by Jared Wiker
TROY – Troy Area School District’s Board of Education accepted the retirement of longtime Maintenance Supervisor David Blair, and announced ongoing issues with Alparon Park.
The Board talked about the current situation between the district and Alparon Park during the General Board Discussion. Superintendent Dr. Janilyn Elias referenced that Buisness Manager Traci Gilliland mentioned several months ago at a prior meeting that there were discrepancies with finances going back to 2021. Elias mentioned that some of the problems were unmatching monetary amounts for electrical billing and different formulas being used by each side in the new contract. Elias said that the last time the Board had heard from Alparon was on July 1, asking for a meeting.

by Rachel Heitzenrater
[email protected]

CANTON — Canton Area School District board members voted to approve business manager Mark Jannone to enter a contract for a roofing project at their March meeting.

The contract with the company Tremco, though the Keystone Purchasing Network, which is a state approved cooperative purchasing group, includes roofing improvements with both the high school as well as the elementary. 

Tremco representative Randy Kline spoke at the recent board meeting about the different options as well as his recommendation, which he presented to the board. 

Because of the contract deadline, the board had to vote to approve the contract at this meeting, or face the possibility of losing the contractor and the lower pricing, according to Kline. 

For a 15-year guarantee, Kline reported a total cost of $1,870,853.88. For 20 years, the total came to 2,295,932,46, of which Jannone recommended and also still came under the original budget proposed for this project. 

Board member Tom Resavage expressed his concerns on the cost and asked about the cost of repairing just the seems on the roof.

Kline answered his question, noting that fixing seems on the roof was a possible alternative to the one he presented.
Jannone then explained that due to having ESSER funding, the cost would be lower for tax payers in the route he was proposing, noting that his goal was to save money down the road. 

ESSER funding may be gone if the board chose to wait, which Jannone did not recommend because of the higher cost burden it would put on taxpayers.

Board member Bill Holland asked when the roofing was last completed. Jannone said the elementary was completed in 1998, and the high school was completed in 2002. He then asked if there was mold on either, to which Jannone replied no, but there are wet spots throughout, resulting in deterioration in the roof. 

For the project, Jannone noted that 1.5 million of this project can be funded using ESSER funds, about $500,000 will come from the capital projects fund, and the rest can come from the  fund balance (general funds), which currently has about 6 million in it. 

Board member Denny Sourbeer asked if other schools who worked with Tremco were called, to which Jannone replied yes and they all had glowing recommendations for Tremco, those that worked with that company. 

Board member Scott May asked about the priority of HVAC systems throughout the school and noted his concerns for raising prices for work materials, noting that his vote in favor of entering a contract was due to the rising costs of good and hopefully saving money. 

Resavage made a motion to table the topic until the next board meeting in April. Holland seconded it. All board members voted against the motion except Resavage, Holland and Denny Sourbeer. 

Denny Sourbeer noted that his concern was a tax increase on the taxpayers, but he was told by Jannone that this decision would not affect a tax increase, and ensured the board that a tax increase may not even be necessary unless Governor Wolf does not put out the proposed budget he has planned. He also reminded the board that after four years, they will be debt free. 

“So what you’re saying is that it would be a bigger tax burden on the taxpayers if we don’t act now?” asked board member Arica Jennings. She was answered with a yes. 

Ultimately, the board chose to move forward with the Tremco contract for a 20-year guarantee for $2,295,932.46. All board members voted in favor, except Resavage and Holland. 
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Work for the roofing project is set to begin in the planning stage in April, with work beginning in May and is planned to be completed in August.  The roof will be cleaned before the project begins, as per the contract with Tremco.

by Rachel Heitzenrater
[email protected]

CANTON — Canton Area School District’s board of education received two requests from the high school seniors at their March meeting.

The request presentations were made by senior William Gowin, who first stated that the senior class would like to hold an outdoor commencement. The reasoning behind wanting an outdoor commencement was that number of attendees to the graduation would rise, with more space. 

The second request was for the board to consider putting on the agenda, naming the library after former teacher Jeff Wynne. 

The board chose to discuss this procedure and give an answer at the next board meeting in April. 

Canton Area School District’s Superintendent Dr. Eric Briggs announced a presentation that is available on the district’s website this week. There will also be a public presentation at the high school on Thursday, March 17, at 6 p.m. All are welcome to attend.

The presentation is about how the district has spent Covid-19-related funding the past two years. 

In each slide, the presentation breaks down each form of funding, and what area of the district it went to. 

A full video presentation with more details can be found at www.canton.k12.pa.us/21-22-school-year-planning.

Other news
Dr. Briggs also announced the upcoming drama musical, Into the Woods, which is set for performing on Friday and Saturday, March 18 and 19 at the high school.

He continued his report by noting that elementary teacher Kelsey Wood was nominated for WETM’s Golden Apple Award.

Board member Arica Jennings donated a book to the elementary school, which she received from BLAST.

E-Rate Category II Technology was approved by the board for purchases in the amount of $41,043.49. Business Manager Mark Jannone noted these costs include switches, hardware, licenses for computers and firewalls, and much more. The district will actually be paying about $8,000 after a reimbursement. 

The board approved the hiring of a special education teacher and a part time cafeteria worker. Pay for substitutes increased after approval, from $100/day and $50/half day to $125/day and $62.50 half day. Student learning monitor pay also increased after board approval from $16.75/hour to $20.94/hour. 

The board also voted to approve the high school and elementary’s library reports as well as the senior’s first request to hold commencement outside on the Miller A. Moyer Athletic Field, pending weather. 

They also voted to approve the updated ARP ESSER health and safety plan, to which Dr. Briggs noted was about household close contacts and lower days from 10 to 5. 

There was an executive session held by the board prior to the meeting at 4:45 in the library. 
​
The next Canton Area School District board of education meeting will be Thursday, April 14, at 5 p.m. in the library. 

​by Rachel Heitzenrater
[email protected]
CANTON — The final video for summer went out to Canton Area School District parents last night. In the detailed video, it explains what parents should expect concerning the health and safety plan, according to Superintendent Dr. Briggs. 
The CDC guidelines for K-12 students have changed and the CDC recommends promoting vaccines to staff of the district, universal masking, and three feet of distance between students. 
However, the school district’s plan will not mandate masking, just recommend it. The only mandate the school will ask concerning masking will be on school buses where students cannot stay three feet apart. 
In the video, Dr. Briggs explains that the school district plans to go back to school and look like “March 12, 2020” to the best of their ability. 
The full video explaining the health and safety plan for the school district can be found at: https://www.canton.k12.pa.us/21-22-school-year-planning. Questions can be directed to the email at [email protected].
Other news
Kindergarten orientation will be Monday, Aug. 23, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Staff will return to school for training on Monday, Aug. 23. Students will return on Thursday, Aug. 26. 
The district hired Kelsey Herman as a social studies teacher. The district also accepted the resignation of Helen Kilbourn, a paraprofessional with 19 1/2 years of service with the school district. 
Both Mark Jannone and Dr. Briggs thanked the custodial staff for their hard work cleaning the schools this summer.
Jannone also noted that the board that the a transportation contract for two vans must be increased from $100/day to $115/day due to rising costs of gas and making sure the vans have enough to transport students. 
The board voted in favor to revise the admission of students. 
They also voted to approve the health and safety plan, as well as the student handbook in both the high school and elementary. 
The next Canton Area School District board of education meeting will be Thursday, Sept. 9, at 5 p.m. in the high school library.

​by Rachel Heitzenrater
[email protected]

CANTON — The Canton Area School District Board of Directors voted unanimously to hire Arica Jennings to a board member position, following the resignation of Krista Jennings.

The board held a public interview at 4:30 p.m., before the scheduled June board meeting on Thursday, June 10. 

Jennings herself has two children in the school district and has a background in healthcare worked for Arnot Medical Center in Troy. 
​
She says her perceived responsibilities are to take care of the students at Canton Area School District as well as upholding principals of the community. 

She expects CASD to be a judgment-free zone and believes that the dynamics of the classroom should be a teacher connecting with a student they can support. 

Jennings stated that she thinks the biggest challenge the school district has faced was COVID-19, but they handled it and made the best of the sometimes weekly changes. 
​
Arica started her duties at the school board meeting that evening, which began at 5 p.m. and was open to the public for the first time in months, compared to regularly meeting via Zoom for the school year. 

Dan Martin, a member of the Troy School Board, attended a seminar which dealt with the state budget and school district might be forces to borrow to meet their expenses. He didn't expect any movement until 2016.
    Bill Brasington also attended a conference presented by the PSBA in Hershey. He came back very excited about the focus for public schools and the programs districts are instituting. "There was some scary stuff, especially on social media." He said if anyone the sessions are online at the PA School Board Association's website.
    Principal of the elementary school, Steve Brion spoke about the upcoming events at W.R. Croman.
    The "Cruisers" will take place on October 21. This is to raise funds for the school's activities. The goal of $15,000 was met and now Mr. Brion will have his hair dyed on Oct. 30 and six children have been chosen to throw pies at selected teachers during an assembly.

At the regular monthly meeting of the Troy School Board, members approved the following on the agenda:
     Budget: Approved the final budgetary transfers within General Fund expense accounts for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2015
    Approved all substitute nursing pay be changed from following the support staff substitute rate to the professional staff substitute rate."
  Approved the  updated driver Listing(listing on page fourteen)
    All personnel actions approved by the Board are pending required documentation)"
 Nathaniel Ackley was hired as a 20 hr. per week Casual Custodian at TIS
  Denise Brown was hired as a Category 2 Secretary at the JSH
    Ruth Overrein  was hired as a 20 hr. per week Casual Cafeteria at JSHS.
   These coaches were hired:
  Robert Woodward Boys' Basketball, Head
    Matt Allen, Boys' Basketball, Assistant
    Brian Burchard, Girls' Basketball, Head    
    Rachel Ives, Girls' Basketball, Assistant
    Marty Watson, Wrestling, Head
    Brandon Spiak, Wrestling, Co-Assistant

    The Troy School recently approved the following residents as bus drivers:
    Donna Bennett, Patricia Holley, Shawn Bruce, Jodi Franks, Steven Chaapel, Jeffrey Eakins, Norma Elvidge, Bambi Jackson, Ralph Jennings, Angela Kenyon, LuAnne Kriner, Fred Passeri, Thomas Pine, Deb Rockwell, Tom Roe, Lynette Roloson, Ralph Sayman, Jean Schonher, Harry Scouten, Judy Watson, Dennis Welch, Rhonda Wheeler, Paul Winder, David Wright.
    Substitute Driver Listing:
    John Adams, Dennis Beardslee, Shirley Bentley, Mike Bohner, Roger Bolt, Harry Brokaw, Scott Case, J. Michael Chambers, Penelope Crane, Randy Earle (van), Lori Evans, Gary Elvidge (van), Ellen Foust, Tracy Froelich, John Hickok, Deb Hickok (van), Randy Hickok, Daniel Jennings, Donna Johnson (van), Jody Kenyon, Mary Malone, Charles Mosher, William Mosher, Ken Nero, Carl Osgood, Ann Shock, Jody Strait, Sherry Vargson.
    Van Drivers:
    Thomas Calkins, III, Carol Gernert, Michelle Jennings, James Kenyon, Daniel Oslager, Ronald Robyler, David Rockwell, Neil Toms.

    At the October 20 meeting of the Troy School Board, the following employees were honored for having perfect attendance:
    David Blair, Danielle Boyd, Steve Brion, Leisl Case, Ryan Chaapel, Linda Halter, Gyla Hoose, Dolly Jones, Petra May, Scott Oldroyd, Donna Roberts, Ryan Schrader, Denise Slingerland, Warner Robert Start, Kristina Williams, Catherine Zimmerman.

     The Canton Area School District Board of Education met October 8 with President Jared Wilcox, Directors Mike Herman, Judy Sourbeer, Eric Anderson, Melony Taylor, William Holland and Ryan Allen, Superintendent of Schools Matt Gordon, Elementary Principal John Rimmer, High School Principal Craig Coleman, Business Manager Mark Jannone. Special Education Supervisor Dan Coran, Solicitor Richard Sheetz and an audience of five.