Schools begin 2016-17 planning even as this year's funding is six months late

From a financial standpoint, Columbia Borough School District would be better off staying closed after the holiday break.

"If it wasn't for the kids, we wouldn't come back," board president Tom Strickler said in a phone interview Tuesday.

MORE:
http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/schools-begin---planning-even-as-this-year-s/article_36d1b8b4-a995-11e5-b6c6-cbceedc5f336.html

School board accepts superintendent's resignation

The Columbia School Board voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Superintendent Dr. Carol Powell at a special board meeting Tuesday night. Dr. Powell's resignation is effective at the close of the business day on Wednesday, December 23, 2015. Powell, who was present at the abbreviated meeting, wished the district well and offered a quote from Aristotle: "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."

Powell has accepted a position with the School District of Lancaster as Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction at a salary of $135,000 (to be pro-rated). There was no public discussion of the particulars of Dr. Powell's contract which was to run until 2017.

The board also approved the appointment of Dr. Kenneth Klawitter as acting superintendent, effective Tuesday December 22, 2015 at 6:30 p.m., at a salary of $115,000 for the 2015-2016 school year. His salary will be prorated beginning on December 23rd. Dr. Klawitter will receive the full complement of sick, personal, and vacation days given to administrators.

Christmas lights set to music at 15th & Manor

Drivers traveling past a residence at 15th and Manor Streets will be treated to a flashing Christmas light display set to music.  Listeners are invited to tune their car radios to 107.5 FM to hear the music that triggers the lights. The music can also be heard from speakers at the house.

THE STOP SIGN IS GONE AGAIN!

As shown in the photo above, the stop sign at Route 441 South at the Locust Street intersection has been removed again. As we reported in previous posts, the original stop sign was removed when the Route 441 bypass was opened last week. Sometime yesterday, a stop sign was placed at the same location at this intersection. Today, the stop sign is missing again.

This photo was taken just before 4 o'clock this afternoon.

Columbia Superintendent Carol Powell to leave in middle of contract; Plans to take job in city district

It's official:

http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/columbia-superintendent-carol-powell-to-leave-in-middle-of-contract/article_503f9660-a8bc-11e5-9ebc-6ba91f82af64.html

ONE STOP SIGN IS BACK!

UPDATE: Sometime this afternoon - without warning - a stop sign was placed - or rather, replaced - on Route 441 South at the intersection with Locust Street.  Originally, there was a stop sign at this location, but it was removed when the Route 441 bypass was opened last week. (Columbia Spy reported on it HERE.) Now, this "new" stop sign has appeared there.

Please note: There is no stop sign on Route 441 North at Locust Street, but the one at the bottom of Locust is still there.

So, to be clear: There are two stop signs at the intersection of Route 441 and Locust - one on 441 South and one at the bottom of Locust.

A few other issues: The "new" stop sign on 441 South is merely sand-bagged in place. Also, there's no Stop Ahead sign on the road to alert drivers of the stop sign itself. There's no flasher on the sign. In short, there's nothing to warn drivers that a stop sign has been placed there.

As we said previously, proceed with caution at this intersection. If this re-appearing stop sign is any indication, there's no telling what might pop up - or disappear - next.

Is Columbia's superintendent jumping ship?

Is Carol Powell leaving Columbia? Signs point to "yes." Currently, she is the superintendent of Columbia Borough School District, having assumed that position on July 1, 2014 for a three-year term at a starting salary of $115,000.

Shown below is a screen shot of Personnel Recommendations from the December 15, 2015 school board meeting agenda of the School District of Lancaster:

As shown above, a Carol Powell is slated to fill the position of Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction for SDL at a salary of $135,000 (to be pro-rated). Hire date and effective date are to be determined.

No mention of her resignation from Columbia Borough School District could be found on its website.