December 7, 2022 Reorganization / COW-Voting (ADA Compliant)
HOLLIDAYSBURG AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
MINUTES
The Hollidaysburg Area School Board met Wednesday, December 7, 2022, for Reorganization and a Committee of the Whole/Voting Meeting in the Junior High Auditorium, 1000 Hewit Street, Hollidaysburg. Mrs. Hartman called the meeting to order at 7:11p.m. and opened the meeting with the pledge to the flag.
Roll call was taken by Mrs. Fiscus with nine members present. Attending were Ms. Hartman, President, Mr. Nichols, Vice-President Ms. Frye, Mr. Stephens, Ms. Costanza, Mr. Snyder, Dr. Sommer, Mr. Brenneman and Ms. Bilek.
Also present were Dr. Gildea, Superintendent, Dr. Palazzi, 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, Mr. Arthur, Director of Technology, Mr. McCall, Mr. Keagy, Mr. Madden, Mrs. Snyder, and Attorney Benjamin, Solicitor.
Student Representative Report
Per Board Policy 004.2-Student Representatives to the Board, Senior Representatives Regan Farringer and Riley Hensley and Junior Representatives Connor Owen and Jacob Ott presented their monthly report to the board.
Public Comment
Olivia Grugan, Richard Latker, Trish Haight, Carrier Freie, Eric Daum, David Woleslagle, Missy Sullivan, Erin Shubik, Leah Deskovich offered public comment regarding Policy 824, Maintaining Professional Adult/Student Boundaries - REVISED.
Board Reorganization
Ms. Hartman read the names of holdover members of the board:
Lonna Frye
Nicole Hartman
Emmanuel Nichols
Kenneth Snyder
Douglas Stephens
Ronald Sommer
Scott Brenneman
Carmen Bilek
Jennifer Costanza
Per Board Policy 005. Local Board Procedures, Ms. Hartman opened the floor to nominations for Temporary Board President. Dr Sommer nominated Mr. Stephens. Mr. Brenneman seconded the nomination. There being no further nominations or objections, Ms. Hartman declared that nominations were closed. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes.
Mr. Stephens assumed the role of Temporary Board President.
Per Board Policy 005. Local Board Procedures, Mr. Stephens opened the floor to nominations for 2023 Board President to serve for one year. Ms. Bilek nominated Mr. Nichols. Ms. Costanza seconded the nomination. Mr. Brenneman nominated Dr. Sommer. Mr. Stephens seconded the nomination. There being no further nominations or objections, Mr. Stephens declared that nominations were closed. Mrs. Fiscus took roll call vote with five votes for Dr. Sommer and four votes for Mr. Nichols. Ms. Hartman, Dr. Sommer, Mr. Brenneman, Mr. Stephens and Ms. Frye cast votes for Dr. Sommer. Ms. Costanza, Mr. Nichols, Ms. Bilek and Mr. Snyder cast votes for Mr. Nichols.
Dr. Sommer assumed the role of Board President.
Per Board Policy 005. Local Board Procedures, Dr. Sommer opened the floor to nominations for 2023 Board Vice-President to serve for one year. Ms. Bilek nominated Mr. Nichols. Ms. Costanza seconded the nomination. Mr. Stephens nominated Ms. Hartman. Mr. Brenneman seconded the nomination. There being no further nominations or objections, Dr. Sommer declared that nominations were closed. Mrs. Fiscus took roll call with five votes for Ms. Hartman and four votes for Mr. Nichols. Ms. Frye, Mr. Stephens, Mr. Brenneman, Dr. Sommer and Ms. Hartman cast votes for Ms. Hartman. Ms. Bilek, Mr. Nichols, Mr. Snyder and Ms. Costanza cast votes for Mr. Nichols.
Ms. Hartman assumed the role of Vice-President.
Dr. Sommer read the names and terms of the newly constituted 2023 Board Membership with no corrections. Hollidaysburg Area School District Board Membership – 2023
Name Title Term Expires Twshp./Boro.
Scott Brenneman Board Member 12/2025 Frankstown Township
Lonna Frye Board Member 12/2023 Hollidaysburg Borough
Nicole Hartman Board Member 12/2023 Frankstown Township
Carmen Bilek Board Member 12/2025 Frankstown Township
Emanuel Nichols Board Member 12/2023 Allegheny Township
Jennifer Costanza Board Member 12/2025 Frankstown Township
Kenneth Snyder Board Member 12/2023 Allegheny Township
Ronald Sommer Board Member 12/2025 Blair Township
Douglas Stephens Board Member 12/2023 Blair Township
Per Board Policy 005, Local Board Procedures, on motion of Ms. Hartman, seconded by Mr. Brenneman, the board approved the 2023 School Board Meeting calendar. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero on votes. Exhibit 1
Business Office Report / Mrs. Fiscus
The board met in executive session Wednesday, December 7, 2022 at 6:00p.m. for personnel.
Ms. Frye initiated a motion, seconded by Mr. Brenneman, to approve Financial Reports for November, 2022, 1 through 6. The reports included Treasurer’s Report, List of Payments, Investment Portfolio, YTD Expenditures/Revenues, Budget Transfers and Senior High Student Store for October, 2022. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit 2
On motion of Ms. Hartman, seconded by Mr. Stephens, the board approved an Act One Resolution for the 2023-2024 school year:
RESOLVED, that the Board of School Directors of Hollidaysburg Area School District, makes the following unconditional certifications:
1. The school district’s various tax levies and other revenue sources will be sufficient to balance the school district final budget for the next fiscal year 2023-2024 based on maintaining current tax rates or increasing tax rates by an amount less than or equal to the Act 1 index applicable to the school district as calculated by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. This conclusion is based on the school district preliminary budget or other information available to the School Board.
2. The applicable index for the next fiscal year is 5.0%, and the School Board will not for the next fiscal year increase the rate of its real estate tax, or any other tax for the support of public education, by an amount that exceeds the applicable index.
3. The School Board has to date and in the future will comply with the rules set forth in School Code § 687 for adoption of the school district proposed and final budgets for the next fiscal year.
4. The School Board understands that the school district will not be eligible to use Act 1 referendum exceptions for the next fiscal year.
The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit 3
Per Board Policy 006 Meetings, on motion of Mr. Stephens, seconded by Ms. Frye, the board approved the following contracts/agreements:
1. Memorandum of Understanding with Family Services Incorporated effective December 7, 2022 through June 30, 2023 to provide counseling and supportive services to enhance safety for students and to provide appropriate support to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and other crimes. No Cost Exhibit 4
2. Letter of Agreement with Blair Family Solutions, LLS effective December 7, 2022 through June 30, 2023 to operate a Community and School Based Behavioral Health Program (CSBBH Program) at Frankstown Elementary No Cost Exhibit 5
The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes.
On motion of Ms. Bilek, seconded by Mr. Nichols, the board approved Replacement of the Frankstown Maintenance Building and to proceed with Option B as presented, to replace the current maintenance building on Frankstown Road that was sold to Frankstown Twp. As compared to the original plan to construct a 40' x 100' pole building at the Senior High School location, Option B will have a one-time savings of approximately $55,000 and approximately $6,000 in annual operating cost savings. The motion carried on a roll call vote within nine yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit 6
Per Board Policy 618, Student Activity Fund Control, Mr. Stephens initiated a motion, seconded by Mr. Brenneman, to approve a new student activity account:
Charles W. Longer Yearbook Club - No. 53 / To involve the kids in the creation of the yearbook. This will give them the opportunity to be creative, learn new skills and help with the workload involved with the book. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero on votes. Exhibit 7
On motion of Mr. Brenneman, seconded by Ms. Frye, the board approved a Resolution of Board of School Directors Establishing Fund Balance Policies as required by GASB 54
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of School Directors of Hollidaysburg Area School District recommits the following portions of its June 30, 2023 Capital Reserve Projects Committed Fund Balance as follows:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of School Directors of Hollidaysburg Area School District recommits $150,000 from the Capital Reserve Projects Committed Fund Balance and transfers $150,000 to the Unassigned Capital Reserve Fund Balance. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit 8
On motion of Ms. Hartman, seconded by Ms. Bilek, the board approved a Resolution of Board of School Directors Establishing Fund Balance Policies as required by GASB 54
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of School Directors of Hollidaysburg Area School District recommits the following portions of its June 30,2023 Retirement Rate Stabilization Committed Fund Balance as follows:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of School Directors of Hollidaysburg Area School District recommits $415,721 from the Retirement Rate Stabilization Committed Fund Balance and transfers $415,721 to the Unassigned General Fund Balance. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit 9
Superintendent’s Report / Dr. Gildea
On motion of Ms. Bilek, seconded by Ms. Frye, the board approved a Novel: Love That Dog (Elementary). The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit 10
Per Board Policy 614 Payroll Authorizations, Ms. Hartman initiated a motion, seconded by Mr. Brenneman, to approve personnel items 1 through 27, dated 12/7/2022 REV 12/6/2022 at 1:28p.m. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit 11
President’s Report / Dr. Sommer
Ms. Costanza initiated a motion, seconded by Mr. Nichols, Per Board Policy 000 Board Policy/Procedure/Administrative Regulations, to approve the first reading of Policy 824. Maintaining Professional Adult/Student Boundaries - REVISED.
Ms. Frye commented that all board members had a fair share of sharing opinions, beliefs and discussion of the policies. She noted that it was done with respect and the diligence that went into the rewriting and revising of the policies resulted in policies that the board was willing to vote on.
Ms. Hartman requested clarification of the language in No. 6 – the sentence “If a student initiates such discussion, the student shall be referred to the appropriate school resource”. Dr. Gildea referred to the portion of the policy that states “that nothing within this provision shall prohibit appropriate follow-up with students regarding complaints of discrimination and/or harassment received from the student providing appropriate direction, services and/or resources in response to inquiries initiated by the student and/or otherwise responding to inquiries made by the student that are required by law.”
The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes.
Dr. Sommer presented Per Board Policy 000 Board Policy/Procedure/Administrative Regulation, Policy 321. Political Activities – NEW for a first reading.
Ms. Bilek initiated a motion, seconded by Ms. Costanza, to amend Policy 321 under Curriculum and Instruction, to remove Paragraph 1 and put that in a policy relative to curriculum.
After discussion of the amendment and voting procedures, Ms. Bilek initiated a motion to withdraw her motion to remove Paragraph 1 from Policy 321. Ms. Costanza seconded the motion to withdraw the motion.
Ms. Frye initiated a motion, seconded by Dr. Sommer, Per Board Policy 000 Board Policy/Procedure/Administrative Regulation, to approve Policy 321. Political Activities – NEW as presented on a first reading.
Ms. Bilek led discussion paragraph by paragraph asking for board members to state if they had an objection to any of the paragraphs.
The motion carried on a roll call vote with seven yes votes and two no votes. Mr. Stephens and Ms. Hartman cast the dissenting votes.
New Business
Ms. Costanza asked about the library book inventory and updates. Dr. Palazzi noted that the link was moved on the web page to Quick Links called Destiny Library Catalogue which has the most up-to-date accurate and searchable inventory.
Ms. Costanza questioned if a majority of members is required to have an agenda item added to a board meeting agenda. Attorney Benjamin discussed several ways for a board member to add an item to the agenda.
There being no further business to be brought before the board, Dr. Sommer declared the meeting adjourned at 9:07p.m.
Autumn Fiscus
Board Secretary