EMPORIUM — Cameron County Commissioners recently approved a funding request made by the Cameron County School District board of directors.
The county will provide $4,985.10 to cover half the cost of the new diving board recently installed at the high school pool, plus funds to purchase additional mulch to be laid down at the elementary playground.
At Thursday’s meeting of the school board, the resignation of long-time elementary teacher Ben Porkolab was accepted, with regret. Porkolab also resigned from his position as girls’ golf coach.
Recently, athletic director David Sullivan resigned from his post. The board hired Mark Guido at Thursday’s meeting to fill the position for the 2018-19 school year. Guido will be paid a prorated amount of his $6,645 annual salary for the remainder of the school year. The board also voted to pay Sullivan for the month of July while he continued to serve in the position.
Member Kelli Farabaugh voted against hiring Guido, providing clarification that her reservations concerned Guido being employed outside the district and there may be difficulty in reaching him if emergencies arise during the school day.
In a related move, the board unanimously accepted the revised Game Manager job description. That position has yet to be filled.
Nathan Schwab resigned as assistant wrestling coach. Tammy Johnson resigned from her post as cheerleading advisor, effective Oct. 20. The positions will be advertised.
The professional substitute and support substitute lists were approved. Not much discussion was held on the hires or the support lists, except by members asking that district keys be retrieved from any substitutes. One individual was removed from the list prior to a vote on the measure.
Board approval was granted for the bus driver and bus route lists for the 2018-19 school year. Administration was given authority to make changes as needed throughout the school year. Several stops were questioned by board members as they seemed to be out-of-sequence with the bus routes. New transportation coordinator Jeff Snell stated that students are listed for pick up just outside of the Emporium Borough so that the district is reimbursed for loaded miles as the bus travels to the edges of the county to pick up more students. Car carrier contracts were also approved.
The board approved payment of the district’s bills in the amount of $390,544.61. The July 2018 financial reports were accepted for audit.
Newly-hired curriculum coordinator Brian Schell was introduced at the meeting. Schell began working last week, having moved from Palmyra after his hiring.
