Odessa fires Colunio, looks at policy

Nov 18, 2009 at 02:39 pm by Observer-Review


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Odessa fires Colunio, looks at policy

ODESSA—The Odessa-Montour School Board acted on changing the lunch policy, and fired a food service helper, at the Thursday, Nov. 12 board meeting.
Over 60 people were present for the board meeting, asking for the policy to be changed.  At the end of the meeting, the board entered into executive session.  Superintendent Jim Frame said the school board decided to temporarily suspend the substitute lunch policy.  He explained that previously, the policy stated that if a student charged lunch and was unable to pay it the next time, the student was not allowed to have a hot lunch.  Instead the student got a sandwich.  Frame said for now, the student will be allowed to have the hot lunch, even with pending charges.  In meantime, he said the board will be looking at changes to the policy.
Later in the meeting, the board voted to let cafeteria worker, Maureen Colunio, go.  The board was split on the vote, 4-3.  Frame said he could not comment on personnel issues.  The REVIEW&EXPRESS tried to contact Colunio by telephone, but got no answer.
During public comment period, parents and district residents offered ideas on how the food policy could be changed.  One suggestion was that if at the end of the year there is a charge, make parents pay that off before grades are released.
In other business:
• The school board approved a change in the tax levy.  Frame explained it was a property that was eligible for a STAR exemption, but did not get it.
• Greg Conlon, middle/high school principal, said he was almost done with formal teacher observations.  He also said he is looking at any students that might be at risk of not graduating and what can be done to help the students meet the requirements.
• Sara Fontana, B.C. Cate principal, reported on the character education program going on at the school.  She explained that students are rewarded for good behavior each month.  She said November was “anger management and problem solving.”  Fontana said each month’s winners get a special lunch with Sheriff Bill Yessman and presented a certificate for their good behavior.  She said family is invited to the ceremony.  
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