The Panther Valley School Board heard from one of its track and field coaches about the need for a junior high coach.

Trish O’Gurek spoke to the board Wednesday night, stressing the need for a dedicated coach for junior high athletes in track and field.

The district had 39 junior high track and field athletes and 44 varsity athletes last year, she said, and the head coach was required to oversee both programs. Scheduling conflicts put the students at a disadvantage, she said.

“I’m just asking a representative for the track team to consider finding or hiring someone as a junior high head coach to help out with the program,” O’Gurek said. “Otherwise, we’re not going to be able to build these athletes to their highest potential.”

Athletic Director Kristin Black told the board she’s been saying that for 10 years, while board members and other administrators said that was the first time they heard of the need.

“I don’t think there would be one person here against it,” said board member Keith Krapf.

The board’s athletic committee plans to address the matter.

Personnel

The board hired paraprofessionals to work in all three schools.

Those hired were: Kathy Geffert, intermediate school; Stacy Zabrowski, junior-senior high school; and Lisa Macalush, elementary, all at $14.60 an hour.

The board also hired Jessica Fulu as a paraprofessional at the intermediate school at a rate of $10 an hour.

Other personnel matters included:

• Approving conference and workshop attendance for Jaime Yarish, Dave McAndrew, Bruce Millheim and Greg Kosciolek. The workshop and conferences cost totals $3,642, and the events are later this year and early next year.

• Approving three-credit courses for Benjamin Turrano, Mary Ribarchik, Alice Andrews, Joseph Henry and Theresa Williams.

• Approving Paul DiGennaro as an after-school tutor.

• Revising salary for Aaron Joyce, a junior senior high school guidance counselor, to $46,565, retroactive to Nov. 11.

• Rescinding the employment of Employee No. 1009, retroactive to Oct. 9.

• Approving intermittent, uncompensated leave for Employee No. 1172 through the end of the school year.

• Approved the highly qualified rate of $14.60 an hour for paraprofessional Mircedes Anthony.

Other

In other business, the board:

• Approved the board meeting calendar for 2025. There were no changes, keeping the meetings on the third Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m., board President Daniel Matika said.

• Approved winter sports workers, who will be paid from $25 to $30 an event for the 2024-25 school year.

• Approved a request from Nesquehoning Borough, increasing the crossing guard pay from $10 an hour to $12 an hour.

• Approved a resolution for the Ready to Learn Tax Equity supplement, which is a new requirement in the 2024-25 state budget. Business Manager Jesse Walck said that the district should see some $247,000 flow in as soon after they submit the resolution.

• Heard a report from solicitor Robert Yurchak, who said the assessment appeals have been completed and the market values were raised $3.5 million for the district.

• Approved writs of execution for a parcel in Summit Hill with $3,002 owed, and in Nesquehoning, where $10,870 is owed.

• Approved dates for the 2025 Extended School Year Program.

• Approved the second reading and revision on a policy regarding insurance.

• Noted the board will reorganize on Dec. 4 at 6:30 p.m. with its December board meeting to follow at 7 p.m.