New Students Sworn On to Pottstown School Board

Photos by Evan Brandt

Angelica Calel, center was sworn in Thursday as the junior class member of the Pottstown School Board, as were alternates Logan Ruyak, left, and Andrew Green, right.

Despite the fact that the Pottstown School Board only holds one full meeting per month, and is down member, it remains remarkably efficient, completing all its business in just one hour Thursday night.

Superintendent Stephen Rodriguez, left, congratulates alternate

student board member Logan Ruyak after being sworn in by

District Judge Scott Palladino Thursday night.

Thankfully, the board took the time to make sure the three newest student board members were all
sworn in correctly by District Judge Scott Palladino.

Time was also provided for a presentation on an environmental education program provided for sixth grade students by Natural Lands Trust and the North Bay project.

Superintendent Stephen Rodriguez said the week-long trip, at no cost to the district or to parents, is nearly full with more than 220 students already signed up.

Alternate student board member Andrew Green, right,
takes the oath 

while his mother, Jennifer, holds the Bible.

As for the actual voting part of the meeting, that went by swiftly and if you don't know how to read the agenda, you might not notice that with one vote, they:

• Accepted the resignation of Assistant Pottstown Middle School Ryan Regensburg and hired his replacement, Kimberly Boswell at a salary of $82,871 per year.
• Hired a new supervisor of buildings and grounds, replacing Bob Krippelebauer. That person is John Connor III, who will be paid $85,000 per year.
• Also resigning are Barth Elementary teacher Amy Skarbek and Pottstown Middle School teacher Stephen Allen, who was one of my son's favorite teachers.
• Also hired were Emma Spaide, a Pottstown High School teacher, at a salary of $45,000 and Lindsay Hogan, who will work at Rupert Elementary and be paid $49,000 a year.

Student board member Angelica Calel, right, takes the oath.

Also worthy of note: Kurt Heidel, chairman of the facilities committee, reported that his committee had a discussion about "year-round school," 45 days of school and 15 days off from school, that "could ease the strain on the middle school. We're looking at all options. The next committee meeting is Nov. 8.

Finally, the board authorized the re-financing of a bond taken out in 2000 to pay for renovations and expansion to Pottstown High School. The new bond is a fixed rate, instead of a variable rate bond, and will save the district $220,000 according to solicitor Stephen Kalis.

And with that, here are the Tweets from the meeting.

New Board Members, But Not THOSE Board Members