EDUCATION ROUNDUP: Pittston Area places employee on leave, Lake Lehman approves several hirings

PITTSTON AREA

Assistant Superintendent John Haas took the lead at Tuesday night’s Pittston Area School Board meeting in place of Superintendent Kevin Booth.

The Superintendent, who was charged by Pittston City police following a domestic disturbance complaint at his residence earlier this month, was not directly mentioned during the meeting. Booth denied the allegations. Days later, Booth admitted himself to an in-patient rehabilitation center.

Though Tuesday’s attendance was higher than the typical Pittston Area school board meeting, and attendees were given the opportunity to offer public comment, none did.

The meeting agenda included a motion to “ratify the retroactive placement of employee #040377 on administrative leave effective Oct. 14, 2025, with continued salary and benefits as outlined in the employee’s contractual agreement, pending further action by the board.”

The motion was unanimously approved by the eight board members in attendance.

Following the meeting, Haas did not answer when asked whether or not the item and employee ID number referred to Booth.

In open discussion among the board, member Katherine Healey made a motion to provide a tax rebate to Pittston Area residents over the age of 65, with Healey citing that the district is running on a surplus. Healey brought up the topic at the September meeting, when Booth said the age requirement might be considered discriminatory.

On Tuesday, Healey’s motion did not receive a second.

Board Members Frank Serino, Joseph Salvo and Rosanne Ricotta said Healey’s suggestion was too hasty and a tax rebate for those over 65 would result in other district residents taking on a heavier tax burden.

The next scheduled meeting of the Pittston Area School Board will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 18.

LAKE-LEHMAN

At a combined work session and regular meeting on Monday, the Lake Lehman School Board members voted to approve the following items of note:

• Tiffany Weaver of Dallas as a temporary professional employee, effective immediately, at a salary of $53,366.00. Initial assignment: special education teacher. Pending receipt of clearance.

• Kathleen Klatt of Dallas, as a temporary professional employee, effective immediately, at a salary of $53,297.00. Initial assignment: speech language pathologist. Pending receipt of clearances.

• Jennifer Welby as department head — lementary social studies, for the 2025-2026 school year, at a stipend of $1,807.04.

• Sarah Grega of Shavertown as a professional staff long-term substitute, effective Oct. 17, 2025, for the 2025-2026 school year. All clearances on file.

• LIU Guest Teacher Program participants, as per diem substitute teachers, at a daily rate of $120.00, without contractual rights/benefits: Savannah Strouse, of Sweet Valley, emergency permit — all instructional areas PK-12l; Janice Watts, of Dallas, emergency permit — all instructional areas PK-12. All clearances on file.

• As per diem substitute teacher, at a daily rate of $120.00, without contractual rights/benefits: Jeanne Sweinberg-Williams, of Dallas, elementary K-6 and reading specialist certification. All clearances on file.

• The following assistant coaches/extra-curricular advisors for the 2025-2026 school year, all clearances on file: Dea Middleton, girls volleyball, volunteer; Jonathan Raspen, co-ed volleyball, volunteer; Richard Matysick, girls tennis, volunteer; Ronald Strohl, boys lacrosse, volunteer; Christian Diana, boys lacrosse, volunteer; Eoin Ellis, varsity baseball, $3,076.06; Robert Aten, varsity baseball, $3,076.06; Matthew Engle, JH baseball, $3,076.06; Richard Evans, baseball, volunteer; Scott Shotwell, varsity softball, $3,076.06; Kimberly Craig, softball, volunteer; Emily Smith, softball, volunteer; Lisa Finnegan, softball, volunteer, Rebekah Steele, JH softball, $3,076.06; Sarah Traver, softball, volunteer, Brady Bulter, softball, volunteer and Richard Matysick, boys tennis, volunteer.

• Letter of resignation from Jannel Scott, part-time custodian, effective Sept. 24, 2025.

• Rachel Simmonette, of Hunlock Creek, as full-time classroom aide, 7 hours per day, 186 days per year, at an hourly rate of $16. All clearances on file.

• Josie Marino, of Hunlock Creek, as full-time classroom aide, 7 hours per day, 186 days per year, at an hourly rate of $15. Pending receipt of clearances.

• Kimberly Krause, of Harvey’s Lake, as full-time secretary, 8 hours per day, 206 days per year, at an hourly rate of $16. All clearances on file.

• Additional services request from designBLD, Exeter, for construction observation services beyond the scope of the agreement for retainer services. Services are related to the following building projects: Lake-Noxen Vestibule Security Upgrade and Lake-Lehman JSHS Vestibule Security Upgrade. Proposed time 12 hours per week for approximately 22 weeks. Total cost not to exceed $22,440.00.

• Additional services request (ASR) from designBLD, Exeter, for additional engineering design services related to the Lehman-Jackson Elementary Vestibule Security Upgrade and the Ross Elementary Vestibule Security Upgrade. Services to be rendered as per contract, total cost $38,400.

• Proposal from Transfinder of Schenectady, NY., to provide student transportation management software and service upgrades at an initial cost of $8,895.00, and an annual cost of $6,250.00.

The next combined committee-of-the-whole and regular monthly voting meeting will take place at 7 p.m., Nov. 17 in the auditorium of the Lake-Lehman Junior-Senior High School.

CRESTWOOD

The next regular board meeting for the Crestwood School District will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20. The next committee meeting will be held the week prior on Thursday, Nov. 13, at 4 p.m.

GREATER NANTICOKE

The next meeting of the Greater Nanticoke Area School Board will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13.

HANOVER AREA

The next scheduled board meeting of the Hanover Area School District is set for 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13. A work session will directly precede the regular meeting.

NORTHWEST AREA

The Northwest Area School Board will next meet at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 20, in the high school library.

WILKES-BARRE AREA

The Wilkes-Barre Area School Board will hold a committee meeting at 5 p.m. and a regular board meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27.All meetings will be held at the Wilkes-Barre Area High School, 2021 Wolfpack Way, Plains Township.

Individuals wishing to address the Board must sign in five minutes before the start of each meeting. The Regular Board Meeting will be livestreamed for viewing purposes only.

WYOMING AREA

The next regular meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the high school auditorium.

WYOMING VALLEY WEST

The next Wyoming Valley West School Board meeting will be a work session at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, followed by a regular meeting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 12.

Both meetings will take place at the middle school and on Zoom.

EDUCATION ROUNDUP is a weekly column by Times Leader staff writers. Reach Bill O’Boyle at boboyle@ timesleader.com. Reach Margaret Roarty at [email protected]. Reach Sam Zavada at [email protected].

EDUCATION ROUNDUP is a weekly column by Times Leader staff writers. Reach Bill O’Boyle at boboyle@ timesleader.com. Reach Margaret Roarty at [email protected]. Reach Sam Zavada at [email protected].