×

Hancock school decision will impact 48 jobs

NEW CUMBERLAND — Following two days of hearings last week, the Hancock County Board of Education on Monday approved a list of 19 personnel reductions and 29 transfers.

The personnel changes, announced following a half-hour executive session, will go into effect at the end of the current school year. The school board initially had been presented with recommendations of nearly two dozen staff members for reductions in force, and 32 transfers.

Those who were placed on the RIF or transfer lists, however, could be removed in the event the district presents any of those on the lists a letter recalling them by Aug. 1.

The breakdown on the proposed RIF list included 11 certified employees, two certified for extracurricular activities and five classified employees.

Among the certified staff members on the RIF list approved included two from New Manchester Elementary (Nicole Campbell and Kathryn Dombrosky), three from Weir Middle (Jakquiline Conchilla, Matthew Kopp and Andrew Weldon), one from Oak Glen Middle (Auralee Gittings), one physical education teacher (Mallory Floyd), two from Allison Elementary (Danielle Mauro and Megan Squilla) and one from Weir High (Scott Wiley). Floyd is a teacher at both Allison Elementary and New Manchester Elementary.

The two certified/extra-curricular contracts on the RIF list were for Elaine Kimmins of Weir High and Julie Zoellers of Oak Glen High.

The five classified members approved on the RIF list included two from Weirton Elementary (secretary Alissa Altomare and aide Carolyn Puskarich), two from Allison Elementary (aides Mary Leah Clark and Pam Miller) and transportation aide Tonya Long.

Among those initially recommended on the RIF list but then removed by board approval were John D. Rockefeller Career Center teachers Jeffrie Hardy and Daniel Koller Jr., Weirton Elementary aide Jennifer Gallo and Allison Elementary custodian Bonnie Willey.

Superintendent Kathy Kidder Wilkerson said Willey’s name was taken out of RIF consideration as the board approved Willey to a custodian position at Allison Elementary due to an another custodian’s retirement.

Also taken out of RIF consideration were coaching supplements for Ted Arneault and Anthony Filberto, head football coaches for Oak Glen and Weir respectively. Both of their supplements were regarding fitness and conditioning for their teams.

The transfer lists originally included 32 certified and 20 classified, but later was modified to 30 certified and 19 classified.

Those who were initially placed but later removed from the transfer list include JDRCC coordinator of vocational services Gordon Anderson, Weir High dean of students/activities sponsor Mike DelRe, and Oak Glen High aide Tracy Barnhart.

In addition, the board approved 61 contract renewals for certified employees and 38 for classified employees.

Meanwhile, one teacher whose termination was approved by the board was that of Alisa Hannah, a math teacher at Weir High, whom the board approved to place on “administrative release,” citing that Hannah did not have the proper certification.

Hannah acknowledged that one requirement had not been completed and would complete it eventually but had another. Hannah, who said that her minor in college was in Algebra I, said she had to take a test that she reported was expensive and had passed, but was not recognized by the state as an endorsement.

“I took that as what I called my band-aid because I am very confident in my algebra skills, and I passed that according to the pre-determined test scores by the State Department of West Virginia,” Hannah said. “However they don’t want to acknowledge that quite yet as an endorsement. It’s still quite new.”

She said that the state of Virginia had endorsed the tests with lower scores but not yet by West Virginia, and she had spoken with the West Virginia state board over the matter but had no results.

Wilkerson stated that because she did not have that certain certification, she did not qualify legally under RIF, and thus was recognized as being “terminated due to incompetency.”

“That’s the word they use when you don’t have the right certificate, and I just do not like that word,” Wilkerson said. “I know I have to use ‘termination’ but you are certainly not incompetent so that’s why it was written as ‘administrative leave’ pending your certification.”

Wilkerson added that Hannah will be able to continue her position until June 30, and the termination decision can be reversed if she can either receive accreditation from another state and get it transfered to West Virginia or if Hannah can clear the situation with the state board.

Meanwhile, the board will hold a special meeting at 5 p.m. today at the board room at Hancock County Savings Bank in Weirton. The board will conduct interviews for the superintendent position to succeed Wilkerson, who will be retiring at the end of the school year.

(Rappach can be contacted at srappach@reviewonline.com)

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today