Board approves multiple hires, creates athletic director position and tables elementary principal hire

The Punxsutawney Area School District board approved a personnel package at a special meeting that includes creating an athletic director position, hiring a candidate for that role and several teacher hires, while tabling the appointment of an elementary principal.

Chad (board member) moved to table personnel item G, the hire for an elementary principal; Jessica (board member) seconded. The board voted in favor and the motion carried.

The board approved the broader personnel agenda, which included creating an athletic director position to begin July 1 with a base salary of $60,000 and hiring the candidate who progressed through the hiring panel, identified in the meeting as D.J. Gold. The agenda also listed hiring three teachers (salaries and step placements were shown on the agenda for reference), accepting a teacher resignation, approving a volunteer cross-country coach and appointing substitute teachers for the elementary summer school program. A board member stated that the salaries shown were subject to change pending ratification of the district contract.

The meeting record shows the personnel approvals were unanimous, and the chair announced the hires for Mr. Gold and the other listed positions were carried. The board additionally directed administration to repost the elementary principal position; staff said that reposting would occur publicly within the next 48 hours.

The board noted the athletic director hire is the first time, to the meeting officer's knowledge, the district has added that position. No additional details about the elementary principal candidate or the reason for tabling item G were specified in the public record at the meeting.

The board also reminded attendees that portions of the meeting may be livestreamed and recorded under district board policy.