NEW BETHLEHEM, Pa. (RVO) by John Gerow – Taxes, essential spending and funding activities dominated a long work session before the Redbank Valley School Board meeting on Monday evening, March 5.

The Board met at the Redbank Valley Intermediate School (aka Hawthorn Elementary) and were given a walking tour of the facility as part of the work session.  The inspection of the building gave the directors a scope of renovation and remodeling that the building needs to function as an ‘middle school’ rather than as an elementary school.  These renovations and upgrades join the growing list of necessary, extraordinary spending that is facing the School Board and tax payers in the near future.

In the Public Comment section, several coaches and faculty advisers addressed the Board with their concerns about the cost-sharing activities enacted earlier this school year.  Dr. Jack Gareis, Musical Director, questioned the Board as to whether or not salaries and compensation were included in the costs to be shared by each activity.  He questioned the ethical and legal propriety if they were.   Coach Ed Wasilowski and Coach Matthew Darr both spoke against the cost sharing.  Coach Wasilowski pointed out that public school concept is based on the whole of the community funding the school, not just parents of current students.  He pointed out that asking the students, parents and community to fund specific activities violates the public funding concept.  Coach Darr pointed out that students, coaches and boosters already raise a lot of money and the additional requirements may be too much for the community to bear.  Director Keith Copenhaver, who joined the meeting by video call, questioned again how the Board went from needing $24,000 to fund softball and baseball to asking activities to raise more than twice that.

Director Bill Reddinger said that it is urgent that the School Board accept that the financial situation for the District will not improve without major effort.  He pointed out that even with annual tax increases of 7 mil per year, the District will exhaust all of the Reserve Balance and still run a $2 million dollar deficit, 5 years down the road.  Mr. Copenhaver said that he does not understand how the District can burn through the Reserve Balance and massively raise taxes and still run deficits.  Student Representative Peyton Kirkpatrick said that in his view, the Administration is not forth coming with sufficient information for the Directors to make good decisions.

On a brighter note, Dr. Joe Harmon, high school social studies teacher, reported that he had applied to attend a Holocaust Study tour in Poland this summer and that he just received notice that he has been chosen to attend.  Student Representatives Colin Sheffer and Peyton Kirkpatrick both spoke highly of Dr. Harmon’s Holocaust class.

Mr. Blane Gold, high school history teacher, reported that 60 employers from 6 counties will be participating in the High School’s “Search for Work Day” later this Spring. Mr. Gold said that this is the most businesses to participate in the history of the program.  “Search for Work Day” helps graduating senior in the hunt for jobs.  Students get interview tips, help with writing resume and the opportunity to meet potential employers.

Student Representative Colin Sheffer reported that more than 40 students are involved in the Musical planned for early April.  He said that Spring sports practices began this week and that games and matches will begin later in the month.  Mr. Sheffer also told the meeting that on March 9, a group of professors from Clarion University will visit with high school students who are interested in science and that if there is enough interest, the professors will arrange a tour of some of the science labs at the University.  There will also be a “Coffee House Night” on March 22, where students can perform musically in an informal atmosphere.

In additional business:

Superintendent Mike Drzewiecki asked the Board to approve March 16 as a snow makeup day and to approve March 28 as a ½ day make up and ½ day Act 80 day.

The Board approved the VEX Robotics grant application of $12,950 for developing the STEM program at all three schools.

Directors approved increasing the wage offering for an LPN/Nurses Aide to $15.00 as they currently have no applicants.

Discussion returned to the sports cost sharing at the end of the meeting, with Director Dee Bell pointing out that the Board has yet to sit down with the coaches to assess their ideas, and participation, in saving costs in their programs.

Resident and parent Kara Raybuck pointed out to the Board in the final public comments session that she sees the Board returning to the same conversations month after month, indicating to her a lack of follow-through on the part of the Directors.  Mrs. Raybuck also pointed out, that the idea of having work sessions separate from the Board meetings was to allow Directors to hash things out before the meeting, thereby making better use of meeting time.  She said that she thinks “we can do better.”

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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