Buchsen to start work here after Thanksgiving / By Martha Knight

Several personnel matters were discussion topics and decisions, when the Port Allegany School Board held a brief meeting Monday night.

Superintendent Tony Flint, serving past his stated retirement date under a contract extension, said newly appointed superintendent Gary Buchsen had been in the district Friday, and had met with principals Marc Budd and Tracy Kio and with business manager Judy Bodamer. Flint said Buchsen plans to begin serving the district after Thanksgiving.

The retirement resignation of elementary teacher Miltra Bressen was accepted, effective January 31, 2014. She will have served the district 35.5 years.

Kio commented that it will be hard to replace a teacher who had so much experience, adding, “She has done a lot for the district.”

Mary Stavisky was appointed as a mentor for Shea McKnight, at a supplemental salary of $1,456.

Paul Abriatis was approved for addition to the IU9 guest teacher substitute list. He has a B.S. in public relations.

The board adopted a new transportation policy on second reading.

A change order was approved whereby $6,565.29 was deducted from the amount of the contract relating to upgrades of the stadium and adjacent area. Flint explained that a retention pond, a manhole and related drainage were eliminated from the project, because the additional locker rooms proposed in earlier plans had been removed from the project.

The board voted to renew the affiliation agreement with the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, to allow teachers to do student teaching in the district.

A member of the public asked whether the services of student teachers are costly to the district. Board president Dave Mensch said that, to the contrary, such practicums cost the district nothing, but the student teacher must pay the university tuition and handle his or her own transportation costs.

Flint said that parents have been notified of upcoming parent conference days at the schools. He added, “The teachers are looking forward to it.”

Kio said the elementary school parents may visit their children’s teachers beginning at dismissal time Thursday, November 21, and continuing until all parents have been accommodated that evening, and again Friday from 8 a.m. to noon.

Budd said junior-senior high school parent visits will take place Wednesday, Nov. 20 from 3 until 7 p.m., or later if necessary.

Budgetary transfers were approved, adjusting some appropriations in the 2012-13 budget as adopted to agree with actual expenditures. Sixteen amounts were shifted, totaling $47,720. All transfers were made within, not between, budget categories. Flint told a reporter the list of adjustments and total involved were smaller than in any other recent year.