SUPERINTENDENT/PARENTS LIAISON COMMITTEE
MINUTES – OCTOBER 8, 2009
 
  
In attendance:
 
Geri Fenton                            Michele Rollman                               Diana Bryant
Libby Blackburn                   Christy Hagen                                   MaryJo Caruso
Jane Wright                           Heather Earle                                    Jill Mason      
Marian Popelka                     Linda Smay                                       Kathy Puntil 
Molly Oestreich                     Nancy Wolper                                   Nancy Baime
Ami Wessel                            Rita Stypula                                       Bobbie Reed 
Patricia Green                       Arleen Wheat                                                Brian Miller  
William Stropkaj                   Rob Gaertner                                                Roger Botti
Cindy Kainaroi                      Rebecca Hufnagle                             Bill Young
Pete Martorelli                      
                                                                                                                                               
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
North Allegheny’s first Podcast can be accessed from the NA Web site home page. The topic is the H1N1virus.
 
FACILITIES, SECURITY, AND DEVELOPMENT
 
Facilities 
Current capacity at Ingomar Middle School should be sufficient for the next two to three years. Administration is recommending a feasibility study to review future enrollment and building utilization. Growth in the Franklin Park area has diminished. There are no long-term plans for open property behind Franklin Elementary School; it will be held as inventory.
 
McKnight Road Construction
During recent extended dry weather, dust became and issue. The contractor has brought in a watering truck in an attempt to lessen dust blowing onto the Cumberland Campus. The hillside behind McKnight will be graded on Saturdays to be less disruptive. Grading will improve runoff and the hillside will act as a natural barrier. This property where Lowe’s is being built was not part of the property that NASD sold.  That property is on the far side and no building is planned for that area.
 
Also, there will be a 30 ft. wide double landscape barrier. There should be no impact on the Nature Trail as it is on NA property. The need for landscape buffers along the Nature Trail will be determined as development progresses. At this point, the site perimeter has been set and is giving a clearer picture of what buffers may be needed.
 
 
Community Use of NA Facilities
NAI’s track is closed to community use when the track is in use by any scheduled team or group for practices or any other organized activities. NASH’s track is open to district residents from 6 p.m. to dusk Monday-Friday, 3 p.m. to dusk Saturday, and closed Sunday. Like NAI, the track is closed for scheduled games, practices and school activities. The District has a Board approved rental rate schedule for groups interested in using NA facilities. Certain groups, such as PFA’s, have fee waivers for space rental costs but are still required to pay for custodial fees. Rental income is deposited in the District’s General Fund.
 
Facilities Improvements
The Enrollment and Facilities Update, along with the Capital Funding Plan, are presented to the School Board each September. These reports provide a five-year forecast of potential facilities repairs and improvements. If major renovation or construction is being considered, a committee of Building Administrators, staff, and community members is consulted.
 
Growth has diminished but a feasibility study will be conducted to review future enrollment and building utilization. All buildings are equipped equally. Certain buildings have additional technical equipment purchased by grants or by the PFA.
 
Facilities for Disabled Students 
Students with disabilities are provided with accommodations based on their individual needs. Accommodations include closed captioned TV and FM Systems for hearing impaired; Promixa and Document Reader for sight impaired; sensory rooms for autistic students; elevators and chairlifts.
 
Security
Volunteer chaperones accompanying students on District sponsored overnight trips are required to obtain clearances. Day trip volunteers are not required to obtain clearances.
 
Emergency Plans
The District has had a comprehensive Emergency Response/Management Plan in place since 2000. The details of the plan are confidential. The plan is reviewed and updated on a regular basis. Crisis teams are identified at District and building levels for the purposes of leading training sessions and assuming leadership roles in the event of an emergency. Currently, the District is in the process of correlating its Plan with the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
 
NIMS provides a consistent nationwide framework and approach to enable government at all levels (Federal, State, and local) to work together to prepare for, prevent, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of incidents. Parallel to the transition to NIMS, the Federal Government has asked the District to develop a plan for Pandemic Response. In the event of an emergency, The District will implement all appropriate communication venues to inform parents, including web site, school messenger, NATV and local media.
 
SchoolMessenger
This new system is in the process of being implemented. Parents are responsible for enrolling and for the accuracy of the information they enter. Each child must be registered separately. The system will not be used for any marketing or promotion of programs.
 
A.W. BEATTIE CAREER CENTER
 
Current Enrollment:  638 students.
 
Districts Served: Avonworth, Deer Lakes, Fox Chapel, Hampton, North Allegheny, North           Hills, Northgate, Pine-Richland, Shaler.
 
Career Programs: Technology Field, Health Care, Consumer Services, and Mechanical.
 
Student/Parent Communication:  Program of Studies, classroom presentations to 9th graders, announcements, evening presentations, District publications, Open Houses (fall,      spring).
 
College after Beattie:  For the Class of 2008, 40% of graduate attended two-year, four-year or proprietary schools.
 
N.A. Students at Beattie:  Currently 77. Was as high as 100 four years ago. NA’s number has decreased but so has total enrollment at Beattie.
 
Renovation:  First phase completed before classes began in Sept. Project scheduled to be completed by September 2010.
 
Counseling:  Counselors coordinate Beattie Center presentations at NAI and visitations to Beattie. Beattie is an extension of the NA curriculum and is presented via the scheduling process. Students can attend Beattie beginning in 10th grade. Beattie counselors and staff are invited to the NAI and NASH Open House and the North Pittsburgh College Fair.
 
Financial Contribution:  NA’s annual contribution is based upon the Average Daily Membership (ADM) within the District and the Market Value/Personal Income Ratio.
Success stores:  Include business ownership, advanced standing in college, and opportunities       for advanced certifications.
 
 
 The next SPLC meeting is Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. in the Board Room at the CAO. If you have any questions or comments for the committee, please contact Mrs. Molly Oestreich at moestreich6@verizon.net, Mrs. Bobbie Reed at bobbiereed16@aol.com or Mrs. Libby Blackburn at bburn12@verizon.net
 
Recorded by:
 
Molly Oestreich