When I wrote my last “Where We Live” column, Lehighton Area School District was in the midst of revamping its hiring procedure for athletic game staff including public address announcers, ticket takers, scoreboard operators, etc.

The issue came to a head in May when Kevin O’ Donnell, who has been announcing Indian football games full time since 2014, said he was called into a meeting with the athletic director on April 30 and told the position would be opened.

“During that meeting with Kyle Spotts and High School Principal Sue Howland, I learned they were given a directive by Dr. Christina Fish (then superintendent) through the board to open the position,” O’Donnell said. “I asked if the board gave a reason and was told they said I mispronounced names, didn’t announce sponsor information and didn’t turn the music off inside the stadium while the band was playing behind the press box.”

School Board President Jeremy Glaush said O’Donnell’s performance was not the issue; instead, the lack of job descriptions and a clear hiring process for gameday staff was at the heart of the matter.

Since then, Spotts provided the board with job descriptions, which they passed in July, for each athletic game staff position.

A ticket seller, for example, will be responsible for “efficiently selling tickets, providing excellent customer service, and ensuring a smooth ticketing process for fans attending events hosted by Lehighton Area School District.”

A ticket taker, on the other hand, “will play a pivotal role in providing exceptional customer service to fans attending athletic events.”

As for announcers, they “will play a crucial role in providing lively and informative commentary, enhancing the fan experience, and promoting school spirit during athletic competitions.”

Among a slew of fall sports hires, O’Donnell was recently rehired as public address announcer for the upcoming football season at $50 a game.

All seems settled for now as Lehighton’s hiring and evaluation process for game staff is forever changed.

“Kyle (Spotts) and I have spent considerable time to update this system to do it better,” Acting Superintendent Jack Corby said. “People now have to apply for the positions. We have job descriptions. Throughout the season, that person will be evaluated on a game-by-game basis.”

Upon any type of concern, Corby said, Spotts will address it immediately.

A full evaluation of each person’s job performance will be conducted at the end of the year.

“Everyone will be evaluated,” Corby said. “I don’t know if that was done in the past. But it’s a good system we have in place now.”