Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Several Phoenixville Library expansion plan items to be addressed at PASD meeting

The Phoenixville Area School District school board will vote on several motions related to the Phoenixville Library Thursday evening as presented on the following Building and Grounds committee agenda.

Please make plans to attend the meeting.



PHOENIXVILLE AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

Phoenixville, Pennsylvania

BOARD WORKSHOP MEETING

June 18, 2009—7:00 P.M.

Phoenixville Area High School Auditorium

OPENING

I. Call Board Workshop Meeting to Order

• Mark D. Casaday, Board President Presiding

II. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States

III. Roll Call

ANNOUNCEMENT OF MEETINGS

• Board Meeting—May 21, 2009, 7:00 p.m.
• Executive Session—Immediately Following the May 21, 2009 Board Meeting
• Board Policy Committee Meeting—May 26, 2009, 6:00 p.m.
• Board Personnel Committee Meeting—June 1, 2009, 6:30 p.m.
• Board Real Estate Committee Meeting—June 4, 2009, 6:30 p.m.
• Board Buildings and Grounds Committee Meeting—June 4, 2009, 7:00 p.m.
• Board Curriculum Committee Meeting—June 8, 2009, 6:30 p.m.
• Board Budget Meeting/Board Actions—June 10, 2009, 6:00 p.m.
• Board Executive Session—Immediately Following the June 10, 2009 Board Budget Meeting/Board Actions Meeting—RE: Personnel
* • Meeting Advertisements

COMMITTEE REPORTS

I. Board Committee Reports Informational
• Board Buildings and Grounds Committee–Keith Wickstrom, 06/18/09 & 06/25/09
Chairperson Meetings
• Friends of Schuylkill School Committee–Keith Wickstrom, Chairperson

COMMITTEE REPORTS (Continued)

I. Board Committee Reports (Continued) Informational
06/18/09 & 06/25/09
Meetings
• Board Curriculum Committee–Jill Slawecki, Chairperson
• Chester County Intermediate Unit No. 24 Board–Jill Slawecki, Board Representative
• Phoenixville Library Board–Josh Gould, Board Representative
• Board Policy Committee–Josh Gould, Chairperson
• Board Finance Committee–Mark Casaday, Chairperson
• Board Personnel Committee–Mary Croke-Parris, Chairperson
• Board Real Estate Committee–Debbie Dawson, Chairperson
• Chester County School Boards Legislative Council and Pennsylvania School Boards Association–Paul Slaninka, Board Representative and Mark Casaday, Alternate
• Board Open Forum—Paul Slaninka, Chairperson
• Student Representatives’ Reports–Ms. Jenna DeLeone, Senior Student Representative; and Junior Student Representative, Ms. Jessica Tucker
• Superintendent’s Report–Terry L. Mancini, Ed.D., Acting Superintendent

Board Action
MINUTES

I. Approval of Board Meeting Minutes Board Motion
• Minutes of May 14, 2009 Board Workshop Meeting 06/25/09 Board Meeting
• Minutes of the May 21, 2009 Board Meeting
• Minutes of the June 10, 2009 Board Budget Meeting/Board Actions

[Note: Minutes will be distributed with the June 25, 2009 Board Meeting materials.]

FINANCE/BUSINESS OFFICE

* I. Approval of Financial Reports—May 2009 Board Motion
[Note: The May Financial Reports are attached for review for the 06/25/09 Board Meeting
Official Minute Book, Superintendent, Business Administrator and
Board]
II. Approval for the Administration to Apply for a Mandate Board Motion
Waiver for Alternative Means of Advertising 06/25/09 Board Meeting
[Note: Information is available in the Business Office]
III. Approval of Stipulation to Settle Tax Assessment Appeal Board Motion
[Note: Information is available in the Business Office] 06/25/09 Board Meeting
IV. Approval of Insurance Broker of Record Board Motion
[Note: Information is available in the Business Office] 06/25/09 Board Meeting
V. Approval for District to Participate in the PA Invest Board Motion
Program 06/25/09 Board Meeting
[Note: Information is available in the Business Office]
VI. Approval of Memorandum of Understanding with East Board Motion
Pikeland Township Police Department 06/25/09 Board Meeting
[Note: Information is available in the Business Office]
VII. Approval of Donations of Computers to Non-Profit Board Motion
Organizations 06/25/09 Board Meeting
[Note: Information is available in the Business Office]

Board Action
FINANCE/BUSINESS OFFICE (Continued)

VIII. Approval of Contract Renewal with the Holy Family Board Motion
Institute for Alternative Education Services 06/25/09 Board Meeting
[Note: Information is available in the Business Office]
IX. Approval of Contract Renewal with the TIM Academy Board Motion
for Autistic Support Services 06/25/09 Board Meeting
[Note: Information is available in the Business Office]
X. Approval of Contract Renewal with the Compass Group Board Motion
USA, Inc., through Chartwells to Provide Food Service 06/25/09 Board Meeting
Operations for the 2009-2010 School Year
[Note: Information is available in the Business Office]

BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS

* I. Approval of PlanCon A and B Board Motion
06/25/09 Board Meeting
II. Approval of Geotechnical Services for Middle School Project Board Motion
[Information will be distributed with the June 25, 2009 Board Meeting 06/25/09 Board Meeting
Materials]
III. Acceptance of Bids for East Pikeland Boiler Replacement Board Motion
Project 06/25/09 Board Meeting
[Information will be distributed with the June 25, 2009 Board Meeting
Materials]
IV. Approval of Bids from Blanski [Boiler]and AN Lynch Board Motion
[Electrical] for the East Pikeland Boiler Project 06/25/09 Board Meeting
[Information will be distributed with the June 25, 2009 Board Meeting
Materials]
V. Acceptance of Bid for the Kindergarten Center Roof Project Board Motion
06/25/09 Board Meeting
VI. Award of Bid for the Kindergarten Center Roof Project Board Motion
[Information will be distributed with the June 25, 2009 Board Meeting 06/25/09 Board Meeting
Materials]
VII. Acceptance of Bids for the High School Auditorium Board Motion
and Stadium Sound Upgrade Project 06/25/09 Board Meeting
[Information will be distributed with the June 25, 2009 Board Meeting
Materials]

Board Action

BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS (Continued)

VIII. Award of Bid for the High School Auditorium and Board Motion
Stadium Sound Upgrade Project 06/25/09 Board Meeting
[Information will be distributed with the June 25, 2009 Board Meeting
Materials]
* IX. Approval of Limited Phase 2 Environmental Site Board Motion
Investigation Proposal from CMX for the Meadow 06/25/09 Board Meeting
Brook Property
* X. Approval of Proposal from Reynolds Energy Services Board Motion
for an Energy Study and Plan for the Phoenixville Area 06/25/09 Board Meeting
School District Facilities
* XI. Approval of Indemnification Agreement Between the Board Motion
Phoenixville Public Library Foundation and Phoenixville 06/25/09 Board Meeting
Area School District
* XII. Approval of the Future Acceptance of Vacated Board Motion
Portion of Second Avenue 06/25/09 Board Meeting

XIII. Approval of Memorandum of Understanding with First Board Motion
Presbyterian Church of Phoenixville, Valley Forge Christian 06/25/09 Board Meeting
College, Saint Ann Roman Catholic Church of Phoenixville,
and Freedom Valley YMCA of Phoenixville for Use of
Facilities During Emergencies
[Information will be distributed with the June 25, 2009 Board Meeting
Materials]

XIV. Approval of ELA’s Revised Proposal for Work Regarding Board Motion
Synthetic Turf Field(s) and Track Resurfacing Design 06/25/09 Board Meeting
and Consultation
[Information will be distributed with the June 25, 2009 Board Meeting
Materials]

Board Action

PERSONNEL

* I. June 2009 Personnel Report Board Motion
06/25/09 Board Meeting

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS

* I. Enrollment Report—Grades K-12—May 31, 2009 Informational 06/25/09 Board Meeting
* II. Maintenance Reports—May 2009 Informational
06/25/09 Board Meeting
* III. Legal Fees—Legal Fees Paid Through May 2009 Informational
06/25/09 Board Meeting
IV. Commendations Informational
[Note: Information will be distributed with the June 25, 2009 Board 06/25/09 Board Meeting
Meeting materials.]
V. Activities Calendar—Information Available on PASD Website

Board Action

CURRICULUM

* I. Approval of Guidance Department’s Bridges Pilot Program Board Motion
06/25/09 Board Meeting
* II. Approval to Use Title III Funds to Purchase LeapTrack Board Motion and LeapTrack Reading Pro Materials for English 06/25/09 Board Meeting
Language Learners Program
* III. Approval of Driver Education Providers for 2009-2010 Board Motion 06/25/09 Board Meeting
* IV. Approval of Planned Courses: Freshman Seminar Honors Board Motion and Freshman Seminar College Prep 06/25/09 Board Meeting
* V. Approval of COAD Student Assistance Program Letter Board Motion of Agreement 06/25/09 Board Meeting

Board Action

POLICY
* I. Policies for Board Review – ―First Reading‖ ―Second Reading‖
• Policy No. 200—Pupils—Enrollment of Students & Board Motion
06/25/09 Board Meeting
• Policy No. 712—Property—Use of Wireless Communication
Devices by Employees

SUPERINTENDENT’S OFFICE

* I. Approval of Transportation/Field Requests Board Motion
06/25/09 Board Meeting
* II. Approval of ―Revised‖ 2009-2010 School Calendar Board Motion
06/25/09 Board Meeting
* III. Approval of Contractor Agreement Between the Board Motion
Phoenixville Area School District and the Phoenixville 06/25/09 Board Meeting
Community Education Foundation Effective July 1, 2009
until June 30, 2012


PUBLIC PARTICIPATION—RECOGNITION OF VISITORS

Prior to voting on New Business Agenda Items — the Board welcomes comments on these agenda items. Speakers are requested to identify themselves by name and address.

The Board requests that comments be limited to three minutes per person.

NEW BUSINESS

I. Approval of Proposal for Asbestos Abatement Work at Board Motion
the Kindergarten Center 06/18/09 Board Workshop
Meeting

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION—RECOGNITION OF VISITORS

At this time the Board welcomes comments on any school subject. Speakers are requested to sign in a the podium and include name, address, and topic. The Board requests that comments be limited to three minutes per person.

ADJOURNMENT


EXECUTIVE SESSION (If needed)


PLEASE NOTE:

• This agenda is subject to change

4 comments:

Karen said...

OPEN LETTER - Received via email


To: Phoenixville Area School District Board


Mr. Mark D. Casaday, President

Ms. Lisa Starczewski, Vice-President

Ms. Mary Croke-Parris, Board Secretary

Ms. Debbie Dawson, Board Treasurer

Mr. Joshua D. Gould, Member

Ms. Jan N. Potts, Member

Mr. Paul Slaninka, Member

Ms. Jill Slawecki, Member

Mr. Keith A. Wickstrom, Member


I am sorry that I am unable to attend your meeting tonight – I am out of town on business – and yet I care enough about your upcoming vote that I will do what I can to express once again my sincere concerns about the proposed library expansion.


I have traveled through many small towns and communities across the United States. I have seen many elegant and stately town squares, and I have had the privilege of visiting many beautiful old Carnegie libraries. In no case have I witnessed such a travesty as the proponents of this “concept” are promoting – to close a major thoroughfare that bounds the town square, to destroy the grace and elegance of a park’s architecture, to cover over a portion of our architectural heritage.


I will say what needs to be said: This is a vanity project for the library foundation board, for library management, for their architects and lawyers. They are willing to, and have, promised to you and others just about anything to garner your approval for their project. “We’ll pay for the water/sewer/electric adaptations…we’ll pay for a traffic light at 3rd and Starr Streets…we’ll indemnify the members of the school board…we won’t need additional staff if we can build across 2nd Avenue...we’re working on the parking issue…this won’t cost the taxpayers a dime…it’s a concept, we’re open to suggestions…” We will hear these promises, and others, until the sad day when all the approvals are in, and then these promises will be forgotten and the taxpayers and neighborhood residents will be left holding the bag.


I will say what needs to be said: The Carnegie Library and Reeves Park do not belong to Mr. Divinney, or Mr. Kelley, or Mr. Carnevale, or Mr. Wagner. The Carnegie Library and Reeves Park belong to the citizens of Phoenixville and to our posterity. Deeds and laws and ordinances have been written to prevent special interests from doing precisely what this “concept’s” supporters are proposing to do. We all have a responsibility to protect and preserve these gifts. It is about time that someone finds the courage to stand up and do what needs to be done. Do the members of the PASD School Board have that courage?


I will say what needs to be said: Stop this ill-conceived, short-sighted and selfish project before it wastes any more time and resources. Stop this project before it becomes an embarrassment for the Borough of Phoenixville. Stop participating in this process, begun by Borough Council and the Planning Commission, of passing the buck and sidestepping responsibility. Turn down the library’s request and insist that the expansion’s supporters return with a proposal that reflects common sense, respect for our community’s legacy, and a truly collaborative approach involving all interested parties.



Sincerely,


Michael Kammerdiener

Phoenixville Borough

Anonymous said...

Michael Kammerdiener for president of the USA!!!

Anonymous said...

It is always easy to spend other people's money, and that is exactly what the library people will do. From the start, they have said whatever was convenient to get the project moved forward, ignoring issues, fictionalizing. They want us to suspend our disbelief, like in some magical realism story. I almost expect them to announce: "We'll pay, that stream under the building is not made of water, it is made of money!!! We will hire the library ghosts to come up with boatloads of cash from the magic underground money stream to pay for everything. We don't even need donations anymore! Here, have a cup of coffee on us...

But of course, we all know that the taxpayers will foot the bill for this mad proposal and its future costs. How could they not?

Anonymous said...

A great letter. Too bad it will not be heeded by the PASD Board. It's time for those against the library expansion plan to band together. Get ready for a fight and perhaps lawsuits. Don't let the PASD get to run the town!