Kutztown School Board approved a motion to initiative the process of selling the former Albany Elementary School building at public auction during their workshop meeting on April 7.
The motion passed by a vote of six to two.
Albany Elementary School, which while open taught kindergarten through first grade, was closed at the end of the 2012-13 school year. The district still owns the Kempton building, however, and according to Business Administrator/Board Treasurer David Miller, is paying more than $40,000 annually for the building’s maintenance. In addition, a district employee must perform a daily maintenance check that can take up to an hour, costing both time and money.
Board president Carl Ziegler stated his belief that it would be “financially beneficial for the school district to sell or lease the property.”
“It doesn’t make too much sense to let it sit idle,” Ziegler added.
The three methods discussed for selling the structure were by a sealed bid, an outright sale or at a public auction. Board member James Shrawder shared the merits of a public auction, stating that it would garner good attention and produce the best value. According to Shrawder, he knew of at least three, and possibly a fourth party who were interested in purchasing the building.
Board vice-president Randy Burch, however, felt that the board was rushing the decision to specify their intent to pursue one option. He suggested the board figure out the value from an appraisal and then determine which option could provide the best possible selling value.
Ultimately, the vote passed, and Miller was instructed to initiative the process of selling the former Albany Elementary School building at public auction.
In other news, a team comprised of teachers, administrators and support staff presented about the Middle School iPad initiative. For the past two years, the district has implemented the use of increased technology, including approximately 130 iPads, according to the district’s Director of Technology and Innovative Learning, Chris Harrington. These iPads are being used in the classroom to improve student engagement, rigor, and differentiation.
Several members of the eighth grade team at the middle school gave brief testimonies on how they have implemented the technology in various ways, whether it be for formative assessments, instant feedback, recording students’ speaking in German for later assessment, or even collaboration with students outside of Kutztown Area Middle School.
Kristin Haring, an eighth-grade reading teacher at the middle school, spoke to the last point. Haring has been instructing her students to use the iPads as a collaboration tool by working with students from Brandywine Heights Middle School and even Kutztown University.
“The iPads are allowing me to broaden our boundaries outside of the classroom,” Haring explained.
The iPad initiative team’s overall goal is to address the four “C’s” of learning: communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity. By adhering their vision to district instructional goals and keeping the process student-centered, the team has created an implementation timeline and evaluation process to do just that.
“We are making sure that we are moving forward as efficiently as possible and getting the most value for our students,” Harrington said.
While the iPads are currently for in-school use only, the team is discussing the possibility of extending their use beyond the school’s walls. In the meantime, they are planning to evaluate the initiative as the year goes on, using various methods such as assessment rubrics, in-class student achievement, survey data and teacher testimonials to name a few.
District Superintendent Katherine Metrick applauded the group’s efforts as they continue their work.
“I think this sort of thing comes to life when the teachers stand in front [of us] and share,” she said.
Lastly, the board discussed the possibility of Weaver Chicken Farm becoming a nearby neighbor to the Administration Building. According to Miller, there was a preliminary hearing before the Maxatawny Township Supervisors on April 2 regarding the chicken farm.
Shrawder suggested that the board hire a legal attorney to represent the board at the second hearing on April 22 at the Maxatawny Township Building to express the board’s negative stance on the chicken farm due to undesirable conditions that the farm would bring to the surrounding area. The suggestion was turned into a motion, which was unanimously approved.
The board’s next meeting will take place on April 20 at 7:30 p.m. in the High School Library.
