Cranberry School Board voted Monday to sign on with a consulting firm in an effort to secure grant funding for major school property improvements.
District officials met recently with representatives from the Mechanicsburg-based Delta Development Group, a firm that has a strong presence in several area counties, including Clarion, to explore funding sources for various projects.
The session was arranged by school board member Chad Findlay.
The deal includes a nine-month contract at $3,500 a month and a 2.5% cut of any grant monies that are received.
The board had planned a $438,000 project to improve Education Drive from Route 257 to the school complex, and that work was expected to start this summer. However, the school directors postponed the work in order to try and obtain grant funding to pay for part of it.
There is a second phase of the school improvement work, too, that amounts to about $1.1 million and involves changes in accessibility to the track and softball areas, an expanded parking area, completion of road repairs and more.
The board unanimously voted to enter into the agreement with Delta.
In a related matter, the board briefly discussed whether to contract for a feasibility study to explore an expansion of the school gymnasium. The gym has become a multi-purpose room for a variety of activities and that wide use of the facility has limited other activities.
“We will have further discussions,” school board president Tom Neely said.
One other improvement to the grounds was approved by the board as the Cranberry Girls Softball Association was given permission to repair drainage issues at the field. District staff members will work with the association in determining the scope of work.
Lunch program outlined
Kim Daugherty, food services director at Cranberry, told the board the district received $46,052 this school term in funding for food purchases as part of the district’s free and reduced price lunch and breakfast services for eligible students. About 37 percent of students in the Cranberry Area School District qualify for the federal program.
“Cranberry does not qualify for universal (all student) free meals,” said Daugherty, adding the federal guidelines require that a district must have a level of “at least 40 percent at or below the national poverty level” to qualify.
In explaining the eligibility guidelines, sign-up procedures and more, Daugherty said that 100 percent of the applications for the lunch program are processed within three days in the district.
“Our unpaid meal debit is low compared to most other districts,” she said. “We work closely with families to make sure no child goes hungry during the school day.”
She added, “I can assure you there are resources in place to help families who don’t have money for these meals.”
The board voted to increase the hourly pay for substitute custodian, cafeteria and other support staff members. The rate will move from $7.65 to $9 an hour.
“For our non-professionals, we were low and not competitive with other districts,” said Vonada. “This will get us an expanded pool (of workers).”
In addition, student workers for the summer will see their hourly pay go from $7.25 to $8 an hour.
In another matter, high school principal Ritt Smith told the board the district is exploring an arrangement with Oil City Area School District to join in a cooperative cheerleading program. The two districts have other co-op agreements, including for the football and wrestling programs.
Charlotte O’Brien was transferred to a part-time cafeteria position at the elementary school, and Valerie Bernard was transferred to a cafeteria post at the high school.
The Cranberry Area Little League was given permission to hold a tournament Sunday, July 26, at the ballfield. The Oil Region Soccer Association was approved to use the soccer field on Sundays after 1 p.m. from March through mid-June.
The resignation of wrestling coach Chad Berry was accepted.
Rob Anthony was named head girls cross country coach. Kerri Sutch and Amanda Greene were hired as co-girls head varsity track coaches, and Christopher Bost was named boys assistant track coach.
