O’Shea continues as interim principal

By Dan King

When the Whitehall Board of Education scheduled a special meeting for last Thursday, the immediate assumption Jane O'Sheawas that it would pertain to the ongoing state investigation – but it didn’t.

During a finance and audit committee meeting prior to the official board meeting, the board made some last-second budget transfers, taking money from some funds and moving them to others.

Following that the board voted unanimously to extend the interim appointment of elementary principal Jane O’Shea until Aug. 31. O’Shea has been serving in the interim role since former principal Brett Lamy resigned amidst controversy over foul language. He was employed by the district for less than a year.

Also, the board voted 6-2 to hire Kim LaCroix as an elementary teacher. Board members James Brooks and Mark DeLuca voted against the motion, because they felt the nomination should have gone to Ayla McKee who has been both a substitute and a long-term substitute at the elementary school.

“I’m concerned that we have a person who has been a sub and a long-term sub for a long time and she wants to teach in this district, her home town, but she keeps getting passed over,” Brooks said.

Interim superintendent Bill Scott said that after the committee had narrowed the position down to three potential candidates it was up to O’Shea to nominate a candidate and she chose LaCroix.

Additional personnel moves during the meeting included the resignation of special education teacher Tara Gilbert, who is moving to North Carolina, and the resignation of foreign language teacher Avery Babson, who has accepted a position at Queensbury.

Sue Gebo, Olivia Sweeney and Emily Sweeney were all brought on as summer life guard instructors.

The board also said it will look into potential changes to the job title of “behavioral specialist” program during its July 13 meeting.

Lastly, board members discussed the ongoing dilemma with bringing driver’s education back to Whitehall.

Business manager Joe Karas said that the district was looking into outsourcing it to a company, because of a lack of certified instructors around Whitehall. However, he said that the company was only planning to take 20 of the 33 students who have signed up; that didn’t sit well with board members.

“I don’t think it’s fair to leave any off who signed up,” said board president Virginia Rivette.

Board member Jeremy Putorti added: “I’d hate to see any kid not be able to do it.”

Karas said he would ask the company to look into taking all 33 students and look into taking down the price.

Currently the price is $350 per student, which comes out of the district’s wallet. That would mean a total cost of $11,550.

Official prices and starting dates should be figured out some time this week, Karas said, at which point the district will contact the parents of those who have signed up. The program still will not cost the students or parents any money.

The board has two scheduled meetings for July, one on July 8 and another on July 13.