SFASD: Students, Administration Getting Ready to Go Back to School, Goodin Officially Welcomed

The Spring-Ford Area School District board of education met for its regular workshop meeting on Monday night and discussed some back to school issues, along with transportation preparation and the official arrival of new superintendent Dr. David Goodin.

Transportation Coordinator Lora Sanderson gave a presentation on busing and transportation vehicles, revealing the budget to be $7,381,811 for 2011-2012. She did note that the budget reflects 12 months and not nine.

"It’s not just from September through June," Sanderson said. "It continues through the summer for special education programs, ESY programs for about six weeks. So we have to transport all the students and that puts a factor into [the budget] as well."

Sanderson also said she made a call to Harrisburg in regard to the bridge closure and was notified that the bridge is scheduled to open back up on Sept. 9. Therefore, the schools would start the new year with rerouting due to the closure. Once the bridge reopens, Sanderson and her department plan on taking the necessary time to do a rerouting notification to all vested parties, including parents and students in a proper manner. The current closure affects 47 routes. Here are some additional facts about the transportation system.

• The department uses three contractors
• There are normally 143 vehicles on the road at the same time for both the morning and afternoon commute, with 173 drivers and aids operating them.
• In a given day, leaving out activity and athletic trips, 11,748 miles are put on the vehicles. In a year, that's over two million.
• Vehicles go to over 67 different schools within the 10-mile boundary and can bus up to 9,185 eligible students. There are also 429 routes that the vehicles use.

Student liaison Elizabeth Brady also gave her report. The 2011-2012 school year is set to kick off on Aug. 29 for all schools. House principals sent out a welcome letter to all students. First day packet forms are available online on the new website. Athletic forms are on there, as well.

Athletic Director Mickey McDaniel reported to Brady that 362 students tried out for athletics this year and saw no significant drop in numbers due to the student activity fee. McDaniel and principal Pat Nugent will be receiving the school's 14th PIAA State Sportsmanship Award and its 14th National Federation of High School Sportsmanship Award on Sept. 13.

Board president Joseph Ciresi said that the Back to School Nights are listed on all individual school calendars, which are on the school website. He said the new website looks great.

Goodin's student-parent advisory meeting will be on Aug. 25 and Ciresi and the board were "pleased to welcome him officially" by sharing cake and coffee with attendees. The band also played the alma mater for Goodin.

Finally, Goodin announced the 2011-2012 Leadership Team.

• Johnna Weller, Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction
• Pat Nugent, High School Principal
• Doug Reigner, House Principal, Class of 2012
• Jeff Kollar, House Principal, Class of 2013
• Rob Colyer, House Principal, Class of 2014
• Mark Moyer, Oaks Elementary Principal
• Ed Mackel, Brooke Elementary Principal
• Tina Weidenbaugh, Seventh Grade Center Principal
• Orathia Bradley, Seventh Grade Center Assistant Principal
• Teresa Carboy, Royersford Elementary Principal
• Jacqueline Clarke-Havrilla, Evans Elementary Principal
• Beth Leiss, Human Resources
• Ed Smith, 5-6 Center Principal
• Mary Pattan, Assistant to the Principal of 5-6 Center
• Kathy Kotch, 5-6 Center Assistant Principal
• Lora Sanderson, Transportation Coordinator
• Barry Ziegler, Supervisor of Operations and Facilities
• Bruce Cooper, Director of Facilities, Operations and Planning
• Paula Germinario, Coordinator of Food Services
• David Francella, Assistant Business Manager
• Jeanmarie Mason, Special Ed Supervisor at the High School
• Carol Frankel, Supervisor of Special Education, Grades 5-8
• Daniel Currie, Supervisor of Special Education, Grades K-4
• Steve Reynolds, District Director of Technology
• Mickey McDaniel, Director of Athletics
• Tim Anspach, Business Manager
• Diane Fern, Executive/Board Secretary

"I could tell you all this stuff about the leadership team as I’ve had a chance to meet with all of them and what a team I have to work with," Goodin said. "Being successful is really the only option when you have these kind of people to work with. I’m very proud to introduce this year’s leadership team."