Oct 25, 2016 2 min read

Belle Vernon School Board on Monday heard concerns from the senior class president about the need for wireless printers and charging stations.

Senior Class President Natalie Bialon thanked the board for providing the advanced placement students with iPads but suggested ways to make using them easier.

Bialon said the platform offered by the iPads does not allow for easy outlining or highlighting of the texts that are required in several of the AP classes. Bialon also said keeping the iPads charged can be an issue.

She said many students have expressed an interest in being able to access paper copies of the texts they use, creating a need for access to wireless printers.

“I believe its use would far outweigh the costs,” Bialon said.

Dr. John Wilkinson, district superintendent, said he plans on getting wireless printers and also setting up charging stations for the iPads, much like many colleges have.

Wilkinson said he will begin gathering information over the next few weeks to add these tools for the students. “I think this is very positive,” Wilkinson said.

The board voted unanimously to authorize Wilkinson to solicit bids for appraisal of the former Westmoreland County Community College Mon Valley branch campus building at 1181 Fells Church Road.

The property was returned to the district earlier this year and Wilkinson said it a nice piece of land and is conveniently located near the high school. Wilkinson said he would like to see what kind of value the property has in order to determine whether selling it would be a feasible option.

Board member Aaron Bialon announced that the joint operating committee accepted the resignation for retirement of Jeffrey Geesey, assistant administrative director at Central Westmoreland Career and Technology Center, effective in December.Bialon said the JOC, composed of nine members including Bialon, made the decision to move Principal Eric Westendorf into the assistant administrative director position.