Minutes

of the

KUTZTOWN AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

Board of Directors Meeting

Monday, November 17, 2008, 7:30 p.m.

 

The Board of Directors of Kutztown Area School District met for the regular board meeting on Monday, November 17, 2008 at 7:30 p.m., in the library of the Senior High School pursuant to due notice to board members and the public.

 

Present            Dennis Ritter, Don Vymazal, Jo Stevens, Carl Ziegler, Pat Bealer, Dan Walter, Jasper Ho,

                        Al Darion, Michael Ramos, Student Representative-Amelia Mengel

 

Absent            

 

Also                 Robert R. Gross III, Joseph Pugliese, Nick Lazo, Rikki Clark, David Miller, Jim Orwig,

Present             James Brown, Matthew Link, Karen Connaghan, Rebecca Beidelman, Jennifer McAteer, Howard Breithaupt, Barbara Richard, Joann Buffum, Karen Ramos, Jon Stutzman, Fay Rothenberger, Steve Rothenberger, Gordon Konemann, Beth Stump, Tom Sterner, Loretta Sterner, Jessica Sterner, Brittni Treichler, Kaitlyn Sterner, Heather Stutzman, Joan haring, Terry Guers, Jim Ryan, Melissa Blatt, Donna Keglovitz, Barry Mengel, Dawn Mengel, Kerri Schegan, Karen Ashman, Kay Fritz, Casey Trexler, Gail M. Greth, D.J.

 

Call to Order            The meeting was called to order at 7:53 p.m. by President Vymazal.

 

Welcome            President Vymazal welcomed guests and opened the meeting with a moment of silence

                        and Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.  He asked everyone to sign the attendance book and mark the topic of comment next to his/her name.  He requested that anyone wishing to speak on an agenda item please raise his/her hand to be recognized. The meeting was tape-recorded.

 

Swearing in of Michael Ramos, the Board’s newly appointed member, by Gail M. Greth, D.J.

 

Approval                        Motion made by Pat Bealer, seconded by Dennis Ritter, to approve the minutes

Of Minutes       of the October 20, 2008 and November 3, 2008 school board meetings.

                        Roll call vote:  Yes  9                               No  0                              Absent  0         Abstain  1 (Ramos)

Motion carried.

 

Treasurer’s                        Motion made by Dennis Ritter, seconded by Pat Bealer, to accept the treasurer’s

Report                        report of the general fund.

                        Roll call vote:  Yes  9                              No  0                              Absent  0

                        Motion carried.

 

Ratification                        Motion made by Pat Bealer, seconded by Jo Stevens, to ratify for payment the

of General                        general account bills in the amount of $315,148.11.

Account Bills   Roll call vote:  Yes  9                              No  0                              Absent  0                     

                        Motion carried.

 

Approval                        Motion made by Pat Bealer, seconded by Dan Walter to approve for payment

of General                        the general account bills in the amount of $435,796.50.

Account Bills   Roll call vote:  Yes  9                               No  0                              Absent  0

                        Motion carried.

 

Supt’s            Mr. Gross officially honored Don Vymazal on behalf of the Pennsylvania School Boards

Report            Association for making Honor Roll on his twelve (12) consecutive years as a Board Director.

 

                        Mr. Gross and the Board recognized and congratulated the FFA team on their amazing accomplishment of winning a Silver Emblem at the National Competition in Indiana in October.   Individual team members, Brittni Treichler, Kaitlyn Sterner, Casey Trexler, Heather Stutzman, and Amelia Mengel were also recognized.

                       

Committee       EIT                        Ms. Bealer reported that there was a change made to include only one (1) tax

Reports            Pat Bealer         collector per county. 

 

                                 She also reported that there was a 2% earned income increase from

                                 July-August 2007 to July-August 2008.

                                

                        BCTC                        Mr. Ritter reported that they are currently working to sell the house the students 

Dennis Ritter  built through bidding.

           

                        ECC     Ms. Stevens reported the number of participants for winter sports has slightly  

                        Jo Stevens     increased from last year.

                                                            

            BCIU            No report.

            Carl Ziegler

                                   

            PSBA        Ms. Bealer reported that mineral resources were recently reintroduced into the  

                        Pat Bealer    platform. 

 

                                    A web-conference will be broadcasted regarding how the federal economic crisis

                                    will effect our public schools. 

           

Policy & Curriculum   Mr. Walter reported that the committee is currently reviewing sample

                        Dan Walter               policies for naming district facilities.  They are also updating our current petty

                                                cash policy.

 

                                                There was also a large discussion on class ranks.

 

Personnel            Motion made by Pat Bealer, seconded by Jo Stevens, to approve the following personnel items:

1.       The resignation of Karen Connaghan as Director of Information Technology, effective January 5, 2009.

2.       The resignation of Howard Breithaupt as Supervisor of Facilities and Grounds, effective December 1, 2008.

3.       The approval of Matthew Cullen as Technology Student Association (TSA) advisor at the Middle School for 2008-2009, effective August 25, 2008 at a salary of $841.

4.       The approval of Sallie Sandler as PA Math League advisor for 2008-2009, effective August 25, 2008 at a salary of $315.

5.       The approval of the following Open Records Officers:

General Contact            Robert Gross

Personnel                        Barb Richard

Financial                        Joseph Pugliese

Student                                    Nick Lazo

Medical                                    Brenda Loeb

6.       The approval of the following substitute teachers for 2008-2009, effective November 18, 2008 at the approved substitute teacher rate of $100 per day for days 1-20 and $110 per day for days 21-45:

Sallie Miller                       

Sharon Wiley (Guest Teacher)                       

Joseph Thomas (Guest Teacher)

Kimberly S. Moyer (effective October 20, 2008 due to emergency substitute coverage)

7.       The approval of Connie Carver as a substitute aide for 2008-2009, effective November 10, 2008 at the approved substitute aide hourly rate of $9.40.

8.       The approval of the following winter coaches and salaries for 2008-2009:

Boys Basketball                       

Assistant High School Coach                        Michael Diehl                        $1,208.50

                        Assistant High School Coach                        Taylor Grim                        $1,208.50

Girls Basketball                       

Head Middle School Coach                        Brooke Roberts                        $2,368

                        Assistant Middle School Coach                        Robert Smith                        $2,258

9.       The approval of Mark Gordon as a Krapf driver for 2008-2009, effective November 18, 2008.

Roll call vote:  Yes  9               No  0                   Absent  0         

                        Motion carried.

        All Personnel were Approved Pending the District's Receipt of All Mandated Credentials

 

Postage Motion made by Pat Bealer, seconded by Dan Walter, to approval a 60-month lease with 

Machine            ITS Mailing Systems, Inc, effective December 1, 2008 for an IM440 mailing machine at a  

Rental            monthly cost of $170.30 for months 1-12, and $225.00 per month for months 13-60.  This lease replaces an existing machine at a cost of $230.00 per month.

                        Roll call vote:  Yes 9                      No  0                   Absent 0

                        Motion carried.

                       

Van Purchase   Motion made by Pat Bealer, seconded by Al Darion, to approve giving the Superintendent authorization to purchase a used or new van at a cost not to exceed $20,000 from the General Fund.  This van replaces Van #5, which is 13 years old and has 183,000 miles.  It no longer passes inspection.  The replacement van will be used for the delivery of district wide mail, by the Athletic Department, Maintenance Department, and other programs as needed.

            Roll call vote:  Yes 9                  No  0                Absent 0

                        Motion carried.

 

Student                        Motion made by Pat Bealer, seconded by Jo Stevens, to grant approval for student #102604,

Vacation                         student #104769, and student #104104 permission for two (2) additional days over the allotted

Request            five (5) day absence during the 2008-2009 School Year.  These students will be out from November 24, 2008 – December 5, 2008.

            Roll call vote:  Yes 2 (Stevens, Vymazal)      No  6              Absent 0        Abstain 1 (Ramos)

                        Motion not carried.

 

Student                        Motion made by Pat Bealer, seconded by Carl Ziegler, to grant approval for student #102592

Vacation                         permission for four (4) additional days over the allotted five (5) day absence during the 2008-

Request            2009 School Year.  This student will be out on December 12, 2008, February 12-17, 2009, and March 16-20, 2009.

            Roll call vote:  Yes 7                  No  2 (Ritter, Walter)     Absent 0       

                        Motion carried.

 

Course                        Motion made by Al Darion, seconded by Jasper Ho, to approve the requirement for a student

Failure                        in grades 6-8 to continue to the next grade level, the student must successfully pass the

                        grade’s mathematics and language arts/English courses.

            Roll call vote:  Yes 3 (Darion, Ho, Ramos)      No  6         Absent 0

                        Motion not carried.

                       

Discussion Facilities Financing – RBC Dain Raucher

Items               

 

Executive Motion made by Dennis Ritter, seconded by Jasper Ho, to adjourn for executive session at  

Session 10:14 p.m.

                        Motion carried unanimously.

 

Adjournment Motion made by Dennis Ritter, seconded by Carl Ziegler, to adjourn the meeting at 10:27 p.m.

                        Motion carried unanimously.

                                                                                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Respectfully submitted by,

 

 

 

 

                               Rikki L. Clark           

                               School Board Secretary