Board of Education Meeting

The Moon Area Board of Education met May 13, 2013, and approved a batch of financial and personnel actions. The superintendent announced her retirement, effective June 28, 2013, ending a 38-year career that began at Bon Meade Elementary. The board approved the April minutes and financial reports, and approved bills across the General Fund, bond, activities, and food service accounts.

The board adopted new K-6 math programs: Math Expressions by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for regular grades K-6 and TransMath for special education grades 5-6, plus supplemental reading materials including Fundations, Reading A-Z, and informational texts, all funded through a 7-year lease. It approved an Act 80 day for October 21, 2013, and renewed employee vision insurance from Vision Benefits of America with no rate increase.

On taxes, the board approved the 2013-14 budget, the final tax levy holding the real estate rate at 17.9977 mills with no increase, and the Act 1 Homestead-Farmstead exclusion. The budget and levy passed on a roll call vote, with a director dissenting, citing reassessment concerns.

The board gave first reading to twelve revised or new policies, approved IDEA use-of-funds, authorized a repair at Brooks Elementary, and accepted a voluntary contribution agreement with Robert Morris University. It approved numerous personnel actions, including sabbaticals, medical leaves, substitutions, gymnastics instructors, and retirements. A director moved to table the Canon print-management and photocopier proposal, which passed. The board adjourned at 8:35 p.m.