NEW BETHLEHEM, Pa. by: John Gerow (RVO) – Five of the 9 Redbank Valley School Board directors met for a short work session on Thursday evening, March 28 to plan for their regular meeting set for Monday, April 1. Board vice chair Bill Reddinger conducted the meeting in Chairman Chad Shaffer’s absence. Directors Carrie Adams, Darren Bain, and Jason Barnett were also absent from Thursday’s meeting. The Board briefly reviewed several items for Monday nights meeting, including security issues, the traditional first day of hunting season, publishing honor roll names, and student Chromebook computers.

Mr. Reddinger opened the meeting by introducing Ms. Brittany Nowacki, the Director of Special Education. Ms. Nowacki told the Board that she was finishing up her report and requests for Monday night’s meeting and offered to answer questions or concerns that members might have had from her preliminary report. Ms. Nowacki has been tasked with reorganizing the district’s Special Education program in a concerted effort to bring as many RVSD kids as possible back into the district’s buildings. The assembly did not have any questions or concerns to raise at the meeting.

Mr. Reddinger next addressed the hot button issue of publishing honor roll student names. He told the group that Superintendent Mastillo was reviewing the district’s policy, “opt-out” releases, and legal issues surrounding publishing student names and that he would be making a recommendation to the Board soon. In the Public Comments section at the end of the meeting, parent Jennifer Maloney Kemmer spoke in favor of publishing all student accomplishments and reported that there was significant public support for publishing.

Dr. Mastillo reported that he was still working on his recommendation for security programs for the budget. He said that improving the 9-1-1 system was part of that consideration and that he was still gathering information as to costs for such renovations.

The Superintendent stirred up the conversation in answering a question from Dee Bell about how the Monday after Thanksgiving was listed in the tentative school calendar. Thanksgiving Monday has traditionally been the opening day of deer hunting season. The Commonwealth is considering moving opening day from the Monday following Thanksgiving to the Saturday following Thanksgiving. According to Dr. Mastillo, the final decision from Harrisburg will not come down in time for publishing the school calendar for the 2019 – 2020 school year. Dr. Mastillo told the directors that they were going to have to decide whether or not to continue the tradition of Monday hunting for students and teachers if the opening day is moved to Saturday. There was some confusion among the directors as to why moving the opening day should change the tradition. As it now stands, that Monday is being scheduled for several opportunities, including a snow-makeup day.

The last issue discussed before the Executive Session was the student Chromebook computers. The computers that are being used by the seniors are 5 years old and ready to be cycled out. Dr. Mastillo reported that he is looking at options for the district to recoup some of the initial costs. They can be “traded in”, refurbished and sold, or refurbished and used within the district. The Superintendent will be making a recommendation to the Board soon.

The regular monthly meeting of the Redbank Valley School Board will be Monday, April 1 in the high school cafeteria.

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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