Crestwood Superintendent Welcomes New Board Members

By KIM CARPENTER
Correspondent

Crestwood’s School Board met on November 12th for their regular meeting, during which they welcomed two new board members, bid farewell to two of their fellow board members and a member of the custodian staff.

District Superintendent Dave McLaughlin-Smith welcomed incoming board members Norb Doetzel and Marty Behm.

Board President Jerry Orloski announced the passing of Fairview custodian Andrew Cross who died on the job on November 9th. Orloski noted the loss to the district and to Cross’s family.

The two departing board members, Bill Thomas who had put in eight years of service and Jack Williams who had put in 32 years of service as school board directors were also thanked.

Request for Tax Abatement

Doug Barbacci of KT Holdings addressed the board regarding the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assist Law (LERTA). 10 years ago, one of the companies in the Crestwood Industrial Park, which Barbacci did not name, was granted a tax abatement of 50% over a 10 year period. It was with the hope that the company would bring 90 new jobs to Mountaintop. Barbacci explained that the company came through for Mountaintop then and is now considering an expansion and consolidation of their company into the Mountaintop site, bringing 350 new jobs to the area.

Since a 100% LERTA tax abatement is allowable, Barbacci requested that the company receive a retroactive 50% abatement over the next ten years which would impact the company’s decision. Barbacci reported that the company would pay $90,000 per year with an additional $90,000 abatement. “The company is making a $20 million investment in the property here,” Barbacci explained. “Their investment is going to last well over the ten years of the abatement. That’s 450 jobs that will support this community for a long time. They’re a world class organization. With some incentive, we think we can convince the company to stay here and grow here.”

Report from Student Representatives

Representatives from the student council highlighted some activities over the last month. Congratulations went out to several students including two chorus members who made it to District Chorus and four band members who were selected to the Marywood Honors Band. The Speech and Debate Club participated in the tournament at Wilkes University with one of their students earning Top Speaker. Crestwood’s field hockey team claimed the 2009 PIAA District II championship and the cross country team made it to districts with two of their runners scheduled to compete in Hershey.

The representatives also noted that the Mountain Top Welcome Club asked Crestwood students to design a series of banners depicting the essence of Mountain Top. The designs will be voted on by the Welcome Club and Mountain Top on the Move. One of the student’s designs will be made into banners that will hang on the telephone poles along Route 309 in Mountaintop.

The students also discussed the upcoming semi-formal sponsored by the student government. They invited members of the board to chaperone the event. The students also noted that the holiday blood drive is scheduled for December 22nd.

Committee Reports

The financial planning committee received approval of an agreement with KidsPeace Children’s Hospital for the Tutorial Program / Partial Hospital Program of three Crestwood students. Superintendent McLaughlin-Smith explained that the district is responsible for educating those students under hospital care. The committee also received approval on behalf of the Luzerne County Board of Assessment Appeals to refund an overpayment of school taxes by John and Helen Williams.

Dave Ralston reported that he attended the first meeting of the County Tax Committee related to the Act 32 Earned Income Tax. He relayed that the State House of Representatives is considering an act that will increase the state sales tax from 6% to 7%. Ralston elaborated, “If it is passed, 1% of the sales tax revenue would come to Luzerne County. Half of the 1% would come to the school districts, a quarter would go to the county and a quarter would go to the municipalities. They estimate that to be a minimum of 32 M.”

New Positions

The Human Resources committee received approval for three professional substitutes, Tina Rose, Danielle Evans and Amber Bennett as well as four support staff substitutes, Melanie Adamczyk, Robert Kupinewicz, Michelle Young and Donna Hoffman. Stanley Otto was approved for full-time custodian, Rita Jefferson as mentor, and William Tomalinas as CACE instructor. The resignations of Rice’s secretary Janice Moody and parttime custodian Fern Taney were also accepted.

The Physical Plant and Construction Committee received approval to submit PlanCon – Part K regarding a bond issue. This is the paperwork that is submitted to the state when a reimbursable bond is to be refunded, refinanced or restructured. In this case, two of three bonds were up for refinancing.

Other Matters

The current student enrollment was listed at 3,035, down 69 from the same time last year.

The Cheerleaders received approval to participate in competition at Ocean City, MD, from February 26 – March 1, 2010 with the cost to be paid by booster club and parents.

A recommendation for the name of the Wilkes-Barre Area Vocational Technical School to be changed to the “Wilkes-Barre Area Career and Technical Center” was tabled for the next meeting.

The next school board meeting will be Thursday, December 3rd, at 6:30 pm in the high school library. Further information can be found on the district’s website at www. csdcomets.org.

This is part of the December 2, 2009 online edition of The Mountaintop Eagle.

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