Connellsville board retains officers
CONNELLSVILLE – The Connellsville School Board will start the 2005-2006 school year with the same president and vice president but will no longer meet the first and third Tuesday of the month, following Tuesday’s reorganization. David Goldblum and Charles Wilson retained their positions, respectively, as president and vice president with the board agreeing to instead meet the fourth Wednesday of each month for its regular meeting and the prevailing Monday of each month for its non-voting work session.
Both meetings will be held at 8 p.m.
In addition, the board agreed to reappoint Loretta Lint and Tom Dolde to the Connellsville City Recreation Board for another one-year term.
Following the reorganization, the board learned that James Duncan, assistant superintendent, would take over the reigns in July when Gerald Browell retires as superintendent.
Browell, who has 32 years of education experience, announced his retirement in November.
He was hired by the district in 1975 as an elementary teacher before moving into secondary education and later became principal in 1986.
Browell became superintendent in 1991.
Duncan said he is ready to meet the challenges associated with the superintendent’s position and looking forward to a smooth transition.
Duncan’s tenure with the district dates back to 1967 when he was first hired as a teacher while he was hired to conduct research into the district’s remedial math program in 1975 from which he wrote a model that was also used by the state.
From there, Duncan also became the district’s director of reading and math and in 1985 became head of federal programs as well as serving as director of special education.
Two years later, Duncan was appointed to the position of curriculum supervisor and in 1998 was hired as assistant superintendent.
“Connellsville is not only one of the largest school districts in the state but also of the poorest… it’s (the position) a challenge that I’m ready for,” Duncan added.
In a separate matter, the board unanimously agreed to hire Tom Dolde Jr. as the head football coach at a salary of $7,633 while he will also continue to serve as head wrestling coach.
Francis Mongell, board member, said although he had reservations about Dolde holding both positions, he still supported the matter in regards to three new coaching positions that were added by the board without filling other football positions and actually saving the district money.
In that regard, the board agreed to hire a boy’s assistant basketball coach at a maximum salary of $3,174, a boy’s assistant tennis coach and girl’s assistant tennis coach, each at maximum salaries of $1,197.
On the other hand, Mongell said it seemed as if the district was spreading itself thin with one season overlapping the other.