DASD School Board hears from Jeff Tech students, meets new assistant superintendent by Glenn Schuckers

Before moving into its agenda, the DuBois Area School Board heard a presentation from four DuBois students who currently attend Jeff Tech in Reynoldsville.

The students talked about  their fields of study and what the school offers them in the way of practical education preparing them for a career. The presentations were in recognition of Career and Technical Education Month and the school principal, Melissa Mowrey, introduced the presentation by saying that Jeff Tech currently has 550 students and is hoping to add to the faculty to accommodate the growing student population. DuBois superintendent Wendy Benton thanked the students for their remarks and said that no matter what school they attend they are always considered  “our students.”

The district’s new Assistant Superintendent, Shawn Ford, was present for the meeting, and the board hired his confidential secretary, Shelly Reasinger, at an annual salary of $45,000. Ford spoke briefly after being introduced, saying he was happy to be part of the administrative team and that he has spent his time in the new position “learning the lay of the land.” He added that he’s been working with Superintendent Benton to get acquainted with the district’s facilities, administrators, teachers, and students.

The board also approved the resignations of a number of long time teachers and administrators whose combined experience totals over one-hundred fifty years. Elementary instructors; Richard Barron, Marjorie Montana, April Kriner, gifted instructors Diane Zaffuto, and Cynthia Marchioni, Barbara Jo Smith, elementary principal and Director of Federal Programs, along with Michael Maholtz Assistant Principal at the Middle School, will all be retiring at the end of this school year.