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.
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.
The Board responded by asking for a meeting on July 19, but Alpron replied that they would not meet with them until the second week of August, and that the district isn’t able to use the field for games until the issues are resolved. This means that the district is currently looking for a football field to use for the 2022 fall season.
Dr. Elias said that the district has already begun looking for property for a football field. The first option is currently to play at Mansfield University if the contract with Alparon is not approved by the start of the upcoming 2022-2023 school year in August.
The Board also accepted the retirement of school Maintenance Supervisor David Blair on September 30, 2022, the resignation of Terilyn Anderson as head Softball and Volleyball coach, Kelly McGurgan as a Title 1 teacher, and Alisha Tuttle as a Special Education teacher.
The Board members “regretfully” accepted Blair’s retirement. Board member Heather Bohner gave her thoughts when approving the motion, “Nothing to say except thank you Dave. I wish you the best in everything that you do. You deserve it.”
Blair then responded “Thank you. My heart is in this place.”
Board President Sheryl Angove also added “I personally want to thank you too David. I’ve known you through my teaching position, and I just want to commend you on everything you have done for this district in taking care of things at the last minute, and we always knew you had the back of the district.”
The Board also approved the creation of a Director of School Safety and Security Position, and then decided to approve finishing the job descriptions for the Director of Building and Grounds, and the Federal Programs and Staff Accountant for official listings after motions were presented.
The Director of Buildings and Grounds position will replace the Maintenance Supervisor position that Blair held for 30 years.
Blair added, “My heart is with this district here. I have no intention of being far off, so if you ever need me, I’ll be around.”
Blair also spoke at the end of the meeting during the visitors comments, “I would just like to take a moment to thank all of you for all my years here. I always felt your full support, and it’s been a pleasure.”
Board Member Mary Abreu talked about the new position during the discussion, “I think that we need to find somebody who has that combination of education and experience to protect our district as we move forward.”
Agenda items
The Board approved minutes from the June 7 work session and the June 14 regular session, and approved the July 2022 Bill Listing and the June 30, 2022 Financial Report.
The Board also mentioned that the Tech Audit Service Audit total bill so far is $12,000. The Board had previously approved up to $35,000 to be spent.
Other items that were approved included the 2022-2023 contract with ESI Employee Assistance Group, tax additions, exemptions and exonerations, UPMC Physical and Occupational Therapy services, Bayada Home Health care, Inc. for nursing care, a vehicle upgrade for bus 26 for the 2022-2023 school year, the Extra-Curricular busing contract with Trojan Transport, Inc. for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years, a bus route elimination to eliminate bus route 39 on Leona Road and the Wetiona area, bus route 11 on Havens Road and the Porter Road area and bus route 43 that transports wheelchair students, and a driver listing for the 2022-2023 school year.
Other news
The Board approved a Technology request to allow up to $40,000 in technology purchased services to increase servers and updates after the audit from GDC.
The request to make the TASD Trojan Cheer Booster a sanctioned booster organization was approved.
Approval for a certificate of insurance for the Troy FFA group to compete at the Troy Fair was also given.
A 2022 Homecoming Parade was approved as a sanctioned district event on Friday, October 7, 2022.
The Board held an executive session after the meeting to discuss contracts on personnel.
The next Troy Board of Education meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 16 at 6 p.m.
Dr. Elias said that the district has already begun looking for property for a football field. The first option is currently to play at Mansfield University if the contract with Alparon is not approved by the start of the upcoming 2022-2023 school year in August.
The Board also accepted the retirement of school Maintenance Supervisor David Blair on September 30, 2022, the resignation of Terilyn Anderson as head Softball and Volleyball coach, Kelly McGurgan as a Title 1 teacher, and Alisha Tuttle as a Special Education teacher.
The Board members “regretfully” accepted Blair’s retirement. Board member Heather Bohner gave her thoughts when approving the motion, “Nothing to say except thank you Dave. I wish you the best in everything that you do. You deserve it.”
Blair then responded “Thank you. My heart is in this place.”
Board President Sheryl Angove also added “I personally want to thank you too David. I’ve known you through my teaching position, and I just want to commend you on everything you have done for this district in taking care of things at the last minute, and we always knew you had the back of the district.”
The Board also approved the creation of a Director of School Safety and Security Position, and then decided to approve finishing the job descriptions for the Director of Building and Grounds, and the Federal Programs and Staff Accountant for official listings after motions were presented.
The Director of Buildings and Grounds position will replace the Maintenance Supervisor position that Blair held for 30 years.
Blair added, “My heart is with this district here. I have no intention of being far off, so if you ever need me, I’ll be around.”
Blair also spoke at the end of the meeting during the visitors comments, “I would just like to take a moment to thank all of you for all my years here. I always felt your full support, and it’s been a pleasure.”
Board Member Mary Abreu talked about the new position during the discussion, “I think that we need to find somebody who has that combination of education and experience to protect our district as we move forward.”
Agenda items
The Board approved minutes from the June 7 work session and the June 14 regular session, and approved the July 2022 Bill Listing and the June 30, 2022 Financial Report.
The Board also mentioned that the Tech Audit Service Audit total bill so far is $12,000. The Board had previously approved up to $35,000 to be spent.
Other items that were approved included the 2022-2023 contract with ESI Employee Assistance Group, tax additions, exemptions and exonerations, UPMC Physical and Occupational Therapy services, Bayada Home Health care, Inc. for nursing care, a vehicle upgrade for bus 26 for the 2022-2023 school year, the Extra-Curricular busing contract with Trojan Transport, Inc. for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years, a bus route elimination to eliminate bus route 39 on Leona Road and the Wetiona area, bus route 11 on Havens Road and the Porter Road area and bus route 43 that transports wheelchair students, and a driver listing for the 2022-2023 school year.
Other news
The Board approved a Technology request to allow up to $40,000 in technology purchased services to increase servers and updates after the audit from GDC.
The request to make the TASD Trojan Cheer Booster a sanctioned booster organization was approved.
Approval for a certificate of insurance for the Troy FFA group to compete at the Troy Fair was also given.
A 2022 Homecoming Parade was approved as a sanctioned district event on Friday, October 7, 2022.
The Board held an executive session after the meeting to discuss contracts on personnel.
The next Troy Board of Education meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 16 at 6 p.m.