Author: Bethany Hofstetter
Last saved by: Microsoft Office User
Company: Shaler Area School District

February 13, 2019 – COW Meeting

SHALER AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
Committee of the Whole Meeting
February 13, 2019 – Administration Building 
Minutes

The Board of School Directors of the Shaler Area School District held a Committee of the Whole Meeting on Wednesday, February 13, 2019, at the Shaler Area Administration Building, Glenshaw, PA, with Mr. James Tunstall, School Board President, presiding. This meeting began at 7:31 p.m.

Board Members Present:	Mrs. Suzanna Donahue
	Mr. James Fisher
Mr. Tim Gapsky
Dr. April Kwiatkowski
	Mr. Jason Machajewski 
	Mrs. Jeanne Petrovich 
Mrs. Eileen Phillips
	Mr. Steve Romac
Mr. James Tunstall

Others Present:	Mr. Sean Aiken, Superintendent
Dr. Bryan O’Black, Assistant Superintendent
Ms. Sherri Ludwig, Director of Business Affairs
Dr. Kathleen Graczyk, Director of Student Services
Mr. John Vogel, Solicitor 

Notice of this meeting was posted as required.

•	Mr. James Tunstall called the meeting to order at 7:31 p.m.

•	Brian McCall, with Maher Duessel, shared the district’s audit report. The financial highlights included current assets, capital assets, deferred outflows and inflows, current liabilities, noncurrent liabilities, and net position, as well as a breakdown of fund balance and general fund revenues. 

Dr. O’Black then announced the following Education Items:

ITEM
#

EDUCATION ITEMS RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL

SUP
#

ACTION 
TAKEN

A.1 | Approve the Shaler Area School District Calendar for the 2019-2020 school year. | A.1 |

A.2

Approve the PA School Code, Section 1502 Resolution – Official Local School District Holidays for the 2018-19 school year as follows:
November 29, 2019
December 24, 2019
December 26, 2019
April 10, 2020

A.2

A.3 | Approve the dates of Extended School Year (ESY) for Summer 2019:  July 8 to August 1, 2019 (Monday thru Thursday only). | |
A.4 | Approve the dates of the Shaler Area STEAM Camp for June 17 to 20, 2019. | |
A.5 | Approve a lease agreement with the Allegheny Intermediate Unit DART Program at Burchfield Primary School beginning August 1, 2019 and ending on June 30, 2020. | A.5 |
A.6 | Approve an agreement with Adelphoi Education, Inc. to provide special education services during the 2018-19 school year. | A.6 |

Dr. O’Black then announced the following Discussion Items:

Discussion Items:

1.	Student Representatives –Jake Solomon & Gabriella Mizera submitted their report electronically. Dr. O’Black shared information on the Sadies dance the previous weekend that sold about 300 tickets, the upcoming high school musical, the high school carnation sale, the spring Meet the Titans event that is being planned, and the student government’s efforts to look at how to address students experiencing high stress.

2.	Shaler Area Education Foundation – Dr. Kwiatkowski shared information about the Foundation’s Taste of Shaler Area fundraising event. Tickets are selling quickly. The Foundation also is always accepting grant applications. Mr. Romac added that he believes the event will sell out in the coming week. He also shared a list of the restaurants that are confirmed to attend.

Dr. O’Black then announced the following Information Item:

Information Item:

1.	Shaler Area was selected by the PA Department of Education to receive a $35,000 PAsmart Targeted K12 Computer Science and STEM Education grant. The grant will be used to train Shaler Area teachers in Kindergarten through eighth grade to implement computer science classes and purchase materials.

•	Dr. Kwiatkowski asked if there were any changes to A.5 from previous years, which there were not. Dr. Graczyk said Item A.6 is a blanket contract for the year. The district does not currently have any students enrolled. Each individual student would have his or her own contract. 

Ms. Ludwig then announced the following Finance Items:

ITEM
#

FINANCE & OPERATION ITEMS RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL

SUP
#

ACTION
TAKEN

C.1 | APPROVE FUND PROFILES: | |
| A. | General Fund – Schedule of Bills and Addendum | C.1A |
| B. | Cafeteria Fund – Schedule of Bills | C.1B |
| C. | Budget Transfers | C.1C |
| D. | Year-to-Date Financial Reports | C.1D |
| E. | Fund Profiles and Investments | C.1E |
| F. | Bond Proceeds – Schedule of Bills | C.1F |
| G. | Student Activity Funds & Investments – High School, Middle School and Elementary School – October 1, 2018 – December 31, 2018 | C.1G |
 
C.2 | Cafeteria Fund Operating Statement | C.2 |
C.3 | Approve the Shaler Area School District's Audit Report and Financial Statements for year ending June 30, 2018 as prepared by Maher Duessel. | C.3 |
C.4 | Approve additional ABC Transit personnel. | C.4 |
C.5 | Approve the disposition of surplus equipment from the Building & Grounds Department. | C.5 |

Ms. Ludwig then announced the following Discussion Items:

Discussion Items:

1.	2017-18 Audit Update – Maher Duessel, CPAs presented at the beginning of the meeting. 

2.	Tax assessment appeal base – Mr. Vogel said for 2018, 255 appeals were filed. If the same parameters were used next year, his office would file 309 appeals at the current $150,000 level. If the level was lowered to $125,000, it would add an additional 40 appeals. Mr. Vogel recommended that the board vote on a motion next week to delegate administration to protect the tax base. This would mean the board is not required to make a decision each year. Mr. Romac asked about changing the base to a lower dollar amount. Mr. Vogel explained the pros and cons and said his office can guide administration on the most cost effective. Dr. Kwiatkowski asked about commercial properties. Mr. Vogel said it is difficult to adjust commercial assessments because of limitations, however the law continues to change. 

Ms. Ludwig then announced the following Information Item:

Information Item:

1.	The Shaler Area Little League Baseball and Softball Organization plans to donate $13,000 for a new batting cage at Burchfield Primary School.

•	Dr. Kwiatkowski asked about the cafeteria operating statement. Ms. Ludwig explained the details of the statement. Dr. Kwiatkowski said The Nutrition Group has done an exceptional job of cutting costs without cutting food costs, however there is a decrease in sales and she can’t understand this. Ms. Ludwig explained a couple of challenges the food services have faced including a freezer that quit at one school resulting in food loss. Mr. Aiken added that there are also 100 fewer students enrolled than last year. Dr. Kwiatkowski added that she wants to see food services be successful. Ms. Ludwig added that the collections rate is not very good and the district did talk with the magistrate about collections. 

•	Robin Gigliotti, a parent of a primary school student, added that her daughter shared that she doesn’t buy her lunch because she feels there is not enough time to eat. She added that the Nutrislice app doesn’t always have photos of the food, which can make students less apt to try an unfamiliar menu item. Mrs. Donahue added that her own children talk a lot at lunch as well reducing time to eat. 

•	Mr. Tunstall then invited the board to speak on any other business.
o	Mrs. Donahue said that she is currently scheduling Meet and Greet events at all buildings and she will send a schedule to the board members. 
o	Mr. Aiken invited all board and community members to attend a planning session for the district’s Respect for All campaign on Monday in the middle school library. Everyone is welcome to attend to discuss how to embed respect into the school culture.
o	Mr. Aiken also announced several athletic teams and individuals who are moving forward in playoffs, including the boys basketball team which qualified for playoffs.

•	Mr. Tunstall then invited the public to speak on any other business.
o	Julie Miller, of Agate Road, said she is currently enrolled with Mt. Alvernia and her student will go to Burchfield. She asked when the website will reflect that the school district will continue to bus Burchfield students to and from Mt. Alvernia. Mr. Aiken said he will make a note of the needed change. 

After no further items were presented, final adjournment occurred at 8:30 p.m. 

Respectfully submitted,

Bethany Baker
Assistant Board Secretary