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HANOVER TWP. — It wasn’t on the agenda, but the hottest topic at a Hanover Area School Board meeting Tuesday involved the currently vacant business manager position.
Board officials held the special meeting to discuss and vote on personnel matters for associate teachers, however members of the public were more interested in who the district is considering for the job formerly held by Tom Cipriano. The district’s former business manager, Cipriano’s contract was set to expire Sept. 30. He received notification a few months in advance the district was not seeking to renew his deal. Cipriano then landed a job at the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit in June, reports show.
Residents asked if certain applicants were being considered for the job, and if they were truly qualified to hold such a post.
Mike Kaminski asked the board if Richard Hummer applied to be business manager.
“Everybody in this community is talking about it,” he answered when asked by board President John Mahle about how he obtained the information.
While Mahle responded to Kaminski by saying he couldn’t answer, Acting Superintendent William Jones verified Hummer did apply and was interviewed. In total, he said six people applied, and so far two have had interviews conducted by members of the school board.
Kaminski then asked if all candidates had background and credit checks, to which the board replied that all mandatory background checks have been completed. However, the district does not currently run credit checks.
Board member Kevin Quaglia interrupted the conversation, asking if the board was legally allowed to discuss personnel matters in public.
District solicitor Jack Dean replied these subjects are typically discussed during an executive session behind closed doors. He announced such a session was held before the public meeting, and that another would be held directly after.
Quaglia also tried to assure residents the board shares their concerns.
“This board is fully aware of the significance and the importance of filling this position. We’ve talked about it at every meeting, we know how important it is to hire the right person,” he explained.
Resident Jo Ann Kaminski said if she were hiring a payroll clerk or anyone in charge of handling money, she would run a credit check. She doesn’t understand why the district isn’t doing so. Other members in attendance chimed in, saying credit checks are a normal part of hiring now.
“Especially the trouble you’re in financially, you want the best possible candidate you can get,” Mike Kaminski said.
While the majority of the board remained silent, board member Frank Ciavarella Jr. agreed about credit checks as part of the hiring process.
Re-advertise?
Some residents also asked the board to re-advertise the job, believing there has to be more — and better — candidates.
“If you don’t get the right candidate in that grouping, of that pool, you do it again,” Jo Ann said.
Jones said there is no set deadline for hiring a business manager.
The Albert Melone Co., Pittston, is temporarily handling those duties, said Jones.
While board members did not specify if they would re-advertise the job, solicitor Dean said the decision is solely up to them.
Meanwhile, Jones said the district is working on putting proper systems in place to save money and have accountability, including bidding out every job, not replacing retired teachers and even canceling unnecessary field trips.
“We did not replace three teachers that retired, we are not hiring two part-time cleaners, we’ve cut back on all our field trips except for ones that are educationally necessary,” said Jones. “We’re bidding every pencil … the rest of the supplies we’re breaking down by (price per) foot. We’re not just looking at the bulk, we’re looking at who’s cheapest by the foot.”
At a previous meeting, Jones cited newly discovered costs that are forcing Hanover Area to curb spending. Those include nearly $1 million past due in pension fund payments, a $162,000 loan interest payment, and two years of back taxes owed for a successful assessment appeal.