School News
- Last Updated on Thursday, 09 May 2013 01:46
By Paul Chasko
Several members of the Ringgold School Board continue to find fault with procedures used by the Administration in conducting day to day business. Board members Chuck Smith, Robert Smith and Larry Mauro again criticized procedures in use, particularly in the bidding process for purchasing.
Several members of the Ringgold School Board continue to find fault with procedures used by the Administration in conducting day to day business. Board members Chuck Smith, Robert Smith and Larry Mauro again criticized procedures in use, particularly in the bidding process for purchasing.
The remainder of the board appears satisfied that the established procedures are within the bounds of good practice.
The most recent issue was the purchase of an expensive piece of software. Members of the administration held that the purchase was not bid out normally as it is a one-of-a-kind proprietary software package which precludes normal bidding. The majority of the board has no problems with the procedure used given the type of software that was needed. The complaints seemed aimed more at the procedures in place rather than any one particular purchase. An existing set of procedures is followed by the administration and the board for purchasing. It’s unclear whether the procedures are inadequate, unclear or unavailable – depending on who is commenting.
Another issue that came under criticism by the same three board members is the acceptance of grants. The District receives government funds in several forms – some of them as grants. As per comments at this meeting, it has apparently been the practice of the administration to accept grant funds without approval from the School Board. The administration contends that this is an existing income stream that the District depends on for operations. Messrs. C. Smith, R. Smith and Mauro contend that the board should have the option to approve or decline the grants. Their reasoning is that the grants may have strings attached that could affect the district later. This raised the often-repeated view of the remaining board that an element of the board insists on micro-managing the administration that is being paid by the School District to perform these functions and make these decisions.
Sue Ryaby, a resident of Nottingham Township and living along Little Mingo Road, alerted the board of an impending safety hazard for Ringgold school buses and others that regularly use Little Mingo Road (SR1016) including cyclists during the summer months. A deep mine is planning to reopen operations at the Ram Farms Site in Nottingham Township and run tri-axle trucks hauling coal over SR 1016 (Little Mingo Road). Ryaby reported that the plans entail running as many as 70 full loads per day and 70 return runs. SR 1016 is a narrow road with the creek on one side and a hillside on the other side for much of its length. Most of SR1016 is in Nottingham Township and a short portion is in Union Township. Ryaby also determined that there would be only 26 inches clearance between the trucks and a school bus passing each other. This is hazardous in the best conditions but extremely risky on a wet and/or snow-covered road. She also questions whether SR1016 is rated to carry the kind of over-weight-vehicles anticipated in hauling coal. She stated that the operation depends on a “conditional use” status needed from the Nottingham Twp. Board. She and others are preparing a long list of conditions she intends to place before the board for consideration as part of any conditional use agreement; the most important of which is the involvement of PennDOT via a traffic study specifically addressing school bus and bikeway traffic safety in considering a Highway Occupancy Permit for the mine. Ryaby was hoping for support from the Ringgold School Board that is now fully aware of the potential safety issue.
In Regular School Board Business:
All board members were present at this meeting as were the Secretary/Treasurer, solicitor, District Superintendent and other members of the administration.
• The board accepted changes to the Articles of Agreement addressing the allocations of current operating expenditures among the participating School Districts of the Mon Valley Career and Technical Center.
• The Treasurer’s report was accepted as presented.
• Payment of bills from the following funds was approved.
o General Fund $670,212.61
o Cafeteria Fund $ 65,579.27
• The board approved a motion adopting a resolution identifying Dr. Karen Polkabla as the individual who is authorized to electronically sign agreements with the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Several members of the Board voted against this motion feeling it limited the authority of the board. Messrs. C. Smith, R. Smith and L. Mauro argued against it.
• The board approved a motion to remove former Superintendent Gary Hamilton as an alternate delegate to the Washington County Tax Collection Committee and appoint Karen L Polkabla (Superintendent) effective immediately to serve as the alternate.
• The board approved motions hiring a Summer Pre-Kindergarten Aide and granted two Intermittent Family and medical leaves.
• The contract of Athletic Director Ron McMichael was extended to June 30, 2014 under the same terms in his existing contract.
• The board approved a motion authorizing and directing the Superintendent and Solicitor to petition the Court of Common Pleas to have Mr. Robert Boyer appointed as a School Police Officer for the Ringgold School District.
• A motion was approved for a conference on Student Assistance Training with funds taken from a grant. This motion ignited the argument mentioned above that the board approve acceptance of all grants. See second paragraph above.
• One custodian and five Cafeteria workers names were added to the substitute roster.
• Brandon Wyvratt was appointed as a Volunteer Assistant Baseball Coach.
• The following requests for use of facilities were approved with no rental charges.
o Baccalaureate – Monday June 3 – Ringgold High School Auditorium and Cafeteria – 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
o Washington-Greene Adult Baseball League (Ringgold Alumni Baseball Players) – Sundays; May through August – Ringgold High School Baseball Field.
o School Board Candidate Forum – Tuesday, May 7, 2013 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm. – Ringgold High School Cafeteria.
o Modernettes Baton Practice – June 10, 2013 to July 19, 2013 – Ringgold Elementary North Gymnasium.
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