Wyoming Area Boys Edge Western Wayne

Albert Gashi

By MARK GUYDISH markg@leader.net
 Thursday, February 20, 2003 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 7A 





WILKES-BARRE - The Wilkes-Barre Area School Board heard good news about the
budget and student crime Wednesday, but got an earful on the lack of minority
administrators. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Accountant John Bonita told the board his audit - covering July 1, 2001 to
June 30, 2002 - found no problems with the district's business practices. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The audit also showed the district has taken in $333,580 more than
expected, and has spent $303,948 less than originally budgeted. Total
expenditures were $65 million. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Bonita noted this is the last year the district will use the current
accounting system, which gives most information on a district level. Under new
state regulations districts must switch to a more detailed system. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Later, head of security Brian Levan said student crime has decreased. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He gave numbers for grades five through 12 from the 1999-2000 school year
to the present. He broke crimes into summary offenses that lead to a fine, and
felony/misdemeanor arrests that could lead to suspensions, expulsions and even
jail time. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Summary offenses initially inched up, with 233 in 1999-2000 and 279 in
2001-2002. Levan said that was a climb from about 5 percent of the students to
6 percent. There were 50 felony/misdemeanor arrests the first year and 46 in
2001-2002 - about 1 percent of the students. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The first half of this year saw 90 summary citations and 18
felony/misdemeanors. If the trend continues there will be only 180 summary
citations and 36 of the more serious crimes by year's end. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Levan gave a list of reasons for the decrease, but singled out the presence
of Wilkes-Barre police officers in the high schools, and a zero-tolerance
attitude by Judge Mark Ciavarella, who handles the serious juvenile cases. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The only sour note of the evening came when Doris Rivezzo, a math teacher
at GAR high school, told the board she was surprised she had not been
recommended as dean of students. Rivezzo said she had done the duties for
several months. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``Maybe the problem is that I'm a minority,'' Rivezzo said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Belinda Tabron, the district's multicultural coordinator, spoke on behalf
of Rivezzo, reminding the board that the administrative ranks have few women
and none from minorities - a criticism the district has heard for years. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 After the meeting, Superintendent Jeff Namey said that Rivezzo had never
approached him about the issue, and that administrators had provided possible
candidates for dean, and Rivezzo was not on the list. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He also pointed out that the position is part-time and technically not
administrative, because it requires a teaching certificate, not a separate
administrator certificate from the state. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mark Guydish, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7161. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
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W-b Area Gets High Marks On Budget, Crime District Reports Surplus, Lower Crime Rate, But Hears Criticism About Appointing Minorities.