JERSEY SHORE — A motion to hire an assistant middle school principal failed on a 4-4 vote at the Jersey Shore Area School board meeting after one board member challenged the $97,000 annual starting salary as too high.

The board was set to vote on hiring Dr. Tara Battaglia to serve in the position, when board member Patrice Doebler stated, “I just think the starting salary is too much.”

The vote ended in a tie since board member Angela Grant was absent, which resulted in the motion failing. Those who voted yes to hiring Battaglia at the salary listed were Michael Allen, Mary Thomas, Jessie Edwards and Kayla Calhoon. Voting no were Doebler, Wayne Kinley, Nancy Petrosky and Michelle Stemler.

“As an Act 93 administrator, the contract is already board approved. However, the board has asked that I renegotiate the salary offer,” said Superintendent Dr. Brian Ulmer in an email after the meeting.

However, if that offer is rejected by the candidate, Ulmer stated, “If that occurs, we will be reposting the position.”

In other business under finance, the board approved a corrected Homestead/Farmstead resolution relating to the 2023 real estate taxes and the Homestead/Farmstead assessed values contained in the final 2023-24 budget.

Also under finance, the board approved adopting a multi-county school board resolution urging changes to mandatory millage rebalancing requirements as interpreted under the state’s school code. It was stressed that this was a vote on the resolution and not a vote to enact anything.

Under personnel, the board approved the following: Nicole White, part-time food service position at Salladasburg Elementary, $12.75 per hour; Michelle Moore, volunteer cross country coach; Erik Scott, volunteer boys’ JV/Varsity basketball coach; Gertrude Wager, Act 93 student data coordinator, $45,257 per year; Olivia Stemler, learning support teacher at Jersey Shore Elementary, $47,409 per year; Ella Simcox, English teacher at the high school, $49,411per year; Dominick Braglione, guidance counselor at Jersey Shore Elementary, $52,678 per year; Allison Barnes, emotion/autistic support teacher at Jersey Shore Elementary, $54,521per year; Zach Sloan, social studies teacher at the middle school, $52,678 per year; Aubree Leone, physical education teacher at the middle school, $47,409 per year; and Amanda Shadle, volunteer cheer coach.

The board approved retaining the following spring sport head coaches; Robert Fox, boys’ and girls’ track; Christ Lorson, softball; and Ann-Marie Dincher, boys’ tennis.

A letter of resignation from Todd Nagy, homebound instructor was accepted by the board.

The board approved the following letters of agreement: between the district and New Story, State College, for student educational placement; with Pediatric Services of America LLC, doing business as Aveanna Healthcare to provide nursing services for the upcoming school year; and between the district and the Lycoming-Clinton Joinder Board for the school based outreach worker that the Joinder provides.

The next meeting of the board will be at 7 p.m. July 24 at the District Administration Building, 175 A&P Drive.