Published June 16. 2023 01:43PM
by Chris parker cparker@tnonline.com
Schuylkill County Children and Youth Services Agency has a new, and badly needed, caseworker.
Kiersten Conville, of Pottsville, was hired as a caseworker at $20.33 an hour beginning July 3.
The agency has been struggling with finding and keeping staff since the COVID-19 pandemic, when many workers abandoned the high-stress job for better paying and less intense employment.
Agency executive director Lisa M. Stevens has said that 31 workers left in 2021 and at least 28 left in 2022.
In September, commissioners agreed to give the workers financial incentives to stay on the job. The retention bonuses range from $500 to $1,500. And the county in March negotiated a five-year contract that gives employees $2 an hour wage increases on top of annual 3 percent raises.
In other personnel moves:
• Karl Karlonis, of New Philadelphia, was hired as a maintenance worker at the county jail at $18.84 an hour, beginning June 19;
• 911 Communications Center telecommunicator senior level 5 Scott Clews, of Saint Clair, will retire as of June 23, and;
• Jordan Shiffer, of Pine Grove, resigned from a part-time corrections officer job.