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.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Michalowski to oversee Octorara special education
Kathryn Michalowski will be stepping in to oversee the needs of 429 special education students in the Octorara Area School District on Sept. 1.
Look for a smooth transition and a continued commitment to service, according to Michalowski, an Octorara resident.
“First and foremost, my priority is to maintain the excellent level of service that Mr. DiObilda has given to students, families and the community over the past 38 years,” Michalowski said of Richard DiObilda, her retiring co-worker.
“As an educator, I am interested in ensuring that our students, parents and educational community understand the special education process and how it can best support student learning.”
A former teacher and district administrator, Michalowski began working for the Octorara district in 2004. She said she was so impressed with the district she moved herself and her two children to Octorara. Her children, a son and a daughter, are sophomores at Octorara Area Junior/Senior High School.
“My daughter is quite involved in sports, is interested in foreign affairs, and would like to serve her country,” said Michalowski. “My son loves to read and has his sights set on physics or astrophysics.”
Michalowski has a varied educational background. She earned her bachelor’s degree in German and secondary education and music from Towson State University. She also holds a master’s degree in English from the University of Florida. Michalowski completed post-graduate studies in English literature, and German and Scandinavian language and literature at the University of Munich.
She has principal and superintendent certifications, and has completed doctoral level course work in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University.
Look for a smooth transition and a continued commitment to service, according to Michalowski, an Octorara resident.
“First and foremost, my priority is to maintain the excellent level of service that Mr. DiObilda has given to students, families and the community over the past 38 years,” Michalowski said of Richard DiObilda, her retiring co-worker.
“As an educator, I am interested in ensuring that our students, parents and educational community understand the special education process and how it can best support student learning.”
A former teacher and district administrator, Michalowski began working for the Octorara district in 2004. She said she was so impressed with the district she moved herself and her two children to Octorara. Her children, a son and a daughter, are sophomores at Octorara Area Junior/Senior High School.
“My daughter is quite involved in sports, is interested in foreign affairs, and would like to serve her country,” said Michalowski. “My son loves to read and has his sights set on physics or astrophysics.”
Michalowski has a varied educational background. She earned her bachelor’s degree in German and secondary education and music from Towson State University. She also holds a master’s degree in English from the University of Florida. Michalowski completed post-graduate studies in English literature, and German and Scandinavian language and literature at the University of Munich.
She has principal and superintendent certifications, and has completed doctoral level course work in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University.
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
Districts weigh sports, costs
The Octorara Area School District is not the only district struggling with how to fund sports. A three-part series in the Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era highlights this issue among Lancaster County Schools.
To read this go to Lancasteronline.com and read "Districts weigh sports,costs" from July 26; "Pay-to-play gaining momentum" from July 27; and "Are high school sports still relevant?" from July 28.
To read this go to Lancasteronline.com and read "Districts weigh sports,costs" from July 26; "Pay-to-play gaining momentum" from July 27; and "Are high school sports still relevant?" from July 28.
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