B-W Superintendent Expects to Retire After 2011-12 School Year (June 2 B-W Council of PTA Meeting Notes)

Korchnak Expects to Retire After 2011-12 School Year

Superintendent Dr. Lawrence C. Korchnak told the  on Thursday during its final meeting of the 2010-11 school year that 2011-12 will most likely be his final year as a school administrator. Korchnak's last day would be June 30, 2012—the end of his four-year contract with the school district.

"It's about time somebody (else) comes in and does it (works as B-W's superintendent) and I go play with the grandkids and teach and write and do all of the stuff that I like to do—on my own schedule. There's a joy to that.

"I am looking forward to that. We came into this (contract with the district) with that (term length), and that's what I expect. I'm fine with it."

Korchnak's announcement comes as somewhat of a surprise given that on improving his district's Pennsylvania System of School Assessment test scores.

If Korchnak does not work in 2012-13, he would not stand to earn a raise anyway, at least not from Baldwin-Whitehall.

Nonetheless, he was adamant on Thursday that his stance on a pay raise is meaningful.

"I didn't do that to grandstand," he said. "There comes a point where someone has to put something on the line to let people know that you really believe that what you're doing is good."

McAnnulty and Whitehall Elementary Schools to Reconfigure?

"Dr. (Randal A.) Lutz, next year, is going to investigate reconfiguring and (elementary schools)," Korchnak said, "to the legitimacy of making them both K-5 instead of having that break (from kindergarteners and first-graders currently at McAnnulty and second, third, fourth and fifth-graders currently at Whitehall).

"It's worth looking at. Whether it (actually) goes that way I don't know, but I'm telling him he needs to do that. We've agreed on that."

Lutz is the school district's assistant superintendent of elementary education.

Reminders

Korchnak reminded the meeting's attendants that 's 2011 graduation ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, June 7, at Baldwin High Stadium at 7:30 p.m. A rain makeup date for the event is Thursday, June 9.

He also said that the Baldwin-Whitehall School Board is expected to finalize the school district's 2011-12 budget at a board meeting on Wednesday, June 8.

Elections

The PTA Council's final meeting of the school year meant the election of new officers for next year.

All four of the council's current officers were re-elected unanimously to their same positions. Sandy Costantino (president), Susan Hayhurst (second vice president), Christina Gruber (treasurer) and Karen Pavlick (recording secretary) will remain as the officers. The council does not have a first vice president.

Looking for a Regional Representative

The Pennsylvania PTA is seeking a Baldwin-Whitehall PTA/PTSA member to serve as a one of the state's Region 3 council members.

If you are interested, contact the B-W Council of PTA through its website to learn more.