Student expelled for knife incident
By PAT FRIDGEN Echo Pilot

Greencastle-Antrim school officials expelled a 15-year-old male student who brought a knife onto school property on Oct. 15. The School Board approved recommendations of the Pupil Personnel Committee to send the student to an alternative facility following a pyschological evaluation.

According to high school principal Ed Rife, the sophomore displayed a pocket knife to other students in the parking lot after returning from a sporting event. Because of different statements from witnesses, Rife said he doesn't know if the student pulled open the blade.

The student was suspended immediately. Rife said it was his first offense. Depending on the results of the psychological exam and his schooling for the balance of the year, he said the student could return to G-AHS next fall.

The board hired two new teachers at the Nov. 1 meeting as well.

Stephanie Funk is a long term sub for eighth grade social studies and Deborah Koch is a middle school math teacher. Both have zero years of experience.

Discussing whether to discuss

During the worksession, Acting Superintendent C. Gregory Hoover announced that the board had to decide whether to participate in the Shared Services/Common Cents Initiative. Gov. Ed Rendell and the General Assembly approved appropriations for the grant program for 2007 and 2008.

The board had to decide whether to place the item on the agenda Nov. 15 to discuss the merits of the program.

The purpose of the Initiative is to increase the efficient use of taxpayer dollars and improve service delivery to students. Any money saved from the results of the study are required to be used for academic purposes including: professional development, student supplies, textbooks, classroom technology, school safety, improvement of classroom facilities and any other instructional activity directly affecting student performance or the learning environment.

The state Department of Education sends a consultant into the districts that are selected. School personnel must cooperate with the consultant and provide needed information. Once the study is completed the district must post the report on its website for 30 days, host a public meeting, and within six months vote whether to implement any of the recommendations.

The consultant would study 11 service areas of the district. They are: transportation, food services and nutrition, instructional services, safety and security, health services, purchasing, finance and payroll, facilities and real estate, human resources, technology services, and administration.

The recommendations would not be binding.

Board members were split on the value of discussing the program at the next meeting.

Pam Ott was concerned that the grant was a way for the state to take control away from the local districts. She also wondered what the public's reaction would be if the board decided not to fulfill a recommendation.

"The recommendation will be out there and if we don't do it to save money, since we don't think it's in the best interest, we will have to explain ourselves," she said.

"What is the potential to save money?" asked Arnie Jansen. "You have to participate to find out the numbers."

He said the study could, for instance, determine if the district could cut payroll costs by outsourcing that duty.

Charles McClain acknowledged that the district would not be compensated for staff time to compile information for the consultant.

"That's the drawback," said Hoover.

Eric Holtzman thought the school district looked at departments on its own. Business manager Richard Lipella said it already makes joint purchases with other school districts for items such as gas, custodial supplies, paper and computers.

In trying to determine support for putting the grant discussion on the next agenda, board president Dan Fisher asked each board member for an opinion. Those against discussing it further were Ott, Mc- Clain, Holtzman, Ron Troskoski, Mike Shindle, Howard Ritchey and William Thorne.

Fisher and Jansen wanted to see it on the agenda.

Since Fisher's role is to set the agendas, he said it would be there.

"It will force us to look at some things," he said. "It will be thought-provoking. Sometimes it's good to have corporate come in and give you a nudge."