Stake appointed to fill school board vacancy / By Martha Knight

Five applicants addressed the Port Allegany School Board Monday night, laying out their qualifications for service on the board.

When board president Dave Mensch called for nominations, Jason Stake was nominated, the nominations were closed, and the seven board members present voted unanimously to appoint local businessman Jason Stake.

Stake was sworn into office on the spot and took his seat to begin participating as a board member.

The vacancy filled by the appointment was created by the resignation of long-time board member Gary A. Hardes, who had moved from the area and resigned.

Stake’s appointment is for the remainder of a term that expires early in December of 2015, because there will not be another municipal election before then.

Five persons in all had sent letters to the board indicating their willingness to serve, and all five were invited to attend the board meeting to address the board. The other four were Jamie Evens, Adam Felmlee, Dan Johnson and Nicole Austin.

After each applicant addressed the board, board members and superintendent Gary Buchsen questioned him or her.

Stake’s business enterprises include an automotive service station and a car wash. He has headed the Port Allegany Ambulance Service board and been active in that organization’s development. Stake said he is very active in his children’s schooling. He was an unsuccessful candidate for school board last year.

Board member Scott Moses said he was gratified to see a good number of well qualified persons show an interest in service on the school board, and encouraged them to run for school board seats in the future.

Mensch said he had not finalized appointments of board committees pending the filling of the vacancy. Moses volunteered to serve as legislative representative, and was appointed to that position. Mensch promised to finish appointing committees, but urged board members to contact him if they wanted different assignments.

In his monthly report Buchsen told the board the district is a Phase Three one, for Comprehensive Planning purposes., and is in the organizational stage of its planning activity. At least six members must be approved by the board to serve on a Comprehensive Planning group..

Buchsen said it would be his recommendation to appoint some of the Academic Improvement Committee members to the comprehensive planning group.

Buchsen also discussed several items of significance to school officials from Governor Tom Corbett’s budget. “Be careful of what headlines you read,” he warned, pointing out that the budget will undergo many adjustments in the next several months, before it is adopted by the legislature.

As things look now, a newly proposed Ready to Learn block grant program would provide $274,000 in funding to the district. Also, $3,348 in additional funding would be available for special education, and $5,475 for basic education.

The Ready to Learn funding, as proposed, “would take you back to where you were funded a few years ago,” Buchsen said, inasmuch as in that period, repeated cuts have been made in what had been supplied in the accountability block grant.

Buchsen announced that there had been a request for Act 93 negotiations. That committee will be convened.

The resignation of elementary teacher Paula Moses was accepted, effective October 31, ending 35 years of service. Elementary principal Tracy Kio, who had been a member of the teaching staff for part of Paula Moses’ service, said those who had served with her or been taught by her “are all better people as a result of her hard work.”

Rodney Folts was added to the support staff substitute list, and Matthew Johnson was approved as a volunteer coach for the junior-high boys’ basketball team.

The board approved entering into an agreement with Lancaster-Lebanon IU 13 to participate in the Microsoft Server Product Group, at an annual cost not to exceed $6,000.

The program will provide the district with Microsoft Office software and the Windows operating system and server software, as well as malware protection, all in latest versions, for about $6,000—about $400 more than is now paid for antivirus software alone.

The board voted to approve participation by Port Allegany students in the Otto-Eldred Trap Shooting Club, at no cost to the district.

Junior-Senior High School principal Marc Budd said some parents and students had requested that the administration explore finding a way for district students to take part in the activity. Parents would be responsible for transportation.

Mensch spoke in favor of the activity, and stated he felt confident Otto-Eldred’s board and administration would make sure the club was run without presenting liability problems for their own district, let alone the Port Allegany “guests.” Years ago Mensch coached the local district’s rifle club.

Board member Dee Buchanan said she would like the liability issue clarified further, and voted No.

The final agenda item was an information one, informing the board that guidance counselor Loren Ferguson has received six satisfactory ratings, and has qualified as a professional (tenured) employee.