The Bradford Area School Board received the resignations from
one board member and from the director of human resources.

Former board president Robert Tingley resigned in a letter as of
Monday’s meeting citing personal reasons. Tingley had served on the
board since elected to the position in 1999. He then gained the
vote of fellow board members to become president in December
2001.

Newly elected board president Paul Ridley said letters of
interest to fill Tingley’s seat will be accepted through Jan. 23 at
the administration offices.

Also on Monday, Lee Ann Doynow, director of human resources,
announced her resignation which will begin June 29. Doynow had been
director for five and a half years. No announcement was made as to
how her position would be filled.

During voting to hire Lynda Ackerman as health and physical
education teacher at School Street Elementary School, board member
Joseph Troutman asked if the salary listed for Ackerman, which is
$47,481, is higher than the previous teacher’s salary.

At the November meeting, the board received a resignation from
Jill Hopkins, the elementary physical education teacher.

Superintendent Sandra Romanowski said that the selection of the
teacher to fill the position included looking for someone who could
bring the most to the position.

“The salary was a wash without the benefits,” said Romanowski,
explaining that Ackerman would not be taking health benefits on as
part of her employment. She added the decision to hire Ackerman
“was my decision.”

Troutman asked if the salary was at least $16,000 more than the
previous teacher.

Romanowski agreed the salary was about $13,000 higher than the
previous teacher and added again that without having to pay for
benefits to Ackerman, it would be the “same.”

The board hired Ackerman in Tingley’s absence and Troutman
voting no.

Resident Clyde Bell addressed the board and asked them for a
better explanation of the bus operation, including the procedures
being conducted by the new company, Laidlaw Transportation
Management Services, which had recently entered into a contract
with the school district.

Bell asked if hiring the new company came at a higher cost to
the district. The contract, which began Dec. 1 and will last
through June 2008, will cost the district $97,000 for the 2005-06
school year.

Ridley responded to Bell saying that initially, it would be an
increase to the district, but only for a short term. Responding to
Bell’s further questions, Ridley explained that the employees of
the bus garage would continue to work for the district and the bus
garage is still owned by the district.

Mark Gunkel, acting manager at the garage for Laidlaw Services,
was at Monday’s meeting and gave a brief update on what the company
was currently doing, including driver evaluations, checking
inventory levels, and looking at ways to cut costs for the district
in the future.

In other business, Linda Callaghan, the district’s director of
technology services, urged the board to approve a contract for
participation in the Seneca Intermediate Unit 9 WAN-E-rate
Consortium.

She explained that approving the contract will enable the
district to double Internet capacity as well as a dedicated
Internet 2 line while reducing the cost to the district by more
than $10,000.

The contract was approved.

The board also approved the transfer of the upfront support
payment from Pepsi, $75,000, to the Capital Reserve Fund.

Board members also watched a presentation by Elementary Literary
Coaches from Title I, Kimberly Watson from George G. Blaisdell
Elementary School and Erin Bell-Waugaman from School Street.

Before the meeting, district board members were celebrated in a
40-minute program as part of School Board Appreciation Month.

Members also heard from U.S. Rep. John Peterson, R-Pa., who
commended them for the work they do for the district while he asked
them to remember to continue to be in support of technology
education.

“People just don’t realize how much new technology is
important,” he added.

Later, a presentation to Peterson by Matt Degolier, the machine
shop teacher at Bradford Area High School, and Larry Sippy,
chairman of the National Tooling and Machining Association, was
given.

Three students from School Street Elementary School, two on
clarinet and one on piano, entertained the board with their
talents; senior Matthew Russell presented the board with PRIDE
T-shirts and plaques made in one of the shop classes at the high
school; and a student from GGB presented the board with a signed
“thank you” card from the entire school.

Bringing many on the board to tears singing a song with words of
“thanks” to them was eighth grade student Mary Bean.