The Panther Valley School Board on Wednesday hired paraprofessionals, a school psychologist and brought back another administrator.

The board returned Lanae McKelvey to her role as school psychologist/assistant special education director at a salary of $100,000, prorated for this school year under Act 93.

Superintendent David McAndrew Jr. said that McKelvey, who had moved out of the area, will be doing a lot of work virtually, and will be on site a few days each quarter.

She had maintained a relationship with the district even after leaving earlier this year, being contracted by the board to perform psychology record reviews this summer.

The board also hired another school psychologist, Brynn Roosell, at a salary of $80,000.

McAndrew said that the district has been trying to hire a second school psychologist for five years due to the number of special education students the district has.

The district’s supervisor of curriculum, student and community services, Robert Palazzo, has also been working as a school psychologist to help meet the district’s needs.

The board also hired Alexandra Costa as an elementary teacher at a salary of $45,005, under the union contract, and the following as paraprofessionals Mireces Anthony, Sioban Wenzel, Natalie White, at $10 an hour, and Christine Helmer at $14.60 an hour, the highly qualified rate.

The board also hired Kelsy Boyd as a part-time dishwasher at the junior senior high school effective Aug. 28 at the rate of $16.38 an hour.

Other business

In other business, the board approved:

• Conference attendance for Pamela Brubaker, Stefanie Palina, Kayla Kiraly, Melissa Wickersham, Jennifer Schlegel and Mary Louise Gauronsky; and three-credit courses for Christine Kostecky, Tara Eisley, Casey Hedash and Kimberly Bayer.

• Booster clubs for cheerleading and the elementary parent-teacher organization.

• Tayler and John Shemansik as volunteer parent manager.

• The Security Guard Guidelines for Panther Valley events to the 2024-25 Athlete Handbook.

• The sale of 139 used devices to AG Parts Worldwide for a total of $715. All of the devices were past their expected life and scheduled to be replaced.

• Writs of execution on seven properties.

• A scheduled of payments as additional wages to cafeteria employees who participated in the summer food outreach.

• Patricia Holmes, Susan Semuta and Lauren Folk as chaperones/volunteers.

• The United Way Schools Partnership with the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, retroactive to July 1.

• The 2024-25 Title I Letter of Agreement with the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit.

• Reassignment of the following cafeteria staff, Victoria Maier and Anthony Herschitz, at the contract rate of $16.38 an hour, and Esther Marsolick, at a rate of $17.13 an hour.

• Reappointment of Kevin O’Brien as the junior senior high school truant officer/disciplinarian at a salary of $39,000.

• Intermittent leave of absence for an employee, No. 544.

• Memorandums of understanding with Richard Holota and Brian Sook, school police officers. Both are current officers.