Fayette vo-tech hires principal
Students at the Fayette County Area Vocational-Technical School will have a principal when they return to school or enter the school for the first time next year. The joint operating committee appointed Brian Reams to the post effective immediately at its regular monthly meeting Monday.
Reams served as guidance counselor since the committee hired him in November 2006. He arrived to the school from the Turkeyfoot Valley Area School District, where he served as an administrator.
The committee set his salary at $55,000 per year plus benefits. His duties will include student discipline and enrollment, parental contact, according to executive Director Dr. Edward Jeffreys.
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity,” said Reams after the committee meeting. “(The school is) seeing a lot of success in regards to students and programs. We’ll continue to see improvements across the board.”
The principal position is new to the school. The assistant executive director position has been vacant since Jeffreys was promoted from that job in 2005.
Jeffreys said Reams was the only applicant for the job, which was posted within the school system. Jeffreys noted that Reams has principal’s certification. He said Reams has served as head administrator in the past when the executive director was out of the office.
The move was approved 11-1 with Director Edward Colebank passing on the motion.
Brownsville Area school directors Andy Dorsey, Francine Pavone and Ron Dellarose participated in the meeting via speakerphone, so they could attend a school board meeting in their school district.
Appointing Reams to the position has been on the agenda in the past, but the committee has tabled the motion at least two times.
Jeffreys said the vo-tech will advertise for the vacant guidance counselor position and plans to hire someone in August.
In other business, the committee adopted the 2008-09 budget in the amount of $5,021,899.
Michael Oppman, business manager, said the largest budgeted expense is salary and benefits, which make up anywhere from 60 to 65 percent of the total budget costs.
The vo-tech is to receive $3,200,087 in revenue from the four sending school districts, while the remaining revenue will be derived from local, state and federal sources, including student tuition, Oppman said.
Also included in the budget are salary increases for non-contract employees. Their raises will be effective in the 2008-09 fiscal year.
Jeffreys will see his salary increase by $2,500, bringing it to $85,000; Oppman’s by $2,860, raising it to $60,060; and Dan Hoff, student resources manager, by $1,317, bringing it to $34,251. Hoff also will receive a $6,000 information technology stipend, a $3,000 increase over the 2007-08 rate.
Marilyn Tyhonas, director of the Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) program, will receive a $1,716 raise, bringing her salary to $70,371. The clinical instructor rate was set at $27, a $2 increase over the 2007-08 rate.
Mark Nedley, maintenance director, will receive a $1,572 pay hike, bringing his salary to $40,860.
Mary Kish, office coordinator, will receive a $1,094 salary increase, bringing her annual pay to $28,447. Kish also will receive a $3,000 office coordinator stipend, a $500 increase over the 2007-08 rate.
Kathy Cipolletti in the accounting/financial department, will see her salary increase by $899, raising it to $23,395; Tina Palko, secretary to the executive director, by a $1,142, bringing it to $29,685; and Sandy Townsend, student/financial accounting secretary, and Leah Jobes, student recruiter, each by $760, bringing their salaries to $19,760.
Palko also will receive an additional $900, an increase of $180 over the 2007-08 rate. A salary information sheet did not list a purpose for the stipend.
In another matter, the committee voted to increase the student tuition for the LPN program from $5,400 to $5,700 per student.
Jeffreys said tuition will rise as a result of increasing costs associated with salaries, benefits and supplies. He said tuition for the LPN program is the lowest in the state.
The committee also:
– Approved the school’s insurance policies at a total cost of $66,435, an increase of $8,815 over the 2007-08 rate. An Aug. 10, 2007 fire at the school resulted in an increase in insurance costs and other insurance providers withdrew their bids because of the fire, said Jeffreys.
– Agreed to purchase $32,716 in equipment from CDW Government, Inc. of Chicago, Ill. Ten laptop computers, two wireless routers and two storage carts will be bought for the auto mechanics and diesel mechanics programs.
– Authorized Terry Motchar, masonry instructor, to attend the 3rd Annual Pennsylvania Masonry Instructors Workshop in September at the Harrisburg Area Community College at an approximate cost of $234.