Montrose hires new football coach

BY PAT FARNELLI

A new head football coach was appointed Monday night by the Montrose school board.

Lou Cella was hired at a cost of $4,862, effective for the 2014 fall sports season.

Cella replaces Russell Canaveri, whose resignation effective Nov. 20 was accepted with regret by the school board at the December meeting.

Superintendent Carol Boyce discussed a proposed sports arena for county-wide use during the work session prior to the board meeting. The multi-use athletic complex and conference facility is the subject of a proposed feasibility study, and local municipalities and school districts are being asked to contribute toward the study.

After some discussion among board members and administrators, visitor Lorraine Perone Chidester, mother of three students, voiced her opinion. “I can’t see school money being used to fund a public building like this, for public use by local teams and groups. As a taxpayer, I think that is a huge investment to make: I think they are looking to spend over a million dollars.”

Chidester also questioned the advisability of dismissing students early on Wednesdays next year, which is being considered to provide time to conduct teacher in-service training in preparation for new statewide standards.
Boyce responded, “The opportunity to improve instruction, hone teacher skills, and meet these mandates is a necessity.”

Board member Pamela Staats said, “The teachers are not yet aware of what they will be evaluated for. We will not have teachers ranking proficient or excellent if they are not trained for these new standards.”

The work session included a presentation by William Host on the solar energy project his advanced placement physical science has designed. Last year, the class designed and built a solar energy pavilion on school grounds, designed to utilize energy from the sun and to be enjoyed by students and community members.

This year, the class plans to quadruple the size of the pavilion and greatly increase its energy production with the addition of four solar modules.

Students will begin construction and installation as soon as weather permits, Host said, adding the class will be working on the project most Fridays for the remainder of the school year.

Host said that the advanced physics classes should be able to add four more modules every year to increase the capability of the solar energy project and to allow future classes to participate in the construction and installation.

Also attending the meeting was Peter Quigg of the Community Foundation, who was instrumental in applying for state grant funding for the project. This year’s solar energy project was eligible for more than $40,000 in state grant funding through Peoples Security Bank, which has also funded $60,000 for the school’s computer lab upgrade.

“Corporations can receive up to 100 percent tax credit on their annual returns and have their donations earmarked for Montrose,” Quigg noted.
In other business, the board was updated on the bullying program for grades four, five and six.

Kelly-jo Riker, Special Education Director, said that a group from the district plans to attend a Special Olympics 10K walk/run, and that district students will be participating in the Special Olympics in Tunkhannock.

The first Disability Awareness Night had a great turnout of parents and families, with a carnival atmosphere, she said.

Students are in the middle of passive testing, according to technology director Craig Owens, and the window for taking the PSSAs begins next week. Students will be taking those exams later in the month in the third week of the window.

The Keystone exams will be administered May 12-23.

The board approved the 2014-15 Intermediate Unit 19 operating budget of $3,005,000.

New board member Richard Jordan asked why the Montrose board has to approve this budget, and was told that each of the 23 school districts that make up the IU must review and pass the budget every year.

A contract was also approved as submitted with IU 19 for the provision of special education programs and services for the 2014-15 school year at an estimated cost not to exceed $175,215.71.

In addition to services provided within the schools, four students will be served off site, said Staats, chairperson of the curriculum committee.

The board approved entering into an agreement with NHS of Northeastern PA regarding the Student Assistance Program, which utilizes trained staff members at the high school to recognize issues that affect learning,
Staats said. “This contract is for that program’s counselor, and for that counselor to participate in meetings with mental health workers involved with our students in and out of school.” The cost of the program is $4,300.
The Junior and Senior High Course Selection Guide was approved for next year, as was the proposed 2014-15 school calendar as submitted.

Tom Syle was hired as assistant track throwing coach for the 2014 spring sports season.

The next school board meeting and work session will be held Monday, Apr. 14 at 7 p.m. at the Community Learning Center at the high school.