Content about Patrick Stewart

08.26.11

New position

The Avonworth School District will be adding a new position. At a special meeting on Monday, the school board unanimously voted to create a new kindergarten instructional aide position beginning with the upcoming school year.

Board members Jeffrey Schmid, Lynn Evans, Patrick Stewart and Peter McKay were absent from the meeting.

06.10.11

Absenteeism

The subject of absenteeism among board members was discussed at the Avonworth School Board’s work session on Monday, where board member David Oberdick pointed a finger at fellow board member Jeff Schmid.

Oberdick stated that he "wanted the minutes to reflect and the public to know" his concern that the board had a "non-functioning" member "who was not discharging his duties to this board."

Oberdick said that Schmid had now missed five meetings in a row, as well as 2 executive sessions and 3 work sessions. Oberdick stated that Schmid had been similarly absent in previous years.

04.08.11

School land purchase approved

The next step in the construction of a primary center in the Avonworth School District was successfully made Monday night, as the school board approved the purchase of 8.45 acres of property.

A crowd of about 150 people -- most of them parents of young children and elementary school staffers -- watched a presentation by board member Patrick Stewart that outlined financial issues facing the district and argued in favor of construction of the $20 million facility that will ease overcrowding in the current elementary school by moving grades K-2 to another building.

07.23.10

Letters to the Editor

Editor:

The nepotism policy that the Avonworth School Board voted into existence a couple of years ago was put in place to restrict relatives of employees from being considered for a job with the school district. The statement, "this should apply especially to school board members and their families" was emphatically stated by certain board members at that time. The policy was not unanimously approved.

03.05.10

Avonworth debates make-up days

Although the Avonworth School District may ask the state to waive snow day make-ups, it remains likely that students will be spending their spring break in the classroom.

01.22.10

News Briefs

Chief search A police officer who lives in Avalon told borough officials Tuesday not to look too far from home for a new police chief.

With current Chief Robert Howie set to retire this year, council hired a consultant to conduct a search and recommend candidates for his replacement.

12.04.09

News Briefs

Parking lot problems Excavation for a parking lot adjacent to Bellevue's borough hall turned up more than anyone expected, with the result that it will cost more to finish the lot.

Engineer John Rusnak told borough council members Tuesday to expect a "change order of some magnitude" due to "unforeseen site conditions" discovered as the contractor excavated the site.

09.18.09

News Briefs

Education funding urged A resolution approved by the Northgate School Board will be sent to the state legislature, urging representatives to maintain state funding for schools.

"They're talking about giving us less money than they did last year," said superintendent Dr. Reggie Bonfield at the school board's committee of the whole meeting on Monday. "Hopefully that won't happen."

Team elimination? Northgate could eliminate its ninth grade boys' basketball team in an effort to bolster the school's varsity program.