District gets head start on hiring for 2016-17 school year
By Kelly O’Hara, Staff Writer, The Times
Dr. Michael Barber, Assistant Superintendent for the Kennett Consolidated School District talks about new hires during his Personnel report to the board of education, Monday.
KENNETT SQUARE — The Kennett Consolidated School District Board of Education voted Monday to approve a new Transportation Management Software System at their meeting on Monday at Mary D. Lang Kindergarten Center.
“In order to take advantage of new technologies, we went through an extensive evaluation process of student transportation software packages. After looking at multiple packages, Transfinder consistently rose to the top,” explained board secretary, Mark Tracy.
The new package offers superior technology and functionality over the existing software including satellite imagery services, mobile apps, bus stop sequence optimization, resource tracking and data integration including district emergency contact information. The three-year cost of the new software is $38,895.
The board also approved a Waiver of Rights and Deed of Easement for Legacy Field as part of the Kennett Township sidewalk expansion project. The drainage easement will be on the east side of Legacy Fields. Board Member Dominic Perigo, Jr. noted that the board will need to work with the township to ensure that the new sidewalks will include an “eased” curb that is level with the street in this area because there is a gate where access is needed to bring trucks and equipment to the fields.
Under committee reports, Rudy Alfonso shared that a formal report has been released by the CCIU regarding the delayed start time of school for high school students and will be reviewed at a later date and the committee will meet again in August.
Perigo gave a facilities and operations update regarding the district’s 22 summer projects. He commented in depth regarding three of the larger projects: relocate-able classrooms being installed at Greenwood, multiple improvements underway at New Garden Elementary including renovations to the all purpose room, new windows being installed and new heating and air conditioning units and also portions of the roof being replaced at Kennett High School, all of which are scheduled to be completed by mid to late August.
Of note under the Finance report by Michael Finnegan, the district tax bills are out and the state legislature is working on another budget spending bill with no revenue bill “which is all very confusing”… so “stay tuned.”
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Michael Barber spoke about the latest personnel moves within the district. He started by saying that they started the process of working to fill open positions early this year and, as a result, were able to bring almost half of the recommendations for employment approval before the board now instead of all of them at the September meeting.
Instructional Staff approved included Deborah Giles, ESL Bancroft, Kimberly Griffis, 2nd Grade, Greenwood, Julia Lewis, Social Studies, KHS, Felicia Mule, Vocal Music, KMS, Brittany Schiavo, Special Education, KHS and Alvin Lynch, Mathematics, KMS. There were also several athletic and non-athletic staff positions approved across the district. The board also approved the KCSD School Counseling Chapter 339 plan, which requires the district to have a written guidance plan for the development and implementation of a comprehensive program of guidance services for students in grades K-12.
Superintendent Dr. Barry Tomasetti thanked Dr. Barber for all of his efforts in leading the way in getting these positions filled and bringing people on board.
The board voted to adopt the schedule of fees for school events to be held during the 2016-2017 school year. The fees remained unchanged versus the prior year. Under current policy, residents of the district who are 65 and older are admitted at no charge to all school athletic and musical events and at a 25% discount to drama events. There was a proposal from the board to include service members to this exception. The members agreed in principle, but, per procedure, in order to make it official, it will need to be part of an official policy review that will take place at a special meeting in August.
Finally, the board approved the authorization for the administration for bill payment and hiring of budgeted staff in August, given there is no regular meeting scheduled. All bills and new hires will be presented to the Board at the Regular Meeting in September.
