Sep 23, 2014 4 min read

MAPLETOWN – Southeastern Greene School Board hired a new secondary social studies teacher Monday, but tabled action on hiring a special education teacher and a new junior-senior high school principal.

The board hired Dominic DeCarlo as the secondary social studies teacher. Three candidates were interviewed by the board for the post.

Board member J.R. Antill commended the administration for selecting three excellent candidates for the board to interview and said any one of them would make a good addition to the teaching staff. Board President Joe Spiker also thanked the board for the time and effort members contributed in interviewing the candidates.

The board tabled action on hiring a secondary special education teacher and a new high school principal.

The board last month accepted the resignation of secondary Principal Jason Pappas, who took a job in another district. It also voted then to appoint Billi Jo Huffman, the district’s special education coordinator, acting junior-senior high principal.

The board met in executive session at the end of Monday’s meeting apparently to consider the matter further. Spiker said he didn’t expect any board action would be taken following the closed session.

The board recessed Monday’s meeting until 7 p.m. Oct. 6.

In other business, the board approved a list of 16 teachers who will participate in the elementary after-school tutoring program. Fourteen teachers will be paid $21 an hour as tutors and the two teacher coordinators will be paid $23 an hour.

The district has held the tutoring program for a number of years. Elementary Principal Scott Sinn said about 60 students attend the sessions, held from 3:30 to 5 p.m. three nights a week. The district provides snacks and bus transportation for students who participate.

Acting Superintendent Rich Pekar reported the district is partnering with other county school districts to hold a joint college, career and scholarship fair. Mapletown guidance counselor Tom Fink took the lead in organizing the Nov. 20 event at the Waynesburg Armory, he said.

In the past, when the district held its own fair, it could only attract a limited number of vendors, Pekar said. More than 100 vendors will attend the joint fair at the armory.

In her report, Huffman also said Fink prepared an updated list of scholarships available to students and the information is accessible through the district’s website.

The board accepted a proposal from Vector Security to replace and update the security access system at Mapletown Junior-Senior High School and Bobtown Elementary at a cost of $16,751.

It also approved renewal of the contract with Computer Resources LLC for the MMS student accounting system at a cost of $8,700.03.

The board approved Sheena Donley as Interact sponsor, Gwen Yoney as sophomore class sponsor and Jennifer George for after-school bus duty.

It also accepted the resignation of Michael Holloway as head girls varsity basketball coach and approved the retirement of longtime nonprofessional employee David Garrison.

The board approved a motion for the band to perform at an away football game with Jefferson-Morgan Oct. 3.

Several board members said the request didn’t need to come before the board; however, business manager Pat Sweeney said it was included on the agenda because this is the first time in a number of years the band has performed at an away game. The band suffered in the past from lack of student participation.

The board approved several field trip requests. Board member Gary Moser said though he wasn’t against educational field trips, he believed the district should have a budget for them. Several other board members agreed.

Antill thanked the two acting administrators, Pekar and Huffman, for the good work they have done for the district this school year. The administration has had to make some tough decisions and things have gone well, he said. Students and staff seem excited about the new school year, he said.