Board Meeting Agenda/Minutes 2-13-12

 

 

State College, PA 16801

 

 

(Each individual will be limited to comments of 3 minutes as time permits for items on this agenda or related to Board business.)

 

 

1) A motion to approve Concrete Contractor Change Order #4 at Ferguson Township Elementary Project as a credit of at least $2,153.98 to Poole Anderson Construction.
2) A motion to approve Structural Steel Contractor Change Order #4 at Ferguson Township Elementary Project as a credit of at least $863 to Amthor Steel.
3) A motion to approve General Contractor Change Order #43 at Ferguson Township Elementary Project in an amount not to exceed $11,760.61 to Poole Anderson Construction.
4) A motion to approve General Contractor Change Order #44 at Ferguson Township Elementary Project in an amount not to exceed $9,748.83 to Poole Anderson Construction.
5) A motion to approve General Contractor Change Order #45 at Ferguson Township Elementary Project in an amount not to exceed $6,758.18 to Poole Anderson Construction.
6) A motion to approve General Contractor Change Order #46 at Ferguson Township Elementary Project in an amount not to exceed $11,474.67 to Poole Anderson Construction.
7) A motion to approve General Contractor Change Order #47 at Ferguson Township Elementary Project in an amount not to exceed $2,516.86 to Poole Anderson Construction.
8) A motion to approve General Contractor Change Order #48 at Ferguson Township Elementary Project in an amount not to exceed $2,125.67 to Poole Anderson Construction.
9) A motion to approve General Contractor Change Order #49 at Ferguson Township Elementary Project in an amount not to exceed $9,577.18 to Poole Anderson Construction.

1) Approval for Mount Nittany Elementary Construction Project Change Order #5 to Concrete Contractor at Mount Nittany Elementary Project as a credit of at least $2,861.44 to Poole Anderson Construction.

G. Human Resources Recommendations (attachment IV-G)

 

B. A motion to approve the administration recommendation to approve an expulsion waiver agreement with a student and student’s family. (attachment for Board Only)
C. A motion to approve the administration recommendation to approve an expulsion waiver agreement with a student and student’s family. (attachment for Board Only)

 

B. Overview of Governor’s Proposed Budget/Update for SCASD (attachment VI-B)

 

FEBRUARY 27

     Bid Award for Cellular Phones/Service

**Information/Discussion

MARCH 12

 

MINUTES
February 13, 2012 Regular Board Meeting
7:30 pm – Board Room
131 W. Nittany Avenue
State College, PA 16801

I. CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Ann McGlaughlin, board president, called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. She welcomed all present and viewing from home. Ms. McGlaughlin noted the board members had an executive session prior to the meeting on student discipline, and a personnel matter. The Board also held an Executive Session February 6, 2012 on student discipline matters. With the agenda before them, she noted that Action Item C would be omitted and under Information/Discussion, Item C will be first. She asked board members for any changes to the agenda, there were no other changes.

A copy of all materials distributed to board members for discussion and/or action are included with the official minutes, unless otherwise indicated.
Board members present: Amber Concepcion, Penni Fishbaine, David Hutchinson, Jim Leous, Ann McGlaughlin, Jim Pawelczyk, Gowen Roper, Dorothea Stahl, Laurel Zydney
Board Members Absent:
Board Secretary: Mary Jenn Dorman
Solicitor: Scott Etter
Superintendent: Robert O’Donnell
District Personnel: Jeffrey Ammerman, Randy Brown, Craig Butler, Maru Cross, Linda Eggebeen, Mardi Frye, Michael Hardy, Marybeth Irvin, Jack Lyke, Julie Miller, Jason Perrin, Sharon Perry, Brian Peters, Mary Peterson, Ed Poprik, Chris Rohrbaugh, Kevin Stahl, Wilda Stanfield, Holli Jo Warner, Pat Weaver
Guests: Jeanette Blank, Emily Flook, Kaydee Gearhart, Katie Laughlion, Rich Santilla

II. COMMUNICATIONS
Dr. O’Donnell noted recognitions for the following:
*MNMS 6th grade Knowledge Masters Team taking first place in state and nationals out of 227 teams
*High School Ocean Bowl Team won first place at the Chesapeake Bay Bowl on Feb. 12, 2012 and will participate in the National competition in April
*Melanie Lynch, health education specialist at State High, has been selected Teacher of the Year by the Eastern Regional District Association of American Alliance for Health, Phys. Ed., Recreation and Dance Health Education
*District students raised $20,000 for Heart Disease Research with Jump for Heart Fundraiser.

III. ROUTINE APPROVALS
A motion to approve the listing of Routine Approvals as presented.
*Accept Meeting Notes for January 19 Board Communication Subcommittee Meeting, Approve Meeting Minutes for January 23, 2012 - Regular Meeting and January 30, 2012 - Special Meeting.
*Out-of-State and/or Overnight Student Travels
*School District Bills for January 2012
*Budget Amendments for the 2011-2012 School Year:
*Approval for Non-Resident Student Request
*Approval for Ferguson Township Elementary Construction Project Change Orders as follows:
*Approval for Mount Nittany Elementary Construction Project Change Order #5 to Concrete Contractor at Mount Nittany Elementary Project as a credit of at least $2,861.44 to Poole Anderson Construction.
*Human Resource Recommendations

Dr. Pawelczyk moved, Ms. Stahl seconded to approve the Routine Approvals as listed. All board members present voted aye on a roll call vote. Ms. Fishbaine abstained from minutes of January 30 Special Meeting only, due to not being present for the meeting.

IV. ONE YEAR EXTENSION for AUDIT SERVICES
A motion to approve a one year extension for Audit Services with ParenteBeard, LLC for year four, 2011-2012, at a fee not to exceed $35,000. Dr. Pawelczyk moved, Dr. Roper seconded to approve the motion as presented. All board members present voted aye on a roll call vote.

V. EXPULSION WAIVER AGREEMENT
A motion to approve the administration recommendation to approve an expulsion waiver agreement with a student and student’s family. Dr. Pawelczyk moved, Ms. Stahl seconded to approve the motion as presented. All board members present voted aye on a roll call vote.

VI. RENEWAL of FIELD LEASE
Ed Poprik reviewed information regarding the athletic fields at Radio Park, Ferguson Township, and Houserville Elementary Schools being leased to Centre Region Recreation Authority (CRRA) since 2002, and the lease expires in March. In exchange for the use of these fields, CRRA mows and maintains the fields and that benefits both the district and CRRA. This item will come back as an Action Item on the February 27 meeting agenda.

Board member questioned clearances completed due to being around children, Mr. Poprik responded yes, and that it is and remains a smoke free area.

VII. PRINTING SERVICES REPORT
Bob O’Donnell explained that administration was continuing to look at budgeting analysis and introduced Chris Rohrbaugh, Kevin Stahl, and Randy Brown who would review information related to printing services. Mr. Brown reviewed printing services - the printers at the shop, in the buildings, and also the mailing responsibilities.

Approximately 12 million images are done each year (46,150/day) and 20,152 orders each year (an average of 78/day). Instructional materials are 90% of all orders but lamination, binding, bulk mailing, shredding and archiving are processed here also. There are 50 copiers throughout the district. Mr. Brown reviewed the financial analysis over the past four years showing a significant savings each year, cohort comparison with two districts, future steps for continuing to find operational efficiencies for lower costs, assessments of equipment, and competitive purchases for supplies.

Board members discussed: appreciates what has been done to reduce costs, reduction in amount of paper purchased, double sided copies, outside district requests, digital imaging, outsourcing and not being a profitable decision at the time of inquiry, and all thanked the presenters for the report.

VIII. INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS - HIGH SCHOOL
Dr. O’Donnell informed board members an overview would be given, reflected on Regulations of Chapter 4, the district class size policy, and staffing to include the number of FTEs (Full Time Equivalents). Using a PowerPoint presentation, Mr. Hardy continued with what is required with Chapter 4, items that need to be offered, other class work required that can be embedded throughout the curriculum. The High School currently offers 271 courses, there is not a set class size but if fewer than 12 students are assigned to the class, it will not be offered without board exception. Mr. Hardy reviewed class size with the cohort districts, a program report of what is offered, must provide by PDE Chapter 4 and/or required by SCASD for graduation, showed SCASD graduation requirements for number of credits needed, and the administrative staffing for our district and the cohorts for elementary, middle level, and high school. He shared budget information for teachers, paraprofessionals, and administrators at each organizational level, and reviewed five observations along with four future areas of study.

Dr. O’Donnell added that one thing that sets us apart from the cohort group is that we have an in-house career and technical center and 95 opportunities are offered in our CTC.

Board members discussed: in-house CTC, expanded services offered to students in cohort districts, CPI and what is missing, conversations are occurring with CPI, preparing for college and partner to have virtual offerings, standards are educational requirements, graduation requirements, as students go through a content and it goes below 12, where do they go, spread over many things, students do take the four core, electives may dwindle, what PDE evaluates, increase graduation credits, time to focus on core, evaluation process from students, student government is taking a lead on this, small class sizes compared to cohorts, students being challenged, programs that have become obsolete and what are current kids missing, the set number 12 for a class at the high school, and limitations can be lack of interest and/or facility limitations (Ex: Family Consumer Science Labs). All board members thanked Mr. Hardy for the very thorough report.

IX. OVERVIEW of GOVERNOR’S PROPOSED BUDGET
Mr. Ammerman provided a brief update on the released Governor’s budget to include the combination of four line items (Basic Education Funding, Public School Transportation, Private School Transportation, and Social Security Reimbursement) into one item called Student Achievement Education Block Grant. The Accountability Block Grant was eliminated in the Governor’s budget.

The Governor’s budget would provide approximately $650,000 more revenue to the district preliminary budget than originally planned. We assumed a $500,000 decrease in the state budget line items and it appears to have a $150,000 increase instead. Mr. Ammerman reviewed the estimated budgetary gap at various levels of taxation and noted the administration plans to present refined assumptions and bring forward recommended strategies at the February 20 special meeting for closing the gap.

Dr. O’Donnell spoke on his intent to bring forth strategies to discuss as an initial conversation for the community to view and then respond to at the forums that have been scheduled. This is not the end of the process and on February 20, you are still not getting the best and most informed projections. There will be one recommendation that will be brought forward and the best recommendation is for impact on students. Ms. McGlaughlin recapped that another draft of the preliminary budget, and recommendations and plan for closing the gap would be presented, and will show what the impact would be. Dr. O’Donnell will then ask for feedback on strategies and assumptions from board members and receive feedback form the forums for quality recommendations.

Board members questioned and discussed PSERS pre-funding, the amount of the exception, Capital Reserve transfer, numbers between 1.7% and 3.3% tax increase, calculating estimate based on Governor’s budget, Accountability Block Grant for full day kindergarten, and reduce PSERS funding does not reduce the gap.

X. FUTURE AGENDA PLANNING
Add: Student Government Report to March 12 meeting agenda Interview Process: Six Architect Groups interviewed for DWFMP and videos are live and running. Try to view.

XI. ADJOURNMENT to EXECUTIVE SESSION
Ms. Stahl moved, Dr. Roper seconded to adjourn the meeting. All board members present voted aye on a roll call vote. Ms. McGlaughlin adjourned the meeting at 9:40 to an executive session on personnel, negotiation, and
litigation issues.

Submitted by,
Mary Jenn Dorman
Board Secretary