Board planning to purchase land for new school
GERMAN TWP. – The Albert Gallatin Area School District has plans to purchase land in Fairchance for construction of a new A.L. Wilson School. The school board will hold a land acquisition hearing June 7 at 7 p.m. in the Albert Gallatin Area Senior High School auditorium to present its plan for the site.
Directors have debated for some time whether to renovate the current school or build new.
A.L. Wilson is the last school in the district to undergo improvements. In July, the board voted to float a $7.1 million bond issue to pay for either renovation to A.L. Wilson or construction of a new building.
The district has reviewed a few sites in the Fairchance area as possible locations for the new school for several months.
In another issue, Point Marion resident Charlene Fenton told the school board that an administrator has allowed two female students at A.G. South Middle School to “pick on and bully” her daughter, who has also been yelled at and belittled by an administrator in front of other students.
“My daughter was threatened in front of a teacher, and the administrator suspended my daughter for one day,” she said. “A teacher said she didn’t hear or see my daughter do anything, yet my daughter was suspended, I feel, without cause.”
Fenton said because she has complained about her daughter’s treatment in school, both she and her child have been labeled as “troublemakers.” She said while her daughter is afraid to go to school, her Individual Education Plan (IEP) is still not being followed.
“My child’s safety is of the utmost importance to me, and by not following her IEP, her education is at risk,” Fenton said. “Not following the IEP is not saving the district money and it’s denying my child a proper education.”
Both Fenton and another parent, Kendra Brady of Masontown, said a newly formed parent support group, Parents of the Albert Gallatin Educational System, might help parents who are encountering problems with their children or their school environment.
Brady said the group has never made comments about the teachers at A.G. South, but the group was formed to give parents an opportunity to interact and share similar experiences.
“We don’t always see eye to eye, but the teachers do a wonderful job,” she said, “This is just another group that is open to anyone and everyone that wants to join to help make positive experiences for our children.”
In other public comment, two parents offered their thanks to A.G. South Assistant Principal Randy Brooks for the help he has offered their children.
Rhonda Ruble of Fairchance said that Brooks and her son, a learning support student, became friends during the two years her son went to the middle school.
“His compassion, patience, understanding and caring for my son put his best interest at heart,” she said. “Mr. Brooks still interacts with my son, makes him feel needed and a citizen of the community.”
Beth Lewis of Masontown said that Brooks has made a difference in the lives of her two children and countless others.
“He treats his students like they are his own children,” she said. “He works with all children and he never gives up.”
Among other board matters, directors accepted the retirement of Carolyn Sue Maykuth, hired Jerome Vicinelly as health/physical education instructor at A.G. North and South middle schools, and hired Darren DeCarlo as physical education instructor at George J. Plava and Masontown elementary schools.
The board hired Jerome Vicinelly as ninth-grade assistant high school softball coach, Scott Tedrow as ninth-grade assistant high school baseball coach, and hired Jennifer Beal as a secretary.
The board approved an agreement with Chestnut Ridge Counseling Services Inc. for the New Directions program and voted to enter into a lease agreement with Fike Chevrolet for a driver education car.