Teacher hirings leads to heated discussion at school board meeting
CONNELLSVILLE – All teachers that received a pink slip in the spring will return to the classroom when school begins in two weeks, according to action taken Wednesday by the Connellsville Area School District board of directors. “Everybody is coming back,” said district Superintendent Gerald Browell of the 73 returnees.
The board took action on several matters in filling positions vacated over the summer by retiring teachers, with two posts drawing heated words from several board members as the meeting progressed.
At issue was the matter of a health/physical education class position vacated last week with the retirement of Dan Spanish and a guidance counselor position.
When the board moved name Andrew Robertson as Spanish’s successor in the classroom, board member Jeffrey Harvey asked that the matter be tabled, noting Robertson had not obtained all the teaching credentials needed to be hired.
“I think it’s a bad practice if we do this,” said Harvey. “And I think it’s a bad practice that the administration is supporting the recommendation of hiring (Robertson), when we have qualified teachers that have their certifications to start day one.
“I think we should take (Robertson’s) name off of the agenda and get someone in there that can start immediately.”
Robertson, formerly of New Mexico, was initially hired in June to replace Spanish as coach of the senior high school football team.
During the public comment period, Michael Ritenour, told the board she had the credentials to take on the classroom instruction. A former Connellsville student and graduate of Edinboro University, Ritenour said it would be a “dream come true,” to return to the school as a teacher.
According to board member Karen Blocker, six current teachers had submitted letters of interest in the position.
“We had a lot of interest by physical education teachers at the elementary level to move to the senior high school position,” she said.
The measure to hire Robertson marginally passed with board members Ann Watson, David Goldblum, Kevin Lape, Chip Nicholson and Charles Wilson supporting the motion with Harvey, Blocker and board members Francis Mongell and Loretta Lint casting dissenting votes.
Although not listed as a discussion item on the agenda, Mongell broached the topic of a vacancy within the guidance department, a position Goldblum’s daughter is being considered for by several of the board members.
Mongell, who stated he is not in favor of hiring Marni Goldblum, said it is the board’s responsibility to resolve the matter and that proposed administrative action to fill the position with a substitute is not in the best interest of the district.
“There has to be some type of methodology to correct this,” said Mongell, adding he did not believe the hiring would be ethical.
Lape, however, said that Marni Goldblum was qualified and a product of the Connellsville school system and should be considered for the post.
Harvey questioned Lape’s support for Marni Goldblum because she lived in the area, yet declined to support a local physical education/health teacher for a position.
“You talk out of both sides of your face,” said Harvey. “One time you want to hire locally, the next time you don’t.
“You’re bypassing people with seniority in this district.”
Lape challenged Harvey stating he was not supporting the hiring because the board several years ago opted not to rehire Mongell’s wife as the girl’s basketball coach, and that he, Blocker and Lint were Mongell’s puppets.
Lint denied following Mongell’s direction, noting she always considered each issue, reviewed pertinent information and then made an informed decision.
“I speak on my own behalf,” she said. “I take this position seriously.”
The panel took no action on filling the guidance counselor position.
In other hiring matters, the board hired Cheryl Hamilton, Beverly Keffer and Betty Bisher as full-time elementary teachers and Lori Rosensteel as a long-term substitute for the upcoming school year.