The Octorara Area School Board tweaked the district personnel roster Aug. 15 in anticipation of the new school year.
Although there is no new contract with the district’s teachers union, the board signed two memorandums of understanding with its teachers union, and is approving regular salary step increases for teachers.
One memorandum outlines a flex schedule for high school counselors and instructional support team members, whose services are needed during the summer, and gives them equal time off during the school year. The other memorandum allows for shift changes for secondary and elementary staff who are covering program needs outside of their routine assignments.
The school board hired: Katherine Smith as a junior/senior high school math teacher at a $46,914 salary; Michelle Maser, Tammy Anthony and Joan Miller as a Title 1 reading assistants; and a group of as-needed substitute teachers and substitute support staff.
Resignations were accepted from: alternative education assistant Cori Brittingham; computer technicial Terrance Cusick; and classroom assistants Judy Miller and Wanda Fisher.
Two teachers, Erika Lunch and Sally Welk, were granted unpaid family medical leave from the spring of 2012 through the end of the school year in June, 2012.
The board also approved a contract with Signal 88 Security for traffic security along Highland Road during peak bus times mornings and afternoons Monday through Friday. Signal 88 will be paid $34.88 per hour, at a cost not to exceed $20,000 during the school year. The company is a venture for Peter Mango, a retired police officer and former school board member.
Superintendent Tom Newcome said the contracted rate is lower than those of local police departments and was one of his cost-saving recommendations to the board.
Newcome also reported a group of parents contacted him about running a soccer program with seventh and eighth grade boys and girls. He said the community members plan to help fund the team and offer one combined team for boys, and one combined team for girls.
Finally, Newcome said music teachers recently ran a very successful two-week summer band camp for students in grades 5-8 which culminated in a well-attended concert.