Second Head Start group may be formed, using Elementary School classroom / By Martha Knight

A Head Start group could be welcomed into the Port Allegany Elementary School, beginning with the fall term, if the school board gives the go-ahead next month.

Elementary principal Tracy Kio outlined the proposal to the board at its fourth Monday committee-of-the-whole meeting, using a slide presentation and hand-out.

Some 15 to 20 pre-school age children and their teacher and aide would utilize a currently unused classroom on the upper level of the elementary school. Their parents take turns helping out.

The school district would not charge rent to the Community Action program, Kio explained, but there would be benefits to the children and the school district in that the children, all of whom are seen as future students of that local system, would enter Kindergarten already familiar with “the building, the faces and the culture.”

The Head Start day begins after the regular school day and dismissal is earlier, so there would be no traffic problems. The children would have breakfast and their lunch in their classroom, which has sink and restroom facilities nearby.

Superintendent Gary Buchsen said that Head Start classes use public school quarters in other areas, with excellent results. “We have the space; we heat it and light it—it might as well be used,” he pointed out. The Head Start program has its own arrangements for transportation.

The local Head Start program currently has space at Benton Place, next  to the Dollar General store. Its classroom has line-of-sight throughout, and ample parking facilities and indoor and outdoor play areas. But it is at capacity and has a waiting list of eligible children and families. The group at school would be in addition to the one at Benton Place, and would consist of children due to enter Kindergarten the following year.

Board members seemed generally accepting of the concept, which will be presented for a formal decision next month.

The board voted eight to one to ratify a three-year contract with the Port Allegany Education Support Professionals Association, with Mark Carlson voting No. The employees had been working under a contract extension for some time. The new pact covers the current fiscal year and the next two. The terms of the contract were not available to the public at the meeting.

A new agreement with Charles Cole Memorial Hospital for athletic trainer services for the coming year was given board approval. It will cost $28,000, up $1,000 from the annual cost under the predecessor agreement.

Junior-senior high school principal Marc Budd listed services provided by the athletic trainer personnel, which are many and essential. Administrators said that obtaining the services on a direct-employment basis would be more costly.

At Buchsen’s hearty recommendation the board voted to create the position of assistant athletic director, then voted to appoint Martin “Tony” Flint to that post.

Flint, whose retirement as superintendent took effect just months ago, had been a coach during his service as a teacher. Buchsen pointed out that in his years as high school principal and superintendent as well as a coach, Flint has become highly knowledgeable concerning Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association rules and procedures, and acquainted with others involved in school athletics throughout a wide area.

As for the cost to the district, the salary stipulated in the board’s decision, as requested by Flint, is $1.00 a year.

The board approved a three-year agreement with School Webmasters to provide district website design for $3,495, and high school and elementary school designs for $3,500, for a one-time design total of $6,995. In succeeding years the annual cost will be $2,140.89 after applying the E-rate discount. Funds will come from the Burgart Foundation.

The board agreed to transfer the district’s federal Title IA and Title IIA funds to IU9 for administration and program implementation, as has been done for many years.

Martin Bechelli was approved as a volunteer softball coach for the coming season.

Board president Dave Mensch announced appointments of board committees. The Facilities Committee will be chaired by Denise Buchanan, with other members being Carlson and Mensch.

Scott Moses will chair the Academic Improvement Committee, with other members being Mensch, Ingrid Lapp and Buchanan.

Negotiations committee assignments include those dealing with profession staff: Buchanan, Rod Howard and Lapp; with support staff: Carlson, Jason Stake, Lapp, Moses and Mensch; and Act 93: Moses as chairman, and Buchanan, Carlson and Dan Kysor.

The Transportation Committee will consist of Stake, Sean Lathrop and Mensch. Moses will represent the board in the Comprehensive Plan group and as liaison with the Pennsylvania School Boards Association. Mensch will serve on the IU9 board. Lathrop will serve on the Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center board.

The board met in executive session half an hour before the public meeting, to discuss negotiations, Mensch announced. After the public meeting it convened in executive session again, this time “to discuss legal matters.”