Follert elected to Montrose Area board

KRISTEN FOLLERT

BY PAT FARNELLI

The Montrose Area School Board elected Kristen Follert to represent Region One, (Montrose Borough and Bridgewater Township), at its regular meeting Monday.

She was chosen over Dr. Robert Sullivan and Lori A. Shelp, who also interviewed for the position.

Superintendent Michael Ognosky noted that all of the candidates had made a favorable impression on members of the board, and urged Sullivan and Shelp to seek committee membership and/or other opportunities for service in the district.

Follert grew up in Allentown, and has recently filled in as an athletic trainer for the district. She is employed at Pro Care Physical Therapy.

She previously worked for Johns Hopkins University in a similar position, and has a background in the mental health and special education fields. She also has a degree and performing experience in dance, and expressed an interest in furthering the district’s involvement in the arts. Her appointment is effective immediately until the reorganization meeting next December.

Ognosky said that the 22 Capital Reserve Fund and 30 Capital Projects Fund accounts are being used to pay for the new administration building, which is very near completion.

“By the time we are done with the building, $700,000 will be left in those two accounts,” Ognosky said.

The administration and office staff will begin their move to the new building Friday, and are scheduled to be back to business as usual by Tuesday, said Ognosky. He noted that there are a few major obstacles to overcome to meet that timetable.

The new building’s septic system is still not installed, and a grinder pump needs to arrive on site, along with installation of a sewer line.

 A significant amount of finishing work still needs to be completed. “The tile was coming along well until they ran out of tile, which will come on Thursday,” he said.

The board approved the appointment of DeHey McAndrew as the Section 125 Cafeteria Benefits Plan
third party administrator for a 3-year agreement, as submitted, at a cost of $10,050.

A resolution was made that the Montrose Area School District will not raise taxes above the PDE approved index of 1.9 percent for the 2011-2012 annual budget.

The board accepted the   local audit report for the 2009-2010 fiscal year as submitted by Murphy, Dougherty & Company, certified public accountants.

The board accepted with regret the following resignations: Daniel Cherney as junior high head soccer coach effective immediately; and Derrek Hall as assistant varsity wrestling coach effective Jan. 1.

 Michele Homan was hired as a learning support instructional aide at the Lathrop Street Elementary School retroactive to Jan. 3 at the rate of $8.91
per hour for a maximum of 6 and one-half hours per day for 180 school days.

Lois Siegfried was hired as a permanent, part-time food service worker at the
Lathrop Street Elementary School. for a maximum of 4 and one-half hours per day for 180 student school days at the rate of $7.85 per hour.

The board accepted with regret the resignation of Rhonda White as emotional support aide at the high school effective Jan. 14.

The board appointed the following as daily substitute teachers: Jennifer Lodge, as elementary school counselor; and Andrea Aukema as elementary K-6.

The board approved to  include the position of Administrative Assistant in the Act 93 Administrative Compensation Plan.

The next meeting of the school board will be held at the Choconut Valley Elementary School on Monday, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m.