Jan 27, 2015 3 min read

MAPLETOWN – Students at Bobtown Elementary School will celebrate their success on the Pennsylvania school performance profile this week.

The school for the 2013-14 school year scored the highest on the profile of all elementary schools in the county and ranked fifth among the 37 elementary schools in Greene and Fayette counties.

Elementary Principal Rick Menear told the board Monday a special celebration would be held Tuesday including refreshments, cake and T-shirts for students, staff and the entire “school team.”

He commended the students, staff, parents and everyone else involved in the school’s success.

“The goal for our students and staff is to be not only the top school in the county, but also the top school in the state,” Superintendent Rich Pekar said later.

Board President Joe Spiker also commended the students and staff. In addition, he spoke of the ideas and programs being considered by the new administrative staff, which includes Pekar, Menear and junior-senior high Principal Bart Donley.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what is going to happen in this district in the next couple of years,” Spiker said. “I think we can accomplish great things.”

In his report to the board, Donley said he began looking into offering Advance Placement courses in the high school beginning next school year.

Donley said he would like to start by offering AP literature, calculus and American history. The district currently does not offer AP courses.

In other business, the board voted to transfer the balance of money in the Evelyn Minor Scholarship Fund to Community Foundation of Greene County.

The fund was split between the foundation and a bank; however, investments through the foundation now offer a better return.

Business manager Pat Sweeney reported in the eight years the scholarship existed, more than $11,000 in scholarships were awarded. The scholarships were all from money earned from interest and none came from the principal, he said.

Also, the board approved a resolution agreeing not to increase taxes this year by more than what is permitted by the 0.64 of a mill index established under the Taxpayers Relief Act, Sweeney said.

Boards are required to approve the resolution each year. Its approval does not mean the district plans to raise taxes this year.

However, if a board intends to increase taxes in excess of the index, it would have to prepare an early budget and obtain approval from the state, the local court or voters through a ballot referendum.

The board voted to hire Jeff Rush as a weight trainer from this month through May; and Courtney Shields as a middle school assistant volleyball coach.

The board discussed athletic organization’s use of the Penn Pitt school and asked the building and grounds committee to review policy concerning its use, including scheduling and maintenance.