Ambridge board approves multiple hires, names new Economy Elementary principal

The Ambridge Area School District board approved a series of personnel recommendations at its Jan. 21 meeting, including the appointment of Mark Iwo Jenko as principal at Economy Elementary and several coaching and staffing appointments.

The personnel report recommended hiring Mark Iwo Jenko as Economy Elementary principal at a salary of $95,000, contingent on receipt of satisfactory clearances and certifications. Jenko addressed the board, thanking leadership and saying he looks forward to serving Ambridge families and to a transition plan that will allow him to phase from his current assignment into the elementary principal role.

The board also approved athletic staffing: Dan Bradley was recommended as varsity head coach at a starting salary of $11,500 (pending clearances and solicitor review), with a slate of spring coaches and assistants approved at listed stipend levels. The personnel agenda included approvals for student-teacher placements (Slippery Rock University, Geneva College, Western Governors University), cafeteria hires, paraprofessional retroactive hires, multiple leaves of absence under board policy 4.35 (FMLA), several resignations and retirements, and a recommended termination resolution for employee number 3221.

A single motion to accept items 1 through 19 (personnel and business items) carried on a roll-call vote. Board members discussed whether any hires were permanent classroom-teaching positions and noted additional teacher hires may be presented the following week.

Next steps: selected hires remain contingent on clearances and required certifications; solicitor review was noted for some athletic hires pending finalization.

(Reporting note: personnel names, salaries and conditions are taken from the Jan. 21 meeting record.)