Cars passing stopped school buses an issue at Susquehanna Community

BY HELEN B. FOSTER

Susquehanna Community District directors were told at their Oct. 20 meeting of four incidents of traffic violations involving cars passing school buses unloading students.

According to Business Manager Gary Kiernan, if identified and found guilty, the operator of the car would lose his/her license for a year. Kiernan said it is unusual to have this many incidents so early in the year.

Kiernan said there were more bus contracts coming up which will put transportation over budget. It was at this meeting the 30 district transportation contracts for the 2010-2011 school year were approved.

The board approved hiring Bridgette Stone as the junior High assistant girl’s basketball coach. Others hired as homebound instructors and substitute after-school teachers and numerous other positions included: Richard Emmons, Ellen Rockwell, Karyn Armitage, Rachael Arrieta, Bridgette Stone as homebound instructors, with Armitage, Arrieta and Stone also filling substiture after-school teachers.positions. Katherine Edwards and Rebecca Stalker were approved as co-teachers for the after school program with Carmelina Zyata as a bus aide/interpreter. Rebecca Odell will also serve as a bus aide; Daniel Mauer and Mary Weaver will be scorers/ timers and ticket takers.

Approved as district substitutes were: Raymond McDonald, Maria Vauter, Rebecca Wright, teachers; Gerald Chandler and Brian Chandler as bus drivers.

Superintendent Bronson Stone’s request to serve as adjunct faculty for Wilkes University for one evening course during the 2011 spring semester was granted. Stone said the course he will be teaching pertains to school law.

Principal Robert Keyes reported on the after school tutoring program. Keyes said there are 55 permission slips signed for students to attend but the number attending is lower on a regular basis.

Red Ribbon Week was to begin on Oct. 25 with various activities sending a No Drug Use message being planned. There is also a Drug Free essay contest. This is an annual program at the Elementary School.

Principal Mark Gerchman said there will be core subject teachers available at the same time for parents attending Parent/Teacher Conferences on Nov. 10.

Gerchman said he plans to call parents to remind them and flyers will also be sent home with the students.Gerchman said there will be a volleyball game underway during the P/T conferences. The game is a senior project.

David Jagger,  recently hired as Susquehanna’s Special Education Coordinator, atended the meeting to meet the directors. Jagger said he will be in Mechanicsburg for a week in November to be certified in crisis intervention.

“It is an investment up front,” Jagger said.

Stone reported on the energy saving already being experienced by the district due to the changes under the capital improvement work nearing completion.

The saving on the new lights alone is 19.46 percent, Stone said.

Stone and Maintenance Supervisor Don Norris both remarked on the difference throughout the buildings with the new heating controls.

Norris said the staff will be undergoing training for the efficient operating of the new system.