Laurel board retains football coach
The Laurel Highlands School Board voted to retain Jack Buehner as head varsity football coach Thursday after recently interviewing 13 candidates for the position. At its monthly meeting, the board voted 5-3-1 to award Buehner the position for the 2008 season. School directors Mary Conway voted against the move, while Angelo Giachetti, Beverly Beal and Bill Elias passed on the vote.
In December, the board opened the head coach position, allowing people from the community to apply. Thirteen people were interviewed for the position, said Gary Brain, acting superintendent.
Buehner is currently in his second stint as head coach at LH. In total, he has been the head coach for 15 seasons. Over the past three years his record is 11-18, which includes a pair of first-round WPIAL playoff losses.
He also is physical/health education teacher at the high school.
In other business, the board tabled hiring a chief of security after the resignation of the late Ronald K. Machesky, who died in December. At the meeting, the board honored Machesky’s memory with a moment of silence.
This is the second time the board tabled hiring someone for the post. The motion was also tabled in December.
Meanwhile, the board awarded Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) after-school tutoring positions to several teachers.
Brandi Mancini will tutor grade 11 students in math; Mancini, John Sharp and Richard Terrill will serve as math tutors for students in grades 9 and 11; and Kimberly Arison and John Kozup will tutor grade 9 and 11 students in English.
Also related to the PSSA, the board authorized the purchase of test-prep materials for students in grades 3, 4 and 5 at Hatfield, Clark and Marshall elementary schools.
The district will pay around $4,800 per school for the materials. Hutchinson Elementary School has already received the materials, school officials said.
Students are expected to take the PSSAs in February, March and April.
The board also:
– Awarded Louella Miner the 12-month custodial position at the middle school; Louis Georgiana a vacated custodial position at the middle school; and Joseph Smochinsky the head maintenance position. Smochinsky replaces Ray Matthews, who retired in December.
– Announced the Facilities Planning Committee will tour the high school at 6 p.m. Jan. 23 and the committee’s regular meeting will be held 6 p.m. Feb. 5. The group, formed to recommend the scope of a high school renovation project, will meet in the high school library.
– Honored board members as part of January’s School Board Recognition Month and awarded each member a certificate and Laurel Highlands Mustangs T-shirt.