Minutes - October 16, 2024 Committee of the Whole/Voting (ADA Compliant)
HOLLIDAYSBURG AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
MINUTES
The Hollidaysburg Area School Board met for a Committee of the Whole/Voting Meeting on Wednesday, October 16, 2024 in the Senior High Library, 1510 N. Montgomery Street, Hollidaysburg. Ms. Bilek called the meeting to order at 7:07p.m. and opened the meeting with the pledge to the flag.
Roll call was taken by Mrs. Fiscus with eight members present. Attending were Mrs. Bilek, President, Dr. Sommer, Ms. Sullivan, Dr. Li, Mr. Snyder, Ms. Luther, Mr. Brenneman and Dr. Wells. Ms. Costanza was absent.
Also present were Mr. Whitesel, Superintendent, Mrs. Boone, Assistant Superintendent, Mrs. Prosser, Director of Special Education, Mrs. Fiscus, Business Manager/Board Secretary, Mrs. Bell, Director of Accounting Operations, Mr. Caldwell, Director of Human Resource/Transportation, Ms. Faith, Foundation Director/Grant Administrator, Mr. Nihart, Director of Physical Plant, Mr. Arthur, Director of Technology, Attorney Dambeck, Solicitor, Mr. Madden, Mr. McCall 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, Senior Representatives Jefferson McCoy and Madison McLaurin and Junior Representative Alice Haslam presented their monthly report to the board.
Announcements
The board met Wednesday, October 16, 2024 at 6:30p.m. for personnel.
Meetings for November, 2024:
Athletic Committee
November 13, 2024 - 5:00PM
Senior High Library
1510 N. Montgomery Street
Hollidaysburg PA 16648
Committee of the Whole/Voting
November 13, 2024 - 7:00PM
Senior High Library
1510 N. Montgomery Street
Hollidaysburg PA 16648
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.
Business Office Report / Mrs. Fiscus
On motion of Mr. Snyder, seconded by Dr. Wells, Per Board Policy 006 Meetings, the board approved the minutes of the following meetings:
June 19, 2024 Athletic Committee
June 19, 2024 Committee of the Whole/Voting
July 17, 2024 Policy Committee
July 17, 2024 Committee of the Whole/Voting
July 31, 2024 Special Voting
August 14, 2024 Committee of the Whole/Voting
September 11, 2024 Committee of the Whole/Voting
The motion carried on a voice vote with eight yes votes and zero no votes.
Ms. Sullivan initiated a motion, seconded by Ms. Luther, to approve financial reports for September, 2024, items 1 through 5. The reports included Treasurer’s Report, List of Payments, FY Projection, Investment Portfolio, and YTD Expenditures/Revenues. The motion carried on a voice vote with eight yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit 1
Dr. Sommer initiated a motion, seconded by Dr. Wells, to approve, per Board Policy 006 Meetings & 818 Contracted Services, contracts/agreements 1 through 15:
Quote from Fireplace, Inc. for Smore for Schools: 15 User Department Software for digital newsletters effective December 12, 2024 through December 11, 2025. Cost: $1,890 *This is a quote that will be signed electronically Exhibit 2
Vaccine Administration Program Agreement with Rite Aid retroactive to September 6, 2024 through February 28, 2025 to provide immunizations with flu vaccine to eligible employees at an on-site clinic located at the Junior High. Cost: $100/hr staffing fee per pharmacist per location that does not provide twenty (20) immunizations per hour during clinic hours Exhibit 3
Contract with Rise Against Hunger effective January 26, 2025 to purchase 10,152 meals to be packed /donated to children/families in need No Cost (Approximately $4,200 for meals to be raised through fundraising) Exhibit 4
Contract with Vector Solutions for Scenario Learning effective October 1, 2024 through October 1, 2025 to provide vector training platforms for Blair County Christian staff Cost: No Cost (Paid out of Title II Federal Funds) Exhibit 5
Rental Agreement with The Casino for the 2025 Senior Prom, Friday, May 23, 2025. Total rental fee $9,000 (includes $1,000 security deposit); additional food costs dependent on attendance, 20% gratuity on subtotal. Exhibit 6
Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperative Sponsorship of Wrestling with Bishop Guilfoyle High School for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years. Revenue: $200/student Exhibit 7
Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperative Sponsorship of Wrestling with Bishop Guilfoyle Junior High School for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years. Revenue: $200/student Exhibit 8
Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperative Sponsorship of Cross Country with Bishop Guilfoyle High School for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years. Revenue: $200/student Exhibit 9
Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperative Sponsorship of Cross Country with Bishop Guilfoyle Junior High School for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years. Revenue: $200/student Exhibit 10
Agreement with Soar for Life effective October 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025 for behavioral health individual student consultation, evaluation of students in the classroom, teacher consultation for classroom assistance and education of staff regarding specific behavioral health issues and interventions. No Cost for the first 5 hours/month. After 5 hours, costs covered under PCCD Grant Funds Exhibit 11
Letter of Agreement with Simply Speech Therapy, LLC. effective October 21, 2024 through May 30, 2025 (or until HASD hires a speech therapist) for speech therapy services for JH/SH students Cost: Direct service: 12hrs/wk at $90/hr - Indirect Service: 4hrs/wk at $90/hr (22.50/15 min) Exhibit 12
Service Agreement with Honeycomb ABA Therapy effective 10/10/2024 through 10/10/2025 for Applied Behavior Analysis services and supports to students with special needs No Cost Exhibit 13
Contract with Nexus Therapy effective November 5, 2024 through May 30, 2025 for speech therapy services Cost: $88/hr up to 6.5hrs/day; up to 32.5hrs/week Exhibit 14
Engagement Letter with Education Framework, Inc. effective October 21, 2024 through October 20, 2025 for EdPrivacy software Cost: $8,773 Exhibit 15
Parent Agreement to Assume Transportation Responsibility and Liability effective October 17, 2024 through June 30, 2025 Cost: Current IRS Mileage rate reimbursement Exhibit 16
The motion carried on a voice vote with eight yes votes and zero no votes.
Mr. Brenneman initiated a motion, seconded by Dr. Wells, to approve items 2 through 8:
Federal Program Budget Adjustment:
2024-2025 Budget Increase: 2021-2022 ARP Homeless Grant: $18,347 Exhibit 17
Per Board Policy 702, Gifts, Grants and Donations, the following grant/donation:
Tugboat Grable Grant -Educators in the Field: $20,000 Exhibit 18
Per Board Policy 706.1 Disposal of Surplus Property/Textbooks/Supplies, disposal of various obsolete equipment and books. Exhibit 19
Per Board policy, 229 - District Fund Raising, the following fundraisers:
E-Sports Team: Account No. 51
Hoagie Sale (Fall) Estimated Profit: $1,800
Teacher Dress Down (Fall) Estimated Profit: $300
Candy Sale (Winter/Holiday) Estimated Profit: $1,250
Pizza Sale (Winter/Spring) Estimated Profit: $800
Food Product (Spring) Estimated Profit: $1,000
Art Club-Foot of Ten: Account No. 68
Art Camps (Spring) Estimated Profit: $750
Ornament Sale (Holiday) Estimated Profit: $125
Magnet Sale (Holiday) Estimated Profit: $90
Family Paint Night (Spring) Estimated Profit: $900
Per Board Policy 618, Student Activity Fund Control:
New Student Activity:
814 Bible Study- No. 87
Purpose: To provide Hollidaysburg Area High School students with the opportunity to meet together and encourage one another through prayer, devotions, and worship. Exhibit 20
New Student Activity: C.A.R.E. (Cancer.Awareness.Research.Education) - No. 98
Purpose: To educate the student body on what cancer is, how cancer is affecting the community and awareness of how cancer can be prevented and treated.
Per Board Policy 618-Student Activity Fund Control, the closure of the following Student Activity account due to inactivity: JH French/Latin Club - No. 82
Per Board Policy 618-Student Activity Fund Control, the transfer of the following Closed Student Activity balance
From: JH French/Latin Club - No. 82: $705.48
To: SH French Club - No. 91 : $705.48
The motion carried on a voice vote with eight yes votes and zero no votes.
Superintendent’s Report / Mr. Whitesel
Dr. Sommer initiated a motion, seconded by Dr. Li, to approve Items 1 through 3:
The Annual Plan Exhibit 20
Anti-Bullying Pledge Exhibit 21
Bus routes for 2024-2025 Exhibit 22
The motion carried on a voice vote with eight yes votes and zero no votes.
Ms. Sullivan initiated a motion, seconded by Dr. Sommer, to approve personnel items 1 through 73 dated 10/16/2024 REV 10/15/2024 at 3:06p.m. The motion carried on a voice vote with eight yes votes and zero no votes. Exhibit 23
President’s Report / Ms. Bilek
Dr. Wells initiated a motion, seconded by Mr. Brenneman, per Board Policy 000 Board Policy/Procedure/Administrative Regulations, the board approved the first reading of Policy 325-AR Dress and Grooming. The motion carried on a voice vote with eight yes votes and zero no votes.
PSBA Travel Accident Insurance is provided to board members free of charge by PSBA. Details were available on BoardDocs.
New Business
Ms. Luther stated that Mr. Nihart is waiting on flooring estimates for the 2nd floor at Charles W. Longer. The flooring will be installed once estimates are discussed and finalized.
There being no further business to be brought before the board, Ms. Bilek declared the meeting adjourned at 7:23p.m.
Autumn Fiscus, Board Secretary