TOWER CITY — Williams Valley School District administrators, except Superintendent Diane Niederriter, will receive pay raises of $1,750 in a contract agreement approved by the school board on July 6.
Niederriter had negotiated her contract with no pay hike in the 2017-18 school year; it remains at $110,000. A new administrative position was also resurrected — assistant elementary principal — following Thursday’s school board meeting.
Those receiving salary increases and the amounts are: Stephanie Carl, elementary principal, $77,500 to $79,250; Christine Sisko, assistant principal, $70,625 to $72,375; Jolene Smith, assistant to the superintendent, $81,350 to $83,100; Tracey Weller, secondary principal, $82,250 to $84,000; Amy Tomalavage, business manager, $65,000 to $66,750; and Tammy Chrin, special education director, $73,000 to $74,750.
The Republican-Herald picked up the information Thursday after a verbal request was submitted the day before to the superintendent. Niederriter said the administrative staff’s salaries are negotiated annually. The school board approved the three-year contract agreement with Act 93 employees by a 7-0 vote, effective July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2020. Directors Christopher Stroup and Jennifer Kramer were absent at the July 6 meeting.
At Thursday’s meeting, six directors were present: Daniel Stroup, Christopher Stroup, Tracey Minnich, John Mika, Jennifer Kramer and David Ferraro.
Judy Schappe, Minersville, was hired as the new assistant elementary principal, effective July 24, at an annual salary of $65,000. Schappe was a former district high school math teacher who resigned, effective July 20, to accept the new post. The last time there was an assistant elementary principal was in the 2012-13 school year, according to the board.
The elementary school will receive two new music instructors this year. The board approved hiring Megan Carraher, Harrisburg, as an elementary music teacher and Linsey Clauser, Schuylkill Haven, as an elementary instrumental teacher, both effective Aug. 16. Former elementary music teacher Joel Guldin retired at the end of this school year.
The board approved the special education service agreement between Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 and the district, with a projected tentative amount of $604,378, payable in six scheduled installments.
In other personnel matters, the board approved:
• The resignation of high school science teacher Gerald Kramer Jr., effective July 11.
• Hiring Anna Wolochuk, Millersburg, as an elementary remedial teacher and Jennifer Minnich, Williamstown, as the mentor teacher for Wolochuk.
• Hiring Michele Kantor, Lebanon, as an elementary art teacher and Andria Doud, Pine Grove, as the mentor teacher for Kantor.
• Hiring Kasey Campbell, Millersburg, as the mentor teacher for Carraher and Clauser.
• Hiring Deryn Wenrich, Valley View, as an elementary health and physical education teacher and Tiffany Underkoffler, Tower City, as the mentor teacher for Wenrich.
• Hiring Amy Oestreich, Reading, as a high school health and physical education teacher.
• Hiring Deana Beaver, Halifax, as a special education teacher and Chelsea Artz, Tower City, as the mentor teacher for Beaver.
• A behavior intervention specialist contract for Katherine Brosius, effective July 1 to June 30, 2018.
• A $1,200 salary increase, as per the collective bargaining agreement, for high school teacher Kristen Perdew for obtaining a master’s degree/master’s equivalency document.
• Hiring the following athletic coaches for the 2017-18 school year: head girls’ basketball, Charles Rodichok, Tower City; assistant high school girls’ basketball, Christiana Rodichok, Williamstown; and assistant volleyball, Triana Graff, Williamstown.
• Appointing the following volunteer coaches for the 2017-18 school year: volleyball and girls’ basketball, Kristen Perdew, Ashland; wrestling, David Minnich, Williamstown; boys’ soccer, Harry Raudenbush, Tower City.
• Part-time paraprofessionals Heather Berger, Williamstown, and Alyssa DeFrank, Tower City.
Most new hires are effective Aug. 16.
The board tabled approving the 2017-18 event staff due to not having enough board directors present to vote who would not be abstaining, Daniel Stroup said.
The board heard an end-of-season report from Ryan Underkoffler, head softball coach, and a proposal from Scott Barry on wanting to start a Williams Valley Trap Club.
The next regular board meeting will be 7:30 p.m. Aug. 10 in the board room at the high school.
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