Remaining Notes from Jan. 18 B-W School Board Meeting

Outstanding Students Applauded

The Baldwin-Whitehall School Board recognized a number of students on Wednesday night, starting with its applause of seventh-grader Katie Zemaitis for and .

The board also congratulated Katarena McCall (cosmetology), Nicholas Keller (collision repair & refinishing), Matthew Mient (auto mechanics), Shawdaea Hatch (cosmetology) and Richard Conti (auto mechanics) as recent recipients of Extra Effort awards from Steel Center Area Vocational Technical School.

Retired Steel Center Director Thanked for His Service

B-W School Board First Vice President Kevin J. Fischer recognized and thanked John L. Sandrene, a B-W School District resident and the former director of Steel Center, for his longtime service to the education of B-W students. Sandrene retired on Dec. 31 after 16 years as Director.

"I can probably not put into words, really, the impact that he (Sandrene) has had," Fischer said on Wednesday, "but Baldwin-Whitehall children have had great success down there ... 

"All that, really, is a credit to him."

New Printing/Copying Contract

The B-W School Board approved a new, five-year printing/copying agreement for the district with the company ComDoc on Wednesday that will cost $24,598 per month, or $295,176 per year.

That represents a savings of approximately $84,000 per year from the district's existing contract. B-W's Director of Technology Tim Winner .

Per the request of school board member Larry Pantuso, a contract that the district already has for similar services with ComDoc is being merged with this new contract, which will save the district an additional $1,300 per year, roughly.

Board member Nancy Sciulli DiNardo, who was , cast the only "no" vote for approving the new contract.

Board member George L. Pry congratulated Winner on the contract but said that the district needs to take a serious look at how much paper it is using.

"We are spending a lot of money, and we are making a lot of copies," Pry said.

Board President John B. Schmotzer asked Winner to prepare a report of how much printing and copying is done in surrounding school districts.

Alterations to BHS Program of Studies

The B-W School Board approved some changes on Wednesday night——to 's program of studies.

The changes call for some courses to have their names altered and for some courses to be dropped, all while maintaining the same teaching staff. Some other courses will be added.

Whitehall Lions Donate Cash to District

The has donated $300 to the B-W School District, specifically for chorus activities.

2010-11 Audit Accepted

The B-W School Board accepted the 2010-11 audit of its district by Cottrill Arbutina Professional Services. Results of that audit were .

While the audit does reveal over $78 million of debt, auditors have given the district an unqualified opinion that every district expenditure has been explained and justified.

Schmotzer congratulated district administrators—particularly Assistant to the Superintendent for Finance and Operations William D. McKain and Business Manager William McNamee—for the opinion, pointing out that the unqualified opinion was the district's first in three years.

Board member Nancy Lee Crowder still called the audit "totally unacceptable" and voted as such.

Nevertheless, the board accepted the audit by an 8-1 vote.

Transportation Passes State Police Spot-Check

The B-W School District passed a biannual spot-check of its transportation department by the Pennsylvania State police, district Superintendent Dr. Lawrence C. Korchnak said.

Winter Pep Rally at the High School?

Pantuso asked district administrators to move along with the planning of a winter sports pep rally at Baldwin High, being that that season is nearing its end.

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