September 14, 2022 - COW/Voting (ADA Compliant)
HOLLIDAYSBURG AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
MINUTES
The Hollidaysburg Area School Board met for a Committee of the Whole and Voting Meeting on Wednesday, September 14, 2022 in the Senior High Library, 1510 N. Montgomery Street, Hollidaysburg. Ms. Hartman called the meeting to order at 7:07p.m. and opened the meeting with the pledge to the flag.
Roll call was taken by Ms. Hartman with nine members present. Attending were Ms. Hartman, President, Mr. Nichols, Vice-President, Ms. Frye, Mr. Snyder, Dr. Sommer, Mr. Brenneman, Mr. Stephens, Ms. Bilek and Ms. Costanza.
Also present were Dr. Gildea, Superintendent, Dr. Palazzi, Director of Curriculum, Mrs. Fiscus, Business Manager/Board Secretary, Mrs. Thomas, Director of Accounting Operations, Mr. Caldwell, Director of Human Resource/Transportation, Mr. Nihart, Director of Physical Plant, Mr. Arthur, Director of Technology, Mrs. Summerville, Data Management Administrator, Attorney Dambeck, Solicitor, Mr. Harrington, Mr. McCall, Mr. Hartline, Mr. DeLattre, Mr. Keagy, Dr. Letcher, Mrs. Snyder, Mr. Madden, Mrs. Albarano, Mr. Krott and an Altoona Mirror representative. Mrs. Koehle, Director of Special Education, participated virtually.
Motion to Amend Agenda
Dr. Sommer initiated a motion, seconded by Ms. Frye, to Amend the Agenda to add the approval of the following contract. (Listed under Contracts D1, No. 8.) This contract was recently proposed and could not be added to the agenda within the 24-hour posting requirement.
Individual Student Instruction Contract with Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes effective September 19, 2022 through March 19, 2023 for instructional services Cost: $28,080
There was no public comment on the motion.
The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes.
Public Comment
There was no public comment.
Student Representative Reports
Per Board Policy 004.2-Student Representatives to the Board, Senior Representative Regan Farringer and Junior Representatives Connor Owen and Jacob Ott presented their monthly report to the board.
Business Office Report
Announcements: The board met in executive session Wednesday, September 14, 2022 at 6:00pm for personnel.
Meetings for October, 2022:
Curriculum Committee
Wednesday, October 19, 2022
Senior High Library
1510 N. Montgomery Street
Hollidaysburg PA 16648
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Committee of the Whole/Voting
Wednesday, October 19, 2022
Senior High Library
1510 N. Montgomery Street
Hollidaysburg PA 16648
Time: 7:00 p.m.
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, Mr. Snyder initiated a motion, seconded by Mr. Brenneman, to approve the minutes of the May 25, 2022 Committee of the Whole - Budget Discussion Meeting. Ms. Costanza requested more detail in the minutes such that if a board member makes a request for an action to take place, that detail should be reflected in the minutes. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes.
On motion of Ms. Frye, seconded by Dr. Sommer, the board approved Financial Reports for August, 2022, Items 1 through 3. The reports included the Treasurer’s Report, List of Payments and Investment Portfolio. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit
On motion of Mr. Stephens, seconded by Ms. Bilek, the board approved, per Board Policy 006 Meetings, the following contracts/agreements:
1. Engagement Agreement with The Reschini Group effective the 2021 reporting year to assist in completion of the 2022 IRS reporting requirements for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Cost: Deposit (non-refundable): $500; $6.25 per 1095 Form Exhibit
2. Letter of Agreement with Skills Adult Training Services (ATS) (2101 8th Avenue site) effective August 1, 2022 through August 1, 2023 to provide day programming services to an individual student. Cost: $5.36 per 15-minute unit for up to 16 units (half day) at two days per week. Frequency and duration can be increased by District Exhibit
3. Professional Services Agreement with UPMC Altoona Regional Health Services, Inc., d/b/a UPMC Altoona Blair Medical Associates, effective July 13, 2022 through July 13, 2023 (with auto renewal) for standing orders, to approve and provide prescriptions for new medications and to provide medical assistance for necessary services for student IEP reviews and completing medical authorizations. Cost: $10/IEP Review Exhibit
4. Agreement with Altoona Area School District for the Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth (AEDY) Program effective August 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023
Cost: $90/day for regular education students; $100/day for special education students Exhibit
5. School District Election Polling Place Agreement with the County of Blair effective with the 2022 municipal election for use of the Senior High and Frankstown Elementary Schools as polling stations Exhibit
6. Contract with Life Track Services effective September 1, 2022 through December 30, 2024 for graduate exit surveys and surveys 18 months post-graduation Cost: $3,246.25 Exhibit
7. Contract with Prismworks effective September 14, 2022 through August 30, 2023 for Papercut Enablement Pack Cost: $4,125 Exhibit
8. Individual Student Instruction Contract with Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes effective September 19, 2022 through March 19, 2023 for instructional services Cost: $28,080 Exhibit
The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes vote and zero no votes.
Mr. Brenneman initiated a motion, seconded by Dr. Sommer, to approve an Act 57 Tax Resolution of 2022 that was signed by the Governor on July 11, 2022 amending the Local Tax Collection Law. A taxing district is required to authorize such action by ordinance or resolution.
The resolution/ordinance allows for the Tax Collector to automatically waiver penalty for taxpayers who have purchased a home within twelve months and have not received their tax bill in the mail. This only allows for waiver of penalty so that taxpayers are able to pay in face, it does not allow for payment for the discount amount.
The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit
On motion of Ms. Bilek, seconded by Mr. Stephens, the board approved a 2022 Capital Reserve Project for the Replacement and Rust Repair of Hydraulic Cylinder for Hydraulic Dock Lift - JH: $11,800. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit
On motion of Mr. Stephens, seconded by Ms. Frye, the board approved the following:
Per Board Policy 706.1 Disposal of Surplus Property/Textbooks/Supplies, obsolete furniture and equipment and Per Board Policy 702, Gifts, Grants and Donations, the following donations:
Martins Store, #6288 - Duncansville: Miscellaneous School Supplies
Approximate Amount: $300
Lynda Trout on behalf of Grace United Church of Christ, Altoona
Senior High Backpack Program
Amount: $30.00
HAMPA
For widening of the gate at Tiger Stadium to allow for easier access of band onto the field
Amount: $1200.00 Exhibit
The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes vote and zero no votes for all actions except No. 5 (HAMPA Donation) which carried on a roll call vote with eight yes votes and one abstention. Mr. Brenneman cast the abstention. Exhibit
Superintendent’s Report
Ms. Bilek initiated a motion, seconded by Mr. Brenneman to approve the update to the Health and Safety Plan effective September 14, 2022. Ms. Bilek noted that she submitted edits to the plan less than 24 hours before the meeting and if the board approves the plan as presented, Dr. Gildea will meet with Ms. Bilek to discuss some adjustments to the plan and bring the plan to the board in October for discussion and approval. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit
Dr. Palazzi submitted the following working draft curriculum maps for Board approval. The maps will then be open for this school year in order for teachers to make minor tweaks to the curriculum, such as pacing, and will come back to the Board next year for final approval.
HS Entrepreneurism
Fiber Arts
Kindergarten Handwriting
First Grade Handwriting
Novel Approval: When Stars Are Scattered
On motion of Ms. Bilek, seconded by Dr. Sommer, the board approved the Curriculum Updates as presented. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit
On motion of Mr. Brenneman, seconded by Dr. Sommer, the board approved 2022 Fall Sports Schedules. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit
On motion of Ms. Frye, seconded by Mr. Snyder, Per Board Policies 230.1 Student Expenses for Conferences/Competitions and 121 Field Trips, the board approved the following field trip:
Field Trip Request:
SH Marching Band to Fort Hill High School, Cumberland, Md
September 23, 2022
Varsity Football Game Performance
District Cost: $1,537 (Transportation Cost) Exhibit
The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes.
On motion of Dr. Sommer, seconded by Mr. Snyder, the board approved personnel items No. 1 through 116 dated September 14, 2022 REV September 13, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit
President’s Report / Ms. Hartman
On motion of Mr. Snyder, seconded by Ms. Costanza, Per Board Policy 005 - Organization, the board approved Sweet, Stevens, Katz, Williams, LLP for The Technology in Education Pool counsel to give legal advice on technology in education through the Appalachia IU08 effective September 15, 2022 through June 30, 2023 at a cost of $600. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit
On motion of Mr. Stephens, seconded by Mr. Nichols, the board approved the execution of the following Tax Assessment Appeal:
Tax Assessment appeal filed to Blair County Court of Common Pleas Docket No. 2021 GN 3439, at the assessed value of $3,262,000, applicable to the 2022 and 2023 tax years, in accordance with and contingent upon a Stipulation for Settlement agreed to by all parties. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit
On motion of Ms. Frye, seconded by Mr. Snyder, the board approved the Election of 2023 PSBA Officers & At-Large representatives.
2023 President-Elect 
Michael Gossert, Cumberland Valley School District
2023 Vice President
Allison Mathis, North Hills School District
2023-2025 Central Zone Representative
Julie Preston, Northern Tioga School District
Trustee (term ends December 31, 2025)
Kathy Swope
Roberta M. Marcus
Forum Steering Committee (term ends December 31, 2024)
Tracy Long, Keystone Central School District
Steve Skrocki, North Penn School District
The motion carried on a roll call vote with seven yes votes and two no votes. Ms. Bilek and Ms. Costanza cast the dissenting votes.
Policy Discussion
Ms. Bilek entertained discussion regarding the creation of a policy on gender identity that would clearly state how the district will handle concerns so that all parents know what to expect when their students come to school, to protect teachers and give them clear guidelines.
Addition to the minutes per Ms. Bilek’s request: Ms. Bilek and Ms. Costanza will work together to come up with policy recommendations on gender identity. Ms. Bilek asked if anyone else would like to be involved in that discussion. Manny Nichols volunteered. Attorney Dambeck will put some thoughts around guidelines and Ms. Bilek and Dr. Gildea will review these together when complete.
After discussion with comments and questions from board members and suggestions from the solicitor about legalities surrounding policy vs. administrative regulations, it was decided that the solicitor would prepare two different guideline versions. One version will have restrictions with respect to allowing the student to come forward with their concerns and one version that is relative to permitting the teacher to ask questions. Ms. Bilek, Mr. Nichols and Ms. Costanza will work together on the guidelines for the board to review.
New Business
Mr. Nichols recognized Melissa Mitchell for working with the 917 society and for obtaining a copy of the constitution and providing books for all 8th grade students. Mr. Nichols also thanked Ken Krott for accepting the items.
Mr. Stephens recommended when planning the 2023 School Board Calendar, to consider eliminating the July meeting or make it a virtual meeting, to accommodate summer schedules and allow for more flexibility. Attorney Dambeck noted that if the board wishes, they can provide authority to the Superintendent to hire people with replication at the following board meeting. The administration will take the request under consideration.
There being no further business to be brought before the board, Ms. Hartman declared the meeting adjourned at 8:19p.m.
Autumn Fiscus
Board Secretary