1970 blind graduate gives back at Hanover Area, pays for a student’s college

HANOVER TWP. — John Moran came back to his old haunts to pay back for help in overcoming clinical blindness to not only graduate from Hanover Area High School, but to graduate top in his class and become CEO of facilities management consulting firm. The meeting started with the news that Moran will pay the full cost of college for a current senior’s college.

“We’ll pay tuition, books, everything,” for two years at Luzerne County Community College, Moran said. “And if he goes on from there, we’ll pay that, too.”

Superintendent Nathan Barrett announced the gift at the start of the meeting. Moran said their were many hurdles to overcome in his school days and the district and students worked hard to help him overcome them, and he wanted to return the favor.

Moran started John M. Moran Associates, now Premier Facility Solutions based in Massachusetts.

Barrett also gave recognition to retiring board members Kevin Quaglia and Joseph Steininger, who have served eight and 10 years on the board, respectively. Barring the need for a special meeting, this was their last. The board will reorganize with those elected on Tuesday at the next meeting Dec. 3. He also cited the eight years of Paul Holmgren who remains on the board.

The agenda itself was light and took only a few minutes to get through. The board approved a new dress code Barrett said is more relaxed and will go into effect the week after Thanksgiving. He said it will be posted on the district website shortly.

The board appointed Robert Moulton as high school math teacher, Shelby Ranieli as elementary teacher, and David Jeckiel as substitute maintenance worker.

A parent asked about seventh grade students not getting the math lessons they needed at the start of the year, and Barrett said there was a problem getting substitute teachers when a teacher retired. He said he is working on finding additional sources of substitutes, but cited what has become a well-documented problem in many parts of the state: a growing shortage of teachers, and a resultant shortage of substitutes.

Hanover Area graduate John Moran accepts the thanks of audience members after Wednesday’s Hanover Area School Board meeting. Moran is clinically blind and was helped by district staff and students in getting his degree, going on to launch a successful business. He came back to the district to offer a current struggling student full coverage of costs for attending Luzerne County Community College.

https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_Moran-John.jpgHanover Area graduate John Moran accepts the thanks of audience members after Wednesday’s Hanover Area School Board meeting. Moran is clinically blind and was helped by district staff and students in getting his degree, going on to launch a successful business. He came back to the district to offer a current struggling student full coverage of costs for attending Luzerne County Community College. Mark Guydish | Times Leader