Jun. 19—ARCHBALD — A Valley View School Board meeting Monday resulted in a new leader for the district — and more than a dozen students leaving the meeting in tears.
More than 100 people attended the meeting in the high school cafeteria, some to see if Brian Durkin would be promoted to superintendent, and others to see who would be named high school musical director.
The superintendent appointment of Durkin, the current director of leadership and school operations, elicited applause from many in the audience. The board's vote to not retain musical Director Mandy Bruno Bogue led to great disappointment for many students, whose sobs could be heard from the hallway after they left the room.
Both resolutions passed 7-2, with Directors Curt Camoni and Joseph Koniszewski voting no.
"I feel absolutely horrible," Vanessa Pitoniak, a rising senior, said as students embraced each other after the meeting. "I feel so disrespected. This is disgusting."
For several months, students have attended school board meetings asking to keep Bogue, whose resume includes shows on Broadway and television. Bogue is not a teacher in the district, but has worked with the students for several years. Instead, the board voted 7-2 to appoint chorus teacher Gina Pascolini, who also had supporters present Monday. She will receive a salary stipend of $5,722.50.
District leaders said they could not comment on the musical director position. The teachers contract calls for preference for such a position to be given to a member of the union, with "exception of equally qualified applicants for coaching positions."
The vote for Durkin came less than six weeks after Michael Boccella, Ed.D., informed the board he will depart in August for an opportunity in real estate and investments. Directors opted not to search outside of the district and instead promoted Durkin, a 1990 Valley View graduate who has worked in the district since 2007. The Archbald resident will earn an annual salary of $125,000 and start Aug. 28.
Camoni said he had nothing against Durkin but could not "in good conscience" vote for him because a search had not been conducted.
Durkin said he looks forward to continued success for the district, including recent financial gains that allowed the board to pass a $40.4 million budget with no tax increase on Monday.
"I'm just excited to lead a great faculty, great teachers and most importantly, great students," he said.
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