You just can’t fight the sun.
At Monday’s meeting of the Bradford Area school board, district Superintendent Katy Pude asked for, and was granted, permission to have early dismissal April 8 to allow for students to witness the total eclipse of the sun.
“I fear that attendance, both student and staff, will not be good on that date as this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for families to travel to a viewing area to see the eclipse,” she said. “The majority, if not all, of our neighboring districts will be doing the same. If kids stay in school, our regular dismissal would interfere with them observing this event.”
Erie, and Buffalo, N.Y., are both expected to be in the path of the full eclipse.
Pude had some news about grants for the district from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.
“We have successfully submitted the meritorious Mental Health and School Safety grants as well as a competitive grant for Mental Health,” she said. “We are assured at least $150,000 to keep our focus room at (Bradford Area High School) and to get new doors and fobs in the central office.”
Also at the meeting, two students were expelled for an agreed upon time frame, both for weapons violations in February.
The Career and Technology program at Bradford Area High School was recently awarded an $84,075 Competitive Equipment Grant to purchase a Haas CNC Lathe. The total cost for the Haas Lathe is $89,790 through the Costars program, and the school district will pay the balance of $5,715.00.
The board approved awarding a contract to HHSDR Architects and Engineers for a building conditions survey and five-year plan for the district for the amount of $35,000.
Also approved was a project for the replacement of the track surface, awarding the contract to Astroturf/Rekortan for a synthetic track surface. The board approved a measure to release $750,000 from capital reserve funds for the track replacement and a Bluebird Bus.
Pude also asked the board to approve field trips for Key Club and for overnight band trips. For the Key Club, it would be a trip April 5 to 6 for the PA District Key Club Convention for 20 students and two chaperones. The convention is in State College.
The second trip was for 30 band students and two chaperones to attend the DCI Eastern Classic in Allentown Aug. 2 to 4. Pude reiterated, “The band trip is not until August and our only responsibility is busing, but reservations and fundraising need to occur if it is approved.”
The board approved both trips.
Several people were hired as well: Janelle Funk, general aide, School Street, $16.19 per hour; Matthew Colwell, head custodian, Fretz, $50,050; Amy Schermerhorn and Debra Veite, reserve drivers, transportation department, $21.85 per hour; Vicki Niver and Sanana Romero, CDL instructor trainers, transportation department, $22.35 per hour; Justin Wedge, discipline coordinator, transportation department, $21.85 per hour.
The board accepted resignations from several people: Dan Mills, bus driver, Teresa Mills, bus driver, and Brandie Fuller, van driver.
Several coaches were named. For girls’ softball, Julie Keane was named as a volunteer, and for boys’ baseball, Tony Lama was named as a volunteer. For football, Brian South and Randy Ruffner were named as volunteers.
Nanci Garris was named to a paid supplemental position of play support.
