n Date: July 17
n Discussion: Director of fiscal services Jim Shargots told the board that residents in the district will be able to pay their real estate taxes via credit card when bills are mailed next month.
Director of facilities Paul Kuzman gave an update of current construction projects.
n Action: The board ratified a change order to South Elementary construction. Superintendent Thomas Turnabugh said contractors discovered a break in a storm-sewer line there. That construction work is expected to take two or three days. Turnbaugh said geotechnical engineers would then check to see if the pyrite underneath the school was affected.
The board also approved a College Board prep course. Assistant Superintendent Yvonne Weaver said the course would be offered for free to students, who could take the course either after school or on Saturdays. She said she hopes it could be a for-credit course during the 2009-10 school year.
Director Jack Kiesling asked that the administration review its hiring policy and report back to the board. Kiesling's original motion called for the board to be able to grant an interview for candidates who do not meet the grade-point average required by the district if that candidate went to an Ivy League school. Turnbaugh said specifying certain schools might cause some legal arguments.
The board hired the following teachers: Emily Richards, Melinda McClintock and Julie Musser, who will each earn $40,725 this school year, and Jennifer Yim, Pam Daetwyler and Kelly Smeyers, who will each earn $41,325 this school year. Also hired were literacy coaches Jessica Wachter, whose salary will be $41,725, and Karen Drexler, whose salary will $41,125. Also hired were: Tera Brickner, who will teach Spanish at a salary of $41,325; Jennifer Shaffer, will teach middle school science at a salary of $40,725; Timothy Tessmer and Amber Long, who will teach special education at a salary of $40,725; and Melissa Opalanko, a half-time special education teacher, whose salary will be $20,362.50.
Per the district's nepotism policy, the board voted separately on the hiring of teacher Stephanie Miller, who is the daughter of Director Jeff Miller. The board voted 6-2-1 to hire her as an elementary school teacher at a salary of $40,725. Directors Tom Bodnovich and Jack Kiesling cast the dissenting votes, and Miller abstained.
Directors granted the continuation of a leave of absence for elementary school teacher Leslie Christ. The leave is effective Aug. 25 through the end of the first semester of the 2008-09 school year.
n Attendance: Directors Jenifer Fetcko and Jeff Miller participated via telephone.
n Next meeting: 6:30 p.m. Aug. 7 in the board room at Trinity Hall.
Washington County Redevelopment Authority
n Date: July 18
n Action: The board approved several items of business from its federal Community Development Block Grant budget, including: Selection of Morris Knowles and Associates as the engineer at a cost of $7,170 to handle the engineering of street repairs in Monongahela, including Chess Street from Second Street to its end; Vine Street from Mound Street to
Jackson Street; Sixth Street from Marne Avenue to Fourth Street; and replacement of inlets and storm drain pipes on Fair Street from Lincoln Street to Sixth Street. The same firm will handle street repairs in Hanover and Morris townships and McDonald borough at a cost of $5,135. In Hanover, 2,900 feet of McCracken Hill Road will be reconstructed to Devil's Den Road. In Morris, Pie Ridge Road will be rebuilt between Weir-Cole Road and Grove Road. And in McDonald, the streets to be rebuilt are South Arabella between Barr and East Lincoln Avenue and Bennett Way at both Johns Avenue intersections.
Senate Engineering was selected to design the asphalt roof replacement of the maintenance building at Palmer Park, Donora, to match the park's red roofs. The purchase and delivery of two sets of aluminum bleachers for the annex ballfield in Annex Park are included in the project.
Stahl Sheaffer Engineering was awarded a $5,500 contract to design the reconstruction of several streets in Donora: Prospect Avenue between Fifth Street and Murray Avenue; Linden Way between Second and Third streets; Thompson Avenue between First and Second streets; and Locust Street between Market Street and McKean Avenue.
Mackin Engineering was awarded a $60,000 contract to handle a South Franklin Township-Green Hills Borough comprehensive plan, spurred by a proposed housing development in Green Hills. The redevelopment authority is paying $20,000, South Franklin will be paying $38,000 and Green Hills will be kicking in $2,000. Bill McGowen, redevelopment authority executive director, said much of the fee will be paid for by grants of state taxpayers' money.
Florida Consulting was awarded a $5,000 contract for architectural services related to removal and replacement of about 4,400 square feet of rubber roofing material and 400 square feet of shingles on the central fire station, 45 West Wheeling St., Washington.
The authority will advertise for bids to demolish several buildings in Washington: 521 West Chestnut St., 40-42 Mill St., 453 Extension Ave., 510 Broad St., 237 Locust Ave. and 249 Locust Ave.
n Attendance: Chairman John Mark Hunter was absent.
n Next meeting: Tentatively scheduled for 4 p.m. Aug. 25 at Hilton Garden Inn, Southpointe
Hanover Township supervisors
n Date: July 17
n Action: The board accepted Hanover Township Sewer Authority's proposal to lease the former township business office on Old Steubenville Pike. The authority offered to make $25,000 in repairs to the building and pay an escalating rent over the five-year lease. The details of the lease still must be written by the solicitors for both bodies and approved by the supervisors.
The supervisors agreed to purchase a Peterbilt dump truck for more than $62,000. The new dump truck is needed because the old one was destroyed in an accident during poor weather in March. It will be sold to Carl Ianetti for $990.
n Next meeting: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 21 at the one-room schoolhouse next to the municipal building