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Hancock school board officials continue grievance discussion

DISCUSSION — Hancock County Board of Education President Danny Kaser and Superintendent Dawn Petrovich are pictured during Monday’s meeting of the school board, held at Oak Glen High School’s Media Center. The school board will continue discussions of an ongoing employee grievance case during a special meeting to be held June 14. -- Craig Howell

NEW CUMBERLAND — The Hancock County Board of Education will continue its discussions of a grievance focused on the district’s director of personnel position as part of a special meeting planned next month.

An “update, discussion and possible action” on the grievance, filed as Mick v. Hancock County Board of Education, was listed on the agenda of Monday’s school board meeting, held at the Oak Glen High School Media Center.

Following an executive session of 83 minutes, which also included a student disciplinary hearing, Superintendent Danny Kaser announced additional discussion is needed.

“We are going to continue our discussion on that grievance,” Kaser said, indicating the discussion will take place during a special meeting scheduled for 5 p.m., June 14 at the John D. Rockefeller IV Career Center.

The special meeting initially was scheduled for the board to discuss the annual required evaluations of the superintendent of schools and of the board of education.

The grievance was filed by current Oak Glen Middle Principal Alyssa Mick concerning the selection of former Weir Middle principal, Sarah Parsons, to serve as the district’s director of personnel. Parsons was named to the position by the board during its June 28, 2021 meeting. Mick filed the grievance the following month.

According to reports, an administrative law judge assigned to the case had ruled the board would have to rebid the position. However, the school board, by a 4-1 vote in March, opted to appeal the judge’s decision.

Shortly after, the Hancock County Education Association announced a vote of no confidence against Superintendent Dawn Petrovich, Kaser and board members Chris Gillette, Larry Shaw and Toni Hinerman. Board member Michelle Chappell, who cast the lone vote against the appeal, was not included in the vote of no confidence.

Neither members of the board, nor Mick, commented following Monday’s meeting.

As part of Monday’s meeting, the board did vote on numerous personnel recommendations, including the coaching staffs of various athletic programs at Oak Glen High School, Oak Glen Middle School, Weir High School and Weir Middle School, extra-curricular assignments for the 2022-23 school year and assignments for the Summer Sole Program which will run June 6 to June 30.

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