A number of end-of-the year actions, as well as presentations, made for a lengthier evening during Monday’s meeting for the Bradford Area School District board of education reorganizational meeting and regular meeting.
During the reorganizational meeting, Shane Oschman and Paul Ridley were elected as president and vice president of the school board, respectively, among other officers named.
During the regular meeting, the board heard a presentation on district champions from the fall season by Mike Erickson, athletic director. He said the high school football team had a winning season, and the girls volleyball team came in second in District 9.
“Both boys and girls cross-country teams sent two individuals to the state competition in Hershey,” Erickson noted. “Those were not district champions, but they had a tremendous season as well.”
He said the girls golf and boys golf teams, as well as the boys and girls soccer teams, however, did win the district championships. With that, members of all the teams were introduced to board members and lauded for their achievements and efforts.
Next on the agenda was the 2017-18 audit report of the district by Adam Batesky of Buffamante, Whipple and Buffafaro PC, CPA company. Batesky said the school district was to be commended for a good report and meeting the objectives of the audit.
Batesky said the district also received a “clean bill of health” for internal control and compliance. He said a similar clean bill of health was obtained from the Single Audit Act review of federal aid and grants received by the district.
“This is really a testament of the nice job the district has done in regards to these federal grants,” Batesky added, which brought applause from the audience. He said the district also fared well with the food service fund, which had a profitable year.
The board also heard from Mary Mahoney-Ferster of the “Include Me from the Start” program which has been conducted at George G. Blaisdell Elementary School this year. Mahoney-Ferster said the state-funded initiative is designed to promote and expand inclusive practices for students with significant disabilities. The program provides support and training for schools with participating students.
“I came to you bearing gifts,” Mahoney-Ferster said of the program.
In other business, the board voted in favor of a contract and resolution for emotional support services with the Seneca Highlands IU9; and heard a presentation by Kelly Compton, director of Curriculum and Instruction on the Future Ready PA Index. The index, found online at futurereadypa.org, is a collection of school progress measures related to school and student success at districts across the commonwealth.
In personnel matters, the board approved the hiring of Joseph Gorse Sr. as discipline coordinator, on an as-needed basis, effective Dec. 4; and approved Gary Larson as a part-time bus driver.
The board also accepted the resignation of Martha Pascarella, who will retire Dec. 21 after 25 years of service as a special education aide at School Street Elementary School; and Stephen Ackerman, health and physical education teacher at Bradford Area High School, who will retire after 18 years of service.
In her report, Superintendent Katharine Pude said Wave 1 of the Keystone exams at the high school began Monday with students testing in biology and literature. She said Wave 2 begins in January 2019 with testing in algebra.
Pude also announced upcoming holiday events and activities in the district. They include a Meet the Teams event, Dec. 5; High School Holiday Concert, 7 p.m. Dec. 6; GGB Holiday Concert, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 11; Fretz Christmas Concert, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 12; Holidays in the Arts, all day at Fretz, Dec. 18; and School Street Concert at the high school, 7 p.m. Jan. 15.
