Brashear retains presidency
BROWNSVILLE – Director Rocky Brashear was re-elected as the Brownsville Area School Board president Thursday. Brashear, who was the top vote getter in this year’s election, received support from the entire board and was the only one nominated for the position.
Brashear, who is beginning his third term on the board, served seven years as vice president before being elected as president last year. He said he is very pleased to serve as president again and looks forward to the challenges ahead.
“I commend my fellow board members for believing in the job that I have done so far. We can’t get anywhere unless we work together. I do nothing but preside over the meetings,” he said. “I’m just excited to be on board.”
Director John Evans was elected as vice president.
The board also welcomed its two newest board members, Nena Kaminksy and Sandra Chan, who were formerly sworn in during the reorganization meeting.
The board also voted to appoint Davis & Davis of Uniontown as the district’s solicitor at $250 a month.
The board agreed to continue meeting for planning sessions on every third Monday of the month at 7 p.m. and for regular meetings on the third Thursday at 7 p.m.
Evans will also serve on the Southwest Regional Tax Bureau Executive Committee for a one- year term and he will continue to serve on the Fayette County Area Vocational-Technical School Joint Operating Committee for a three-year term.
Director Rosanne Markovich will continue to serve as the board representative to the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA).
Director Sandra Chan was elected as the board’s PSBA legislative chairperson.
Director Andy Dorsey will serve as the PSBA employee relations contact.
During a special meeting following the reorganization meeting, the board agreed to have administrators draw up a policy that will require drug testing for athletes and students who wish to participate in all extracurricular activities. Brashear said he expects the proposal to be complete by January.
Kaminsky, who has been bringing up the issue of drug testing at meetings before she was on the board, said: “This is a long time coming. We need to get on this immediately.”
Director Stella Broadwater agreed.
“We are moving forward in Brownsville,” she said.
The discussion of the drug testing came up after Superintendent Larry Golembiewski said that a student was caught with marijuana on school property. He said that the student has been placed on 10-day suspension and recommended that the board place the student in the Success Academy, an alternative education program in Uniontown, instead of expelling him.
The board also agreed to lease two modular buildings, which will provide four classrooms, from GE Capital Modular Space for 18 months at a cost of $48,350. The portable classrooms are necessary for the upcoming renovation project.
In other business, the board:
– Purchased $50,000 a whole life, single premium life insurance policy for Bart Verbanic, the district’s former buildings and grounds director, from Motorist Life Insurance Co. for $35,385.
– Acknowledged James Saul of ST Productions System Inc. for the donation of 12 computer monitors.
– Hired John Armel as varsity head wrestling coach.