RV School Board Tackles Communication and Fire Safety at August Work Session

NEW BETHLEHEM, Pa. by: John Gerow (RVO) – The Redbank Valley School Board held their regular monthly work session on Thursday evening, August 30. School Directors received a report on the start of the school year from Acting Superintendent Dan Hawkins and discussed fire safety issues and proper communication etiquette.

Mr. Hawkins told the Board that the first two days of school went as well as can ever be expected. There were no major problems or issues to deal with. There were no problems with busing, every elementary school parent’s greatest fear. He reported that he had spent Tuesday and Wednesday meeting with faculty and staff across the district and that he was moved by how welcoming and enthusiastic everyone has been. Mr. Hawkins graciously thanked the local news media for “getting the word out” that Friday night’s football game would be held at home.

The Acting Superintendent went on to say that the district’s part-time psychologist had resigned to take on a full-time position. Mr. Hawkins said that the district would hold her until her position was filled. When asked how long the district has to fill the position, Hawkins said that they had 60 days. He said that he was meeting with the Intermediate Unit Friday to seek their input. Several Directors questioned if it might be possible to contract these services from another District or to add hours to a school psychologist who is currently working part-time. Mr. Hawkins said that these were options that he would be looking into. He said that shared services could definitely streamline the replacement process.

In the process of getting organized, Mr. Hawkins found out that the District buildings are not directly wired to the county’s 9-1-1 system. (Direct connection would eliminate the need for calling 9-1-1 in the event of a fire. The direct connection would notify 9-1-1 and New Bethlehem Fire Co. when the fire alarm goes off.) He said that the security firm that has the district would charge $9,350 for “dialers” for each building and an annual service fee of $3,600. Director Darren Bain asked if this notification system would be put out for bids. Hawkins and Board President Shaffer suggested that it would not be possible to add a different alarm company’s equipment into an existing system. Jason Barnett said that he hoped that, should the system be contracted, the cost would be covered by money already budgeted for building and maintenance. Barnett and Bain asked that Mr. Hawkins have more information on system options and payment options for the September work session.

The discussion then turned to the track renovations, and Mr. Hawkins said that the bill is in for the work, and asked how he was supposed to pay for it. Darren Bain asked if the bill was a final bill or an interim bill. Hawkins was not sure. Bain then questioned how the Board was going to “sign off” on the completed work. When told that the architect would approve the work prior to payment, Bain replied that the architect had only been on site a couple of times during the work. Dr. Shaffer and Mr. Hawkins stood by the architect’s approval for payment.

With the district going through so many changes, Board President Shaffer asked what the Board can do to help parents understand the steps to take in lodging a complaint or asking for information. Although published in the Student Handbook, Shaffer said that many parents don’t understand the need to contact teachers first, principals next, superintendent if the first two cannot provide answers or resolution. And, lastly, to contact a school board member only as a last resort. Director Bill Reddinger said that his answer is to tell folks to go through the channels and to let him know how it works out. Chad Shaffer agreed and urged all Directors to help parents get the concerns to the right person in the hierarchy. Director Carrie Adams said that referring complaints back to the proper person moves the responsibility back onto the parent or student and off of the school board member.

Acting Superintendent Hawkins told the Board that they need to trust faculty and staff to properly deal with student and parent concerns and not to interject themselves into the flow of communication when their help is not needed. He said that the Board needs to delegate and then to trust that the work delegated will be done properly. Jason Barnett supported Mr. Hawkins by saying that the Board’s job is to develop policy and that it is up to staff and faculty to implement those policies. Darren Bain said that the character of our community makes it hard for school board members to direct concerns back to teachers and administrators. He said the people in the Redbank Valley “expect” school board members to have or get answers. Mr. Bain said that he expected responses from his queries from any employee of the district. Without any resolution, the discussion faded out.

The September School Board meeting will be on Thursday, September 6 in the High School cafeteria. The meeting will begin with a short work session at 6:30 PM.

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ABOUT:
Redbank Valley School District provides education services for the 165 square mile area of New Bethlehem and Hawthorn boroughs, and the townships of Mahoning, Madison, Porter, and Redbank of both Clarion and Armstrong counties.

MEETINGS:
The Redbank Valley School Board meetings the first Monday of every month at 7pm at the High School Library.

CONTACT:
For more information about the Redbank Valley School District, please call 814.275.2426 or visit RedbankValley.org/pg/biz/redbank-valley-school-district