Apr 9, 2009 4 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – Connellsville Area School District residents are being asked to submit solutions, not questions, to the board of directors as they continue to determine if the district facilities will be consolidated and grades realigned within the coming months. Educator and resident Lynne Ritenour asked the board Wednesday when those who had submitted questions to the administration would receive responses, but was informed that studies and documents were needed to support the stances of those who are in opposition of the anticipated closures of buildings and reconfiguration of grade levels. “I still haven’t heard an argument why fifth- and eighth-graders can’t be in the same building,” said board President Francis Mongell, adding that the questions he had reviewed appeared to be tied to issues that have been repeatedly answered by the board in the past.

Last month the board informed the public that it would receive written questions about the consolidation and realignment options being considered by the board and, according to Mongell, four persons submitted queries.

Ritenour said that education should be a top priority as each member makes its decision on which, if any, buildings would be closed, or grade levels realigned. She would be curious as to the basis for such decisions.

“I understand that the financial aspect must be considered, but to me, education is your first priority,” she said.

The five options being considered by the board include the closure of up to five schools and establishing a kindergarten through fourth grade elementary school; grade five through eight intermediate school and a grade nine through 12 high school.

A sixth option is to maintain all buildings and grade levels at their current status.

A proponent of the consolidation and grade realignment, Mongell said that the board has taken the time to conduct research and talk with community members, teachers and students to determine the best fiscally responsible plan to meet the educational needs of the students

In a related matter, the board appears poised to take official action to move the ninth-grade students to the high school at the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year, despite plans to renovate the aging building within the next two years.

During a discussion of an earlier community meeting to gather opinions about the transfer of the freshman class from the junior high schools to the senior high, Mongell stated that it would be more than 18 months to prepare documents, seek state Department of Education, solicit bids and hire contractors to carry out the anticipated multimillion-dollar project.

The timeframe, he added, would give administrators the opportunity to address any problems before construction begins.

Board member Kevin Lape, while supporting the high school renovation plan, said he would not vote to move the nearly 500 ninth-grade students to the building.

“I have major concerns,” he said, noting that the population would rise to 1,800 with the additional students.

The board did not reveal when it plans to introduce a measure to transfer the freshman class.

Turning to other matters, the board also conducted the following business:

– Agreed to solicit bids for fall sport supplies and equipment.

– Added the position of freshman football coach to the supplemental contract list.

– Approved the attendance of athletic trainer Mark Pohot at the June 5 and 6 state Athletic Trainer’s Society Conference in Johnstown at an approximate cost of $200 for registration and lodging.

– Added a community service elective course to the secondary curriculum.

– Approved work release, summer school for credit and/or recovery, flexible scheduling for seniors and early graduation as scheduling options for eligible students.

– Added Beverly Ondik, Megan Parfitt, Heather Williams, Ryan Cooper and Ashley Arison to the professional substitute list and Karen Morrison, Kristy Zaitseva, AnnaMarie Rosky and Amber Hileman to the emergency substitute list.

– Hired Rebecca Doppelheuer as a long-term substitute teacher.

– Approved the attendance of senior high school librarian Janice Albright at the May 1 and 2 state School Librarians Association Annual Conference at an approximate cost of $100.

– Added Jody Palankey, Catherine Shepler and Leslie Wiltrout to the cafeteria substitute list.

– Approved an hourly salary of $10.50 for site supervisors and $8.70 for helpers for the Summer Food Service Program. The program will be subsidized through the state Department of Education. Current cafeteria employees will fill the positions.