Sep 4, 2014 3 min read

Trinity Area School Board on Thursday appointed its technology coordinator, John Digon, as interim athletic director.

Digon will not receive additional compensation and will serve on an as-need basis “until further notice,” according to district Superintendent Michael Lucas.

Bobby Jones has served as athletic director since he was hired in July 2010, and Jones was awarded a four-year contract extension in April 2013, which runs through August 2017. His contract currently pays about $80,000 annually.

On Wednesday, Jones said he is taking a leave of absence, but declined further comment.

Lucas said he could not comment about Jones’ temporary leave, but he said Jones remains the school district’s athletic director.

“Bobby Jones is the athletic director and we expect him to return,” said Lucas. “When he returns is yet to be determined, and in the mean time, John Digon is working very hard to manage the sports program as best he can.”

Digon is an assistant coach on the Hillers’ football team and has previous experience as a scholastic athletic director, Lucas said.

Also Thursday, the board approved an intermittent family medical leave for an unnamed employee, effective Sept. 8. The medical leave will not exceed 60 work days.

In another matter, the board approved two after school art programs offered by Art Expressions Inc. of Pittsburgh, which will be fully funded by a Grable Foundation grant awarded to the district.

The art programs, called Project EcoSmART and ARTchitecture: Building Bridges, combine art, engineering, math and technology, and aim to get students interested in math and science. The six-week programs will be held in the fall at Trinity West and South elementary schools and in the spring at Trinity North and East schools. Enrollment is limited and is on a first-come, first-serve basis.

In other business:

• The board approved an oil and gas lease with Rice Drilling LLC for 13.8 acres of property. The school district will receive a bonus payment of $6,000.00 per acre, an 18 percent royalty and a prohibition against surface operations and water protection clauses.

• Trinity East teachers Lori Lape and Kelly Shaw outlined a presentation on common core writing they presented at the Washington County Literacy Seminar last month and will be presenting at the Keystone State Reading Association Conference at Penn State Oct. 26 to 29.

• The board approved discontinuing cyber school educational services with the Seneca Valley School District. The school district recently joined the Intermediate Unit 1’s Cyber Solutions Initiative, eliminating its need to participate in Seneca Valley cyber program, Lucas said.

• Lucas thanked the Enzerra family for their $3,500 donation to the school district from the Thomas Enzerra Autism Project. The Enzerras held a dodgeball tournament to raise funds. Their son, Tommy, a Trinity elementary school student, has autism. Previously, the family donated iPads that were used by other autistic students in Trinity’s special education program.