HEGINS — Students will be paying slightly more for their lunches in the 2016-17 school year under a plan approved Wednesday by the Tri-Valley school board.
The board, by an 8-0 vote, approved the 2016-17 projected budget with Chartwells School Dining Services for paid lunches and breakfasts. Director Karrie L. Bowman was absent. The elementary paid lunch and high school paid lunch will both increase 5 cents to $2.30, and $2.55, respectively. The adult lunch price will increase 10 cents to $3.60. The elementary and secondary paid breakfast will remain $1.15. Milk prices will rise 5 cents to 60 cents.
The board is scheduled to vote on several key items at its next regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. May 11.
Budget and Finance Committee Chairman Roger D. Heidlebaugh said there will be a request for approval of the 2016-17 proposed budget at that time. The board will also make a decision on the revised extracurricular payment plan, previously called the “Athletic Payment Plan” at that May meeting. Director Kenneth L. Smeltz said a proposed transportation contract with Bowman Brothers Trucking Inc. to provide services for the 2016-17 school year was included in board members’ packets for review. The transportation contract is scheduled for a vote in May as well.
The building principals noted dates for upcoming events.
Elementary Principal Gerald J. Anderson said kindergarten registration will be held May 9 and 16. Any parent or guardian who has not received a mailing can call the district office at 570-682-9013 for information. The elementary spring band concert will be 7 p.m. May 10 at the Tri-Valley High School, and a “Career Day” will be held May 13 for all sixth-graders and students from the North Central Secured Treatment Unit are scheduled to present a program in the afternoon. May 6 will be an Act 80 day, Anderson said.
High School Principal Charles W. Hall announced the high school junior/senior chorus spring concert will be 7 p.m. April 28; the high school junior/senior band spring concert will be 7 p.m. May 5; the National Honor Society is hosting an American Red Cross Blood Drive on April 22; the FFA banquet and awards ceremony will be held May 13; and the junior/senior prom will be May 7.
Hall said dates for the high school’s end-of-year ceremonies are: baccalaureate, June 1; senior awards night, June 2; and commencement, June 3.
Hall extended congratulations to the German students and German teacher Jenna Shafer. At the Penn State German Day competition, Tri-Valley students placed third out of 17 schools in Pennsylvania. He also announced Rotary student of the month for April is Kelly Romberger; and Lions student of the month in the arts for April is Skylar Gunning.
The board approved the following:
• Michael Romberger as assistant junior high girls’ basketball coach at a salary of $1,880 for the 2016-17 school year.
• Appointing Joanne Risso as a volunteer volleyball coach for the 2016-17 school year.
• Facility requests, as submitted, by Superintendent Mark D. Snyder.
• An affiliation agreement with the University of Phoenix.
• An amendment to the Telecommunications Service Agreement with Conterra Ultra Broadband LLC, beginning July 1, for the in-district Wide Area Network. This is the first of three available five-year extensions, Snyder reported.
• Adding the following to the 2015-16 substitute teacher list: Kelly Pleva and Joel Whitehouse, guest teachers.
• Retroactively accepting the resignation of Melissa Beaver, part-time aide, effective April 8.
• Retroactively transferring Sally Kissinger from substitute aide to part-time aide, effective April 11.
• Appointing Lisa Tyrpin as a substitute aide at a rate of $9 per hour, pending receipt of clearances.
• Volunteers, pending receipt of clearances: Julie Specht, at Hegins-Hubley; and Tammy Dengler, Mahantongo PTO.
• Temporary summer cleaners for the summer of 2016: Lauren Deibert, $9 per hour; Crystal Geist, $12 per hour; and Karen Harman, $12 per hour (Geist and Harman both returned from previous years.)
• The Schuylkill Intermediate Unit Administrative and Program Budget for the 2016-17 fiscal year; director Carl D. Shankweiler abstained.
• The proposal for technology services from the Schuylkill IU 29 for the period July 1 to June 30, 2017 at a rate of $70,835.
• The special education plan for submission to the state Department of Education.
Board member John E. Schmeltz said a copy of the LEED Gold Certificate, letter and checklist for the Hegins-Hubley Elementary School, as required by the ACE grant, has been submitted to the state Department of Community and Economic Development as proof that the Hegins-Hubley Elementary School has officially met LEED requirements. The district anticipates receiving Mahantongo Valley Elementary School’s certificate soon, he said.
Prior to the regular meeting, the board held a committee of the whole meeting and an executive session for legal and personnel issues. A budget meeting also followed Wednesday’s board meeting.