The Board held its annual reorganization meeting on Thursday, December 7.  

The Honorable Chris Delozier administered oaths of office to Mrs. Kelly Brent, Mr. David Brinton, Mrs. Brenda Cox, Mrs. Mandy Davis, Mrs. Heidi Thomas, and Mr. Adam Trone. To learn more about each of the nine School Board members, please click here.

Election of Officers
Mrs. Heidi Thomas was elected Board President and Mrs. Kelly Brent was elected Board Vice President.
 
Opportunity for Comment on Business Items
No students or members of the public addressed the Board.

The Board met in regular session on Thursday, December 14, with President Thomas presiding.

Cedar Cliff High School’s JROTC Color Guard presented the colors for the evening. JROTC members included Senior Benjamin Irwin, Freshman Aubrey Jones, Junior Andrew Snavely, and Sophomore Nicholas Toto.  

Holiday music and the National Anthem were performed by Allen Middle School's String Octet under the direction of Morgan Hackett. Musicians included seventh grade students Jaeleen Angulo, Amaia Gonzalez, Karra Johnson, and Korbyn Olsen with eighth grade students Joshua Emeigh, Evelyn Hassler, McKenna Pincin, and Aubrey Yovicich.

2023 Holiday Card Winners
On behalf of the Board, Mrs. Fourhman recognized the District's 2023 Holiday Card Contest winners. 

Cedar Cliff Senior Steven Bernstein and Red Land Senior Natalie Ritchey shared their experiences at their respective high schools and their future plans.

Mrs. Tierney congratulated Red Land High School's Girls Wrestling team on a successful start to their season.

 

Mr. Kambic praised the District's Career Pathways Internship Program and thanked Mark Miller and Frank Gay, Career Coordinators, for continuing to grow the program. 

 

Mr. Brinton shared news that Red Land High School alumni Cole Wagner will be playing baseball at Pennsylvania State University next school year.

 

Mr. Guistwhite and Mr. Trone commended administration and staff on their ability to find alternative heat sources for Fishing Creek Elementary so it could remain open following a boiler malfunction. 

 

Mrs. Thomas provided highlights from the recent Board visit to Red Land High School.

 

Dr. Stoltz and Mr. Sanders provided an update on the work done and work still needed to address the boiler malfunction at Fishing Creek Elementary. Dr. Stoltz thanked Andy Glantz, Director of Buildings & Grounds, for his help acquiring temporary heating for the building. He also thanked Fishing Creek staff, students and parents for their flexibility following the heating challenges.

 

Dr. Stoltz also recognized Lydia Clouser, a current sixth grade student at Crossroads Middle School, who recently published her first novel, The Secrets of Time, and visited several of our elementary schools to speak with students about how her book came to be published and her writing process.

Lastly, Dr. Stoltz shared that the West Shore Foundation recently presented District Social Workers Amy Gross and Erika Stiffler each with a $1,500 check. He reminded the community that school counselors and social workers are able to provide assistance to families who can use help this holiday season.

Dr. Stoltz indicated the latest legal update was available for Board members.

Mrs. Boone shared 2024-2025 Preliminary Budget Projections with the Board. Throughout the school year, the Board and administration work to prepare a budget for the following school year. All presentations made to the Board during the budget development process will be posted on the Business Office Department website. Click here to view. 

Mrs. Tierney shared information regarding the West Shore Foundation Educator Innovation Grants and upcoming application deadline. She and Mr. Kambic also provided highlights from the recent Board visit to Rossmoyne Elementary.

Opportunity for Comment on Business Items
No students addressed the Board. For a list of electronic comments received, please refer to the Board minutes which will be approved at the January 18 Board Meeting.

The minutes of the meetings held on November 9, 2023, and November 16, 2023, were approved.

 

The Board filed the Treasurer’s Report for the month ending November 30, 2023, showing invested and available funds of $77,225,831.47.

Dr. Stoltz indicated the latest legal update was available for Board members.

 

The Board approved bills for the period November 10, 2023 through December 7, 2023, listing checks which totalled $2,923,745.64. 

The Board approved one tax refund for $2,796.99.

 

The Board approved all personnel items as presented.

                                                                                                        

The Board approved the budgetary transfers as presented.

 

By January 4, 2024, all school districts must either adopt a resolution indicating they will not raise property taxes by more than its inflation index for 2024-2025 or prepare a preliminary budget and make it available for public inspection. Per the recommendation of administration, the Board approved a resolution indicating the District will not raise property taxes by more than the 6.2% adjusted index for 2024-2025.

 

Due to a change in assessment, the Board granted a resident exoneration of school taxes in the amount of $155.94.  

 

The Board approved revisions to Board Policy 830: Security of Computerized Personal Information and the adoption of a new Policy, 830.1: Data Governance - Storage/Security Code. 

In June 2023, the Board approved a contract for the placement of one student at Yellow Breeches Educational Center (YBEC). Since then, it was necessary to place an additional student at YBEC and there is a possibility that additional students may need to be placed there. The Board approved a revised contract with YBEC for the placement of these students.

 

The Board approved a trip for the Cedar Cliff High School baseball team to Cary, North Carolina, for the period Thursday, March 14, 2024, through Sunday, March 17, 2024.  

 

The Board approved a trip for the Red Land High School baseball team to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, for the period Thursday, March 14, 2024, through Sunday, March 17, 2024.

The Board approved Course Selection Offerings for the 2024-2025 school year. On January 24, a Course Selection Night is planned at each high school for students in grades 8-11 and their parents. During the event, the course offerings and process for selecting classes will be reviewed.

 

The Board approved the requests for staff attendance at professional meetings as presented.

 

The District is currently working on plans for improvements to the athletic facilities at Red Land High School. Early design concepts are being developed and we have reached a point where additional information about the subsurface conditions is required. The Board approved an Additional Services Contract Addendum #1 with Turf, Track & Court, Inc.  

 

The current five-year lease on postage and mailing equipment at the Administration Center ends in January 2024. Administration solicited proposals for updating the equipment under a new lease agreement and per its recommendation, the Board approved a lease with Neopost, Mailfinance Inc.

 

The Capital Area Pathways to Teaching (CAPT) program is designed to prepare paraprofessionals for careers as teachers. Through the program, qualified paraprofessionals employed by the West Shore School District can participate in one of three pathways toward obtaining their teaching certification.The Board approved the proposed agreement for Capital Area Pathways to Teaching.

No students addressed the Board. For a list of in person participants and electronic comments received, please refer to the Board minutes which will be approved at the January 18 Board Meeting.