Brownsville school board discusses new cyber services at meeting
BROWNSVILLE – The Brownsville Area School Board heard Thursday about a new service the school district recently started offering that allows students to take their courses online from home. Superintendent Larry Golembiewski told the board that the district received a grievance from the union about the “cyber services” and although he is not sure what will happen as a result of that, he is willing to “fight the good fight to keep cyber services intact.”
Golembiewski said that there were some students who planned to drop out of school during their senior year, and offering the courses online kept them from doing that.
“I didn’t want them to fall through the cracks,” said Golembiewski, adding that there were also some special-needs students with medical problems that prohibited them from attending school.
“I am willing to go to arbitration with this because it is in the best interest of the kids,” said Golembiewski.
He explained that all of the students using cyber services are responsible to the district’s teachers.
The board also heard that an unidentified person had reported to the zoning board that the property where the high school’s marquee is located, at the intersection of High Street and Brashear Avenue, is not properly zoned for the marquee.
Solicitor James Davis said that the zoning office informed him that the district would have to seek a variance from the zoning hearing board. The district will have to pay a fee of $450, if they are successful in getting the variance, they will have to pay $250 for a permit to keep the marquee at that location.
Director Andy Dorsey said it was “petty” for anyone to report that the property was improperly zoned, since the sign was a positive thing that has been at the same location for many years.
“I hope whoever made that complaint is proud of themselves for costing the district money,” said Dorsey.
High school principal Richard Gates added that the marquee is there to inform the public about what is going on in the district, and it provides some direction for busses coming in from other school districts.
In other matters, the board and administration recognized two students who recently excelled in competitions. Justin Watson qualified to compete at the state level of the Reader’s Digest Word Power Competition, and Zach Rohrer won first place in the Skills USA Technical Competition.
Golembiewski and board President Rocky Brashear commended both students.
In another matter, the board approved changes to the district’s school calendar. School will no longer be closed for spring break on April 4, 5, 9 and 10 because the district will use them to make up snow days. School will also remain in session on June 7 and 8 to make up for snow days. The last day of school and commencement will be on June 8, as long as there are no more cancellations for inclement weather.