School news
Montour
Kennedy tax collector Mel Weinstein no longer will pursue unpaid school taxes under a new policy adopted by school directors. Unpaid tax accounts will be turned over to a delinquent tax collector, which is the policy in all of the other communities in the school district.
School directors have instructed Mr. Weinstein to bring to them either settlements for all unpaid taxes for prior years so they can be approved or unsettled accounts so they can be turned over to the delinquent tax collector.
Board members approved the request July 23 to account for the Kennedy records so that going forward all district municipalities will be treated equally.
Solicitor M. Janet Burkardt said an agreement with Kennedy had been reached in the 1990s, allowing the township to pursue delinquencies.
• School directors voted July 23 to open the head girls volleyball coaching position of Kirsten Burkes. The vote does not exclude her from reapplying for her job. Athletic Director Lou Cerro said a coach would need to be in place by Aug. 17 for the upcoming season.
Also, the directors did not appoint the coach’s sister, Jordan Burkes, to assistant volleyball coach.
In another sports-related item, the district is planning to adopt a policy addressing expectations, procedures and annual training for the coaching staff.
• Directors appointed independent contractor Jodi Porter to provide psychological services at a cost of $60,000 for 250 hours.
Last year, the Allegheny Intermediate Unit was used at a cost of about $75,000 for 150 hours, said superintendent Michael Ghilani. Christopher Stone, director of curriculum, said it was the district’s intent to move away from using the AIU’s services when possible.
• Refinancing 2010 general obligation bonds has freed up about $900,000 for the district — $500,000 for the general fund and $400,000 for the capital fund.
• Special needs toys were purchased for $23,661 from TFH USA for the multi-sensory room in Burkett Elementary School. The toys will be able to be moved to the new elementary school.
• A $5,500 contract for landscaping services at the former Ingram Elementary School was awarded to Robinson-based Country Club Gardens Landscaping.
Director Thomas Barclay voiced his displeasure at paying an outside contractor to do something that should have been taken care of by the ground crew. Director Ken Barth abstained from voting.
Also at Ingram Elementary, a $9,450 contract was awarded to Thornburg-based American Restoration Services for the replacement of lintels, window sills and loose mortar on two exterior windows
that were leaking.
Moon Area
Contracts allowing for two firms to return the contents of J. A. Allard and J. H. Brooks schools in time for the start of the school year on Aug. 17 were approved July 20 after much discussion.
Items were removed from the buildings as a safety precaution during construction work.
Directors discussed alternative ideas about the most economical way the move could be completed after the summer construction projects.
The contract for moving Brooks was awarded to George Moving & Storage, Inc. at a rate not to exceed $51,263.
The contract for the return of Allard items was awarded to Debo Moving & Storage, Inc., at a price not to exceed $18,090. District employees will be helping with the move.
The difference in quotes was explained by district officials who stated while removing the contents of the buildings in May, Allard was able to stage the move so that it is packed room-by-room in an organized fashion, while Brooks did not have access to a staging area.
Director Jerry Testa failed in his attempt to hire district college and high school students to perform the task at $12 per hour.
• In a move toward districtwide standardization of security system protocols, Moon Area directors voted to purchase security access control systems for Allard and Brooks elementaries last Monday night.
The card activated systems from PSC Incorporated will cost about $39,000 each for the two elementary school buildings.
Currently, the middle and high schools use the system and McCormick is equipped with similar programming. Bon Meade will be updated at a later date.
• Directors approved the purchase of a PowerEdge R730XD server with hardware and software support at a cost of $10,450 from Global Government Education Solutions in Fletcher, OH.
The district will also purchase an EMC-Celerra Storage Area Network from Pittsburgh-based AdvizeX Technologies at a cost of $46,510. Three years of hardware and software support are included in the price.
Brian Campbell, director of technology, said the district’s current storage network is seven years old and can no longer be expanded.
The new unit will offer quadruple the capacity of the old, with space for expansion.
Moon-based Questeq, the district’s technology service provider, will setup the new equipment and migrate current data into the new technology at a cost of $1,800 for the server and $8,400 for the SAN unit.
• Moon Area will enter into an agreement with Keystone Oaks School District for the Project Succeed program offered there for struggling students. Moon has between 12 and 15 students enrolled in the program each year.
• Directors approved the first reading of a policy regarding the use of commercial advertising on school property which will now include the district website.
• Superintendent Curt Baker was given permission to negotiate a one-year agreement with Kennedy School of Driving, Inc., which allows the driving school to advertise its services to students through district channels.
The district stopped offering driver’s education courses about eight years ago, said Michael Hauser, director and former high school principal.
Since then, parents have had to pay to enroll students in programming such as the Kennedy driving school.
Completion of these types of programs allow for auto insurance policy discounts.
Robinson Township Christian School
Applications are being accepted for grades pre-K to 12 for the 2015-16 school year at Robinson Township Christian School, 77 Phillips Lane, Robinson.
Information: 412-7875919.