Oct 10, 2002 By Jackie Beranek 3 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – The school board saved taxpayers $207,000 Wednesday when they agreed to pass a resolution that lowered the interest rate on a 1997 General Obligation Note. School district business manager William Harper said the resolution essentially reduced the district’s debt service.

“We refinanced the 1997 General Obligation Note now because the interest rates are at the lowest in nearly 30 years,” said Harper. “By taking out the new bonds, we lower our interest rates, which essentially reduced the school district’s debt service. It’s a real cost reduction for us.”

The new true rate of interest for the school district on the $4.3 million bond is 3.5357 percent, according to Harper. Harper said the money is not earmarked for anything in particular. It will be placed in the general fund.

In other unrelated matters, school board member Ann Watson had a hard time getting a request approved by the board pertaining to issuing Connellsville Area Senior High School diplomas to district students completing the Pennsylvania Department of Education approved requirements of the Communities in Schools.

Watson said the program is sponsored by Success Academy of Fayette County High School Dropout Recovery Program and meets the district guidelines regarding such diplomas.

School board member Francis Mongell said he “disagrees” with the program because it “cheapens the diploma for students who put in 7 hours a day, 180 days a year.”

Watson’s request for the school district to issue the diplomas passed by a vote of 5-4. Those voting against the request were Mongell, Karen Blocker, Kenneth (Chip) Nicholson and Jeffery Harvey.

Those voting in favor of the motion were Watson, Kevin Lape, Loretta Lint, David Goldblum and Charles Wilson.

Watson said only three students, between the ages of 18 and 21 have met the requirements for the diploma program.

She also told the board, “If we were voting on another athletic program, I’m sure we would have no problem getting it passed.”

In another unrelated matter, Wilson expressed his desire to have Charles Matthews, director of security, crack down on school district employees smoking on school property.

Wilson said, “I have had the opportunity to visit several school recently and I’ve noticed people smoking in each and every school I’ve been in.”

Wilson said he is concerned that someone is going to catch something on fire.

“I noticed brown marks on window sills where cigarettes had been set down and saw people smoking in areas where cleaning chemicals are used,” said Wilson. “I don’t think this is safe and I know it’s against the law. Employees, by law, are not allowed to smoke within 50 feet of a school.”

In other matters, the board:

– Hired four track coaches/assistant coaches and an assistant wrestling coach. Those hired were Jeff Garland, senior high head track coach, at a salary of $3,398; senior high assistant track coach, John Hall, at a salary of $1,194; Junior High East head track coach, Eric Painter, at a salary of $1,753; Junior High East assistant track coach, Justin Oswald, at a salary of $1,305; and Junior High East assistant wrestling coach, Jeremy Richey, at a salary of $1,473.

– Approved all members of the high school football team to attend football camp at California University of Pennsylvania, Aug. 17-22, 2003, at about $145 per player for lodging, transportation, meals and facilities rental, with final camp roster subject to the athletic director’s review.

nAdded the following to the senior high school athletic operational fees for the 2002-2003 school year: basketball, wrestling and track public address announcers, $10 per hour; track field events scorer, $10 per hour; and track running events timer, $10 per hour.