Board vacancy filled
Kristine Umble new CCSD director
By James Moate Endeavor News

Kristine Umble

After initially coming to a stalemate over the issue, the Cameron County School Board eventually appointed Kristine Umble to fill a vacancy on the board. She succeeds Bob Horning, who moved to Maryland to teach.

The district incurred considerable expense to obtain a legal opinion as to Horning's eligibility to sit on the board, which drew the wrath of board member Paul Malizia, who is an attorney.

Board members initially reached an impasse on Umble's appointment, unable to muster the five votes necessary to pass a motion. Had the situation continued, Judge Richard Masson would have been required to fill the seat.

"It's a sad, sad decision, as far as I'm concerned," board president Robert Lininger said of the possibility of a judicial appointment.

Eventually, the board revisited the issue and settled on Umble by a 6- 2 vote. Other candidates for the seat were Tom Holjencin and Mike Streich.

To break the stalemate, board member Annetta Horning changed her vote after initially abstaining.

Umble is the mother of three students, is active with the district as room mother is employed by Lewis and Hockenberry.

Also at this month's meeting, the school board named Patrick Cherry assistant drama advisor and David Osti as seventh grade girls' basketball coach. Richard Reynolds and Nora Schwartz were added to the substitute custodial and maintenance staff.

Board members discussed a $30,000 grant to be used for remediation to improve elementary school student performance on Pa. System of School Assessment tests.

Discussion was also held on preparing college-bound Cameron County students for SATs. Among the options are expanding the SAT Prep Club, bringing an instructor from Penn State DuBois to assist interested students and purchasing learning resources.