School Board Notes
The Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit Board of Directors held their regularly scheduled meeting on
Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at 7:30 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. Angus, Mr. Bovalino, Ms. Cook, Mr. Ross, Mr. Gilarno, Mr. Bufalini, Ms.
Pennington, Mr. Antonini, Mr. Carver, Ms. Robbins and Mr. McGeehan
MEMBERS ABSENT: Mr. Henderson and Mrs. Acon
OTHERS PRESENT: Dr. Rosendale, Ms. Weldon, Attorney Al Steff, Mrs. Deitch, Mrs. Murtha, Mrs.
Harmotto, Mrs. Niedbala, Mrs. LeDonne, Mrs. Ceremuga and Mrs. Ference
ACTION TAKEN:
1. The bids for the 2015-2016 Joint Purchasing Program were opened, recorded and
turned over to the Joint Purchasing Committee for a meeting to be held on March 18, 2015, to
determine bid award recommendations which will be submitted to the Board for consideration at
the March 25, 2015, meeting.
Bid Category
Returned
General
12
Art
6
Janitorial
14
AV/Computer Supplies
6
Athletic Medical
3
Athletic Equipment
4
Science Supplies
2
Dual Purpose Paper
4
Total
51
2. The Board employed Mrs. Melissa Niedbala as the Supervisor at New Horizon School.
3. The Board approved Ms. Melissa Ziegler, Beaver Falls, PA as an addition to the 2014-2015
Teacher Aide Substitute List.
4. The BVIU’s General Operating Budget was defeated. An additional Board meeting was
scheduled to consider a Budget.
5. The Board approved Mrs. Renee Wrzesniewski, New Horizon School Nurse, to attend the PA
Association of School Nurses Annual Conference.
6. The Board approved an internship placement from Geneva College for one day per week
between February 6 and May 1, 2015. Placement will be as follows:
Intern
Teacher
Ms. Megan Sweyer Mr. Zachary Huwar – Elementary Multiple Disabilities Support
ADDENDUM ITEMS
7. The Board employed Miss April Hartman, Beaver, as a Special Education Teacher in the Early
Intervention Program, effective March 9, 2015.
8. Due to the cancellation of school on February 19 and 20, 2015, the Board approved the
following days as make up days to complete 180 days of instruction:
BVIU BOARD NOTES #469
2
FEBRUARY 25, 2015
Friday, March 6, 2015
Thursday, April 2, 2015
CORRESPONDENCE – The following correspondence was reviewed:
a. A letter from Representative Matzie regarding the Basic Education Funding.
b. A letter from Mr. Bob Staver, PDE stating that the BVIU’s comprehensive plan has been
accepted.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
A.
Legislative Action Council Meeting – Save the Date
The Superintendents’ Advisory Council Subsidy and Legislative Sub-committee is planning to
hold a Legislative Action Council Meeting on April 24, 2015. The event will be held at the BVIU
in Conference Room 107 at 10:00 AM. Please mark your calendar to save the date. Additional
details will be forthcoming.
B.
Financial Audit Presentation
Our financial audit of the 2013-2014 school year was recently completed by Mr. Mark Turnley,
CPA. Mr. Turnley will present the audit report at our regularly scheduled March 25, 2015 Board
of Directors’ Meeting.
C.
Text Dependent Analysis Online Course
Attached is a brochure announcing a Text Dependent Analysis Online Workshop offered by the
BVIU. This program started Thursday, February 19, 2015 and will run until March 6, 2015. As
the content is critical to the success of our students in grades 4-8 with respect to the English
Language Arts PSSA test, we have a tremendous response from the field. We are currently
teaching 147 educators across the state and will have earned $7,700 for the Intermediate Unit
in just the one offering. We will be offering a second wave of this program beginning on March
7, 2015.
D.
The Penguins Foundation
The Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit (BVIU) is working with the Penguin’s Foundation and the
Beaver County Educational Trust (BCET) to purchase a Double Robotics robot. Geoff Craven,
of the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit, created the Double Robotics robot, which is an
iPad mounted on a Segway-type base. It allows medically fragile students to remotely control
the robot via an iPhone, iPad or laptop using a Chrome web browser. In Geoff’s own words,
“Students facing serious health issues can now attend school. These devices are truly a lifechanging event for everybody that is involved. Students get to be with their friends and
classmates, attend and participate in classes that simply would not be possible through a home
bound instructor.”
E.
Dates to Remember
February
26 - Beaver County CTC Joint Committee Meeting – 7:30 PM Conference Room
March
25 - BVIU Board of Directors’ Meeting – 7:30 PM – Conference room 211
26 - Beaver County CTC Joint Committee Meeting – 7:30 PM - Conference room
BVIU BOARD NOTES #469
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FEBRUARY 25, 2015
April
3 & 6 – BVIU Administrative Office closed
22 – BVIU Board of Directors’ Meeting – 7:30 PM – Conference room 211
23 – Beaver County CTC Joint Committee Meeting – 7:30 PM - Conference room
24 – Legislative Action Council Meeting – Conference room 107 – 10:00 AM
SOLICITOR’S REPORT – Mr. Steff stated that the contract for the unit ventilators has been prepared and
sent out for signature. He also stated that the bonds have been submitted.
We will not be entering into a contract with Dr. Benjamin Kleifgen of First Step Pediatrics, Beaver, PA,
for student physicals. The coordination of care will be utilized through the family doctor, as it has been
done in the past.
Mr. Steff explained the Memorandum of Understanding for the three Collective Bargaining Units. He
stated that Option C will be extended through December 31, 2015.
OTHER BUSINESS – Mrs. Niedbala thanked the Board and stated that it is an honor and pleasure to be
the new Supervisor at New Horizon School.
Respectfully submitted,
Dr. Eric G. Rosendale
Executive Director
EGR/cbf