BY STACI WILSON

The Blue Ridge School Board approved a just over $17 million dollar budget at the Monday, June 8 meeting.

The budget is based on a millage rate of 48.39; with a one percent real estate transfer tax.

The board also approved the homestead/farmstead exclusion in the amount of $732,358. Tax bills for those eligible for the exclusion will see a $369.02 savings on the July 1 real estate bill.

Beginning with the 2015-16 school year, High School Principal Matthew Nebzydoski will be the district’s Principal of Curriculum and Instruction.

Acting Superintendent Matthew Button said the position was more of a kindergarten through 12th grade position. Additional restructuring of the district’s administration team is expected in the future.

More changes are coming to Blue Ridge, with several longtime staffers announcing plans to retire at the end of this school year.
Retirees include: Mark Harvey (art); Joseph Conigliaro (assistant principal); Margaret Glezen (elementary); and Jill Hoffman (physical education and athletic director).

The board also accepted the resignation of third grade teacher, Jennifer Pearson, with regret.

Several staff changes for the 2015-16 school year were approved by the board:

*Elena Jones – middle school science to elementary;

*Sarrah Camburn – elementary art to middle/high school art;

*Casey Hitchcock, elementary special education to elementary regular education.

Kathleen Andusko was hired to fill the school nurse position, effective July 1.

She may have a task facing her as she takes over the position.

A parent brought a concern to the board meeting. His daughter, an 11th grade student, sustained an injury to her head and neck playing flag football during the annual field day activities.

He told the board his child was laying in the field for about 25 minutes before she received medical attention.

“Why was the no medical attention or an ambulance called when the injury occurred?” the father, also a trained EMT, asked the board.

The parent was not asking the board to make changes to field day activities but rather to improve on it in the future. “Someone should have recognized there was a problem. Something failed in the system and needs improvement,” he said.

The student sustained a concussion and neck injury in the incident, according to the parents.

Button said the district would look into the situation and the response time, as well as areas where improvements could be made.

Board president Laurie Brown-Bonner apologized on behalf of the district and promised the matter would be looked at.

Board member Harold Empett suggested the district contact one of the local, volunteer ambulance services to be on-site during field day activities.

“By nature, those days are chaotic,” said board member Chris Whitney, noting she could understand how an injury could go unnoticed. “I wouldn’t be sad to see that day go away.”

In other business:
*Craige’s Photique will provide photography services for the 2015-16 school year;

*approval was given to renewing that contract with the Scranton-Lackawanna Human Development Agency for the Head Start Program for the 2015-16 school year;

*the request from C.A.F.E., Inc. to conduct a four-day educational trip to Washington, D.C., for sixth grade students, April 27-30, 2016 was approved;

*board policies approved included: use of medications (210); child abuse (806); and transportation video/audio recording (810.3);

*policies approved for a 30-day review included: student/teacher interns (307); and suicide awareness, prevention and response (819).

Graduation will be held Saturday, June 13 at noon, in the high school auditorium.

The board will hold a workshop/business meeting on Monday, June 29 at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria; and Monday, July 20, also at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria.