Richland School Board names new elementary principal
Jan. 23—JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — Kelly Lashinsky has served as the Richland Elementary assistant principal since 2016, and at Monday's meeting, she was moved into the principal role with a unanimous vote of the school board.
"I'm honored to be able to continue serving the students and staff of the Richland Elementary School," Lashinsky said.
She added that she was thankful to the board, administration and Superintendent Arnold Nadonley for the opportunity and mentorship.
She was hired at a pro-rated salary of $92,000.
Board members and administrators took time after the meeting to congratulate Lashinsky and wish her luck in the position.
The new principal has a bachelor's degree in elementary and kindergarten education from Penn State; a master's in literacy and reading specialist certificate from Indiana University of Pennsylvania; her principal certification from IUP; and a doctorate from Robert Morris University.
Prior to Richland, Lashinsky was an administrator at Westmont Hilltop High School and taught at Central Cambria Elementary School.
Her promotion comes at now-former elementary principal Gregg Wilson's resignation, effective Feb. 16, which was also accepted at Monday's meeting.
He said after the meeting that he'd accepted another position elsewhere.
"I just want to take a minute to thank all the teachers and staff and community members of the school — people I've worked with these last nine years," Wilson said. "I appreciate our families, our community members bringing their kids to us and entrusting them in us and me."
David Hudak, board president, thanked him for his service to Richland and noted the board's appreciation for all Wilson has done for the district during his tenure.
In other business, Solicitor Timothy Leventry advised the group about potential tax appeals Richland may be facing.
The district has struggled with some companies in the school's boundaries recently filing for reconsideration, including Duke LifePoint Healthcare — that was settled with a decrease — and local hotels.
Leventry pointed out that the Common Level Ratio for Cambria County — a leveling device for the assessments that haven't been updated in several decades — is often at odds with the assessed value of property and that leads to commercial taxpayer disputes.
He said appeals will keep coming unless something is done about that.
Nadonley said he and Leventry have talked to the Cambria County commissioners about it and detailed a plan to have Richland Township and Geistown Borough meet to discuss Common Level Ratio further.
Joshua Byers is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. Follow him on Twitter @Journo_Josh.
