HOLLIDAYSBURG AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
MINUTES
The Hollidaysburg Area School Board met for a Committee of the Whole and Voting Meeting on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 in the Senior High Library. Mr. Nichols called the meeting to order at 7:08p.m. and opened the meeting with the pledge to the flag.
Roll call was taken by Mrs. Fiscus with seven members present. Attending were Mr. Nichols, Vice-President, Dr. Sommer, Mr. Stephens, Ms. Costanza, Mr. Snyder, Mr. Brenneman and Ms. Bilek. Ms. Hartman, President and Ms. Frye were absent.
Also attending were Dr. Gildea, Superintendent, Dr. Palazzi, Interim Director of Curriculum, Mrs. Koehle, Director of Special Education, Mrs. Fiscus, Business Manager/Board Secretary, Mrs. Thomas, Director of Accounting Operations, Mr. Caldwell, Director of Human Resource/Transportation, Mrs. Summerville, Data Management Administrator, Mr. Nihart, Director of Physical Plant, Mr. Arthur, Director of Technology, Attorney Beard, Jr., Solicitor, Mr. McCall, Mr. Hartline, Mr. Keagy, Dr. Letcher, Mr. Keagy, Dr. Letcher, Mrs. Snyder, Mr. Madden, Mrs. Albarano, and an Altoona Mirror representative.
Public Comment
There was no public comment.
Student Representative Report
Per Board Policy 004.2-Student Representatives to the Board, Student Representatives Mark McCoy, Senior Representative, Reagan Farringer and Riley Hensley, Junior Representatives presented their monthly report to the board.
Business Office Report / Mrs. Fiscus
The board met in executive session Monday, March 21, 2022 at 5:30p.m., Thursday, March 24, 2022 at 6:00p.m. and Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at 5:30p.m. for negotiations and Wednesday, April 13, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. for negotiations, personnel, and potential litigation.
Special Voting Meeting (Proposed Budget Adoption)
Wednesday, May 4, 2022
Time: 7:00p.m.
Hollidaysburg Area Senior High Library
1510 N. Montgomery Street
Hollidaysburg PA 16648
Committee of the Whole (Budget Discussion Only) immediately following the Special Voting Meeting
Wednesday, May 4, 2022
Curriculum Committee
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Time: 5:00p.m.
Hollidaysburg Area Senior High Library
1510 N. Montgomery Street
Hollidaysburg PA 16648
Committee of the Whole/Voting
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Time: 7:00p.m.
Hollidaysburg Area Senior High Library
1510 N. Montgomery Street
Hollidaysburg PA 16648
Committee of the Whole - Budget Discussion
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
Time: 6:00p.m.
Hollidaysburg Area Senior High Library
1510 N. Montgomery Street
Hollidaysburg PA 16648
All board meeting agendas are available for public viewing (3) days prior to each meeting date on BoardDocs. BoardDocs web address is https://www.boarddocs.com/pa/hasd/Board.nsf. Interested parties should enter the public site.
Per Board Policy 006 Meetings, on motion of Ms. Bilek, seconded by Mr. Snyder, the board approved the minutes of the following meetings: March 9, 2022 Athletic Committee, March 9, 2022 Committee of the Whole - Work Session, and March 16, 2022 Committee of the Whole/Voting. The motion carried on a roll call vote with seven yes votes and zero no votes.
On motion of Dr. Sommer, seconded by Mr. Brenneman, the board approved Financial Reports for March, 2022. The reports included Treasurer’s Report, List of Payments, Investment Portfolio, YTD Expenditures/Revenues, Budget Transfers, Food Service for February, 2022 and Senior High Student Store for February, 2022. The motion carried on a roll call vote with seven yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit 1
On motion of Mr. Stephens, seconded by Dr. Sommer, per Board Policy 006 Meetings, the board approved the following contracts/agreements:
- Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8 - Substitute Teacher Consortium Participation for the 2022-2023 school year Cost: $500 Exhibit 2
- Agreement with Camco Physical and Occupational Therapy, LLC (CAMCO, effective August 1, 2022 through July 31, 2024, to provide PT and OT services to exceptional children Cost: $61/hr. Exhibit 3
- Agreement with Healing Patch Children's Grief Program effective April 13, 2022 through May 31, 2023 to provide in-school grief support services to students No Cost Exhibit 4
- Field Placement Memorandum of Understanding with Drexel University, School of Education effective April 1, 2022 through June 30, 2025 No Cost Exhibit 5
- Authorization for the CyberSecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to Conduct Continuous Scans of Public-Facing Networks and Systems and to conduct continuous network and vulnerability scanning of the district’s publicly accessible networks and systems effective April 13, 2022 No Cost Exhibit 6
- Lease Agreement with Quadient Leasing USA, Inc. effective date (TBD) for a 60-month lease of the Administration Office postage machine Cost: $11,121.60 ($185.36 monthly) Exhibit 7
- Settlement and Release Agreement with Waiver of Affirmative Defenses, General Waivers and Mutual Release of Claims regarding student ID# ending in 37, effective April 13, 2022 through August 29, 2028 for compensatory education and attorney's fees Cost: $32,000 Exhibit 8
- Individual Student Instruction Contract with Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes effective April 11, 2022 through July 1, 2022 for instructional services for an individual student Cost: $19,765.80 Exhibit 9
The motion carried on a roll call vote with seven yes votes and zero no votes.
The administration presented the Appalachia IU08 2022-2023 General Operating Budget for approval. The budget totals $5,643,691.91 for both revenues and expenditures representing a 3% increase. Hollidaysburg Area School District's contribution for the 2022-2023 school year will increase by $241 or 1.51164% to $16,184. The budget is for IU8 operations only. The operation of the IU8 special education and non-public programs are funded through a variety of other IU8 separate budgets.
Ms. Costanza questioned the 82% increase in management and 98% increase in their educational planning in the last year and asked for the budget to be tabled. With no objection, Ms. Costanza initiated a motion, seconded by Mr. Brenneman, to table the approval of the Appalachia IU08 2022-2023 General Operating Budget until a future meeting. The administration will discuss Ms. Costanza’s questions with the IU08.
The board was presented with the Election of Appalachia IU08 Board Members for 2022-2023: The Hollidaysburg Area School District shares an IU8 board member seat with Williamsburg-Community School District on a two-year rotating basis.
Nominees for each region:
Region III: Claysburg-Kimmel and Spring Cove
Dr. Mona Eckley, Claysburg-Kimmel
Region V: Greater Johnstown
Missy Spaugy, Greater Johnstown
Region VIII: Blacklick Valley, Cambria Heights & Northern Cambria
Elizabeth Kreashko, Blacklick Valley
Region X: Bedford County at Large
Thomas Bullington, Bedford Area
Region X: Bedford County at Large
William Pataki, Chestnut Ridge
On motion of Ms. Bilek, seconded by Dr. Sommer, the board approved the list of nominees. Mrs. Fiscus distributed ballots among board members for completion. Exhibit 10
Per Board Policy 706.1 Disposal of Surplus Property/Textbooks/Supplies, Mr. Stephens initiated a motion, seconded by Mr. Snyder, to approve the disposal of various obsolete equipment and books. The motion carried on a roll call vote with seven yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit 11
On motion of Dr. Sommer, seconded by Ms. Bilek, the board approved the list of 2021-2022 Capital Reserve Projects. The motion carried on a roll call vote with seven yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit 12
Per Board Policy 610, Purchases Subject to Bid/Quotation, Ms. Bilek initiated a motion, seconded by Mr. Brenneman, to award the bid for the Frankstown Paving Project to Grannas Brothers at the low bid of $118,430 (Item A), $41,670 (Item B), and $45/sq. yard (Base Repair up to 100 sq. yards). The motion carried on a roll call vote with six yes votes and one no vote. Ms. Costanza cast the dissenting vote. Exhibit 13
On motion of Dr. Sommer, seconded by Mr. Stephens, the board approved the following:
Federal Program Budget Adjustments:
2021-2022 Budget:
ARP ACT ESSER 7% - AFTER SCHOOL 1%: $49,122
ARP ACT ESSER 7% - SUMMER PROGRAMS 1%: $49,122
ARP ACT ESSER 7% - LEARNING LOSS 5%: $245,611
Title I Budget Increase: $74,945
Title II Budget Increase: $7,760
IDEA ARP Increase: $112,454
Title IV Budget Decrease: $1,988 Exhibit 14
and Per Board Policy 702, Gifts, Grants and Donations the following donations:
GIANT/Martins: 2022 Feeding School Kids "Round Up at the Register Program" Amount: $5,540
Foot of Ten PTO: Donation of $3,284.34 to purchase water filling stations
Justin Arthur: 115 Solid State Drive Adapters: $575 Exhibit 15
The motion carried on a roll call vote with seven yes votes and zero no votes.
Budget Report No. 3: Enrollment and Staffing
Mrs. Fiscus and Mrs. Thomas gave a presentation on enrollment and staffing compared to the overall budget. Salary and benefit numbers for 2022-2023 are not available due to ongoing negotiations. Mrs. Thomas noted that salaries and benefits make up 74% of the overall budget.
Superintendent’s Report / Dr. Gildea
Dr. Palazzi, Mrs. Koehle, Dr. Letcher, Mr. Madden, and Mr. Harrington presented information on OnHands Schools, Inc. a software-based program, “EdInsight”, for managing and sharing educational and administrative data.
Mr. Stephens initiated a motion, seconded by Dr. Sommer to approve 2022-2023 Curriculum and Instruction Projects. After discussion, the board agreed to table the motion until after the May 18, 2022 Curriculum Committee meeting. Mr. Stephens withdrew his motion. Dr. Sommer withdrew his second to the motion.
On motion of Ms. Costanza, seconded by Mr. Snyder, Per Board Policy 217 Graduation, the board approved the list of 2021-2022 candidates for the award of a diploma. The motion carried on a roll call vote with seven yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit 16
On motion of Ms. Bilek, seconded by Mr. Brenneman, the board approved the district Health and Safety Plan – April Update. The motion carried on a roll call vote with seven yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit 17
On motion of Dr. Sommer, seconded by Mr. Brenneman, Per Board Policy 614 Payroll Authorizations, the board approved personnel items 1 to 114, dated 4/13/2022 REV 4/13/2022 at 4:25p.m. The motion carried on a roll call vote with seven yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibits 18 and 19
President’s Report / Mr. Nichols
Mr. Nichols sought a motion for the board to form a committee for the purposes of exploring alternative funding and tax options to meet the funding needs of the district and lessen the burden on community members, particularly senior citizens.
Ms. Bilek initiated a motion, seconded by Ms. Costanza, to approve the formation of a committee to explore alternative funding and tax options to meet the funding needs of the district and lessen the burden on community members, particularly senior citizens. The motion carried on a roll call vote with seven yes votes and zero no votes.
There being no further business to be brought before the board, Mr. Nichols declared the meeting adjourned at 8:21p.m. to an executive session for negotiations.
Autumn Fiscus
Board Secretary