Nov 20, 2013 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – The Central Greene School Board approved a $40,000 proposal from McClean Architects of Pittsburgh to conduct a feasibility study to evaluate district-owned buildings.

District Business Manager Debbie Crouse said the study will give the board and administration a clearer understanding of what can be done with existing buildings. Margaret Bell Miller Middle School was dedicated June 1, 1928, as the high school and renovated in 1979 to be the middle school, Crouse said. There has been consideration from “time-to-time” to build a new middle school, Crouse added.

“(The feasibility study) will give us a lot of different scenarios of what options exist,” she said, noting it will answer the question whether the district needs to build a new middle school or renovate the existing one to bring it up to code.

Architect David McLean spoke to the board regarding recommended renovations for secure building entrances in the district. Crouse said the board intends to proceed with the renovations.

In another matter, a memorandum of understanding with the Central Greene Educational Support Personnel Association and the district was ratified Tuesday, giving the district latitude to change four clerical and one security position should they become vacant. The agreement takes effect in July and will extend through June 30, 2016, through a two-year successor agreement with the personnel association.

Crouse said the memorandum of understanding gives the district the option to change these five positions from 12-month positions to 10.5-month positions, if they become vacant.

“We didn’t have that option as defined by the old contract. It now allows the district to re-evaluate and determine the need. There could be changes but it is not an automatic,” Crouse stressed. “It is only if the administration feels it is warranted. We are not changing all 12-month positions to 10 ½-month positions. The memorandum of understanding allows the district no more than four clerical and one security position that could be changed.” Crouse said the remainder of the current contract that expires on June 30, 2014, had only a few changes.

In other matters, the board failed to pass a motion to enter into a partnership with Washington & Jefferson College for the Benedum Master Teacher Program. Crouse said some of the board members voted against the motion because they had additional questions about the program that would give teachers from the Central Greene School District an opportunity to teach classes at the college. In return, W&J would cover the cost of the substitutes for these teachers at Central Greene.

In the past, the college has offered educational experiences to students from participating districts at the campus and its professors have visited the participating schools.

The board accepted the resignation due to retirement of Cynthia Curtis, guidance secretary at the high school, effective Dec. 31.

The board approved recommendations by the athletics and activities committee to name Kelly Stoneking as the sophomore class sponsor and Matthew Blair as a volunteer assistant junior high and varsity wrestling coach. It accepted the resignation of Jake Yates as varsity head boys’ soccer coach, effective immediately.

The annual reorganizational meeting for the board will be held at 6 p.m. Dec. 3 in the administration building.