BY TOM FONTANA
Correspondent
Zachery Pearce, left, a member relations coordinator for the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, awarded PSBA Honor Roll certificates to Mt. View school board directors Ellen Aherne and Thomas Stoddard for their years of service, with acting superintendent Karen Voigt offering her congratulations. PHOTO BY TOM FONTANA
Mountain View girls basketball coach Tom Rudzinski has asked the school board for help with getting gym time.
Rudzinski told the board at its meeting Monday, Nov. 24, that he and his team were recently denied access to the elementary school gym for their first Sunday practice of the season.
“We got there for practice and the janitor said we couldn’t use the gym,” Rudzinski recounted. “He was rude and said we should go home.”
The coach said being turned away from the gym or being asked to leave early before practice is over has been an ongoing problem in the past.
“Why do we have to rely on custodians all the time to get into the building?” Rudzinski asked. “You trust us with the kids, you should be able to trust us to get into the building on our own and turn the alarms on and off.”
He added that the Sunday practices are important because the girls’ games are on Mondays. The coach suggested that gym scheduling goes through too many hands and should be “streamlined.”
Acting superintendent Karen Voigt explained that custodians need to be in the building for safety concerns, and the building principals must approve the use of facilities and make sure custodians are available for the times requested.
Board president Thomas Stoddard expressed the need for the athletic director, maintenance director, and the principals to meet to resolve the situation.
Voigt, who is also the director of curriculum, told the board that in the spring a curriculum specialist will review the high school class schedule.
“It has been difficult for a long time for students to fit classes they want, especially electives, into their daily schedule because of the variety of things we try to offer,” Voigt stated. “It’s time to have the courage, faith and confidence to construct a schedule that will better serve our students.”
She informed the board that physical education department chair Rick Loman has proposed a curriculum update for the district’s consideration. Loman was not available to present the proposal at the meeting.
“The curriculum includes some electives that aren’t focused on organized team sports,” she explained, “but the kinds of personal fitness activities that individuals can use throughout their life.”
In other business, the following coaching position were approved: Katie Ross, Dalton, girls assistant basketball co-coach; Whitney Twining, girls assistant basketball co-coach; Luke Gorham, New Milford, assistant track coach; Raymond Mitchell, Kindgsley, assistant track coach; Joseph DeManicor, Clifford Twp., junior high baseball coach.
Zachary Pearce, a member relations coordinator for the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA), presented certificates to two board members for years of service.
“We call it the PSBA Honor Roll,” Pearce said. “It’s to honor school board directors for years on service and acknowledged on even years of service starting with their eighth year.”
Directors Ellen Aherne and Thomas Stoddard were honored for 8 years and 16 years respectively. Pearce pointed out that Stoddard has actually been a board member for 17 years, and will be recognized again next year for his 18th year.
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