School News
- Last Updated on Monday, 01 April 2013 00:22
By Paul Chasko
Tempers flared as arguments erupted once again at a special meeting of the Ringgold School Board called on March 5. The meeting agenda was short but contained an item that seemed to be of particular interest to the board majority hoping to continue preliminary work on construction of a new Ringgold Middle School building.
Tempers flared as arguments erupted once again at a special meeting of the Ringgold School Board called on March 5. The meeting agenda was short but contained an item that seemed to be of particular interest to the board majority hoping to continue preliminary work on construction of a new Ringgold Middle School building.
The motion would have accepted a proposal from the accounting firm of Cypher and Cypher, the school district auditors, to examine the reasonableness of the administration’s prior estimates of the operating cost increase ($450,000 annually) to use both the Donora and Monongahela School Buildings (now closed); one for an intermediate school (grades 5 & 6) and the other for a middle school (grades 7 & 8).
Several board members argued that this would be a waste of money as the administration (Business and Financial Manager Randall Skrinjorich) has stated repeatedly that the estimates were accurate. Board member Chuck Smith heatedly accused President Marrianne Bulko of “Trying to ram this action down the throats of the board as it wasn’t mentioned at an executive session held before the regular meeting.” The arguments grew even more heated and Mrs. Bulko had difficulty bringing the motion to a vote which failed 4/4/0. Board member Chris Carroll was absent from this meeting. The rhetoric indicated that there has been no movement from the board minority to support the majority consensus reached several months ago to build a new middle school adjacent to the existing high school in Carroll Township.
A motion to approve the Contract to be offered to the Ringgold Chief of Security was on the posted agenda but did not come up for discussion or vote. It may have been discussed in the closed executive session that preceded the public meeting.
In Regular Business:
• A motion revising and approving the Ringgold Contribution to the Intermediate Unit at $32,443.94 passed. The figure presented at the February regular meeting was in error.
• Letters of resignation were accepted from a guidance counselor and a cafeteria worker at the Ringgold Middle School.
• Intermittent Family Leave and a Medical Leave were granted to two teachers.
• The board approved the 2013-2014 school calendar.
