ELDRED — At Tuesday’s meeting, the Otto-Eldred School board members heard from two groups of community members requesting policy changes.
First, a group of students ask for the prom attendance policy to be revisited to allow freshman students to attend prom with a junior student. Another request on this same issue was made to increase the age of a student who is out of school to attend prom.
The second request was from a group of parents, student athletes and a coach asking the board to revisit the current extracurricular activities policy. The request, in particular asked the board to include a progressive discipline process.
Both requests that were made to the board were taken into consideration and committees will be formed to discuss and possibly approve any policy changes.
Meanwhile, Jodi Flexman was approved as the school board secretary for the 2018-19 school year with an annual salary of $3,000. Board member, Keith Cousins was reelected as the school board treasurer.
Various supplemental and substitute positions were approved. Noah Jordan, Chelsea Wymer, Katie Jo Smith, and Joshua Weintraub were approved as substitute teachers. Lisa Isadore was approved as a substitute custodian. Stacey Lamberton was approved as a substitute aide. Dan Dalton was placed as a baseball game manager.
For the 2018-2019 school year, the following supplemental positions were approved: Karen Givan as elementary yearbook advisor, Karen Farmelo as student council advisor, Ricci Jeannerette as yearbook advisor, Tammy Reitler as band front, Amber Webster as jazz band, Ben Smith as marching band director, Kylie Geci as show choir director, Edward Reitler as activities director, Amanda Davis as varsity club advisor, clock keepers approved were Steve Hepfer, Lance Eric Baker and Larry Snyder, Stefanie Wolfe approved as junior high basketball game manager, Boyd Fitzsimmons as varsity/jv girls basketball game manager, Deb Halsted and Chris Krott as score keepers, and Wanda Stebbins as track/cross country event worker.
Superintendent Matthew Splain updated the board on the current process of the elementary playground upgrades. A border will be installed around the play areas with six inches of engineered wood fiber installed. This will meet the national playground standards. Other summer building repairs included resealing and repairing the parking lots and a masonry repair or demolition of the current pillars in front of the high school was discussed. The board will discuss the action to be taking on the pillars after quotes from both options are obtained.
Splain also discussed an opportunity of a golf co-op with Oswayo Valley. The district will be holding a tentative sign up within a few weeks for interested students.
Director of curriculum and instruction Melissa Merry noted that PSSA testing is underway, and that Keystone testing will be administered in May.
Standards-based report cards are looking to be developed in 1st and 2nd grade and implemented in the 2018-2019 school year; this would place standards-based reporting in PreK-2nd grade.
Also, a Foundations Course will be considered to be developed for junior high students. It will have a college & career readiness focus.
Principal of elementary and special education Lindsay Burns announced that with the end of the school year drawing near, moving-up day activities for K-7th grades will be taking place soon.
The Elementary PTO will once again be sponsoring a PSSA dance for 5th-6th grades on April 20and a 3rd and 4th grade game night on April 27. This is a reward for the student’s hard work and effort during PSSA testing.
In other news, summer employment opportunities are currently available for summer food programs, summer maintenance and summer technology. Interested parties may inquire at the district office.
Fine Arts Night will take place Saturday starting at 6 p.m. in the high school auditorium and rotunda areas.
Joint choir and band concerts will occur May 3 and May 10
