HEGINS — Two mothers addressed the Tri-Valley school board Wednesday, one concerned about busing and the other about her son’s health and which school he would attend.
One mother reported her fourth-grade son had suffered emotional and health problems since he was moved from Hegins-Hubley Elementary School in Valley View to Mahantongo Elementary School in Klingerstown for the last school year.
He suffered severe abdominal pain, vomiting, digestive and sleep problems, she said. After a three-hour breathing test, X-rays, ultrasounds and office visits, the boy’s health report came back to normal. She said the boy’s certified nurse practitioner told her that “stress, like what could be encountered by an unexpected change in his school, could be contributing to her son’s abdominal pain.”
“Please do not jeopardize my son’s health and emotional wellness ... please consider my request to move him back to Hegins-Hubley,” she said, while thanking Superintendent Mark D. Snyder and the school board for their time.
Another mother said she wanted to make sure when the district signs a new busing contract that certain safety measures are addressed and that what happens on the bus is properly documented. She said on May 3, while her daughter was on the bus, she was scratched by a dog that never had a rabies injection.
The board is scheduled to hold a special meeting at 7 p.m. June 22. In addition to considering the 2016-17 school year budget, the board will also consider a proposed transportation contract with Bowman Brothers Trucking Inc. to provide transportation services for the 2016-17 and 2017-18 school years.
Directors Karrie L. Bowman, Kenneth L. Smeltz and Carl D. Shankweiler were absent.
High school Principal Charles W. Hall congratulated the district’s softball and baseball teams for their play in District 11, as well as Colton Fox, who advanced to the PIAA State Track & Field finals in the 1,600-meter run. He also offered well wishes to the Class of 2016.
Elementary Principal Gerald J. Anderson thanked the district’s parent volunteers and PTOs at Hegins-Hubley and Mahantongo elementary schools for their support. He said the elementary concert, sixth-grade recognition night and end-of-year programs went well.
The board approved several coaches and salaries for the 2016-17 school year, as listed: Michael Masser, head boys’ basketball, $3,530; Carl Ziegmont, assistant high school boys’ basketball, $1,970; Robert Felty Jr., assistant junior high boys’ basketball, $3,070; Shane Leedy, assistant junior high boys’ basketball, $2,060; Clark Romberger, head girls’ basketball, $3,590; Michael Romberger, assistant high school girls’ basketball, $1,880; David Boltz, co-head wrestling, $3,565; Ty Rothermel, co-head wrestling, $3,565; Kevin Scheib, assistant junior high wrestling, $3,050; Brock Troutman, assistant junior high wrestling, $2,150; and Hannah Dautrich, assistant band front, $690.
The following volunteer coaches for the 2016-17 school year were approved: Jerry Beaver, Zachary Coleman, Michael Deeter and Kris Wetzel, boys’ basketball; Kurt Kline and Samuel Scheib, wrestling; and Ricky Otto, girls’ basketball.
In other business, the board approved:
• Appointing Alexis Wasko as a special education teacher at a salary of $38,200, including applicable benefits, starting Aug. 23, the first teacher day in the 2016-17 school year.
• Appointing Nikki Sankus as a substitute aide at a rate of $9 per hour, effective at the start of the 2016-17 school year.
• Accepting the resignation of Jill Wulf, special education teacher, effective Aug. 19.
• FMLA request from Amanda White from approximately Sept. 7 to Sept. 26.