KC approves personnel items, applying for grants
By Christopher Miller
BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP – In a swift move by Roger Elling to move the school board meeting along Thursday evening, dozens of agenda items were passed in one foul swoop.
One of the items passed was a Grant Application Authorization, authorizing the district administration to apply for a DCED/CFA Public School Improvement Grant and various PCCD Grants outlined below.
With the recommendation of the administration, RESOLVED, that the Keystone Central School District Board of Directors approve the Keystone Central School District administration to apply for the following grants:
1.) DCED/CFA Public School Improvement Grant – $8.7M for a $8.7M project. District would be responsible for $2.1M. Grant due May 31st.
2.) PCCD – Meritorious Grant – $45,000 Digital Radios
PCCD – Competitive School Safety Grant – $450,000 Key Swipe System
PCCD – Competitive School Safety Grant – CTC – $377,000 Key Swipe System
PCCD – Mental Health Grant – $150,600 Staff and Services
PCCD – Mental Health Grant – CTC $70,000 Mental Health Support
The donation of a geriatric bed valued at $2,000 from Robert Pellacore was also approved.
As requested and hoped for by Bucktail High School Senior Students, the school board also voted in favor of their overnight “field trip” senior class trip to Camelback Lodge in the Pocono’s on May 16 and 17. “We would really appreciate it if you voted in favor of our senior class trip that we are really excited about,” said a Bucktail senior student at last week’s Work Session.
Along with news for the Renovo Elementary and Bucktail campus, the position of K-12 Dean of Students – Bucktail Campus was created and approved by the school board. The person in this role will assist the school principal with direction, leadership, and day-to-day management of educational and athletic activities within the K-12 campus.
Also on the list of personnel items was the position of Director of Human Resources/Federal Programs, a position that was created by shuffling around some staff members throughout the district and administration building. Taking the helm on July 1 will be Justin Evey who was named the Interim Assistant Superintendent in September 2023 before the hiring of Dr. Randy Zangara. Most recently, Evey was the On-Line Learning Principal for the district’s Online Learning and Virtual Academy.
While board member Elisabeth Lynch was not questioning Evey’s ability to lead in this capacity, she was curious more so about posting the position for anyone matching the correct credentials to apply for.
“We could reach out for an outside hire and try to get someone at a lower cost to the district, or like I mentioned last week, get a 3rd party consulting firm for Human Resources activities, but that was not researched or looked into,” she said.
When asked about the rationale that Superintendent Redmon used when creating this position, he said that “we need a greater level of support for our building administrators as well as human resources in ways that would not cost the district money. In fact by making these transitions it would generate savings for the district. So while we are creating a new director position, we are not adding to the number of administrators or decreasing the level of director-level positions. It is a reorganization of the staff. The goal was to increase support we need to have for our buildings as well as work with our bargaining groups, HR, and payroll.”
Board member Chris Scaff posed the question of what experience in human resources the person will have.
Superintendent Redmon went on to say “that in most school districts the central office human resources director is typically a school administrator that moves to the central office and learns the job through training.
The motion for the creation of this position and appointment of Justin Evey as Human Resources Director/Federal Programs was approved with Tom Cannon and Chris Scaff being the dissenting votes.
New job descriptions were shared with the board Thursday evening. These descriptions are for Dean of Students – Bucktail Campus, Lead Nurse, Certified School Nurse, and CTE Administrative Secretary
In personnel news, the following updates were voted on and approved Thursday evening:
LEAVES OF ABSENCE
Support
- Leave of absence for Stephanie Allen, cafeteria worker, at Central Mountain Middle School, effective March 18, 2024. Absence is uncompensated.
- Leave of absence for Nicole Bravoco, cafeteria worker, at Central Mountain High School, effective March 19 and 20, 2024. Absence is uncompensated.
- Leave of absence for Logan McKinley, cafeteria worker, at Central Mountain High School, effective March 6, 7 and 27, 2024. Absence is uncompensated.
- Leave of absence for Tawnya Gilberthorp, cafeteria worker, at Central Mountain Middle School, effective March 6 (½) and March 21, 2024. Absence is uncompensated.
- Leave of absence for Jerri Lynn Houtz, cafeteria worker, at Central Mountain High School, effective March 26, 2024. Absence is uncompensated.
- Leave of absence for Kayla Weaver, cafeteria worker, Central Mountain High School, effective March 14, 15, 16, 20, 26 (½) and 27, 2024. Absences are uncompensated.
- Leave of absence for Susanne VanGorder, PIMS secretary, at Administration, effective March 22, 2024, for approximately 4 – 6 weeks. Absence is compensated.
Professional
- Leave of absence for Alison Willis, art teacher, at Bucktail MS/HS, effective March 21, 2024. Absence is uncompensated.
- Leave of absence for Larissa Jones, special education teacher, at Central Mountain High School, effective March 6 (½), 2024. Absence is uncompensated.
EMPLOYMENT
Support
Employment of the following for Extended School Year Program 2024:
- Katie Andrews
- Bobbie Askins
- Lisa Bartholomew
- Virginia Bauman
- Susan Beam
- Dawn Bechdel
- Dawn Berton
- Lisa Bottorf
- Brittney Burkey
- Mazie Chapman
- Jessica Chevillot
- Jacob Edwards
- James Evanock
- Marissa Hillyer
- Barb Krupack
- Jordan Lynn
- Sabrina Mandracchia
- Sheila Neff
- Kim Beach
- DeAnna Poorman
- Evie Shaffer
- Heather Smith Krystal Smith
- Bonnie Bechdel – Sub
- Carolyn Wheeler – Sub
- Employment of Gerald Monoski, as mower custodian, first shift, 8 hrs/day, 260 days/year, at PSO, effective March 25, 2024, at a rate of $14/hr. Hiring is contingent upon receipt of all required paperwork including, but not limited to, all necessary background checks that meet the appropriate standard(s) as required by Pennsylvania law.
- Employment of Riley Utters, as custodian, first shift, 8 hrs/day, 260 days/year, at Robb Elementary School, effective TBD, at a rate of $14/hr. Hiring is contingent upon receipt of all required paperwork including, but not limited to, all necessary background checks that meet the appropriate standard(s) as required by Pennsylvania law.
- Employment of Patricia Confer, general cafeteria worker, 4.75 hours/day, at Central Mountain Middle School, effective date TBD.
- Approve Wendy Zimmerman, secretary at Liberty Curtin Elementary School as mentor for Samantha Hardy, secretary at Woodward Elementary School.
Employment of Summer Recreation Instructors:
- Madeline Jones
- Sydney Redmon
- Maille Fowler
- Sydney Cooper
- Sabrina Mandraccia
- Garrison Lucas
- Kristie Dion
- Jack Grieco
- Brooklyn Bechdel
- Lillian Sporney
- Cheyanne Casper
- Alexis Lowery
- Julie Green
- Amanda Kanouff
- Madison Sutliff
Approve the following co-op volunteers for the 2023-2024 school year:
- Doug Spatafore
Approve the following drivers and aides for Susquehanna Transit for the 2023-2024 school year. Hiring is contingent upon receipt of all required paperwork including, but not limited to, all necessary background checks that meet the appropriate standard(s) as required by Pennsylvania law.
- Seth Hamilton – Driver
- Franklin Rogers – Driver
Approve the following classroom volunteers for the 2023-2024 school year:
- Mark Kramer
- Lisa Rusczyk
- Joni Crow
- Matthew Crow
- Dennis Marasco
- Lauren Butler
- Meredith Batterson
- Katelyn Adrian
Professional
- *Employment of Natalie Schaefer as Certified School Nurse, at a salary of $59,785, pro-rated, BS, Step 7, effective April 15, 2024.
Employment of the following for Extended School Year Program 2024:
- Ashley Bowes
- Joelene Confer
- Michelle Dickens
- Tammy Evelhair
- Brandy Fye
- Jaime Gentzyel
- Megan Hess
- Loryn Hughes
- Brett Kleckner
- Justine Lynch
- Chryssie Miller
- Tara Rippey
- Terrie Sproul
- Patricia Taylor
- Mya Trauger
- Ryan Veltri
- Angie Waltz
- Angela Weaver
- Amy Hull – Sub
- Carla Lodek – Sub
- Suzanne Rainey – Sub
- Trevor Reeder – Sub
- Katrina Sheely – Sub
- Marie Snyder – Sub
- Danielle Wilson – Sub
- Abby Barnhart – Volunteer
Approve the following as Instructor in the Home for the 2023-2024 school year:
- Amanda Packer
TRANSFERS – Professional
- Involuntary transfer of Leslie Brown, librarian, at Central Mountain Middle School, to librarian/elementary teacher, at Central Mountain Middle School, effective January 26, 2024.
- TRANSFERS – Administrative Transfer of Justin Evey, online learning principal, to Director of Human Resources/Federal Programs, effective July 1, 2024.
JOB DESCRIPTIONS
- Lead Nurse job description.
- School Nurse job description
- Dean of Students job description.
- CTC Secretary job description.
- Director of Human Resources/Federal Programs job description.
RESIGNATIONS/RETIREMENTS/
Support
- Nullify the employment of Devin Young, custodian, 8 hrs/day, 210 days, 2nd shift, at Robb Elementary School, effective March 14, 2024.
- Resignation of Justin Haugh, 8 hr/day, 210 days, custodian, at Woodward Elementary School, effective March 18, 2024.
- Resignation of Cody Allen, 8 hrs/day, 210 days, custodian, at Central Mountain High School, effective March 26, 2024.
- Retirement of Julie Frazier, building assistant, at Mill Hall Elementary School, effective October 1, 2024.
- *Rescind the retirement of Denise Bean, head cook, at Robb Elementary School.
Professional
- Retirement of Michelle Hoy, Family and Consumer Science Teacher, at Central Mountain Middle School, effective June 30, 2024.
- *Retirement of Scott Baker, Social Studies Teacher, at Central Mountain High School, effective June 7, 2024.
