May 21, 2002 By Steve Ostrosky 2 min read

Though the Uniontown Area School District has already found a new superintendent to take over when Dr. Darrell Uphold retires next month, the school board learned Monday they will have to fill two more top administrative positions. Directors voted to accept the resignations due to retirement of Merridy Greenlief, director of education, and William H. Freas, technology coordinator. Both retirements are effective June 28.

Greenlief, 58, has spent the past four years as the district’s director of education. Before coming to Uniontown, she spent 30 years with the California Area School District in a number of different capacities: elementary and middle school teacher, elementary principal, curriculum coordinator and administrative assistant to the superintendent.

She said the best part of being in education as a teacher is seeing students love learning, and the best part of being an administrator is seeing teachers love learning and develop leaders.

“The teachers at Uniontown love being on the cutting edge of learning and they like to be leaders,” she said. “The best leaders are those who develop leaders.”

During a brief statement to the board, she said she will always keep a special part of her heart reserved for the district and asked directors and administration to keep a part of their hearts reserved for her, too.

“Thank you for everything you have done for me here in Uniontown,” Greenlief said. “I have loved being here.”

Earlier this year, Uphold announced his retirement and the board last week voted to hire Charles Machesky as the district’s top administrator effective July 1. Directors voted to send letters of appreciation to both Freas and Greenlief thanking them for their years of service to the district.

In other matters, the board authorized a $1,025 contract with Franklin John Realty, Inc. for an appraisal of property on Iowa Street. The building may explored as the new home for the district’s central administration offices.

The appraisal should be done by the time of the board’s June worksession, according to buildings and grounds director Robert Smalley. The board, however, briefly discussed the possibility of holding a special meeting before that time to go over the appraisal.