By Amy Cherry
Daily Press Staff

     The SMASD Board of Directors discussed several items during its regular meeting held Monday evening.

The low bid of $89,437 from the Pittsburgh Stage, Inc. was approved for the high school theater and stage equipment. Elco Electric of Ridgway submitted a bid for $94,800.

    In regards to building and grounds, the board approved the replacement of pneumatics at the high school. This project entails the removal of the original univents and installation of new univents. The total estimated cost of the project is $1,121,000.

    The City Tax Collector annual salary was approved for 2010 through 2013. It was set at $32,128.18 in 2010, $32,768.70 for 2011, $33,424.07 for 2012 and $34,092.55 for 2013. In addition the Commissions for Tax Collectors of Fox, Jay and Benezette Townships set the rate of $4.15 per duplicate for the 2010 school year and to increase 10 cents each year for 2011,2012 and 2013.

    The board tabled a discussion about the extension of the Administrator Compensation Plan to cover the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years.

    Revisions were approved for the school calendar. Students are scheduled to make up the Jan. 16 snow day on April 14 and the Jan. 28 snow day on Feb. 16.

    Flynn Forestry donated 1,382 MBF of sawn hemlock lumber on Dec. 8, 2008. The estimated value of the materials is $544.80

    The board approved additional items including;

A request from SMAHS teacher Jason Schreiber for a basketball tournament on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2009 at the SMAHS and the SMAMS gymnasiums from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Field trips for four members of the SMAHS chorus to Freeport Area High School in Sarver on Feb. 18-21, 2009 for the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) regional chorus festival; for two SMAHS jazz band students to Titusville High School on Feb. 26-28, 2009 to participate in the PMEA district jazz band festival; for four SMAHS band students to the Region II band festival on March 4-9, 2009 to Saegertown High School.

SMAHS Ecology Club camp out to Parker Dam State Park on April 30 to May 1, 2009 for 30 students.

SMAMS sixth grade trip to Holiday Valley Ski Resort Tubing Hill in Elicottville, NY on Feb. 24, 2009; for the SMAMS seventh and eighth grade trip to Holiday Valley on Feb. 26; for the SMAHS trip to Holiday Valley on Feb. 27.

    The new Rocketeers Science Club was approved. Steven Bauer and Anthony Allegretto are the club’s advisor with the following officers; Mitchell Gennocro, president, Cody Foster, vice-president, Victoria Challingsworth, secretary, Aaron Meyer, treasurer and Sean Zimmett, secretary. The club provides a realistic experience in designing a flying aerospace vehicle that meets a specific set of mission and performing requirements. Club members will utilize the kinesthetic application of Newton’s Law of Motion as well as group interactions.

    Ryan Krise was approved as the treasurer of the Ski Club for the remainder of the 2008-09 school year.

    The board also approved a new course of study, Introduction to Retail. The course is an introduction to the application of Marketing, where students will learn effective communication strategies for promotion and sales and an opportunity to interact with retail professionals via guest speakers and field trips, among other course details.

    The board conducted an executive session at the conclusion of Monday’s meeting.