Aug 28, 2002 By April Straughters 3 min read

After a two-hour executive session to discuss the secretarial and administrative compensation packages among other things, the Beth Center School Board agreed on a secretarial contract but tabled action on the administrative package and ended up continuing its regular monthly meeting until Sept. 4. The board agreed on a three-year contract for secretarial staff, including 45-, 50- and 55-cent-per-hour raises over the next three years.

The board, however, tabled action on the administration compensation package.

There was no board discussion on the matters outside of the executive session.

In another matter, the board deleted a recommendation to hire a long-term substitute and later passed a motion (with a 5-4 vote) to authorize Superintendent Dr. Herman Jackson to appoint long-term substitutes at the recommendation of the school principal.

Board members Karen Drill, Denise Duvall, Patsy Jean Ross and Daniel Symcheck voted against the motion.

In other matters, the board:

– Hired Ron Calhoun as a school police officer for the 2002-2003 school year, at a rate of $12 per hour.

The board agreed that Calhoun will work only during the school year and is not to be employed by any other school district during his time of employment.

– Hired Ann Charpentier as the district’s majorette sponsor.

– Agreed to purchase two copy machines at a cost of $158/month and $522/month, both for 60 months.

– Agreed to purchase 65 band uniforms at a total cost of $20,328 with $10,000 coming from the 2002-2003 budget and $10,329 from the 2003-2004 budget.

– Agreed to implement “English as a Second Language” (ESL) program to enable the district to provide English classes and course work to non-English speaking students.

– Approved Act 80 days for Nov. 8, Jan. 27 and March 31.

– Approved a policy, effective August 2002, that prevents nonresident students whose parents work in the district from attending school without paying tuition.

– Tabled a computer purchase recommendation. Ross objected to the board’s decision to table the purchase of 40 printers to serve teachers.

“We had all summer to discuss and approve this and we start school tomorrow and these teachers still won’t have computers,” she said.

Drill, Symcheck and Ross voted no to tabling the purchase.

– Agreed to send five board members to a technology leadership academy seminar in Pittsburgh at a cost of $100 each.

The board will continue its August regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 4. The board will meet for its regular monthly meeting Monday, Sept. 23, at 7 p.m.