ARMAGH--Administrative changes are in the offing at United High School, as well as at the district's central office.
Last month, Harvey Long announced his intention to retire as district superintendent at the end of November. At Tuesday's meeting, the school board noted another administrative departure, approving the Oct. 31 retirement of High School Principal Robert J. Butchkoski.
A 36-year veteran of the education field, Butchkoski taught in DuBois for six years before coming to United in 1972 as a business education instructor.
About eight years ago, he moved from the classroom to the high school office. He served initially as high school academic principal and then simply as principal when job titles were revamped--with the arrival of Rick Huffman as director of educational services and the departure of William Wilt as building principal.
Now 57 years old, Butchkoski said he is retiring with mixed emotions. "I've met a lot of nice people and I've enjoyed my job," he said, adding, "This district has provided me with excellent professional development opportunities."
But, "It's time to go. It's time to do some things for myself and my family."
Long said Butchkoski's "contribution to United has been tremendous. He's going to be missed greatly."
Long noted the district has launched a search for a new assistant high school principal, the job currently held by Lewis Kindja, former assistant principal at United Elementary School.
But United has yet to decide how administrative assignments will be reshuffled at the high school, Long indicated. "We're not sure if Mr. Kindja would be principal or something else."
Butchkoski said one of the best parts of his work at United was knowing he'd contributed to the success of district graduates. "When a teacher walks into a business and sees one of his former students working there, that has to be one of the most gratifying things," he said.
Butchkoski noted many of his colleagues on the United staff and school board were once his students.
Board members and United alumni Robert Dill and Ronnie Thompson recalled the respect Butchkoski commanded when handling disciplinary problems. "It was three strikes and you're out," Dill said.
Huffman praised Butchkoski's "dedication and the work ethic he brings to the job every day."
In other personnel matters, the school board approved Beth Moore as a long-term substitute industrial arts teacher and hired band director Richard Auvil for the additional role of high school audio-visual coordinator, at a supplementary pay rate of $500.
Charles DiFalco, an assistant basketball coach with the Greater Johnstown School District, was hired as an assistant varsity boys' basketball coach at United. He will receive a starting salary of $2,700.
Also the attendance officer at GJSD, DiFalco has coached in both the varsity and junior high basketball programs at that district. He volunteered with the Johnstown Middle School Mini-Trojan boys' basketball program and organized the Elks Hoop Shoot for the Johnstown area in 1997-2000.
Philip Bruley of Indiana was hired to coach United's new junior high girls' soccer program. He will be paid $800 this year, for coaching an abbreviated start-up season of about three games.
Bruley played soccer with a battalion team during four years in the Army. He also played the sport while at the University of Vermont and Johnson State College, also in Vermont.
Long noted parents of the 11 girls who have signed up for the soccer team have agreed to help cover costs, to the amount of $125 per child, during each of the program's first two try-out seasons. Those contributions will cover about $100 of the coach's salary.
Christy Baird was hired as an assistant cheerleading coach, at a starting salary of $1,400.
United approved a supplementary agreement with its transportation contractor, Krise Bus Service, to operate three additional bus routes--in both the morning and the afternoon--for the district's half-day early kindergarten (K 4) program.
Huffman reported 17 four-year-olds and 13 three-year-olds have enrolled in the program. Youngsters will ride existing buses to the morning session and home from the afternoon session.
Long said it will cost about $28,000 per year for the additional buses, which will bring morning students home and take afternoon students to the school.
To better navigate around construction on Rt. 22 this fall, United will provide temporary van transportation in the afternoon for two high school and five elementary students who reside along the affected portion of the highway.
Long said the van will cost $2,800 per day.
Board members voted 6-3 to deny a new bus stop on Rt. 259 for high school bus no. 207.
Long received permission to teach courses to other educators who are seeking principal certification. He said officials at the Altoona Branch of Gannon University asked him to teach the courses, which will be held on weekends during the coming fall semester.
American Youth Soccer Organization was granted use of district buildings, as needed, for soccer meetings, training sessions and workshops. The group plays its games at Wagner Field in Clyde.
United Youth Basketball will hold its programs at the elementary gym Wednesday evenings and Saturdays from Oct. 18 to March 31. UYB's annual tournament will be held Feb. 25 to March 9 in the high school gym and cafeteria.
United's high school library accepted donations of 81 books from 1995 graduate Matt Bartlebaugh and one book from John Hughes.
The library will be open to the community Tuesdays from 3:15 to 5 p.m. during the 2003-04 school year.
The elementary school's Back To School nights will be held Sept. 23 for grades 1-3 and Sept. 24 for grades 4-6. Hours will be 7 to 9 p.m. both days.
A similar open house program at the high school is set for Oct. 1 from 7 to 9 p.m.
Congratulations were offered to:
According to two United parents, the school district has gone too far in enforcing a dress code for students.
Neena and Bob Faltin said they believe the code unfairly singles out students like their ninth grade daughter, Jodi, who chooses to wear body piercings and metal-studded belts.
"She's gotten in trouble because she chooses to dress differently," Neena Faltin told school board members at the panel's Tuesday meeting.
Faltin said she feels her daughter has been wrongly labeled as a "bad" kid because of her unorthodox appearance-- including a preference for black clothes--when, in fact, the girl participates in a program for gifted students and also belongs to a group, "Straight Edge," which pledges not to participate in casual sex, violence, drug use or smoking.
The Faltins also objected to the fact that their daughter was pulled from a classroom, while taking a test, because her eyebrow piercing violated the dress code. They argued that school staff should have waited until after the test to ask that the eyebrow ring be removed.
Acknowledging that they are "bucking the system," in hopes of having the dress code changed, Neena Faltin said the couple support their daughter's choice of dress.
With the district's current restrictions on dress, Bob Faltin said, "How can you teach these kids to tolerate kids that are different?"
The Faltins said their daughter's run-in with the dress code has dampened her enthusiasm for school programs.
"She no longer wants to come to school," Neena Faltin said.
United Superintendent Harvey Long said the district does not have an objection to students wearing black clothes, adding, "I don't think anybody is labeling anyone as a bad kid."
He said the dress code prohibits all piercings, other than earrings, as well as metal-studded belts, due to safety concerns.
He explained, in the event of a physical altercation between students, a body piercing could create additional injury. He noted a studded belt could be removed and used as a weapon.
Long said the Faltins' daughter had been asked once before that same day to remove her eyebrow ring when a school administrator visited her classroom, spotted the offending jewelry and pulled her out of the class "for 30 seconds to a minute," asking again that it be removed.
"In this case, no discipline took place," Long said, noting the student "took it off when asked."
After further discussion with the board in executive session, the Faltins said they were not able to convince school officials to alter the dress code. Bob Faltin said the couple will talk things over with their daughter and other students who share her fashion sense before deciding if they will investigate further legal recourse.
Later, during the meeting, school board members confirmed they do not intend to change the dress code and directed that a letter be sent to the Faltins restating the district position.
