Northeastern School District

Athletics and Activities (AA) Committee Meeting

June 5, 2017 beginning at 6 p.m.

Administrative Center’s board room

Agenda

I. This meeting is to be opened by Dr. Robert Tabachini, Jr., Chairperson.

II. Co-curricular: Mr. Chad Forry

a. Presentation on the success of the behind the wheel driver’s education

program, and request for financial changes to this program including

(attachment)

i. Increase the driver education instructor’s hourly rate for behind the

wheel training from $25/hour to $30/hour, effective July 1, 2017.

ii. Annual stipend payment (new).

iii. Raise price to students enrolling in behind the wheel training.

III. Extra-curricular: Mr. Stephens

a. Review of the Spring sports season.

IV. Comments/Questions from school board members

a. Please discuss the proposed financial considerations of the driver’s

education program.

V. Old Business

a. Update on HS stadium scoreboard and flag pole at the Bobcat Stadium.

(attachment)

b. Since March attempts have been made for American Sign Company to

update the plates for the state championship sign in front of the high

school. This is still work in process.

VI. New Business

a. Presently, there is an A.V. Director and volunteer stage crew technicians

to provide sound and lighting in district auditoriums. There is a request

for 1 paid stage crew position to fill in when the A.V. Director is

unavailable. To qualify for this position, this person needs to have earned

either a high school diploma or GED. Please note that when the

auditoriums are rented, the hourly fee charged to renters for this service is

$20/hour. However, this paid position would be regardless of whether the

auditorium is rented or not.

b. Recommend paying one A.V. stage crew technician $15/hour for the

service of lighting and sound in an auditorium. This person needs to

possess a high school diploma or GED.

c. Recommend Mr. Christopher Wickline to be hired as A.V. stage crew for

$15/hour, effective July 1, 2017.

VII. Comments from public

VIII. Recommendations from AA Committee to the School Board

IX. For information only

a. AA committee meetings for 2017-2018 will begin at 6 p.m. as follows:

i. September 5, 2017

ii. November 6, 2017

iii. March 5, 2018

iv. June 4, 2018

X. Adjourn

Northeastern High School Driver Education

Program Overview, Proposed Changes

Definition of Driver EducationDriver Education = a course of study, as for high-school students, that teaches the techniques of driving a vehicle, along with basic vehicle maintenance, safety precautions, and traffic regulations and laws.

Northeastern High School’s Program

Safety Education= Classroom theory, PA driver’s manual

6+ hours of Behind the wheel training in a car with a professional teacher covering the following driving areas: country, small town, parking, city, and expressway. *The driver test can be administered to students that complete the entire program.

History of Driver Education at Northeastern1960’s until 1993 Driver Education was offered during school hours when students had study halls and during the summer for no charge to students.

1994 to 2001 Driver Education was offered in the Summer (lab fee was instituted to cover costs)

2001-present Driver Education is offered year around. (after school and summer, lab fee continues)

2005- Mr. Forry was certified to give the End-of-Course Skills Test (Driving Test)

End-of-Course Skills Test/ Driver’s Test-PennDot approved program that lets driver education teachers give the driver’s test to students who have taken the full driver education class (Classroom theory and 6 behind the wheel)

-over 500 students have been tested since 2005

-Pass rate around 85% (Mr. Forry) PennDot’s is 50%

-Mr. Forry has the right not to test a student that he feels is not ready

Reason for Driver Education-To help make roads safer for everyone

-Improve student’s skills and confidence in their driving abilities

-Reduce Driver Errors

-Texting, Speeding, Drinking and Driving, Fatigue, Negotiating Turns

-General knowledge of Vehicle

-one of the top errors on the driver’s test is High beams

Driver Education Improves Safety on the Road for Everyone

Oregon Study- Reviewed teen driving records including 16, 17, 18, and 19-year old drivers and compared those that had 50 hours of driver practice and a formal driver education course, against those that chose 100 hours of driving practice with their parents and no driver education course.

● The crash rate for teens taking driver education was 11 to 21% lower than those taking 100 hours of practice time with their parents.

● The traffic conviction rate for teens taking driver education was 39 to 57% lower than those taking 10 hours of practice time with their parents.

● The driver license suspension rate for teens taking driver education was 51 to 53% lower than those taking 100 hours of practice time with their parents.

Nebraska Study-Compares full driver education graduates to non-graduates.● Results show lower violation and crash rates of teens who received driver education● Crash reduction in the first year of 17.3% (girls-13.5%, boys-20.3%)● Crash reduction in second year of 17.7% (girls-14.6%, boys-19.2%)● Conviction reduction in the first year (girls-41.1%, boys 42.6%)● Conviction reduction the second year of 36% (girls-38.1%, boys-35.9%)● Alcohol conviction reduction in the first year of 57.1% (girls-57.1%, boys-65%)● Alcohol conviction reduction in the second year (girls-55.6%, boys 55/1%)

Demand of Driver Education-High demand for driver education

-Parents want another adult to help instill safe driving skills in their child.

-Mr. Forry can give the driver’s test

-PennDot has long waiting times for testing (5 to 7 months)

-Insurance Discount (State Farm $300 off per year)

-Over 60+ students per year do not get driver education through Northeastern that want it.

Northeastern wins team trophy in Driving Competition 2017

-Students’ driving skills displayed in this competition.

-All 3 students took Safety Education (Driving Theory).

-2 out of the 3 winners took Driver Education!

*Northeastern students won over 46,000 in scholarship money in the past 17 years!

Driver Education is a Self-funding program-Over the past 5 years Driver Education had a positive $854+ average balance.

-Covers all the following: vehicle expenses, salaries, insurance, fuel, and retirement.

Driver Education Director Position $800

Director will be responsible for the following:● Annual report to the state● Securing Car lease● Car Maintenance● Scheduling all students and teachers● Answering and responding to all driver education questions and emails● Collecting all lab fees ● Organizing Budget● Recruiting and training of new staff● Organizing continual education for Driver Education teachers● Updating website● Ensure all state regulations are followed in testing students

*The driver education director will receive the stipend the following budget year if the program is in the black the current year.

Increase pay

Pay was at $29 per hour in 2011-12

Currently, the pay is at $25 per hour. I am requesting an increase to $30 an hour. This increase will get us to the mean pay of other driver education programs in the area. This increase will also attract more staff to teach driver education at Northeastern High School.

Car Lease

Current lease around $235 per month

Proposed lease $ 195.47 per month

Increase lab Fee

To offset these increased costs to the program we will also have to be increase the current lab fee (without direct support from the district). Currently, the cost is $280, with the increase it will be raised to $300 to keep the program self-supporting.

Mr. Forry has teamed up with a local charity to cover students that cannot pay because of a financial need. The need will be determine by the free and reduced lunch program guidelines.

-Zac Sweitzer Memorial Scholarship Fund

Thank you any Questions

Scoreboard project update at Bobcat Stadium

1. Scoreboard

a. Scoreboard shipped to Northeastern SD on May 30th.

b. Royal Sign (subcontractor for NEVCO) is being scheduled to install the scoreboard.

c. Both VFW Mount Wolf Post 2493 and Northeastern Foundation are the 2 sponsors

artwork on the scoreboard.

d. Any electrical work needed to plug in scoreboard would be done by John E. Fullerton

Company.

e. Existing scoreboard will be removed.

f. Training on how to use scoreboard and message board will be provided this summer by

NEVCO.

g. Plan is to have this project done before the first fall athletic game.

2. American flag pole project

a. Meeting held onsite to discuss this project.

b. VFW Mount Wolf Post 2493 intends to fully fund this project with a maximum budget of

$20k. They intend to maintain this equipment and flag as needed.

c. Details: Install 50’ flag pole with new American flag. The pole would be located at the

50-yard line of the football field outside the track and in front of a set of stairs on the

visitors’ side of the field. There would be a concrete platform with the pole in the

middle, with 2 or 3 LED lights positions near the ground to provide proper lighting on to

the flag. Also, a wall will be erected in a semicircle to help enclose the area with

walkways around the flag pole. Working electrical outlets already present so minimal

trenching would be needed to provide lighting to flag.

d. Spire AVL will provide a rendering and quote for this project. They are a costars vendor.

They did the work for the American flag and lighting project at Bermudian Springs

stadium.

e. Construction work could be subcontracted through Spire AVL company.

f. Plan is to have this project done before the first fall athletic game.

3. VFW and Northeastern Foundation will present at the June 5th regular meeting to discuss

scoreboard/stadium funding.

4. Close track to visitors until both the scoreboard and American flag pole project is completed this

summer.