Oct 17, 2009 3 min read

Miale’s three-year contract cannot be extended and will be terminated after it expires June 30, 2010, according to the board’s motion, which passed by a 6-0 vote at the regular board meeting Thursday. Board members Stella Broadwater, Sandra Chan and John Evans were absent. Miale’s current three-year deal stipulates that his position be opened prior to December, according to Dr. Philip Savini, district superintendent. That doesn’t rule Miale out from being awarded the position. The position will be advertised, but Miale could reapply, Savini said. This is no way saying anything about the assistant superintendent’s performance or abilities,” said Savini. “…This is a legality we have to do at this time.” Meanwhile, the district decided to partner with local pre-kindergarten providers, including Head Start and the ECHO Child Development Center, to share district curriculum and opportunities for staff development. The program is designed to provide a more “seamless” transition for current pre-kindergarten students expected to enter the district’s full-day kindergarten program, said Savini. He said the goal is to improve student Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) scores and productivity. Students first take the PSSA while in third grade. The program will come at no cost to the district. It will just require open communication and planning, Savini said. Related to athletics, the board created a ninth-grade basketball program. The board will offer staff members the chance to serve as coach of the team by posting the position in-house. Board President Rocky Brashear said 15 high school freshman are interested in joining the team. Costs for the program include a $1,200 coach’s stipend and $750 for transportation. The team is scheduled to play about nine games. The season starts in November. Brashear, at a work session held earlier this week, encouraged board members to begin the program, pointing out that ninth-graders cannot participate in varsity or junior high-level basketball. The point is these athletes have no where to go. They can’t go up or down,” said Brashear, noting that the program could last a year or two. The board also:- Sold more than an acre of land to James and Jacqueline Ducar for $5,501. The vacant land is located near Allison in Luzerne Township. Savini said the district will realize an annual $1,200 insurance cost savings through the move. – Entered into an agreement with Comperio Energy LLC, also known as ClearChoice Energy, to provide curtailment service for energy conservation savings at no cost to the district. The Pittsburgh-based company is expected to review the district’s energy costs and help it realize significant bottom-line savings through “Demand Response” initiatives such as reducing power consumption across the board, buying energy at cheaper off-peak rates and preventing brown outs and black-outs across the electric grid. The district could realize a savings of $20,000 to $25,000 per year through the partnership, Savini said.- Agreed to purchase a 1997 Chevrolet S-10 truck from Mitchell Auto Sales in Republic at a cost of $2,900, an amount to be paid from the capital reserve account. Buildings and grounds supervisor Keith Harvey will use the truck, the purchase of which was the subject of debate at the work session when board member Stella Broadwater said two trucks, which the board previously approved to be purchased, should be sufficient, noting that broken windows in schools should be fixed before the district purchases a truck. Harvey now uses his personal truck, he said, while the other two trucks are equipped with a snowplow and salt spreader. Scheduled the next planning session for Monday, Nov. 16 and the next regular meeting for Thursday, Nov 19. The meetings will begin at 7 p.m. in the district administration office.