Communication is an issue in the Octorara Area School District according to parents, who say they hope the school district will be more proactive comunicators.
Parents of students asked the school board Sept. 21 to consider posting school board meeting minutes on the district’s Website.
“People are finding out about things two months after the fact,” said Eric Stuehrmann of West Fallowfield Township.
The district posts meeting minutes after they have been approved by the school board at the following month’s meeting. Parents at recent meetings have stated they do not always read newspapers for school district news.
Brian Fox of Londonderry Township also requested that the school board revisit its policy for quicker communication.
“I don’t see any change in how the board reaches out to the community for participation,” said Stuehrmann, who also admitted that citizens tend to show up at meetings when they have a particular “agenda.”
Parents also expressed disappointment in the district’s math program and recent math scores, although the school district did make adequate yearly progress according to the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Comments prompted board member Sam Ganow to request a more detailed report about progress being made in school math departments in the near future.
Communication has been an issue at meetings during the past few months. Board president Duane Hershey has repeatedly reminded visitors he would like to see the room filled with citizens each month rather than for hot issues.
Whether the school board decides to place unapproved minutes on the district Website, Superintendent Tom Newcome let the community know he is in touch.
Newcome annually visits municipal meetings and holds “town hall meetings” throughout the school district to answer questions outside of school board meetings. He said he is also working with Rep. Tom Houghton’s office on the Octorara Regional Council, a committee of school and municipal officials, to bring more business revenue into the region.
Newcome said a commercial developer was scheduled to tour the community Sept. 22 to identify possible sites for business use.
In personnel matters, the school board accepted resignations from: instructional assistants Christina Cordisco, Mimi Jurasinski, Janice Papa, and sports coaches Ellen Russell, Stephanie Nuse and Sonia Taylor.
The school board hired Lindsey Fisher as a long-term second grade substitute teacher, Amanda Lenton as a long-term substitute third grade teacher, Richard Pankonien as a mid-range high school subsitute social studies teacher, Karen Williamson as a mid-range PLC substitute reading teacher, Laurel Vnucak as a middle school Title 1 reading teacher, Nicholas Raftas as alternative education assistant and van driver, Jacky Strouth as a middle school instructional assistant, Victoria Phelan as a lunch/playground assistant, Lindsey Mitman as a seventh grade field hockey coach, Shannon Julius and Michelle King as assistant cheerleading coaches, Vicky Huber and Natalie Lantz as volunteer volleyball coaches, and John Coombe as volunteer girls tennis coach.
Also, contracts with Althouse Transportation and Linville Hill Mennonite School, bus drivers, several classroom assistants, cafeteria and playground workers and reading skills teachers were approved.
The school board also congratulated teacher Deb Canby for writing a $4,000 grant for physical education equipment and approved a $200 stipend for her success.
The school board also held an executive session for personnel, and prior to the regular meeting held an executive session. The agenda stated it was for facility use contract negotiations.
During recent months the school board has stated it is considering charging fees for facility use, a move officials from the Octorara YMCA said could negatively impact its budget. The YMCA is a regular user of school facilities. The school board did not offer a report or vote on the issue.