Wyalusing Valley High School Cross Country coach Jim Schools (above, left) and assistant coach Ellen Coates (right) introduce state qualifiers Catherine Brown, Kevin Heeman, Alex Patton and (not pictured) Hannah Corson to the school board on Monday evening.
Photos and Story by Rick Hiduk
(As published in the Rocket-Courier)
Sports dominated the Nov. 13 meeting of the Wyalusing Area School Board. After acknowledging the success of the both the varsity football team and cross country runners and approving the hiring of several new coaches, it was brought to the attention of the board that the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) has mandated that all coaches, including volunteers, obtain Principles of Coaching certification by June 2018 or within two years of their hiring or risk disqualifying their teams.
The issue is further complicated by a lack of qualified instructors in the region to conduct the course, the fact that no Wyalusing coaches have been certified since the mandate was enacted by PIAA in 2016, and the potential cost of at least $6,000 to the school district. The two-part course includes elements as varied as conflict management and steroid awareness to first aid and cyber bullying.
Board member Gene Ann Woodruff, who provided most of the information, was especially concerned about the possibility that volunteer coaches might be expected to front some portion of the $100 cost, which primarily covers two text books. Board members agreed that volunteers are essential to the athletics program.
The district also employs 31 coaches. The course will be offered in December in Athens and possibly again in June 2018. Superintendent Jason Bottiglieri estimated the initial cost to the district at $6,000. After that, he suggested, it should become a line item in the budget and part of the hiring process.
“They have not made it easy to obtain, but they require it,” said Woodruff, who made the motion to reimburse all coaches who participate in the certification class, which was carried unanimously by the board.
In other sports-related business, a motion authorizing several booster clubs to sell advertising space on signs and banners displayed during the official sports seasons was unanimously approved. A motion to permit posters of senior members of the boys basketball team to be displayed during games in the Layman Gymnasium passed with one dissenting vote by board member Doug Eberlin.
PARSS Grants Announced
Lifeskills instructor Sue Kilmer (below, left) and speech teacher Amanda Tohme were commended for securing a pair of Pennsylvania Association of Rural and Small Schools grants. Bottiglieri noted that only $4,000 was made available this year, and $800 of that (20 percent) is coming to Wyalusing schools.
Kilmer’s grant will allow for the purchase of an iPad that can be programmed with a variety of tasks that match the individual skill sets of her students. “I wanted one piece of equipment that could be utilized by all of the children,” she explained. “And technology is such a motivator for kids.”
Tohme successfully applied for a grant to buy a verbal expression expanding tool, which also assists with written expression. Tohme noted that she worked closely with Kilmer to identify something that would benefit the most students.
In light of the rising cost of special education, Bottiglieri commended Kilmer and Tohme for taking the time to write the applications to help fill in the gaps.
Review of School Lunches Provided
Katrina Doud (below, right) of the Nutrition Group took turns at the podium with district food services director Nancy Iseminger to discuss highlights of this year’s lunch program. From Oct. 10 to 12, all elementary students had an opportunity to enjoy a cafeteria lunch at no cost as part of Lunch For Life, in hopes that they would want to continue buying lunches.
Iseminger reported that Wellness Wednesday has become very popular with the pupils, who enjoy taste-testing new foods like roasted carrots and kale ceasar salad and learning about their nutritional value.
New recipes are rolled out each month in both cafeterias, and the Farm to Fork program will culminate with a harvest feast later this month. In the meantime, Iseminger encourages parents and students to click on the spoon and fork above “menus” on the district website to read calorie and carb counts, as well as allergy information.
Short Film to be Shot at Schools
Bottiglieri asked the board to waive the district’s standard facility use fee to allow John Jannone of Camp Ballibay Arts Camp for Kids to do some filming outside the school and in some of the classrooms in December and January. In exchange for the favor, the district will receive a Camp Ballibay certificate valued at $3,000 that could be given to the Wyalusing Area Education Foundation as an auction item or awarded to a student through a contest. In addition to using the school as a backdrop, Bottiglieri related, Jannone intends to recruit some local talent for his production