Proposed Ashkar Elementary building project still above estimated costs
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HUGHESVILLE -- In his report to the school board on the Ashkar construction project, Superintendent Dr. Mark Stamm indicated that costs are currently estimated at $37 million, down from the $44 million recently cited.
"That still is above what the board was anticipating," Stamm said.
"The discussion from the facility committee is that they're going to bring back a full update to the board in July," he said.
He explained that the plan is to put the project out to bid in September with bid approval and reviews in October with the idea of trying just a second run at that to see if there were some issues that occurred in the spring that affected the bidding process.
A school resource officer agreement between the district and Hughesville Borough was approved at the meeting. Under the agreement, the district will pay the borough $68,120 in 10 monthly payments to have the officer serve in the district for 180 days during the upcoming school year.
In his report to the board, Michael Mamrak, the board's representative for LycoCTC said that enrollment for fall currently stands at 344 students with 18 to 20 students on a waiting list. He indicated that more and more students are interested in attending, particularly with the addition of the Benton School District as a participating school.
"That continues to rise. It's even higher than at the start of the year, last year," Mamrak said.
"We're seeing more and more students to the point where we're not capable of scheduling everyone right now. So, it gives a good reason to look at expanding that building program...some time in the near future," he said.
Under personnel, the board approved the following items: the transfer of Amber Holbrook from part-time special education teacher to full-time in that position at a pay rate of $65,425 per year; the transfer of Garrett Wentz from a custodian to a maintenance worker at a rate of $18.13 per hour; hiring Diane Oliva as a special education life skills teacher at a rate of $57,750 per year; Christina Sellers as summer technology support at a rate of $16.19 per hour and Jesse Stryker as the play director for the upcoming school year at a rate of $1,128.
The following coaching reappointments and stipends were approved for the 2023 season: Howard Rainey, head football coach, $6,484; Tyler Potts, first assistant football coach, $4,823; Boyd Hartman and Henry Rainey, assistant football coaches, $3,742 each; Jon Delker, assistant football coach, $4,629; Branden Kinney, assistant football coach, $3,345; James Dennis, boys' soccer head coach, $5,212; Peter Larsen, assistant boys' soccer coach, $4,296; Brian Duke, district strength coach, $5,623; Craig Weaver Sr. head girls' tennis coach, $5,010; Cody Hack, head girls' soccer coach, $3,345; Griffin Molino, head cross country coach, $4,141; Brandi Dillon Liddic, head girls' volleyball coach $3,742; Molly Fully, assistant girls' volleyball coach, $2,776; Carrie Miller, head cheerleading football coach, $3,499; Brooke Foresman, assistant cheerleading football coach, $2,435; and Ruth Fry, junior high football cheerleading coach, $3,093.
Other coaches hired and their stipends were: Melinda Temple, assistant girls' soccer coach, $2,379; and Casey Snyder, junior high head girls' softball coach $3.004. Patrice Fortin was also approved as an athletic volunteer.
The following current employees have been hired for summer employment retroactive to June 5: Jullie Connerton and Cynthis Gomez, $14.01 per hour through June 30 and $14.76 per hour beginning July 1; and Misty Jacobs and Renee Hill, $13.36 per hour through June 30 and $14.36 per hour effective July 1.
The resignation and agreement for separation for Sherry Cowburn, elementary principal at Ashkar was approved by the board.
Business and financial matters approved included: the purchase of Amplify CKLA for grades K-5 and Amplify ELA for grades 6-8; and the purchase of 50 staff Chromebooks at a cost of $65,937 from CDW-G (Computer Discount Warehouse-Government).
The following retirement resignations were received and accepted by the superintendent: Pauline Kolletzki, supervisory aide and Karin Waugh, intervention teacher.
The next board meeting will be at 7 p.m. July 18 in the high school library. The public should enter through the library vestibule doors.