TOWER CITY — Williams Valley School District was told it has received $4.4 million, or half of its state budget allotment for the 2015-16 school year, according to Superintendent Donald Burkhardt.
“We have no idea what we got half of,” Burkhardt told directors during Thursday’s school board meeting.
“That money is for salaries right now,” he said, noting any extra purchase requests are being put on hold until other funds are forthcoming when the state budget impasse is settled.
January is School Director Recognition Month, and Burkhardt read a letter from the Pennsylvania School Boards Association recognizing board members who volunteer their time and talents for the “betterment of public education in our community.” All nine directors were present President Daniel Stroup, Vice President John Mika, Treasurer Christopher Stroup, Secretary Jennifer Kramer, Joanna Stroup, Michael Minnich, Tracey L. Minnich, Tedd Johns and David Ferraro.
Head girls’ soccer coach Gary Fetterhoff, and assistant coach Zachary Reichert presented an end-of-season report to the board. Fetterhoff said the girls posted a 13-5 record, 12-2 in their division, placing second within the division. The girls reached District 11 playoffs for the third year straight, and were seeded number 4 for districts, out of 14 teams.
Fetterhoff said the team went to a more sophisticated, diamond defense this year. Nine athletes made the coaches’ all-county team, he said.
Head football coach Tim Savage also presented his end-of-season report. Although the team posted a 5-6 record, Savage thanked the board, teachers, administration and community for its continued support of the Viking football program. Savage said the squad was light-handed this season with only 17 to 19 athletes dressed on the roster, with many unable to play due to injury. He said he played a lot of freshmen and sophomores this year.
“The kids played hard all the time,” Savage said. “Not a lot of teams would have persevered. The future is very bright.”
The board held a 20-minute executive session to discuss personnel before reconvening.
Daniel Stroup announced the board would be meeting again at 7 p.m. Wednesday to discuss on-going teacher contract negotiations. The board representatives will meet with teachers at 7 p.m. Jan. 21, weather permitting, he said.
In other personnel matters, the board approved:
• Bonita Campbell, Elizabethville, as a guest teacher for the 2015-16 school year.
• Hiring April Welker, Wiconisco, as a mentor for business education teacher Alexis Franko.
• Extending effective working dates for Ashley Hermany, Port Carbon, a long-term substitute teacher, for effective dates of Jan. 4 to Feb. 5.
• Hiring the following coaches for the 2015-16 school year: volunteer assistant baseball coaches, Paul D. Herb, Lykens, and Roger R. Ulsh Jr., Tower City; assistant junior high softball coach, Chelsea Artz, Tower City; head junior high softball coach, Kristen Palmerio, Ashland.
• Alyssa E. Lindsay, Lykens, as a cafeteria employee for the 2015-16 school year as employed by Chartwells Inc.
• A change in employment status for part-time special education aide Trisha Graff, Williamstown, to a full-time special education aide to provide support for Williams Valley students attending the Maple Avenue Campus, Mar Lin, with effective starting date of Dec. 21, 2015.
The board also accepted a $500 donation from former Superintendent Anthony “Tony” Moleski for the purpose of providing two, $250 scholarships for two members of the 2016 graduating class. The high school principal and high school staff are to develop the criteria for earning the scholarships. Moleski served as Williams Valley superintendent from 1983 to 1987.
The next regular board meeting will be 7:30 p.m. Jan. 28.