Excitement and enthusiasm are the two best words to describe the tone of Aug. 20 Unionville-Chadds Ford School Board Meeting.

Superintendent John Sanville jokingly opened the meeting by reciting the three good reasons for choosing teaching as a career.

“The good reasons to teach are June, July and August.”

He continued his remarks with an enthusiastic report on preparation for the Aug. 27 return of more than 4,100 students to the now quiet school classrooms.

Sanville also reported on the school district convocation held earlier in the day Monday.  The convocation highlight, also noted by several board members, was the sense of team spirit and “High Hopes for the academic year,” coupled with a dedicated and experienced faculty well prepared to teach. Convocation included recognition of several teachers’ decades of service to district students.

Unionville High School’s 2012 Wall of Honor nominations are open.  Sanville said he looks forward to this year’s nominations of high school alumni to the Wall of Honor.

“The recognition of the Wall of Honor alumni perpetuates our tradition of excellence and serves to inspire current students.”

He noted that Amanda McGrory, class of 2004, is an outstanding example of distinguished alumni.

“I will be rooting for Amanda to win a gold medal in the marathon at the London Paralympics.   She is an outstanding example of overcoming challenges to achieve greatness with humility.”

Outstanding alumni are selected annually for Wall of Honor recognition.  The purpose of this prestigious award is to recognize U-CF district alumni for their lifetime achievements.  The eligibility requirements are

Candidates must be Unionville-Chadds Ford School District graduates; must have graduated at least five years prior to the nomination, and must have attained a high level of achievement in at least one of the following areas: personal and/or professional life; community/ humanitarian service; or lifelong commitment to educational excellence.

A committee of district community members —past Wall of Honor awardees, students, parents, and distinguished alumni — select outstanding graduates annually.  Unionville High School Wall of Honor Alumni recipients and the nomination form are found on the UCFSD web site at http://www.ucfsd.org/woh/index.html

Other business

• Keith Knauss, Chairman of the board’s Finance Committee briefly commented on the recent discussion of earned income tax and other finance matters.

Knauss said, “There will be no further current discussion of earned income tax as there presently is zero support on the school board.  A few years ago there was an E.I.T. referendum mandated by Harrisburg which district voters rejected by a 2 to 1 margin.”

Knauss also said, “The district should realize a savings of approximately $100,000 per year through the upcoming refinancing of the school district’s debt as the interest rates are very favorable.  Refinancing should be completed within the next three months.”

• The next board meeting will be held Sept. 18 at 7:30 p.m. at the Unionville High School auditorium.   Time will provided for School District resident remarks and questions to the School Board and District Administration.