The regular meeting of the Bradford Area School District was held on Monday night with quite a few new faces in the audience and one at the table. Student Sage Bruno was welcomed as the new Student Council President and addressed the Board with what she envisions for the coming year — more unification. She told the members that there is a need to get back to normal, “get back to having orientations and field days,” said Bruno.
Additionally, when students return to class some are going to notice many changes in who is teaching or in charge. Ten staff resignations, two of which were for retirement; three transfers; hiring of eight new teachers; a temporary summer maintenance worker were all approved.
After 32 years, Cathy Mason, a full time general aide at GGB, will retire from the district. Joining her in retirement is Karen McCartney, an English teacher at GGB with 11 years of service to the district and her students. Both will be missed, according to members of the board.
Another longtime member of the district is quietly leaving. John Petruzzi, director of technology, with 23 years in the district, is stepping down. Superintendent, Katy Pude, said, “he has contributed so much and for so long; I am going to miss him. I learned alot from John.”
In other faculty moves, Nick LaBella, Floyd C. Fretz Middle School assistant principal, has accepted a new position as Otto-Eldred’s Principal. Melissa Merry, the current George G. Blaisdell assistant principal, will take over at Fretz; the new Assistant Principal at GGB will be Wes Lohrman. Lohrman had been the Enrichment Teacher for Fretz Middle and Bradford Area High School.
Due to some of the items on the agenda, as well as revisions to the Resource Materials Policy, a fairly respectful conversation between Pude, a couple of board members and two audience members was part of the comments and recognition of visitors section of the meeting. The topic of discussion was concerning differing opinions and perspectives of reading material on the various schools’ libraries’ shelves. The discussion brought up points from many perspectives and reasons for and against keeping the books on the shelves, labeling for content, and/or need of parental permission.
The Board approved the revisions to the Resource Materials Policy.
As part of the Business Office and Financial Affairs reports and recommendations, Judy Bodamer explained that due to a low response rate in Census reporting — across Pennsylvania, not just in this area — the Bradford Area School District had a reduction in Title I funding. As the planning for 2022-23 continues, she is hopeful the Pa. State Budget is passed soon.
The Board approved the General Fund Budget for 2022-23 in the amount of $53,801,398; the 2022-23 Capital Reserve Budget in the amount of $2,459,233; and permission to sell two properties from the county repository. Another property sale on the agenda was recommended to be declined as it was beyond the scope of renovations.
According to a meeting resolution, there will be no tax increases for the 2022-2023 year.
The Board also approved the amendment to the Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Bradford Police Department to include additional summer hours. According to Pude, BAHS has already started summer school and other schools in the district will begin July 6. There has not been a summer School Resource Officer in recent times, but this year, Pude stated, “in light of all the recent violence toward schools, it seemed appropriate.”
Several agreements were approved with outside education services.
An agreement with Beacon Light Behavioral Health Systems for educational services for students attending Children’s Center for Treatment and Education specialized educational programs. The cost for services shall be determined by the classification of the students served.
An agreement with Beacon Light Behavioral Health Systems for educational services for students attending Children’s Center for Treatment and Education Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth (AEDY) program. The cost for services shall be determined by Full Day or Half Day classification of the students served. This program is an on-site alternative education program at Beacon Light in Custer City, per Pude.
An agreement with Dickinson Center Inc. Partial Hospitalization Program, to provide students participating in the Partial Hospitalization Program services an appropriate intensive therapeutic program, education, and seamless transition back to their home districts.
Each year, a new vote must be conducted for School Board Treasurer. Carla Manion, current treasurer, was the only nominee at the Monday meeting, and was then voted unanimously to continue in her role for the next year.
The Board approved the date change for the meeting in August to Thursday, Aug. 4 to allow for staff to attend the Principal’s Conference.
