Board of Education Meeting

The Moon Area Board of Education met July 21, 2014, with nine directors present. The board approved the minutes from May 27, June 9, and June 30, 2014, along with the June financial reports, and authorized the monthly bills across the General, Activities, Food Service, Investment, and Capital Project funds, all on voice votes.

After the Education Committee outlined professional development on data use, Educator Effectiveness, and the PA Core Standards, the board spent much of the evening on school configuration. It rescinded the June 25 elementary building motion, then re-approved a four-building configuration closing Hyde Elementary while renovating Brooks and Allard for the 2015-2016 year. The board directed the superintendent to pursue a merger with the Cornell School District, and approved a K-2/3-4 grade-level configuration. Dissenting votes came from two directors on most items. The board also approved an out-of-school placement contract with the Prevention Network & CLASS Academy.

On personnel, the board hired a long-term substitute, a kindergarten teacher at Brooks, approved fall sports coaches and numerous department and grade-level chairpersons, and accepted the retirements of two employees. It authorized furniture purchases from Kurtz Brothers and Virco for Allard, funded through the Capital Projects Fund, and approved first reading of revised graduation requirements policy.

The board rejected four attempts by two directors to loosen audience-comment time limits, ultimately passing a motion allowing five minutes per speaker with a 30-minute cap. A large audience addressed the board, largely opposing the Hyde closure and Cornell merger and urging the retention of the principal. The meeting adjourned at 10:52 p.m.