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Central Greene discusses security

5 min read

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WAYNESBURG- The Central Greene School Board spent a moderate portion of its meeting Tuesday evening discussing the need for enhanced school security across the district’s facilities.

Board member Eleanor Chapman told her fellow board members the time to act on improved school security is well overdue.

“I don’t feel like we’re doing enough sitting here talking about it. I feel the board needs to decide what we are going to do and get it done,” she said.

The district has a Crises Response Committee, comprised of faculty, administration and board members, who are looking into additional security measures for Central Greene but specific recommendations have not been made to the board, according to Chapman.

Among the options discussed Tuesday was hiring a security force comprised of retired state troopers who would already be versed in how to address an emergency situation if one arose. It was suggested by several board members that the district move on a decision to get something in place quickly to shore things up for the remainder of the school year.

Currently, the district is working with the Waynesburg Borough Police Department to look at security needs and ensure a police presence is noted inside the middle, elementary and high schools.

District Superintendent Brian Uplinger told the board he would work on conducting more drills focusing on a variety of emergency situations. Uplinger assured the board at least one such drill will be conducted prior to the February school board meeting. Uplinger said any security plans in the district will extend to the Greene County Career and Technology Center, as its location is in such close proximity to the elementary and high school buildings.

In another matter, the board approved a resolution that would limit any potential millage increase in the district to not exceed the Act 1 Inflation Index for the 2014-15 school year set by the Department of Education. The referendum does not mean a tax increase in the district is a given. It simply allows for the district to raise the millage rate if necessary. By law the referendum has to be passed by January 31. Districts that approve the referendum are required to then pass a preliminary budget in February.

District Business Manager Debbie Crouse said Central Greene currently has a “healthy fund balance.” Crouse said there are still a couple of question marks in relation to things such as the state’s contribution to the district so the figures currently being tossed around are just an estimate. Passage of the referendum takes into consideration unexpected fluctuations in those numbers.

The board was split when voting on two requests from the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Greene to waive real estate taxes for two borough properties. The first property, located on South Morris Street, has delinquent taxes of $3,266. The board approved waiving those taxes by a vote of 6-3. Board members Kevin Barnhart, John Bristor, and John Jacobs cast the dissenting votes. The second property, the location of the former Waynesburg Floral business on High Street, has delinquent taxes totaling $30,165. The motion to waive delinquent taxes for this property was passed by a 5-4 vote with dissenting votes from Barnhart, Bristor, Jacobs, and Bridget Montgomery.

Barnhart said he would like to see a clear policy developed in the district to handle such requests. There was some question as to whether the building, after being rehabilitated by the RACG, would be sold to a for-profit or nonprofit business.

District Solicitor Kirk King said it is his understanding the goal is to sell to a for-profit and get the parcels back on the tax rolls in the county. King said he believes the district needs to look at each request on a case-by-case basis and noted that there have been few such requests over the years. The last time King recalled the board being asked to waive the delinquent taxes was for a property that was being donated the local volunteer fire company. King said in that case it was agreed upon the fire company serves the district and therefore the use of the property, although not returning to the tax rolls, was still beneficial to Central Greene.

The board also approved several motions regarding district personnel. A maternity/Family Medical Act leave was granted for elementary school teacher Brittany McIntire from May 25 through May 27. Resignations were accepted from middle school language arts instructor, Kristen Elek and outside maintenance worker Jared Liston. The outside maintenance position was filled by Robert Woods who leaves his current position as district-wide maintenance. A resignation was also accepted from high school after-school security guard Eileen Cratty.

A transfer was approved for Andrea Redding from guidance and library secretary at the middle school to the vacant guidance secretary position in the high school. Additionally, the board granted tenure to James Howard, the family and consumer science instructor at the middle school.

Four professional substitutes were added in the district: Haley Blumer, elementary/special education; Stephanie Nicole Spence, library science; Lauren Minor, Intermediate Unit emergency; and Leeann Danley, elementary/special education. Non-instructional substitutes that were added include Shelly Bell and Brandon Cumberledge. Brenda Petit was approved as a substitute bus driver for King’s Transit.

Under extracurricular activities, the board accepted the resignation of Ed Cross, head seventh and eighth grade softball coach and approved Brian Knapp as the boys’ varsity head soccer coach. Matthew Blair was approved as the assistant coach for the boys’ varsity soccer team.

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