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City police officer entering classroom

By Patty Yauger 3 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – A city police officer that has spent two decades serving the community will enter the classroom as an instructor when classes resume at the Connellsville Area Career and Technical Center. City police Sgt. Vincent Traynor was one of 20 teachers hired by the Connellsville Area School District board of directors Wednesday as the district prepares for the 2006-07 school year that begins Aug. 28.

Traynor, who also serves as the city fire investigator, will be the instructor for the newly implemented security and protective services program.

District Superintendent James Duncan said that Traynor will oversee a three-year program that will include techniques, methods and procedures tied to the areas of criminal justice, fire protection and emergency medical technician.

The course will also include map reading, vehicle equipment operation, an overview of the judicial system, hospital emergency medical care, various rescue practices and communications.

“(Traynor) brings his years of experience with the police department and with the fire department to the classroom,” said Duncan.

Traynor, however, will have to undergo various courses to obtain his emergency medical certification, added Duncan.

“The (security and protective services) program is a three-year course, so we anticipate that the students will be taught the police and fire portion of the course while (Traynor) completes his (medical) certifications,” he said.

The enrollment for the first year class is 12 students.

The board tabled naming an instructor for a masonry course that will also be offered at the career and technical center.

Duncan said that a substitute instructor would be in the classroom at the start of the school year while the full-time candidates for the position submit additional information to the board for review.

In other hiring matters, a dozen elementary education teachers were hired to replace those that retired at the end of the last school year.

“We did not go on a hiring spree,” said board member Ed Zadylak after the lengthy list of new employees were approved.

According to Karen Marko, human resources director, 26 teachers offered letters of retirement.

The new elementary teaching staff includes Julie Grimm, Julie Habina-Glover, Irene McKenna, Kellie Lambie-Lloyd, John Lypson, Brenda Henry, Melissa King, Melinda Fullem-Santore, Linda Eicher, Jennifer Haun, Heidi Junk and Kathleen Fullem.

The board also hired Katy Clawson as a mathematics teacher; William Bauer and Kelly Cunningham as special education teachers; Mark Riggin and William Farrell as social studies teachers and Nichole Schmidt as a speech and language teacher.

Salary for all the entry-level teachers was set at $32,356.

In related action, the board approved Jessica Reamer as a long-term substitute English teacher.

Turning to other matters, the board agreed to advertise for the sale of the former administrative office building and adjoining property located at 125 N. 7th Street.

The administrators, office staff and several special education supervisors recently relocated to the Connellsville Township Elementary School after it was determined that the Crawford building was too costly to maintain.

Further, the board:

– Named Mark Lynch as senior high football equipment manager and Leslie Malia and Dina Puskar as Junior High West cheerleader coaches.

– Approved Steve Lucas and Ryan Hornick as volunteer coaches for the senior high girls’ tennis program.

– Recalled furloughed professional employees.

Approved Thomas Friel as a Dunbar Township Elementary School personal student aide; Marcy Witt as a South Side Elementary School monitor/aide and Martie Cain as a Clifford N. Pritts Elementary School personal student aide.

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