AVELLA, Pa. - The Avella Area School board heard a proposal from Lori Lochran, Classrooms of the Future teacher, to create a hybrid cyber school during its regularly scheduled meeting Aug. 19.

The board and staff members discussed losing students to charter cyber schools, noting the district underwrites the costs as part of its responsiblity to educate the students living within the geographic confines of the district.

Lochran said a hybrid cyber school sponsored by the district would allow a student the benefits of a cyber education while retaining their enrollment in the district and giving them the benefit of a tradition school diploma.

Also during the meeting, the board approved a five-year contract with Superintendent Wayde Killmeyer, beginning July 1, 2010.

During the public comment, parents of a private school student approached the board and voiced concerns about their child riding on a district bus with children whom they considered inappropriate companions for their child.

Killmeyer noted that the district's obligation is to provide safe transportation for students, and, should any untoward behavior occur, it would be immediately reported and dealt with. He added that, if the parents had concerns about their child riding on the bus with others, they should provide alternate transportation.

In contractual matters:

The board entered into a contract with Advanced Orthopedic and Rehabilitation for coverage of the 2009-10 academic year football games at $200 per game.

Board members approved an agreement with Washington Communities Mental Health/Mental Retardation Center Inc. for the student assistant program at no cost to the district.

The board entered into an agreement with the Washington Hospital for the teen outreach program.

Board members approved a service agreement with Gateway Vision for the Washington County Comprehensive Tobacco Control program at no cost to the district.

Schneider's Dairy's bid for supplying dairy products for the cafeteria was accepted.

In personnel matters:

The following were approved for permanent teacher contracts following three years of satisfactory service: Richard Beatty, Dana Brownlee, Melinda Coates and Susan Majestic.

The board accepted the resignation of Kelley Meneely, austic support teacher, and approved the posting for a full-time learning support aide. With the permission of the two students' parents who are affected by the change, there will now be two full-time learning support aides, and those students will be mainstreamed.

The following were hired as spring coaches for the 2009-10 academic year: Jason Fogg, head baseball coach, $2,950; James Morris, assistant baseball coach, $1,700; James Matalik, junior varsity baseball coach, $1,800; and Bill Dinsmore, assistant softball coach, $1,500, pending reciept of clearances. A proposal for allowing a specific volunteer football coach failed.

The board approved a posting for a track coach.

Bruce Seigfried and Janet Seigfried were approved as band volunteers.

Susan Temple, Susan Kubacka and Diana Dorsey were hired as part-time cafeteria workers. Two part-time cafeteria positions were approved for advertisement.

A part-time learning support aide position was approved for advertisement.

In other matters:

The board gave Head Varsity Cheerleading Coach Valerie Lis permission to purchase an Eagle mascot costume, at no expense to the school.

There was a brief discussion on expanding the softball program to the junior high, as some seventh- and eighth-grade students have shown an interest in participating in such a program. Board members agreed to revisit the matter during budget talks.

The board agreed to pay Daniel C. Kotouch, an electrical contractor, $3,800 to replace the breaker box and install light switches with covers in the junior/senior high gym.

The list of students attending the Western Area Career and Technology Center was ratified.

The marching band and senior high choir trip to Walt Disney World March 11-16 was approved. All costs are to be paid by the individual students.

The 2009-10 academic year calendar was approved.

The 2009-10 substitute teacher list was approved.

The 2009-10 substitute custodial/cafeteria/aides/secretarial list was approved.

Policies were approved on the following: locker searches, student searches, vehicle searches and electronic devices.

The 2009-10 student handbook was approved.

The 2009-10 bus/van driver list was approved.

The next board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Sept. 16 in the junior/senior high school library, and the safety committee will hold a meeting at 7:45 a.m. Sept. 3 at the library.

(Wallace-Minger can be contacted at swallace@pafocus.com)