The Gettysburg Area School Board decided Monday that district taxpayers will receive free parking in town and fall coaches will be paid for their services.
Earlier this month, the board failed to approve supplemental contracts for 31 fall coaches. Although the vote was 4-3, it failed because board rules state that the majority of directors—not the majority present—must approve personnel recommendations.
On Monday, all directors were present, and the motion passed 6-3. Kenny Hassinger, Tim Seigman, Michael Dickerson, Alice Broadway, Jeremy Davis, and Al Moyer voted in favor; Cynthia Ayers, Michelle Smyers, and Ryan Morris opposed.
Before the vote, Broadway apologized for her absence at the last meeting.
“I appreciate the work that is being done there and I support the coaches,” she said. “I personally feel that they had to start their season without a contract being approved is wrong.”
When he cast his vote, Morris explained that he had repeatedly unsuccessfully requested that coaches undergo evaluations.
“I keep getting stonewalled,” he said.
Parking
With Hassinger admitting the rollout of paid parking in the Lincoln Elementary and Gettysburg Middle School lots was “sloppy,” the board voted 7-2 to give district residents free parking.
The board voted in June to contract with Parking Management Company to charge people to park in the lots. The agreement states the company will split revenues 50/50 with the district. The company is responsible for all software costs, signage, and labor.
Hassinger said the vote was “odd” since Parking Management Company is not issuing fines to those who do not pay to park. Business Manager Belinda Wallen said the vote gives Parking Management Company direction in programming its software. If a resident attempts to pay, Wallen said, the application will reject their money.
Seigman reminded the board that the parking contract is for six months. The board’s Finance and Facilities Committee, which Seigman chairs, will evaluate the program and any possible changes before deciding whether to recommend renewal.
Alex J. Hayes has spent almost two decades in the Adams County news business. He is passionate about sharing stories focused on the people in our communities and following local governments in an age when few journalists report on their meetings. Alex is also a freelance writer for several other publications in South Central Pennsylvania. Alex encourages readers to contact him at ahayes83@gmail.com.