Greater Nanticoke Area increases substitute pay, replaces gym seats

NANTICOKE — The Greater Nanticoke Area School Board increased substitute teacher pay to $125 a day at Thursday’s monthly meeting, with the rate bumping up to $145 per day for teachers in a position more than 20 days. The rate was $95 per day, but the district, like others in the area, is struggling to attract substitutes, and the increase is similar to those in other districts.

After the meeting, Superintendent Ron Grevera said the district currently only has about six reliable substitutes, and that it could probably use about 20.

The board also approved a plan to have Degler-Whiting Inc. replace the gymnasium seats at a discounted cost not to exceed $46,031. Grevera said the 20-year-old plastic seats had started cracking and become a safety risk. The district negotiated with the company, which had originally installed the seats, and got the price of replacement reduced from about $70,000.

And the board voted to seek bids for the artificial turf and track project at the stadium. The cost won’t be known until bids come in, but the project has been estimated at about $2 million. The district has obtained about $900,000 toward that through the state Local Share Account, money the state gives out to communities from legalized gambling income.

In other sports moves, the board appointed Jeff DeRocco as head girls track coach, Ed Lukowski as track assistant coach, Ronald Bruza Jr. as head football coach, Ken Kaspryzk and Ronald Bruza Sr. as football assistants at half salary each, Deborah Gavin as head girls volleyball coach, James Gavin as girls volleyball assistant coach, Jake Biehl as head softball coach, and Christian Mavus as a lifeguard for the remaining two swim meets at $50 per meet.

The board opened the meeting with a moment of silence for the death of former Superintendent Tony Perrone. Grevera noted Perrone had served the district for nearly 50 years, as a teacher, administrator and Superintendent — working for $1 a year in his later years in the post, helping the district through a tough financial stretch and through some needed construction and renovations.

The board also:

• Approved a donation of $5,000 to the Mill Memorial Library.

• Accepted the retirement of special education teacher Carmella Brown.

• Accepted the resignations of teacher Tara Ebert, cafeteria worker Johanna Relica, cleaners Angela Moran and Alberta Miller, and chorus director Mary Ann Rutkowski.

• Appointed Scott Tarnowski as custodian.