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Hiring continues in Youngstown schools
By Denise Dick
Youngstown
The city school board continued efforts to have a full slate of administrators by the time school starts.
Board members rehired William Baun as the principal of Paul C. Bunn Elementary School at a salary of $73,744 at a meeting Tuesday. Baun retired from the same job at the end of last school year. The board also hired Joan Mingo as assistant principal at the Chaney Campus where she’ll earn $66,433 annually.
The person who had previously been hired for the job resigned to accept another position.
It’s been a summer of filling principal, assistant principal and other administrative posts due to retirements, resignations and reassignments. Returning students will see new principals at Williamson and Taft elementary schools and both the Chaney Campus and East High School this fall.
In other business, board members heard from bus drivers concerned about the new bus routing system. One man told board members some children will be riding different buses in the afternoon than in the morning.
He asked that a committee be established to try to improve the system.
Superintendent Connie Hathorn said the changes made to the routing system allowed the elimination of six substitute bus drivers from Community Busing. “That saved $234,000,” he said.
He said he’s willing to work with the drivers and the routing manager to improve it.
“I’m still going to come to the table and talk,” the superintendent said. “Nothing is over until it’s over.”
Marcia Haire-Ellis, board member, said she wants to hear the results of the meeting between Hathorn and the drivers.
Board members also tabled a contract with Neil Kennedy Recovery Clinic under a state grant received for after-school programs. Board members had additional questions regarding one of the providers, Youth Intensive Services, which is to be paid $136,314 from the $400,000 grant.
The agency includes the same personnel who work at Programs of Promise at Wilson Middle School and delivered a presentation about its work at a board meeting last month. Board members, however, requested additional data, regarding the outcomes achieved by the agency.
Jerome Williams, board member, didn’t think the board had enough information to vote on the resolution.
“It’s your call,” Hathorn said.
“Is it going to be our call or is it going to be reviewed by the commission?” Jackie Adair, board member, asked, referring to the Youngstown School District Academic Distress Commission.