Resident Brian Martin asked the Pleasant Valley School District board of directors to exonerate payment of penalty of his 2012 school real estate taxes. He stated that he sent his taxes in on time. But the tax collector's office did not receive the payment and he now has to pay the taxes and the additional penalty.

Board solicitor, Jerry Geiger, said the board has no proof that Martin mailed his payment by Nov. 30, 2012, stating that the tax laws are specific.Martin said that for 12 years he never had a problem."I did what I had to do. I mailed it in time. I'm willing to sign an affidavit stating that I mailed it," he said.Geiger responded that if the board did it for one, it would have to do it for everyone.The board voted to deny the request, 7-0, with board members MiChelle Palmer and Harvey Frable absent.Board director James Spinola told Martin if anything changed, if he received his canceled check, or it was returned to him, the board could revisit the issue.The meeting room's walls were decorated with posters from several PVSD classes expressing the students' and staff's appreciation for all the school board does for them in recognition of Board Appreciation Month.Dr. Douglas Arnold, PVSD superintendent personally thanked everyone, saying that the district always has the interest of the students at heart.PVSD board president, Tom Murphy added that board members could not do what they do without the support of the administration.The class president from 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th classes each addressed the board and thanked them on behalf of their classes.The PVMS Student Council presented the board with a quilt the students had made depicting scenes of safety, "as a thank you for keeping us safe."Each principal from the other schools presented the board with handmade student cards. Dr. Arnold read one aloud that amused him."Thank you. P.S. Can you tell me why you work for free?"PVE had decorated the bulletin board with each board member's name with each letter in their name representing some aspect of what a board director does.Mariclaire Hosking from Polk, and other members of the All Sports Club, presented gifts to the board members in "PV spirit."Board director Spinola said he enjoyed having the students show their appreciation for what the board does and was glad to hear the students felt safe at PV, but thought it was sad that the students even had to talk about feeling safe. He also thanked the administration for all they do.In other business, the board approved hiring, 7-0:• Michele Herrmann, replacement grade 1 remedial mathematics position for Roger Pomposello, $41,300 prorated; Barbara Farrington from part-time to full-time cafeteria worker as replacement for Barbara Borger; Rosemary Denis as monitor replacement for Nancy Perry; Lorraine Danny, substitute secretary; Beth Archangel, substitute custodian; Regina King, substitute cafeteria workerThe board approved, 7-0:• the resignation of Jerome Langan from PVI full-time and substitute paraprofessional associate effective Jan. 25.• the transfer of Ashley Hoffman from special education teacher at PVMS to reading specialist at PVHS, replacement position for Josephine Dyett-Fields.The board approved the following contracts:• $1,380 to CSI for Polk Elementary School fire alarm preventive maintenance agreement, effective March 1, 2013-Feb. 28, 2014 with no increase from last year.• the revised letter of agreement for Title I Services through Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 at a cost of $6,727 for instruction, parent involvement, professional development and $198 for administrative costs. Term is for Aug. 27, 2012-May 28, 2013 at a reduction of $266 from original cost.• with Coordinated Health at $12,500 two athletic trainers for a total of $25,000 per school year. The term of the agreement shall commence July 1, 2013-July 1, 2018• participation in the Department of General Services Costars Contract for road salt for the fiscal year 2013-2014• $4,393 for surveillance upgrades the John C. Mills wing of the PVHS• the Elected Tax Collector Compensation Resolution for the period 2014-2015 through 2017-2018Dr. Arnold, reported that the enrollment was at 5,428, which includes Cyber Academy and the ICU.Dr. Arnold attended the 16th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration breakfast held at East Stroudsburg University and noted that PVHS student Cassidy Roos won third place in the Juliann V. Bold art contest.The board approved, 7-0, the 2012-2013 spring positions:• JV baseball, Aaron Fuhrman;• Junior high girls' soccer, Jill Yetter, Ashley Kozicki• PVMS Guitar Club, Marc Fleming• spring intramural adviser positions boys basketball: Ken Piontkowski, Anthony Chupa, Robert Madsen; girls soccer: Tim Hinton, Derek Strohl, James Shoopack; weight lifting: Maurice Stallings, Dan Frable, Marc Fleming• Polk parent volunteers: Jessica Balbuena, Sandy Righi