Peters Township school board votes to acquire bonds to address building needs
By a unanimous vote by all nine members of the Peters Township school board Sept. 15, the board authorized the issuance of bond up to $12 million to address maintenance needs in several buildings. While the approval was for $12 million, according to Michael Zubasic, managing director, public finance division at PNC, the amount eventually financed will not exceed $10 million.
The district has been compiling a list of needed projects, including masonry repairs and heating and air conditioning units at McMurray Elementary School, roofing at the high school and other upgrades.
The district agreed to pursue the bond issue because of what was described as “favorable interest rates” and the district’s current high bond rating of AA2. No interest rate on the new bond issue has been determined.
The board unanimously accepted the resignation of assistant superintendent Dr. Patricia Kardambikis effective Oct. 1. Kardambikis will become assistant superintendent in the Slippery Rock School District, which is closer to her family. The board then changed the status of Dr. Jennifer Murphy, who joined the district last year, from assistant to the superintendent for performance management, to fill Kardambikis’ position.
The district is negotiating a new contract with Murphy and no salary has been determined. Murphy’s contract will run from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, 2017.
In other action, the board:
• Asked Superintendent Dr. Jeannine French to prepare a proposal on the feasibility of granting athletic coaches extended contracts. Currently, the positions are opened each year with the board making yearly appointments. No date was given for the proposal being submitted to the board. French said she would consult with the solicitor.
• Authorized the administration to consult with HHSDR for an engineering survey of the heating and ventilation system in the district administration office.
• Awarded a purchase of the Raptor Visitor Management System to Raptor Technologies for $8,000. The system could possibly be in use within the next several weeks. The system takes a visitor’s driver’s license, scans the license and prints out a copy after checking a sexual offender list. The district will also be able to input information in the database if there is a need regarding custody orders or other pertinent information. The system is currently is use in surrounding districts, including Upper St. Clair and South Fayette.
• Accepted the resignation of Madhura Ranade, high school science teacher, effective Sept. 15.
• Accepted the retirement of Joseph Tonecha from the maintenance department effective Sept. 30.
• Hired Karen Molk as a cafeteria and playground monitor at Pleasant Valley Elementary School effective Sept. 16, and William Appel for cafeteria and food service at McMurray Elementary School effective Sept. 16.
• Accepted the resignation of David “Alex” McLaren as both the high school assistant swimming coach and the swimming co-head and assistant coach at the middle school.
• Discussed when various booster groups and other organizations should request approval for fundraising events and about the feasibility of granting approvals for year-long fundraisers.
• Approved an agreement with Questeq to provide two level 1 Desktop Engineers for five days per week for 25 weeks from Sept. 1 through Feb. 27, 2015, at a total cost of $49,000. There is no cost increase from last year.