Board cuts unapproved positions created by previous superintendent
By Lauren Parker- Gill, News Editor, The Times
CALN – Further steps to correct past wrongdoings under the previous administration were taken at Wednesday’s school board meeting of the Coatesville Area School District, which included eliminating administrative positions that were never approved by the school board and adjusting the titles of some current administrators.
According to school board president Dean Snyder, the district had no official record that the board of directors approved the following administrative positions: director of middle schools curriculum and instruction, director of pupil services, data and assessments and director of elementary education k-5 and special education k-5. The board unanimously voted in favor of eliminating those positions.
The Coatesville Area School board took steps to correct past wrong doings under the previous administration by eliminating positions that show no record of board approval.
Another position that was eliminated was supervisor of campus principals and programs, which was created last year for Robert Fisher. School board member Deborah Thompson stated that this position was created with the intention of being held by Fisher for one year.
The following positions were then created and voted upon by school board members: preschool teacher, preschool administrator, director of pupil services, supervisor of pupil services, director of elementary and secondary education and secondary school principal – 9/10.
In addition, the positions of administrators Brian Chenger, Jason Palaia and Jeffrey Cupano were adjusted and officially voted upon, as their current titles and salaries were never board approved.
Chenger’s last board approved position was assistant principal, though he has been operating as principal of the 9/10 center at the high school. Palaia is now the director of elementary and secondary education, though he previously held the title of director of elementary education k-5 and special education k-5. Cupano’s last board approved position was for principal though he has been functioning as supervisor of special education.
Upon learning of the resignations of Anthony Bolden as assistant principal of South Brandywine Middle School and Dr. Itasha Douglas as assistant principal of Scott Middle School, East Fallowfield resident Kerri Verna questioned the numerous resignations and lack of consistency in the district and urged school board members to pay attention.
“When is the bleeding going to stop?” Verna asked.
Chenger and interim principal Tom Hankel gave a presentation regarding future plans for credit retrieval courses for high school students. With a goal of having a 100% graduation rate, Hankel and Chenger propose running credit retrieval courses during the school year, which can be completed on campus or at online at home, if transportation is an issue.
The school board approved a contract, pending review and approval by general counsel, for one year with Service Master for custodial services that will work with current custodians — they will help fill current vacant positions.
The 200 series of the policy revisions were approved for the 30-day review. In addition, the adoption of policies 827 – conflict of interest, 626.1 – travel reimbursement – federal programs and 227.1 – use of dogs to search school property were also approved.
Coatesville High School student Hannah Williams (center) was recognized during the school board meeting for winning a shoe design contest for Autism Awareness Month by the CHester COunty Intermediate Unit. Pictured with (left to right) Brenda Eaton and Dr. Anita Riccio of the CCIU, school board member Brenda Geist and CASD superintendent Dr. Cathy Taschner.
Ninth grader Hannah Williams was recognized during the meeting for winning a shoe design contest through the Chester County Intermediate Unit. The contest ran through April 15 in conjunction with Autism Awareness Month, to bring awareness to autism among secondary students in Chester County. Williams’ design was voted as the winner of the design contest at the 2016 Chester County High School Art Show. Her design was then brought to life on a pair of Toms shoes by custom shoe painter Kelsey Amy and auctioned off for charity. Texas resident and a friend of the Williams family, Ty Shriver, won the shoes with a winning bid of $115 and donated them back to Williams.
Of note: The board of directors announced the upcoming committee meetings and board meetings that continue through the summer on a normal schedule will now be held in the auditorium of the 11/12 center. Those dates are as follows:
July 12, 2016 at 6 p.m. – Committee meeting and special board meeting
July 26, 2016 at 7 p.m. – School board meeting
August 9, 2016 at 6 p.m. – Committee meeting and special board meeting
August 23, 2016 at 7 p.m. – School board meeting
