District Hemorrhages Money as Hiring & Spending Continue

NEW BETHLEHEM, Pa. by: John Gerow (RVO) – The hiring spree continued Monday evening at the Redbank Valley School District’s monthly work session.  Along with the continued spending on new hires, the school board heard concerns about the after school door security system and water standing on the new track.

Concerns were voiced by several people during the Public Concern session at the beginning of the meeting.  Coach Matt Darr told the Directors that the doors are being left open during afternoon practices.  Mr. Darr pointed out that coaches need to be working with the students and cannot be watching the doors, too.

Parent Amy Ferringer reported that her son was involved in an incident earlier that day.  Mrs. Ferringer said that her son had propped the field side door open for football captain’s practice.  According to Mrs. Ferringer, Principle/Acting Superintendent Amy Rupp confronted the student and a “heated” conversation apparently took place.  Mrs. Rupp ordered the student to leave the school grounds.  Mrs. Ferringer suggested that there needs to be better instruction for the students regarding the new safety policies.

MVS Security Services, the company providing the door security systems, presented additional proposals for doorbells, door alarms, and a buzzer for gym and weight room doors.  The proposal includes keypads to reset the alarms when staff is not in the office.

The kitchen staff at the Hawthorn School has also requested the addition of a door buzzer on the kitchen door for delivery personnel.  Dr. Shaffer wondered if delivery people shouldn’t be checking in at the office anyways.  Acting Superintendent/Principle Amy Rupp said that they were not considering these additions and that she had not brought them to the Board for approval.

Director Dee Bell asked what the difference was between practices when doors are to be locked and games when the doors are unlocked.  Mr. Bell said that policies should not make things more difficult for students and parents attending events.  He suggested that putting the security gate down at the cafeteria would be enough additional security during after school events.  According to Director Jason Barnett the additional gym/wrestling room security will cost almost $1,300 more.

Director Ann Kopnitsky voiced concerns about the new track.  She told the board that she has noticed water ponding on the track surface.  She said that it was her understanding the track would be sloped so that there would be no ponding.  She is also concerned that there is only a one year warranty on the track.  Mr. Dee Bell asked if Nagele Contracting could be available at the next meeting to address these concerns.  Maintenance Supervisor John Sayer said that he would make the arrangements.

The Board approved the agenda for next week’s regular business meeting.  That agenda includes proposed votes on hiring a Special Ed Supervisor at a cost to the District of $90,560,  hiring 5 additional Student Specific aides at a cost of over $130,000 annually to the tax payers of the district, and spending $28,000 to seal the parking lots.  The Agenda also includes a motion to hire Dan Hawkins as the “new” acting superintendent.  Reddinger, Bain and Bell voted against this proposal.

The School Board will meet for their monthly business meeting on Monday evening August 6 at the High School Library.  The pre-meeting worksession will begin at 6:30 P.M.

*Thanks to Laura Neiswonger for providing me with notes from this meeting.

For more information, please see this week’s Leader – Vindicator newspaper.