School board splits 5 to 4 on hiring coaches / By Martha Knight

The Port Allegany School Board narrowly approved a list of nine coaches and assistants and one advisor, at the board’s meeting Monday night.

Voting no were Ingrid Lapp, Scott Moses, Dan Kysor and Mark Carlson. Voting for approval were president Dave Mensch, vice-president Dee Buchanan, Jason Stake, Rod Howard and Sean Lathrop.

The coaches and their supplemental salaries are Jason Luther, Dan Eskesen, Michael Bodamer and Nathan Zitnik, all assistant football coaches and each to receive $3,958;  Travis Cowburn, girls’ head soccer coach, $3,381; Anthony Edgell, girls’ assistant soccer coach, $2,184; Pamela Terrette, assistant volleyball coach, $2,169; Douglas Triplett, girls’ golf coach, $1,572; Jeanette Burleson, cross country coach, $2,355; and Danielle O’Rourke, majorette and color guard advisor, $1,604.

Kysor raised the issue of a recent discussion of adding a junior high soccer program, which would probably draw a good number of students, whereas the cross country program had only three participants this year. Junior-senior high school principal Marc Budd said time is of the essence, to get a junior high soccer program ready by fall. Superintendent Buchsen pointed out that if any program has so few students signed up it seems infeasible, it, and its staff, could be dropped.

The board followed a budget preparation update as business manager Judy Bodamer and Buchsen explained it. Bodamer said there is a $380,000 gap between revenues and expenditures right now, and it appears the state budget will not be finalized before the school district must adopt its budget. The board will adopt a tentative budget in May, and a final budget by June 30.

The board unanimously approved the Seneca highlands Career and Technical Center operating budget. Its expenditures and revenues come to $1,830,938.

Hoffman Landscape & Fence will install fencing around the recently renovated basketball court at Community Park at a cost of $7,920. Buchanan voted Nay, expressing a preference for “bars” to protect the area, as had been done in the past. Funds will come from the capital reserve fund.

Also approved was resurfacing the main gymnasium floor. S & S Flooring is the contractor identified in the resolution. Approval was unanimous for the $20,400 project.

The board met in executive session for about half an hour before the public meeting and again after the public meeting. In the open session the board adopted a resolution that the school district would attempt to resolve “the matter of Hamilton v. Spriggle et al in accordance with the recommendation of the Solicitor.” Solicitor Christian T. Mattie III and others had been at the earlier executive session; the second closed session was said to involve “personnel matters.”

A proposed policy on homeless students was presented for “first reading.” Action by the board is expected at a later meeting.