The Bradford Area School Board on Monday approved a purchase
agreement for procuring a digital safety vision route recorder for
the school buses in the district.

The lease purchase agreement will be between the Government
Capital Corporation and the district. Business Manager Kathy Kelly
said there would be no extra cost to the budget.

Directors also approved a change order to Wayne Gravel Products
in the amount of $7,350 for subgrade and backfill for the School
Street Elementary School project of changing the school bus
drop-off lanes to the rear of the school building.

Kelly explained the contractor found some soft areas in the area
of construction that needed more fill.

Directors also approved a resolution authorizing comment on the
proposed land and resource management plan for the Allegheny
National Forest.

Kelly explained there is one representative for the area school
districts which are affected by the Allegheny National Forest plan.
She said that representative is (Sandra Chlopecki), superintendent
of the Kane Area School District.

Director Rita Dincher asked Kelly to clarify the passing of the
resolution, which is required of those municipalities interested in
allowing a representative to make comments on the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement as proposed by forest officials
before the Aug. 28 deadline.

“We can’t see the comments until we pass this resolution?” asked
Dincher.

Kelly explained they needed to pass the resolution to be on
board with what an ad hoc committee representing all of the
municipalities and entities affected by the forest plan decide to
comment on, as many of those on the committee feel they were not
given the appropriate opportunity to respond during the planning
process.

Part of the resolution states that those voting for it believe
that additional comments on their behalf should be made.

All of the directors voted to pass the resolution. Joseph “Jose”
Troutman was absent.

Also, Katherine Pude, assistant superintendent and curriculum
coordinator, announced the strategic plan is on display at the
administrative offices on Lorana Avenue.

One Golden Helper volunteer, Richard Grandinetti, told the
directors what an enjoyable time he had working with the children
over the past school year.

“I would like to thank you for instigating all of this,”
Grandinetti said to Superintendent Sandra Romanowksi. “It was
really enjoyable.

“But if you don’t like working with children, don’t do this,”
recommended Grandinetti.

Romanowski has increased the amount of allowable Golden Helpers
from 8 to 16 this school year. Most volunteers do anything from
read to children, garden and plant at schools in the district,
decorate in schools and classrooms, help with the parent/teacher
organization and help students with different tasks.

For volunteering, a 62-year-old or older participant can benefit
in a $250 rebate in taxes through volunteering in the school
system. Those interested should contact Samuel Johnson Jr., human
resources director.

Many resignations were approved by the directors, including one
bus driver in the district.

In June, the school district was asked to perform a public
hearing by nine-year school bus driver Tim Slaven after he received
notice of his possible dismissal. The hearing was held June 21.

Following the hearing, where a video showed Slaven breaking
several district bus driving handbook rules, he said he would await
the directors decision, adding if they felt he should not work, he
would resign.

In her superintendents report, Romanowski thanked the
negotiation teams for a job well done in getting all of the work
done with the contracts that expired this year before the beginning
of the school year.

She also commended Gene Woodmansee and the maintenance
department for all of the work they have done in the district,
which resulted in a savings for them in the process by conducting
some of the work in the capital projects completed this summer.

She also congratulated Pude on a job well done on the strategic
plan she completed, which is now being used as a plan model for
other districts.