New sport added at WV
Published: January 26, 2012
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TOWER CITY - Williams Valley added a new sport, and accepted the resignation of a successful football coach during the January 12 school board meeting.
The school board recognized gymnastics as a district sport, to be run at no cost to the district.
Paul Herb of Wiconisco will serve as a Volunteer Gymnastics Coach. Herb's daughter, Natalie, is a sophomore at Williams Valley and is a member of the competitive team, Gymettes at Central PA Academy of Gymnastics, Mechanicsburg.
Herb said Natalie's gymnastics coaches had asked each girl on the team which high school they attend, so they can be recognized as participating for that district in high school events. It's at no cost to the district, because practices take place at Mechanicsburg, he said, and since all competitions are held throughout the state, and not at a district facility.
(More information on Herb and the gymnastics program will run in the sports section of next week's edition of The Citizen-Standard.)
Vikings' Head Football Coach Scott Cecco announced he would not reapply for the position due to his current work schedule, adding Williams Valley to the list of Twin Valley Conference schools seeking new football coaches. Cecco resigned during the January 12 school board meeting, leaving the Vikings after a successful eight-year run.
During his eight seasons, Cecco posted a 44-43 mark, leading Williams Valley to the District 11 Class A playoffs in each of the past five seasons, including a berth in the championship game in 2008.
The Vikings also captured the 2008 Twin Valley Conference championship, posting an unbeaten regular season. Cecco guided Williams Valley to a 33-12 mark over the past four seasons. Athletic Director Randy Russelavage expressed his regrets over Cecco's departure.
In addition to Williams Valley, two other TVC schools are seeking head coaches. Justin Adams resigned as Upper Dauphin's head coach Jan. 10 following two seasons, and Millersburg is also looking for a replacement for Steve Boyer.
Interested applicants for the Williams Valley position should submit a letter of interest and a resume to: Dr. Donald Burkhardt, Williams Valley School District, 10330 State Route 209, Tower City, Pa., 17980, or via email to dburkhardt@wvschools.net.
In his two years at Upper Dauphin, Adams compiled a 3-17 record.
Interested applicants for the Upper Dauphin position are asked to contact athletic director Jeffrey Laux at (717) 362-6692 or via email at lauxj@udasd.org.
January is School Board Recognition Month, which honors board members who volunteer their time and talents for the betterment of public education in their community. Certificates and calendars, provided by the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA), were given to all Williams Valley directors. Superintendent Dr. Donald Burkhardt commended the board members for serving the district.
In other matters, the WV board also heard:
- Parents Daniel and Tracey Snyder voiced their concern in regards to the amount of time special education aides are allowed to spend with their son. Their main concern was that teacher aide hours were cut and stressed that their son needed help during school hours and that additional help offered to him should not interfere with his extra-curricular activities. Dr. Burkhardt responded that the district has not cut any special education teacher aide hours. The Special Education Department will contact the Snyders to insure that their child is getting the help that he needs.
- High School Principal Dr. Chris Cooper announced that the high school will now require individuals picking up students during school hours to come into the office to sign them out.
- end of season reports from the following coaches: Football Cheerleader Coach Susan Davis, Girls Soccer Coach Gary Fetterhoff, Boys Soccer Coach Seth Shuey and Football Coach Scott Cecco.
Certificates were presented to the following students for their high SAT scores: Gary Diegert (1200) and William Schaeffer (1300).
The board also:
- hired the following coaches: Vol. Gymnastics Coach: Paul Herb of Wiconisco, Head Jr. High Softball Coach: Brian Unger of Tower City (Director John McCready voted no for the softball coach); Assistant Softball Coach: Ryan Underkoffler of Williamstown; Assistant Jr. High Softball Coach Chelsea Artz of Tower City; Vol. Assistant Softball Coaches: Ashley Frontino of Harrisburg and Tim Herb of Tower City (2012-13 school year); JV Boys Soccer Coach: Harry Raudenbush of Tower City; Head Boys Soccer Coach: Seth Shuey of Williamstown; Vol. Assistant Boys Soccer Coaches: Todd Peters of Millersburg, Adam Zigner of Elizabethville, Curt Dietrich of Wiconisco and Mike Malick, Randolph Kolva and Paul Hill of Tower City.
- approved Crabtree, Rohrbaugh and Associates as architect and engineering consultants for the replacement of the Jr.-Sr. High School stage rigging at a fee of $10,946 plus reimbursable expenses.
- appointed John Mika to serve on the 2012 Student Board Committee.
- entered into an executive session to discuss personnel matters.
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