Mitchel Klein, a resident of Chestnuthill Township, addressed the Pleasant Valley School District board of directors. He said that he had served six years in the United States Air Force and his wife also served in the armed forces. Currently he is working for the U.S. Army at the Tobyhanna Army Depot and recently bought a home in Effort.

"We picked the Pleasant Valley School District for the community. We have always been productive members of our previous communities. We do things and plan to become just as involved here.He told the board that they bought their home June 24, 2011."When we bought the house, we were told we would receive a tax bill. We did not. Then on Dec. 11, we received an overdue notice. This was the first thing we ever received concerning our taxes. My wife met with June O'Neil (real estate tax collector) who gave her a copy of the bill she sent out Aug. 1. They learned the bill had been sent to the previous owner in New York."O'Neil told Mrs. Klein that she preprinted the bills and never checked them.The penalty is 10 percent of the bill, which amounts to $853.35."I'm hoping the board can understand that that amount at this time of the year is a real burden," he said.The board approved Klein's request to not have to pay the penalty. Mr. Klein said he was very grateful.PVSD board of directors president Tom Murphy thanked him for his service to our country.Pleasant Valley School District school board director Susan Kresge reported good news in her Pennsylvania School Board Association report."There is good news that the state did not pass the voucher bill. I want to thank our representatives for voting against it," she said.The bill would have allowed for the creation of taxpayer-paid vouchers to subsidize private school tuition for children of lower-income families in struggling public schools. It failed to garner enough support to even be put to a vote.Each school in the PV district has shown admirable charity to its families in need throughout its community. Ms. Penny Derr, PVI's principal, reported that it has held a coat drive, food drive, toy drive and clothing drive. In once case, a student told a staff member that his family wasn't able to have a Christmas tree this year. PVI purchased a tree and decorations and gave it to the family.Mr. Krebs, PVE principal, stated that his school collected enough food items and gifts to donate to 22 PVE families in need to make their holiday brighter.Ms. Carole Geary and Mr. Christopher Fisher said Chestnuthill Elementary collected food and clothing and gifts for seven families in need in the Chestnuthill family.Mr. Kondisko, principal of Polk Elementary said his school collected 450 toys for Toy For Tots and enough food items to make up a holiday meal for 10 Polk families in need.Mr. Gress, principal of Pleasant Valley High School reported his staff and students collected over 1,200 food items and 12 turkeys to be donated to PVHS families in need. The students of REACH sent out 200 cards to USA troops overseas.Dr. Douglas Arnold said that "This is a special community. I believe in the importance of giving back and I think we've done that and that's because of our people. I'm very proud of that."Board president Tom Murphy, addressing the PVSD staff members and guests said, "Thank you so much for the good works you do for our community. You do a fantastic job."The board approved:*a taxpayer's request to exonerate payment of 2008 and 2009 school property taxes because the building was destroyed by a fire in 2008*tenure to teacher Mark Kutteroff*hiring Matthew Boland as a substitute custodian, Nicole Wild as a substitute elementary teacher, Diane Torres as a substitute secretary, Ann Marie Martin as school nurse substitute, Mary Matfeld as biology substitute teacher, Jeremy Robertson as elementary substitute teacher, Michelle Swiderski as health and physical education substitute teacher, Frank Tilli as an English/Social studies substitute teacher*accepting letters of resignation from Suzanne Frink, a substitute teacher, effective Nov. 30, 2011, Michelle Summerville, substitute teacher, effective Nov. 30, 2011, Dirk Yahraes, chief of school police/security, effective Jan. 7, 2012, Joseph D'Anieri, substitute teacher effective Dec. 19, 2013.*accepting letter of retirement from Wanda Crown, PVE full-time paraprofessional associate effective the conclusion of the 2011-2012 school year*accepting resignation of Karl Rentzheimer as head baseball coach for 2011-2012 school year*Dawn Larkin as 2011-2012 Jr high track coach*John-Henry Zarzycki as 2011-2012 volunteer wrestling coachPVSD board of director member Kresge said, "Our staff is fantastic."Board of director member James Spinola said he was to the high school band concert and the recent drama "It's A Wonderful Life" and "the talent in our schools are fantastic.""I'm a big advocate of giving back to the community and the community is a better place for it. Thank you," he said.President Murphy ended the meeting by wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.