NEW BETHLEHEM, Pa. by: John Gerow (RVO) – The Directors of the Redbank Valley School District discussed Student Handbook Policy changes and ongoing issues with finishing the track renovations at their work session Thursday evening, June 27. All of the Directors were present, except for Mr. Darren Bain and Mr. Jason Barnett. School Principals Mrs. Amy Rupp and Mrs. Cheryl McCauley shared changes in the Handbook and Superintendent John Mastillo reported on the recent work done on the track.

The discussion about the Handbook changes quickly moved into a discussion of realistic, appropriate, and effective disciplinary measures. Director Dee Bell suggested that the District consider going back to Saturday detention rather than the current “in school” suspension being used. Mr. Bell suggested that the value of the detention will be improved if the detention inconveniences students and their families. His contention is that the current “in school” suspension has little value because there is no “pain” for the student or parent. Principal Rupp explained that the “in school” suspension was developed because students were not staying for after school detentions. Both Bill Reddinger and Dee Bell expressed frustration that the District was letting the students determine how detentions are done. Both of the Directors offered the opinion that if punishment does not cause discomfort, then it has no value. In response to the suggestion that “kids won’t stay for detention and there is no way to force them to attend Saturday detention”, Mr. Bell said, “Take them to the Magistrate!” Principal McCauley answered that “there is a protocol that we have to follow.” Mr. Bell’s response was short and emphatic, “Then ‘protocol’ them!”

In defense of the current policy, Principal Rupp offered that the schools are in a difficult position regarding detentions. She does not want the school to be a source of conflict between parents and students when detention causes additional stress for the parents. Saturday detentions create hostility and animosity between parents and the school, which she said does not help the students either. She also pointed out that the “in school” suspension gives the school an opportunity to provide some “character building curriculum” such as anti-bullying and honesty and integrity training. Mr. Bell asked at what point truancy and failing to take detention would become a matter of expulsion. His question when unanswered. Board president Chad Shaffer wrapped up this portion of the discussion by saying that it was his view that the increase in discipline violations was not a reflection on a deterioration in student behavior, but rather showed an improvement in enforcement and in the consistency of that enforcement.

School Board Worksession June 25, 2019.

Mrs. Rupp went on to explain that most of the other changes in the Handbook were language clarification and not actual changes in policy. She told the meeting that this year’s Handbook will distinguish between “possessing” and “using” tobacco or vaping materials. When asked if she was coordinating the anti-smoking and anti-vaping policies with the coaches, she explained that she was, but that the banning from sports for a violation had been changed from “the rest of the year” to “the end of the current season”. Mrs. Rupp told the Board that the District Magistrate would not allow suspension for the remainder of the year.

Principal McCauley reported that the Handbooks for the Primary and Intermediate schools have also been undergoing some revisions. She said that the largest changes in policy were responses to situations that presented themselves in the past year. Mrs. McCauley told the Directors that the schools were banning the delivery of gifts to students at school, especially “flowers and balloons”. The large bouquets and balloon arrangements have been creating problems for teachers and secretaries throughout the year. The novelty items create a distraction, but also create problems for the office staff, who often have to contact parents to pick up their child because the balloon or bouquet is too large to be taken on the bus. Mrs. McCauley said that her staff will be alerting local florists to the new policy. Another issue that surfaced this past year was students forging parent (or guardian) signatures. That issue is going to be addressed in the updated handbook. There will also be some improvement and clarification in the Bus Ride Conduct Expectations.

District Superintendent John Mastillo reported that his staff had dealt with a demand from the Department of Education for the return of $65,000 from the 2014 – 2015 school year. The Dept of Ed had determined that Redbank Valley School District had not filed proper documentation for this money and that the money needed to be repaid. Dr. Mastillo said that Leslie Minich, the District’s Business Manager’s Secretary, had been able to reconstruct the needed documentation and that the “overpayment” was now down to $6,500.00, representing a significant saving for the District.

Superintendent Mastillo expanded upon the report that he will deliver at the July Board meeting. He said that the next big item on his “to do” list is to meet with the Foundation, Security, and Building committees to kick start their work. With a significant change coming in building security, it was suggested that the first item Dr. Mastillo should do is to notify Armstrong Security & Investigation Company that the District will not be renewing the existing contract for the upcoming school year. Budgetary constraints and the uncertainty of grant money will necessitate a new arrangement with whoever is contracted to provide security. Board President Shaffer said that the District has had three security needs evaluation, one of which was paid for, and that the Board had to begin implementing the recommendations contained in those evaluations.

Dr. Mastillo said that all three of the security evaluations had similar recommendations and that the security committee should prioritize similar recommendations and begin implementing those “process” recommendations that are in all three evaluations. These recommendations can be implemented immediately, as they do call for additional spending or hiring. The implementation of these items will help improve security within the District with existing physical and human resources. Dr. Mastillo said that the Committee needs to prioritize the other recommendations and develop a plan for improving security within the limits of financial realities.

In one final bit of business, Dr. Mastillo reported that a crew had been in to “finish” the work on the track. He told the Board that when he inspected the work after the crew left, he was completely dissatisfied with the work. Dr. Mastillo immediately notified the architect and let him know that the work was not satisfactory. The Superintendent said that he was resisting pressure from several sources, including counsel, to pay the remaining 10% due to the contractor. However, Mastillo contends that the contractor needs to be held accountable for the lack of quality in the finishing work and that holding final payment is the right thing to do until the District is satisfied.

The Board retired to an executive session.

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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