February 13, 2012 Regular Meeting - Westmont Hilltop School District

REGULAR MEETING
February 13, 2012
The Regular monthly meeting of the Board of Education was held in the
Auditorium located in the Middle School at 7:00 p.m. on the above date with the
following members present: Mrs. Diana L. Schroeder, Dr. Kamal V. Gella, Mrs. Leah
Spangler, Mr. Gordon D. Smith, Mrs. Michele T. Trevorrow, and Mr. William Trevorrow.
Mrs. Phyllis G. Forman, Mr. Rooney Gleason, and Dr. Gary S. Kramer were absent.
Others present at the Board table were Dr. Susan J. Anderson, Mr. Steven D.
McGee, Mr. Gregory T. Sanford, and Attorney David Novak.
Present in the audience were Mr. Edward Benning, Mr. Samuel J. Brunatti, Mrs.
Nicole Kuzmiak, Mr. Thomas Mitchell, Mr. Matthew Thomas, and approximately 50
residents.
Mrs. Schroeder presided.
Mrs. Schroeder opened the meeting with the pledge of allegiance followed by a
moment of silence.
Minutes of the January 9, 2012 Regular meeting were presented for approval.
Page 974 of the minutes was revised to read, “It was the consensus of the Board
members present to authorize Mr. Trevorrow to communicate with Southmont Borough,
Upper Yoder Township, and Westmont Borough to schedule meetings regarding zoning
and funding issues.” On a motion by Dr. Gella, seconded by Mrs. Spangler, the minutes
were unanimously approved as revised.
Minutes of the February 6, 2012 Board Discussion meeting were presented for
approval. On a motion by Mrs. Spangler, seconded by Mrs. Trevorrow, the minutes
were unanimously approved as presented.

Dr. Gella moved, Mr. Smith seconded, to approve the following payments:
Payments disbursed - $212,664.47
Payments to be disbursed - $382,982.69
Payments from the Food Service Fund - $68,785.86
A roll call vote was taken and the payments were approved with five yes votes,
one abstention by Mrs. Spangler on check number 58149 to The Learning Lamp. It was
requested that in the future, a description of each vendor payment be included on the
bill list.
Mrs. Spangler reviewed the Treasurer’s Report for January. Mrs. Trevorrow
moved, Dr. Gella seconded, and the Treasurer’s Report for January was unanimously
approved. A copy is appended to these minutes.
Mrs. Spangler moved, Mrs. Trevorrow seconded, and the Tax Collection Reports
for January were unanimously approved as presented.
Mrs. Spangler moved, Mrs. Trevorrow seconded, and the Comparative Budget
Report for January was unanimously approved as presented.
Dr. Anderson reported that the district was invited by the Pennsylvania
Department of Education to participate in the full application phase of the Keystones to
Opportunity Grant Initiative. Of 329 pre-applications, Westmont is one of 148 applicants
invited to submit a full application.
State Representative Bryan Barbin addressed the Board and members of the
audience regarding state funding, the funding formula for Westmont Hilltop, the cost of
charter schools, and the employer pension increase. A discussion followed.
Representative Barbin encouraged members of the Board and audience to contact the
Governor and Secretary of Education regarding funding issues.

Dr. James Greco, representative from CEASE (Cost Effective Approaches
Supporting Education), addressed the Board and provided a summary of the groups’
meeting on February 8, 2012. A copy of his summary is attached to these minutes.
Mrs. Schroeder read the following statement into the minutes:
“As president of the Westmont Hilltop School Board, I would like
to clarify that the projection of “potential bankruptcy” of the district was
based on a hypothetical simulation that was prepared based on
some very concrete parameters that demonstrate a worst-case
scenario. The purpose of the hypothetical model was a working
tool to demonstrate the effects of a variety of hypothetical situations
on our fund balance. Those parameters include potentials only if
the following situations exist:
• There is no change in funding to the school by the state
including any annual increases.
• There is no change in the pension formula and the
projections for pension funding stand as they are now.
• There is no change in the tax base/rate at WHSD.
• There are no additional revenue sources to WHSD.
• There are no other cost reductions, such as employee
retirements.
Under this type of hypothetical simulation most districts in the state
are going to experience the same financial distress, due primarily to the
pension formula projections.
Without the explanation that this is purely a hypothetical model of
worst-case scenario and not reflective of our anticipated funding and much
more likely scenarios of change at the state level, this could be
misinterpreted. This hypothetical worst-case scenario is not the
anticipated funding situation at WHSD, but rather allows us to consider
long-term ramifications due to funding policy decisions from the state
level.”
A discussion was also held on the employer pension increase. Dr. Gella,
Chairman of the Legislative Committee, was appointed to propose a strategy for
legislative advocacy.

Mrs. Schroeder provided the Curriculum Committee Report.
Dr. Gella moved, Mrs. Spangler seconded, and it was unanimously approved to
grant permission to Ms. Louise Anderson, a doctoral student from Temple University, to
conduct an online survey of students in Ms. Good’s music classes.
Mr. McGee provided a summary of student enrollment and cost savings from the
district operated alternative and cyber schools.
Mrs. Spangler reviewed the proposed 2012/2013 joint operating budget for the
Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center.
Mrs. Spangler moved, Dr. Gella seconded and the Greater Johnstown Career
and Technology budget was unanimously approved as presented.
Commission.
Mr. Joseph Veranese provided an update on the Westmont Hilltop Recreation
Dr. Anderson and Mr. McGee acknowledged student academic and athletic
accomplishments.
Mrs. Spangler, Chairperson of the Creative Funding Committee, provided an
update on the letter writing campaign requesting a state funding formula adjustment for
Westmont. Sample letters are posted on the district website.
Dr. Gella moved, Mrs. Trevorrow seconded, a roll call vote was taken and the
following personnel recommendation was unanimously approved:
Ethel Carney
Substitute School Nurse (temporary assignment)

Mrs. Spangler moved, Mr. Trevorrow seconded and it was unanimously
approved to enter the following into the minutes:
Tenure
In compliance with Section 1108 of the School Laws of
Pennsylvania, the Superintendent of the Westmont Hilltop School District
certifies that the following temporary professional employee has
completed the required three years of satisfactory teaching experience as
a temporary professional employee in the Westmont Hilltop School District
and, on that basis, meets the eligibility for professional employee contract:
Allison Koch, effective February 23, 2012
Mrs. Spangler moved, Mrs. Trevorrow seconded, and the following conference
requests were unanimously approved:
1. Jan Layton, Diana Smeal
Technology Day, IUP
January 18, 2012
(no registration fee)
2. Jane Bassi
Promethean Workshop: Increase Cognitive Interactions
IU8 Altoona
January 31, 2012
(registration fee $50)
3. Beth Stem, Teresa Mrozowski
More Tools for Developing a Comprehensive K-12 Guidance Plan
IU8 Altoona
February 2, 2012
(no registration fee)
4. Diana Smeal, Jonathan Rutledge, Suzanne Updyke, Allison Koch,
Michael Thomas, Jerome DiBernardo, Elizabeth Ferris, Tom Mitchell
Moodle Connect Teacher Training, IU8 Altoona
February 7, 2012
(no registration fee)
5. Nicole Kuzmiak
NISL course (make-up sessions to complete Course 3)
Duncansville
March 1 and 2, 2012
(no registration fee)

6. Melissa Kalwanaski, Teresa Mrozowski, Jana Bennett, Nicole Kuzmiak
IU8 Altoona
March 7, 2012
(no registration fee)
7. Thomas Mitchell, IU8, 4-6 p.m.
Introduction to the New Fiscal Reality, February 16, 2012
Budget Planning Tools, March 1, 2012
Financial Performance, March 15, 2012
Objective-Student Learning, March 29, 2012
Ethical Leadership and Decision Making in the New Fiscal Reality,
April 12, 2012
(registration fee $550.00)
8. Lori Petyak
Practical Ideas to Improve Writing, Reading, and Critical Thinking
Westmoreland IU
April 30, 2012 (registration fee $30)
9. Tina Morrow
Solving the Sports Concussion Crisis
St. Francis University
March 9, 2012 (no registration fee)
10. Dave Benford
Sports Injuries, A Multigenerational Approach
Altoona
March 12, 2012
(registration fee $179)
11. Steve McGee, Nicole Kuzmiak, Sam Brunatti
Special Education Law Series
IU8 Altoona
April 12, 2012
(no registration fee)
12. Erica Wonderling, Sara Worst
Methodology Conference on Foreign Language Teaching
Chestnut Ridge Golf Resort and Conference Center
April 27, 2012
(registration fee $60 for each)
13. Nicole Kuzmiak, Matthew Lohr, Diane Kinback, Julie Miller
Step-by-Step Model Drawing through Singapore Math
Altoona, May 15, 2012
(registration fee $189 for 3, principal is free)

14. Tom Mitchell, Ted Benning
Drug Impairment Training for Education Professionals by
Pennsylvania State Police
Mechanicsburg Middle School
June 18 and 19, 2012 (no registation fee)
15. Jan Layton
Clara Barton Forum
November 7, 2012
(no registration fee)
Mrs. Spangler moved, Dr. Gella seconded, and the following field trip/activity
requests were unanimously approved:
1. High School Key Club (3 students), Kiwanis Luncheon
Numero Uno
January 25, 2012 (no fee)
2. Grade 12 English Classes, Play: Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
February 2, 2012
(no district cost, students participating paying for bus and ticket)
3. High School Scholastic Quiz Team
IU8 Championship Match
Portage Elementary School
February 8, 2012
(transportation only)
4. High School Key Club
Deliver Jeans for Teens’ Project, Galleria
And Kiwanis Luncheon to Present Projects, Numero Uno
February 8, 2012
(transportation only)
5. High School Chamber Singers, Concert Choir, Workshop and
Concert with Linda Tedford and the Messiah College Choir
Richland High School
March 14, 2012
(transportation only)
6. Fourth Grade (8 students)
Great American’s Day Citizenship Forum honoring Frederick Douglas
UPJ, April 10, 2012
(transportation only)

7. Seventh Grade (2 students), Eighth Grade (2 students)
CCSSPA Super Conference
Mount Aloysius
May 2, 2012
(transportation only)
8. Third Grade Class
Johnstown Flood Museum
National Flood Museum
May 15, 2012 (paid by PTO)
9. Third Grade Class, Red Lobster (protecting wild life/sea life) and
Visit to Westwood Theater to reward students on job well done on
PSSA tests
May 22, 2012 (paid by PTO)
10. First Grade Class
Idlewild Park
May 22, 2012
(buses, admission tickets - paid by PTO)
11. Second Grade Class
DelGrosso Amusement Park
May 23, 2012
(bus transportation paid by PTO, students pay park admission-lunch,
PTO pays a portion of above)
Note: The transportation calculation is based on a fee of $1.65/mile
and $9.75/hour for the driver.
In response to a request from the Board, all costs of conference and field trip
requests will be included on the Superintendent’s Report.
The first reading of the following policies were entered into the minutes:
Policy 113 Special Education
Policy 113.2 Policy Special Education - Behavior Support
Policy 113.4 Special Education - Confidentiality
Policy 200 Special Education - Enrollment of Students
Policy 201 Special Education - Admission of Students
Policy 201.1 Special Education - Admission of Students (Continued)
Policy 907 - School Visitors
Policy 916 - Volunteer Chaperone Policy
Policy 916 Volunteer Chaperone Policy will be revised to address the concerns
expressed by the Board.

Mr. Thomas Schwab addressed the Board regarding his concerns about traffic
patterns during dismissal at the middle school.
Dr. Gella requested that the district post contract information on the district
website.
There being no further business to come before the Board at this time, on a
motion by Mrs. Spangler, seconded by Dr. Gella, the meeting was adjourned to an
executive session for legal and personnel matters.
Gregory T. Sanford,
Board Secretary