Board shuffles personnel
CONNELLSVILLE – Starting July 1, one of two assistant principals at the Connellsville Senior High School will take on the position of head principal as one of several administrative changes. The Connellsville School Board on Wednesday appointed Dr. Tammy Duncan to replace Robert McLuckey at an annual salary of $82,411.
Duncan, a Connellsville graduate, is also the daughter of Jim Duncan who currently serves as assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction as well as assistant superintendent.
Jim Duncan was appointed by the board in December to take over the reigns for superintendent Gerald Browell who is retiring in July.
Browell said Tammy Duncan was one of three initial candidates for the position in which two other candidates withdrew. Browell added the position was filled in-house and not advertised.
Since the senior high school has operated with a head principal and two assistant principals for a number of years, the board agreed to continue with past procedure despite a suggestion from board member Tom Dolde to save roughly $80,000 by not replacing Tammy Duncan.
“We now have the opportunity to eliminate (a position),” said Dolde.
Dolde, however, fell short of receiving support on the issue brought to the board’s attention several months ago by resident Ed Zadylak as a means for the school district to curb expenditures.
“We’ve had three building principals here for a long time at one grade level,” said board member Francis Mongell, who commended Dolde’s effort, but didn’t support it because he was comparing it to the combining of past positions.
In the meantime, the board previously agreed for McLuckey to take over the duties of Jim Duncan, naming him director of secondary education while the position of assistant superintendent remains open.
In a separate issue, the board agreed to update the district’s business program by adding four secondary courses and removing seven previous courses.
The board also conducted the following business:
N Approved an additional Saturday matinee performance for the senior high school musical production of “Beauty and the Beast” at an estimated cost of $4,000 with revenue generated to exceed that figure.
N Learned from the staff at the North Fayette Area Vocational Technical School that an open house will be held on March 3 from 5 to 9 p.m. for parents of eighth and ninth grade students. A chicken and biscuit dinner will be served for 25 cents per person. Responses for the dinner are to be received before March 1 by calling 724-628-3851 or 724-626-1895.