WH School Board Congratulates Winning Rifle Team, Discusses Energy Costs

The Woodland Hills School Board met Wednesday, congratulating the high school rifle team's first place win at the WPIAL competitions and second at the state level.

School Superintendent Walter Calinger said team coach Matt Rodrigues fosters a family-likeenvironment on the team.

"In a big high school, he makes it so the kids have a place they feel like they belong," Calinger said.

During the meeting, the board approved a motion to enter into a contract with Siemens to revamp the school's lighting systems in the interest of saving energy costs.

According to a Siemens spokesperson who presented the plan at the meeting, the school would save nearly $54K annually and would recoup the initial project costs in about four years. The total cost of the project is estimated at $293K.

All board members except one voted to purchase a new television broadcasting and messenger system that would load programming from a server to the local cable channel and district Web site. Board member Colleen Filiak, who voted no on the measure, said she was concerned the nearly fourteenthousand dollar cost of the new system because of the possible four million dollar budget deficit facingthe district next year.

President Marilyn Messina, who joined the meeting via conference call, said she was in favor of the "much needed improvement."

The board also approved:

• elected officers for the Eastern Area Special Schools Joint Committee.
• a second reading for restrictions on charged lunches for students. Public comment is welcome on this topic for next meeting.
• the activity fund reports for January 2012 and the Budgetary Transfers for March 2012.
• several authorizations for leaving and incoming staff. 
• Assistant Superintendent Alan Johnson's title change to deputy superintendent and to appoint a new assistant board secretary.
• the use of facilities by outside organizations, including a community-based trackclub.
• the permission to advertise a bid for the school's media center and technology project.
• participating in the Allegheny Intermediate Unit's bid for fuel for the 47 IU districts' bus services for 2012-2013.
• three student adjudications.