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Although Superintendent Gerald McLaughlin reported that there is still some question whether the funding will be available, the Loyalsock Township School Board voted to approve re-configuring classes at the Schick Elementary school to allow for a full day of Pre-K classes. Delays in approval of the state budget were cited by McLaughlin as the reason for the uncertainty. Pre-K classes have been running for half days.
Several board policies, some revised and some new were approved by the board.
Four of the policies relate to home education students in the district and offer more opportunities for the students to participate in some extra-curricular and co-curricular activities and academic courses and in the technical education programs. The district currently has 50 homeschool students.
"We'll have to provide our schedule to show what is available at what times and then if they're available and they can drop their kids off or be there and we have spots then they would be able to attend some of the programs and services," McLaughlin said.
Homeschool students would have to adhere to the same academic and eligibility criteria as all students in the district, he noted.
"It's the next step for our homeschool families," McLaughlin said.
Board policies can be accessed on the district's website.
Under personnel, the board approved the following fall athletic staff at the stipends listed, if applicable: Marissa Barnett, head high school cheerleading coach, $2,800; Erika Maurer, head junior high cheerleading coach, $2,150; Micah Beiter, head high school cross country coach, $3,500; Nick Hessert, head junior high cross country coach, $3,000; Justin VanFleet, head high school football coach, $7,800; Ryan Rooney, assistant coach-high school football coordinator, $3,300; Andy Brown, assistant coach-high school football coordinator, $4,500; Brady Jenney, head junior high football coach, $2,500; John Derr, assistant junior high football coach, $2,200; Kaden Stensland, co-head coach for junior varsity football, $3,400; Brent Reinhard, co-head coach for junior varsity football, $3,760; Curtis Jacobson, head high school golf coach, $3,100;
Steve Ertel, high school boys soccer head coach, $3,500; Mark Godfrey, junior high softball head coach, $3,200; Kayla McQuillen, junior high softball assistant coach, $2,250; Kirk Bower, high school girls tennis head coach, $3,200; Kathleen Popowycz, high school volleyball head coach, $3,000; Mia McNett, high school volleyball assistant coach; Janelle Ziminsky, junior high girls basketball 7 head coach, $3,475; and Allison Gaetano, junior high girls basketball 8 head coach, $3,475.
The following volunteers were approved for the sports listed: Curtis Jacobson, Kerri Jacobson, Jason Perry, Jake Sekel, junior high basketball; Abbey Dabback, Mary Jo Westbrook, cheerleading; Nicole Reed, Lorna Zajack, cross country; Eric French, Matt Hill, Nathan Janovitz, Daniel Ives, John Peters, Marcus Williams, football; Brandon Mulaski, golf; Brian Bustin, Robert Chambers, Emilie Ertel, Lynnette Reitz, soccer; Deb Godfrey, Eric McNulty, Randy Smith, David Stopper, junior high softball; and Robin Dadzie, tennis.
Other personnel items included the following actions and appointments: Lisa Tranquillas as a social studies teacher; Ellen Baysore, full-time Title I paraprofessional, $14 per hour; Shannon Butter, transfer to a 223-day data coordinator, $20.91 per hour; Jennifer Snyder transfer to full-time secretary, $14.90 per hour; Noah Bower, transportation supervisor, salary adjustment from $41,818 to $50,000; and Vicki Bair, accounts payable and purchasing assistant, salary adjustment from $30,766 to $38,000.
The board accepted the following resignations: Mark Spencer, secondary science teacher; Kathleen Mann, secondary English teacher; Jamie Yonkin, high school assistant principal; and Lori Underwood, part-time paraprofessional.
They also accepted the resignation of school board director Dr. Carolyn Strickland.
An addendum to extend an agreement with ESS Northeast, LLC, New Jersey, was approved. The extension runs through June 30, 2026. ESS provides substitute staffing for the district.
Change orders totaling almost $13,500 for the high school/middle school campus gymnasium and cafeteria expansions and the addition of classrooms project were approved at the meeting.
Change orders are to be expected, M. Dan Egli, business manager and board secretary, told the board. Egli also noted that there is about $372,000 left in allowances which are used for any additional changes.
"Also, as of May 31, 2023, interest earned on our bond money totaled $332,000, so we do have a lot of cushion there to make these necessary changes," Egli said.
"I think they're necessary to bring that building up to where it needs to be," he added.
The next board meeting will be at 7 p.m. Aug. 9 at the board conference room, 1605 Four Mile Drive.