Connellsville assumes two IU classes
CONNELLSVILLE – In an effort to reduce spending, the Connellsville Area School District board of directors opted Thursday to assume the operational responsibility of two Intermediate Unit 1 classes. The move, said district superintendent James Duncan, will additionally place instructors of the emotional and learning support classes under the direct supervision of the district.
The classes will be located at Springfield Township and Dunbar Borough elementary schools.
“We can no longer afford to contract these services,” Duncan said of the change.
Duncan explained that although the district would be employing the same instructors, the cost reduction would be realized through the elimination of IU administrative fees and fees charged for paraprofessional personnel utilized in the classrooms.
“We are one of the largest providers of special education classes in the state,” said Duncan, adding that approximately 1,200 district students are enrolled in special education classes.
Over the past year, the district has incorporated approximately nine special education classes that had been previously provided by Intermediate Unit 1 into the district operation along with supervisory personnel to cut costs.
“We felt it would be more meaningful and better organized under one operation,” said Duncan. “We plan to assume responsibility of more classes as it becomes economically feasible.
“I think its imperative that we do this; it’s better for our (special education) staff be part of our regular staff because they have to work together in order to integrate the student into the classroom. They can do it better if they are working under one system.”
Turning to other matters, the board approved 80 members of the senior high school marching band and chaperones to travel to Orlando, Fla. in April. The resolution also authorized the district to pay for 10 percent of the total cost of the trip and for substitute teachers.
The board additionally authorized the funding of certain local trips for the organization, but determined other travel to take part in parades and festivals outside the area will have to be paid for through outside sources if the group determines to participate.
While the board earlier approved the elimination of district-subsidized travel, Duncan said the Florida band trip -which is scheduled every two to three years – was not nixed as it meets previously established criteria.
The trip was an incentive feature initiated into the curriculum several years ago, he said, to lure musicians to participate in the band. Members take part in various concerts and parades at Disney World during the four-day trip.
The board also earlier agreed to pay 10-percent of related travel costs for certain trips provided a specified number of members took part in the trip. Duncan said the Florida trip meets the policy criteria.
He estimated the Florida trip and replacement teachers will cost the district $10,000.
The board additionally agreed to subsidize the bands’ participation in the Aug. 27 Vanderbilt Centennial Parade; the Sept. 3 Connellsville Timber Days Parade; the Oct. 8 Laurel Highlands Band Festival; the Oct. 15 Southmoreland Band Festival; the Oct. 25 Connellsville Halloween Parade; the Nov. 11 Veterans Day Parade; the Nov. 19 Connellsville Christmas Parade and the May, 2006 Memorial Day Parade.
While the board authorized the band participation in the Aug. 17 Kennywood Fall Fantasy Parade; the Sept. 24 Greensburg State Fireman’s Convention Parade; the Oct. 1 Preston County, W.Va. Buckwheat Festival; the Oct. 8 California University Homecoming Parade and the Nov. 26 Pittsburgh Celebrate the Season Parade, it would not provide any district funding for costs associated with the travel.
“We feel the band is an ambassador in the community for the school district,” said Duncan of the determined funded trips.
“If there is a competition, we’ll support that. We think competition is good.
“Our first priority is to support our community.”
Turning to other matters, the board also conducted the following business:
Hired Robert Renzi as the senior high basketball assistant coach; Paul Eichner as the senior high boys soccer assistant coach and Lori Grinko as the Junior High West cheerleader coach.
Approved Martin Gatti as a volunteer coach for the senior high football team.
Hired Rebecca Broadwater as a special education teacher; Robert DeBolt as a secondary English teacher and Audrey Mowry as a part time speech and language teacher.
Retained McClure and Wolfe to conduct the school district and North Fayette Vocational-Technical School financial audits through 2007.
Hired Roxanne Younkin as a senior high school life skills personal student aide and Melissa Mastowski as a Springfield Township Elementary School personal student aide.
Assigned Debra Shultz as a senior high school library clerk.
Increased the hourly salary of support personnel substitutes to $6. The previous salary was $5.15.
Approved Gale Cuneo as Junior High East co-choral activities director and Henry Molinaro as senior high musical director and choral activities director.
Named Schneider’s as the dairy provider for the senior high school, Junior High West and Dunbar Township, South Side and Zachariah Connell elementary schools and Fike’s as the provider for Junior High East and Dunbar Borough, Bullskin Township, Connellsville Township, C.N. Pritts and Springfield Township elementary schools.