Despite losing the election in November, Frances Forbes will return to the Bradford Area School Board after all.
On Wednesday, the school board appointed Forbes to fill the unexpired term of Joseph Troutman, who died in March. Forbes was one of two nominations that went before the board, the other being Ashley Landuyt.
Five voted in favor of appointing Forbes: Vickie Baker, Gretchen Daugherty, Carla Manion, Shane Oschman and Paul Ridley. Three voted against: Butch Bartlett, Dave Feely and Stephanie Scrivo.
Forbes will serve for the next two years, and she will have to run for election against to retain her seat beyond that, explained Oschman.
In other news, Oschman retained the title of president and Ridley, the title of vice president, at a reorganizational meeting earlier in the evening.
At its regular meeting, the board also appointed a new representative to the Bradford Area Public Library board of trustees. Neil Rinard, architectural project manager at CJ Wallace Engineering, will represent the Bradford school district through December 2022.
The board also passed a budget resolution stating there will be no increase in the rate of tax above the state index established by the Department of Education.
Director of Finance Judy Bodamer explained the district’s index for the 2020-21 fiscal year is 3.9%.
The resolution states the district will not raise the rate of any tax for the support of the district for the 2020-21 fiscal year by more than that index.
The board heard the 2018-19 audit presentation from the firm of Buffamante, Whipple, and Buttafaro, PC, CPAs. There were no negative findings.
Superintendent Katharine Pude said that Bradford Area High School and Floyd C. Fretz Middle School each received warnings that one group of students — the disabilities subgroup — fell below the state benchmarks on state assessments. They will create a plan at the local level to improve the gap.
Three people approached the board about the possibility of starting a trapshooting club or team at the school district.
During a presentation the idea, they listed several advantages, including the fact that boys and girls and students with disabilities can take part, and that it could be a way to include students who aren’t interested in other activities offered.
The board had several questions, but all seemed supportive of the idea. Oschman said he is unsure the district can have something in place by February — in time for the students to compete this spring.
No decision was made, but Ridley asked the group to put together a proposal for the board to consider.
In other sports news, the board heard presentations from coaches of four Bradford sports teams that were District 9 Champions. They were introduced to members of the girls and boys golf teams, as well as the girls and boys soccer teams.
Kelly Compton, director of curriculum and instruction, reported on the district’s performance in the Imagine Math program. Specifically, Fretz is being recognized as the top school, which, through the program, was able to raise $1,211 for Pennsylvania food banks.
Pude said teachers and staff were able to deliver food to 75 local families over the Thanksgiving holiday through a food drive they organize every year.
