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Looking ahead to the summer months and into the next school year, the Williamsport Area School Board approved several curriculum items at a recent meeting.
Two courses at the Pennsylvania College of Technology, being offered this summer, were approved for district high school students. A course in statistics and another in environmental science, each offering a 1.0 high school elective credit, which also includes the course on the student's transcript as a 1.4 weight, commensurate with dual enrollment courses. Cost for the courses is the responsibility of the families.
In other curriculum items, the board approved an agreement with the Williamsport YMCA for the School Age Child Care Program to use the Hepburn, Cochran, Jackson and Stevens Primary schools and the Curtin and Lycoming Valley Intermediate schools to provide before and after school child care for the 2021-22 school year. As the program is a direct advantage to district families, the waiver of fees was requested.
The board also approved:
• An update three year agreement for the 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years with Parchment to provide online transcript and document service to the district for both graduate and current students. Costs will be $3,000 for the first year, and $3,400 for the remaining years.
• A contract with UPMC Pediatric Rehabilitation to provide occupational and physical therapy services for the upcoming school year.
• A service agreement with Comcast Cable Communications Management LLC, to extend E-rate services for Wide Area Network fiber optic services between the High School, Stevens, Cochran and Hepburn-Lycoming Primary schools and Lycoming Valley and Curtin Intermediate schools and the Warehouse facility for 12 months beginning July 1. Cost is $9,500 and will be paid from the technology department budget.
• Authorizing Andrew Leigey, automotive technology teacher at the high school to teach a vehicle safety inspection update course and to provide emissions testing for adult automotive technicians. The courses will be offered during the evening in May at a fee to cover the expenses of the teacher and materials. Leigey will be paid the established rate of $31.20 per hour.
• The high school's homeland security students to participate in the UPMC Susquehanna Health Ride-A-Long program to gain the necessary patient contacts for EMT certification. Students are required to meet all program guidelines and complete all necessary forms before participating.
• The purchase of a collaborative robot and a Festo mechanical drives trainer from Educational Solutions Enterprise for the Electromechanical Technology program They will be utilized by students in the program to gain a thorough understanding of state-mandated industry competencies. Cost is $28,700 for the robot and $23,962 for the drives trainer. The cost for both will be paid through a Perkins Supplemental Equipment Grant.
• The purchase of 60 EPSON Brightlink interactive projectors and 60 EPSON 100-inch whiteboard projection screens at a cost of $146,770. The cost is funded with a COVID grant and the technology budget. The purchase completes the fourth year of a five-year plan to replace existing interactive whiteboards in classrooms.
Under personnel items, the board accepted the resignations of: Nancy J. Colley, part-time food service worker; Kathy E.Tharp, part-time administrative support in the District Service Center mailroom; Tyler S. Barth, assistant principal at Jackson Primary, Linda M. Pike, part-time food service worker; Lisa M. Miosi, full-time administrative support for maintenance facility operations and Clara R. Sponhouse, part-time aide.
The following staff was hired for the upcoming school year, with the salaries listed: Rebecca Baney, high school Spanish teacher, $65,855 and Inti Yanes-Fernandez, temporary professional employee to teach Spanish at the high school, $60,453.
Mackenzie C. Ryan was approved as a volunteer for girls' and boys' track and field for the spring season.
Erica M. Hardy was hired as a substitute food service worker at a rate of $9 per hour and Leanna K. Byham was hired as a substitute teacher at a rate of $120 per day for the first 45 days and $130 per day for days beyond that.
The board also approved the district's participation in the Cooperative Purchasing Program of the Keystone Purchasing Network for the $11,667 purchase of art supplies and the $21,118 purchase of general supplies to replenish warehouse stock.