Southmoreland studying student driving policy

Southmoreland School Board's safety committee hopes to soon meet with members of the administration and the solicitor to review the policy and school handbook regulations on allowing students to drive to school.

Students currently are not allowed to park on school property without a permit.

Under a proposal the district is considering, those students may soon be restricted from parking off campus or carrying any passengers, other than siblings, to or from school.

Dean of Students Vincent Mascia told board members at a previous meeting that some students are driving to school and parking at another location and then walking to rest of the distance to school.

His concern was the safety of the students and the possibility of someone getting struck with a vehicle along the roadways.

Director Catherine Fike said the school board will look at the policy and the handbook, take into consideration recommendations from the solicitor and administrators and pull some information together for the board to discuss at the January meeting.

In other business, board members last week:

• Approved a proposal by Industrial Appraisal Company of Pittsburgh to conduct an appraisal of the district for fixed asset accounting control and insurance valuation purposes. The appraisal will cost $6,985.

• Approved Josh Pajak as middle school assistant wrestling coach and Chuck Myers as a volunteer assistant wrestling coach for the current school year.

The board also approved the addition of Dorthea Snyder to the district's day-to-day substitute list for this school year.