Uniontown Area School Board votes to open coaching positions
As expected, the Uniontown Area School Board voted Wednesday to open the head girls basketball coaching position and assistant coaching positions for the 2003-2004 school year. The move comes after accusations of misconduct by the current coaching staff arose during the team’s December trip to Florida.
Superintendent Charles Machesky reinstated Annie Malkowiak to her position as head girls basketball coach Friday, but he told the Herald-Standard last week he would recommend to the school board that the position be opened and Malkowiak not be re-hired.
After an hour-long executive session to discuss personnel issues, real estate issues and potential litigation, the school board voted 9-0 to open all the girls basketball coaching positions, which were held by Malkowiak and assistants Lisa Nesser and Scott Van Sickle.
The board voted to accept Malkowiak’s resignation as learning support teacher at A.J. McMullen School, effective Feb. 14, and accepted Van Sickle’s resignation as assistant girls basketball coach, effective Feb. 7.
Malkowiak, Nesser and Van Sickle were suspended for the rest of the basketball season after allegations surfaced that the three engaged in improper conduct while the team waited for a flight to Pittsburgh at Orlando International Airport the evening of Dec. 31.
The coaches later admitted that they each consumed one alcoholic beverage, which led to their suspension. Jason Winfrey served as interim coach for the rest of the season.
In an interview with the Herald-Standard last week, Malkowiak denied any improper conduct.
In other matters, the board approved the purchase of the former Bryson Motors display lots across from the high school, at a cost of $200,000.
Directors approved the expenditure at a special meeting in December, but the issue came up for another vote Wednesday. Board President Harry “Dutch” Kaufman said the purchase does not include the former Bryson building, and the district will use the lot primarily to increase parking availability.
The site also will be important if the board decides to expand the high school, a project that directors have looked at as part of a comprehensive review of all district facilities.
The board voted in October to pay $302,000 for a building at 32 Iowa St. that houses CareerLink. That purchase will enable the district to move the central administration offices from the current Church Street location because costs to renovate that facility were too high.
The directors also granted approval to architects Altman & Altman to develop plans for renovation of the pool area at the high school. During last week’s work session, director of buildings and grounds Rob Smalley said the pool area needs to be redone because of system failures and rapidly deteriorating conditions.
Smalley said preliminary plans and cost estimates could be available by the board’s March work session.
The board also authorized the administration to explore the construction of a wrestling facility for students at A.J. McMullen School. Representatives from the boosters asked the board for permission to begin fund-raising and draw plans for the room, which would be paid for strictly by community donations.
Booster representatives will return to the board once plans are in place, and the board will be apprised of every step in the development process.
The directors voted to award a contract to GeoMechanics for geotechnical services as Menallen School for $5,400, voted to hire Eric Scheponik as assistant baseball coach at the high school, and gave permission to the high school band to attend band camp at Slippery Rock University Aug. 10-15.