Student chefs Liz Berie, Amanda Cosimides, Gavin Carrigan, Eric Cosimides, Makenzie Hartle, John Moran and (seated) Tony Bevan prepare for Avonworth HIgh School's third annual Multicultural Dinner Festival on Saturday, Feb. 19, starting at 6 p.m. in the school cafeteria. Under the direction of senior advisor and health/family and consumer science teacher Michelle George, students, faculty and community members have planned a fun-filled evening that will feature more than 50 ethnic food items, international exhibits, entertainment and a marketplace of imported merchandise.

Northgate teachers will not see an increase in their paychecks until next spring, having accepted a six-month pay freeze as part of a new four-year contract with the district.

Also being frozen by the new agreement is the schedule of salary “steps” that govern what teachers will be paid. Although teachers will receive various pay increases while moving up the 17-step schedule, the freeze means that a teacher hired in 2010 and one hired in 2014 will have the same starting salary, according to Northgate School Board member Gary Paladin.

Everyone knows that public education is facing hard times. Budget reductions have forced teacher lay-offs, as well as cuts to the curriculum and student activities in school districts across Pennsylvania.

When a total of $5,265 was recently removed from Northgate High School's musical theater budget, some might have expected the director and aspiring actors and actresses to roll over and take a deep last breath.

Several personnel changes will be taking place in the Avonworth School District.

On June 6, the Avonworth School Board approved Elizabeth Maidman as a day-to-day substitute for the 2011-12 school year at the rate of $140 per day with no benefits.

The board also approved Nick Mancini as a temporary high school learning support (social studies) teacher, and Molly Chester as a temporary high school social studies teacher, both with benefits.

Susan Byrne was approved as a personal care aide for the upcoming school year.

Mary DeFrank Mary G. Carcara DeFrank, 89, formerly of the North Side and wife of the late Michael J. DeFrank, died Thursday, June 9, 2011. Mrs. DeFrank had been a teacher in the Catholic schools of the North Side for many years.

The proposed final budget that will be voted on by the Northgate School Board Monday night will not include an increase in property taxes. It also will not include full-day kindergarten, a spring musical or a number of classes that could be lost due to teacher furloughs.

Although the board will vote Monday to approve the final proposal for spending in 2011-12, that proposal will not become the final budget until the board votes on June 20.

The next step in the construction of a primary center in the Avonworth School District was successfully made Monday night, as the school board approved the purchase of 8.45 acres of property.

A crowd of about 150 people -- most of them parents of young children and elementary school staffers -- watched a presentation by board member Patrick Stewart that outlined financial issues facing the district and argued in favor of construction of the $20 million facility that will ease overcrowding in the current elementary school by moving grades K-2 to another building.

Fourth and fifth grade students at Avonworth elementary got a broader vision of mathmatics when they heard from dozens of speakers during the Women in Math Conference held last Friday. Organized by teacher Amy Besterman, the program was designed to encourage young girls to do better in math by exposing them to women who use math in their professional careers. The fifth graders pictured above, from Laura Dzadovsky’s classroom, hosted The Citizen publisher Connie Rankin, who explained how much math comes into play in running and publishing a newspaper.

At its work session on Monday, the Avonworth School Board voted to accept the resignation of Valerie Constantino, a physical education/health teacher.

Her resignation took effect on Nov. 19.

The vote to accept her resignation was unanimous. Board President David Oberdick participated in the meeting by telephone. Board Members Marybeth Sommers and Jeff Schmid were absent.

Several personnel matters were decided by the Northgate School Board at its regular meeting on Monday.

The board approved Shawn Polito as a substitute custodian.

Also approved were supplemental contracts for Victoria DiDomenico as middle school cheerleading sponsor for the winter season in the amount of $1,307, and a $4,017.00 supplemental for Torey O'Donnell as girls' varsity assistant basketball coach for the school year.

Avonworth has a new science teacher.

At its work session on Tuesday, the Avonworth School Board approved the hiring of Douglas Haskins to fill the position of middle school eighth grade science teacher.

A familiar face will be missing from Avonworth Middle school this fall. Eighth grade science teacher Kelly Compeau has resigned to accept a position with the teachers' union.

Compeau, who has taught at the school for 10 years, represented the Avonworth collective bargaining unit and also was the Environmental Club sponsor and head coach for the middle school boys' soccer team.

The school board voted unanimously at its work session on Monday to accept Compeau's resignation effective Aug. 6. Board members Brenda Barlek, Peter McKay and Jeff Schmid were absent.