The school board hired David Kristofic as principal for Pine-Richland Middle School at its meeting July 12.
Mr. Kristofic will earn an annual salary of $100,000. He replaces Dr. Kathy Harrington, who retired.
Mr. Kristofic was previously principal at West Shamokin and Elderton high schools, both in Armstrong School District located in Ford City. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in liberal studies, and earned certification in elementary education and a master's degree in education at Pitt. In 2000, Mr. Kristofic received certification as an administrator from Western Maryland College. Also, he has a Superintendent Letter of Eligibility from Westminster College. Since 2008, he has been a part of the University of Pittsburgh's Principal's Academy.
Chief Master Sgt. Michael G. Gasparetto was hired as an Air Force Junior ROTC program instructor.
Since 1993, Sgt. Gasparetto has worked for the Air Force's recruiting services. Most recently, he was the director of recruiting and training for Air Force recruiting in Canonsburg, Pa. His salary was not available.
Also, Cottrill Arbutina & Associates was hired to provide an independent audit for $28,660 for the year ending June 30.
At the same meeting, school directors approved a $7,630 change order in its contract with David E. Wooster and Associates to allow the design of a right turn lane on southbound Babcock Boulevard, at Warrendale Road, and a right-turn lane on eastbound Warrendale Road at Babcock Boulevard.
The changes are part of the high school expansion project, which includes putting a traffic light at the Babcock Boulevard-Warrendale Road intersection close to the school's entrance. The change order brings the cost of design for the traffic signal to $79,230.
During the session, school board President Stephen Hawbaker thanked the community for its response to the fire that heavily damaged his home July 3. "This is not about me," he told the school board and its audience. "It's about the community.
"I'd like to take the next three hours to tell you the incredible ways people helped us," he said at the start of the meeting, but he kept his comments brief.
According to Richland Fire Marshal Guy Pedicone, the fire was caused by sparks from a stove on the back deck that set the siding of the house on Kara Court abaze.
The Hawbaker family, and pets, are doing well, Mr. Hawbaker said, and will be living in temporary quarters while their home is rebuilt.
First Published: July 22, 2010, 9:45 a.m.
