Bethel Park High School still waiting for a sign
Bethel Park High School opened more than five years ago, but it still lacks an entrance sign. School officials hope to remedy that by the start of next school year.
At its March 28 meeting, the Bethel Park School Board instructed its architect, Hayes Design Group, to proceed with the next phase of the project, drafting construction documents. The Crafton firm will be paid up to $2,800.
“This has been years coming,” said board President Donna Cook.
The hold-up was partly due to the school district dragging its feet as well as having difficulty in securing the necessary permits from the municipality. Municipal officials were concerned about lighting on the sign and how the bright lights might bother neighbors. The school is in a conservation district, so most signs require special exemptions.
Donations should cover the cost of the sign. The school’s parent-teacher organization raised about $6,000 several years ago and the district received a $250,000 inheritance from an alumnus.
The board also made several personnel changes, including eliminating a full-time maintenance position and replacing a full-time health services nurse position with a 4-day-a-week nursing position. Both positions were vacant due to a retirement and a resignation. Board Member Pamela Dobos expressed concerns over the changes and voted against the motion. Nevertheless, it passed 7-1.
The board also opened a temporary part-time special education paraprofessional position at Neil Armstrong Middle School.
The board accepted resignations from: Jason Shoaf, assistant high school principal; Patricia Moore, fourth-grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary; Cheryl Densmore, elementary school nurse; Beverly Onorato, second-grade teacher at Franklin Elementary; David Kall, maintenance; Alisa Fulton, health services nurse; Judith Schreiber, high school activities secretary; Lynn Sivetz, high school athletic secretary.
The board accepted a leave of absence for the 2017-18 school year to Katie Leckenby, special education teacher at Neil Armstrong Middle School.
The board hired two long-term substitutes, Shannon McGrady, special education teacher at Neil Armstrong and Meredith Hazen, fourth-grade teacher at Franklin Elementary.
The board purchased three new buses and 16 bus cameras at a cost of $173,100. The vehicles include two 24-passenger buses and an 18-passenger bus with a wheelchair lift.