<\/p>\n
YATESVILLE \u2014 Pittston Area\u2019s school board met on Tuesday night, but Assistant Superintendent John Haas was still leading the meeting in place of Superintendent Kevin Booth.<\/p>\n
Booth was charged by Pittston City police following a domestic disturbance complaint at his residence in October. Booth was arraigned on a misdemeanor charge of simple assault and a summary offense of harassment, with the allegations specifically stating that he \u201cchoked\u201d his wife, Jessica. Booth denied the allegations. Days later, Booth admitted himself to an inpatient rehabilitation center.<\/p>\n
At the October board meeting, a motion to \u201cratify the retroactive placement of employee #040377 on administrative leave effective Oct. 14, 2025, with continued salary and benefits as outlined in the employee\u2019s contractual agreement, pending further action by the board,\u201d was unanimously approved. At both that meeting and the one held Tuesday, Booth\u2019s name was not stated. Following the meeting in October, Haas did not answer when asked whether or not the item and employee ID number referred to Booth.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, Attorney Samuel Falcone, the district\u2019s solicitor, said that Haas taking on Booth\u2019s duties is a contractual obligation. According to Falcone, Haas, as assistant superintendent, automatically takes on Booth\u2019s responsibilities if Booth is unavailable. Haas himself said that \u201cacting superintendent\u201d is not his official title in Booth\u2019s absence.<\/p>\n
As for Booth, his preliminary hearing on a misdemeanor charge of simple assault and a summary offense of harassment was rescheduled from Thursday to Tuesday, Dec. 2.<\/p>\n
Other matters<\/p>\n
Matt Marriggi, an incumbent school board member who lost his seat in this month\u2019s election, was praised for his service to the district by both Haas and Board President Frank Serino. Marriggi seemed to indicate that a future run to regain a seat on the board is in his sights.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll be back soon,\u201d Marriggi said in response to Serino saying that he\u2019d like to see him on the board again.<\/p>\n
At the district\u2019s re-organization meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 3, at 6 p.m., newcomer Marissa Chiumento will join a board that includes incumbents John Adonizio, Michael Crawford, Katherine Healey, Martin Quinn, Rosanne Ricotta, Joseph Salvo, and Serino.<\/p>\n
In personnel, Samantha Pisano was appointed to the position of social studies teacher at the high school, though the vote was unusual in that it was not unanimous. Healey voted \u2018no\u2019 to Pisano\u2019s hiring, saying that she was impressed with another candidate during the interview process.<\/p>\n
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