High school principal duties to be split between existing administrators
Staff writer
Many staff changes were made at a special meeting of the Peabody-Burns school board Thursday, including the decision to not refill the high school principal position after Tim Robertson resigned earlier this week.
Robertson’s duties will be split between existing administrators Ray Savage and Ken Parry.
An hour and five minutes were spent in executive session discussing the position before the board voted unanimously to cut the position to save money.
The board also accepted the resignation of Ryan Panko the vocational and agricultural teacher as he is moving to Fredonia to start a life with his soon-to-be wife. His position will be refilled.
The board also voted unanimously to not renew the contracts of math and project based learning coordinator Cindy Sattler and science and language arts teacher Kim Topham. The board voted 6-1, with Julia Ensminger against, to not renew the contract of multi-tier system of supports teacher Jenny Hurst.
The layoffs are a product of budget cuts. Sattler and Hurst had been with the district for two years and Topham for 13 years.
The board voted 6-1, with Anthony Zappone voting against, to hire Laura Christy to fill the position of vocal and band instructor.
The board spent 20 minutes in executive session discussing personnel.
Superintendent Ron Traxson told the board he had been busy interviewing candidates to fill retiring Patti Gaines position as treasurer.
“I’m pleased with the candidates,” he said. “We got some really good people.”
He hopes to make a recommendation to the board at the regular May meeting.