Friday, May 17, 2013
Tell us which candidates you're backing in the May 21 primary.
There are four four-year terms up for grabs on both the Plum Borough and Riverview school boards this year. And with the May 21 primary election about a week away, we want to know: Who are you voting for? And why? Tell your neighbors in the comments section below who the most qualified people are. The following candidates will appear on the ballot: Plum Borough School Board All candidates have cross-filed on the Republican and Democratic tickets. They are Dawn Lynn Check, Jim Rogers, Michelle Stepnick and incumbents Salvatore Collella, Kevin Dowdell and Andrew Drake. Riverview School Board Incumbents Arlene Loeffler, Theodora Tompa, Lisa Ashbaugh and John Hackworth all have cross-filed. Melissa Botta Havran is seeking the Republican …
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Plum school officials are considering cutting teaching positions and programs to close a $1 million deficit.
With a deadline looming, Plum Borough School District officials are still working on closing a $1 million deficit from its 2013-14 school year budget—and they're considering cutting positions and programs. During a school board education committee meeting on Tuesday, officials recommended cutting a total of 21 employees. According to the Plum Advance Leader, those include 14 positions at the high school, six at the junior high and one at the elementary school level. The Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), Plum TV Production, business education and family consumer sciences could be cut at the high school. French, Spanish and computer instruction could be cut at the junior high. Officials also proposed that technology education at all …
Thursday, April 18, 2013
The Plum School Board and the transportation union have agreed on a new three-year contract.
After working under an expired contract for more than eight months, Plum School District transportation employees and officials have reached a new agreement. During a special voting meeting on Tuesday, the Plum School Board approved a three-year contract with the Amalgamated Transit Union Division 1595 with an 8-0 vote. The contract is retroactive to Aug. 1, 2012, and is in effect until July 31, 2015. Board member Tom McGough was absent. The union represents a unit of about 61 people employed as bus drivers, mechanics and aides. Under the new agreement, employees will experience a wage freeze this year, take a $4.23-per-hour cut during the second year of the contract, and get an 8-cent-per-hour increase in the final year. Drivers currently…
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
This year's primary election will be May 21. Take a look at who filed to be on the ballot.
There are several government seats—council, school board, mayoral—up for grabs this year in Plum, Oakmont and Verona. This year's primary election is on May 21. Republicans and Democrats are seeking their party's nomination to appear in the general election ballot in November. Here's a look at who filed to run in local races. Mayor—Incumbent Richard Hrivnak is running unopposed in the Democratic ticket. Republicans Dave Majernik, Joe Tommarello (currently on school board) and former councilwoman Christine Scardina-Gazzo are hoping for their party's nomination during the primary. Tax Collector—Incumbent Harry Schlegel, a Republican, is running unopposed for the party's nomination. He will face Democrat Jeff Russo, a former school board …
Work at O'Block Jr. High and the high school might occur in the future.
Plum Borough School District officials are considering repairs to the high school roof and a sewer line at the junior high. Last week, the school board authorized administration to advertise for bids to repair a sewer line at O'Block Junior High School, as well as the Terrazzo floor in the area. District facilities supervisor Bob Holleran said at a facilities committee meeting last month that the lines around the school nurse's office and the cafeteria are sagging. He said it's a "chronic issue that needs to be solved" and the maintenance crew is fighting sewer backups. Holleran said repairs could be made as soon as school lets out for the year. He estimated the plumbing alone could cost about $30,300. That doesn't include the cost of …
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
The school district and the transportation union must continue negotiations for a new contract.
Bus drivers in the Plum Borough School District will continue to work under the terms of an expired contract. During a special meeting on Monday, the school board voted 5-2 to reject a fact finding report in regard to the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1595 contract, which expired July 31, 2012. Board members Loretta White and Tom McGough dissented. Shane McMasters and John St. Leger were absent. The union represents a unit of 53 bus drivers, three mechanics and nine aides who work for the district. Because both entities were unable to come up with an agreement via negotiations, Pennsylvania Labor Relation Board fact-finder Michelle Miller-Kotula was appointed as a third party to review the situation and make a recommendation. A fact-…
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Plum School District officials discussed possible changes and a timeline for the new school project at the Adlai Stevenson site.
Plum School District officials continue to work on plans for a new school at the Adlai Stevenson Elementary site. During the school board's facility committee meeting on Tuesday, officials discussed contracts, a timeframe, possible names for the new school. Current plans call for a new school at the Adlai Stevenson site, the immediate closure of Holiday Park Elementary—Regency Park Elementary also could close in the future—and the redistricting of all students. The new school building will mirror the new George Pivik Elementary School, which opened this school year. School board member Shane McMasters said that because the new school would be the only one in the Holiday Park section of the borough, he wants it to be the new Holiday Park …
Thursday, December 20, 2012
The administration has gotten the go-ahead to negotiate agreements for the demolition of a current school and construction of a new school.
Plum school officials are moving along with plans to build a new school. On Tuesday, the Plum School Board voted 8-1 to authorize district administration to negotiate agreements with L.R. Kimball, Russo Construction, and PA Soil and Rock for the demolition of Adlai Stevenson Elementary School and construction of a new school at the site. Board member Loretta White dissented. The entities all performed work at the new George Pivik Elementary School. Current plans call for a new school at the Adlai Stevenson site, the immediate closure of Holiday Park Elementary—Regency Park Elementary also could close in the future—and the redistricting of all students. The project is estimated to cost between $18.2 and $18.7 million (very rough estimate, …
Monday, December 3, 2012
A contract with the administrative assistants and additional parking at the high school were among the items discussed at the November school board voting meeting.
Here's a roundup of items discussed at the Nov. 27 Plum School Board meeting: Administrative assistant contract The school board and the administrative assistant union have reached a contract agreement. The school board approved a three-year agreement between the Plum Borough School District Educational Secretaries ESP/PSEA/NEA and the district retroactive to July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2014. According to the Plum Advance Leader, Becky Gralewski, president of the Plum Borough School District Educational Secretaries/Educational Support Professionals, said the union voted 15-0 to approve contract terms, which mirrored a fact-finder's recommendations. High school parking Officials have agreed to add more parking at Plum High School. The …
Monday, November 12, 2012
Tom McGough has received the PSBA Master School Board Member Accreditation.
Plum School Board member Tom McGough has been awarded the Master School Board Member accreditation from the Pennsylvania School Board Association (PSBA). McGough, who has been a Plum School Board member since 1991, was one of only seven school board members in the state to receive the accreditation in 2012. The awardees are those who have demonstrated exceptional accomplishments in attaining the goals of effective governance and meeting the needs of students for the 21st century. PSBA has been awarding the Master School Board Member accreditation since 2007. To date, only 30 individuals have had the distinction of receiving the honor. Plum Superintendent Timothy Glasspool said McGough works hard on the board. We appreciate his efforts …
Concerned Momma
9:12 am on Friday, May 17, 2013
The teachers have presented a proposal and the public should be asking the board why it was not accepted. Before bashing the teachers, attend the meetings and be informed. Our board is run by non educators who are deciding what's best for our children. Not all children are child prodigies like our board presidents son. Our children need an outlet during the day and these electives are their … more ›