Board re-elects Webb as president, revises school calendar

NESHAMINv - In a brief reorganization meeting Dec. 3, the Neshaminy School Board unanimously re-elected Ritchie Webb as president, and also amended the calendar to make up for some of the five days that schools were closed because of Hurricane Sandy.

During the meeting, which lasted less than 20 minutes and attended by a handful of residents, the board also elected Scott Congdon as vice president in an 8-1 vote with member Mike Morris voting against the appointment.

Congdon was nominated by outgoing vice president Kim Koutsouradis, who did not seek re-election to the post.

“My time here has been well spent, but it’s time to move on,” Koutsouradis said.

Webb, who has served as president for five of the nine years he has been on the board, thanked his fellow members for their support of him and Koutsouradis.

“We appreciate the trust that you have for us,” Webb noted. “It’s been an honor to serve you.

“I welcome the challenge and look forward,” he added.

The board also unanimously reappointed the Langhorne law firm of Begley Carlin & Mandio as the board’s solicitor for 2013.

Because state law mandates a minimum of 180 class days, the board also voted 9-0 to amend the calendar for the reminder of the 2012-13 school year to account for the five days lost the week of Oct. 29 because of the power outages from Hurricane Sandy.

At this time, the school board decided to make up for just three of the missing days. As a result, classes will be held on March 6, May 21 and June 20, which were originally scheduled as vacation days for students.

May 21 is primary election day, and March 6 and June 20 were to be used for teacher workshops.

With the changes, the last day for K-11 will be June 21, with teachers working until June 28.

According to school superintendent Robert Copeland, making up the re- maining two days lost to Hurricane Sandy will be decided at a future time.

That prompted board member William Oettinger to ask Copeland what the district will do if more classes have to be canceled because of inclement weather.

“These changes guarantee us now that we will have at least three days of instruction,” Copeland explained, noting that any further weatherrelated school closing will have to be addressed as they occur.

Superintendent Copeland also announced that the Pennsylvania Department of Education has selected the Samuel Everitt Elementary School as a Distinguished Title I School for 2012-13.