From the moment last spring’s Primary Election made it clear that the Blairsville end of the Blairsville-Saltsburg School District would control the school board, the old issue of possibly closing the Saltsburg Middle/High School resurfaced. Tonight, the new board will consider a motion that could lead in that direction.
At a special meeting this evening, the board will consider a motion to appoint former Homer-Center Superintendent Dr. Charles Koren to a temporary position as a “facilitator regarding deliberations to discuss and investigate the possibility of reconfiguration within the Blairsville-Saltsburg School District”. That’s according to the meeting agenda on the school district’s website. If approved as written, Koren would be paid a fee of $50 per hour, not to exceed a total compensation of $20,000.
There has been talk of consolidation for many years in the district, most recently in 2016 and 2017, when former superintendent Tammy Whitfield was suspended by the board after presenting consolidation research. The board at the time was controlled by a 5-4 majority from the Saltsburg end of the district. Whitfield reached a resignation settlement with the board after her suspension.
Tonight’s meeting will be at 6 o’clock at the Saltsburg Middle/High School cafeteria.
