DuBois Area School Board holds work session by Glenn Schuckers

The DuBois Area School Board held a work session on April 15 at the Administrative Center. All members except Albert Varacallo and Gilbert Barker were present for the meeting. Before going over the agenda for the coming regular meeting, Superintendent Wendy Benton announced that two high school students had won awards in the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) state competition. Leah McFadden, a 10th grade student, received a second place award for the presentation of her project, “Prism Lens Therapy in Combating Rising Myopia in Children,” and Melina Petrick, a 12th grade student, received a first place award for her project, “How Prescribed Fires Promote Growth.”

Ms. Petrick then presented her power point presentation to the Board, noting that she had completed the project with the aid of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources at S.B. Eliot State Park. The project showed how controlled prescribed fires promote regrowth with pictures that showed how areas benefit from  controlled burns that encourage new growth of forest species that are beneficial to both vegetation and wildlife. The first place award means that the project will go on to state competition in May. Both presentations will be featured in the July Issue of United Electric Cooperative’s magazine, Penn Lines.

The board then went on to look at the agenda for the coming regular meeting and there were no questions or comments on that agenda. That agenda will include the renewal of a contract with Metz Culinary Management to provide meals for the district through the 21-22 school year. 

Benton then asked the board how the wanted to deal with the waiver currently in place for parking fees at the high school. The $50 charge for the past school year was waived due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Benton asked if the board wanted to extend the waver for the coming year.

Sam Armagost as well as other members indicated that they thought the waiver should be extended and the idea will be placed on the agenda for the next regular meeting. Parking spots will still be assigned and Benton said that in the past the fees have accounted for some $11,000.

After the work session was adjourned, the board met for a special meeting to address a number of items dealing with the submission of PlanCon Part F Post-Bid Opening Certification for the Oklahoma School addition and renovation project. A motion by member Sam Armagost to defer approval of all action on those bids was passed by all members present. Board president Larry Salone noted that the members had indicated that they needed a little more time to go over those bids and he expects them to be approved at the next regular meeting on April 22.

The board did vote to award a bid for $130,750 for the sealing and refurbishment of the visitor side bleachers at Mansell Stadium.