MV hires special education director

BY PAT FARNELLI

Correspondent

Mountain View School board approved the hiring of Stephanie Anuszewski, of Jermyn, Monday, March 12, as the district’s Director of Special Services at the rate of $80,000. The position has been vacant since Dr. Patricia Pasierb was killed Jan. 22 in a motor vehicle accident on Interstate 81, just south of the Susquehanna County line.

The board also appointed Dr. Christopher Lake as Elementary School Principal, transferring positions while remaining at his current rate of pay. Lake has been serving as the acting elementary principal this school year. He has continued to perform the duties of Curriculum Director as well.

Lake thanked the board for the appointment and said, “I hope I can meet your expectations.”

The board approved advertising for the Director of Curriculum and Instruction position.

After the meeting, Lake said that he enjoys working with the elementary students. He noted that he is prepared to continue handling the responsibilities for both positions if the Curriculum Director slot is not filled by the end of the school year.

A lockdown drill will be held this week in the elementary school. Parents and staff have been informed in advance, and there will be a meeting afterward to continue to make the process better and keep everyone safe, Lake told the board.

High School Principal Robert Presley said that in response to the shooting in Parkland, Fla., on Feb. 14, the high school students may participate on Wednesday, March 14, in a 17 minute walk in the halls of the building in memory of the students and teachers killed in that tragedy.

Presley said the event was organized proactively, and will be held indoors for safety reasons, with “a focus on what students can do to make a difference with their words and actions.” There will be some discussion time before the walk, he said.

The board accepted the resignation of athletic trainer Dan Frost from position, effective immediately. There was some discussion about whether to advertise the position or to look for an EMT to fill in at games and events.

Six teachers and a nurse submitted letters of resignation for the purposes of retirement: Roberta Harvey, Corrine McNabb, Peter Regeski, Teri Edwards, Donna Porter, Michael Talabiska, and nurse Karen Krizauskas. All of the resignations are effective on the last school day of the 2017-18 school year.

A contract was approved with Energy Systems Group (ESG) for school renovations and energy savings. Maintenance Director Bob Taylor explained that this contract is with the already contracted group, “just so that they can put out Requests for Services to get bids and contractors and to give us real numbers.” He said that the list that the company has already provided is a list of “guesstimates.”

Taylor noted that the first contractor tour has been conducted of both buildings and that nine members of the public attended.

The Lenox Dairy Bar sponsored a guest dogsled driver/musher from Alaska, who brought his dog.

The Roberson Center will be visiting the elementary school and doing hands-on experiments with the students.

The Tri City Opera conducted workshops and performed “Jack and the Beanstalk,” which was really enjoyed by the elementary students.

“The Sound of Music” was recently performed by the Mountain View Drama Club.

The next school board meeting will be held on Monday, March 26 at 7 p.m.