School board appoints, grants, leaves / By Martha Knight

The Port Allegany School Board worked through a full agenda list Monday night, in its first regular business meeting since last December 4.

Trustees gave retroactive approval to bill lists and payrolls handled by the administration during the winter hiatus. Most other actions dealt with personnel matters and appointments.

Business manager Judy Bodamer was named primary voting delegate to the county Tax Collection Committee, with Richard Kallenborn the alternate.

Board member David Mensch was re-appointed the district’s representative on the IU9 board for a three-year term. Jonathan Stehle was re-appointed district representative on the Port Allegany Area Recreational Authority, for a five-year term.

A medical sabbatical leave was granted to  teacher Lisa Bizzaro for the second semester of the current year.

Chad Saltsman was hired as an extended-term substitute for the second semester, at a pro-rated Step 1 salary of $20,225.50.

Barbara Neilson was granted family medical leave beginning in late March and ending June 1.

High school nurse Mackenna Bickford was granted family medical leave effective from late March through June 1.  

Coaching appointments approved were Nathan Zitnik as head baseball coach for $3,388, Aaron Clark as head track coach for $3,769, Bickford as head softball coach for $3,033, Lance-Eric Baker as assistant baseball coach for $2,133 and Ken Myers as musical director for dramatics for $1,869.

Although some of Bickford’s family medical leave will coincide with the softball season, it was mentioned by board member Sean Lathrop that Bickford’s father is a volunteer softball coach here, after having been a college softball coach, and he will step up when necessary.

Board member Dan Kysor will continue as a volunteer wrestling coach, fellow trustees decided.

Christina Fessenden was hired as a 4.5-hour cook-server-attendant at an hourly rate of $16.33, with fringe benefits in accordance with district policy and applicable regulations.

Dana Frontino and Polly Lannager were added to the support staff substitute list.

The board adopted a resolution declaring that they will not raise taxes for the 2015-16 fiscal year beyond the index amount, which would be 2.9 percent. This allows the district to carry out budget preparation on its normal timetable, with final adoption by June 30.

G.H. Harris, Inc. was re-appointed collector of delinquent per capita taxes. There is no cost to the district.

Johnson Controls was designated the district’s energy savings company. The firm will carry out an energy audit at a cost not to exceed $15,000.

Judy Campbell and Wade Elliott were approved as van drivers for the remainder of the year, as recommended by transportation contractor Muccio Transportation.

Two daughters of board member Lathrop addressed the board under public comments. Allison Lathrop, a member of the track team, pointed out that the track oval is higher on one side than on the other. Superintendent Gary Buchsen agreed that this is noticeable, but said eliminating the slope or otherwise addressing problems with the track could not be done until after the track season. It would be a budgetary consideration to be addressed by the board.

Hannah Lathrop asked whether standardized tests could be returned to the district and to the students after they had been scored. Buchsen said that this is not done in Pennsylvania, but that it would be helpful to teachers and students if it were done.

Board members received certificates of appreciation. Buchsen read the citation and thanked the board members for their dedicated service on behalf of the administration, staff and students of the district.

Deputy school tax collectors were appointed for the five municipalities in the district: Cathy Werlau for Annin Township, Mary Lashway for Liberty Township, Sandra Kinney for Port Allegany Borough, Ronda Niver for Pleasant Valley Township, and Cheryl Barshinger for Roulette Township.