Brownsville school board enforces conduct policy
BROWNSVILLE — Brownsville Area School Board passed a motion Thursday reminding employees of their responsibility of conduct in the district.
Director Stella Broadwater made the motion that all employees, including administrators, will be held accountable for conducting themselves to the highest standards of conduct and professionalism and any failures to do so will result in appropriate action.
The motion, which came after a lengthy executive session for personnel reasons, which are not discussed publicly, was unanimously passed. Directors Broadwater, Andy Dorsey, Cheryl Terravecchia, Jeff Baynes, John Harvey, Andy Assad, Nena Kaminsky, Rocky Brashear and Ron Dellarose voted in favor.
“This board will continue a zero-tolerance policy with all employees in regards to any possession of or use of illegal drugs,” said Brashear after the vote was approved.
District solicitor Jack Purcell said the appropriate action for misconduct will be determined based on the action and according to the employee contract and the Pennsylvania School Code.
In other matters, Kaminsky questioned several motions to hire athletic coaches.
“It isn’t anything against any of the people. It’s against the salary,” she said. “I want to know if we are bound to pay nonunion people according to the teachers contract.”
Brashear said the salary scale is not based on the union contracts, but rather is it according to an athletic salary scale designed by the board. Kaminsky said she would like the board to review and possibly make changes to the athletic scale.
The board voted 8-1 to hire Patricia Columbia as the head middle school softball coach for the spring season at $1,500 and Shawn Patil as varsity assistant track coach for the spring season at $1,200. They also voted in favor of hiring Anthony Russo as middle school head track coach for $1,500 and Ralph Rice as assistant varsity baseball coach at $3,000 on the athletic salary scale. Kaminsky opposed each of the four votes.
Brashear reminded the board that the salary scale for athletics in the Brownsville district is lower than that of other school districts in Fayette County.
The board also:
n Named Rachel Bruschi as volunteer assistant softball coach and Chevelle Stoken as a volunteer assistant volleyball coach in a 9-0 vote. They also named Paul Hough as a volunteer assistant middle school softball coach and Jeremy Thomas as a volunteer varsity baseball coach in a 9-0 vote. Larry Cash, a custodian in the district, was named as a volunteer high school track coach, providing the service does not take place during his work hours. Kaminsky opposed the vote.
n Accepted a quote from Steel City Turf LLC doing business as Thomas’ Pro Turf of $4,865 for maintenance of the district’s football field including core aeration, seeding and fertilization for the 2012 season. Officials said the money will come from the capital reserve account. Kaminsky opposed the vote.
n Accepted a quote from Lees Plumbing and Excavating of $6,850 for the installation of about 700 feet of French drain at the football stadium. Kaminsky and Broadwater opposed the vote.
n Approved the use of the district’s football field and stadium by the Brownsville Area Midget Football League.