Minutes - December 6, 2023 / Reorganization - COW/Voting
HOLLIDAYSBURG AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
MINUTES
The Hollidaysburg Area School Board met for a Reorganization and Committee of the Whole/Voting Meeting on Wednesday, December 6, 2023 in the Senior High Library, 1510 N. Montgomery Street, Hollidaysburg. Dr. Sommer called the meeting to order at 7:13p.m. and opened the meeting with the pledge to the flag.
Mrs. Fiscus took roll call with nine members present. Attending were Dr. Sommer, Mr. Snyder, Dr. Li, Ms. Costanza, Ms. Luther, Ms. Sullivan, Dr. Wells, Ms. Bilek and Mr. Brenneman.
Student Representative Report
Per Board Policy 004.2-Student Representatives to the Board, Senior Student Representatives Connor Owen and Jacob Ott presented their monthly report to the board.
Public Comment
Cory Hartman, 609 Front Street, Hollidaysburg and Scott Barger, Turkey Valley Road, Hollidaysburg congratulated the newly elected and re-elected board members.
Committee Reports
Ms. Costanza presented a report of the October 18, 2023 Curriculum Committee and Ms. Bilek presented a report of the November 15, 2023 Athletic Committee.
Board Reorganization
Dr. Sommer read the names of Holdover, Re-Elected and Newly Elected Board Members
Holdover Board Members
Carmen Bilek
Scott Brenneman
Jennifer Costanza
Ronald Sommer
Re-Elected Board Member
Kenneth Snyder
Newly Elected Board Members
Michele Luther
Missy Sullivan
John Wells
Ying Li
Per Board Policy 005, Local Board Procedures, Dr. Sommer opened the floor to nominations for Temporary Board President. Ms. Bilek nominated Dr. Sommer, seconded by Ms. Costanza. There being no further nominations, Dr. Sommer declared nominations closed. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes.
Dr. Sommer read the certificates of election for newly elected and re-elected members. Exhibit 1
Dr. Sommer administered the oath of office to newly elected and re-elected members. Exhibit 2
Re-Elected Board Members
Kenneth Snyder
Newly Elected Board Members
Michele Luther
Missy Sullivan
John Wells
Ying Li
Per Board Policy 005, Local Board Procedures, Dr. Sommer opened the floor to nominations for 2024 Board President. Ms. Sullivan nominated Ms. Bilek, seconded by Ms. Luther. There being no further nominations, Dr. Sommer declared nominations closed. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes.
Ms. Bilek assumed the chair of 2024 Board President.
Per Board Policy 005, Local Board Procedures, Ms. Bilek opened the floor to nominations for 2024 Board Vice-President. Mr. Snyder nominated Ms. Costanza, seconded by Dr. Wells. There being no further nominations, Ms. Bilek declared nominations closed. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes.
Ms. Costanza assumed the chair of 2024 Board Vice-President.
Ms. Costanza presented the List of Newly Constituted Board Membership for board member review.
Per Board Policy 005, Local Board Procedures, Dr. Sommer initiated a motion, seconded by Mr. Snyder to approve the 2024 Board Meeting Calendar for Voting, Committee of the Whole and Committee meetings. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit 3
Business Office Report / Mrs. Fiscus
Announcements:
The board met in executive session Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at 5:30p.m. and Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at 6:00p.m. in the Senior High Library for personnel.
December 13, 2023 Special Voting Meeting *Cancelled*
January Meetings:
January 10, 2024
COW/Voting
Senior High Library
1510 N. Montgomery Street
Hollidaysburg PA 16648
Time: 7:00p.m.
All board meeting agendas are available in detail 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.
On motion of Dr. Wells, seconded by Ms. Costanza, Per Board Policy 006 Meetings, the board approved the minutes of the November 15, 2023 Athletic Committee and November 15, 2023 Committee of the Whole/Voting meetings. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes.
On motion of Dr. Li, seconded by Ms. Luther, the board approved Financial Reports for November, 2023, items 1 through 7. The reports included Treasurer’s Report, List of Payments, Investment Portfolio, YTD Expenditures/Revenues, Budget Transfers, Food Service for October, 2023 and Senior High Student Store for October, 2023. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit 4
Dr. Sommer initiated a motion, seconded by Ms. Costanza, to approve the Act 1 Resolution for 2024-2025.
RESOLVED, that the Board of School Directors of Hollidaysburg Area School District, makes the following unconditional certifications:
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 2024-2025 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 dis0trict preliminary budget or other information available to the School Board.
The applicable index for the next fiscal year is 6.4%, 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.
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.
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 5
On motion of Mr. Brenneman, seconded by Mr. Snyder, the board, Per Board Policy 006 Meetings, approved the following contracts:
Memorandum of Understanding with Family Services Incorporated effective December 7, 2023 through June 30, 2024 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 6
Contract with Hampton Inn by Hilton Manhattan, effective April 11, 2024 through April 12, 2024 for hotel accommodations for the Art Club field trip to New York City, New York Cost: $4,572; $3,948 plus 14% tax and $3.50 per room occupancy tax. Exhibit 7
Contract with Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) effective December 6, 2023 for vulnerability scanning No Cost Exhibit 8
Guest Author Contract with David Biedrzycki, effective April 2, 2024 through April 3, 2024 for 2 full days (3 presentations/day) Cost: Not to exceed $4,875 ($1800/day x 2 days + $750/flight + $345 lodging + $180/car rental) Exhibit 9
Contract with Scholastic Book Fairs, effective December 13, 2023 through March 25, 2024 for a CWL Book Fair March 18, 2024 through March 25, 2024 No Cost (Parent Paid) Exhibit 10
Client Service Agreement and Amendments A,B,C and D, effective December 7, 2023 through May 31, 2024 for hearing support services Cost: $98/hr. up to 12 hrs/week. Exhibit 11
Contract with Playscripts, Inc. effective November 30, 2023 through April 6, 2024 for the performance of The Count of Monte Cristo (April 4, 2024-April 6, 2024) Cost: $861.49 (Paid by HARP) Exhibit 12
The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes.
Dr. Wells initiated a motion, seconded by Ms. Costanza, to approve the following:
1st Summit Bank Bag Authorization to approve Nicolette Hoover and Deborah Faith as authorized school district employees to make bank deposits and pick up deposit bags as needed.
Resolution of Board of School Directors Establishing Fund Balance Policies as required by GASB 54 Exhibit 13 NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of School Directors of Hollidaysburg Area School District recommits the following portions of its June 30, 2024 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.
Resolution of Board of School Directors Establishing Fund Balance Policies as required by GASB 54 Exhibit 14 NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of School Directors of Hollidaysburg Area School District recommits the following portions of its June 30, 2024 Retirement Rate Stabilization Committed Fund Balance as follows:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of School Directors of Hollidaysburg Area School District recommits $175,710 from the Retirement Rate Stabilization Committed Fund Balance and transfers $175,710 to the Unassigned General Fund Balance.
The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes.
Superintendent’s Report / Mr. McLaurin
On motion of Mr. Snyder, seconded by Mr. Brenneman, the board approved a new course proposal for World Geography and the list of web-based resources that require student accounts. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit 15
On recommendation of the administration, Dr. Wells initiated a motion, seconded by Mr. Brenneman, to table the motion on Certified Therapy Dogs for further review with the administration and the solicitor. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes.
Dr. Sommer initiated a motion, seconded by Mr. Snyder, Per Board Policy 614 Payroll Authorizations, to approve personnel actions 1 through 28, dated 12/6/2023 REV 12/5/2023 at 2:52p.m. The motion carried on a roll call vote with nine yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit 16
President’s Report / Ms. Bilek
New Business
Ms. Bilek asked new board members to see her after the meeting to sign documents related to the certificates of election.
Ms. Bilek asked board members to submit their list of preferences for school board committee assignments to her as soon as possible.
Mr. Snyder commended Cory Hartman and Scott Barger, public comment speakers for their positive comments to the board.
There being no further business to be brought before the board, Ms. Bilek declared the meeting adjourned at 7:54p.m.
Autumn Fiscus
Board Secretary