Dec 16, 2019 4 min read

Bethel Park School Board is considering adding a high school assistant principal.

The board discussed the idea at its regular meeting Dec. 10, but opted to table the matter until January to allow more time to study the issue.

Proponents argue the workload at the high school is too much for the current staff of two principals and two deans to handle effectively. Others expressed concerns about whether the long-term costs could be justified, especially considering the declining student population in Bethel Park.

“Adding salary to a declining enrollment doesn’t make much sense to me,” said Director Russ Spiccuza.

However, Director Darren McGregor noted neighboring schools with similar student populations typically have at least three principals. Principals have to participate in special education students’ individualized education program (IEP) meetings and since each student has several IEP meetings a year, that duty alone can easily consume a principal’s time, McGregor said.

Prior to the opening of the new high school in 2012, four principals worked at the high school. The district reduced that number through attrition in the years since and now the building has two certified principals, Zeb Jansante and the associate principal, Joseph Villani. Two deans also work at the high school to primarily handle student discipline matters.

District Superintendent Dr. Joseph Pasquerilla said the staffing at the high school was adequate for the needs of the students and he did not recommend adding another administrator.

Resident Brenda Payseure also questioned if an additional principal was needed since the student population at the high school is dwindling. Around 1,400 students attend Bethel Park High School.

“How is this going to be justified as an ongoing expense?” she said.

Director Jim Modrak, who used to work at the high school as a school resource officer, said he has first-hand knowledge that another principal is needed. He cast the lone dissenting vote for tabling the issue, arguing the district needs to begin searching for an assistant principal as soon as possible.

The board asked administrators to prepare an organizational chart and to compare Bethel Park with neighboring districts. Once that data is prepared, the board may be ready to make a decision about adding an assistant principal at the Jan. 28 meeting.

The board also discussed beginning the search for Leonard Corazzi’s replacement. Corazzi, the district’s longtime director of finance, operations and human resources, will retire in June. Since he assumes many roles in the district, board members suggested advertising for a business manager and operations director, leaving off the human resources aspect of the position. Advertising for someone capable of handling all of the roles might leave a tiny pool of candidates, some board members argued.

The board also:

• Purchased new high school social studies texts and online resources from McGraw-Hill at a cost of $123,575.41.
• Approved repairs to the first floor tile floor at the high school. Fantin Flooring will be paid $18,642 to repair the tiles, which have started to buckle in places, creating a tripping hazard. School officials expressed concern that the issue might become an ongoing problem possibly caused by ground water pushing through the floor.
• Approved the relocation of the outfield fence at the girls’ softball field, moving it in by at least 10 feet. Bethlehem Wire and Fence Co. will do the work at a cost of $5,840.
• Purchased the software package, BoardDocs Pro, from Pennsylvania School Boards Association to manage board agendas and related documents at an annual cost of $10,500.
• Changed meeting start times for 2020 board meetings from 8 p.m. to 7 p.m.