April 2010 Minutes - Wyoming Area School District

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100344. Approve the request of Richard Murawski, Exeter Borough Council, to use theSecondary Center auditorium to conduct a special meeting on Friday, April 30,2010, 7:00 p.m., pending approval by the building principal.Motion by Mr. Dominick, second by Mr. Marianacci, to accept the building report.Roll Call: All board members present voted yes. Motion passed.Open Discussion: George Race of Exeter, expressed his concern regarding the paperlessmeeting. Mr. Race stated if people take the time to come to the meetings, they should havean agenda. People may forget questions with this system. They should have an agenda inhand. Mr. Race asked if we have to go back to court (referring to a recent lawsuit) does thedistrict have to pay again. Attorney Hassey responded the Insurance Company provided thedefense so it didn’t cost the District Attorney, that he is aware of. The federal judge whoissued the order and presided over the trial considered the briefs of the defense and theplaintiff and decided he made an error of law in allowing it to go to jury. The instructionsread to the jury may have gave an impression that they should have made a decision thatthey shouldn’t have. The judge took it into consideration that he may have made a mistakeand is asking that a new trial be granted. Mr. Race asked if this trial will take just as long.Attorney Hassey responded it may take just as long. An audience member questioned therenovations at Montgomery Avenue Elementary School. She expressed her concernregarding the heat at Montgomery Avenue stating the cafeteria is stifling. Mr. Bernardiresponded the board will make a decision next week. Bob Truscavage of West Pittston,questioned the board regarding the healthcare policy. His question was: if the husband andwife work for the school district does the policy cover the whole family. Attorney Hasseyresponded they have that option. Mr. Truscavage asked if the husband is a teacher and thewife a secretary can she be reimbursed if she is covered by the husband. Attorney Hasseyresponded people in this situation may opt out. This gives people the option to be paid aportion of what the cost would be to cover them. Mr. Bernardi stated they may receive$1,500. Mr. Truscavage asked the Board “Isn’t this a waste of money?” Mr. Bernardiresponded that it is in the bargaining unit. Mr. Truscavage asked the salary paid to theLuzerne Intermediate Unit for services rendered to teach English to students (English as aSecond Language). Mr. Bernardi responded the LIU charges an hourly rate of approximately$43.00 per hour. We currently have fifteen students. Mr. Bernardi stated that some studentscome in with no English. Mr. Truscavage asked what we paid them last year. Mr. Bernardiresponded it may have been between $90,000 to $100,000. Mr. Trusavage asked Mr. Bernardiabout hiring a substitute teacher. Mr. Bernardi responded the teacher has to teach thestudent English, the teacher doesn’t have to learn their language. You have to be certified inESL. Mr. Truscavage then asked Mr. Bernardi if the maintenance staff all have cell phones.Mr. Bernardi responded administrators, custodial staff and maintenance staff, even a physicaleducation teacher. This is all on one bill and it is an expensive addition. This all happenedbecause of Columbine. Asked if they take them home, Mr. Bernardi responded that they dotake them home.George Race commented that the children that do not speak English must have a hard time inmath and science, etc. Mr. Race questioned the status of the resolution approved lastmonth. The board secretary responded the resolution was sent to legislators. JenniferPennington, President of the Drama Parents asked Mr. Bernardi if he received a letter andinvoice faxed to him regarding the lighting expense for the Sound of Music. Mr. Bernardiapologized he didn’t see it and informed her he will look at it. Mary Louise Degnan ofWyoming stated at the last board meeting the process of the Right to Know Request wasexplained. Mrs. Degnan informed Mr. Bernardi she would also like a copy of the agendawhen attending the meetings. Mrs. Degnan then asked why her name was in last month’sagenda but not in this month’s agenda.Exeter, PA.April 20, 2010
10035Attorney Hassey responded that generally the communications report is an assembly ofcorrespondence that comes to the district and it lists who sent the communication. AttorneyHassey stated as far as he knows, the correspondence comes in and is placed on thecommunications report. Mrs. Degnan stated she filled out a right to know request last monthand her name was listed but was not listed this month after filling out another request. TheBoard Secretary stated she had Mrs. Degnan’s Right to Know Request. Mrs. Degnan asked fora copy of her Right to Know Request after the meeting. Attorney Hassey stated it will be onnext month’s meeting. Sometimes he stated, the communications come in after the meeting.An audience member questioned item #14 under communications. Mr. Bernardi respondedthe state sent the correspondence to inform us of the phase out of Safe and Drug Free Schoolmonies. Mr. Melone responded the State is no longer funding revenue under the Safe andDrug Free Programs and the district will need to look for an alternative revenue source forthe program.Bob Belza commended Mr. Bernardi stating he liked the set up of the meetings and that theaudience can print their own agendas before they come to the board meetings. He stated itwas a good thing.With no further questions the meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m. on a motion by Mr.DeAngelo.__________________________________John Bolin, President___________________________________Toni Valenti, Secretary
Page 1 and 2: 10025Wyoming Area School DistrictRe
Page 3 and 4: 100272. Congratulations to Eric Wer
Page 5 and 6: The treasurer’s report will be ke
Page 7 and 8: 100319. Approve the General Ledger
Page 9: 10033Dr. Casarella asked Mr. Bernar

April 2010 Minutes - Wyoming Area School District

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