BETHLEHEM AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE

MEETING MINUTES

TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2007

 

Members of the Board Human Resources Committee met on Tuesday, April 10, 2007, in the Dining Room, at the Education Center. Present were the following school board members: Rosario Amato, Joseph Craig, Dr. Craig Haytmanek, Charlene Koch, Loretta Leeson, Diane Rowe, and Margaret Williams. Also in attendance were Director of Information Technologies Robin Lutcher, Director of Student Services Thomas Washington, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Anthony Villani, Assistant to the Superintendent for Finance and Administration Stanley Majewski, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph A. Lewis, and Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Robert R. Gross III.

 

The meeting of the Board Human Resources Committee was called to order by Joseph Craig at 8:21 p.m.

 

COURTESY OF THE FLOOR TO VISITORS – None

 

OTHER – Loretta Lesson inquired about the progress in the replacements of administrators at the high school level. Mr. Villani stated that the window to submit applications closed on April 4, and he is reviewing received applications. A recommendation for a new principal will be in the agenda for the May board meeting.

 

Mrs. Lesson also stated that the parents of the Liberty High School student who passed away did not want the district to misunderstand a statement made by them regarding a private viewing. The district is welcome to attend the funeral service. The parents were referring to press intruding with the family.

 

Rosario Amato informed the board the need for two additional hall monitors at Freedom High School and one additional hall monitor at the Career Academy. He asked that administration look into this. Dr. Lewis stated that it would need to be evaluated and student ratios examined. Dr. Lewis also indicated that the Career Academy did have a hall monitor/family development specialist. The employee has since moved more in the direction of the family development specialist position. Joseph Craig stated that if there is a need for these hall monitors we should accommodate them.

 

COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE – Dr. Craig Haytmanek spoke about the rationale to initiate discussion about this committee and the committee goals. It is believed that the public has difficulty communicating with the district at all levels. Dr. Haytmanek and Judith Dexter have met and discussed areas of communication.

 

Mr. Amato stated that he did not see a need for this committee. He feels the district already has many avenues of communication with the public e.g. Parent Advisory Committee, letters from the superintendent to the community, PTOs, courtesy of the floor during monthly committee board meetings and the monthly regular board meetings, emails to Cabinet, Student Advisory Committee Meetings, etc. He questioned why then have all these procedures in place if we are going to start a communications committee.

 

Margaret Williams said she looked at the composition of the committee and does not see a need for it and believes that there are many avenues for open communication on a number of different levels. She believes that with the means of communication already in place it is ample for the public to communicate with the district and board members.

 

Dr. Haytmanek expressed that the idea of having two student alternates on the committee is for back up student participation at the board level. It is a sought after position in the high schools, and he wanted to give the students an opportunity to participate.

 

Board Human Resources Committee Meeting                                                                           (2)

Diane Rowe thinks it is admirable for our students to participate, but this is not appropriate. She indicated she does not support this committee.

 

Charlene Koch stated that teachers have the teachers’ union as a way to communicate to the board and will not support this committee. She opined all this committee would do is create one more level of bureaucracy.

 

Mrs. Leeson thinks that the perception of a lack of communication comes from the public, not the board, and that the idea for the committee is to facilitate communication both to and from the public. She sees the communications committee as a way to develop a flow of communication, but also agrees that there should be students as voting members. She thinks there is a desperate need to communicate with the board. She stated many public members feel the board is non-responsive. Communication in every level in society is difficult and time consuming in every organization. The board needs to be open to looking for better ways to getting input from the public for our betterment and to enhance what we do here.

 

William Heske voiced his concern with the lateness of the meetings. The meetings should conclude by 9:30 p.m. unless the board recommends continuing the meeting. There are currently four committee meetings. There would be no time for a fifth committee, so he stated he is not in favor of a communications committee.

 

Mrs. Williams stated that, with all due respect, she does not understand if this is such an important topic why the public is not present. Surely if it was such an important topic and a pressing need, they would be here. She indicated she was sure it was on the web site, which is another way of communication.

 

Mr. Craig feels that when someone communicates to us with a concern we need to make sure we do a better job of answering those concerns. He says emails has been coming in and he tries to respond to each of them. He feels people that do not hear what they want to hear are the ones complaining. For the most part, the public is generally pleased with the communication level of our board. When they do not get an answer they want or are opposed, those are the ones that complain. He did state that they do need to do a better job of responding. He polled the board on who was in favor of this committee. The results showed that the majority was not in favor of establishing a communications committee.

 

PROPOSED PROCEDURES FOR ACTIVITIES AND ATHLETICS – Dr. Lewis stated that Robert Gross and Anthony Villani brought this to the board for a first reading in March. Mr. Gross referred to the updated version of the handout and indicated that the changes were highlighted. Mr. Gross read the highlighted areas. A lengthy discussion was held regarding the interpretation of #4 – uniforms and tobacco. There was also a discussion on consequences. It was asked that the document be taken back, reviewed, and brought back to the board for a third reading.

 

ENROLLMENT TRENDS AND BUILDING CAPACITIES – Mr. Gross presented the board with the Enrollment Trends and Building Capacities report. He explained the charts and how to read the numbers; he spoke about the five-year projection and future building plans for Bethlehem that would cause student population impacts in our schools. A discussion was held on possible alternatives in the future regarding expansion, rebuilding, and thoughts on portables. Mr. Gross stated that they would be looking at this report continuously and will keep the board up to date.

 

OPEN FORUM – None.

 

Joseph Craig adjourned the meeting at 9:46 p.m.

 

Minutes prepared by:            ____________________________________________________________________

Nitza Santiago, Confidential Secretary to the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources