Eight Weathersfield teachers to retire early

The board also approved new five-year contracts for two principals.

MINERAL RIDGE — Weathersfield Board of Education on Wednesday accepted the early retirement resignations of eight teachers at the end of the current school year.

Under an agreement with the Mineral Ridge Education Association effective July 16, 2007, early retirement bonuses were offered for the current school year only, and those retiring will receive a $15,000 retirement incentive to be disbursed over two years.

Retiring are: Tom Carroll, middle school teacher, effective July 31; high school teachers Susan Eliser and Janis Crawford, middle school teachers Mary Wilson, James Pappada and Jeannette Ciancetta; and Seaborn Elementary teachers Janice Mounier and Patricia Blascak — all effective June 30.

The board also approved new five-year contracts with 3 percent raises for Seaborn Elementary principal Cynthia Mulgrew and middle school principal Bill Koppel, Aug. 1, 2008, to July 31, 2013. All district administrators had taken a wage freeze for the 2006-07 school year. Mulgrew’s raise brings her to $67,466 a year and will also include a $2,000 longevity payment for a total of $69,466.

Koppel will earn $53,712 with the increase.

The board also approved a resolution to oppose a petition to transfer a single parcel of land from Weathersfield district to the Austintown school district.

David Tolich of 1248 Cedarwood Drive has petitioned the state board of education to redistrict his home into the Austintown district. He resides in Spring Meadows subdivision off of County Line Road, and his daughter attends Austintown schools so that she can participate in athletics.

Only one student is involved in the petition. Tolich now has to pay tuition to Austintown because that district does not have open enrollment.

The subdivision is about half in Weathersfield schools and half in Austintown schools.

The board will send a notice of opposition to the transfer to the state and ask for a hearing on the petition.