California board promises investigation into judging
CALIFORNIA – The California Area School Board is promising an investigation into the way cheerleading tryouts were conducted this year. Christine Tirpak addressed the board Wednesday regarding what she says were irregularities in the judging process, including the hiring of local college cheerleaders, at least one of whom lives in the school district, instead of hiring an independent outside judging firm.
“We budgeted $500 for an outside panel of judges,” said board president Terri Doman.
Last year’s judges came from the University of Pittsburgh and Doman said the district has even looked out of state for judges in the past to try to eliminate allegations of favoritism in the selection process.
“It’s supposed to be up to the athletic director to hire the judges,” Doman said.
Tirpak’s daughter was captain of the middle school cheerleading squad and voted “Most School Spirit” by the eighth-grade class, but was not selected for the junior varsity squad at the high school.
Tirpak said she has tried to address the irregularities in the hiring of the judges and in a two-day delay in announcing those selected with the high school principal since the results were announced in March, but she still hasn’t received answers.
“I’m not pushing for her to be put on the squad. I just want the wrong righted. I just want the truth. I want them to tell her what really happened,” Tirpak said. “We’ve had two competition squads asking if she wanted to compete with them, but she kept turning them down because she didn’t want to compete against her own school,” she said.
Doman said the athletic committee of the school board would look into the matter at its July 5 meeting at 6:30 at Phillipsburg School.
In other matters, the board voted against accepting a high school band policy that would have required students to chose between cheerleading and serving as a section leader in the band.
The board also adopted the 2005-06 budget of $13.2 million with no tax increase.
District Superintendent Dr. Tim Marks said that while there are some increased expenses, a large number of retirements helped the district keep costs in line without any significant program cuts.
One area of savings was in errors and omissions insurance. The original quote through the Pennsylvania School Boards Association was for $29,965.
The board rescinded its vote to accept that quote, going instead with National Union/AIG at a cost of $13,966.
The board also voted to hire Mark John and Lori Ballone as fifth-grade teachers and Tina Ross as a fourth-grade teacher.
The board also voted to open the food service manager’s position for applications.
“We’re just looking for ways to make our cafeteria so it holds its own,” Doman said.
The board also voted to begin a junior high school girls fast-pitch softball team next year. The coaching position will be posted and advertised.
Administrative pay raises for all positions except the superintendent were approved. The raised vary from 3.5 to 4 percent and are in accordance with state law.