Saucon Valley School District

 

Regular Meeting of the Board of Education

                                                        May 8, 2007 – 7:30 pm

High School Audion

­

 

Welcome to the meeting of the Saucon Valley School Board.  Our objective is to serve the students, parents, and residents of our community.  You are an important part of this meeting and we look forward to your questions and comments.

 

We are all here for the same reason.  All opinions are welcomed and equally valuable.  Our only request is that we address each other with civility and respect.  Our courtesy toward each other is the best way to show our students how much we respect them as well.

 

Agenda

 

7 pm – Executive Session for the purpose of personnel and legal.             

 

 

I.          Call to the Order – Mr. Ralph Puerta, President, presiding

 

II.         Pledge of Allegiance

 

III.        Recording of Attendance – Mr. David Bonenberger, Secretary

 

IV.       Announcement of Executive Sessions –

                        May 8, 2007  

 

V.        Recognition

            A.        High School Chorus Recognition –

2007 Northampton County Chorus – Kira Gilman, Abby Heintzelman, Rebecca Hillegass, Ariel Bernath, Nicole Biechy, Laura Housley, John Parton, Nathan Hines, Matt Chernaskey, Robert Ravier, Vince Rostkowski, and Brent Forest.

 

2007 PMEA District 10 Chorus – Liz Wright, Tim Krentz, Phong Nguyen, John Parton, Vince Rostkowski, Alex Hulett, and Sam Martin

 

2007 PMEA Region 5 Chorus – Liz Wright, Tim Krentz, Phong Nguyen, Vince Rostkowski, and Alex Hulett

 

2007 PMEA All-State Chorus – Liz Wright

 

2007 MENC All-Eastern Honors Chorus – Liz Wright

 

            B.        High School Band Recognition –

                        2007 District 10 Band – Elizabeth Seibel, Nathan Hines, Nicole Biechy, Chelsea Lane, Sam Martin, Herb Payung, and Ryan O’Connell

 

                        2007 PMEA District 10 Orchestra – Sam Martin and Herb Payung

 

                        2007 PMEA Region V State Band – Herb Payung

 

                        2007 PMEA Region V State Orchestra – Herb Payung

 

 

                        2007 PMEA All State Orchestra – Herb Payung

 

                        2007 MENC All-Eastern Honors Orchestra – Herb Payung (orchestra) and

                         Ryan O’Connell (Band)

 

VI.       Presentations

           

VII.      Superintendent’s Report – Dr. Sandra Fellin, Superintendent

            A.        Safety

 

VIII.     Citizens’ Comments – Agenda Items Only – Visitors should state their name

            and address.

 

IX.       Presentation of Bills – David Bonenberger

           A.         General Expenditures

                                   

 

 

X.       Motion to Approve Agenda

 

 

A.        Education Committee – Susan Baxter/Ira Hiberman

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

 

 

Consensus Motion:

The following items are to be deleted from the consensus motion at board member request.  All items in the shaded area are part of the consensus motion.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

Mathematics Textbooks

1.         Approve the first review of the following high school textbooks: (Budgeted)

 

            Course Title – Math Fundamentals

            Textbook Title – Math Course 2 (Copyright Date 2008)

            Text Replaces – None – New Acquisition

 

            Course Title – Special Education Small Group Instruction 9-12

            Textbook Title – Algebra I

            Text Replaces – None – New Acquisition

 

            Course Title – Special Education Small Group Instruction 9-12

            Textbook Title – Geometry

            Text Replaces – None – New Acquisition

 

            Course Title – Special Education Small Group Instruction 6-8

            Textbook Title – Basic Math Skills

            Text Replaces – None – New Acquisition

 

            Course Title – Special Education Small Group Instruction 6-12

            Textbook Title – Mathematics Concepts

            Text Replaces – None – New Acquisition

 

 

            Course Title – Special Education Small Group Instruction 8-9

            Textbook Title – Pre-Algebra

            Text Replaces – None – New Acquisition

           

2007-08 High School Student Handbook

2.         Approve the first reading of the 2007-08 high school student handbook.

 

Recommendation:  To approve all motions and recommendations as listed above in Education.

 

B.        Personnel Committee – Sandra Miller/Sandra Fellin

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

 

 

Consensus Motion:

The following items are to be deleted from the consensus motion at board member request.  All items in the shaded area are part of the consensus motion.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

Conference

1.         Approve the attached conference.

 

Summer Learning Academy Teachers

2.         Approve the following 2007 summer learning academy teachers:

 

            Judith Grella – Elementary Special Education

            Nancy Bean – Elementary Special Education Aide

            Jennifer Burkholder – Kindergarten Class

            Heather Borger – Reading

            Lucy Kennedy – Writing

            Donna Binn – Math

 

            Extension Courses – July 9th – July 13th (Self-Sustaining)

            Emily Young – Are You the Next American Idol

            Elizabeth Weyrauch – TV Studio

            Vivian Demko – TV Studio      

            Jennifer Campbell - Scrap Booking

           

Support Staff Resignation

3.         Accept the resignation of Sherry Koch, General Kitchen Help, Food Services, effective April 23, 2007.

 

Transportation – Substitute Bus Driver

4.         Approve William Lehr as a Substitute Bus Driver to be employed on a “call as needed” basis at an hourly rate of $10 for riding and $14.59 for driving, no benefits, effective May 9, 2007. 

 

 

Recommendation:  To approve all motions and recommendations as listed above in Personnel.

 


 

C.        Facilities Committee – Herb Payung/Wally Zimpfer

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

1.         Place a maximum salary rate for the percentage of fees for district facilities at the $34 an hour rate and adjust as the teacher contract adjusts to the hourly rate for extra duty, extra pay.

 

2.         Discussion of additional funding for field turf improvement.

 

Cost to aerate, fertilize, apply weed control, grub treatment, and seed fields noted below:

 

Upper Practice Field (Reservoir Road)                  Practice Band Field

Upper Baseball Practice Field (Reservoir Road)     Softball Field

Practice Field Hockey Field                                Lower Little League Field

New Playground Field (Behind bldg 1)                  Varsity Baseball Field

 

The acreage of these fields is approximately two acres per field with the exception of the varsity baseball field which is three acres.

Cost to do yearly treatments as listed above:

 

2 Acre Fields     $2,970 per year per field  = $20,790 (7 Fields)

3 Acre Field       $4,455 per year per field (1 Field)

 

            Total Additional Cost to District =  $25,245

 

Remaining Game Fields:

Stadium (Game)             Practice Football and Lacrosse

            Field Hockey(Game)      Soccer (Game)

 

These fields are already budgeted for to have all treatments – The treatment of the remaining district grassy areas have already been budgeted for to receive weed and feed only.

 

 

Consensus Motion:

The following items are to be deleted from the consensus motion at board member request.  All items in the shaded area are part of the consensus motion.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    _______________

 

 

No Report or Recommendations.

 

            Recommendation:  No recommendations.

 


 


D.        Finance Committee – George Torrella/David Bonenberger

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

 

 

2007/2008 Budget – Timeline for 2006-2007 School Year

 

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Last day proposed final budget printing

and available for inspection

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Last day proposed final budget public notice;


 

Saturday, June 30, 2007

Last day for school board to adopt final budget;

Resolution adopted for Installment Payments for

school property taxes must be adopted June 30, 2007 and each year thereafter;

 

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

General Fund Budget Submittal Date

(On or Before July 31, 2007)

 

Consensus Motion:

The following items are to be deleted from the consensus motion at board member request.  All items in the shaded area are part of the consensus motion.

 

________________    ________________    ________________   _______________

 

 

2007-08 Budget

1.         Discuss the 2007-08 budget.

 

            A.   Addition of Home School Visitor in 2007-08 budget at the rate of $25 per hour not to exceed 100 hours.  Total cost $2,500 which equals .005 mils.

 

            B.   Approve the 2007-2008 Proposed Final Budget in the amount of $_____________ which will be funded by a _____mill increase.  The Proposed Final Budget for 2007-2008 will be available in the Business Office for public inspection for twenty days beginning May 9, 2007.

 

District-Wide Closed-Circuit Television System

2.         Approve the proposal to furnish and install a complete hybrid based, indoor, district-wide closed-circuit television system at a discounted price of $63,950.55.  (budgeted)

 

Adoption of Lacrosse in 2008-08

3.         Approve the following motion for the adoption of lacrosse in 2008-09 school year:

 

            “Contingent on the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) recognizing lacrosse as a PIAA sanctioned sport and assuming jurisdiction of lacrosse in June 2008, the Saucon Valley School District (SVSD) establishes men’s and women’s varsity and junior varsity lacrosse sport programs for the 2008-09 season.  The administration and athletic director shall continue working with the Saucon Valley Lacrosse (Club) to plan and implement the transition of lacrosse from a Club sport to a SVSD sport.  The business manager shall include an estimate of the costs for the 2008-09 lacrosse program in the 2008-09 financial forecast and preliminary budget.”

 

                                   

Recommendation:  To approve all motions and recommendations as listed above in Finance.

 

E.        Policy Task Force Committee – Lachlan Peeke/Sandra Fellin

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

 

Consensus Motion:

The following items are to be deleted from the consensus motion at board member request.  All items in the shaded area are part of the consensus motion.

______________    ______________    ______________    ______________

 

 

First Reading of Policies

1.         Approve the first reading of the following policies:

 

            800 – Operations

            810 – Transportation

            810.1 – Drug/Alcohol Testing – Covered Drivers

            812 – Property Insurance

            813 – Other Insurance

            814 – Copyright Material

            815 – Acceptable Use of Internet

            818 – Contracted Services

 

Second and Final Reading of Policies

2.         Approve the second and final reading of the following policies:

 

            600 – Finance

            620 – Fund Balance

 

            700 – Property

            701 – Facilities Planning

            702 – Gifts, Grants, Donations

            703 – Sanitary Management

            704 – Maintenance

            705 – Safety

            706 – Property Records

            707 – Use of School Facilities

            708 – Lending of Equipment and Books

            709 – Building Security

            710 – Use of Facilities by Staff

            715 – Use of Fax Machines

            716 – Integrated Pest Management

            717 – Cellular Telephones

           

 

Recommendation:  To approve all motions and recommendations as listed above in Policy.

 


 

F.         Community Outreach – Susan Baxter/Ed Inghrim/Sandra Fellin

 

Items/Projects for Discussion and Possible Resolution

 

 

Consensus Motion:

The following items are to be deleted from the consensus motion at board member request.  All items in the shaded area are part of the consensus motion.

 

________________    ________________    ________________    ______________

 

 

No Report or Recommendations.

 

 

Saucon Valley Partnership Meetings

1.         The next meeting of the Saucon Valley Partnership is scheduled for May 9, 2007 beginning at 7 pm at the Lower Saucon Township. 

 

 

Recommendation: No recommendations.

 as listed above in Education.

G.        Bethlehem Area Vo-Tech School – Herb Payung/Lachlan Peeke

            (Meetings are first Tuesday of every month)

 

H.        Colonial Intermediate Unit – Susan Baxter

            (Meetings are fourth Wednesday of every month)

 

I.          PSBA – Susan Baxter/Sandra Miller

 

J.         Northampton Community College – Eric Schenkel

            (Meetings are first Thursday of every month)

 

K.        Hellertown/Lower Saucon Chamber of Commerce – George Torrella

 

L.         New Business

 

 

XI.       Solicitor’s Report

 

XII.      Citizen’s Inquiries and Comments – Visitors should state their name and address.


 

 

XIII.     Announcements

 

            Future Meetings ~    May 22, 2007 – 7:30 pm – Business Meeting

                          High School Audion

 

                                                  June 12, 2007 – 7:30 pm – Business Meeting

                          High School Audion

 

XIV.     Motion to Adjourn Meeting

 

 

The Saucon Valley School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, or handicap