With its former business administrator off to another school district and its assistant business manager position eliminated in a round of budget cuts, Lehighton Area School District is turning to a state organization to fill the gap.

Lehighton’s board approved an agreement with the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials to supply an interim business administrator at a cost of $62.50 per hour, not to exceed 20 hours per week. The individual will also be paid mileage and tolls by the district.

“It’s not an ideal situation, but we do need someone to help the business office,” board President Larry Stern said in casting the fifth and deciding vote on the interim agreement.

In July, Patricia Denicola announced she was leaving Lehighton to take the chief financial officer in the Boyertown Area School District. Tina Champ, former assistant business administrator, is also no longer with the district. The position was eliminated in August, along with the director of information technology job, which saved Lehighton a combined $154,189 for this budget year.

Director Dave Bradley, one of four board members to vote against the interim agreement, said an internal candidate could make the best choice.

“We should elevate from within,” Bradley said. “We have a great team of people within our district right now and one of them could serve in the interim role until we make a hire.”

The process to fill the business administrator position is ongoing, Superintendent Jonathan Cleaver said. Getting a group of qualified candidates, however, hasn’t been easy.

“We have posted the job three different times,” Cleaver said. “We got very limited response the first time around.”

The district is currently screening applications and hopes to do interviews this week.

“It’s our hope that we can have more information and possibly bring a candidate to the board in a special meeting,” Cleaver added.

Another job opening

The business administrator is not the only job the district is looking to fill. On Monday, the district accepted the resignation of Melissa Wagner, administrative assistant to the superintendent.

Cleaver commended Wagner on her years with the district and the guidance she has provided him.

“I couldn’t do half of the things I do without Missy,” he said. “If we can find someone half as dedicated to her job as she is, I would consider that a success. Her commitment to the students, staff and community is one of the reasons Lehighton is as great a place as it is.”

Retirements

Lehighton’s board also approved several retirements on Monday, all of which will be effective Dec. 31. They include Sherryl Armbruster, secretary, 33.47 years of service; Ann Louise Hayes, paraprofessional, 28.42 years; Debra Lilly, 10-month secretary, 32.60 years; Carey Kunkle, paraprofessional, 25.42 years; Sue Koch, paraprofessional, 16.42 years; Kristin Simmons, secretary, 11.52 years; and Cynthia Kemmerer, 10-month secretary, 13.13 years.