MINERSVILLE - During a special meeting Monday, the Minersville Area school board approved the hiring of nine teachers effective at the start of the 2013-14 school year.
Seven of the temporary professional employees - Caroline Schuster, Marissa Kalyan, Megan Siminitus, Bryan Skosnick, Megan Weand, Katlin Kelly and Natalie Apellaniz - were hired on step B001 at a salary of $34,000.
Jessica Wolfe was also hired as a temporary professional employee on step M001 at a salary of $35,450.
The board also hired Gina Ryan as a professional employee on step M002 at a salary of $37,100.
After the applicants were approved by the board without question, the only two people from the public in attendance could be heard saying, "This is ridiculous" and left.
When asked why so many inexperienced teachers were hired after the meeting, Superintendent M. Joseph Brady said there were almost 200 applications and that the school tries to cut it down to about 24 to 28 people to be interviewed.
"You try to fit the best person to the job," Brady said. Those perspective employees are then interviewed by the principals at the schools during the first round of interviewing.
There were then 12 applicants brought back for second interviews.
Brady said there are a lot of disappointed candidates and a few of them called to ask what they did wrong, but he said they did nothing wrong.
"It's rather difficult to pick but the choices are made on if we think they fit the assignment best," he said.
The contracts were also signed before the board approval since Brady, as the district's superintendent, has that authority.
In other business, the board authorized Brady to appoint teacher mentors for the 2013-14 school year at a salary of $500, approved payment number three to Richard L. Sensenig Co. in the amount of $144,532 for the stadium project, approved a payment of $417 to Schuyklill Intermediate Unit 29 for 2013-14 Title I teacher training and accepted the resignation of Rachael Bosack as a bus aide, effective Aug. 5.