Big night at Mt. View board: Teachers’ contract approved; Curriculum Director hired; SRO approved

BY PAT FARNELLI

Correspondent

The Mountain View school board room was filled to capacity, with several attendees seated in the hallway, as the anxiously awaited teachers’ contract ratification was announced. This contract will be in effect from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2023.

A cheer erupted from the audience, which included a group of faculty members wearing blue t-shirts with an MVEA logo.

Superintendent Karen Voigt thanked the four faculty members “who represented MVEA very well,” and said that the negotiation process “just worked.”

A Memorandum of Understanding was approved between the district and the Susquehanna County District Attorney’s office.

Voigt said, “This is to help us have an SRO here, between the two buildings.”

The School Resource Officer selected for the position is James Bernosky, former Station Commander of the Gibson Barracks of the PA State Police. He has been hired at a rate of $160 per day.

The board approved the hiring of Mike Elia of Roaring Brook Township as Director of Curriculum at a salary of $90,000, filling the last administration vacancy. Dr. Chris Lake, previous Director of Curriculum and Instruction, has been serving in this role as well as Elementary Principal for most of the school year.

The board also appointed Samantha Cummings Hayden as a school counselor at a salary of $61,888.

Todd Calabro was appointed as a science teacher at a salary of $45,288. He was also approved as a 90-day long-term substitute, at a prorated salary of $43,687, effective June 14, which will be his 91st day of service, as a result of his having served in the same high school position for more than 90 consecutive days.

The 2018-19 annual tax levy was approved as follows: 41.4780 mills real estate tax, $5 per capita tax under Act 511, $5 per capita tax under Section 679 of the Public School Code, Occupational Assessment Tax at 100 mills, 0.5 percent Earned Income Tax under act 511, and 1 percent Real Estate Transfer Tax. Installment payments are due by Aug. 31, 2018 and Oct. 31, 2018, respectively.

The 2018 Homestead and Farmstead Exclusion was approved in the amount of $524,089. There are 2,292 eligible homesteads and 139 eligible farmsteads.

Nathaniel Jones of Hop Bottom was approved as a summer IT employee at a rate of $10 per hour, effective June 12. He was also approved as a substitute on the technology list.

The board accepted a letter of resignation due to retirement from Daniel Bonham, maintenance, effective June 30. He was thanked for his years of service.

A motion to advertise for a fulltime maintenance position with a salary of $12.70 per hour and benefits will be advertised.

The Title III MOU between the district and NEIU 10 was approved.

Dan Very was approved as treasurer of the school board for the 2018-19 school year, effective July 1.

A dual enrollment agreement was approved between Mountain View School District and Lackawanna College for students in 11th and 12th grades.

A presentation on electromagnetic metal detectors included information on technology, policies, process of implementation, and training. An entryway, portable metal detector can be purchased at a cost of between $3,000 and $5,000, while hand-held wands cost about $300 each. Three staff members are needed per metal detector. No action was taken at this time.