Board of Education Meeting

The Moon Area Board of Education met on October 12, 2015, in the Middle School Auditorium, called to order by the Vice President. Seven directors were present; two directors were absent. The board approved the October financial reports, including the treasurer's report, investment report, monthly financial statements, and activities fund report, on a unanimous voice vote. It also approved payment of the monthly bills across the general, capital projects, enterprise, and activity funds, with two directors voting against.

The board approved a tabled invoice from Marotta Main Architects for reimbursables. A director pressed the superintendent's staff about why the check had been released before board review, noting travel should already be covered by contract, and demanded all invoices with explanations appear in the Friday packet. The board approved numerous personnel actions, including extra-duty pay, a resignation and replacement as an AM bus monitor, remediation facilitator positions across the middle, high school, and Richard J. Hyde center, elementary extra-duty assignments, a childbearing and extended sick leave of absence for a teacher, and tenure for 6 teachers.

On a roll-call vote, the board declined to hear the presentation on the potential MASD/Cornell merger, with 4 directors in favor and 3 against. In board comments, a director called for an end to "desperation attempts" ahead of the December 7 new-board seating, and another director pressed for a breakdown of the architect's fees. Following adjournment at 7:27 p.m., residents from Moon, Crescent, Cornell, Neville Island, and Coraopolis gave public comment, with opinions split on the merger and repeated concerns about the short voting window and district politics.