No support for proposed CASD hiring policy

A hiring prohibition policy presented by Connellsville Area School Board Director Ed Zadylak died Wednesday night for a lack of a second.

The policy, which would have prohibited any individual who was related to a board member or administrator from being hired in the district, was a source of contention among some members when Zadylak asked that it be placed on the agenda for a vote earlier in the week.

Director Jon Detwiler stated at an agenda setting meeting Monday that just 3 percent of all hirings over the past three years were individuals related to district administrators or board members.

Board President Francis Mongell said Monday that the district currently follows the school code set in 1949 that is actually more strict than the ordinance proposed by Zadylak.

While Zadylak's proposed ordinance prohibited the hiring of a parent, spouse, child, brother, sister, father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, son-in-law and daughter-in-law, the school code also prohibited the hiring of aunts, uncles and cousins if the majority of the board, not counting the relative's vote, did not vote in favor of it.

When Zadylak brought the motion to the floor yesterday, he could not garner a second. No board member offered comments during the session.

Later in the meeting, directors approved the hiring of Christopher Stern as the district's new solicitor at an annual salary of $7,800 in accordance with the proposed existing one-year contract.

Stern will replace Linda Cordero, who held the position for several years before turning in a letter of resignation last month.

Also yesterday, the board approved the adoption of a 403B plan document as well as naming Kades-Margolis Corp. as third-party administrator of the plan for both the Connellsville Area Career and Technical School and the school district.

Business Manager Eugene Cunningham the 403B tax-sheltered plan offered to public school employees is like the 401(k) plan offered to employees in private businesses.

The district has been offering the plan to employees but the Internal Revenue Service said that all public school districts must have a written document in place by January.

The board also set the salary for incoming district Superintendent David Goodin at $105,000 a year. Goodin replaces retiring Superintendent James Duncan.

A reorganization meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Dec. 3 with a regular business meeting to follow.

Mongell also announced that the MGT consulting firm has completed its surveys on the study it is doing concerning the possible consolidation of schools.

A meeting will be held in December to discuss recommendations.