Bradford Area School Board received a little appreciation during Monday evening’s meeting.
Students, staff and administration from Bradford schools gave presentations to show their gratitude for the work board members do all year.
“The job they do is necessary to ensure our schools remain a pathway to a promising future,” said Superintendent Katharine Pude as she described why the board is honored each January. “Thank them for advocating on behalf of our collective interest and, most importantly, for making the success of our children their priority.”
Students from all four schools handed out gifts and presented a short performance to mark the occasion.
From Bradford Area High School, Principal David Ray and instrumental teacher Marissa Golden brought the newly formed pep band. Floyd C. Fretz Elementary School Principal Tina Slaven attended with music teacher Lisa Fedak and the seventh and eighth grade choir.
From the elementary schools, George G. Blaisdell students danced to “If You’re Happy and You Know It” while Principal Erin Waugaman sang, and School Street Principal Sarah Tingley brought students who use the new broadcast studio — along with a student-made film.
Two students were also honored on Monday. GGB student Leila Bell and School Street student Maddie Jordan were the winners of the annual Christmas card design contest.
Also at the meeting, Pude talked about some of the new safety features in the district, which she attributed to the work of the BASD safety task force created by board president Shane Oschman.
She said the district received community donations that helped pay for a safety vestibule in the entrance to the high school, and Gene Woodmansee and his staff worked on construction.
“The construction of the vestibule has been completed after a lengthy wait for security glass and will begin to be utilized (today),” she said.
During the school day, people will only be able to enter through the front entrance. Visitors will be asked their name, the nature of their visit and possibly other questions through intercom before being admitted into the building.
Students in grades six through 12 will be trained Jan. 29-30 on a new Safe2Say Something anonymous tip line where students can report any potential threat to the school. Students at Fretz and the high school will also receive refresher training on the meanings of bullying and normal conflict, as well as identifying risks of depression and suicide ideations, according to Pude.
Also, she said parents will be receiving flyers on “Juuling” due to the increasingly popularity of the e-cigarette among youths.
The board voted in favor of revisions to the interscholastic athletics policy, which Assistant Superintendent Sam Johnson explained had changes to the tobacco policy, including vaping.
School officials also introduced a new policy on service animals in school, which is to be voted on at the February meeting.
The board approved a resolution stating there will be no increase in the rate of tax above the state index by the Department of Education. For the Bradford school district, the index for the 2019-20 fiscal year is 3.5 percent.
Kelly Compton, district-wide principal for curriculum and assessment, gave a curriculum update.
Among current activities is an Imagine Math program, through which students will soon be participating in a March Math Madness competition.
High school Principal David Ray talked about an Amazon Future Engineer grant the high school received that will cover the cost to start a new Advanced Placement computer science program next year.
Pude said transportation director Barry Bryan was able to obtain $141,000 in grant funding as part of a Driving Pa. Forward Funding program. To use the money, which is meant to reduce emissions from older diesel engines, the district must purchase three propane school buses by July 6, as well as scrap three older buses.
School board member Frances Forbes noted that Pude was featured in the December issue of the Pennsylvania School Board Association magazine. The magazine asked about back-to-school traditions, and Pude talked about the Back-to-School Rally the district hosts.
The vice president of the student council said the winter carnival will be held with the carnival on Feb. 8, followed on Feb. 9 by the game at 4:30 p.m. — where the king and queen will be announced — and the dance at 8 p.m.
The board accepted resignations from the following employees: Scott Disney, reserve bus driver, effective Nov. 12, 2018; Stephen Ackerman, health and physical education at Bradford high, effective Feb. 6; Timothy Burris, health and physical education and drivers education at Bradford high and Fretz, effective Dec. 31, 2018; Agnes Hardy, part-time bus driver, effective Jan. 8.
The following were hired: Timothy Fink, part-time reserve bus driver, effective Jan. 15; Tyler Smith, health and physical education at Bradford high, effective Feb. 1.
