Board of Education Meeting

The Moon Area Board of Education met February 9, 2015, with the president presiding. The meeting was dominated by the debate over renaming Hyde Elementary School. The president appointed an employee to chair a committee of up to six community members who will present up to three options for honoring a former resident. A motion by a director to retain the school's name failed 6-4, with four directors voting in favor. The committee motion passed with the same four directors supporting. A director read a public statement assuring residents the board intends to memorialize the former resident.

The board approved the February financial reports and approved the monthly bills across the General Fund, Activities Fund and Food Service. Following public concern about asbestos abatement at Allard and Brooks during spring break, a motion to table the work until summer failed 7-2. The board approved the preliminary 2015-2016 General Fund budget and authorized filing for Act 1 tax-millage exceptions, with one director dissenting on both.

The board advanced PlanCon F submissions for Allard and Brooks covering asbestos abatement, exterior window systems and elevator equipment, all approved with two directors dissenting on the asbestos items. It selected McClure Company, utilizing McCarl's, for an ESCO HVAC contract, approved Maher/Duessel as the audit firm, and authorized PSI to survey asbestos at the kitchen renovation of Hyde Elementary School. The board approved the 2015-2016 High School Program of Studies, a partnership with Robert Morris University, mental health offices with Holy Family Institute, and a Walgreens experiential learning agreement. It approved high school band, orchestra and marching band field trips.

The board approved conferences for staff attending a Marine Corps education workshop, personnel actions including leaves, resignations, a substitute, and the retirement of a science teacher. The meeting adjourned at 10:15 p.m.