COAL TOWNSHIP - Tuesday night marked the final meeting for three outgoing Shamokin Area School Board members.
President Brian Persing, former president Tracey Witmer and member Treina Mariano addressed their fellow directors and wished them well.
Ron McElwee got the ball rolling by praising his colleagues.
"I want to thank Treina, Brian and Tracey for their service to the board and
welcome the new board members coming on," McElwee said. "It's been a tough job for the last few years. While we might not have always seen eye-to eye, we have always found a way to iron things out."
Mariano got choked up with her comments. On the board since January, she finished out the term of her mother, LaRue Beck, who resigned that month and passed away just four days later after serving four terms on the board, first from 1989 to 1993 and then from 2001 to 2013.
"I am very proud to finish out my mom's term," Mariano said. "She'd be very happy. Thank you very much."
Witmer leaves the board after eight years, having become a watchdog and frequent critic of district spending.
"It's been eight long years on the board, but this is our last meeting. I wish everyone the best of luck and, please, just do what's right," she said.
At the prodding of Edward Griffiths, seated next to her, Witmer continued a tradition when it came to voting to pay the bills.
"I want to vote yes, but Ed says I have to vote no just one more time," she joked.
Persing equated his four years on the board to time spent with family.
"I've loved working with you all and fighting with you all," he said. "It's been a blast. I'll miss you all, but I will come to the meetings to keep an eye on you."
Superintendent James Zack said the three outgoing members will be honored for the service at the Dec. 5 reorganization meeting, to be held in the board conference room at 6 p.m.
In other business, the board approved sending the district's comprehensive plan to the state Department of Education. It is a mandated report that outlines academic goals in grades K-4 through 12 for the next three years.
The annual audit of district tax collectors and the district's annual financial report were received and will be filed with the appropriate agencies.
The board also corrected the salary for Lauren Swartz, licensed social worker, to $26,520 for 145 during the 2013-2014 school year.
In other personnel motions, the board accepted the retirement of Rosalie Smoogen, accounts payable clerk, with regret, effective Dec. 5. Smoogen was one of the three who won election to the board in November, along with Richard Kashnoski and Matthew Losiewicz. Also, Griffiths won reelection.