WRIGHT TWP. — A bit more than a year after being named superintendent at Crestwood with an annual salary of $125,000, Natasha Milazzo was given a pay increase at Thursday’s monthly School Board meeting. The board approved a contractual raise to $130,000, retroactive to July 1. Her original contract was for three years, but the board extended it to five years at the December 2022 meeting.
The board also approved a contractual raise for solicitor Jack Dean. He had been part-time solicitor for years — while serving as solicitor for other districts — before the board negotiated an agreement making Dean full-time counsel exclusively for Crestwood for five years beginning July 1, 2022. His starting salary for that contract was $120,000. The board approved the increase Thursday to $124,800, retroactive to July 1 of this year.
Several audience members complained of raises coming at a time the district is struggling with budget issues. Board members countered that the raises were contractual following board evaluations with positive results. Board Vice-President Barry Boone said Milazzo’s contract called for a 2.25% raise and the board decided her performance merited an additional 1%.
Boone also defended Dean’s raise, noting that he has taken on human resources and buildings and grounds duties as well, and that this was actually a two-year raise from the start of his contract through next summer. Board President John Macri said Dean has saved the district more that $400,000 since being hired full-time.
At the start of the meeting Dean explained a water leak that developed outside the school. The district initially believed it was a pipe owned by Pennsylvania American Water, and called the company, but they checked and determined it was a district line. A company was hired to do emergency excavation and repairs at a cost of $6,100, which should be covered by insurance. Dean said there was no drop in pressure in the building and minimal disruption of school activities, with the problem resolved in 24 hours.
The board also:
• Approved the purchase of a 3-month certificate of deposit from Fidelity Bank in the amount of $5 million at an annual interest rate of 5.05%. The move should mean an additional $35,000 in interest. The money is local property tax income already collected but not needed until the spring. Dean said the district could not make similar CD investments in the past because banks did not offer 3-month CDs.
• Appointed Debra Kocher as full-time custodian, Erin Sutliff as part-time general food service worker and Michele Cipriani as part-time food service worker.
• Accepted the resignation of para-educator Kelly Antosh, and appointed Eryn Venesky as full-time para-educator at $18.47 per hour with a 10% reduction during a 60-workday probationary period, not to exceed 6.75 hours per day.
• Appointed Danielle Dorzinsky, Erica Storm and Crystal Warner as day-to-day substitutes at $150 per day.
• Accepted the resignations of full-time, day-to-day substitute Heather Yazwinsky and para-educator Christine Ruehl
• Appointed Tracy Cornelius and Mary Leo to the Distinguished Alumni Award selection committee.
• Accepted the resignation of James Costello as head varsity wrestling coach, and appointed Martin Bibla to the position at $8,315.
• Appointed Damien Blanchard as Esports club advisor at $2,459.
• Appointed as head coaches Sean Foley for varsity basketball, Dave Koptcho for varsity softball, Robert Moulton for boys track, Amy Viti for girls track, Brian Zabroski for boys lacrosse and Russ Kile for girls lacrosse, all at $5,937; Joseph Tattersall for boys volleyball at $4,677; and Scott Lenio for boys tennis at $4,238.
