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Board approves separate high-school assistant principal and athletic director positions in 5-4 vote
Summary
After extended debate about workload and cost, the Punxsutawney Area SD Board voted 5–4 to create two separate positions — an assistant high school principal and an athletic director — and directed administration to post the openings.
The Punxsutawney Area SD Board of Education on an evening vote approved creating two separate positions — an assistant high school principal and an athletic director — rather than combining them into one dual-role post.
The split was approved on a 5–4 roll-call vote after more than an hour of discussion about workload, coverage for evening and athletic events, and potential budget savings if a single hire were used instead. Board members who voted "yes" were: Mister Cardamom; Missus Deb Hutchison; Missus Evans; Missus Smith; and Mister Yellen. Those who voted "no" were: Mister Blos; Mister Horner; Mister Konjerski; and Missus Laska. The board chair recorded the tally as 5–4.
Board members argued both practical and financial points. Supporters said athletics run year-round and that combining duties could overload one person and leave gaps when athletics require evening or weekend attention. Opponents said trying a single combined position first could save roughly $80,000 and would be easier to expand later if workload proved too great. The board ultimately chose to hire two separate, full-time positions and asked administration to post the openings immediately; compensation levels will be determined later and are not required to be set before posting.
The board discussed minimum qualifications during the meeting, including whether a four-year degree should be required for the athletic director role; one board member said a degree requirement affects pay and recommended posting the athletic director position without a four-year-degree requirement to broaden the candidate pool.
The board also discussed timeline issues: if the assistant principal hire comes from within the district it can require up to 60 days for release from the current position, and the board asked administration to move promptly so hiring can proceed before the start of the school year.
Next steps: administration will post both job openings; the board will return to set compensation ranges once applicant responses provide market context.
