BR athletic director resigns

BY STACI WILSON

Blue Ridge’s athletic director Jill Hoffman resigned from the position on Monday.

The school board accepted her resignation, with regret, effective Feb. 1, as part of an addendum to the agenda following an executive session on personnel matters.

The board did not move to replace Hoffman at the meeting.

In financial matters, the board of directors heard the district audit report from Mike Dougherty of Murphy, Dougherty & Company.

The district received a clean audit but, as in other local school districts, Doughtery noted the change of accounting standards that now reflect the district’s pension obligations which “highlights the magnitude of the crisis.”

Although Blue Ridge’s food service is currently self-funding, Dougherty also warned of a downward trend where the district may need to move money from the general fund in order to pay for food service obligations. That could happen within the next two years, he told the board.

The board recognized junior Megan Houlihan for being chosen to the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association Class A All-State Team; and senior Zach Conrad who was named to the All-State Football 2nd Team.

Desiree Alvarez, Dorie Penny and Jade Viruet, along with teacher Sarrah Dibble-Camburn, were recognized for receiving 2016 Scholastic Art Competition Awards. Their works will be on display at Marywood University through mid-February.

Band director Vincent LoRusso was also recognized by the board for being selected as a Conn-Selmer V.I.P.

LoRusso said that part of the vetting process for receiving the award was what has been happening at Blue Ridge in the past five years and thanked the board for their continued support of the growing program.