The board also made adjustments to the 2017–18 school year budgets due to a decrease in state aid
The Board of Education awarded a one-year contract with Source4Teachers as a temporary certified substitute teacher service for the 2017–18 school year, while naming the new nine-10 high school assistant principal at last week’s meeting in the newly revamped boardroom.
According to Superintendent Joseph Bollendorf, the boardroom’s upgrade, including a new staged seating area for board members, fresh paint and technology additions, was done by district employees. Bollendorf said the previous set-up, more than 25 years old, had begun to sag and fall apart. The hope is for the room to become a multipurpose space for professional development and learning.
“I think the room and its current configuration is going to give us a lot more flexibility with what it is we’re trying to accomplish in the district in those ways,” Bollendorf said. “This is going to be here and stand the test of time for a long time, hopefully for generations to serve Washington Township. It’s a great statement to the work we’ve done in the district.”
Board of Education President Ginny Murphy said the vision of the space is to develop the room into a professional learning academy, as well as a place for students to access career and college readiness sessions.
“This is going to be a room we encourage our staff to be 21st century learners in,” Murphy said. “It’s a goal for us; it’s going to bring us down a road we’ve never been, meaning finding alternative ways to fund projects we want to do because of the money we are losing in state aid.”
At the meeting, the board approved a budget adjustment plan for the loss of $1,002,306 in state aid for the 2017–18 school year. The plan reduced spending in appropriations such as construction services and capital projects, including the Orchard Valley Middle School roof. The adjustments brought the $149.6 million budget down to $148.6 million.
With a 5–4 vote, the board awarded a request for proposal to Source4Teachers, a substitute staffing service responsible for recruitment, credentialing, training, managing and evaluating substitute teachers and support staff, according to its website, www.source4teachers.com.
Board members who voted in favor of the service were Karen Garrison, Julie Yankanich, Candice Zachowski, Robert Dawson and Murphy. Those who voted against the award were board members Danielle Halpin, Christina Metz, Tiffany Orihel and Vice President Bob Abbott.
The board will review the services after one year and at that time consider a renewal for the following school year.
The board also named Bunker Hill Middle School Assistant Principal George Passante as the new assistant principal for the Washington Township High School nine-10 wing, replacing John Saverase, who was recently promoted to executive assistance principal for the 11–12 wing.
“It is very exciting to welcome George Passante to the high school administrative team,” WTHS Principal Ann Moore said in a release. “As a graduate of Washington Township High School, Mr. Passante is enthusiastic about this opportunity and motivated to support the students and staff in his new position.”
In other news:
- Director of Secondary Education Steve Gregor and Jack McGee, acting assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, presented the most recent AP test scores for Washington Township High School. According to Gregor, the percentage of change between 2016 and 2017 for total AP tests taken increased from 313 to 376, a 20 percent growth. Number of exams given and the number of students receiving a score of three or higher, eligible for college credit, both increased by 13 percent.
