A motion was made by Mr. Debach, second by Mrs. Morse to approve the minutes of the December 2, 2002 reorganization meeting.  On a voice call there were 8 yes votes.                    

Bills                                                    

A motion was made by Mr. Debach, second by Mrs. Morse to approve the bills for payment as presented.  The roll call vote was as follows:

Mr. Balmer – yes                     Mrs. May – yes
Mr. Curren – yes                     Mr. Morgan – yes
Mr. Debach – yes                    Mrs. Morse – yes
Mrs. Fox – yes                        Mr. Olsyn – yes

Treasurer’s Report                          

A motion was made by Mr. Debach, second by Mrs. Morse to approve the treasurer’s reports for the months of November and December.  On a voice call there were 8 yes votes.

Committee Reports                         

The committee reports had been reviewed at the work session.  There was no additional information provided at the meeting.

School Calendar                               

Due to the extenuating weather conditions, the district has used all of the scheduled snow days for the 2002/03 school year.  Any additional snow days will be made up as follows:


Monday, 2/17/03       Presidents’ Day
Friday, 3/14/03          Professional Development
Thursday, 4/17/03     Professional Development
Monday, 4/21/03       Easter Monday
Thursday, 6/12/03     In-Service Day

If professional development days and/or in-service days are used as make-up days, the teachers will work the additional days after June 13, 2003. On a motion by Mr. Debach, second by Mrs. Morse, this calendar change was approved.   The roll call vote was as follows:

Mr. Curren – yes                     Mr. Morgan – yes
Mr. Debach – yes                    Mrs. Morse – yes
Mrs. Fox – yes                        Mr. Olsyn – yes
Mrs. May – yes                       Mr. Balmer – yes

Public Outreach Resolution           

A motion was made by Mr. Debach, second by Mrs. Fox to adopt the Public Outreach Resolution as initiated by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association.  This Public Outreach Campaign is designed to increase public awareness of the value of public schools;   instill a sense of pride for all involved in public education, and; strengthen the competitive position of public schools in today’s marketplace of education alternatives.  This resolution will appear in full in the formal minute book.  On a voice call there were 8 yes votes.

Policy #239, Foreign Exchange Students                          

A motion was made by Mrs. Fox, second by Mr. Debach to approve for a second and final reading of Policy #239, Foreign Exchange Students.  On a voice call there were 8 yes votes.

Resignation – Eaton                        

A motion was made by Mr. Debach, second by Mrs. Morse to accept with regret the resignation of school board member, Richard Eaton, representing Region III, to be effective Dec. 31, 2002.  Mr. Morgan thanked Mr. Eaton for his service to the district and said he would be truly missed.  On a voice call there were 8 yes votes.  Mr. Grantier announced that letters of intent for this position would be received through Friday, Feb. 7th, and interviews would be held at 6:00 p.m. on Feb. 11th prior to the regularly scheduled work session.

Audit Report – June 30, 2002          

A motion was made by Mr. Debach, second by Mrs. Morse to accept the audit report for the year ended June 30, 2002 as prepared by Allen, Rogers and Osgood, LLP.  Mr. Rogers had reviewed the report with the directors at the work session.  On a voice call there were 8 yes votes.

Hayes Large Contract – Interior Design Service                   

A motion was made by Mrs. Morse, second by Mr. Debach to approve the cost of $17,850.00 for Hayes Large Architect to provide design services for furnishing and equipping the W.R. Croman Elementary School.  The roll call vote was as follows:

Mr. Debach – no                     Mrs. Morse – yes
Mrs. Fox – yes                         Mr. Olsyn – yes
Mrs. May – yes                        Mr. Balmer – yes
Mr. Morgan – yes                     Mr. Currren – yes

Bleacher bid – Commons Bldg.     

Bids had been legally advertised and received for the bleacher replacement at the Commons Building.  The two bids received were as follows:

Degler-Whiting, Inc.                $115,200
C.M. Eichenlaub Co.               $131,900

A motion was made by Mr. Debach, second by Mrs. Morse to accept the bid from Degler-Whiting, Inc. in the amount of $115,200.  The roll call vote was as follows:

Mrs. Fox – yes                         Mr. Olsyn – yes
Mrs. May – yes                        Mr. Balmer – yes
Mr. Morgan – yes                     Mr. Curren – yes
Mrs. Morse – yes                     Mr. Debach – yes

Vehicle Upgrade-Chambers           

A motion was made by Mrs. May, second by Mr. Debach to grant permission to Chambers School Bus, Inc., to upgrade a 1998, 72 passenger bus to a 2001, 72 passenger bus.  This  is  Bus #35 and services the Bird Creek Road and Laurel Hill in Wells Township.  This upgrade will become effective January 22, 2003.  The roll call vote was as follows:

Mrs. Fox – yes                         Mr. Olsyn – yes
Mrs. May – yes                        Mr. Balmer – yes
Mr. Morgan – yes                     Mr. Curren – yes
Mrs. Morse – yes                     Mr. Debach – yes

Vehicle Upgrade-Trojan Trans.     

A motion was made by Mr. Debach, second by Mrs. Morse to grant permission to Trojan Transport, Inc. to upgrade a 1993, 72 passenger bus to a 2000, 72 passenger bus.  This is bus #30 and services the Springfield and Berrytown areas.  This upgrade will become effective February 1, 2003.  The roll call vote was as follows:

Mrs. May – yes                        Mr. Balmer – yes
Mr. Morgan – yes                    Mr. Curren – yes
Mrs. Morse – yes                     Mr. Debach – yes
Mr. Olsyn – yes                       Mrs. Fox – yes

Bus Drivers Listing                          

A motion was made by Mr. Debach, second by Mrs. Morse to make the following changes to the 2002/2003 approved drivers listing.  All paperwork is on file in the Administration Office.  On a voice call there were 8 yes votes.

Delete:  Mary Abreu, William Kittle, Sue Ellen Higbee
Add:  Jane Kennedy, van only; Ann Shock, CDL

District Substitute Listing               

A motion was made by Mr. Debach, second by Mrs. Morse to add the following persons to the 2002/2003 district substitute listing.  On a voice call there were 8 yes votes.

Merideth Alteri                         Tammy Donavon
Brooke Beacom                       Brock Kitchen
Rita Braymiller                          Mary Ann Schram

Retirement- LeBlanc                       

A motion was made by Mr. Debach, second by Mrs. Morse to accept with regret the retirement of Mrs. Kay LeBlanc, Senior High School English teacher, to be effective February 7, 2003.  Mrs. LeBlanc has been employed as an educator for 30 years.  On a voice call there were 8 yes votes.  Mr. Morgan and Mr. Grantier both thanked Mrs. LeBlanc for her many years of dedicated service to the district.

FML-Darlene Williams                   

A motion was made by Mr. Debach, second by Mrs. Morse to grant Darlene Williams, cafeteria employee at the W.R. Croman Elementary School, a family medical leave beginning Dec. 16, 2002 and extending 12 weeks through March 7, 2003.  She will exhaust all accumulated sick and personal days during this leave.  The roll call vote was as follows:

Mr. Morgan – yes                    Mr. Curren – yes
Mrs. Morse – yes                    Mr. Debach – yes
Mr. Olsyn – yes                       Mrs. Fox – yes
Mr. Balmer – yes                     Mrs. May – yes

Resignations – N. Matthews, P. Newkirk & C. Chaapel               

A motion was made by Mr. Debach, second by Mrs. Morse to accept the following resignations.  On a voice call there were 8 yes votes.

Nichole Matthews, district substitute caller, submitted her resignation as such to become effective at the end of the 2002/03 school term.

Patricia Newkirk, Middle School personal care aide, submitted her resignation effective January 10, 2003.

Christina Chaapel, Middle School personal care aide, submitted her resignation effective December 20, 2002

Employment – Packard                  

A motion was made by Mr. Debach second by Mrs. Morse to employ Darlene Packard as a personal care aide.  This employment will become effective January 22, 2003.  The salary is step 1, personal care aide category of the 2002/03 Support Staff contract with an associated rate of $7.65/hour.  The roll call vote was as follows:

Mrs. Morse – yes                     Mr. Debach – yes
Mr. Olsyn – yes                       Mrs. Fox – yes
Mr. Balmer – yes                     Mrs. May – yes
Mr. Curren – yes                      Mr. Morgan – yes

Employment – Hall                         

A motion was made by Mr. Debach, second by Mrs. Morse to employ Jeremy Hall as a personal care aide.  This employment will become effective January 27, 2003.  The salary is step 1, personal care aide category of the 2002/03 Support Staff contract with an associated rate of $7.65/hour.  The roll call vote was as follows:

Mr. Olsyn – yes                       Mrs. Fox – yes
Mr. Balmer – yes                     Mrs. May – yes
Mr. Curren – yes                     Mr. Morgan – yes
Mr. Debach – yes                    Mrs. Morse – yes

Employment – Leonard                  

A motion was made by Mr. Debach, second by Mrs. Morse to employ Krista Leonard as a long-term substitute, to replace Gail Duddy who is on a sabbatical leave.  Mrs. Leonard’s employment will be retroactive to December 4, 2002 and continue through the remainder of the 2002/2003 school term.  Her salary is based on step 1, bachelor’s column of the 2001/02 Professional Employees salary scale.  The rate associated with this step is $36,014, and will be prorated to the number of days employed.  The roll call vote was as follows:

Mr. Balmer – yes                     Mrs. May – yes
Mr. Curren – yes                     Mr. Morgan – yes
Mr. Debach – yes                    Mrs. Morse – yes
Mrs. Fox – yes                       Mr. Olsyn – yes

Administrative Report                     

Mr. Grantier thanked Mrs. May and Mr. Olsyn for attending the State Auditors Exit meeting last Friday.

He reviewed the oral comments and the possible certification citation with the directors.

He reviewed the PSBA New release which concerned the involvement of PSBA to spearhead the efforts to oppose school referendum. 

Mr. Grantier reminded the directors of the open house and program being presented at TECE and the W.R. Croman buildings on Friday, January 24th from 1:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m.  This open house and program is being held for the parents and students of the Springfield Elementary School.

Mr. Grantier announced that January is School Board Appreciation Month.  He thanked the members for their support, and trust that had been given to him.  He also thanked the members for the hard work and long hours they faithfully give in fulfilling their roles as board members. 

Adjournment                                    

On a motion by Mrs. Morse, second by Mr. Debach, the meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m. A reception honoring the board members followed the meeting.

Linda Everts
Secretary to the Board