Shen. Valley School Board Accepts Principal’s Resignation
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SENTINEL PHOTO - The Shenandoah Valley School Board Meeting on June 28, 2017.
SHENANDOAH – After 18 years at the helm of the Shenandoah Valley Junior/Senior High School, Phillip Andras has resigned as principal effective August 31, a resignation the school board accepted at it’s Wednesday night meeting.
The district placed advertisements in the classifieds section of Tuesday’s Hazleton Standard~Speaker and Pottsville Republican-Herald, placings which were retroactively approved at the meeting.
“Mr. Andras had proven that students are always first when making any building level decision. I appreciate his dedication and commitment to the students in the Shenandoah Valley School District. I know Mr. Andras bleeds blue and white, and forever will remain a blue devil.” District Superintendent Brian Waite said during the board meeting. “My heart goes out to him, and great pleasure for him in the ability to, at this point in time, announce his retirement, and I thank him for all he’s done for Shenandoah High School.”
“As board president, I’d also like to thank Mr. Andras for his hard work and dedication over the years. He’s spent many long nights at our workshops, all of us here. “When you’re appointed or when you’re elected as a school board member, you have no idea what you’re getting into. I’ve learned a lot from Mr. Andras, He’s helped make it a little bit easier, doing what we do. I want to congratulate Mr. Andras on his retirement.” Board President Daniel Salvadore said.
“I know that, in those 18 years that Mr. Andras has been here, he’s faced many challenges and wore many a hat, but he was always ready to be in the fight and do what had to be done, and even more. I would like to specifically thank him and let him be noticed for his commitment and effort that he put toward our Special Ed program. We wouldn’t be where we are now, if it hadn’t been for all the time and effort he had put forth there. So I want everyone to remember what he’s done for us here at Shenandoah Valley, and for our students, and I’d like to thank him for being who he was, and the dedicated person that he was to education. So, all I want him to do now is to stay safe, and to celebrate life.” Board Member Margaret Shustack said.
“I’ve worked with Mr. Andras my whole time here on the board, spending a lot of time at discipline committee meetings with him, and I want to thank him for his genuine philosophy, he indoctrinated me into the concept of the school being a nurturing environment, not punitive.” Board Member Tom Twardzik said.
Recognized at the meeting were Elementary students of the month for May, as well as Class of 2016 graduate Alaina Demalis, who was one of 300 freshman attending Penn State – University Park selected to receive the President Freshman Award.
“This award is presented annually to the outstanding undergraduate students who earn a 4.0 in the first semester. Alaina not only did that in the first semester, she did that in the second semester as well. So, kudos to a 2016 graduate, Ms. Demalis, in all her effort and continuing academic successes off into college.” Waite said.
Present at the meeting were board members Salvadore, Twardzik, Shustack, Anita Monahan, Joseph Buchanan, and Helene Creasy. Absent were board members Joseph Alshefski, Karen Kayes, and John Petritsch.
In other business, the school board:
- Approved professional staff in-services for Elementary Assistant Principal Lesley Matus to “Increase Understand of Legal Issues and Best Practices in Special Education in PA”, and Behavior Interventionist/Social Worker Sean Lyons to “Suicide Prevention and Awareness Training.
- Approved a request for maternity leave for a professional staff member.
- Retroactively approved Elementary Principal Brooke Wowak as Federal Program/Title 1 Coordinator effective June 16, 2017 with an annual stipend of $5,000.
- Approved the first reading of Policy #918/Title 1 Parental Involvement.
- Approved the resignation of Spelling Bee Coach Catherine Bronakowski
- Approved the professional staff appointments of Jessica Kowalchick as Secondary English/ESL teacher at a salary of $41,680, and John Shoener as 5th-12th Grade Music Instructor at a salary of $35,780
- Retroactively approved 2017 Extended School Year Teachers Angela Huben, Gloria Laudeman, Amanda McCloskey, and Coleen McGuire, Aides Julie Buchinski, Gloria Karpovich, Martha Lewis, and Alicia Petritsch, and Speech Therapist Dawn Wenrich.
- Approved additional days for ESL/Title III Program Coordinator/Instructor Debbie Stivers
- Approved 2017-2018 bids for general supplies, instructional supplies, and custodial supplies.
- Approved agreements with VLN Partners, the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29, and The Meadows Psychiatric Center for the 2017-2018 school year
- Approved the repository sale of 300 West Penn Street, 39 West Coal Street, 23 North West Street, 520 West Mount Vernon Street, 403 West Oak Street, 401 West Oak Street, 235 West Oak Street, and 233 West Oak Street, all in Shenandoah borough and all sold to Shenandoah borough for $1.
- Approved the resignation of Drama Club Assistant Director Sarah Yorke
- Approved the Drama Club Advisor Restructuring, with Wendy Nicodemus as Head Advisor/Director, Bridget Rooney as Assistant Director, and Lindsey Zackaravage and Marissa Yorke as Co-Stage Managers.
- Approved bonus pay for baseball, softball, and track coaches as follows
– Baseball – J. Maksimik, $150.00
– Baseball – M. Jacavage, $100.00
– Baseball – T. Lauta, $100.00
– Softball – S. Krupiewski, $150.00
– Softball – M. Buhl, $100.00
– Track – R. Werner, $225.00
– Track – K. Keating, $150.00
– Track – J. Berger, $150.00 - Approved Russ Schumack as Audio/Visual Coordinator
- Approved letters of resignation from Part-Time Housekeeper Lori Uholik and Paraprofessional/Assistant Cross Country Coach Kelsey Uholik
- Approved letter of retirement from District Registration Secretary Bonnie Heiler, effective December 31, 2017.
- Approved support staff recommendations.
- Approved summer work OVR applicant with reimbursement from the PA Department of Labor and Industry.
- Approved building usages for the Polish American Fire Company (bus garage) and Shenandoah Valley vs Mahanoy Area Alumni Football Game (Football Field)
- Approved Phase 1 for paving of Stadium Road, the Front Loop, and Coal Street by Troop Contracting, Inc, at a cost of $12,250.
- Approved the purchase of a 2017 Transit-350 XL Medium Roof Wagon to include wheelchair modifications at a total cost of $46,257.
- Approved retroactive salary adjustment of $1.00 per hour for Elementary Principal’s Secretary Dana Sobinsky
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