Kerith Strano-Taylor used this time to congratulate Ruthanne Barbazzeni – K-12 Principal of Student Services – and John Lesjack – Transportation Director – for establishing formal, written protocols for the transportation of foster care youth. These protocols allow foster care youth to finish out the remainder of their school year in their school of origin regardless of their current living situation by providing transportation, within reason.
Next on the agenda was Items for Board Action. Approval of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the BASD and the Brookville Educational Support Personnel Association was the first item on the docket. With only one nay from board member, Michael Smith, the motion carried.
Next were the approvals of the February 28th, 2017 Treasurer’s Report and Monetary Report. Both motions carried and were approved by all.
List of Bills and Budget Transfers, Federal Program Revenue and Expenditure Reports, and Gifts, Grants, and Donations were all approved with no opposition.
The Riverview IU (Intermediate Unit) #6 operating budget was presented to the board for approval. All members approved and the motion carried. Strano-Taylor made special note to congratulate the IU for “tightening their belts” and bringing the budget down substantially.
The Local Auditor’s Report, submitted by Mauthe, Yutzey, Gabler, & Troxell LLC for the year ending June 30th, 2016 was approved with no opposition. The report reflected a decrease in spending of 1.3% over the past 8 years by the BASD.
A first reading for the “School Wellness” and “Public Participation in Board Meetings” sections of the BASB policy were approved for a first reading. A final reading was approved for the “Membership” section.
“Professional Development”, “Facility Usage”, and “Local Holiday Resolutions” sections of the BASB policy were approved, as well as a 2017-2018 School Calendar.
A new batch of textbooks and novels were approved by the board for use in the 7th and 8th grade classrooms.
A Facility Usage Request submitted by the Brookville Raider Mat Club for Sunday, January 21, 2018, for the Lenny Ferraro Open/Novice Tournament was approved.
Three teachers, three-to-four aides, and one nurse were approved for the 2017 extended school year program.
The Memorandum of Understanding between the BASD and Jefferson County Children and Youth, which would ensure educational stability for Foster Care Youth under the Every Student Succeeds Act by providing transportation to their school of origin, was approved.
The Special Olympics requested a waiver of fees for the DuBois-Jefferson County Special Olympics being held at the Brookville Area School District on May 3rd, 2017. The request was approved with no opposition.
A revised 2016-2017 BASD school calendar was submitted and approved by the board.
A five-year contract between the BASD and the Brookville Area Little League (B.A.L.L) which outlines the terms in which the two entities would share use and maintenance of Brookville’s baseball facilities was approved with one nay from Michael Smith.
It was with a mixture of sorrow and admiration that the BASB approved the resignation of three key members of the school district. Marjorie D. McKnight (BASB Director), Mary Ann Brown (Director of Special Education), Rod Osborne (Director of Buildings and Grounds Department), and Doug Nixon (Industrial Arts Teacher) all tendered their letters of resignation on Monday night. All motions to approve these resignations were approved with regrets.
A list of chaperones for two school trips were submitted and approved. Marie Fescemyer, James Overly, Vanessa Jacobson, Amy Salsgiver, Christa Park, and Jessica Stormer will be chaperoning a choir trip to New York City on May 4-7. James Overly, Sharon Doolittle, Joyce Reitz, and Monica Martin were approved retroactively for a National Honor Society and a National Junior Honor Society trip to Washington D.C.
Tom Swineford and Samantha Szumigalski were approved as day-to-day substitutes.
For more information on this and other Brookville Area School Board meetings, head to www.basd.us
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