Greater Nanticoke Area approves new math program for elementary grades
Jul. 15—NANTICOKE — The Greater Nanticoke Area School Board approved the adoption of the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt "Into Math" series at Thursday's monthly meeting, at a cost of $311,679 for six years. The price includes the print and digital program for grades kindergarten through eight, and will be paid for with federal COVID-19 grant money.
The board also approved four heating, air conditioning and ventilation maintenance agreements, all with McClure Company, at a total cost of $36,377. The breakdown for each building is $8,890 at the Education Center, $9,615 at the Elementary Center, $10,680 at the High School and $7,192 at the Kennedy Early Childhood Center. All four contracts are under the state CO-STARS system which allows districts to piggyback on deals made through the state to reduce costs.
And the board approved memoranda of understanding with four contracted bus companies: Reliable Transportation, Bonks Transportation, Keystone Valley Transportation and Pace Transportation. Superintendent Ron Grevera said the MOUs compensate the companies for escalating gas prices.
After the meeting, Grevera updated progress on athletic field upgrades, noting that a long delay in getting permits and the fluctuating costs of some supplies and materials means the district will likely not install the new turf in the stadium until after this fall's sports season. He said the hope is that that the turf will be installed after the seasons are over, and that the new track will be installed in time for the spring sports season.
In other action, the board:
—Appointed James Barna and Robert Donahue as boys basketball assistant III coaches, each at half salary, Robert Ashton as football assistant I coach, and Wendy Lukowski as head cross country coach.
—Accepted the resignation of Tracy Biehl as junior volleyball coach and as elementary teacher.
—Hired Brian T. Kelly CPA & Associates, LLC, to conduct the annual district audit for three years through June 2024 at an annual cost of $20,000 plus $2,500 each year for the tax collector. The board also approved a letter of engagement with the same firm to audit the district implementation of new auditing requirements from the Governmental Accounting Standards Board and Statements of Standards issued by the Auditing Standards Board, at a cost of $3,500 for one year.
—Approved an agreement with Wyoming Valley Alcohol and Drug Services, Inc., at a cost of $9,000.
—Approved an agreement with Geisinger Athletic Training Services for various services to the athletic programs for three years, with the first year cost of $40,473 and a 3% increase each of the following two years.
—Appointed Brandon Collins as assistant high school principal at a starting salary of $78,500. Grevera said Collins has been with the district for 13 or 14 years, most recently teaching chemistry. He replaces Eric Speece, who left to take the job as Secondary Center Principal at Wyoming Area School District.
—Approved posting for a private contracted position of truancy officer/home school visitor for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years to be funded with federal COVID-19 grant money, the position to be terminated at the end of the second year.
—Hired Melissa Acosta as an elementary teacher.
Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish
