The Revere Local Schools Board of Education heard some good news about the district’s bond rating during the June 26 meeting.
Treasurer David Forrest said Moody’s recently raised the district’s rating to Aa1, which is the second highest rating it could earn.
“As a district, this is something we should celebrate,” Forrest said. “In the last 11 years, we have made five moves, and now we’re almost at the very top of the rating system.”
Forrest said Moody’s noted the district’s community support, socioeconomic characteristics, residential tax base, low debt levels and management practices in granting the new rating.
Superintendent Randy Boroff gave credit for the rating to Forrest.
“There’s been one constant for the last 11 years, and that’s Dave,” Boroff said.
Forrest also shared the end of the fiscal year financial reports. He said it had been “a very successful year” for the district, with expenditures coming in $740,000 under budget and a positive variance of $553,000.
Also during the meeting, the board approved a resolution that will provide a stipend of $1,500 to Forrest in lieu of a raise, which he was contractually slated to receive. Other district employees this year did not receive salary increases but were granted stipends instead, board members noted, and Forrest asked that that be the case for him as well.
The district also heard from parents regarding concerns with music and sports programs in the district.
Bob Sigsworth, vice president of the Revere Music Parents Association, said the organization of 300 parents wants the board to consider adding an additional band director.
“Every band parent supports the current band director, Darren LeBeau,” Sigsworth said. “As good as he is, he can only be in one place at one time.”
Sigsworth reminded the board that until two years ago there were two band directors. When the director who worked with students at Revere Middle School retired, the board opted to expand LeBeau’s duties to include working with students in grades six through 12.
While the district’s bands are still performing at excellent levels, there has been a drop in the number of middle school students participating, which concerns the band parents, Sigsworth said.
Also appearing before the board was parent John Demjanjuk, who asked that the board consider a change of leadership in the Revere High School girls’ softball team. He said the team is in “disarray,” as exemplified by its record of 3-25 for the past two years.
“It’s time for a change now,” Demjanjuk said.
Also speaking during the public comment portion of the meeting was Susan Loughy, secretary of the Richfield Historical Society, who asked the board to reconsider its decision to sell the Richfield Elementary School property.
“Selling it for $100,000 is giving it away,” she said, adding that it would be better to give the school to Richfield Village.
However, the board did finalize its decision to sell the school to LTC Realty IV at a special meeting June 7.
The board discussed briefly and voted to accept a resolution of support for the residents exploring the idea of a recreation center for the communities in the Revere district. Board member George Seifert voted against the resolution, citing his concern that because the group is calling itself the Revere Recreation Task Force, residents could believe the school district is part of the effort.
Board President Claudia Hower said the resolution only states that the district supports the group’s efforts to study the idea, and there is no financial support planned now or in the future.
“This is a long way from reality,” she said.
In other business, the board finalized new hires for the coming school year, including Andy Peltz as the assistant principal at the middle school. Boroff said Peltz, who was in attendance at the meeting, most recently was the principal of the middle school in New London. He is a University of Akron graduate.
Also hired was Katie Pflueger as a full-time music teacher for Bath Elementary School and the middle school. She had served as a long-term substitute this year in the district.
The board also changed Samer Rinehart’s status from half time to full time, and she will be a second-grade teacher in the coming year.
The board also accepted and thanked the community for donations, which included a total of $400 for the Frank Pappano Memorial Scholarship from Nicolas and Carmel Codispoti, Theresa Pappano, Joseph and Madeline Pappano, Mary Pappano and Don and Beth Rimel; $2,250 for the Paulette Memorial Scholarship Fund from Edward and Kathleen Butler; $900 worth of landscaping from Chris Nason, of Nason Landscaping, for labor and materials around a memorial bench for GySgt. Robert Gilbert at Revere High School; and a vibraphone valued at $3,000 for the middle school from Blake and Diane Schenk.
The Revere school board will meet for a work session and special meeting July 10 at 6 p.m. in the Administration Building, 3496 Everett Road. The board has tentatively set a regular meeting to take place July 17.
