The Fairfield Area School District may be able to select a new business manager soon, according to an update the school board received during its meeting on Monday evening.
Superintendent Thomas Haupt told the board that the district is eyeing a replacement for Thomas Weaver, the district’s current business manager.
The board approved Weaver’s planned resignation during its meeting on Feb. 14. Weaver plans to resign on or by April 1, according to the agenda from that meeting.
Haupt said talks about Weaver’s potential replacement are “progressing very positively” and indicated a decision could come quickly, saying the board may need to hold a special meeting before its next regular meeting on March 28.
Haupt said applications for the position of special education supervisor are due by Friday and he would like to hold interviews with candidates next week.
Daniel Watkins, the current supervisor, will resign on June 30. His resignation was approved at the same time as Weaver’s resignation.
The district has had no luck finding candidates for the school nurse position so far, according to Haupt.
The board unanimously approved hiring two middle school volleyball coaches. John Horrell Jr. was hired as the head coach and Kathleen Ferguson was hired as the assistant coach.
Athletic Director Andrew Kuhn said the district is looking for game workers.
Weaver apprised the board of a cafeteria grant available through the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The grant opportunity is being provided due to concerns about the supply chain. Weaver said that if the school is awarded the grant, the cafeteria could receive at least $5,000.
Kaleb Crawford, coordinator of computer services and technology, said the district’s cable upgrade efforts are now finished. The cabling was upgraded to Category 6, or Cat 6, Ethernet cabling. All connected devices are now working, he said.
Board President Jennifer Holz called for the board to hold a moment of silence at the beginning of the meeting to honor the memory of the late Earl Shutt.
Shutt served on the school board until the end of 2021, when newly elected members took their place on the board. In November, Dr. Larry Redding, the interim superintendent at the time, awarded Shutt and other board members a certificate of appreciation for his service. Shutt was also a recipient of the Gettysburg Connection Outstanding Contribution Award.
Shutt passed away on March 10.
No one addressed the board during the time for public comment.
Holz announced that the board held an executive session to discuss legal and personnel issues on both March 10 and March 15.
The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, March 28. Meetings are held in the district board room and are livestreamed on the district’s YouTube channel.
Imari Scarbrough is a freelance journalist. She was a staff newspaper reporter for five years before becoming a freelancer in 2017. She has written on crime, environmental issues, severe weather events, local and regional government and more.
You can visit her website at ImariJournal.com.