Satterlee named principal at Knox

Appointment ends after school year

By MICHAEL ANICH/The Leader-Herald

JOHNSTOWN - The Greater Johnstown School District Board of Education Thursday named district Athletic Director Michael Satterlee the acting principal at Knox Junior High School until the end of the school year.

Satterlee, whose formal title with the district is director of health, recreation and extracurricular activities, was named at the board's session in the Knox library.

Citing personal reasons, Knox Junior High School Principal Steven L. Drescher of Duanesburg resigned March 6, with an effective date of June 30.

Board President Robert Curtis said Thursday that Drescher will stay and help in the administrative business office until his permanent replacement is found, but Satterlee will fill the void in the interim as building principal.

"He's going to help us finish up some things," Curtis said of Drescher.

Meanwhile, Satterlee's appointment is only until June 30. The resolution stated he will continue to serve as the district's athletic director and his salary and benefits will remain the same. After June 30, the resolution states he has the right to continue in his athletic director capacity.

Appointment approved

In other personnel items, the board approved the probationary 10-month appointment of Wendy Sievert, school bus attendant, retroactive to April 27 at a cost of $7.75 per hour.

The board created two positions, effective July 1 - an instructional technology position and a school psychologist position.

Candidates Night

Superintendent Kathleen A. Sullivan announced the Central Council PTA will conduct district Candidates Night at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the high school cafeteria.

Board of Education seats held by Vice President James Levin, Susanne Fitzgerald and Robert Kosowicz are up for re-election. The positions have three-year terms.

There are five candidates contending for the three seats. Levin and Kosowicz are running again, although Fitzgerald is not. Retiring Social Studies teacher Ronald Beck, high school senior Patrick Javarone and city businesswoman Eva Marie Mraz are running.

District voters will vote from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. May 19 on the seats.

Athletic mergers

Several routine interscholastic athletic mergers were also approved. They included mergers between the Johnstown school district and the Fonda-Fultonville Central School District for girls and boys swimming. Other mergers were approved between the school district and the Wheelerville Union Free School District for modified football, modified boys soccer and modified wrestling.

Michael Anich covers Johnstown and Fulton County news. He can be reached at johnstown@leaderherald.com