Search for new EL supt. begins

BY PAT FARNELLI

Wyoming County Press Examiner

 

DIMOCK – The Elk Lake and Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center school board voted Sept. 5 to begin a search for a new district superintendent.

During the SCCTC meeting, board member Danica McGee made a motion to begin the search to replace William Bush, who recently gave notice of his resignation effective June 2014.

The board voted to begin the search by advertising in local papers that regularly cover the school board meetings. Ads will run for the first two weeks in October.

The new BoardDOCs program was launched during the meeting, and the agenda was projected onto a screen as well as being available on laptops for each board member.

There was some difficulty with the agendas, and adjustments were made.

Several board members used their own devices, and a cart full of laptops from the SCCTC was made available to others.

A massage therapy instructor was hired for the two new massage programs recently created for SCCTC adult students.

Jessica Warner, who was in attendance, was hired as instructor.

A substitute list also was approved.

A number of Pennsylvania School Board Association policies already approved at the most recent Elk Lake board meeting were approved, from the Section 200 of the state policy manual.

The 2014 board meeting dates were discussed, and some changes were suggested.

PSBA officer candidates were reviewed by the board, and candidates were selected to be entered by the secretary in an online vote.

It was announced that $165,000 had been spent so far for the building and carpentry house project account. The home is 95 percent completed, and will soon be put up for sale. Some trimming, finishing, landscaping and other detail work remains to be done.

Instructor Gary Fenton will have the lowest acceptable bid set soon, SCCTC director Alice Davis said.

She added that several purchasers are interested in the home already.

Board member Eric Emmerich brought up retaining the mineral rights for the house property. “We have been parceling off our acreage, and that is potential income lost,” he said. “Are there other home sites left?”

Davis replied that there is a cul-de-sac belonging to the district with room available for three more house projects.

Board member Arden Tewksbury said, “You are looking at someone who sold almost all of his land and wasn’t smart enough to keep the mineral rights.”

The topic was tabled for further discussion.

Enrollment was discussed. SCCTC has a total of 519 students, with three more new students starting in the next few days.

Some 78 adult students are enrolled.

Tunkhannock has sent 31 students, significantly up from previous years. They started Tuesday, Sept. 3, nearly a week after most everyone else, and may send more.

Blue Ridge sent six students for 12 slots, Davis said.

The low income grant program for students in health fields has 15 students enrolled, and another low income grant has been received for the next class.

These students can study the certified nurse aide, EKG, and phlebotomy programs and be eligible for the LPN program later.

A check was received from the Community Foundation of the Endless Mountains for the John James grant fund for the benefit of the Future Business Owners of America clubs in all the school districts of Susquehanna County. The check was for $1,400 which is an increase of $100 above last year’s grant.

It was announced that the board held a closed session on Aug. 27 with solicitor Ellis Katz regarding teacher contract negotiations. There was also an executive session at 6 p.m. before Thursday’s SCCTC meeting.

A brief Elk Lake school board meeting was held to approve PSBA candidates and the substitute list.