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Chaney hires VPA, STEM experts
By Denise Dick
Youngstown
The new Chaney High School will employ a principal as well as two consultants: one for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math; and one for visual and performing arts.
The school board earlier this month approved the summer salaries for the two consultants.
The STEM consultant is Pam Lubich of Niles whose r sum shows she has worked as the STEM supervisor at the Trumbull County Educational Service Center since 1996. Her summer salary will not exceed $13,000.
The VPA consultant is Tracy Schuler of Poland, who has worked as a producer, director and choreographer for her own production company, TLS Productions Inc., since 2003, according to her r sum . She also previously worked as a gifted and talented assessor of Mahoning County students from 2005 to 2010. Her summer salary is not to exceed $12,266.
Nothing has been brought to the board regarding their school-year salaries, which won’t be finalized until late July.
The district is still in the process of selecting a principal for Chaney. The position was initially posted in March with an $81,088 annual salary.
“The STEM and VPA coordinator will work with the teachers to infuse STEM/VPA activities into the curriculum, assure that the program has the appropriate technology and dance/music experiences and conduct professional development for teachers,” Karen Ingraham, district communication director, said in an email.
The Chaney principal will function as any other principal, she said.
“Teachers will report to the principal who will do the evaluations, assure that the core curriculum is being taught and handle all administrative responsibilities,” Ingraham said.
Because most STEP and VPA schools exist separately, principals at those types of school usually have a background in that area, she said.
“Chaney, however, will house both programs and finding a principal with in-depth experience in both STEM and VPA would be nearly impossible,” Ingraham’s email said.
As part of a districtwide restructuring plan, Chaney will change this fall to a STEM and Visual/Performing Arts school for students in grades six through 12. About 330 students are expected to attend the school during its inaugural year and had to complete auditions or applications to be selected.
Students attending East High School will have a focus on business, education or law. That school will house 10th- through 12th- graders.
Both high schools will maintain core-curriculum classes.
The plan also includes an eighth- and ninth-grade academy housed at the P. Ross Berry Middle School building and Volney Rogers and Woodrow Wilson middle schools each will become a sixth- and seventh- grade academy.