KENNETT CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT

Summary of School Board Meeting
December 7, 2009

The following is a summary of the Board of School Directors’ meeting. To review the full minutes and any attachments, contact the Superintendent’s Office at 610-444-6602

ORGANIZATION MEETING

ELECTION OF TEMPORARY PRESIDENT        

The Board elected Shirley L. Annand as Temporary President to administer the Oath of Office and to preside over the election of President.

OATH OF OFFICE  

Shirley L. Annand administered the Oath of Office to the following Board members:

• Douglas B. StirlingRegion A – Kennett Square Borough
• Dr. George P. Drake from Region B – New Garden Township
• Janis W. Reynolds from Region C – Kennett Township/Ind. #1
• Heather Schaen from Region C – Kennett Township/Ind. #1

ELECTION OF PRESIDENT          

The Board elected Heather Schaen as President of the KCSD Board of School Directors for a term of one year.

ELECTION OF VICE PRESIDENT           

The Board elected George P. Drake, Jr. as Vice President of the KCSD Board of School Directors for a term of one year.

REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING SCHEDULE 

The Board established the second Monday of each month, except August (when there will be no meeting) and December (when the Board will meet on the first Monday), at 7:00 p.m., as the date and time of the Regular Meetings of the Board of School Directors to be held during the 2010 calendar year and authorized a public notice advertising the above, as well as the specific locations.

STANDING COMMITTEE MEETINGS    

The Board established the following schedule, beginning at 7:00 p.m., in the District Office Board Room unless otherwise indicated, as the date, time, and place of Standing Committee Meetings for the 2010 calendar year and authorized a public notice advertising the meetings –

Finance – 1st Monday (except July, August, and September, when there will be no meeting; and December, when the Committee will meet on the 2nd Monday)

Liaison and Communication – 3rd Monday of March, April, June, September, October, and December

Curriculum – last Monday (except July, August, and December, when there will be no meeting, and May and November, when the meeting will be held on the 3rd Monday)

APPOINTMENTS FOR 2010

Mrs. Schaen announced that Dr. Drake will serve as the Board liaison for personnel and Mr. Perigo as liaison for facilities and operations.

RESIGNATION OF TREASURER

The Board accepted Mr. Perigo’s resignation as Chairperson of the Finance Committee and as Treasurer of the K.C.S.D. 

ELECTION OF TREASURER

The Board elected Michael H. Finnegan as Treasurer of the K.C.S.D to fill the unexpired term of Dominic F. Perigo, Jr. through June 30, 2010.

TREASUER’S BOND

The Board set the Kennett Consolidated School District treasurer’s bond in the amount of $50,000 for Mr. Finnegan’s term as Treasurer.

REGULAR MEETING

PERSONNEL           

The Board approved the following personnel items, as well as supplemental contracts and daily substitute staff for the 2009-2010 school year –

Retirement

Harry Pitch, custodian, Greenwood Elementary, effective January 26, 2010.

Resignations

James Donato, health and physical education, Kennett Middle, effective November 25, 2009.

Catherine Kline, health and physical education, Kennett High (LTS through December 23, 2009) effective November 30, 2009.

Candace York, librarian, Mary D. Lang, effective January 7, 2010.

Requests for leave of absence

Jill Amey, special education, Kennett Middle, a maternity/child rearing leave beginning on or about January 5, 2010 and continuing through on or about March 15, 2010 in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement and applicable School Board Policy.

Joy Bates, mathematics, Kennett High, a maternity/child rearing leave beginning on or about February 8, 2010, and continuing through April 5, 2010 in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement and applicable School Board Policy.

Kecia Nesmith, English as a Second Language, New Garden Elementary, an extension of her child rearing leave through the end of the 2009-2010 school year in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement and applicable School Board Policy.

Deborah Tinson, health and physical education, Kennett High, an extension of her child rearing leave through the end of the 2009-2010 school year in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement and applicable School Board Policy.

Recommendations for employment

INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF

Christine Finn, 6th grade social studies, Kennett Middle School (continuation of LTS assignment through the end of the 2009-2010 school year).  Kennett High School; West Chester University (B.A. in history)

Lorie Glackman, English as a Second Language, New Garden Elementary (continuation of LTS assignment through the end of the 2009-2010 school year).  Three Rivers High School; Philadelphia University (B.S. in interior design); Cabrini College (M.Ed. in elementary education); Temple University (certification in ESL). 

Gretchen Peterson, 3rd grade, New Garden Elementary, beginning November 2, 2009 (LTS through March 26, 2010).  Sanford High School; St. Olaf College (B.A. in psychology); Wilmington University (M.Ed. in elementary education). 

Karin Ptaszek-Kochis, business education, Kennett High, beginning November 13, 2009 (LTS through February 26, 2010).  Rungsted Private Realskole, Brigham Young University (B.S. in international business); Loyola University (M.B.A. in management information systems). 

Attainment of professional employee status (information)

The following temporary professional employee is certified as satisfactory by the District Superintendent for professional employee status according to the provisions of the Public School Code:  Kelly Sarro

APPOINTMENT OF SUPERINTENDENT

The District’s search for a new superintendent was advertised nationally, and focus groups representing the administration, staff, and parents were developed to identify strengths and needs of the District.  After reviewing the 35 applications received, the Board selected 9 candidates to be interviewed by the Board. Following those interviews, members of the Board visited the District of the selected finalist, Dr. Barry Tomasetti.

Dr. Tomasetti earned his Bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Iowa, a Master of Education in educational leadership from the University of Houston, and his Doctorate from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.  He was issued a Letter of Eligibility as a Superintendent of Schools in the state of Pennsylvania in 1997.

He has been a public school educator in Texas and in Pennsylvania for a combined total of just over 26 years.  Since October 1999, he has served as superintendent of the Mifflinburg Area School District in central Pennsylvania.  He also has experience as an elementary principal in Texas and as Director of Elementary Education in the Central Dauphin School District.

Dr. Tomasetti received the 2009 Pennsylvania Association of School Administrator’s Instructional Leadership Award and has been appointed as the chair of the PASA Staff Development Committee that is responsible for planning and providing renewal opportunities for superintendents across Pennsylvania.

He and his wife have three children who will be attending K.C.S.D. schools.  He enjoys reading, exercising, and riding his motorcycle.

The Board elected Dr. Barry Tomasetti as Superintendent of the Kennett Consolidated School District and approved his employment agreement for a five-year term beginning on the first weekday after the last day of his employment with the Mifflinburg Area School District and ending five years later.

REVISION TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT  

The Board approved the Revision to Employment Agreement between the Kennett Consolidated School District and Dr. Victoria C. Gehrt, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction.

KHS IMPROVEMENT PLAN        

Kennett High School must submit to PDE its School Improvement Plan, which first must be approved by the Board of School Directors.  The Plan is required even though the school was “making progress” in School Improvement II in 2009.  The Board approved the Kennett High School 2009 to 2010 Continuous School Improvement Plan for submission to PDE.