manich@leaderherald.com
JOHNSTOWN The Greater Johnstown School District Board of Education recently approved creation of a 12-month school secretary position.
In related personnel action, the board approved the probationary appointment of Justine Lewis as administrative assistant 12 months per year. The salary for the position is $37,375 annually, retroactive to Jan. 19.
The board temporarily amended the appointment of teacher aide Amber Rumrill, effective Feb. 12.
“This is a change from five hours a day to seven hours a day,” noted board President Christopher Tallon.
The position runs through June 30, and the action is pursuant to the Civil Service Employees Association collective bargaining agreement.
manich@leaderherald.com
JOHNSTOWN The Greater Johnstown School District Board of Education recently honored three Above and Beyond the Call of Duty, or ABCD Award winners within the district.
Congratulations were extended to: Judy Swatt, high school special education teacher; second-grade teacher Kim Park; and Johnstown Junior-Senior High School Principal Scott Hale.
“On behalf of our entire board, congratulations to all three recipients,” said board President Christopher Tallon. “It is very well deserved.”
It was noted that Swatt’s “kindness and generosity” extends out to the community.
Park was described as a “truly compassionate and caring educator.”
Hale was described as someone who goes out of his way for the welfare of all the school’s students. He also was described as someone who has “an amazing ability to stay positive.”
manich@leaderherald.com
JOHNSTOWN The city school with the youngest students will be the first to reopen four days a week for in-person instruction on March 15, the Greater Johnstown School District Board of Education heard Thursday night.
Pleasant Avenue Elementary School Principal Corinne Cotter gave a presentation on a “reopening plan” for her school in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The school teaches grades K-2.
Cotter said the plan keeps both learning models the district currently has in-person and remote learning.
She said some students will now have live in-person instruction at the school four days week – Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. There will also be two fine arts and two physical education special classes. Those students remaining in the remote model will also have instruction four days per week.
manich@leaderherald.com
JOHNSTOWN The Greater Johnstown School District Board of Education on Thursday authorized a public referendum in May to reduce the number of its board members from nine to seven.
The board passed a resolution to allow voters to downscale the board via a proposition at the district’s annual election May 18. If approved, the change wouldn’t take effect until May 2022.
Board President Christopher Tallon indicated that three volunteer board members’ seats are up this year and two of them might not be running for reelection. They are: Ronald Beck, Susanne Fitzgerald and Kathryn Zajicek.
The Johnstown school board in recent years has had a problem finding persons in the community interested in running. Still, Tallon put the word out Thursday.
manich@leaderherald.com
JOHNSTOWN The state Education Department’s School Comprehensive Education Plan, or SCEP for the disabled, was outlined at the Greater Johnstown School District Board of Education meeting Thursday night.
Nicole Panton, district director of curriculum and professional development, said that Johnstown Junior-Senior High School is a “targeted” school for improvement for special education students. The SCEP is developed to address issues for the disabled. The district is in the second year of what may be a four-year program, Panton said.
“We have to have it completed by the district,” she said. “We had a group of educators working with us at all levels.”