OCTORARA AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
Minutes of Board Meeting Held on April 13, 2015
The Work Session of the Octorara Area School Board was held in the Octorara Area Jr./Sr.
High School Multi-Purpose Room on April 13, 2015.
The President, Ms. Bowman, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Other members present
were: Mr. Alexander, Mr. Ganow, Ms. Johnson, Mr. Lapp, Dr. Melton, Mr. Norris, and Mr.
Stoltzfus. Mr. Oleyniczak was absent. Also present were: Mrs. Hardy, Secretary; Mr. Curtis,
Business Manager, members of the administrative team, Maggie Imms, student
representative, one reporter, and three citizens.
Under presentations, Mr. Curtis gave a 2014-2015 budget projection. Revenues are projected
to be $175,299 under budget. This includes an increase in local revenue due largely to
interim and transfer tax from Victory Brewing; an increase in state revenue due to debt
service reimbursement and unexpected special education revenue; and a large decrease in
federal revenue due to a decrease in ACCESS funds.
Ms. Bowman clarified the special education funding has been flat funded for a number of
years. Mr. Curtis said the increase in special education revenue is due to several high cost
students. The state has a contingency fund and determines if districts are eligible for
additional revenue based on the number of high cost students. This is not something that can
be predetermined or budgeted for. The regular special education funding continues to be flat
funded even if the District’s costs increase. Mr. Curtis said school districts have appealed the
process for ACCESS reimbursement.
Expenditures are projected to be $819,391 under budget. This includes a decrease in salary
and benefit spending due to professional employees being on unpaid leave and retired
employees being replaced by lower paid employees; a decrease in debt service due to bond
refinancing; and an increase in transportation costs due to additional van routes for special
education students.
Mr. Ganow questioned why transportation costs were over budget.
Mr. Curtis said there are two additional special education vans that were not included in the
budget.
Mr. Curtis said the Board will review and adopt the Proposed Final Budget at next week’s
Regular Board Meeting. PDE will notify districts on May 1 what the property tax relief
allocation for homestead/farmstead properties will be. He said he expects it will be similar to
last year’s amount of $267. Mr. Curtis said the Board will adopt the 2015-2016 Final Budget
at the June 15 Regular Board Meeting. The Board must adopt a Final Budget no later than
June 30.
Mr. Norris said it is anticipated there will be a lengthy process to approve the state budget.
He asked how that will affect our cash flow.
Mr. Curtis said the state would give allocations close to the projections then make
adjustments when the budget is approved. The District also has $8,000,000 in fund balance
available due to our strict budgeting process. He said not all schools have that in place.
Ms. Bowman said she recently attended the Chester County School Board Legislative
Council meeting where it was reported the earliest projection to have a state budget is late
September. She said districts must have their budgets finalized by June 30 with no indication
what state funding will be included. Also discussed at the meeting was an update from the
Fair Funding Formula Campaign. The Campaign has developed a funding formula that takes
into account student factors such as poverty, ELL, and homelessness as well as district
factors including sparcity/density, local wealth, and tax effort and includes a base cost per
student. Pennsylvania is one of a few states that do not have a funding formula. Ms.
Bowman said she will give the Board a website that will include a spreadsheet with figures
districts could receive. She said the goal with the funding formula would be for districts to
receive $3.6 billion additional funding over a six to eight year timeframe. The earliest this
funding could be available would be for the 2016-2017 school year.
Mr. Stoltzfus said one year during Governor Rendell’s term the state budget was not
finalized until October. He said districts lost money because they couldn’t earn interest by
investing funds long term. Some districts had to borrow money to pay salaries and expenses
until the state budget was finalized.
There were no visitors’ comments for agenda items only or information items.
Ms. Bowman presented the following items for action at the April 20, 2015 Board meeting:
A. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the 2015-2016 Chester County
Intermediate Unit Core Services Budget in the amount of $22,101,632.
B. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the 2015-2016 Chester County
Intermediate Unit Occupational Education Budget in the amount of $25,659,433.
C. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following policy, first
reading:
918 “Title I Parental Involvement”
D. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following polices, second
reading:
201 “Admission of Beginners”
E. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the use of the stadium field on
May 30, 2015 for the Powder-Puff game.
Resignation Approvals:
F. That the Octorara Board of School Directors accept, with regret, the resignation for
purpose of retirement of Ms. Deborah Atkins as a math teacher at the Octorara Area
Sr. High School effective the end of the 2014-2015 school year. (Hired May 6,
1980.)
G. That the Octorara Board of School Directors accept the resignation of Ms. Natalie
Ergler as a lunch/playground supervisor at the Octorara Elementary School effective
March 27, 2015. (Hired September 17, 2012.)
Hiring Approvals:
H. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve Ms. Riki Jones as a
lunch/playground supervisor at the Octorara Intermediate School effective April 6,
2015 pending completion of employee related documents required by law and the
District. Ms. Jones’ rate will be $8.75 per hour for three hours per day. (Replacing
Dorothy Lomboy who transferred.)
I.
That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve Ms. Kathleen Whitman as a
lunch/playground supervisor at the Octorara Intermediate School effective April 1,
2015 pending completion of employee related documents required by law and the
District. Ms. Whitman’s rate will be $8.75 per hour for three hours per day.
(Replacing Robert Meeks who resigned.)
J. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve Ms. Amber DiFiore as a
lunch/playground supervisor at the Octorara Elementary School effective March 30,
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2015 pending completion of employee related documents required by law and the
District. Ms. DiFiore’s rate will be $8.75 per hour for three hours per day.
(Replacing Natalie Ergler who resigned.)
K. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following supplemental
contracts for the 2014-2015 school year:
Deborah Gajari
Asst Track Coach (Sp Needs)
6 pts @ $600 $3,600
Mr. Ganow asked if this is for one student and have we had a special needs coach
before.
Dr. Rohrer said he believes it is for one student but he will clarify for next week.
L. That the Octorara Board of School Directors approve the following supplemental
contracts for the 2015-2016 school year:
Jody Zwick
8th Grade Field Hockey Coach
4 pts @ $600 $2,400
Scott Forman
Varsity Girls’ Basketball Coach
10 pts @ $600 $6,000
Under the Facility Committee Report, Mr. Stoltzfus said the Committee discussed the repair
of the tennis courts. The District is currently getting prices for the different ways it could be
repaired. More information and details will be presented as they are received.
The gym floor at the Sr. High School needs to be sanded and refinished. This is something
that needs to be done on a regular basis. The District is getting prices for painting as well as
staining that will last longer.
Mr. Stoltzfus reported black top repairs and resurfacing will be discussed when prices are
received.
He said there was discussion about fencing to be installed for a possible agriculture CTE
program. More information regarding safety and liability is being gathered.
Mr. Stoltzfus said Mr. Koennecker reported the Field Development Task Force is working
on a 5K run in conjunction with the OABEST Expo on May 30.
Mr. Stoltzfus said prices for repair of the brickwork at the Jr. High will be presented next
month.
The Facility Committee meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. next month to tour the track and
tennis courts for needed repairs. Board members attending will meet at the concession stand
at the track at 5:30.
Under the Education Committee Report, Mr. Norris said the Committee met on Monday,
March 23, 2015. Mr. Norris said they reviewed a fourth grade math sample lesson and he
found it interesting to see how kids are learning math.
The Committee reviewed the Jr. High Course Guide. There are no changes in courses;
however, the Course Guide was created to be in line with the Sr. High Program of Studies.
There will be a parent meeting in May for parents of students who will be entering grade
seven next year.
Mr. Norris said there was an iPad update. A survey for students and teachers will be given.
The iPad Committee will be meeting to establish goals for next year.
Mr. Norris reported Schoology training is continuing and the goal is to have everyone using
it by next year.
There was a Learning Focused Schools (LFS) update. Administration is going through the
next component which will be rolled out to teachers later this spring. Mr. Norris reported
walk throughs are continuing.
The Committee was given the schedule for PSSA testing. Mr. Norris said he questioned the
rationale of half days on testing days.
Mr. Norris said the Committee discussed the Special Education Audit process. The audit is
done every six years and the District will be presented with an improvement plan if needed.
There will be a Title audit the end of April.
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The Committee discussed RTII which is goal four of the Comprehensive Plan. RTII is
Response to Intervention & Instruction – the acronym has been changed to MTSS which is
Multi-tiered System of Support and allows extra help for students that need it.
Ms. Bowman said the Education Committee meetings are in-depth meetings that are very
informative and encouraged Board Members to attend.
There were no other items or concerns.
Under visitors ’comments for items in general, Mr. Robert Hume, Parkesburg South thanked
the Board for doing a good job. He said he noticed there was mortar coming out of the east
wall by the gym.
Mr. Hume said there was a report given a few months ago comparing the buildings. He said
the high school numbers were in the negative. Mr. Hume said something should be done
earlier to catch the students who are not interested in school to make them understand how
important education is.
Mr. Hume said there is a group of people working hard to save the Ag program at Octorara.
He encouraged everyone to come out to the OABEST Expo on May 30 from 10 a.m. – 2:00
p.m. He said there are quite a few businesses participating. Mr. Hume said he has been going
around to local businesses to get donations for a permanent greenhouse.
Mr. Hume said he would like the District to help make students aware of the cost of student
loans. He said we are pressing our students to go to college but the loans are a nightmare to
pay back. He said it is a terrible burden and some students can’t make it. He suggested
letting seniors know that there is a tremendous cost involved – it could be close to $100,000
for their college education.
Mr. Hume suggested putting seating in by the tennis courts so spectators don’t have to sit on
the bank.
Mr. Brian Fox, Londonderry Township, said he prepared some information and sent it to
Board Members regarding the possible drug testing policy. Mr. Fox reviewed the attached
document to Board Members. (See attachment)
Under administrator comments, Maggie Imms, student representative announced student
council will be hosting the Sr. Citizen Prom on Friday, April 24 from 5:00 – 7:30 p.m. at the
Sr. High School.
Dr. Rohrer asked the Board for direction on whether to hold the annual awards dinner on a
Board meeting night or on another night.
Mr. Ganow said it was not rushed last year when it was not on a Board meeting night – other
Board Members agreed. Dr. Rohrer will let the Board know the date of the dinner.
In response to Mr. Hume’s concern regarding the School Performance Profile Report, Ms.
Wilson said that is a concern we are taking very seriously. Mr. Hume suggested something
be done earlier for students and that is why we are taking a comprehensive approach to
school improvement K-12. Ms. Wilson said instruction is being addressed through LFS.
Response to Intervention and Instruction, which is part of our Comprehensive Plan, is being
designed to follow students across the school settings. Ms. Wilson said she appreciates Mr.
Hume’s concern and invited him to the Education Committee meetings or to sit down and
talk with administration about his concerns.
Under Board Comments, Mr. Stoltzfus told Mr. Hume the District is looking into repairs of
the mortar joints on the entire Jr. High School. The chimney area will be priced separately
because the damage is more extensive. He said the entire building will be done to make it
water tight.
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Mr. Lapp thanked Mr. Hume and Mr. Fox for their comments. He said last month he
commented on his disappointment of the script in the play and it drew a standing room only
crowd to the next Board Meeting. He said he asked people to provide dialogue hoping the
room would be full again. Mr. Lapp said he does not agree with the drug testing policy and
would rather see a volunteer mentor program established where families would open their
homes to high risk students. Mr. Lapp said there are some great needs here and gave an
example of a girl they invited to their home.
Ms. Bowman said there are organizations out there that will mentor students.
Ms. Bowman read the following statement referring to ongoing negotiations with the
Octorara Area Education Association:
“Recently, the Octorara Area School District filed for fact finding with the Pennsylvania
Labor Relations Board. This decision was made after approximately 15 months of
negotiating with the Octorara Area Education Association. Fact finding is a process where
the parties offer evidence to a neutral third party in hopes they can resolve the impasse of
negotiations. It is important to note, this process is non-binding on the parties, but gives the
opportunity for a third party to review the issues and facts and make suggestions for a
settlement between the parties. Over the years this process has led to settlements or at least
the means for settlement after it has been completed.
This decision was not done in haste. The parties have met over the last 15 months
exchanging proposals and ideas in the hopes of settling the issues, to the point that we were
able to agree to some items. Unfortunately, we are at a point where the parties cannot move
any further. The Committee is hopeful this process will lead to a settlement sooner than
later.”
Ms. Bowman reported on the following meetings to be held:
Executive Session for personnel - Monday, April 13, 2015 following the Work
Session in the District Office Conference Room
Finance Committee Meeting – Monday, April 20, 2015 – 5:30 p.m. in the District
Office Conference Room
Policy Committee Meeting – Monday, April 20, 2015 – 6:00 p.m. in the District
Office Conference Room
Next regularly scheduled Board Meeting – Monday, April 20, 2015 – 7:00 p.m. in
the Jr. High School Multi-Purpose Room
Education Committee Meeting – Monday, April 27, 2015 – 6:00 p.m. in the District
Office Conference Room
There being no further items of business the meeting adjourned at 8:13 p.m. on motion of
Mr. Ganow, second by Mr. Norris and approval of all members present.
Respectfully submitted,
Jill L. Hardy, Secretary
Octorara Board of School Directors
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