Several new hires and resignations were approved and the announcement of a Back-to-School Rally later this month were among topics discussed at Monday’s meeting for the Bradford Area School District board of education.
In her report, Superintendent Katharine Pude said this year’s Back-to-School Rally will be hald from 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 21 for students in the district. Pude said the event will have staggered times to ensure social distancing.
Pude also announced that she had spoken with both Bradford City Police Chief Mike Ward and city administrator Chris Lucco to finalize a three-year contract for school resource officers.
“Our plan is to put the new officer’s (Jason Daugherty) salary into the ESSR funding so that we do not need to spend district funds for that period,” Pude said of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief federal funding.
On another topic, Pude had mentioned that she hadn’t received a reply from the city regarding the district’s request to change parking on Lorana Avenue and Pleasant Street to protect children from traffic on those streets during school days. However, the city had passed an ordinance on the request at its meeting in July that will prohibit parking on the two streets during school hours. Specifically, beginning Aug. 23, parking will be prohibited from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays on Lorana Avenue from St. Francis Drive to Hawthorne Road near Floyd C. Fretz Middle School; and North Center Street from School Street to Pleasant Street near School Street Elementary School.
In another update, Pude said the Pre-K Counts program now has 75 students enrolled, compared to last year’s 63.
“We are hopeful that more parents will feel comfortable enough to send their kids to school and that enrollment will continue to increase as the start of school nears” on Aug. 23, Pude said.
In personnel matters, the board approved the hirings of Spencer Pehonsky as construction trades teacher at the high chool at bachelor step four at a salary of $44,793, effective Aug. 17; Connor Tingley, special education teacher at the high school, at bachelor step one, $42,468, effective Aug. 17; Tessa Myers, elementary teacher at George G. Blaisdell (GGB) Elementary, bachelor step one, $42,468, effective Aug. 17; Deanna Kemick, elementary teacher at GGB, master step 12, $56,393, effective Aug. 17; Michael Ernst, full-time special education aide; Amanda Poirer, full-time general aide at GGB, effective Aug. 23; Jamie Burritt, elementary teacher at GGB, bachelor step one, $42,468, effective Aug. 17; Mary Olson, 10-month secretary at the high school, effective Aug. 30; Ashly Colosimo, full-time special education aide at Floyd C. Fretz Middle School, effective Aug. 23; and Randy L. Ruffner, health and physical education teacher at the high school, bachelor step two, $43,243, effective Aug. 17.
The board also approved the resignation of Tyler Smith, physical education/health teacher at the high school; Richard Couch, retirement, part-time bus driver, after seven years of service; Mary Gabriel, retirement, elementary teacher at GGB, after 19 years of service; Loretta Gabriel, retirement, elementary teacher at GGB, after 34 years of service; Randy E. Ruffner, full-time general aide, retirement after 20 years of service; and Kristy Kline, nurse aide/LPN, School Street Elementary School, resignation after six years of service.
