The Dallas Post NEWS Sunday, January 16, 2005 DALLAS (continued from page 1) school have undergone major renovations in recent years, and Wycallis Elementary was new in 1999. The high school is next, and Galicki said technolo- gy upgrades would be included in the project. The Web pages replace the Homework Hotline, a phone system that students could call to get homework assignments. Galicki wants to make them mandatory for all teachers. Along with daily lessons, the pages can include calendars, exam dates, project descrip- tions and other information. “If a student was absent, they could keep up,” Galicki said. A survey found that most Dallas families — “in the high 90 percent” Galicki said — have home computers. Besides mak- ing it easier for students and teachers to stay in touch, the DALLAS SCHO pages could carry information for parents. At the Jan. 10 school board work session, Galicki also out- lined plans to spend state grant funds. He said that $65,500 could be used to support lower class sizes in the elementary schools, partly by expanding transition classes between kindergarten and first grade. There is now one such class, for students who are having dif- ficulty making the move upward. There are 12 students, an instructor and an aide. Galicki said he has talked to administrators in other districts about the program. “They gave us great reviews.” Another $41,642 will be directed toward tutoring, much of it provided after school by faculty members, who are paid $20 per hour for the extra time. OL B( Superintendent search begins Staff report DALLAS TWP. — Dallas School Board President Russell Bigus announced at the Jan. 10 meeting that the superintend- ent opening was posted in- house Jan. 4 and would be advertised in magazines and newspapers beginning Jan. 14. Former Superintendent Gilbert Griffiths retired Dec. 1, seven months before his contract expired. Board member Maureen Matiska said she had “severe concerns” about the adminis- tration being short staffed because assistant superintend- ent Michael Speziale is on leave and a secretary recently left. Matiska noted the board learned of Griffiths’ retirement in October yet was only now advertising for a new person. “I feel the central administration office is falling apart and no one here cares,” she said. Bigus objected, pointing out that the board had talked about ways to conduct a search for a new superintendent in recent months. The board hired substitute teachers Brian Tkaczyk in English and Molly Novicki for homebound education, and named four substitutes for after-school tutoring at $20 an hour: Ann Marie Barber, Gerald Delescavage, Keri Gustave and Regina Cannon. The board also made one last call for residents to join a citi- zens advisory board that will look at the option to change the district’s taxing system. Those interested must contact Business Manager Grant Palfey before the end of the month. And the board approved “Plan Con Part J” for the mid- dle school, the last in a complex set of paperwork required to get state money for the nearly $17 million project. INAUGURAL (continued from page 1) monies and activities. When fully manned, more than 700 people will be working within JTF-AFIC to provide military support during the 10-day inau- gural period, January 15-24. The sergeant, an information assurance supervisor with 22 years of military service, is nor- mally assigned to the National Guard Bureau, Arlington, Va. She is the daughter of Virginia Zeiders of Chestnut St.. and the granddaughter of Virginia Graybill of Rural Route 1, both of Sunbury, Pa. Her father, Bud Duffield, resides on Lake St., Dallas. Griffin graduated in 1978 from Dallas Senior High School. Public swimming at Dallas Dallas School District has announced the public aquatic pro- grams for fall and winter 2004-2005 at the district natatorium in the Dallas Middle School. Public swimming sessions are Wednesdays and Fridays, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Sunday afternoons from 2 to 5 p.m. The pool is open to the public for lap and recreational swimming during those times. No one under 18 will be admitted without a parent or guardian. Proof of residence and $2 daily fee apply. Call Ahead Lindsey Riddell. Shown loading Santa's sleigh are Brianne Haydt, Liz Zawatski, Jerod Koehler, Ralph Vance and Misericordia students grant holiday wishes Students, faculty and staff from College Misericordia joined together to make the hol- idays a whole lot brighter for 80 children and their mothers in the greater Wilkes-Barre area. For the fourth consecutive year, the Peer Advocates student group organized Wish Upon a Star, a holiday gift drive on the campus to benefit families in need. Hundreds. of new toys and items of clothing were donated by people from throughout the campus and collected by the Peer Advocates. The items were delivered to Mercy Services for distribution to the families prior to Christmas. As they’ve done in past years, the Peer Advocates collected a list of names and ages of chil- dren in need throughout the Wyoming Valley. The Peer Advocates then asked members of the campus community to “adopt” a child or a mother and donate new toys and clothing items for them. The items were collected at the Banks Student Center on the College Misericordia campus, where members of the Peer Advocates got them ready for delivery to Mercy Services. The Peer Advocates are a group of upper class students who mentor first year students and provide outreach and pro- grams for all students at College Misericordia. Mercy Services is sponsored by the Religious Sisters of Mercy and provides educational support services, mentoring and social programs for low-income chil- dren and their families. TRANSFERS The following property trans- fers were recorded recently at the Luzerne County Courthouse: John Lyback and spouse to Terry Ogle, Maple Wood, Dallas Township, $104,000. Paul Siegel Company to Andrew J. Sordoni, Dallas Township, $259,000. Michael Cook and spouse to Neal J. Gallagher, Dallas Township, $156,000. Gelso & Smith partner to Joseph Nocito and spouse, Windsor Farms, Kingston Township, $57,900. Smith & Gelso partners to Sanjeev Garg and others, Windsor Farm, Kingston Township, $76,000. Kingston Township winter parking ordinance reminder Kingston Township Winter parking ordinance is effective through March 31, 2005. Under this ordinance, residents are prohibited from parking vehi- cles on streets between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. daily. Vehicles also are not per- mitted to be parked on streets during snowstorms, or for eight hours after the end of the storm. The ordinance is designed to keep streets open and clear so that snow removal measures can be effectively undertaken by the Public Works Department. Anyone with questions about the ordi- nance may call 696-1175. VANS (continued from page 1) compares to an average of $3,384 paid in the Dallas School District, according to figures supplied by Dallas Business Manager Grant Palfey. Last year, Lake-Lehman paid 13 contractors a total of $574,880 for car and van costs. Costs are expected to total $715,000 this school year to transport 71 students. School board president James Mahon charged last week that some contractors were given the jobs as “political candy.” In a letter to the Times Leader, he pointed to one contractor that will receive $100,000 more in payments this year. The addi- tional routes, he charges, were handed out by former business manager Kathleen Williams. “Even though the board was never informed which contrac- tor was being awarded addition- al routes, we must take respon- sibility due to the fact that a dis- trict employee” made the appointments, Mahon writes. According to records provid- ed by the district, contractor Al Scovish was paid $117,483 last year and is estimated to receive $230,000 this school year. He has seven vans and transports 29 children. Dobrowolski was paid $192,144 last year, for trans- “There's no reason for three vans to be at Wilkes-Barre Vo-Tech."” Sandy Dobrowolski Lake-Lehman van contractor porting 26 children. She esti- mates she will receive $157,000 this year, carrying 14 children. Dobrewolski says some of the increase in costs is due to poor scheduling by Robert Zack, the district’s transportation coordi- nator. Last year, she said, after - Zack was hired for the job, “We kept adding car after car after car.” Zack said Thursday that duplication is created when stu- dents start or end classes at dif- ferent times. And he is wary of too much dependence on large contractors. “If the service is unsatisfactory, you're" stuck with one,” he said. The present five-year contract with special transport van driv- ers expires August 14. Under its terms, contractors were paid at 90¢ per mile the first year, with an increase of .875¢ each. year. They are now paid $1.25 per mile, regardless of how many students are carried. “We will be looking at new contracts,” said district Business Manager Richard ew AUTO DALLAS | 12 AUTO PARTS 668 Memorial Highway, Dallas oz ers 2 qq Save $1.00 on 2-Can Purchase i After Mail-In Rebate! gE ra 675-2 1 43 PB Blaster rd Penetrating PB Blaster ; Catalizador Penetrador feb u EAT EY PARTS APA Starting Fluid Fliido de | Arrangue APA 99c Heet Gas Line Antifreeze Anticongelante Para Linea de Gasalina Heel tron ssin Sa a Bombick. He has been gather- ing information from other dis- tricts to compare how they compensate contractors. “It’s something that’s definitely going to be reviewed.” Bombick said the’ district is reimbursed by the state for approximately 50 percent of its transportation costs. That’s near the statewide average of 54 percent, said Tina Baker, Pupil Transportation Subsidy Administrator for the Department of Education. Baker said the department uses a complex formula to arrive at reimbursements, with factors that encourage using newer vehicles and minimizing empty travel. But overall, “There’s no spe- cial formula for special-needs students,” she said. “It’s up to the local school district how they wish to do it.” Dallas uses three contractors. Russ Bus has 20 vans and the district projects payment of $307,676 for the year. Keller Wheelchair uses two vans, and PARENTS... Create more satisfying, productive relationships with your children through STEP Systematic Training FREE 8 WEEK WORKSHOP * Fellowship Evangelical Free Church, Dallas Pioneer Clubs Available for K-5th grades Call 262-5658 for Effective Parenting Wednesday Nights Jan. 19 through March 9 will be paid $30,744; Charlot) Redmond will be paid $16,871 for the use of one van. Together, they transport 105 students. Compensation is by contracted amount and 50¢ per mile is added for each extra stu- dent during the year. Crestwood School District Superintendent Richard Duffy ‘said his district pays $477,309 to transport 52 special-needs children in vans. The district hires independent contractors and pays an average of $9,179 per student. Dobrowolski said at Lake- Lehman, the contractors are given lists of students a where they are going. The co tractor then submits routes and mileage, using the per-mile rate to compute the cost. “The best route may not always be the shortest route,” she said, when weather condi- tions and other factors are taken into account. If a new student who lives along an existing route is added during the year, the contractor is not paid extra to carry them, she said. Bombick said one way the district tries to save is by paying parents 37¢ per mile to trans- port their own children to and from school. You should do quite weit at the , Science fair. /— Attend a STEP parent workshop and learn: * How to understand your child's behavior * How to listen and talk to your child * Discipline that makes sense... And More! Sa sssssssssmmms aiid NEWS Coverage Area: The Post covers the “Back Mountain” area of Luzerne County, including the Dallas and Lake-Lehman school districts, and southern Wyoming County. We try to get to as many events as possi- ble, but staff and space limitations make it impossible to cover every- thing. If you have news about your family, town or organization, please send it to us and we'll try to get it in. Photographs are welcome. You may send items to the address above, or drop them off at the Uni-Mart in Dallas near the intersection of Routes 309 and 415. E-mail is the best and most timely method for submissions. Send items (digital photos, too) to: thepost@leader.net Deadline is noon, Wednesday prior to publication. 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