Meeting in its monthly voting session last Monday night, the Tussey Mountain school board debated the need for hiring an elementary head teacher and acted on numerous personnel motions.
The necessity for an elementary head teacher was questioned by several board members while others saw merit in bringing on someone to fill the position. After some deliberation, the board unanimously approved a revised, amended job description. However, a motion to fill the position failed in a 4-4 vote.
Several of the board members suggested that financing another position was unnecessary, pointing out that the money could be better spent elsewhere. Heading the opposition were board members Jennifer Zimmerman, Chad Myers, Amy Melius and Brad Sheeders.
The motion to hire someone for the position was tabled and it was unclear if the motion would be put back on the agenda later.
In other agenda business the school board approved revisions to eight district policies, eight building use requests, three conference/workshop requests, and 12 field trip requests.
The board agreed to changing the reimbursement form for meals as follows: breakfast and lunch from $5/meal to $10 per meal maximum and dinner from $10/meal to $20 per meal. It was pointed out that the school district will still require receipts and if the actual cost is less than the allowance, the actual amount will be reimbursed.
The board gave the thumbs up for the purchase of a commercial Manitowac ice machine with a bin at a cost of $3,900 from the Hostetler Co. It was explained that the machine will mainly be used for athletic activities. The new equipment will replace a machine more than 25 years old.
It was announced that the school district received $192,000 from GLeaf Medical LLC of Saxton. The donation will be placed in the district’s general account, district superintendent Dr. Jerry Shoemake said.
This marks the third year the company has contributed to the district.
School officials welcomed the donation, which will help support the district’s 2022-23 deficit budget.
Numerous personnel motions were acted on as follows:
• Approved Denelle Diehl and Jacque Hummel to attend nonviolent crisis intervention training Sept. 27-29 in Harrisburg, after which time both district employees will be certified trainers who will also train other staffers. Cost of the training will be absorbed through a grant.
• Accepted the resignation of Tonya Henry, a cooks’ helper at the elementary school.
• Agreed to two transfer requests: Janet Altobelli, full time cook at the high school and the MS program to full time cook at the elementary school, effective Aug. 25; and Emily Dixon, part time Pre-K aide, Head Start, to part time cooks helper at the elementary school, effective Aug. 29.
• Approved a long list of persons and volunteers for numerous 2022-23 school year athletic, band and other positions.
• Approved Elaine Meck and Haley Matthews, both substitute support staffers, for 2022-23.
• Accepted a retirement letter from Jeanette Myers, effective Dec. 31.
Joining the school board for Monday night’s meeting was Kaitlyn Lashinsky of Broad Top City, who is serving as the student council representative on the board.
The 17 year-old Lashinsky, a senior at Tussey, said she looks forward to her new duties that will include updating the school board on various activities the Tussey students will be involved in during 2022-23.
(0)comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.