CATAWISSA R.R. - Three teachers with a combined experience of 115 years at Southern Columbia announced their intentions to retire at the end of the 2012-2013 school year.
At its meeting Monday night, Southern Columbia Area School Board accepted the resignations for retirement of middle school teacher Kay A. Nazarchyk, technology education teacher Paul M. Jankowski and physical education teacher Albert J. Cihocki by an 8-0 vote.
Jankowski's and Cihocki's retirements will be effective at the end of the school year, June 11. Both have been employed with the district since 1973. Nazarchyk will finish her tenure on June 30. She has been employed with the district since 1978.
After a round of applause for the three teachers, of which only Jankowski was present, board president Michael Yeager expressed the district's gratitude for their service.
"It's bittersweet, you know," Yeager said. "We are happy for them to be moving on to the next chapter of their lives, but they will be missed here in the district and they have enriched many of the lives of our students."
Four-day weeks
In his report, board member John Yocum said the curriculum, instruction and technology committee met with all the district's teachers to discuss job descriptions and to ask if teachers had any problems. One complaint heard across the board was dissatisfaction over Southern's plan for several four-day school weeks implemented this year.
In the 15 weeks between the last week in December 2012 and the first week of April 2013, there were only two complete five-day weeks, partially due to holidays and scheduled vacation time, but also partly because of an innovative use of Act 80 days that saved the district approximately $45,000 in transportation, utilities and paraprofessional costs.
Superintendent Paul Caputo said the district is taking that into consideration in the preparation of next year's schedule.
"The one thing that I was amazed to hear was that some teachers didn't have a hard copy of our curriculum," said Brenda Monick, Southern's director of curriculum, instruction and technology. "I've got files of them in my office. They are available."
"The meeting was very open and honest, and good for everyone involved. I hope we can do it again two or three times next school year," Yocum said.
In other business
The board acknowledged tenure for life skills teacher Marissa Petrone, effective Jan. 3, and the first reading of a new policy to establish a safety committee in the district. The board also adopted a resolution to use electronic signatures with the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The motions were approved by a 8-0 vote with approval by Yeager, Yocum, Charles Porter, Timothy Vought, Charlene Cove, Gail Zambor Schuerch, Rick Steele and Eric Stahley.