|
|
BROOKVILLE - Monday night the Brookville Area School District Board of Directors hired a new curriculum coordinator for the district. Nancy Cherico, the temporary superintendent in the Forest Area School District, will replace Dr. Robin Fillman who is now the principal at Hickory Grove Elementary.
Cherico, a native of Punxsutawney, has been with the Forest Area School District for 24 years she taught, worked in instructional support, special education coordinator and federal programs coordinator and for the past eight years has been in administration as a building superintendent and for the past year as acting superintendent.
Cherico said she has not had an opportunity to examine the Brookville curriculum in depth but is familiar with some of the programs already in place.
"I know Dr. Fillman brought in response to intervention and I hear she has done a great job," said Cherico. She said she would be meeting with Dr. Fillman in the near future.
"One of the first things we need to do is determine how to use the economic stimulus money. Those applications are due this month," she said.
Cherico said she would assume her duties in Brookville as soon as she was released from Forest Area. She said she would be taking a couple of days each week to meet with Dr. Fillman and the building principals.
"This is a sad day and a happy day for the Brookville Area School District," said interim superintendent Sheila Hilwig. "It is a sad day because we had to accept the resignation of a wonderful professional gentleman, Mark Heckman. It is a happy day because we have to think how blessed we are in this district to have the quality of administrator that other districts want to recruit.
"We may also be happy that we were able to hire Mrs. Cherico. I want you to know this was a very difficult decision and we had a wonderful response. We had professionals from as far away as Virginia apply for this position.
In a transportation issue, the board approved the transfer of the balance of the bus contract held by Alan Lindemuth to Jane Yale, one of his drivers, on a split vote. Board members Fred Park and Mike Smith expressed concerns that the contract was not opened for competitive bidding. Park said he had the greatest respect for Yale but was concerned about the process.
Lindemuth, who has retired from his business, said all six of his divers have agreed to continue to work with Yale.
Business manager Jason Barnett noted that bus contractors are a specialized business. "Not only need to have safe busses but also trained drivers," said Barnett. "It is not an easy task." The board passed the transfer of the contract by a 5-3 vote.
The board approved the hiring of Robert Strawcutter as a custodian at salary Step 1 with an initial assignment at Hickory Grove Elementary and supplemental contracts for softball volunteers Ken Alexander and Robert Bedee.
The board approved the posting of the position of elementary principal.
