PASD Shares Plans for New School Year, Construction Updates

In the first meeting back after a bit of a break during the summer, the Phoenixville Area School Board faced a full agenda. The meeting was held Thursday evening.

Here are some of the highlights:

Weapons, drug and alcohol use rising. Superintendent Dr. Alan Fegley discussed reports on violence and vandalism in the district. He said two areas showed some increase—reports of drug and alcohol use and reports of weapons, especially knives.

Fegley said the district is following up carefully on all reports. He also emphasized that he wants students to be aware that any knife, “even the smallest of pocketknives,” is considered a weapon and possessing one will result in an expulsion hearing.

Fegley also said that the district will be making a concerted effort in the area of anti-bullying education this year. As a result more students might report bullying, so that report may show an uptick, the superintendent told the board.

Construction continues. The district has construction projects in progress at the middle school, the high school and the location of the old Schuylkill Elementary School, and is still going through zoning hearings regarding plans for East Pikeland Elementary School.

The middle school construction is behind schedule but expected to be finished by June 2012 and available for students beginning in fall 2012.

The high school parking lot project will be finished before school starts on Aug. 29. The new traffic patterns will separate car and bus traffic and allow for pedestrian traffic to cross over the bus lane by means of a bridge. The administration will be sending out letters regarding the high school parking lot soon.

“There will be a significant education effort to make everyone aware of the new traffic pattern,” said Superintendent Dr. Alan Fegley.

Solar power may pay off. Executive Director of Operations Stan Johnson presented a plan involving the solar power array that is being constructed on the high school roof. The district has been approached by an investor who is willing to purchase the solar array from the district and lease it back.

If the administration approves the sale, the district would see slightly more than $1 million net profit from it, which would go into the capital projects fund.

Budget Advisory Committee forming. Joseph Little, president of the Phoenixville Community Education Foundation, has agreed to serve as chairperson of the Community Budget Advisory Committee, which will consist of six members from each of the three areas of the district (Phoenixville Borough, Schuylkill and East Pikeland townships). Board president Paul Slaninka will be notifying the people selected for the committee beginning Aug. 12.

Fegley said that the committee will meet in September and October, prepare a report in November and present it to the board in December. He also said several board members will serve on the committee as ad hoc advisors.

Pay-to-participate policy, other policies are shaping up. The district Policy Committee will be proposing a pay-to-participate policy at the next board meeting.

The fees will be divided by major and minor activities. Fees are currently set at $25 for minor and $50 for major activities, with a cap of $75 per student and $125 per family.

The Policy Committee will also be updating the Electronic Devices policy to outline when it is acceptable to use devices such as cell phones and iPods at school.

Virtual Academy is open. The Phoenixville Area Virtual Academy is up and running and is accepting students who live in the district and currently attend another cyber charter school.

Students In the virtual academy will have access to PASD guidance counselors, after-school and athletic activities, and will be able to benefit from district programs such as the dual-enrollment agreement with Immaculata College.

Virtual academy students will also be able to graduate with a PASD diploma.

New teachers may be added as enrollment grows. Fegley noted that enrollment at East Pikeland Elementary School has increased to the point where they will likely be adding another second grade teacher in order to keep class sizes around 18-19 students.

There is also the possibility that new teachers will be needed at Barkley Elementary for the third grade and Schuylkill Elementary for the first grade.

Student wins award. The board recognized district student Addie Lazzell at the workshop meeting. Lazzell won the Philadelphia Area Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. High School Principal Dr. Craig Parkinson, in acknowledging her accomplishment, noted that Lazzell was one of two area students to win this award.

The next board meeting will be Aug. 18.