Albert Gallatin Area School Board appoints new director
The Albert Gallatin Area School Board recently appointed a new director to fill the seat left vacant by longtime member Ed Andria.
By a unanimous vote on Monday, the board appointed Tom DeGusipe of McClellandtown last week after interviewing several candidates who submitted letters of interest.
“Tom (DeGusipe) will make an outstanding addition to our board,” said School Director Jeff Myers. “Being involved with education for as long as Tom was is significant … I believe he genuinely will strive to make Albert Gallatin the best it can be.”
DeGusipe will serve as school director until the first Monday of December.
DeGusipe worked as a machine production technology instructor at the Fayette County Career and Technical Center from 2000 to 2013. He currently works as a machinist.
“I feel that the quality of education leads to economic growth in our community,” he said. “I want to do my part to ensure that the students in the school district are getting the best education possible.”
DeGusipe said he is most concerned about making sure that teachers have the resources in place to do their jobs, especially with increasing levels of accountability.
Nena Kaminksy, Baird Victor of Smithfield and Terry Ryan of Adah submitted letters of interest and were also interviewed by the board along with DeGusipe.
Kaminsky had once served on the Brownsville Area School Board before moving to the Albert Gallatin Area School District.
DeGusipe, Victor and Ryan are seeking the Democratic and Republican nominations for a four-year term on the board in the May 19 primary. There is also a two-year term seat open, for which DeGusipe is seeking the Democratic nomination for the seat, and Ryan is seeking nods from both parties.
Also Monday, the board:
n Approved June 11 as graduation and last day for students.
n Increased the bus monitor hourly rate to $11 per hour effective March 16 and to $12 per hour after one year.
n Approved to upgrade the the high school stadium sound system through Hollowood Music and Sound Inc. of Pittsburgh at a cost of $10,602.
n Renewed the agreement with Chestnut Ridge Counseling Services, Inc. for the New Directions program at a cost of $72 per day for regular education and $80 per day for special education for the 2015-16 school year, which reflects no increase from the previous year.
n Approved to host summer advancement and recovery courses from June 17 to July 2 at a cost of $2,600 per full course and $1,300 per half course per instructor.