Plum School Board Notebook: June Voting Meeting

Here's a roundup of items discussed at the June 28 Plum School Board meeting:

Lunch Prices

Lunch prices will increase for the 2011-12 school year, and board members say they most likely will increase again in upcoming years.

Officials approved a 15-cent increase for elementary students and a 20-cent increase for secondary students. Lunch prices would be $1.90 and $2.25, respectively.

The increase is to help prepare the district for new federal department of agriculture guidelines that will require districts to serve more whole grains; fruits and vegetables; and fat-free or low-fat milk—items that are more expensive.

Forbes Road CTC

The board accepted the Forbes Road Career and Technology Center's Revenue Anticipation Note Series 2011-12 in the amount of $4,800,000.

The center's board takes out loan at the beginning of each school year because participating districts don't pay until the end of the year.

School board member Andy Drake said the board has asked those at Forbes Road CTC to begin charging districts on a quarterly basis to reduce the amour of the loan and the interest paid on it.

Drake said the board plans to make that request again or to offer to pay the district's share up front to avoid having to pay interest on the load.

Plum business manager Eugene Marraccini said the district could have saved $7,900 in interest costs.

Professional Contracts

Six teachers in the district were tenured. The board agreed to offer professional contracts to Nadia Abbondanza, Wade Campbell, Christen Shovel, Jacqueline Hartley, Mark Garvey and Nicole Pifer.

They each have completed three years of teaching in the district.

Retirements

The school board approved the retirement of E. Renee Deklevar, bus driver, retroactive to March 22.

Resignations

The resignation of Ken Stancliffe III, Director of Facilities, was effective at the end of the June 30 work day.

Carol Kelly, Cook Manager at Pivik Elementary School, resigned earlier this year. The board approved her resignation retroactive to May 16.

Hiring

Brian Bechtold was hired as an elementary art teacher at a salary of $48,200, effective Aug. 29.

Maternity Leave

The board accepted a maternity leave for Michele Spudich, Kindergarten teacher at Pivik Elementary School, beginning on or about Nov. 17 through April 11, 2012.

Concrete Slab

The board agreed to solicit bids to remove and replace a concrete slab in Room 110 at Oblock Junior High School.

Supplemental Contracts

The board issued the following supplemental contracts for the 2011-12 school year:

Senior High School Store Sponsor— Ronald Richards for $1,966.
Senior High Class Play Sponsor—Katherine D. Humes for $1,963.
Drill Team Sponsor—Jason Birch for $839.
Majorette Sponsor—Tamar McPherson for $839.
Executive Director of the musical—Dianne Bodnar for $1,421.
Publicity Manager for the musical—Erin Morris for $877.

Adelphoi Education

The board accepted an agreement with Adelphoi Education Inc. for student placement in the Alternative Education Program and the Your Educational Success Program for the 2011-12 school year. The facility is located in Latrobe and offers services for students in seventh through twelfth grade.