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JERSEY SHORE -- A facility dog will be walking the halls with Jersey Shore Bulldogs probably within the next year, following approval of an agreement with Dog Sense LLC by the school board at their meeting this week.
An agreement between the Jersey Shore Area School District and Dog Sense LLC was given the OK by the board for the selecting, training and placing of one dog as a facility dog at a cost of $9,400, with a $4,700 retainer. Cost will be funded through grant money.
According to the agreement, the process will be in three phases. Phase one will be the selection and training of the facility dog and is anticipated to end three to 18 months with the target goal of having the dog ready to start within one year after the contract is signed.
The second phase is for caretaker and handler training. A third phase, which is optional, includes an annual evaluation of the team and a continuing education seminar.
According to a presentation to the board last year, the dog would be used primarily at the high school, but could eventually be used in other district buildings.
Other agreements approved by the board include a contract with UPMC Pediatric Rehabilitation and the district for physical therapy services for the upcoming school year; a contract between the district and BLaST Intermediate Unit for network engineering and a Regional Wide Area Network (RWAN) connectivity backup solution in conjunction with River Valley Internet, effective July 1, 2023, to July 1, 2028; the Evac Chair quotation for an Evac Chair at a cost of $3,088 to allow a safe controlled descent of an individual from unlimited stories to be paid using contingency funds; a donation of tires for the band equipment trailer from Pine Mountain Auto Repair.
Finance items approved by the board were a service and maintenance
agreement and estimate with G&G Fitness Equipment Inc. for the fitness and/or physical therapy room at the high school; renewal of purchase of group life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment and long-term disability insurance from CM Regent Solutions with no change in rates from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2025; renewal of the employees' dental insurance program with Delta Dental of Pennsylvania from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2025, with an administration fee of $4.28; a contract with Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit to provide computer services during the 2023-2024 fiscal year; and a request for a budget transfer of $1,900.00 from 10-2620-430 to 10-4200-710 for tank removal at the Johnson House.
Under personnel, retention of the following winter sports coaches for the 2023-24 school year was approved: Tyree Kirkpatrick, boys varsity basketball head coach and Randy Smith and Steve Lehman, assistants; Darrin Bischof, girls varsity basketball head coach and Joshua Eichenlaub, assistant; Adam Kline, girls' junior high basketball head coach and Joshua Smith, assistant; Laura Eck, varsity cheerleading head coach and Nicolette Russell, assistant ; Autumn Cantrall, junior high cheerleading head coach and Heidi Belle, assistant; Kelly Butzler, head swimming coach and Lou Anne Gasperine, assistant; David Herman, varsity wrestling head coach, Aaron Hager, first assistant and Colin Glorioso, assistant; Ty Kanouff, junior high wrestling head coach and Logan Huling, assistant.
The board accepted resignations from Brent Wheeland, career and technical education teacher at the high school, effective April 12, 2024; Margaret Hensler, food service assistant cook at Salladasburg Elementary; Violet Engler, food service dish room position at Salladasburg; and Michael Hopkins, custodian at the high school, effective April 7, 2023. Unless specified, resignations are effective at the end of the current school year.
A letter of retirement from Dawn Gardner, paraprofessional who has 20 years of service in the district was also accepted, effective at the end of the current school year.
Other personnel actions included approval of a Service Agreement with UPMC Sports Medicine for athletic training services -- Option 1 being with one part-time athletic trainer or Option 2 with two full-time athletic trainers after 2023-2024, effective July 1, 2023 thru June 30, 2026; the appointment of Jeffrey Elias and Harmony Sedgwich as game staff, Corinna Meixel as part-time cafe worker for food service and Caleb Catherine as assistant baseball coach at a stipend of $1,200.
Business Manager Ben Enders told the board that he will be doing a presentation of the 2023-24 budget at the next meeting.
The board will meet at 7 p.m. May 8, at the District Administration Building, 175 A&P Drive.