TyronePA.com

The Tyrone Area School Board approved in an eight to one vote a waiver last night so that school district Business Administrator Cathy Peachey can become a candidate for the superintendency when Dr. William Miller retires.
Miller’s contract is up in 2010.
The approval grants the district to request to the PA Secretary of Education to waive the technical requirements of PA School Code Section 1003.
The waiver is specifically for the three years of teaching experience required to be eligible for a superintendency. The district looked at an innovative urban plan at the national level that encompasses an alternative route to the superintendent position as an example, because there presently is not a program directed towards rural school districts such as Tyrone.
The program was the BROAD Residency Program In Urban Education, and Miller felt it was appropriate for an individual like Peachey who is highly qualified with school experience to prepare for the superintendency, but doesn’t have the teaching experience.
“This is not a guarantee,” said Miller. “This is not a vote for her as superintendent. This is a vote to give her the opportunity to pursue what is necessary so that she can be considered for the position.”
Board member Ray Detwiler voted “no” to the waiver basing his reason on a press release from the superintendent’s office saying administration was looking at the BROAD Residency Program In Urban Education, when Detwiler feels they’re not.
“We’re applying to the Department of Education for a mandate waiver to hire someone who does not have the qualifications of superintendent,” said Detwiler. “And they’re trying to say we’re not hiring, but that’s what a mandate waiver is – it’s an application for employment for somebody who doesn’t have qualification.”
He added, “Therefore, we’re not giving all the qualified and experienced individuals in Pennsylvania the opportunity for this job. We’re shutting it down and naming one person and that’s wrong.”
Peachey is a Thiel College graduate in accounting and business, and has varied experience as business administrator at Tyrone and two and a half years at the Huntingdon Area School District. She was exposed to the biggest challenges in the Devon Fraud Case, in which she worked hand-in-hand with Miller, legal counsel and the school board enabling TASD to successfully recover all funds due it (over $13,000,000) during the three-year period of litigation.
Peachey will now be able to bypass the three years of teaching experience, but the Pennsylvania State University and PA Secretary of Education mapped out an extensive series of stringent requirements in the state waiver application. There are 60 credits of “rigorous” graduate level courses, particularly addressing curriculum and instruction and teacher development.
Upon successful completion of this course work, PSU will certify her for the Principal and Letter of Eligibility certifications.
“Every December there has to be an update showing she completed the necessary credits, necessary grades and she’ll have to participate in the PA Inspired Leadership Program,” said Miller. “She must be in the classroom 10 percent to 20 percent of the weekly schedule to observe the techniques that teachers use in meeting the standards.”
The waiver application has the support and recommendation of Stinson Stroup, Executive Director of the PA Association of School Administrators, who Miller says is knowledgeable of the TASD and Peachey’s work.
Peachey was very excited and grateful for the board’s support last night with the eight to one vote. She said it showed her that it is something worthwhile pursuing, and that she has been considering this over the last several years, but she didn’t think there was an opportunity until meeting with the Department of Education to seek the waiver.
“This is the beginning of a long process and I know that there’s no guarantees at the end,” said Peachey. “The board will have to take a vote when Dr. Miller retires and they seek their replacement. It’s something I’m interested in doing and regardless of what happens in the end, I think I’m going to grow from the experience.”
“I feel I have a very good knowledge base of what is expected of the position, and I’m not making light of the teaching experience; I know that’s going to be an issue, but I am willing to go into the classroom as required by the Dept. of Ed., spend my time in there and learn as much as I can through my course work and my observations that are required. Hopefully, that will give me the knowledge base to do what is expected of the superintendent.”
Board member Amy Stever thinks it’s good to know a candidate’s ethics and integrity as she knows Peachey’s, and she wishes her all the best in her pursuit.
“There’s no guarantee for her to get the superintendency, but as a school district employee she is entitled to professional development,” said Stever. “To take a path to do 600-level educational leadership courses I think will only enhance her position here even as business manager.”
Miller stated that Peachey’s pursuit to become a candidate will not interfere with her present work in the district. He also said that payment for the credits are strictly by teacher contract; receiving the same amount of funds from the district as a teacher or administrator would.
“I think she’s an outstanding candidate,” stated Miller. “She has the ethics and I’ve worked with her for 14 1/2 years mentoring her, debriefing her and worked with her on every personnel case I’ve dealt with.”
“There’s nobody I know better professionally than she, and I think she’s extremely capable; and I would be comfortable with her from a personal aspect, but it’s not my decision.”
Miller added that this waiver and process may become a model for other school districts throughout the state to pursue alternative pathways for individuals who are highly qualified to serve as superintendent of schools.

The TASB’s monthly meeting last evening highlighted the high school’s “Buddy Program” in the Academic Spotlight portion of the agenda.
The Buddy Program is a mentorship program that pairs middle school students with high school students. Guidance Office Interns, Justin Kearns and Nicole Brooks are responsible for recruiting, coordinating and training of the high school students who participate.
The entire program is under the supervision of Middle School Guidance Counselor Matt Kimberlin. There are 16 pairings of students, creating 32 buddies in the program, by which that number will increase as the school year goes on, according to Kimberlin.
The goals of the Buddy Program is to provide middle school students the unique opportunity to build a one-on-one relationship with a selected high school student, to participate in activities that enhance and develop social skills, academic success and communication skills.
The high school students who get involved in the program do it solely on a voluntary basis, willing to help others, have out-going personalities and an excitement for life – along with going through a screening and training process.
Middle school students who are involved are recommended by teachers and counselors based on who would benefit from having a high school mentor. Parent permission is also required.
Eleventh grader Selena Bradigan and senior Nikki Moore, two of the high school’s “big buddy” students addressed the board last night about their experiences in working with the “little buddy” students of the middle school.
“It’s a great experience to work with little children and be involved,” said Moore.
Kimberlin said the program is important because there is a need at the middle school, stating that there are kids who are new to the district and have some social difficulties making friends. He feels that matching up high school students with such kids meets those needs for the kids.
He also said that there’s not enough adults at the school to meet the needs of the kids, so the program accesses high school students, who some of them are already training to be educators, social workers or service providers, and that provides so much to the kids and the high school students participating.
“It provides a closer gap in age,” said Kimberlin. “Sometimes an adult working with a fifth or sixth grader can be difficult; those kids see us sometimes as parent figures and sometimes they’re reluctant to talk.”
He added, “Our little buddies love this. We have so many kids who have some needs that are not being met at home, that the school might not be able to meet, but if we plug our resources at the high school, we can meet those needs – and we do it pretty well.”
Board President Lee Stover was really pleased with what he heard about the Buddy Program because there are young people helping young people, and he feels that sometimes a kid won’t open up to an older person or group, and this allows students one-on-one contact to voice their problems.
“The young individuals get help with very obvious shortcomings in a gentle and non-public fashion, and the big buddies get reinforcement of their skills and abilities, which may help them in their career tracks – it’s a very positive situation for us,” said Stover.
In other business in front of school board last night, the board accepted the retirement of elementary teacher Cynthia G. Albright, effective with the close of the 2007-08 school year. The board accepted the resignation of MaryAnn E. Volders as Senior High Dean of Students, effective January 11, 2008.
In turn, the board approved the transfer of Mark D. Mitchell from the position of Elementary Dean of Students to the position of High School Dean of Students, with no change in hours, rate of pay or benefits, effective January 14, 2008.
Certificates of Appreciation from the Executive Board of the PA School Boards Association (PSBA) were awarded to board members Norman E. Huff, 12 years of service; William P. Hartsock, eight years of service and Luther J. Laird, eight years of service.
The certificates recognized their years of service as a valued member of the TASB and it announced their membership to the PSBA Honor Roll of School Board Service.

Special Olympics basketball training begins Wednesday, January 9 at the Tyrone Elementary gym from 7 to 9 p.m. Training will continue Wednesday evenings until June. Contact John Walter at 684-1732 for more information.

At 10:30 morning worship on Sunday, January 13, on the second Sunday in the season of Epiphany, Tyrone Presbyterians will hear a message about acceptance, participate in a choir anthem which echoes that message, and listen to organ voluntaries, created by the celebrated modern American organ composer – Gordon Young.
Tyrone Presbyterians encourage citizens to rouse themselves from the dark days of mid-Winter by joining them for 10:30 morning worship this Sunday. There they can hear an uplifting message about acceptance, and also listen to choir and organ music that has gained much popular acceptance.

The Wesley United Methodist Church will host a ham pot pie dinner on Saturday, January 26 from 4:30 to 6 p.m.
Pre-orders will be taken by the quart. Tickets are available by calling the church office at 684-3341, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon.