NORTH ALLEGHENY SCHOOL DISTRICT
JANUARY 19, 2011 – WORK SESSION
MINUTES
Board in Attendance: Mrs. Grosheider, Mr. Shuckrow, Mrs. Bishop, Mrs. Boujoukos, Mr. Cunningham Mr. Hubert, Mrs. Ludwig, Mr. Pagone, Mr. Schwartzmier
Board Absent: None
Student in Attendance: Ms. Nahay - NAI Student Absent: Mr. Daye - NASH
Also in Attendance: Dr. Green, Mr. Brungo (Solicitor), Dr. Andreyko, Mr. Botti, Mrs. Ed, Mr. Gaertner, Ms. Gaetano, Mrs. Ludwig (for Mr. Hopkins), Dr. Miller, Dr. Stropkaj, Dr. Wheat, Mrs. Ryan (Secretary)
MST in Attendance: None
Prior to the meeting, the Board presented a number of awards to staff and students. These included the following:
ABOVE AND BEYOND AWARD
The Board presented an Above and Beyond Award to Dr. Patricia Green for her receipt of the “Spirit of Unity” award earlier this month.
KEYSTONE AWARDS
The Keystone Awards were presented to 11 of our schools that achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in their buildings. Below is a list of individuals who came out on this evening to accept this award for academic achievement:
BRADFORD WOODS ELEMENTARY Ms. Debra Somerhalder Principal Ms. Jennifer McElroy Teacher - Speech/Language Ms. Danielle Harvey Teacher - Grade 3
FRANKLIN ELEMENTARY Mr. Jeff Anderchak Principal Ms. Joni Neuberger Teacher - Grade 2 Ms. Carly Price Teacher - Grade 3 Work Session January 19, 2011 Page 2
HOSACK ELEMENTARY Mr. Craig Slaubaugh Principal Ms. Christina Kralic Teacher - GOAL Ms. Amy DeVenzio Teacher - Grade 4
INGOMAR ELEMENTARY Dr. Paul Chmara Principal Ms. Marcia Casey Teacher - Grade 1 Ms. Christy Franck Teacher - Grade 4
MARSHALL ELEMENTARY Dr. James Bradley Principal Ms. Amanda Mathieson Asst. Principal Ms. Lynn Graper Teacher - Grade 1 Mr. Matt Babusci Teacher - Grade 3
MCKNIGHT ELEMENTARY Mr. Steve Parks Principal Ms. Beth Anderson Reading Specialist Ms. Erin Smith Teacher - Grade 4 Ms. Rachel Doran Teacher - Grade 5
PEEBLES ELEMENTARY Ms. Susie Bjalobok Principal Ms. Lynn Antoon Teacher - Grade 5 Ms. Jenna Butts Teacher - Grade 5
CARSON MIDDLE Ms. Katherine Jenkins Principal Ms. Rachel Fischbaugh Asst. Principal Ms. Linda LeDonne Teacher - Art Ms Kathie Salpietro Teacher - English
INGOMAR MIDDLE Ms. Heidi Stark Principal Ms. Kristen Silbaugh Asst. Principal Ms. Diane Krisnik Teacher - FCS Ms. Dana Boyd Teacher - GOAL Ms. Cris Pagnotto Teacher - Math
MARSHALL MIDDLE Dr. Cynthia Kainaroi Principal Ms. Tracie Michalowski Asst. Principal Ms. Sheila Dattilo Teacher - Science Ms. Joy Zick Teacher - Social Studies
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NAI Mr. Michael Medlin Asst. Principal Ms. Joanne Urbaniak Teacher - GOAL Mr. Dustin Layton Teacher - Health/Ph.Ed.
DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
There were over 200 Distinguished Achievement Awards presented tonight to students and staff members for achieving state, national or international status. Those honored were as follows:
2010 Euro Challenge Submitted by: Ms. Joann Urbaniak
Third Place Katherine Adams Suyash Fulay Taraneh Manesh Abhinav Mehra Benjamin Ziolkowski
2010 Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards Program Gold Medallion Youth Award for Science Christina Boada
Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science 2010 State Meeting Submitted by: Mr. Bruce Allen
First Place Research Project Presentation Ayan Ahmed Ria Mulherkar Bhanu Richa Duggirala Pivusha Sane Alyson Haffner Rona Sun Skanda Koppula Kevin Zhang
Second Place Research Project Presentation Anis Adnani Fardeen Mehdi
2010 Torrance Legacy Creative Writing Awards Submitted by: Mr. David Morris First Place - Original Poetry - and - Second Place - Original Short Story Lily Zhang Work Session January 19, 2011 Page 4
2010-2011 PIAA Championships Athletic Director: Mr. Bob Bozzuto
Boys' Varsity Cross Country Boys’ & Girls’ Cross Country Coach: Mr. John Neff
Individual First Place Ryan Gil
First Place James Abbs Cordon Louco Jack Rudolph Timothy Appman Seamus Love Andrew Ruffolo Eli Badaczewski Michael Lynskey Samuel Rutan Nathan Badaczewski Joel Mabey Bennett Salvatora Christopher Barto Nicholas Macedonia George Sanko Michael Becich Sean Madigan Derek Schwartz Brian Boehmke Daniel Makuch Robert Sekinger Samuel Bojarski Aleksander Martich Cade Seljak Garrett Borawski Michael McCabe Thomas Senneway Griffin Caruso Richard McCoy Kolbe Short Christopher Chang Alec McGovern Ryan Shriver Alan Dai Aaron McQuade Steven Smith Matthew Doerzbacher Michael Meehan Lucas Song Mitchell Doerzbacher Eric Meyer Jonathan Songer John Downey Keegan Minear Logan Steiner Matthew Feraco Nicholas Minich Wesley Swanson Daniel Ficarri Kevin Mo Henry Taborski Joseph Franze Jordan Nicotra Artem Talanov Richard Gayler Tyler Nicotra Ryan TeKolste Nicholas Gigliotti Jacob Nikituk Daniel Tonzo Ryan Gil Edward Pacey Vincent Tonzo Brian Hepfinger Srikanth Palanisamy Kevin Vogl Connor Herbert Joseph Pane Robert Wanner Aaron Humiston Benjamin Peters Nicholas Weber Stephen Kelly Maxwell Petrosky Thomas Wheeler Joseph Kochis Michael Porcelli Daniel Whitehurst Skanda Koppula Daniel Porter Thomas Zagorski Joseph Kovatch Alec Raymond Joshua Zemet Aaron Libonati Brandon Raymond
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Girls' Varsity Cross Country Team Third Place Paige Anderson Chloe Ghirardi Sydney Micucci Elizabeth Appleton Gabrielle Gigliotti Natalie Morrissey Catherine Baird Kimberly Goehring Ellen Muenz Halley Bayer Alena Greco Kristen Polk Veronica Bella Alison Greco Alexis Provenzano Emily Bish Alexandra Grese Jenna Sandala Jessica Bish Dabney Grguras Hannah Schumacher Gabrielle Borza Kelley Harrington Sophie Seel Kara Boyle Elizabeth Hartigan Bret Serbin Ashley Brennen Margaret Haughney Priya Shankarappa Tess Bunting Deirdre Love Anne Smolinski Caitlin Carmody Charlene MacArthur Sophia Taborski Halie Carter Grace Mallampalli Allie Taggart Sarah Clogan Karissa Manko Greta Volpedo Caroline Cwalina Jessica Mazzoni Shannon Wagner Emma Leigh Emery Katey McKenna Carol Wang Carly Fox Eleni Mermigas Kelly Whelan Alexandria Gambill Julia Meyer
PIAA Girls' Tennis Doubles Girls’ Tennis Coach: Ms. Michelle Weniger
Second Place Mikayla Becich Kylie Isaacs
Girls' Water Polo Team Girls’ Water Polo Coach: Mr. Rob Semanchik
Third Place Chloe Baierl Margaret Howison Abigail Rubio Erin Bishop Emily Leard Dana Scherer Kristen Bishop Meghan Mahoney Caroline Schweers Caroline Bojarski Allie Pennetti Anna Seethaler Adelee Choban Allison Reid Mia Siclari Laura Fox Mary Riley Allison Staab Leah Garcia Marina Rozick
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College Board
Advanced Placement Scholar Akshaya Arjunan Aarohee Fulay Julia Meyer Michael Belsky Margaret Haughney Anusha Nagabandi Jason Chen Thomas Helgerman Prithvi Nikant Jeffrey Daye Robert Kugler Srikanth Palanisamy Apoorv Dhir Aaron Li Benjamin Peters Clifton Dietrick Joseph Marshalek Keyur Rao Liyan Fan Alexandra Marx Evan Swihart
Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction Konstantin Borisov Alexander Chiang Kevin Fu William Kelleher Rona Sun
Advanced Placement Scholar with Honor Sumana Dasari Philip Song Marina Fang Artem Talanov Shariq Iqbal Kevin Vose Adam Majewski Kaiqi Xie William Oestreich
Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils
Dale Hawley Award Alessandro DiBello
Pennsylvania High School Speech League Submitted by: Ms. Sharon Volpe
2010 State Tournament Lincoln Douglas Debate Semi-Finalist Richard Gayler
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National Forensic League
One of the Nations Top 100 Schools in Speech and Debate Activities and Societe' De 300 Award NASH Speech and Debate Program
Referee National Magazine
Professional Article Published Ms. Margo Hinton
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
National Board Certified Teacher Ms. Lexa Mays-Poulakos
WORK SESSION
The Board of School Directors of the North Allegheny School District convened for a Work Session on Wednesday, January 19, 2011 in the Board Room of the Central Administrative Offices.
Mrs. Grosheider called the meeting to order at 8:08 p.m . and all stood and recited The Pledge of Allegiance.
CALENDAR AND AGENDA
Mrs. Grosheider explained that prior to the meeting, the Board had a celebration of awards and recognition including the Keystone Awards and Distinguished Achievement Awards. She reviewed the Agenda for this meeting and the Calendar for January and February 2011. There are no presentations scheduled for tonight’s meeting. At the January 26, 2011 meeting, the Board will hear a presentation on the proposed Preliminary Budget for the 2011-2012 year. On February 16, 2011, the Board will again be having Distinguished Achievement Awards and will be hearing an update on the Human Resource Report. At that meeting, the Board will also vote on the Preliminary Budget. On February 23, 2011 at their Regular Voting Meeting, the Board will be presented with an update on the Demographic Analysis and Feasibility Study and they will be hearing a Strategic Plan Update.
The Board will not be meeting in Executive Session at the conclusion of the meeting
SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION
Mrs. Grosheider explained that January is School Board Recognition across the state as proclaimed by PSBA and the Board will be honored with entertainment by some of our students.
Dr. Green said the School Board Recognition is done to remind the citizens within the Commonwealth that School Boards are locally elected and they are volunteers who serve their local Work Session January 19, 2011 Page 8
communities to make great things happen. She mentioned that this year’s theme for the recognition is “Taking Flight for Academic Achievement in Public Schools.” She noted that this School Board is a pre-eminent model of the highest aspirations of this type of public service. We have a great tradition of student achievement across the Arts, Athletics and Academics and this School Board is ultimately responsible for the successes we see. On behalf of the entire community, the Administrators and the employees of the North Allegheny School District, Dr. Green applauded and thanked the School Board.
A single rose was at the seats of all Board Members and the student representatives as a token of our appreciation as well as a Citation of Appreciation in recognition of their volunteer service to the community.
The Board was given a round of applause from everyone present.
Mrs. Grosheider, on behalf of the Board, thanked Dr. Green for her comments and said that we have a very fine School Board and everyone gives what they can to the process. They all believe strongly in public education and what our students can do.
ENTERTAINMENT
On this occasion, the Administration traditionally invites a representative performing group from the North Allegheny Music Department to bring several musical selections to honor the Board at the opening of the first January meeting of the month. This month , the North Allegheny Jazz Ensemble I, under the direction of Mr. Todd Stefan, volunteered to perform as a featured group. Following is the introduction Mrs. Grosheider delivered prior to their performance:
The North Allegheny Jazz Ensemble I comprises our top jazz musicians from grades 9 through 12. Students wishing to be a member of this ensemble must audition in the fall. This ensemble studies, rehearses, and performs a wide range of advanced and professionally graded music from the jazz idiom. The band is comprised of what has become the standard Jazz Ensemble Instrumentation: 5 Saxophones, 5 Trombones, 5 Trumpets, Piano, Guitar, Bass, and Drums. The group rehearses every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm.
Under the direction or Mr. Todd R. Stefan, the NA Jazz Ensemble I has received straight superior ratings in regional and national music festivals, including the Festivals of Music in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, the Windy City Classic Music Festival in Chicago, Illinois, Festival Disney Music Festivals in Orlando, FL, the North American Music Festival in Virginia Beach, VA., the National Events Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl Jazz Ensemble Adjudication in Atlanta, Georgia, the Slippery Rock University Jazz Festival, the Edinboro University Jazz Festival, and the WDUQ/Duquesne University Jazz Festival.
Jazz Ensemble I was also selected to perform at the upcoming 2011 MENC Eastern Division Conference in Baltimore, MD.
This evening the ensemble will perform three numbers: Work Session January 19, 2011 Page 9
1. “But Not for Me” by George Gershwin/arranged by Bob Mintzer (as recorded by the Bob Mintzer Big Band on the album Art of the Big Band).
2. “Fancy Pants” by Sammy Nestico (as recorded by the Count Basie Orchestra on the album Fancy Pants).
3. “Groove Merchant” by Jerome Richardson/arranged by Thad Jones (as recorded by the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra on the album Central Park North).
Mrs. Grosheider asked everyone to join her in welcoming the North Allegheny Jazz Ensemble I.
At the conclusion of their performance, and on behalf of the Board, Mrs. Grosheider thanked Mr. Stefan and the musicians for the special entertainment they provided. She said they did a wonderful job. Mrs. Grosheider also noted that Mr. Walt Sieminski, Principal at NASH, and Mr. Bob Tozier, Music Department Chair, were in the audience to support Mr. Stefan and the Jazz Ensemble.
REVIEW OF BOARD FOLDER
The Board reviewed all items as contained in the Board Folder for the Regular Meeting on January 26, 2011. There was brief discussion.
Dr. Green presented her Good News Report, as follows:
GOOD STAFF NEWS AROUND NA
Richard Gebrosky , GOAL teacher at IMS, has been informed that he will receive a 2011 Carnegie Science Award to honor his work as a Middle Level Educator. The official announcement of the 2011 awards will be made on February 3, 2011. The 15 th Annual Carnegie Science Awards Program will be held on May 6, during which the individual awards will be presented. Over the years, more than 250 distinguished individuals and organizations have been recognized through this awards program for their accomplishments and contributions to improving lives through a commitment to science and education. Dana Boyd, who is also a GOAL teacher at IMS, nominated Rich for this award.
Art Walker Jr ., varsity football coach and English teacher at NASH, was named High School Coach of the Year by the Pittsburgh Steelers organization. This recognition was announced at a recent Steelers home game, at which Art was presented with a $2,000 check for NA’s football program and a framed certificate from the NFL Commissioner and Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin. Art was also recognized by the Pennsylvania Sports Writers’ when their All-State Football Selection Committee named him the Class AAAA Coach of the Year.
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ADJOURNMENT
Mrs. Grosheider adjourned the meeting at 8:47 p.m. The Board did not meet in Executive Session at the conclusion of the meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
Rose Mary Ryan, Secretary North Allegheny School Board