Schuylkill Valley School Board Superintendent Dr. Warren Mata announced that rating categories were changed by the state on PSSA scores after students completed testing in the April and May time frame. Due to the state’s changes, scores will reflect a larger percentage of students rated as basic or below.
Board Secretary Kevin Raudenbush expressed his concerns and that the SVSD Board should “notify the community. Let people know.”
“You don’t do rules after the fact,” said Board member G. Dane Miller.
In other news, Scott Rickert, member of the Board of Directors of the Schuylkill Valley Youth Baseball program, requested to address the School Board regarding his concerns about the viability of the baseball program.
Rickert, who described himself as a third generation graduate of Schuylkill Valley School District who is “Schuylkill Valley through and through”, stated that there are concerns about the coaching staff of the youth program, particularly at the middle school level.
“I’m afraid the baseball program won’t be around for my son,” said Reikert, “the numbers are down; we’re losing a lot of kids.”
School Board President David Moll responded to Reikert’s comments that there were some changes made to the youth baseball program last year and that there was a slight increase in registrations this year. Moll suggested that Reikert work with Schuykill Valley Athletic Director Stephanie Deibler to initiate programs to increase interest.
Also, multiple employment changes were approved unanimously by the Board, which included new personnel being added to the staff at Schuylkill Valley.
Present at the meeting was Melissa Kelchner, Elementary School Principal, who introduced two new elementary school teachers to the Board. Kelchner invited Courtney Maguire, a new long-term substitute fourth grade teacher, and Kara Feeney, newly hired as a second grade teacher, to address those in attendance. Maguire announced her appreciation of her opportunity in her new position, and Feeney summed up her feelings about her assignment as “a dream come true.”
Also, the Board of Directors recommended the approval of the first reading of a new policy “Suicide Awareness, Prevention, and Response.” Superintendent Mata explained in detail that the state passed a resolution that a suicide prevention policy is mandatory, describing that the resolution “required certain procedures to be in place that we already had, as well as training.” Matta summarized that the approval of the policy for SVSD “formalizes it for the district.”
Curriculum and technology expenses were approved unanimously, including the tuition agreement with New Story to provide educational services for one student for the 2015-2106 school year at a cost of $375 per day to the district.
In addition, the Board voted unanimously to approve the agreement with Bucks County Intermediate Unit in the amount of $15,800 for four days of leadership professional development for 14 “administrative team members.”
The Board of School Directors approved both July General Fund bills equaling $162,858.19 and General Fund Bills for June and July totaling $960.455.32. Also passed unanimously was the agreement with the Berks County Intermediate Unit to provide transportation for a student at a cost of $185.66 for the upcoming school year.
Business manager Wendy Boarder updated the Board on the current phase of the audit performed by Herbein and Company. “They were only doing preliminary work,” she said, The two auditors would return for two weeks in August.
Craig Strunk, Director of Buildings and Grounds, reported on the status of the new signage for the district. He is coordinating the installation of the sign and connection.
Raudenbush said, “The community is definitely aware that this cool sign is coming.”
Strunk also said that the school zone warning flashers should be in place by November and that work is continuing on the SVSD pool. Strunk summarized the ongoing project by assuring the Board that “the pool looks great.”
Philip Leinbach, AEM Architects, reviewed bid results for the replacement of the bleachers in the Middle School gym. The Board voted to award contracts for the “removal and replacement of the existing middles school bleachers and related work.” Leinbach confirmed that the district “should have the bleachers operable by Thanksgiving break.”
Board member Jay Melvin ended the meeting on a positive note by relaying a conversation he had with a Schuykill Valley School District graduate while visiting Penn State. “He felt that what he learned here was well-advanced from his peers,” said Melvin.
The July meeting of the Schuylkill Valley School Board of Directors adjourned at 8:15 p.m. An executive session was slated to follow the meeting for discussion on negotiations and superintendent evaluations.
