The Pleasant Valley School Board voted 8-1 Thursday night to hire a new assistant to the superintendent.

Rae Howard will be joining the staff with a salary of $125,000 a year. She replaces Joshua Ziatyk, who resigned in May.

School board director Laura Jecker voted no to the hiring.

“I feel the salary is too high for the level of experience,” she said.

Howard has a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in English from Slippery Rock University, and a doctorate of educational administration from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, as well as certificates in English 7-12, Principal K-12, and Superintendent.

School board director Susan Kresge hesitated in her approval to hire Howard, but then said she would approve her, because Superintendent Lee Lesisko thinks she will work well with the faculty and staff.

Also hired was Fawn Meli as the new special education supervisor at a salary of $82,000. She is replacing Diane Siani.

Meli has a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in special education from East Stroudsburg University, and certificates in Special Education N-12, Special Education Supervisor, and Mid-level English 7-9.

Human resources director Jessica Tomon also asked the board to approve the following changes:

• Resignations: Amanda Campbell, monitor at PVES; Valerie Korsick, substitute teacher; Stacey Charles, substitute paraprofessional associate, monitor and food service employee.

• Retirement: Shavonne Liddic, K-12 curriculum supervisor, effective Jan. 31, 2021.

• Change to Assignment: Diane Nagy, paraprofessional from PVES to PVHS.

• Intramural Advisors: Eileen Arnold, Let’s Create at PVMS; and Robert Hahn, boys’ basketball at PVHS.

• Athletic Volunteer: Inge Burlew, swimming.

Lesisko mentioned that Tuesday is Robert Hines, the associate principal at Pleasant Valley High School, last day on the job. His retirement was approved in October. He thanked him for his years of service.

“Bob, good luck with retirement,” he said.

Several of the board members also offered their well wishes and appreciation for Hines and for the service of Shavonne Liddic, a teacher whose retirement was approved at the meeting.