Connellsville Area School Board appoints new musical director
The Connellsville Area High School has a new musical director.
By a vote of 7-2, school directors on Wednesday approved for Michelle Harbaugh to take over as musical director, as Henry Molinaro resigned at the end of the 2013-14 school year.
School Directors Fran Mongell and James Duncan were opposed to the measure.
Mongell said he could not vote yes because he received many requests for Gayle Cuneo, who the board also considered for the position, to be appointed musical director.
During the public comment period of the meeting, Blakeley Herrilko, a recent graduate of the district, voiced her support for Cuneo.
“She (Cuneo) made me believe in myself, and have confidence,” Herrilko said. “She truly makes a difference.”
Board President Jon Detwiler said the decision to appoint Harbaugh over Cuneo was largely dependent on the recommendations the board received.
“The musical here in Connellsville is a big deal,” Detwiler said. “Mr. Molinaro had recommended to the board Mrs. Harbaugh, and said how wonderful of a job she did, but also acknowledged the fact that Mrs. Cuneo does a great job and she’s fantastic with the kids.”
Harbaugh will receive a salary of $4,500.
“We’re not always this lucky to have two candidates for a position,” Detwiler said. “We had two highly qualified candidates.”
Harbaugh was also approved as the senior high choral activities director at a salary of $3,327.
In addition, the board approved the following supplemental contracts: Johnathan Eutsey, assistant marching band director at a salary of $1,773; Bob Renzi Jr., co-adviser for the senior high yearbook at a salary of $1,847; and Jerry Connell, senior high percussion, at a salary of $1,558.
In other personnel matters, the board hired Alyssa Fox as a secondary mathematics teacher, and Megan Adams as a special education teacher.
The board also added Alicia Walch, Rachel Colgan, Elizabeth Giles, Lori Soberdash, Brad White, Amber Humbert and Kayla Hemminger to the professional substitute list for the current school year, and approved Kelli Winwood as a full-day long-term substitute teacher at the Connellsville Area Career and Technical Center effective today for the remainder of the 2014-15 school year.
Also Wednesday, the board:
n Hired Dr. Gina Canada as athletic physician at a cost of $4,800 for the current school year.
n Purchased student desks and chairs for Connellsville Township Elementary School through the state bid list at a cost of $13,344 to be paid from the capital reserve fund.
n Adopted new Advanced Placement Calculus books by Larson/Edwards at a cost of $5,670.
n Approved to hold future feasibility study meetings at 6:30 p.m. prior to the board’s regular monthly meeting.
n Scheduled an open house for the Connellsville Area Senior High School to tentatively take place at 1 p.m. on Oct. 18.