The Conewago Valley school board approved a new director of safety and communications during its board meeting on Monday evening, hiring the second person for the role since the original director retired this summer.
The position was previously held by Matthew Muller, who retired on July 20.
The job was briefly filled by Dwayne Smith, a school security officer who was approved for Muller’s role on June 8, retroactive to June 1. Smith returned to his previous position as an SSO effective Aug. 11, leaving the job as director of safety empty once again.
On Monday, the board approved transferring Mark Herb from his position as assistant principal of Conewago Valley Intermediate School to the position of director of safety and communications.
No start date was provided.
Three board members opposed hiring Herb for the role: April Swope, Lindsay Krug, and William Getz.
Getz said he would vote against Herb because of “information that can’t be provided for the public because it’s privileged,” then said he wished he could have learned more about others vying for the job.
“Not to say that Mr. Herb isn’t the best qualified candidate, but the board didn’t get the opportunity to review any other candidate,” Getz said.
Board president Jeffrety Kindschuh said the job was one of the topics discussed during an executive session held prior to the open meeting.
New teacher induction
Assistant superintendent Wesley Doll said ongoing teacher inductions are still going smoothly. Districts within the county collaborate to hold programs to orient new teachers as well as provide ongoing support.
Recently, new Conewago teachers attended two sessions on holding parent-teacher conferences.
In October, Conewago Valley will host sessions on teacher evaluations, with at least four staff members providing training to new teachers within the county.
Elementary construction, ACTI update
Doll provided a brief building update in place of district superintendent Sharon Perry.
Doll said work is continuing on both buildings, with the majority of the site work finished at New Oxford Elementary School.
The population of CTE students was merged with that of other schools last-minute before the school year started due to construction issues. Kindergarten through second grade students are now at NOE while all third-grade students in the district currently go to CVIS.
Changes are only in effect for this year due to construction.
“(Perry) was incredibly proud of our Colonial Nation for pulling together to take care of what was needed in order to start with the CTE transitions and how that had the domino effect with our faculty, staff and students, so we’re in a safe place and we’re working and learning together now,” Doll said. “We’re walking through the halls; as she was walking through the halls, she had an incredible sense of pride in seeing some of the things before the school year began and how things were set up for the school year. She wanted to thank everybody for their collaboration there.”
Perry serves as the superintendent of record for the Adams County Technical Institute joint operating committee. The committee was interested in purchasing a property last month following a long search, but the land agreement fell through after two school districts, Littlestown Area School District and Gettysburg Area School District, did not grant approval.
As the ACTI committee needs four out of the five districts to approve a purchase, the deal could not proceed.
According to Doll, Perry and the ACTI joint operating committee will continue to evaluate its next move.
Other business
The board accepted the donation of a utility golf cart for the 2026-27 school year. The golf cart, provided by Golf Services, Inc., is valued at $12,000.
Another donation of $600 from the New Oxford American Legion Baseball for the Colonial Challenge was also accepted.
The board approved two student expulsions and a long list of volunteers and hires, including the hire of several coaches. Coaching positions for basketball, bowling, swimming, wrestling and unified bocce were all filled.
Only one person addressed the board. Jamie Fitzpatrick read an opinion piece he had previously submitted to the Gettysburg Times, continuing a months-long protest against the construction and renovation of the elementary schools due to disagreements regarding finances and enrollment projections.
The board will hold a study session at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5 and its next regular meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12. Meetings are also posted to the district’s YouTube channel.
