INDIANA — A district-wide feasibility study at Indiana Area is entering its final stages, and school directors soon will have options on possible school configurations and construction projects.

For nearly a year, architects from L. Robert Kimball & Associates have been studying the district’s six school buildings and have made regular reports at school board meetings. The architects have completed analyses of projected enrollment, building capacities, physical conditions of buildings and construction options.

Superintendent Dr. Deborah Clawson said at Monday’s meeting that the administration would be meeting with Kimball architects the next day to develop an outline of possible building configurations, which could include moving ninth grade students to the senior high or closing an elementary school.

“It’s time for us to roll up our sleeves,” Clawson said, “and use the sources of data to discuss meaningful options for this school district and begin to shape its future.”

The board has scheduled a workshop session with the Kimball architects for Jan. 18, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. That meeting will also focus on graduation requirements, which are likely to influence any changes in building configurations.

The board also has a regular meeting scheduled for Jan. 11 and a special meeting set for Jan. 25. Both meetings will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Clawson said that community members are encouraged to attend the meetings and share their opinions on the feasibility study. So far, there has been little feedback from community members on the study.

“Our attendance at public meetings has been very low,” Clawson said. “We’re hopeful that people come now while the data is being shared and while the facts are being discussed, so that any decisions that are made cannot be a surprise to anyone.”

Also at Monday’s meeting, district math coordinator Dr. John Uccellini announced the winners for the 2009-10 technology initiative grant. Each year, the district awards a total of $10,000 to split among the winning teachers for technology upgrades in their classrooms.

The winners for 2009-10 are Ellen Werner, Ben Franklin; Heidi Higbee, East Pike; Tammy Glavach and Linda Stewart, Eisenhower; Kevin Freeberg, Horace Mann; Jeanne Mitsko, junior high; and Cathy Scholemer, senior high.

Uccellini said the district was able to pick an extra winner this year because of federal stimulus funding.

The board accepted the resignations of two longtime district employees Monday.

Junior high nurse Karol McElfresh will retire from the school at the end of the first semester, Jan. 19, after working for the district for almost 26 years.

East Pike custodian David Mihoerck resigned due to health reasons after 20 years with the district.

The board approved a number of extra duty/extra pay assignments Monday:

Pat Snyder, senior high head track coach, $6,880.03; Parker Dunlap, Michael Rieg, George Caroff, Steve Cochran and Chris Geddis, senior high assistant track coaches, $2,914.57 each;

Mark Morrow, senior high head baseball coach, $5,843.42; Dan Sevens and P.J. Cubeta, senior high assistant baseball coaches, $2,914.57 each; Phil Palko, senior high head boys’ tennis coach, $4,124.20; Brendon Hurd, senior high assistant boys’ tennis coach, $2,082.75; Harold Wilson, senior high head softball coach, $5,843.42; and Holly Myers, senior high assistant softball coach, $2,914.57;

Paula McKee and Malinda Osterling, junior high assistant volleyball coaches, $2,082.75; Paul McCue, Lisa Kinter, Scott Mossgrove and Tom Angelo, junior assistant track coaches, $2,914.57.

An aging stage piano at Indiana Area Junior High School will be replaced before the end of this school year. At its regular meeting Monday, the Indiana Area School Board voted 7-2 to purchase a Yamaha grand piano for the junior high from Ford Music Store at a cost of $31,590.

Board vice president Joseph Girardi made the original presentation about the need for a new piano at a meeting in September and estimated the cost to be about $36,000. The current piano is 61 years old and has been identified by music faculty to be in major need of replacement.

Girardi said the new piano should arrive in about six weeks and will be assembled at the school. He said it should be ready in time for the spring concert.

Walter Schroth and Joseph Trimarchi voted against purchasing the piano. During the past few months, they had expressed that purchasing the piano should be discussed as part of the budget process when its merits could be weighed against other possible purchases.

The board also:

• Tabled a motion for board member Joseph Trimarchi to attend the National School Board Association annual conference in Chicago from April 10-12 at a cost to the district of $860. The motion to table passed 6-3 with Trimarchi, Walter Schroth and Rob Werner opposed.

• Contributed $1,920 of its federal stimulus funds to the ARIN Intermediate Unit 28 assistive technology library.

• Reduced the rate from $30 to $15 paid by the Indiana County Community College Center of Westmoreland County Community College for use of the senior high school science lab.

• Changed the name of the Junior High Drama Club to the Junior High International Thespian Society.

• Amended the cooperative sponsorship agreement in wrestling with the Homer-Center School District to change the junior high wrestling rate from $750 to $725 per student to equal the amount included in the agreement with Apollo-Ridge School District.

• Approved a leave of absence request by junior high guidance counselor Erica Aiken from April 29 until the first counselor day of the 2011-12 school year.

• Extended a leave of absence to Hollee Jones until Jan. 3.

• Employed Dan Donahue as a custodian at an hourly rate of $7.25.

• Hired Gretchen Colwell as an aquatics technician at an hourly rate of $7.25.

• Employed Steve Cochran and Robyn Bailey-Orchard as SAT preparation course instructors from Dec. 19 to March 6 at a per diem rate for a maximum of 54 hours. A $40 tuition fee will be assessed to each student in the course.

• Expanded Joseph Socol’s instruction hours to include supervision of the fourth grade swim program, not to exceed six hours per week during the 2009-10 school year at his per diem rate effective Dec. 8.

• Approved a request from senior high math teacher Cathy Scholemer to attend the NCTM annual meeting and exposition in San Diego from April 21-24 at a cost to the district of $270 for a substitute.

• Appointed board member Joseph Girardi to serve as the Pennsylvania School Board Association liaison for the district and appointed board members Girardi, Doug Steve and Diana Paccapaniccia to serve on the Indiana Parks and Recreation board for 2010.

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