Feb 20, 2014 2 min read

• Date: Feb. 18

• Action: When adopting a new policy covering graduation requirements, the board eliminated the need for a speech class. The vote to adopt or reject the policy was confusing at times, even to those who sit on the board.

Newly elected member Lisa Anderson, did not agree with the way the new policy was written and read from Robert’s Rules of Order that permits a section of a proposed policy to be separated through a motion. Anderson did not want to see the speech requirement dropped.

She proposed several motions that became confusing not only to the other members, but also to board solicitor Jack Cambest. After several minutes of discussion and attempts at clarification, the board voted to eliminate the requirement by a vote of 6-3. Voting for the elimination were members Ron Dunleavy, Sue Smith, Rebecca Bowman, who voted by conference call, Lynn Erenberg, Sandy Gregg and Tom McMurray. Voting to retain the speech requirement were Anderson, William Merrell and Jamison Hardy.

The board voted to extend the PSSA tutoring at McMurray Elementary School for two weeks because of winter weather. The extension will cost the district about $1,360.

The district was authorized to advertise for the purchase of two new buses at an average cost of about $85,000 each.

The board approved the 2014-15 general operational budget for Intermediate Unit 1 at $549,522. The district’s contribution will be $64,987, a decrease of $8,044.

• Discussion: The board discussed possibly monitoring the air quality in district buildings before any natural gas drilling may occur. Smith said she heard of a program through Carnegie Mellon University that will supply monitors. No drilling is planned in the township. Hardy said he would like more information on the monitoring to learn if the data collected would be part of a research study.

• Next meeting: 7:30 p.m. March 17 at the administration offices