Personnel Moves, Software Purchases Among School Board Housekeeping

Written by Jack Tobias

The Nazareth Area School Board took care of some housekeeping items to close the school year.

In the personnel area, the board:

--Approved a one-year contract extension for Margaret Ferraro of the Blue Eagle Education Foundation at an annual salary of $7,500.

--Hired Sara Parsley as a replacement teacher for kindergarten at Bushkill Elementary. Parsley attended Monday night’s meeting and was introduced to the board and audience.

--Hired Krista Farace as a long-term substitute during the leave of teacher Amy Smith at the middle school.

--Accepted the resignation of high school math teacher Douglas Gimbar, effective Aug. 21.

--Approved a child-rearing leave for intermediate school teacher Lisa Ralston, from Aug. 21 through approximately Jan. 1, 2014.

--Approved family and medical leaves for intermediate school teacher Melissa Stack (beginning Aug. 22) and high school teacher Lauren Woodall (beginning around Sept. 16 through a date to be determined in January 2014).

--Hired Michael Mingora as a replacement IT technician at multiple buildings at a date to be determined.

In the purchasing area, meanwhile, the board approved an amount not to exceed $28,820.40 for replacement laptops for Lower Nazareth Elementary and Bushkill Elementary teachers. The laptops are part of the district’s five-year technology plan.

The board also approved an amount not to exceed $26,000 for Apple computers and software for the high school TV studio, also part of the five-year technology plan.

The board approved $16,197 for the Teachscape software application to support the implementation of the new teacher evaluation system.

And it approved a contract not to exceed $13,875 with Cope Carpet Interiors of Allentown to furnish and install Hydromat sanded white grout with acrylic additive as needed for the middle school pool.

The board’s next regular meeting will be 7:30pm July 22 in the usual meeting place – the Walter L. Peters Board Room.