News

August 15, 2008

Hiring motives questioned at Pittston Area

JANINE UNGVARSKY Times Leader Correspondent

YATESVILLE – Amid questions about their motives and methods, the Pittston Area School Board approved more than 40 staff appointments Thursday.

Over 100 people crowded the high school library for the rescheduled meeting, with some raising questions about how hiring choices were made.

One man asked board President Joseph Oliveri why he did not abstain from the unanimous appointment of Art Savokinas as vice-principal of the intermediate center/kindergarten center.

Savokinas is a district teacher and the brother of Luzerne County Sheriff Michael Savokinas. Oliveri, who works in the sheriff’s office, said he is only obligated to abstain from voting for relatives.

Some board members also questioned the board’s policy of calling for nominations from the floor during the meeting. In several instances on Thursday board members nominated more candidates than there were spots to fill, resulting in a voice vote by candidate to fill each position.

Board member Terry Best questioned whether having each board member answer the roll call with the name of his chosen candidate adhered to Robert’s Rules of Order, prompting a switch to a roll call vote on each candidate.

Positions filled by nominations from the floor included educational assistants, maintenance custodians, part time night shift custodians and assistant security personnel.

Lori Knick was named educational assistant-intermediate center. Educational assistant-least restrictive environment positions went to Joann Grableski, Darlene Balavage, Maria Mondlak and Sue Rivielo. Jonathan Copp, Rich Prebish, John Brick and Nick Tomasetti were appointed to the maintenance custodial staff.

Carolyn Turner, Louise Lynch, Robert Wilbur, Clare Alteri, Mike Fiume, Matt Shatrowskas, Pete Lieback, Sr. and Angela Lapinski were named to the part-time custodian night shift. John Hindmarsh and Dennis O’Brien were appointed as assistant security personnel.

In other action, the board approved change orders adding a total of just over $126,000 to the high school renovation project and one subtracting $5,500 from the same project.

Mike Karcutskie from the Quandel Group explained the changes were mostly the result of fine-tuning the heating and air conditioning system for better function. Karcutskie said the project will not be finished before school opens because some ventilation system parts have not arrived from the manufacturer, but added work will be done after school to avoid class disruption.

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