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UNION TWP. — The Northwest Area School Board fired a teacher this week who was not identified by name.

“The superintendent shall notify the employee of his termination … effective immediately,” a board resolution stated.

Last week, the board voted to begin disciplinary proceedings against the same faculty member.

Although board members did not comment on the record, the matter involves a male teacher at the primary school in Huntington Mills.

That’s the same school that made headlines a few weeks ago when a teacher there, Scotty P. Kline, was charged by State Police for allegedly grabbing a 9-year-old boy by the arm and pushing him against a wall in May.

Kline, 56, of Benton, was facing a summary count of harassment, troopers reported.

The board resolution noted that although the employee has received a statement of charges, he has declined to participate in a board hearing to present testimony in his defense.

District solicitor Angela Evans said the teacher does, however, have a right to file a legal appeal.

In other news, the board:

• Advanced the project to install synthetic turf and a track surface at Lewis & Miller Memorial Stadium by approving proposals by Turf, Track and Court LLC of Harrisburg to perform wetland delineations at a cost of $1,350 and subsurface ground tests and foundation design for $11,505.

A $500,000 grant derived from state gambling revenue is intended to help offset the cost of the project, according to Director Leigh Bonczewski.

• Approved contracts with Thomas Adams and Carol Hoover for nursing services for the 2017-18 term.

• Approved the appointment of Jennia Ash as assistant marching band director.

• Voted to provide expenses ($1,400 $1,500 and $2,800) for teachers and administrators to attend a series of educational conferences in October and November.

• Approved professional employee/tenure status for Marrissa Fedor, Mikki Shalata and Casey Coombe.

• Approved assistant football coaching stipends for Ray Bierbach, full assistant’s pay; Mark Renninger, $2,475; Brian Hardiman, $2,475; Andrew Hanadel, $3,000; and Bryce Harrison, $850

• Approved Ryan Miner as junior high girls basketball coach and Gary Bau as volunteer girls basketball coach.

• Appointed Karen Brubaker as homebound instructor.

• Approved transportation agreements with Desiree Adams and April Bonham.

• Welcomed Mary Ann Kratz as the new director of special education, succeeding Jennifer Oiler.

• Heard a report from school nurse Carmela Shiptoski that Northwest is now 100 percent in compliance with a state mandate on student innoculations.

• Heard these concluding comments from Michael Kreidler, board chairman: “The nine of us need to better manage affairs and improve our accountability … the time for complacency is over.”

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By Tom Huntington

For Times Leader