JT board discusses hirings
A Jim Thorpe school board member wants to hold off on hiring new teachers until the board replaces the current superintendent.
Dr. Brian Gasper’s contract expires June 30. The board has hired a consultant to help find a new top administrator.
On Wednesday, the school board accepted the resignation of Jim Thorpe Area High School math teacher Michael Spirk, effective at the end of the school year.
They also voted to advertise to seek candidates for Spirk’s position.
The vote was 7-1 with board member Dr. Michael Principe voting against. Principe said to Jim Thorpe Area High School Principal Tom Lesisko that he couldn’t bear to see Spirk leave.
“Tell Mr. Spirk I am voting against accepting his resignation,” he said.
School board member Glenn Confer said that the board should hold off on interviewing candidates until they hire a new superintendent.
“There should not be any interviews for any professional people till that man comes in. And I think it’s only fair,” Confer said. “We should not be hiring for somebody else.”
Gasper was hired in March 2014. During his time in the district Jim Thorpe gave laptops or tablets to all students in the district.
In November the district approved a $5,000 contract with Pennsylvania School Boards Association to conduct a superintendent search.
In other business the school board:
• Approved paying $27,469 for phase II of the HVAC DMS Controls upgrade contract with NRG Controls Inc., through a state contract.
• Purchased a van from Kovatch Ford for $27,326.67.
• Approved a tax exemption for a disabled veteran.
• Approved the sale of 14 properties from the repository list.
• Approved a donation to Albrightsville Fire Co.
• Voted to spend up to $7,000 to send FBLA members to participate in a national conference in Texas.
• Agreed to seek bids for repairs to the roof at the L.B. Morris school and the sidewalks at the high school.
• Approved a $19,000 contract to renovate the entrance to the LCCC section of Jim Thorpe Area High School.
Correction: Superintendent Dr. Brian Gasper's contract ends June 30. This story incorrectly listed the date that the contract ends.
