As the 2024 school year ends, more than 372 years of experience leaves Gettysburg Area School District.
During Monday’s meeting, the district’s board of directors recognized 13 retiring employees. Dr. Jason Perrin, superintendent, expressed appreciation to the staff members for supporting the district’s students.
“A lot of institutional knowledge walks out the door with them, which you can never replace,” Perrin said.
Those retiring are: Kristen Bechtel, 28 years, Chemistry/Science; Lisa Deaner, 29 years, sixth grade, Kelly Dewees, 20 years, supervisor of special education; Elisa Gormley, 43 years, instructional coach; Scott Jones, 27 years, seventh-grade science teacher; Jean Kepner, 33 years, English; Tracy Montedoro, 23 years, reading; Robert Murren, 30 years, English; Julie Myers, 26 years, art; Anna Palmer, 24.5 years, counselor; Joseph Pecaitis, 32 years, learning support; Beth Polk, 34 years, counselor; Catherine Small, 23 years, English.
Solicitor Retained
The board recently voted 6-3 to retain its solicitor, Stock and Leader. Board members Michelle Smyers, Cynthia Ayers, and Ryan Morris opposed renewing the contract. Kenny Hassinger, Michael Dickerson, Tim Seigman, Jeremy Davis, Alice Broadway, and Al Moyer supported the proposal.
The district hired Stock and Leader in 2023 when its longtime solicitor, Robert McQuaide, retired.
Smyers and Morris objected to Stock and Leader’s support of Perrin’s proposal to remove the board from the assistant superintendent’s evaluation process. Smyers noted Pennsylvania school code states the board “shall” conduct the assistant superintendent’s evaluation. She said it was her desire to follow the school code, and her remarks did not reflect her opinion of the current assistant superintendent, Jeffrey Matzner.
Perrin said most school boards in Pennsylvania delegate the assistant superintendent’s evaluation to the superintendent. Hassinger and Moyer expressed support for Perrin’s proposal, noting that volunteer directors who do not observe Matzner daily lack the knowledge to conduct a fair and thorough evaluation.
Budget Proposal Advances
At its June 17 meeting, the board is expected to approve a 2023-24 budget proposal that includes a 1 percent tax increase. District Superintendent Jason Perrin said the increase is primarily needed to support funding a new career and technical education center. The increase follows a zero percent increase last year and, if enacted, would create an average 0.67 percent annual increase over the past 7 years.
Two residents of the Amblebrook Community in Straban Township spoke at Monday’s meeting in opposition to the tax increase. They said Amblebrook is restricted to people over 55 years old who do not have children. One of the residents asked the district to consider a special tax rate for Amblebrook residents.
Featured image caption: Gettysburg Area School District retirees who were recognized during a recent board meeting are, from left: Beth Polk, Joseph Pecaitis, Anna Palmer, and Kristen Bechtel.
Alex J. Hayes has spent almost two decades in the Adams County news business. He is passionate about sharing stories focused on the people in our communities and following local governments in an age when few journalists report on their meetings. Alex is also a freelance writer for several other publications in South Central Pennsylvania. Alex encourages readers to contact him at ahayes83@gmail.com.
Under the PA. Constitution, all properties have to be similarly taxed; cannot set up different tax rates for different properties. Explained in the Tax Assessment handbook available from the PBI.