The Mount Union Area School District is accepting applications for the business manager position that became vacant Monday evening.
At Monday evening’s monthly meeting, the school board approved the resignation of Marissa Boozel as Director of Business Affairs, effective Friday, August 26. She joined the district administration team 11 months ago, with a salary of $78,000.
Superintendent Dr Amy Smith said the position was advertised both internally and externally. The district is accepting applications until 3 p.m. Wednesday, August 31.
The board approved an agreement between the district and Boozel for her to continue as a consultant, at a rate of $75 per hour, to help finalize the 2021-22 audit and help the successful candidate install in the post.
The district seeks applicants with a bachelor’s or associate’s degree in administration, finance, accounting, or a related field, and who have experience with the state’s public school system, developing budget and payroll. The position is full-time and year-round.
Send application materials, including a letter of interest, resume, three letters of reference, and necessary clearances to Superintendent Dr. Amy Smith at [email protected] or by mail to Mount Union Area School District, 603 North Industrial Drive, Mount Union, PA 17066.
During his report to the board, Smith recognized both Boozel and Dia Nearhood, administrative secretary to the district’s director of special education.
Nearhood is retiring after 32 years of service with MUASD and, like Boozel, has agreed to work for the district as a consultant to help train her replacement.
The district begins the year with 14 vacancies to be filled. Smith said the administration is working hard to fill all positions.
Open teaching positions include Primary Teacher, Broad Elementary Substitute, Special Education Teacher, Broad Secondary Substitute, Secondary Science, Secondary Social Studies. Additionally, the district is looking for a wrestling head coach to succeed Corey Wertz who stepped down over the summer after 22 years with the program. During the time with the Trojan Wrestlers, he served 20 years as a head coach.
Beyond “a few hiccups” in the early days, Smith said 2022-23 has got off to a good start.
The building administrators agreed. High school principal Mike Hummel and vice principal L. Hope Palm said they were pleased with the rollout of the new term.
“It’s good to have the students back, it’s good to have the teachers back,” Palm said.
In response to rumors circulating on social media, Hummel said he and Palm met with state police to determine if any of the schools in the district were being targeted for criminal activity. He said the rumors were deemed unfounded.
Luke Strawser and Christian McClure, the district’s new co-directors of curriculum, instruction and assessment, said they enjoyed this year’s induction program for new teachers. Strawser said he and McClure recruited new recruits during a tour of the district’s three schools.
“We also took them on a historic tour of the city,” Strawser said, adding that he and McClure have received positive feedback from new teachers and teacher mentors. McClure said he hopes the touring component becomes the norm for the initiation program.
Additionally, McClure said elementary school children are taking benchmark tests, which will help teachers determine each child’s level of understanding in math and language arts.
Shirley Township Superintendent Sandra Rickabaugh said the data collected through benchmark testing is invaluable to teachers.
“It helps us make sure kids get the education they need and are in the right group from the start,” she said. The Shirley Township School serves students in grades 3 through 5, and at present, Rickabaugh said about 270 students are enrolled.
Chad Mickle, manager of Mount Union-Kistler, said his first few days of the new year were spent working with staff to sort out a few issues with breakfast and transportation.
“I’m lucky to have a very hard-working staff,” he said. The school that houses the district’s K-2 classes currently has 295 students.
The school isn’t full to capacity yet, but “we’re up there,” Mickle said.
Smith thanks everyone on the district team for their efforts to prepare Mount Union schools for the return of students on August 24. Smith gave special thanks to the custodial and maintenance staff, among others, who worked during the summer months to ensure the buildings were ready for the resumption of classes.
“Everyone started running on day one,” she said.
Smith also thanked Melissa Henry and other parents who teamed up to give teachers and staff cookies on the first day of school.