A Quick Pottstown Meeting With Lots of New Hires

And I didn't think Pottstown School Board meetings could get any faster than last Thursday's.

But Monday proved me wrong.

The meeting was done in 28 minutes.

One of the things that makes that easy is something called "consent items," which are things discussed at the Thursday work session about which there is no disagreement.

On Monday, that constituted 22 items on an agenda of 38 items.

Among them was the hiring of 11 teachers, a new director of technology; a new assistant director of technology; a new director of special education; a new principal, a new assistant principal and the promotion of a 10-month-a-year-assistant to 12 months per year -- all at the middle school; and other assorted hirings.

What didn't happen, was a scheduled 3 percent pay hike for mid-level administrators and principals, support staff and other workers.

That motion was tabled and sent back to the finance committee for further consideration by the request of board member Polly Weand, who last week said she is worried the community cannot afford the increase. The board voted unanimously to do as she asked.

The other item of interest was the 5-2 vote to double the district's contribution to the Pottstown Area Industrial Development Inc., from $10,000 to $20,000.

Board Vice President Emanuel Wilkerson and member Katina Bearden voted no. She said she could not justify the expense.

Board member Thomas Hylton said PAID had done useful things in the past, "but not so much lately. However, he said he was willing to give new director Peggy Lee-Clark a chance, particularly given that the increase would put PAID at a $150,000 contribution, which would then be matched with an equal amount from the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation.

Here are the Tweets from last night's meeting.