Board appoints girls’ JV basketball coach / By Martha Knight

It isn’t every coach who gets appointed to the same coaching position at two consecutive school board meetings.

But that is one way of interpreting what happened with respect to Derrick Francis’ appointment as girls’ junior varsity basketball coach, September 22 and Monday night.

The vote last month was four Yeas, two Nays and one abstention, It appeared that a majority of the seven board members present and voting favored the appointment.

However, in the minutes of that meeting, as approved Monday night, it was reported that the motion had failed. The item was on the agenda again.

Early in the meeting, former board member and president Scott Johnson spoke in the Public Comments time, noting that the item had been placed on the agenda a second time.

It was explained that superintendent Gary Buchsen had checked with the Pennsylvania School Boards Association about the matter, and PSBA’s advice was to vote on the matter again in hopes of having at least five votes decide the matter for or against the appointment.

Accordingly the recommendation to appoint Francis was moved and seconded anew. Under discussion, board member Dan Kysor reiterated the objection he had raised last time around, that there was a conflict of interest. He said the conflict arose because Derrick Francis is the spouse of Kristina Francis, who coaches girls’ varsity basketball.

Voting in favor of the appointment were board president Dave Mensch, and trustees Mark Carlson, Rodney Howard, Ingrid Lapp, Scott Moses and Jason Stake. Voting No were Denise Buchanan and Kysor. Sean Lathrop abstained.

Derrick Francis will receive a salary of $3,033, as called for in the current professional agreement, which lists such positions and the pay for each.

The board voted to authorize the administration to proceed with a request for proposals for energy savings and energy-related capital improvements .

Also authorized was replacement of the high school gymnasium area boiler, as a cost of $15,170, of which $5,500 is for labor.

In answer to a question from Moses, business manager Judy Bodamer said that the labor cost includes removal of the old equipment.

The French Club was given permission to take a trip to Montreal and Quebec, Canada, ovember 5 through 10. French teacher Sara Bishel was on hand to answer questions concerning the request. She said there will be seven students going.

Mensch commented that he is pleased to see “any organization doing any kind of travel,” because of the educational value.

Moses chimed in with praise for a trip where there is “immersion in the language—you can’t get away from it.”

Added to the substitute list were Ashlynn Baecker, Heather Fitzsimmons and James Russell, all IU9 guest teachers. Elizabeth Wilson was reinstated.

A change of assessment was approved, as recommended by the McKean County Assessment Office, decreasing taxes $92.54 and refunding $42.77 to James and Connie Hamilton based on their overpayments for several years.

The board posed for the group photo for the “Tiger Lily” yearbook, taken by a yearbook staff student.

Buchsen was absent because of a death in his family, Mensch said. Because Buchsen was not there the board also postponed the executive session it was to have held after the public meeting, to work toward an agreement with supervisory personnel (Act 93 employees).

The board’s next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m., October 27, in the junior-senior high school library.