November 10, 2014
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL — The Board of School Directors of the Fox Chapel Area School
District held its regular business meeting at Fox Chapel Area High School November 10, 2014.
President Nancy B. Foster called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Also in attendance were Vice
President Terry L. Wirginis, Treasurer Charles R. Burke Jr., Robert Mauro, Somer Obernauer Jr.,
Lisa M. Rutkowski, Eric C. Schmidt, and Joel R. Weinstein.
GUESTS (November 3, 2014)
Certificates of Merit – The Board presented certificates of merit to the following students and a
teacher:
•Fox Chapel Area High School sophomore Mihir Garimella was named a Category Winner in
the international Google Science Fair 2014! Mihir was the winner in the 13-14 age category for
his project, “FlyBot: Mimicking Fruit Fly Response Patterns for Threat Evasion.” Mihir won a
$25,000 scholarship for being named a category award winner and he also won $25,000 for being
named the first Computer Science award winner. The Computer Science award celebrates a
project which has the potential to change the world through outstanding and innovative work in
the field of computer science. Mihir will use his $25,000 Computer Science Award to help develop
his project and he will also receive one year’s worth of mentoring from Google.
For his project, Mihir built a flying robot, similar to the ones used in search and rescue missions.
His idea was inspired by the way fruit flies detect and respond to threats.
The Google Science Fair is a global online science and technology competition open to individuals
and teams from ages 13 to 18. Prior to being named an international winner, Mihir was one of 15
students from around the world to be named a Global Finalist and one of only five finalists in the
13-14 age group. As a Global Finalist, Mihir presented his project to a panel of esteemed judges
at Google Headquarters. The award winners were announced September 22 during an awards
ceremony at Google Headquarters in Mountain View, California.
The Google Science Fair was started to inspire scientific exploration among young people and to
celebrate the next generation of scientists and engineers.
•Nine Fox Chapel Area High School seniors have been designated as National Merit Semifinalists
and 12 have been named Commended Students in the 2015 National Merit Scholarship Program
conducted by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). The Semifinalists from Fox
Chapel Area High School are: Greta Altmeyer, Zoe Aridor, Anna Burns, James Docimo,
Rama Godse, Frank Lou, Rishi Mirchandani, Elianna Paljug, and Samuel Waxman. The
Commended Students from Fox Chapel Area High School are: Sonia Appasamy, Jacob
Chajson, Gerry Chen, Frances Dean, Katherine Holland, Iza Lantgios, Simran Parwani,
Kanika Sarma, Elizabeth Shneider, Shahwar Tariq, Anna Wang, and Eleanor Zinn.
All of these students were selected based on their 2013 Preliminary SAT/National Merit
Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) scores. Each year college-bound 11th grade students
complete the PSAT/NMSQT. All the students who take this test (more than 1.5 million) are
automatically enrolled in the National Merit Scholarship Program and approximately 16,000
advance to become Semifinalists and about 34,000 are Commended. The Semifinalists represent
less than one percent of the nation’s high school seniors and the Commended Students represent
the top five percent. A Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high
school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT
scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test. The Commended
Students are recognized for their exceptional academic promise. The Semifinalists now have the
opportunity to advance to the Finalist level and compete for about 8,000 National Merit
Scholarships worth about $35 million to be offered in the spring of 2015.
The NMSC is a privately financed, not-for-profit organization.
•Dorseyville Middle School gifted education teacher Cathie Gillner was chosen as a Keystones
Technology Innovator and received the 2014 Keystone STAR. She is one of only 100 educators
selected to receive the award this year which honors teachers throughout Pennsylvania who use
technology in creative ways to engage learners and improve student performance.
1
As the winner of the Keystone STAR, Mrs. Gillner was invited to participate in the Keystone
Technology Innovators STAR Summit July 21-25 at Kutztown University. As part of the summit,
these innovative educators collaborated and learned from one another. Attendees heard keynote
speakers; shared lessons, strategies, and practices; and attended workshops to enrich their
knowledge of best teaching practices. The summit was sponsored by the Pennsylvania
Association for Educational Communications & Technology (PAECT), a nonprofit professional
organization, with the support of Eduspire. Eduspire is a provider of graduate-level courses for
teacher professional development whose goal is to transform teaching and learning through
practical integration of technology.
•The Fox Chapel Area High School Boys’ Varsity Golf Team recently won the WPIAL Class AAA
Section 4 Championship. The team members were: senior Michael Gerger; juniors James
Braham, Mark Calandra, Matthew Friday, and Michael Marsico; and sophomores
Anthony Cordaro and Alexander Lawson. The team finished the season with a section record
of nine wins and one loss.
Additionally, Anthony won the WPIAL Class AAA Individual Championship. Michael Gerger and
Anthony both placed at the PIAA Western Regional Golf Tournament and qualified for the PIAA
Golf Championships that were held October 20 and 21, 2014, in York, Pennsylvania.
•Two members of the Fox Chapel Area High School Girls’ Varsity Tennis Team recently won the
WPIAL and section doubles championships. Junior Laurel Shymansky and freshman Amanda
Nord were named the WPIAL Class AAA Doubles Champions and the WPIAL Class AAA Section
3 Doubles Champions. Laurel and Amanda also qualified for the PIAA Girls’ Tennis
Championships which were held October 31 and November 1, 2014, in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
Enrollment and Fire Drills — Received the enrollment and fire drills report.
Information
•2014 Graduates Featured in National Spanish Magazine
Two Fox Chapel Area High School 2014 graduates and Spanish VI students Kaitlyn Schaffer
and Jacquelyn Wateska had their poems featured in the fall issue of ¡ALBRICIAS!, the official
magazine of the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica (Spanish National Honor Society). Kaitlyn’s piece
was entitled “Para mi hermana,” which means “To My Sister,” and Jackie’s writing was entitled,
“El amor que nadie puede entender,” meaning “The Love That Nobody Can Understand.” Both of
the writings were in Spanish and done during their senior year. The magazine is published by
the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP).
•High School Students Inducted into National Art Honor Society
A total of 17 Fox Chapel Area High School students were inducted into the Fox Chapel Area High
School Chapter of the National Art Honor Society. The students are seniors Maquala
Burnheimer, Faith Kim, Acella Lee, Elizabeth Ober, Matthew Silverman, and Kaitlyn
Wessel and juniors Kelly Arel, Holden Armor, Elayna Burdelski, Astrid ChupinaGrijalva, Charles Fletcher, Jade Perry, Morgan Perry, Arlene Sisson, Mary Towle,
Casandra Wolff, and Hannah Yeager. Students who are already part of the Fox Chapel Area
High School Chapter of the National Art Honor Society are seniors Stephanie Buzzatto, Shani
Caplan-Chernoff, Emily Eames, Lily Hartsock, Amberly Morningstar, Jeremy Witchel,
and Danielle Woo and junior Madeleine DiMedio.
The 17 students were inducted into the National Art Honor Society October 14, 2014, in a
ceremony at Fox Chapel Area High School. The art honor society is open to students who have
taken at least two art courses and have earned an A average. Students also must maintain a
high overall QPA in their other courses, be willing to promote the visual arts within the high
school and the surrounding communities, and conduct themselves by displaying respect toward
teachers and other students.
Fox Chapel Area High School’s Chapter of the National Art Honor Society was started in 2012 by
high school art teachers Joan Marangoni and Jody Shell. The purpose of the organization is to
recognize and inspire those students who have shown outstanding ability in art and to help
promote the visual arts throughout the community.
2
•Girls’ Soccer Players Named to All-Star Teams & Coach Named Coach of the Year
Four members of the Fox Chapel Area High School Girls’ Varsity Soccer Team have been named
to special teams. Junior Taylor Cohen and sophomore Deena DeBaldo were named to the AllWPIAL Team. Juniors Taylor Cohen and Maia Russo, sophomore Deena DeBaldo, and freshman
Caelan Miller were named to the WPIAL Class AAA Section 3 Team. Additionally, their coach,
Peter Torres, was named the section coach of the year. This is Mr. Torres’ first year coaching
the Foxes.
•Girls’ Volleyball Players Named to All-Section Teams
Three juniors from the Fox Chapel Area High School Girls’ Varsity Volleyball Team have been
selected for the WPIAL Class AAA Section 4 Volleyball Team. Ana Spangenberg was named to
the first team, Kayla Slovenec was named to the second team, and Sarah Supsura received an
honorable mention to the team.
•Fox Chapel Area School Board Upcoming Meetings
December 2, 2014 – 7 p.m. – Combined Agenda Study Sess. & Reg. Business Mtg. – HS LGI Room
(The reorganization meeting will be held immediately following the December 2 combined agenda
study session and regular business meeting.)
SOLICITOR’S REPORT
APPROVAL OF MINUTES — Approved the minutes of the regular business meeting dated
October 13, 2014.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
NEW BUSINESS — The superintendent recommended that action be taken on the following
items of business:
Finance
Disbursements (A) — General fund disbursements (Fund 10) in the amount of $14,862,476.80
from October 1, 2014, through October 31, 2014, were approved.
Disbursements (B) — GO Bond Series 2013 Construction Fund disbursements (Fund 33) in the
amount of $1,855,222.06 for October 2014 were approved.
Disbursements (C) — Capital projects fund disbursements (Fund 31) in the amount of
$12,500.00 for October 2014 were approved.
Finance Report — The finance report for September 2014 was acknowledged and filed for audit.
Budget Transfers — Several budget transfers for 2014-2015 were approved.
Student Activity Financial Reports — The first quarter 2014-2015 middle school and high
school student activity financial reports were acknowledged and filed for audit.
Allegheny Intermediate Unit Joint Purchasing Board – 2015 Resolution — The 2014-2015
Allegheny Intermediate Unit resolution authorizing L. Douglas McCausland and Daniel
Breitkreutz to participate on behalf of the Fox Chapel Area School District in the creation and
operation of a joint purchasing board for the purpose of purchasing paper supplies, general school
supplies, gasoline, diesel fuel, electricity, natural gas, custodial supplies, and other items as
approved by the joint purchasing board for the 2015-2016 school year, was approved.
Real Property Tax Assessment Review and Appeal Guidelines Resolution 2014-16 —
Approved Resolution 2014-16 adopting the real property tax assessment review and appeal
guidelines.
Award of Bid — Awarded the bid for the purchase and installation of a chiller at O’Hara
Elementary School to Lugaila Mechanical, Inc. at a cost of $241,300.
3
Instruction
Camp Allegheny, Inc. – Agreement — Approved the agreement between the Fox Chapel Area
School District and Camp Allegheny, Inc. to provide food and lodging for the fifth grade
environmental education program for the 2015-2016, 2016-2017, and 2017-2018 school terms.
There is an increase of less than two percent each year.
Matthew R. Day Media Productions LLC – Video Production Contract — Ratified the
agreement between the Fox Chapel Area School District and Matthew R. Day Media Productions
LLC to create three scripted videos documenting the writing process taught to students in
kindergarten-grade five, at an estimated total cost of $5,665. This video will be used by the
Fairview Elementary team for the Governor’s Expanding Excellence Grant and will be paid for
through grant funds.
January 2015 Graduates — The following students are eligible for midyear graduation, subject
to final approval by the senior program high school principal: Corinna Benincase, Lea
Bobeck, Garret Briskin, Melanie Claus, Robert Crawford, Patrick Cullinan, Anthony
Curti, Zachary Keim, Acella Lee, Mariah Mangis, Bridget Markel, Dustin McQuade,
David Rice, and Tyler Zacharias.
Stipulated Adjudication — Approved the stipulated adjudication dated November 3, 2014, for
unnamed student A as presented.
Legislation/Policy
Policies – New — Approved the following new policies: No. 235.1 – Surveys and No. 625 –
Procurement Cards.
Policies – Revised — Approved the following revised policies: No. 008 – Organization Chart,
No. 100 – Comprehensive Planning, No. 101 – Vision/Mission Statement/Beliefs/Shared Values,
No. 102 – Academic Standards, No. 105 – Curriculum, No. 105.1 – Review of Instructional
Materials by Parents/Guardians and Students, No. 108 – Adoption of Textbooks, No. 109 –
Resource Materials, No. 113 – Special Education, No. 114 – Gifted Education, No. 146 – Student
Services, No. 235 – Student Rights and Responsibilities, No. 333 – Professional Development, No.
621 – Local Taxpayer Bill of Rights, No. 622 – GASB Statement 34, No. 702 – Revenue
Enhancement/Gifts/Facilities Naming Rights, No. 706 – Property Records, and No. 706.1 –
Disposal of Surplus Property and Obsolete Equipment.
Personnel
Candidates for employment under this section were approved subject to verification of the results of
physical and drug screening examinations, required clearances, and all other essential
employment requirements under Policy and Administrative Regulations 304-AR and 304-AR-4.
Resignations
Professional — Accepted the following professional resignations:
• Lee Ann Kane, special education teacher at O’Hara Elementary School, under the
retirement incentive approved at the February 10, 2014, Board meeting, effective January 19,
2015.
• Bonnie F. Killian, elementary teacher at O’Hara Elementary School, under the retirement
incentive approved at the February 10, 2014, Board meeting, effective the end of the 20142015 school term.
• Luann R. Letterle, family and consumer science teacher at Dorseyville Middle School, under
the retirement incentive approved at the February 10, 2014, Board meeting, effective the end
of the 2014-2015 school term.
• Daniel E. Malone, physics teacher at Fox Chapel Area High School, under the retirement
incentive approved at the February 10, 2014, Board meeting, effective January 20, 2015.
• Jane B. Mather, English teacher at Fox Chapel Area High School, under the retirement
incentive approved at the February 10, 2014, Board meeting, effective the end of the 20142015 school term.
• Carol A. Natali, elementary teacher at O’Hara Elementary School, under the retirement
incentive approved at the February 10, 2014, Board meeting, effective the end of the 20142015 school term.
• Joanne R. Progar, mathematics teacher at Fox Chapel Area High School, under the
retirement incentive approved at the February 10, 2014, Board meeting, effective the end of
the 2014-2015 school term.
4
•
•
David H. Turner, reading teacher at Fox Chapel Area High School, under the retirement
incentive approved at the February 10, 2014, Board meeting, effective January 20, 2015.
Teresa A. Walter, physical education teacher at Dorseyville Middle
School, under the retirement incentive approved at the February 10, 2014, Board meeting,
effective the end of the 2014-2015 school term.
Educational Support Staff — Accepted the following personal care assistant resignations:
• Sarveshwari G. Hegde, personal care assistant at Dorseyville Middle School, due to
personal reasons, effective November 14, 2014.
• Sandra L. Perry, personal care assistant at Dorseyville Middle School, due to retirement,
effective January 5, 2015.
Athletic Supplemental — Accepted the following athletic supplemental contract resignation:
• Sara D’Angelo, boys’ middle school volleyball head coach, due to personal reasons, effective
immediately.
Leaves
Professional — Approved the following professional leaves:
• Breane M. DeComo, mathematics teacher at Dorseyville Middle School, previously approved
for child-rearing/adoption leave, under Article Eleven (D) of the Fox Chapel Educators
Association Collective Bargaining Agreement, with return scheduled for November 24, 2014,
for an extension of child-rearing/adoption leave, with return scheduled for January 19, 2015.
• Megan M. Reid, elementary teacher at O’Hara Elementary School, previously approved
for child-rearing/adoption leave, under Article Eleven (D) of the Fox Chapel Educators
Association Collective Bargaining Agreement, with return scheduled for January 19, 2015, for
an extension of child-rearing/adoption leave, with return scheduled for the first day of the
2015-2016 school term.
Appointments
Educational Support Staff — Approved the following secretarial appointment:
• Avyn A. Israel as an administration/business office secretary for the Fox Chapel Area School
District, effective November 17, 2014. Hourly salary was set based on the salary scale for 12month secretaries, Step 3, with benefits as per the Fox Chapel Area Education Support
Professionals Association Collective Bargaining Agreement. This position is available due to
the transfer of Cindy Huckestein.
Food Service — Ratified the following food service appointment:
• Elisabetta Febbraro as a permanent, part-time (three-hours per day) food service employee
in the Kerr Elementary School cafeteria. Hourly salary was set with no fringe benefits,
effective October 28, 2014. The position is available due to the resignation of Louise
Aschenbrenner.
Step Up to Reading Teachers — The following employees were ratified as Step Up to Reading
teachers at Kerr Elementary School for the 2014-2015 school term with a per session stipend
based on the number of sessions:
• 108 Sessions (maximum) — Terri Kedzierski and Sherri Reuter and
• 54 Sessions (maximum) — Brianne Claus and Amy Jakubek.
Supplemental Contracts – Athletic — The following athletic supplemental contracts were
ratified for the 2014-2015 school term: Maureen Johnson – Intramurals, Basketball Girls’,
O’Hara and Maureen Johnson – Intramurals, Spring Girls’, O’Hara.
Supplemental Contract – Non-Athletic — The following non-athletic supplemental contract
was ratified for the 2014-2015 school term: Nanci Goldberg – Calendar Facilitator, DMS.
Leave Replacements
Professional — Ratified the following professional leave replacements:
• Shelby K. Dale as a leave replacement mathematics teacher at Dorseyville Middle School,
effective August 22, 2014, through January 19, 2015. Yearly salary (prorated) was set with
benefits as per the collective bargaining agreement. This position is available due to the
child-rearing/adoption leave extension of Breane DeComo.
5
•
Lisa M. Reppy as a leave replacement elementary teacher at O’Hara Elementary School,
effective September 22, 2014, through the day after the last day for students for the 20142015 school term. Yearly salary (prorated) was set with benefits as per the collective
bargaining agreement. This position is available due to the child-rearing/adoption leave
extension of Megan Reid.
Changes of Status
Leave Replacements – Professional — Approved the following professional leave replacement
changes of status:
• Emily E. Hess, currently a special education leave replacement teacher at O’Hara
Elementary School, for an extension of the elementary leave replacement position at O’Hara
Elementary School, effective January 20, 2015, through the end of the 2014-2015 school term.
Salary (prorated) was set, based on B+0, Step 1, with benefits as per the collective bargaining
agreement.
• Ashley L. Thiebaud, currently a special education leave replacement teacher at O’Hara
Elementary School, is approved for an extension of the elementary leave replacement position
at O’Hara Elementary School, effective January 20, 2015, through the end of the 2014-2015
school term. Salary (prorated) was set, based on B+0, Step 1, with benefits as per the
collective bargaining agreement.
Homework Club Teacher — Ratified Stephanie A. Abriatis as a substitute homework club
teacher for the 2014-2015 school term at Kerr Elementary School.
Confidential Employees
Agreement — The Confidential Employees’ Fringe Benefit, Compensation, and Performance
Agreement, effective July 1, 2014, through June 30, 2019, was approved.
Tenure
Information — Alexander P. Sackandy has completed three years of satisfactory teaching and
is eligible for a Professional Employee’s Contract (tenure) effective September 14, 2014.
Operations/Cooperative Services
Plancon Part I – Interim Reporting – Resolution 2014-15 — Approved Resolution 2014-15
authorizing the submission of Plancon Part I to the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
STUDENT GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES
FOX CHAPEL EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVE
BOARD COMMENTS
ADJOURNMENT — The meeting was adjourned at 7:13 p.m.
The Fox Chapel Area School District is an equal rights and opportunity school district. The school
district does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, creed, religion, gender, sexual
orientation, ancestry, national origin, or handicap/disability. The district shall make reasonable
accommodations for identified physical and mental impairments that constitute disabilities,
consistent with the requirements of federal and state laws and regulations.
Additional information pertaining to civil rights, school district policies, and grievance procedures
can be obtained by contacting the compliance officers listed below between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Monday-Friday. This notice is available from the compliance officers in large print, on audiotape,
and in Braille.
Title IX:
David P. McCommons, Ed.D. (412/967-2456)
Section 504 and ADA: Lonnie Carey, Ed.D. (412/967-2435)
Address:
Fox Chapel Area School District, 611 Field Club Road, Pgh., PA 15238
6