SMETHPORT — The Seneca Highlands Intermediate Unit 9 directors voted on Monday to curtail the computer repair program at the educational agency’s Career and Technical Center in Port Allegany, beginning in the 2015-16 school year, an action that reflects the decision of the superintendents of the Career and Technical Center’s nine participating districts.
The curtailment, which was due in part to declining enrollment, will affect one professional employee, Nancy Burdick, computer repairs/IT essentials instructor, who is retiring at the close of the current school year.
Following this vote, the IU9 administration must now file a formal request to the Pennsylvania Department of Education for final approval.
Anita Danielson, assistant to the IU9 executive director, said the Career and Technical Center’s networking program will become a three-year course of study in 2015-16.
After some discussion, the directors unanimously approved a resolution, which states the Joint Operating Committee of the Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center authorizes the administration to work with Public Financial Management Inc. as financial advisor, Rhoads and Sinon, LLP of Harrisburg, as bond counsel and the solicitor with the issuance of School Lease Revenue Bonds, Series A of 2015 in a maximum amount of $500,000 for the purpose of financing the Career and Technical Center’s capital projects.
One of the projects is to enlarge the welding curriculum’s instructional area.
According to the Career and Technical Center’s 2015-16 calendar, which gained approval, Aug. 25 is the opening day for students, and June 2, 2016, is the final day for students.
In another matter, the board OK’d the renewal of the business office software maintenance agreement with ProSOft Technologies of Bethel Park for budgetary accounting, requisitions, accounts receivable, payroll, personnel and the employee web portal for July 1 through June 30, 2016, in the amount of $11,843.16, a five percent increase over the current year.
The contract covers the costs of monthly maintenance, training, technical support and new releases.
The Otto-Eldred School District representative of the IU9 board, Joe Bennett, cast the lone “no” vote after objecting to the lack of a justification for the increased fee.
The directors also approved rental agreements for the Pre-School Early Intervention Program’s classroom and office or therapy space for July 1 through June 30, 2016.
The lessors and the yearly costs are the Cameron County and Kane Area school districts, both at $4,000, which represents no increase. For the Coudersport Area School District, the $4,000 fee is a decrease of $10,300.
Also gaining approval was the agreement with Capital Area Intermediate Unit 15 in Cumberland County to provide online speech therapy for the rest of the school year for about 20 speech students at the Northern Potter Children’s School at the rate of $85 per hour and an annual maintenance and support fee of $85 per student.
Sessions are slated to be held one day per week.
In a report to the directors, IU9 director of curriculum, technology and resources Cindy Murphy announced the 15th annual Summer Curriculum Institute is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 8-12 and June 15-16 at the IU9 administrative offices in Smethport.
“This year, we plan to focus on topics that are getting attention at the state level,” she said. “This is the only IU9 program for which a fee is charged, and the one day cost is $25.”
Murphy also reported on the results of the following school events that were held recently at the IU’s Smethport offices: Governor’s PA Stem Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics competition; and high school and middle school computer fairs.
A Challenge 24 competition is scheduled for fourth through eighth graders at the IU’s administrative building on May 8.
