Budget cuts?

Avonworth administrators may look to budget cuts for Avonworth Elementary School in order to provide additional consulting services at the school.

Board treasurer Frank Mucha said at the board's regular meeting on Monday that the district is looking at entering into an agreement with John Esaias for consulting services for the first semester of this school year.

The agreement would pay Esaias $50 per hour, to work two days a week, at a cost not to exceed $12,500.

Mucha said that he asked administrators to look into budget cuts for specific line items at the elementary school in order to fund the hiring.

Superintendent Dr. Valerie McDonald said that some cuts will need to be made. School board members Lynn Evans McGrath, Marybeth Sommers and Eric Templin all said that they would like more information as to why the consulting service is needed and where the budget cuts would occur, before they would vote on the matter.

Loan may be needed

Northgate officials were warned this week that the district may need to borrow funds if the state legislature does not adopt a budget in the near future.

Finance committee chairman Daniel O'Keefe said at the board's Aug. 10 committee of the whole meeting that a tax anticipation loan may be necessary to fund operations until the district begins receiving this fiscal year's tax revenue and the funding due the district from the state.

Superintendent Dr. Reggie Bonfield said that the district has not yet received funds from the state for the 2008-09 fiscal year.

Fire equipment

A number of purchases for the Bellevue Fire Department were unanimously approved by the borough council at its regular meeting on Aug. 5.

The purchase of a fire hose tester was approved, and could cost up to $2,000.

A Class D Extinguisher, which is a dry chemical extinguisher, also was approved for purchase at a cost of $450.

The purchase of alcohol resistant foam was approved at a cost of $1,000.

Council member Steve Mosolansky was absent.

Crossing guard question

Northgate School Board members are trying to decide how to handle the matter of crossing guards in Avalon now that borough officials have voted not to fund the positions.

In past years, the borough and the school district have split the cost of two crossing guards employed to work on Union Avenue and in front of Avalon Elementary School. That expense was eliminated from Avalon's 2009 budget, with officials noting that state law requires the school district to bear the cost of getting children safely to school, and the borough no longer could afford the expenditure.

Board member Susan Nolan stated at the Aug. 10 committee of the whole meeting that she thought it would be better if the crossing guards were under the direction of a police department rather than the school district, and suggested paying Bellevue to take over the two additional positions.

In response to questions from board members, Northgate business manager Marilynn Berner said she did not know if Avalon would continue to assign a police officer to the Union Avenue/New Brighton Road traffic light as the borough has done in the past.

Fire service update

Emsworth Volunteer Fire Company Chief Michael Adams told borough officials that the plan for Emsworth and Ben Avon fire companies to provide fire service to Kilbuck Township is progressing.

Adams said at Emsworth Council's meeting on Wednesday that officials from both fire companies met with officials from Allegheny County's computer-aided dispatch service to go over "run cards" for Kilbuck Township. The run cards designate exactly which fire companies will respond to emergencies at each property within Kilbuck.

Adams also noted that Emsworth and Ben Avon could be covering Kilbuck sooner than the Sept. 1 date originally planned because Kilbuck could be selling its fire truck to an interested company in South Carolina.

Sewer budget approved

It will cost Emsworth nearly $12,000 to comply with sewer mandates this year.

Emsworth Council, at its regular meeting on Aug. 12, approved the Gateway Feasibility Study Budget in the amount of $11,792. That is the estimated amount the borough will have to spend this year in order to meet federal consent order deadlines for 2010, according to council member Amy Adams.

The work to be done includes flow monitoring, dye testing and CCTV surveillance of the borough's sewers, according to Adams.

Council member Rob Bennett was absent.

Viewing grades

Avonworth School District administrators said, at the school board's regular meeting on Monday, that the district’s new gradebook and classroom management system, Edline, will be ready to go by the beginning of school.

With the launch of the new program, parents of students in the district will be able to see real-time grades for their children.

Superintendent Dr. Valerie McDonald said that administrators are asking teachers to update their gradebooks program every week.

McDonald said that the program will be operational by the start of school, but noted that there will not be a lot of information on it at that point because the district is launching the program for all grades in the district at the same time.

Parents soon should be receiving mailers explaining Edline and how to use the program. The mailers were expected to go out on Aug. 13.

Also included in the mailers will be information regarding Global Connect, which the district will use to alert parents about any emergencies or student attendance.

The district will test Global Connect on Aug. 21, using current contact information.

Fuel tank repairs

After a review by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Bellevue will spend some $4,000 to fix the borough's fuel tank.

According to public works supervisor Tony Barbarino, the DEP found several problems that will need to be fixed in order to bring the tank up to DEP standards.

The repairs, which were approved on Aug. 5, will be done by L & A Construction and could cost up to $4,434.

Teacher resigns

The Northgate School Board voted Monday to accept the resignation of Bellevue Elementary School teacher Josette Rhykerd.

Rhykerd has moved from the area, according to superintendent Dr. Reggie Bonfield. The board could vote at its regular meeting on Aug. 17 to hire a new teacher for the position.

Avonworth personnel

The Avonworth School Board made a number of personnel decisions at its regular meeting on Aug. 10.

The board hired Emily Wolff as a middle school eighth grade English teacher. James Avondolio was hired as a long term substitute custodian, effective Sept. 1. Both hirings are approved upon the completion of district requirements.

Kathy Galecki was approved as a mentor for Wolff, and Melissa Reagle was approved as a mentor for Roxanne Grider. Grider was hired as a Spanish teacher at last week's work session.

The board announced that three staff members had attained professional employee status (tenure). Jennifer Reilsono, Jason Smith and Valerie Constantino have reached professional employee status.

Leah M. Uhernik was hired as an assistant girls’ varsity basketball coach for the 2009-10 school year. Jennifer Wickert was hired as an assistant girls’ varsity volleyball coach. Wickert originally was approved as an interim assistant coach before becoming the assistant. Both will be paid a stipend.

Jennifer Faignaert was approved as the humanities department chairperson for the 2009-10 school year, and will be paid a stipend.

The school board also voted to create an instructional aide position, which will assist the high school resource room teacher beginning with the 2009-10 school year.

Board member Jeff Schmid was absent.

Wall repair bids

A wall next to the Lowries Run Creek near Ohio River Boulevard soon could be repaired as Emsworth Borough Council voted unanimously to advertise for bids for the project.

According to council member David Heflin, the wall is starting to deteriorate, allowing rocks and concrete to fall into the creek. Heflin noted that the debris has built up almost to the point of damming the creek.

At a minimum, Heflin said, the borough should reestablish the bank just by reaching in and pulling out the debris, which he said can be done in-house.

Modular classrooms in place

Modular classrooms that the Avonworth School District will use to ease overcrowding at the elementary school are now on-site.

Superintendent Dr. Valerie McDonald said that the security systems at the classrooms were already up and cabinets are being installed now. McDonald said that teachers should be able to move into the rooms next week, after the district receives an occupancy permit.

School board president Dave Oberdick said that the trailers were placed at the elementary school to minimize impact on the playground. He noted that a walkway or overhang between the school and classrooms was not possible due to fire safety issues.

"We did the best we could with the space we had," Oberdick said.

Court work

The basketball court at Memorial Park will receive a make-over, as it was approved by Bellevue Council at its regular meeting on Aug. 5.

The borough will use some $9,500 it received from a logging company for trees harvested from the park to hire Flint Paving to reconstruct and pave the basketball court.

The work was unanimously approved. Council member Steve Mosolansky was absent.

Curriculum guides

A number of curriculum guides and payments were authorized by the Avonworth School Board at its regular meeting on Monday.

Laura Dzadovsky will be paid $625 for writing the fifth grade social studies guide.

Breanna Maisner will be paid a total of $3,200 for writing the world geography and cultures and honors world geography and cultures guides.

Maisner and Jeff Boggess wrote the world affairs and honors world affairs guides and will be paid a total of $1,600 each.

The sixth grade earth and space science guide was written by Sue Pointek, who will be paid $625.

Mary Ann Mihalko, who wrote the kindergarten science guide, will be paid $1,600.

Both the academic and advanced biology guides were written by Julie Selep, who will be paid a total of $1,250.

Karen Monier wrote the fourth grade science guide, and will be paid $1,600.

Leonard Tena, who wrote the advanced physics and chemistry guides, will be paid $1,250.

The physics and academic physics guides were written by Greg Wolfe, who will be paid $1,250.

Board member Jeff Schmid was absent.

Laptop computer

Bellevue Council, at its regular meeting on Aug. 5, authorized the purchase of a laptop computer for public works supervisor Tony Barbarino.

Barbarino said that most of his time is spent out on the road, instead of in his office. He said that the computer will make it easier for him to do paperwork and check e-mail during the day and from home.

Council approved spending up to $900 for the computer.

Consulting contract

A contract between Grubb Consulting Services, Inc. and the Avonworth School District was approved by the school board at its regular meeting on Monday.

The company will perform an on-site review at Holy Family Institute to make sure that the institute’s educational program is running in compliance with state laws, according to superintendent Dr. Valerie McDonald.

The work could cost up to $13,475.

Board treasurer Frank Mucha said that the total cost will be billed back to the home districts that use the Institute. He noted the company will be on-site for 25 days.

Board member Jeff Schmid was absent.

Asbestos removal

Additional asbestos removal from the Bellevue borough building will cost $3,750.

The payment was authorized at council's regular meeting on Aug. 5.

The removal is part of on-going renovations at the building.

Council member Steve Mosolansky was absent.

Weed sprayer

Bellevue Council voted unanimously, at its regular meeting on Aug. 5, to purchase weed sprayer.

The sprayer will cost $3,150.

On-line service

The Avonworth School Board, at its regular meeting on Aug. 10, authorized the purchase of a subscription to netTrekker D.I.

According to superintendent Dr. Valerie McDonald, the subscription will provide teacher access to instructional programs on the internet.

The on-line service will cost $627.90, which will be paid out of Title I funds.

ACBA conference

Emsworth Council has authorized a number of borough officials to attend an Allegheny County Boroughs Association conference.

At a meeting on Wednesday, council unanimously approved sending members Ed Politylo, David Heflin and Amy Adams to the conference. A fourth, open spot also was approved in case any other official should decide to attend.

The conference will be held at Seven Springs Oct. 1-4, and will cost $420 per person.

Council member Rob Bennett was absent.

Kennywood picnic

An agreement between Kennywood and the Avonworth School District was approved at the board's regular meeting on Monday.

The Avonworth Community picnic at Kennywood will be held on May 15, 2010.

Workshop approved

The Avonworth School Board approved a workshop for new teachers at its regular meeting on Aug. 10.

Paulette Hemmings and Elaine Barron will be paid $150 each to prepare and present the workshop entitled, "What Does it Mean to be an Avonworth Teacher?" on Sept. 10.

Handbooks approved

A number of handbooks for the 2009-10 school year were approved by the Avonworth School Board at its regular meeting on Aug. 10.

Approved were: Avonworth Elementary School Kindergarten Program Guide; Avonworth Staff Handbook; Avonworth Middle School Parent/Student Guidebook; Avonworth Multi-Hazard Plan; Avonworth Student Handbook; Avonworth Gifted Support Handbook.

Board member Jeff Schmid was absent.