NEW CASTLE SCHOOLS District suspends business manager

The assistant business manager and two other officials will handle business affairs.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- New Castle Area School District's business manager is awaiting a hearing before the board of education to see if he will keep his $79,000-per-year job.
Atty. Charles Sapienza, the district's solicitor, said Roger Havey was suspended with pay Tuesday pending an investigation related to what Sapienza called "personnel matters." Sapienza said Havey "has the right to privacy and due process," so he could make no comment about the reasons for the suspension.
Sapienza said Havey has the right to a hearing before the board, and at that time school officials will discuss their findings and Havey can comment. He said Havey can choose to have the hearing at a public meeting or behind closed doors.
Havey was hired in December 2002 as the district's business manager/secretary. He replaced Marie Pisano, who retired.
Handling duties
Abby Baxter, the district's assistant business manager, schools Superintendent George Gabriel and Assistant Superintendent Nick DeRosa will be responsible for the day-to-day business operations of the district during Havey's suspension, Gabriel said.
Havey, 48, of Aliquippa, Pa., took the school district position from his full-time position as the borough manager of Midland in Beaver County. He also is a consultant for the Western Pennsylvania Charter Cyber School and the Midland School District.
Havey's salary includes $2,000 per year to act as board secretary and $77,000 annually for his work as schools business manager, and full insurance benefits through the district. Havey has a bachelor's degree in business/accounting from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a master's degree in business administration from Frostburg State University.
He previously worked as director of special programs and administrative assistant with the Aliquippa School District and as business manager/board secretary at the Greencastle New School District and St. Mary's Area School District.