BLAIRSVILLE–Blairsville-Saltsburg School Board Monday authorized the district administration to enter into a partnership with the Central Pennsylvania Digital Learning Foundation, to provide online instruction options for district students. Blairsville-Saltsburg Superintendent Arnold Nadonley said the Altoona-based foundation can tap a variety of resources to provide specialty courses. “This will be good for providing hard-to-find courses for gifted students,” he said. He added that the online instruction could help any seniors who transfer into the district and find they are behind in meeting class credit requirements for graduation. “It’s a way for them to get extra credits without having to stay back a year,” he said. Nadonley noted the foundation’s services are offered on a “pay-as-you-go basis,” adding, “We can pull out at anytime,” if the partnership doesn’t work out. Business Manager Eric Kocsis reported the district is considering adopting a policy to accept payment of real estate taxes in three installments, in accordance with the state’s new Act 1 Taxpayer Relief Act. If the board gives final approval, the policy would allow property owners to pay 50 percent of the tax’s face value by April 31, an additional 30 percent by Oct. 31 and the final 20 percent by Dec. 15. The installment plan would apply only for taxpayers who have a bill of more than $200. Taxpayers who choose that option would not be eligible for a discount offered for early tax payments. According to Kocsis, three installments are being recommended because that is an option already offered by nearby Indiana Area School District. B-S board members have until June to make a final decision on the tax payment policy. The school board approved taking part in a property tax assessment appeal case filed in Indiana County Court by Chestnut Ridge Golf, L.P. The district has agreed to share with the county and Burrell Township the cost of obtaining an independent appraisal of the property’s value. The district’s share of the cost was estimated at $8,500. Blairsville-Saltsburg also approved a 2006-07 budget of more than $2.5 million for the Indiana County Technology Center. The district’s share of that figure, based on 86 students attending the facility, was set at $503,144, representing a roughly 3.4 percent increase from the previous budget year. In personnel matters, the board approved Randall Thorn’s resignation from the supplemental position of music director for the Blairsville Middle/High School musical production. Fellow music instructor Alice Moore will take over the post for this school year and next year, earning a contractual salary of $2,327 for 2006-07 and $2,386 for 2007-08. The board retroactively hired Mark Zerfoss as head coach of the district-wide baseball team for the current season. His salary was set at $3,119. The school directors also accepted the resignation of Frank Berzansky, longtime third assistant football coach at Blairsville. A member of the coaching staff since 1988, Berzansky wrote that the stint has provided him “a truly rewarding experience” that has “enriched me beyond words.” He said he was prompted to step down by health issues and the knowledge that there are “enthusiastic young candidates to replace me.” “He’s done a great job,” Board President Paul Bell said of Berzansky. “We’re going to miss him.” The school board authorized preparation of specifications and advertising for bids to repair and pave the crumbling parking area at Saltsburg Middle/High School. It also denied a grievance filed March 9 by the Blairsville-Saltsburg Education Support Professionals union and approved undisclosed recommendations resulting from disciplinary hearings for two unnamed students. Nadonley reported 21 members of the district staff, including himself, four parents, two community members and two representatives of the local business community have been named to the district’s comprehensive strategic planning committee. Also serving on the panel are school board members Dan Speal, Ed Smith and Mary Whitfield. Nadonley said the district must approve a plan for its special education programs by the school board’s regular May meeting. The bulk of the strategic plan must be submitted to state education officials by Sept. 30. Dr. Shirley Johnson, principal at Blairsville Elementary School, reported that one of her students, fifth-grader Adrianna LaMantia, was able to meet with and interview Jane Goodall when the girl’s aunt was involved in booking the renowned naturalist and primate researcher for a conference in Florida. LaMantia shared her experience with her classmates and was able to have Goodall autograph copies of some of the books she has authored that are in the school library’s collection. Johnson said LaMantia’s connection with Goodall may inspire students to form a “Roots and Shoots Club,” to work in support of environmental and wildlife protection causes.

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