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HANOVER TWP. — Tuesday’s Hanover Area School Board meeting started with the student of the month, Justin Kopko, breaking down while thanking his grandparents, who raised him since he was 5.

It ended with Attorney Bill Finnegan saying the district “will be made whole” in an ongoing dispute about overpayment for bus service.

Kopko, grandson of Board Member Vic Kopko, was recognized for his academic and athletic success, while Daniel Erickson was recognized for his success in wrestling. When Kopko gave the traditional acceptance speech, he thanked his grandparents as “the strongest people I ever knew.”

He added: “I can only hope to be half as strong.”

The teen then held back tears for several seconds before regaining composure and completing his speech.

During the meeting, Vic Kopko was the lone no vote on two agenda items: the monthly approval of multiple checks — not listed in the agenda — from a PNC Bank account, and “approval of Frank Nowakoski ‘Nowakoski driving school’ as a non-exclusive provider for End of Course Skills Test.”

After the meeting, he said he voted against the check payments because he believes the board needs to make a better effort to control spending or it will have a $500,000 deficit in next year’s budget even with the maximum property tax hike allowed by state law. He said he voted against the other motion because there are multiple driving instructors available and the district “shouldn’t give an unfair advantage to one of them.”

While efforts to recoup about $250,000 in overpayments for bus services was not brought up during the meeting, afterward Finnegan said a conclusion is close in negotiations with the transportation company run by Frank J. and Dorothy Ciavarella. The problem was discovered during a state audit, and the board terminated the contract, which was to run through June 2022.

The district also put Superintendent Bill Jones on paid leave following the incident. Finnegan said Attorney Jack Dean is still in negotiations with Jones’ Attorney Charles Coslett in an effort to find a final resolution to that matter. Jones has denied fault for the overpayment and said he wants his job back.

Hanover Area student of the month Justin Kopko gets a hug after an emotional speech Tuesday that included breaking down while thanking his grandparents, who raised him since age 5.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_Justin-Kopko-crop.jpg.optimal.jpgHanover Area student of the month Justin Kopko gets a hug after an emotional speech Tuesday that included breaking down while thanking his grandparents, who raised him since age 5. Mark Guydish | Times Leader

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_Hanover.jpg.optimal.jpgMark Guydish | Times Leader

By Mark Guydish

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Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish