NEW MIDDLETOWN School principal treats demerit-free pupils

The principal took on the role of chef as he cooked for the kids.
By VIRGINIA ROSS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW MIDDLETOWN -- Following the rules hasn't been that difficult for Amanda Wargo.
In addition to earning mostly all A's as a pupil at Springfield Local Intermediate School, the 14-year-old eighth-grader received no disciplinary demerits from the fifth through the eighth grade.
She and the 31 other eighth-graders who finished intermediate school demerit-free were treated to steak or chicken lunches Wednesday at the school. The meal, which also featured salad and baked potatoes, was prepared by Intermediate School Principal Jerome Hiznay.
In past years, pupils have been treated to a meal at a restaurant. But this year, Hiznay, who is finishing his second year as principal, said he wanted to do something special for the "outstanding" pupils.
& quot;I just wanted to do something to show them how much I appreciate them and their efforts," he said. "I wanted it to be personal and to be from me to them. I wanted them to remember that I appreciated what they did and what they were able to accomplish during their four years at the intermediate school."
This year, there were nearly 100 eighth-graders at Springfield, he noted, and only 32 without a demerit.
Easy to get one
"You could get a demerit for chewing gum or being tardy," said 13-year-old Jennifer Pisansky. "Some people get them for not having their books covered or for other things like that. It doesn't take a lot to get one. I guess it says a lot if you don't have any against you."
Pisansky and 14-year-old Nora McKelvey, who both avoided receiving any demerits during the past four years, helped set the tables for Wednesday's lunch.
Meanwhile, Hiznay prepared the steaks and chicken breasts on two outside grills. He said he hopes to make the steak lunch an annual offering at Springfield. For his efforts, he earned dozens of hearty "thank yous" from pupils, who obliged him by cleaning their plates.
"I enjoyed this," he said. "And I think they enjoyed it, which makes it all worthwhile. ... I'd gladly do it again."
In addition, he said, "It's a great way to spend the last day of school."