Teacher positions filled
By James Moate News Assistant

Students in the Cameron County Area School District will be greeted by a new music teacher and a new English teacher when they return to classes in late August.

C. Adam Brooks will become the third member of the music faculty, teaching students in kindergarten through grade 12. A graduate of Mansfield University, Brooks taught in the Punxsutawney Area School District last year and was chosen from a field of 28 candidates.

John Pontzer has been hired to succeed Larry McGraw as a high school English teacher. He graduated summa cum laude from Clarion University with an English degree. He also holds an English literature degree and a law degree from Georgetown University. Pontzer was chosen from a field of 14.

Board members also agreed to hire Jennifer Gornall-Rouch from Erie as district solicitor, at a rate of $125 per hour.

Several other personnel moves were approved. Don Sestina was returned as athletic director. Also hired were: Aaron Bowes and Jeff Wykoff, softball coaches; Tom Hutton, Jeff Hutton and Kristina Ace, track and field coaches; Tashine Groeger, yearbook advisor; Heather Smith, drama advisor; Christine Holjencin, National Honor Society advisor; and Charlena Hibbler and Tina Johns Larson, student council advisors.

Pay increases were approved for cafeteria monitors and crossing guards; new hourly rates will be $8.05 and $8.20, respectively. An increase in pay for support substitutes was also approved to conform to the new minimum wage.

In other action, directors:

--approved a computerized, motion-activated security system at Woodland Elementary School. It will consist of about 30 cameras, at a cost of $24,615.

--authorized girls' varsity basketball coaches David Sullivan and Sandy Dunsmore to conduct a fitness program in the high school gym through Aug. 24.

--agreed to purchase a tractor from Maple Mountain Equipment of St. Marys for about $27,500.

--authorized Acting Superintendent Clyde Moate to expand the Accelerated Reader Program into the high school. Moate said the program has been successful at the elementary school.