New Wayne Highlands board discusses paving projects, honors seniors

Peter Becker, Tri-County Independent
·3 min read

Wayne Highlands school board members took the oath of office Dec. 5. At the same meeting in Honesdale, the board discussed major paving projects anticipated for 2024, and recognized achievements of some of the senior class.

Taking the oath were newly elected members Tanya Gibbs-Hinkley and Travis Samson, and returning members George R. Korb, David Stanton, Brian L. Weist, and Dr. Matthew Corso. During the annual re-organization, Weist was named president, and Corso vice president.

"I would like to congratulate those who were recently re-elected...and to our newly elected board members, we welcome you with open arms," Superintendent Greg Frigoletto said. "...This was your idea, nobody dragged you into this... You actually ran for this office; you know what you are getting into, and I think you do and are going into it for the right reasons."

From left, Wayne Highlands school board members taking the oath of office on Dec. 5, 2023: Brian Weist, Tanya Gibbs-Hinkley, George Korb, David Stanton, Travis Samson, Matthew Corso. Tom Fasshauer is administering the oath of office.
From left, Wayne Highlands school board members taking the oath of office on Dec. 5, 2023: Brian Weist, Tanya Gibbs-Hinkley, George Korb, David Stanton, Travis Samson, Matthew Corso. Tom Fasshauer is administering the oath of office.

Weist has served as vice president for about five years under Korb as president. He commended Korb for being consistently informative and caring, and a good mentor. Weist was named to the board when the late Daniel J. O'Neill died. "Just looking out over the years I have been on the board, it has brought me great pride." He thanked his fellow board members, administrators and staff.

Paving projects

The board agreed to pursue specifications for bidding on two potential paving projects which Frigoletto said hopefully could be summer 2024 projects if the board later agrees to proceed. This would have to be done in a timely manner to be able to schedule a contractor for this year.

One project is at Preston School in Lakewood. This involves paving the entranceway, some of the exit and an emergency route to the Northern Wayne Library parking area. Frigoletto said they hope to attain a Multimodal Transportation grant to fund it.

The second project is paving the parking lot at Wayne Highlands Middle School in Honesdale.

Seniors recognized

Three members of the Class of 2024, Calgon Downey, Nicholas Eisele and Avery Ohliger, were recognized for outstanding academic achievement and involvement in extracurricular activities.

Downey plans to study mechanical engineering at a four-year university. As captain of the school Robotics Team for the past three years, he has helped lead the team to a top rating at multi-state regional competitions.

Eisele is in the varsity track and field program and on the Science Olympiad team, and other activities. He foresees studying cell biology and biochemistry at Bucknell University.

Ohliger has been highly successful in soccer, track and field, Science Olympiad and other activities. Outside the school, he is a cultural resource assistant for the National Park Service on the Upper Delaware. Avery plans to study history and political science at a four-year university.

As is customary at the Wayne Highlands school board meetings, the three seniors recognized for outstanding achievements are personally congratulated by the board directors and superintendent. At the Dec. 5, 2023, meeting, seniors Calgon Downey, Nicholas Eisele and Avery Ohliger were honored. Ohliger is shown being congratulated by Superintendent Gregory Frigoletto. Behind Frigoletto is board member George Korb.

Later in the meeting, Honesdale High School Principal Peter Jordan highlighted the accomplishments of senior Drew Rutledge. Rutledge, a member of the school's FFA program, will represent the northern region of Pennsylvania as one of four finalists for the Pennsylvania Star Farmer Award. "This is the most prestigious award of the FFA," Jordan said. "...He has made it farther than any other Honesdale High School student has ever made it."

The award will be announced at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg in January 2024 (the 108th Pennsylvania Farm Show is set for Jan. 6-13).

Jordan, in congratulating the student, said he hopes to have him at a future board session to be formally recognized. Rutledge was not present that evening.

Honesdale High School re-introduced its Agricultural Program curriculum in 2017 and organized an FFA chapter.

The next school board meeting is set for Tuesday, Jan. 16, at 7 p.m. at the Administration Offices, 44 Grove St., Honesdale. Agendas are posted at whsdk12.com.

Peter Becker has worked at the Tri-County Independent or its predecessor publications since 1994. Reach him at pbecker@tricountyindependent.com or 570-253-3055 ext. 1588.

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Wayne Highlands board reorganizes at Honesdale meeting, honors seniors