Board of Education Meeting

The Moon Area Board of Education met June 25, 2014, in the High School Auxiliary Gymnasium, with the president presiding. After lengthy debate, the board voted to waive per-speaker time limits and allow extended public comment. Early in the meeting, a motion to request the resignation of a board member failed 7-2, as did a separate motion to request the resignations of all current board members, both carried only by two board members.

The bulk of the evening concerned elementary school reconfiguration. After the superintendent presented PSSA summaries and four capital improvement scenarios, the board rejected motions to table the vote and to require merger talks first. The board approved an amendment directing the superintendent to pursue merger discussions with Cornell School District, and then voted 9-2 on Option 9A: close an elementary school, expand and renovate Hyde, and renovate an elementary school, aiming to have buildings ready for the 2015-2016 year, with concurrent merger talks with Cornell School District. A motion to implement a K-2/3-4 grade configuration was tabled 7-2. The board authorized requests for proposal for architectural, engineering, and investment banking services.

The board approved the MAESPA replacement agreement and a partial arbitration settlement on the furlough grievance, and denied Grievance 14-1. Personnel motions approved numerous hires, leaves, position changes, retirements, and independent contractor agreements, with scattered dissent. A student settlement agreement was approved. Finally, the board tabled the final budget approval, tax levy, fund balance commitment, insurance renewals, budget transfers, BVIU special education contract, Project Succeed consortium participation, and technical support renewal until the next meeting, then adjourned at 2:00 a.m.