Mar 19, 2015 2 min read

The Trinity Area School Board Thursday approved the appointment of two firms to assist in the restructuring of approximately $21 million of long-term debt.

Financial services firm Janney Montgomery Scott will serve as underwriter and prepare a proposal for the bond issue, and Clark Hill was named as bond counsel.

The move will help address the school district’s difficult financial situation.

David Roussos, director of fiscal services, said the district’s current debt structure is very aggressive, and restructuring the debt will make it more manageable.

In another matter, the school board accepted the resignation of director Henry Clemens.

Clemens, who represented Canton Township, was serving his second term as director. He did not cite a reason for his resignation.

Less than a year remains in his term with the board, meaning the remaining members can appoint a replacement within the next 30 days to fill his seat until the next election.

Clemens is the third school board director to resign in the past 16 months.

Also Thursday, the school board held a moment of silence in honor of high school music teacher Marsha Owens, who died March 17. Owens was a teacher in the school district since 2000 and served as the All-Star High School Choir director with Washington Symphony Orchestra.

“She will be greatly missed by our staff and students,” said Superintendent Michael Lucas. “She was truly an inspirational voice in the arts and mentored many students to extend their love of music well beyond the high school.”

Schweinebraten Bus Co. donated a bus in order for students to attend the funeral in Owens’s hometown of Oil City Saturday, and the high school faculty paid for the cost of the bus driver.

In other business the school board:

• Approved the furlough of three special service aides;

• Appointed Kathleen M. Wall as deputy tax collector for Amwell Township;

• Reappointed Laura Keisling as mercantile license tax collector.