Board ponders FCCTC changes, hires transportation director
By PAT FRIDGEN Echo Pilot

Thomas Dick is the new trasnportation director for the Greencastle-Antrim School District.

The structure of Franklin County Career and Technology Center is still under revision, and participating school districts are to submit their opinions on changes to the Articles of Agreement. Greencastle-Antrim School District representative Mike Shindle told the school board Thursday he favored the governing changes proposed by the Joint Operating Committee.

The resolution would allow one JOC representative each from Greencastle, Chambersburg, Waynesboro, Tuscarora, Shippensburg and Fannet-Metal. Each vote would be weighed by enrollment. Greencastle would have .9 percent of a vote.

Currently the committee has nine members, including three from Chambersburg and two from Waynesboro.

"No district can have over 49 percent of the vote until it pays 75 percent of the budget," said Shindle. "Chambersburg is at 43 percent now. I don't see that happening."

The new agreement would also have the chief administrator serve a three-year term rather than the current one.

Greencastle Police were called to the middle school March 3 when a 13-year-old eighth-grade boy threatened a teacher.

The resolution also called for the districts to send 8 percent of their daily home enrollment in grades 10 to 12 to the center for three years. For Greencastle that would be 55 students compared to the 53 sent now. Shindle clarified that Greencastle could sell its extra slots to other school districts if necessary. The enrollment committment would help fund the $15 million renovations planned.

Business manager Dick Lipella said Greencastle's share would be $54,000 per year and is included in the proposed budget for 2008-2009.

Superintendent C. Gregory Hoover said costs could go up if, for instance, the smallest school Fannet-Metal dropped out. There was a flip side.

"Without the renovations it's not the school we want it to be," he said. "We get what we pay for. The resolution is that we pay our fair share."

The board will act on the resolution at the April 3 meeting.

The board did vote to stop enrolling G-AHS students in math classes at the career center. Hoover said the service was used only sparingly and the students could get the classes locally.

Director of transportation

Thomas G. Dick, Shippensburg, was hired as Director of Transportation at the March 20 meeting. His salary was set at $53,500 for the fulltime job. He started March 25, replacing Connie Zimmerman, who retires March 31.

Dick, 51, beat out 12 other applicants for the position. His career background includes school business administration and transportation. He had worked at Shippensburg Area School District for 13 years, as well as at Harrisburg Area Community College and Cumberland Perry Vocational Center. He retired last September.

"It didn't take," he said. "My children told me I had to go back to work."

He and his wife have two grown daughters.

Student suspended

A 13-year-old eighth-grade boy was suspended due to an incident March 3 at the Middle School. Principal Mark Herman said the student, who had a discipline history, was given a directive by a teacher.

"And it was a directive given by teachers 50 times a day. It was a common request," he said.

The student refused to comply even after a second directive. He also refused to go to the office. As Herman was on his way to intervene, the boy threatened to hit the teacher. He was immediately placed on out-of-school suspension and Greencastle police were called.

The family withdrew the boy from the school system. The school board determined that if he should return, he will first have to complete the suspension, undergo a psychological examination at family expense, and show evidence of complying with the psychological recommendations. He would then be placed in an alternative educational setting.

Calender set for next year

The board approved the 2008-2009 calendar. School will begin Sept. 2, as will all the other districts in Franklin County. Because several districts have construction projects underway and wanted a couple extra weeks to finish up, and because the six districts must coordinate a schedule with the FCCTC, the board didn't have options.

"If we were the school doing the renovations, would they approve the delay?" asked Charles McClain.

Arnie Jansen added, "They are doing one-to-three year projects and they think that one week window makes a difference?"

Hoover said he had already argued that point.

First semester will end Jan. 23. The last day will be June 11 with graduation set for Saturday, June 13.