By Patrick Cloonan

Published: Wednesday, February 27, 2013, 3:31 a.m.
Updated: Wednesday, February 27, 2013

In what may have been its last meeting as an independent entity, Duquesne City School District's board of directors handled some personnel matters, contracts and facility requests on Tuesday.

Board president DeWayne Tucker received a plaque from the Pennsylvania School Boards Association honoring his 28 years of service.

“It hasn't been easy,” Tucker said, “but I've enjoyed 28 years of it.”

Administrators presented certificates to 24 children chosen by teachers as students of the month, 50 honor roll students and 24 students with perfect attendance.

Approximately 40 people attended the meeting, which came on the heels of the state Education Department's request to put the district in receivership.

An Allegheny County Common Pleas Court judge will consider the request on Monday.

The meeting was delayed by 40 minute for an executive session.

Tucker did not comment about the substance of the session, but told those in attendance, “If there is any time when we need to be here for our children, now is the time.”

Otherwise, it was business as usual, with the board hiring personal care assistants Michael James for a 7.5-hour day and Janice Davis Jones for a four-hour day.

Directors approved a 40-day extension for Linda Nelson as assistant to the superintendent, at a cost not to exceed $16,000.

The board OK'd requests from Croatian Fraternal Union and Steel City Elite Basketball to use the Duquesne Education Center's gymnasium. It ratified use of the auditorium for last week's Community Empowerment Engagement.

Directors authorized using School Improvement Plan funds to cover the $10,000 cost of Auberle's classroom program Stop Now and Plan, and approved using $300 to reinstate the Healthy Lifestyles program for grades 5 and 6.

The board OK'd using $1,500 from the general fund to cover the cost of three classes in the Auberle Therapeutic Challenge Course.

Student services co-coordinator Stanley Whiteman got the go-ahead to attend next week's state Education Department conference, “Making a Difference: Engaging Students in the Common Core,” at a cost of $726.

Directors approved purchase of school safety equipment.

The board announced that it will meet on March 26 at 7 p.m. at Duquesne Education Center. The motions judge's ruling on receivership could affect how the meeting is conducted.

Solicitor William Andrews said the board's ability to act on agenda items “would be up to the receiver.”

The meeting ended with Steel Center Area Vocational Technical School providing cookies for school directors to mark Technical Education Month.

Assistant director for continuing education Dennis McCarthy said the gift was a token of the school's thanks for the board's support.

Patrick Cloonan is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-664-9161, ext. 1967, or pcloonan@tribweb.com.

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