Several administrative changes at Bethlehem Area School District were announced during Monday night’s school board meeting in East Hills Middle School.
Two award-winning science students also were honored during the school board meeting.
Theo Quinones has been appointed principal of Governor Wolf Elementary School.
He will assume his new duties Aug. 1, at an annual salary of $100,776.
Quinones has served as an assistant principal in Stroudsburg School District since 2009.
Previously, he worked many years as an elementary teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District as well as one year in Easton Area School District.
According to Dr. Joseph Roy, the district’s superintendent, Quinones has extensive experience in elementary math and science curriculum development as well as with creating school schedules “that support academic interventions as well as collaborative planning time for teachers.”
He replaces Dr. Jodi Frankelli, who has been principal of Governor Wolf Elementary since 2006.
Frankelli has been appointed supervisor of early learning, grants and development.
She also assumes that position Aug. 1, at an annual salary of $107,593.
She will oversee implementation of full-day kindergarten in the school district.
Roy praised Frankelli’s “outstanding leadership” as an elementary principal, as leader of the district’s induction program for new teachers and as an advocate for parents and students.
Frankelli is replacing Janet Tate, who is retiring.
Vivian Robledo-Shorey also has been promoted, to director of student services and minority affairs.
She currently serves as supervisor of student and community engagement.
She will begin her new job July 1, at an annual salary of $112,000.
Roy said she has extensive expertise in leadership, counseling and community engagement that will serve her well in supporting students and their families “both inside and outside the classroom.”
Robledo-Shorey is replacing Dr. Dean Donaher, who is retiring after 30 years of service with the district.
Donaher, who began his career in the district as a math teacher in 1985, held several different administrative positions, including principal of Liberty High School and assistant principal at both high schools.
Roy told the school board Donaher “performed his duties with great commitment and a strong devotion to our students and their families.”
Donaher was one of three retiring district administrators honored by the school board Monday night.
The others were Ann Behers, the district’s supervisor of maintenance and operations, and Kathy Quigney, principal of Freemansburg Elementary School.
Behers began working in the school district in 1981, as a clerk in the guidance office at Broughal Middle School, said Roy. She has been the maintenance and operations supervisor since 2011.
The superintendent said she served the district “with great dedication, loyalty and leadership — and really worked her way up in system as well, which is great to see.”
Quigney began her career in the district in 1985, teaching kindergarten and first grade at Fountain Hill Elementary School, where she later became assistant principal.
She has been principal at Freemansburg since 2011.
Roy said Quigney “always put the development of our students first and always had great relationships with parents as well.”
Science fair winners honored
Two Liberty High School students were honored by the school board for excelling in the Delaware Valley Regional Science Fair.
Milind Jagota received a first place award in the 11th grade physics competition for his project titled “Transparent Conductors Based on Metal Nanorods.”
Jagota also won a silver medal in the overall 11th grade science fair, which qualified him to attend the Intel Science and Engineering Fair in May in Pittsburgh.
He also has been awarded a partial scholarship to Drexel University and University of the Sciences.
GianCarlo Seixas received a third place award in the 10th grade physics competition for his project titled “Investigations of the Geomagnetic Model.”
Board tables approving charter school move
Also during the meeting, the board agreed to table approving the Lehigh Valley Dual Language Charter School’s request to relocate the school to 603 E. Broad St. in Bethlehem for the 2015-16 school year.
The board is waiting for verification that the charter school is following proper public bidding requirements for building renovations at its new location before it approves the move.
Board president Michael Faccinetto stressed no accusations are being made, only that “this is our oversight accountability and it’s our duty to make sure that process is followed. Once we approve the move, we have no oversight left.”
Added board member Eugene McKeon: “If we were to approve this tonight, we might have been abdicating our own fiscal responsibility.”
That charter school, which serves children in kindergarten through eighth grades, currently is located at 551 Thomas St. in the city.
Other business
Also during the meeting, with no discussion the seven board members attending approved:
*A five-cent increase in the price of school breakfasts and lunches.
Lunch prices will be $2.55 for elementary students, $2.75 for secondary students.
Breakfasts will be $1.75 for elementary students, $1.85 for secondary students.
The increase does not apply to free or reduced breakfast and lunch prices.
*Paying Cope Carpet of Allentown up to $69,500 for asbestos abatement in the cafeteria of East Hills Middle School. It was the lowest of three bids received.
*Paying West Side Hammer Electric of Bethlehem up to $36,722 for security camera installation at East Hills. It was the lowest of five bids received.
*Paying Communications Systems, Inc., of Allentown up to $122,463 to install a security camera system at East Hills this summer. That price was obtained through a state contract.
*Communications Systems also will be paid up to $23,768 a year for up to three years for round-the-clock “third-party” monitoring of video and door controller signals of buildings throughout the district, to ensure they are functioning properly.
* The school district will pay $106,837 to DeMoulin Brothers & Company of Greenville, Ill., for band uniforms for East Hills Middle School.