Connellsville Area SD board approves multiple hires, accepts retirement and resignation

The Connellsville Area School District board on June 24 approved several personnel actions, including the hiring of two elementary teachers and the acceptance of one retirement and one resignation.

The board approved a memorandum of understanding with the Connellsville Area Education Association related to hiring without assignment and approved hiring Allison Kelly as a fourth‑grade teacher and Taylor Babbage as a third‑grade teacher for the 2025–2026 school year. Both hires were approved "pending all credentialing requirements and subject to verification of the results of physical examination, TB tests, and drug screens, required clearances, and all other essential employment requirements under board policy 303 and Pennsylvania Department of Education regulations." The board also accepted the retirement of Karen Nicholson A., effective June 24, 2025, and the resignation of Sanai Reem A., effective June 23, 2025.

Board members moved and seconded the motions and voted in favor of the personnel items; the meeting record shows each motion carried. The board noted that some votes included members participating by phone and that a memorandum of extension related to voting participation is on record.

Discussion during the personnel section included thanks to committee members who conducted interviews; no additional conditions or policy changes to the hires were recorded. The approvals were recorded as formal board actions; staff were not given further direction in the meeting beyond executing the hires and processing required pre‑employment screenings.

The board referenced board policy 303 and Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) regulations as the standards governing employment clearances and credential verification. The personnel approvals were part of the meeting's personnel and liaison agenda items.