Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Robert Culp tells Easton school officials he's no longer interested in superintendent job.
Robert Culp, assistant director of Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21, has withdrawn his name, according to the Morning Call. He had been named as one of two front-runners for the position last month. Board Member Pat Vulcano told the newspaper another candidate might be waiting "in the rafters," but declined to say much more. But his colleague Frank Pintabone contacted Easton Patch Tuesday morning to say he's not sure what Vulcano was talking about. "We have no third candidate. I've been to every meeting he has," Pintabone said. "We had two candidates, two withdrew. I wish we had a third." Culp's decision comes just five days after Michael Schilder, superintendent of the Bridgewater-Raritan School District, told the district he no …
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Easton Area School Board meets Tuesday to choose among three tax/staff cuts options in voting to adopt its 2013-2014 preliminary school budget.
The Easton Area School Board has a big decision before members Tuesday night. The board will decide among three options of staff cuts and tax hikes in voting to adopt the school district's 2013-2014 preliminary budget. But while the meeting's main focus will be on financial concerns, the board will also address a few other issues outlined by Business Manager Michael Simonetta at Tuesday's work session. Simonetta said he'll ask the board to approve a property tax rebate program that is usually done annually. He told board members that the proposal has not changed from prior years. Also on the agenda is expected approval of fuel oil bids. The bids are for biodiesel and octane and were organized by the IU, Simonetta said. Board Member Frank …
Saturday, April 13, 2013
The Easton Area School District faces more staff cuts and tax hikes while a superintendent candidate pulls out of contention.
The billboard battles rages on in Palmer Township. Palmer Township took action this week against the developer of the controversial Route 22 digital billboard, filing an injunction Friday to get code violations up to snuff. Meanwhile, the Easton Area School Board faces a difficult decision Tuesday: Choosing how many staffers will lose their jobs and how large of a tax hike it will pass on to taxpayers. Also, one of two candidates to replace the district's schools superintendent announced that he was pulling out of contention. Michael Schilder, head of a New Jersey school district, has withdrawn his name, blogger reports. 'Teen Mom 2' star and Nazareth grad Kailyn Lowry live-tweets during a recent episode and has a few choice words for the …
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Michael Schilder, head of a New Jersey school district, has withdrawn his name, blogger reports.
One of two men in line to become the Easton Area School District's new superintendent has decided he doesn't want the job. Michael Schilder, superintendent of the Bridgewater-Raritan School District, tells the blog The View From Bridgewater that he has withdrawn his name from consideration. Schilder, along with Robert Culp, assistant executive director of the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21, were the finalists to replace outgoing EASD Superintendent Susan McGinley. The school board voted last year not to renew McGinley's contract. Her five-year contract ends this year, and she is expected to step down June 30.
Friday, April 5, 2013
Easton Area School District sells former administration building for less than expected.
The Easton Area School District's sale of its former administration building has been finalized, although for less than what district officials had hoped. The school board this week voted to sell the old Cottingham School on Northampton Street to developer Abe Atiyeh for $142,000. The plan is to turn the former school into offices. District officials had initially said the building would sell for $200,000. That's because the building contains asbestos and an underground fuel tank that will need to be removed, the Express-Times reports. Last year, members of the public led by state Rep. Bob Freeman, asked the district to sell the building to someone who could turn it into a place that would benefit the neighborhood.
Monday, April 1, 2013
Students will pay 5 or 10 cents more starting in the 2013-2014 school year.
Easton Area students will pay more to eat lunch at school next year. The school board voted Wednesday night to approve a price increase for school lunches for the 2013-2014 school year. Under the new price structure, students from kindergarten to 4th grade will pay $2.05 per lunch (up from $2.00), while students in grades 5-12 will pay $2.20 (up from $2.10). It's the second year in a row the district has raised this fee. District COO Michael Simonetta said the increase is necessary to keep the school district in line with state standards.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
The Week in Review that closes March features some school stories including the search for a new superintendent, the use of Smarties and a cello donation.
Another week has come and gone and this one closes out the month of March with a heavy emphasis on school stories. And if you "feel the earth move under my feet," that's probably a sign of a sinkhole in Forks Township. Veteran Palmer Township police officer Susan Siegfried is no longer on the force, Chief Larry Palmer said Tuesday. Easton Area School Board expected to make selection of new schools superintendent next month. Public Works Director Mark Roberts says sinkhole season takes place in Forks Township when ground begins to thaw. Kids in Easton are apparently snorting and smoking crushed up candy, the middle school principal says. Kyle Jon Fogel, 38, of Pen Argyl, raised eyebrows when he purchased 50 pounds of chemical fertilizer …
Monday, March 25, 2013
Kids in Easton are apparently snorting and smoking crushed up candy, the middle school principal says.
Search "snorting Smarties" on Google and you'll get a a few thousand results, including a few how-to clips that teenagers have posted to YouTube. Smarties—for those of you that haven't had candy in a while—are tangy little pink and purple candy discs. The trend of crushing up and then snorting and "smoking" them appears to be a few years old, but it has apparently made its way into the Easton Area Middle School, where the principal last week suspended four students who were selling Smarties. The Express-Times reports that principal Charlene Symia is warning parents about the trend, and says other students using or selling Smarties could be suspended. ("Smoking" in these cases seems to indicate inhaling the dust, but not actually lighting …
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Easton Area School District and Easton police looking into now-defunct Facebook page that claimed to chronicle sexual exploits of Easton area teens.
The Easton Area School District and Easton police are investigating "Exposing Easton Hoes," a now-defunct Facebook page claiming to chronicle the sexual exploits of young women from the city. Lt. Matthew Gerould said Tuesday police began an investigation in response to a complaint about the site, which included pictures of women and girls and supposed details about their sex lives. He declined to say what charges the creators of the page could face. "We don’t know what this investigation will disclose," Gerould said. The page collected more than 1,500 likes in less than a week before Facebook pulled it for violating its rules, according to the Express-Times. The Easton Area School District is also looking into the page, said Frank …
Monday, March 18, 2013
Easton Area School Board is considering 5- and 10-cent price increases for lunches for 2013-2014.
For the second year in a row, the Easton Area School District is ready to raise its lunch prices. District Chief Operating Officer Michael Simonetta told the school board Tuesday night the district needs to increase meal costs to keep up with state standards. Assuming the board approves the increase later this month, students from kindergarten to 4th grade would pay $2.05 per lunch (up for $2.00), while students in grades 5-12 would pay $2.20 (up from $2.10).
Flash Gordon
11:16 am on Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Why would you want a job to over see a greedy union, inept administrators, and unqualified school board members? more ›