OC school board hires assistant principal

Oil City School Board members on Monday hired a new assistant high school principal.

Anne Curran, who has been an English teacher at Oil City High School, will fill the post as the assistant to principal Scott Stahl. She will receive an annual salary of $70,000.

Stahl and Lynda Weller had been the co-high school principals the last few school years, but Weller was named the district’s new superintendent last month and began her duties July 2. She attended her first meeting as superintendent Monday after being sworn in earlier Monday at the Venango County Courthouse.

The board approved Curran’s hire by a 5-1 vote with Fred Weaver voting no. Weaver said his vote was based on insufficient information about Curran.

“We get just a name and don’t know anything about the person,” Weaver said. “We’ve been having some discussions to correct those issues and I’m confident that they will be corrected.”

Board members Joseph Womer, Chris Hibbard and Jim Disque didn’t attend Monday’s meeting, which combined both the work session and regular meeting for July.

The board approved several other hires Monday, including Karma Daman as elementary special education teacher and Kevin Vogan as high school social studies teacher. Weaver voted no to both of those.

The board also approved Amber Fellows as day-to-day substitute paraprofessional and Patty May as support staff who will serve as 10-month secretary at Hasson Heights Elementary.

Four coaches were approved – Clinton Ames as assistant cross country coach, Dillon Crispin as assistant girls soccer coach, Zach Smith as assistant football coach and Lisa Carter as volunteer volleyball coach.

The board unanimously rejected a motion to accept a bid from Fred Karns Landscaping Too for snow removal for $100,000 a year for three years. The job will be advertised again in an attempt to get a better price.

The board approved an increase in security guard salary by $1 per hour with Weaver again voting no.

“I think they’re adequately paid,” Weaver said. “If you look at security positions throughout the area, they pay eight to 10 dollars an hour.”

The board approved the addition of a new course at the high school – essential post-secondary living skills.

Tracy Delmonaco, the district’s director of special education, described the course as building upon home economics and instilling social skills, coping skills, establishing goals, accessing community agencies and advocating for oneself.

School orientations

The board announced the open house and orientation schedule for the 2018-2019 school year.

— Hasson Elementary will hold kindergarten orientation at 6 p.m. Aug. 21 and open house at 6 p.m. Aug. 29.

— Smedley Elementary will hold kindergarten orientation from 5 to 6 p.m. and open house from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. Aug. 22

— Seventh Street will hold second grade orientation at 6:15 p.m. and open house from 6 to 7 p.m. Aug. 22

— Oil City High School will hold new student orientation and open house at 5 p.m. Aug. 23.

— Oil City Middle School will hold new student orientation and open house at 6 p.m. Aug. 23.

The next school board work session will be at 7 p.m. Aug. 13, and the next voting meeting will be at 7 p.m. Aug. 20 at 825 Grandview Road.