Zwiebel's contract expires as Pottsville Area superintendent Monday
Apr. 6—POTTSVILLE — Jeffrey S. Zwiebel has retired as Pottsville Area School District's superintendent.
His five-year contract as the district's leader expired Monday, but board members are mum on what will happen next.
Board President Noble C. "Bud" Quandel and board member Ashley Dewitt, the board's personnel committee chair, did not return calls or emails seeking comment on next steps in the process.
The board had agreed in September to accept a letter from him indicating his intention not to be reappointed as superintendent when his contract expired April 5 as he intended to retire that day. That same evening, they voted to direct the board secretary to provide written notice to Zwiebel that they intend to consider another candidate for the superintendent position.
Zwiebel had been on medical leave since July 2020 and that leave and the contract were slated to end the same day. The language in the contract states it will be renewed for a period equal to the term in the current agreement if the district does not notify the superintendent to the contrary at least 150 days before expiration. In addition, the superintendent must provide the board with a notice of intent to terminate employment at least 150 days prior to the contract end date.
The superintendent came under public criticism last school year on the district's $4 million-plus solar panel project, and budget cuts to teachers and staff.
Zwiebel was named as the district's superintendent in March 2012 after serving as elementary school principal in the district since July 2009. Prior to that, he was principal at Blue Mountain Elementary East.
He received his bachelor's degree in music education from Wilkes University, his master's in education administration from Temple University and his doctorate in education from Northcentral University. Zwiebel is a 1986 graduate of Pottsville Area High School.
Jared Gerace has led the district as acting superintendent since July 2020.
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