Nearly two dozen employees are expected to retire in Northampton Area School District.<\/p>\n
The NASD Board of Education has approved 23 resignations for the purpose of retirement by NASD employees before or by the end of the 2026-27 school year.<\/p>\n
What effect, if any, the retirements will have on the NASD 2026-27 budget is uncertain.<\/p>\n
In his budget update at the March 9 school board meeting, NASD Business Administrator Craig Neiman said 21 district positions will be impacted.<\/p>\n
The reductions by classification, according to Neiman, are: 5% in administration; 3% in teachers; and 4% in support staff. The reductions were said to be the result of redistricting and programming changes.<\/p>\n
Neiman said staffing adjustments resulted in a budget reduction of $2 million. The savings include salaries and benefits.<\/p>\n
The deficit for the 2026-27 Northampton Area School District budget has been reduced by an estimated one-third to $9.3 million, down from $12.7 million.<\/p>\n
The 2026-27 preliminary budget, with a $12.7 million deficit based on expenditures of $154.8 million and revenue of $142.1 million, was presented at the Jan. 12 school board meeting by Neiman.<\/p>\n
While there were no resignations for retirement on the agenda of the March 9 NASD Board of Education meeting, there is the possibility more retirements may be coming at upcoming school board meetings.<\/p>\n
Three retirements were approved at the Sept. 8, 2025, school board meeting; one retirement was approved at the Oct. 13, 2025, school board meeting; one retirement was approved at the Nov. 10, 2025, school board meeting; three retirements were approved at the Dec. 1, 2025, school board meeting; and four retirements were approved at the Jan. 12 school board meeting.<\/p>\n
At the Feb. 9 board meeting, 11 retirements were approved by unanimous 9-0 vote:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Ann Harrington, mathematics teacher, Northampton Area High School, effective Feb. 17;<\/p>\n
\u2022 Melinda Jacobson, teacher, Franklin Elementary School, effective last day of the 2025-26 school year;<\/p>\n
\u2022 Kimberly Butryn, school counselor, NAHS, effective last day of the 2025-26 school year;<\/p>\n
\u2022 Deanna Ferry, school counselor, Northampton Area Middle School, effective Sept. 25, 2026;<\/p>\n
\u2022 Robin Hart, school counselor, Franklin Elementary School, effective last day of the 2025-26 school year;<\/p>\n
\u2022 Doreen Ifkovits, teacher, George Wolf Elementary School, effective last day of the 2025-26 school year;<\/p>\n
\u2022 Candy Rosenbauer, teacher, NAMS, effective last day of the 2025-26 school year;<\/p>\n
\u2022 Jennifer Horn, teacher, George Wolf Elementary School, effective last day of the 2025-26 school year;<\/p>\n
\u2022 Chantell Wagner, teacher, Franklin Elementary School, effective last day of the 2025-26 school year;<\/p>\n
\u2022 Joanne Gaffney, teacher, Franklin Elementary School, effective last day of the 2025-26 school year, and<\/p>\n
\u2022 Stephen Rumore, mathematics teacher, NAHS, effective last day of the 2025-26 school year.<\/p>\n
Also approved by unanimous 9-0 vote by the school board Feb. 9 were the resignations of Kaitlyn Hoffman, supervisor of special education for curriculum and instruction, effective March 23, and Dawn Gutkowski, security guard, effective Jan. 15, per the agreement.<\/p>\n
Approved by unanimous 9-0 vote Feb. 9 by the school board were the hirings of:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Abrielle Snyder, long-term substitute kindergarten teacher, Moore Elementary School, for the remainder of the 2025-26 school year, effective originally Jan. 26 but updated to Jan. 16, at $63,655, prorated;<\/p>\n
\u2022 Renetta Feist, long-term substitute, family and consumer science teacher, NAHS, for the remainder of the 2025-26 school year, retroactively effective to Jan. 20, at $63,655, prorated;<\/p>\n
\u2022 Christopher Bastidas, head boys\u2019 tennis coach, effective Feb. 10, at $5,971;<\/p>\n
\u2022 Patrick Madden, custodian second shift (Tuesday-Saturday), Siegfried Elementary School, effective July 1, at $31.27 per hour, with benefits, and<\/p>\n
\u2022 Elias Younes, custodian second shift, NAMS, effective July 1, at $31.27 per hour, with benefits.<\/p>\n
Also approved by unanimous vote Feb. 9 by the school board:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Approve the agreement between NASD and Pennsylvania College of Technology to implement the pre-apprenticeship experiences for NAHS students during the 2025-26 school year;<\/p>\n
\u2022 Addition of school board Director Kristin Soldridge to the policy committee;<\/p>\n
\u2022 Nominate school Director Dr. Michael Baird as NASD representative on Northampton Community College board of trustees, July 1, through June 30, 2032;<\/p>\n
\u2022 Approve creation of Northampton Area Middle School Alumni Scholarship Fund;<\/p>\n
\u2022 Approve creation of NAMS student activity account for Empty Bowls; and<\/p>\n
\u2022 Accept, with appreciation, a donation of $200 monthly (September-May, $1,800 total) from the Lehigh Township Lions Club to purchase nonperishable food items for the Lehigh Elementary School food pantry.<\/p>\n
The NASD school board is scheduled to meet 6:30 p.m. April 13, in the NAHS auditorium, 1619 Laubach Ave., Northampton.<\/p>\n
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