Lehighton Area School District is turning to the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit for help with its search for a permanent superintendent.

During Monday night’s school board meeting, Lehighton directors unanimously approved an agreement extending through Aug. 1 calling for the CLIU to provide search services at a set fee of $5,000 plus other expenses such as advertising.

“The district has long had a good relationship with our local intermediate unit, and our solicitor urged us to work with them on this search,” board President Joy Beers said of the agreement. “This board thought it made sense. We’ve had great discussions with them.”

According to the agreement, the CLIU will assist in review of the position profile, develop and complete advertising, create the application packet, perform applicant tracking, complete application screening, coordinate the interview process, and complete reference checks. Lehighton, meanwhile, would conduct the interviews, and develop the offer and actual contract.

Other costs associated with the agreement include $20 for administrative assistant support (capped at $1,000), and $60 per hour for technical interface development of a community survey.

“With the approval tonight, we can get to work with the CLIU and we will keep the public informed on each one of steps as they move forward,” Beers said.

John W. (Jack) Corby was hired as interim superintendent on Dec. 20 at $600 per day through, at the latest, June 30, 2022, while the district searches for someone to fill the post permanently.

Lehighton terminated the contract of Jonathan Cleaver, who had been superintendent for nine years, on Dec. 8, alleging previous boards approved illegal contract extensions.

Two days later, Cleaver filed a lawsuit against the district alleging breach of contract.

Oral arguments in that matter are currently scheduled for March 22 at 10 a.m. in front of Carbon County President Judge Roger Nanovic.

Administrative agreement

Lehighton also approved an agreement Monday night with the CLIU that will allow Tim Tkach, who recently retired as the district’s assistant to the superintendent, to provide administrative support services through June 30.

Beers said Tkach, who retired Dec. 31, will make $65 per hour, and finish out grant writing projects he was involved with previously, such as the district’s Title grants and Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund grants.

“Tim had been working on projects previously and it made sense to have him carry on until end of school year,” Corby said. “There is a lot of money involved with those grants and if you mess them up and have to return money, you can get blackballed in the future. Sometimes writing the grant is the easy part, but administering the grant as written is the component. You have to make sure everything is divided up and controlled in the right way.”

According to the agreement, Tkach will work no more than 29 hours per week.